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[outofoffice]

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[leaveofabsence]

[ He pats them flat when they are done to his satisfaction. ]

Did you fall asleep on me?

[outofoffice]

Nope.

[ Running his fingers over the completed braids a few times ]

I'm wide awake.

[leaveofabsence]

[ He takes a seat, crossing one leg over another as he folds his arms across his chest ]

How many dreams did you wander through?

[outofoffice]

[ Not quite the question he expected . . . ]

Only two, including yours.

[leaveofabsence]

And how did you fare in the other one? You need not give specifics if you wish to protect the privacy of the dreamer involved.

[outofoffice]

Ah-- Well . . .





[ yeah. ]

[leaveofabsence]

. . .

[ He places his hand carefully over Venti's ]

[outofoffice]

Since you asked, I take it you were a traveler as well as a dreamer.

[leaveofabsence]

Yes, I traveled several. Five different dreams, in fact.

[outofoffice]

How cruel. Not that I'm surprised.

[leaveofabsence]

I suppose it is. But---

That is not why I asked.

I was just thinking how much difficult it was to wake the dreamer from the dream then to dream the dream itself.

[outofoffice]

. . . What?

Are you sure about that?

[ Not that Venti would have frame of reference to know himself ]

[leaveofabsence]

Yes. The dreamer does not decide whether or not to wake, after all.

[outofoffice]

[ He twists his hand, lacing his fingers with Zhongli's ]

And yet some had to endure both.

Is that the only thing you settled on in your musings?

[leaveofabsence]

No. I thought about many things.

But mostly - how none of us would be the people we are today without the past that has shaped us. And even if the world was idyllic, even if those friends were still alive, I cannot say for certain that the losses such a world entails are an equivalent price.

Would you and I have been as close if Guizhong had risen to be the Geo Archon? Or is it the opportunity of our mutual positions and understanding that drew us close together? I do not know if we will ever know the answer to that.

[outofoffice]

. . . No, we won't.

But would it be an acceptable exchange if you could be as happy as you were in that dream? We'll never know that either.

[leaveofabsence]

Do you think it is impossible for me to be that happy here?

[outofoffice]

I don't know what is or isn't possible. Those answers lie only with you.

[ Though it was certainly the first time Venti had ever seen him so at peace ]

[leaveofabsence]

[ He reaches across the table and offers his hand to Venti, palm up. ]

[outofoffice]

[ He doesn't hesitate to reach back, taking that hand ]

[leaveofabsence]

[ He laces their fingers together, giving Venti's hand a little squeeze. ]

I am happy here though I do not always express it in the most obvious of ways.

Here I have the freedom to be Zhongli - rather than shoulder the responsibility that was mine for thousands of years.

Here I am allowed to be vulnerable in front of you, Caeli, and all of Heart Soldier. It was not something I would ever have allowed myself back in Liyue.

I do not want to downplay that...

[outofoffice]

[ He brushes his thumb over Zhongli's knuckles, mustering up an expression that's less dour ]

In other words, you're telling me I needn't worry.

[leaveofabsence]

I do not think telling you will stop you.

But yes.

[outofoffice]

Unfortunately, I can't seem to help it. You'll just have to forgive me.

[leaveofabsence]

It's only fair after all.

[ And he gives Venti's hand one more squeeze before pulling away. ]

I would not stop worrying if you asked me, too, either.