※𝕊𝕖𝕒𝕝𝕖𝕕 || ᏀꫀᥒⲊhเᥒ Ꮖꪑρᥲᥴt※

＊{1}＊

＊ 「Alive」 ＊

trigger warning: mentions of blood, vomiting and possibly other bodily injuries

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Deep a top one of the towering stone pillars of Liyue, the Geo Archon stood with a little wooden box. It was heavily wrapped in thick talismans. He walks up to withering stone alter surrounded by flickering candles and six sizeable wooden boxes.

The Archon closes his eyes as he takes in a breath. He began reciting an indiscernible chant, each candle going out one by one. The Archon forces himself not open his eyes when a strong metallic scent hit his nose, he forces himself not to open his eyes as he hears the sounds of tearing flesh, the sickening cracks of bones, and he forces himself not to open his eyes as he hears a rasped voice choking upon in agony.

A stretched out moment of silence is enough for the Archon to open his eyes, revealing a crimson drenched and bare figure lying limply on the ground before the stone alter.
The Archon cautiously walks up to the figure, kneeling on one knee to take a careful closer examine the humanoid kitsune caked in thick blood from head to toe.

Not longer after, the man gasped awake, instantly letting out choked up coughs. The Archon acts quickly and gingerly places the kitsune in a sitting position. The kitsune is quick in lurching not only the ichor filled in his lungs, but his stomach as well.

Once calming down, the disoriented kitsune is taken off guard when he's pulled into a sudden warm embrace by the Archon. The latter not minding their clothing being smothered with blood that isn't their own.
"Are you alright? How do you feel?" The Archon asked as he pulled away from the hug and firmly held the kitsune's shoulder.

The kitsune only stares at the Archon with hazy eyes, expression wearily blank. A small quiet cough with tiny red splatters is all that is given as a response.
Zhongli warily smiles as he sees the dazed and exhausted state the other was in.

Zhongli stares at the ceiling of the tent he had set up hours ago. It was quiet.
The low echoing hollows of the winds, brittle stones cracking and soft breathing of the man sleeping beside him was all he could hear.

Zhongli directs his gaze to the other on his left, staring at them in disbelief. The sleeping kitsune, a faint rusted metallic smell clinged to them even after a thorough wash.

He stares at the kitsune's long white-blond lashes. He stares at the kitsune's long white-blond hair that was now clean of blood, spiralled widely all over the sleeping mat. He stares at the kitsune's red tipped fox ears lightly twitching to the softest of sounds.
He stares at the kitsune's raising and falling chest as they seamlessly breath.

He stares at the darkens once his eyes close.

He stares at piercing ruby eyes once his eyes open.

The kitsune was crouched beside the Archon, his curious eyes staring at the man lying before him.
Those same curious eyes soon turned into those of discontent with brows pinged together, the kitsune has gotten up swiftly and exited the tent.

Zhongli scrambled to his feet and rushed outside, calling out to the other man. "Myōbu!"

Quite suddenly, Zhongli acts fast with pulling out his polearm. The kitsune had lunged at him with his silver, weaponry fans pulled out. The former of the two blocks the attack with his weapon.

"Son of a bitch. You have some serious explaining to do!" The kitsune now known as Myōbu growled when glowering at Zhongli.
Zhongli only stared at the other man in silence.

"Have nothing to say now do you now? What's going on here?! And what on earth are you wearing?!" Myōbu spits out his questions, jumping a few feet back before preparing another incoming attack at the Archon.

"Right now is not the time to be exerting your body." Zhongli stares and it was true. The kitsune was fairly delicate after the successful completion of the ritual.

Myōbu groaned in pain as he rubbed his head.

"If I were at full power... I would have beaten you in one fell swoop..." Myōbu grunted. He snarled as Zhongli gently caressed his face.

"I beg to differ. It was also wrong of me to entertain your desire to fight me, considering you are in a fragile state." Zhongli comments calmly, searching for any severe bruises.

"I swear to Celestia I will strangle you! Let go of me!" The light haired man growled as he shoved the other away from him. Myōbu huffed with his arms crossed and turning away with a pensive expression.

Zhongli stares at him. Knowing exactly what topic was on the other's mind, he's quick to cut through the progressively long silence. Interrupting Myōbu's hesitation to bring up the topic.

"Right now is not the time to worry about that - I have other important matters to discuss with you, but we will make our way to Liyue City before we begin our discussion." Zhongli eerily states and Myōbu looks at him pointedly.

"Liyue City? Seems to be some tacky place to me. I would rather stick a rusted dagger in my eye then stay in such a dumpster." Myōbu huffed, not liking Zhongli's quick aversion to the topic he would've brought followed by going to Liyue City.

The little jab at his own City peeved Zhongli.
"Is that so? I am not deterred from the idea of sealing you away for eternity, with a rusted dagger in your eye as will. Not a bad idea now that I think of it." Professed Zhongli, rather amused. The kitsune only harrumphed.

"Honestly, I dare you and I would love to see you try."

Zhongli folds his arms, readying himself to summon his signature meteor and bring it down on Myōbu.

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