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[childeishly]

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[childeishly]

...mm. [ a slow nod as he looks from dish to dish to dish; trying to keep his focus on anything but the conversation at hand, since he's not sure he'd like to think all that much about it. it's not just his association with that fatui that made things difficult for him back in teyvat, though that certainly had a lot to do with it. ]

[ moving on: ] We should probably figure out what we're going to write to send up with the lantern...

[leaveofabsence]

Caeli...

[ He traces his fingertips down Childe's jaw, trying to get him to look at him if only for a moment. ]

Have I said something to upset you?

[childeishly]

[ he lets him, flashing him a small smile when their eyes finally meet. ] No, but we should probably avoid talking about stuff like that... talk about a mood killer. Now, c'mon, help me think of something to write. We should let it go before the others drift too far off.

[leaveofabsence]

[ He smiles gently at Childe in return. ]

I must admit I feel a little selfish. Seeing as I've already had one wish granted today.

[childeishly]

Heh, that makes two of us, Xiansheng, so there’s no need to feel selfish. [ brushes his bangs aside to drop a kiss on his forehead. ] Let me hear what you want.

[leaveofabsence]

One does not speak aloud of what they write on the lanterns. That is for the eyes and ears of the adepti who encounter the wish.

But.

[ He taps Childe on the nose. ]

I do have one.

Do you?

[childeishly]

Going to let me read it then? Or will it simply stay a secret forever?

Mm, I don’t know~, I’m sure I can think of something.

[leaveofabsence]

I suppose I could let you read it. Though once you have, you will know it's no secret.

[childeishly]

Oh? consider me even more curious. [ he moves the lantern sitting beside them aside and takes a piece of paper and pen, offering it to zhongli. he circles his arms around him lazily, head quirked, as he fingers the ends of his ponytail. ] Let’s see what you’ve got.

[leaveofabsence]

[ And so he writes in Liyuen:

That the country of Liyue and all its people - those in the harbor, those that dwell in the villages, its protectors, and its visitors - come to know the peace and happiness I have experienced today.

]

[childeishly]

[ reading upside down is difficult, but he manages. his wish isn’t surprising in the least, but he supposes liyue is his baby, in a sense. ]

…the happiness that you experienced today, huh? [ chuckles, his hand sliding up zhongli’s back and brushing at the tufts of hair on the back of his neck. ]

[leaveofabsence]

[ He leans into the touch, holding the paper for Childe to take and add his own wish. ]

Yes.

You make me happy, Caeli.

[childeishly]

...ah, I'm... I'm real glad, Xiansheng. [ takes the paper. ] Let me just think of something...

[leaveofabsence]

[ Oh.

He's really putting Childe through the emotional wringer here.

Zhongli shifts so that he can sit beside Childe instead of on his lap and rests his head calmly on his shoulder, one hand on Childe's knee. ]

Of course.

Take all the time you need.

[childeishly]

...ah, hm. [ childe takes the pen and starts scripting in snezhnayan: To the glory of Shnezhnaya and to Her Majesty the Tsaritsa. May her conquest of Teyvat end with Celestia's collapse. To the health and safety of my amazing family. he pauses, gaze wandering to zhongli for a precious moment, his lips curving up into a smile. And to Zhongli, who showed me that happiness isn't something just in storybooks. ]

[leaveofabsence]

[ This soft boy. Zhongli leans over to kiss the corner of that smile, just a bit teasing but also so so fond. ]

Ambitious as ever.

Perhaps we should pull down a couple more lanterns for those extra wishes.

[childeishly]

[ he turns his head, chasing after another kiss as he brings his hand to zhongli’s cheek. ] I think it’ll be fine. Although if you’d like to make another wish, maybe something we can come up with together, then… [ he drops a kiss on his lips and stands to pluck one out of the sky. ]

[leaveofabsence]

[ He laughs, ruffling Childe's hair affectionately. ]

A joint wish? Hmmmm.

Perhaps we could make a wish for the other couple that has so graciously spent time with us today.

[childeishly]

I don’t think they really minded, but if you insist, what will you have me write?

[leaveofabsence]

Perhaps something regarding their good fortune. They seem perfectly capable of handling themselves otherwise.

[childeishly]

Sure, that works. [ starts writing: To Five and Alexander’s good fortune and to their everlasting love. ] How’s this sensei?

[leaveofabsence]

Perfect.

[ And once the wishes are attached to said lanterns, Zhongli laces his fingers with Childe and moves to stand up so they can make their way to the edge of the roof. ]

[childeishly]

[ squeezes zhongli’s hand and joins him at the edge of the roof clutching their own lantern. ] Is there anything else we have to do Xiansheng?

[leaveofabsence]

[ Places his own hand under Childe's. ]

No. Just releasing it together.

[childeishly]

[ turns his head to kiss zhongli's cheek again. ] Alright, let's do this. [ he lifts his lantern up, letting the breeze catch it, as he leans more heavily into zhongli to watch it rise into the air. ]