[Zhongli has always had a fine sense of direction, really. It makes these moments of quiet contemplation all too short - as the sound of his footsteps rises to his ears, the consultant can admit to his own... unease in this situation. A man ever defined by his reticence and vaguery, he can't fathom why things have turned out the way they are.
Keeping his identity under wraps isn't always easy, but finding time and time again that it is known - and more still that its reality was given by his own lips - had left him lost in thoughts. A man who had decided to live as a human had no need for the history that lay behind him, save in the measure of his shared knowledge. In a place like this, rife with excuses...
Of course, he can't blame his former self, knowing nothing of his own circumstances. Mayhap things were simply... unavoidable, like the steady, slow erosion of rock under the innocent drip of a single water droplet. And indeed, perhaps his circumstances will come to that place, too. Time will tell... but, as the house comes into view, the Liyue native decides perhaps this is not so bad. Ultimately, it is no different from any other who knows his reality. Perhaps better, with a man likely kept to silence as easily as one of his own contract holders.
In any case, it's with confidence that he lifts a hand to knock on the door, the sharp rap of his knuckles sounding out loud against wood. A small parcel inscribed with a handful of words rests in his other hand, held easily at his waist as the brunette waits for the door to open.
... and really, he hadn't missed the faint flirtation in their last meeting. He'd even indulged it. So how would today proceed? Time will tell. That's good enough.]
In hindsight he could have chosen a better time to reveal that he knew so much about the man, though he had not told him even half of what he is actually aware of when it comes to the former Geo Archon. Step by step, he thinks, and part of the reason for the meeting today was to come clean about everything as well as try to put the other man's mind at rest.
Kizuna could be a powerful thing and he doesn't doubt its influence in how open Zhongli had been during his previous time here.]
Zhongli, good to see you. How have you been? [He greets the man with a smile tinged with warmth, pulling the door open wide to invite him in.] You're just in time, the water in the kettle just started getting hot.
[For his part, the endless effort of keeping his secrets under wraps has still been going on mentally; even here and now, there's a quiet undercurrent of consideration.
With some measure of luck, he supposes he might not even have to worry about it. But then the door opens and Diluc is just as gracious a host as ever.]
As well as one might expect, I imagine. [There's a huff of laughter there, his head shaking as the consultant slips through the door. He offers the parcel to the redhead for inspection - it's a list of herbs, spices, and fruits, as well as a time and rough temperature for the proper tea.] My former employer has been keeping me quite busy in deciding how she would like to proceed with her time here - a fact I've little and less to complain over, truthfully. What of you, Diluc?
[Diluc can pride himself on being a good host even for those people he does not wish to entertain. Zhongli, though, is very welcome in his home. He takes the parcel with a sound of surprised curiosity when it's offered over to him, reading down the list and the instructions written on it.
Another small smile twitches at his lips. How thoughtful.]
This is kind of you. And well-timed, yet again. [He moves the package to one hand, gesturing with the other for Zhongli to follow him further into the house. The place is homely but not cluttered, bearing the traces of at least three residents for those who would look closely enough to notice such things. The shoes by the door are at least one indicator.] Come through, we can sit in the kitchen while the tea steeps.
[The kitchen itself is one of the only more thoroughly modernised parts of the home, while the rest would not look out of place in Inazuma City. He offers the other man a seat at the kitchen table when they walk in, and turns his attention to the steaming kettle.]
I've been well. [Diluc says then, not avoiding the question.] And eagerly awaiting this meeting, if I might be so bold as to say so. Are you settling in?
Truthfully, I simply found something I enjoy and wished to share. [Zhongli can't help the bemused lilt to his voice, quick to follow Diluc's steps and take in glances of his home. Few would begrudge him his curiosity, doubtlessly, and it's only piqued slightly more at the suggestion of how many actually live here.
It's neither here nor there in the current moment though, and as Diluc offers him a seat, Zhongli takes it easily.]
Oh? I'm flattered, though I can hardly claim my anticipation has been any less. [He inclines his head at the question, considering it for a moment.] I'm settling in fairly well. Some of the ethics and habits of the place still elude me, but I'm certain I will come to flourish within them in my own way, in time.
[until such a time, he'll just... continue trying to tiptoe through it all. It hasn't always worked well, but that's the price of living, really.]
[The thought is appreciated regardless. He's more interested in Zhongli's anticipation of this meeting and just how it might go from now on. Diluc hadn't missed their flirting the first time they met either, after all. It would have been hard to miss it.]
It can be difficult to get used to it. [He admits pleasantly. The set he puts together for the tea is one of his better ones and he brings it swiftly to the table, placing the teapot down with it and taking the seat opposite. Diluc does have to wonder if it is more difficult for someone like the person across from him, with so many years behind him, to adjust to such sudden changes in circumstances. Venti had not seemed to have much trouble but Diluc can't say he ever asked what it was like when he first arrived...
Maybe he ought to.
Diluc pours the tea for them both, Zhongli's first and then his own, and smiles again.]
I'm not sure if it eases your mind to know it, but I have no intentions of putting you on some lofty pedestal by virtue of knowing your true nature. [He settles back, leaning against the back of the chair.] Though I suppose that much would have already been obvious to you.
Haha, it certainly can. I suppose I'm lucky in that I rather enjoy learning the ins and outs of places and their history.
[For him in particular, it isn't so bad. Being so far from proper geo energy, let alone his beloved country, hasn't been great, but even so. More troubling is his own apparent prior looseness of lips, in truth.
His hands curl around the teacup without touching it, listening as the redhead speaks.]
Ah, I had not thought much on the subject. As you may know, I am - more or less - retired now as an Archon. [He gives a bemused smile at that, nodding to Diluc's continuation.] I would say it was, yes. It's a fact I'm rather relieved to hear. Similarly, I'm not fond of thinking of you in terms of your own history, since I think people are much more interesting when taken at face value.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
Vague hand gestures
Date: 2022-07-03 02:20 pm (UTC)Keeping his identity under wraps isn't always easy, but finding time and time again that it is known - and more still that its reality was given by his own lips - had left him lost in thoughts. A man who had decided to live as a human had no need for the history that lay behind him, save in the measure of his shared knowledge. In a place like this, rife with excuses...
Of course, he can't blame his former self, knowing nothing of his own circumstances. Mayhap things were simply... unavoidable, like the steady, slow erosion of rock under the innocent drip of a single water droplet. And indeed, perhaps his circumstances will come to that place, too. Time will tell... but, as the house comes into view, the Liyue native decides perhaps this is not so bad. Ultimately, it is no different from any other who knows his reality. Perhaps better, with a man likely kept to silence as easily as one of his own contract holders.
In any case, it's with confidence that he lifts a hand to knock on the door, the sharp rap of his knuckles sounding out loud against wood. A small parcel inscribed with a handful of words rests in his other hand, held easily at his waist as the brunette waits for the door to open.
... and really, he hadn't missed the faint flirtation in their last meeting. He'd even indulged it. So how would today proceed? Time will tell. That's good enough.]
no subject
Date: 2022-07-10 05:13 pm (UTC)In hindsight he could have chosen a better time to reveal that he knew so much about the man, though he had not told him even half of what he is actually aware of when it comes to the former Geo Archon. Step by step, he thinks, and part of the reason for the meeting today was to come clean about everything as well as try to put the other man's mind at rest.
Kizuna could be a powerful thing and he doesn't doubt its influence in how open Zhongli had been during his previous time here.]
Zhongli, good to see you. How have you been? [He greets the man with a smile tinged with warmth, pulling the door open wide to invite him in.] You're just in time, the water in the kettle just started getting hot.
no subject
Date: 2022-07-11 12:11 pm (UTC)With some measure of luck, he supposes he might not even have to worry about it. But then the door opens and Diluc is just as gracious a host as ever.]
As well as one might expect, I imagine. [There's a huff of laughter there, his head shaking as the consultant slips through the door. He offers the parcel to the redhead for inspection - it's a list of herbs, spices, and fruits, as well as a time and rough temperature for the proper tea.] My former employer has been keeping me quite busy in deciding how she would like to proceed with her time here - a fact I've little and less to complain over, truthfully. What of you, Diluc?
no subject
Date: 2022-07-21 06:55 pm (UTC)Another small smile twitches at his lips. How thoughtful.]
This is kind of you. And well-timed, yet again. [He moves the package to one hand, gesturing with the other for Zhongli to follow him further into the house. The place is homely but not cluttered, bearing the traces of at least three residents for those who would look closely enough to notice such things. The shoes by the door are at least one indicator.] Come through, we can sit in the kitchen while the tea steeps.
[The kitchen itself is one of the only more thoroughly modernised parts of the home, while the rest would not look out of place in Inazuma City. He offers the other man a seat at the kitchen table when they walk in, and turns his attention to the steaming kettle.]
I've been well. [Diluc says then, not avoiding the question.] And eagerly awaiting this meeting, if I might be so bold as to say so. Are you settling in?
no subject
Date: 2022-07-26 12:26 am (UTC)It's neither here nor there in the current moment though, and as Diluc offers him a seat, Zhongli takes it easily.]
Oh? I'm flattered, though I can hardly claim my anticipation has been any less. [He inclines his head at the question, considering it for a moment.] I'm settling in fairly well. Some of the ethics and habits of the place still elude me, but I'm certain I will come to flourish within them in my own way, in time.
[until such a time, he'll just... continue trying to tiptoe through it all. It hasn't always worked well, but that's the price of living, really.]
no subject
Date: 2022-07-30 02:16 pm (UTC)It can be difficult to get used to it. [He admits pleasantly. The set he puts together for the tea is one of his better ones and he brings it swiftly to the table, placing the teapot down with it and taking the seat opposite. Diluc does have to wonder if it is more difficult for someone like the person across from him, with so many years behind him, to adjust to such sudden changes in circumstances. Venti had not seemed to have much trouble but Diluc can't say he ever asked what it was like when he first arrived...
Maybe he ought to.
Diluc pours the tea for them both, Zhongli's first and then his own, and smiles again.]
I'm not sure if it eases your mind to know it, but I have no intentions of putting you on some lofty pedestal by virtue of knowing your true nature. [He settles back, leaning against the back of the chair.] Though I suppose that much would have already been obvious to you.
no subject
Date: 2022-07-30 05:00 pm (UTC)[For him in particular, it isn't so bad. Being so far from proper geo energy, let alone his beloved country, hasn't been great, but even so. More troubling is his own apparent prior looseness of lips, in truth.
His hands curl around the teacup without touching it, listening as the redhead speaks.]
Ah, I had not thought much on the subject. As you may know, I am - more or less - retired now as an Archon. [He gives a bemused smile at that, nodding to Diluc's continuation.] I would say it was, yes. It's a fact I'm rather relieved to hear. Similarly, I'm not fond of thinking of you in terms of your own history, since I think people are much more interesting when taken at face value.