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[leaveofabsence]

[ The default voicemail message greets you. ]

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[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.

[childeishly]

[ childe reaches for both of zhongli's hands, lacing their fingers together and tugging on them until their bodies bump. he presses his nose into the crook of his neck, taking in his scent with a smile as he drags his pointed canines along his pulse point. ] If I can help Xiansheng even half as much as he's helped me... [ he sinks his teeth in to leave a small mark, tail flitting back and forth rapidly ( excitedly ) as he grants zhongli the same boon he can grant to those belonging to wild city. ]

1/3

[leaveofabsence]

[ Zhongli is pulled easily against Childe, eyebrow raising as he starts talking.

Really now, he just said that he hadn't done that much--- ]

[leaveofabsence]

[ Oh.

Zhongli's breath catches as Childe's teeth sinks into the flesh of his neck.

Oh.

That kind of mark.

He meant that kind of mark. ]

[leaveofabsence]

[ His free hand reaches up to card through Childe's hair. ]

. . . Childe...

[childeishly]

[ childe shuts his eyes and revels in the pets zhongli is giving him, purring loudly, and smiling as he feels a little bit of heat rise off the mark. a few moments later and his eyes are fluttering open, staring down the skin that's starting to stain a beautiful cherry red. ] Zhongli Xiansheng... [ he flicks his tongue over it, soothing the bruised skin as something familiar begins to appear; a riptide mark. ]

[ now everyone will know. ]

[ his smile broadens into a smirk and he presses himself more firmly into zhongli. ]

It looks good on you.