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Even just the novelty of having a stranger brought into their circle would please Zhongli's friends greatly. It had been a somewhat regular occurrence back during the war, when new allies would join them all the time and their little group had grown just as it had shrunken with losses. Nowadays, there were so few left of them, and they kept to themselves... perhaps a little too much. Eros would be a much needed breath of fresh air for their ranks. "I'm sure they will be pleased to meet you. Some level of politeness will be appreciated, but do not hesitate to speak your mind with them either. They can certainly take it." And it was oh so amusing to watch Cloud Retainer puff herself up in indignation, be it in her natural bird shape or the human one she favored nowadays.

"Ah, my mistake. I apologize." He laughed softly as he regarded the frog with some interest. It seemed rather calm for having been plucked up and taken along like a flower from a meadow. "Some people do eat them, but I suppose they can make for good friends, too. Though perhaps we should also look into getting you a nicer way to transport them. Your pockets might be quite dry for an amphibian."

He didn't like the disappointment in the smaller dragon's voice and quickly resolved to create a fake vision as soon as possible. "Not to worry, sweet one. I only need some time and to gather some materials. It will only take a handful of days at most." How convenient that he knew a thing or two about crafting. Glass was technically only another aspect of the earth, after all, and the enchantment to make the bauble react to exposure to elemental magic by glowing was a simple one.

     “ Ohh, okay. I guess that makes sense. There were smaller creatures back then that could be older than me. So I understand! ” Most things were older back when he was still just a little hatchling. When the world had been just as new as it was now. When he'd spent those days exploring and figuring things out for himself, ever under the watchful eye of his mother. Suppose now he was going to be under Zhongli's watchful gaze? Or at least he'd have someone to return to when he did on his little adventures. The thought of that at least was rather nice. Of having a place he could go at the end of the day. Someone waiting for him. Such a thought made him feel warm, though he was quickly distracted by the other's words. “ More friends? Okay! One day I hope that I get to meet them. I'll be very polite and listen and I won't interrupt anybody! ” Even if he had a habit of talking far too much and far too quickly when he got excited.

     It had felt like forever since someone had touched him in such a way. Even that gentle affection had surprised him. Mind, in a rather positive way, but surprised him all the same. He almost didn't want for it to stop, even if he knew that it had to. “ Okay! I like these colors, too. They're very nice. ” Then his face scrunched for a moment as he shook his head. Trying to get to the pockets of his shorts from under the robe to pull a frog out for Zhongli to look at. “ No, you don't eat the frogs, silly! I keep them in my pocket. See? See they go in there! ”

     So it came back to not drawing too much attention to himself. Suppose he understood that, he'd rather prefer if people didn't bother him just because he was different. He was still getting used to walking around on two legs, after all. The thought of being crowded sounded horrifying, actually. “ Okay… no bending the earth until I get a glass bauble. ” How defeated he sounded over it, though.

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" 'tis the time of year to subtly drag your local Vigilant Yaksha away from his duties for a moment so he does not forget to appreciate the lanterns in the sky."

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@reallyrandomtj continued from here

"You're dragging down my mood by taking Knight business to my tavern." Again. It's almost as if this happens all the time and Diluc picks and chooses when to act annoyed about it. In truth, he's resigned himself to Kaeya and quite a few other Knights treating the Angel's Share as some sort of outside office. At least it means Diluc often overhears talk about such things as patrol schedules that he can use for his own benefit.

This... also means that Kaeya is absolutely correct and Diluc has been watching him closely enough to know he hasn't had a snack since he came in to work. And, knowing his daily schedule as well as he does, Diluc is also aware he can't have had a break since lunch before then. The issue is that Kaeya can't just give him this and just has to point it out aloud, causing Diluc to feel his face heat at being so easily called out. "... what I'm worried about is the rest of our stew going bad because no one is ordering any." Next time, he'll just set down a bowl in front of Kaeya and not even bother commenting on it.

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The compliment makes him chuckle. "For tea parties, perhaps. It's hardly exciting enough for anything more rambunctious. I have other tricks for those occasions." One can do a great many things with control over the earth, after all.

Zhongli waits until the General has taken a seat before he summons his tea set - drawing it from his adeptal realm that he is fortunately able to access even so far from home. The porcelain is unmistakably expensive, finely crafted and painted with swirling patterns, and the box containing the current tea selection is carved from pleasant-smelling pine. Just like the table he has made, this is a display of Zhongli's enjoyment of fine things, of having a little ceremony to everyday life.

He prepares the tea silently, each movement deliberate and focused, a gentle and content smile on his lips all the while. Only when he has finished filling both of their cups does he sit down.

"I have nothing but time nowadays, so I rarely mind doing things the slow way. But shaping stone is... intrinsic to my very being, and so handling it the way humans do feels unnatural." Although he did give it a good try. Using a chisel felt awfully imprecise compared to this. Perhaps if he ever feels like he has a few decades to spare to achieve mastery.

Zhongli picks up his cup, inhaling the steam before he takes a sip. "... those preceptors. Will you need to report to them about my trespassing? If you do, I would accompany you to make it easier. I've dealt with a fair share of... uptight authority figures in my day."

"Neat party trick," Jing Yuan says with a low whistle.

If it were that easy the traveler could easily open up shop and make a fortune. Or a devastating warrior.

The general walks over, giving the new structure an experimental poke only to find it just as solid as it looks.

He nods at the traveler's offer. "It would probably be for the best. The Vidyadhara preceptors are quite... uptight sometimes."

He takes a seat on one of the benches, still marveling at how this was but a hunk of rock a few seconds ago.

"Heh, when you can do feats such as this, a hammer and chisel would feel painfully slow."

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so uh. guess i have Clorinde now? at like. 30 pity when i was just trying to get two Lanyans

(this is the second Fontaine 5-star in a row to do exactly this to me)

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genshin tumblr screenshots (rbs appreciated)

EDIT: here is the original diluc text post and here is the original zhongli text post!

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“Prison complex? … I find it quite simple, actually.”

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"You drive a hard bargain..." Her eyes narrow. She wouldn't ever pass up an opportunity to turn on Anthon, but she also tries to never give in to bribery.

There can only be one solution. "Shake on it." When he takes her hand, she will bring out her other, already holding a snowball, and get him right in the face. She's going to fight both of them!

@muses-of-teyvat said HERE: Tonia is going to obliterate him. It's her sisterly duty!

"I'll buy my sister whatever food she wants for a week ~ If she 'obliterates' ANTHON in the back with a snowball instead!"

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"With Lantern Rite soon upon us, please do remember that no one is required to gift a certain amount of mora. Giving more than you can comfortably spare was never in the spirit of the celebration. Indeed, giving more than you can spare was never supposed to be in the spirit of commerce when I first began to devise our trade system..."

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"Something like that," Zhongli confirms with a small smile. Whether elemental energy and basic leyline-manipulation can be considered 'magic' is neither here nor there. Those kinds of powers are less... stable or accessible away from Teyvat anyway. Zhongli is fortunate to have a basis of divine power that remains as accessible as ever.

He touches a gloved hand to one of the rocks, feeling the warmth it's absorbed from the sun, and its sturdy internal structure. "If you would prefer, I can return them to their original state once we no longer have use of them."

As he speaks, a golden glow emanates from his hand, and the rocks begin shifting as though made of malleable sand themselves. It is entirely effortless, and over within a handful of seconds. When Zhongli retracts his hand, what remains of the natural rock formation has become a low stone table with a bench on either side. The edges are crisp and the surface perfectly smooth, and he has taken the time to add a pattern of leaves and flowers to the table. It isn't quite about showing off, more so he simply enjoys paying attention to detail like his beloved human artisans do.

"I did, at one point, attempt to learn how to shape stone without magic. It... took quite a lot of patience. This is much more convenient."

He agreed that praise was nice, but for Jing Yuan there were only a select few people these days that praise held weight for.

Jing Yuan gives one more long glance at the statue of the High Elder, expression unreadable before he follows after the Outworlder.

"Shape them? I suppose you must be a magic user of some kind if you don't plan for us to be here all day while you chisel away at them," the general jokes.

There was only sand underneath their feet now, clean of the Vidyadhara's architecture.

"That shouldn't ruffle any of the Vidyadhara's feathers too much since we're away from the monument. Go ahead."

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Not that this really had to do with anything, but Ajax was absolutely going to try and dig for more information. Shoi-Ming didn't seem to be paying much mind to how strange his own situation was, but Zhongli certainly would have more perspective on it. This was mainly a question of curiosity, nothing else, and the old lizard always did enjoy indulging that.

"He probably told you a whole bunch of facts, no one can be expected to keep up with that. I think he just knows a little too much. Makes it hard to remember everything interesting he says." Luckily, Zhongli never minded that, either. Ajax thought he seemed the most like an actual old person, then, who just enjoyed talking about whatever came to mind. "I'm more of a practical learner anyway. If a ship holds as we sail it through a storm, I don't really need to know how the wood it's made from is cultivated."

Really, Eros hadn't even minded it. Learning so much about everything around him had been ice. Things were so different now that he really needed it. Needed the explanations and the learning. And finding a teacher in Zhongli had been quite nice! Going to meet for tea and more lessons was a nice routine. One that the Sovereign didn't think he could go around his day-to-day without. And having met the other Adepti- he was really glad that it had been Zhongli who found him. Who knew what would've happened otherwise?

"Nope, not there before." He replied, shaking his head. Being asleep so long was bound to have things like this, though. However long 'this' happened to be for. "I think so! I like it," he purred, tail beginning to wag, "Yeah! One day we went out to the docks and I just counted to ships! I think- he was telling me something about them, but I forgot."

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Happy Birthday, Zhongli!

Writing auspicious words on vermilion Xuan paper is believed to bring blessings, ward off evil, and protect the home with peace. This is a tradition of Liyue.

The ink and brush are ready. Why not give it a try?

Worried that it might not be aesthetically pleasing? No matter. The form of the characters is merely surface — what truly matters is the intention behind the words.

If you are hesitant, you may speak the wishes in your heart, and I will write them on your behalf.

Though my humble work may not compare to the grandeur of master calligraphers, even in its simplicity, it carries a piece of heartfelt sentiment. Displaying it in your home may bring peace and good health in the year to come.

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once a mountain

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𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘱𝘴

(this was supposed to be a short comic but I got lazy)

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Zhongli is now in timeout because I explicitly asked him not to get me Vortex Vanquisher when I was going for Neuvillette's weapon

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"Mr. Zhongli! I learned something today all on my own!" Eros is practically bounding over to the other. He reaches up for the other, waiting for him to come down on his own level and then press his lips to the former Archon's. A toothy grin spreading across his features then. "The humans express um -! Affection like this! I saw a lot of them doing it and then saying 'I love you' after! And I love Mr. Zhongli lots!"

"Oh?" It's always a delight to hear of the smaller dragon's experiences while they're apart. Zhongli cannot teach him everything, after all, and learning independently is important.

He... did not expect to be kissed, however.

It is quite sweet, but he still finds himself exceedingly flustered as he straightens up once more. Ah, of course he's not yet had any of these sorts of talks with Eros, as it is a topic he himself sees differently from humans.

"I..." He clears his throat. "I love you as well, dear one." A gloved hand comes up to pet those soft curls reassuringly, in case his instinctive reaction might have been upsetting. "However... ah, this is something humans tend to do when courting, or with their mates. They draw very clear lines, for the most part, and can be a little distant in comparison to other species. We, that is the adepti, have adopted many of the same habits when in our human forms."

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Zhongli looks in one direction, then the other, then deposits a handful of crystal chunks into his mouth. Contentedly crunching on them.