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[ A smile from Hu Tao is worth a small smile in return. Zhongli also pushes himself off the wall and back to a standing position, smoothing out the wrinkles in his suit as he does so. ]

Of course. Please take all the time that you need.

I will meet you in the lobby when you are ready.

[ And true to his word, Zhongli will be waiting for the young Director in the lobby within a few minutes (or however long she needs to take to put her things in order). For his part, it seems the only preparation he needed was to fetch a black and gold spear decorated in the themes of the geo element and Rex Lapis. The vision he clasped to his back had to be good for something, after all. ]

[At the same time, as she marched out of the room, she started to look for items she would need. Gathering some food and some supplies, she knew her journey would not be easy. If anything, it was the opposite as she didn't know what might happen in the border. Giving a sigh to herself, she couldn't turn back now.

After an hour or two, she went straight to the lobby with her supplies on her back.]

And so, I think I'm ready to go! Do you think I need anything else? I have some food and a knife should anything happen!

[ Zhongli glances at how much food and water she plans to bring with her on her journey. Honestly, he is not too worried about the dangers that they may face if he is accompanying her. Even pretending to be a mere consultant with a geo Vision, that should handle most of the enemies that could cross their path.

And yet.

And yet... ]

Do not forget adequate water. How long do you plan to wait if you do not find him immediately?

[ It is a question that he is only half listening for an answer (as Zhongli would remove her forcibly and gently if she lingered too long) as he glances down at the knife. He would be enough. Surely. But also—

He heads to a cabinet not often used by the previous director but still well known to house some of his more personal items. ]

[The smile on her face falters a little. As much as she knew there was a chance that she wouldn't be able to find him, she didn't want to think about it. Her grandfather must have some regrets and had to linger around for just a bit.

Otherwise, she wouldn't really know what to think. She didn't say anything at first and instead?]

Don't worry I will! But I think I'll give it a 3 or 4 days. I shouldn't be too hard for my grandfather to find me. He wouldn't be a very nice person to keep me waiting for that long!

[Again, that was what she wanted to think. But she wouldn't afford to think of anything else. Not when she was so deep in her grief.

While he was headed the other way, she tilted her head to the side.] By the way, where are you going...?

[ Zhongli steps out of the cabinet, holding a very distinguished (and somewhat dusty) polearm in his hands. The end is tipped with a flare of red rather than the usual silver and golds that made up the blade of most Millelith weapons. It wasn't even the green jade of the more specialized weapon of Liyue. A curious artifact indeed - the Staff of Homa. It did not find its way into the hands of every Funeral Director, but—

"Only an unbound flame can purify the filth of this world."

It was quite obvious she was more suited for it than most.

Zhongli holds it out to Hu Tao, palms up in both hands that is reminiscent of the ceremony of a trainee finally joining the official ranks of the Millelith. ]

Might I suggest also arming yourself with something more sturdy than a knife. Three or four days is a long time in the border of this world and the next.

[ He makes no comment on whether he thinks the time is too short or too long. No director has ever lingered at the border, and he has not reason to think her grandfather will be any different. So the time allotted should be the time that Hu Tao thinks she needs to reach that conclusion for herself, too young for this task as she may be. ]

Edited 2023-10-23 04:56 (UTC)

[The moment she saw the polearm, her eyes widen. She was aware of what it was as she had seen her grandfather use it a handful of times. However, to know that Zhongli was giving it to her was a little surprising.

To know that she was holding something so special made her take a step back.

After all, she was only 13 and she dared not to use it so casually. When he handed it to her, she could only stare in awe.]

While I am aware that I am spending a fairly long time there, are you certain?

[It seems so exceptional for her to use it. Was she hearing things correctly?]

I am certain. You are more than worthy of it.

[ Zhongli waits before the weight of the staff is settled carefully into her hands before he lets go. It suits her, he thinks. Even at the young age of 13, Hu Tao had proven that she was wise and capable beyond her years. If her grandfather was not around to instill in her the small flame of confidence that she needed to reach her full potential, Zhongli would dutifully provide it in his stead. It was the least he could do for the long line of funeral parlor directors who gave so much to Liyue.

(And if she broke it, well, the blacksmiths in Liyue were also top-notch, and they were no strangers to restoration projects.)

After a short beat of silence: ]

But it is a family heirloom, so do treat it with the proper respect.

[As she felt the weight in her hands, it was rather big on her. Not to mention how heavy it was compared to her small frame. For a moment, she just stared at it as she couldn't believe what she was seeing. To hold such a precious heirloom was not only a great honor but it was also a way to make everything official. She really was the 77th funeral director, wasn't she?]

You make it sound like I would swing it around and break it.

[She said with a mumble or two before attempting to swing said polearm to get a good feel.]

What a rude to say to your boss...

[ Zhongli's eye twitches as said swing comes too close to his comfort from a priceless antique purchased by the 51st Funeral Director (who had an appraising eye for vases excavated from the Guili Plains), but it survives Hu Tao's curiosity unscathed. And he supposes her being distracted enough to pout is probably a step in the right direction.

...Maybe. Well, he will certainly see it as one anyway. ]

My apologies, Director. But that is exactly what I was implying.

[Hu Tao simply gave him a look. Not knowing what else to say, she just stared at him as she had the right mind to tell him off! But at the same time, she also knows that he was trying his best to cheer her up. As she gave another swing, she pouted.]

Rest easy, I do not plan to destroying such a precious gift! It is an heirloom that I do plan to treasure but if you have such little faith in me? Then perhaps I might accidentally damage it.

[Just saying.]

Edited 2023-11-02 20:50 (UTC)

[ The smile Zhongli returns is small but genuine, more at ease now that Hu Tao was acting more like her usual self even if he might be a temporary reaction to his teasing. Ah, perhaps he might self reflect later on why she was so fond of doing the same to him. ]

On the contrary, I have quite a bit of faith in you. But I also know that you do not want nor need such things sugar-coated for you.

[ He inclines his head in a bow before going to retrieve his own coat. No matter the season, Wuwang Hill was always chilly. And it was best that they were both prepared. ]

Shall we?

You are right, I would rather not. Better tell me now or else you might regret it...!

[Despite how much he could frustrate her with how much he reminds him of an old man, she was truly happy to know that he was there by her side. Even now as she continued to swing around the polearm to get a better grip on how to use it, she knew that he meant well.]

But let's get going!

[She said with a chuckle before buttoning up her coat. Now that she was off on this new adventure, she had to prepare herself. The moment she stepped outside, she took in a deep breath as if she was ready take on anything.] I hope you're watching grandpa because I'm coming your way!

[ Wuwang Hill is foggy and damp on any given day of the year, no matter how much sunshine graces the rest of the Liyue countryside. But today, it feels especially heavy. Wisps dance between the shadows of the pine trees, brave in their approach as they must know that both of these strange individuals that have wandered here in the dead of the night can see them. Even though Zhongli ignores their presence (appearances have to be kept after all), he keeps close to Hu Tao's right side, never letting her get more than two arm's lengths away from him as they go deeper and deeper into the trees.

He also talks incessantly on the way there. By now, Hu Tao has probably suffered through such thrilling topics as the history of Stone Gate, differences in meteorological patterns of northern and southern Liyue, and the multiple uses of pine cones in fragrances and incense. Whether it is to distract her or because Zhongli himself can not sit in silence, who can say?

As he is carefully examining one such pine cone that he made a slight detour to pick up along the way: ]

Being so close to Mondstadt, whose forests are much more rich with pine than our own, its also does invoke a sense of connection between our two nations. Though the trees in the northern Land of Freedom as much taller and thinner, their bark—

[The closer she approached the area, the more she wondered if she should have picked another day to go on this mission. However, as she shook her head, she couldn't allow herself to have any second thoughts. It was not or never as she walked closer in the forest. Mumbling to herself, she wondered what her grandfather would say with all of her doubts. While she know he wouldn't dare say anything rude, it did make her guess if she could handle such a task...

Or at least, her thoughts would have continued were it not for the ramblings of a certain old man next to her. Sighing to herself, she didn't know if she should be grateful that it served as a good distraction or not.]

Zhongli, must we talk about this? As thrilling as it is to talk about such wonderful things, I don't think now is the time to talk about it.

[Because really? Really?]

[ Zhongli turns to her mid-sentence, pine cone still precariously balanced in the palm of his hand. ]

Ah, my apologies. We need not talk about this at all.

[ And he pauses to nestle said pine cone near the roots of a nearby tree where it has the possibility to take root and grow into another magnificent pine. Should nature be willing.

And farther down the foggy winding path they travel. ]

Is there something else you wish to talk about instead?

[There was a moment of silence on her end. What did she want to talk about? There were a couple of things on her mind as she had to get the topic of her grandfather off of her mind. That said, she gave a small hum to herself.]

How do you feel about a little bit of poetry? Shall we have a poetry battle as we wander through the forest?

[Because that was much better than listening to what Zhongli had to say.]

A poetry battle...?

[ He tilts his head to one side, intrigued. He knew that young Miss Hu Tao was a very clever wordsmith, able to out debate people nearly twice her age. Therefore it should be no surprise that the complexities of Liyue poetry should come so easily to her. However,— ]

I am interested, but I'm afraid you'll have to teach me the rules as well as what kind of poetry you were envisioning.

Are you looking for something more traditional or perhaps utilizing the pendants' couple?

[ If it was the latter, then well— surely Zhongli could show off his (non-existant) grasp of this generation's youthful slang. ]

[Indeed, she could definitely make this interesting. While she was aware that Zhongli had a good grasp of poetry, she had to wonder just how much she knew. Not only that, she wanted to make sure that he had some kind of fun in this.

Placing her hand under her chin, she gave a small hum to herself.]

Of course I would be using the pendants' couple! You wouldn't think that I would ever try and make things boring now, would I?

[Because boring was never in her vocabulary! Either way, she'll clear her throat.]

Winds may blow but ice may freeze for it shall turn to dust.

[ Ah.

She was going easy on him, using something more traditional than what he had seen scribbled in the corner of this history books at the parlor. Had she pulled out her full power, Zhongli is not sure that he'd be able to catch up at all. ]

Moons may rise and sun may fall for today shall became the past.

[ Both halves of the couple end up a bit on the solemn side, but poetry was an expression of one's feelings. Perhaps this can be cathartic for the both of them. ]

Ginkgo leaves shed upon the frost waiting for warmer days.

[Indeed, that was quite an interest way to end the couplet. Humming to herself, she wondered if she should go easy on him or not. He was much more traditional compared to herself and should she go full stop, he might have some trouble.]

Be it may for people that seek warmer days, those who walk among the frost shall be amazed.

[Shall she go in for something different or traditional? Hmmm....]

Glowing below their feet shall remind them of sugary sweets as they embark in their memories of happier days.

There is no spring without winter's thaw.

[ He deviates completely from the intended length and alliteration of the verse, perhaps a bit morose and morbid in his addition. But there is no rainbow without a storm, no concept of relief without stress.

Zhongli can only guess what Hu Tao might find on the border between realms, but whatever that might be, he hopes it can bring her the closure that she is looking for. ]

Spectators to the march of time, what is left but awe.

[Indeed, tings were starting to get trickier. Narrowing her eyes, she had to think of something that would surprise him! But the problem was what. For a moment, she didn't say anything and instead, she cleared her throat.]

What does spring do but to bloom and let the cold go?

[Hmm....what could she add here?]

Cold as it might be, may it match with the flow of the sun.

And shine brightly among the stars in the dark night sky.

[ Ah, she really was quite mature for her age— despite (or perhaps in spite of) the exasperated look Zhongli wore when usually in her presence. She would make a excellent if not eccentric director to the Wangsheng funeral parlor. Even if it is much too soon for her to take up such a title. ]

I do believe that I shall have to call you the victor. I couldn't possibly continue to keep pace with your wit and silver tongue.

Are you certain? While you might act older than you are, I truly believe that there is a lot more than you know.

[Of course, she could only make assumptions. For as young as he looked, she was rather impressed with his vast knowledge of things based on the little time she had known him.]

[ When you're a 6000 year old god and can't even hide your divine quirks from a (currently grieving) teenager...

Oh Rex Lapis, save this poor bumbling fool. ]

You flatter me. I know as much as any normal person might now, biased toward my own personal interests and passions.

But if you insist, might I end with one final poem for you to complement?

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Truly it is Hu Tao who suffers in this employer-employee relationship

Indeed, she is

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1000 apologies for the late reply. December, man... Still up for continuing this if you are! <3

How dare you. And for that delay, I shall tag you into forever.

/accepts punishment with open arms

\o

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