[ his father stares him down like he's fucken nuts... as do his brothers. what's he doing out in the snow looking like that, first of all, and do they expect them to help? they have enough mouths to feed and food is already tight. why else would they have to brave the snow and ice to fish in such shitty weather? his dad seems about ready to tell him to fuck off, but nicer, when his mother appears. ]
Are you going to let him in? It's freezing out. [ he hastily shoves everybody aside, because you're all rude, and takes scaramouche by the shoulder to show him in. ] Really now... [ she shakes her head, bringing him into the living room and by the roaring fire as she calls for his older sister to fetch a blanket. ] Ajax, don't just stand there, go put the kettle on.
[ his father looks annoyed, mumbling something under his breath before heading out along with his brothers. ]
What were you doing out there dressed like this? Catching a cold would be the least of your worries. You could have frozen to death. [ don't mind his mom... just drowning you in blankets, scara. ]
[ he's completely stunned. Usually, when he's visiting Childe's dream, he makes him aware of his visit immediately. This is the first time he's experiencing a dream and just letting it run its course without interfering, and the more it goes on the more it feels like interfering with it would be wrong.
His mother really is nice. And he doesn't know how to deal with it ]
Ah, I'm sorry for intruding. I'm a traveler from Inazuma. I had hired expert guides to lead me during my visit, but it seems they left our camp at night and took all of my things. I was left with just this to wear, alone in the snowstorm.
You don't have to apologize. Don't you mind my husband. He's just a little rough around the edges. [ at the mention of inazuma ajax pokes his head out from the kitchen. ] Inazuma? You're a long way from home. [ she looks a little stunned to hear that. ] ...oh, oh no, well we can't have you out in the cold in only that. You'll become an icicle in no time. When the storm dies down we'll bring you into town and get you a little something so you can be on your way. It won't be much, but at least you won't freeze. In the meantime you can stay here with us.
[ ajax eventually comes walking out slowly with a steaming mug of tea, offering it to scaramouche. ] It's hot, be careful. [ he's small and doesn't look as 'sturdy' as his brothers, which is probably the reason why his father didn't want him tagging along. ] ...so, you're from Inazuma? [ *v* ]
[ he thanks his mother for the hospitality, but of course Ajax gets his full attention the moment he finally does interact with him. So he really is deep within this dream...
He takes the mug, enjoying the heat and taking a small sip. Then he nods at the question, giving him a small smile ]
...no, [ he shakes his head. ] not really. A few stories here and there, but... I don't know if there's any truth to them. I don't really know much about any of the other nations. Moresopeak is kind of a small town, but... but one day I'm going to travel to all of them! I'll be an adventurer, a hero, somebody they'll tell stories about. [ he seems real excited about all of this, but it swiftly all just kind of... dies. he slumps into the couch and sighs. ] ...if they ever let me.
What, no, [ he hops off the couch and glares at scaramouche. ] I can do it. I know I can and... I bet they know too, they just... don't want me overshadowing them! [ he balls a fist, getting riled up. ]
[ the dream seems to skip from there, and scaramouche will find himself ice fishing with ajax, his brothers, and his father. looks like he manages to convince them to take him along. enjoy freezing out on a lake, scara. it's also boring as hell. ajax is... shivering like crazy, because he tiny baby, and he scoots a little closer to scara. ] I'm going to find the biggest fish, just you watch, ...
[ he's saying that and clearly trying to keep little ajax entertained, but he is looking at his father and brothers, just to see if they have anything to say to baby childe ]
[ his tea is magically beside him. no one else gets tea though. everybody else gets to freeze to death, since they wouldn't have tea. ] What, the fish, ...sure! ah, that... that reminds me. I never got your name. I'm Ajax! though... you probably knew that. [ from everybody yelling it. ]
[ his father looks... a mix of annoyed and worried. his brothers just look annoyed. nobody says anything and instead they keep their heads down, but they're clearly listening to all the nonsense... biting their tongues, most likely. ]
...alright. [ he looks a little disappointed. ] How about I call you... Krasivyi then! [ that gets an immediate look of disapproval from his father. ] Ajax, why don't you come over here? [ grabs for his arm, giving a firm yank, but just as he does so one of the lines to the far left starts moving. ]
I got it! [ ajax tugs away from his father and carefully heads to the hole, taking a hold of the line and slowly starting to reel it in. the fish seems to be resilient, putting up a bit of a fight, so ajax doesn't hear the crack of the ice... ] Almost got it, almost got i-
[ the ice suddenly gives and the entirety of the little fishing set up falls into the frozen lake, ajax included. his father is on his feet in seconds, shouting at his brothers to grab their axes so they can start hacking away at the surrounding ice to make the hole bigger. he's shedding his excess clothing - hat, gloves, coat, scarf - and then diving into the water. ]
[ the dream skips around after that, with scaramouche being shown a number of things, most of it being ajax recovering from being deathly sick while still trying to push himself to do the things his dad and brothers do. he ends up staying at home though... cooking and cleaning with his mother and sister. he doesn't hate it, but he craves more... his father regularly telling him stories to try to sate the appetite he has, since he can't go out to fulfill the need that way. ]
[ eventually scaramouche will find himself in ajax's room, the scrappy little kid putting together a small pack of stuff, because he intends to run away. ]
... Where are you going? It's cold outside, and you just recovered.
[ It's weird, jumping from scene to scene in this dream. But he knows it has to be important, or it wouldn't be on Childe's mind. His presence changes things somewhat, but he's pretty sure these are things that happened to him ]
It's always cold outside. [ he ties his boots tight. ] ...and she'll be fine. You too. [ he grabs a sword he stole from his father. ] You never even gave me your name. [ he affixes the pack he put together to his belt. ] What did you say the first day you stopped by, about my ambition, ..? My ambition is far greater than my body allows. I'm not going to let it stop me. I'm going to become stronger, and I'll do it despite what everybody believes, what everybody things I'm capable of...
Ah, but in the end you're only human. No matter how ambitious you are all that awaits you is the cold bite of death.
[ he crosses his arms at his chest ]
Humans live so little and yet they throw it all away for nothing.
[ well, not nothing. Childe being the way he is is why he loves him. But there is something different about seeing him being reckless, when he was still so young ]
...it is not for nothing. How can you say you lived if you don't do anything. I'm not going to live just sitting around here. I'm going to become the hero I know I was destined to be, with or without anybody's help. [ he finishes bundling himself up and then he opens the window, a crisp breeze blowing in and nipping at the both of them. ] Maybe when I'm older, much bigger and stronger, I'll come visit you in Inazuma. [ and with that... he climbs out the window, hurrying through the snow before anybody's got a chance to realize he's leaving. it'd be a shame to get caught so early. ]
[ scaramouche is left sitting on his bed in the chilly room for a lot longer than he may expect, the dream not skipping immediately... eventually though, it does jump, and he'll get to see ajax fending off a pack of wolves in the snowy snezhnayan woods, hurrying along and trying not to become a snack... but he trips, tumbling into a small ditch, the ground crumbling before his eyes before just opening up and swallows him whole... ]
[ do you want to follow him into the abyss, scara? ]
[ is that really a question. He wants to know what's up with this dream, why this is important to Childe. So he follows, though he's cheating and just floating down there ]
[ scaramouche is going to find him looking like shit, his clothes torn, his face covered in dirt, blood, cuts & scrapes. he's clutched that sword of his, hands trembling as he sits tucked in a corner trying to huddle for warmth. the atmosphere in the abyss is oppressive, like the air, itself, is trying to choke you with each breath of it you take. it wears on you, your mental state draining the longer you stick around, until either the monsters kill you or it drives you mad and you kill yourself. ajax has been down here for a week already... a heap of meat to his side from some monster he killed. it smells foul, tastes even worse, but it is what it is. he can't afford to start a fire, not when it's lurking nearby, so he just sits there, quiet, trying not to let his teeth chatter too loudly. ]
[ he shouldn't interfere with the dream, but he does. He doesn't know Childe is trying to avoid getting caught, so he does manifest a fire right in front of him, warm - but also bright ]
[ ajax startles as soon as a fire just kind of... pops in out of nowhere. not to mention there's a guy suddenly there too. talking to him. his sword is up and, to his credit, he doesn't immediately stab scaramouche. he's guarded though, looking like a cornered wild animal. ]
W- What are you talking about? What are you doing here? [ his throat is raw, since he hasn't really drank anything recently... but also from crying and yelling and just being so god damn tired. ] And what are you doing? [ he's quick to kick dirt on the fire. ] Trying to get us killed? It's around here. [ he manages to put the fire out, but the wisps of smoke seem to have gotten the monster's attention. it howls, causing the entire cavern to quake, and ajax quietly curses... grabbing scaramouche's hand to yank him away. they need to get the hell out of there. ]
[ he squeezes scaramouche's hand a little tighter at the question. ] I, I don't know. I don't know. [ he continues to tug him along until his mind seems to give them some reprieve, the chase just ending abruptly... and leaving them in the relative silence of the abyss. he keeps a hold of scara's hand, but he doesn't turn to look back at him. ]
I don't know where I am or... or anything. I just know that, I have to survive. If I don't, then I... I won't be able to see my family again. [ assuming he can ever find a way back. ] You're the first person I've seen down here. [ he's pretty sure there's somebody else down here, that's been... stalking him, but he can neither confirm nor deny it at this very moment. ] There's other weird creatures, not really human... but human... like. They're not friendly though. [ ... ] You... won't leave, right?
[ It's so strange to see Childe like this. Vulnerable and scared. He's weak to the sight, not just because it's Childe but because he looks so young now, so fragile ]
[ he blinks, looking at their joined hands, and then back up at scaramouche. ] No. [ he squeezes his hand again, tightly, as tightly as he can manage. ] I feel like I can trust you, and you’re making it a little bit more bearable down here… like, like it doesn’t hurt as much.
[ feels his teenage boy heart jump, looking aside as his cheeks flush. the nickname he gave to scaramouche on the lake was beautiful, so he’s always had a thing for him, whether he’s realized it or not. ]
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childeishly) wrote2022-09-08 09:36 am
Re: 502 night
Are you going to let him in? It's freezing out. [ he hastily shoves everybody aside, because you're all rude, and takes scaramouche by the shoulder to show him in. ] Really now... [ she shakes her head, bringing him into the living room and by the roaring fire as she calls for his older sister to fetch a blanket. ] Ajax, don't just stand there, go put the kettle on.
[ his father looks annoyed, mumbling something under his breath before heading out along with his brothers. ]
What were you doing out there dressed like this? Catching a cold would be the least of your worries. You could have frozen to death. [ don't mind his mom... just drowning you in blankets, scara. ]
Re: 502 night
His mother really is nice. And he doesn't know how to deal with it ]
Ah, I'm sorry for intruding. I'm a traveler from Inazuma. I had hired expert guides to lead me during my visit, but it seems they left our camp at night and took all of my things. I was left with just this to wear, alone in the snowstorm.
I didn't know where to go.
Re: 502 night
[ ajax eventually comes walking out slowly with a steaming mug of tea, offering it to scaramouche. ] It's hot, be careful. [ he's small and doesn't look as 'sturdy' as his brothers, which is probably the reason why his father didn't want him tagging along. ] ...so, you're from Inazuma? [ *v* ]
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He takes the mug, enjoying the heat and taking a small sip. Then he nods at the question, giving him a small smile ]
Yes, that's right. Have you heard a lot about it?
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[ the dream seems to skip from there, and scaramouche will find himself ice fishing with ajax, his brothers, and his father. looks like he manages to convince them to take him along. enjoy freezing out on a lake, scara. it's also boring as hell. ajax is... shivering like crazy, because he tiny baby, and he scoots a little closer to scara. ] I'm going to find the biggest fish, just you watch, ...
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If you do that, will you dedicate it to me?
[ he's saying that and clearly trying to keep little ajax entertained, but he is looking at his father and brothers, just to see if they have anything to say to baby childe ]
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[ his father looks... a mix of annoyed and worried. his brothers just look annoyed. nobody says anything and instead they keep their heads down, but they're clearly listening to all the nonsense... biting their tongues, most likely. ]
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I got it! [ ajax tugs away from his father and carefully heads to the hole, taking a hold of the line and slowly starting to reel it in. the fish seems to be resilient, putting up a bit of a fight, so ajax doesn't hear the crack of the ice... ] Almost got it, almost got i-
[ the ice suddenly gives and the entirety of the little fishing set up falls into the frozen lake, ajax included. his father is on his feet in seconds, shouting at his brothers to grab their axes so they can start hacking away at the surrounding ice to make the hole bigger. he's shedding his excess clothing - hat, gloves, coat, scarf - and then diving into the water. ]
[ the dream skips around after that, with scaramouche being shown a number of things, most of it being ajax recovering from being deathly sick while still trying to push himself to do the things his dad and brothers do. he ends up staying at home though... cooking and cleaning with his mother and sister. he doesn't hate it, but he craves more... his father regularly telling him stories to try to sate the appetite he has, since he can't go out to fulfill the need that way. ]
[ eventually scaramouche will find himself in ajax's room, the scrappy little kid putting together a small pack of stuff, because he intends to run away. ]
Re: 502 night
[ It's weird, jumping from scene to scene in this dream. But he knows it has to be important, or it wouldn't be on Childe's mind. His presence changes things somewhat, but he's pretty sure these are things that happened to him ]
Your mother will be worried. I'll cry, too.
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[ he crosses his arms at his chest ]
Humans live so little and yet they throw it all away for nothing.
[ well, not nothing. Childe being the way he is is why he loves him. But there is something different about seeing him being reckless, when he was still so young ]
Re: 502 night
[ scaramouche is left sitting on his bed in the chilly room for a lot longer than he may expect, the dream not skipping immediately... eventually though, it does jump, and he'll get to see ajax fending off a pack of wolves in the snowy snezhnayan woods, hurrying along and trying not to become a snack... but he trips, tumbling into a small ditch, the ground crumbling before his eyes before just opening up and swallows him whole... ]
[ do you want to follow him into the abyss, scara? ]
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What a strange dream you're having.
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W- What are you talking about? What are you doing here? [ his throat is raw, since he hasn't really drank anything recently... but also from crying and yelling and just being so god damn tired. ] And what are you doing? [ he's quick to kick dirt on the fire. ] Trying to get us killed? It's around here. [ he manages to put the fire out, but the wisps of smoke seem to have gotten the monster's attention. it howls, causing the entire cavern to quake, and ajax quietly curses... grabbing scaramouche's hand to yank him away. they need to get the hell out of there. ]
Come on, this way!
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[ he does follow, running right behind Childe, not letting go of his hand ]
I really don't like this place.
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I don't know where I am or... or anything. I just know that, I have to survive. If I don't, then I... I won't be able to see my family again. [ assuming he can ever find a way back. ] You're the first person I've seen down here. [ he's pretty sure there's somebody else down here, that's been... stalking him, but he can neither confirm nor deny it at this very moment. ] There's other weird creatures, not really human... but human... like. They're not friendly though. [ ... ] You... won't leave, right?
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But I'm not human either.
Won't you be worried I'll end up devouring you?
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Did you… want to devour me or something?
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[ he squeezes his hand, and then brings it to his lips to kiss ]
Has it been hard for you, being here all alone?
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[ feels his teenage boy heart jump, looking aside as his cheeks flush. the nickname he gave to scaramouche on the lake was beautiful, so he’s always had a thing for him, whether he’s realized it or not. ]
I don’t like being alone…
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