jikan_rpg | What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness?

[ The nice thing about using Hydro blades was that there wasn't much cleanup involved in the aftermath of a good fight. It's easy enough to simply dismiss the weapons altogether, letting the blood-infused elements splatter on the ground or dissipate into mist, as he usually did. He does this now, relishing on the splatter of blood across the snow before he turns to Zhongli and the aftermath of the monster they had felled together.

While it wasn't the fight he normally would have preferred, there was something satisfying in seeing the other man leverage his full strength against a monster that could potentially kill them both, had it both the skill and the drive to. More than once he'd found himself getting distracted with the grace and fluidity with which the other man moved, moved to awe and admiration with the ease and elegance Zhongli presented in a fight.

Too soon the flower was defeated, and everything was calm. He's about to respond to Zhongli's comment - perhaps ask him about it, since the man had several millenia of stories tucked under his belt - but then Zhongli's falling face-first and any curiosity he might have felt is immediately replaced with panic. ]

Zhongli -- [ He's quick to rush forward, concern writ all over his face. Had the other sustained any injuries during the fight??? Some new attack that he hadn't seen? It wasn't as though he'd been paying much attention, convinced that a god could hold his own well enough in combat against a plant. His gloved hands start pawing through the snow, digging and digging in search of any trace of the other man.

What he finds makes him pause, staring at familiar shades of gold and brown. ]

... Xiansheng?

[Oh, he could certainly hold his own against a plant. Indeed, it isn't from any injury that he collapsed.

Yet as Childe digs through the snow, he'll find there's no familiar body beneath it-- instead he'll first find a scaled, fur-tipped tail is tucking itself around his wrist, followed by tiny, gleaming claws clinging to his fingers tightly, the small creature trying to leverage itself out of the snowbank by latching onto his hand.

The shape is at least recognizable by this point... but this form is not usually nearly so small. Tiny amber eyes blink up at him slowly, and if he had any discernable expression right now, it would be 'sheepish'.]

I seem to have underestimated precisely how cold it was.

[ Ah--

This is a lot smaller than the last time he'd seen this form of his, back when the moon was doing strange things to the people and the yokai. It's not as if he was any stranger to Zhongli's ability to transform, he even celebrated it, reveled in it most times. He was incredibly glad the other hadn't turned down any of his wilder ideas when it came to spicing up their bedroom life, and the benefits had been reaped by the both of them.

But he wasn't thinking about any of that now. Now, he was hauling the tiny little lizard creature out of the hole, marveling at how tiny he was. ]

You're -- [ Cold, shivering, portable? ]

You're so cute.

[All of the above and more, yes.

While Zhongli rather enjoyed allowing his form to adjust as the mood strikes him when with Childe, this was slightly different: This was... unfortunate for lack of better words, and a little embarrassing besides. The smaller size made it easier to conserve his energy and body heat, at least.

The tip of his tail twitches in the way a cat's might, if it were annoyed. He rests his snout against Childe's wrist with a huff that makes his whiskers flutter. He might or might not be clinging both for the hand up from the snow and to absorb some of that heat from Childe's skin.]

'Cute'....?

[Really Childe?]

[ This is the face of a man that does not regret a single thing he's said or done, ever. It's a little strange hearing Zhongli's deep tones come out of what is essentially a miniature version of the Exuvia, but if anything it makes him even more endeared to him.

Gentle hands tuck the dragon up against his torso, cradling him like he would a precious object. His fingers skim along the ridges of his back and his scales, marveling at the textures beneath his touch. ]

Yeah... you kind of look like a stuffed animal. Something I should be bringing home to Teucer. [ Or something the Fatui could look into for a new design concept. ]

What happened? Is it just because it's too cold?

[Zhongli is probably not going to help Childe's current impressions, either-- the warmth of his body is downright magnetic to Zhongli at this size, and there is nothing that is going to stop him from curling up against Childe's torso, a tiny little growl that sounds pleased more than anything escaping him as those fingers brush along his back.

His skin in this form is much as it is when it is larger: soft to the touch like snakeskin, but solid in a way no lizard is.]

My form is more malleable than a human's. Mass matters little, but a smaller size does allow me to control how much of my body must maintain warmth to function, and better concentrate my energies.

I will be fine. The cold does not affect me nearly as poorly as it would an average person, but I must admit I am unused to it, and perhaps did not prepare as well as I should have.

[What he's dancing around is the admission that yes, yes it is the cold. It's a bit galling, honestly.]

Edited 2022-01-25 07:28 (UTC)

So... it's kind of like how reptiles need heat all the time, right? Why didn't you say so?

[ it's not as though he's unfamiliar with the concept. in Snezhnaya, lizards and other such cold-blooded creatures were few and far-between. they just didn't adapt as well as they could have, didn't thrive like they would have in a place like Natlan or literally anywhere else that had soaring temperatures. it's only funny that Zhongli might be affected so, but he can only imagine it's because of the fact that he gave up his Gnosis and chose to live life as a mortal.

he supposed that no one actually told him humans didn't turn into dragons when they got cold. perhaps that was on Childe for being negligent. ]

Here. [ with one arm carefully balancing the tiny lizard against him, the other goes to quickly undo the heat-magicked kimono he's wearing and open it up. the blast of cold air chills his bare skin instantly, and Zhongli will only get a brief glimpse of scarred, pale skin before he's unceremoniously shoving the creature in the folds of his outfit and closing it over him.

at first the scales are agonizingly cold. it's almost like stuffing a giant, breathing ice cube down his front. soon enough, however, the combination of the magic and his own body heat serve to warm the confines of his kimono, and he breathes out a sigh of relief before looking down at what he can see of Zhongli's little dragon head poking out the top. ]

How's that?

I am not a reptile. Regardless of form, I am still an adeptus.

[And that sounds downright sulky coming from Zhongli. Perhaps he protests a little overmuch, considering how eagerly he crawls inside Childe's kimono to nestle against his chest, fur-tipped tail tickling against his side. it is a little strange, seeing him from this vantage point: He intimately knows these scars, this skin, knows the warmth and the feel of him... but not quite from this small a point of view.

There's a quiet, relieved sigh as he settles there against Childe's skin, careful not to prick with his claws as he shifts about to poke his snoot out, beady little eyes bright as he looks up.]

Much better, thank you.

[Perhaps he underestimated just how diminished certain capacities were, without his gnosis.]

Edited (wrong word used ) 2022-01-25 08:11 (UTC)

An adeptus can't be a reptile? Isn't one of them supposed to be a bird? Or a deer?

[ even if he hasn't seen them in person, he's heard about them enough either through secondhand accounts or through stories when he was sifting through information to try and find the prime. it all seemed like so long ago.

the tickle of both claws and fur makes him shiver, but not in the way of before. Zhongli's little snout poking out of his clothes is an instant free pass for forgiveness, and he can't help bring up a hand to gently pat him over one of his little antlers in the manner of one petting a cat. ]

Did this sort of thing happen before, when you were ... you know. [ insert vague hand gesture. ] Is that the only reason why you came down once a year to give financial advice?

[ with their business here mostly concluded, Childe casts a sweeping look over their surroundings. whatever there is to carve off the creature they'd bested might have to wait until Zhongli felt well enough to turn back to normal. Childe is already at a delightful disadvantage due to the nature of the weather here - something he'd been especially keen to test his skills against, even though it paled in comparison to the harsher winters of his homeland - and with an added handicap of a dragon glued to his front it was more fun than he was used to.

plus - he's not sure how deep the metaphorical rabbit hole went. did this mean Zhongli could also get sick with mortal illnesses? he's almost tempted to try and experiment. ]

Let's get you home, xiansheng. I'll run you a hot bath, yeah? Maybe the resort will have soup with some lizard food in it.

A dragon is not a mere reptile. And neither cloud retainer or moon carver would appreciate being seen as just a 'bird' or a 'deer'.

[Oh that is definitely sulky. The finger petting against his antlers, however, does seem to sooth his ire. He even leans into it, just a little.] No... In truth, this is mostly a lack of resistance to the cold combined with such an expenditure of power.

[And as someone who resonated with the earth beneath their feet, the barrier of eternal snow and ice was cumbersome. One tiny leg tipped with equally tiny claws curled around Childe's thumb as Zhongli leaned up a little to peer around them.] Ah.... I was somewhat looking forward to exploring such an ancient structure. The history of such a place...

Edited 2022-02-05 01:47 (UTC)

Right, right. Dragon, of course. [ he's definitely teasing him, but the way Zhongli responds to the petting makes him smile in ways that are less playful and more genuine, heartfelt. ]

When you put it like that it makes sense. You did do a lot during the fight. [ geo shield and rock structures aside, watching Zhongli wield his pole arm had been satisfying in the best kinds of ways. there were times during their battle that he'd nearly been gored through by the plant, nearly been hit with a swinging attack because he'd been so distracted watching the man beside him.

he wonders how many pretty trinkets he'd have to bribe Zhongli with to get him to fight him again. ]

But wouldn't you want to come back here when you were back to normal? So you could explore things properly instead of riding around in my shirt? Although knowing you I don't think you'd be able to leave here in time to avoid transforming again... [ he punctuates this with a little scritch along Zhongli's tiny head as though to appease any anger that might be directed towards him at his statement. thumb and forefinger pinching at one of his little ears, he crosses his arms over his chest so he's half-hugging the cold lizard, snuggling into him and pulling him close against his heart. ]

We can come back when you've rested up.

[He huffs at the assurance, satisfied-- for now. Still, perhaps he bears some significant blame for his own predicament.]

I may have... been more ostentatious with my power than I might normally, perhaps.

[He enjoyed fighting by Childe's side quite a bit. The vigor and passion the harbinger had seemed to bring out the same in Zhongli, for good and ill. He refused to consider it 'showing off', however.

His tail swishes against Childe's abdomen, tickling his skin as he lifts his head to rest it against Childe's chest.]

I fear we will likely be in the same predicament if we leave and come back. The flower merely sleeps, it does not seem to have died. Given some time, it will rise again. Exploration would have to happen while it hibernates.

Edited 2022-02-08 03:39 (UTC)

Huh, I guess kinda like they do in Teyvat...

[ to hear that Zhongli still wishes to explore the cavern even in this state doesn't really come as much surprise to him. Zhongli had always been a bourgeoisie parasite even at his best; being carried around like a cat in one of those weird satchel carriers seems par for the course for him.

not that he minded, since he'd come to terms with how he felt about him pretty recently. it was just funny how easily he could predict Zhongli's moves, is all, even if it wouldn't really do him any good in a proper fight. ]

It's a good thing I love you so much. [ he quips, gently curling his hand around Zhongli's rounded snout and gently massaging his knuckles under his chin. ] Else I might just drop you in the snow and tell you to walk yourself, xiansheng.

[ there's hardly any embarrassment in his tone when he says it, and even the seriousness of his words are barely effective when one sees the smile on his face as he says them. it's a simple matter to pick his way around one of the fallen, wayward flower tendrils and around to the part of the cave they hadn't quite explored yet, venturing in deeper at the little dragon's request. the cavern behind the flower is large, but eventually tapers off into a small passageway that doesn't seem as though it's been traversed much by human feet.

it's there Childe casts a long, lingering look, but he looks from it down to the dragon swaddled in his jacket quickly enough. ]

Well then, Zhongli - where would you like to go?

What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness?

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