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[leaveofabsence]

[ The default voicemail message greets you. ]

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[leaveofabsence]

Glaze Lily: I am in fine health. Thank you for asking.
Glaze Lily: Come in two hours, and I shall the coffee ready for you.

[ Who takes 2 hours to brew coffee?

Zhongli.

Zhongli takes two hours to brew coffee. ]

[time5kip]

[ He's convinced he just must be busy, because surely. surely no one takes that long to brew coffee, right? ]

Valour 5: Oh. I'll bring something to eat as well I guess.
Valour 5: See you later.

[ and true to his word, he will show up two hours later with a box of donuts ]

[leaveofabsence]

[ And he opens the door and lets him, arm back to normal thanks to healer magic. ]

Valour.

[ And he leads him toward the kitchen (which is a more of a lego explosion by the way) where two cups of coffee and a basket of lotus crisps have been prepared. ]

Thank you for reaching out. I had meant to earlier but most of my unit had a very poor run with another spirit.

[time5kip]

That's fine, I wouldn't have gotten back to you earlier in any case.

[ he follows, and he's definitely surprised by the lotus crisps, but that's nice ]

Thanks for preparing at all.

[leaveofabsence]

Think nothing of it. You are a guest and friend. And to my recollection, this is the first time you have visited Heart Soldier. It would be remiss of me to not be a good host.

Come.

[ And he gestures to an available chair before sitting down himself. ]

Please. Make yourself comfortable.

[time5kip]

No, I've been to Heart before. Actually Hurricane is one of the people I like the most in this place, and the unit used to be close to Taisho. Things have changed a bit now but well. I do still like you guys enough.

[ He'll sit down, reaching for his cup of coffee right away because look, he needs caffeine ]

I didn't expect any of this to be discussed so formally anyway, but if that's your preference, well. It's fine.

[leaveofabsence]

[ The coffee at least better than average (at least to Liyuen tastes). Zhongli is too much of a food snob for it not too be. ]

Ah, I did not mean to come across so formally. Old habits are hard to break.

[ And he'll sit as well, picking up one of the donuts the Five has brought. ]

I suppose a part of me also wanted to make a good impression. Childe is very fond of you, and I am very grateful for all that you have done to help him through his troubles. Past, present and future.

[time5kip]

[ He does seem surprised that the coffee is decent, but hey, that's good for him. And since Zhongli is going for the donut, he'll try the crisps ]

Well, I am just as grateful for how much you've done for him and how much you mean to him. He's always talking highly of you, and it's obvious meeting you was sort of a turning point for him. I suspect he'd get embarrassed if he knew I'm mentioning it to you, but I get the feeling he's been lonely before meeting you. Part of why he was hiding his identity here is to start fresh, so. That makes sense.

[leaveofabsence]

Back in Teyvat, Childe aligns himself with the Fatui, who are not well received in some areas of the world. Even with his charisma, it can be a difficult predisposition to overcome. That along with his title and own reputation -- well, for some it is much simpler to be wary of him than anything else.

[ Also partially Zhongli's fault since he scapegoated him in Liyue, but... ]

But yes, I do believe that he's not had many close confidents since before coming here.

So you can imagine my joy seeing him surrounded by people who so genuinely value his company during that last game. You, Master Alexander, Black. Even Amos is fond of him though she sometimes expresses it in her own way.

[time5kip]

And he seems to be getting along with his unitmates too, so. Maybe it really is a good time to start over for him. At least while he's here.

With that said.

Admittedly this is a little awkward and I don't really know what is there to discuss, so. Mind if I let you start?

[leaveofabsence]

Childe told me you offered to help him with his Abyssal taint. Or at least temper it in such a way that it will not claim him at such a young age.

I do not know what magics or powers exist in your world, but I do know much of Teyvat and by extension the Abyss. Perhaps more than most living beings there today.

So I am offering my knowledge and services to help you in whatever way I can to achieve that goal.

[time5kip]

[ wait ]

[ what ?? ]

[ he looks very surprised by the direction the conversation is going, but he's going to try to hide it by eating a donut and sipping on coffee, and then just clearing his throat.

So that's what he was talking about. That makes so much more sense. ]

Right. Your knowledge would help coming up with a more viable solution, the only thing I could think so far is stopping time for him the same way I accidentally did for myself.

1/2

[leaveofabsence]

[ Five!????

Where did you think this conversation was going?

But filing that away to address later. ]

[leaveofabsence]

Stopping time could be part of the solution as it would protect his body. Though I fear that would not keep his mind from deteriorating. And I can think of fewer scenarios less pleasant them him wandering the lands mad for an eternity.

[time5kip]

[ it's fine no one needs to know where he thought it was going. it's all good. IT'S FINE ]

—I was not aware that his mind was at risk as well. He didn't mention it.

[leaveofabsence]

It could very well be that he is not aware. The destruction of his body would happen well before then.

But if you were to grant him longevity, then he most likely would be susceptible to erosion - as are all of the long-lived beings of Teyvat. The loss of most of one's memories. Their humanity. Only the strongest feelings and thoughts associated with them would remain.

[time5kip]

That does complicate things. My proposed solution would indeed only stop time flowing for his body, so the likelihood of him wandering mad until he's killed is, well. High.

Are there ways to reduce or stop this corrosion?

[leaveofabsence]

Erosion is slightly different for each individual being. But the biggest safeguards would be to keep him well connected to his humanity - through loved ones or through a sense of duty or purpose.

And keeping him away from those beings that have already succumbed to the darkness. And definitely away from the Abyss itself.

There have been a few cases of humans granting longevity - sometimes intentionally and sometimes through a curse - though they are few and far between. I can research such matters further.

[time5kip]

That would help. I'll ask for Alexander's assistance as well - though he already offered it.

I'm not going to let him die or go crazy.

[leaveofabsence]

Thank you. Truly.

I am glad that he has lovers that he can rely on.

[time5kip]

We're not—

[ he can't say they're not lovers after all the confessions. And everything that happened ]

... Well Alexande is not his lover.

[leaveofabsence]

No?

They are sometimes very physically affectionate with each other in public, so I had assumed---

[time5kip]

Well they both enjoy flirting and they're kinda touchy, but as far as I'm aware that's the extent of it. I'm sure they would both tell me if there was anything more.

[leaveofabsence]

I see. Thank you for correcting me. I might have said something awkward in mixed company.

But my thanks to Master Alexander all the same for agreeing to help Childe. The both of you are very generous.

[time5kip]

We both enjoy taking on far more work than we can possibly handle.

I feel like you might share that trait.