[Jun will nod at the question before heading out. His apartment isn't too far, just further down the corridor and around the corner. He'll unlock his door and let Zhongli in.]
Sorry for the mess-
[The apartment itself...isn't that bad! It's a little cluttered - the bed isn't made, the dishes from the day haven't been done yet, and there's a corner that's messy with clay thanks to Jun's attempts at geo vision pottery (which the sheer number of ceramics both finished and unfinished is a testament to how much he's been working on that). It's definitely the level of mess you'd find in a typical teenager's place- but it wasn't a pigsty.
Besides the mess, the place had some other items in it. His holy sword, which might even be taller than Zhongli, was propped carefully against the wall along with other weapons that Jun's procured (a bow, a normal sized sword, the dagger Zhongli gave him) that'd been carefully stored. The nightstand had his now-dead smartphone and a black book with a cross on the front. In the window a potted Cecilia he bought from Floral Whisper was growing, and scattered around the apartment was a small but growing collection of odds and ends that Jun found pretty or interesting: gemstone fragments, small pieces of art, books, etc.
All in all, it's not a bad apartment...until you reach the bathroom.
The sink wasn't dust yet, but it was in a sorry state. The faucet had been broken off, and the basin was cracked. The water was still running as a mild stream, with a bucket underneath the sink to catch any water that seeped through the basin. It looks like he attempted to use his geo vision and some clay to glue the faucet back on, but boy did it not work. ]
H-Here it is. [Jun says with mild embarrassment. Because obviously. obviously this is the broken sink what else would it be]
[ You know what... he's seen worse. This is still okay.
Zhongli walks through Jun's apartment without commenting on the mess. His gaze lingers briefly on Jun's (very large) sword, then he'll return his attention to the bathroom and the mostly fragmented sink. From what he can observe, it seems that Jun might have used too much force in a short time. Well, mastery of the earth doesn't come easily, so it's understandable. ]
Worry, not, it will be alright.
[ He folds his arms, and a soft warm glow begins to form around the sink's fragments and the faucet. The sink pieces itself back together in midair before descending smoothly to its original position. Some of the water might splash out during the few moments that the basin is airborne, but the sink is effectively good as new. ]
[Yep, if nothing else, it shows that for all duties and responsibilities he shoulders- ultimately he's still a teenage boy.
Jun watches him work, both curious and hoping that maybe he can figure out something to apply to his own skills. But considering Zhongli is Geo Archon with 6000 years of experience under his belt -- yeah it's on par as a kid who just learned their multiplication table watching a rocket scientist calculate orbital velocity.]
Wow...
[Logically he knows this is a pretty dumb mundane to be awed by considering all the other feats Zhongli's done, but still????]
You might've missed your calling as a plumber, Zhongli.
[ It would be difficult for him to explain his reasoning to Jun as well, because so much of his skill over Geo is instinctive. He is the embodiment of the element itself, and the earth around him is as much a part of him as his current vessel. Merely standing on the ground lets him be in tune with the land's breath. ]
Proficiency will come with time. [ No pressure.
Jun won't live long enough to become as good as an Adeptus, though. Unless he becomes one himself. ]
Have I? I do admit to enjoying some reorganisation once in a while. [ Like how he casually reorganized all the rocks inside Jun's bathroom. ]
Haha sure, but I don't think I'll make it to your level. [What with being mortal and all. He doesn't sound bitter about it, it's just a simple fact. ] I have been observing some human geo users, so I know what's obtainable.
[Zhongli really is a meddling grandparent. reorganizing his stuff smh]
Mm, I think it might look better than it did when I moved in.
[ Zhongli chuckles - he's a lot more expressive with Jun, at least compared to other people. ]
I believe there is a Geo Vision user from Teyvat amongst our number. Her name is Ningguang; should you need tips while I am not around, you could seek her out.
[ There are some things here that only he can do. ]
Do you need help with the other rooms? I could neaten them for you too. [ Jun probably spends a lot of his time training, so Zhongli doesn't fault him as much for being a little messy. ]
Ningguang? Oh, I think I've met her. She seems nice. [Also like someone he should never cross, but hey that's not a bad thing] There's also Albedo, one of the Knights of Favonius. He's...a little strange, but he let me see some of his techniques.
[Look he's not great at telling someone's not human without his knight senses ok]
[And then Zhongli offers that, causing Jun to pause outright, freezing with his awkward smile that he makes when he's stuck on what to say. It's such a sincere, well meaning offer ... which possibly makes it worse.
His apartment upkeep is so bad the Lord of Geo feels the need to intervene.
So this is what it feels like when one is "Burnt". Good to know. ]
The hair ruffle catches him by surprise, but fortunately not in a bad way. He's used to receiving those from Ryouta, and the reminder of his dear friend is enough to be comforting. Comforting enough to remind him to breathe and relax a little.
Zhongli's just trying to be friendly and helpful, that's all. It's just how he was. Jun had to remember that. ]
Sorry. [For overreacting] Actually, I've been thinking of making geo constructs to help hang my weapons for storage. Would you mind helping me with that?
[It was something he did need. Just you know, less humiliating than a god making his bed]
[ Kids will be kids. Zhongli may not have raised any of his (effectively adopted) children by hand, but he has had the experience. ]
Yes, I can. What were you envisioning?
[ This seems like a good opportunity for a lesson, so he doesn't mind. Though, he'll have to be slower so Jun can follow his thought and organization process. ]
[Oh good, he can work with this. He'll lead them out of the bathroom and back into the main area]
Nothing too complex, I think. Just some hooks on the wall that'd be strong enough to hold them, but allows me to quickly access them if needed. Like a wall decoration, but useful.
[If that makes sense. As they head over to where the weapons are place, he quickly says-]
Oh, and please don't touch the large sword. It's been sealed since arriving here, but it's imbued with the power of my God. It's better we don't find out what'd happen if you touched it.
[Because it'd either be perfectly fine or it could level the goddamn city and Jun rather not find out which!!]
................ he'll talk about this another time. ]
Hooks that can be toggled open and closed, perhaps? [ There's also the option of turning them into elemental switches much like what one would see in Domains, but that might be too complex for Jun to handle right now. ]
[Look grandpa he doesn't know ok. No one in his training classes asked "what'd happen if the god-powered weapon got handled by another god" and Jun doesn't want to chance being the guy that wiped a city off the map over an Ikea DIY project.
In fact he's just gonna...pick up Arc Legus up and go put it on the bed just to be on the safe side as they talk, which thankfully he can do with ease now that his strength is back. He'll deal with you later, holy sword. ]
Oh, that's a good idea. Would the toggles work by geo power?
[ Zhongli seems to think for a few moments before returning to his usual posture. ]
I could tune them so that they will respond when you try to imbue them with the Geo element. However, such a mechanism may be too complex for you to attempt construction at this point in time. You could build the frame of the structure, and I will add the enchantment.
[ Just like how he made Jun that dagger... speaking of which, it seems oddly faded. He makes a note to recharge it later. ]
[ He waits as Jun tries to assemble the clay he had on hand onto something like a hook for his (very large) sword. Once the overall shape is done, he suggests to Jun that he try to fortify the hook in case it falls or breaks from his sword's weight. Once the clay has hardened into the magical version of porcelain, Zhongli takes a step forward so that he's in front of the wall-mounted hook instead of watching from one side. ]
Shall we?
[ Instead of changing the construct's density or shape, Zhongli chooses to adjust the internal structure of the construct from its previous uniform state. By shaping the interior of the construct such that there are natural paths for energy to flow, he can use these paths to bestow the structure some sort of function. By pooling excess Geo energy in one end of the hook, the excess weight would cause the clasp to fall open. Guiding it in the reverse direction would let it return to its previous shape. Simple, yet the technique of inscribing such paths requires delicacy and a discerning eye. ]
[He grows quiet after that, setting his mind to the task at hand as he works to form the hooks. Jun's improved a lot since his last lesson with Zhongli. He no longer struggles to call on the earth energy, and he's able to roughly form the clay into the shapes he's looking for even if it takes a couple attempts to get it right or to include Zhongli's suggestions. He even attempts to make them look decorative with linework, though his art skill level is on par with a middle schooler's art project. But hey, points for effort.
Then with his job done, it's his turn to watch Zhongli work. He watches carefully, using his Elemental Sight to help track how the energy is working. Not letting any feelings of awe blur his vision, it's easier to see what's happening. It's not exactly the same, Light had different properties than Geo, but isn't completely foreign either. It was about having the finesse to match the spirit frequency and energy pathways. An obtainable skill for him with enough practice, in other words.]
...Interesting. I think I understand what you did there.
[Can he replicate it right now? No. But he gets it, and that's a pretty good step]
[ The complexities of Geo constructs can be demarcated right down to the molecular level, but doing such a thing would either take vast amounts of experience or vast amounts of time. The stability of Geo allows for such careful construction, something not possible with other elements. ]
It takes time, but by observing other elemental mechanisms, you may become familiar with how to enchant such things.
[ Speaking of which... ]
It seems the dagger I gave you has become dull. Let me fix it.
[ He walks over to where the obsidian blade is, placing one hand over the dagger. A warm golden glow surrounds it for a few moments - its surface takes on a bright sheen; as good as new. ]
[A difficult and complicated skill, for sure. Even with his experience with light magic would only help him so far. Still, he can't let that deter him.
Zhongli will draw Jun's attention to the dagger.]
Oh, yeah. It lost its power when I arrived. I thought it was a little odd, since it shouldn't have had the same issue Arc Legus or my abilities did, right? [The dagger was made by the Geo Archon using elemental energy native to Teyvat. By that logic, it shouldn't need to acclimate like him or his sword]
I suppose it may be related to its journey between worlds. While the amount of magic I sealed into it should be enough to last for quite some time, its separation from the earth, no matter how brief, may have changed it.
[ It's a good question, though one difficult to investigate at the current time. ]
Regardless, it is a useful piece of information to know.
[A thoughtful expression crosses his face. He wonders if that's truly all it is. But what other possibility it could be...well, Jun won't vocalize it for now. It's just another piece of evidence to add to the pile. ]
It was no trouble. I should thank you for the food, as well.
[ Adepti do not necessarily need to eat, but Zhongli does so as a form of entertainment. It's a way to experience the world and the culture that his homeland produced. ]
Is there anything else you wish to ask me?
[ Since he's here, he might as well help out all he can before he goes back for the night. ]
[Ah a thank you. Jun never knows how to handle these, since he never feels like he does anything worth gratitude, so he will give an awkward shrug of a shoulder and smile]
Don't mention it..!
[Was that convincing? He has no idea. He's moving on though.]
Haha lots, but I think I've taken up enough of your time for the evening. But maybe we can do this again sometime.
[It'd been a nice time, overall. He wonders if it was similar to what it's like to spend an evening with a relative but...ah, he won't dwell on that. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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Sorry for the mess-
[The apartment itself...isn't that bad! It's a little cluttered - the bed isn't made, the dishes from the day haven't been done yet, and there's a corner that's messy with clay thanks to Jun's attempts at geo vision pottery (which the sheer number of ceramics both finished and unfinished is a testament to how much he's been working on that). It's definitely the level of mess you'd find in a typical teenager's place- but it wasn't a pigsty.
Besides the mess, the place had some other items in it. His holy sword, which might even be taller than Zhongli, was propped carefully against the wall along with other weapons that Jun's procured (a bow, a normal sized sword, the dagger Zhongli gave him) that'd been carefully stored. The nightstand had his now-dead smartphone and a black book with a cross on the front. In the window a potted Cecilia he bought from Floral Whisper was growing, and scattered around the apartment was a small but growing collection of odds and ends that Jun found pretty or interesting: gemstone fragments, small pieces of art, books, etc.
All in all, it's not a bad apartment...until you reach the bathroom.
The sink wasn't dust yet, but it was in a sorry state. The faucet had been broken off, and the basin was cracked. The water was still running as a mild stream, with a bucket underneath the sink to catch any water that seeped through the basin. It looks like he attempted to use his geo vision and some clay to glue the faucet back on, but boy did it not work. ]
H-Here it is. [Jun says with mild embarrassment. Because obviously. obviously this is the broken sink what else would it be]
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Zhongli walks through Jun's apartment without commenting on the mess. His gaze lingers briefly on Jun's (very large) sword, then he'll return his attention to the bathroom and the mostly fragmented sink. From what he can observe, it seems that Jun might have used too much force in a short time. Well, mastery of the earth doesn't come easily, so it's understandable. ]
Worry, not, it will be alright.
[ He folds his arms, and a soft warm glow begins to form around the sink's fragments and the faucet. The sink pieces itself back together in midair before descending smoothly to its original position. Some of the water might splash out during the few moments that the basin is airborne, but the sink is effectively good as new. ]
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Jun watches him work, both curious and hoping that maybe he can figure out something to apply to his own skills. But considering Zhongli is Geo Archon with 6000 years of experience under his belt -- yeah it's on par as a kid who just learned their multiplication table watching a rocket scientist calculate orbital velocity.]
Wow...
[Logically he knows this is a pretty dumb mundane to be awed by considering all the other feats Zhongli's done, but still????]
You might've missed your calling as a plumber, Zhongli.
[...That was a joke ok.]
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Proficiency will come with time. [ No pressure.
Jun won't live long enough to become as good as an Adeptus, though. Unless he becomes one himself. ]
Have I? I do admit to enjoying some reorganisation once in a while. [ Like how he casually reorganized all the rocks inside Jun's bathroom. ]
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[Zhongli really is a meddling grandparent. reorganizing his stuff smh]
Mm, I think it might look better than it did when I moved in.
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I believe there is a Geo Vision user from Teyvat amongst our number. Her name is Ningguang; should you need tips while I am not around, you could seek her out.
[ There are some things here that only he can do. ]
Do you need help with the other rooms? I could neaten them for you too. [ Jun probably spends a lot of his time training, so Zhongli doesn't fault him as much for being a little messy. ]
1/??
[Look he's not great at telling someone's not human without his knight senses ok]
2/3
His apartment upkeep is so bad the Lord of Geo feels the need to intervene.
So this is what it feels like when one is "Burnt". Good to know. ]
3/3 DONE
T-Thank you, but that's okay you don't have to. I-I know how to clean.
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In the absence of anything suitably comforting to say, he gently ruffles Jun's hair. ]
Alright.
[ He won't force Jun to do it. It was only a friendly suggestion, and he intends to keep it that way. ]
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The hair ruffle catches him by surprise, but fortunately not in a bad way. He's used to receiving those from Ryouta, and the reminder of his dear friend is enough to be comforting. Comforting enough to remind him to breathe and relax a little.
Zhongli's just trying to be friendly and helpful, that's all. It's just how he was. Jun had to remember that. ]
Sorry. [For overreacting] Actually, I've been thinking of making geo constructs to help hang my weapons for storage. Would you mind helping me with that?
[It was something he did need. Just you know, less humiliating than a god making his bed]
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Yes, I can. What were you envisioning?
[ This seems like a good opportunity for a lesson, so he doesn't mind. Though, he'll have to be slower so Jun can follow his thought and organization process. ]
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Nothing too complex, I think. Just some hooks on the wall that'd be strong enough to hold them, but allows me to quickly access them if needed. Like a wall decoration, but useful.
[If that makes sense. As they head over to where the weapons are place, he quickly says-]
Oh, and please don't touch the large sword. It's been sealed since arriving here, but it's imbued with the power of my God. It's better we don't find out what'd happen if you touched it.
[Because it'd either be perfectly fine or it could level the goddamn city and Jun rather not find out which!!]
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[ ...
.........
................ he'll talk about this another time. ]
Hooks that can be toggled open and closed, perhaps? [ There's also the option of turning them into elemental switches much like what one would see in Domains, but that might be too complex for Jun to handle right now. ]
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In fact he's just gonna...pick up Arc Legus up and go put it on the bed just to be on the safe side as they talk, which thankfully he can do with ease now that his strength is back. He'll deal with you later, holy sword. ]
Oh, that's a good idea. Would the toggles work by geo power?
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I could tune them so that they will respond when you try to imbue them with the Geo element. However, such a mechanism may be too complex for you to attempt construction at this point in time. You could build the frame of the structure, and I will add the enchantment.
[ Just like how he made Jun that dagger... speaking of which, it seems oddly faded. He makes a note to recharge it later. ]
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Alright, can I still watch you make the enchantment? Even if it's too complex, I'd still like to try to observe it.
[He used to make similar enchantments with light magic. He's wondering if he'll get lucky and find similar methods in how its done]
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[ He waits as Jun tries to assemble the clay he had on hand onto something like a hook for his (very large) sword. Once the overall shape is done, he suggests to Jun that he try to fortify the hook in case it falls or breaks from his sword's weight. Once the clay has hardened into the magical version of porcelain, Zhongli takes a step forward so that he's in front of the wall-mounted hook instead of watching from one side. ]
Shall we?
[ Instead of changing the construct's density or shape, Zhongli chooses to adjust the internal structure of the construct from its previous uniform state. By shaping the interior of the construct such that there are natural paths for energy to flow, he can use these paths to bestow the structure some sort of function. By pooling excess Geo energy in one end of the hook, the excess weight would cause the clasp to fall open. Guiding it in the reverse direction would let it return to its previous shape. Simple, yet the technique of inscribing such paths requires delicacy and a discerning eye. ]
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[He grows quiet after that, setting his mind to the task at hand as he works to form the hooks. Jun's improved a lot since his last lesson with Zhongli. He no longer struggles to call on the earth energy, and he's able to roughly form the clay into the shapes he's looking for even if it takes a couple attempts to get it right or to include Zhongli's suggestions. He even attempts to make them look decorative with linework, though his art skill level is on par with a middle schooler's art project. But hey, points for effort.
Then with his job done, it's his turn to watch Zhongli work. He watches carefully, using his Elemental Sight to help track how the energy is working. Not letting any feelings of awe blur his vision, it's easier to see what's happening. It's not exactly the same, Light had different properties than Geo, but isn't completely foreign either. It was about having the finesse to match the spirit frequency and energy pathways. An obtainable skill for him with enough practice, in other words.]
...Interesting. I think I understand what you did there.
[Can he replicate it right now? No. But he gets it, and that's a pretty good step]
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[ The complexities of Geo constructs can be demarcated right down to the molecular level, but doing such a thing would either take vast amounts of experience or vast amounts of time. The stability of Geo allows for such careful construction, something not possible with other elements. ]
It takes time, but by observing other elemental mechanisms, you may become familiar with how to enchant such things.
[ Speaking of which... ]
It seems the dagger I gave you has become dull. Let me fix it.
[ He walks over to where the obsidian blade is, placing one hand over the dagger. A warm golden glow surrounds it for a few moments - its surface takes on a bright sheen; as good as new. ]
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[A difficult and complicated skill, for sure. Even with his experience with light magic would only help him so far. Still, he can't let that deter him.
Zhongli will draw Jun's attention to the dagger.]
Oh, yeah. It lost its power when I arrived. I thought it was a little odd, since it shouldn't have had the same issue Arc Legus or my abilities did, right? [The dagger was made by the Geo Archon using elemental energy native to Teyvat. By that logic, it shouldn't need to acclimate like him or his sword]
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[ It's a good question, though one difficult to investigate at the current time. ]
Regardless, it is a useful piece of information to know.
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[A thoughtful expression crosses his face. He wonders if that's truly all it is. But what other possibility it could be...well, Jun won't vocalize it for now. It's just another piece of evidence to add to the pile. ]
Thanks for fixing it. And for everything else.
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[ Adepti do not necessarily need to eat, but Zhongli does so as a form of entertainment. It's a way to experience the world and the culture that his homeland produced. ]
Is there anything else you wish to ask me?
[ Since he's here, he might as well help out all he can before he goes back for the night. ]
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Don't mention it..!
[Was that convincing? He has no idea. He's moving on though.]
Haha lots, but I think I've taken up enough of your time for the evening. But maybe we can do this again sometime.
[It'd been a nice time, overall. He wonders if it was similar to what it's like to spend an evening with a relative but...ah, he won't dwell on that. ]
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