rules. we all know how to act right. don’t expect anything else here. that includes: fiction =/= reality, and if you disagree with that statement, turn around post haste! thank you. don't want any nonsense or drama. i'm an old man who's tired of it.
muses. as of right now, this blog will be primarily focused on ajax / childe / tartaglia of genshin impact! other muses are bound to appear in and out of here, as the whole point of this blog is to mess around. but for now, expect 99% childe.
etc. this blog is independent, private, and therefore extremely selective. outside of who it’s been given to, you will likely not get a follow back, so please don't expect one.
brief notes on childe, his obsession with strength, family values, and his 'notice me senpai' relationship with il capitano !
okay, so initially i was going to make this an audio message because i'm lazy, but thank goodness i decided to type it out. to expand this, @mundorum and @indagatus are menaces in my DMs and spark me into little meta rambles about the most random of topics — but it ought to be noted, in all actuality, as i'm continuing to explore childe's character.
so the easiest way to make note on some of the reasons for childe's obsession with strength, it's best to look at his admiration of il capitano — who is, as far as we can seem to understand, no. 1 of the harbingers. or at least that seems to be the implication. it's not officially confirmed, but his name is literally "captain" so the inference that's been made by many isn't likely too far off. we know he is a senior harbinger at the very least, and the irony of this is that capitano is actually characterized as being a man not only of immense strength, but a man of great honor. he heavily values honor, and even denounced signora at her funeral by noting that he believed she tarnished her own honor in her actions and failures. the game is, it would seem, playing around with subverting expectations in this way — a main pillar of the "villain" within the narrative being characterized as a man of great honor isn't exactly villainous. and it makes you question not only his role in everything, but exactly what grey areas the fatui fall into, rather than strictly being antagonists. which is technically a topic for a different day but it's informative in terms of the role capitano serves and childe's admiration of him.
childe, after the trauma™ he experienced falling into the abyss, didn't... come out right. this much we understand. as much as a little snezhnyan boy might value strength because he's a little snezhnyan boy, his experience in the abyss exasperated this immensely. but before i get into that, i want to briefly address him being snezhnyan, and how that might inform the root of his values and obsession with strength and this ideal of the "warrior." i'll go into a couple points.
1. snezhnya is heavily based on two cultures from what we can understand of its naming conventions and some colloquialisms in childe's english localization: a. russia, and b. ancient greece. this inference can be made because we know that: 1) snezhnya as a name itself sounds relatively russian, but its archon is the cryo archon and that's not exactly subtle (russian tundra, anyone?). but 2) he often refers to the traveler as "comrade." again, this isn't subtle, and if anyone doesn't understand what i mean by this, i would encourage you to watch pretty much any war movie involving a depiction of russians, as much of a stereotype as it might be. but, stereotyping found in popular media is exactly what they seem to be playing into.
what might be a little more subtle for those two are not familiar with greek texts is the greek influence that can be found; which is quite as simple as recognizing that childe's name, ajax, is in direct reference to ajax the great in the iliad. i have mentioned this briefly, but to pair ancient greek influence with a russian overtone of a region isn't far fetched. the russian language stems from the same branch as attic greek — the russian alphabet is even based on it. beyond that, the value placed in the ideal of the "warrior" or "soldier," — i.e. strength — as well as on family runs somewhat parallel in common depictions in media of these two cultures.
point being: these two cultures heavily value strength and family — including the "blood of brothers is thicker than the water of the womb," as in "comrades," — in the sense of the ideal soldier/warrior, because if value was not placed in this people wouldn't survive the environment. i believe this can also be inferred of snezhnya, which is depicted and/or teased as being an arctic tundra. the "weak" quite literally won't survive this culture/region, nor would they be able to protect the family — which is an integral value of childe's character, right down to his vision being hydro. i'll return to that point in a moment.
all of this was to say — he might've valued strength even before his experience in the abyss, but after it, it's quite literally noted that something about his personality... changed. cracked, if you will. he now places such immense value in strength as a warrior to the extent that it is arguably the core his character revolves around as a principle — even to the extent of hurting himself through the use of his delusion. but can you blame him? look at the trauma he experienced as only a child — and managed to survive (with help, of course, and teachings that shaped him into what he became). but realistically, were it not for that shift in his person, he would/should be dead. he has such a fuckin' celeb crush "notice me senpai" thing going on with il capitano because in childe's eyes, capitano is sort of that epitome / ideal of the leader/soldier/warrior.
childe, in experiencing the trauma he did, became centered around the concept of a "warrior" — what that means, and how one must achieve it — and he's very prideful in that way as well. he sees no purpose in working in the shadows like his colleagues unless such methods are strictly necessary to achieve his goal. he's named after ajax the great, who was not only a key figure in the greeks winning the war in the iliad, but was one of the most famously renowned warriors in all of greek (mythological) history, a descendant of zeus, and placed alongside figures such as achilles.
but i also fully believe this obsession with strength stems from not only his trauma, but is rooted in this principle of value placed on family. his vision is hydro, which we know is about protection, including protection of family; look at ayato, for example, where nothing is more "precious" than family and the protection thereof. in this way, i think childe believes he cannot protect his family (e.g.: teucer) if he doesn't constantly reach for this platonic ideal of the "warrior." even if that protection extends far beyond physical strength. there are two quotes from childe that i think really sum up his principles in both regards:
"If you make a promise, you keep it. If you make a mistake, you apologize. And if you give someone a dream, you defend it to the end."
"If it makes me stronger, I'll take it. Vision? Great. Delusion? Don't mind if I do. Heretical teachings from the Abyss? Sign me up."
tl;dr — childe's obsession with strength to the point of being self destructive (using a delusion that physically harms him) is heavily rooted not only in his trauma, but his cultural values placed on it, and family. thanks 4 coming 2 my ted talk.
if you don't think my classicist linguist ass is gonna go off about about childe's actual name being ajax in relation to teucer and the story of the founding of troy you are dead, dead wrong
"No you cannot!" Paimon agrees, with a humph. "Disappointing Paimon is like...is like waking up a Hilichurl without seeing that biiig biiiig mitachurl behind it!" She warns, lips turned down in a pout as she regards Childe. The guide knows she's been unfair to the harbinger, but how could she not be? After what he put them through? Still, he was awfully nice when they took Teucer around Liyue, even if he was being totally weird pretending not to be the harbinger he was. Her eyes gloss over as thoughts take her away from the moment, her feet fluttering in autopilot instead.
Aether watches as Childe heads toward the city. His eyes sweep over his frame, that teasing glint perpetually in his eyes, the curl of his lip somehow inviting and mocking at the same time. He turns his gaze away, nudging Paimon back to the present. "He can afford lunch, Paimon, I guess the Fatui are paying him decently these days. Maybe we should finally ask about their benefit package?" He teases, eyes creasing around the edges. "Or is it the Toy Factory that's filling your pockets when away from Northland Bank? Don't tell me you've discovered some limited edition toy all the way here in Inazuma?" He wonders, a genuine question masked by his teasing. Any forewarning of the Fatui's plot in Inazuma could save valuable time and resources, after all.
He walks after Childe, his steps more hurried due to their difference in gait, but he doesn't complain. The smells and sounds of the city have his shoulders easing. He hasn't sensed an immediate threat from Childe, and even if he had, he doubts the Fatui would want to take action in the middle of the city in broad daylight. Or as close to that as it gets. He peeks at the sky, the distant rumble still far off, but the electricity in the air still has the tiny hairs on the back of his neck standing on end. He chuckles, "Likewise, you have a vision to lose, after all. And something else." He notes, remembering how different his companion was when using his delusion. His eyes cloud with a sense of worry, stomach twisting slightly. He can't imagine Childe is safe in Inazuma. Even he himself is not, but without a vision to take, he can take risks others can't.
"But of course." He grins, laughter escaping at the same time as Paimon's shrill hey! reaches a new octave. "You big sneaky fox! Paimon thinks you're the one sticking his nose in other people's business! Paimon and Aether only help people and look for Aether's sister! Did you already forget what Aether's doing traveling all over Teyvat? And every time you––you––you big Fatui jerks are in the way!" She whines, breathless after her outburst as Aether raises a brow, wondering how long Paimon's been keeping that inside.
If he wagers a guess, he'd say roughly three minutes. His friend is hungry, and subsequently, a menace. "That's enough, Paimon, we're almost there to get food. No need to blame Childe for all our problems. Just a few of them." He teases, looking up toward him. "She's right though, we're here for the same reasons we traveled to Liyue, it's just that this trip was a lot harder to begin. We've had some help, as I'm sure you've guessed." His eyes glance around the city, wondering if Childe is aware of the Teahouse. He hopes not, if only to preserve safety for the Kamisato's and their allies. He can't imagine Thoma and Childe getting along very well even if he'd be amused by their go arounds. "Do you have a stall in mind for Inazuma's best cuisine?" He adds, steering the conversation away once more.
"Remind me to always check for mitachurls, then," he says, a glint in his eye that betrays his amusement as his gaze flickers back to the two of them before they catch up to his pace. "Even if a tussle with a lawachurl sounds like it'd be a fun afternoon for me, at this point." Desperately waiting around for anything to happen was actually killing him slowly, he was convinced. Laying in wait, they called it. He could almost hear the distant echo of Mr. Zhongli's voice telling him to know patience; and the thought has him huffing a little breath of a laugh through his nose as he kicks his feet out in front of him, eyes dropping to the stone, arms crossing over his chest as he does so.
"Toy fact—?" Startled, the word is stuttered before it draws up with a halt and a hitch of his breath as realization hits him all at once. Right. "Oh, shit." Childe's chuckle is warm, if not a little awkward. The entire incident had been more than a little embarrassing — a revelation he'd not imagined to come to light. Or, at the very least, certainly not to those two. They may have taken it in stride, but it was no less cause for an actual flush to blossom lightly over the height of his cheeks, the tips of his ears blushing pink; though, thankfully hidden in part by the curls of his hair. The hand that had risen to scratch lightly at the back of his neck falls limp for a moment, the press of his fingers at his skin dragging over his throat slowly, pressing in tightly as the gait of his stride slows.
Big sneaky fox. He'd rather take that as a compliment than anything else, even if he's entirely certain that's not Paimon's intention in the slightest. But even still, Childe can't help the snort that nearly chokes him for all his surprise. "Aw," he drawls, dragging the tease out. "Paimon, you'll make a guy blush!" Any and all comments made in regard to his Vision are dutifully ignored in favor of his mind still lingering on Liyue.
It was strange, really, to think back on the memory. The nation of Liyue had brought many surprises — some of which had been entirely unwelcome. The tightness in his chest ought no longer be one, yet the recollection of the factory brought the familiar phantom of the feeling in a matter of seconds. His steps slow to a stop. "Right." He shakes himself, lets his hand fall entirely, thumb hooking at his waistband. "If you must know, the toy business is definitely booming," he says with a quick wink, elbow flexing to nudge Aether's arm ever so lightly. Blue eyes lock onto a golden gaze, and when he swallows, he plasters his grin on just that fraction tighter. "But, to answer your question — I haven't the slightest."
one of these days i'm gonna go on an insane ramble about the meaning of tartaglia in theatre and the commedia dell'arte because there's no way that's not intentional nor do i think it doesn't have some reference to the traveler because idk who tf else it would be in reference to
"Well, I could never disappoint Paimon, now could I?" He says it with a chuckle that drips from his lips like the warm trickle of honey; walking a fine line of debatably and deceptively (in)sincere as his gloved fingers curl, feeling the velvet petal be further crushed in the palm of his hand before he whisks it away with a flick of his wrist. Oceanic eyes sweep the road just beyond that Aether had gestured toward, and the lopsided lilt of his lips parts on a laugh that's more genuine, his hand coming to rest over his chest as he tips his head back. Food, he thinks. Of course. He's had his fair share of being witness to Paimon's appetite — and the grumble of his own stomach at the thought is enough for him to lay waste to his present plans.
He takes strides ahead of them, a light skip in his step and a wave of his hand to usher them along. "My pockets aren't quite so deep as when Northland Bank is a hop, skip, and a step away — but I think I can afford lunch." The glint in his eye is evidence enough of his teasing as he brushes over Paimon's inquiry into his travel permit. Besides, what was there to say? The Fatui work in mysterious ways? He might as well keep work and play separate, though he's loathe to do so. Or, at least, in this case.
The best way to keep Paimon's curious little mind at bay was to distract her with rice cakes, surely. And as the luscious scents of the markets drifted near, he was already half convinced he was distracting himself. But, maybe he could get a word or two edgewise out of the two of them. "I didn't expect to catch you two here under the Sakoku Decree." Or the Vision Hunt Decree — it's not exactly safe. "So what's the word? Sticking your noses in all the wrong places, as per usual?" His grin is bright, but his auburn hair is dulled by the clouds that loom overhead.
