Zhongli (
brokebitchmountain) wrote2021-02-05 10:20 pm
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IC INBOX - NOCTIUM

PRIMAVERA ✦ 3 BEDROOM 2 STORY TOWNHOUSE
GEMBOND ✦ EMERALD
Leave a message if you'd like. If you wish to talk perhaps you would like to hear one of my stories? If not that too is fine. There is plenty to discuss in a new world like this after all.
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text - post we-boinked-childe's-brain-out-but-also-ate-him-a-little
you still owe me some real wine after last time!
come over and bring me some?♥
-venti
shh he doesn't want to talk about it ):
After what happened between himself and Childe even after what he and Venti had done...well to say Zhongli was in a bad mood would be an understatement. He does hate how powerless he seemingly was while cursed and even though he's apologized to Childe it still doesn't feel enough. But Venti asking for a drink...it annoys him to some degree and yet he finds himself outside the other archon's home, bottle in hand, as he finally replies to that text. ]
I'm outside. Open up. Why did you not go out and get it yourself? [ He's totally annoyed!! ]
))))':
At first, Venti thinks that Zhongli got his message and decided to ignore it. That wouldn't be out of the ordinary. It's possible Zhongli didn't even know how to use his device, or wasn't sure how to respond to the message. For a moment he entertains the fantasy of Zhongli trying to talk to the device in order to get it to send his reply...and then he actually gets one!
It's so on-brand for Zhongli it hurts though, geez. Even if he's feeling a little down in the dumps, Venti can't help but snort as he reads the message and moves to open his door, smiling up at Zhongli in weary disbelief. ]
You know, most people would've just knocked instead of sending a message...
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His jaw tightens as he looks away before he calms himself and just...sighs. ]
I had taken some time to respond and therefore had not known of your current state. I felt it best to do both...
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Venti gives a shake of his head and takes a step back to let Zhongli in, sighing with false dramatics. ]
That's so like you... Come on in, you old blockhead. Did you bring my wine?
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Do you remember what has happened?
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...I remember enough.
[ it doesn't matter if things are blurry; there's more than enough for him to get a sense of what transpired. It wasn't just Aether he attacked; he owes a few people apologies. ]
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It was not our fault for what had happened.
[ Even though he himself finds it hard to come to terms with what happened as well. ] Though I am sure I do not need to tell you this.
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[ The laugh Venti makes is too tense to be as carefree as he's trying to sound. He squeezes the handle hard, but then whirls around quickly with his hands held behind his back. He walks ahead of Zhongli, plastering a smile across his features that doesn't quite reach his eyes--and for that reason, he tries to keep his back to the other. ]
I know that... It's not as if we could control it. We were... We were affected, you know? No sense dwelling on it.
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[ Venti was one of the nicer archons, never one to really defer to violence, so he knows how hard it must be on him. That's why he'll drag the other into a warm embrace, amber eyes looking down at him with some concern. ]
There is no sense in doing so. But we will do so regardless. It is not in our nature to act in such a manner. Dwelling upon it especially when we have hurt...the ones we care for, it is not so simple as just forgetting it.
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The hugs draws him in and Venti is able to bury his face in the front of Zhongli's shirt, hiding the conflict and guilt that wracks his expression despite his best efforts to smother it. Like this, he can hide the subtle tremble of his hands as he curls them into fists against Zhongli's jacket. His voice is muffled so that when he next speaks, the warble in it is only just audible.
Zhongli truly is considerate. Calling him the War God always seemed like a disservice, and never more than in this very instant.
Venti buries his face against the other Archon and tries not to inhale sharply. He fails. ]
It's almost worse that I don't remember some of it at all.
[ The words come out a whisper, no more than a mere ghost. He clings tighter and keeps his face pressed to the other's front. ]
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He'll place the wine bottle on the countertop as he gently pulls Venti away from his front momentarily. ]
I do know that Childe does not fault either of us for what we did.
[ Though Zhongli's jaw tightens ever so slightly upon saying the other man's name. ] But we have fared through a great deal you and I. Something like this will not bring us down to our knees so easily. Having each other to help bear and hold the burden together does also help. So you must not let the strange machinations of this place sully your upbeat and otherwise optimistic behavior.
[ Seeing Venti like this is strange, for sure, he doesn't exactly like it either. That bubbly, loud, and optimistic bard being replaced by a downtrodden, sad, and guilty being is not something he enjoys seeing. He'll gently lean in to place a light kiss atop the other's head, before grabbing that bottle again. While he's not exactly one for drinking Zhongli can see that it's something they both need right now. ]
Where are your glasses, I will pour us a cup while you sit and rest.
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[ All the better for him to reach it while sloshed (and on account of his own shortness), but his usual quip about their location doesn't make it any farther than the thought.
The one saving grace is that although a smile is nowhere to be found on his face right now--in fact, he tries to keep it hidden by turning his chin downward--there are, at least, no remnants of any tears within his eyes. Zhongli's jacket has saved him that trouble. He should offer to clean it later, he thinks. ]
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Simple things like this are often needed in healing so he will open it and pour a glass for Venti, offering it to him through the silence. ]
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As he stares into his glass, Venti asks quietly: ]
How is your Fatui Harbinger doing? Is he okay...?
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Childe will be fine. It takes quite a bit to keep that rascal down for any duration of time. You need not worry about him. I have...taken care of whatever manna was drained from him from us both.
[ Though there's something being unsaid that's easy to see in Zhongli's eyes; he does sigh and lean back against the couch as he takes another small sip of his wine. ]
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He does seem to be a lively one.
[ a pause ]
Have things changed between you two since?
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[ Though he too now ruminates as he stares into his own wine glass. ]
I'm unsure if that is the right thing to do. But I wish to give Childe his space.
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Have you thought of asking him what he wants?
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Humans and their wants have never been so simple and confusing to define before. [ Zhongli has been and always will be very to the point. It's when things get vague that he has a hard time really understanding it all. ]
I am not sure that I can...give him what he truly wants.
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[ That's...surprising. Venti's got a bit of an idea (hint: it's an Unhealthy ObsessionTM), but that Zhongli does as well is impressive. Usually that sort of thing is the furthest thought from his mind--the last thing that would ever occur to him.
The situation might not exactly be ideal, but he's glad for it all the same. Who knew all it would take to crack that hard head of his would be a battle-maniac with a jealous streak ]
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[ What Childe seeks from him...he's not exactly sure if such a thing is possible. ] A god and a mortal...such relationships are destined to fail are they not?
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[ Even friends are hard to keep when one lives such a long life. The Nameless Bard, Vanessa, even Andrius.
Venti fixes Zhongli with a sympathetic crook of his lips, setting his glass aside on the nearby side-table so that he can draw one knee up and rest his head atop it. ]
It's easier when it isn't a human. But...
[ it's always a human....except when it's guizhong i guess ]
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[ Zhongli mutters as he places a hand against his chin. ]
I have never had such feelings towards a human before, a bit strange, but it's not exactly...unwelcome. I do not know exactly what to do in terms of them, however.
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That love has never truly petered out. Venti's physical form is testament to that. ]
That sounds like something you'll need to figure out together. They do say that communication is the foundation of any relationship. Even for friends.
[ Venti threads his fingers together over his ankle. ]
Perhaps you should consider speaking to him on the matter.
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