[It might be a testament to how shaken up he is, that he isn't persnickety about what flavor of tea or how much sugar he gets. He'll just take whatever Zhongli gives him. He's always been an overthinker, but now his mind is swirling with what's happened this weekend and how there's nothing stopping it from happening again.]
...I've never studied divinity closely, is this the sort of thing that's supposed to happen here?
Lavender and chamomile, but there is cream and sugar should you need it. [ he's got an entire tray for his tea set, brought from his and firefly's room, including the little extra containers. zhongli will serve him, first, all done with a familiar hand and into square-shaped teacups. ] Calming, and good for rest, whether one decides to sleep or not.
[ and he offers him the cup to do what he'd like with it, one gloved hand cupped beneath it. ]
I'm unfamiliar with Heaven, as Teyvat's afterlife is deeply different. But I have known innumerable gods - and it will vary, what they choose to do, and how they act as higher powers. This was not how my companions and I chose to lead Liyue, actively or in the background.
Ah. I'd forgotten that, while my age was not in question, that particular point was not so public. Many had spoken with me about it this past week...
[ sound a little bit more sheepish about it, at least, zhongli.
but he turns to pour himself his own cup of tea, placid in his movements despite the stiffness from tension carried since when they all found themselves locked in place on thursday. ]
I am an adeptus, first and foremost, but I am a god - the previous Geo Archon of the nation of Liyue.
[ this is why he laughed at you during execution. ]
[Ali wholeass skipping the entire archon storyline by refusing to believe in gods, and thus assuming something must be up with the whole archon system.
But at least he has the presence of mind to look embarrassed about what he had said before.]
What a choice then, that I said my lack of beliefs to you specifically. Please understand, in my world whenever someone claims to be a god they're always just a person with too many powers and an agenda of some kind.
Oh, no, I don't mind. You would not be the first, and will certainly not be the last, to say something like that to me without knowing. It's refreshing, actually.
[ thinking, half-fondly, of keqing's boasts along such veins. ]
And that isn't wrong, at least. Many power-sick entities will cry themselves as gods before being toppled, one way or another.
[ now he's fondly thinking of aether, and smiles sadly to himself. hopefully... hopefully everything is alright. ]
A few years ago I stepped down as Archon, so while I am still an adeptus - illuminated beasts and gods make up the adepti of Liyue - I no longer am a god with a position of power.
... I hope that my death does not mean that others died or were harmed, for many reasons. But the last I remember is our yearly Lantern Rite festival, before darkness fell.
It's an aspect that is unique to Liyue. There are many other, comparable creatures all across Teyvat - but they aren't called adepti or illuminated beasts, either.
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[It might be a testament to how shaken up he is, that he isn't persnickety about what flavor of tea or how much sugar he gets. He'll just take whatever Zhongli gives him. He's always been an overthinker, but now his mind is swirling with what's happened this weekend and how there's nothing stopping it from happening again.]
...I've never studied divinity closely, is this the sort of thing that's supposed to happen here?
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[ and he offers him the cup to do what he'd like with it, one gloved hand cupped beneath it. ]
I'm unfamiliar with Heaven, as Teyvat's afterlife is deeply different. But I have known innumerable gods - and it will vary, what they choose to do, and how they act as higher powers. This was not how my companions and I chose to lead Liyue, actively or in the background.
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Thank you.
[Even though his body already runs warm, the cup feels nice and warm in his hands. He relishes in the warmth as he listens to Zhongli talk.]
It makes me wish I had paid more attention before-
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You and your companions?
[He absolutely did not miss the fact that Zhongli was talking about gods right before mentioning himself there.]
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[ sound a little bit more sheepish about it, at least, zhongli.
but he turns to pour himself his own cup of tea, placid in his movements despite the stiffness from tension carried since when they all found themselves locked in place on thursday. ]
I am an adeptus, first and foremost, but I am a god - the previous Geo Archon of the nation of Liyue.
[ this is why he laughed at you during execution. ]
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But at least he has the presence of mind to look embarrassed about what he had said before.]
What a choice then, that I said my lack of beliefs to you specifically. Please understand, in my world whenever someone claims to be a god they're always just a person with too many powers and an agenda of some kind.
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[ thinking, half-fondly, of keqing's boasts along such veins. ]
And that isn't wrong, at least. Many power-sick entities will cry themselves as gods before being toppled, one way or another.
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There certainly is no shortage of faux-gods waiting to be toppled by young heroes.
[The nature of the battles may have changed in the modern world, but they still exist.]
Though I must know: if you are not a power-sick entity that was toppled by a band of heroes, then how did you end up in 'heaven' anyway?
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A few years ago I stepped down as Archon, so while I am still an adeptus - illuminated beasts and gods make up the adepti of Liyue - I no longer am a god with a position of power.
... I hope that my death does not mean that others died or were harmed, for many reasons. But the last I remember is our yearly Lantern Rite festival, before darkness fell.
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Are illuminated Beasts like...dragons and unicorns and such?
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Essentially, yes. We have many creatures of Liyue - the closest we have to a unicorn, however, is a qilin.
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