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[acquirement]

❝Greetings. You have reached Kamisato Ayato, however, I seem to be occupied currently. Leave a message and if it is important I'll get back to you.❞

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voice

[acquirement]

{ at least with the username being one he recognises he'll respond, thankful it's on a private line and not attached to that. }

I've done a lot of talking the past few days, but somewhere quiet to rest could be nice.

{ he takes a deep breath. } I'm not sure how peaceful it will manage to be when I'll need to send constant reminders I'm alive to people, however.

[godofdust]

Hmm... and how would you feel about telling them that you're with me, and have me deal with that for a while?

[It might be too much of an intrusion on his privacy but she makes the offer regardless, thinking it must be quite exhausting to be having to stem that level of constant panic pointed in his direction.]

Where I would take you would be perfectly safe - it's a realm entirely under my command.

[acquirement]

Are you certain you wouldn't mind...? { and honestly it isn't as though he minds their panic, if their roles were reversed he'd be impossible to deal with. he can't blame either ayaka nor thoma for their worries. }

Though admittedly... { he trails off for a moment. } It is rather awful if I'm left to my own thoughts at the moment.

[godofdust]

[Guizhong is quiet for a few moments.]

... Believe me when I tell you that I understand.

[Remembering your own death is difficult. Something that people should not have to go through, and even if she had been prepared for her own she still finds that it takes over her thoughts at times.]

If you'd like something to keep you busy I'm sure I can put you to some kind of work while you're visiting.

[acquirement]

I believe you, after all I saw... { but he trails off, exhales } Apologies, this must be difficult for you to talk about as well.

And I'm struggling to concentrate on my actual work as it is. Though perhaps I could finally pick up a paintbrush, I have the supplies I just haven't taken the time to start.

[godofdust]

Oh, don't go worrying yourself about my comfort.

[She will mother you to within an inch of your life, Ayato.]

Here, if you make up your mind to come by, you can come to [insert address here--] and I'll make sure to take care of you. Just send me a message so I know you're at the door, all right?

[acquirement]

Of course I'm going to. { he frowns, and even though she can't see it with a video, hopefully the sigh he lets out is enough proof. }

But thank you. I'll speak to the others and let them know. It may not be today, but perhaps tomorrow, if you're free then?

[godofdust]

I will make sure that I am.

[She doesn't do that much, having found a few ways to make enough of a living to support herself, and it's nothing that she can't move around for Ayato's sake. Guizhong will be sure to keep herself free for a few days from now, just in case he needs a bit longer to make up his mind.]

I'll see you then, my dear.

1/2

[acquirement]

I'll see you then.

2/2 action june 7

[acquirement]

{ he'll send a quick text to say when he's on his way, an artist case in one hand and a small-ish sized canvas in the other. it made things easier to buy a pack like this, and he's glad he did for ease as he walks to the place indicated on the message yesterday.

when he reaches her place, he'll knock gently at the door, head lowered slightly. he doesn't look tired per se, but there's a certain lack of concentration in everything he does. his eyes still seem a bit unfocused at times, as though he has to remind himself to anchor himself down and not get lost in his thoughts. }

Hello. I hope the timing was alright. { and he's struggling now, even, to meet her eyes as he talks }

[godofdust]

[She's ready for him when he arrives and though the knock is quiet she doesn't keep him waiting, opening the door within moments of hearing it. Guizhong only smiles when he speaks and nods her head, then lifts one hand to gently touch his cheek without trying to force his gaze upwards.]

It's just fine.

[Inside, the apartment is very simply furnished. The most ornate thing is a large china teapot sat on a coffee table in the middle of the living area.]

The realm that I spoke of is inside here. [She tells him as she leads him into the room, indicating the teapot.] I don't often have visitors, but I think it should be just what you need.

[The adeptus holds her hand out to him, looking up at his face.]

You shouldn't feel anything unpleasant when we move inside, but you might want to close your eyes, just in case. Are you ready?

[acquirement]

{ even if it isn't intended, he will let his gaze flicker over to her at the touch, it's only brief before he looks away again, a nod following shortly after. }

That's good.

{ but his responses are much more stilted than they would usually be. a sign of his mental state, the mental exhaustion he's been fighting. }

Inside a teapot?

{ it's a murmur when he speaks, and the surprise is enough to lift his expression again, looking towards her then to her hand. }

Oh... { and he has to shuffle his belongings, hooking the canvas under his arm so that he can take her hand. } Very well. Will you let me know when I can open them?

{ the idea of standing there with his eyes shut is unnerving, because his eyes shut means darkness and he doesn't have the scent or warmth of ayaka or thoma to pull him back if his mind drifts. guizhong will feel that hand on hers tighten as his eyes close. he definitely looks uncomfortable. }

[godofdust]

Inside a teapot.

[She confirms it gently as he takes her hand and she squeezes his fingers in response to his tight grip. What must be going through his head right now is not something she will be so bold as to assume she fully understands.

Though, once again, she doesn't keep him waiting.]

Oh, you can open them now.

[It has barely been a second of time but when Ayato opens his eyes he will find the space around him has entirely changed. The room he had been standing in is gone and instead they are surrounded by a large open space bathed in a warm, golden light. Wisps of clouds swirl in elegant spirals overhead and several islands floating in the air can be seen from where they are, linked together by shining golden bridges marked with sigils. The grass is thick and soft underfoot and the trees sway in a gentle breeze, occasionally shedding yellow leaves that flit through the air as they fall.

Guizhong watches Ayato carefully, keeping hold of his hand.]

Welcome to the Realm of Clouds. Or... a memory of it. There wasn't quite enough space to recreate the whole thing.

[acquirement]

{ as soon as she speaks again he's opening his eyes, his hand still tight on hers until he takes in the view and it seems to go limp.

perhaps if he were in a normal state of mind he'd be more guarded, but the wonder of the place leaves him speechless for a moment, eyes wide as he struggles to take in everything at once. }

I... { well, at least it isn't just 'oh' this time- } ...don't know what to say.

{ his eyes flicker up, taking in the wisps above. }

It's beautiful.

[godofdust]

[Guizhong chuckles and slips her hand free of his, taking a couple of steps back and opening her arms in welcome.]

It is but a terribly ostentatious demonstration of the power of an accomplished adeptus like myself. [She pauses here and smiles crookedly, because she does not often boast in such a way and finds it amusing to hear it in her own voice.]

... But it is a place of refuge, and... somewhere that Rex could not see me hoarding things to take apart. [Zhongli is very much missed, but she had noted the occasional expression of dismay when he caught her deconstructing yet another toaster to see how it worked.]

Nothing can harm you here. This I swear.

[acquirement]

{ his hand feels incredibly empty when she pulls away, but he won't bring it up. not at the moment anyway. }

As I mentioned before, I'd barely heard even stories, given Inazuma does not have adepti. It is very impressive, however. That is something you enjoy doing, then? Taking things apart?

{ he won't comment on nothing harming him here, because his own thoughts could very easily do that at the moment. nothing physical, at least, is something. }

[godofdust]

I'm an inventor. I take things apart to discover how they work, and then use that to design new things.

[This is truly a passion of hers. It's written clearly in the way her eyes light up when she speaks and how she brings both hands up to her chest curled into loose fists as she bounces her weight up onto the balls of her feet.]

I was never a match for the other gods in the Archon War when it came to brute strength... but I know that the things I built in that time have endured.

[She lifts one hand and a gold light shimmers around it for a moment. A sputtering of Geo energy spinning around her fingers.]

And I was able to teach my dear Rex many things, so he could be a capable leader for our people when he needed to be.

[acquirement]

That explains a few things regarding the way you conversed with me before, and of your gentle nature.

{ she has, after all, shown him nothing but kindness. even if she had been a little firm when she'd first talked to him about the way he was using the camera.

honestly he isn't in a state to remember what she said before, back when he witnessed her death in a memory, but he can at least infer some details from what she said now. }

A capable leader? When you refer to 'Rex' do you mean the Geo Archon?

{ if his mind was in a better state he'd be more confident in putting the pieces together, as it is now... }

[godofdust]

[Guizhong cannot help but smile in response to his comment on her nature. She is not always gentle, but when it comes to humans she has always had soft feelings for them and wanted the best for her people. It's nice to know that he sees her that way.]

Yes, the Geo Archon. The people of Liyue know him as Rex Lapis.

[Though most of his older friends called him Morax... and the adepti knew him simply - and sometimes fondly - as 'Rex'.]

But to me... he was always my friend. My partner. Someone I could always trust to be at my side. [She smiles again, a little more softly this time.] I know he would have had me with him beyond the end of the war, if he could have.

[acquirement]

{ if she hadn't been he would have had more reservations on her, and at least so far it hadn't seemed fake. granted, a lot of that had changed when he'd learned of who she is. he may not fully agree with archons overall (though that is a topic too deep to get into) he can see that unlike his own archon, she has a much deeper connection with people. }

I know very little of him, if I'm honest. But given what I'm hearing from you, he sounds like a reliable person now, at least.

{ and because of that, he'll try to give her a smile, though she can likely see he's just Trying Very Hard here to keep things somewhat normal. }

[godofdust]

He was always reliable. Just... not always the quickest thinker. [Not by any fault of his own, she believes - he had taken to her teachings well enough after all and she had been able to see him here as the man he had become, so elegant and refined... but still so easy to tease.]

But I heard that the Geo archon was killed, not too long ago.

[And if she had heard it from anyone else but Rex himself the conversation might have gone very differently than her reaching up to pinch the old dragon's cheeks in chastisement for worrying her so.]

I trust that Liyue is in good hands, now it only has its people to care for it.

[acquirement]

{ he nods at that, slowly, letting it process as he thinks how to respond. }

Communications were fairly cut off in Inazuma for a long while, so I had only heard rumours. It didn't seem fair to say as such without evidence or details as to what happened.

I'm afraid I couldn't say otherwise for the same reason as well. I believe the only Liyue resident I properly know is Hu Tao.

{ and he isn't sure he'd trust leaving liyue in her hands dskjgn }

[godofdust]

I don't believe I'm acquainted with a Hu Tao.

[They have spoken once, but without any real introduction. Unfortunately... Guizhong is likely to find the Director absolutely delightful. Guizhong pauses for a moment of quiet contemplation... then smiles and very gently pats the man on the arm.]

But I didn't bring you here to bore you. You have your art supplies with you, yes? Do you see anywhere that you might like to set up?

[For her, he can have the run of the place. She trusts he won't put his hands onto something he shouldn't.]

If here doesn't suit you, we can have a look around. The bridges are solid enough.

[acquirement]

{ oh ayato definitely finds her entertaining, he just wouldn't trust an entire nation under her care. }

Perhaps one day I could introduce you. { though he likely doesn't know what level of chaos that would cause. } Nor are you boring me. The... distraction is welcomed.

{ he'll focus his gaze on their surroundings again then, unsure of where to pick, or where to begin. }

Where do you normally stay when you visit here? Around there will be fine.

{ which may speak volumes for where he wants to be at the moment, and why he accepted this offer to begin with. }

[godofdust]

[If there's one thing she can do it's offer a distraction. She listens to what he says, hearing the meaning in what he does not say as much as what he does, and she smiles warmly as she slips her hand into his again and tilts her head towards one of the glowing bridges.]

This way, then.

[It should give him a good view. Though it isn't visible from where they are, as they cross two of the bridges to the highest point of the floating islands a cosy little cottage comes into view. There's a forge tucked against the side of the building and several tables strewn with half-deconstructed pieces of technology and papers covered in sketches.]

This is where I usually stay. [As if it wasn't obvious. She looks up and him and squeezes his hand.] Sorry about the mess.