leaveofabsence | Imeeji Inbox

[ looks down at him, cracking a small smile. it’s so rare to see him looking anything but prim, proper, and put together. ]

[ sets a hand on zhongli’s head and starts fixing his hair as best he can. ]

Zhongli Xiansheng looks cute like this.

[ Zhongli smiles up at Childe as well, fingers brushing over the curve of his hip as he traces ancient symbols and characters over the skin. ]

I am relieved that you are back.

I have not had a chance to say that to you properly.

[ his hand freezes for a moment, but then goes right back to fixing zhongli’s hair. ]

Nothing here can keep me gone forever. I’ll always come back. [ hopefully… ]

Then I suppose I will just have to learn patience so that you can do the things you need to do when you're away.

[ He tugs a little on Childe's waist, trying to ease him back to bed. ]

I still have many questions if you feel like talking.

… [ looks a little confused. perhaps he misunderstood the question. ]

[ follows. ]

We can talk.

[ He waits until Childe is comfortably settled next to him before he speaks again ]

Did I say something strange?

Ah, no, it’s… nothing. What did you want to talk about?

[ Running a hand through Childe's hair to brush his bangs out of his face ]

About both things you mentioned earlier. What happened to you after you met the mother of monsters.

And what you want out of this relationship now that the effect of the corruption has dulled at least a little.

…oh. [ hn. he’s not too keen on talking about the first thing. ] I suppose I just wanted to take things more seriously… which is why I had asked if you wanted to date in the first place. [ relationships like this are new to him… ]

What are you interested in getting out of this?

Your companionship in whatever ways you are comfortable in offering it. It is a selfish request really...

[ As his fingers trace over the curve of Childe's ear and down his neck. ]

You were the first of many things for Zhongli. First friend and closest companion back in Liyue. First kiss and first person I have lain with here.

I suppose I just continue to want to explore many new things with you and get to know you better. To be a permanent part of your life for as long as you will have me.

…I think it’s infinitely more selfish to ask you to be mine and mine alone. [ a halfhearted laugh as he leans into the touch. ]

And a lot of that is true for me too, Xiansheng. Even back home I didn’t have many friends. [ no friends, actually, but that sounds incredibly pathetic, but following his return from the abyss he did nothing but cause trouble, so most people tried to steer clear. ]

But this is the first, ah, real relationship I’ve ever had, so I just want to make sure I do things right. But, yes, I’d like that too - and maybe you can share things from your time as the Geo Archon. And I’d still like to fight you sometime, Xiansheng.

Of course. I would enjoy both of those things.

[ And he smiles warmly in return as Childe leans into his touch ]

Childe, you are doing everything right. And I am truly honored to be your first. You have been kind and charming and endearingly patient with me. But please - know that the feelings I have are because of who you are, not about what you can do for me.

And I want to ensure that you are happy, too, with this arrangement.

[ ...he's not going to count the last fight he had with zhongli, since he hadn't been himself, but he'd be lying if he said he wasn't looking forward to another. ] Me too. [ smiles, since as much as he enjoys fighting zhongli he can also listen to him rattle on about even the most mundane things for hours. ]

I... know, er, I figured as much. H- Hoped as much, I... guess.

I want you to be happy... so if this is what you want, then... it's fine... I don't want to stifle any other relationships you may want or... anything.

[ Look, sometimes you lose your mind and have to be taken down by a friend. This seems to be the rule rather than the exception. Surely one day Childe will also have to deal with an unhinged Zhongli.

A spar with Childe with all of his normal mental facilities in place would be completely different. ]

Ah, then in the interest in keeping with my previous promise of being truthful to you, I need to tell you something.

---And I must admit it is a little embarrassing.

I have entered a contract with someone to determine which one of us can go the longest without breaking up with each other.

. . .

Please let me know if that is going to be a problem. If so, I will either attempt to re-negotiate or--- I will find some way to rectify the situation.

Otherwise I have no other relationships of this nature.

[ his expression melts into something more neutral. he feels his jealousy spike and he just keeps his mouth shut to keep from blurting out something obnoxious about how stupid that sounds. ] ...okay.

It's fine. [ it's not. ] I mean, it's something you've already done, so... [ shrugs his best nonchalant shrug. ] Who am I to interfere?

[ how can he say that? ]

[ Spoiler: Archons are dumb. Terminally dumb. ]

Thank you for your understanding.

[ He really didn't want to try to re-work that contract. ]

Then by that same token, I also do not wish to stifle anything you may wish to pursue.

And if those feelings change for either of us, then we should speak up, yes?

[ "understanding". ]

...yeah. [ hums, sitting up and swinging his legs over the bed. ] I mean, like you said earlier, it wouldn't be fair if we didn't follow the same rules.

[ Watching him get up ]

Childe. . . ?

[ raises his arms over his head to stretch, letting them fall down so he can, then, cracks his back. ]

Mm?

[ He smiles up at him, using the heel of his palm to massage the small of his back ]

Are you sore? Or perhaps just restless?

…something like that. Soreness won’t last long, thankfully, but… before I completely lose it again maybe I should go. A walk could probably do me some good besides.

[ He pushes himself up on his elbows, blinking over at him. ]

I always welcome your company regardless of how you are feeling. Please don't think any of your corruptions bother me or are a burden.

But if you would like to take some time alone, I completely understand.

I will be here if you wish to return later. The door is always open.

…good to know. [ that makes him feel slightly better, at least about that specific thing, since it had been a concern. but there are now other things bothering him, so wompwomp. ]

I do. I need some time to cool off… [ going to look around for his clothes, so he can get dressed. ] I’ll keep that in mind, Xiansheng. [ except, no, he won’t. ] Catch you later. [ throws a wave in his direction as he heads for the door. ]

Good night, Caeli.

Night. [ heads out of zhongli's room and to the balcony so he can make a faster escape. time to bird it up. ]

(no subject)

leaveofabsence - 2021-06-22 01:50 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

childeishly - 2021-06-22 01:57 (UTC) - Expand