[ spins wheel... we're at the lighthouse! zhongli is circling the building itself, at least as best as possible, chin lifted upwards to take in the structure with curiosity. in one hand is his spear, point angled downwards - at rest, but prepared, just in case there's trouble to be found in bikini bottom. when he comes back around to the front and sees mizu, he perks just slightly and tilts his head. ]
Ah, Master Mizu. Come to take in the new stop on the rails?
It's quite... lively, yes. I'm used to festivals and performances, in Liyue Harbor, but there's a rise and fall to that like a breathing thing.
The, ah, arcade as Rich called it... is constant. Droning, I find.
[ he could only stay there for so long, before he found himself heading up here. the stairs get a thoughtful glance from him as well, considering it - at least we know lighthouses! ]
Japan... I would have guessed you were from Izanami, upon first glance.
[ nope, no familiarity. but he looks from mizu back up to the lighthouse thoughtfully. ]
It's possible. If there were ships, I imagine many of us would be trying to sail to the edge of this place and find a way out. The angels - or God themself, whoever they are - may have thought better of it.
... Huh. Izanami. Funny, that's a name I recognize.
[though they are very much talking about different things here.]
Perhaps god and their angels should have thought better about giving us a beach at all. I'm sure someone will be reckless enough to try swimming their way to the edge.
[ my tablet's autocorrect has fucking cursed me in so many threads that i've had to turn it off. inazuma you useless technology, which is fortunately still an actual japanese word. ]
Perhaps there are some similarities, then.
[ he's imagining a few people trying to swim to freedom... ]
Or attempt to build a raft of some kind. There are the supplies for it, if one were to look. I would rather we not discover whether we can still drown.
[ honestly rng choosing beach is wildly appropriate. zhongli can be found with polearm in hand, point angled downwards but grip tight and ready rather than absently loose like it had been for most of the week so far. he's walking the length of the beach and scanning it with brow furrowed, expression severe, like he's just - looking. for anything. where charlie was, any signs of a scuffle or struggle or fight or anything, but coming up short the entire way.
near the bonfire that they stayed at last night, he slows a bit, as if trying to see if anything is different from the moment that they'd woken up or not.
approach? he hasn't immediately registered that someone else is there with him, to be honest. ]
mizu takes a walk down the perimeter of the now entirely nonexistent wall. but of course, there's absolutely nothing to find there for now. so. bonfire time it is. hello, zhongli. just comes chill next to him, saying in lieu of a greeting--]
[ his eyes are scanning the area around the bonfire, fingers flexing on his weapon as he thinks, processing, trying to pinpoint a single difference. ]
And Ramiel's accidental message does not bode well for how things will proceed. When I said that I would rather we not test if we could die a second time... [ he meant it. especially for someone like charlie. ] Have you spoken with others about where they were?
And of their number, gentlemen of considerable strength. Both Mister Marcoh and Hawke were there but unable to break down the door that barred their exit, much like our unseen barrier.
[ frowning... not the fafo they wanted. ]
Yet no one stirred even the slightest during her journey.
It would be better if that wasn't the case. But I'm sure I don't need to tell you to be prepared for the worst. Something has clearly gone wrong, but as to how wrong...
[ hi mizu, your new bff (derogatory) zhongli here. he's got a tray with a tea set balanced on it in one hand, frowning a little as he comes to hunt down the chosen hiding place for licking wounds and nursing wounded pride. he's still not sorry about stopping the, as it turns out, needless mercy kill, but now it's more checking in on mizu now that all is said and done. ]
[sometimes... things happen... and you really need to mercy kill a twink.
zhongli can find mizu in the library! slowly becoming one with a pile of cushions, bloodied outfit swapped out for a clean set of clothes, and looking partially mummified. the left side of mizu's head has been bandaged up, with the eye carefully covered.
sits up with far more care than before, looking at him with the remaining eye. hi.]
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