[ It's been weeks since Zhongli arrived in Snezhnaya, cold and shivering and confused and left practically in Childe's lap by his subordinates. Weeks since Childe had taken him in and back to his home. Weeks for Zhongli to learn the ins and outs of life in the capital city of the Land of Ice and Snow and start to grow accustomed to being in a country outside of Liyue.
Zhongli seems to adjust to it well enough. Not once does he forget Childe during his weeks there no matter how long they are separated. Not once does his memories falter of their shared time in Liyue nor any of his duties as a funeral parlor consultant. In fact, the longer he spends with Childe, the more memories of Hu Tao and Xiangling and other familiar faces drift back to Zhongli. His eyes and smiles are brighter, his compression healthier, and his burdens seemingly lighter as he makes his way back to Childe's home, bag full with his purchases from the market. Of course, Childe insists that Zhongli does not have to do the shopping (there are subordinates for that), but Zhongli does so anyway arguing that it's good for him to get out and about and meet people. It helps with his memory - a claim that seems to be substantiated by the fact that the roster of Snezhnaya merchants was slowly being built just as he was familiar with those from Liyue.
(There are times, though, if Childe were to whisper mentions of Rex Lapis or Morax, that the bright visage falters and hairline cracks begin to spider across the surface of his skin. Depending on how long Childe persists, they expand and grow until Zhongli retreats to the comfort of his room and falls into a deep unnatural sleep before emerging a few days later with no recollection of any of it happening.)
Today is not one such day, however, as Zhongli carefully removes his mittens, breathing warmth into his hands so that he may fetch the keys from his heavy wool Snezhnayan coat and open the door to their shared home. He steps inside, carefully removing the wet and heavy layers to not drip water into the house as he begins to search the halls for Childe, bag still carefully tucked over his arm. ]
Time skip
Zhongli seems to adjust to it well enough. Not once does he forget Childe during his weeks there no matter how long they are separated. Not once does his memories falter of their shared time in Liyue nor any of his duties as a funeral parlor consultant. In fact, the longer he spends with Childe, the more memories of Hu Tao and Xiangling and other familiar faces drift back to Zhongli. His eyes and smiles are brighter, his compression healthier, and his burdens seemingly lighter as he makes his way back to Childe's home, bag full with his purchases from the market. Of course, Childe insists that Zhongli does not have to do the shopping (there are subordinates for that), but Zhongli does so anyway arguing that it's good for him to get out and about and meet people. It helps with his memory - a claim that seems to be substantiated by the fact that the roster of Snezhnaya merchants was slowly being built just as he was familiar with those from Liyue.
(There are times, though, if Childe were to whisper mentions of Rex Lapis or Morax, that the bright visage falters and hairline cracks begin to spider across the surface of his skin. Depending on how long Childe persists, they expand and grow until Zhongli retreats to the comfort of his room and falls into a deep unnatural sleep before emerging a few days later with no recollection of any of it happening.)
Today is not one such day, however, as Zhongli carefully removes his mittens, breathing warmth into his hands so that he may fetch the keys from his heavy wool Snezhnayan coat and open the door to their shared home. He steps inside, carefully removing the wet and heavy layers to not drip water into the house as he begins to search the halls for Childe, bag still carefully tucked over his arm. ]
Childe.
I've returned.