hugtopia | [video]

Goooood evening, everyone!

[It’s like, 3pm, that’s not that late at all. But Childe doesn’t care about that! What he cares about is getting information.

The camera has been propped up a stand, so you can see Childe from the waist up - a red-haired man (boy?) who can’t be more than 20, with a red mask tucked into his hair and blue eyes that are crinkled into a smile.]

I’ve got a couple questions, but I’ll try not to take up too much of your time.

[Hopefully less time than it took him to really figure out this piece of tech. Could you imagine what it would be like if they had this sort of thing in Teyvat?]

First off, probably one that’s been asked a lot - just how serious is everyone about this whole… Cuddling up to people to rejuvenate the world or whatever? Like, that’s not literal, right?

[Please tell him it’s not literal. He’s not the cuddly type. Still, time to move on to the more important question. He perks up, grin getting even brighter.]

Second question! I’m sure I’m not the only fighter here, and hopefully I’m not the only one who doesn’t want to get rusty… So, is there anyone who’d want to spar with me?

[He claps his hands together.]

And that’s it! Oh, right - you can call me Childe. And anyone interested, just let me know whenever you want. Or attack me out of the blue! That's fine, too.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He's content to get dragged along for now - after spending so many months in Liyue following a certain consultant around, he's quite used to being dragged around on someone else's whim. As long as Pyra doesn't force him to buy overpriced tea, he's fine.]

That's awfully sentimental.

[Aka sappy as hell. Thanks but no thanks!!! He doesn't need friends or bonds, he needs people he can test himself against and use to get money.

At the question about the vial, he blinks.]

Ah? Oh, that's my Vision.

[...Which he realizes doesn't explain much.]

Back home, the Archons can decide to gift a mortal with a Vision that grants them control over one of the seven elements. I've got a hydro Vision - if you meet Mr. Zhongli, he's got some geo abilities. [He will not mention that the Vision Zhongli has hanging from his coat is a fake.] It comes with a few perks, but the biggest one is the power it grants you.

[ From her expression, which only appears to grow more bewildered, it's clear that a little bit more explanation is due. ]

Archons are like... gods, then?

[ Another pause follows, and she purses her lips in thought as she attempts to string a bits of logic together. If Archons are like gods, and they grant mortals these Visions, then... ]

[ Her head snaps up again, and she looks at Childe with wide eyes. ] You've been blessed by the gods of your world!

[ That can't be a common thing, can it? From what she's heard about gods in other worlds, it certainly isn't.

So, she can only conclude that this man is important, somehow! ]

They are.

[He's heard that before the Archon War, there were way more gods than just seven, but...

He's not a historian.

He blinks.]

...Yeah, you could say that. [A laugh.] Though I couldn't say why the hydro Archon chose me. Looking forward to seeing what Celestia is like, though.

[ The gods choose their chosen, she's learned that much from others she's met here who are blessed by their deities... ] Celestia... [ She repeats, as if to memorize it. ]

Um, You mean to say that... You've been blessed by them, and you haven't even met them yet?

[ THAT'S.... Isn't that rude? ]

Well... Snezhnaya is a long way from Fontaine.

[A pause. He really needs to get better at explaining things to people with no context. Now he knows why Zhongli talks so much all of the time.]

Each Archon has dominion over one of the countries of Teyvat - the hydro Archon is in Fontaine, but I'm from Snezhnaya.

[And maybe some day we'll get their name so it's not so vague!!!!]

Snezhnaya is ruled by the Tsaritsa, the cryo Archon. I have met her, at least!

[ While it is a lot to learn at once, she seems to drink up whatever lore he gives her. His world sounds fascinating— and Childe himself seems to be rather....

Pyra brings her free hand up to scratch at her cheek, appearing both slightly more curious... and humbled. ]

A-ah... You’re rather important, aren’t you.

[Well, Childe doesn’t know how to be modest. He downright preens at being called special.]

I’m one of the eleven Harbingers working directly for her - She acknowledged my abilities as a warrior, same as the hydro Archon did.

[He might admire the Tsaritsa... A lot...]

[ “Harbinger” isn’t a title with which she’s familiar either, but that too sounds rather.... powerful. She watches him for a moment of silence that’s almost reverent. He was a warrior even before being selected? But he looks so young. ] Childe...

[ However, she sees his pride— perhaps this is something he’s worked hard towards, not only chosen? He was strong before, then, and only after did the Archons acknowledge it. In which case, he should be proud. ]

This Tsaritsa... [ A pause follows her words, and the light in crimson her eyes shift like embers as she thinks. ] She must see great things in you.

[ The power of mortals rarely compares to that of deities of other worlds, but to be granted more power— perhaps its projecting, a gross assumption on her part— maybe they weigh some other version of strength before selecting vessels for their power, more than being that of a warrior. ]

May I ask... you do not feel overwhelmed by it?

[He is young - young enough to be foolish and reckless and for his pride to get him into more trouble than it’s worth.

But he’s been fighting for years, already.]

I think she does.

[He’ll never forget seeing the Tsaritsa - the cold, calculating look on her face, the chill in the room that came from being around the goddess. She was a warrior without compare, hardened by the world and determined to force a change.

And someday Childe would make his own change.

His head tilts, and he swings their connected hands as he thinks.]

No. I don’t. Any challenge that gets thrown at me is one I’m going to best.

[No matter how many times it takes or how strong his opponents are - the more Childe gets knocked down, the more he survives, the stronger he becomes.]

It’s the least I can do.

[ And there he is, young and proud, strong and determined; that instead of feeling burdened of overwhelmed by the blessing of the gods, he feels emboldened by it.

From the dancing wonder in her expression, it might very well be that it seems she hasn't met someone wish such an attitude like that before... ]

[ They stop walking, and Pyra turns to look at him, her expression shifting to one of a smile. Her hair settles to frame her face, and she tilts her head. ]

Mm, Childe?

[ The question is asked as if she has another question to follow. Perhaps two more. ]

[It's strange, being around someone as expressive as she is. It's a far cry from the coldness of La Signora and the calm composure of Zhongli, but at the same time it's... Kind of nice?

It's nice so far, at least.]

Yeah?

[ She lifts their joined hands up between them, and her other lifts to top over his again, her fingers brushing over his knuckles softly. ] If I gave you a challenge, would you rise to it?

[ Her tone remains playful, her eyes remain bright-- perhaps assuring that whatever "challenge" she might propose isn't actually a challenge at all, but something silly. ]

[video]

no subject

1/2

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

1/2

no subject

no subject

no subject