GEO / VEINED

@archaixauric​​​

　　THERE’S…SOMETHING OMINOUS about approaching a funeral parlor. It’s not as though death is a rare occurrence, but a whole business dedicated to itーTem just isn’t a fan.

　　She’d taken this commission out of pure curiosity, but now that she’s actually doing it, she has to wonder just what the hell was going through her head to make her want to know where it goes.

　　“ Er…excuse me, ”  She greets the person right inside, dark eyes scanning the room. It actually doesn’t feel all that strange in here, but maybe that makes it worse.  “ I’m from the Adventurer’s Guild, here to pick up a parcel…? ”

The light scent of sea air permeated the Wangsheng lobby, mixing with the incense lingering from an early morning service. Zhongli is not usually posted here, hovering near the entrance, but the task for today drew him out of his office, which the Director affectionately called the qilin’s den ( though why she adopted that, he doesn’t know ). 

A new voice caught his attention. Zhongli returns her greeting, hand extended in warm a welcome. ❝ Excellent, I have the parcel for you right here. Please allow me to explain the commission… Due to the high volume of work Wangsheng has received as of late, we are leaning on the Adventurer’s Guild for an errand like this. It may seem like a simple fetch and pass quest, but the parcel contains belongings of a person who has passed that need to return to their family north of Qingce Village. The family is unable to make the journey to Wangsheng to collect these items. The services have already concluded, but these items came to us well after the event. The family’s address is listed on the parcel wrapping.  ❞

Tea cast aside, for the time being, curious eyes look over the Harbinger. ❝ Braid my hair? Yes, certainly. though you are correct about the Director not attempting it, I am sure she would if the idea came to her. ❞

Since his undertaking of commissions and bounties had inevitably taken him far from Hanamizaka, it sometimes struck Itto just how much he’d been missing out on. While the Traveler had been changing the world and doing so through wandering, he couldn’t help but think that the same could be done, too. Sure, his aspirations weren’t nearly as revolutionary as theirs, Itto still wanted to perform some degree of good and even change life as it was for himself and his boys. To aim for something better, even if he didn’t care too much to make grand, overt gestures in one field or another. Hell, working for the Adventurer’s Guide seemed to be working out, so far, and they had branches everywhere!

“Share stories, huh? Ain’t it kinda rude to interrupt when someone else is speakin’?” Itto replied with a cocky smirk, sliding into a seat next to the mysterious Liyuen that kept him without earshot so any din of conversation wouldn’t filter too close to the storyteller. 

Even if, well… it wasn’t like the story was bad, or anything. Just not very engaging to someone whose inner child was the monkey on his back. The Oni had no doubt that he could easily dazzle the crowd with one of his mildly exaggerated exploits, but then and there, he wanted to get in and out before jetting off to the inn to check in on a certain Yaksha with the specialty Almond Tofu he’d helped make. 

“Unless it’s an open-stage anyone can hop on~?”

Wandering eyes in the crowd tracked this new onlooker as Zhongli shifted at the table to accommodate. It was nothing to pay them no attention, the storyteller did not waiver. He knew this tale by heart a thousand times over, it was coming to a close shortly. As much as he could listen to tales of his homeland until the end of time, Zhongli’s curiosity is piqued by this stranger. It is not every day he finds an opportunity to hear tales from beyond the Harbor. The one before him gives off a kind of confidence you don’t see often, and he wondered what kind of person he was.

     it’s one of the good days, as he likes to think of them. the weather is nice, the work practically does itself, the main street is filled with happy chatter and delightful scents when he passes through the city walls, and his informants are quick to assure him that no abyssal activity suggests his nightly surveillance will be necessary. diluc always savors getting to relieve charles from his duties, but even more so during such nights when they can do so free of worry.

     suspiciously so, almost, seeing as the usual crowd of favonius knights and adventurers looking for drunken evening entertainment is kept to a minimum as well. the number of attendees, the amount of liquor and even the volume of conversations is pleasantly under control. so far, anyway. and with no certain someone sitting at the counter to nag him repeatedly, diluc is left to their own devices, blithely taking the opportunity to conduct harmless mixing experiments.

     he’s allowed this small pleasure for barely half an hour - then in walks tonight’s inevitable cause for concern. a complete stranger, decidedly not from here, who somehow entered mondstadt and made it all the way to angel’s share without diluc knowing anything about it.

     although it certainly sets off an alarm at the back of their mind, little to none of it translates into his body language aside from his putting a sudden stop to his little trial mixes to clear the space, as they would for any incoming customer. the outsider is granted a nod for a greeting as diluc straightens their bartender outfit, fixing to take an order.

     then goes off the second alarm. not the kind of order he was expecting to receive.

     ❝ hmm… ❞ once again, his composed demeanor conceals the agitation that spurs on his heartbeat, and he doesn’t appear remotely tense as he gauges the stranger up and down. diluc is no expert in foreign fashion, but they would venture confidently enough that this is a traditional liyuen style - and a very elegant take on it at that. this would explain the use of ‘mister’ rather than the commonly employed ‘master’ at his intent in mondstadt. the man before him doesn’t looked equipped to travel whatsoever, on the other hand; from a glance, it seems all he has with him is a small package and… some… lamp grass…

     crimson eyes trail up to meet the soft ambers again, now with a nervous sort of vulnerability flickering within. has it become common knowledge that these are their favorites ? since when ? should he take it that this gentleman is one of those successful fathers hoping to earn diluc’s favor as an excuse to introduce him to their daughter- no, surely not. the man is from liyue, and doesn’t seem quite old enough to have a child of age… right ?

     with a pensive sigh, diluc succumbs to their curiosity. ❝ i may indeed be able to help with that. ❞ the way he crosses his arms over the counter doesn’t seem nearly as defensive as it should when they continue to steal glances at various details of the stranger’s appearance. although it doesn’t feel as compromising now that he’s determined the other is probably not a threat, it doesn’t make them any less suspicious of his intentions. nonetheless, ‘invested’ would now be an accurate descriptor of diluc’s body language.  ❝ that is, depending on who’s speaking. you see, i know from a very reliable source that diluc ragnvindr is not expecting any kind of personal visit tonight. ❞

curious eyes watch the bartender look him over. zhongli couldn’t decide whether the bartender was wholly unimpressed, vaguely apprehensive, or a mixture of both. he was aware how much he stood out against the backdrop, but perhaps his time away from the land of wind had left him more out of the loop than he initially thought. the bartender’s look sharply reminds him of another, the collected gaze of the tianquan. if he were less experienced in being picked apart without so much as a whisper of effort, he may have felt nervous. 

❝ oh, ❞ zhongli nods in understanding, the potential consequences of his actions hot on his heels. ❝ i suppose i should offer more information in that case. you see, i have been communicating with mister diluc ragnvindr in the form of letters for some time now. it is quite the tale of how it began; a mistaken package, a bottle of wine, and an odd companionship in words. i happened to be free for a while and have not visited mondstat in ages, so i left my home in liyue harbor. i’ve brought mr. ragnvindr a gift, i do hope he does not mind so much the surprise visit. i admit it was rather impulsive, and i should have written ahead. by the time i realized this shortcoming, i was already over the mountains above sal terrae. ❞ zhongli gestured to nothing in particular. the cheekiness of it all is beginning to show on his skin. 

Honeyed eyes snapped onto the Dragon — bewildered at his offer for mere seconds before casting aside a doubtful look. They were not friends … no comrades, nor barely even acquaintances. How could she trust in the words of this reptile — to live amongst his territory … his domain, and expect to survive? Was he toying with her? Testing whether a Fae, of all creatures, could co-hab in these lands with other of his kind? “ Surely, you must jest? ” Though … his expression seemed earnest … “ How do I know I have your word? That I won’t be eaten alive the moment I close my eyes? ” Then again … who is to say she could sleep in such a place to begin with? Not that this region in its making was terrible, per say … but with a lack of trust — strangers and enemies around every corner, how could she rest? Only now, was she still for the fact that she lacked energy.  However, one fact remained … Lumine, had nobody to rely on here — granted, she hardly had any faith and trust onto those noblemen back home. It’d been nothing but game of pulled strings and façades for the longest of time … Truly, there was no choice in the matter here. He was right too — she hadn’t wanted to depart from this life … one that she had barely lived, despite the couple centuries that passed since her birth. While there was a will to live … there was also a deeply rooted question that tugged at her mind … for, what did she have to live by? Only to dance in a never-ending battle with this Dragon? Until finally, one had surrendered by the edges of the others blade — to be nothing more than a tool for entertainment? It was … rather humiliating, to think about. “ If.. I have your word that no others will harm me — so long as I do not instigate others first. Then perhaps, I will stay… ” For a while, at least … maybe, she could look into somewhere desolate to venture and live — but lawless lands were just as dangerous if not more … at least here, if an oath is made, she’d had some form of protection. Yet, even the mere thought of having to rely on others … someone whom was supposed to be an enemy, no doubt … had made her sick to her stomach …

the draconic lord bowed his head to acknowledge her words. he did not miss the searching look in the fae’s eyes. she looks torn, but in zhongli’s eyes she makes the right choice. ❝ you need hold no hesitation, though why you harbor it is understandable. the highest word that can be given in my lands is a contract. i will be just as bound to it as you; rest for now. we may discuss the bindings when you are of clear mind. even before this is complete, i give you my word no harm will come to you outside of our battles. i do not value trickery, ❞ zhongli motions behind him, past the rocky cliffs that kept their battleground soiree contained. ❝ over those cliffs lay a more lush land under my control. you fae seem…squishy, so i assume finding a warm rock will not do you any good for sleeping quarters. i have my own dominion and a room can be made for you, but if you wish to rest outside, i will not stop you. ❞ he doesn’t ignore how this all sounds, but zhongli is focused on their battles ahead. 

"What made you agree initially to the-- deal that I offered to you?" Seire asked, a quiet curiosity in her tone. She knew a few of the reason, of course, they had discussed the contract at length. As was expected of him. But not what made him even listen to her offer.

not me being vague cause we have no idea what their contract actually is yet haha

the palace of ice and solitude is, to seire's credit, quite an excellent place to ponder. there is a unique sense of quietness within these halls, to which zhongli takes full advantage of as he ponders. of course, he could likely tell her the full truth, for much of the active phase of their contract was done and gone. however, a feeling of conflict bubbles in his chest. not even the adepti knew the full details, though he assumed cloud retainer already surmised that information. ❝ securing the safety of liyue while i stepped down as rex lapis and handing the reigns over to the humans to run the nation as they see fit was, and always will be, my first priority. it was simply time for the exchange of power to take place. it is not the only motive, but it is the only relevant one to you, ❞ he watches seire carefully, not exactly at ease, but not suspicious either. after a moment, zhongli let out a short, half-suppressed laugh.