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ᴛᴜʀʙᴏ ʜᴇᴀᴠᴇɴ ☁️ ali zoph
A
LI
PENDING
[ curiouser and curiouser... zhongli is seated at idk a bench or something on the boardwalk, having gotten a slice of pizza that he's assessing with a small frown on his face. not unfamiliar, necessarily, but slightly bemused. when he sees ali coming down the walk, he tilts his head in greeting. ]
Mister Ali. How are you fairing this morning?
Mister Ali. How are you fairing this morning?
[Well. Given that he's reading his profile and complaining about it, probably not too well.]
"Never letting go of anything ever"? This is absurd, I don't hold grudges!
[He absolutely does and is in denial.
But as soon as Zhongli calls out, Ali stops walking and quickly shoves his phone in his pocket. He instantly changes from annoyed to polite and open, trying to forget the insults made against him as he holds a conversation.]
Ah, you know. Getting used to un-life. Yourself?
"Never letting go of anything ever"? This is absurd, I don't hold grudges!
[He absolutely does and is in denial.
But as soon as Zhongli calls out, Ali stops walking and quickly shoves his phone in his pocket. He instantly changes from annoyed to polite and open, trying to forget the insults made against him as he holds a conversation.]
Ah, you know. Getting used to un-life. Yourself?
[
zhongli does not comment on the complaining, pushing aside the plate of pizza with light amusement that he keeps to himself. it sounds very much like a young immortal holding grudges. ]
Similarly. I am, however, unfamiliar with much on this pier - so it is taking even more to get used to compared to our environment of the past two days.
zhongli does not comment on the complaining, pushing aside the plate of pizza with light amusement that he keeps to himself. it sounds very much like a young immortal holding grudges. ]
Similarly. I am, however, unfamiliar with much on this pier - so it is taking even more to get used to compared to our environment of the past two days.
Ah, yeah, I guess if you didn't know what a cell phone was you wouldn't know about an arcade either.
[Ali does, because he is a modern. But he has many years of memories and would never have dreamed any of this up hundreds of years ago.]
Was there anything you wanted to check out? I could go with you.
[Ali does, because he is a modern. But he has many years of memories and would never have dreamed any of this up hundreds of years ago.]
Was there anything you wanted to check out? I could go with you.
I would be glad to simply join you in exploring, if that would be alright. The train was novel enough - I know that a neighboring nation has a railway on the water, and Liyue has its mines - but I don't know where to begin here.
Humanity marches on. Innovative as ever.
Humanity marches on. Innovative as ever.
[He smiles. He can't quite put his finger on it, but something about Zhongli and the way he speaks puts him at ease. It's almost familiar in a way.]
Alright then, let's explore a bit.
[To the arcade! Maybe grampa will enjoy some arcade games.]
Alright then, let's explore a bit.
[To the arcade! Maybe grampa will enjoy some arcade games.]
[Enjoy the pizza, gulls.
Once they're at the arcade, Ali will actually stop and think. If Zhongli struggled with a smartphone, will he be able to play arcade games? Hmm.
After much overthinking, he decides to just go for the skeeball. It's simple enough to pick up, Ali remembers seeing young children pick it up easily.]
Just checking, but have you ever played anything like this before?
Once they're at the arcade, Ali will actually stop and think. If Zhongli struggled with a smartphone, will he be able to play arcade games? Hmm.
After much overthinking, he decides to just go for the skeeball. It's simple enough to pick up, Ali remembers seeing young children pick it up easily.]
Just checking, but have you ever played anything like this before?
[ Zhongli is distracted, once everything has been taken care of for jiaoqiu. he's actually in the kitchen at the moment, waiting for water to boil in an old-fashioned kettle on the stove and simply... staring into the wall above the stove, his hands absently resting on the handle for the oven below. his stance is still just as upright as usual, but his shoulders are still tense while he lets himself be lost to his own thoughts.
it's only when the kettle begins to whistle that he rouses from his thoughts and notices ali, shaking his head and offering a small smile. ]
Tea? [ might as well offer some, as he reaches for the kettle, going to pour it into a porcelain teapot waiting on the counter. ] I thought it might be good to brew some, after that.
it's only when the kettle begins to whistle that he rouses from his thoughts and notices ali, shaking his head and offering a small smile. ]
Tea? [ might as well offer some, as he reaches for the kettle, going to pour it into a porcelain teapot waiting on the counter. ] I thought it might be good to brew some, after that.
Yes, thank you.
[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?
[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.
[ 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.
[Oh yum, a good flavor. He'll take that cup and put a bit of sugar in it too.]
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-
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-
[WAIT]
You and your companions?
[He absolutely did not miss the fact that Zhongli was talking about gods right before mentioning himself there.]
You and your companions?
[He absolutely did not miss the fact that Zhongli was talking about gods right before mentioning himself there.]
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. ]
[ 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.
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.
[ 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.
[He lets out a huff of a laugh.]
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?
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?
[ 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.
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.
[Oh...sad. To be taken out during a time of celebration...]
Are illuminated Beasts like...dragons and unicorns and such?
Are illuminated Beasts like...dragons and unicorns and such?
Huh...we have those, but we don't call them 'illuminated beasts' or 'adepti'.
[ i had perfect, prewritten starters for anybody that asked for them at the start of this week. they were wonderful!
and then a fucking cerbegoose happened.
zhongli is seated in the lobby when everything dies down, and ali might brave exiting the safety of the interior of the mansion. he's as dressed down as it gets for him, still dragoned out - but the pointier ears that poke out of his hair twitch when he hears footsteps. so, he looks up from where he's pouring himself a drink of something amber colored in a clear wine bottle. at least it's not the ominous stomping of the goddamn goose. ]
... much too exciting for an end of the day. Did you get out of it unscathed?
and then a fucking cerbegoose happened.
zhongli is seated in the lobby when everything dies down, and ali might brave exiting the safety of the interior of the mansion. he's as dressed down as it gets for him, still dragoned out - but the pointier ears that poke out of his hair twitch when he hears footsteps. so, he looks up from where he's pouring himself a drink of something amber colored in a clear wine bottle. at least it's not the ominous stomping of the goddamn goose. ]
... much too exciting for an end of the day. Did you get out of it unscathed?
[Ali's appearance has shifted since yesterday. The wings are still present, but now there are patches of deep black scales on his skin, so dark it looks almost like nothingness until he moves and the scales shift. There's some by his hairline and on the back of his hands, but any other patches are currently hidden from view by his usual 3-piece suit.
As if to answer Zhongli's question, Ali is nursing his left arm. There is no broken bones thankfully, but damn that chomp hurt.]
Not exactly, but I'll live.
[He might have hammed it up a bit in front of others, but somehow that feels improper in the presence of another dragon. Centuries-old instincts tell him not to show weakness, lest he be struck down for it.]
I wish I knew what happened there though.
As if to answer Zhongli's question, Ali is nursing his left arm. There is no broken bones thankfully, but damn that chomp hurt.]
Not exactly, but I'll live.
[He might have hammed it up a bit in front of others, but somehow that feels improper in the presence of another dragon. Centuries-old instincts tell him not to show weakness, lest he be struck down for it.]
I wish I knew what happened there though.
[ his tail twitches over the armrest of the chair he's seated in, coiled like a snake where the length of it pools to the floor. despite this, though, zhongli is largely still and taking it easy after... all of that. being tossed around by a giant, three-headed goose was not one of his finest moments. his body is sore. ]
Come sit. Have some wine with me, if you'd like, but there's no point in causing more troubles for ourselves. [ if he sees ali's injury as weakness, or his behavior itself as such, there's no indication, just a mild if observant gaze. ] Though, I wish I had an answer for that as well.
Come sit. Have some wine with me, if you'd like, but there's no point in causing more troubles for ourselves. [ if he sees ali's injury as weakness, or his behavior itself as such, there's no indication, just a mild if observant gaze. ] Though, I wish I had an answer for that as well.
[Who is he to say no to wine? He'll sit down and gladly take a cup.]
The rest of tonight should be uneventful at least. If not, I'm going to cause problems.
[He says it so calmly, he might not actually cause problems. Or maybe he will, who knows.
But since they're relaxing, he'll look at the amber liquid questioningly.]
What kind of wine is that?
The rest of tonight should be uneventful at least. If not, I'm going to cause problems.
[He says it so calmly, he might not actually cause problems. Or maybe he will, who knows.
But since they're relaxing, he'll look at the amber liquid questioningly.]
What kind of wine is that?
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