primos | weekend at zhongli’s 🕶

weekend at zhongli’s 🕶

( continuation of {HERE}.

it’s strange, having any sort of guest in the usually quiet apartment he has learned to call his own. occasionally, he’ll visit what remains of his old domains scattered throughout liyue; now, they are overrun with plant life and monsters and zhongli thinks back to when they were filled with laughter and love, if he dares to even call it that.

nowadays, he resigns himself to the mortal way of living: paying rent for a humble one bedroom apartment close to his place of employment. while he does have a second bedroom, he also has a spare futon that was imported in from inazuma back before the trading embargo really heated up. it’s never served the purpose of what it’s meant to, of course, with his only overnight guest ever being hu tao who had come over to work through some files and then passed out in the guest room from sheer exhaustion.

this is different.

hosting venti, his oldest living friend, seems to make him hyper aware of how little he has to offer as a host. liyue harbor is rich in history and activities, but his apartment itself is bleak. to some degree, he suspects, venti won’t be surprised - zhongli is an old man, after all. a blockhead. his boring apartment, with traditional liyue fixtures and kettles, speaks to that. he supposes venti won’t be spending too much time in it, but it still makes zhongli aware of how mortal they are, now, even as retired gods in name.

so when morning comes, after he’s certain venti is comfortably suited, zhongli can’t stop thinking of how soft venti’s hair was when he touched and how much zhongli wanted to stay up all night with him counting stars and recounting old tales until venti fell asleep, perhaps leaned against him, and zhongli could ensure he slept safely.

he almost burns his hand on the stove as he prepares them breakfast, zoning out like this. his hair is pulled back as usual and he’s wearing something much more casual than his suit - simple house clothes that are a single layer each, that still cover most of his skin but make him look younger. )

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( venti what. zhongli exhales. loudly. )

The Traveler did see the exuvia there, when they believed Rex Lapis to have passed. It’s a place that houses a great deal of Geo and celestial energy.

( perhaps a secret gateway of sorts. but if this is a children’s map? )

… There is also many fountains and lily pads, out front, that children off play with and cast wishes on.

Interesting, interesting...

[ Venti's mind is already trying to connect the dots. A complex puzzle would be one thing, sure, but a children's map needs a different mind. Venti was the perfect one.

And it seems like such imagination is rubbing off on Zhongli. It wasn't their Traveler friend who brings them closer to their destination, but – ]

Aha! You may be as brilliant as you are frugal!

[ Even through the sprawling countryside, the promise of a slow stroll is lost as Venti begins to book it down the path. ]

C'mon! I have a good feeling about this!

( venti????

zhongli takes his time after venti, arms folded and with a wistful smile on his face. he may be some old bones learning new tricks but he won’t ever be as carefree as the wind. )

A good feeling about the first location on the map? Isn’t that premature?

( fascinating.

but he perhaps enjoys walking behind venti for very platonic reasons. )

[ He doesn't distrust children. Even if some had been raised into less savory lives, they have an innocence that was unmatched. He likes going along with their stories, even if it will one day lead him to waste a day playing treasure hunter.

Ah well.

Time with Zhongli was well-spent either way. ]

Never. We'll find something there without a doubt, so long as my eyes are sharp as a scout.

[ The rhymes return and Venti crosses underneath the stone archways, passing by a few guards with ah – hesitance in his step. But the ponds were right there... ]

( zhongli waves gently at them in greeting. after all, there’s not many he hasn’t seen.

he watches venti with fond amusement until a familiar chuckle rips his attention away.

… ah.

“xiansheng! what a surprise seeing you here!”

at a place full of mora when he was once the god of it? yes, indeed. )

Good morning, Childe. ( not quite weary, but this harbringer likely held hard feelings )

[ Not you bringing this hellchild(e) into this thread...

Venti was waiting for Zhongli to catch up by the time Childe arrived. There's not so much tension as one might expect – he was simply... ah. An acquaintance, right? Venti offers a dopey wave, tilting his cap down to excuse himself only a few more feet away as he canvases what could be awaiting in the pond.

'I'd expect you in city this early. I hope there isn't a lack of clients for you to provide this gap in time. A friend of yours?'

Childe was light, sunny, deceptively so to anyone who knew him further than a first impression.

Venti, however, was already taking one of his shoes off and thinking of dropping his leg into the pond to reach something shimmering at the bottom... ]

( the curse of knowing the true colors and identity of who you’re dealing with. harbinger of chaos and a retired god. what a troublesome pair.

zhongli sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. )

I’m off the clock today, as it were. My friend is visiting from Mond—

( he notices what venti is doing and just stops mid-sentence. ) Venti.

( DONT GO INTO THE POOL? )

[ It was why they had/will have quite the contract, right? Childe doesn't do anything to bring harm to his 'friend', nor does he sully the terms of their arrangements. He's pleasant, only an icy wind here and gone with his words.

'A rare sight! Perhaps we'll cross paths when you have time off next. There's –'

Childe turns to watch the young bard with a judgy af look, but let's be real: Venti can't exactly summon Anemo to raise the item up. He's down to no shoes and inching towards the steep drop.

Will his tights be doomed? ]

( venti truly is doomed.

zhongli gives him a flatter look. right, venti is rarely ever deterred. he looks helplessly back to childe, trying not to betray the intense fondness he seems to have for the foreigner that is trying to go coin-diving. )

The Traveler is no longer here, as you know. I’m surprised you haven’t followed. ( like a lovesick puppy maybe? who knows. zhongli just assumed there was some weirdass chemistry there, oblivious to any and all potential advances aimed at himself. )

[ 'Business keeps me in Liyue more often lately, doesn't it? They're trying to find a roadmap to Inazuma. Would make a horrible guest upon Captain Beidou's ship if she is the only vessel daring to make the trip.

They can have a headstart. I'll keep myself busy.'

He's quite splitting the difference between Zhongli and the Traveler. Go figure. A guy thinks he can have both, or at the very least, puppet two.

Venti drops knee deep into the water with a grunt. Wading carefully through past lilypads and absconding frogs.

'Why haven't you followed him?'

Was it bitter? Ehhh, hard to tell, Childe's face keeps an amused feature.

'Seeing you wade in the water would be worth every Mora in the bank, you know, haha.' ]

He does as he pleases.

( which is true. no one could tame the wind. zhongli tosses another sidelong, exhausted glance over at his friend. and maybe his eyes linger on venti’s —

his eyes drift back to childe, just as careful. )

I’m afraid I’m loathe to ruin this jacket. It’s not water resistant. ( old man. but he crosses his arms and levels another stern look at childe. ) Should I not expect any more trouble from the Fatui?

[ Venti nearly topples over when a fish brushes against his leg. He stumbles – but catches himself before he plunges in. Good bard.

'You could take it off, but, ah. I suppose not everyone gets what they want.'

To see a wet Zhongli, looking a fool – there's power in that imagery. There's tension in the air and he didn't need to dance with electro to feel it.

'Expecting only leads to disappointment. The terms of our agreements are outlined, no?'

Childe steps to the side, in front of Zhongli to block his view of Venti as the boy reaches the floating lily pad. Tied to its root, a capsule ball belonging to a child weighs it down. Venti tugs and tugs, hoisting it up until the ball was in his hand – an amber glow radiating from it. A cor lapis capsule ball? A trinket with something inside. ]

Zhongli!! There really was something! I told you, I told you!

[ Childe merely smirks, clapping at such a ... ah, interesting sight. He walks past Zhongli but stops midway, his breath against Zhongli's neck. Sharp like a dagger, smooth like water.

'Perhaps next time our paths cross, you'll give me the same attention as your friend from Mondstadt. Don't make me jealous, xiansheng.' ]

( a few pebbles nearby shake on the ground. his gaze is sharp as he passes a sidelong glance to childe. he doesn’t dare break the terms here, nor would he be the first to breach, but should childe step out of line whatsoever — )

Do not think I will hesitate to broadly interpret our terms should you do anything reckless.

( a beat. ) Enjoy the fair weather.

( for it’s nice weather for now, until childe causes trouble here or for venti.

speaking of venti, he looks back to him, his stony expression instantly melting, looking inexcusably fond. this absolute dork???? )

… so you did.

[ 'Since when am I known for being anything but precise?'

Childe was born to be, it feels like. The rumble does little to shake him – all he does is give a friendly pat on his shoulder as he passes by.

'You as well. Let's hope the wind remains pleasant in Liyue.'

Cryptic and cold, Childe was gone. He'd do well to not bother the two old friends any longer.

Venti, on the other hand was wading back to the edge of the pond, not quite able to pull himself up. All he did was offer up the capsule with a smug look. ]

Doubt me again and you'll go against fate. What do you think it is?

( zhongli is briefly distracted by his own brooding. even if he no longer is the protector of liyue, he still feels the need to expel it of certain threats.

especially if they decide to focus in on certain bards.

he finally looks back to venti yet again, and then the little capsule. oh. )

My apologies. What did you say?

[ Venti, also, fortunately removed his cape which rested with his shoes. No cape flowing out like his name was Kokomi, okay. He was quite mindful of how he would tackle this objective. He awaits, proud of his own courage to dive into the unknown – however... Zhongli seems lost. He doesn't meet amber eyes, instead there's an emptiness. ]

Are you alright? [ With a bit of a pout: ] This would be a boring treasure hunt if I'm doing everything myself.

[ Venti finally begins to crawl up onto the bank himself. Lifting the beautiful capsule up. ]

This was tied to the bottom. I think there's some way to open it... Maybe? Or maybe we can put it in something and open a secret door.

( zhongli has never felt particularly protective over venti before. but right now, he feels like a loyal dragon, fuming and weary over someone who may be daring to harm its mate -

zhongli blinks at venti and then peers at the odd looking item. )

I suppose we should hold on to it and move on to the next location? Perhaps the answer will be clear, then.

( his hand goes belatedly to try and hoist venti up the rest of the way, arm snuggly wrapped around his waist. )

[ Venti, while optimistic, was not able to ignore the presence. He'd never seen the look on Zhongli's face. The words fail to describe accurately what look it was, but he feels it.

Something had shaken him.

He'll make note to keep an eye out for a tuft of red hair...

For now, he'll grip onto Zhongli as he's tugged up and there's a second where they were flushed to one another. Where the object nearly fumbles from his grasp. ]

... Yes, the next location!

[ Venti scrambles away with red on his face, to grab his garments and the map in kind. He's tossing the item to Zhongli. ]

Keep it safe for me. I'll keep holding the map.

[ And squish and squeak to their next destination with his wet tights. Go figure. He's not too bothered by it. ]

Okay, let's see... so we'll curve North of here to some old ruins. A Lingju Pass? What was that once?

( zhongli is still too irked over the childe incident to appreciate their moment of brief closeness. which is a damn shame.

especially because he misses the red of venti’s face.

he does manage to catch the object and safely pocket it for the time-being. )

Lingju Pass? Ah. ( history lesson time! that seems to bring back the color in his eyes and warmth in his voice. and yes, the story takes the entire god damn walk there. sorry, venti.

at least zhongli has a really attractive voice? )

[ The history lesson comes and goes. There are times that Venti gets distracted, whines to stop for a second so he can adjust the wet tights clinging to his legs or snag a sunsietta from a low-hanging tree limb.

Zhongli, while long-winded, is in good company with an old friend who loves stories.

By the time they traverse for the better part of an hour, they come up to the expanse of crystal blue water leading into Lingju Pass. ]

– okay, so you really allowed the mortals a celebration for their loyalty?

[ The decaying stronghold certainly did seem vast enough to have a little party somewhere. ]

( venti’s wet tights are very distracting and zhongli blames the heat of the sun for why his neck pricks with heat.

zhongli tosses venti a sidelong, warm glance at the commentary.

he’s missed coming out this way. it’s certainly been awhile, and he pauses by the water to look out on it as a crane flies overheard. absolutely breathtaking. )

Of course. Do you think I’m adverse to a celebration once in awhile? ( don’t answer that… but he pensively turns away from the water - venti may be a nicer view than that. ) Are you suggesting we throw an impromptu one here?

[ Nature was always the best part of their 'job', he feels. Not for the ego associated with sculpting land or tending to the growth – but to see what mortals do with it. To see how they change it, for both the good and bad. Morax provided the domain, but it seems like their safety was better suited in the Harbor.

Venti kicks a rock idly into the water, shrugging with a small laugh. ]

Can you throw a celebration with just two people? [ Apparently in another thread, that notion gets them both laid, so. Here? Who knows. Venti docks his palms behind his own neck and walks the edge of the pathway leading towards the more open pool of water. ] What would we even be celebrating? Your newfound extroversion?

It isn’t newfound. I hosted the Seven for decades, did I not?

( so very rude, barbatos!

but his smile is wistful as he follows after venti. he considers it, then peels off his jacket and neatly sets it beside the water along with his boots that he meticulously undoes. maybe he’ll spite the spirit of childe by taking a dip, he thinks, as he rolls up his sleeves. )

It would be unfair of me, as a host, to let you be the only one to suffer wet clothing.

So I expect visits to Mondstadt or letters from Liyue with proper invitations more often, then!

[ If he really wants to put this to the test. To insist he is extroverted. Venti teases but nearly tumbles into the water with his old friend beginning to disrobe. The jacket off, the boots – ]

What are you doing?! [ Now the red on his face returns like a swift eastern wind. ] When was the last time you've gone swimming, Morax? You'll sink to the bottom.

[ Like a stone!! ]

( zhongli has rolled up the ankles of his pants, too, and for some reason undone the button of his shirt and set aside his tie. like this, he glistens in the bright sun as he steps closer to the edge of the water. )

I went swimming recently, in my domain. ( why wouldn’t he? gosh. ) Are you not curious if these waters outrank the pond you were just treasure-hunting in?

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