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[leaveofabsence]

[ The default voicemail message greets you. ]

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[leaveofabsence]

Yes. I suppose that is as good a place to start as any. I will take your words under advisement.

[childeishly]

...good luck, Xiansheng. [ reaches for his hand, albeit a bit hesitantly. ]

[leaveofabsence]

[ His fingers flex when he feels Childe's glove brush against him, but then they curl around his without hesitation.

His expression lightens. ]

I should apologize for troubling you with this, but yet these troubles feel lighter being able to talk about them.

[childeishly]

It's not good to keep this sort of stuff to yourself. [ squeezes his hand and takes a step closer. ] ...so if you ever need somebody to talk to, even just to listen, because I can't say with certainty that my advice is any sort of good, but... I'm here for you.

[leaveofabsence]

Of course I know that, Caeli.

You've always indulged me and my stories. Why should this be any different?

[childeishly]

Because you're the one hurting as a direct result of this bullshit. I guess I'm just worried you're going to try to be a stone wall holding up everything your own... [ especially since your team looks like it's kind of a mess x: ]

1/2

[leaveofabsence]

In my defense, that was exactly my function for many thousands of years.

[leaveofabsence]

Ah, though I never held it up by myself. No one person ever could and hope to succeed.

I suppose I am just not used to navigating these spaces without proper contracts in place. Or from a human's perspective.

[childeishly]

...exactly. It’s not like you’re Morax anymore. You’re Zhongli. And while you can make contracts or even promises there’s not much you can do beyond trust the other party to keep them. [ little do they know!!! ]

[leaveofabsence]

[ Little do they know!!! ]

Ah yes... contracts.

That power belongs to another unit.

[ Is there just a touch of jealous in his voice? Maybe... ]

[childeishly]

[ jealous zhongli is cute. ]

I doubt anybody would want to cross you when it comes to contracts anyway, Xiansheng, so you probably have nothing to worry about.

[leaveofabsence]

That is not the issue. I do not worry that they would be able to outmaneuver me in my own domain.

My concern is that they will not uphold fairness while enacting them.

[childeishly]

Humans aren’t like gods... they’re always looking to screw each other over, so yeah... of course. Five mentioned that it does require a somewhat balanced exchange of goods, but what’s written can obviously be lopsided to one party. [ if he’s not already holding his hand he’s going to reach for it, take it, and squeeze. ]

[leaveofabsence]

[ Then enjoy that hand slowly clenching into a fist until Zhongli exhales deeply, forcing the tension out of his body. ]

You were in no state of mind to be signing a contract, even if the conclusion we reached in the end was a favorable one.

[childeishly]

I’m glad you found me, Xiansheng. [ curls his tail around zhongli’s waist. ] ...always keeping me out of trouble.

[leaveofabsence]

[ He glances over at Childe at that statement, but quickly looks away to pet at the fur around his waist. ]

We were tethered together. There were not many places for you to go that I would not notice.

[childeishly]

Hah, true, but still... [ enters the restaurant and swipes a menu to take to the table, since no one is there to bring them one. ] I feel like I owe you for all the trouble I caused.

[leaveofabsence]

Caeli, you do not owe me anything. Nor do you cause me trouble.

I was very grateful to have your company that day even if both of us were not at our best.

[childeishly]

Me too. [ drops into a seat and smiles across at zhongli. ] I am grateful too, Xiansheng. Even if we're stuck in this place, it's made slightly better because you're here.

[leaveofabsence]

[ Zhongli also takes a seat but he moves to place one hand over Childe's. ]

Caeli.

I will admit that your adamancy to not see a healer was concerning, but everything else that happened that day was outside of your control. Do you really believe that such things would trouble me?

[childeishly]

I know things aren't exactly a walk in the park for you here, Xiansheng. Having to get used to being a mortal and then simultaneously being stripped of what power you did hold onto and thrust into hell to be the play thing of some demonic overlord is... well, it's obviously pretty shitty, and the last thing I want to do is make everything that's going on even the slightest bit harder.

[ overturns his hand and squeezes zhongli's. ]

[leaveofabsence]

It is... not an ideal situation. But I did want to remove myself from the governing of Liyue and learn what it was like to live as mortals do. In addition --- after everything had calmed down, I spoke to the Traveler and told her of my wishes to be able to bring the stories of Teyvat beyond our stars. So in that sense, I suppose I am getting what I wished for.

And while I am more grateful for your company than I have any right to be---

I am more concerned that you were brought here when I know there is much you left unfinished in Teyvat. Rather than the next logical step, it appears that your life has been put on hold for the time being.

[childeishly]

...mm. But I did just finish up in Liyue, yeah, and though I hadn't been the one to deliver the gnosis to the Tsarista she *is* getting it, and that's what she wanted, so I would have likely been returning to Snezhnaya. Why not just consider this a little detour, y'know, a vacation?

[leaveofabsence]

Then I would have liked to take you to see the operas of Fontaine or the libraries of Sumeru. Or even the taverns of Mondstadt.

If we are speaking of proper vacations.

[childeishly]

How about after this, once we've returned home? I bet you'd have some pull with the Tsaritsa, or perhaps you can just follow me to wherever my next mission is and vacation there for a little bit.