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[ There's a beat where he regards the drinks. He'd have a swig right now if he knew which ones were magic. ]

...She just said she was nervous around him or something, and you set this up?

[ It's sweet. ]

Mmmm, "religion" sounds weird . . . My impression is she feels very much like a little girl terrified of disappointing her extremely dignified father-figure.

Which is why I'm trying to correct two points:

First, Zhongli's perceived dignity and loftiness. This is best accomplished when he's shit-faced.

And second, Ali-Rin's fear that he's quite so easy to disappoint. After all, he's endured me for several millennia.

[ Lupine nods, perfectly content to agree that religion sounds and is weird — but father-figure obviously hits him strangely, too, and he's just going to take a moment to mouth the words to himself silently with a look on his face like they taste weird.

Father-figure. Bleh. ]

[ But he rallies, getting his focus on the important part of this conversation back, and then...

And then gives Venti a very amused look. ]

Did you actually put it like that to her?

[ Because. They're definitely different kinds of disappointing? ~~AT LEAST, AS FAR AS WE KNOW, BECAUSE GI CONTINUES TO HOLD VENTI HOSTAGE.~~ ]

Hehehe . . . I did, actually!

Venti. You gotta know she doesn't think you're in any way hard to put up with.

Apparently so!

Since she didn't believe me at all.

...Venti.

[ A little softer, despite himself. Lupine risks another glance in Zari's direction, then decides she's well enough occupied. ]

—Have you seen any of her memories? Has she talked to you about them?

Hmmmm? She did show me, actually. Just one, though it did speak for itself.

[ And there's just this little pause, where. Well. Lupine is just very aware that he's seen two of Zari's memories — and none of Venti's. So, he really doesn't have an actual point of comparison here.

You mostly strike him as completely harmless. Like someone who'd never hurt a fly. But you've been alive for thousands of years, and... ]

Then you know the kind of thing you're asking her to compare you to.

Ah, well . . .

. . . I've been looking at it with considerably more levity than that.

[ A very crooked smile. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. ]

I don't think she has any levity when it comes to that stuff.

It's because her mind always goes to the worst places!

If only I could inject relaxation directly into her . . .

[ ~~well there's always Cloud 9~~ ]

...I can definitely think of something that works almost as well?

If your suggestion is sex or alcohol, that's clearly been tried in abundance.

Well, we're not trying to relax her permanently, are we? Just for bursts.

[ For bursts, those both work! ]

[ Sighs . . . ]

Well, since it's the best we can do for now . . .

[ ...Crooks a finger and uses it to gently chuck Venti's chin up. ]

One thing at a time. You're already trying to help her be more comfortable around Zhongli tonight, right?

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