[ even if Venti wanted to pull away now, Zhongli knew better. he had handed over the pages of his book, laid them open, and with it, himself bare. given, Zhongli has learned that Venti can wiggle his way out of almost anything if he puts his mind to it, but he won't let him run away from something like this.

for a brief moment, he frowns, more thoughtful than judgmental. then he tilts up Venti's chin with long, gloved fingers, examining his expression as if he were looking for something. he's pink – Zhongli can see the blood rushing in Venti's cheeks, almost to his ears. ]

I stepped away from my duties as an Archon because I saw what you had done with Mondstadt. There is no need to be proud of what inspires you.

[ it seems a little silly, he supposes, to admit it so easily. it feels as if he's giving Barbatos something he hadn't worked for, or perhaps he's being too harsh, and perhaps he already had. after all, Liyue was thriving at the end of the world because of Barbatos' declarations of freedoms. ]

And for what? I will not put my eyes on Mondstadt when you're right in front of me.