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Annyeonghaseyo, Jinwoo.

[ The voice and the language will be familiar to him, though the combination will not be something he would be expecting.

Lapis found another of those odd little pamphlets, and there is one person she can ask for help with this new language. ]

I know, ah... Very basic Korean now. Could I ask for your help with it?

[ There's some stops and starts, but she's doing her best with the knowledge she has. ]

[ --it's like the voice mimicry post all over again. The JOURNEY his face goes on as Lapis calls him and greets him in his own language is nearly palpable through the phone, because there's a stunned silence on the other end.

Followed by a huff, a sound that's almost startled, before he shakes his head and suddenly, he's invested in this call. He'd been worried there'd been a work issue, since the mission hadn't gone perfectly clean, but--- this....! ]

Annyeonghaseyo....! [ he breathes out the word almost in amazement, a smile spreading over his face. ]

It's been years since I have talked to anyone in my native language.

--Oh, I'm sorry, am I going too fast?
Um.

Let me start over.

[ he thinks, then nods his head. Slows down his speech a little from his excitement. ]

I would love to teach you, Lapis.

[ The fact his reactions are so clear pulls a quiet chuckle from her; yet she still finds herself smiling all the same, unseen as it is. She's pretty sure she's never heard him this excited before. ]

Thank you, Jinwoo. I will do my best! I, ah...

[ She trails off, the limits of her knowledge becoming apparent. There's a click of her tongue, annoyed, before she reluctantly switches back English. ]

I can understand how it feels, to be able to speak your native language again. So I'll do my best so we can have actual conversations.

[ Pause. And then with a playful lilt to her voice. ]

Ah, should I be calling you seonsaengnim now?

[ even if that's the extent of her knowledge, it still... makes his heart feel oddly warm. He enjoyed speaking it--and hearing it more than he'd admit. ]

I've never been a teacher before, so you'll have to forgive me if I mess up a little.
I'll teach you things that are easy and conversational at first before we get too complicated--

[...and then he has to huff out a quiet laugh. ]

Aaaah, you'll make me feel old like that...!

How about just... 'Oppa'?

Don't worry, you won't need to be formal about it. You may just have to deal with me being very stubborn about learning things though.

But really, I'll just be glad to learn more and getting a chance to speak to you more in Korean.

[ Then there's a quiet chuckle from her end, before she hums in thought. ]

Hmmm... Alright then, Oppa. I like the sound of that.

Sooo...

[ Lapis is nice enough to keep her voice soft... er than usual, considering how soft-spoken she usually is, just in case he's still feeling the after-effects of dragon blood. She recalls still suffering the day after, when she went through something similar - ]

How're you feeling?

I assure you it's just a really old habit. Being overpolite, I mean.

[ he's not sure how to bring up that he used to be a famous actor without... coming across as bragging or showing off. So as usual, he'll avoid it. ]

We'll start off simple.
Did your understanding come with basic understanding of Hangeul, as well, or just speaking?

If it is easier with words first, and then learning the alphabet later...

[ oh no
he expected a call but not like this

not like this
He feels the colour in his cheeks rise as he presses pause on the video game he's been playing

and considers melting into the floor... ]

....Ah.

...

I've been ... considering messaging the group chat with... an apology for my conduct but...
I have not yet worked up the guts...

I made a fool of myself, didn't I.

[ Oh no... She can only imagine how he feels, so she forces herself to stifle a giggle. Don't want to make him feel any worse. ]

Aha, well... From the sounds of it, people were mostly angry at Zhongli. Though he told me how you got attached to some food... And I think you got Eunie mixed up with someone Australian so she might've been offended by that.

[ So could be worse! But she doubts most people are going to let him live this incident down... ]

So besides the embarrassment, how are you holding up?

Well, I'll just help you get out of that habit.

[ Or she'll try to, anyway. And rather than giving him a verbal answer, she sends a text instead - written in Hangeul; ]

I can read and write it! o(*￣▽￣*)ブ

[ Then back to speaking; ]

Though since my experience is mostly with European languages, I find it easier to speak it at the moment. The script is so different from what I'm used to.

AHaha....Yeah, I went back and looked all the nonsense that happened when I was gone, and ... I sort of wish I'd been lucid at the time. I almost went back and apologised but...

[ embarrassment got the better of him. ]

He was just trying to help. Neither of us could really assume that would have happened...

But I'm much better, now. Even if the blood had made me feel loopy, it's what I needed. I don't feel like I'm starving anymore.

Hopefully it lasts a while.

I don't think neither you, or him, really have to apologize. It's not like the effects of dragons blood on vampires is something that's well-known... Though we now have a better idea of it.

[ Besides, they both technically suffered enough. ]

But that's good, I know sometimes after trips like that people tend to feel a bit rough. [ Her voice trail off as she thinks, considering how to put her thoughts into words. ]

Hopefully it does, though... That's the other reason why I called you. I imagine I'm not the only one to offer, but I still wanted to offer my blood as well, if you ever need it.

I honestly didn't really think that blood would have a negative effect on me if it wasn't human. I've been supplementing pig's blood into my food since this happened and it was fine.

...I didn't know Zhongli was a dragon. God. When I agreed to feed off of him. So.

While it definitely sated my hunger, the after-effects were...

[ nothing he ever wants to experience ever again. ]

I--

[ and then he goes quiet, as lapis offers... that. he blinks, in quiet shock, and... then maybe a bit of embarrassment. ]

Eunie mentioned she could help, but she's a doctor. So that was to be expected. [ having lapis offer, though-- ]

Are you really okay with that?

It's a lot for anyone to ask.

Right, that... The dragon god thing probably should've been mentioned before you drank his blood, but at least now you both know.

[ Seriously Zhongli.

But she picks up on the shock, when he goes quiet. While she has no issues with it, she also knows it's not an offer to be made lightly - and he probably never expected anything like this in the first place.

So all she can do now is reassure him. ]

I really am okay with it. I wouldn't offer if I wasn't... If you're worried about me, I'm a lot more durable than I look.

[ Mostly thanks to her immortality, but still. ]

It's likely he didn't think it'd make a difference.

We really know the difference now... [ god he buried a meat bun in the garden. ]

--And um, no, I wasn't trying to say you were weak or anything of the sort. From what I've seen you're way stronger than I am, to be sure.
I guess I'm just. Shy about the idea of biting anyone. It feels... wrong, I guess.

I've been a human my whole life, so...
It's just something to get used to. ...Something I have to get used to.

[ Lapis falls silent for the moment, considering his words. When she speaks again, her tone has become something softer. ]

Mmm, that makes sense... It must be difficult, dealing with this.

But I can at least help in this way. I don't want you to feel worried about asking me for blood, whenever you need it. I'm offering knowing what it means, including the biting part.

I mean, if you're okay with me helping.

I've dealt with things just as strange before, so while it's difficult, I've resolved myself: I'll get used to this, too.

[ sad to say such things but that's just what happens when you're from the order. he's certain lapis can agree. ]

I'm a bit. Shy about asking, if only because it's something ... difficult to admit to wanting. But I've made a promise not to starve myself anymore. So I won't.

So I ... don't mind that you're offering. I actually really appreciate it--more than words can honestly describe.
I'll have to find some way to thank you properly.

[ It's a relief that he seems to be taking this new lifestyle change well, and that he's willing to accept her help with this too. Though there's a pause when he speaks about thanking her; it's not something she sought out when she offered, nor does she really... know how to respond.

When she does speak again, she sounds almost embarrassed - quickly clearing her throat, before stumbling over her words. ]

You... don't need to do that - I mean, thank me properly. So long as you feel... ah, comfortable asking me for help, that's enough for me. Really.

[ ...oh! Had he flustered her by offering to do something to thank her? He looks... curious, for a moment, and then he just... smiles, tipping his head forward with something of a fond expression. ]

Maybe I don't need to, but I wish to. After all, kindness deserves kindness in turn, or something like that.

It won't be anything too extravagant, so don't worry too much, noona.

[ She takes a moment to run her hands over her face, feeling how her cheeks are heating up. Anything... genuine like this always trips her up. ]

... Aha, anything extravagant would've made me die on the spot, oppa. [ She is terrible at handling embarrassment, she can admit that. ]

I'm getting the feeling I won't be able to convince you otherwise, so... Really, something small would be more than enough.

[ he sounds amused as she admits she might die, and he'll wave his hands, as if to reassure her. ]

Hey, hey, hey now. I'm just getting adjusted to having your fair company, I'd appreciate it if you remained alive.

How about something simple, like -- next time we meet to work on your Korean, I'll treat you to some barbecue.
There's a few places open late downtown.

[ Despite her embarrassment, she does manage a quiet huff in response. ]

My fair company, huh? In that case I'll do my best not to self-implode.

[ But she relaxes a little more now, almost perking up when he mentions barbecue. ]

But I like the sound of that. It's been a while since I had some, so I'll look forward to it.

I. Uhm.

It's embarrassing to admit, but.
Given my old nickname back in Florida, I never really got a huge chance to hang out with that many people.

Eizen and Vel were often around, but when they left, I was alone for a while.

It's... nice to have a new friend.
Sorry if that's embarrassing.
To hear.

...I'll uh.
Go now.

[ Hmm, what's embarrassing -

- "It's... nice to have a new friend." ]

[ Oh, he... called her a friend.

Maybe it's sad how much it stuns her, but friends aren't things she easily makes considering their line of work. For a long time her friends were just the spectres she could summon. ]

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voice | un: laluna, late July

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voice | un: laluna, the day after Jinwoo's trip

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