[He's quiet for a minute, contemplating. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that there's something behind this, but he also doesn't expect her to trust him so easily--he's a stranger, after all, and she's clearly not naive despite her age.
Still, he can't help his brotherly instincts--ones he hasn't really been able to act on in quite some time. He's trying not to project, but it's harder than expected.]
Will you tell me what happened? [A question, then, so she can decide whether or not she wants to share what spooked her. If she says no, that's fine.]
[ the soot rising from her head thickens as she thinks on the details. ]
The day I was taken here... was a lot like this. There was a big party. We gathered everyone from the children's wing together for it... nearly a hundred children. I was announcing the new teams that everyone was going to be divided into. And there were food and drinks prepared...
...I see. So you went through terrible things even before all of this.
[It's hardly a shocking thing to hear, but... it doesn't make him any happier. He's already been assuming, just from her inhuman identity and what he's seen of her behavior, that she's had a tough existence--it makes his heart ache to know she's been hurt even beyond that.]
Were you meant to go back there, after you left that haunted town? [Scawwy...]
Yes. I believe that's true. [Obviously he doesn't know her that well, but he's sharp, and he pays close attention to people. She's intelligent, and determined--that's all he needs to know to support her claim.
He's quiet for a minute, then gets up, from his seat, moving to kneel down in front of her. He can't see any facial features, but his gaze is steady, fixed where eyes would be on anyone else.]
I know I'm a stranger to you. And with what you've been through... I wouldn't blame you for not trusting me, or anyone here, for that matter. But I promise you that I'll do whatever I can to help get you home, so you can do what you need to do.
[He holds out a hand, then--pinky extended towards her in offering.]
[With a gentle smile, Childe hooks his pinky around hers, uncaring of the soot that might get on his gloves for it. It's fine. They've had worse stains. More importantly, he clears his throat and recites:]
You make a pinkie promise, you keep it all your life. You break a pinkie promise, I throw you on the ice. The cold will kill the pinkie that once betrayed your friend, the frost will freeze your tongue off so you never lie again.
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I think I've had enough parties for a while.
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Still, he can't help his brotherly instincts--ones he hasn't really been able to act on in quite some time. He's trying not to project, but it's harder than expected.]
Will you tell me what happened? [A question, then, so she can decide whether or not she wants to share what spooked her. If she says no, that's fine.]
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[ the soot rising from her head thickens as she thinks on the details. ]
The day I was taken here... was a lot like this. There was a big party. We gathered everyone from the children's wing together for it... nearly a hundred children. I was announcing the new teams that everyone was going to be divided into. And there were food and drinks prepared...
... but something went horribly wrong.
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[It's hardly a shocking thing to hear, but... it doesn't make him any happier. He's already been assuming, just from her inhuman identity and what he's seen of her behavior, that she's had a tough existence--it makes his heart ache to know she's been hurt even beyond that.]
Were you meant to go back there, after you left that haunted town? [Scawwy...]
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... There was a boy who went back with me, after the last "round." He was going to help.
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... I will. I can't afford not to.
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He's quiet for a minute, then gets up, from his seat, moving to kneel down in front of her. He can't see any facial features, but his gaze is steady, fixed where eyes would be on anyone else.]
I know I'm a stranger to you. And with what you've been through... I wouldn't blame you for not trusting me, or anyone here, for that matter. But I promise you that I'll do whatever I can to help get you home, so you can do what you need to do.
[He holds out a hand, then--pinky extended towards her in offering.]
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a pinky promise? it's a little childish, in itself... ]
You really are an odd one...
[ ... ]
Okay. I believe you.
[ she reaches a hand out, extending her pinky in turn. ]
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You make a pinkie promise, you keep it all your life. You break a pinkie promise, I throw you on the ice. The cold will kill the pinkie that once betrayed your friend, the frost will freeze your tongue off so you never lie again.
[WHAT THE HELL KIND OF PINKY PROMISE IS THAT.]
1/2
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[Does not seem to notice that this is incredibly unhinged]
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It must be an interesting place.
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Haha, I think so.