[ no matter where on the beach. zhongli is used to leisurely walks, these days, but these past few days in heaven have been a more restless roaming. a walk along the beach to locate zuriel hardly bothers him. ]
[ hello. when zhongli walks along the beach, he will eventually locate zuriel closer toward the water, standing on the sand and staring out at the horizon. they appear to be focused on that, but hearing footsteps they do speak up without turning their head. ]
Zuriel. [ confirmation and greeting alike, as he folds his arms behind his back and comes to join them - just looking out at the water, thinking about the trek across the sand that the two of them, with maomao and mizu, had taken to find where charlie was found. ] In your thoughts?
[ he falls quiet for a long moment, although it's more contemplative than anything else, so he's not ignoring them. more considering his answer for them, to give them the full and proper response. ]
... I find myself wondering what will happen, now, especially after seeing that there was nothing behind Jing Yuan's eyes when he was taken away. Hearing him speak so apathetically towards what he'd done. There are questions I want to ask that I don't know if there will be answers to - was he under the influence of something that still clung to him from the Xianzhou Alliance, or was it something here?
It's... I don't know. None of us knew him very well to say. [ they mean of the three angels. ] This is meant to be like a screening process before you either get to return or you're granted entrance to heaven, but outside influence doesn't reach here. So we don't even know what "something else" would look like, especially when this is its own pocket.
I take it that means you spoke with him last night? [ a pause. ] Today was only meant to be final goodbyes. A different train to elsewhere to expel him, and time for all of you to say your piece. That isn't what happened at all.
[ listening... but he inclines his head in a slight nod, before speaking. confirmation first. ]
I did. We were not close, by any means, but I had spoken to him and seen him amongst everyone enough, spoke with Jiaoqiu and saw him defend Jing Yuan, that I find it hard to believe that he would resort to killing someone so kind-hearted out of boredom.
We were... compelled, to get aboard the train. Jiaoqiu himself seemed surprised to be stepping through the barrier. It has similar tones to what happened to us on Thursday night - unexplainable, and unknown to the three of you. If it isn't an outside influence, Zuriel...
[ there's silence, because zuriel is thinking. it makes sense what he's saying, but at the same time... ]
It doesn't make any sense. Gamaliel's been searching, and we did a preliminary search earlier, too. There's no precedence for expulsions going this way. And heaven has been left along for far longer than we can even count. Nothing touches it. [ ... ] But this isn't the first time I've seen something like this. Maybe it really is something inside of him that lay dormant for so long that then saw an opportunity to use him.
... I want to hope that that's all it was. [ as much as "all it was" doesn't feel right to say, given what happened. ] Mister Marcoh mentioned that Jing Yuan's people only die in battle or in madness, typically, so if he had succumbed to a madness that had taken root and was lying in wait for when he perhaps could not fight it off...
Then that is that. No fortress can remain impenetrable forever, but if none of you have heard or found anything, we can hope with all hopes that this sort of thing does not find a way of happening again.
That's right. [ softly, and not quite focused because they are currently inside their mind palace. ] If it's something that's more common with his people, maybe even heaven isn't enough.
[ and if that's not a sobering, depressing though. ]
Nothing has come up. We tried looking through the protocol manual this morning while it happened to find if this was normal, or how to stop it, and nothing turned up. So maybe it was just this one time. No one else should have the same sort of madness, should they?
[ he regards them for a moment, but does appreciate the fact that all of the angels have been as honest with their thoughts as they can be about this.
... but it is sobering. hardly a happy thought. ]
As far as I know, no. Jiaoqiu comes from the same world as Jing Yuan, but is far younger, and as a doctor I believe he would present himself at even the first suspicion of madness.
Then perhaps it really is a one time thing. Something that chose to strike when Jing Yuan was more vulnerable or something like that. You'd be surprised how long something like that can stay quiet and then appear without warning.
... but of course it doesn't change that it happened, and how you're all left with a lot of complicated feelings. So we'll do what we can to try and correct it. [ a pause. ] At the same time, I don't want this to be swept under the rug and ignored. It still happened. We have to remember that.
... maybe not as surprised as you might think. Erosion is something in Teyvat that the long-lived can suffer from, a slippage of the mind in a variety of ways, but I'd ask that the three of you take me into custody the second that I felt as if I was suffering from it.
[ he stepped down as archon because he was tired and his people were ready, but it was also just in case he ever started to erode, himself, so that his people might not suffer. ]
I do appreciate that the three of you aren't ignoring what happened, or reassuring us that there's nothing to fear. Truly, I hope that the honesty has assuaged some concerns of those that have come to you with questions, especially the more... strong-willed.
And we could do that, I think. If it was something you were aware of, we could do our best to prevent it and take action. But I really hope we won't have to.
[ they shake their head. ]
What good would it do to ignore this? It's obviously happened, and ignoring it would mean turning away from what could have been a threat if we found more information supporting the idea it'd happen again. None of us are happy about it happening, but that doesn't mean running away from the concerns or questions either.
As do I, my friend. I've yet to experience the signs of it in myself, but... I had to imprison a dear companion when he forgot himself to the point of violence against Liyue. I know it well.
[ but he nods in agreement. ]
It does make it much easier to process, I think, knowing that those that are meant to be guardians are taking it seriously. You all might be new to the position, here, but thus far, I've had no reason to not believe in you and the effort that you've put into it.
Let's say I have some experience, too. Maybe not to the extent you have, but... you would not be the first I've had to help bind to save them from themselves, and us.
[ moving on though. ]
... thank you, Zhongli. All three of us had different reasons for agreeing to the position and all three of us have different ways of handling problems, but we all want what's best for you and to see you all succeed. This is a problem we want to solve, but for now it appears to be a one-time problem. It doesn't mean we'll let our guard down though.
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week 0, sunday
I would be more surprised if you didn't.
I can meet you somewhere if you want.
Text is also okay.
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Let's meet somewhere?
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The beach, if that's fine with you.
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[ no matter where on the beach. zhongli is used to leisurely walks, these days, but these past few days in heaven have been a more restless roaming. a walk along the beach to locate zuriel hardly bothers him. ]
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Zhongli?
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It isn't my favorite place at the moment, I think, but yes. [ they turn to glance up at him though. ] But I'm more interested in yours right now.
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... I find myself wondering what will happen, now, especially after seeing that there was nothing behind Jing Yuan's eyes when he was taken away. Hearing him speak so apathetically towards what he'd done. There are questions I want to ask that I don't know if there will be answers to - was he under the influence of something that still clung to him from the Xianzhou Alliance, or was it something here?
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I take it that means you spoke with him last night? [ a pause. ] Today was only meant to be final goodbyes. A different train to elsewhere to expel him, and time for all of you to say your piece. That isn't what happened at all.
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I did. We were not close, by any means, but I had spoken to him and seen him amongst everyone enough, spoke with Jiaoqiu and saw him defend Jing Yuan, that I find it hard to believe that he would resort to killing someone so kind-hearted out of boredom.
We were... compelled, to get aboard the train. Jiaoqiu himself seemed surprised to be stepping through the barrier. It has similar tones to what happened to us on Thursday night - unexplainable, and unknown to the three of you. If it isn't an outside influence, Zuriel...
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It doesn't make any sense. Gamaliel's been searching, and we did a preliminary search earlier, too. There's no precedence for expulsions going this way. And heaven has been left along for far longer than we can even count. Nothing touches it. [ ... ] But this isn't the first time I've seen something like this. Maybe it really is something inside of him that lay dormant for so long that then saw an opportunity to use him.
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Then that is that. No fortress can remain impenetrable forever, but if none of you have heard or found anything, we can hope with all hopes that this sort of thing does not find a way of happening again.
[ but he will be remaining on edge. ]
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[ and if that's not a sobering, depressing though. ]
Nothing has come up. We tried looking through the protocol manual this morning while it happened to find if this was normal, or how to stop it, and nothing turned up. So maybe it was just this one time. No one else should have the same sort of madness, should they?
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... but it is sobering. hardly a happy thought. ]
As far as I know, no. Jiaoqiu comes from the same world as Jing Yuan, but is far younger, and as a doctor I believe he would present himself at even the first suspicion of madness.
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... but of course it doesn't change that it happened, and how you're all left with a lot of complicated feelings. So we'll do what we can to try and correct it. [ a pause. ] At the same time, I don't want this to be swept under the rug and ignored. It still happened. We have to remember that.
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[ he stepped down as archon because he was tired and his people were ready, but it was also just in case he ever started to erode, himself, so that his people might not suffer. ]
I do appreciate that the three of you aren't ignoring what happened, or reassuring us that there's nothing to fear. Truly, I hope that the honesty has assuaged some concerns of those that have come to you with questions, especially the more... strong-willed.
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[ they shake their head. ]
What good would it do to ignore this? It's obviously happened, and ignoring it would mean turning away from what could have been a threat if we found more information supporting the idea it'd happen again. None of us are happy about it happening, but that doesn't mean running away from the concerns or questions either.
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[ but he nods in agreement. ]
It does make it much easier to process, I think, knowing that those that are meant to be guardians are taking it seriously. You all might be new to the position, here, but thus far, I've had no reason to not believe in you and the effort that you've put into it.
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Let's say I have some experience, too. Maybe not to the extent you have, but... you would not be the first I've had to help bind to save them from themselves, and us.
[ moving on though. ]
... thank you, Zhongli. All three of us had different reasons for agreeing to the position and all three of us have different ways of handling problems, but we all want what's best for you and to see you all succeed. This is a problem we want to solve, but for now it appears to be a one-time problem. It doesn't mean we'll let our guard down though.