Semi-selective Indie RP blog for Tartaglia "Childe" from Genshin Impact 18+ NSFW content. Multiship, Multiverse, Canon & Post-Canon. Please read rules before interacting
The door creaks before it slides open, half an hour after closing. Diluc, who is positioned behind his bar as usual to watch the tavern from a bird’s eye-view, lifts his head in expectation of a certain redhead barging through his doors - There is only one person who cannot read the sign at the door that says “CLOSED” no matter how many times he’d ordered Charles to repaint it, making it bigger and bolder until it became too ridiculous to look at.
Half a beat later, his guest walks in, foot steps surprisingly light. Diluc takes the liberty to assume that he is in an apparently good mood, whatever this day had offered him. But at the same time, he could not truly recall a time when Childe is in a bad mood. At least not at the top of his head right at this very moment. Tartaglia had always demonstrated a cheery and happy attitude for as many times as they met. But it’s often the most dangerous people that enjoy hiding behind an impenetrable, flawlessly perfect mask.
Unsurprisingly, Childe starts whistling as he makes his way to the front of the bar and finds himself a seat. Diluc doesn’t say a word, feeling the air growing tense with Tartaglia’s presence even though no one was really there except for the two of them.
“Working overtime again, Master Diluc?” A smile from the youth as he props his chin into his hand, leaning into it sideways so he could watch Diluc from the side.
Diluc inhales before releasing all that breath in a long, resigned exhale. There is a brand new bottle of wind sitting next to him and while no one had asked about it ever since he’d walked into Angel’s Share with it since noon, he is sure that Tartaglia might have noticed it - in fact he already has, Diluc thinks as he follows the Harbringer’s line of sight towards the expensive bottle of wine, the words printed on its label not in Mondstadtian, but Childe would have been able to read it, should it be given to him.
❝Today, a nameless merchant told me that someone would drop by and claim this should I keep it with me.❞ He lies without blinking, ❝And I was beginning to think that I had been lied to, though apparently not.❞ He takes a glass before Childe could say anything witty, or call him out, and pours him a glass.
❝It’s a Snezhayan specialty.❞ Diluc proceeds to say. Before he was no longer welcomed in the freezing kingdom of ice, he’s had his own share of living there once and inspect to locals’ preference for wine. ❝And no one would have quite the capacity to indulge in it, except for those who hailed from the place. Certainly, we can both agree.❞
He’d been rushing on the way back to town, cursing at the paperwork he’d had assigned to him today of all days. He knew personal festivities had no place in Her Majesty’s plans, but had hoped for some grace just this once. No complaint left his lips though, hurrying through the cobbled steps of the grand bridge and making his way deeper into the heart of the city where the tavern laid dormant now that it’d closed for the night. There was a moment when his heart skipped a beat, fearing he may be too late and the redhead had already left for the manor.
Instead, relief washes over him as the door’s swung open and reveals Diluc within, still at the same spot behind the counter. His frustrations from earlier are now forgotten, instantly perking up as he begins to greet the other in his usual cheerful chirp much to the redhead’s dismay. Even if the other seems unimpressed by his presence, there’s a certain feeling of nostalgia that washes over him every time they meet. One of old memories from a past life. Cherished moments that had ended too abruptly. He cannot hope for that past to return, but he can at least find solace in chasing a living ghost.
His gaze lingers on Diluc before accidentally settling on the new bottle, the smile subtly waning even as there’s a brief spark of surprise in his usually dull eyes. He’d been here dozens of times, catching sight of most bottles that filled every nook and cranny in the old bar’s shelves. It’d been impressive to see the extent of traveling made to procure such a variety of wines, whiskey, and other alcohol. All came from various regions, but never had one hailed from his motherland.
Not until now at least. Childe instantly recognized the fire bird on the label with bold letters under it proclaiming it was Snezhnayan made. “M-,” he begins only for Diluc to interject with the fabricated tale. A merchant?... Really, he could do it; he could point out that any alcohol monger would sooner cut off their own fingers than give away such a rare bottle. Especially this far out from the Tsaritsa’s nation. So then... did this mean the other was offering him a gift? For his birthday or perhaps a mere coincidence? The latter seems more likely, even if he doubts Diluc would care for such a detail. Still...
He refrains from sharing any of these thoughts, instead the coy smirk from earlier turning to a soft smile, his gaze falling to the glass placed before him. Gloved fingers settle on the stem of the glass, giving the deep colored liquid inside a slow swirl when the other finishes serving him some. “Certainly~ Few can handle a strong drink as this one. My sincerest thanks to this mysterious merchant if you ever happen upon them again. I can only imagine it was no easy journey,” he offers, voice still cheerful though his gratitude no less genuine for once as he takes a short sip.
The taste only makes the nostalgia heighten, his breath coming in a slow exhale as a warm memory reminds him of home. His parents, his siblings, a certain redhead... Yearning threatens to overtake him, though he resists as he takes another drink to wash away the memories.
To think he’d come here at first to boast about his day to the other. How he’d been kept busy at work, only for the traveler to come and challenge him to cook them a meal. He would have brought the redhead leftovers though Paimon had finished any scraps left behind in a blink.
The distracting memory is short-lived as movement brings his attention back to the present, looking up just as Diluc returns to the glass he’d been cleaning. The momentary bliss falters before his trained smile returns and he perks up anew. “Master Diluc,” he calls once more, the other seemingly hesitating as if contemplating giving him any more of his attention. To Childe’s surprise, the other turns anyway, offering the same unbothered expression that he’d grown used to receiving by now. “Care to join me?”
Annoyance flashes in Diluc’s eyes, clearly tired of rejecting this invitation from previous times Childe had invited him to share a drink. “I don’t-,” Diluc begins, though Childe instantly shakes his head with a laugh to interject.
“No, I know that. I mean sit with me for a while? I can help you finish your closing duties afterwards. It would be faster that way, no?,” he clarifies, rotating the glass in his hand by the base. “...Just for tonight.” He hadn’t had a chance to see the other all day today; he wanted a bit more time with him before he’d have to go to his next mission…
@pyrovigilante sent: 🖤 😎
For the meme: send 🖤 and my character will answer about yours.
attractiveness:
repulsive / hideous / ugly / not attractive / unappealing / not unattractive / meh / no preference / ok / mildly attractive / nice looking / cute / adorable / attractive / pleasant on the eyes / good looking / hot (get it cuz pyro :D) / sexy / beautiful / gorgeous / hot damn / would tap that / perfect / godlike / holy fuck there are no words.
not if they were the last person on earth and the world was ending / fuck no! / never / no way / not likely / not sure / indifferent / I’m asexual / maybe / probably / it depends / fairly likely / likely / yeah sure / yes / would tap that / hell yes / fuck yes! / wishing that could happen right now / as many times as possible / we are already having sex.
level of friendship:
never in a million years / worst of enemies / enemies / rivals / indifferent / neutral / acquaintances / ??? / minimally friendly toward each other / casual friends / friends / good friends / best friends / fuck buddies / bosom buddies / practically the same person / would die for them / true friends / my only friend.
first impression of them:
i hate them so much / i don’t like them / i don’t trust them / they annoy me / they’re weird / I’m indifferent / meh / they seem alright / they’re growing on me / truce / I think I like them / I like them / I’m not sure if I trust them / I remember you / I trust them / they’re cool / they’re genuine / I think we’re going to get along / I really like them / I think I’m in love / oh fuck they’re hot / I love them.
current impression of them:
i hate them so much / i don’t like them / i don’t trust them / they sadden me / they’re interesting / I’m indifferent / meh / they seem alright / they’re growing on me / do they like me? / I think I like them / I like them / I’m not sure if I trust them / why aren’t you like him? / I trust them / they’re cool / they’re genuine / I think we’re going to get along / I really like them / I think I’m in love / oh fuck they’re hot / I love them.
Comes up Childe randomly and bites him on the shoulder. This is revenge! [ canon Diluc ]
@pyrovigilante
The moment he saw Diluc approaching him, his face lit up, glad to see that for once the other was taking the first step to interact. That thought is swiftly dashed when Diluc steps into his personal space, making the harbinger's smile waver. "Ah!," he yelps in surprise, the sudden attack effectively shutting down any quip he had ready for the wine monger.
His lips instantly shut when he realizes the embarrassing sound had come from him, covering the spot he'd been bitten when the other pulls away. "Wh-what did I do to incite such an attack, Master Diluc?," he finally manages, forcing a laugh to cover the unevenness of his voice. He rubs the spot, calming himself some before summoning a hydro blade. His cheerful mask returns just as quickly, offering the other the usual playful smile. "If you wanted to challenge me, all you need do is say so~ I'd never dream of turning down a worthwhile opponent."
He creeps up onto the other before lifting him up to slink him over his shoulder like a sack of rice. It's time for the evening rounds, beansprout. :D [ Fatui Diluc ]
@pyrovigilante
One would think they'd be safe in the comfort of their own bunk. Instead, Childe finds himself being scooped up off the bed, Diluc earning a yelp from him before he's tossed over his shoulder effortlessly. He was really starting to question if Diluc had been blessed by the archons with such strength for the sole purpose of tormenting him.
"M-Master Diluc! I can walk, I can walk," he protests with flushed cheeks, squirming in the other's grasp. Celestia forbid the redhead actually step out into the courtyard carrying him. Granted, there likely wouldn't be as many witnesses, but it didn't mean there wasn't always the risk of someone spying them.
He remains silent where he stands, clutching the knob of the door like his entire career depended on it. Diluc hasn’t expect for this day to come; the day when Childe and him would have to walk separate paths. If he has to ask himself when it all started, Diluc would not know the answer to that. ❝Is this really what you want?❞ He says, voice cracking like thunder that split the skies. ❝If you walk out of this door today... We will become enemies.❞ [ Mafia AU uwu ]
@pyrovigilante
They would become enemies? "Haha, funny it's how we started, no?," he counters, giving a shallow laugh as he looks away briefly. He'd first joined this mission under the guise of infiltrating the Fatui, only to find a fellow comrade (or rather his supervisor) on the enemy side already. Things had been well for a few months, though with every day that passed, Childe found it harder to merely play pretend.
How could he when he saw the underhanded tactics the police were using to corner some of the Fatui members? When he saw innocent people become victims of them when they were unjustly arrested and jailed? The ones he'd once thought to represent the heroes of fairy tales were merely men in power abusing a corrupt system.
"...Both sides are the same, aren't they? How many innocent lives haven't been lost because of what our forces have done? A botched mission with the CSA is no different than a successful one with the Fatui. The difference is the people here have faith in my skills. I've learned more the last few months than I have in all this time I've been helping the 'good guys'... Don't you think it's worth staying, sir? We work well together."
The missions they'd worked in had been the most exciting to him, Diluc as much a force to be reckoned with as Childe was. He didn't want to lose that firey passion the other brought to their mix. He didn't want to lose that someone who'd come to truly know him. Why switch sides now when the redhead played the role of the villain so well?
He takes a step towards the other, holding out a hand to him in an open invitation. He doubts Diluc would change his mind so easily, the man as stubborn as Childe could be. Yet a small part of him wanted to cling to hope he wouldn't lose the one he'd come to see as his friend and partner in this mad world.
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