many chinese cultural references in a trenchcoat (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
pragmatism) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
tabularasa_rp2020-12-13 11:02 am
pragmatism) wrote in tabularasa_rp2020-12-13 11:02 am
pragmatism) wrote in tabularasa_rp2020-12-13 11:02 am
no subject
[More importantly, Morax—Zhongli—appears to be in a good mood, so that means Venti's probably not going to get launched into the stratosphere today... which is good! Maybe now they can both relax. The bard grins, topping off his wine glass (after downing it in two-seconds flat for maximum efficiency, of course) as he finally gets around to filling his friend's.]
As an expert on vacationing, [venti does that even count when you've never worked a day in your life] one should always take the time to enjoy the local pleasures! Here, you can start with this one—it's no dandelion wine, but the flavour's still divine!
no subject
It has been a very long time. I did believe that Liyue's people would be capable of prospering without me.
[ Six thousand years. Even the most immovable of mountains will be reduced to dust one day. How unfortunate that his vacation is sidetracked by being in another world entirely... all that familiarity lost in an instant does unsettle him, though he doesn't show it ]
And what flavour is it, pray tell?
[ Zhongli takes the glass and takes a sip before Venti can answer. ]
no subject
As for the wine, he holds the bottle up cheerfully.]
It's red!
[wine flavoured.]
no subject
[ - just casually dropping a bombshell like that... anyways. Zhongli's expertise lets him identify the composition of the wine, even though grape-based alcohol is something he doesn't consume regularly. ]
Hmm. Well-aged as well. I would not have expected this world to remember the concept of your fruit wines.
[ Given all the weirdness outside of the established locations, he had set his expectations quite low. ]
no subject
Ohhh... did the Rite of Descension happen already? I guess that would put you in the clear for quite awhile. [that's definitely what he means, right?? it's not like he'd fake his own death or anything crazy like that haha.]
... Oh! That's right! There was an outlander who wanted to speak with you. Were you able to meet them?
no subject
You are the first person I have met in this place. Did you introduce me to them already?
[ Certainly Venti's social routine would include flexing on Morax with his (fictional) pranks. ]
no subject
[he takes this moment to refill his glass again. right, back on topic—]
There was an outlander in Mondstadt recently. Surely a great historian such as yourself keeps up with recent news as well? [Like, y'know, the rampaging dragon that was tormenting the city until recently? The one that looked suspiciously like Venti's good pal Dvalin? Surely the people of Liyue have at least been complaining about all the storms rolling over from their rowdy neighbours as of late??]
Just when all hope had seemed lost, a courageous hero appeared from a faraway land to save both the nation and dragon with a gracious hand. A strange and purifying power, they held; and by their blade was the abyssal fiend felled.
Blonde hair, about yea long— [and a bunch of other details that vary, so.] They're always with this annoying little pixie named Paimon. Can't miss 'em!
Unless you did miss them... oh well, I'm sure they'll figure something out! [not his problem lol]
no subject
Ah, you mean that outlander. Yes, I have met them. I spent some time with them as well.
[ The Traveler was infinitely useful as a pawn, and seemed to have made many friends along the way - even enamored themselves to Tartaglia, which would keep the Fatui Harbinger off Zhongli's back for a while. Really useful. ]
I could not answer their question, but they did not find the journey to be fruitless.
[ There are some things that he can't divulge, though he is personally invested in the Traveler's tales... for when the mountains themselves crumble to dust, the truth of history would only be preserved in the minds of an outlander from another world. ]
no subject
That'd make two of us, unfortunately. But still, I'm glad! I'm sure they'll have even more great stories to tell when we next meet. [so many cool adventures to turn into epic ballads...!]
Ah, there was one other thing I wanted to ask you about... you haven't heard anything from the Tsaritsa recently, have you? I'm sure the traveller would've told you already, but...
[... he's not sure how much it matters here, but Zhongli should probably know about what happened to his gnosis.]
no subject
Zhongli sighs. It's a very obvious, resigned, tired sigh. ]
... would you want me to do anything about that?
[ The Archons are not to interfere with each other unless permission was granted. The Tsaritsa certainly didn't ask Venti for his Gnosis at all, a completely different situation from when she was cordial enough to exchange something for Zhongli's. He definitely didn't agree with that particular decision, but she had told him it was for a greater cause. Damned if he doesn't buy into it, and damned if he does.
There's no easy way out for the Seven, who control the entire world yet are still under the yoke of Celestia. A forced contract isn't a fair contract at all, just as how humanity would never experience true freedom when Celestia's machinations still trap them to a low level of technological advancement.
There's nothing Zhongli can do about Venti's Gnosis, is the long and short of it. But he asks anyway, as some sort of consolation - he does care. ]
no subject
It's fine, I wasn't really using it anyway. Though I can't say I agree with her methods... [Whether her plan will turn out to be good or bad for the world, only time will tell. For now, he's willing to put his faith in the traveller to see that the nations of Teyvat aren't left in too much chaos. Celestia is no longer any of his concern.]
I just hope you weren't blindsided like I was. We hadn't spoken in a long time, but I didn't expect her to go that far. And then I realized I hadn't spoken to you in a long time, either...
[If the Tsaritsa would treat him like an enemy, who's to say Morax wouldn't do the same after a thousand years?
Of course, that's a moot point now. If it weren't for all the drinking, he probably wouldn't have brought it up at all... but it's been weighing on his mind, all this time. That the world might keep changing like this every time he closes his eyes. His oldest friends might become his enemies, just like Dvalin nearly did.
He laughs lightly, slouching against the counter.] Ah, whatever! We'll just have to make up for all that lost time! Tonight, drinks are on me!
[assuming Zhongli doesn't already know they're free but w/e FREE DRINKS who cares about the reason]
no subject
Perhaps there was no other choice. Fate is rarely so kind as to provide a perfect solution. ]
I never forget. [ He pretends to straighten his tie. ] I would not go as far as to disrespect you.
[ Even if the wind never alighted at his side again, he could still look back on the times that they spent together, no matter how brief they were. On the nights where the full moon shone down on Liyue Harbour and painted the city with its pure yet melancholic light, Zhongli would stand at the peak of Mount Tianheng and go through his memories one by one.
It's been too long. Even for those with a lifespan as long as theirs. Zhongli smiles. ]
One drink a minute. You promised.
no subject
(but he's still none too eager to risk it, lest he suffer the wrath of the rock...)]
If you keep taking tiny sips like that, we'll be here all night! Imagine what a shame it would be to leave this bottle unfinished.
no subject
Well... I suppose I can allow it this one time.
[ Venti's special old friend privilege. Zhongli contemplates his glass again. ]
If I do not finish it, you will.
[ Is there a tinge of resignation in his voice? The moment passes too fast for Venti to dwell on it, but at least Zhongli has downed half the glass this time. ]