sail_ooc | TEST DRIVE MEME #1

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TEST DRIVE MEME #1

1. now it's fun to wake up in a strange chateau

[you wake up.

it doesn't matter where you were before. going to bed? dying? opening the door to face a great evil? same result. you wake up in a soft bed with starched sheets in a cool, darkened room, sunlight peeking out from behind thick curtains. maybe you're alone; maybe you aren't. maybe you immediately notice the folded paper on the bedside table near your head. if you don't, you better fix that real quick: you won't be able to even open the door before you read it.

the note itself is written in a neat hand on white card stock; there is a stylized logo of a ship with the words SERENA ETERNA printed underneath. the note reads as follows:

Dear Passenger(s),

As your cruise director, it is my great honor to welcome you aboard the Serena Eterna, your destination for fun and adventure! We know you could have chosen any cruise line for your vacation, and we're very grateful you chose ours! On behalf of the Captain, I would like to assure each and every passenger that will we do whatever it takes to fulfill all your needs and desires during your journey with us.

At your earliest possible convenience, please attend the mandatory lifeboat drill by the end of the day. I'm sure everyone is very eager to get started on all the fun and sun, but safety always comes first! You can find your life jacket in your cabin's closet; carry it to your assigned muster station on deck one, where I will take you through the drill. If you can't find me in the crowd, just look for the gal with the winning smile!

See You Real Soon!

Sincerely,
Gal Friday

you walk to deck one. you have no other choice: every time you try to step in a direction some unseen being considers "not towards deck one," you find your legs no longer move, staying stock still, frozen. whether compelled quickly by curiosity, or delayed by pure stubbornness, the result is the same, and you are left milling around with other similarly curious or stubborn people.

you see someone in uniform near the front of the crowd. she seems to be a gal, but is missing the winning smile, along with most of her other features. she seems to see you, though, rushing to your side and placing a lei around your neck with great formality. a voice, cheery but artificial, sees to come from nowhere and everywhere.]

Welcome aboard! We're so glad to have you!

[you touch the lei. rooster feathers, lotus seeds, and a carved circle of something white and hard, linked onto a silk string.]

2. messing with my mind was fun at the time

[freshly lei'd, your legs are forced to lead out onto the deck and towards your muster station. the same woman is there, carrying a clipboard. this time, she introduces herself as Gal Friday, the cruise director, before immediately going into the muster drill spiel. it is very boring, and you are not allowed to move, except when you are required to show you know how to put your life vest on. you could try to not do this, but Friday will move to stand in front of you very closely and just. look in your direction until such a time that you decide to do it. and I'm sure your fellow passengers want you to just get on with it, too.

but, once it ends? she reiterates her desire to welcome you aboard. and, then, you're free.

well, free to move about the ship at your own leisure, of course. which is a kind of free, and probably the best one you can hope for. you could try to escape, maybe, if you have the means to; Friday certainly won't be one to stop you. that's what the barrier is for, after all.

but, wouldn't you much rather have fun?

the buffet is full. the pool is open. the casino jingles and chimes.

welcome aboard.]

3. lots of mystery in the history of the devils I knew

[you were never alone.

a few days have passed since you first arrived on the Serena Eterna. perhaps you've made yourself a little routine, and settled in a bit. or maybe you haven't done that at all. either way, you're here, and it looks like somebody is pretty pissed off about it.

it starts small. sometimes nearby plates skid off tables, or a pool chair upends while you're walking next to it. and sometimes that chair is aimed right at your head. objects are moving with quickly increasing frequency, and a wide variety of styles: some are dropped, or pushed, and others and others are tossed, but a few of the items are thrown, with great force and odd accuracy. if Friday is around during the lighter moments, she simply titters and cleans up whatever mess is made. if a pot of soup sails off the buffet line and nearly drenches you in boiling minestrone, she simply walks away.

and then there's the voices. hundreds, maybe thousands, calling out. not all are intelligible English, but you seem to understand them anyway. some sound scared, or angry. some are screams, others whispers. some sound entirely strange, while others are achingly familiar. and they're all saying the same exact thing:

Get Out.]

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[ at first, he's not quite sure what it is he's looking at. as surreal as the situation was, and as much as he'd like to think it was all some kind of weird, fanciful dream, there really wasn't any reason for him to conjure up a phantom image of someone he'd left behind in Liyue. certainly not the former Geo Archon, although he has to admit it's a testament to his own experiences with the man that he's not really surprised he'd end up running into him here, inside what is essentially a souvenir shop. looking at pretty gemstones.

some things never change. ]

I hope you know that my money's no good here. [ he says by way of greeting, and while it's easy enough to navigate his way over to the man's side to see what exactly he's looking at, the smile on his face is the sort that just barely reaches his eyes.

even if this was some sort of vivid hallucination, that doesn't mean he has to forgive past transgressions so easily. definitely not without the proper apology. ]

[ it has been quite some time since he last saw the Harbinger, what with him storming off out of the Northland Bank after confronting him and La Signora.

The greeting now is quite nostalgic, reminiscent of a time when they could have perhaps been considered friends. Despite seeing that half-hearted smile, Zhongli simply smiles warmly in return. He hasn't forgotten how upset Childe was when he left, and it's no surprise to see him mostly likely now still holding onto those feelings and struggling with them. ]

Childe, it has been some time since we last met, has it not? Have you been well? [ the Northland Bank employees never seemed to have much information on Childe's whereabouts or his status once he had left Liyue. For Zhongli, it admittedly took some months to adjust to the idea that he may well never see the other again (—not that he would admit to such.)

That is how life works— fleeting, ebbing, and flowing—afterall.

... Yet, it also works in mysterious ways, as well, such as having them meet once again on this strange ship that is quite obviously a very long way from their homeworld, of all places.

He can't help but wonder if there is any hidden significance to their unexpected reunion. Only time may tell. ]

It has, and I have. [ he says, and leaves it at that. there's really no reason for him to elaborate any further. while he and Zhongli had been acquaintances during his stay in Liyue, there's no need for them to remain as such here. having walked up and down the ship it was easy to discern for himself how big the vessel was, so the likelihood of running into the consultant was slim to none.

there was no need to make nice for the sake of his mission. to try and play at being friends after what had happened between them would just be insulting.

it wasn't as though he especially held a grudge, but he wasn't going to go out of his way to associate himself with Zhongli again unless he really had to. ]

It seems like you're acclimating to our situation well enough. This isn't some top secret adepti thing I don't know about, is it?

[ does he mean the ship or Zhongli's adaptability? who knows. he supposes when one is (or was) a literal god, there wasn't a whole lot to be concerned about. ]

I am glad to hear it. [ Zhongli also leaves it at that. His thinking is similar to Childe's, although perhaps a little more gentle in the sense he is aware the other is angry with him and isn't interested in accidentally creating more tensions between them. Still, he imagines they will have much to deal with ahead, and it would be better for them to be on good terms then not. For now, though, he will give Childe his freedom to be distant and tight-lipped.

—And avoidant of any future encounters, if he is so inclined. ]

It is not. [ he says matter of factly without looking for clarification on what Childe is referring to. ] It is simply what comes with time. [ there's no long spiel explaining such further like usual. In fact, for once, he would rather not. ]

This ship is quite fascinating with all its amenities, it seems best to be familiar with it in case anything troublesome is to happen. I do not suppose in your exploration of this place you have come across any others from Teyvat?

[ even Childe is observant enough to see that Zhongli isn't as verbose as he normally is, but it's hard to determine if it's from their current situation or the fact that Zhongli has caught on to the Harbinger's stiff pleasantries.

either way, he's not going to address it, and Zhongli probably wouldn't, either, so it doesn't really matter.

the question hangs in the air between them and he considers how to answer. given that Zhongli had never left the city and never really kept any company that Childe wasn't aware of - though that could change, given how long it'd been since he'd left Liyue until now - he doubted the man would know anyone that he might have happened to meet.

so he shakes his head. ]

This place is pretty big. If you're looking for someone in particular, I wouldn't give up hope just yet.

[ and then, because he can't help himself, since finding Zhongli in a fancy gem shop is exactly what he would have expected: ]

Is that what you're doing? Familiarizing yourself with all the fascinating, pretty stones?

[ Zhongli is quiet a moment before there's something of a slight smirk tickling the corner of his mouth. He could explain it to Childe, but they aren't "friends" anymore, so what reason is there to explain himself when Childe is teasing him? ]

Yes. How could I miss the opportunity to see rare stones that may not exist in Teyvat? This is a rare chance that is truly hard to come by. [ he moves to walk by Childe now, only adding to his words as their shoulders barely brush against each other in the process. ] Anything beyond that, I am sure you would rather discover on your own.

[ As much as he would love to say he's really simply ogling shiny items like he would back home, it's not quite the case here. ] I am heading to the next shop now. There are so many to visit, an old man like myself needs to get a head start.

You are welcome to come, otherwise I will not be offended if you choose to continue with your own agenda. [ It doesn't seem as if Zhongli is tired with Childe, angry at him, or anything of the sort. It's merely typical distance between mere acquaintances, like when they first met in Liyue.

Polite, cordial, and brief in public. There's no sense holding Childe and his time hostage. ]

[ he'd hardly think of Zhongli as a crusty, ancient, fossilized, decrepit old man. wouldn't even dream of it, ever.

but it's not as if he's really looking for anybody, not like there's anyone here he'd be keen on seeing aside from the Traveler, and he imagines that if they were here he would have long since spotted that familiar head of blond hair. aside from Zhongli and Childe's own kin there wasn't really anyone here he was keeping an eye out for.

past grievances aside, Zhongli is/was mostly dependable. having an ally like him to face the unknown would be a smart decision so long as Zhongli didn't hog all the fun and kill steal him at every opportunity.

so he laughs a little at the jostling, the sound just barely edged in amusement. it's easy and familiar to fall into step beside the other man as they make their way out of the shop and he'd be more mad that it's almost second nature if he didn't have other things to worry about. namely - where they were going. ]

You know, for someone who's been kidnapped you're awfully calm. You don't worry over what's happening to your precious Liyue while you're away?

[ Childe's lucky Zhongli is not attuned to human emotions and nuances or the way he says that might have been interpreted as sounding almost jealous or bitter. Since Zhongli understands none of those things, however, it slips by without even a pause from Zhongli as they ultimately make their way to the casino on the upper decks. ]

Liyue does not need me to protect it—thus I am no longer necessary. I have full faith in its people's ability to carry on through the unknown. [ there's a momentary pause as Zhongli comes to watch the cards dealing themselves at one of the tables, the ex-archon clearly fascinated by the situation. He continues speaking. ] Besides... with the Tsaritsa now having what she wanted, Liyue is no longer a place of interest for the Fatui, yes?

[ everything else Liyue must learn to take care of by itself. That doesn't mean the Adepti will not come to its aid should it be necessary, so Zhongli is feeling quite at peace with leaving it to spread its wings whether he is there to witness it or not.

Zhongli shifts his attention to look at Childe, his head tilted the slightest bit. ]

As for being calm... are you not the same, Childe?

And you think the Northland Bank is just going to disappear overnight, is that it?

[ it was practically the Fatui base of operations and he knows for a fact that there are still operatives roaming the mountainsides. at least, that was knowledge he'd been made aware of prior to his departing the city. though nowadays he's unsure what it might have become, with the Liyue Qixing extracting reparations for the harbor.

the casino itself is definitely something he's never really had much experience with, although he's familiar enough with the nature of cards to recognize a few of the games being dealt. there are a few people already seated at tables here and there in a small semi-circle, tapping for hits or else flipping up the smallest edges of their cards as though wary of someone sneaking a peek. the shuffling of casino chips is a monotonous white noise to the whole room, easily able to drown out the mutters and murmurs of those engrossed in their games.

it's absolutely boring. ]

I don't think that's something I can answer. I don't speak for Her; I am only a means to Her ends.

[ it's said with the utmost conviction, as if this is something that has been ingrained in him since birth. ]

As for my being calm... how else do you expect me to act? Do I seem like the type to start screaming and throwing a fit when thrown headlong into unknown danger? Really, Zhongli. I thought we were friends.

I do not. Its presence or lack thereof changes nothing in regards to what I have said. [ Zhongli doesn't elaborate further.

Zhongli doesn't seem to understand the concept very well of the casino and all its games, although he is familiar with gambling parlors in Liyue. Luckily, for all his failings in responsible mora usage, Zhongli is not much of a gambler. He is not interested in the currency, only what the currency buys. He observes the cards for a few moments longer, attempting to discern if they are truly dealing themselves with something akin to magic or if there's some sort of supernatural entity behind the motions. It's only once Childe speaks with that unwavering loyalty that he pulls his attention elsewhere and continues wandering through the casino and all its offered flair and temptations. If nothing else, the architecture is quite interesting.

What gets him to turn his attention back on Childe are his last words once he reaches the bar in the casino where drinks and food are for the taking. There is the slightest hint of a rueful smile. ]

You and I... we are friends, and our motives for that friendship have always been the same.

[ Zhongli is careful to make it easily sound like he is saying they are really not friends at all, considering how they used one another as means to their own ends. It's an easy assumption, one that most would run with despite it no such thing being actually said. In other words, the truth is that Zhongli remains silent on their status as friends, and truly, how can he do otherwise? It's possible both of them had been sincere in the friendship despite both initiating it for their own gains. It ended in betrayal, but that betrayal can have nothing to do with an actual friendship forged. There's nothing personal. Zhongli doesn't know how sincere Childe was, however, and he certainly is not going to reveal if the "friendship" was real to him or not. He is overall emotionally inept, but not void of emotions entirely. A heart of stone is still a heart nonetheless. He can feel loss, regret, and the despair of knowing what was viewed a friendship as real was merely part of the motions for a goal rather than a curious and unexpected side effect of mutual interest.

He does suppose, however, that statement warrants an additional acknowledgement. ]

...In light of that, while you were the aggressor and none of it would have come to pass if not for your actions, reflection has convinced me that I do owe you an apology. My intent was not to betray our friendship or any trust that developed unexpectedly.

[ Again, he's careful because... he will never know what Childe is truly thinking or feeling. As much as he wishes otherwise, he understands that there are depths in that mind and that soul that even a god cannot reach—at least not any god that the Harbinger hasn't pledged his loyalty to.

(—And even then, concerning Her... who can truly say?) ]

[ always a man of mystery, Mr. Zhongli is.

it's probably testament to the nature of their relationship - all the easy little half-truths, the subterfuge and the deceit they'd both utilized with each other (less maliciously on Zhongli's end, though that's still debatable) - that Childe doesn't question him nor does he ask for him to elaborate. if the former Geo Archon had any consequential plans after the Osial incident that revolved around the protection of his precious city, it was probably something that he wasn't going to go to any great lengths to execute.

of that, he was pretty certain. even if their previous interactions had all been a farce, enough of Zhongli's personality had bled through enough he'd like to think he had a good read on him.

that still didn't mean they were friends. no matter that it was Childe who had brought it up first.

it isn't as if there isn't anything there - a begrudging respect, only enough to be deemed appropriate for an Archon that he hadn't sworn loyalty to and who had come out of the war with a good number of kills tucked under his belt (victories, kills, whatever) - but Childe isn't going to go out of his way to deepen anything between them, either.

still, old habits die hard, and falling into step beside the old man as he makes his rounds about the casino is something he'll have to try hard to shake. even being away from Liyue for so many months hadn't completely quashed what had become instinct by this point. ]

That's not much of an apology, you know. You didn't even say sorry.

[ it's hard to tell whether he's joking or being serious. with the straight-faced manner that he delivers the next line, perhaps it's a bit of both, the corner of Childe's lips curving into a wicked, crooked smile. ]

But if you really want to make it up to me, I won't say no to a fight.

[ Zhongli's not saying a literal "sorry" to Childe for pulling the rug out from under his crazy ass plans endangering the entire population of Liyue harbor. It would be insincere if he did, although not so much in concerns to Childe personally. Again, he isn't interested in appeasing Childe, so much as simply being as honest as possible. He has no reasons to lie, but age and weaving contracts so to as not allow any loopholes—lest he desires there to be—means he is quite good at making half the picture sound like the entire one to most.

There is a moment of quiet at Childe's request, keeping his attention on the other's face before accepting. ]

Very well. I do not see a reason to deny you.

[ the quiet seems to stretch on for far longer than it needs to, enough that he actually starts to get a little restless. even with the shuffling of cards serving as a sort of white noise to the background of their conversation the lack of words seems almost louder even than that.

it's as he thinks that Zhongli is just going to spend the rest of their exploration staring at him that the man speaks, and while they aren't really the words he'd expected to hear there's a welling of excitement within him regardless.

but Zhongli had never agreed to it before - rather, Childe had never gotten the chance to ask him, now that he thinks about it - and he wonders if maybe this isn't Zhongli's attempt at trying to adapt to a moral man's sense of humor. ]

Be careful with your jokes, Zhongli. It's rude to get someone's hopes up, you know.

I do not joke about such things. If that is your wish, the least I can do to show my sincerity is too grant it. [ Zhongli is moving again, although he seems to be heading to leave the casino. ]

Is this something you desired immediately or the coming days? Either way, this is an inappropriate place to cross weapons. [ therefore they must move to a different location, so Childe might as well follow along. ]

Why beat around the bush? Why not have it out here and now.

[ the way he lingers behind is telling, as though giving some sort of weight to the idea that he'd willingly throw down in a crowded casino, damn anyone else that might get caught in the middle of it. whether it's because he's itching for a bout with Zhongli or the fact that he really is just that mad to so casually disregard anyone else is uncertain. it's probably a mixture of both, honestly. ]

I don't see anything wrong with making this our battleground. Of course, if you're scared that you won't be able to go all-out like you want to, I understand. [ he'll take a few steps in Zhongli's direction, but doesn't really keep the goading from his tone. ] After all, it's probably been a couple thousand years for you, right? You must be pretty rusty.

Are you suggesting that I wish to leave the casino because if I cannot go "all out," I may be too rusty in my old age to properly deal with you?

[ Zhongli asks, and while there's no emotional hint to go on in his voice, if Childe manages to see his face he'll see the consultant's nose is wrinked ever so slightly as if he's detected a sudden and unpleasant odor. ]

Your words, not mine.

[ though it wasn't as if he hadn't led Zhongli to that particular conclusion, like leading an animal to water. as much as he felt unsuited for the types of scheming and plotting the Fatui and his fellow Harbingers usually got up to, that didn't mean he wasn't capable in roundabout, petty ways like this. he was just a little more aggressive in his prodding, especially when a potential fight lay on the line.

that expression is interesting, and it's telling that Zhongli is so calm and collected that seeing anything aside from the sort of look the suggests a state of deep, tranquil thinking at all times is cause enough for concern. ]

What's the matter? Something wrong?

I simply am contemplating the nature of your true intention here, Childe. Are you bothered so much by this fight being moved to another location?

[ as destructive as childe can be, Zhongli can't help but be genuinely curious what the other is thinking for the bed to attempt provocation. Is he really really so intent to create a total mess that it must be here, or does he somehow feel if he doesn't enter the fight immediately, Zhongli will deny him?

Or, could it be something entirely different? ] While we have mentioned my reasonings [ true or not ] I do not understand your own for feeling a need to fight right here.

I just don't want to run the risk of you chickening out on me, is all.

[ his tone is goading, eyes challenging. it's as if he wants to rile Zhongli up enough that he puts his all into the fight, that he doesn't stay his hand when it comes to meting out punishment against the "rascal from Snezhnaya". it's just as easy for the god to walk away, he knows, but how often does the opportunity come up to see the crack in Zhongli's veneer of composure? he had to at least try.

Zhongli is so calm. he's infuriatingly calm. Childe wants to see him come apart and really go all out against him because, despite everything, he knows that he could take Zhongli in a fight. it's simply another challenge, isn't it? so long as he had the opportunity to even face off against him, he knew he had a chance. ]

Are you trying to stall or something? You're asking more questions than I thought you would.

[ despite Childe's absolutely knowledge he could take Zhongli in a fight, Zhongli knows well that he's absolutely wrong. Still, it is impossible to tell someone like Childe such a thing— many only believe by seeing or doing. In this case, by the end, Childe will have done both. ]

I see. Shall I make a contract with you over it, then? It is rather unnecessary to me as it is occuring at our immediate destination, but if you require the assurance I will not leave you before the fight is concluded, then so be it.

[ Without waiting for the answer, he will turn and start walking, expecting the other to follow. He will not let Childe get under his skin here, about a fight no less. He expects the Harbinger to follow, and if Childe hesitates, there will be a rather firm, "Come."

Just to reaffirm him he is not walking away, even without a contact. Even so, it takes two to tango and Childe must follow. The sooner this is over the sooner it can be laid to rest. ]

You and your contracts.

[ Though should he be surprised, given Zhongli's old moniker? Probably not. Old habits were hard to break, especially if they'd been around for six thousand years or so. It was probably like trying to break himself of his penchant for fighting, his thrill for a conflict and the potential to better himself. What else was there in life if not a constant flow of improvement?

He didn't want to even imagine. Just the notion of it made him restless.

When Zhongli turns and begins to walk, Childe hesitates for perhaps a fraction of a second before he follows. It's not as if he's reconsidering or anything like that; far from it, in fact. He just can't believe Zhongli is actually humoring him.

The casino is given one last cursory glance before they're out the door. He's not sure what Zhongli means by "immediate destination", or if he had something in mind that wasn't just outside the corridor and hopefully no one would stumble upon them as they duked it out. ]

Where are we going?

[ Zhongli ignores Childe concerning his response to the contracts. He doesn't expect a foreigner of Liyue to understand their importance, and he no longer has any desire to school him. In fact, as far as he is concerned (and expects,) this fight will settle things and Childe will ultimately ignore him once finished. This is a courtesy after a failed attempt at an apology that was not accepted.

Zhongli is fine with answering the direct question, however. ]

To deck seven, specifically the place called the Sports Deck. It seems to be a recreational area, but of course the passengers have more important things to concern themselves with than using such a place. [ what that suggests about the two of, however, well.. ]

[ if it's meant as a jab of some kind, Childe doesn't acknowledge it. he's unsurprised that in his wanderings the old man has managed to find somewhere they would be able to carry on their fight undisturbed. Childe knows of the location well enough to know that it's fairly open, without much to get in the way aside from a few nets and the tarmac underfoot.

it's a three deck ascent, the walk taking them past several eateries and pools and bars. it's all familiar territory, all things Childe himself has examined over the past few hours. ]

You've been through all the decks in this ship, then? [ he's fine with walking in silence, but given that it's Zhongli it feels weird to. ] See anything interesting?

I am afraid that depends on what you define as interesting. If you mean anything that may explain this ship, its crew, or why and how we were brought here, then I regret to say there is very little of interest. Perhaps in time we'll be better able to identify any subtle hints that we currently fail to see while our eyes remain fresh to this place.

[ Zhongli walks with a steady purpose, not so quickly that he seems to wish to get there in a hurry but also not so slow as to suggest he intends any detours. As they start climbing the stairs to the next deck, Zhongli will offer something more. ]

One thing of note, however, is that we are in an enclosed space rather than an open world. As of yet, I cannot tell if the enclosure moves along with us like a shield in a radius about the ship and will open way to more places when we are closer to them rather than in the sea; but, once you leave the ship, you can only get so far before being physically barred.

That makes sense. I saw evidence of that when I was on one of the upper floors earlier.

[ for all that he knew, they were all trapped here. it wasn't as if he hadn't tried to break the barrier himself, first with his physical strength and then with his wielded elements. in the end it had all been for nothing.

he can only imagine how Zhongli might have come to the same conclusion. somehow, he seems far too composed to have jabbed into the barrier with the point of his spear, and as far as brute strength went... well. that suit didn't really leave much room for flexibility, he thinks. he's half expecting the former Archon to shed it like a second skin before their bout. ]

So, essentially, it's like a mobile cage. I wonder where we're going.

TEST DRIVE MEME #1

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