kind of a bad guy

❝ Oh? You've thought quite a bit about this, haven't you? ❞ nor was kaeya truly opposed to fishing, recalling the time he had spent alongside the traveler and paimon on a little boat. how often has he been on boats for work? far too much, a far cry from a cruise for something more leisurely. ❝ It's not like I'm against it or anything. I've also heard some things about the Intraspace fulfilling a similar goal, but you're far more into the physical aspect of breaking away, ❞ he states, not so much of a question than it is an assessment.

And...

He presses his lips into a line. "Honestly?"

"Before it only felt like we had to worry about your coworkers, and it seems like times are changing." And his coworkers are far less kind, far more likely to cannibalize their own, and far less likely to ask questions.

still, she can only think of the times he had shown up to some of the tea parties that sandrone had hosted, following along capitano himself. and even though he had a knack for seeming trouble, well... she had yet to see it fully herself. so, she halts where he lays, leaning over to peek down at him with a curious expression.

❝ Did you fall down on the ice? ❞ or perhaps he was sprawled out after a rampaging duel, especially with those cuts on his face. from the little she has heard of him, she can come to see that outcome just a smidgen more. ❝ Or perhaps... you got your head beat in unceremoniously? ❞

"I work at a fight club," he adds, for context, sitting up on his elbows in the snow.

"Nooot...entirely sure it'd be your scene, though." Or maybe it would - he found it almost impossible to get a read on her. Maybe she actually had more in common with him than he thought! Maybe...

⚙ "You've been here how long? They really didn't bring in the best and brightest first, did they? Or maybe they were saving the best for last?" It had already been about ten minutes since she'd first begun to speak to Tartaglia. Sandrone's opinion of him was so-so. She didn't know him well. He was like a chick that Capitano had dragged along to her tea parties without permission.

But far be it from her to tell him "no". She had to admit, he did bring a certain energy the couple of times he had attended. At least he never thought to challenge her to a battle.

But, uh,

Maybe he had been right about Marionnette?

The blonde Nobody still finds herself shyly blushing at the compliment. "Ah, well, thank you. You're really kind for saying that." She fidgets with her pencil a little.

Freminet blinks. His face is as impassive as always, but he’s confused. Many Fatui wear masks, including Freminet and Lyney; however, in this instance, Childe seems genuine. The problem is, Freminet doesn’t understand why he would care. La Signora used to bring them presents because she was lonely. He wonders if Childe is lonely as well.

“…Th-thank you for not letting my disappointing performance affect your opinion of the rest of my family. You’re welcome at the House anytime… Father permitting, o-of course…” Freminet says. While earnestly polite, he’s done harboring outsiders without Father’s permission for the time being. “Maybe… next time under better circumstances.”

Freminet straightens to attention at the question, placing his beret back on his head. He gives a crisp report with more confidence than his normal manner of speaking. The House of the Hearth was, after all, an intelligence network, and all the children were its agents.

“Not long, sir. The flora and fauna of this place are much different than that of Teyvat, although the ecosystems share many similarities. Lunar eclipses are extremely frequent phenomena, but they do not seem to affect the tides. There appear to be far fewer vision holders, yet more people with abilities beyond those of regular humans. I have been assigned accommodations. They are mostly fine, except that the security is lacking compared to that of the House. And… Um…”

Freminet hesitates, taking Pers out of the special pocket he travels with Freminet in, and hugging him tightly for comfort.

He wishes that Freminet could just be a normal, shy kid, but that doesn't seem to be in the cards for him or his magician siblings.

"Security isn't as necessary here, at least most of the time. And when it is, you'll be able to protect yourself, and Pers, and your roommates." Though he's certain Freminet wasn't entirely happy about the roommates being strangers...

"And, hey, if you really get scared, you can always come stay with me. I can basically return the favor from when your family let me hang out with you." He's certain Kaeya won't mind, although there may end up being questions he's not inclined to answer right away.

It proves when childe hits that spot and it slashes through, breaking into thick exoskeleton and into flesh.

It hurts and Oliver does cry out in pain, but he chuckles weakly. "I think it being predictable is much better!" His body is already trying to heal and it takes a lot of effort for Oliver to prevent his body from doing so.

Oliver uses his new resolve to fight back! This is his body and he'd be damned if he caused any more damage to people.

"Now!" He warns when those deadly legs of his lifts to launch a double kick.

Well, okay, not easy, but simple. Logical. A leg sweep would be if he wasn't planning to completely immobilize. If he was still playing around.

But Oliver wants to fight back, using damage to his body to give the advantage. And who was Childe to say no to a request for trust?

"Warriors need to trust each other if they work side by side. Maybe not as people, but as fighters." He hopes he can impart some sort of wisdom to the boy.