childeishly | 🍒 popdrop; inbox.

[He hesitates, but he does take it! And he does, actually, look a little guilty.]

...Honestly, I don't truly understand what about you gets me so riled up.

[It's just... something! Something about Childe's personality that's both attractive and repellant, that makes Kaeya want to flirt but also makes him want to stab him. He can acknowledge, internally at least, that he's been unusually volatile.]

[ helps him up and then takes his hand back and shrugs. ] I'm afraid I can't help you with that one, though perhaps it's because we're not all that different in how we carry ourselves. I suppose that could be infuriating in a way.

But I'm used to being hated. Comes with being a member of the Fatui.

[Pavo... goes quiet, for a few moments. He dusts himself off, adjusts his outfit, but really he's weighing his options. To Childe, doing things for others' sake may not be a factor, but to Kaeya it is. Sometimes.

Noctua likes Cheri. Diluc likes Childe. And so if Pavo continues to be a pain in the ass, it'll only bring trouble to the one person who means more to him than the whole world. So he needs to be willing to reach out and smooth things over.

...Besides. Childe & Zhongli are like, A Thing, and Zhongli was so incredibly good to Kaeya's heart in ways he desperately needed that he's finding he doesn't really want to make trouble for him, either. At least, not while they're in fairy hell.

So yeah he's being fueled entirely by other people and somehow he's warming up to TWO ARCHONS but whatever.]

...You know, before you tried to change the subject to seduction, I was trying to open up to you. Which, by the way, is a privilege.

[ a privilege... hah! childe has to keep from laughing aloud like a heartless asshole. and people think HE has an ego. ]

[ he starts to mill around the area as he folds his arms behind his head. ] I asked an innocent question! since you'd said my face gained some appeal. How could I not be curious about that, hm?

You were about as innocent as every other man who's put me between him and a hard place.

[In other words that was NOT INNOCENT AT ALL.]

Especially given what happened last time I gave in to that "appeal".

...yeah, well, [ a pause and then, ] my apologies for that, if nothing else. I let things escalate a lot further than I had originally anticipated, and I'll admit that certainly did add a significant amount of tension to whatever "relationship" we might have had at the time.

We were both exceedingly drunk, and I'm the one who crossed a line. I don't blame you for what happened there, but I'm trying to be delicate with how I proceed this time.

[Huffs and folds his arms, leaning back against his tree again.]

I was going to ask you if you know why I, in particular, find it hard to tolerate Fatui.

Does it have to do with another Harbinger? [ because, if so, he has an idea, though he doesn't know *all* the details. ]

...mm, well, I also crossed a line, and I don't plan on taking this to that sort of an extreme again. [ he needs to stop using his foul legacy often... ] We should probably avoid getting completely shitfaced during these little... get togethers.

Probably wise. And yes, it is another harbinger, sort of. Your "doctor" caused some problems, though I don't know if he was solely responsible.

...As I've told you. Before being Noctua's lover, I was a ward of his family's house. What happened there is something I will never, ever forgive. I really didn't think he'd trust you more easily than I do, all things considered, but he does, and that... that's probably a good thing. I don't want to see him trap himself in the dark forever.

[ dottore. ] ...not that you care, probably, but most of us Harbingers hate each other. I would never tell him to his face, but that sick bastard freaks me out. [ and he'd probably be delighted to know he makes childe uneasy. but, honestly, childe half expects to wake up strapped to a fucken lab table given that dude's sick obsession with... EVERYTHING. ]

I might be a Fatui Harbinger, but I don't really consider myself a piece of shit. A bit of an asshole, sure, but... there's a difference. [ cracks a small smile. ] Maybe he could tell. [ shrugs. ] If it makes you feel anybody I don't plan to purposely hurt him while I'm here.

...It should make me feel better, but it doesn't. Still, I acknowledge that's my own problem, not a true measure of your honesty. But... I've watched Noctua's back for most of my life, so if he makes a mistake, I'll be there to protect him. So I can't trust you, no matter how genuine you seem.

[looking away for a moment, then back with a sigh]

But, again, that's a Pavo problem. And of course, I don't expect you to trust me. I am a professional liar, after all. But I did want to explain myself honestly this once.

...that’s fair. I mean, I get it, and I certainly can’t guarantee I’ll as play nice when we’re all back home. I’ll have the Tsaritsa and all that to think about. [ and put above almost everything. ] But for now if you’re willing to start over, then I can agree to a truce.

[ a bit of a laugh. ] Oh, I don’t trust anybody. [ not fully anyway. that bit him in the ass once before and he’s only just gotten over it, sort of, but he’s definitely keeping his guard up. ] But I appreciate your cutting the bullshit just this once.

Thank you for acknowledging it.

[Because being honest is fucking hard.]

Now, is there anything else you wanted to get into?

...

[ tries to resist. tries to fucken resist. ]

Your pants. [ THIS IS YOUR FAULT YOU SET HIM UP. ]

[ to his credit he manages to keep a straight face. ]

[...wait]

[just. this face for several long, silent moments]

[and then he just starts laughing, quite hard]

Ahahahaha! Of course. I left a fatal opening that time, didn't I?

You have no one to blame but yourself for that response. [ stifles a chuckle. ]

But more seriously... hm. Did you still want a little distraction?

[On the one hand: that would be ILL-ADVISED AT THIS POINT, and also he's been gay at two Dilucs in a row before this and may be a little worn out.

On the other: heart game induced sexual magnetism and Kaeya's a ho.]

Hmm... I wouldn't want to make things too boring for you. How about we wager on a battle?

...hm. [ he's not going to say no to a fight, but he can pretend he needs to give it some thought. ]

And what specifically do you want if you win? [ because if the answer is not to do anything, then he's not going to engage at all. he wants kaeya to be interested in some fashion, and not just giving himself to him because he won a fight. ]

If I win, you leave yourself at my mercy. If you win, I leave myself at yours. Either way, we'll have some fun. ♥

[Physically violently fight him for topping rights Childe.]

...promise not to freeze me to the bed again too and we have a deal.

Oh, don't worry. I already gave my word about that to someone I'll actually keep it for. No leaving you alone in awkward positions.

[ slaps him in the face with a water tentacle as he manifests a polearm; sparks dancing along it as he gives it a swirl. ] I hope you're ready to lose. [ and with that he lunges at kaeya, sweeping low to knock him off balance. ]

[Wow rude way to start?!]

Personally I think this is a win/win situation for us both, don't you?

[He dodges that first sweep, and retaliates with a spray of icicles -- but his reaction times are definitely slower than usual. There's a certain sluggishness, mental more than physical, his thoughts still just a bit foggy even though he's mostly regained himself.]

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(I am sorry I disappeared all month, feel free to drop things if they're too late)

you're fine ♥! this month i was gone in popdrop too

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