wandermouche (
littlesilhouettoofaman) wrote2023-02-04 08:06 pm
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The Brightest Things Fade The Fastest
First they were nothing but echoes, noises without a source or purpose, just something he could blame on the battle he just lost. But echoes changed into soft voices and footsteps and eventually he could even hear the sound of rain outside.
And his body did not hurt after the fall he made, it is merely a familiar sort of uncomfortable sensation of joints popped out of place and cracks that shouldn’t be there. But he had expected to be beyond angry, to feel that rage surge through him, that sense of absolute frustration and that undying desire to serve a certain purpose, that certain purpose. But surprisingly enough there was nothing for now. Just a dreadful, heavy emptiness.
Of course he remembered everything. How could he forget it? Yet another setback. He had been so close to fulfilling his birthright and then that idiot… Oh, yes, the idiot. That buffoon who ranked way lower than him and had the audacity to stand up to a god. And had the audacity to win.
The room is quite dark and when he opens his eyes he can see a couple of figures standing close and half of his mind expects to see the Doctor standing between all of them. But he is nowhere to be seen.
“Get out.”
Did they all come to look at a fallen god? Because seriously, who’d given them the right to do so? So when he repeats the words for a second time they are louder and a lot more threatening.
And his body did not hurt after the fall he made, it is merely a familiar sort of uncomfortable sensation of joints popped out of place and cracks that shouldn’t be there. But he had expected to be beyond angry, to feel that rage surge through him, that sense of absolute frustration and that undying desire to serve a certain purpose, that certain purpose. But surprisingly enough there was nothing for now. Just a dreadful, heavy emptiness.
Of course he remembered everything. How could he forget it? Yet another setback. He had been so close to fulfilling his birthright and then that idiot… Oh, yes, the idiot. That buffoon who ranked way lower than him and had the audacity to stand up to a god. And had the audacity to win.
The room is quite dark and when he opens his eyes he can see a couple of figures standing close and half of his mind expects to see the Doctor standing between all of them. But he is nowhere to be seen.
“Get out.”
Did they all come to look at a fallen god? Because seriously, who’d given them the right to do so? So when he repeats the words for a second time they are louder and a lot more threatening.
LOL IT'S OK
He's well aware Scaramouche has grabbed a hold of his wrist, in his attempt to try to take the ice pick away from him so he couldn't do any more damage. He's weighing his options now, wondering what route the puppet will take with his blade so dangerously close to slicing his head right off.
"If you think I'm calling your bluff, know that I'm fully aware that you've completely given up and you just might press the matter. I just can't believe after all that, you're given another chance at life and you just want to throw it all away because some human beat you. So if I'm a worm, what does that make you? You want to go to your grave like that?"
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So when he shifts a little, his hand finds a screwdriver. Maybe a little less sharp than the icepick but still good enough for stabbing.
"Don't flatter yourself." Slowly he moves backwards, letting go of Childe's wrist in the progress. "I would barely call it a chance." And then Scaramouche slides off the bed again and takes his sweet time to walk up to the other, still holding that screwdriver in one hand. "Lets see how this screwdriver fares against your hydro blades."
The chuckle that follows is cold and joyless.
"Lets fight."
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"Are you trying to insult me?"
His blade moves with lightning fast precision, the tip of it mere centimeters away from the tool.
"With a flick of my wrist, I could sever that completely off its handle. You won't win. But that's what you want, isn't it? Forget it."
And Childe follows through with what he says- his wrist twists just so to try to cut the metal screwdriver off from the handle, wanting to prove a point. He won't just kill Scaramouche after putting forth all the effort to try to keep him alive, and keep the other Harbingers from discovering him.
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When Childe is done with diminishing the length of the screwdriver and there's nothing left but the handle Scaramouche makes it his business to throw it at the other's face with utmost precision.
"Heh..." Such a miserable existence, really. And all he can do is laugh. Because what else is there to do now? Just laugh all the pain away. "And if anyone might find out about your sudden need to ensure my survival your dear Tsaritsa will order her Fatui agents to drag your parents and siblings to her palace and gut them like fish. They are mere humans, no need to bother a Harbinger with such a task."
This time he doesn't move to the bed to pick up another weapon. He walks towards a corner of the room so he can put on his top and cover those miserable holes in his back.
"After all, nothing feeds anger better than betrayal. Trust is such a fragile thing."
And who could know this better than Scaramouche!
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"I assure you Her Majesty doesn't care that much about you. At worst, The Jester may try something- but I can handle him and anyone he sends. But he'll never find out, so it's a non-issue."
Childe wishes Scaramouche didn't have to be so difficult, but from his perspective, Childe is the one who's taken away being able to die after a sound defeat. There's no doubt it stings, but he's finding that they're just going to be at an impasse forever. He can't please everyone here. He's got to find a different way around this.
"Though I'd like to point out, the only person who's been betraying anyone's trust here is you. Stabbing the one I got to fix you, turning your back on the Tsaritsa...you have no room to talk. To the winner goes the spoils, so you need to be quiet and do what I say. You don't get to decide anymore, do you understand?"
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Scaramouche chuckles after saying that. Funny, really. Painfully funny.
He is used to putting his hat on the moment he stands up, but it doesn't take long before he takes it off again, tilting his head a little as he registers Childe's words. And in their very special way...they hurt. And he didn't expect that at all.
And after that he realizes how tired he truly is. With everything that is done to him, with everything that is said, his mind always works overtime trying to process his feelings. It always tells him that it justifies anger, that it justifies godhood, that it justifies revenge. Humans are the scum of the earth. His creator deserves all the bad things coming to her. There are three betrayals who warrant all his rage.
"Are you going to tie me down then? Put me in shackles?" Scaramouche's voice sounds awfully neutral when he speaks now. "Leave me to rot in a corner? I am defeated by you, yes, but am not your possession, Tartaglia. And since you refuse to answer the question I asked you before you shut me down I see no reason to accept anything you have to say."
He looks around the room for a moment before he steps towards the other, stopping just right in front of him.
"I will tell you what is going to happen. You either shut me down now, you fight me until you have no other option left than to shut me down, or you let me live and I will make sure you regret that decision. There is nothing I have to lose. Nothing really matters to me. Everything you say holds no ground." Scaramouche shakes his head and finally places a hand on Childe's shoulder. "All Harbingers know of your little attempt in Liyue. You aren't good at scheming. Don't be a fool."
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"Anything I did in Liyue was doomed to fail, as per the greater scheme set up by those deceivers. And it's not that I'm bad at it," he corrects, "I just prefer not to. There's no need when I can get what I want the way I want to do it."
But that's not the point of contention here, his stomach twisting at part of the reason why the puppet has been so difficult. He avoided the question, dodged it twice now. He doesn't want to play that card, or rather, reveal that he's not playing with a full house- he knows Scaramouche will pounce on that, and he's not sure if he can handle it at this juncture. But...
"If I answer your question, will you at least dial back making me regret letting you live? I've got quite a bit of patience, but things are always made easier when everyone's cooperative. And if you lie to me, I won't kill you, oh no- I'll just make sure you can't do anything about your predicament and force you to live out the rest of your days in a display case."
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"No, you just don't have it in you to be a Harbinger." He slowly crosses his arms and gives him a bit of a look and when he speaks there isn't a standard mocking tone to his voice "Your body is not entirely able to handle the foul delusion, not? It damages your bones and muscles. It causes pain beyond belief."
Then he shakes his head.
"Your mind isn't consumed by anger, revenge, greed or anything like that. You just like to battle."
And yes, there is more to this. More than mercy or battles. And he is glad to hear that Childe is finally ready to fess up.
"I won't lie to you. Yet if you imprison me I will tear out the wires by myself." For all the dull looks Childe might have seen on his face, the one Scaramouche is flashing towards him now is bright and somewhat determined. "To exist, to feel like I am worth something, I need a purpose. One that goes beyond that of being your personal punchingbag. That is downright insulting."
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Did this guy just suggest he was too good to be a Harbinger? It makes him laugh inwardly- he knows that he's no clean soul either, and his deeds would hardly fit a bill of purity. Everything was done in the name of the Tsaritsa, and also to fulfill his selfish desires of endless combat and slaughter. And yet he doesn't know Scaramouche to sugar coat anything...if he says it, it's probably he believes it to be objective fact. Never would he think that anyone besides his mother would tell him something like this.
"Look. I've never viewed you as my personal punching bag, not once. I didn't save you just so I could fight you again."
He doesn't want to say it, he knows all that will happen is he'll get laughed at, called pathetic, even get used by Scaramouche.
"I did it because I couldn't leave you like that."
Tartaglia can't bring himself to explain himself on that front. It was already hard enough admitting to that, and he's already steeled himself for Scaramouche to pounce on him given that information.
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That was the big reveal? He couldn't 'leave him like that'? Like what? An empty shell? If anything, Tartaglia should've just given him to the Doctor for parts.
Scaramouche moves to sit on the chair that is next to the bed he has been lying on for so long.
"But tell me more of your plans for me. Are there orders you want me to carry out? Perhaps a visit to the Abyss? It has been a while since I've last been there. Who knows, perhaps I even succeed in finishing some of the beasts off."
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"I wouldn't mind a little trip to the Abyss. Sounds interesting. But how will I know you aren't going to try to backstab me while we're in there? Not that it'll matter much," he says with a laugh, "because I'll just beat you into submission if you try anything."
Tartaglia lets a wicked smile unfold on his features, meaning every word that he said. Fighting in the Abyss against each other is a terrible idea, but he'll do it, and he won't hesitate.
"However, you'll still need to be fixed fully. I want you to promise me you're not going to attack the one repairing you, or I'll make sure you're turned off during the repairs. Whatever errors happen during that process won't be any of my concern, it'll be your own fault because you couldn't restrain yourself. Good luck surviving in the Abyss like that."
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Scaramouche shrugs and leans back in the chair. This entire situation is grating to him beyond belief. Yes, there is the notion of being useful to another person but that's it, really.
"And stop with those empty threats. This is the choice you have made. Every choice has consequences. If I do not stab you in the back, an Abyss beast might kill you. And if an Abyss beast won't kill you, something else will."
But he sees that grin. It's the grin of a battle-thirsty idiot. And Scaramouche is planning to bring that battle-thirsty idiocy out to the fullest. Fierce enough to break things, tear monsters apart and to make sure that it will end Scaramouche himself in the process. A stupid way to end it all, but an end is an end.
"Just turn me into what you want me to be. Travel to the Abyss and perhaps, if you adjust me well, I will praise you for your kindness. If not, I will betray your trust."
And really, that's it. Scaramouche is looking at Childe, the look in his eyes dull and tired.
i'm gunna timeskip to waking our lil disaster puppet up lolol
"Fine. Next time you wake, you'll be finished and we'll be heading to the Abyss."
The hole in the puppet's chest is still wide open, shoving his hand deep inside of it and pulling the plug once again, catching him before he falls over in the chair. Scaramouche will be put on the bed, asleep for weeks while the engineer rests, and is summoned back by Childe to continue his work- but now with the guarantee that the puppet will not be turned back on until all repairs are done. Childe will make sure to reward him generously, especially after getting stabbed.
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When the power is reconnected, Scaramouche will wake up to the sight of Childe personally working on his body, a black streak on his face along with a few streaks on his bare hands as he's doing the final touches. The hole that used to expose the core of the puppet gets covered, sighing now that he feels the job is finally over. The holes that adorned the puppet's back where the tubes had once been are now gone, everything seeming to be in order.
"There. You awake yet? The repairs are all finished."
DISASTER PUPPET :"D
Yet, Scaramouche also knows that nothing goes as he would have wanted it. So eventually the world starts to exist around him again, voices get through to his head, the sensation of someone messing with his body. When his eyes crack open there is light at first and when the focus returns he sees a dot of orange hair. Oh yes, as if he could forget. He's Childe's little plaything now.
"As you can see."
His eyes flash purple for a moment, as if something inside of him is being activated. Something that has been broken before.
"Still fond of pointing out the obvious." Slowly he moves to sit up and, really, it is true. He seems to move better. Nothing is creaking or complaining when he bends his limbs.
"The Abyss, was it not?"
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Setting his arms akimbo, he smiles and nods to his former colleague, glad to see he hasn't forgotten for as long as he'd been asleep. Or dead, depending on how one looks at it, but he's choosing to see it in a positive light instead for now, to counter the oncoming negativity that he's sure Scaramouche was going to exude in one way or another.
"That's right. It just so happens that intel was able to find a Abyss Order camp outside of Sumeru City a ways- we can use that as our point in. You looking forward to it? Because I am."
Just the thought alone of slaughtering Abyss creatures has got him pumped and ready to go. He looks excited like he could head out right now and go crush everything in their path.
"And since I still can't quite trust you to behave, I figured we would go right away, so I can keep an eye on you. I can't have you ripping through my men, after all, and you've hardly proven that you're capable of controlling yourself."
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Scaramouche scoots to the side of the bed and moves to stand on his feet. Yes, his body functions way better than before. Yet he still feels as empty as ever.
"No. I do not." He shuffles around the room until he has found the clothes that cover his upper body. "You know of my opinion about this entire situation, idiot. That hasn't changed. But if I can be of use, I will take that as it is."
The prospect of battle doesn't excite him at all. In the early days every victory would mean a step closer to becoming stronger, but now...nothing really matters.
"Stop speaking to me if I am some child." Scaramouche picks up his hat. "If you don't want me to rip through your men, give me a reason to not do so." Then he pauses so he can put his hat on. "I might just want to test my strength before we return to that wretched place."
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"Or, you could stop acting like a sore loser and not involving anyone else who doesn't deserve it," he retorts, "if you're going to attack someone, then make it me- I'm the one responsible, remember?"
Childe's annoyance is clear, but it wouldn't be surprising to him if that's what Scaramouche wanted to do in the first place.
"So I'll be more than happy to let you test your strength out...on me," he says sternly.
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"What are you going to do when I attack others? What will my punishment be?" As they start to walk Scaramouche looks over his shoulder, well aware of the fact he's asking annoying questions for the sake of being annoying. "After all, we have already established that I will serve as some sort of punching bag, not?"
But, to be fair, its good to be outside again. To be surrounded with nature. The only problem is that there's an idiot at his side.
"Ah, Tartaglia." Now he does turn, walking backwards for a moment so he could look at said idiot. "Do not talk to me as if I am a child. Agreement or not, you are nothing but a mere insect in my eyes. Do not make me repeat this for a third time."
For a short moment there's a purple flicker visible in his eyes. Nothing but a spark and its very brief, but it is there. The idea of fighting in the Abyss doesn't do anything for him. There are monsters, they are beyond powerful, Childe is stupid and he has been given the most stupid chance on a second sort of life.... Without his permission.
"I take it you know the way."
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"It's not far from here- I'll give you a little brief on the camp before we arrive."
Standard for any sort of Fatui operation of course, as Tartaglia recounts the reports he'd gotten from his men stationed around Sumeru.
"It's not large, only housing a few mages. No other creatures of the Abyss have been spotted, but they've certainly done a good job in attracting more hilichurls to help them with whatever plan they've got brewing over there. Naturally, we're not entirely sure what they're after, all we know is that they've been sending some hilichurls under their influence over towards the cliff near Gandharva Ville.
They must not want to make it a big deal, or they'd of amassed more manpower...so I wonder if there's another set up on the other side of those portals they use. It would be more efficient to base operations right inside, since no one can easily get into the Abyss...or out of it."
And their plan, get inside of one of those portals so they can find the base, kill anything in it, and maybe even find out what the plans are of the Abyss Order. He doesn't feel as if he needs to explain it, he's sure Scaramouche already understands.
RETURNS 2 MONTHS LATER, SHAMELESSLY
"Hmm...it seems you are answering your own question, not? If it would have been an entrance to the Abyss itself they would have bring stronger monsters." Perhaps some of those wolves, or an Abyss Lector. "But lets find out. I am curious to see if you're still that weak."
He flashes Childe a sly smile.
"Heh, you do know your presence is quite unfortunate when it comes to the collective strength of the Fatui Harbingers, not?"
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He shoots that back at Scaramouche, clearly unimpressed with his attempt at an insult. But Childe's ego isn't easily damaged, and he lets that grumble along with the disapproval of all the rest of the Harbingers roll off his back like water from a duck's feathers. All that matters to him is being able to serve the Tsaritsa, and the rest of them could go die off in an unknown corner of the world for all he cared.
"If I can beat a so-called god, then I can take on anything the Abyss throws at me. Don't forget who the merciful one was here."
It's not terribly far to the spot where the reports came from, walking along the path outside the city towards Gandharva Ville. The rainforest crops up around them the farther they wander, Childe focusing now more on their task, but still wary of Scaramouche and any possible traitorous actions he might take.
"So I'm not going to take that from you. My spot was well earned among the Harbingers, whether you like it or not. Perhaps it's better to look at it to see if you're the one who can hold up in there."
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"You should have ended me. Not only are you weak, you're also quite a coward."
He walks next to the other now, looking at him again and there's still that eerie, purple glow in his eyes.
"But yes... I should make myself useful." After all, when it comes down to everything, all it comes down to being useful to others. "And prove my worth."
And after that Scaramouche doesn't open his mouth anymore and merely walks along with the other. At times he does look around himself, noticing that the nature that surrounds them isn't bad. He wouldn't mind living there, separated from whatever society, just by himself. But alas, fate has decided otherwise. The moment he does open his mouth again is when they spot two mages, chanting their spells, preparing something.
"Hmn. I don't think we're far. In fact, we're close now."
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But he doesn't grace most of what he says with a response. The arrogant, uncaring part of him is glad that Scaramouche has decided that being useful is the best thing to do here, but there's also a part of him that aches to hear him say that, a part of him that he wishes he didn't have but somehow feels for the puppet. By all means, he shouldn't, he's clearly a traitor to the Tsaritsa, but it's that same feeling he's been struggling with ever since he took the puppet down and decided not to kill him.
Maybe he's right. Maybe he is just a coward...
"I see it. C'mon, quickly-"
It's the first acknowledgement of Scaramouche's presence that he's bothered with since they'd been walking towards Gandharva Ville. The Harbinger quickly moves, rounding around to flank them on one side, scrutinizing their movements.
"Gandharva Ville isn't too far from here. And if I didn't know any better, it looks like they're about to open a portal...perhaps to attack the Forest Rangers directly. But why would they do such a thing...?"
It doesn't make sense to him, but what it does do is provide an opportunity for them to get into the Abyss unnoticed while their abyssal troops are pouring out of it. Or, they could fight all the monsters directly, getting inside before they could pour out into Teyvat...
"Let's get inside the portal before anything else comes out. There'll be plenty of fighting to be had inside, and that's exactly what I want. Gandharva Ville can thank us later for our service, haha."
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Maybe, when his time comes, he will make Childe regret his choices. Scaramouche has a low tolerance for idiocy to begin with.
When the other tells him to move quick he just follows him as if there's all the time in the world. After all, these are just mages. They're annoying but easy to beat. He listens to Childe's assessment and shrugs afterwards.
"Your wish is my command."
Truly, he doesn't fear anything that could come from that portal. It could kill him, he could kill it, it could kill Childe instead. There really isn't anything to lose.
"Show me the way."
The tone of his voice is somewhat calm, yet anyone can see that the look on his face is off. And even though his eyes do not give off that eerie, purple glow this time, there is that sound again of things clicking into place. Scaramouche can't help uttering a soft, satsified sound. In a world formed by anger and betrayal it is truly a blessing that his strength seems to return.
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He quietly watches on as they finish, not sure of what just happened as nothing seems to of changed in the area. But they suddenly move to the side, allowing space for a portal to the abyss to suddenly open, and Childe sees their chance.
"Let's move."
As he springs forward, a herald emerges from the portal first, but the ginger man doesn't waste any time letting his blades form in his hands as he takes the first mage out with a clean sweep of hydro. Tartaglia only laughs in glee- that was too easy, as mages often are- and he's sure this herald won't be that much more difficult to take out, or take hostage so they have a way out of the abyss.
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OKAY WRITING DRAMATIC SCARAMOUCHE HAS BEEN MY BIGGEST WISH EVER
LOL I'M HAPPY I COULD GIVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO YOU
IT IS MY NO. 1 DREAM /WHIPS OUT THE SILLY ICONS AND SILLY POWERS
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He's gonna fire his lazer :o)
lazermouche
scarabeam activated
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I AM SORRY FOR WHAT HE IS GOING TO DO
haha MOUCHIE UR SO MEAN
YES HE IS
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OKAY I HOPE I WRITE THIS RIGHT DFDF
I THINK I GOT IT let me know if I didn't hahaha
U GOT IT
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sorry, he's just a little insane right now
isn't he always a little tho
I'm gonna put in a little timeskip
is mouchiebaby still using his mind control here btw
the reigns are a little bit more loose, I leave it up to you to interpretate :3
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OKAY HE IS TOTALLY BEING CREEPY TO HIM, FEEL FREE TO INTERPRET IT THE WAY YOU WANT
omg no you have to tell me what he's doing with his powers, i can't decide that for you lol
I HOPE THIS IS OKAY
lawl yeah ofc it is silly haha
he is about to do something more silly
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