Imeeji Inbox

[leaveofabsence]

[ The default voicemail message greets you. ]

Comments

[leaveofabsence]

[ This is a step up from cat scratching.

Blinks when it's for him (or he assumes it's for him). ]

Venti...?

[outofoffice]

[ He has something cradled in both arms (that explains the strange knocking) -- round, covered by a cloth.

A Dihua flute hangs at his hip. ]

Moraaaaaax~ Let me in! I have something for you!

[leaveofabsence]

[ Holds the door open for him and steps aside. ]

What is the occasion?

[outofoffice]

What's this? Do I need an occasion?

[leaveofabsence]

[ Just the small uptick of a smile. ]

No. I suppose not.

[ And now glancing over at the flute on his hip. ]

I see you've picked up a few personal items.

[outofoffice]

Of course! Consider it a private performance.

[ Shifting the burden in his arms ]

Shall we step into your room?

[leaveofabsence]

Ah yes.

[ And he holds out his hands to take the package should Venti not want to carry it to the rest of the way. ]

It has been upgraded since last you saw it.

[outofoffice]

[ He merely hugs the object closer to his chest ]

Excellent! All the more reason to spend time there!

[ Read: come over and mooch ]

[leaveofabsence]

[ There is a light laugh as Venti gets even more protective over the item. Very well then.

He'll just lead Venti to his new room, which is covered in meticulously placed dragon and whale plushes. ]

[outofoffice]

[ Gawking stupidly.

Like the impoverished homeless person he is. ]

Whoa--!

[leaveofabsence]

[ When will Venti's wallet arrive? ]

Come. Make yourself comfortable.

[ As he goes to stoke the fire in the hearth. ]

[outofoffice]

[ He places the mystery object on one of the shelves, then snoops around a little.

His eyebrows rise at all the plushies. ]

Ehehehe . . . how cute.

[leaveofabsence]

[ His fanmail is neatly organized on the shelves as well, though he has not gotten anything too embarrassing. ]

Ah yes.

Caeli enjoys spending time at the arcade. And he wins more than he can fit in his own space.

[outofoffice]

That's a lot of Rex Lapis plushies . . .

My my, what a cute crush! ♪

[leaveofabsence]

He has always been a generous person.

[ Glances at the object that Venti has placed on the shelf ]

Should I leave that there?

[outofoffice]

[ Huffs a little, playfully ]

You could at least give me some ammunition to tease you!

[ But at the question, he bounds his way over to the object in the shelf. ]

As for this -- it's part of the performance!

[leaveofabsence]

Perhaps another time.

I do not wish to distract you when you clearly have put so much thought into this.

[outofoffice]

Ehe ♪ Does that mean you have time to listen?

[leaveofabsence]

Of course I do. I would have shooed you out otherwise.

[outofoffice]

Wonderful! In that case, we have an audience of eight.

[ He plucks the flute from his hip and gently lifts the cloth off the object.

It's a large, deep, brown-and-gold pot, with seven live glaze lilies curving their way out of the soil. The blossoms are all closed, of course. ]

[leaveofabsence]

[ Hey.

Hey.




Are you allowed to just come into his house and murder him like this?

Give a guy a little warning. ]

Barbatos. . .

[outofoffice]

[ He just smiles a bit, and plays.

The performance lacks much of his usual energy, perhaps for more reasons than the subdued tune. But it's as ethereally skilled as it always is, each note perfect and lingering.

And slowly but surely, the glaze lilies begin to open their flowers to the familiar sound. ]

[leaveofabsence]

[ For Zhongli, connoisseur of the arts that he claims to be, perhaps it is because the piece is not played with Barbatos's usual jubilance that it makes the music that much more meaningful. That he would reveal a shred of vulnerability so brazenly to Zhongli for no more reason than to come cheer up his dear friend.

He does his best not to call attention to it.

Just as he hopes Barbatos will not comment on how misty Zhongli's eyes get as the performance continues. Brushing back a lock of hair back suspiciously close to his temple as the first glaze lily begins to unfurl.




Ah.

How he had missed Barbatos for those long years when he slumbered.

How he had missed this. ]

[outofoffice]

[ Even if Zhongli is getting misty, he would never be so rude as to point it out. Not under these specific circumstances, anyway.

He doesn't stop playing until all seven glaze lilies have opened, glistening gently on the pot. Once they do, he allows to final note to linger before lowering the flute. ]

How fortunate. They're as kind an audience as I remember.

[leaveofabsence]

[ Once the song is complete, Zhongli's arms move to wrap around Venti's waist from behind as he rests his chin atop of his head. ]

Unbelievable.