POST-ROUND 2 MINGLE

[idolpro]

[ Once the decisions have been made, everyone is ushered—though those gentle tugs—out their respective mud rooms into the courtyard. An impossibly tall and incredibly dense garden hedge divides one half of the courtyard away—moreover, it increasingly gets taller when climbed, preventing its residents from escaping their slice of the courtyard. From beyond, idols can hear the distant sounds of something rumbling—perhaps it's the ground shaking. . .

The roster is visible on a large screen, though as time progresses, certain names are blacked out. . . ]

[ Mouths and Hands will be able to transform into monsters at-will, though Hands are much more diminutive and Mouths have supernatural abilities at their disposal. Moreover, unit abilities are on. ]

Comments

[cecilias]

[ He stops struggling, going limp instead. ]

I guess it is.

Are you alright?

[leaveofabsence]

[ Good wind sprite. He lifts his claw and settles it on the ground next to him. ]

Of course.

[cecilias]

[ He eyes the claw as it settles. Have you ever seen a wind sprite sulk/pout while being made of about a billion wings and eyes? It's almost comical, really. ]

You don't seem like it at all.

[leaveofabsence]

[ A billion puppy dogs eyes and all Zhongli does is heave a great sigh. His claws click, click, click against the stone. ]

A bold claim.

Are you sure you're not projecting?

[cecilias]

You won't even let me hold you, even though that's what I want to do most . . . hmph. It's like you've regressed a thousand years all over again!

[leaveofabsence]

Perhaps it was because the me of three thousand years ago was right all along.

[cecilias]

[ FROWNS ]

About what, exactly?

[leaveofabsence]

Emotions muddy the waters.

[cecilias]

Bone-headed Morax . . . you can't just get rid of emotions because they're troublesome.

[leaveofabsence]

Get rid of? No.

But all can be silenced with enough self-discipline.

[cecilias]

[ Eyeing the claw on the ground next to him ]

Is that what you're doing right now?

[leaveofabsence]

[ Flatly: ]

No.

I have nothing to silence.

[ He's trying to look Venti in the eye but it is very difficult with so many eyeballs. ]

Should you not worry more about yourself?

You seem to be quite popular as prey both in game and out.

[cecilias]

[ . . . ]

If there's nothing there to silence, then there's nothing for you to be worried about either, hmm?

[leaveofabsence]

I meant for yourself.

Why worry about you? Freedom cares little of the opinion of others.

[cecilias]

Ha! Well, if you said it, I guess it must be true.

Still, you're being very transparent today. Any other truths you've been avoiding saying?

[leaveofabsence]

[ He pulls his claws back to fold them and rest his snout upon them, closing his eyes. ]

You are not taking me seriously.

[cecilias]

Nonsense. I believe you believe your own words.

[leaveofabsence]

Your own phrasing indicates you do not perceive them the same.

[cecilias]

Regrettably, your indifference for me doesn't change my feelings for you, or your regard. Wouldn't that be convenient for everyone, though?

[leaveofabsence]

Ah, it seems I was mistaken. It has now been amended to you putting words in my mouth.

Do you wish to speak plainly for once?

[cecilias]

Certainly. It's a simple thing.

[ His many wings shift, along with the sound of chimes ]

I love you more than anyone. No more, so no less.

[leaveofabsence]

And I believe you.

Yet this is not the first time you have called my feelings indifference.

[cecilias]

"I have nothing to silence."

"Why worry about you? Freedom cares little of the opinion of others."

[leaveofabsence]

[ There is a long slow steady blink. A short circuiting, if you will. Where the revival's poison of screaming at him to hate and be wary and trust nothing and no one - it would be so easy to say yes. To say that was all true.

Yet somehow the words never come.

And one of Zhongli's strongest defense mechanisms rises up automatically as easily as his shield. To let others think what they will. To watch history turn and twist over time. ]

As you say it is then.

[ And a never used defense mechanism to turn to exit the conversation ]

[cecilias]

[ There's a brief ripple through the maw of wings and eyes, like maybe they're about to strike. But they're stayed in the end, allowing Zhongli to leave unchallenged.

Perhaps this one is just not a fitting target. ]