[ That's good because unlike Mora he seems reasonable. ]
If you rip your arm off you'll need actual medical care and I only know basic first aid Mora, I'm not going to be able to stitch you up again. Get a SensitIV.
I don't plan on ripping it off...! Just... severing the connection it's made between me and myself. I'll just need a few stitches. [ probably. ] But the entire reason I'm doing this is to avoid sensitIV. [ even though he shouldn't, since siv and wc are extremely close, but he just doesn't want to have to rely on them. ]
Let me see it ag- [ his gazes becomes distant all of a sudden and he wriggles backward and away from five, pupils dilating as he stares at something that's most definitely *not* there. like before he hisses, trying to scare whatever it is away, but it doesn't seem to be working. ]
[ childe edges back ward and coils part of himself around a potted plant... squeezing its base until it bursts. dirt explodes all over him, the plant inside toppling over and bonking his head. he freaks immediately and lashes out, almost biting five. ]
[ the dreary scenery around him starts to fade though, bringing him back to the lush garden on wild city's balcony. he blinks, flushed and tiny little snake heart thrumming in his chest. his head is pounding and another crack appears in his fatui mask. ] ...do you have a pen?
[ there should be no reason for his mask to crack any further, it didn't hit anything. But Mora is clearly distressed so it seems to react to his emotion.
For now, he keeps that to himself and hands him the pen ]
If Zhongli agrees to it then you may come to Taisho and I can see what we can do about stitching you up.
For now, this should provide you some relief. Go rest after, Mora.
Wait, no - that's not why he's here. He's here because Childe has disappeared again even though he knows he starts hallucinating whenever he gets too far away. ]
[ childe is a giant snake ball made of anxiety that's currently having a panic attack, because in attempt to make things better he made things worse. WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT. as soon as zhongli joins them on the balcony he perks up... or at least he tries to. ] Xiansheng! [ his entire body trembles, because he can't really lift his head, but, hey, he tried. ] Five is here to help. I asked him to drop by [ literally. ] so we can make a contract. If the pain goes away then I can fix this. I don't need anybody elses help. [ he says, getting somebody elses help. shhhh, now's not the time for brains. ]
[ There is so much here to unpack as Zhongli at least makes an effort to graciously accept the contract from Five. Hopeful even that Childe might be willing to try something after so adamantly turning away the healers.
Until he sees the requirements. And the punishment for breaking the contract. ]
I see.
Unfortunately I do not believe him to be in a well enough mental state for him to not sign out of duress.
But perhaps...
[ And he trails off for a moment. ]
Thank you. This gives me an idea.
Do you need to be present if he does eventually agree to these terms?
[ he's just looking at Childe who's very clearly losing it over there ]
No, I already activated the ability in the contract itself and the signature is there. But it can't be modified by anyone other than me, or it won't work. If he puts his signature in it'll activate.
[ a pause, and then he sighs ]
I don't know what kinda mental effect he's suffering from other than the obvious but he's clearly not well and the more this goes on the more his mask is cracking. He said he's in severe pain so the contract might help with the physical part of it but I suspect it's not going to be enough.
And yet I appreciate you getting involved all the same. As you can see, he can be very stubborn.
[ Zhongli moves to sit next to Childe, one hand reassuringly stroking his scaled skin in an attempt to calm him. ]
Caeli.
[ And he activates Buddy System.
And sure - Zhongli is suffering from his own status effects such as an immeasurable guilt and fear that he has allowed Liyue to fall to ruin with his absence and his choices. And a constant throbbing pain of crystals deeply embedded in his skin which is less physically painful than more a constant stress that he might lose himself to a corruption. All things Childe should already know.
But mostly there is 6000 years of calm and collectiveness and compartmentalization of being able to focus solely on the problem immediately at hand. A solid foundation of earth if you will - that Childe can take shelter in and momentarily escape from whatever pain and demons are chasing him in his mind. That this retired god still has the ability to take the burdens of his people and lead them toward something better.
And there is the swirl of newer more personal (mortal?) emotions that he does not want to see Childe in pain like this anymore. ]
You have two options. One you can agree and abide to Valour's contract and all its stipulations. Please think about the consequences carefully if you choose this.
Or I'm taking you back to the healers right now.
[ Ah yes. There is also the finality that Zhongli is not going to allow Childe frankly to be a stubborn child about this any longer. ]
[ as soon as zhongli activates buddy system and the connection between them forms he's going to immediately be assaulted by a choking darkness that he might not have necessarily expected. it attacks all of the senses simultaneously and tries to subdue him, taking the form of a number of fiendish abyss monsters whose overbearing and downright wicked presence he probably hasn't felt for years. childe feels like he's drowning... struggling against a current that just won't let up and he's growing more and more tired as the seconds turn to minutes and the minutes to to hours - which is what is inevitably leading to the destruction of his mask. zhongli's presence most definitely helps, acting as a life preserver and giving him some form of reprieve, so he can finally rest a little. he clings to it, still fighting to escape the darkness that wants nothing more than to tear him apart, but zhongli is there and ready and willing to help, so... it's fine. it'll be fine. ]
[ childe calms down enough to change back into a human; though obviously he's still sporting his fox ears & tail, because of 10% furry. ]
What do you think I should do... [ looks at zhongli and then looks at five. ]
[ ... Well. He definitely feels like he's out of place now. So he's going to stand there awkwardly because he's not sure if he should leave or not, until Childe actually addresses me ]
The contract will be annoying to follow but it's up to you to find loopholes to exploit. I also didn't specify a timeframe for it but I'll undo it once you no longer need it.
But to be honest getting a healer's attention and getting them to numb your pain is probably better. Technically speaking there's no difference in getting help from me and getting help from SensitIV.
I don't trust them either but they're not actually likely to ask you for something in return.
[ Sorry, Five. Zhongli is oblivious to how uncomfortable this must be for him.
His expression goes carefully blank when Childe's emotions hit him back full force, surprised by their sheer intensity. But Zhongli's own emotions do not react more than that outside of the small feeling of relief when Childe reverts to his human form. ]
As Valour has stated, my experience with the healers is that they ask for naught in return. But you also harbor a mistrust for them that I admittedly do not understand.
[ he grabs at his bad arm and scrapes his nails along the disgusting skin pocket... nails sharpening and turning into claws as he starts trying to slice through it without bringing much attention to himself. ]
...sure, they heal us now, but what happens when they decide that they don't want to anymore? And nobody knows how to do jack shit because they've all become so helpless and dependent? And it's not like this is *that* bad. [ he tries to keep from visibly wincing but it's difficult. s- shit. ] O- Or what if something like this happened to the healers? What then? There's more than one solution to a problem.
No one is saying you have to rely on them exclusively. But they are around right this moment and they are taking patients so, just take advantage of that. I grant that a lot of people here are complete idiots but I'm not, if I'm telling you you should get a goddamn healer it's because you should get a goddamn healer.
The contract will take the pain away but it won't heal you. So any actual damage will remain.
[ he's getting it from five to his face and from zhongli through their bond. fff. he goes silent and looks between the both of them... his fox ears going flat and his tail going limp like he's been scolded, because THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT'S HAPPENED. his anxiety starts spiking in waves as he thinks about having something/someone he's not the least bit familiar with cut into him... thoughts swirling as the abyss surrounds him and inevitably swallows him up again. ]
I'm going back to Taisho. You have the contract if you end up needing it after whatever sensitIV is going to do to you. Text me if either of you need anything.
...mm. [ nods in five's direction and looks aside, still scraping his claws along the skin connecting his arm to his torso. ] Need me to turn you in- ah, nevermind. [ and he's gone. ]
[ HE APPRECIATES THAT ZHONGLI. he's trying to keep a lid on it, but it continues spiking every few moments despite his best efforts. ]
[ can he vibrate out of his skin now? seems like a good time. ]
...you heard him mention it, yeah, my mask? [ he carefully slides a hand up toward it. ] s'Kinda hard to miss how busted it's become. I don't know what exactly is causing it, but... I get the feeling that if they start poking and prodding me these nightmares are going to start messing with me to the point where it just... breaks. I don't know what'll happen when it breaks, Xiansheng. I'm not sure I want to find out.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
childeishly) wrote2021-02-25 12:10 pm
Re: 350 night
[ That's good because unlike Mora he seems reasonable. ]
If you rip your arm off you'll need actual medical care and I only know basic first aid Mora, I'm not going to be able to stitch you up again. Get a SensitIV.
But yes, I'll be in Taisho.
Now. Will you sign the contract or not?
Re: 350 night
Let me see it ag- [ his gazes becomes distant all of a sudden and he wriggles backward and away from five, pupils dilating as he stares at something that's most definitely *not* there. like before he hisses, trying to scare whatever it is away, but it doesn't seem to be working. ]
Re: 350 night
It's not real, Mora. Whatever you're seeing now is not truly there.
Re: 350 night
[ the dreary scenery around him starts to fade though, bringing him back to the lush garden on wild city's balcony. he blinks, flushed and tiny little snake heart thrumming in his chest. his head is pounding and another crack appears in his fatui mask. ] ...do you have a pen?
Re: 350 night
For now, he keeps that to himself and hands him the pen ]
If Zhongli agrees to it then you may come to Taisho and I can see what we can do about stitching you up.
For now, this should provide you some relief. Go rest after, Mora.
Re: 350 night
Wait, no - that's not why he's here. He's here because Childe has disappeared again even though he knows he starts hallucinating whenever he gets too far away. ]
Caeli. Where are---!?
[ Oh, now Childe is a giant snake. Lovely.
And is that--- ]
Valour?
Re: 350 night
devilgod of contracts. ][ childe is a giant snake ball made of anxiety that's currently having a panic attack, because in attempt to make things better he made things worse. WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT. as soon as zhongli joins them on the balcony he perks up... or at least he tries to. ] Xiansheng! [ his entire body trembles, because he can't really lift his head, but, hey, he tried. ] Five is here to help. I asked him to drop by [ literally. ] so we can make a contract. If the pain goes away then I can fix this. I don't need anybody elses help. [ he says, getting somebody elses help. shhhh, now's not the time for brains. ]
Re: 350 night
[ making a vague gesture toward Childe ]
I mentioned I could craft a contract to take his sense of pain away, but he's convinced himself he can cut himself open like that.
[ he's just going to walk up to Zhongli and give him the contract so he can check it ]
I'm leaving him to you.
Re: 350 night
Until he sees the requirements. And the punishment for breaking the contract. ]
I see.
Unfortunately I do not believe him to be in a well enough mental state for him to not sign out of duress.
But perhaps...
[ And he trails off for a moment. ]
Thank you. This gives me an idea.
Do you need to be present if he does eventually agree to these terms?
Re: 350 night
[ his grip tightens on the pen until he just snaps it in two, another crack forming in his Fatui mask. ] N- No one has to know.
Re: 350 night
No, I already activated the ability in the contract itself and the signature is there. But it can't be modified by anyone other than me, or it won't work. If he puts his signature in it'll activate.
[ a pause, and then he sighs ]
I don't know what kinda mental effect he's suffering from other than the obvious but he's clearly not well and the more this goes on the more his mask is cracking. He said he's in severe pain so the contract might help with the physical part of it but I suspect it's not going to be enough.
Not that any of it is my business.
Re: 350 night
And yet I appreciate you getting involved all the same. As you can see, he can be very stubborn.
[ Zhongli moves to sit next to Childe, one hand reassuringly stroking his scaled skin in an attempt to calm him. ]
Caeli.
[ And he activates Buddy System.
And sure - Zhongli is suffering from his own status effects such as an immeasurable guilt and fear that he has allowed Liyue to fall to ruin with his absence and his choices. And a constant throbbing pain of crystals deeply embedded in his skin which is less physically painful than more a constant stress that he might lose himself to a corruption. All things Childe should already know.
But mostly there is 6000 years of calm and collectiveness and compartmentalization of being able to focus solely on the problem immediately at hand. A solid foundation of earth if you will - that Childe can take shelter in and momentarily escape from whatever pain and demons are chasing him in his mind. That this retired god still has the ability to take the burdens of his people and lead them toward something better.
And there is the swirl of newer more personal (mortal?) emotions that he does not want to see Childe in pain like this anymore. ]
You have two options. One you can agree and abide to Valour's contract and all its stipulations. Please think about the consequences carefully if you choose this.
Or I'm taking you back to the healers right now.
[ Ah yes. There is also the finality that Zhongli is not going to allow Childe frankly to be a stubborn child about this any longer. ]
Re: 350 night
[ childe calms down enough to change back into a human; though obviously he's still sporting his fox ears & tail, because of 10% furry. ]
What do you think I should do... [ looks at zhongli and then looks at five. ]
Re: 350 night
The contract will be annoying to follow but it's up to you to find loopholes to exploit. I also didn't specify a timeframe for it but I'll undo it once you no longer need it.
But to be honest getting a healer's attention and getting them to numb your pain is probably better. Technically speaking there's no difference in getting help from me and getting help from SensitIV.
I don't trust them either but they're not actually likely to ask you for something in return.
Re: 350 night
His expression goes carefully blank when Childe's emotions hit him back full force, surprised by their sheer intensity. But Zhongli's own emotions do not react more than that outside of the small feeling of relief when Childe reverts to his human form. ]
As Valour has stated, my experience with the healers is that they ask for naught in return. But you also harbor a mistrust for them that I admittedly do not understand.
I only ask that you choose one or the other.
Re: 350 night
...sure, they heal us now, but what happens when they decide that they don't want to anymore? And nobody knows how to do jack shit because they've all become so helpless and dependent? And it's not like this is *that* bad. [ he tries to keep from visibly wincing but it's difficult. s- shit. ] O- Or what if something like this happened to the healers? What then? There's more than one solution to a problem.
Re: 350 night
The contract will take the pain away but it won't heal you. So any actual damage will remain.
Re: 350 night
Also the white lies are not making him feel great about that contract. And Childe will probably feel that. ]
Additionally, if you are serious about freeing your arm, they probably have better tools than what we can provide here.
You should not feel that this any different from getting medicine from Bubu Pharmacy.
Re: 350 night
[ he's getting it from five to his face and from zhongli through their bond. fff. he goes silent and looks between the both of them... his fox ears going flat and his tail going limp like he's been scolded, because THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT'S HAPPENED. his anxiety starts spiking in waves as he thinks about having something/someone he's not the least bit familiar with cut into him... thoughts swirling as the abyss surrounds him and inevitably swallows him up again. ]
Fine.
Re: 350 night
I'm going back to Taisho. You have the contract if you end up needing it after whatever sensitIV is going to do to you. Text me if either of you need anything.
Re: 350 night
The underlying reasons are starting to leak out.
He politely is not going to say anything in front of Five. ]
Thank you, Valour. We will be sure to do so.
Re: 350 night
Re: 350 night
[ HE APPRECIATES THAT ZHONGLI. he's trying to keep a lid on it, but it continues spiking every few moments despite his best efforts. ]
[ can he vibrate out of his skin now? seems like a good time. ]
Re: 350 night
He places a hand on Childe's good forearm and tries to keep his own emotions calm and tranquil through the bond during the process. ]
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