天动万象 ◈ 山海化形

╰┈➤ AEVUM ISLES :: JUNE FESTIVAL ❂

Throughout the beginning of summer, Isle residents gather in multitudes during the day and night to celebrate the natural world and the communities that share it. Many traditions find Aercon and Echo alike visiting the shores of the Lunar Coast, cleaning up the environment, and showing goodwill to their neighbors with gifts and unique finds. Please refer to the ARCANUS ISLE COMPENDIUM for creature and plant references.

☀️-- Clark was almost in a stupor as he walked along the sidewalk towards work, hustling through the morning crowds as he was running late. He could hear the other side of the city, he could hear things happening on other islands. Underground and even fly wings beating, the heartbeats of every person and animal around him -

Everything was so loud. A few months without his powers and having them back was sure giving him a run for his money. It was difficult to concentrate. It wasn't nearly as easy as he'd thought it would be. It was giving him an absolutely pounding headache trying to filter through all of the noise.

It felt like he was like he was right back to being a child again. Struggling with powers he didn't understand, powers that no one else could help him navigate. Except he should be able to control it. He should be able to handle this. He should be able to block things out and hear only what he concentrated on.

Easily.

It should be easy and... it wasn't. It was all or nothing. That was frustrating. - And the more frustrated he became, once more, just as when he was a child...

A red glow rimmed his irises, stinging and itching and giving the world a vaguely red sort of haze. And Clark immediately squeezed his eyes shut. Exactly like when he was little, heat vision came prickling forth as negative emotions made themselves known. But this was another thing he should be able to control. Not his emotions necessarily, but the heat vision itself --

He could feel it starting to burn at the corners of his eyes. Singing skin. Clark ducked hurriedly into a little alley between two building. His fingers were white-knuckling the handle of his briefcase. He opened his eyes and stared at his own arm. The air between shimmered like a heat haze as holes started to form in light coat he was wearing.

Of course he wasn't invulnerable. Not that he was invulnerable against his own powers anyways. This was going to hurt. But better this than other people or property destruction.

The earth spoke of many things.

It carried the tales of all those who walked upon it. Perhaps Zhongli could not see its memories the way an old friend could, but he had learned, in his own way, to listen to its tales. To follow each thread of vibrations, tracing footsteps, paths, to discern even the beating of hearts. In some ways, it was intuitive, in others, a form of meditation -- a way to connect to those within the world, for a heart of stone to understand the hearts of humanity.

Not only that... but it also was a rather convenient way to know of strange happenings-- of which there was no shortage in this world.

Eyes flew open, shining faintly golden as he arose from morning meditation, a swish of his dark clothes following him out the door. The earth's murmurs were even stronger once his feet connected to it directly, guiding him forward. Slowly-rising agitation, a tremor of something powerful... it was a familiar story here, in this world. Some, like Zhongli himself, adapted quickly-- others were not so fortunate.

Luckily, this time it was someone who knew the risk, and sought to mitigate it.

There was a flash of gold, and a semi-transparent barrier appeared at the front and back of the alleyway, sigils crossing the ground to seal off the space, running up the sides of the surrounding buildings.

"Do what you must, and steady yourself," he spoke, voice echoing faintly amid the array. His own eyes too, shone with the golden light of the sun as he increased his spiritual power in preparation for any backlash. "This area has been stabilized -- If there is something you must contain within your form, raise your hand above your head, and I shall assist."

It might not be a threat right now, but it could always become one. It's big, it's metal, it's strong.

There were no barriers, no shield that could ensure his companion's protection. If it came down to it, Zhongli would need to somehow find a weak point and neutralize the threat... not impossible, he thought, though he had never had to face a foe while truly powerless before-- especially a foe he was unfamiliar with.

These machines resembled those of the underground kingdom in some ways, but... he could not rely upon that knowledge here.

Especially not when he could not say for certain that death was impermanent...

Luckily, though, they managed to avoid the hauler machine's detection.

"Best idea I've heard all day, besides sitting in a cage, you know." Again, not thrilled, but it's got to be done. One way or another they have to get out of here.

Unfortunately, every stroke of luck was bound to end sooner or later. Upon passing through a corridor and opening the next door, there was an audible and ominous clanking of machinery.

Zhongli took hold of Badou's arm to pull him out of sight behind the doorway, then glanced briefly out to see if they had been spotted. A large machine was lumbering in their direction, carrying a stack of crates.

Logan poured another cup and passed it over. The man was right. Preparation technique was more important than the varietal made. If prepared with the right technique, just about anything could taste good. "Everyone's got different tastes so I figured I'd ask."

...And then he nodded, more of a frown tugging at his lips.

"Yeah. I'm one'a those Echo people too." It was more of an irritated grunt than anything else. He also looked out towards the harbor for a moment. Contemplating as he was asked what he thought about this place. "Think I've been in worse spots. Not really liking the whole 'chosen ones' vibe they've got for us here - always thought that was a load of shit. Never really ends well for the people who get picked."

Sometimes it didn't end well for the people who did the picking either.

A moment of quiet, golden eyes shifting down toward the teacup as he raised it to his lips, then briefly closing. A small, understanding nod of his head.

Zhongli was all too familiar with having a role he never sought thrust upon him. Some, though, took such things harder than others. "Fortunately," he said, "For the most part, there are few responsibilities beyond living out our lives in this place for as long as the Aether deem we should. But I will not deceive you-- there are trials we must face from time to time."

So far, most everyone had come through alive. Such was the benefit of being unable to die... and also its drawback. The longer one lived, the more cracks tended to form, and the more dross would build up in those cracks. Especially for those not meant to be immortal, that weight could be crushing. Sonare, Ocellus, the shifting and twisting of the Blue Moon... those events had left their marks upon one such as himself-- so how much more of an affect did they have on those of less fortitude?

Vash watched him fill out the menu card with an order. He knew that he didn't look well. He knew full well what Zhongli was doing, too. But the man was right. He wouldn't waste the food that was ordered.

"No. Anything is fine." There probably wasn't much point in saying that his spice tolerance was poor.

He took the stones, glancing from them to the board, nodding along as the general premise was explained. - Vash also had a terrible poker face. There was a reason he'd almost always lost at nearly any game he played. His face told everything there was to know.

It was far from the first time that Zhongli had had a difficult companion. Over the years, he had collected a fair number of them, each with their own struggles. Some needed a firm hand, others a more gentle guidance... and though he was no longer in the same role he once held, it seemed that old habits were impossible to banish entirely.

He sent off the card, and nodded his head at Vash's question. "Indeed. At the same time, you must keep watch on your own pieces, building out defensive formations so that your opponent cannot surround them in turn," he explained. "One must balance offense and defense, leaning not too heavily on one or the other, lest you face defeat."

A brief gesture toward the board.

"With the black stones, you move first," he said, "As for how to arrange them... that is for you to decide as you learn."

"Perhaps it will convince them," Zhongli pointed out, "unless, that is, those imprisoned here are not transferred while conscious."

They didn't have any kind of stretcher, after all, and Zhongli wasn't particularly interested in playing unconscious either way. Besides, they needed only one more person to borrow a lab coat from... and though Zhongli was loathe to cause harm to mortals, perhaps these were extenuating circumstances.

Of course, securing an escape was the most important.

"We must take careful note of the path we take," he said, approaching the door at the end of the corridor. He couldn't hear anything beyond it, but...

He also knew very well that he could not trust these senses alone. Without the earth's resonance to guide him, he felt almost as though he were floating adrift upon the water... It was monumentally unpleasant.

Badou's all smiles and positivity, but truly his belly is roiling with anxiety. Can they get out of this? Zhongli has powers, but he's been holed up, same as Badou has. Can he move fast enough to save them?

"Let's go."

Fortunately, if it came to a fight, Zhongli could more than likely hold his own-- at least long enough for Badou to escape. What worried him more was the lack of information, the countless unknowns surrounding their foes.

Not to mention... he would prefer to avoid fighting if possible, particularly against any human opponents. No matter the sinister experiments they were carrying out, they were still mortal after all.

Fortunately, there was no one in the outer corridor. For now, they could proceed.

That seems easy enough. Act menacing and creepy like the scientists here. Zhongli sure is a good guy, he's going to come back and not merely drink away this experience.

"Perhaps it will convince them," Zhongli pointed out, "unless, that is, those imprisoned here are not transferred while conscious."

They didn't have any kind of stretcher, after all, and Zhongli wasn't particularly interested in playing unconscious either way. Besides, they needed only one more person to borrow a lab coat from... and though Zhongli was loathe to cause harm to mortals, perhaps these were extenuating circumstances.

Of course, securing an escape was the most important.

"We must take careful note of the path we take," he said, approaching the door at the end of the corridor. He couldn't hear anything beyond it, but...

He also knew very well that he could not trust these senses alone. Without the earth's resonance to guide him, he felt almost as though he were floating adrift upon the water... It was monumentally unpleasant.

verdant eyes , green as plains , settled on zhongli and simply . . . observed . he had not spoken much of all that he had gone through . not unless it was to highlight the benefit to all who had escaped ocellus isle , which was not what byleth had asked after . she knew well the number of escapees . she aided orchestrating their escapes .

put mildly : ZHONGLI WAS STUBBORN . he planted himself with the pride of a mountain and the weight of a boulder in a stream . byleth could not help but find his reliability a boon as much as a sordid frustration . both a boulder and a mountain would weather and erode given time .

byleth stood and began to prepare tea .

"are you staying late tonight , zhongli?"

The rock upon which the world rests does not easily come to lean upon others-- and for one who has seen the rise and fall of ages and eras, his trouble are not those which he should cast upon another's shoulders. In truth, it was no conscious decision that led Zhongli to remain brief and shallow regarding his own feelings, the turmoil brought on by helplessness, the burden of endless sacrifice that hearkened back into antiquity.

It was... simply the way that things were. If Zhongli spoke of his troubles, it would be simple, mundane matters, such as lacking in finances, or his tea growing cold. Those things more serious...

Those, he kept buried within-- buried, indeed, even from himself.

And so, as always, he returned to the life he had built in this place, going about his day as though everything were ordinary, because it was, and because it was over. Now, the most worrisome matters were the cases tucked into their folders atop his desk.

He was keenly aware of Byleth's gaze. She had been watching him more closely than usual since Ocellus, despite... well, Zhongli didn't think there was any problem with his performance. He had adapted, and it was a simple enough thing, at least on the surface, to leave the past behind.

She worried for him. That much he knew... though the why of it all remained somewhat elusive.

With a pleasant little nod to the staff, he followed the other man into the teahouse. It was a very pretty place, or Nate yet not overwhelmingly lavish. Humble. He had been in plenty of teahouses before, but never anything this fancy. There were plenty of holdovers of human culture from before the crash on Nomans Land.

Even if there were more saloons than tea houses.

Then, proving how often the other man came here, they were set up with a tea pot, and a menu without even ordering. Vash glanced at the menu, then at Zhongli. Zhongli was a very generous man, Vash knew that. Honestly, he didn’t feel hungry at all. He hadn’t felt hungry lately even if he knew that he had to eat.

“Oh, I’m all right, but thanks.”

He slid the menu away towards the edge of the table. he was distracted by the weiqi board on the table. “I’ve… played chess…”

"Mm, very well. In that case, and because it is your first visit here, I suppose I will choose what to order," Zhongli said, beginning to fill out the dim sum menu card, notably avoiding most of the seafood options. "Are there any ingredients that you cannot tolerate?"

Vash seemed a bit more gaunt than usual, he'd thought. Perhaps with the pressure of food already ordered, he might be able to get at least a bite or two into the taller man's stomach. Vash's homeworld, if he recalled correctly, was one of scarcity... and those who came from scarcity were often loathe to waste food.

He waved over a staff member and handed off the filled out menu card, then picked up the weiqi stones, offering black to his companion. "It is similar, in that both are games of strategy. Here, we take turns placing stones upon the board, each attempting to surround the most territory, until one or both of us choose to resign."

He went on to explain the rules further, though in brief-- there was always the opportunity to clarify later on. A game like this, if nothing else, could provide a welcome distraction and a chance to focus the mind.

The guy looked like the sort who frequented this kind of place. Logan, on the other hand, knew that for his own part, he didn't really look like the sort to step into a tea house at all.

After a moment, he gestured with a nod towards the seat opposite his own. "<Yes, go on.>"

It rolled off his tongue as naturally as if it were his own first language. It had been a while since he'd spoken Chinese, but he knew enough. Could probably be considered nearly fluent, but wouldn't say that himself. It was only thanks to the way he'd gotten around over the years that he'd picked up any languages other than English and Canadian French at all.

He would have picked up the pot and extra cup, but Logan hesitated first once the man had gotten himself situated.

There was a brief flicker of pleased familiarity in golden eyes when the other man spoke. In this realm, though disparate their original tongues may be, all that was "common" language across myriad universes seemed to have become one, save the slight accent that distinguished those of different realms-- but other tongues as well, Zhongli had noticed, were also made parallel. It had been some time since he encountered someone who spoke Liyue's local tongue, even if in an accent that could not be placed within his nation's borders.

"More important than the specific varietal is the technique with which it is prepared," he replied, "and I happen to know that this teahouse's staff are well-versed in the preparation of each leaf they sell. Sencha is fine."

Taking his seat then, Zhongli considered the other before him as he lifted his cup of tea. Setting it down once more, he spoke, "I do not believe we have met. You may call me Zhongli-- I am one of those called 'Echoes' by the people of these isles. Perhaps you, too, are a guest from afar?" A brief pause, gazing out toward the sea, across a harbor so unlike his home, yet one which had now grown familiar. "How do you find this world?"

A little more chipper, pushing aside what he'd just done to some idiot working his job, he turns back to strip the man of his coat.

"They ought to have some vehicles of some kind. Even a damn boat."

With a nod of his head, Zhongli glanced up and down the corridor. He supposed he ought to find a disguise of his own sooner rather than later... but this would be sufficient for now. Fortunately, though his access to his power was restricted, that would not preclude a few precise strikes to the acupoints...