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[leaveofabsence]

[ The default voicemail message greets you. ]

Comments

Re: Day 498, very very late

[leaveofabsence]

Ah, Barbatos.

If you just rested your wings for a bit, you would see how many people adore you.




And not because of your divinity.

Re: Day 498, very very late

[outofoffice]

[ Thankfully angles and lighting mean Zhongli probably can't see his face color, just a bit ]

Huh? That's out of nowhere . . .

Re: Day 498, very very late

[leaveofabsence]

It is not.

You often phrase your departure as if it is a wanted outcome.

Surely I am not the only one you do that, too. Even unconsciously.

Re: Day 498, very very late

[outofoffice]

[ Thinks really hard on this for a long moment ]

It was a joke, but . . . that's true . . . I guess I see your point . . .

Re: Day 498, very very late

[leaveofabsence]

It is one thing when we are---

[ Bickering like a married couple ]

Bantering. In those circumstances, I see where you would perceive it as such.

Re: Day 498, very very late

[outofoffice]

"Bantering."

Is that what we're calling it now?

Re: Day 498, very very late

[leaveofabsence]

I see nothing wrong with the term.

Re: Day 498, very very late

[outofoffice]

But we're obviously warring gods!

Re: Day 498, very very late

[leaveofabsence]

I'm retired.

Re: Day 498, very very late

[outofoffice]

--I'm a god smiting a lowly mortal!

[ In the same tone of voice as a toddler ramming dinosaur action figures together ]

Re: Day 498, very very late

[leaveofabsence]

[ Pinches his cheeks ]

Re: Day 498, very very late

[outofoffice]

Ow ow owwwww, hey--!!

Re: Day 498, very very late

[leaveofabsence]

[ Kisses the now slightly pink skin.

But not apologizing. ]

Re: Day 498, very very late

[outofoffice]

Incorrigible . . .

[ Though he leans into the touch as he says it ]

Re: Day 498, very very late

[leaveofabsence]

Careful.

Or you'll also begin to sound like an old man.

Re: Day 498, very very late

[outofoffice]

I don't wanna hear that from the universe's oldest fossil!!

Re: Day 498, very very late

[leaveofabsence]

I'll have you know that I've met at least two people here older than I.

I'm practically a awe-struck adolescent in comparison.

Re: Day 498, very very late

[outofoffice]

. . .


Really?!

Re: Day 498, very very late

[leaveofabsence]

Really.

I doubt that I am the oldest being in Teyvat, let alone the many worlds that exist across the stars.

Re: Day 498, very very late

[outofoffice]

[ Makes a show of thinking about it ]

I guess there's the Primordial One . . .

Re: Day 498, very very late

[leaveofabsence]

[ Just lets out a long sigh and kisses the top of Venti's head ]

Are you finished?

Re: Day 498, very very late

[outofoffice]

[ Tilting his head up to capture those lips with his own. ]

Fine, fine. For now, yes.

Re: Day 498, very very late

[leaveofabsence]

[ Hmmmm. Venti seems emotionally exhausted, and he does not want to rile him up for another challenge.

So instead he'll kiss him back. Gently. More of a comfort or intimacy than anything.

Before gathering him tighter in his arms and tucking him close to his chest. ]

For now.

Re: Day 498, very very late

[outofoffice]

[ He closes his eyes with a sigh, tension slowly seeping out of his posture. Even his wings go limp. ]

Thank you, Morax.

[ And then, softer: ]

I adore you.

Re: Day 498, very very late

[leaveofabsence]

[ Ah. Venti was getting soft in his old age.

(That was fine. So was Zhongli.) ]

I adore you, too, Barbatos.

Sleep.

The problems of today can be the problems of tomorrow.