[Me tearing up knowing all of the effects are at play this week. Why? Why! Well, I guess Childe will just GET some new jewelry as a gift. The hole is going to close up.
The vibes are he feels some kinda way about holding hands - warmly fuzzy and uncertain. But his hand curls around Childe's anyway so he can be lead to the gate area.]
Let me guess: one with a large battle arena full of obstacles and weapons?
At least Childe's nice enough not to comment on emotionshare, though he winks in response to the teasing, because he has a condition.]
If only! But no, I don't think we can get to that. [Just makes up hell locations without consulting Cola. It's fine. Instead, he will teleport them to Frosty Peak! Wow, shocking. There's still the lava out in the distance, but otherwise it is their... terrible version of winter wonderland. Though given the graveyard locations this game, it probably seems alright.]
[THEY CLOSE SO FAST AFTER BEING PIERCED. Shoves a finger in there to keep it open (no). Thank you for not commenting on his idiot feelings, he does appreciate this.
Not the annoying wink, though.
NOT THE FACT YOU JUST PUT ONE IN THERE. Hate it. Anyhow, the sudden shift in not only scenery but weather from what they have usually been accustomed to really startles him. Childe can have a blip of a memory of a desolate land of nothing but blistering ice and snow, the pieces of a dangerous and dark and magical city lying in ruins in the snow.
I guess they rode a plane, but his hand immediately grabs Childe's and his other grabs Childe's arm at the elbow to sort of put Childe half in front of him. His shoulders hunch.]
You could have told me to put something more appropriate on!
[HELLO!!!! THEY DON'T CLOSE THAT FAST HELLO IF YOU'RE GONNA SHOVE YOUR FINGERS IN ANY HOLES PICK BETTER ONES
Anyway help. HELP!!! Shifts to kind of instinctively wrap an arm around him... he is not shivering despite being in a T-shirt. Terrible.]
I didn't think you were that sensitive! [DON'T YOU LIVE UNDERGROUND... IT'S COLD DOWN THERE...] Don't worry, the lodge isn't that far. Do you need me to carry you?
Also stop being amused about this.] I can walk, I'm just freezing to death! [He doesn't have a bad sensitivity... he is simply normal levels of cold. Unlike CHILDE. HIS STOMACH IS OPEN FOR THE CHILL TO TOUCH. His breath is puffing on the air. He's not sure how Childe can tank this like it's nothing.]
Of course you would like this island. There isn't anything but piles of snow.
[Does Essek want to be carried or does he want to risk a snow pitfall. UP TO HIM. For now he'll just start leading the way, though he does at least try to keep Essek close to him.]
Anyway, that's not the only thing! But even if it was, all the lava gets old after a while.
[HUH??? Looking up at him from around his arm, bewildered.]
Traps...?
[NO!!!!! He's from D&D, he knows how damn annoying traps are!!! Now he's looking around at the ground, paranoid.] None of that is reassuring actually, you realize. [His lil wizard head is now full of bees.]
Wait - just... [Teeth gritted. From cold? From embarrassment?] Just carry me.
[Sorry he wants to be sympathetic but he thinks Essek is being so cute right now. HE'LL BE NICE ABOUT IT BUT IT'S SO HARD TO BEHAVE.
Scoops him into a princess carry, though he can get hit with a little bit of karma because Essek's wearing a damn crop top and there are only so many places to put his hands. He clears his throat and very abruptly blocks off his thoughts as he starts the trek up to the lodge. IT'S FINE IT'S FINE IT'S FINE]
Be quiet and just carry me. You're the one who mentioned them at all.
[GOD!!! Once he is in the carry, he feels even more embarrassed about the situation. He should have just walked, dammit. He has an entire arsenal of insane spells and can USUALLY float, yet here he is being carried.
At least his face is warm from the flush it has now. Anyway.
He also has nothing to do with his hands except loop his arms around Childe's shoulders. HE REALLY IS SO COLD.]
What do you even do out here? There's nothing but snow for miles, and the air is frigid.
[HE SHOULD HAVE... HE SHOULD HAVE TOLD CHILDE TO FUCK OFF INSTEAD OF AGREEING TO COME WITH HIM HERE!!!! NOW HE IS TRAPPED, forced to feel Childe shaking with barely restrained laughter.]
I usually fly up here, but the snow in my homeland is far worse than this, so I didn't think it would be such a pain to walk. [YOU ARE SOOO DELICATE truly hilarious that he doesn't know Essek can float. I think about it. If it makes Essek feel better, he is also trying extremely hard not to think about touching bare skin. He's so lucky I decided not to inflict 7r Childe on him.] Back when my group was here, I used the lodge to cook for them. I still stop by sometimes to go ice fishing or to skate, if I'm in the mood. I don't mind the main city so much, but I get restless if I don't travel.
As I said, I can walk just fine. I am simply cold, as normal people are cold in mountains of snow except for the single man who finds this another day of nothing extraordinary.
[He struggles with wanting to watch ahead of them as a Type A and wanting to protect his face. The jewelry makes things so much colder; he made a mistake.
Finally, comfort wins out, and he turns his head and hides his face in Childe's neck even if it's as embarrassing as being carried.]
I think you get restless if you aren't busy in general.
[HELP!! OKAY GRUMPY. Even Childe isn't magically warm out in the snow, but it is surely better than nothing. Essek can have the emotionshare of fondness, as a treat. The gap moe... at least he has long legs, so it won't take them all that long to get to the lodge. A pity.]
I take plenty of time to rest! [DOES HE?] But I used to go all over Teyvat for missions, and each nation is so different from all the elemental energy... there are plenty of islands around, but most of hell is lava.
[HE HAS DONE HORRIBLE AND UNSPEAKABLE THINGS!!!! OKAY!!!! HE ORCHESTRATED AN ENTIRE TREASON PLOT AGAINST HIS DYNASTY!!!!]
You would enjoy Exandria then. Every territory, every country, every city, every continent is different from the rest. There are leagues of unexplored terrain, especially subterrain, which is filled with secrets.
Yet so many on the surface are simply blinded by their rule for more land.
[YEAH WELL CHILDE ALMOST DROWNED LIYUE BY SUMMONING AN ANCIENT SEA MONSTER BUT HE STILL ENJOYS A GOOD SNOWBALL FIGHT!!!!
He laughs again, though this time it's a little dry.]
I can't say I'm all that surprised to hear it. The borders of our nations are well-established now, but there's a reason we Fatui are so successful in our endeavors despite being so widely hated.
[All the land struggles happened before he was born... but greedy rulers are universal, so he gets the idea.]
I would like to see your world, though. There's nothing like testing your skills against brand new opponents.
This is why I assumed we would be visiting some kind of large fighting arena on an island...
[Can you be romantic for five minutes? Well. He can't say he didn't somewhat enjoy the fight despite actually not being much of a fighter. He's a stealth guy, a break your neck from afar with the Force guy, not a let me slam head first into an enemy guy.
Still, it was nice practice. He lifts his head.]
I want you to teach me how to fight before we leave. Like... physically.
If you really want to see that, you can come to the fight tournament that Vi and I want to set up.
[Essek can watch Childe slam headfirst into enemies who can take it, how's that... though Childe also enjoyed the fight, he just ended it by showing off because he's an idiot with a crush.
[He groans gently at the first part because of COURSE they would be doing some stupid fight shit like that. Okay!!!
The way he is now asking about fighting, he can't even be groaning this way. So stupid.
He frowns gently.]
I told you. I don't want to be... The power in Aeor. I can't even begin to describe how strong it is, how strange. And Lucien has access to that sort of power. I'm honest when I say I don't think we are going to come out alive, Childe.
But if I can do something... to help my friends if things get dire. I don't want to simply be the wizard standing in the back unable to do anything.
He softens a little at that, though--not that it's easy to tell from this angle, but maybe Essek can pick up on some sense of understanding and approval through emotionshare, along with some hints of nostalgia. He hasn't said so to Essek, because he's never had to, but... for all that he loves battle itself and the pursuit of strength, he's always had his own reasons for fighting, too. It's something he stresses to anyone who seeks him out for something like this--he won't train anyone who doesn't have a good purpose in mind.
And for all that he talks about having no true allegiances, that he'll put his own agenda above any "sides" or loyalties... well. Not everything he says is strictly true.
He sighs, but it's not directed at Essek.]
It'd be easier if we were in Teyvat. I could give you plenty of things to use that ought to work, even in your world. [Like. He has no control over Visions, of course, or even Abyssal abilities, but that's hardly the only form of power in the world.] But I'll do as much as I can with the time we've got.
[A week isn't exactly ideal for the kind of strength he suspects Essek needs against a foe like that, but... well, Essek has his own fighting style, and friends to support him. He's not like Childe, who generally goes into battle on his own. If nothing else, Childe thinks, he can teach him enough to buy the time he might need in a critical moment, because he isn't selfish enough to hope Essek fails just for the chance to see him again.]
You would give him... a Delusion? 🥺🤲 Him? He watches what he can see of Childe's face, actually not sure whether Childe would deny him the opportunity or simply accept to gain another chance to spar. Childe can feel the tension in his shoulders and arms relax ever so slightly.]
...Thank you.
[He wouldn't ever be able to explain just how appreciative he is, so he doesn't try. He turns his head to look ahead of them, an attempt to CONCEAL his softness, but it's not like Childe isn't right there.
It's not ideal; there's only a week, and much of that will be them scrambling to do missions, or anything else, or what comes of the threat they received from the damn horse. But all he needs to learn is some basics - no, perhaps the confidence to perform these basics which will buy him enough time to do something better.]
[Listen... maybe so!!!! And yeah he would. Fatui technology is so hilariously advanced and Childe would also send him home with soldiers if he could, imagine Essek showing up to the boss fight and just shooting Lucien with a fireball gun 10 times in quick succession as a bunch of 8 ft. tall Fatui henchmen throw up shields and shit. Hysterical.
But he can't do that if he can't get home, so instead they only have this. And it doesn't escape him that Essek has plenty of people he could ask--Childe is far from the only combatant around, and surely not the only one Essek gets along with. It warms him, being trusted with something so important, even if he knows Essek isn't doing anything as extreme as putting the fate of the battle on his shoulders.]
Of course. We can start when we get back. But for now--[He will finally set Essek back down and point!! The lodge is just a little further away, yippee.] Don't worry, it's much warmer in there. And there should be some coats around to wear on the way back down, if I recall.
[MY GOD!!!!! They would not struggle nearly as badly as they do against the Somnovem that way. So funny. All they had to do was give the wizard a gun.
Don't just get sentimental on him about the request!! He sinks into the snow a bit as he's put back on his feet, but he goes without any kind of complaint. There is maybe some vibes of him missing the heat of being cuddled against someone, though.]
[GIVE THE WIZARDS GUNS AND FULFILL THE PROPHECY!!!!!
Also shut up he will do that. Just because he's being practical about all this doesn't mean there are no emotions, even if he's trying his best to be normal. Ish. NORMAL FOR HIM. Luckily for Essek, there is a cuddle curse drink just waiting to be drunk... or he could hallucinate santa instead. Who's to say.]
So dramatic! It really wasn't that--
[Anyway I rolled a nat 1 so he forgets there's a trap on the way up and falls through a snow pit about 5 feet away from the door. Good job Childe.]
Well, as Childe suddenly falls down into the snow pit trap, Essek is left behind stunned and also red-handed, holding a nearly packed snowball in his hands which he may or may not had planned to lob at the back of Childe's head.]
Childe!
[The fear that jumps up is a reflex of seeing Childe vanish into the void, and he drops the snowball immediately and stumbles through the snow to where Childe was lost.]
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The vibes are he feels some kinda way about holding hands - warmly fuzzy and uncertain. But his hand curls around Childe's anyway so he can be lead to the gate area.]
Let me guess: one with a large battle arena full of obstacles and weapons?
[He's teasing.]
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At least Childe's nice enough not to comment on emotionshare, though he winks in response to the teasing, because he has a condition.]
If only! But no, I don't think we can get to that. [Just makes up hell locations without consulting Cola. It's fine. Instead, he will teleport them to Frosty Peak! Wow, shocking. There's still the lava out in the distance, but otherwise it is their... terrible version of winter wonderland. Though given the graveyard locations this game, it probably seems alright.]
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Not the annoying wink, though.
NOT THE FACT YOU JUST PUT ONE IN THERE. Hate it. Anyhow, the sudden shift in not only scenery but weather from what they have usually been accustomed to really startles him. Childe can have a blip of a memory of a desolate land of nothing but blistering ice and snow, the pieces of a dangerous and dark and magical city lying in ruins in the snow.
I guess they rode a plane, but his hand immediately grabs Childe's and his other grabs Childe's arm at the elbow to sort of put Childe half in front of him. His shoulders hunch.]
You could have told me to put something more appropriate on!
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Anyway help. HELP!!! Shifts to kind of instinctively wrap an arm around him... he is not shivering despite being in a T-shirt. Terrible.]
I didn't think you were that sensitive! [DON'T YOU LIVE UNDERGROUND... IT'S COLD DOWN THERE...] Don't worry, the lodge isn't that far. Do you need me to carry you?
[This is a genuine question]
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Also stop being amused about this.] I can walk, I'm just freezing to death! [He doesn't have a bad sensitivity... he is simply normal levels of cold. Unlike CHILDE. HIS STOMACH IS OPEN FOR THE CHILL TO TOUCH. His breath is puffing on the air. He's not sure how Childe can tank this like it's nothing.]
Of course you would like this island. There isn't anything but piles of snow.
[There are OTHER things, too.]
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[Does Essek want to be carried or does he want to risk a snow pitfall. UP TO HIM. For now he'll just start leading the way, though he does at least try to keep Essek close to him.]
Anyway, that's not the only thing! But even if it was, all the lava gets old after a while.
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Traps...?
[NO!!!!! He's from D&D, he knows how damn annoying traps are!!! Now he's looking around at the ground, paranoid.] None of that is reassuring actually, you realize. [His lil wizard head is now full of bees.]
Wait - just... [Teeth gritted. From cold? From embarrassment?] Just carry me.
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[Sorry he wants to be sympathetic but he thinks Essek is being so cute right now. HE'LL BE NICE ABOUT IT BUT IT'S SO HARD TO BEHAVE.
Scoops him into a princess carry, though he can get hit with a little bit of karma because Essek's wearing a damn crop top and there are only so many places to put his hands. He clears his throat and very abruptly blocks off his thoughts as he starts the trek up to the lodge. IT'S FINE IT'S FINE IT'S FINE]
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[GOD!!! Once he is in the carry, he feels even more embarrassed about the situation. He should have just walked, dammit. He has an entire arsenal of insane spells and can USUALLY float, yet here he is being carried.
At least his face is warm from the flush it has now. Anyway.
He also has nothing to do with his hands except loop his arms around Childe's shoulders. HE REALLY IS SO COLD.]
What do you even do out here? There's nothing but snow for miles, and the air is frigid.
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Also sorry he's a brat but he can't help it--]
Do you want me to answer that, or be quiet?
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I meant be quiet with the - nevermind. Answer what I asked you. I'm not being carried through the snow where we're going in silence.
[He is embarrassed enough already as it is.]
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I usually fly up here, but the snow in my homeland is far worse than this, so I didn't think it would be such a pain to walk. [YOU ARE SOOO DELICATE truly hilarious that he doesn't know Essek can float. I think about it. If it makes Essek feel better, he is also trying extremely hard not to think about touching bare skin. He's so lucky I decided not to inflict 7r Childe on him.] Back when my group was here, I used the lodge to cook for them. I still stop by sometimes to go ice fishing or to skate, if I'm in the mood. I don't mind the main city so much, but I get restless if I don't travel.
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[He struggles with wanting to watch ahead of them as a Type A and wanting to protect his face. The jewelry makes things so much colder; he made a mistake.
Finally, comfort wins out, and he turns his head and hides his face in Childe's neck even if it's as embarrassing as being carried.]
I think you get restless if you aren't busy in general.
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I take plenty of time to rest! [DOES HE?] But I used to go all over Teyvat for missions, and each nation is so different from all the elemental energy... there are plenty of islands around, but most of hell is lava.
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You would enjoy Exandria then. Every territory, every country, every city, every continent is different from the rest. There are leagues of unexplored terrain, especially subterrain, which is filled with secrets.
Yet so many on the surface are simply blinded by their rule for more land.
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He laughs again, though this time it's a little dry.]
I can't say I'm all that surprised to hear it. The borders of our nations are well-established now, but there's a reason we Fatui are so successful in our endeavors despite being so widely hated.
[All the land struggles happened before he was born... but greedy rulers are universal, so he gets the idea.]
I would like to see your world, though. There's nothing like testing your skills against brand new opponents.
[CHILDE CAN YOU BE ROMANTIC FOR FIVE SECONDS]
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This is why I assumed we would be visiting some kind of large fighting arena on an island...
[Can you be romantic for five minutes? Well. He can't say he didn't somewhat enjoy the fight despite actually not being much of a fighter. He's a stealth guy, a break your neck from afar with the Force guy, not a let me slam head first into an enemy guy.
Still, it was nice practice. He lifts his head.]
I want you to teach me how to fight before we leave. Like... physically.
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[Essek can watch Childe slam headfirst into enemies who can take it, how's that... though Childe also enjoyed the fight, he just ended it by showing off because he's an idiot with a crush.
But he blinks, looking down at him.]
Not that I mind, but what brought this on?
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The way he is now asking about fighting, he can't even be groaning this way. So stupid.
He frowns gently.]
I told you. I don't want to be... The power in Aeor. I can't even begin to describe how strong it is, how strange. And Lucien has access to that sort of power. I'm honest when I say I don't think we are going to come out alive, Childe.
But if I can do something... to help my friends if things get dire. I don't want to simply be the wizard standing in the back unable to do anything.
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He softens a little at that, though--not that it's easy to tell from this angle, but maybe Essek can pick up on some sense of understanding and approval through emotionshare, along with some hints of nostalgia. He hasn't said so to Essek, because he's never had to, but... for all that he loves battle itself and the pursuit of strength, he's always had his own reasons for fighting, too. It's something he stresses to anyone who seeks him out for something like this--he won't train anyone who doesn't have a good purpose in mind.
And for all that he talks about having no true allegiances, that he'll put his own agenda above any "sides" or loyalties... well. Not everything he says is strictly true.
He sighs, but it's not directed at Essek.]
It'd be easier if we were in Teyvat. I could give you plenty of things to use that ought to work, even in your world. [Like. He has no control over Visions, of course, or even Abyssal abilities, but that's hardly the only form of power in the world.] But I'll do as much as I can with the time we've got.
[A week isn't exactly ideal for the kind of strength he suspects Essek needs against a foe like that, but... well, Essek has his own fighting style, and friends to support him. He's not like Childe, who generally goes into battle on his own. If nothing else, Childe thinks, he can teach him enough to buy the time he might need in a critical moment, because he isn't selfish enough to hope Essek fails just for the chance to see him again.]
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You would give him... a Delusion? 🥺🤲 Him? He watches what he can see of Childe's face, actually not sure whether Childe would deny him the opportunity or simply accept to gain another chance to spar. Childe can feel the tension in his shoulders and arms relax ever so slightly.]
...Thank you.
[He wouldn't ever be able to explain just how appreciative he is, so he doesn't try. He turns his head to look ahead of them, an attempt to CONCEAL his softness, but it's not like Childe isn't right there.
It's not ideal; there's only a week, and much of that will be them scrambling to do missions, or anything else, or what comes of the threat they received from the damn horse. But all he needs to learn is some basics - no, perhaps the confidence to perform these basics which will buy him enough time to do something better.]
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But he can't do that if he can't get home, so instead they only have this. And it doesn't escape him that Essek has plenty of people he could ask--Childe is far from the only combatant around, and surely not the only one Essek gets along with. It warms him, being trusted with something so important, even if he knows Essek isn't doing anything as extreme as putting the fate of the battle on his shoulders.]
Of course. We can start when we get back. But for now--[He will finally set Essek back down and point!! The lodge is just a little further away, yippee.] Don't worry, it's much warmer in there. And there should be some coats around to wear on the way back down, if I recall.
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Don't just get sentimental on him about the request!! He sinks into the snow a bit as he's put back on his feet, but he goes without any kind of complaint. There is maybe some vibes of him missing the heat of being cuddled against someone, though.]
I never thought we'd reach it.
[WELL. He gestures ahead. He will follow.]
After you.
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Also shut up he will do that. Just because he's being practical about all this doesn't mean there are no emotions, even if he's trying his best to be normal. Ish. NORMAL FOR HIM. Luckily for Essek, there is a cuddle curse drink just waiting to be drunk... or he could hallucinate santa instead. Who's to say.]
So dramatic! It really wasn't that--
[Anyway I rolled a nat 1 so he forgets there's a trap on the way up and falls through a snow pit about 5 feet away from the door. Good job Childe.]
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Well, as Childe suddenly falls down into the snow pit trap, Essek is left behind stunned and also red-handed, holding a nearly packed snowball in his hands which he may or may not had planned to lob at the back of Childe's head.]
Childe!
[The fear that jumps up is a reflex of seeing Childe vanish into the void, and he drops the snowball immediately and stumbles through the snow to where Childe was lost.]
Childe!
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