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[leaveofabsence]

[ The default voicemail message greets you. ]

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[childeishly]

[ thank god it’s probably slightly harder to see him blush like this. ] No, but it seems a bit more manageable... [ and here he was doing so well trying not to think horny thoughts. ]

[leaveofabsence]

As long as you feel better.

[ And he carefully makes his way to the kitchen to not jostle Childe as he's wrapped around Zhongli's neck. ]

[childeishly]

I am... doing what I can to stop thinking about it, so the feelings all go away. [ a sheepish bit of laughter. ] And I figured this form might help and be, ah, less embarrassing. [ he's not interested in standing around with a boner trying to have a serious conversation. ]

[leaveofabsence]

[ Zhongli heads toward Wild City's kitchen, humming thoughtfully as he pulls a kettle down from one of the cupboards ]

And yet I can hardly advise that you drink tea in that form.

[childeishly]

I'll be fine! I can drink it just fine like this! [ sticks his tongue out. ] Just blow on it for me beforehand, Xiansheng.

[leaveofabsence]

Can you really...?

Perhaps I should brew a cold tea.

[childeishly]

I can! and it'll be adorable. Don't worry about me, Xiansheng. I'd much rather have a nice hot cup of tea to calm my nerves. I'll be careful not to burn myself... and if by some chance I do you'll kiss it better, right? [ snickers. ]

[leaveofabsence]

[ He sets the water on the stove to boil. ]

You do know that kissing does not actually have any healing properties...

[childeishly]

How do you know that? Have you done extensive research or something?

[leaveofabsence]

That is unnecessary. Without a balm or use of the elements to aid in the healing process, how can it result in faster recovery?

[childeishly]

...there’s really only one way to find out.

[leaveofabsence]

I am not purposefully injuring you. Nor will I allow you to do the same to me.

[childeishly]

You don't need to, Xiansheng! I already have plenty of scars!

1/2

[leaveofabsence]

And none of those will be useful in such a study if they are not actively inconveniencing you.

[leaveofabsence]

. . .

They are not hurting you, are they?

[childeishly]

Maybe.

[leaveofabsence]

[ He gently tweaks one of Childe's fox ears ]

I am being serious, Caeli.

[childeishly]

[ he baps at zhongli's hand. ] Nothing hurts. Mark just feels weird, but I'm sure that'll go away soonish. [ ... ] But that reminds me... do you mind if I mark you?

[leaveofabsence]

. . .






I don't believe I heard you correctly. You said you wanted to mark me...?

[childeishly]

[ hops off zhongli's shoulder and changes back to himself. ] I do. Wild City is a pack, so this ability lets us buff each other... but we can mark someone else as a member of the pack, granting them our personal buff. I want to mark you, Xiansheng. It'll help. [ and tell everybody else to back the fuck off, but that part is clearly not as important. ] We can just give it a try if you like.

[leaveofabsence]

Is there any cost to you? To keep the mark active and in working order, I mean.

[childeishly]

[ shakes his head. ] Nope. I imagine if something were to happen to me it would vanish, but otherwise it's basically just a passive ability that we can both take advantage of.

[leaveofabsence]

Then perhaps as a trial run. . .

Though I have nothing to offer for your protection in return.

[childeishly]

...you have done plenty for me already Xiansheng. I don't know what I might have done if you had refused to stay so closely to me following that Wed, Bed, Behead game. You already offered me your protection, so I think it's time I did the same. [ he's not sure how to do this, but he does take a step closer to zhongli; getting up in his personal space. ]

[leaveofabsence]

[ Also at a loss of what to do, he simply turns to face Childe completely - arms held out a little from his body so that he may do as he pleases.

He also takes a step away from the stove and yet boiling water. ]

You are a dear friend to me, Childe.

I could not have left you to suffer that fate alone when all it required of me was my time and presence. A small exchange for what you were spared from in return.