[Yeah, Childe doesn't text much either--but that's because he doesn't trust phones at all. Hah. As if they have any secrecy in this place whatsoever.
That is to say, Childe opens the door for him, and quickly steps back to let him inside. Quickly, because he's hoping to shut the door before the memory, whatever it may be--
"Again."
He's so tired.
It's been over two months, by now. She taught him how to track the days, in a strange world with no true light; he can do that instinctively, now, just like he can traverse unseen paths. Just like he's managed to get the beasts and unnatural creatures to shy away from him, now that he's become known for stirring up trouble. For adventuring into the darkest depths of this place, where he's been expressly forbidden to go. A human, an outsider--but not prey. Not under her wing.
He gets up, adjusting his grip on his weapon. It's the double blades again, today. (And the boy that he is, a mere 14, has no Vision yet, only solid weaponry she's been generous to provide him with.) She's not satisfied with his progress yet. She's facing him with a shortsword that looks unusually rusty, and his task is to disarm her.
His legs are burning, but he darts forward. He feels comfortable with these weapons, but when he swings at her as hard as he can, she simply clucks her tongue in disapproval. She disarms him within seconds, sweeping his feet out from under him and knocking him to the ground. It's oddly soft, like shadows made solid.
"Pull back your strength. Again."
He wears scars, now, though not as many as his father. Not yet.
Ambition burns in his heart, though. Ambition, and a sense of mischief too dark to be called innocent. It's a thirst for chaos, really--a craving for a challenge. For more.
But Archons, is he tired. He lifts his head to look at her.
"I c--"
The hilt of the sword comes down on his back, hard. He hisses out a breath, but he doesn't cry out in pain. He's conquered that instinct.
"Warriors do not say 'I can't.' You can. Again."
He knows, from experience, that she will not stop. Not until he passes out, or succeeds in doing what she's asked of him. The Abyss is not a place of rest, of comfort, of gently and steadily growing a skill. It is a place only for those willing to smash through their limits. A place for those who thrive in darkness.
He gets to his feet again, ignoring his body's protests. Her expression doesn't change, and she stands, waiting.
He's been aiming for her hands. This time, he draws back his arm--
--and drops down, slashing at her feet.
It's enough to catch her off guard, only for a second. But it's a second he takes advantage of. She jumps back, and in the moment her focus isn't on her grip, he drives one blade into the unnatural ground, using it as leverage as he swings the other upwards in a wide arc. Her footing isn't steady enough to jump back again; she blocks automatically, but he hits his mark, the tip of his blade slashing across the back of her fingers.
The sword falls from her grip. She's unarmed. He kicks her back anyway.
He isn't quite strong enough to make her fall, but she stumbles. He snatches up the shortsword, leaving the other blade embedded in the ground, and stands before her, eyes burning. Challenging. She straightens up, looks at the blood on the back of her fingers, and nods.
hmm. as the memory plays out it certainly isn't that surprising to him in what he experiences. rather, in the life that childe has lived. the brutality of being pushed so far at such a young age. it feels familiar. the abuse; the training... they're memories that combine with his own. memories that childe can witness for himself while law relives a version of his own personal molding.
a child of 14 and a child of 10... both being shaped into becoming something far the normal image of youths their age. however, the difference seems a bit more to law that the spare sprinkling of warmth he received from his teachers was not equally shared with the training childe experienced.
...the matter now is what to say. should he say something? law will wait inside the room and in front of the door as it closes. ]
If anything, Childe looks a little surprised when the memories fade--but whether that's from what he saw in Law's, or because of his own, is difficult to say. He sighs, shaking his head a little.]
Could've been worse, I suppose. [He doesn't seem terribly bothered that Law saw that, in any case.]
[ if that's all childe will say about the memory then law will simply go with that as well. after all, they weren't exactly too different from one another.
They say like recognizes like, after all. [Though from the looks of it, they had quite different experiences--but that's to be expected.] We need not discuss it if you don't want to.
[Childe will listen if Law wants to share his feelings, but like. He's not one of those touchy-feely types who enjoys forcing people to spill their emotions, and it's hardly anything relevant to their time here. Also, Childe would rather not talk about his time in the Abyss, so it's a fair trade.]
[ he nods at childe's suggestion and well. the answer for that is pretty clear to him. ]
I think we both rather not talk about it. [ because law can read the room unlike some other people that exist around this place or not. ] Seeing it was enough and doesn't need much more than that.
[ALLERGIC TO FEELINGS: Noted. Childe, for his part, simply isn't the type to share information about his past hardships, especially if it's of no benefit to him to do so. His time in the Abyss is irrelevant to anyone but himself.
So he nods, moving aside to take a seat at the table.]
[ law will follow childe and take a seat opposite from where he sits at the table. he doesn't make himself "at home" but does sit comfortably enough in the chair.
he remembers how their conversation last went and, well, clearly this meant that childe had some ideas and names. or that's the assumption he's going to be working off of. ]
Right, so? What was it that you wanted to talk about?
[ since, well, clearly he wanted to tell him something about what was coming up. clearly?? ]
[ I MISREMEMBERED. don't worry i have names regardless sweats. that moment when you've been looking at people to cull for a while and things just happen BUT— ]
It didn't change my opinions about the robot so much. But the question of who that "someone" who ordered him to kill is the question, right? Is it someone among the rest of us or is it someone who stands separate from the rest of us?
[ that seemed to be the question that had been floating around. ]
The noise that we've been hearing is something that hasn't been heard by any of the other Avatars either. [ he crosses his arms and leans back in the chair. ] Is it all related or separate? We're here to indulge but looks like we might have to fight for our lives as well.
[As Law speaks, Childe just listens quietly, leaning his head against his hand. His face is blank, but his eyes are sharp, focused.
When Law's finished, he just nods, sharply.]
That lines up with what I've gathered. [So they're on the same page, which makes this a lot easier.] That "list" he spoke of--if he started with Tamaki, I'm guessing he was working his way up, regarding combat ability.
[Assuming HK was even telling the truth to begin with. But paranoia can only go so far before it leads to nothing but thought spirals, so. He'll work off the assumption that the robot wasn't lying, for now.]
It makes me wonder if someone will choose--or be chosen--to step in as a replacement.
[ it is good that they're on the same page even if the same page is information that is kind of ??? at this point. but honestly law hadn't thought too much about the list since each person has their own personal list.
the last point that childe makes, however, does get law thinking a bit more. ]
Replacement as a weapon? [ now that it's been said out loud, it seems like an obvious thing to happen but— ] If that does happen then that definitely means something else is at play outside of the avatars.
Mm. They've been rather insistent that that's not the case, but it's difficult for me to accept that.
[He just shrugs, turning his eyes very pointedly towards the ceiling. The Avatars know he feels this way already, so he has no reason to keep it a secret.]
Of course, it could simply be someone here who decided to take advantage of an object designed for killing. If that's the case, they might have a harder time with a human.
[.......Maybe. There are some pretty shady butts in this game honestly who knows.]
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That is to say, Childe opens the door for him, and quickly steps back to let him inside. Quickly, because he's hoping to shut the door before the memory, whatever it may be--
"Again."
He's so tired.
It's been over two months, by now. She taught him how to track the days, in a strange world with no true light; he can do that instinctively, now, just like he can traverse unseen paths. Just like he's managed to get the beasts and unnatural creatures to shy away from him, now that he's become known for stirring up trouble. For adventuring into the darkest depths of this place, where he's been expressly forbidden to go. A human, an outsider--but not prey. Not under her wing.
He gets up, adjusting his grip on his weapon. It's the double blades again, today. (And the boy that he is, a mere 14, has no Vision yet, only solid weaponry she's been generous to provide him with.) She's not satisfied with his progress yet. She's facing him with a shortsword that looks unusually rusty, and his task is to disarm her.
His legs are burning, but he darts forward. He feels comfortable with these weapons, but when he swings at her as hard as he can, she simply clucks her tongue in disapproval. She disarms him within seconds, sweeping his feet out from under him and knocking him to the ground. It's oddly soft, like shadows made solid.
"Pull back your strength. Again."
He wears scars, now, though not as many as his father. Not yet.
Ambition burns in his heart, though. Ambition, and a sense of mischief too dark to be called innocent. It's a thirst for chaos, really--a craving for a challenge. For more.
But Archons, is he tired. He lifts his head to look at her.
"I c--"
The hilt of the sword comes down on his back, hard. He hisses out a breath, but he doesn't cry out in pain. He's conquered that instinct.
"Warriors do not say 'I can't.' You can. Again."
He knows, from experience, that she will not stop. Not until he passes out, or succeeds in doing what she's asked of him. The Abyss is not a place of rest, of comfort, of gently and steadily growing a skill. It is a place only for those willing to smash through their limits. A place for those who thrive in darkness.
He gets to his feet again, ignoring his body's protests. Her expression doesn't change, and she stands, waiting.
He's been aiming for her hands. This time, he draws back his arm--
--and drops down, slashing at her feet.
It's enough to catch her off guard, only for a second. But it's a second he takes advantage of. She jumps back, and in the moment her focus isn't on her grip, he drives one blade into the unnatural ground, using it as leverage as he swings the other upwards in a wide arc. Her footing isn't steady enough to jump back again; she blocks automatically, but he hits his mark, the tip of his blade slashing across the back of her fingers.
The sword falls from her grip. She's unarmed. He kicks her back anyway.
He isn't quite strong enough to make her fall, but she stumbles. He snatches up the shortsword, leaving the other blade embedded in the ground, and stands before her, eyes burning. Challenging. She straightens up, looks at the blood on the back of her fingers, and nods.
"You're ready."
--slips out.]
no subject
hmm. as the memory plays out it certainly isn't that surprising to him in what he experiences. rather, in the life that childe has lived. the brutality of being pushed so far at such a young age. it feels familiar. the abuse; the training... they're memories that combine with his own. memories that childe can witness for himself while law relives a version of his own personal molding.
a child of 14 and a child of 10... both being shaped into becoming something far the normal image of youths their age. however, the difference seems a bit more to law that the spare sprinkling of warmth he received from his teachers was not equally shared with the training childe experienced.
...the matter now is what to say. should he say something? law will wait inside the room and in front of the door as it closes. ]
no subject
If anything, Childe looks a little surprised when the memories fade--but whether that's from what he saw in Law's, or because of his own, is difficult to say. He sighs, shaking his head a little.]
Could've been worse, I suppose. [He doesn't seem terribly bothered that Law saw that, in any case.]
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he'll give a nod. ]
Seems like we have a few things in common.
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They say like recognizes like, after all. [Though from the looks of it, they had quite different experiences--but that's to be expected.] We need not discuss it if you don't want to.
[Childe will listen if Law wants to share his feelings, but like. He's not one of those touchy-feely types who enjoys forcing people to spill their emotions, and it's hardly anything relevant to their time here. Also, Childe would rather not talk about his time in the Abyss, so it's a fair trade.]
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I think we both rather not talk about it. [ because law can read the room unlike some other people that exist around this place or not. ] Seeing it was enough and doesn't need much more than that.
[ law is allergic feelings, text it. ]
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So he nods, moving aside to take a seat at the table.]
That's perfectly fine with me.
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he remembers how their conversation last went and, well, clearly this meant that childe had some ideas and names. or that's the assumption he's going to be working off of. ]
Right, so? What was it that you wanted to talk about?
[ since, well, clearly he wanted to tell him something about what was coming up. clearly?? ]
no subject
What did you make of all that, yesterday?
[The execution, and the reveal that HK-47 happily killed Tamaki under orders.]
no subject
It didn't change my opinions about the robot so much. But the question of who that "someone" who ordered him to kill is the question, right? Is it someone among the rest of us or is it someone who stands separate from the rest of us?
[ that seemed to be the question that had been floating around. ]
The noise that we've been hearing is something that hasn't been heard by any of the other Avatars either. [ he crosses his arms and leans back in the chair. ] Is it all related or separate? We're here to indulge but looks like we might have to fight for our lives as well.
no subject
When Law's finished, he just nods, sharply.]
That lines up with what I've gathered. [So they're on the same page, which makes this a lot easier.] That "list" he spoke of--if he started with Tamaki, I'm guessing he was working his way up, regarding combat ability.
[Assuming HK was even telling the truth to begin with. But paranoia can only go so far before it leads to nothing but thought spirals, so. He'll work off the assumption that the robot wasn't lying, for now.]
It makes me wonder if someone will choose--or be chosen--to step in as a replacement.
no subject
the last point that childe makes, however, does get law thinking a bit more. ]
Replacement as a weapon? [ now that it's been said out loud, it seems like an obvious thing to happen but— ] If that does happen then that definitely means something else is at play outside of the avatars.
no subject
[He just shrugs, turning his eyes very pointedly towards the ceiling. The Avatars know he feels this way already, so he has no reason to keep it a secret.]
Of course, it could simply be someone here who decided to take advantage of an object designed for killing. If that's the case, they might have a harder time with a human.
[.......Maybe. There are some pretty shady butts in this game honestly who knows.]