Chapter Text
Chapter 1: A Visage of Gold and Blood.
“You rat! Get, get out of my kitchen! If I see you in here again I’m calling the millelith!” An old man shouts down the street, red in the face and panting. A small child rushes through the alleys, a bundle of bread and spices clutched tightly to her chest, dark hair smacking her in the face as she does. She runs far, weaving through the small side roads of the bustling harbour, avoiding any possible encounters with the millelith. After all, she has a brother to feed, and escaping their searches takes up far too much of her time. Eventually she slows, ragged breaths escaping her lips as her small body struggles to keep itself steady. She takes a moment to calm herself, before quickly starting up again, though at a much slower pace. She hums softly, glancing around as she follows a familiar trail to the outer edge of the city. Everything is a bit blurry, more so than it was last month, but she’ll make due. After all, the glasses her brother wears took her almost half a year to acquire, and he needs them much more than she does. Suddenly, a strange man comes rushing past her, causing her to trip and tumble, hitting her head against the ground as she does.
The Regrator suddenly jolts awake, panting heavily as he takes in his surroundings. Yes…Yes, his office. His decadent office, lined with priceless trinkets from all around Teyvat, and the most exquisite of furniture. He sighs quietly, rustling a few of the papers scattered loosely on his desk. He takes a moment to compose himself, rubbing his temples slightly before opening his eyes once more. And everything looks like shit. He groans, feeling around blindly for his glasses before placing them carefully on his face. After that little mishap is sorted, he takes a glance down at his desk. Papers floating about, several pens knocked on to the floor, and a letter, right where his head laid just a moment before. It all quickly returns to him, the memory of the last few hours.
A meeting with The Jester, then The Rooster, then The Balladeer, all discussing funding and any future projects they plan to embark on. Nothing out of the order, really. Well, not until The Doctor suddenly pulled him away as he was meandering walking past Hearesys, and promptly tossed him into the grasp of one of his many, many segments.
“Doctor, by the Tsaritsa, what is this about? I run a very tight ship, and my schedule is especially packed today. Make your little tangent quick.” He scoffed, gazing around the lab. It’s not often that the Regrator delves into the labyrinth-like halls of Hearesys, especially not unplanned. Really, he’s only been this far into the laboratory a few times since his inauguration as Harbinger.
“Actually, banker, I currently require your utmost complacency in this spontaneous meeting!” The Doctor raved excitedly, waving his hands around as he spoke. “I need you, Regrator, to be my test subject!”
The Regrator stood there, eyes opened and mouth parted. He took a moment to soak in the other man's words, staring dumbfounded at The Doctor when he finally responded. “There is no way in hell I’m being a guinea pig for one of your…
Disgusting
experiments, Doctor.” The Doctor quickly sighed, tsking quietly. “You failed to let me finish, banker. This experiment is a…dream enhancer, if you will. I will be running experiments on the people of Sumeru soon, and this drug will prove quite useful in those tests. If, of course, it actually works.”
The Regrator sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. Of all the days, he
had
to choose this one to bother him? He glanced at the man before him, standing there, completely unbothered. As if he believes this to be an entirely normal interaction. Knowing The Doctor, he likely does. “And…Why am
I
the one who has to test this, exactly…? Why not make one of your little segments take the drug?” He inquired, a weary tone seeping into his words. The Doctor quickly scoffed, pacing around once more. “What a ridiculous thing to ask. Obviously, it would be useless to test such a drug on my segments. Firstly, they don't dream. Most of them can’t, even if I wanted them too. Second, this drug is sensitive. It needs to be specially calibrated to the human biological system. And you’re…Well, banker, you’re about as close as any of us is to ‘human’. Biologically, at least.”
Of course, The Regrator had sighed, and begrudgingly accepted to ‘test’ the little drug. Really, all he had to do was note down if his dreams became more intense, vivid, or experienced any major alterations during the time in which the drug had been administered and before it wore off. Right, how could he forget what had happened earlier in the day. That must have been the cause for his…less than pleasant dream just a few minutes ago. The question is, when did he even fall asleep? He never naps in his office, it’s much too vulnerable a position, and he would never nap, period, when he had a million other things to take care of at the moment. Perhaps he should check with The Doctor and see if the pesky drug also made him more susceptible to mid-day naps out of the blue…
End Chapter 1.