POST-ROUND 2 MINGLE

[idolpro]

[ Once the decisions have been made, everyone is ushered—though those gentle tugs—out their respective mud rooms into the courtyard. An impossibly tall and incredibly dense garden hedge divides one half of the courtyard away—moreover, it increasingly gets taller when climbed, preventing its residents from escaping their slice of the courtyard. From beyond, idols can hear the distant sounds of something rumbling—perhaps it's the ground shaking. . .

The roster is visible on a large screen, though as time progresses, certain names are blacked out. . . ]

[ Mouths and Hands will be able to transform into monsters at-will, though Hands are much more diminutive and Mouths have supernatural abilities at their disposal. Moreover, unit abilities are on. ]

Comments

[leaveofabsence]

If I tell you, does that mean I get to go after those who have previously killed you?

It's only fair.

[childeishly]

No one has killed me in this stupid game. [ yet. ]

[leaveofabsence]

I'm not talking about this game.

[childeishly]

...as long as I get the same courtesy. I should just kill all the little pests that lead to you getting hurt time and time again.

[leaveofabsence]

[ He approaches slowly, claws clinking against the cobblestone. ]

All of them?

[childeishly]

[ reaches for zhongli's snout. ] You want to kill Scaramouche, don't you, but he's not one of the pests I'm referring to... as much as he's been a pain in your ass.

[leaveofabsence]

[ He allows it as long as no tentacles are involved. ]

Contributing to the fall of Liyue ranks much higher than a mere pest.

But that is also not what I was referring to.

[childeishly]

[ his tentacles do what they want. ]

Are you referring to me then?

1/3

[leaveofabsence]

You are not a pest.

[leaveofabsence]

[ Wait ]

You are not that kind of pest.

[leaveofabsence]

[ One claw reaches up to puncture one of those squirming tentacles.

The one foolish enough to get too close ]

These---

On the other hand.

[childeishly]

[ a bit of a laugh as he cups zhongli's snout. one of the tentacles removes his mask, so he can lean down and give him a kiss. ] You can call me a pest, Zhongli Xiansheng. I won't mind. [ another kiss. ] It's difference coming from you, I know.

[ but he blinks as zhongli seems to be talking about... oh. oh!!! he laughs and laughs and lau- ow! ] You don't like them? [ HE KNOWS THE ANSWER. he's being... a pest. ]

[leaveofabsence]

I do not.

[ His claws dig into the one currently in his grasp, tearing it just a little. ]

Get rid of them for me.

[ He asks oh so nonchalantly.

As if they are not attached to Childe's person. ]

[childeishly]

[ ofc. ]

[ childe manages not to wince, to his credit. ]

Make me. [ sets his chin on his snout and stares him down. double dare, bitch. ]

[leaveofabsence]

[ He continues to tear idly.

Like shredding paper. ]

Then I shall do it.

[childeishly]

[ aaaand now he's wincing. he'll even be able to rip it off if he tries hard enough, but that earns a slap. ]

What are you doing? [ he knows exactly what he's doing but why. ]

[leaveofabsence]

[ The slap rings out - gauntlet versus scales. But Zhongli doesn't react other than to hum in consideration.

And coil his body around Childe in loop after loop, claws reaching to hold his jaw in place. ]

As I want.

The same as you.

[childeishly]

...ahah. [ his gaze sharpens as several of the other tentacles slither out to brush and touch and grope at zhongli. ] How's this, Zhongli Xiansheng? You liiiike it?

[leaveofabsence]

I detest it actually. The texture, the feel, the sounds, the smells. Invasive and without end. Mixed raw with memories that I could not forget even if I wanted to.

But on you---

[ As he shifts uncomfortably with every touch and brush yet still resolutely does not let go of Childe's face. ]

No. Rather even on you...

[ And he turns his face to chomp down on the nearest tentacle touching him. ]

[childeishly]

[ jkfdghfkjhjkfghg ]

[ things he did not expect to see... EVER! this. the pain doesn't even register over the shock, so childe just gapes at zhongli. ]

And yet... look what you did. [ it bleeds a galaxy mixture of black, blue, and purple. ] Do you plan on relieving me of them all?

cw: cannibalism

[leaveofabsence]

[ Like a child who does not want to eat their vegetables, Zhongli chews it down and swallows as quickly as possible. The least he has to taste it, the better. He licks at the wound roughly - not at all apologetic. ]

I am nothing if thorough.

Re: cw: cannibalism

[childeishly]

[ childe's grin is maddening. he reaches for one of the other tentacles groping at zhongli and rips it out himself, shoving it at his maw. ] Go ahead, Zhongli, there's still plenty more to take care of. [ he gives another shove, trying to force it past his teeth and into his mouth. ]

Re: cw: cannibalism

[leaveofabsence]

[ He chews on it with a scrunched nose before gulping it down, more interesting in tasting the blood staining Childe's fingers. ]

Re: cw: cannibalism

[childeishly]

You don't seem entirely too fussed.

Re: cw: cannibalism

[leaveofabsence]

The resulting outcome is worth the inconvenience.

Try not to struggle too much.

[ As he bites down on a much larger one close to Childe's head. ]