for pulse!!

[circuitice]

[ he's had better days, though it's hard to really think about any time before his head felt like it was a vise. honestly, he can't exactly remember when he fell asleep? he's vaguely aware that it's bright though. and he forces his eye open, taking a look around before his next step.

need to be aware if he's alone or not-- and confirming that, see how tight those restraints still are.

he's certain that if he's willing to pull some uncomfortable contortions, he could probably get out. but the question is, how much time until they're back? how much could he get done before then?

he shifts slowly, letting his head droop, and smacking his lips a little to get rid of the taste of blood.

just another day. he signed up for this. ]

Comments

[childeishly]

... [ childe nods and steps ahead of him, taking his own gun out. ] I'll take point. [ he returns to the hall and it's just as quiet as before. a few bodies still littered here and there. he heads down it, peering down the corridor to the left to make sure it's still empty before heading to the stairs. ]

[ he pauses, looking back to make sure kaeya is still with him. he shudders, feeling a bit strange, but... it's got to be nerves. he's worried about kaeya, clearly. ]

[circuitice]

[ Kaeya is following along, but slowly. He looks a little pale— but maybe it’s the light? And he is quiet, his smile dropped as he focuses on getting out of there.

Though, something feels… different in Childe’s posture. But there’s a more desperate part of him that just wants out. ]

This way.

[ he murmurs at their first turn— the sounds of footsteps bringing life to him.

Or, well, low key panic. ]

[childeishly]

[ childe stills all of a sudden, something in his brain fritzing. ] Ah, r- right. [ he nods and turns, heading after kaeya. ] I'll keep them off you if they make an appearance, alright? [ he tries for a smile. ] Let's just focus on getting the hell out of here. It shouldn't take us too long... [ though they clearly noticed he knocked out over half their men, so they're looking for him... wups. ]

Or we could find somewhere to hide in here. It's large enough that they might not find us. Signal's jammed so their CVTs aren't working... I really do think you should take 5... [ you look like shit and his concern is mounting. ]

[circuitice]

[ he pauses, glancing back at Childe. But he wants to leave, regardless of what happened to himself. ]

I've had a few days to rest.

Don't worry about me.

[childeishly]

Alright. [ and just like that all his concern is gone. ] Let's get out of here. [ since he no longer has concern for kaeya's well being he grabs his arm and starts hurrying him along, rushing up the stairs to the roof - the footsteps at their heels growing louder. ] Go on ahead, I'll take care of them. [ and he gives kaeya a shove. ]

[circuitice]

[ before he really catches what’s happening, they’re moving. Moving faster than he wanted, his muscles protesting. But he keeps his protesting to as minimum as possible.

But still, this reaction wasn’t what he was expecting.

And it takes all his strength to not collapse at the shove, ]

What are you doing? We don’t need to bother with them.

[ maybe. The nice thing about being forced along is they are faster. But something strange hangs at the back of his mind, that it would be a bad idea to let Childe go back inside. ]

[childeishly]

[ childe has a knife out, his hand on the door, because he's ready to jet down the stairs and stab a couple of guys, but kaeya protests again, causing him to freeze up. his muscles ache, his brain scrambling as he takes a step back. ] ...a- alright. I... we don't need to bother with them.

Just head up to the roof. We should be able to rappel down from there.

[circuitice]

[ …this definitely demands explanation. Since when has he ever given up so quickly on a fight? But Kaeya doesn’t want to argue it. ]

Alright.

[ but the look he gives him is studying his reactions. Like there’s a puzzle there.

You okay, Childe? ]

[childeishly]

[ no. no he's not alright. he's just as confused as kaeya though, but they can figure it out when they're no longer in the thick of it. once on the room childe heads to the corner of the roof, ] I have a safe house we can hide out in for a little while and you can recover, does that at least sound alright? [ he shoves some gear that he stashed at kaeya, affixing his own. ]

You first.

[circuitice]

[ well, good thing they are both not sure what’s going on. But he has a suspicion, ]

Should I be careful in how I phrase things, then?

[ the closer they get to freedom, the easier it gets. Or maybe his muscles remember how to move— either way, there’s gear to put on and a rope to attach. He just wants out. ]

[childeishly]

...eh? What do you mean? [ childe manages to get his harness on, but he stands there waiting for kaeya to do the same, grabbing the rope and holding it out to him. ] No? [ sorry, the strange feelings haven't completely registered as being a bigger issue. he just thinks he's bending to kaeya's will because he's still worried, despite not exactly feeling that way anymore. ]

[circuitice]

Tell me what you really think.

[ he says, that hint of his usual smugness returning. once the harness is on, he takes the rope in hand. ]

... Unless, of course, you really haven't noticed.

[childeishly]

I... I'm not sure what I think? But, ah, what are we talking about in regard to... I mean, h- haha, that's a pretty broad question, Kaeya. [ but, no, he hasn't noticed, and kaeya's question has kind of broken his poor little brain. ]

[circuitice]

We can chat about it later.

[ he says in response, and leans towards the edge of the building. time to get out of there, before things go even more sideways, after all?

and so, time to rappel down the side of a building. ]

[childeishly]

Alright. [ he nods, still confused, but he's got nothing more to say on the matter. he just goes along with it, because he really has no other choice. he joins kaeya in rappeling down the building. ] Safe house isn't too far, thankfully, but we should hurry. It won't be long before they send their goons after us. [ he takes his arm and starts hurrying up the alley. ] Let's go, it's this way.

[circuitice]

[ he nods in response to that. It's common sense enough, and Barbatos knows his bones are aching and his mouth thirsts. on top of that, there is a part of him that knows what's happened to Childe.

better to deal with it out of sight.

or out of mind, if he's honest. ]

Then, I'll follow you.

[childeishly]

[ about a dozen blocks away is the safe house, tucked in a winding maze of alleys. the door is a dead bolt that childe wrestles open, motioning for kaeya to enter, so he can seal it off once again. he doubts they'll be found here. childe sighs once they're safe, shrugging his coat off and throwing it onto a chair as he unbuttons his shirt. ] ...you going to tell me what the hell happened back there? And what they did to you? [ ... ] I was worried, jerk.

[circuitice]

[ once they're safe, and once the adrenaline has time to go out of him, well, then he can relax. or "relax". More like, sit heavily in the nearest chair, and wince. ]

Just your common place torture.

[ he says lightly, closing his eyes for a moment. ]

Nothing too serious.