childeishly | 🐳 imeeji; inbox.

Well. It doesn't take much, so I could do it now if you'd like.

Nah, not now. I don't want to spoil my appetite. I have a long list of different foods I want to make! Like vareniki, beef stroganoff, and chicken kiev... at least as far as the Snezhnayan dishes go. I started on Xiansheng's bamboo shoot soup and I also thought making jade parcels could be nice too. I can show off how well I've gotten with chopsticks!

Should I ask for spoilers or is that going to have to be a surprise for me too?

[ presses five into the counter and pins him in place. ] I could think of a special dessert for you and only you, sensei, but that might have to wait for another night.

[ Oh. Why is spending time with this guy always so dangerous! Once again his face goes red and it's clear it's his mind going to the gutter this time, and with Childe pinning him in place like that it's even easier for his thoughts to wander ]

—I was talking about your progress with chopsticks, but the dessert will be, uh.

Appreciated.

[ kisses the side of his head. ]

...oho, but as far as the chopsticks it'll be a surprise for you too. I *have* been practicing! and I think you'll be impressed, but do refrain from stabbing me in the eyes. I think that'd make for a piss poor date. [ snickers. ]

But, anyway!, where do you want to start? We've got a lot on the docket.

[ how dare he be cute after torturing him ]

You're the chef, I'm the assistant. I can cook but to be honest what I can do is pretty basic.

Alright, follow my lead, sensei. [ he steps back and disappears for a moment before returning with an equally cute apron which he ties around five’s waist before he has time to protest. ] Look at you, haha.

[ he then starts rambling about whatever dish he’s working on at the time, switching between them seamlessly. he definitely feels comfortable in the kitchen, and its probably obvious with how he moves around and performs. ]

[ it's a testament to how much he likes Childe that he lets him put him into a cute apron and doesn't protest much beyond some grumbling. But he'll be a good assistant, listening to instructions and all the details about each dish - not as comfortable as Childe is in the kitchen, but definitely a quick learned ]

I used to cook with my mother, … [ said quietly. ] Making all sorts of food for my siblings, since it was a lot for just one person. I mentioned I had a lot of siblings, yeah, and my father was often sick…

[ he'd mentioned his siblings before, but not his parents, so this is news for him ]

... I see. So you used to help taking care of your family.

[ which explains why he wanted to take care of him, if that's how he felt useful before ]

…yeah. My older siblings took jobs as soon as my father fell ill and my sister starting helping my mom around the house, but there were just so many of us that I couldnt leave it to just here. And even when I joined the ranks of the Fatui I still sent stuff back; mora, gifts, and medicine. I might not be able to be there for them, but that didnt abstain me from my resposibility to them. Family means a lot to me… [ smiles down at the veges he’s chopping. ] And I have to make sure they’ll be well to do when I’m gone.

... Well. I guess your job does seem to be dangerous, so that makes sense. But I'm pretty sure they'd rather have you there instead, so don't die.

Haha. Collecting debt from low-life scum isn’t *that* big of a deal. [ … ] Maybe. [ he stops what he’s doing for a half a second, hesitating, but he gets right back to it. ] My father conscripted me into the Fatui at 14 because I caused nothing but problems back home. Picking fights and starting shit… he thought it’d help. It… did and it didn’t. I made short work of a number of trained soldiers and caught the eye of one of the Tsarita’s Harbingers and they nurtured my chaotic nature. [ he doesn’t necessarily resent him, since he got to fight and kill and all that, but he knows he disappointed him. ] I don’t know what’s going to happen when we inevitably all go to war, but I’m sure I won’t make it through that… and not for lack of strength and cunning. [ smirks. ] …you know the Foul Legacy transformation I showed you?

… I remember it, yes. What about it?

I fell into something called the abyss as a kid - a dark world beneath Teyvat filled with all sorts of creatures. It’s a cursed place that most people don’t get to see let alone like to talk about…

I learned that technique there, from my master, and my resilience along with her teachings are, of course, that helped me to survive. [ he’s stopped doing anything else by this point, eyes staring through the counter. ] But you don’t go to the abyss and get out, at least not unscathed, …and using the technique puts a dangerous strain on my body. One day I may not be in control when I transform… back home, of course. [ here it’s already a shit show. ]

So that's what's been haunting you singe you got here.

[ None of that sounds good, but of course the implication he's not only likely to die in the war but to lose control of himself the more he uses this technique, well. doesn't make him happy ]

And I imagine not using it is just not an option.

...the nightmare I got from Lilith had to do with the Abyss and then I foolishly thought I could take my mind off of it with a trip to the Escape Room, but that turned into another nightmare when it ended up plunging all of us into something resembling the Abyss. It's been weighing heavily on my mind since all of that. I normally don't think or talk about it, because there's really no point. It's a thing that happened, I made it through, and I've only become stronger since...

But I supposes it's gotten more difficult to keep my thoughts from wandering. [ he turns to look at five and laughs. ] I'm doomed no matter what, so I may as well use it when I absolutely have to.

You're not going to die. I'm going to find a solution. There's no way I'm going to just let you go like that.

[ there's the other part he needs to address, but that's his immediate, knee-jerk reaction. Surely this is yet another puzzle he can solve. Surely if he tries he can solve it. ]

[ wow, ok, that's... not something he'd been expecting. he just stares at five, unblinking, his face coloring a bit, but he's quick to look away. ]

You... don't have to expend your energy on me, sensei. It's something I've already come to terms with. [ maybe. probably. kind of. ]

Well I haven’t, and I’m going to find a solution.

If you’re not opposed to stop aging it might even be relatively simple.

[ stop. making. him. HAVE FEELINGS. ]

...

[ goes back to chopping veges in a pathetic attempt to distract himself. ]

What do you mean?

Well I'm stuck in time, forever thirteen until i find a solution for that.

In my case it was an accident. But I know exactly what part of the formula I used caused this so I can't see why I wouldn't be able to recreate it intentionally for someone else.

If what happened to you is causing some sort of deterioration, or using it is making your health worse, this would simply have you stuck in time.

But I can -- look it over when I'm slightly less emotional and with more time to consider all factors.

I… I suppose that’s one solution to it. [ he didn’t think there’s be any solution, if he’s being honest. ] …it’d be difficult to explain to my family. [ but exceedingly more difficult to have to watch all of them die. ]

…hey. [ turns, grabbing for five and yanking him into himself for a hug. ] Have I ever told you how much you mean to me?

[ he knows watching your entire family die and never die of old age is not exactly a good scenario but right now he can't focus on that. At the hug he's surprised but eventually he returns it, quiet for a moment ]

More or less. You've shown it plenty, though.

[ a pause, then he adds ]

Sorry. With all this I hadn't even acknowledged your nightmare.

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