If a road is blocked, take another approach.
"Notes: If going over, under, or straight through don't work, perhaps it is possible that the key is the inside. Starting small is the best approach; disabling his mechanisms is the undesired result.
Procedure: Begin by inserting a small seeding in his intestine. If possible, aim for it to enter the breathing passage and land in the lungs (better incubation there). With enough plant growth," certain parts of the text began to get smudged as logic took over his thought process. "(If the heart is destroyed, the machine itself may) Do not allow for core/heart destruction. The mechanism may lock with countermeasures. (Once the plant can be extracted) Plant extraction is unadvised. The body may adapt to reject it next time."
Dottore doubted he had preformed such a complex operation in his life. Scaramouche wasn't technically alive; he couldn't be killed. However, without knowledge of how his technology and system worked, it would be impossible to reactivate. As always, Il Dottore had to tread on egg shells if he wished to succeed in his operation. He had to give it to the Raiden Shogun; her perfection of human replicas was flawless. Unbreakable. Or, they were made to be anyways. Nothing is impossible, for without possibility, impossibility cannot exist. There is a way, yet Dottore had yet to find it.
Glancing upwards from his notes, the doctor stared at the glass beaker, currently housing his most complex living thing. A plant--seedling, more like--replicating a naku weed from Inazuma. If Scaramouche was really made by the goddess of electro, the doctor had no doubt that this plant would have the highest survival rate. It thrives in high electro concentration, after all. The only problem would be ensuring that said seed takes root in the place it's meant to. There would only be one shot at this. Failure would lead to another dead end and being locked out of yet another system.
He had to perfect this. No matter the cost.
———————
"Zhongli!"
"Ah, Traveler. It's been a while. How have you been? Is the Shogun doing well? It's been quite some time since we have been in contact. It seems about time that we are due for some sort of visit."
With a bit of unease, the Traveler glanced at Paimon. Despite being practically a celebrity in Teyvat, they still hadn't gotten used to the way certain mythic beings can talk as though literal oppression can be remedied overnight. Although, maybe to a god, years seem like nothing. It wasn't like Zhongli was the god of freedom, after all, and he certainly wasn't the ruler of Inazuma. The matters of the lives of people living in oppression weren't his problem.
"The Raiden is uhm..." Even Paimon, who could never shut up, had trouble to coming up with a response. "... she's well, I think. How have things been in Liyue Harbor? Any more Fatui troubles?"
From her tone, it was evident that she still had a strong dislike of the Fatui. The Traveler was still unsure what had completely driven her to hate them. Was it Childe's betrayal? Scaramouche's trap? Or had it started at the beginning, when Signora stole the Gnosis straight from Venti's chest? Traveler wasn't too fond of the Snehznayan operation either, but the anger that Paimon constantly gave them was terrifying. For such a small being, she certainly housed grudges for a long time.
"After the Osial incident, it would seem that the harbor is at peace," Zhongli replied easily, taking a sip of his tea. "No more has been seen of the young Snehznayan rascal, and Signora's boat departed shortly after you made leave for Inazuma."
"Childe went with Signora? I for sure thought he would've fought tooth and nail to stay away from her." Paimon observed, seemingly confused by Tartaglia's cooperation.
The soft clink of porcelain against porcelain sung through the air as Zhongli carefully set down his tea. "The matter wasn't a means of cooperation, dear Paimon. Rather, it was a matter of power and position. I shall speak no ill of Childe; I cherished his days with me very much. However, I am unable to deny his greed for power and infamy. Our young friend may have seen it as an opportunity to grow more powerful, or perhaps he needed to clear his mind in a more familiar place. Whatever the case, I assure you, he has not gone complacent."
"Count on Childe to prefer bloodshed over friendship," Paimon scorned, crossing her arms over her chest.
"I would not go so far as to say he is a murderer," Zhongli replied coolly. "Our paths and journeys have shaped us thus far into our lives. Do you believe that our dear Traveler simply relies on their sibling out of mere blood? Their trust and experiences are the reasons they need each other and worry. Is Childe any different? Born and shaped to be a fighter; a human herald of the Abyss. Perhaps it would do you some good, dear friend, to look beyond first appearances and labels."
"The Abyss?" Traveler finally spoke, seemingly confused.
"... Perhaps I've said too much. His story is not mine to share, therefore, I will not speak on it. I still ask of you to keep my advice in mind. Not everything in this world is as black and white as it seems. Learn people before just throwing a label on them."
"I... still don't follow. You want us to trust a man who tried to kill us?!" Paimon protested, kicking her foot harshly at the air under herself.
"I did not say to trust him. Rather, do not label him based on his obvious motives. Look beyond that. Find out the 'why' in this situation. You may just learn something more about this world; something that may aid your travels." Zhongli said calmly, going back to peacefully sipping his tea.
With those words, the Traveler turned and stared at Paimon. The little pixie seemed frustrated, and also slightly... nervous? Frowning, Traveler trained their caramel eyes on their floating companion. They had never seen this side of Paimon; a nervous, angry side that seemed to be aimed at them. Gently resting their hand on her back, they guided her away from Zhongli and the crowds around Liuli Pavilion.
"Tell me what the Abyss is."
———————
"Experiment #81: Balladeer
Stage one complete; seed has taken root."
YOU ARE READING
Cloth Stained Red
Fanfiction"The color red looks so beautiful on you," he breathed, voice husky and filled with anticipation. "It's a shame that you can't look like this eternally." The cloth in his hands was stained red, soaked through with the crimson insides of another bein...
