For Archon's Sake

Danse Macabre

Signora rested a hand on her hip, leaning against a mahogany desk loaded with unfurled maps, statements, and piles of ledgers. "Well then, I see you two have gotten to know each other well during your time here. How...fortunate."

Childe's head pounded as he counted to three before he answered, "You summoned me to this meeting. I assumed this was a matter between you and I. Cooperation between Harbingers requires communication, you know-" Signora laughed, a sing-songy, sultry thing that would have most men lining up to kill for her, begging for a spot in her bed before the night was over.

Childe just wanted to kill her.

But he wasn't stupid enough to face the wrath of the other nine or his queen. He'd be dead before he even boarded a ship to a land willing to offer him asylum. And there weren't many of those, given the Fatui's notoriety. But most of all, he imagined the look on the Tsaritsa's face as she received the report of his betrayal. There would be anger and vengeance in it...but also disappointment and shock. He curled his fists. No. Signora was not worth him losing his deity's approval. No one was. He had worked too hard to see the recognition he craved fall to the wayside from a... slipup.

Signora's lips curved into a grin as if she knew every thought his mind had come up with. And was ready to meet him in a fight that would make the one he had with Aether look like a simple scrap. The city would be damn near rubble if he gave in, no doubt about that. "Why Childe! I'd thought you'd be pleased! Aren't you happy you got to skip the formalities and bring chaos to the land?" Childe had to bite his lip as hard as he could manage. She was still his superior, but that didn't make him want to snap her neck any less. He ignored her and turned to the traveler, forcing himself to look as delighted and arrogant as possible. "Traveler! This is our first time seeing each other since Liyue was almost wiped off the map. Truthfully it is...rather awkward." Paimon stomped the air, infuriated. "We should've never trusted a Fatui Harbinger!" Childe rubbed his head sheepishly. "Now don't say that! Sure I misled you, but I never had anything against you personally. I thought we were getting along rather well. We just have... different views is all." He jerked his head towards the desk. "The real deceivers here are Signora and Zhongli. Curse them for leading me on," he muttered. Aether started. "Wait, Zhongli did-" "Childe," Signora interrupted, studying her fingernails, "has a habit of running his damned mouth. My queen has yet to...train it out of him. Stop wasting my time, eleventh." She looked up at him, any hint of cordiality leaving her eyes. "You will have plenty of time to chat with your friend once I am through here. Disobey my orders and I promise there won't be anything left for the queen to send to your family. Your ashes will be dumped and scattered in a forgotten place." She turned to Zhongli, extending a hand. "You remember the agreement, Morax. Now, the gnosis please."

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Zhongli couldn't bring himself to look at Aether as he swallowed. "Zhongli? What on earth is she talking about?" Paimon sputtered. Zhongli closed his eyes and steadied his voice as he summoned the gnosis in his palm. "The contract is fulfilled. That which thou seeketh is now bestowed unto thee, for my promise is solid as stone." Signora scoffed. "Hmph. How sanctimonious. No matter," she said, taking the gnosis, "my queen's will cares not how it is achieved." Aether stepped forward but faltered as Zhongli shook his head. "I do not give it for free, Traveler. I give it as agreed upon in the contract." He dared a glance up at Childe, whose face was limned with barely concealed rage. "For this is a matter solely between the Tsaritsa and I." "And you don't think feigning your death was too far?" Aether laughed in shock. "You put all of Liyue in harm's way for selfish gain. This was nothing short of a disaster. And you used me to do it," he spat. Signora wrapped a curl around her finger. "Gathering all of the forces that had been bubbling behind the scenes, stirring them together in a pot that was bound to bubble over...that's what you wanted to see, right?"