chiscara.

[childeishly]

chiscara.

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[childeishly]

[ he opens it fully for the first time, and unlike his dull blue eye it’s bright purple. ] I’d hate to lose my reminder of you, Yuuri. I’ll take care not to lose it.

---

[ several years pass and the abyss situation in snezhnaya has gotten worse, with the land having almost been completely ravaged by heralds and monsters alike. his hometown is all but lost and while ajax, now tartaglia, has made plea after plea, they’ve all fallen on deaf ears. they don’t want to send help, so he goes to collect his family on his own, but instead of returning to the capitol with them he flees… heading for another nation… one far, far away. ]

[ Inazuma. ]

[ it takes what feels like ages, but they eventually make it, landing in ritou. he manages to secure a small spot, but mora is tight, so he starts asking around… maybe he can finally try finding yuuri. ]

…somebody has to know. Hey, excuse me, do you know anybody named Yuuri?

[abovefate]

[ He feels his presence the moment he sets his foot in Inazuma. How could he not — after all, he left him with part of his power. It's been long enough that he'd been certain he wouldn't see the boy again, so of course once he felt him he just had to see it with his own two eyes.

Unlike when they met in the Abyss, he's wearing elaborate clothes and there are shogunate soldiers right behind him as he walks up to him, coming into view barely a moment after he says his name.

And of course at the sight of him, everyone seems to be in awe as whispers about "The Shogun" visiting start ]

You do realize that's a fairly common name, right? You wouldn't go anywhere by asking for that.

[childeishly]

[ childe has an eyepatch covering the eye that yuuri had replaced, but the closer he gets the more it seems to resonate - parts of his skin glowing purple. ] I’m afraid not. I only just arrived in Inazuma. Don’t know much about it. [ didn’t know you were the shogun, he wants to add, but he manages to avoid doing so. ]

And I’m sure I would have eventually gotten somewhere. Describing you certainly would have done the trick. [ his lips quirk. ] I’m here for my fight.

[abovefate]

[ he crosses his arms at his chest, looking at him as if he were AN ANT ]

How ridiculous for a child to think he's worthy of fighting me.

[ there is a crowd around them now, and the whisper continue. The shogunate guards also seem to be ready to fight, taking Ajax's words as a threat - but Yuuri dismisses him ]

That's enough joking for now. You have been invited as a personal guest of mine, so be a good boy and follow me.

[ he turns around and starts walking, expecting him to follow. ]

[childeishly]

I am not a child. [ that seems to irk him, because he said the same thing in the abyss. ] …you made me a promise. [ he doesn’t move. ] Fight me, Yuuri. This isn’t a joke. [ he summons his hydro blades and darts forward, electro dancing across his skin and infusing his blades. ]

[ yes, he’s stupid enough to do this. his guards will be no match for him, but yuuri… ]

[abovefate]

How lively. You still want to joke even after all this.

[ the smile he gives looks completely different from the way he acted in the Abyss - he looks and feels colder. He once more gestures to the guard to stay put, and steps toward Ajax - wrapping his arms around him ]

Just play along. I remember my promise, this isn't the time nor place for this

[childeishly]

[ he slams into yuuri and ends up in a… hug, and that has him confused. the blades dispel, and he quickly scans the area, as if trying to piece this all together. he’s unsuccessful, so he has no choice… he has to play along. ] Fine.

Lead the way. [ he steps back and follows him quietly, playing nice and doing as he says, so he doesn’t cause anymore trouble. ]

[abovefate]

[ he turns to his soldiers, and then— ]

It's just like I told you. He is an old friend who has finally come back to Inazuma. He's not an outsider.

Well then, let's go to the palace. It has been a long time since I gave you a tour, Ajax. And this time you brought your family as well.

[ he will resume walking, heading to his palace. It's only when they're inside that he can finally dismiss his guards altogether - and it seems no one is allowed there without his permission ]

I didn't actually expect your visit anymore. You do know how tense relationships are with other nations nowdays, don't you.

[childeishly]

I made a promise. [ he murmurs under his breath. ] But, yes, you’re… right. [ he heaves a sigh. ] I’m sorry I made things difficult back there. It’s been a shitty couple of… months? And I haven’t exactly had the time to let any of this out.

I had to pay my way in to Inazuma. Forge documents saying we’re residents, and thankfully nobody’s recognized me. [ since he is still technically a harbinger. he might have defected, but whether or not he casts the title aside doesn’t matter. ]

It’s good to see you again. [ he gives him a crooked smile. ] You know… you could have told me you were the shogun back in the abyss… you jerk.

[abovefate]

I've seen your documents. That's why I lied back then.

[ glancing at him ... he's certainly grown up. It's not like he doesn't know humans do that, but it's strange to see him again after years, and see him as a man now.

And then he gestures toward a door to the right ]

You will find rooms there. They're all empty, so each of you can pick whichever you want. ... I'll have food sent to you.

As for you, I want to talk.

[childeishly]

…oh. Eh heh. I had to pay a lot for those. It’s part of the reason I thought to look for you. I was hoping to find some work. [ because he’s poor af now. ] But, ah, sure. You’ll send for my family?

[ if that’s all squared away, then he’s fine to talk. he’ll follow yuuri wherever. ]

[abovefate]

[ he nods, and leads Ajax to the garden in the back ]

... I couldn't tell you I was the Shogun. I shouldn't even have saved you - that was very reckless of me. But I don't regret it.

Things must have been really desperate for you to bet your all on a chance meeting with someone from Inazuma.

[childeishly]

I had to leave Snezhnaya. It’s bad over there, as I’m sure you can imagine, and no matter how many times I asked her Majesty for help… [ he just shakes his head. ] I wasn’t going to abandon my family. I wasn’t going to let them die to the encroaching abyss creatures. Harbinger or not, my family is what matters most to me. I left, and I’m not going back. I’m not her weapon to wield anymore.

[abovefate]

[ wait

what ]

—You're a Harbinger?

[childeishly]

[ shit. maybe he should have kept his mouth shut. ]

I am, er, I mean I was. I’m not anymore! I don’t want anything to do with them. That’s why I left.

[abovefate]

[ This is getting so much more complicated. How can he be sure this child he met in the abyss isn't just a spy sent to use his connection to him to destroy Inazuma? Should he kill him? He definitely looks like he's thinking it over ]

I had run-ins with Harbingers before. They weren't pleasant, and they stole something from me.

[childeishly]

[ without an ounce of hesitation, ] Then let’s steal it back.

[abovefate]

You're already in enough trouble as it is, deflecting like this. Are you just trying to convince me not to kill you here and now, or are you serious?

[childeishly]

[ childe doesn't seem the least bit concerned. ] I might have been the 11th Harbinger, but that doesn't mean I was the weakest. Her roster isn't even full anymore. [ he snorts. ] If you were going to kill me you would have done so already. What's the point of doing so behind closed doors? [ he leans in real close. ] I'm dead serious. I didn't come here because I'm on vacation, Shogun, I came here because the nation I thought would protect me and my family betrayed me. My loyalties no longer lay in the nation of ice and snow.

[abovefate]

[ oh, no. HE'S HOT. He is thoroughly distracted as he leans close, but tries to keep his focus on.

This is incredibly dangerous, but without his Gnosis he has no hope of protecting Inazuma long-term. What does he have to lose by trusting him? What does it matter if this person gets killed in the process? He shouldn't care ]

... Very well.

They took my Gnosis. It's not exactly the source of my power, but it amplifies it significantly.

Get the Electro Gnosis back, and I'll take care of your family.

[childeishly]

[ he sits back, slowly. ] I know what a gnosis does. [ he gets to his feet. ] You better take care of them. If I come back and they’re not safe I’ll use your own gnosis to kill you… and that is a promise. [ he turns to leave. ]

I’ll be back.

[ and so he leaves to go back to snezhnaya. he’s gone for about a month, with the trip taking up most of that time, but eventually he comes back, the guards having remembered him, so they escort him to the palace. ] Did you miss me, Yuuri?

[abovefate]

[ Things have gotten even more tense in just that month, so if he had to be honest, he was starting to believe Ajax wouldn't make it this time. But here he is, coming back to him once more.

Surprisingly, he finds himself thinking "yes" at that question ]

You're just as resilient as a cockroach. How intriguing.

... Come here.

[ he holds his hand out to him ]

[childeishly]

...comparing me to cockroach? Really? Might want to work on complimenting a guy. [ he tsks as he walks over to him, slapping at that hand to instead walk behind him and wrap his arms around him. ] You ought to shower me with praise, Yuuri.

[abovefate]

[ oh no he's hot x2

He didn't expect him to just do that, he expected him to be charmed and offer him his hand as he requested. He looks flustered, glancing back at him ]

I never said I wasn't going to reward you. You really are a brat.

[childeishly]

[ childe flashes him with a sharp smile. ] Feeling the pressure, Shogun? [ he pokes his cheek. ] Bet you were getting real nervous... thinking I wasn't going to come back. Just like last time. You really have no faith in me, huh? I'm hurt. [ he gives him a shove forward, chuckling. ] Well, what's the reward you were thinking about giving me. I'm ~curious. I want to know if all that trouble was worth it. And I'd like to see my family.