lapislazily: (◆ do not give this man your money)
ᴢʜᴏɴɢʟɪ 🔸 钟离 ([personal profile] lapislazily) wrote in [community profile] kaisou2023-11-21 12:08 am

video; un: freelancer

WHO: Zhongli and you
WHERE: The network
WHEN: A few days after the Azhdaha plot wraps up
WHAT: The thrilling tales of dragon sealers.
WARNINGS: None, will update if necessary.

[video;]

[Normally, Zhongli addresses the network via text because that's the preferred way. But for this... as a courtesy, as a sign of respect and gratitude, he should give the announcement the weight it deserves.

The camera feed opens to a once-lush garden where the gold leaves of the ginkgo trees are still clinging to life despite the impending winter. The hardier bushes have not changed color and have retained their leaves. There's a good mixture of plants around (if not an abundance of flowers), and the stone picnic table and 'chairs' along with the tea set give a sense of serenity.

Zhongli's expression is difficult to read, stony and almost impassive. He's wearing his usual distinctive brown coat, recently mended, and cradling a teacup in his gloved hands.]


Greetings. I know it has been some time since I spoke to the network at large. For those who have not met me, my name is Zhongli.

I wanted to thank everyone who answered Shroud's call to help subdue the dragon a few days ago. His name is Azhdaha, and he has been a close companion of mine in every life I can recall. Yet the memory of rocks is only for a short time. As an elemental spirit, Azhdaha could do little to escape that fate. Eventually he forgot himself, and only remembered the pain and rage of lifetimes ago, when humans disturbed his slumber and caused him great pain.

For those of us who are exceptionally long-lived, time whittles away our bodies and minds like the waves and wind swallow the cliffs overlooking the sea. This phenomenon is known as erosion. It affects all of us differently, but it leaves us forever changed and missing something of ourselves, until naught remains.

All things have a beginning and an end, no matter how long the life lived. This is the truth of the world.

Now Azhdaha has been sealed away inside a golden dream, where he no longer suffers the pain that drove him to madness. His suffering is ended after hundreds of years. I... cannot overstate my gratitude.

[He sets his tea down. When he looks up again his draconic eyes are sharper, an intense amber framed by the gold leaves behind him.]

I am no longer with the cruel organization that chained me. I will aid those who wish to be free of their bad faith contracts, just as I will protect this city where my heart has come to rest. This is one way I may begin to repay such a debt. You have my word—not only as Rex Lapis, but as myself.

I hope you will keep it in mind.

[He reaches forward and shuts the feed off.]
infezione: (🍓 dodici)

un: violetsmoke; video

[personal profile] infezione 2023-11-21 10:07 am (UTC)(link)
... I'm glad you're finally free of them, Nonno.
infezione: (🍓 otto)

[personal profile] infezione 2023-11-21 10:15 am (UTC)(link)
Well... better late than never, I would think. And nothing stopping you from looking after us now anyway, right?
infezione: (🍓 dodici)

[personal profile] infezione 2023-11-21 10:34 am (UTC)(link)
[That faint smile makes Fugo's own grow bigger.]

Well... a family looks after each other, yeah? I can easily say you've looked after me plenty already... even if I was more than a little reluctant to accept sometimes.
jackdawvision: (marooned on a small sandy island)

video | un: captainkenway, private

[personal profile] jackdawvision 2023-11-21 10:44 am (UTC)(link)
I'm sorry about Azhdaha, mate. I'm glad he's found some peace and that you've been freed from your own chains.

...do you need anything? I know that it hurts, losing someone you've already lost before. [He knows a variation of that pain himself, missing his beloved Caroline every other day.] I bought some expensive wine in Copenhagen, but I can part ways with a few bottles easily enough.
infezione: (🍓 otto)

[personal profile] infezione 2023-11-21 11:15 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah... I know the feeling.

[He brightens a little at the question about his training.]

Even if I'm still more inclined to use magic first most of the time, I'd like to think my sword skills have gotten pretty reliable by now! [Jusis and Takame are both excellent teachers.] Oh, and I've got what I can do with my Vision figured out, too! I'd... really like to show you my progress sometime.
jackdawvision: (can we keep our bearing)

[personal profile] jackdawvision 2023-11-21 12:48 pm (UTC)(link)
You were on my ship, you were one of mine. Besides, I said I'd get you there, didn't I? I'd be a poor captain if I didn't.

[A hum.]

Then I'll take a bottle to your house to trade stories. Perhaps three bottles if Venti wishes to join us. Where do you live so I know where I may deliver this wine?
scourgingstars: (you're gonna bring yourself down)

video; un: adagium

[personal profile] scourgingstars 2023-11-21 01:04 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, what a fascinating turn of events that is.

[i hope we all liked this nice sentimental network post because it's about to be ruined]

Zhongli, my old friend, I was wondering where you might have gotten off to. Imagine how surprised I was to see you return with that dragon the Order presumably thought I didn't know was in the basement. Not only that, but just yesterday when I went to file a report for once, all I got back was, 'Ardyn, who the hell is Zhongli, have you been drinking again?'.

...Which I was, but that's not relevant to the issue at hand. Gods, you used to be fun, whatever am I to do now that you've apparently abandoned the Order entirely?
twofoldfury: (12)

video; un: goldenrose

[personal profile] twofoldfury 2023-11-21 03:44 pm (UTC)(link)
[This explained the month long ship voyage. The tale was given Diarmuid's utmost attention and each word tugged his heart more than the last. What an awful fate this Azhdaha was made to experience through no fault of his own. Merely the unfortunate hand fate deals to those who cannot die.

Few things could be more cruel. Respect is shown respect, Diarmuid's own preferred means of contact through the network was voice or text for his own reasons, but here he was appearing on video.]


To hold this weight for centuries and be finally freed of it only at the cost of someone you love dearly, I can only imagine how you must feel. You've broken the chains the Order used to bind you only to lose someone... but your freedom from them is regardless something to be glad for.

[All things came at a cost, didn't they? As much of a truth in the world as the eventual, if theoretical, end of a life.]

May Azhdaha find peace in his dream, may he suffer no longer from the loss of himself.
switchaxe: (Heh)

voice | un: kissmyash

[personal profile] switchaxe 2023-11-21 03:48 pm (UTC)(link)
Lemme know when I can drop off your retirement fund, Gramps.
crisantemo: (i can feel it burning in my veins)

video | un: laluna

[personal profile] crisantemo 2023-11-21 04:56 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Lapis listens to the story, and everything about that trip clicks into place. So this was it. But words have never been her strongest point, and it takes her a moment to think of what to say... ]

I'm... I'm so, so sorry about Azhdaha. I hope he's found peace in that dream... And that you've found some too, now that you're free.

[ Even though such a steep price had to be paid, her heart sinking as she mulls over these events. But she is genuinely glad for him, that he's finally broken his chains. It must have been so long... ]

I'm still a bit, ah... disorganized since coming back, but please let me know if you need anything. I'll do my best to help.
scourgingstars: (a darkness will block out the sun)

[personal profile] scourgingstars 2023-11-21 05:16 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, don't be like that. Five hundred years is still annoyingly long to some of us. But how unexpected indeed, that I'm the only one that seems to recall. At least, of the few I spoke to in what I feel was highly justified confusion.

[He smiled, the light words flowing like poisoned honey. Cheerful, but dangerously insincere. Ardyn could claim the sky was blue and have most of the Order checkkng the windows to be sure; the kind of factor that was barely better as the devil you knew than the one you didn't, or else the Order might have sealed him centuries ago just to make him stop talking.]

...Quite a few seemed under the impression that I purchased an exorbitantly priced instrument, which only served to confound me ever further.
scourgingstars: (over and in last call for sin)

[personal profile] scourgingstars 2023-11-21 05:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Long enough to drive a human mind utterly mad regardless, I should think that a span of years worth making note of.

[not him though, built different.]

Oh, I can't recall specifics; don't know a damn thing about modern instruments as it is. A violin, possibly? Something with strings, they made mention of the cost and ease of damage which...well, I can certainly imagine a violin much easier to shatter over someone's head than a piano.
switchaxe: (Cheeky Smile)

voice;

[personal profile] switchaxe 2023-11-21 05:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Course I'm insistin'. I gotta do something to help you an' whoever else, yeah?

[He is not mentioning Eunie by name, because fuck Ardyn.]
noblerise: <user=earthenring> (Everything was mine)

Action

[personal profile] noblerise 2023-11-21 05:36 pm (UTC)(link)
[Jusis won't take any chances by contacting Zhongli about this topic while he's still in The Order. He's not about to fuck this up for the brunet, who has given up so much not only for freedom but for love. While the outcome is bittersweet and hard fought, he's glad that The Order no longer has Zhongli chained to their will. Though the blond didn't sign a contract with Morax in full, necessarily, he still acted as if he had. He keeps his word, his promise, and he hopes that helps the old Geo Archon.

He's listened to Zhongli's announcement, which is what prompts him to teleport on the older man's doorstep. Jusis gives a solid knock on the door with a small parcel in hand.]

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