deercountry | November Catch-All (Mostly Closed)

No way out and no one alive is pretty much what Lumine learns as well as she opens every single door she can find, the sight behind each one more and more gruesome than the last. It's a miracle that she hasn't upchucked anything she's eaten that morning after all the sights, sounds, and smells her senses have been assaulted all day.

She takes a turn about the room one more time before she comes to a stop in front of the statue, coughing harshly once more behind a hand as the smell of fresh blood becomes stronger. Not surprising, with the organs and blood littering the surroundings of the statue.

There's something strange about it, however.

"You two, come over here." She's crouching on the floor, her scarf and hem soaking the blood on the floor. She summons her sword, poking at what seems to be a fresh and beating heart. She makes an accident, however, the organ rupturing from the sharp point of her blade. Sorry, little heart ...

"I've never seen something like this before."

Then again, she's not entirely familiar with medical practices or the internal workings of a human body, so.

He rounds around the statue, meeting her in the front to see what she was looking at. He doesn't have much medical knowledge either, but he has recently seen some of the insides of a body before. It wasn't but a few days ago he was in a basement using a zealot for blood manipulation practice...

"I had a feeling we were going to find something like this here," he states, turning to Aether. "Did the bodies over there look as if they were being prepped for sacrifice?"

And, to the both of them:

"Do you two know what this statue is?"

He speaks like he's finally put two and two together. A question he already knows the answer to, and he sounds mildly unnerved, yet unsurprised about.

"I'm not really familiar with what bodies 'prepped for sacrifice' look like, but if you mean were they being drained of their blood and having prep for organ removal or already missing, then yeah," Aether says quietly, his brow creased as he observes his sister as he's come over at Lumine's command. At Childe's question, he glances up at the statue before shaking his head.

"I don't, it's just a statue of The Tower to me."

Aether hasn't really put anything together other than this place is even more morbid and grotesque than he had imagined.

Her brows furrow as she stands up, shaking the blood from her blade before recalling it.

"Isn't it strange, though? All of these things are scattered around this statue ..."

Lumine falters, lifting her eyes to the statue once more and then back to the organs and blood all around it. Why is it that these things seem to have been extricated carefully, handled with much precision–to the point that a heart outside of its body is still beating, a pair of lungs seemingly inflating and deflating? Compared to the mutilated, mangled corpses in those rooms ...

Her expression twists when things seem to start to fall into place, the words of those creatures slowly starting to make sense in a way. She glances at her brother, biting her lower lip to stifle the rising need to cough again.

"Ae, do you still remember what that thing told us before we went here? How they're protecting the city with blood?"

So, it sounded like she'd began to put the pieces of the puzzle together as well. Childe doesn't know how much information they'd gotten out of a zealot before they'd all met up, so he will gladly share the rest of what he knows with them. He doesn't like it. He's sure they won't either.

"Allow me to add to that. Master Diluc and I managed to...extract some information out of a zealot prior to arriving here. Apparently, there was no way in aside from being transported here by one of this place's fanatics. It called this place a tower too, saying it was eternal and forever."

And now that he sees the ornate statue in the middle, the sacrifices of organs to it, the blood being stored inside of this place; they were inside of the Pthumerian itself, The Tower...

Aether perks at Lumine's question, nodding as he starts to recall, but his thoughts are momentarily interrupted by Childe speaking up. He listens to what the Harbinger has to say, then considers what the zealot said to him and his sister. In truth, it doesn't make a whole great deal of sense to him. So, the zealots are corrupted but technically still trying to protect the city, just going about it in an unnecessarily sadistic way? They are loyal the Pthumerian the Tower, it seems, or at least obsessed with it. Is this a twistedly sadistic scenario demonstrating the idea that for the good of the many means it's acceptable to damn the few?

Perhaps it's because he's only just gotten here, but none of it comes together as easily as it seems to be for Lumine and especially Childe. To him, the more pieces he puts together just make him have more questions not less.

"This can't be good," he mutters to himself before coming up beside Lumine to get closer to the statue. "All right, let me try something."

Without another word, he pulls one of his gloves off before wrapping his hand around his blade to slice open his palm on it before reaching to press his hand flat against a part of the gold statue.

Any attempts to speak to him for about thirty seconds will be useless as Aether will seem as if he doesn't hear or feel anyone else around him. Luckily, after those thirty seconds, he will finally pull his hand away from the statue and step back moving to put his glove back on.

"I don't really understand how," he says quietly, "...but apparently if we bring an organ to sacrifice to the statue, we should be able to leave." Except, there's no way in hell Aether is touching other people's organs and sacrificing them for his own ability to escape. That's just as bad as aiding the zealots, isn't it?

Childe and Lumine he won't judge, though, so long as they get themselves out safely.

She still has a lot of questions too despite a handful barely given any answer, running through her head. After all, this is simply a statue; what use would there be to offer all this blood and carnage to what's essentially a figure? And how does this help the city in any way? Blood runs through its streets, with or without these cruel sacrifices.

Before she can say something or protest, she's watching Aether cut his palm open, reminiscent of her actions just a month ago, and smearing the statue with his blood. When he finally steps away, Lumine moves closer to him, taking his injured hand gently in her grasp. Honestly, if he needed to find something out, he could've just asked her; no need for him to make these sacrifices.

Her expression darkens once more with every word he utters, the information about their way out a little too on the nose. She supposes that with the kind of the place they're in, it's something to be expected, demanding them to show a similar form of fealty to this unknown god.

"What happens if we just destroy this thing, then?" Can it even be done?

They both like cutting their palms open; maybe it's a twin thing? Either way, he finds Aether's method of somehow having information revealed to him like that interesting. Perhaps there was more to their blood that they hadn't even realized. Childe hadn't even considered doing something like that, or maybe it was a special property that Aether, and subsequently Lumine, had. Maybe that's why the zealots were so bent on taking her.

The Harbinger shakes his head at her question however, ready to bear some mildly horrifying news to them both.

"I don't think so. This place...it's the Pthumerian itself. We're inside of The Tower. The blood sacrifices made, if those zealots are to be believed, must be giving it the power to dampen the blood corruption in Trench. So, at the end of the day, is this really an operation to be condemned when the sacrificed return to the realm of the living anyway?"

He doesn't agree with this, but he can't dismiss that it was mostly likely the reason why the city wasn't overrun with citizens who had mutated into beasts. Childe turns on both of the twins, walking over towards one of the doors and entering the room for a few moments. He comes back, an organ he'd cut out of a dead body in his hand, and looks at the two of them. Would they join him?

For Aether, it's more like it's the easiest way to get a lot of blood with minimal deepness of a gash. It also hurts quite a bit which means it keeps him from getting careless with playing with blood. So no, it's not a twin thing. Most likely. He also wouldn't have any idea if Lumine can do it, since he only found out he might be able to do it himself by accident while they were trying to hunt down a zealot that could could take them to where they took Childe and neither he nor Lumine were eager to have her actually touch one of them to use hers.

He shakes his head at Lumine's question with a small shrug of his shoulders having no idea the answer to her question. Childe is then directly answering her, so Aether remains quiet and simply looks at his hand in his sister's as he listens. However, at Childe's question about whether this is to be condemned, he turns to look at the other incredulously. "What are you even saying, Childe? Of course it is!"

Childe has already walked off, though, so Aether just turns back to Lumine silently fuming at the Harbinger saying such a thing. He guesses he can chalk it up to Childe being Childe, except for the fact this is what would have happened to him if he hadn't been let free by someone! One would think that he'd at least be a little more Kate about his own situation.

Aether steps back behind his sister when the other returns with the organ, silently letting go of her hand so she can go follow if she wants. He's not playing this game, especially not if that means he can't argue against this damning situation they've come across.

Aether's not alone in that, at least. Her livid expression mirrors that of her brother, disbelief written across her face at Childe's question. And if he weren't out of commission, she would've made her point very clearly right there and then.

"'The sacrifice return to the realm of the living'? One of those sacrifices could've been you."

They've all seen what the zealots have done. Offering themselves to the Pthumerians is one thing, same as asking people who would be ungrudging to offer themselves to these deities–but to capture unsuspecting individuals, even little children, and sacrifice them in the cruelest way possible is another. Even if it's for the greater good, the end doesn't always justify the means of getting there.

Lumine looks at the organ, freshly cut out of another person's body, in Childe's hand before she turns her head away, stifling the cough that starts to bubble up her throat. Their only way out of this oppressive place, and she's balking at it.

"You should go, Childe, and drag yourself to the nearest Blood Minister in the Trench." One that doesn't require her to cut up a person, dead or alive. She glances at her twin brother, offering him a tired smile and her hand. "... I'll stay here and keep Aether company. Make sure he doesn't do something stupid."

Overall, their answers are unsurprising, and quite frankly he looks unimpressed with their effort to cling to a higher morality in this moment. He didn't expect anything else though, but in his opinion they aren't being smart about this right now, feeling irritation starting to creep into his features.

"Both of you can be cross with me all you want. I hope you don't think that I'm happy with this outcome," he bites back. "If it were up to me, this isn't how I'd address this issue. I don't know what problems you're going to solve by staying here. It's likely The Tower is using this power to quell the blood corruption in Trench, so what would you rather have now? Keep those here from being sacrificed, or watch our new home be systematically turned into beasts?"

He pauses, looking directly at Lumine with a piercing gaze, laced with worry for her. She's been coughing a lot, and that hasn't gone unnoticed.

"If you want to change it, you need to learn the rules of this world. You two, of all people, should know that."

"You don't know anything about me, so stop acting like you do," Aether scoffs at Childe, a mirror image to Childe's feelings even as he refuses to look at him while answering.

"The Tower needs blood," Aether says coldly. "Does it need to get that blood from zealots that kidnap and torture even children? Do you really need a child's blood to keep a city protected? What's even the point, then?

"Now, let's say it absolutely requires the life of someone, as well. Does that mean it has to be done like mindless and excessive slaughter? The end has a purpose, but the means employed are excessive and unnecessarily so."

The older twin is clearly agitated, but despite verbally lashing back at Childe he doesn't seem particularly angry at him specifically. Exasperated, certainly, especially when the relationship between them is inevitably one-sided.

"...It's true you need to get out of here, though. And so does Lumine." Aether brings a hand to gently rub on Lumine's head reassuringly. "Lumi, why don't you go on ahead? I still need to confirm something and I haven't been having as bad a reaction to the blood as you." Or he's better at hiding it. Either way, though, he offers a reassuring smile to her. "I won't do anything stupid, okay? I should be back within the hour. Besides, this idiot is worried about you," he points to Childe. "And I'm way less likely to do anything stupid than he is. I don't trust him to go get looked at all on his own. Worst case scenario you know where I am."

What.

Lumine whirls around, turning towards her twin with an expression of bewilderment and confusion. Any argument on the absurdity of this place that she's about to sling at Childe dissipates on the tip of her tongue, her focus entirely on Aether. She shakes her head, squeezing his hand as if imploring him to say that he's just joking.

He can't be serious, can he? Staying here, knowing what's outside of this hall, all by himself. "I don't— I feel fine, Aether."

She shakes her head again, somehow stumbling through her words. Through assurances that she's fine, that she can stay with him on this farm and help him confirm whatever it is he needs to confirm, that her reaction to the blood pollution isn't as bad as they think. But even she's aware that her own brother will not hear any discussions on this matter, as she's wont to do if their situations were reversed.

"... An hour is too long." It's the one concession she's willing to make if her twin won't allow her to stay. "I don't want to come back here again."

Stubborn, just like his sister. Childe stands and takes the argument and insults from Aether and lets them roll off his back, almost as if he hadn't really heard them at all. Making a fuss right now wouldn't help anyhow. He's more concerned about leaving this place, unless of course, there were more zealots to fight.

It's surprising to him that Lumine would leave her brother's side, and considers that to do. Aether is correct, he did need to see a doctor and Lumine needs to leave this place. He also would hate to miss out on another battle, the adrenaline still running through him. So, maybe there is a better solution right now that will benefit them.

"Let's consider this- we could assist Aether in finding whatever it is that he's still looking for here, but limit ourselves to an acceptable amount of time as to make sure we don't collapse in this place. Perhaps we'll be able to find an alternate way out of here as well. That way should be able to satisfy everyone, no?"

Aether's used to bring ignored, so honestly it's neither here nor there to him. As long as it's not Lumine ignoring him, he can deal with whatever. "I don't really know I'm looking for," he replies, even as he moves to hold onto Lumine's hand with an attempt at reassuraning her even though he knows the only way she's going to be reassure is if they stick together.

"I just... noticed that some people did not do the sacrifice and they aren't here, anymore. I was wondering if they found out another way out or if something else had happened to them. I don't know how reliable these powers are, anyway. I could have just been seeing things the wrong way."

Which is why he doesn't like the idea of either of them sticking around for it. He doesn't want them in more danger before of a curiosity he can't let go of.

At the same time, he admits, "if I'm doing something stupid I can't exactly stop you since I brought it all up in the first place, but I don't recommend it with either of your conditions. I don't think anything is going to happen other than wait around to observer, too... which isn't exactly a strenuous situation, but your conditions will only both worsen with time, and so will mine."

Honestly he should have just stuck with he refuses to do the sacrifice, but that would have never flown with Lumine in terms of even considering splitting up for a short time. An hour was too long for her as it was. Kya not like he can blame her, either, he's be the same way. If she wasn't going to be with Childe, he wouldn't let her go at all, though. He just doesn't trust anything about this place or its intentions for the people here.

Edited 2021-11-27 00:03 (UTC)

Aether talks about her condition as if she's never been injured before. And it's not like she doesn't understand his concern towards her, aware that she would be the same towards him. But he should know her better than anyone else, being her other half; she's capable of taking care of herself, even with a handicap. Still, she says nothing, content to hold her twin brother's hand as Childe puts forward a suggestion and Aether somewhat agrees to it.

Somewhat, since it's clear on his expression that he's still on the fence about this and is having second thoughts. She won't be surprised if he suddenly goes against it and sticks to his original plan of sending her off with Childe.

"We could always just find one of those creatures again, drag it here and sacrifice it," she mumbles, leaning her head against his shoulder to stifle the rasp in her voice. "Instead of waiting and observing and looking for some other way out that might not exist."

Since they're all so averted to sacrificing someone innocent, then surely they can sacrifice someone who isn't, right? It still goes against her principles, but if it's the only way to get Aether and Childe out of here and back to the city, then she's willing to compromise her ideals for an hour or two. Lumine closes her eyes, letting her fingers twine with her brother's.

"If this statue wants organs, then those things can spare at least one for each of us."

A surprised, yet amused smile crosses his features. Lumine's idea would satisfy their conditions as well, if not better than what he'd suggested. Though he wasn't expecting her to go down that route, he's glad she did, because then they may escape without too many people or moralities injured in the process. He certainly understands having to sacrifice principals, sometimes.

"That's a fine idea. I wouldn't mind slaying another zealot or two myself," he says, stretching his arms out a little bit. Some pain and soreness bites back at him, but it's nothing he hasn't dealt with before. He can still fight. He'd love to keep fighting, if the twins don't stop him.

"I noticed that the zealots seemed to be transporting bodies up here, so it stands to reason that there may be a shipment of fresh bodies coming here as we speak. We could wait on this floor to ambush them, get what we need and get out of here. Or, maybe this mysterious way of exiting will show itself to us in that time."

He shrugs. Trench was a mysterious place as it was, and he certainly isn't new to god-like powers plucking him from one point to another.

November Catch-All (Mostly Closed)

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