[MAYBE HE WILL... LATER... but despite his insanity, Childe is not heartless enough to be like "so I know you're clearly worried about your buddies and that vision was super traumatizing just now but you should tell me about this Lucien guy."
Instead, he nods at Essek's response--pleased in his own way, because he also would've given Essek shit for giving up.]
All you need is one, right?
[And... well. It's not really a direct response to the question, but Essek can experience a memory in return. SORRY IF THERE ARE ANY FUCKY TENSES OR PRONOUNS I edited this for this thread. My god]
The first thing he breathlessly says when his own focus returns is,] An Abyssal rift? Like the ones in the temple in Bazzoxan. [Sorry, but this intrigues him immensely!!! He is looking at Childe like WOW!]
It looks like... Rosohna, like Ghor Dranas, but the Abyss plane is full of evil and chaos. Demons. Yet you walk through it as if it's nothing. A home.
[HELPPPP NOT THE INTRIGUE!!!! Imagine if he knew Scaramouche's job in the Fatui was to investigate the Abyss. Scessek would become real in no time. Unfortunately Essek being interested in this is great for him, because it means he has leverage for when he wants to bother Essek about his own power... god. Freaks.
He lifts a finger, quoting.]
"Floods and hurricanes take countless lives too, but if one day you gained the power to control them, what was once a calamity is now just another tool in your arsenal." [Tips his head slightly.] I was there long enough that it made sense to learn how to navigate it--at least where I was. It's extremely vast, so I won't claim to know its every nook and cranny.
[Damn...... He could pick Scaramouche's brain for Abyss investigation. Not that he's a huge fan of Abyssal planes, or anything. Just in their relation to dunamancy.
The intrigue is still there.]
I see.
[That's fair. He is appraising Childe some, though. Sorry, he's got eyes, and he's also got a lot of interest in gravity, reality warping, and the nether reaches of time and space.]
What you've seen and also lived through is... astounding really.
[Sounds like something a huge fan of Abyssal planes would say
But it is very funny, because this is exactly why he felt comfortable enough to tease Yoru about making assumptions. He's human, yes--but not normal. Hasn't been since he was 14 and touched by starlight.
He laughs a little, lifting a hand to the back of his neck.]
It definitely opened my eyes to a lot of things, that's for sure. I'm grateful for it--I never would've discovered my purpose if I hadn't found myself there by chance.
[Even if it made things more complicated than he is willing to acknowledge. It is what it is. He's happy enough with who he's become, and that's what matters.]
To answer your question... no, I don't know how the battle ended. The last thing I remember is my master stepping in once my strength gave out.
I wasn't exactly planning on having nothing to show for my kills. [THERE'S A REVIVAL ITEM IN THAT CASE... DAMN... imagine the timeline where he got to have that. Alas, it was never going to happen.] But it's alright. Alex brought our group back to life once before, which means that power exists somewhere in her realm. She insists she can't bring me back, so I just need to figure out how to access it myself.
[If it was completely impossible, then maybe he'd be a little more resigned to his fate. Childe isn't so naively arrogant as to believe he'll never die for real--indeed, he can't believe himself immortal, or else his endless pursuit of strength will become utterly meaningless. But he's never been quick to accept his own limits, and he's always had a knack for getting out of absurd situations. Maybe someday he'll meet the challenge that truly brings him to his knees, but for now, Essek is right: he's not ready to give in just yet.]
[NOT THIS ICON. Personally, I think Childe deserves to have a prize and be unleashed once more upon the world.]
I don't think that's something you can't accomplish.
[Like, he would be stupid as hell to deny Childe can't do something when Childe puts his mind to it. Honestly. He seems mildly amused by the conviction, though.]
If you have lived among something like the Abyssal plane, there isn't much else you can't do.
[Hmmm. He peers at Childe curiously.]
Do you miss them, or do you still see your family?
[YEAH YEAH MY ICON gives you the other one... DON'T JUST SUPPORT HIM LIKE THIS THOUGH HELP!!! Let him stew in hell for a while, maybe that'll calm him down. (It won't)
And, well--he wouldn't have said it if he didn't believe it himself, but it's nice to hear it all the same, especially from someone he considers a kindred spirit. Unfortunately, he likes praise... he doesn't preen annoyingly, but he does smile, and there's a twinkle in his otherwise lightless eyes.]
I'd like to think so too. [Essek already knows he doesn't believe in limits, so it's only a matter of patience and effort, as far as he's concerned.
His smile fades a little then, though, the edges of it softened at the thought of his loved ones.]
...I did, when I could. Not as often as I would've liked, since I was typically out on the frontlines, but I tried to make time to visit at least a few times a year.
[But it's not like they can write letters to hell, so...]
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Instead, he nods at Essek's response--pleased in his own way, because he also would've given Essek shit for giving up.]
All you need is one, right?
[And... well. It's not really a direct response to the question, but Essek can experience a memory in return. SORRY IF THERE ARE ANY FUCKY TENSES OR PRONOUNS I edited this for this thread. My god]
no subject
The first thing he breathlessly says when his own focus returns is,] An Abyssal rift? Like the ones in the temple in Bazzoxan. [Sorry, but this intrigues him immensely!!! He is looking at Childe like WOW!]
It looks like... Rosohna, like Ghor Dranas, but the Abyss plane is full of evil and chaos. Demons. Yet you walk through it as if it's nothing. A home.
no subject
He lifts a finger, quoting.]
"Floods and hurricanes take countless lives too, but if one day you gained the power to control them, what was once a calamity is now just another tool in your arsenal." [Tips his head slightly.] I was there long enough that it made sense to learn how to navigate it--at least where I was. It's extremely vast, so I won't claim to know its every nook and cranny.
no subject
The intrigue is still there.]
I see.
[That's fair. He is appraising Childe some, though. Sorry, he's got eyes, and he's also got a lot of interest in gravity, reality warping, and the nether reaches of time and space.]
What you've seen and also lived through is... astounding really.
no subject
But it is very funny, because this is exactly why he felt comfortable enough to tease Yoru about making assumptions. He's human, yes--but not normal. Hasn't been since he was 14 and touched by starlight.
He laughs a little, lifting a hand to the back of his neck.]
It definitely opened my eyes to a lot of things, that's for sure. I'm grateful for it--I never would've discovered my purpose if I hadn't found myself there by chance.
[Even if it made things more complicated than he is willing to acknowledge. It is what it is. He's happy enough with who he's become, and that's what matters.]
To answer your question... no, I don't know how the battle ended. The last thing I remember is my master stepping in once my strength gave out.
[And Essek already knows he's dead, so.]
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That's why your pursuit is always becoming stronger.
[Ok, weapon. He is contemplative for a moment or two. No judgment from him really. He understands in a knowledge-pursuing way.]
Are you interested in a chance to return to find out, or... are you... Surely, a man like yourself isn't satisfied by being simply dead?
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I wasn't exactly planning on having nothing to show for my kills. [THERE'S A REVIVAL ITEM IN THAT CASE... DAMN... imagine the timeline where he got to have that. Alas, it was never going to happen.] But it's alright. Alex brought our group back to life once before, which means that power exists somewhere in her realm. She insists she can't bring me back, so I just need to figure out how to access it myself.
[If it was completely impossible, then maybe he'd be a little more resigned to his fate. Childe isn't so naively arrogant as to believe he'll never die for real--indeed, he can't believe himself immortal, or else his endless pursuit of strength will become utterly meaningless. But he's never been quick to accept his own limits, and he's always had a knack for getting out of absurd situations. Maybe someday he'll meet the challenge that truly brings him to his knees, but for now, Essek is right: he's not ready to give in just yet.]
no subject
I don't think that's something you can't accomplish.
[Like, he would be stupid as hell to deny Childe can't do something when Childe puts his mind to it. Honestly. He seems mildly amused by the conviction, though.]
If you have lived among something like the Abyssal plane, there isn't much else you can't do.
[Hmmm. He peers at Childe curiously.]
Do you miss them, or do you still see your family?
no subject
And, well--he wouldn't have said it if he didn't believe it himself, but it's nice to hear it all the same, especially from someone he considers a kindred spirit. Unfortunately, he likes praise... he doesn't preen annoyingly, but he does smile, and there's a twinkle in his otherwise lightless eyes.]
I'd like to think so too. [Essek already knows he doesn't believe in limits, so it's only a matter of patience and effort, as far as he's concerned.
His smile fades a little then, though, the edges of it softened at the thought of his loved ones.]
...I did, when I could. Not as often as I would've liked, since I was typically out on the frontlines, but I tried to make time to visit at least a few times a year.
[But it's not like they can write letters to hell, so...]