[That corruption turns then, and in some ways it's what he's been waiting for. Rationality still holds in him, his astral energy unwavering in the face of those words, at least.

If Dohalim wants stories of loss... Zhongli could keep him busied for the rest of his life, probably. But as he stills, as his astral energy pulses and resonates with Dohalim's, it slowly strips away at the edges of that madness. It gleams like burnished gold, gentle and warm as it shatters what has no place between them and bolsters what should. It isn't perfect, corruption tainting that bond and Zhongli's energy like a corrosive tarnish, just in little flecks and bits.]

I didn't-- say that. [The effort leaves him distracted, just a little. His normal gentility and poise suffers for it, a sharp inhale and exhale sounding as a sickly sensation crawls through him.] I said that I would take action before they lost complete control... and that the fate would be kinder than that loss.

[and, almost ironically... even that is only so much kinder. Hatred and corruption fester in the dark, growing stronger over time, but... it's not as simple as Dohalim seems to think. True, for him, right now, death may be an option... he still doesn't think the man deserves that pain.

He wants to show him kindness and warmth, even if it means he has to kill him or seal him later. That hasn't changed.]

I don't do this as torture. It isn't an easy path, but I... would like to help you walk it. If you don't want that, then... I suppose I'm sorry.