Imeeji Inbox

[leaveofabsence]

[ The default voicemail message greets you. ]

Comments

day 386.

[420blazeit]

Sponsored by Mountain Dew® & Doritos®; hy can we tlk?/

[leaveofabsence]

Glaze Lily: I'm afraid I do not understand.
Glaze Lily: Are you in need of assistance?

[420blazeit]

Sponsored by Mountain Dew® & Doritos®; cum 2 my rom
*room
cum 2 my room
im fine

[leaveofabsence]

[ A few minutes later, there will be a knock at her door. ]

D.Va?

[420blazeit]

c’Mon on in. [ steps aside and shuts the door. ] I’d just like to talk about a few things. Do you have a couple of minutes?

[leaveofabsence]

But of course. My time is yours.

[420blazeit]

…first things first, I also told Hurricane about my connection to Hadassah, but not in as much detail. I left out all the feelings.

He’s the last of the original Heart Soldier and he means a lot to me. I wanted him to know. And it helps if more of the team knows. But also… we talked about you…

You’re not just a funeral consultant are you… [ she quirks a brow at him. ] Rex Lapis, what can you tell me about them.

[leaveofabsence]

[ He easily slips into storytelling mode as if he's told this story a hundred times.

He's probably told it more actually. ]

Rex Lapis was the Geo archon of Liyue - most famous for his title as God of Contracts. For 3,700 years he ruled among his people, establishing one of the largest trade centers in Teyvat. He inspired the concepts of fairness and order in his people, believing them to be the cornerstones of a flourishing society.

[420blazeit]

I saw him in a memory. Looked suspiciously like your aibou. And, like, most aibou have ties to a person in some fashion… [ squints at him. ] and you’re awfully obsessed with fairness and contracts, like him from the sound of it, so I want to ask you, Zhongli, are you Rex Lapis?

[leaveofabsence]

Why does that matter?

[420blazeit]

Why haven’t you answered? A simple no would have sufficed if you weren’t. But if you want to know it’s about trust and keeping things from each other is a good way to weaken and inevitably break that.

[leaveofabsence]

I would argue that testing people's trustworthiness is another way to weaken and inevitably break it.

But if it is honesty you are looking for then yes, I was Rex Lapis. But that part of my life is closed and over. Now I am just a funeral consultant.

[420blazeit]

Information is a commodity here and you’re an audition, so that, there, is one reason you really can’t be trusted. Technically you’re on Azzy’s side, and we don’t know if that means you have to do things for him as part of the contract signed to get onto the prosecution. Im pretty sure we have a right to be wary.

I spoke to him about that part though, because I don’t think you’re the sort that would throw us under the bus… but I just hope I’m not be proven wrong, especially since Hurricane is thinking about sharing something really private and really important to him with you.

Is there a reason you’re keeping it a secret? Just trying to move on from all that?

[leaveofabsence]

Ah. I was not aware that such was the attitude toward the auditions. I will endeavor to treat matters of trust more diligently.

As to why I'm keeping it a secret---

Being Rex Lapis comes with a certain set of expectations - ones that I can no longer fulfill. My work is completed, and I have retired. That does not mean I wish to turn a blind eye to people's suffering - I just wish to address it as a mortal would rather than a god.

[420blazeit]

It’s… complicated. Keep this to yourself, but… I found out that several auditions murdered a former Liar host. She was well liked among the idols for helping us and, well, that wasn’t appreciated, obviously. Azzy wanted her to stay in her lane, so he had her… silenced. What Hurricane wants to share is exceedingly sensitive information, and I told him we can trust you. [ reaches for his hands. ] I shared something really difficult for me to talk about, something that now only two people in all of Tokyo-F know about, and because of how that conversation went I believed that I could trust you. Sharing your former identity means a lot. Even if you’ve moved on I appreciate it. I think this will help the three of us become closer in the long run, especially if you’re trying to get through to Hurricane in terms of how we want Heart to play. A- anyway, would you be amendable to speaking with the two of us?

[leaveofabsence]

Yes, of course. I take my responsibilities to Heart very seriously.

But - might I also ask a favor regarding my previous identity.

[420blazeit]

I'm all ears.

[leaveofabsence]

Sakura used to serve me. He entered into a contract with me after I freed him from his previous master's service. Since then, he has only known duty and responsibility.

I have not revealed who I am to him in the worry that he might fall back into these old patterns. I am not his lord here nor do I wish to be. I would like to get to know him as a friend and equal before letting our prior relationship be known. It is a selfish request - but I ask that especially in interactions with him that my past identity stay hidden.

I will broach the subject with him when I believe I am ready.

[420blazeit]

I can keep that much a secret. I feel like the amnesia part of this is, like, sometimes a blessing... though, can I like be honest with you for a second? I'm hoping he starts to open up a bit. He still seems pretty closed off and uber quiet. Not sure if that's how he was back home, but... [ shrugs. ] Anyway. I won't say anything and let me know if you need a hand or anything in regard to, well, anything. We're teammates and friends, right?

[leaveofabsence]

He's never had a chance to explore a life outside of his responsibilities. So this adjustment must be hard for him. Nor do I know how well is he fitting in with the rest of his unit as I only know Valour on Taisho.

[420blazeit]

I don't know much of Taisho all that well, so I can't offer insight. I hope he starts to open up... it'd be a nice second chance.

[leaveofabsence]

I agree.

So the best we can do for him right now is to give him both support and time to spread his own wings without influence.

[420blazeit]

Well if there's ever anything I can do for you or him don't hesitate to ask.

[leaveofabsence]

I assume you saw a memory of his then?

[420blazeit]

I did. Ah, the Rite of Parting I believe it was.