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[outofoffice]

Comments

[leaveofabsence]

Yes. I'm here to check on you. May I come in?

[outofoffice]

Of course, you don't have to ask.

[ Shuffling backwards carefully so that he doesn't trip on his blanket tail and eat shit ]

[leaveofabsence]

I take it the Live did not help much. I saw that Izanagi was still mostly grey during the fallout of the last game.

[outofoffice]

[ On muscle memory, he begins leading Zhongli towards his room. ]

I guess not. If this came about by mysterious means, it's no wonder it would be resolved by mysterious means.

[leaveofabsence]

[ Before Venti gets too far, he places a hand on his shoulder ]

I purchased this for you. To assist with your self care.

[ And he holds out a bottle of Dandelion Wine. ]

[outofoffice]

[ Automatically hugging the bottle to his chest, thank u. He is not completely lost yet. ]

You providing me with alcohol, how unusual.

[ Into his room, closing the door behind them. It's the same as ever, though now there are scraps of paper all over the room, covered in notes and scribbles. ]

[leaveofabsence]

May I?

[ And he points to one of the scribbles.

It's rude to snoop. Zhongli has some manners ]

[outofoffice]

If you want.

[ The top of the page just says "Key"

Below it is a mess of musical bars, scribbled out and re-written, none of them looking entirely complete or coherent.

If Zhongli can read music at all, a few of the bars resemble pieces of Guizhong's lullaby. ]

[leaveofabsence]

Are you writing down your repertoire of songs?

[ He picks up one of the papers ]

Perhaps we could play something together.

[outofoffice]

[ Spreading his hands, a little helplessly ]

I can't remember them.

[leaveofabsence]

[





Oh. ]

Perhaps I could play one for you.

[outofoffice]

Oh.

[ He sets the bottle aside, suddenly remembering something.

He taps the paper Zhongli is holding. ]

Can you hum it? That special song.

[leaveofabsence]

If you have an erhu, it would sound much closer to the original.

[ He starts circling around the room to see if he can find one. ]

[outofoffice]

[ The standard-issue desk is covered in all kinds of small instruments, erhu included.

Venti points. ]

Over there.

[leaveofabsence]

[ He picks up the erhu and sits on the bed, settling the instrument in front of him before he turns to pat the bed. ]

Would you like to sit beside me?

[outofoffice]

[ He plops down on the bed beside Zhongli, then sort of . . . mooshes himself and his blanket cocoon against Zhongli's side. ]

[leaveofabsence]

[ He pats his head softly before taking a deep breath and he starts playing Guizhong's song.

It's not one he plays often.

In fact, he can't remember the last time he played it in the last few centuries.

But the piece comes easily to him all the same. ]

[outofoffice]

[ Venti closes his eyes while Zhongli plays, the satisfaction of something half-remembered finally slotting into place. A peaceful but melancholy song.

And by the time Zhongli reaches the main branch of melody, a soft click comes from the far wall, a hidden door slowly sliding itself open. ]


It worked . . .

[leaveofabsence]

[ Wait, what--- ]

What just happened?

[outofoffice]

[ Venti doesn't answer, but he does hop off the bed -- exits his blanket, even -- to walk through the new doorway.

Remember how he said he had no upgrades, then accidentally admitted maybe he did . . . ]

[leaveofabsence]

[ Follows. . . ?




He always wondered what Venti kept in his subspace pocket. ]

[outofoffice]

[ The room is small, slightly larger than a walk-in closet, and non-descript aside from the amber-inlaid walls. The only thing inside is a small podium, surrounded by glaze lilies -- and Venti reaches for whatever rests there. It seems the room itself exists only to house this object.


When he turns, he wordlessly holds Zhongli's gnosis out to him. ]

[leaveofabsence]

[ The confusion doesn't abate. ]

Yes.

I gave that to you for safe keeping.

And it appears you have been keeping it very safe.

[outofoffice]

And I'm giving it back.

If I disappear, it needs to be somewhere safe.

[leaveofabsence]

[ Immediately: ]

You're not going to disappear.