TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ 4

[avalonmods]

{ QUICK NAV } Premise ⚔️️ Rules ⚔️️ FAQ ⚔️️ Taken ⚔️️ Reserves ⚔️️ Apply ⚔️️ Locations ⚔️️ Bestiary ⚔️️ Top-Levels Only ⚔️️ A ⦿ Soaking in Your Arrival KERPLUNK, SPLASH! Regardless of what you were in the middle of, you and your familiar have been magically pulled into the world of Avalon just above the Bay's chilly waters. After a brief plunge into the Bay, the rush of water filling your ears and soaking up into every creak and crevice of your body, you may need to cough to clear your airways when you rise above the surface. It's paralyzingly cold for a few seconds before you're approached by the Lady of the Lake beneath the water's surface. She puts a vial of a vibrant, glowing red Everwarm* potion to your character's lips. The icy water doesn't feel so icy once consumed and you'll be able to move your limbs enough to swim to shore on your own. She can't stick around to explain, she's got to get this to all the new arrivals! Many of which you'll see plopping in around you. If you can't swim, a handful of helpful ice turtles will scoop you up from beneath and drop you off at the shore. It's a fast process, as they no longer have to collect possessions and pets from drowning in the waters, so they're only needing to go around hitting the ice that keeps forming on the surface with their shells to keep the surface open for the falling arrivals. If anyone tries to ask the Lady of the Lake for directions, she will direct you to Archimedes at the Rent-a-Ride. If anyone with Animal Magic asks the turtles, they will give the full spiel, but very slowly, and they like to get off topic and gossip about other turtles you've never heard of. The shores themselves are littered with new arrivals complaining their way up a staircase carved into the walls of the White Cliffs. There is no railing, so be careful, but if you do fall, be prepared for a mysterious sand hand to reach out of the side of the cliffs to catch you. The hand will pat you atop the head twice before retreating back into the wall. This is the Cliff Beast; despite the name, he is quite friendly. B ⦿ The Caravan to Camelot Once everyone is wrangled up to the top of the White Cliffs, the handsome owner of the Rent-a-Ride, Archimedes, will distribute smart phones, a pair of earbuds, and a winter cloak** and tell them to "Check the Shit Box." The "Shit Box" refers to wardrobe more formally known as the Wardrobe of Finding, a hammerspace-like wardrobe that opens to each person's items and pets when the person touches the handle. It was recently enchanted by Merlin to prevent people from having to fish their waterlogged possessions and pets out of the water with them. From there, Archimedes directs everyone to settle in groups into modernized carriages pulled by horses and gives them a basic explanation of why and how they've been brought to Avalon: The rest of the universe is frozen in time and your character has been brought here by a familiar that was able to bond with them. They'll have to learn magic to help save their own world from destruction, but first they've got to get them to Camelot. It is here that you have the first opportunity to decide who they will be in their new home. You'll have about an hour to wander around here, meet and greet, and pet the horses before it's time to go. These carriages use fae technology that combats weight, so your character will be able to get in regardless of whether they're light as a feather or weigh two tons. The carts have air conditioning when it's hot, heating when it's cold, and a mystical shield to protect from bugs. There is also a mini-bar that pops out of the console with nip bottles. Characters can use their smartphones to connect to Camelot's internet service, avalononline (AOL), to chat with other characters, watch dumb videos, learn about the world, contact Camelot Support (they'll answer any questions they can for you, from how to use a smart phone to where to find quests and resources to learn more about your magic). Be careful if you decide to use your phones while in the caravan-- if you don't use those earbuds and start forcing everyone to listen to your nonsense, Archimedes may make you walk. C ⦿ The Red Spring The journey from the White Cliffs to the City of Camelot is a long one, and the first evening you arrive you'll end up spending at the Red Spring, a booming resort town. Because of the volume of new arrivals and vacationers, inn rooms are assigned two-to-a-room. The rooms have two twin beds, a bathroom, a mini-fridge and microwave, and a TV equipped with a couple of entertaining video games and a few free movies. For the month of February: there are complimentary chocolates placed on the pillows that make you feel warm and fuzzy when you eat them, all the rooms have been temporarily redecorated after hearing about Valentine's Day after an announcement about an upcoming Valentine's concert to be held by the off-worlders. They wanted to celebrate love too, and help the newcomers feel welcome! Unfortunately, this means that the two-person bedrooms only have one bed this month... maybe you can get a roll-away? If you don't want to relax in the room, try taking a dip in the spring for another chance to meet your fellow travelers. The waters have restorative properties that help horses and travelers recover quickly when drunk. It is known to relieve stress, improve energy levels, and mildly accelerate healing. It may be a little chilly when you get out though, so make sure you don't slip rushing back indoors when you get out! The springs are also home to a large training grounds just outside town limits, where there are teachers who will teach basic magic safety and help you discover what kind of magic you have together with other new arrivals. Try target practice, obstacle courses, meditation circles, and other ways to try to figure out just what you can do... if you didn't already have an accidental discovery on the ride there. As the snows give way to rain and the cold persists across Avalon, it may seem as if some of the local businesses are suddenly short-staffed. A favorite spot might have shorter hours, longer wait times. Whatever it is, it seems that there are fewer Avalonians as the days go on. It is not long before there are signs posted outside local businesses and every clinic, there is an illness striking the populace and adventurers seem to be immune. While the healers can cure this malady, they are short on supplies and some of them are not easy to obtain. All are urged to take up a task and gather these ingredients. Anyone who does obtain one or more of the required ingredients will be given a Fairy-blessed Tincture of Wellbeing from one of the faeries who stayed behind after the tournament. It is said to bring healing no matter where you are when you sprinkle it on the ground in front of you. (Note: The tincture will teleport the nearest healing mage to your location. This information is not included with the tincture... surprise!) A ⦿ Ingredient One: A Can of Sprite Sprites can be found in and around Avalon, and thankfully so. The first task is to obtain a small can of magic dust from a sprite's wings. Now an adventurer may think to capture and take this by force, but be wary: sprites always travel in packs and will be so inclined to curse any would-be attackers dance till they drop, literally. Sprites are mischievous sorts with a wry sense of humor and can be quite fond a flower which grows near the Red Springs called the Cinnabar Paper Bush. Bring them a bouquet and beg for their cooperation, but be cautious of breathing in the flower's pollen-- the sprites will not warn your character that it's a potent ingredient in probability spells, so breathing it in may cause sudden repeated visions of 15 seconds of a potential future based on every choice your character could make in a particular situation. Getting out of the pollen's effects takes a full day of going through visions of parallel possibilities if there's no one to help you, and the sprites will be long gone by then. You'll need another adventurer to use their magic to get you out of this or prevent the pollen from spreading... good luck. B ⦿ Ingredient Two: Deez Nuts Within the Brocéliande there grows a certain tree. Even in winter, this tree produces tiny star shaped nuts that when ground into a powder are a key ingredient in many healing tinctures. However, the nuts are coveted by the wildlife for they taste quite sweet when eaten straight from the tree. Adventurers are tasked with entering the woods and retrieving baskets full of these tiny nuts. A warning was given to not go unarmed, those animals can be very protective of their food supply and they are rumored to be coveted by the Bear Fir, who won't hesitate to come for you. A warning to the wise: do not eat them yourself. They can be quite tempting. A tiny call will induce the desire to devour all of them, burrowing deep within your conscious. Not only would an adventurer fail their task but they would fall gravely ill for a period of two days. With these obstacles in mind, it may be best to team up and go at this task together to make sure everyone comes out alive and well. C ⦿ Ingredient Three: Wait, isn't that a Pokémon? The hills to the south-east of the Red Spring are home to the elusive Hill Trolls, who never leave their hills, but like to engage with any traveler who does come through. Most try to avoid them as they are extremely rude in every way. However, for this particular remedy, there is special bluegrass known as poliwag grass, so named because the seer who discovered this unique grass had seen the creatures it is named for in an alternate world and found them endearing. The catch? Only the Hill Trolls know now wherein the hills the small patches of this grass can be found. Adventurers are tasked with entering the hills, engaging the Trolls, and requesting a guide to the grass. Avalonians will advise doing anything the troll asks of you, it’s the only way to appease them and get the prize. Characters will be set about various household and yard chores by the Hill Trolls, who will lead them to believe that this grass will take several days journey to reach and they simply can not leave their home and yard in such a state when on a long trip like that. Make sure to complete all your tasks, though, try not to be too angry when once their yard and home are spotless the Hill Troll produces a satchel of poliwag grass straight from their cupboard. They didn’t say you had to go on the trip with them and they will need to replenish their supply after, so they're not apologizing for anything. A video is sent to everyone's devices, a strong magic spell making certain that it opens. Morganna's face appears. Morganna, after all, is to be listened to when she speaks. She seems to be looking at her nails as the recording starts, not looking at her captive audience.

”"As infamous as Arthur and Merlin are, there are many magics they are unfamiliar with. They live in the realm of basic magics, the ones you all have touched and trifled with. But there are skills you will need in the future that require something a little stronger. Now if you came to me seeking spells, I would ask a fair price, dears... but it is my universe you are all saving too, so I will offer you a taste." She finally looks directly into the screen. Despite that it's just a recording, it looks as if she's looking directly into your soul. She sees you even without you responding. Her lips curl up in a little smile, friendly and yet mischievious. "Magic is stronger when more than one person performs it. Where you would be able to toss fire, you could create a fire tornado or rip the earth until it spits the fires of hell up as lava. To perform this kind of magic, you must be entirely in sync with your partners. Of one mind, of one movement. Open the attachment and it will place a memory of how to perform Synchronic Magic with a partner into your mind. It will still take practice, of course. Baby steps."

Magic-infused technology is a hell of a thing-- those who listen after the video ends and open up the attachment will find themselves rapidly flooded with what amounts to an instructional video and a visual sample of witches moving exactly in sync. After a little finger painting on each other's face and collar bones and some deep meditation while performing the spell, the caster of the spell will have complete control over the movements of the person the spell is cast upon. For the duration of the spell, the person who the spell was cast upon will mentally reside in the caster's head outside of their body. Their body will do anything the caster's does. For this particular version of the spell to work, it requires the consent of the person it's being cast upon, though there are other forms of the spell that do not that are not. With that knowledge, get practicing. A ⦿ We Succeed Together When a goddess gives instructions to learn something, you learn it, and so some of the locals have set up meditation tents at one of Camelot City's parks. The tents are filled with incense, steam, and have a spell cast on them to provide relaxing sounds-- babbling brook, yoga music, rain on the ocean, a crackling fireplace, the cries of your enemies, the relaxing sound of change falling from your favorite plinko machine... It will respond to your emotions and find the sound that's most relaxing to you to help you clear your mind. If you trust the person you're with, the spell will go smoothly and you'll be able to perform the much simpler practice spell provided in the tent: a shadow dance. Follow the dance steps around the circle on the floor of the tent; shadows will begin dancing along the walls of the tent outside of their light source. Your shadows will be able to separate from your feet and travel without you once the dance is completed. It will return after completing whatever task you need from it. If you need some help developing your trust in the other person, try playing a game of twenty questions or partaking in some of the sparkling ginger shots in front of you-- they've got a heated kick to them that's sure to warm you up and make you fire out a secret to the person you're sharing the tent with. B ⦿ We Fail Apart If you aren't perfectly in sync with your partner to cast Synchronic Magic, all kinds of things can go wrong. People who do not trust each other may end up accidentally sealing the tents shut and trapping themselves inside until they tell each other a secret they've told no one else, thus forcing them to trust each other. People believe the exact opposite at their core could end up temporarily body swapping with their partner until they wipe off the body paint and break the spell. And of course, even if you're completely on the same page and the person controlling both bodies has two left feet, a mistake in the shadow dance could cause the shadows to enter your eyes, turning both of your vision to complete darkness until you've been in sunlight for about 15 minutes straight. I hope you weren't practicing at night. C ⦿ Loss and Gain After performing the Synchronic Magic, magicians of all kinds are going to feel a little strange. It's a magic outside of their field of expertise used to perform further magics, after all, and they've shared their essence with another person to perform it. There's a chance that characters are going to feel very alone after being separated from the synchronic magic. Alone, tired, and wanting to feel connected again even if you're normally the lone wolf type. Synchronic magic makes you feel connected to others in a way that's hard to do otherwise, and without it it leaves a sense of loss and disconnect. It's not a side-effect that was discussed ahead of time, but the citizens of Camelot have prepared for it for anyone who wishes to stick around after their spellcasting. After the magic is done, at the center of the tented area, everyone is invited to gather around a huge, prismatic bonfire taking place in the center of the park that the tents had been set up in. The bonfire is filled with flames of all colors, like a prism reflecting light and warmth, and acts as a beacon for casters' shadows to find their owners and reconnect with them. It also is enchanted to encourage affectionate feelings. This may inspire people to be more... touch-friendly than normal, wanting to hug and hold onto or simple be shoulder-to-shoulder with the people around them. These feelings can easily be fought even if they're present, but fulfilling them will help to eliminate the sense of loss from the synchronic spell ending. At the end of the night, little rainbow fireflies will begin to fly away from the flames, having been hatched within them, and fly off into the night as the flames turn to embers, and then to charcoal. It is said that if you catch a rainbow firefly, you can make a wish on it, and when let go they will take those wishes to the heavens with them. Some wishes may actually be granted, so if your character has a wish, submit it here. MOD NOTES: • All test drive prompts are open to anyone in the game at any time to create your own logs with, but this post should have top-levels by potential new characters only. Current characters may reply to any threads, but should not top-level comment on this post. • If your application is accepted, you may accept TDM threads as game canon as long as both players consent. Characters may begin threading as soon as their journal is accepted to the communities. • If nothing here tickles your fancy, try one of this month's Quests for your TDM prompt. • The first "Arrival" prompts are present on every TDM, but contain seasonal tweaks for flavor. All other prompts will change monthly. (This month, please check updated method of inventory collection at the Rent-a-Ride and the "February Special" rooms at the Red Spring.) • The Shadow Dance Ritual is a form of advanced dark magic; this means that yes, after significant practice, a dark magic user may be able to do this on their own with only their own shadow. Even if your character isn't a dark mage, they can do a ritual to perform out-of-discipline magic. More information on rituals and how to unlock them will come in the future! • Please comment with wishes regardless of new/current member status if you want to participate! :) • Questions about this TDM's content? Comment here! If you have a question about the game at-large, please head over to the FAQ. *This Everwarm does not count toward your potion collection for those who wish to take up potion brewing. You must obtain Everwarm from the Elphame Trader's to count. **Jackets come in a variety of neutral colors, enchanted with a fit-adjustment spell that will adjust to your character's size.

Comments

zhongli | genshin impact

[saxum]

( 1. Caravan to Camelot )

[ It is times such as these that Zhongli truly learns to appreciate the struggles humans must face upon their daily lives. Never has he felt so helpless struggling in freezing cold waters, dripping wet and very unpleasant upon the back of a large turtle. They are, of course to him, inconsequential concerns. It's humbling in a way, but he's entirely grateful for the generosity blessed upon him and others who had the misfortunate of arriving the same way as they're given warm clothing and transportation to what he hopes is a much warmer, less dangerous environment.

For anyone riding in the caravan along with Zhongli, he remains silent, even with the strange little glowing yellow creature currently fluttering about here and there. It might playfully bob and sway around you seeing as Zhongli's attention is directed solely on the object in his hands, the phone handed out to all of them. ]

Quite a curiosity.

[ Is he talking about the smartphone itself or the video that's currently playing?

Both, honestly. Modern technology is amazing. ]

( 2. Ingredient Three )

[ Rex Lapis, Geo Archon Morax, God of War... doing house chores. It isn't exactly too far-fetched from his responsibilities to the funeral party, but he's never quite had to get his hands dirty in this manner. Whether the hill trolls are getting free labor out of him or not, he cares little for, as long as he takes to these simple tasks with all the focus he does his regular duties back home in Liyue.

Which means that if you happen to be alongside Zhongli in these shared errands, you'd better not skimp on your job here. ]

Do you require a short reprieve?

[ Even though he's staring at you with that focused, steely gaze, like there is absolutely no way he's letting you take a break. ]

( 3. Wildcard )

[ Choose your own adventure and such, or let me know if you'd like a custom prompt! Please note if you want to do the Sync or Swim prompts ask me in advance due to the nature of Zhongli's character, but if you'd like to do something with the bonfire or the affectionate feelings effect in part C then go right ahead! Feel free to reach me either through PM or on plurk at frosmoth ]

2

[luciing]

[ The threat of illness sweeping through the realm is cause for concern, but fortunately, the healers and apothecaries seem to know the remedy’s ingredients. Would that all plagues had such simple cures as doing chores for trolls.

Somnus’ current task is chopping wood... which is made fairly simple given that his magic is of the kinetic variety. Without so much as breaking a sweat, he currently wields his allotted hatchet remotely through the air. It arcs, cleanly cleaving straight down the middle of a log with a decisive thunk, splitting the wood in two.

His head raises then angles towards the voice of the youth who had approached him to uptake this task.

Equally severe in expression, he answers: ] Nay. [ He’s actually just about done, which is good. They need to find this ingredient and be done with this. ]

How fares thy labors?

[saxum]

[ He watches as the axe swings down with precision, doesn't waver, and the action seems so practiced that Zhongli wonders if this is the man's natural talent or that magic he's been told everyone carries with them in this world. Regardless, he's talented, and hardly breaking a sweat. Good for him. ]

I can only hope that efforts shall be to our benefactor's satisfaction. Assessment is difficult to presume when they are absent as they are.

[ Is the floor suitable enough for a feast to be served upon? He could ask, but those odd trolls haven't come back yet so alas, the only judge he has is himself, and well... a floor is a floor in his book. ]

You've worked hard. Are you sure you would not care for tea?

[ One would say it's hard to call magically swinging an axe through the air "hard work", but it's work nonetheless, and one less burdensome task Zhongli would have to manage on his own. Things always find themselves taken care of much faster when not done alone, and this man has been so silent and focused, he at least deserves something, no?

It's always easy for Zhongli to assume that not everyone is like him: he doesn't need to eat or drink, but a nice tea is always pleasant to taste, especially with company. ]

1.

[omnistriker]

[ Well, naturally, that video is a little hard to ignore. If anything, the song is probably going to be trapped in Tifa's head for the next decade or so, but she tries to ignore it and simply relax in the caravan. That proves to be a little harder than usual when she has to force herself to refrain from humming the tune out loud once the video is over.

Fortunately, her caravan partner's voice cuts through her thoughts, providing a decent distraction. ]

They can be a bit addictive... the videos, I mean. They're not all that strange where I come from, but I've never seen so many on the internet before.

[ New Camelot appears to be oddly fixated by their furry friends, which is fair. She, too, had a friend back home who was oddly fixated on cats. She thinks the only thing that prevented him from uploading a thousand videos of them is their poor internet in Sector 7. ]

[saxum]

[ Zhongli lifts his head, a slight furrow between his brows. ]

Internet.

[ No such thing exists in his world, a long with a lot of modern amenities and conveniences. No cars, no cell phones, no computers. Sort of dreary, really, but Zhongli can only expect this must be a sort of future far beyond his years.

He's very old. ]

Is that the name of this device?

[ Seeing as he doesn't know how to pause the playback, autoplay kicks in and the next video starts. ]

[omnistriker]

[ How many songs is he going to get stuck in her head at this rate? Well, there are worse things to listen to, so she's the opposite of upset. If anything, the moment of levity makes it easy to temporarily forget she'd been spirited away to another dimension mid-car chase and had fought a bear made out of grass not too long ago. ]

It's the name of the thing on the device. You're holding a cell phone.

[ She takes her own out, hovering it near his before she continues to explain- ]

I guess you can say the internet is what connects all of these together. It's like ...well, a web. One you can't see, and free of spiders, of course.

[ Well, there's the whole mess of viruses and such, but she doesn't want to overload his brain with too much information. He seems to be a bit ...old-fashion in spite of his young appearance. ]

[saxum]

[ Things are weird, but there are always catchy tunes and cat videos to give you that short reprieve you didn't know you needed. Zhongli watches as she produces an item of similar shape and appearance as the one in his own hands, just as he stares down at the screen again and watches the next bizarre but fascinating series of images play out with the music delightfully filling up the interior of the caravan.

He looks back up, opens his mouth but finds her to answer his question before he even says it. Yes, the moment she said web, he was about to mention spiders. ]

That is so, then? There is no existence of such creation in my land. One finds their connections through physical bonds, communication, and friendship.

[ This cell phone, at its base, seems very trivial. But watching what appears to be cats playing instruments and performing the way they are, it's. Cute.

The internet has videos of cats. Hm.

He can't say he really minds this much. ]

Is this all the internet harbors? [ As he holds up his cell phone to her to show off these marching cats. ]

[omnistriker]

[ She hopes that doesn't mean everyone has to hold hands to talk to one another... probably nothing that literal, though she doesn't envy their lack of technology. It's simply convenient to remain connected no matter how far the distance between two people. ]

It's been a long time since anyone has only had letters to rely on in my world. I can't imagine how long it must take just to say hello. Are there no cars or air transport in your world, either?

[ Even with letters, it's not that long of a wait time for correspondence due to their rather efficient courier services. ]

And the internet has a lot of information on it, too. Not just cat videos. You can look things up or make ...I guess you can think of them as diaries online. You can even put up pictures that interest you.

[ Not that she really ever did much of that in her own world. Running a bar, looking after Marlene, and helping out Avalanche on the side had kept her way too busy for it. ]

2

[arf]

[ Taichi is not a warrior. He's not even athletic. He's just out here trying to do his best!!

And ignoring Zhongli's steely gaze and plopping his bum down on the ground right then and there. ]

Yes! Finally!

[ That was permission, right?! ]

[saxum]

[ He says it like he's been holding it in for decades, and while Zhongli doesn't so much as crack a smile, he does huff quietly under his breath. ]

We've a duty to fulfil, but you should not overwork yourself. Have a proper seat and I shall retrieve water for you.

[ Don't sit on the floor... he just swept there earlier. ]

[arf]

Thank you!

[ That means the floor is clean! He wouldn't sit on it if it was dirty! ]

Hehe, you're secretly nice, huh?

[ Despite his steely gaze and how huffy he is, he's still taking care of him and getting him water... ]

[saxum]

I have no secrets to keep. [ HMMMMMMM ] However, I do not mind being considered kind. I've not heard such a compliment in some time.

[ Being... y'know, the God of War. ]

[arf]

I just mean you seem super intense, it doesn't seem expected.

[ At least based off the vibe he's getting.. not like he knows anything about this dude. He gets off the floor, having no idea what a god of war even is. ]

I'm Taichi Nanao!

[concierto]

[There's absolutely no way Venti isn't going to take a break. ... Or lift a finger to help with chores right now. In any sort of way. Nope- he's too busy fiddling with a long piece of green grass in his fingers as he then puts it up to his lips to make a long whistle noise with it. Brrrrrrr.]

Hm? What's that?

[He smiles sweetly.]

Oh! Morax! I'm just taking a short breath of fresh air. Isn't it sweet like summer rain today?

[saxum]

[ ...this unbearable, lazy bard. Zhongli at least has enough will-power to not look impatient, but he's certainly not amused at how his fellow archon is wasting his time.

At least he's not drinking. ]

It's indeed refreshing, but we've obligations at hand, if you recall.

[ He uses his kinetic magic to just very kindly yank that little piece of grass out of Venti's fingers, and off it goes sailing away into the sky. Goodbyeee. ]

And please, you've no need to refer to me by that title. I intend to continue existing as a mortal, not as an Archon. Is it not the same for you, Barbatos?

[concierto]

[Aww, he's missed you too you big rock headed buffoon.

He might frown lightly at his little grass whistle being flicked away. At least Venti is also leaning towards kinetic magic so he'll have to annoy the other archon with his own tricks later in return. Oh boy!]

Of course! But working too hard will only make the days longer, I think a break now and then is healthy for most!

[Not that Venti has done any sort of work today to merit a real break... Uhhh. But anyway!!]

Right...! What is the name you're going by nowadays? Zhongli? If that's the case, please call me Venti! Just Venti.

[saxum]

[ Cry him a river bard boy. Besides, you've got a lyre, play with that instead. ]

And you've been working hard, yes.

[ If Zhongli were the sort to roll his eyes, he would, but he will do no such thing. There isn't even any sarcasm in his tone because for the moment he is deciding to have good manners. ]

Very well, Venti. Have you by chance met with our traveler friend? I've not caught sight of them since my arrival I'm afraid.

[ He knows it's probably best for them to be not be brought to Camelot. That missing sibling of theirs surely couldn't have been taken beyond their world, so being stuck here would lend them no progress, only an even greater pained heart. ]

[concierto]

[He'll play some sick strings for you when he's done meddling into the details why his lyre is truly out of anemo power!

But honestly notes aside he does seem to ponder a moment when Zhongli brings up their star-crossed traveler. It is quite the concern as is everything else surrounding them at the moment.]

No... I'm afraid not, but I wonder if that's for the best? For now! This world is already a far cry from what we know, to toss them deeper into their search might be a little heartbreaking.

[But worry not Venti intends to stick his nose into everything as to WHY and HOW.]

[saxum]

[ Zhongli falls silent in contemplation. This isn't to say the traveler is nowhere to be seen in Camelot, perhaps they simply haven't crossed upon them yet, but... he has to agree, that's for the best. Their journey shouldn't lead them here. May they be blessed with the good fortunate of staying on the right track, not here, but far, far away. ]

We come upon a joined consensus, for once.

[ His voice sounds almost... humored. Zhongli does wonder of the other Archon's opinion of their strange guest, but it'd be best not to get too comfortable. There are errands to take care of after all. But the answer brings him some degree of comfort. That he, too, is watching over the traveler, and has their interest at heart. If they had to agree on anything, this suits him just fine.

Too bad they can't both be motivated to do these silly chores. ]

How much have you accomplished thus-far in terms of work here?

1

[rotacalamitas]

[Bennett, meanwhile, has been staring at Zhongli's curious companion. He didn't recognize the man, but he does recognize the man's companion, understanding it was a seelie. After all, Bennett had one of his very own following him around. But he's never seen a yellow seelie before, how unusual...]

--Huh? What's a curiosity, sir?

[He's snapped out of his spacing out by Zhongli's comment.]

[saxum]

[ I mean to be fair, it's hard not to get distracted by Zhongli's seelie, especially finding a seelie companion to float around with! Its been delightedly circling around Bennet and his warming seelie like saying, hello, friends! Companions! We are one in the same!

All while Zhongli is just here watching cat videos. When his companion in the caravan speaks up he takes his eyes off of the phone for a moment then holds it up for the other's viewing. ]

Have you any experience with a contraption of this nature?

[ Another video begins to play. Yes Bennet, please explain this. ]

[rotacalamitas]

[Bennett comes over to Zhongli to see what he's talking about, and his eyes go wide at the sight of the video.]

No way... How'd they get the cat inside your mirror?

[Yes, he thinks his phone is just a fancy handheld mirror. The perils of a lowtech world like Teyvat...]

[saxum]

[ Zhongli only blinks before takes a look at the surface of the device, and... oh, is that not one of those traditional sorts of beds he's seen before? How is it so small. The cat looks to be making itself comfortable. There's no distress in its behavior. ]

I am... unsure.

[ He can't see his own reflection, just this image of a cat. In a tiny mortal bed. Should he be concerned? Are they supposed to free it? It's not behaving like it's trapped, angry or upset. ]

Odd. I expect it must be some form of magic originated from this land.

[rotacalamitas]

Hmm...

[Magic, huh... He's heard a bit about magic, but rarely much of anything. When you were a Vision wielder, magic was really kind of inferior by comparison.

Bennett looks down at his own phone, his face dimly reflected in its glossy screen. Why didn't his do that kinda stuff? He pokes at the screen with his finger, and it suddenly lights up, surprising him. So he had to tell it to do stuff!]

Ah!

[Maybe he should have been messing with this thing instead of just sitting and staring at Zhongli's seelie... But with the screen lit up, he pokes one of the icons on the screen to see what it does, a camera icon. With the camera activated, he can now see the two seelies, who seem to be greatly enjoying each other's company, in the screen of his phone.

...And then his finger slips, hitting the 'capture' button. A still photo is snapped, which sends Bennett into momentary panic. Did he just trap the seelies inside his phone now?!]

Oh crap! Wait wait wait, I didn't mean--

[...But then he notices they're still floating right where they were.]

...Oh.

[saxum]

[ Seelies are just doing what seelies do best: be glowy, float around, and look cute. Zhongli is keeping an eye on his companion up until that flash of light catches him off-guard. His eyes narrow, and while the seelies do not react Zhongli does. In a manner. He's lacking his own inherent abilities but he does have the kinetic magic bestowed upon him when he'd arrived. Unfortunately, he's not aware he has this nor does he understand he has to control it, and so when Bennet comes to realize what his phone has done Zhongli's intent focus on the device causes it to float up out of his hand as if yanked out of his grip by a mysterious force. ]

What has happened? Are you all right?

[ Either he doesn't notice or care that the phone is floating in mid-air right now, he's more-so focused with making sure there's no immediate danger to snuff out. ]