> N. The contented happy state you feel when you travel
The smell of the salty breeze and fish filled the lungs of a long, blonde hair man. Eyes closed as he settled at the docks after stepping off the ship. Wearing a crisp white long coat, black fur tufts lined on the collar, the humidity being warmer had caused the stranger to sweat.
Taking the coat off and left it hanging on his left arm while he carried a trunk in the other, a gleaming ice colored blue jewel held by a silver piece that belongs from his homeland, nestled on his left chest like a badge of honor. several badges were pinned besides the gem. Evident that the man had a high position within the army, and was here with trouble.
"General Gusev! Slow down will ya!" A light accented voice called out, the blonde turned with a stone cold expression, "Harbinger Tartaglia." His accent was thicker than the the ginger who now appeared with a larger trunk, "Drop the harbinger title already! I told you that we should start using code names! Like those action packed spy novels that we managed to get from the Yae Publishing House."
"Calling me 'North' or 'Icey' is not really a code name and it's rather tiresome to call you 'Childe' when it really should be 'Child' since I'm babysitting you." The blue eyed man huffed as the higher ranked Fatui member did his iconic laugh.
"Well then, let's go check in to an inn." Tartaglia waved a gloved hand, dismissing the conversation and headed on towards the uper grounds to go up the stairs with Gusev trailing behind the ginger with a small scowl. He regreted following along with Tartaglia and should've went with Signora.
Upon reaching the stairs, Gusev immedietly climbed the stairs without thought, as he only carried a few spare changes of clothes and other necessities. Unlike the man who gawked at the amount of stairs, "And I thought Snezhnaya was bad with stairs.." the younger harbinger grumbled before making his way up with the large trunk.
The Millelith eyed the two and the ship that came from Snezhnaya as there were various Fatui and Snezhnayain's coming off the ship, but two were the most prominent. The General and the Harbinger.
Women whispered to each other as they eyed the two new elegible bachelors that have a lot of wealth to their names. Some taking fancy on the blonde, Vanya Gusev, due to his looks which could be said that it was carved and painted by the Tsuritsa herself.
"Vanyaaa, how much longeeer.." Tartaglia whined while the said man was reading the piece of paper, "Should be within this building as they are stacked upon other stores." One of them being the Northland Bank where they will reside and work in the time being.
Climbing another set of stairs made the red haired harbinger groan in annoyance, he wasn't able to explore the Harbor enough to find souveniers for his family back home, while Vanya was slowly memorising the route to the Bank, but soon, the general will have Liyue mapped down like the back of his hand.
Upon reaching a platform, Gusev tuned in on a story, "Ah, they're telling the historical moments of Liyue." Tartaglia pointed out, noticing the pause in the blonde as he glanced over where the mentions of the battle in Liyue regarding Rex Lapis and the Adepti. "But none of them interest me that well since it's just history, the present time is far more interesting since we will be the cause of-" "Заткнись дурак. Не говори об этом публично! [Shut up, fool. Don't talk about it in public!]"
The blonde turned back to the stares, but had caught sight of amber orange eyes that was watching them, then Vanya went to look back, the eyes no longer in sight. Vanya couldn't place his finger on it, but there was an omnious feeling about those eyes.
Turning back, the two Snezhnayains made their way to their destination.
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After unpacking, the two went their own ways, wanting to explore the harbour with their own plans. One to find something to fight, the other to find any resources available. Of course, the Lantern Right and news of the Outlander heading their way to the Harbor reached their ears, so they had to make preperations beforehand.
Finding a book store that is on the other side of the Northland Bank, Vanya took his time flitting across the books, taking any of interest and any that would contain information about Liyue, with a pouch of Mora in hand, he paid the store owner then made his way to a seat where the story teller originally was, but now gone, leaving more empty chairs to the people, which Vanya glady took a spot to spend his time reading. Waving a waiter over, "Serve me some tea for this fine evening." He said without lifting his eyes from the passage he was currently reading.
"Ah, you must be one of the diplomats from Snezhnaya." A baritoned voice reached the blonde's ears, who's ice blue eyes finally lifted from the book towards the stranger.
The man was Liyuen from the accent, wearing more duller colors of the earth, from mostly shades of browns, occasionaly golden yellow or orange. The eyes were a deep amber color, much like the eyes that he caught in the morning.
"And if I am?" Vanya questioned with a poised expression, excluding the raised eyebrow, the stranger chuckled before seating himself at another chair at the table, "I see that you're interested in our Deity, Rex Lapis, or known as Morax in terms of world wide. Of course, he had other names, but that doesn't necessarily matter now."
Vanya's expression changed, but it quickly returned to a cooled expression, "Oh? Can you elaborate what you mean?" the brunette blinked, as if caught off-guard, "Oh, I meant that Rex Lapis doesn't usually go about with his other names, even as he changed his form. So most referred to him, especially in Liyue, Rex Lapis."
The two spoke with each other, talking about various things about Liyue, the blonde general occasionally prying into Morax's history as well. The stranger with amber eyes, spoke as if he knew Morax himself, "Oh, forgive me, I haven't realized how much time has passed, nor have I told you my name. Please, call me Zhongli." the now named stranger glanced at the sky which had now darkened considerably.
"It was a pleasure to meet you, Zhongli. Call me Gusev, or Vanya if you want to make this meeting a blossoming of friendship." A miniscule smile made it's way to the Snezhnayan's face and held a hand out, which the brunette took with a more larger smile than the General's, "Then it was a pleasure to meet you, Vanya."
The two continued conversing as they made their way back to the bank, Zhongli had then bidded Vanya a good night, and left. The nitght watch guard, Nadia, watched with keen interest, she heard that General Gusev hardly showed any intimance with anyone other than the Tsuritsa and a few of the Harbingers. Of course, Tartaglia not being apart of it.
"General Gusev, Sir Tartaglia had sent papers in your office. There's also a letter from La Signora that had been recently delivered to you." A member of his troop announced to the blonde, who was stationed by the door that Vanya came through, "I see. Then I will be in my office."
The icey blue eyes glanced the Liyuens that came to the bank for money, none of them catching his eyes, so he turned to the stair case and went up to his office that was unfornuately near the Harbinger's. Sitting at his desk was the papers and envelope. Prioritising the letter first since it was from La Signora, he took a letter knife and sliced it open cleanly before reading the contents of the letter.
What contained in the letters, was the details about Liyue's Archon. And who the archon is pretending to be in this generation.
"Well this is certainly exciting."
The letter that was in his hands, was burned to ashes in the fire that was in the fireplace.
"Looks like fate truly does want us to meet. Zhongli."