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From:

[ Oh good. ]

Consider it forgotten! What's this about then? You know it's not safe for you to be poking around rebel affairs.

From:

vapour

[ Childe's low chuckle resonates through the mindscape they share. ]

Awh, what, gonna tattle on me, Thoma? And here I thought we were buddies after everything by now!

From:

emblazer

[ Childe's chuckling doesn't do anything to make this situation less unsettling. ]

No, I think they'd take my head off if I even mentioned us communing. You saw what they did to Kaeya.

From:

vapour

[ the amusement fades drastically at mention of Kaeya and what happened to him ]

Actually... no, but I heard about it plenty. Maybe you're not on such a great side afterall, who knows.

[ still, he's not here to mess with Thoma's loyalties right now. ] Estinien killed a girl recently from the Kenoma, and she has since defected to the Pleroma. I can't look out for her anymore obviously, so I'm asking you to do it, instead.

You're the only one I can think of that won't let this Pleroma/Kenoma bullshit ever get to your head where you wouldn't protect her. I don't trust anyone else, not even Himeka who she is closest to.

Her name is Meteion.

Edited (sorry ugh) Date: 2022-08-02 11:30 pm (UTC)

From:

emblazer

[ A Fatui trusting him... he's not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing, but Thoma definitely wouldn't let anything happen to her. He has his own reasons for questioning some of the brutality of the other rebels and knows from his lord's dealings with the Tri-Commission and the Shogun that conflicts are often messy rather than a matter of pure good versus bad. ]

You know I'd do my best to keep an eye on her, but why'd she join us if her murderer is on our side? That seems like an odd choice. I would have thought she'd be more hateful towards the Pleroma after.

From:

vapour

[ it's selective trust, Thoma. You're fine. ]

I don't think she thinks like that. Especially because Estinien is important to Himeka.

...Either way, when I spoke to her I could tell she was so much happier away from the Kenoma's influence. She doesn't belong here, and not only will she keep getting in the Regent's way if she were, putting her in danger from both sects, the Regent will break her before letting her go if they capture her.

From:

emblazer

I can't imagine the Regent would go any easier on the defectors than they did the rebels.

[ He'll definitely have to keep a close eye on her. ]

I think you can send a mental image, so I know what she looks like. That way I can spot her quicker.

From:

vapour

Probably worse. I haven't seen a trace of the two traitors that were captured, but I have seen Himeka and Abel.

[ childe sends a quick mental image as requested, as well as a brief memory of the communion message when he spoke to Meteion so he can hear what she sounds like, too. ]

From:

emblazer

[ ...So adorable. Why would anyone kill a child that soft and cute? He knows Estinien must have had his reasons, but the situation strikes him as very odd. ]

They were probably already executed. I expect Himeka and Abel are being kept alive so they can reveal more about us and our whereabouts.

[ He wonders if the Regent can peek inside their heads somehow. ]

From:

vapour

I don't think so. Execution is too kind in the Regent's eyes for an aion that's betrayed them.

[ why yes Thoma they actually can. If only you know the right questions to ask. ]

I think they're being used as bait for all of you.

From:

emblazer

That's... that's bad, but I know there's no way to get them free without crossing into Achamoth.

[ And he knows some people would be all too happy to charge in blindly and kill whoever gets in their way. What a mess. ]

I don't suppose there is a secret entrance I can wriggle out of you?

[ What would he even trade for that kind of information? ]

From:

vapour

Mm... I don't think you would have a problem sneaking into Acamoth even if you went through the front gate so long as you don't cross paths with a Kenoma aion. It's not guarded like Inazuma or Snezhnaya. It's the Citadel you'll need to be able get in and out of, and that's a hell of a lot more tricky, since even us Kenoma don't know the full extent of its layouts yet.

The bigger problem is, though, your group of Pleroma aren't one for espionage. They'll screw you over faster than anyone else and you'll pay with your life and then some. I'm also betting the only single chance you'll have to make contact with Himeka and Abel is while they're on public display, and that's going to be over in a few days. You simply won't be able to get to Acamoth fast enough.

Edited Date: 2022-08-03 01:30 am (UTC)

From:

emblazer

[ What a time not to have the Shuumatsuban around to do the snooping for them. They really are lacking in any stealth. ]

You're right. I don't know how they're planning to get that deep into the city without catching anyone's notice. Those that are planning an outright attack probably aren't going to make it back. Do you know what's underneath the Citadel?

From:

vapour

So they are taking the bait, huh? [ a sharp bark of laughter, but there's no amusement. Honestly, it hurts him how stupid the Pleroma agenda is. The fact they haven't been destroyed already should be testament to the fact they're fated by the cosmos to be eternally blessed. ]

Well, what else is new. Maybe someday they'll learn how to be smart about this, but that's not today. They're emboldened by the recent victories, maybe. There will be a lot of death, and I'm willing to bet my life it won't end in satisfaction for the Pleroma agenda.

—Yeah. Water.

From:

emblazer

I couldn't tell you what the prevailing strategy will be. It's a little beyond me.

[ He's worried that the Pleroma will just be ambushed terribly at the Citadel unless they have a better plan, so he shares some of Childe's cynicism right now. ]

I don't know how much time there is left before things get messy, but I was thinking I could ask a favor in return. Nothing to do with the upcoming battle. I just need some things I was making delivered to Achamoth. I'd leave the package on the rooftop of a popular tavern –The Drunken Fowl.