Chili Times

A Homesick Starconch Calling

'What do you think of this boiled spicy Wanmin fish, Childe?'

'Oh, you mean this little hottie specialty of our very genius-chef Mao?' Childe winked towards him and took a big spoon of fish mixed with rice into the mouth.
'It's-uhm de-uhm-liciou-um-s'

'Mmm I see... I also think this dish is quite none I have ever tasted before, simply put I also think it's good. But speaking of the sea...'
For a moment, Zhongli's eyes strayed away at some distant point outside a restaurant's window. The Liyue street was as bustling as always, and if it weren't for his connections,
'Have you ever thought,' he continued, 'about why a Starconch, being merely but an empty shell, is said to be able to emit a sound of the ocean waves if you put it up to your ear?'

While progressing with his reflections, entirely focused on Zhongli's wonderful voice, Childe simply kept listening to him, up until the silence that reigned after his last question reminded him to answer it.
'Oh, sorry, I... I... ' He shook his head innocently, and instantly added 'I have never thought of it, yet considering your, um, knowing of things, I'm about to be given the answer soon, right?' finally, smiling wholesomely, he winked towards Zhongli once more, and discretely put another portion of the fish onto his plate.

'Well, actually, not an answer, but I guess you can say... an assumption or a hint. Multiple people come up with a myriad of answers, so the truth could possibly be buried underneath the bunch of wrong ones... Some might say it's the pure imagination of a mind, others might say that it was created by Rex Lapis himself, and it's him who gave it its special sound. Some might even claim there's a monster hidden in its depths, or that the emptiness inside it is in fact a hole to another world... though I must add, that one is quite silly if you ask me, haha'
He chuckled and gracefully poured some jasmine tea to his cup from a teapot.

As Childe listened to him attentively, his eyes haven't but widened in excitement, narrowed in an expression of deep reflection, and still having not, for a single moment, switched its sight from the Zhongli's very own ones.
'Wow... So, it would seem that there are indeed many stories behind it. No matter their authenticity, it is more than fascinating for me to meet them, ha-ha!' he slightly laughed, still amazed, and swiftly continued, 'Well then, my dear friend, which one would you - I mean, you like you - find the most convincing?'

'Well, if you are asking me, it is of course my own take on this strange phenomenon...'

Childe, again, listening carefully, slightly smiled, with some suspiciously vivid expression of a big pleasure to do so.

'... and for I have no evidence to refute or back up my claim, please take this with a grain of salt. Perhaps the cause of its longing calls for the ocean... is possibly influenced by a very place of its origin; that which resides in the sea. There are still a lot of things that this world and Liyue has yet to show us, so it's plausible, isn't it?... Yet that is but a mere assumption of mine, I am sure that others have a more understanding explanation towards this strange occurrence.'

Childe nodded slowly in response, and suddenly gasping a breath, he uttered in excitement.
'Ahh, it makes more sense than anything else, my friend! Ha-ha', as he continued, a lightning-fast blush passed through his face.
'... and I know what we should do, to ease this yearning call for a lost homeland.'

A little bit intrigued, Zhongli gave him an inquiring look, as if trying to see through his mind.

'We are about to give it to them!' In an instant, Childe got up from the chair, reached out for Zhongli's hand, and unexpectedly enough, put something cold inside it.

Zhongli lowered his eyes. It was a starconch. His companion must have been holding it under a table throughout all this time. The starconch, the very one they were talking about, now simply lied before his own eyes.
He did seem a little surprised, but regained his usual, steady facial expression as quickly as well.
'Oh?... This is...'

'Let's do it,' Childe got between his words, 'I actually have a spare one too. Let's see how they like it, meeting the ocean!'
Bursting into laughter, he took out another starconch, and threw it in the air with his other hand just to deftly grab it back.

'Well...' Zhongli spoke up, and after an instant of silence, he continued, 'I guess it wouldn't hurt to hear this... "ocean calling" with you.'
He looked at the starconch for a moment, lifting it up to his ears. Having his eyes shut, he seemed to listen to it very closely, blocking out all other noises from outside. A mindful moment passed, him being left to his focusing, and soon enough... he was able to hear it. The very, very familiar sound of crashing waves. The ocean's masterful performance he hadn't heard in a long, long time.

Noticing Zhongli's reaction and response, Childe moved back a little. He turned his face a bit to the side, trying to cover another blush he had coming up on his face.
'And... u-hm, how was it?'

'It was... a really nostalgic moment indeed.'
Zhongli lifted his eyes, catching Childe's gaze.
'It reminded me of old times, but... it seems your face is a little red. Has that chili in your boiled Wanmin fish finally kicked in?'

Childe literally sprang on his words and instantly started to decline, shaking his head, yet not being able to discard his more and more flushing complexion.
'Ah-ah, no, no-oh, I mean, this, this fish, oh, yass, mmm,' finally shaking it all away and scratching his head, he added, 'it is indeed the most refreshingly exciting taste of the fish, of which choice and recommendation I couldn't have dreamt more to ask you, that is the um - reason for all this... Still,' nimbly changing the topic, 'I'm very glad you liked the Starconch, and yet, we have so much more to do than that! Ha-ha-ha!'

'Ah, I see, it seems you cannot handle the spice. It is nothing to be ashamed of. I will make sure to remember not to order anything too hot next time, so you could be comfortable during our meals.'
His voice as serious, as always, Zhongli simply lifted up another rice ball with his chopsticks, daintily placing it in his mouth.

'Aaa-h' Childe, as lively as he's always been in his company, sprang again on these words, and in a desperate gesture started to mumble.
'No, the fish, this flavor, I - I may look a bit um, not handling it, but I promise, I liked it even more!!! Your choices never cease to please me, besides that...' he winked, smiling, still a little embarrassed and perplexed.

Zhongli observed his reaction, which somehow appeared to amuse him.

'Now... having that settled...' continued Childe, 'I do suggest we head for our starconches' reunion with the ocean now, shall we?'
'Oh, I see... Of course, I hope to experience much more things with you in the future... but speaking of experience, I would first like to try out this "Charsiu Pork Belly", I have never tasted anything with such a name before...

'Mr. Zhongli!!! And... oh... Mr. Childe...'
Out of the sudden, a voice appeared behind their backs.

Childe turned himself in a chair, discovering an arrival of no one else, but Xiangling - the young master chef, a very daughter of a renowned cuisine-genius, Mao, the restaurant owner.

'I'm... I'm afraid I overheard your conversation... talking about this Charsiu Pork Belly... I'm so, so sorry to interrupt... but... would you like to try out our newest specialty, the brand new Lisha Chow Mein noodles instead? Wanmin Restaurant has some special prizes on it prepared for everyone today!

'Ahhh, Miss Xiangling!' Childe hesitated, at first a little bit startled, but after a quick moment of musing he calmed down and nodded considerately in response. Innocently smiling, he swiftly carried on.
'Oh miss, you happen you read our needs even faster and more efficiently than us ourselves! Ha-ha!'

He laughed happily and peeked at Zhongli's side, but naturally, the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's consultant, his dearest friend, showed no hints of what's on his mind.

'I've learned from a special someone already, to tip such master chefs more than enough, it's all on me!'

Childe winked and chuckled towards his companion, who observed the whole occurrence with a great serenity, so characteristic for his personality.

Zhongli finally spoke up in conclusion.
'We would like to take both, thank you.'