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[He was only inspecting this coin. No, this was definitely not something minted at Liyue's Golden House. The underling who "found" and handed it over didn't mention that someone would come with it.

The Harbinger pivoted to look at the man who asked, while holding up the coin and smiling.]

Oh, so this actually belongs to you?

Not exactly.

[John is standing there looking annoyed.]

Long story, but I'm tied to that coin...whoever holds it wakes me up.

Tied to it? Are you saying there's magic involved? I don't recall hearing of this sort.

[That's quite interesting. Tartaglia sits in a chair behind a desk within his small office room, awaiting to hear more while unbothered by the other man's annoyance.

What other explanation could there be, aside from a form of magic being involved? Why else would this man be suddenly standing there?]

[John mentally curses....the owners who know what they have they are careful to ask questions of him...the ones that don't...well]

Yes...old magic...pissed off the Fates back when I was breathing...that is my soul coin you are holding...whoever has it can command me to do as they want.

[John shrugs]

Have to answer any questions truthfully too.

Old magic...

[The Fates, hmn? I wonder if he's... Tartaglia frowns in thought. For a moment, he attempts to compare what is said to all the research he's done.

All those days to weeks of it, and he wasn't victorious in getting the Geo lord's gnosis himself; Zhongli's connection to the heavens of Celestia. A former colleague he never got along with was the one who took the gnosis, and gave it to the Tsaritsa.

The present time is more important. Thinking back on past failures and frustrations is meaningless.]

I suppose you must have lived as far back during the clash of the gods. The archon war, in which took place thousands of years ago.

[The serious, calculative expression on his face shifts to a relaxed grin. This seems to be getting more interesting by the second.]

I wouldn't be an expert on ancient history. I've only read into some historical documents and scrolls. Can't say I've heard about you though.

[John smirks. He's an odd thing these days, living around and through time as his coin passed from hand to hand and world to world. He remembers his life before, but it's in an odd hazy way that lost souls do.]

Wasn't a god in my world...just a mortal wizard who crossed both Hell, Heaven and a few others along the way.

[He shrugs again as if this fact doesn't really bother him, because he did what needed to be done at the time and while he longs for freedom he knows he's earned his fate

Name's John Constantine doubt you've heard of me if you didn't know about the coin.

[Wait. What? The very first thing John says piques his interest a great deal...]

In your world?

[Well, he starts to laugh, simultaneously surprised and amused. He didn't quite know what to expect, but meeting someone who's at least sort of similar to Lumine? Really? Truly? Just why would Teyvat be a world for such fascinating individuals to end up in?

It's a mystery he'd like to try to solve.]

You've certainly been to places, it seems! You're not the only Traveler around, either. [He closes the hand that still holds John's coin.] Maybe I could introduce you to her sometime.

[He'd have to plan on how to set that up, just to see the girlie react. Mischief flickers in his blue eyes that don't reflect much light. There could be perhaps more to consider, since John did say that he follows the commands under whoever holds his coin...]

Until then, John Constantine, I think we have much to learn from one another.

My codename is Childe. But I'm also known as Tartaglia. I'm known for a few things throughout areas of Teyvat; debt collector, Snezhnayan diplomat, and the eleventh of an elite military class known as the Fatui Harbingers.

Basically, that's me in a nutshell.

[There are things about himself he won't reveal, at least not for a time. He keeps his real name and past a secret, even from fellow Harbingers. Only the Tsarista knows. There's a sense of trust and dedication he has toward his nation's goddess.]

[John nodded.]

I've traveled the multiverse, coin never ends up the same hands twice...mostly I suppose to keep it out of anyone's hands who remembers me....it's supposed to be a punishment.

[He bows his head at the introduction and then looks back up glancing over his new owner with a careful gaze.]

Pleasure to meet you I suppose.

[He leans forward in his seat, smiling. The wariness from John doesn't go unnoticed.]

How did you anger these Fates? Did you do it out of spite, or for the thrill?

I've had my share of causing trouble. I won't deny that.

[There's no hesitance in admitting this. No shame or remorse either.]

Helped one free herself from their thrall.

[John missed Charlie he knows she would have never agreed to her sisters doing what they did...]

Didn't know the coin had been cursed until after I died.

I see. This was out of an act of justice.

[Tartaglia knows how to work around such people. Lumine was someone he was able to make a little deal with. In his proposal to help clear her name of the death of Zhongli's former vessel, he gave her a duplicate of a relic that is used to safely approach the adepti; immortal creatures who were given the duty of protecting Liyue. Each one had their respect towards the geo archon.

She returned from her trip through Jueyun Karst unharmed. The test run on the Sigil duplicate was a success. Of course. I accomplished that. I almost forgot...]

Did your world's Fates cause your demise?

Edited 2021-10-11 03:34 (UTC)

I, er... just whacked its last owner.

[Kane jerks a thumb to his left, where the corpse of the old warlock he'd been hired to kill is still slumped over his desk with two bullets in the back of his head.

This is... awkward. He's not exactly ashamed of being caught like this (the guy had been kidnapping locals from the nearest village to use in some anti-aging ritual, after all), but if he'd known this coin was actually haunted, he probaly would have left it in the case where he found it. Kane doesn't exactly look guilty, but he does shift uncomfortably from one foot to the other.]

Look, uh... if you're here to take me to hell, is there any way we can put that off another couple of years? Cuz I get it, that's where guys like me go, but I've still got a few things to take care of here if it's all the same to you.

That's not how this works mate...the coin is...well it's an ownership thing.

You killed my last owner and picked up the coin....coin belongs to you now.

And as such so do I...so yay.

I think it was on accident.

That's not how the coin works...it goes where it wants to go.

Yup, pissing off the mystical is kind of my deal.

[John chuckles and shakes his head.]

Nope...standard pissed off ghost got me with a sword...it's what I get for not watching my back.

[Tartaglia on his end laughs a little. John is, in a way, a bit like himself. In a time of his own choosing is when he'd decide to reveal any plans against the majority of the archons of his world...]

You like to cause quite a stir, don't you?

I think we might get along splendidly.

[That's a bit of a shame the mage had slipped and went off guard. But, on the other hand, they wouldn't have met if he hadn't made such an amateur mistake.]

[John smiles and there is a touch of the wicked in it. He is feeling something he hasn't felt in centuries...hope...and that is a dangerous thing for him.]

Stirring the pot is what I do best mate...if you can handle that then we will get along aces.

[A boastful laugh comes from Tartaglia.]

With enough planning and pacing, you just might come in handy for me someday!

I'm not a mage myself, but I do have some powers of my own. I'm known as a troublemaker even among most of my colleagues. We never get along. [He laughs again.] It's just the Tsaritsa, the cryo archon in my nation, who likes me.

Edited 2021-11-28 02:35 (UTC)

I still have my power...and I have to do whatever you tell me...so maybe.

[John smiles.]

So use me while you've got me.