hydrangeabloom | Forever and again

[ His boots sink into the muddied grass, soaked with blood as he maneuvers strategically around the bodies strewn across the plains. A masked man ahead turns and hurries to him, offering a bloody parchment as they speak, the wind locking up as dark clouds curb threateningly above them. ]

"Sir, this group seems to have been tasked with finding the two traveling companions that recently fled from Sumeru and met with failure."

[ the parchment is swiped from their hands roughly, causing them to go silent as their superior walks by them to stare out across the Guili Plains of Liyue. Although his hood conceals his features, his voice doesn't suggest he's very interested in their newest location (and yet, something about it...) ]

So they fled to the Geo Archon's domain, did they? Find the Boughkeeper, I'll deal with her.

[ I told you, oujou-chan. you can't run forever with my sights set on you. Not even Morax can save you from the all-devouring Abyss.]

[ The massive dragonlike creature is not what he expects to be in his way to his target. Fear doesn't dot his features or his one visible eye, even when Azhdaha's head lowers to snort in Ajax's face causing him to flinch from the force of the air like the wind. It's enough to blow his hood off, revealing light messy colored hair and a young face. So much for keeping himself disguised—not that it really mattered who or what saw him. He folds his arms, now staring up at Azhdaha as if expecting him to realize he's in the way and rectify his mistake. Behind the massive geo spirit a blonde haired girl peers out from by the creature's hind leg, staring her pursuer down as she catches her breath.

With no response from the beast, Ajax tilts his head before beginning to speak, his voice strangely alluring and calm in tone despite clearly being there for less that pleasant reasons. ]

Hello, are you Rex Lapis's guard dog? I have no quarrel with you or your master, but the girl is mine, and I don't take kindly to anyone or anything getting in the way of me getting to my things.

[ why is the spirit protecting the girl, anyway? In addition to that, he isn't quite sure what the geo elemental is suffering entirely, but he does sense that it is inflicted with decay. It's not Abyssal decay, though, which means he has no ability to manipulate it to his advantage. As much as he would love to try and get the geo archon's attention by clashing with his followers, Ajax has no time for that right now. He takes a slow breath exhaling in slight exasperation before lifting his hand up, dark hydro energy spinning itself threateningly as if to call upon a coming storm. ]

Now, get out of my way—

[ The hydro energy caressing Tartaglia's palm begins to slow, sluggish against some invisible force that works against it. Another moment passes. And then another before the energy itself congeals and drips down to the grass below as so much mud. Sharp shattered crystallized of intertwined geo and hydro energy (that could not form into their respective elements) break against the ground as another figure makes his presence known. ]

His name is Azhdaha, and he has no master.

[ Morax's tone is leveled and unbothered as he looks upon the mortal that has entered his domain. Azhdaha can surely deal with one mortal child and does not require his intervention, but something draws Morax to this encounter all the same. Perhaps it is the mussed red hair the same color as early autumn or a voice and a face of someone dear to Morax that he had lost long ago.

Not that he would ever see Ajax again. And how horrible of a person is he to assume that every man from Snezhanaya looks like his lost person.

Morax comes to stand on Azhdaha's right as he always does, the dragon humming his amusement at the brash warrior in front of him. He says nothing and does nothing, having found that when people think you a mindless beast, the revealing of his true self to be all the more effective in turning the tables. ]

You speak boldly for an outlander on Liyue soil. If this encounter should come to blows, know that you will not walk away the victor.

[ The statement is said matter-of-factly without a drop of pride or arrogance. It simply was the way of the world after all. ]

Might you have better luck in explaining yourself.

[ Ajax is initially silent, his head canting to one side as he observes the crystallization before lifting his gaze towards the newcomer. So someone else was here, afterall. who that someone is he doesn't know, but if he has to guess...?

The light smile he graces the stranger with is disarming, his tone deceptively friendly as if he wasn't just told he was going to get an ass kicking by someone that knows nothing about him in response to his own initial insinuated threat. (then again, isn't that the way of all of those under Celestia? They would never know, never care to know nevermind hope to understand.) ]

Oya... do you promise~?

As for explaining myself... I usually avoid talking to anyone long enough for that kind of thing, unless they want to fight or take me out to dinner. And something tells me you aren't interested in doing either, sadly.

[ his focus turns back towards the girl in silent warning, but she's as stubborn as ever. ] I only care about taking her back with me. I'll even leave Liyue quietly in return. I don't see how either of you could find this business interesting enough to involve yourselves in, anyway.

[ Ah. This mortal is equally part brash and overconfident to wish to challenge a stranger on their home domain. And even with odds sorely not in his favor. Perhaps the eyepatch was a natural conclusion to such an attitude, though it seemed like the other did not let it impede him the slightest.

But now was not the time for such thoughts. ]

She has been granted asylum.

[ Everyone knows that Liyue was known for taking in refugees from all walks of life. Even followers of gods that Rex Lapis or his allies had vanquished were welcome with open arms as long as they adhered to the rules set forth by the Geo Archon. Why should this girl be treated any differently? ]

Unless you have good reason for me to release her into your custody, I will not do so. If you will not respect the order of this land, then you should leave quietly all the same.

A good reason? That's pretty subjective, don't you think?

[ How obnoxious.

Ajax stiffens a little in displeasure at the response. Nevertheless, he doesn't snap a retort immediately, bringing a hand to his chin as he serious considers what to do about this. Does he start a fight? As much as he would like to, this isn't fighting for sport, he actually needs to accomplish a mission. But that geo spirit is powerful.

Which means the other... ]

So, you are... Rex Lapis, then? To make such demands when you know nothing about the situation.

[ his voice is soft and unaggressive, more seeking to simply verify who this individual bossing him around is. While there's a current lack of aggression, nothing suggests that he's planning to back down. Not yet, anyway. ]

Or do you?

[ All things are subjective — even history is written in the eye of the victor. But Rex Lapis supposes that the warrior from Snezhnaya does not care about such things. His mission must be quite important indeed for him to venture this far into Liyue and still act so forwardly, and that alone concerns Zhongli more than whatever reason this girl is running from her aggressor.

The explanation is just as much for Rex Lapis's benefit as it would work in the boy's favor. A fair exchange in the eyes of the God of Contracts. ]

I know her side of the story. But not yours.

Thus the opportunity to tell your side is available should you wish to take the opportunity.

[ If only the Fatui would see the merit in it as well.

(He does not answer if he is Rex Lapis. He rarely does when asked. The foregone conclusions of those who meet him are a more powerful tool than announcing his presence could ever be.) ]

[ Ajax hisses under his breath before sneering. ]

One of the seven puppets of Celestia in the flesh. You're smaller than I imagined.

[ he says it fully aware that Morax can easily change size and form. ]

You don't need to hear mine. You're from Celestia, I'm from the Abyss. We'll never see eye to eye. [ he speaks, but he doesn't sound particularly venomous. There is no impression that he enjoys it is proud of his association with the Abyss, either, but accepts it for what it is. His gaze shifts, his one visible eye looking to the girl now one more time.]

Well, when you're done trying to run from your destiny, princess, I'll be waiting. Just don't get any silly ideas: you aren't leaving this country unless it's with me. That's a promise.

[ without another word, Ajax pulls his hood back up to let his features sink back into the shadows beneath the fabric and turns to walk away from the group. Even he knows 3 against 1 are not odds he can afford (even if they are thrilling and he would love to accept them for the challenge.)

The girl watches him go, seeming conflicted about him leaving despite her having clearly been not okay with his pursuit of her. She opens her mouth finally, calling after his retreating form.

"There's no way I'm going anywhere with you when you won't even tell me your name!"

He answers but doesn't pause or turn around for a very dismissive effect. ]

We've been through this before, it doesn't magically change— I don't have one.

[ the girl looks annoyed now, huffing and refusing to continue trying to talk to him lest he might think she actually wants him around. Once he's out of sight, she'll slip around Azhdaha to his front and look up at him. "Um... thanks for helping me out there."

She glances at the man next to the dragon as well with a smile.

"You, too."]

Edited 2024-02-03 05:38 (UTC)

[ A human from the Abyss with no name and talks of destiny. Rex Lapis stays quiet for the majority of the exchange, relieved that this encounter did not end in conflict. That is not to say he would be worried about being victorious with himself and Azhdaha here, but any injuries and involvement take resources from elsewhere and he does not want to add a counterattack from the Abyss to his already long list of potential threats to be on the lookout for.

And thus, this chapter of the story closes — the strange encounter between Morax and a human who wore the face of a friend long since deceased. There was simply no time to dwell more on the matter.

Well, that is—

Until the mortal truly did become Rex Lapis's problem. ]

[ For Ajax, the first time he has to really run he doesn't exactly choose where to go. He simply runs, staying one step (or more) ahead of his pursuers.

So why he is where he is when he's been injured and actually cornered doesn't really register to him. His pursuers are ever relentless, and he can no longer tell what they even are any longer, but a best guess is they are experiments just like him. If they have the power of the Abyss or just something like dark gods' lingering hatred used as a superhuman drug, he's not sure, but they definitely can keep up with him when other humans would never be able to.

As for Ajax's injuries, they may or may not be from the enemy, but either way they've got him running out of options to do anything other than kill. ]

I'd keep your distance if I were you unless you want to end up just like me.

[ as if on cue to demonstrate, he coughs violently, bringing his hand to cover his mouth as blood starts spilling from between his fingers and the sides of his hand. When he drags his hand away , wiping the blood, his hand also drops something soaked in blood— petals and the head of a flower that resembles red spider lilies. it drops into the soil in a pool of blood, and it does cause the pursuers to hesitate. ]

What, not here just to drag me back for this stupid thing? That's surprising.

[ it's really not, but he can't let them sense how much struggling he's doing to keep up appearances, especially when they still seem to have some instinct of survival rather than modified to be mindless killing machines. If he fights and kill them now, this parasite they forced on him will only thrive further. He doesn't want to taint this land with it if he can avoid it.

...I really feel like I could use some help right now. First time for everything. ]

Get back, you damn cowards. Or stop wasting time and come at me already. Even I like to have some time to myself here and there without someone up my ass.

[ the Abyss infused hydro swirls about his hand before turning into a blade that he grips tightly with his bloodied hand, holding it defensively. ]

[ It's been weeks if not months since Zhongli has seen the strange Abyss-tainted warrior from well, he assumes Snezhnaya, but perhaps that is not something he should assume at all. There have been glimpses of him from time to time, wandering the wilds of Liyue — always in the most monster ridden terrain and never in the same place twice.

Really, Rex Lapis should throw him out for stalking the young woman still in his care. But he never gets close to her (Azhdaha makes sure of that), and in the warrior's copious spare time he has handled more than one monster or remnant of a dead god that the Archon would have had to call upon his Adepti for. Rex Lapis watches from the shadows then, ready to intervene should the young warrior be overwhelmed. But he never is. Nor does he acknowledge the Geo Archon's presence.

And so the two of them pass each silently like ships in the night.

Until today. When the mortal's injuries are too severe to ignore. And regardless the reason, Zhongli cannot ignore a man injured wearing that face. It brings him back to that storm so many centuries ago, where Ajax surely would have perished if he had not intervened.

Rex Lapis keeps his distance, but openly makes his presence known all the same. He doesn't want to startle the man into doing something foolish. ]

I am not here to drag you back anywhere.

[ Zhongli's eyes drift to the blood spattered across the man's clothes, the petals that fall from his lips (ah, did this man's heart belong to another), and the hydro blade gripped tightly in his hand. How resilient he must be, to handle his element when injured so gravely. ]

On the contrary, asylum is provided to all that seek it in Liyue. So I am here to offer you shelter and rest if you wish to take it.

[ his one visible eye widens in surprised before he seems cautious and suspicious of the sudden offer and who it's coming from. He glances around, then, as if to find who the familiar stranger is actually talking to.

There's no one else— is he hallucinating, maybe then? ]

...I'm in Liyue again? [ did he subconsciously run here rather than 'home', or whatever was as close to what that word truly meant. ]

Yes, you are in Liyue.

Come.

[ And he offers a hand out to the man, basalt fingers tinged with gold geometric lines running up the length of his arm and disappearing under the whites and gold of his robes. ]

You are injured such that it is taking a toll on both your body and mind. It is not safe for you to remain here.

[ Not for the man and not for who he might attack in his defensive state. ]

[ there clearly some hesitance, as if accepting will have it blown up in his face or be let of a huge joke he's not part of. Nevertheless, if he can't discern from his pursuers then he's losing more risk to others that don't deserve to get involved.

Biting his lower lip, Ajax finally reached out with his unbloodied hand even as the hydro weapon deconstructs and disappears. ]

...Okay.

[ Morax's fingers close around the man, firm but not painful before he turns to walk without another word leading him farther into Liyue. If Ajax were to both to look behind, he would see the earth subtly shift and change, covering their footsteps as well as the terrain to keep whoever is pursuing him off their trail.

Meanwhile, Rex Lapis's steps are slow and steady as they navigate the canopy of sandalwood trees before descending stone steps into a large wide valley. Tall mountains on all sides keep Jeuyen Karst protected from outsiders though one would have to be incredibly foolish (or disoriented like Ajax) to stumble into the domain of the Adepti.

Once they've made their way to the very lowest part of the valley, Morax leads the injured man to a large body of water, stretching to almost the edge of the mountains yet shallow for its massive width. He brings him to rest under the golden leaves of a mature ginkgo tree. ]

Rest here. And I shall tend to your wounds.

[ he's quiet as they go not really in b the mood for light conversation from his condition. The slow lowering of his adrenaline the longer they walk and nothing bad happens assists with somewhat tranquilizing him as well.

So he lets the geo archon lead him until suddenly he realizes he has been guided to sit under the tree. There's a nervous chuckle at him talking about taking care of his wounds& mdash; really? The geo archon is going to personally attend to him even after his their first meeting went? ]

Th...anks... I don't think you're able to be infected by this shitty parasite, but be careful all the same. All I really need is some rest, so don't trouble yourself unless you really want to for some reason.

If you are speaking of the flowers, then no I do not believe that particular ailment to be transferable. Nor am I concerned over your Abyssal aura.

[ Rex Lapis crouches in front of him, managing to make the position regal and elegant even as he crosses his wrists over one knee. ]

You are injured and in my domain. And I am certain you have seen me kept watch as you have slaughtered creatures in my domain even if it was only for your own purposes. Those actions protected the people of Liyue all the same.

In the honor of fairness, Liyue can take care of you in the same manner until you can be on your way.

[ The other seems to know more than Ajax himself concerning the flowers, so he'll take his word for since he doesn't understand anything about it. At least not why he coughs them up like that.

He shrugs slightly in reply, not trying to argue with the other about his offer, instead just sinking further beneath the hood of his cloak as he goes to lift it back over his head. ]

...I'll stay here, then.

Thank you. We shall take good care of you until you are fit to move on your own again.

[ Taking the gesture as both an affirmation and a request for conversation to be kept to a minimum (something that Rex Lapis was well versed in his less social adepti), he kneels down next to the young man and gets to work.

The wounds are washed with the pure (and perhaps stinging waters of Jueyun Karst), dried, and then covered in an ointment mixed from qingxin, violet grass and mist flower corolla before being bandaged in gauze made from silkflowers. There is nothing Rex Lapis can do regarding the miasma and other dark energy that leaks from the wounds. Nor for any petals that are coughed up during the process. ]

[ it certainly helps Ajax overall that the other tends to his injuries even if he can't do anything about the more treacherous (but less immediate) concerns. He's been doused in this miasma since as long as he can remember, and although the coughing up of petals and flower heads is somewhat a more recent development, it still feels like it's just part of what he has to deal with.

He does cough a few times, but he is quick to turn away from Morax and cough into his hand before wiping his hand rather sullenly on the grass next to him to remove the blood and wet petals.

One thing he realizes is that this feeling makes him... homesick. He doesn't know where home would be, though. He also never recalls anyone tending to him like this, so what gives...? ]

Edited 2024-02-05 06:45 (UTC)

[ As Morax wraps the gauze carefully around Ajax's fingers, a geo splint keeping the two broken ones straight for the time being: ]

I can prepare a tea for the cough, but it will only ease the scratching of your throat. You best have a trained healer have a closer look.

[ Something stirs within his stone heart (faint as all things at are not logical and agreed upon contracts are this day). It is not quite pity. Grief for certain as such was a disease he would not wish upon anyone.

Grief... and something more. ]

[ Ajax doesn't turn his gaze forward to Morax, but he does side glance to his efforts to take care of his hand, only glancing up to the archon's face at his mention of a healer. ]

If the most powerful of the archons can't do anything about it, how can a trained healer?

[ he is teaching, though, a small smile tilting the curves of his mouth upward. ] Just messing with you.

Unfortunately... There's no healer or doctor that can do anything about it. And the ones in Snezhnaya don't even know what it is.

... Not to mention, I'm pretty sure they are the ones that caused this anyway through their experiments. So they won't do anything about it unless they want to for some reason; and then I have no choice if I'm caught.

[ a small beat of silence is followed by:]

Tea would be really nice, though. Thanks.

Edited 2024-02-06 01:50 (UTC)

[ Morax furrows his brow — about to comment on the fact that being an archon has nothing to do with healing capabilities and his are rudimentary are best. But his thoughts are derailed by the young man saying that the disease was artificially induced. Through experimentation, no less.

Ah.

Perhaps he should try a bit more to keep him here under the protection of Liyue. Like with young Xiao, he senses a code of honor buried underneath the agitated demeanor and blood on his hands.

The two of them may not be so different after all. ]

It sounds like you current — master — I believe you said before... does not treat you very well.

Yeah, I guess. [ he says it with a small shrug. ]

I don't really remember, I was pretty young. [ he says it as if he isn't still young now. ]

But I think it's pretty common in humans with power that other humans are just numbers to use to get to the top. [ basically, what does he really have to complain about here, even if he's throwing up blood and flowers which is absolutely not normal. ]

Anyway, I just want it to calm down to stop being so difficult to deal with in every day life, that's enough for me. I don't need to be treated well by anyone else.

I see.

[ If any of that is supposed to paint the situation in a more favorable light, it fails to do so. And while it is true that humans left to their own devices can default to developing a class hierarchy, that is a very pessimistic view of the world. People should form a community, augmenting each other passions and skills to create a unified and cohesive whole. Rex Lapis hopes that Liyue stands to be an example of such a place.

But the young man is obviously from a less fortunate and more troubled place.

Best to let him be for now. And honor his wish (as gods are wont to do) — to try and ease the symptoms of his illness. ]

Then please rest for a moment.

I shall return with the tea.

[ Ajax nods, but when Morax steps away to a point where the human thinks he can't see, he drops his act to recouperate. His posture slumps against the tree trunk, his expression contorts into discomfort as he clutches his chest, silent wretches as he jerks forward only this situation offers no chance to hide the issue. He says nothing when he starts choking before it turns into a productive cough, albeit ananother few red petals accompany it in blood soaked as if being marinated. a small sigh escapes him before he leans back against the tree, choosing to stare up at the very vivid leaves of gold that distract him from the vibrant red and tints of black that he's been spewing. It's been such a long time now since this started. Does Morax know what it is even if it's an experiment?

...He guesses it's possible. ]

I'll stare directly into the sun but never the mirror.

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