~ ♦ 𝒄𝒓𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒛𝒆 ♦ ~

hi, i’m xixu~ i’m 21+ & timezone est. this is a selective dual-muse blog for zhongli and albedo from GENSHIN IMPACT. 

note that this blog will have a very low activity, but if you’re a mutual and comfortable with rping on discord, i’m more than welcome to rp there too! this blog will feature mature themes and concepts, so please follow at your own discretion. 

Awkwardly, he slips a book into Zhongli's hands. It's an erotic book with some pictures an eccentric salesman had recommended to him, but since Diluc had no interest in it and reading liyuese took too much effort for a Mondstadtian, he thought maybe Mr. Zhongli would be able to enjoy them more than he did. :/ "Happy Birthday, Mr Zhongli."

@ragnvindrknight​​

Zhongli smiles brightly seeing Diluc, paying no mind to the gift he hands him. He clutches the book to his chest. 

 ❛   Mr. Diluc, it is an HONOR to receive a gift from you. Thank you. I--   ❜    

He glances down at the title, eyes widening slightly before he presses its cover to his chest even harder. A light flush creeps down Zhongli’s neck as he scrutinizes Diluc’s expression. He must not know. He must not know. Even after the many lessons Zhongli has had with Diluc, it is not enough time for him to have perfected THE LIYUESE LANGUAGE.

"Happy Birthday, xiansheng!," Childe announces as he enters the room with a cheerful smile. "Did you think I'd forget~," he teases, placing a small box before the other. Within he'd find a gold bracelet with a black opal embedded in it. Simple yet valuable, and most importantly not too bulky to carry. "Of course I think we should also have dinner. What's a celebration without a feast!"

@childeofwar​

Zhongli fumbles with some incense as Childe enters unexpectedly. He hurriedly--well, as hurriedly as one could be while also being METHODICAL--sweeps the incense off the table and redeposits it into its pot before turning his attention to the box placed in front of him. 

 ❛   My birthday? It seems it is I who has forgotten. How did you find out my birth date? Surely, you did not harass any of our elderly for such menial and trivial information.   ❜    He cocks an eyebrow at Childe playfully before unwrapping his gift, smiling fondly at his own reflection in the shiny, deep stone. 

A flower crown made of glowing geo flowers is placed on Zhongli's head. The surprised expression he's given amuses the elemental dragon. Azhdaha chuckles and gently pats his head. "It suits you." //also happy birthday to you as well! :>

@vishapsking​​

( From Osial! )

There’s a slightly flustered expression on the male’s face as he approaches the now ex-archon, a faint blush tinting his cheeks that he seems to pray to be spared the teasing of. Having recalled that it was Morax’s birthday, even though it was something the sea serpent rarely celebrated himself, it appears he’d taken a moment or three to find a gift the archon would take a liking to. “… Happy Birthday.”

Wordlessly, Osial places a small box decorated in blue and green ribbon down before hurrying off to hide. A smoothly formed, carefully cut piece of coral laid inside, seemingly made to become a pendant for a pair of earrings.

@destinyrcigned​​

zhongli had FORGOTTEN all about his birthday. the day of which he was created was long since a forgotten tradition. too much war and strife had surpassed in his many years, and centuries and millennia seamlessly blended together. when the sun rises and falls does not matter to him, so long as they greet him. 

so to find his old friend osial at his doorstep with a small gift for him, zhongli is pleasantly surprised and delighted. 

  ❛   it is my birthday?   ❜    he teases. he smiles with the lightheartedness of a time when glaze lilies were abundant and he had many more friends who could share in his memory.

but having one friend is more than enough, he thinks.

( From Xiao, To Zhongli! )

It’s a quiet evening in Liyue the next time Xiao pays the ex-archon a visit, the slightest hints of fatigue lingering behind golden irises as he wordlessly glanced around for the home’s owner. Xiao doesn’t rest as much as he likely should have been, working most hours of his days and waking from nightmares the few times he’d tried. Yet, insistent on at least making the attempt to at Morax’s suggestion not long ago, he hopes the other wouldn’t mind his company too much.

The adepti doesn’t take long to spot the man he’d been in search of, and even less time to make his way over. Though there’s some hesitance, his smaller form slumps lightly against the Lord of Geo’s side, hands clinging ever-so-lightly to the brown jacket and eyes sliding shut as he makes the attempt to doze off for a while.

random ask! // @destinyrcigned​

zhongli is far from surprised by xiao’s sudden appearance. his aura travels with him and is distinct, bitter, ashy, frayed but carries that hint of qingxin and, more subtly, the taste of the wind. ANYWHERE IN LIYUE, zhongli can feel him, just as he hears anyone who calls his name in need. venti may have been the one to give xiao his vision, but xiao’s loyalty lay with liyue’s land, zhongli is certain. 

the adepti makes little to no greeting before he settles himself beside zhongli, much like a cat. he tries to hide the smile creeping onto his lips as he sits over slightly to give xiao more room to lay down. 

     ❛   you’ve worked hard today, DEAR ADEPTI. you deserve some rest,   ❜   zhongli praises him, setting down his teacup. 

Diluc had noticed it some time ago, that whenever they happened to stroll by a large tree in Mount Hulao, Zhongli could not help but pause momentarily to glance at it. Diluc would be forced to pause with him, looking at the funeral palour’s consultant from the back. ❝You seem to be troubled.❞ Zhongli was an enigma, but Diluc was not the sort of person who pried. As much as he was curious about it he knew for certain it was not something a stranger like him should concern himself with, and it was not his intention to be rude. ❝Would you consider a vacation?❞ He asked instead, voice soft. ❝To Mondstadt. I would be honoured to be your host.❞ [Zhongli]

random ask // @ragnvindrknight​

TROUBLED doesn’t begin to cover it. while zhongli is no longer the proprietary overseer of liyue, no longer a prevalent archon, no longer obligated to preside over this land, there are ANCIENT DUTIES he cannot resign from even after the loss of status. once a guardian, always a guardian. once a ruler, always a ruler–and zhongli has a responsibility to the land he loves–but diluc’s worrisome voice makes his heart tremble. it seems that he cared for zhongli’s well being, or was he simply offering to showcase his own homeland? 

     ❛    i apologize. i do not mean to seem out of sorts during our tour of liyue’s finest landmarks. troubled… perhaps is not the right word, but i will spare you any details of UNIMPORTANCE. this is my burden to bear, and i would never impose such a weight on my esteemed guest.    ❜     he turns his attention away from the tree. 

he has to.

     ❛   i have not been to MONDSTADT in many a…   ❜   century? millennia? last he was there, it was the first ever windblume festival. how the traditions must’ve changed by now. 

─「蛍」─  “ crazy, huh. i suppose you aren’t wrong. ” there was a hint of playfulness in her voice despite how her breathing was a little more shallowed than usual, feeling her blood slowly being POISONED by that nagging corrosion from the claws of those rifthounds.

                “ but someone has to fight them, or else innocent people will pay the price. ” even as she said that, the OUTLANDER could feel her own heart twisting inside its rib-cage. after all, she was aware now what the abyss order is consisted of, and who was the one leading them. but that was beside the point, at least for now.

                she turned her form around, offering him a better look at the slash wounds she attained upon her right shoulder. the blood was seeping from the injury, but there was a darkened tint of red crystalizing around her own blood, it was starting to taint the area around it, SPREADING at steady rate.

                “ the wounds aren’t deep but … i think i’m inflicted with corrosion. ”

the banter is light and shallow, and so it seems is LUMINE’S BREATH. the subtle acrid air within his alcove does not slip by albedo. observation fills his silence as he takes in the condition of his guest. lumine, brave and very courageous, if not also a little bit F O O L H AR D Y, albedo is not surprised that she would downplay her wounds. it looks much worse than it is, though, with its festering bruising around her pale skin. 

albedo has seen many an injury, many a mortal wound–this should be nothing, but his hands shake just a bit as he reaches toward his workbench for the bandages and antiseptic. 

     ❛   corrosion…   ❜    he mutters to himself. corrosion has not been a particular interest of study to him, but living around dragonspine–an area affected by wounds of similar nature–albedo is NOT UNFAMILIAR with its treatment. 

"Do you always dress so formally?" He'd never seen the other in anything less than a suit. He understood needing to be presentable in public, but to the point he always dressed like this?

@childeofwar​

formally? zhongli tries his hardest not to glance down at his outfit. truth be told, it’s like A UNIFORM. zhongli’s daily duties are to serve liyue, to oversee its safety, and when one has a position of authority, a uniform is warranted so that those who are in need of your assistance can find you quicker, easier. perhaps his “formal” attire, could be akin to a uniform.

   ❛   i dress as i wish,   ❜    he says simply.    ❛   you could say, this is my fashion style, right? one might prefer more casual clothes. another might prefer EXTRAVAGANT clothes. perhaps i am the one who enjoys a more formalwear.   ❜    

he pauses again, fiddles with the tips of his gloves. an officer is in need to stand out in order for those in need of his assistance to find him quicker and easier, but an ARCHON OF THE AGES who wishes to blend into the mortal masses must be a seamless part of their lives. the fashion trends have changed, and perhaps zhongli must change with it.