holyspirits | W5 CYOA - Zhongli, Akihiko, Laurence, Ali Zoph

[ seeing laurence out of the corner of his eye, he does reach over to touch him at the elbow, fingers curling and lingering for a second before he draws away and gives hu tao a mild smile.

it doesn't fully reach his eyes, but there's still a warmth there. this is fucking bonkers but of course she would enjoy something like this. ]

What methods of payment are accepted? [ because we don't have any cash fam. ]

Even if it messes up the ship...?

[ WHAT KIND OF INSANE RULE IS THIS. zhongli has the important question covered so he's just going to ?????? here for a minute ]

We accept cash, card, or collateral!

And yup! But we find that most of our high rollers who hit VIP status just ask for free drinks for the rest of their vacation. And any damages they cause are more than made up for by how much they spent trying to get to VIP status in the first place. It's really only the big spenders that get there, or else people with really good luck.

But don't tell anyone I told you that.

Your secret is safe with us.

[ looks at laurence and his luck. ]

Perhaps some form of collateral would be the best to get started with. Does it need to be given up front, or collected at the end of the day?

Yeah, we won't tell.

Collateral like a favor...?

[ another thing they won't have to worry about later? pretty please? ]

A favor, or you could give us an item that holds value of at least $20. Of course, you could have it right back once you earn that much back in game points! Pretty easy, since you get those bonus points to play with.

Right this way then, please.

[ She starts to lead you through the casino.

As you walk, the dissonant sounds of approximately 6,000 game machines becomes more and more overwhelming. The twists and turns she takes you down through the aisles start to blur together. You don't know how long you've been walking but she just keeps going. There are girls sitting and playing slots and cards and any other casino game you can think of. (I'm a wordsmith.)

It literally feels like 20 minutes at least and you don't see any sign of a front desk or any change in the scenery. One of the game stations you pass, however, is a little different from the classic games you recognize.

There's some kind of card tournament going on, and one player who seems to be winning! ]

Come on, aren't any of you girls going to give me a run for my money?

Wait—Laurence?

[ But also. Your helpful guide is just continuing to walk away. ]

[ you are a beautiful wordsmith dw. zhongli can feel a migraine starting to build at the forefront of his head, spreading into his temples, with the overwhelming sounds and sights going on around them. it's the arcade on crack.

his steps falter, hearing another familiar voice. a look is sent to chrono, with a pang of upset, before back to laurence uncertainly. ]

... I'm not sure if following Director Hu will net us anything, at this rate. [ loathe as he is to say it. he has followed her through thick and thin since she became the director. ]

[ is this what all casinos are like? so dizzying and full of sensory overwhelm? it's a little alarming, and he finds himself pressing a little closer to zhongli even as he thinks oh this isn't that abnormal actually.

confusing. he's going to get a headache at this rate.

but that voice pulls him out of it in an instant, head whipping around in shock. ]

Chrono?!

[ and he actually recognizes laurence? unlike a certain little jackass who won't be named? he glances back at zhongli, clearly uncertain but also wanting to go talk to chrono who is so obviously just on this adventure with them, what the fuck. ]

We didn't pay for anything though... You sure it's okay?

Hey. When did you get here? How long's it been on the outside?

[ He looks... worried? But maybe kind of resigned? He looks pretty tired, you think.

But yeah, this is exactly what casinos are like. In fact, there are first aid kits attached to various columns throughout the winding path, because it's designed to trap people on purpose which means it's harder to get medics to where they need to go in a timely fashion. #REALCASINOFACTS.

Hu Tao does actually pause for juuuuust a moment. She looks a little bit somber. ]

You're going to want to follow me.

[ this is horrifying knowledge, thank you cola.

zhongli looks in the direction of hu tao's voice, pensive. normally he would fall into step with her immediately, but, like this... he's hesitant. especially to see the shift in her - she is only ever so subdued in the most serious of moments. ]

I'm not sure. But it's like Iris - she shouldn't be here. Surely it's not real. [ staring after her, before raising his voice for her to hear over the cacophony of noises: ] We're coming.

[ they are not immediately coming. let's talk to chrono. tf do you mean HOW LONG ]

[ not the med kits... that puts him a little on edge because something about that very much is not right. zhongli being so uncertain puts him even more on edge - he has always been so steady. laurence has never seen him hesitate like this. ]

...Maybe not.

[ he's not so sure if it's real or not. so he just refocuses on chrono, stepping away from these two for just a moment. they can follow her again soon, but this is important. ]

Just got here, man. What do you mean how long? [ hello? laurence tentatively reaches for his wrist. ] Maybe you should just come with us, too.

[ Hu Tao's expression flickers. Something like worry. Then she smiles, the look of it just a little bit strained. ]

I have other guests to attend, perhaps you can just meet me at the customer service desk.

[ But she does hesitate just in case you're telling the truth and ARE about to follow.

The machines continue to ding and chime and ring, all the noises cacophonous as they overlap each other and compete with the low thrum of constant chatter and laughter from the guests. You do not see a customer service desk.

I'm sure that's fine.

Meanwhile, Chrono's brow pinches. ]

I don't... totally remember.

But I'm on a win streak here, so...

[ Hm. He doesn't want to leave. ]

... yes, of course, miss.

[ his brow furrows, and the hesitation turns into something more suspicious, more concerned. all at once, there are three, different people here that he's protective of, worried for, but hu tao stands on one part of the path and chrono sits at the other. ]

You should take a break, Chrono. [ tone serious, as he turns his head without taking his eyes off of hu tao. ] Perhaps tell us about your wins as we get signed up for a playing card.

Yeah, Zhongli's right. Just a quick break, and we'll come right back after, okay?

[ starts tugging him toward zhongli and hu tao. please? let's go? he has such a bad feeling about this why do you not know how long you've been here ]

I want to hear, too.

Win streaks break if you step away. It's momentum. And I know you don't actually care about card games, man.

'Sides, what's even outside of this place?

[ Does this mean that Heaven is bad or that he genuinely doesn't remember? A fun mystery for you. He kind of doesn't sound... entirely coherent? Like he's a bit dazed. Which you are starting to feel too, thanks to all the noise.

Chrono frowns at the tug and resists. You immediately feel the eyes of countless girls around the room landing on you. A fight?? A gun fight????

Meanwhile, Hu Tao shakes her head. ]

I recommend that you follow me.

[ True to her word, she is departing. ]

[ ... on one hand, they could simply leave chrono here and continue onwards. on the other, it's entirely possible that he's not really here, even though he remembers them, so it could be pointless, fighting him on this. but at the same time... what if it really is chrono? zhongli wouldn't forgive himself if they left him behind. ]

Follow Director Hu, Laurence. At least for now. [ ignoring the girls, he comes up behind chrono and gets him under the arms to haul him out of his seat. if he resists, then he will use a bit more force to lift him up and use his size and strength against him.

it's not a gun fight, and it's a scene he would have rather not made. ]

Edited 2025-03-19 03:47 (UTC)

Huh? But...

[ looking back at chrono, very obviously not wanting to leave. it's only because it's zhongli that he reluctantly lets go to step back. ]

Just don't be stupid. [ big words coming from laurence nimith. they're probably directed at chrono but who knows. ] Fine, I'm coming.

[ follows hu tao, but not without one last glance over his shoulder. ]

[ Hm! Okay! Hu Tao looks cheery and leads Laurence away. This is very funny you've isolated these two with each others' CR. But you turn a corner and these horrible loud game machines are immediately so disorienting all over again. Looking back, you can't even see Zhongli over the tops of the machines. Which is odd. They aren't that tall...? He's pretty tall...???

But off you go. For what feels, once more, like a long long time. You do finally spot the glowing customer service sign in the distance! ]

Thank goodness.

Now. Let's get your card set up. Will you be paying with cash, credit, or collateral?

[ wowee! he's definitely glancing behind them frequently as they head off, trying to see if he can relocate zhongli in this mess of a casino, but that draws his attention back to hu tao. ]

Uh. Collateral. [ has no idea if they currently have anything on them worth $20. ] Favors, I guess? For him, too.

[ Unfortunately this is a business and she is not your classmate at your school. She can't guarantee that she'll ever see you again the way those girls (and Iris) could, so she's a little more hesitant to accept anything else. ]

Favors, huh?

I don't know if I can make a good business deal on favors.

Unless you're willing to pay up now. Then I might have a job for you. Could save me some time.

[ uh ]

What job...?

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LAURENCE

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ZHONGLI

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