{ haunted carnival | test drive #08 - october 2022 }

[dreamposts]

HAUNTED CARNIVAL

Full details on everything can be found here, but an important reminder that this event log doubles as our Test Drive Meme and information can be found in this section.

This means any outside characters participating in the log are canonly logged as appearing in Songerein in October and will remain in Songerein from the IC date of October 25 through 31 (this log is forward dated to the 25th). However, outside characters can only thread within this log, so for those seriously considering the game, you are welcome to use non-festival prompts for your toplevels. Anyone who apps in and is accepted will have their character count October as their first time in the game without any disruption, so all content will carry over. Those who do not apply will disappear which should not seem too unusual as people randomly disappear already, however players in game can choose to retcon and pretend a character was never there to begin with if it would be easier; or even think their presence was just a dream.

IMPORTANT! All outside characters MUST have "TDM" in their subject line, even if you might not app. This will help people differentiate those who are already in the game and those who are not.

TDM threads are required for samples. Refer to the Game Info for general information and feel free to toss any questions here. Reserves will open Tuesday, October 25th and Applications will open on November 1st. Our application cycles are bi-monthly so the next cycle after won't be until January.

TDM Toplevel Link Directory (click to view; updated 10/28)

American McGee's Alice - Alice Liddell
Avatar: The Last Airbender - Azula
BlazBlue - Noel Vermillion
Case Study of Vanitas - Vanitas
Dangan Ronpa - Chiaki Nanami
Devil May Cry - Lady
Final Fantasy VII - Cloud Strife
Genshin Impact - Albedo
Genshin Impact - Eula Lawrence
Genshin Impact - Kaeya
Genshin Impact - Razor
Great Ace Attorney - Ryunosuke Naruhodo
Helluva Boss - Blitzø
Helluva Boss - Octavia
Jujutsu Kaisen - Fushiguro Megumi
Kaze Hikaru - Okita Souji
Library of Ruina - Angela
Mikagura School Suite - Yuto Akama
My Hero Academia - Bakugo Katsuki
Octopath Traveler - Ophilia
Original Character - Kate Galloway (Jigoku CRAU)
Original Character - Marie Daenthelm
Original Character - Pauline Bonheur
Persona 3 - Ken Amada
Promare - Lio Fotia
Shadow Hearts: Covenant - Yuri Hyuga
Tales of Berseria - Magilou
Tales of Berseria - Rokurou Rangetsu
Tales of Berseria - Velvet Crowe
Tales of Hearts - Chalcedony Akerman
Tales of Hearts - Hisui Hearts (Aefenglom CRAU)
Tales of the Rays - Baldr
Touken Ranbu - Hizen Tadahiro
Touken Ranbu - Ichimonji Norimune
Transformers IDW - Soundwave
Your Wings and Mine - Shealtiel

I. CARNIVAL FUN

The moment a guest enters the carnival grounds, there is a high chance (read: optional) they will find themselves changed in some way to fit the spooky, haunted atmosphere. Instead of just wearing a vampire costume, the character will actually turn into one. Of course, how much of a transformation varies between complete to partial changes. It should be noted that this is only a cosmetic and ability change—no matter what someone changes into, they won't have any personality changes…unless one of the carnival attendants cast a small enchantment to make it so. Of course this is by chance as well (read: optional).

A. Haunted Food. While there is some standard fare carnival food around, the Haunted Carnival has some unique items with even more interesting effects:

Caramel Apples: Tart green apples dipped in caramel and decorated with chocolate to look like they’re covered in spiders and spider webs. Eating one of these will have the dreamer feeling crafty and industrious, just like spiders themselves often are. Also, the idea of eating bugs (or even other spiders?!) suddenly seems strangely appealing…
Cherry Blood Popcorn: Popcorn drenched in cherry syrup and decorated with candy bones. The combination of sugar and dreamotion energy leaves the eater feeling giddy and cheerful, somewhat in contrast to the gruesome appearance of the treat itself.
Funnel "Brain" Cakes: Funnel cakes colored to look like brains when served. Comes in regular or zombie brain varieties. Eating one makes you feel lethargic and hungry, like the only thing that matters is your next snack fix, but you’re not willing to do much more than shamble toward it.
Mummies in a Blanket: Small hot dogs wrapped in biscuit dough and decorated to look like mummies. After eating this, you may or may not want to wrap yourself into a blanket and take a nap—ideally somewhere dark and spooky.

B. FUN AND GAMES. Mixed in with the food vendors are several booths advertising a variety of carnival games, including but not limited to the ones below.. The prizes you win may or may not be cursed. Best of luck!

NERF Gun Shooting Gallery: Use dreamotion to shoot foam darts from a gun at various ghostly and ghouly targets lined up on a platform. Advanced players may want to try their hand at making the guns shoot other objects. Water? Fire? Glitter bombs? The only limit is one’s imagination.
Ring Toss: A series of witch hats are lined up, and the objective is to toss rings on the hats for points. Did something just peek up from under one of the hats? It’s probably nothing to worry about.
Potion Bottles: A variation of the milk bottles game wherein you throw balls to knock over flasks and beakers filled with strangely-colored liquid. In most cases, the spilled potion is totally harmless. Once in a while, however, it may have some interesting effects on the player and/or the booth itself.
Slime Pit: There’s a giant pit of slime with a sign next to it: prizes within for those willing to get a bit messy! Said prizes range from giant candy bars to random silly toys to skeletal limbs…? Oh that belongs to the skeleton having fun in the pit, they might want it back.

II. ATTRACTIONS

A. Hall of Mirrors. A classic maze of mirrors that are usually filled with special effects to make one's reflection look distorted. In the beginning the distortions are more humorous, making one look super skinny or extremely curvy. However, the deeper one goes, the reflections begin to look a bit…strange. The mirrors begin to reflect the "worst" side of an individual, but in a more embarrassing manner. When they first wake up in the morning, having a bad hair day, dressed poorly, being lazy on the couch—mostly benign things that would be embarrassing to show others. But there are some that may reveal one's darker self they wish to hide from others and are forced to face—especially when the reflections will step out and follow the original until the end of the maze. They won't do anything, just follow silently like a shadow, but even that may be taxing for anyone, especially if others see. The reflection must either be pushed back into an empty mirror, or it will disappear on its own when exiting the building.

B. Wild Carousel. The creatures on this carousel are not just colorful painted steeds but are more frightening in nature and looking more undead than living. Skeletal horses, direwolves, fanged deer with bloody horns. What makes this ride truly terrifying, however, is that the creatures are alive, restrained only by the pole stuck through them. But there are times when they manage to break free, causing havoc as they run through the park. The only good news is they don't attack, instead aiming for the carnival food as if hungry. Either hang on or help capture them back!

C. Cirque du Souleil. Near the center of the carnival is a large circus tent, and it boasts a variety of shows that are death defying, terrorific, and guaranteed to make everyone scream in fright and awe. The usual acts are available to see: acrobatics, musical performances, theatrical skits, and using ghostly steeds to ride through the large arena. But what makes this circus unique is that all the performers are capable of separating their soul from their physical body, similar to astral projecting or dreamwalking outside of dreams and being visible to all. And now they're asking for volunteer pairs to either participate in a more simple act such as an acrobatic stunt on the swings or tight rope…or eat a special candy that will allow them to have an out of body experience via dreamwalking outside. The only "flaw" is their dreamwalking form will tend to float up to the top of the tent, so their partner who hasn't eaten the candy has to tether them via dreamotion to get through some simple obstacles. No worries, the professionals will help return the soul if they get lost.

D. Spinning Bumper Cups. A combination of the classic bumper cars and spinning cups rides, this attraction has its riders in skull shaped bumper cars that will randomly spin. Riders have the ability to fire off "pumpkin bombs" at the others, which will splatter pumpkin goop to slow down their car. It will also make the car spin for a few rotations. Dreamotion will also help boost the speed, stabilize a spinning car faster, and make the pumpkin bombs more explosive. Just be careful—the barrier around the arena is made of bones and therefore quite brittle. It's not unusual to see a car spin out and lose control driving through the carnival grounds. Stop the runaway car and bring it back! Or shoot people with pumpkin bombs.

E. Ferris Wheel. Ah, the ferris wheel, a gentle ride that elevates one high in the air to allow them to see the sights below, in this case the entire carnival grounds and the surrounding areas like the bordering forests, the Observatory, and the edge of Reverein. However, as with everything in this carnival, the ride is not always so gentle. There are times when the entire ride accelerates to a faster pace, causing the (fortunately) enclosed cabins to rock dangerously as it rotates around. There are times when it keeps going, not letting anyone off until three rotations. And then there are times when the top half of the cabin disappears, exposing the riders to the cooler winds. Fortunately handle bars will appear they can hold onto, but no seat belts. Enjoy the view?

F. Other Rides. There are plenty of rides and attractions at the carnival, too many to list all of them here. A roller coaster, tower drop, gravitron, bungee jumps, pendulum ship—whatever one might think exists, it's there in all its twisted nightmare glory. One thing they all have in common is the more fear and thrill and screams generated, the faster they go. Just hope the ride doesn't stall and get stuck…

III. HAUNTING CLUES

Although the main purpose for these prompts is to find the clues, anyone is free to use them for general use and not focus on getting the clue. For those who do participate, we'll be asking for thread during our Activity Check! Those who are TDMing regardless of application can also have their threads counted by commenting to this thread and following the directions.

#1. Haunted Dollhouse. There is a special building called the Haunted Dollhouse. It's similar to a haunted house, however this attraction is filled with moving porcelain dolls that will try to scare and chase those who enter (it's quite likely some members of the newly added Porcelain Town have volunteered to help). Sometimes, those who enter are cursed into a doll and are now vulnerable. They are also not always able to move on their own will. This is not great as sometimes the dolls kind of…malfunction and will actually become aggressive. The weapons they wield are also not props, so that's a problem. However, they are small and can only inflict minor wounds and can be easily taken out.

The main clue here is "Villains!' I shrieked. 'Dissemble no more! I admit the deed! Tear up the planks! Here, here! It is the beating of his hideous heart!" To help both those who have turned into dolls as well as get the clue, everyone has to find the right place where some candied hearts are hidden. Fortunately the "blood trail" (it's raspberry syrup) will help lead them to the right place.

#2. Abandoned House. A little away from the main attractions there is a run down house surrounded by trees…and a lot of ravens. A raven with red eyes will guide those who dare or wish to face a lost loved one to the house. Inside it's just filled with faceless busts and empty paintings, but soon they are filled with the images of those lost ones. It could be a person, pet, thing, but they are there, just staring. Only the eyes and mouths move, and what the person hears are their insecurities and fears related to how they lost whatever they see. Anyone else will either see the original blanks or their own personalized images.

The main clue is "And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting // On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door // Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning // Shall be lifted – nevermore". To get out of this house, they have to first look for the bust that has the red eyed raven on it. This will be tricky as there will be many ravens with different colored eyes. Once they do, there will be a small picture frame. They must manifest one or more of the images they are seeing and capture it into the frame. This is simply done by waving it like a net, but the manifestation can move around. This can be as easy or difficult as a player wants, and how affected the character is from what they see and hear can also be a factor. The more affected they are, the easier it is to manifest but difficult to capture. The less affected, it will be more difficult to manifest as they have to tap into that raw fear, but will be easier to capture.

#3. Hay Bale Maze. Just outside of the circus tent is a large hay bale maze with the hay…looking as if it's seen much better days. It's filled with spooks that like to jump scare maze goers or bodiless limbs that reach out to grab, but aside from that it's harmless. Except for one particular figure.

The main clue is "Who dares?" he demanded hoarsely of the courtiers who stood near him --"who dares insult us with this blasphemous mockery? Seize him and unmask him --that we may know whom we have to hang at sunrise, from the battlements!" There is a red clad figure wearing a skull mask. He will randomly bust through the hay walls and engage maze goers into a fight. Those who are incapable will flee in terror while the figure will chase, which will be a pretty good clue as to where he is. Once engaged, any weapon and dreamotion can be used at their disposal and the challenge is to just simply best him in a fight (not to the death). Striking the figure even once will earn a victory and the skull mask will be granted.

#4. Musical Catacombs. For a bit more lighthearted fun, there is an underground catacombs that is filled with tombs. Some of them have actual skeletons and ghosts sleeping in them, but they won't harm anyone if bothered. Just be a bit cranky, maybe throw a bone. At someone's head. Down here it's quite lively, filled with music, dancing, and a lot of alcohol. Minors will only get sparkling juice.

The main clue is "'Ha! ha! ha! — he! he! he! — a very good joke, indeed — an excellent jest. We will have many a rich laugh about it at the palazzo — he! he! he! — over our wine — he! he! he!' // 'The Amontillado!' I said." One of the games is a dancing game where the tombs will light up a certain color and participants have to properly hit the correct corresponding floor panel (basically a music rhythm/DDR themed game). Should they make a perfect score, one of the tombs will open and have a crusty wine bottle in it. It has competitor and co-op mode.

Comments

Childe

[disdelusioned]

((come at me bro fatui scum))

fatui scum inc!!!!!

[monoceroscaeli]

[Of all the attractions, this is definitely the creepiest one so far. The hall of mirrors wasn't exactly his idea of fun, but this takes the cake. The only bright side to this is that he hasn't lost any loved ones- maybe a grandparent or great-grandparent, though he's grown to accept those losses so it doesn't hurt quite as bad anymore- though it's a bit awkward when he's experiencing it with a man that he gets the feeling doesn't exactly like him.

Not that that's a new occurrence to him or anything. But he's glad for the company either way, because after all, two heads are better than one. And who knows? Maybe he'll find himself on a better side of Diluc before this is all over.

Maybe he can talk him into sparring with him. It's easier to get someone to spar with you often if you don't force it upon them.]

This place certainly has a way of trying to make you feel terrible, [he muses, walking over to a formerly blank painting, now picturing a giant fishing pole.]

Certainly all this can't be about me. Tell me, do you see the fishing pole in this picture?

[He indicates it to Diluc, wondering if he sees the same.]

[disdelusioned]

[This place is also Diluc's least favorite of the attractions, although his reasons are far more personal. This place is filled with loss and regret, and those are both experiences that Diluc knows very, very well. Those wounds are finally beginning to truly heal, but suddenly they feel as open and raw as ever. He sees his father in every painting they pass, even as he pointedly tries to avoid eye contact.

That he's walking side by side with a leader of the organization that caused the worst of it isn't helping his mood at all. That Tartaglia sees a fishing pole, of all things, adds insult to the injury.]

No, I don't see it.

[He says, not even sparing the canvas a glance before he speaks.]

[monoceroscaeli]

[He's noticed how Diluc avoids looking at the paintings, including when he points out the canvas showing the pole in question. The most he can infer here is that what they see is specific to them- and Childe's got a good idea of what Diluc may be seeing given the reports he'd read.]

Well, that's good. I wouldn't want anyone being able to learn all my secrets, now.

[Childe will leave that hanging in the air for a moment, as they proceed through the house. He keeps looking at the pictures of things he's lost without hesitation. Though some of them may sting, or bring back haunting memories, it doesn't seem like the Harbinger is afraid to look at them, no matter how deeply they gaze back.

He also doesn't figure he's going to get much conversation out of Diluc at the moment, so he stays silent for the time being until he starts to notice something else.]

Is it just me, or are these raven statues color coded?

[He points to a bust with pink eyes. Seriously, who gives a raven pink eyes?]

[disdelusioned]

[When it comes to intelligence, Tartaglia certainly has Diluc beat. The 11th Fatui Harbinger has the easiest history to trace by far, but by all accounts it's unremarkable. Something doesn't add up, and there's no way to tell what that something is. Meanwhile, he's all but certain that the Fatui have a full dossier on him, his issues, and his motivations. He wouldn't be persona non grata to them otherwise.

The flippant way he regards that fact only serves to make Diluc glare and scoff under his breath.]

Let's just get this over with so we can leave.

[There's only so much disappointment from his father that he can take, even if it is just the house playing tricks on him. And there's only so much he can stand working alongside a Fatui Harbinger before his anger about his father's fate boils over.

Focusing on the task at hand is much easier.]

You're right. That must be significant.

The raven that led us here had red eyes, didn't it?

[monoceroscaeli]

[Childe's thumb comes up to his chin, thinking back. Diluc is right, it was a raven with red eyes. Seemed like something right out of a story, and really it shouldn't be surprising to him that any of this carnival was like a horror story that you'd recite around the campfire. So they've got color coded statues and a red eyed raven...]

...It did. Now that I come to think about it, we haven't seen another raven like that since we entered, have we? So perhaps it's a matter of finding it again, or finding another statue like it. All these pictures that reflect the losses of the heart only serve to distract us...I'd hate to find out what lies at the end for us.

[There's no way it's good for either of them.]

Nothing is given for free, after all...it may be best to steel ourselves for something far worse than what we've encountered so far.

[disdelusioned]

[It takes all of Diluc's willpower not to snap back something to the effect of pointing out that, as a Fatui Harbinger, it's likely that Tartaglia has taken more from others than he himself has lost. The only reason he bites the comment back is for the sake of the mission task in front of them. His feelings have to take a back seat to the need for pragamatism.

His father looks down at him with disapproving eyes, and the gaze cuts him deeper than he'd like to admit. The sooner they finish here, the better.]

Knowing how things tend to go in this world, I don't expect anything less. The images are also likely intended to farm nightmare energy from our negative emotions.

[There's no hiding the bitterness in his tone, especially since only one of them seems to be stewing in negative feelings. And he's carrying no shortage of nightmare energy inside of him even when not staring his losses in the face.]

If red eyes is our lead, then let's move through the house and see if we can find a statue with red eyes.

[monoceroscaeli]

Is that what it's doing? Farming nightmare energy, eh?

[He's got a lot to learn about this new world, glancing over at a picture frame reflecting a younger boy, the light still in his eyes. Tartaglia looks away, understanding how cunning this world really is. Ori had warned him of this same energy. He still wants to wield it himself despite its dangers.

He moves through the house with Diluc keeping his eyes peeled. Blue eyed ravens seem to be found to their left; where purple ones seem to be straight ahead. Childe laughs to himself...how had they missed this before?]

Come.

[He inclines his head to a hallway that goes off to their right.]

I think I've got an idea of where to go.

[disdelusioned]

That's more or less how nightmares work here. More than anything, they want to spread.

[Diluc knows this first-hand, being a prime candidate for nightmare infection because of the way he is and the ways in which he copes (and refuses to cope) with the myriad of things wrong with him. He's gotten better in the year he's been here, but it's easy to forget that much in this place that seems insistent on reminding him of every failure that's cost him dearly.

In his distraction, he catches onto the pattern just after the Harbinger does. He huffs softly in agreement.]

Lead the way. I'll cover the rear.

[Because he doesn't trust him enough to show him his back.]

[monoceroscaeli]

[Childe leads the way, not terribly worried about Diluc trailing behind him. If he made a move to attack him, he'll still deal with it appropriately; but he doesn't get the feeling that Diluc has any intention of doing so, so he doesn't worry about it.

So he happily marches on, down a hallway that leads eventually leads them to what looks like a trophy room with a red eyed raven statue in it. Childe spots the small frame that is propped up on the front of the statue, picking it up curiously before turning to show Diluc.]

Odd, isn't it? There's nothing on this canvas, unlike every single other picture frame in this place. Care to take a look at it yourself?

[He hands the frame over to Diluc to study, curious to see his reaction or if something would happen.]

[disdelusioned]

[Diluc has no intention of attacking, not in this house or anywhere. Whether or not Tartaglia remembers it or not, there's a standing truce between them in the better interests of this dream world. He promised Thoma, and he'll be damned if he breaks that promise for anything less than Tartaglia being an active threat.

As they enter the trophy room, Diluc takes one last look behind them to ensure that nothing is following. The rear is clear--although the path is quickly cut off by the door closing behind them without any visible external push. He's sure it's locked. Damn it.

Nothing to it than to focus on what's in the room, then. He considers the empty frame with the same curiosity.]

I don't see anything in it, either.

[He'd feel relieved at the lack of his failures being broadcast back to him through the voice of his late father, but he actually has a bad feeling about this.]

Perhaps this canvas is one we're meant to fill in ourselves.

[monoceroscaeli]

[He's not exactly sure how much he likes the sound of that, given what this entire haunted house was really doing. Childe frowns, stepping over to stand side by side with Diluc as he looks at the canvas in the other's hands.]

And given what we know of this place, whatever image that appears before us isn't going to be comfortable.

[It already hasn't been. The Harbinger thinks, what loss would be great enough to get them out of here, and with the prize that they sought?]

But it seems we'll have to try just to get out of here. I don't think that door is going to unlock itself if all we do is fill that canvas with something joyous. Guess we'll have to give it a shot.

[Childe focuses, thinking of what he could possibly imagine that would be 'good enough', and he keeps coming back to the same feelings, the same terror. He looks to Diluc, visibly unsettled by this new development.]

Ready when you are.

[disdelusioned]

[Diluc nods in response to Tartaglia vocalizing what both are in the process of deducing: they need to project one of the images this house has been haunting them with into this canvas. What happens afterward is uncertain, but likely to be miserable. For him, there's no question what that image should be.

That a Fatuus has to see it only adds insult to the injury. Although he notes, with no pleasure despite their oppositional relationship, that Tartaglia seems jsut as uneasy with the idea as he does. It's strange; he's never really considered that a Harbinger might have complicated emotions about himself and his past.

Really, he's hardly ever considered them as people. Seeing evidence to the contrary feels... complicated. And unhelpful.]

I'm ready.

[With that, he closes his eyes, focuses his attention and dreamotion energy at the canvas, and allows himself to picture his father - and what he might think of the mess that his beloved golden child has become.]

[monoceroscaeli]

[Childe joins him, unearthing those early memories of when he was chased through the snowy woods of his homeland after he'd run away, remembering the deep descent into an ancient world and how it made irreversible changes to him. He reflects on his fear, and what he'd lost in the process. How it shaped him into the person he is today, even if he doesn't look back on it with shame or much sadness.

His younger self appears on the canvas, looking back at the two of them with fear in his eyes, the light still present in them. He seems to cling to the other man that's starting to appear on the canvas, and Tartaglia breathes in sharply at the image. It's not something he buries, but it's not something he was ever expecting to have to face again in such a tangible manner.

The Harbinger's eyes shift over to Diluc, to gauge his reaction to all this. He doesn't dare breathe a word right now, not when Diluc's own image is starting to form.]

[disdelusioned]

[Diluc's face is even paler than his usual fair complexion, but his jaw is set and he's staring straight ahead. His past is painful, and he refuses to talk about it unless absolutely necessary, but it is what it is. There's nothing to be gained in denying the effect it's had on him or the fact that it happened at all.

The image of his father forms alongside... Tartaglia's brother...?

No, it's Tartaglia himself. Younger. Wide-eyed. Alight in a way that the Harbinger isn't despite his casual and often flippant demeanor. The child is afraid, and his father--a spitting image, in so many ways--holds him protectively in response. It seems that Diluc is not the only one of them who has changed significantly from his childhood self. He can't help but wonder what sort of experiences he's been through to cause such a difference.

In this moment, he feels the unbelievable: a pang of empathy for a member of the Fatui.

He quickly swallows that feeling back as, as if in the blink of an eye, the two are suddenly next to the empty canvas rather than contained within it.]

You were supposed to stay within the canvas.

[His statement sounds stupid even to his own ears, and the manifestation of his father seizes upon it immediately.]

"You, of all people, are not in a position to tell me what to do, Diluc."

[monoceroscaeli]

[So this is the former mogul of the wine industry in Mondstadt- Crepus Ragnvindr. He'd read about his death in the reports that the Fatui had on the events that occurred in Mondstadt before he'd even become a Harbinger, because the fallout was something that he was around for. How their man on the inside was thrown out by the Knights, discovered to be a mole.

And how his son went on to destroy Fatui troops, for a few years or so. So much that even they, the eleven, had to watch him. So much that one of the Harbingers themselves came for him, in the end. Anyone with half a brain could figure out why Diluc had done what he did.]

Hey, [he says softly to Diluc,] just remember, whatever he says to you is for the sole purpose of getting you to lose yourself. Don't let him get under your skin.

[He says that as his own self stares back at him, silent for the moment. The grown-ups are talking here and he knows better than to interrupt. But Tartaglia is bracing himself for when it's his turn, and he's got a good idea of what that'll be.]

[disdelusioned]

I know that.

[The response is practically spat, a small vent of anger to release some pressure so that he doesn't explode. For all that Diluc plays at being cool and collected, underneath the façade he's anything but. And even with all of the healing he's done here in this world of dreams, that much hasn't entirely changed.

Of course, Tartaglia probably knows that much, based on Diluc's history with the Fatui and his status as persona non grata in Snezhnaya.]

If it weren't for the machinations of you people--

"If it weren't for your own incapability, you mean."

[The interjection shuts him down for a few brief seconds before he collects himself and swallows back the sting that it leaves. He hates it, but the Harbinger is right. He needs to detach himself.

Even if hearing that sentiment from his father's voice kills him a bit.]

Let's get this over with and figure out how to get them back into that canvas.

[monoceroscaeli]

[On the exterior, his face is placid, unmoving and neutral, not taking offense at all to Diluc's biting comment at him. But on the inside, he frowns at the cut to Diluc from the shade of his father. The Harbinger knows that these are simply voices from Diluc's own insecurities, but he can still put himself in the other's shoes. It would hurt just as much if his own father said something like that to him.

He nods to the wine mogul, knowing that it's best to get it over with as stated already than to prolong this suffering.]

Right. They came from dreamotion, so I don't see why they can't get put back the same way-

Don't send me to that dark place, Mother will only cry again. You shouldn't of run away...

[The voice from the younger boy finally comes, his eyes on the canvas as if it were a cursed place that only serves as a final resting place. He clings onto Crepus tighter, not willing to let go.]

Then Father will send me away, to the Fatui...because they're scared of you and what they see in your eyes. Aren't you supposed to protect kids like me, so that doesn't happen?

[That response only manages to elicit a saddened sigh from Tartaglia, who looks down at the ground, eyes darting back and forth between two spots in the floorboards as he's forced to revisit that. Guess he wasn't getting out of this one after all.]

[disdelusioned]

[The image of Crepus Ragnvindr holds the child more tightly, an action that hardly surprises Diluc. This is the man, after all, who took in Kaeya from the rain and raised him as family. And... maybe it's an expression of Diluc's own unexpected sympathy for what he's seeing here.

It's hard to ignore the child's words: "Aren't you supposed to protect kids like me, so that doesn't happen?" That sentence sums up much of why Diluc does what he does, and it's not something he expected the two of them to have in common. The difference lays in how they got there. Diluc jumped in headfirst, whereas Tartaglia was sent away to the Fatui, presumably after some life altering trip to some "dark place"...

For all of the Harbinger's talk of conquering the world and seeing the Tsaritsa's will done, seeing this vulnerable wrinkle in his personality and experiences is unexpected. And yet, it fits.]

Enough of this.

[Without hesitating or even checking to see how his partner in this place is faring, he charges in to tackle and restrain both of the apparitions. The three of them all fall to the ground in a heap.]

Get the canvas.

[monoceroscaeli]

[Tartaglia is well aware that his own shade is trying to manipulate him, preying on old wounds that would keep him from sealing the child away inside of the canvas. He's sure that Diluc is also being manipulated as well, but in a different way, and that's what he's trying to figure out. The impression he's gotten from the younger Ragnvindr is that belittling him won't keep him from accomplishing his goal, if anything it would spark a fire inside of him to rise up to meet it. So it doesn't feel as if the only goal here is to dissuade them from trying, but something else...

His own idea how to deal with his shade won't come to fruition, as Diluc surprises him with his next move- tackling both of the ghosts of their past to the ground. Childe's eyes widen, as that was not what he would have done in this situation. There's no battle here to be fought, not a physical one at least, and he hears his child self cry out in fear when he goes tumbling to the ground.

He grabs the canvas as instructed, but his other hand goes out not to reach for one of the shades, but rather to grab Diluc by the back of his jacket.]

Hey, come on now! You just tackled a child and an old man, no less your own father! Can't you see you're being tricked into doing what they want?

[He'll try to lift Diluc off of the other two, mild irritation in his voice. The other man may hate him for this, but he's used to people hating him anyway- so it doesn't matter to him if this is the end result.]

[disdelusioned]

[Diluc isn't picking a fight, at least not intentionally; in his mind, he's taking quick, decisive action to make sure these apparitions don't flee during their attempt to dreamotion them back into the canvas. That Tartaglia doesn't realize that is frustrating enough. But then he has the gall to mention his father, and Diluc whirls around in fury.]

That is not my father!

My father died years ago thanks to the cursed device that you people gave him. One of many. Not that those lives mean anything to you, since it's all in the name of your damned Tsaritsa.

These things are no more than--

"That's enough, Diluc."

[Diluc immediately stops his tirade, slowly turning to the figure of his father on the floor--who is still holding the boy protectively, despite everything.]

"Is this the son I raised? One only capable of destruction and anger? What of the lives you ended, the ones you ruined? You abandoned the Knights, nearly killed Kaeya, left Mondstadt for years... and for what?

"Vengeance isn't a virtue I instilled in you. It disgusts me to see you cling to that hatred so tightly, even now."

[He's entirely unable to reply, frozen in place as he tries--and mostly fails--not to let the words get to him. Every part of him wants to explode, to set this place ablaze and burn it all to the ground. And that, he knows, is exactly what the shade wants. It wants him to destroy their chances of completing this objective by giving into the anger that simmers just below his usually-cool exterior.

He cannot let that happen, no matter how much this hurts.]

You're not my father.

[There's absolutely no strength behind the statement, and his voice is tight with the effort of keeping the last bits of his restraint in place. To Tartaglia, he adds:]

How good are you with dreamotion?

[monoceroscaeli]

[He feels no need to explain himself, the Fatui, or the Tsaritsa's will to Diluc. Tartaglia had nothing to do with the death of Diluc's father, and the wine mogul's words roll off his back like water falling from a duck's feathers. The Harbinger understands that the other man's rage really should be aimed at the Doctor and the Doctor alone, since all of that was set up by him. Countless of numbers of their comrades died to Diluc's blade, but despite that his mild annoyance comes from having to receive the blame for the terrible things his coworkers have done, even if he himself has created his own fair share of chaos. At least those were his fault, unlike right now.]

My skill in dreamotion isn't what you should be concerned with. Besides, I think I've figured their little scheme out.

[The hollowness in Diluc's voice was enough. He nearly even killed his own childhood friend that had been taken in by his father...the burden put on his shoulders must have been too great. It's a lot of anguish to put on someone all at once, and he wonders what happened between himself and Kaeya to produce such an outcome. The rest he already knew about, and while there is truth to the shade's words, he's not sure what outcome anyone could have expected, given what really happened.

The child in front of them wears a shocked expression at Childe's words, and the Harbinger's eyebrow raises.]

Oh? Looks like they know the game is up.

[Taking a breath to center himself, Tartaglia walks over to settle himself down next to his younger self, expression thoughtful and empathetic with a hand outstretched as the boy tries to back away from him, still on the ground. The canvas is still held in his other hand, as the shade looks at it and then back to him.]

Ajax, come here. You know I'm not going to hurt you.

You're so selfish, you don't care about me, or Mother and Father-!

C'mon, you know that isn't entirely true. You know I take care of them and the rest of the family as best as I can.

You only care about fighting, that's the only reason you'd send a kid like me to the Abyss-

Hey. If that doesn't happen, then with what strength do I have to protect Tonia, Anthon, and Teucer? If I hadn't run away, what mundane life would I be living in that small village? You know it was an accident, it's not like I ever imagined going there. But now I have the opportunity to see the world, and cross blades with strong opponents. If you don't go, then we also don't get to meet the Traveler, serve Her Majesty, the Tsaritsa...

[He sighs, trying to not let all of it come rushing back and get to him, taking another deep breath.]

It was the most terrifying experience of my life, and I'd never wish it on anyone to fall into a place like that. But I can't change the past, nor do I wish to try- I'm just sorry you had to grow up a little too fast, and for things to end up the way they did between you and Father. I lost a part of myself that day, but I also gained something, too.

[The boy is still scared, so Tartaglia simply reaches out to bring him into his arms for a hug, the canvas pressed against the back of the shade as Childe closes his eyes and focuses on the magic that would put him back in the canvas.]

It's time to go.

[The shade sniffs, hugging his older self back before dissolving into particles of light that float away from Tartaglia, as he holds the canvas in front of him. The image of Ajax lies within it, and he smiles softly as he stands to walk back to Diluc, ignoring the shade of Crepus.]

Sorrow, fear, uncontrollable rage, hesitation, confusion- these are the things that will only serve to dull your blade. Seek to hone yourself as thin as a razor's edge, and find glory for yourself in all your endeavors. Now, go on.

[He hands the canvas over to Diluc- Childe won't put Crepus back in it, if he even could in the first place.]

[disdelusioned]

[Diluc knows full well that the majority, if not the entirety, of the blame for what's happened to him falls at the Doctor's feet. But Tartaglia is guilty by association, and also the one standing next to him right now.

He watches the exchange, conflicted emotions written across his face as he's unable to keep up his usual veneer of impassivity. This is intensely personal, details about the Harbinger's personal life and motivations that he's not meant to know. Tartaglia has a name, a family, a history filled with regrets and trauma. He was a child in the Abyss, if Diluc understands correctly. As someone who has made a sworn enemy of the Abyss Order, he can only imagine what that experience had been like.

Yet here he is, facing this younger, terrified version of himself head-on with both determination and compassion. It puts Diluc to shame, if he has to be honest.

As such, he doesn't even bother sneering or pushing back on what Tartaglia has to say. He doesn't have the heart for it.]

Right.

[He takes the canvas and steps forward, turning his attention to the figure of his father.]

The golden child you raised died alongside you. Your death, the betrayal by the Knights, Kaeya... it was too much. I shattered. And I know the way I've put myself back together won't meet your complete approval.

"Of course it doesn't--"

[Diluc continues speaking, undeterred. Giving voice to what this place has been needling at all night is strangely powerful, allowing him to regain control of himself and his emotions. It's cathartic, not unlike how he felt talking to Thoma and Ori after his near-noctaere experience months ago.]

Not a day goes by where I don't wish that I had been able to do something differently. That I had been strong enough to fight the drake back and save you from having to step in. I miss what my life was back then, when things were happy and seemingly simple. But there's no sense in dwelling on what-ifs and hypotheticals. The past is what it is. All I can do is move forward.

"You don't truly believe that."

You're right. But I have no choice but to accept it.

[He holds out a hand.]

My dreaming days are over, Father. I've dedicated myself to burning in the darkness, to handling and fighting off the unseen threats to Mondstadt so that no one else has to suffer like this. It's not what either of us wanted, but it's the best I'm able to do. It's the only thing I'm able to do.

[The shade looks down at the offered hand and takes it. When he speaks, his voice is gentler, kinder--like a father consoling his son rather than admonishing him.]

"It's enough."

[Diluc doesn't say anything in response. Instead, he closes his eyes and does as Tartaglia--as Ajax had, focusing on pulling his father back into the canvas. The shade dissolves in floating bits of light before dissipating entirely, leaving the two men alone once more.

He sets the canvas back into place, and the door they entered the room through opens. Instead of leading back into the house, it seems to lead out into the open air.]

[monoceroscaeli]

[He folds his arms and sets back on his heels as he watches Diluc deal with the painful exchange between himself and his father, silent. There's no doubt in his mind that his companion would overcome this challenge now, as he could see it in his eyes when he'd handed him the canvas. There was an understanding there that was absent before, the fire having been controlled as it burned inside of him. To confront all that suffering and agony head on now gives him a sense of pride in the other man- it's hard for him to see any of the other Harbingers being able to do what Diluc is doing right now, after all.

Which is why when Diluc is finally able to seal the shade of his father within the canvas, he'll be greeted with a smile from Childe, joining him at his side to look at the picture frame once more.]

Guess there's really no secrets kept between us anymore, is there.

[He makes the statement as he lets a few of his fingers trail down the side of the frame, looking at both the boy and the father with a sense of peace.]

Well, about ourselves, at least.

[Sure, there's plenty of Fatui secrets and intel that none of them will ever know, and he'll die before he spills it. He picks the clue up from the raven statue, their prize for facing down their ultimate sorrows, but it hardly seems like the thing to focus on in the moment.]

[disdelusioned]

[Diluc doesn't return the smile, but his expression lacks its usual severity. Much as Diluc would prefer it not be so, Tartaglia is absolutely right. This has been deeply revealing on both sides, and there's no forgetting what they saw here.

Strangely, he feels more at ease about this outcome than he would have expected. They still stand on opposing sides, and Diluc still hates everything that the Fatui stand for and have wrought. But more than anything, this experience has humanized his enemy in a way that he's not quite able to ignore. Everything about the Harbinger's choices and behavior suddenly makes sense. Were Diluc put through the same, he's not sure he would have ended up doing much differently.

At the end of the day, they're both deeply traumatized men doing the best they can with the hands they've been dealt. No secrets between them, indeed.

State secrets and intelligence notwithstanding, of course. Diluc appreciates that the two seem to be in agreement on that point, based on the quick addendum to the original statement.]

"Childe" is what you would prefer to be addressed as? Or is my intelligence incorrect in that regard?

[The question is meant to be something of an olive branch, even if Diluc sounds uncertain in his offering of it.]