[ Tucked against his chest, there's a lot to appreciate about this. The offer of help, the warm solidness of him, the way he says "we". It makes her stop for a second, breathe like she can take the comfort into herself. ]
That's a really sweet offer. And I want to say yes. But...
[ She peels back enough to look up at him. ]
I don't want you to see me as just a fragile little girl. [ She can imagine it would be easy to have that view, given how he has to look down on her, given the shimmering in her eyes, how delicate and outsized her feelings can be, the slightest bump enough to spill and shatter them. If he's going to forget about the strong fighter that's also in there, she'd rather swallow her grief alone. She'll accept his care; she has no use for anyone's pity. ]
You should know that's not how I see you. Even if a memory should try to shed some doubt on my perception of you, that's not how I see you. We have all had to endure some hardship, but we are who we are because we've managed to overcome them. You're strong, stronger than you may think, and nothing can change my mind, so let me help.
[ As soon as he starts speaking, she looks away. However much she wants to believe him, it's a challenge right now. She never used to question herself like this; she was more adept with feelings when she didn't have the words to describe them. The longer she's awake, the less sense everything makes, especially herself. ]
Even if I told you that I think the reason for that massacre was that I let other people use and control me, and that I've stolen the free will of others in turn? Would you still see me the same way?
[ She knows now that Caeli tasting her blood hasn't hurt him or turned him, that doesn't mean she's let herself off the hook for being so careless. Her intentions wouldn't have mattered if the worst happened to him, to any of the others. ]
It almost seems like you're trying to push me away. Yes, Alizarin. You're not going to be able to change my mind.
Why? Because we may be a little more alike than you realize. I have mentioned Her Majesty a couple of times, I'm sure, and she once tasked me with retrieving the Geo Archon's Gnosis. You were in Zhongli's ideal world, so you may remember the visions everybody got, well, the gods of our world have something even more powerful, something called a Gnosis. Her Majesty is collecting them, so she can wage war on Celestia, and as one of her eleven Harbingers I'm more than happy to help.
I didn't want things to turn out the way they did... [ he takes out his phone to play a memory for her. ] I may not have succeeded in completely wiping Liyue off the map, but I'm certainly the reason a lot of people lost their lives that day.
[ At first she says nothing, because part of her is trying to push him away -- everyone, in fact. Believing to her core that all she has to offer is pain. ]
[ Hearing what Caeli says, seeing the memory he plays for her, an odd combination of horror and fascination and relief tumbling through her, at least changes one thing -- she'd never push him away. Not when he's the first one, maybe the only one, to accept her not, as others have, in spite of her crimes and what she is. ]
[ Finally she looks at him, hands moving up his shoulders to under his jaw, her eyes glowing not only their usual battle-red but gilded with gold that ebbs and curls like the licks of a snapping fire. She doesn't speak at first, words seeming both inadequate and unnecessary. But she does look up at him, directly and steadily, unblinking, for the first time. ]
Thank you for showing me. And now all I want in the world is for you to feel as accepted you've done for me, however I can.
So -- [ Aliza can think of only one way to do that, which lets them both be who they are in a way they usually can't, that isn't only returning to him a fraction of what he's given her but also a way of accepting herself, that is catharsis for them both, and her eyes flare brighter to think of it ] we should have that fight we've been putting off. No holding back. And not stop until one of us is dead.
[ It will be her, she knows. That's the point. But she'd never make it easy and she'd never admit it. Whatever she owes for healing and revival would be well worth it at ten times the price. ]
[ (Might it seem odd, heartless, to want to fight after seeing that? Maybe to others who don't understand what it's like to both regret the harm you've caused and also want to inflict it anew.) ]
...and thank you, for not immediately changing your opinion of me. I can't say I blame the citizens of Liyue for hating me, but it certainly stings a little... especially to have found out I was just a puppet in an even bigger scheme. I did all that for nothing, basically! Killed a bunch of people, turned an entire nation against me, and for what, ..? I didn't even get the Gnosis. [ he laughs, and it borders on unhinged. his expression warping as his mask starts to crack. ]
There won't be any turning back, Alizarin... [ because he's going to let his mask break... ] If you want a fight, then I'll give you a fight. [ he also recently refunded and rebought his abilities, so she'll be the first to see the new changes! ]
[ When his mask snaps, she leaps backwards, drawing her sword in one flicker-quick motion that leaves the scabbard and steel ringing. At the same time, she speeds and strengthens her arms and legs, knowing she won't need to worry about the aftermath -- ]
[ ...and no answer means he's not going to bother stopping it. a few seconds later and another couple of cracks sending it bursting into a thousand pieces. an eruption of hydro swirls and electro static engulf him as he transforms, becoming much much MUCH larger. his galaxy cape billows behind him, catching some nonexistent breeze as the third eye on his forehead gleams with interest to the sound of her steel blade. his mouth drops open, splitting the seams of his face as some strange inhuman fills the air. ]
[ he doesn't waste another second, and swiftly darts forward, more than ready to get this show on the road. ]
[ the fight goes on for a while, with blows exchanged on both sides to leave an obnoxious amount of blood splattered over the pavement. childe's mask has fallen from his face to reveal the twisted version beneath, his eyes swirling like the abyss. he's panting, quite tired, but there's still plenty of adrenaline coursing through his veins - the smell of blood driving him even more wild, his head filled with nothing but kill kill kill. ]
[ he smears the blood from alizarin's latest blow across his cheek, giving a deep chuckle as he starts moving toward her... slowly... predatory... like he's contemplating something. ]
[ Caeli's changed form doesn't frighten or alarm her -- she would never think him a monster, not from how he looks or because of what he's about to do. Her time has quite literally run out, not only from the blows she's taken which drizzle blood in a steady stream below her after crisscrossing nearly the entire area, but because The Harder They Fall has flickered out and her limbs are nearing uselessness. ]
[ At least she gave him a good fight. And one more move before he gets what he's after -- her life. Losing honestly feels even more cathartic than winning, in this case. ]
[ She is silent as he approaches, and still, coiled like a serpent. And once he's within range the last of her energy focuses on levitating herself, at her full speed, high enough to try and slice his head from his shoulders, knowing and not caring that it's fruitless -- this is about wanting him to have the satisfaction of the ultimate victory, which he can't have if she quivers in place like a leaf in lightning. Her pride and instinct would never let her, regardless. ]
[ as soon as she's on the move he catches her eyes and thinks about moving... using his enhanced speed to get the heck out of the way, because he could easily just grab her and throw her to the ground, but he has a better idea. he lets her try... but evolution kicks in - his skin becoming like actual armor and preventing her sword from doing anything more than bouncing right off. the twisted expression he gives will likely be the last she sees as he uses her speed against her to throw her against the nearest wall. his own speed has him following right behind - an electrical pulse emitting from his body to paralyze her, though that probably wasn't even necessary at this point. ]
[ still... he can't have her squirming around, especially since he's looking to get a clean kill. he may be long gone, but he doesn't want her to suffer. he's not a monster. he takes the sword from her and takes a knee, covering her face with his massive claw as he stabs her with her own weapon. she should be instant, but if it isn't, then in the few seconds she is alive, she shouldn't feel anything. ]
[ Rendering her immobile is never a bad idea, she might not have access to her anywhere near her full compliment of abilities here but she's still as dangerous as he is -- nearly. Beneath his clawed hand she can't struggle, and her glowing eyes flicker once, twice, before dimming entirely. ]
[ After her sword runs her through, she has just a single moment before slipping into darkness, which she uses to look up at him, the deformed face which she loves just as well as his usual one, the corners of her lips curving upwards. ]
[ And then her eyes fall shut, and she's left to him. ]
[ childe can sense the moment her heart stops... and it's then that he removes the sword. he sets it down beside her, taking her hand off her face and making sure to shut her eyes. he doesn't change back immediately - the adrenaline still causing a sensory overload - but eventually it starts to die down and taper off. he stands, stumbling into the wall he'd throw her into... the transformation ending and leaving him exhausted. his mask has returned to the side of his head, not fully healed, but... there. ]
[ he shrugs off his jacket and, taking a knee, drapes it over her shoulders as he takes out his phone. time to get a healer and a reviver. ]
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Re: Day 497
That's a really sweet offer. And I want to say yes. But...
[ She peels back enough to look up at him. ]
I don't want you to see me as just a fragile little girl. [ She can imagine it would be easy to have that view, given how he has to look down on her, given the shimmering in her eyes, how delicate and outsized her feelings can be, the slightest bump enough to spill and shatter them. If he's going to forget about the strong fighter that's also in there, she'd rather swallow her grief alone. She'll accept his care; she has no use for anyone's pity. ]
Re: Day 497
You should know that's not how I see you. Even if a memory should try to shed some doubt on my perception of you, that's not how I see you. We have all had to endure some hardship, but we are who we are because we've managed to overcome them. You're strong, stronger than you may think, and nothing can change my mind, so let me help.
Re: Day 497
Even if I told you that I think the reason for that massacre was that I let other people use and control me, and that I've stolen the free will of others in turn? Would you still see me the same way?
[ She knows now that Caeli tasting her blood hasn't hurt him or turned him, that doesn't mean she's let herself off the hook for being so careless. Her intentions wouldn't have mattered if the worst happened to him, to any of the others. ]
Re: Day 497
Why? Because we may be a little more alike than you realize. I have mentioned Her Majesty a couple of times, I'm sure, and she once tasked me with retrieving the Geo Archon's Gnosis. You were in Zhongli's ideal world, so you may remember the visions everybody got, well, the gods of our world have something even more powerful, something called a Gnosis. Her Majesty is collecting them, so she can wage war on Celestia, and as one of her eleven Harbingers I'm more than happy to help.
I didn't want things to turn out the way they did... [ he takes out his phone to play a memory for her. ] I may not have succeeded in completely wiping Liyue off the map, but I'm certainly the reason a lot of people lost their lives that day.
Re: Day 497
[ Hearing what Caeli says, seeing the memory he plays for her, an odd combination of horror and fascination and relief tumbling through her, at least changes one thing -- she'd never push him away. Not when he's the first one, maybe the only one, to accept her not, as others have, in spite of her crimes and what she is. ]
[ Finally she looks at him, hands moving up his shoulders to under his jaw, her eyes glowing not only their usual battle-red but gilded with gold that ebbs and curls like the licks of a snapping fire. She doesn't speak at first, words seeming both inadequate and unnecessary. But she does look up at him, directly and steadily, unblinking, for the first time. ]
Thank you for showing me. And now all I want in the world is for you to feel as accepted you've done for me, however I can.
So -- [ Aliza can think of only one way to do that, which lets them both be who they are in a way they usually can't, that isn't only returning to him a fraction of what he's given her but also a way of accepting herself, that is catharsis for them both, and her eyes flare brighter to think of it ] we should have that fight we've been putting off. No holding back. And not stop until one of us is dead.
[ It will be her, she knows. That's the point. But she'd never make it easy and she'd never admit it. Whatever she owes for healing and revival would be well worth it at ten times the price. ]
[ (Might it seem odd, heartless, to want to fight after seeing that? Maybe to others who don't understand what it's like to both regret the harm you've caused and also want to inflict it anew.) ]
Re: Day 497
There won't be any turning back, Alizarin... [ because he's going to let his mask break... ] If you want a fight, then I'll give you a fight. [ he also recently refunded and rebought his abilities, so she'll be the first to see the new changes! ]
Re: Day 497
[ Then, she grins. And charges. ]
Re: Day 497
[ he doesn't waste another second, and swiftly darts forward, more than ready to get this show on the road. ]
[ the fight goes on for a while, with blows exchanged on both sides to leave an obnoxious amount of blood splattered over the pavement. childe's mask has fallen from his face to reveal the twisted version beneath, his eyes swirling like the abyss. he's panting, quite tired, but there's still plenty of adrenaline coursing through his veins - the smell of blood driving him even more wild, his head filled with nothing but kill kill kill. ]
[ he smears the blood from alizarin's latest blow across his cheek, giving a deep chuckle as he starts moving toward her... slowly... predatory... like he's contemplating something. ]
Re: Day 497
[ At least she gave him a good fight. And one more move before he gets what he's after -- her life. Losing honestly feels even more cathartic than winning, in this case. ]
[ She is silent as he approaches, and still, coiled like a serpent. And once he's within range the last of her energy focuses on levitating herself, at her full speed, high enough to try and slice his head from his shoulders, knowing and not caring that it's fruitless -- this is about wanting him to have the satisfaction of the ultimate victory, which he can't have if she quivers in place like a leaf in lightning. Her pride and instinct would never let her, regardless. ]
Re: Day 497
[ still... he can't have her squirming around, especially since he's looking to get a clean kill. he may be long gone, but he doesn't want her to suffer. he's not a monster. he takes the sword from her and takes a knee, covering her face with his massive claw as he stabs her with her own weapon. she should be instant, but if it isn't, then in the few seconds she is alive, she shouldn't feel anything. ]
Re: Day 497
[ After her sword runs her through, she has just a single moment before slipping into darkness, which she uses to look up at him, the deformed face which she loves just as well as his usual one, the corners of her lips curving upwards. ]
[ And then her eyes fall shut, and she's left to him. ]
Re: Day 497
[ he shrugs off his jacket and, taking a knee, drapes it over her shoulders as he takes out his phone. time to get a healer and a reviver. ]
Re: Day 497