noblerise | IC Inbox

[Jusis actually listens as Zhongli begins to speak. He can hear it in the brunet's voice that there's a long, sad history with these flowers and that they're connected to his past life. Though, there's a certain point where he thinks that Zhongli isn't talking about the lilies anymore.

Flowers that bloom brightest when sung to or music is played for them, huh. A rare flower, indeed. Perhaps this is one Elliot—

Ah, but Elliot might not think very highly of him after all is said and done. Guilt weighs him down like stones in his pockets, dragging him down into a sea of dark emotions. Jusis puts them away, as he's been doing far too much of lately, and makes a decision.]

Perhaps I shall start singing to them. It's been a long time since I've had an audience.

[It isn't much, but it's all he can do. Still, as Zhongli apologizes, Jusis shakes his head.]

Please, no apologies are necessary.

[They mean much to Zhongli. How can he possibly feel anything but empathy for such emotions?]

Follow me, then.

[He'll start leading the older man up the stairs that are in the courtyard.]

These stairs lead directly to the second floor. There's an elevator over there [Jusis points towards the direction of the elevator.] and a stairwell near them.

[Zhongli actually looks surprised. He thought perhaps Jusis would shrug him off, but here he is pledging to take care of the flowers instead. Perhaps he underestimated the serious young man. Wouldn't be the first time, really—every time he thinks Jusis might make a misstep, usually because of something Zhongli himself did, he handles the situation with grace and acuity.]

I... [It really did take him off guard, but Jusis' reward is a very rare smile.] I think they would like that.

[Perhaps one day he'll share the other tidbits he remembers. But as for her... those memories are ones he always kept close to his heart, and he sees no reason to change that at the moment. As if merely breathing her name could cause the remaining grains of sand to scatter like wind scrubbing dust from a stone. He still hasn't recovered that puzzle she gave him. Maybe when he solves it, he'll finally...

Ah. Right. There's a tour to be had. He follows Jusis up the stairs without difficulty or complaint.]

It seems easy enough to get around. The area is walkable, isn't it?

[The blond only nods at that. It's the least he can do after hearing that story, and it gives him a good excuse to practice his singing more.]

Indeed, and there's a bus stop nearby that can take you to Shopping Street, the park, and other major areas in Kaisou. Admittedly, the public transportation here isn't as good as what I'm used to from my home country, but it's better than North Carolina, where I used to live before being assigned here.

[If that hadn't been the biggest culture shock of coming to America from Berlin. Jusis had to learn how to drive as a matter of necessity.]

Currently, they have a couple of two-bedroom apartments and a few studio apartments available on this floor. Do you have a preference on where we start?

[If he's still a little shaken, he isn't showing it. He's taking in everything Jusis says and looking around with curiosity and keen eyes used to observing the tiniest details about everything.]

Public transportation tends to deteriorate as the size of the country increases. For my part, I am happy to avoid riding in another horse-drawn cart. [Even thinking about it makes his back hurt. Bumpy, dirty, noisy... it offended every single one of his delicate sensibilities, and yet that was the best way to get across his homeland for ages and ages.

It's also something people haven't mentioned using extensively in like a hundred years. Bro what. Zhongli failing the sus test once again.]

I'd prefer more space to less, as long as it's tenable.

[He won't mention it's because he likes to stretch out.

As a dragon.]

[...Zhongli....]

Hm. I'm beginning to wonder about your age. And whether or not I should be hearing this.

[He's been wondering, to be fair, but Zhongli's absolute piss-poor ability to not say things that other people probably shouldn't hear reminds him all too well of the Orion sisters. A very strange comparison, but it feels a little apt. He doesn't really recall Millium growing that much older from what little he remembers.]

At any rate, let's look in on each one and see what feels like it's pleasantly spacious for you.

[Jusis pulls out the keys and leads Zhongli to the first two-bedroom apartment they've come to inspect. He opens it up, and lets his colleague go in first.]

This one doesn't have a fireplace, but the other two-bedroom does.

[Zhongli, for his part, just looks puzzled.] Horse-drawn carts are still common in poorer countries, are they not? [He doesn't think he said anything strange at all.] I'm old enough to retire if that is what you are about to ask. If you see me as younger than that, it's merely your personal impression.

[............... anyway]

The other one has a fireplace?

[He looks thoughtful as he takes in the size of the living room, as well as the exit to the patio. He might be able to work with this, but... fireplace...]

I want to see the other one, then.

[HE HASN'T EVEN SEEN THE BEDROOMS]

[Jusis has to count backwards from 10 or else he'll throw Zhongli into traffic.]

You don't look at all like you're in your 60s, old man.

[Really bringing out a side of him that usually only Machias can, here, Zhongli. It's quite impressive.

The blond will be silent for a moment and then shrug. His Royal Geo Majesty has decreed he wishes to see the other room. He might as well comply if this gets the torture done with earlier.]

Very well. Follow me, then.

[Jusis will lock the door behind them once they exit, and then takes the older man to the other two-bedroom apartment. He unlocks it and opens the door for Zhongli, allowing him to enter first.]

[Zhongli is perfectly oblivious to this.] Many people in our line of work don't look exactly their age for one reason or another. Though perhaps in my case it's simply good food, good wine, and good company that allows me to retain some semblance of youth.

[And a lot of good money poorly spent.

He walks into the second apartment and breathes in. It smells like new paint. The floor creaks as he walks across it, stopping in front of the fireplace... and then he moves to the balcony. The view isn't pristine, but it's enough to give him some people-watching opportunity. Not bad.

Then he moves onto the bedrooms. Each one looks rather small, but he's taking a note of just how big the spaces are. He'd prefer something more spacious, but the location... Well, at least the flow of the rooms isn't inherently disastrous.

He steps back into the main living area.]

This one will be easiest to work with, I suspect.

[Jusis just thinks about petting Rean and Elliot in their cat forms. The urge to commit homicide is soothed away by the thought, for now.]

Somehow, I doubt that very much.

[The blond lets Zhongli wander around the apartment. In the meanwhile, he's checking the place for more practical things, such as how well the water's running; if there's any significant damage poorly concealed by the previous tenants, etc.

Jusis doesn't miss how Zhongli phrases that, but it's not his problem.]

Very well. Is your heart settled on this one or do you want to see the studio apartments?

[As much as he wants the torture done with early, he can't bring himself to be less than thorough.]

[One day, Jusis, you will understand.

Or not.

He glances over at Jusis, and not at the patio, which he would like to do for a bit longer.]

Hm... I'd like to look at the studio ones too, if you still have time.

[Zhongli feels he's been very reasonable, since he hasn't simply walked out.]

Edited 2023-03-30 00:06 (UTC)

[Jusis gives him a nod.]

I do have time. Fortunately, all three of the studio apartments do have fireplaces.

[He's caught on that the absence of a fireplace is something of a dealbreaker for Zhongli. The blond leads the older man out, locks the door behind him, and leads the brunet to the first of the studio apartments.]

This one's a little on the small side, but the pictures made it look inviting enough from what I could tell. However, that could just mean that their photographer was quite skilled.

[Well, if he has a choice...]

I see...

[He wasn't born yesterday. He's seen deceptive real estate before. This one is small, but it's built in a way that is meant to be inviting. He takes a small tour... There's enough space to live, but he would have to get creative with his furniture. The reason for this is the patio, which takes up space that would otherwise be devoted to the bedroom.

He walks into the kitchen, looks around, and abruptly delivers his judgment:]

... No, this won't do. The stove and sink are directly opposed. If the elements clash, then energy will become stagnant and could affect one's health and fortune. There isn't enough room for an island, either...

The next apartment, if you would.

[Jusis follows after him, mostly so he can do his own inspection. The layout of the room leaves much to be desired now that he's in it with Zhongli. Though, at his companion's judgement, the blond won't even blink. Given that spiritual energy is real and tangible, he's not going to question the assessment.]

Mm, and there's nowhere near enough room to make it comfortable if you desired company.

[He heads out of the apartment and locks it behind them. Jusis then leads Zhongli to the next, and unlocks the door.]

This one I noticed something suspicious on the patio and in the bathroom. I couldn't tell from the photos if it was surface damage or something that could turn into an expensive problem.

[He's somewhat relieved he doesn't have to fight to convince Jusis on something like that. Sure, he can tolerate being within a space that's... not exactly up to par, but he'd prefer not to live in one. Explaining the taboos of interior living to people not from his homeland would be exhausting.

He looks thoughtful as Jusis mentions something suspicious about the patio and the bathroom.]

Let me look.

[He walks through the living room, which is otherwise unremarkable, and straight to the patio. He takes one single step onto the concrete and stops.]

There are cracks in the stone. [He looks around, feeling them more than seeing them. Finally he sees a crack leaking out from the siding of the building near the edge of the back door, and reaches out to touch it.] It's likely due to water damage. You have a good eye—it's old enough that it's begun to affect the integrity of the patio. It isn't about to collapse, but it will need to be renovated in the next five years. It's also begun to affect the angle of the slab.

[Jusis follows the man out to the patio first. He sees Zhongli freeze as if he's sensed something within the concrete itself, which he makes a mental note of. It's entirely possible that their new teammate is a highly sensitive Earth user.]

That'll be a very involved process of repair work. Are you able to see if it's near the bathroom? It's possible that the angle is causing problems for that side of the building whenever it rains.

[Of course, this is just a theory, but he's no stranger to this kind of damage leading to other problems. North Carolina's old buildings are great for practicing how to look for it, that's for sure.]

[Jusis could just ask, but this is more fun.]

Possibly. Something this severe usually extends inside until it becomes impossible to ignore.

[He walks back in and makes his way towards the bathroom, noting the creak of the floorboards. The bathroom is a good size and smells of bleach and fresh paint. Zhongli, however, is looking at the details of the wall that also faces outside.

He makes a thoughtful noise and kneels beside the backsplash.]

This was installed recently, most likely to mask the evidence of flooding. But you can tell because of the ripples in the wall and the ceiling that it's an ongoing problem... as well as the scent. Water damage in this climate freezes during the winter, causing cracks to accelerate.

Thankfully there are no units on the first floor, or I would be concerned about water damage there as well.

[He follows behind Zhongli to the bathroom and sees the water damage has warped the room slightly. Jusis gives a nod of agreement to his companion's assessment of the damage.]

Likely, that's why the tenants left. Repair of this scale only happens with the landlord's permission. I'll file a complaint when we're done.

[It's entirely possible that Jusis can put some pressure on them by virtue of being a lawyer. He might as well use his position to do some good, especially for the next tenant.]

These were the only two areas I saw with that kind of damage from photos, but it should be enough to prompt more substantial action. My thanks for your expertise in confirming all of this. That said, we can look more thoroughly or move on to the last apartment.

[Zhongli gets up again, and looks at Jusis. Then he gives an approving nod. The lawyer and the once-god of contracts working to protect people? He can get behind this.]

They'll have no choice but to hire an independent inspector with that kind of pressure. We'll leave it in their hands for now, and come back to that if necessary.

[For now... he still needs a place to live, unfortunately.]

I hope the next one is in better shape. Let's see it.

[That's a sound plan to him.]

I'll be sure to keep you updated, then.

[He leads Zhongli out and locks it up, but takes a moment to note the number. Then, the blond takes him over to the last studio apartment on their tour.]

This one looked well taken care of. The previous owner had a small child, so there may be some interesting artistic choices made on the walls.

[Zhongli may detect a hint of fondness in Jusis's voice when he says that. He unlocks the door and holds it open for the older man's inspection.]

[Zhongli's eyebrows rise at that description. The fondness doesn't escape him, nor can he ignore the strange feeling he gets when he also hears those words...]

Nothing that cannot be painted over, I imagine.

[He walks slowly through the place. The fireplace in the living room is nice, though the room itself is a strange shape. It isn't unattractive, and could be softened as tradition dictates with round fixtures and lighting. The kitchen is more open... and the bedroom is actually bigger than the master in the two-bedroom apartment, a fact he doesn't miss.

On his way to check out the back patio, he finds a little shadow of some previous artwork donated by the child in question. He brushes his fingers over it yet he doesn't look displeased, exactly.

It's a little red dragon scrawled on the inside of the closet door.]

Ah, a timeless mural left behind by small hands. The canvas and the subjects may change, but the expression does not.

[Jusis is liking the place so far himself. Honestly, if it wasn't for the fact he lives with two teenagers, he might be very comfortable living here himself. When Zhongli goes to the closet and makes a comment about the 'mural,' the blond walks over to take a look. His eyes definitely soften somewhat.]

Mm, a 'hidden treasure' is what my mother calls them. As she tells it, I left many in my childhood. My uncle swears he's still finding them in strange places.

[Those are some happy memories. He just wishes he had more of them, and that others weren't lost to time as he grew older.]

[That's such an adorable detail... It doesn't escape Zhongli's notice that he's been told very little of Jusis's personal life, though a lot of it is apparently already on the network. It doesn't concern him too much. He'd rather hear it from the man himself.]

Hidden treasure indeed.

[...]

Now that some people are gone, I find myself wishing for more of them.

[He gently closes the door and takes a slow walk through the apartment one more time. When he's finished, he stands in the middle of the living room and looks around, amber eyes lifting to the ceiling, as he stands there with his arms folded behind his back.]

... I do believe this one suits me the most.

[Discovering that little red trogdor really felt auspicious.]

[Jusis's nightmare is out on the network for all to see, but none of the softness of his life is. He keeps that close, little bits of light-filled sanctuary to fleetingly remind him that he's worthy of love. Even if he doesn't feel okay with wanting more of that to fill the gaping wound his loneliness has left him.

The blond is quiet at the implication that Zhongli has had children. One side of him certainly has the kneejerk response of, "Oh, Lord, this man procreated." However, the majority of him kind of... empathizes with that. Standing here, Jusis can't help being reminded of two children he used to play with and dote on, even as a teenager, in his past life.

He waits for the older man to finish his inspection, and there's a rare, soft smile on his face. It's small, but there.]

I think I must agree. Let's negotiate your lease, and I hope you feel at home here.

[More like "furiously adopted." Still...

It seems that through this small act of cooperation, they've reached some kind of understanding. It puts Zhongli at ease, too. Of course a harmonious workplace is important, but more than that, he sees a lot of the younger adepti in how hard Jusis works. He's part of a new generation—a generation that refuses to be held under the thumb of their forefathers, and wants to be judged on their own merits. If that much is true, then Zhongli can only judge that Jusis has done well.]

Your assistance and insight has been invaluable. You have my gratitude.

[He adjusts his gloves out of habit.]

Once I've settled, don't hesitate to call on me if you need anything. If I'm not here and it's outside of school hours, I'm likely on a walk and will return before long.

[Jusis gives him a nod. Honestly, he's going to text Zhongli if he doesn't know where the hell the man is, but it's fine.]

Of course. It was my pleasure to assist you. I believe you know where to find me if you need me, too.

[He'll exit the apartment with Zhongli, and lock the door behind him. Then, he takes the brunet over to the main office to start preparing to sign that lease.]

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