deercountry | ( closed ) december catch-all.

[ xiao's current journey finds him in the woods of trench; unseen threats and hostile intent permeates the air. the yaksha presses onward, determined to cross to the opposite end; it isn't fear that carries a weight within — just general annoyance at the successive traps he seems to motivate into action every few minutes or so.

it's once he's nearing the opening of his way out of here that xiao spots him from afar — those golden eyes reminiscent of the archon liyue mourned the passing of some time ago. the qixing and the adepti alike received the clandestine truth in the form of a dream; since then, it was out of respect that his fellow adepti kept out of his way, didn't bother to search for his whereabouts within the borders of liyue. they resumed living as they always have.

so it is only natural for xiao to pause in his steps, his footfalls softened by the accumulating snow on the forest floor. he stares in wonder — though xiao is aware that he ought to go. his master is capable; it would be insulting to believe otherwise. the yaksha isn't needed here. ]

[ honestly: xiao emerges from conflict donned with the mask of nonchalance as if unaffected by the events unraveling into some potpourri of incredible nonsense. but his heart thrums with something unrecognizable; so long as the yaksha continues to move though, he won't have to acknowledge them for what they really are, even with the angry bruise across his cheekbone, the corner of his left eye purpling into something unpleasant.

he surfaces from shrubbery, unsurprisingly evading the innumerable traps that litters the forest grounds, aiming to immobilize and gravely injure. the faraway, brilliant gold pales in his peripheral once xiao catches sight of a vision, gleaming hydro; an airborne trap breezes past, missing him by a hair's breadth once he addresses the fellow inhabitant of teyvat — ]

... It would be in your best interest to leave the general vicinity at once.

[ not because of the traps or any other lingering hunters, distant for now; those are child's play. ]

[This is a new face, one he hasn't seen in Trench before. Not unaccustomed to people trying to watch out for each other in a place like this, especially here given the traps, he raises both eyebrows in question to the statement.]

Oh, I'm aware of the traps in the area. But, your tone of voice suggests something greater- is there something I'm missing?

[Information is power, after all, and the more info they have the better chance of survival. He surveys this stranger. He looks strong, and there's an anemo vision on his glove. Also from Teyvat, that was good.]

[ even in another life, somewhere far where liyue can no longer be reached, xiao is staunchly devoted to the soul that inhabits morax. he finds it difficult to convey what is necessary for every mortal to acknowledge, feels that undying need to protect the identity 'zhongli', the human, rather than tarnish the life his master wishes to build for himself.

xiao does not lie; when he does, he offers harmless ones that merely pertains to sentimentality ( or the supposed lack thereof ). so, he omits: ]

There is an ancient force contained within this forest. [ — because xiao refuses to lead him anywhere near civilization. ] ... It is ill-advised to attempt to subdue them. The possibility of that occurring is nil.

[ does xiao say so because he still has morax placed prettily on some pedestal? not really. even a yaksha, of all creatures, can't hold a candle to the prime of the adepti. ]

An ancient force, you say...

[Sounds fun. Thankfully, Childe's experience from Deerington and now Trench has him giving more caution to the wind than he previously would in Teyvat. He looks in the direction that Xiao had come from. That direction, huh? He's torn, but rushing into a battle with no real idea of what he's up against isn't smart either. Nodding, he instead looks forward towards town.]

Is it chasing you currently? No offense, but you look a little worse for wear. Lying hidden or escaping to the city might be the only options afforded to us, as fun as fighting something with that gravity sounds.

[ 'fun'. combat is all xiao has ever known; he isn't above finding amusement in a notable challenge, but in this very rare case where the ""former"" geo archon has seemingly lost some sense of rationale, the adeptus thinks otherwise for obvious and various reasons. ]

There is no 'us'. So long as you do as you've suggested yourself, there will be no needless involvement.

[ as for xiao — well, this isn't liyue; he can't exactly tp his way out to a place of solitary refuge before deliberating over possible solutions with other adepti brain cells. in other words: he's kind of lost, but. that's fine. ]

I'm going to assume that's a 'yes' to my first question.

[Okay. He thinks for a minute...they need to move, and probably now. The traps won't give them trouble, and he's sure if Xiao has already moved swiftly through this forest through them, then there's a level of skill there that he can trust.

Maybe Xiao would accept a sparring challenge later after they get out of here...priorities though.]

I've been in these woods a number of times now. If we head this way, it'll lead us right into town. Follow me, and we'll exit safe and sound.

[ there is reluctance in accepting mortal aid, but the incredible sense of unease isn't nearly as prominent compared to before. xiao doesn't dwell on it for long; the unpleasant adrenaline rush is slow to wane, but the distance between himself and morax keeps his mind from running on overdrive. ]

... For now, I shall follow your lead.

[ there really was no other choice; the surefire route that may rid him of this place was currently being obstructed by the one he's meant to serve. and if xiao so happens to be betrayed in the midst of all this — he'll simply cross that bridge when it comes. ]

What brought you to these woods?

[He nods in the direction of town, smiling back at his mysterious new acquaintance.]

Good. Follow me.

[Turning, he starts off, making sure to use his Vision to trip any traps ahead of them for the time being. Some of them aren't even all that well hidden anyway, proving to be only a minor nuisance for the two of them.]

Believe it or not, I only wandered out here to try to find a lake or two that's suitable for ice fishing. There's only one that I know of right now, and it's rotted with dead marine life and stays that way for most of the year. The full moon changes it into a wondrous lake with healing properties, but I'd rather take people out with me during the day if at all possible. Makes it easier for beginners.

[ a warrior can recognize another. regardless of childe's unflappable, cheery disposition, xiao's general caution towards others is mostly his own — as well as his taciturn curiosity towards humans: what interests them, their day-to-day lives, so on and so forth. ]

... What is the difference? Fishing is fishing, is it not? [ done for sustenance... or for leisure? maybe a mixture of both. humans are strange; they found entertainment in almost anything, it seems.

but childe's words are informative — or so he wanted to assume, even with a hint of wariness attached to the thought. perhaps by the next full moon, xiao will be able to confirm those words, whether childe, what he speaks of so blithely during moments of danger, is to be trusted or not. ]

Well, you're not wrong.

[He looks back at Xiao, grinning as he ducks under another trap. These people did a terrible job trying to catch them, but he's sure that they'll get some prey. It's of no concern to him.]

But, I think you'd find ice fishing to be more of a challenge. The cold alone adds another layer of endurance to it that you wouldn't normally get if you were out at a lake during the summer. It helps train the mind and the body. If you've never gone, I highly recommend it.

[ xiao stares blankly at the back of his head — as a pitfall unveils itself beneath his feet — but that's nothing to a yaksha. he isn't there above the collapsing ground or within its entrapment; a streak of dark matter and teal sends him elsewhere, just a few feet away from childe to ensure the act itself wouldn't find the mortal harmed. ]

If the cold is the main obstacle of the activity, it is one that will not affect me.

[ except — lockjoint will ail him for dressing the way he has been. but generally speaking: to partake in ice fishing would result in xiao just sitting there, unfazed by the weather. ( maybe there will be a glint of something reminiscent of anticipation once his line has been tugged; over the fire, he'll indulge in nostalgia, and remember a comrade or two. ) ]

... There are innumerable methods in achieving that aim. Why latch onto it? [ ice fishing, he means. ]

[He smiles over to Xiao as he uses his vision to avoid the pitfall, wondering what kind of fighter he was.]

I think a better question is why not find a way to better oneself in as many activities as you can muster? Whether it be ice fishing or learning in the heat of battle, anything can be used to push yourself as a warrior. And if I can find a way to do so, I'll take it.

[The gleam in his eye is one of obsession, an an usual driving force within him that sought to crush and conquer every challenge placed in front of him.]

By the way, if I could hazard a guess for a second- I'd say you're from Liyue.

[He gives him a look- is he right?]

[ at this point: xiao is still poorly dressed for the cold. that matters little to him, still; time edges farther from those bygone years, but it's hardly a forgotten thing — the drawn out winters and everything else in between.

at the boardwalk, his nose is tickled by the scent of hot chocolate, warm and inviting. xiao hears voices mingling with the sound of the ocean though, and he isn't all that hungry or thirsty to begin with. he moves to make a detour, but feels something clinging onto his neck. with a gentle sigh, he reaches for his bag and tugs it open: ]

Get in. [ despite the brusque wording, it sounds more like a request than something he demands of his lamp friend ( or is it really the lamp friend hassling him like this? one will find out, perhaps ). ] The current weather condition is unfavorable.

Edited 2021-12-10 13:23 (UTC)

( closed ) december catch-all.

zhongli.

childe.

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zhongli ( late december ).