[ zhongli is minding his own business at the train stop, with a to-go cup of what smells like coffee upon getting close enough. he's waiting for the train, having seen people get on it - but he glances over when he hears footseps coming this way.
seeing hawke reminds him of his insistence to learn more about dragons. ]
Ah, Mister Hawke. Good morning. It appears the rails have become active, now, if you would care to join me in finding out where they go.
I prefer my human form, but, yes. I've had no need to take on that form in some time, save for my yearly Rite of Descension when I was still Liyue's Archon - but it was half dragon, half qilin.
[ help it's not like it's a secret, now, so he just looks a bit amused (if pained, for zhongli). ]
There have been many gods in Teyvat, and one overseeing entity higher above than even the Seven. It isn't a foreign idea, but it isn't one that I find myself particularly enjoying, if only due to our deaths having been the catalyst of finding ourselves here.
I wouldn't know, although we do have some elvish races in Teyvat.
[ looks at all the pointy ears. anyways, ]
No, that would simply be a part of who I am, specifically. The Anemo Archon began life as a wind elemental spirit, for example. [ he compats his hands close together to indicate baby barbatos' size, once upon a time. ]
[ 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.
approach? he hasn't immediately registered that someone else is there with him, to be honest. ]
[ good thing hawke had the grand idea to come out and stare at the water in deep contemplation. lucky for him, zhongli is more interesting than staring at the ocean so he'll just waddle over and do his best not to spook yet another grandpa into a heart attack ]
[ help. good news is that he's hard to startle! even though right now he's on edge, he doesn't try to shank hawke on approach. just lifts his head up a little more quickly than he has for the week so far, before some tension eases out - but only some. ]
Nothing. Some of us were out here, last night, and don't remember falling asleep. But nothing roused us, either.
[ back straight, arms still behind it with polearm in one hand, zhongli is quiet but lets hawke fall into step with him without question. he is... pondering. frowning. ]
No, likely not. It was the eleventh hour, as they say, and not an expected result from it.
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