As still as stone.

Gradually would he turn, allowing those weary eyes to peer up towards a familiar face. "After having to live off virtual food.. Gui, lemme tell ya, this is a goddamn godsend, in a bottle.."

Within moments he'd at least prop himself up. While hardly looking any better while being unflopped, that drink was a welcomed reprieve as the stir of his inner workings could be innate felt. In truth, he hadn't realized just how big of a swig he took.

"Pwaaah hah! Ooh sweet civilization how I missed ya!" A modest smile grows as he peeks up to the redhead.

"Like simulated food? Were you playing some massive game or something?" Come to think of it, he did mention being on that big space station pretty often lately... space and space games made sense, right? "Do you want some actual food too - they're have a super big sale on lunchboxes over at Spices Supreme if you've got the stomach for it~."

Being called a lifesaver brought some laughter to her, triumphant jut of her chin following. What a charmer with his words, that Caelus was sometimes. "I can tell, I thought we were going to have to scrape you off of the table with a spatula or something with how fused you were looking!" She gave a little shake of her head, slight concern furrowing her brow after.

Send a symbol for my muse to respond to your muse….

♥ - Stroking/brushing their hair

♡ - Rubbing their shoulders

❥ - Holding their hand

❤ - Hugging/cuddling them

❄ - Staying close to them to keep warm

☆ - Reading to them

★ - Sitting at their bedside

☾ - Taking a nighttime walk with them

✚ - Bandaging their wound

✕ - Clasping their shoulder

❀ - Giving them a flower/flowers

♞ - Playing a game with them

◆ - Standing up for them

✪ - Defending them in a court/before an authority

♬ - Singing to them

◯ - Rescuing them

❇ - Stargazing with them

♛ - Comforting them

☁ - Washing their face

☼ - Camping with them

✔ - Hiking with them

☄ - Listening to them

✏ - Telling stories with them

Don't mind him.

He just happens to be sprawled out on a nearby table. Exhaustion practically written within his fibers at this point.

Caelus knows it has to some brand of unhealthy spending so much time in Herta's invention. As much as all of these scenarios run within his mind, despite the programming that makes it somewhat feasible to deal with anyways.

As always, Caelus wasn't super hard to pick out of a crowd - maybe it was that mysterious trailblazer charm of his or maybe (this was a reason Guinaifen liked much more) she was just that good at picking out faces in the middle of a bustling town, but his presence always warranted an approach.

Except, maybe this wasn't the best time, judging from the waves of pure exhaustion radiating off of the other. She had some energy drinks in one of her pockets if she remembered correctly... Gingerly, she placed the bottle down on the table, careful to not clink the edge of it against the surface.

"Lord Rex Lapis.. If I may speak freely.. Though you may live among the mortals now with a new life, to me you remain the same as you have always been. The man who freed me is the very same as sir Zhongli. If referring to you as that title when among others is what you truly wish of me.. I will do my upmost to make certain I do not step out of line." He gave a small nod.

"You may. Your thoughts are valued to me, they will always have a home here with me." Obligation was never a duty that he wished to impose on Xiao, however the other seemed to wish to have such rest so firmly on his shoulders that perhaps even the heavens could not make them budge. Perhaps too however, this obligation and respect of his was his own method of cherishing his freedom - his own freedom to willingly devote himself this time. "With the mortals then, I won't trouble you with such when it is indeed the two of us."

"Troubled? No, sir. I was just taken off guard by how open some people could be. I was taken off guard, that's all," He didn't mind having such conversations, and learning about the world before him.. But when walking in on something he'd considered a private affair, it made him feel as though he'd stumbled upon something he really shouldn't have.

"Ah, I see. Yes, I do understand. If it comforts you, I believe such as not been as out in the open until the last few centuries or so. Perhaps others had not felt free to do so in the past, I cannot speak to the thoughts of those involved as I do not partake myself, but if you are not accustomed to it, your reaction is quite normal to have." Quite the respectable traveler here, Zhongli hummed pleasantly.

Ah, Adeptus Xiao. What a pleasant surprise to see you this evening. Have you been enjoying your day of rest?

"Becoming accustomed to change is a difficult task, especially for such individuals as ourselves at times. I had thought remaining consistent may aid you in such." A slight smile tugged over the corners of his lips.

He sat, and he listened through the lengthy explanation; he really should have known better than to pose such a question. Of course, there were multiple ways that people enjoyed 'relieving stress', and while that wasn't entirely the point of his question.. Aether simply nodded.

"But of course, although my answers may not be what you seek always, I do not mind having these conversations with you." At an answer well answered (?), he gave Aether a little satisfied nod. Curiosity of the world and all the aspects was only natural to have, and perhaps it was amplified when such a world was not the place of origin for an individual. Truly a great choice for the recorder of time.

"Indeed, I have. Such a practice has been occurring long before my presence in this mortal realm, traveler. Such is the nature of the long running urges that many living beings experience. As for the topic of the day..." He paused to hum to himself.

"Perhaps I cannot say much in regards to beings aside from mortals and beings with sentience, however this day has long remained a day of rest as well. When preoccupied with weekly duties and other responsibilities, individuals tend to accumulate much stress and burden. It is recommended to release aforementioned stress periodically, lest consequences occur. While many individuals have become more cognizant of such stressors nowadays and have also recognized their own lack of taste for certain methods of release, what you and I are seeing occur has been one method of releasing such stress for quite some time." He nodded.

Yet another item that has been the same through time, I'm afraid.