115 » treat this night like it'll happen again

[ironwind]

[He's tried it time and time again, but no matter what he does, he can't replicate the mix-up he had during his fight with Childe in the Golden House, where he'd managed to draw upon the power of Anemo even though he'd been attuned to Geo at the time. He's pushed himself a thousand times, even thrown himself into danger on purpose, but he just can't do it a second time. And then, in the middle of a particularly hazardous fight against a group of mitachurls, Aether tries to summon the wind despite that he holds command over stone — and something inside him breaks.

It doesn't hurt, not exactly. It feels the way it did when the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles first stole his light and his wings and his sister; it hurts his pride more than anything else. Aether's fortunate enough that he's still able to finish the fight with his skill-at-arms, even without his elemental powers — though Paimon chides him for his recklessness afterward, and scolds him into going back to Mondstadt. "Your earring and your clothes have turned black again!" she yelps, concern creeping into the shrill chirp of her voice. "Paimon thinks you need to go back to a Statue of the Seven and fix that..."

Well, she's not wrong. He tries, but it doesn't work out; pressing his hand to the base of Venti's statue heals his injuries as usual, but it doesn't fix his elemental alignment, and for a moment, Aether's stomach drops. Did he do this by pushing himself too hard...?]

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[ironwind]

[He tracks Venti down in good time, mostly because the bard isn't too hard to find; if he's not in the Mondstadt plaza or the tree at Windrise, then he's usually at the Angel's Share, kicking back one too many glasses of Master Diluc's finest reds. And, sure enough, that's where he is at this time of night, making his way through his twenty-second glass (so he's not even halfway to having had his fill for the evening). "Oh," the bard says, as soon as he lays eyes on Aether. "Hmm, maybe I should have warned you that that might happen sooner or later! You've been switching too much between my powers and Morax's, huh?"

Aether thinks about confessing that he'd done it on purpose, but it seems easier to admit to nothing, so he stays silent on the matter. "How do I fix it?" the traveler asks, hoping very much that the answer won't be sorry, but you can't.

Mercifully, Venti says no such thing. "Well," the bard hums between sips of red wine, "either I could fix it, or that old blockhead can fix it. Which of us would you rather take your treatment from?" And yet he changes his mind in the exact next moment, snickering boyishly as he tips his chair back onto its hind legs. "Actually, let's just say that I can't do it right now. Not that I wouldn't help you if you really needed it! But I've got an appointment with, ahem, all of these bottles, see?"

Airy as ever, Venti waves his hand, dispelling Aether's complaints before they're voiced. "Besides, I'm sure he's got all the time in the world for you. Just head down to Liyue and tell him that I'm kindly giving him this privilege."

Aether's not quite certain that he likes the way Venti phrased that, but there's nothing to be done about it, given that he doesn't know what this treatment even involves. He does as he's told, though; once they're back in Liyue, Paimon's grumbling stomach takes her over to the Wanmin Restaurant while Aether searches the city's teahouses and fine establishments for the man who might be able to help him.

When he locates Zhongli in the selfsame restaurant they first met in, the one where Childe had arranged their first meeting, Aether realizes that even this short journey has left him weary and exhausted. The glass orb in his earring has even lost its black luster; now it's simply a dull, dark color, and the same goes for his other accoutrements.]

...So, [the traveler says, after he's explained his predicament and given a brief summary of Venti's remarks,] that's the situation.

Do you know how to treat this... elemental destabilization?

[qiquan]

[ It's a bit of a ritual of its own, by now, knowing that Barbatos will eventually play his tricks on him. It has happened for so long and across so many individual incidents that to continue to feel aggravated at it is perhaps as foolish as humans who bemoan the falling snow obscuring their paths each winter - yes, it's inconvenient and frustrating, but nature does what it must.

Still. When Zhongli is interrupted by the Traveler - and truly, he's happy enough to see Aether, although he is concerned immediately when he sees the darkened color of what is usually glowing on him, in mimicry of a native Vision - he quickly finds himself privately rallying against nature. Zhongli sighs at the end of Aether's faithful recounting of events. ] I see.

And yes, I do. Barbatos did not lead you astray in sending you to me. [ No, no, Barbatos had other ends in mind that misdirection. Like...interrupting Zhongli in his retirement, Zhongli supposes, or...or something else. Truly, he is having trouble grasping the extent of the plotting, here. It's such a simple prank to just avoid work, it barely requires examination, after all.

So: a new duty prescribed to him. Zhongli sits up straighter, examines his meal one last time, and then rises from the table. ] We should begin somewhere more private.

[ And he pays - with money he has personally earned, piece by piece, from Hu Tao directly of all people, but Zhongli must now be handed out his salary rather than spit out coins in private - and then leads them out of the restaurant. It likely sounds as if he's leading Aether to a place with special tools, or medicines, or perhaps that this will simply be such an obvious bit of Archon magic that they ought to hide it from anyone else who might see it.

But when Zhongli has finished leading Aether back to his own - surprisingly modest in size, at least - home, he sighs as he closes the door behind himself and then turns back to Aether. He considers the two of them and then suggests, serious, ]

This may be more comfortable if you sit on the couch, first.

[ironwind]

[It doesn't surprise Aether at all that treating his condition might require some privacy, might need them to hide away from prying eyes, so he doesn't question the change in location. He's surprised to be invited into Zhongli's home, certainly, but even then, he doesn't question the change in location. A former Archon must certainly have special tools, or relics for just such a scenario. Rare, long-forgotten pills or poultices. A medicine so potent it might well be wine. Faced with the prospect of 6,000-year-old wisdom, the mind reels. It anticipates. Also, Aether has a little bit of a romantic heart, deep down. He'd like to be initiated into some sort of ceremony, some kind of treasure.

He's surprised when Zhongli invites him to sit down, certainly, but it all seems perfectly normal so far. Any physician might ask the same of his or her patient. He nods.

It's a mark of the way Aether shares a bit of Zhongli's serious temperament that he simply sits down, patiently compliant, blinking his golden eyes like any other adeptus sworn to serve Rex Lapis.]

...What next?

[qiquan]

[ Zhongli is not nervous to proceed, but something about the easy obedience, the simple and genuine curiosity, is still comforting. He is no longer a god with adherents (except in all the ways the honoring of Rex Lapis was always likely fated to outlast even his lifespan, as it often does with gods) and the Traveler isn't even from here, but perhaps — as he adjusts to being Zhongli, it's best to have this friendship on its own merits.

And perhaps there simply are more reasons than circumstance alone that mean they get along relatively well.

In any case— ] Well.

[ Zhongli considers this, and then nods to himself. He begins removing his gloves — and unlike the statues through his domain, his hands are human hands, skin-colored and calloused but far from the glowing charcoal he used to fashion for himself. ]

The treatment for your affliction is to be in contact with the divine. You need to resonate fully with a being of one of the energies you can align with. That should cleanse you of the confusing interference.

[ The gloves end up on the table by the couch, and then his jacket comes off and is folded neatly against the edge of it as well. ] You may remain sitting or lay down, whatever is more comfortable for you. We will in fact likely need a change in position or two, as this process will not be particularly quick.

[ If Zhongli's saying it might take a while, that can't be a good sign for how long it truly is going to be. He's coming around to join Aether on the couch now though, and he reaches out a hand — patient, calm, and then pauses before actually taking Aether's hand as if he plans to shake it. ]

Skin to skin contact is not necessary, but the more surface areas we can join, the better off you will be, and more quickly. Would you mind also removing your gloves? Along with that, then—

[ His arm shifts a little higher, and he leans back further against the couch. Expression serious and tone business-like, he tries to make this potentially uncomfortable topic as palatable as possible by...being as straight forward as he can be. ] Simply having as much of our clothed torsos in contact should suffice for the rest.

[ ...Wow, it's almost like he's saying they need to just...hug...for a while... ]

[ironwind]

[Now, Aether is not a pervert. That being said — and it doesn't show on his face — even he starts to feel some mild alarm by the time Zhongli is on the words you may remain sitting or lay down, as well as we will in fact likely need a change in position or two. Wait, exactly what is this contact going to involve —

But then they get to skin-to-skin contact is not necessary, and... right, okay. That clarifies a lot of things. Inwardly, the traveler relaxes again, settling back into himself; he pulls his wrist back, but only to remove his gloves as requested, and then he slides his hand into Zhongli's once more, lacing their fingers together as they sit side-by-side on the couch. This isn't so bad. Actually, it's much less demanding than the kind of medical treatment he was expecting, and it certainly makes enough sense that he doesn't have further questions.]

Like this, then?

[He prides himself on being taller than his sister, but Aether's hands are small, like the rest of him. Callused in places, certainly, from his blade and his travels, but in the most tender parts of his fingers, his skin is soft and supple, and his nails are pink and glossy, the cuticles well-kept.]

And here I had braced myself for a more stressful kind of treatment...

[He turns and presses his other hand into Zhongli's, so that both of their palms are joined, and he can't help but smile.]

I see why Venti wasn't keen on doing this with me. He needs his hands free for other things. Like his lyre, and his wine glass.

[qiquan]

[ He's never seen Aether without his gloves on, but then, there's many ways in which Zhongli has never seen Aether. It takes him a moment to place this next one that surfaces; at ease, or something like it, in a very specific way. He hasn't seen this expression, whatever it exactly is, on Aether's face often.

Zhongli finds it pleasant. Also pleasant: learning that Aether is not, in fact, dreading this form of treatment. ] Not everyone would agree. I hadn't been sure how you would take to so much physical contact. [ Zhongli is not truly foolish or blind to human emotions and desires, but he genuinely hadn't noticed that their Traveler might actually err on the clingy side of things. It's difficult to know what others are capable of when you're so set in your ways that you need either a stranger personality or extenuating circumstances to force you out of your routine, possibly.

(Venti very much knew this, and it's likely why he sent Aether along the way he did. That and needing both hands free.) ]

I'm glad you don't mind. [ Which is sincere, and selfless for the moment. He'd rather not have to distress Aether. And when he joins their other hands, Zhongli finds with some surprise that the sensation is pleasant. That part...hadn't occurred to him yet. Results outside of the intended cure hadn't come into his head until forced there. ]

Yes. Any duty he can wriggle away from is one he will delightedly pass along to someone else. [ It's an ancient, almost compulsive grudge after all these years — even the irritation in Zhongli's voice sounds more fond than anything else. ] I suppose...hm. And I suppose likewise, my attention for the evening is now decidedly not going to be on work, but on you.

[ Spoken like it's a curious sort of surprise to consider. Zhongli looks at the Traveler's earring and other adornments, all dull black still. ] We'll simply need to keep an eye on these, and wait.

[ And if there is, gradually, the faintest of pulses resonating from Zhongli's body, most strongly at their points of contact, well...Aether can probably recognize the light sensation of Geo energy by now. ]