weekend at zhongli’s 🕶

[geophysics]

( 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. )

Comments

[windblume]

[ And there's resistance instead. ]

No, no. Far be it from me to go against a Liyue custom. Showing oneself off to their companion.

[ Playtime is apparently their first scheduled event? Venti's hands go to Zhongli's and tugs them away, removing the robe fully to leave him in merely... well, his bottom attire. Torn tights and shorts. And with a nudge – he tugs at Zhongli's with a dismissive huff. ]

Yours too then! Go on.

[geophysics]

( what is happening. what is happening?!

his face is a hot red still and he’s really only wearing his underwear under the robe. his arms come into view, his abs, and where his legs begin at the ends of his underwear. )

Venti, this is ridiculous. ( not like anyone would see them, really. hope you like another preview of the junk. at least he isn’t hard. )

[windblume]

[ It's ridiculous, it's true.

For the brief moments of them switching robes, Venti didn't really connect the dots: that Zhongli was packing in his underwear instead of well, anything else? Venti huffs when Zhongli calls him out and he'll just keep his eyes up to those amber-glossed eyes instead. ]

It is. As ridiculous of you thinking I'm a thief.

[geophysics]

( it’s hard not to stare at how pretty venti is. even if he’s still wearing tights and those — )

Take those off, then.

( what? he gestures to the tights, insanely cryptic about it. )

[windblume]

[ Sorry, his heart literally seizes. A tight, chilling sensation running down his spine. Zhongli didn't ask. He commanded and that alone... hm. He has to ignore the knot in his stomach on that one. ]

Take what off? I'm kind of a packaged deal over here!

[ Shorts, tights, and ...? Who knows if Venti was freeballing. ]

[geophysics]

Then take them both off.

( he says it with that same command as he pushes away from the balcony, robe dangling on his shoulders as he gestures inside.

he 100% is not propositioning venti but??? it sure looks that way. )

[windblume]

[ The intensity of heat Venti feels on his face rivals any flame summoned in this realm. It burns, seers the pale cherub cheeks a hot embarrassment. Zhongli confuses him – but this was different. He didn't know Zhongli's intent. As he gestures inside, Venti literally grabs his robe and stumbles backwards – ]

You know that –

[ One hand immediately, defensively, cups at his front half. Pillowing out against his palm a curious stiffness that was getting worse with each second. ]

If I take them both off, you better be paying me for the view.

[ Sly words, because yeah, Venti is freeballing. ]

[geophysics]

( zhongli rolls his eyes. paying him for the view? honestly.

there’s a low rumble of a laugh, like smoke of a dragon, as he steps back into the cool, darker air of the apartment. )

You’re stalling.

( he still hasn’t explained why he wants venti to undress. )

[windblume]

[ And that lack of explanation from the usually verbose grandpa is what's making this so... so... ]

I am not.

[ Difficult. His mind goes back to last night, thinking of a more demanding, feral Morax. One that seemed frenzied with his own arousal – to do things Venti thought he didn't do.

Demand him to undress was... well... ]

Fine.

[ Now, standing right in the hallway where Venti first peeped on Zhongli... he hooks one hand to the waistline of his shorts. Tugging down just enough to show his V-bone. He stops, blurting out: ]

... Are you trying to make a fool of me?!

[geophysics]

( zhongli blinks rather owlishly at him. oh he should explain. )

I’m not. I’m just fixing your tights, as I said I would do.

( hence venti needing to take off his clothes and wear the robe while zhongli fixed them.

he blinks again. )

[windblume]

[ Venti is going to throttle him. His flushed features turn and Zhongli gets to see the tops of his shorts hanging down over the top of his ass. Congrats. Slipping on the robe, he has more room to move. Tugging down, he kneels to scoot them off and soon – as Venti ties his robe tight. Just, kind of hovering over the front flap to keep his dick from springing out. Turning, Venti lifts the pile of clothes to him. Shorts and all. ]

... You could have said that from the beginning!

[geophysics]

( zhongli truly doesn’t understand the problem here. but he does see that perky ass and he can’t stop staring until it’s completely out of view. oh. geez


that’s definitely enough to make him half hard. he quickly grabs the clothes from venti, face warm as he pivots to the right. )

I’ll go fix these. Keep yourself occupied until I’m done.

( he needs air. )

[windblume]

Don't take forever, you'll leave me in my most vulnerable state.

[ Venti's ass and thighs on the menu apparently. Before he knows it, Zhongli has his clothing and Venti's already exiting back to the balcony. Please let there be alcohol left. ]

[geophysics]

( there’s alcohol left out there.

zhongli quickly mends the tights in the kitchen. after all, he’s lived long enough to learn useful skills.

when he returns to the balcony, he’s almost loathe to return them. venti looks so nice with liyue robes… )

Venti?

[windblume]

[ It's like Zhongli knew Venti would need to refuel that liquid courage. It's not often he does succeed in having the finest swill in the area. So, he drinks. Heavily. It may not take long, but Venti's downing it in nearly record time.

When Zhongli's voice returns – he turns with a small smile. ]

Did you save the day?

[ His tights, he means. ]

[geophysics]

( he did. but fuck, venti looks beautiful. it’s hard not to stare — )

I did. But I don’t think you should wear them, today.

( is that a proposition this time? )

[windblume]

[ And when Zhongli stares, Venti is as well – closing the distance with a few weak steps. ]

What would I wear then?

[ Venti can easily wear his shorts, but they both know that it didn't feel ... right. His question fumbles past his lips before he can catch it. Curiosity getting the better of him. ]

[geophysics]

( what he wants to say is nothing. let venti walk round his apartment with nothing to seprate them.

zhongli’s finger twitch, resisting reaching out to venti. )

What do you think? ( old man please. )

[windblume]

Zhongli?

[ They were stuck in this moment. They tend to be a lot. For two old archons... was this just how they'll always be?

His hand clings to the robe's sash tightly, anxious fingers unable to settle. He finally speaks: ]

Do you have other clothes for me then...? Or... [ Words, Venti, your most powerful weapon. ] Do you like me like this?

[geophysics]

( zhongli would have snapped back to reality with that first question. he could go to the store or let venti borrow something large but comfortable but his mind shortcircuits at venti’s next question.

does he?

with the way the robe rests cutely on venti’s form, knowing he’s naked under it.

he coughs into a curled up fist, face back to red: )

Y… Yes. Like this, is fine. I would say. ( IDIOT. )

[windblume]

[ He's going to just laugh. It breaks the silence, the tension, their insistent denial of their bubbling attraction to one another... ]

So you expect me to walk around Liyue in this.

[ Oh!? ]

[geophysics]

( zhongli huffs, irritably, turning to the side to set venti’s clothes down on the little table. )

Perhaps. ( zhongli??? ) Or we can just stay here.

( and drink? or — other things. )

[windblume]

Here.

[ On the balcony. Alone.

In a state of undress. ]

Will we run out of things to do so soon in your abode, I wonder?

[geophysics]

( this isn’t helping him whatsoever, venti.

a short exhale. )

Aren’t you supposed to be the creative one?

( he’s already admitted he sort of wants venti to stay naked under a robe so. )

[windblume]

For the right reasons. For the right price.

[ With a tilt of his bottle before he takes a sip carefully. ]

Ah, I must be savvy in how I use my services or I'll be broke.

[ MORE BROKE. * ]