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"Is it really alright for him to eat that much sugar?"
Tartaglia.. didn't startle. Badly. Although Aether could see he was slightly caught off-guard from his misery over today's events.
On the other hand, today, even the entire week after the after crashing the Jade Chamber on top of Osial, had been lucky for Aether. The people of Liyue who had been subtly hostile toward him (for coming from the "godless city" and offending some for tripping over cultural differences) were noticeably warmer after the Qixing recognised him (and absolved the misunderstandings between him and the Millelith). Vermeer, who was apparently at the crowd during Ningguang's declaration of rule, was offended that the previous posters put up around Mondstadt only had the barest description of Lumine and offered to paint his twin onto several missing persons' posters (with his face as the template). Clerk Zhao, who interacted with pretty much nearly every old and new businessmen and merchants from and to Liyue Harbour, even promised to spread the word about his missing twin. He had been approached by Ms Yu who forwarded the excess of Liyue's Guild requests so his budding reputation in Liyue helped him save up more Mora for the next unknown land he'll explore in Teyvat.
After saying his goodbyes to Zhongli, the adepti (and running a minor errand for the Cloud Retainer) and Ningguang (who had almost driven him to tears after giving two silk flower brocades for him and Lumine once he found her), he encountered Teucer, who looked so much like a certain someone, his suspicion was confirmed when the kid whooped in joy when he suggested the Northland Bank.
Thinking over everything again took everything the blond has to keep his tone steady instead of cracking up in laughter.
Tartaglia turned around to face him with a sheepish expression, helplessness surrounding the air. "I.. I may be spoiling Teucer too much. But! Anthon and Tonia watch his sugar intake!" Faced with Aether's unimpressed stare, Tartaglia admitted. "...Mostly by taking their own fair share."
"What you need is to hire a chef with a level head to not be goaded into making sweets all the time in the name of pride." With his piece said, Aether walked forward and sat on the empty seat beside Tartaglia's. Propping his elbow on the only table occupied in the hall this late at night, chin in hand, Aether copied Lumine's troll face. "You can afford one, Mister Greatest Toy Salesman in Snezhnaya."
The miserable groan was futilely drowned as Tartaglia tried to hide his face in his crossed elbows again.
"Too bad I couldn't see Ekaterina's face when you called her the Liyue branch receptionist of Institute of Toy Research."
"I can hear the capitals, thank you!"
Aether hummed. "What did you call me? Like kites and rattle drums?"
For once, Aether could look down on the tall redhead, who glanced up with a thoroughly embarrassed pair of eyes. "I can see your lip curling, just laugh and get it over with."
Tartaglia watched as the smallest spark of mischief flare in the traveler's eyes, lips quivering before bright laughter spilled out. Despite being made fun of, Tartaglia's mood was lifted at the unfiltered laughter with no trace of mockery. He was met with a happy grin from the blond who, so far in their acquaintanceship, has only ever looked determined, unimpressed, or suspicious at him. Then a thought crossed his mind. "Hey, Teucer never did run off undetected, did he? You let him so you can mess with me!"
"I—" Aether choked off another round of laughter. "I had so much fun and so much blackmail, this is the greatest day of my life in Liyue." He tapped his pocket, where his mokeskin pouch kept the bags of Mora the Fatui Harbringer provided which still had plenty thanks to Aether's aggressive bargaining. "Extra funds never hurt either."
"Oh great, pull a Zhongli will you," Tartaglia pouted. "I, on the other hand, have only been played by Morax, and even worse, Signora, since I came here. Hmph!" He crossed his arms on his chest at the memory. "I can't wait to go back home."
Aether put up his hands in mock surrender before he got put in the same sentence as the lady who hurt Venti. "Teucer told me a lot about your homeland. Are fish really two hundred times the size of Paimon?"
Wistful, Tartaglia sighed. "Haha, must you make me homesick even worse? The fish here in Liyue wouldn't survive the icy seas of Snezhnaya."
"I'll reserve my judgement once I tasted it."
The doubt in Aether's eyes goaded Tartaglia to squash it, much like how quick he pushed back when the treasure hoarders dismissed him as a pretty boy. "Come to Snezhnaya and you'll eat those words and puke Liyue's fish out at the same time! Nothing beats Snezhnaya! Not cuisine and certainly not strength!"
"The weather says otherwise. I've been near the snow peaks. Cryo Regisvine's lair is way colder."
He gaped, "I can't believe I'm hearing this! You know what, why don't you board Teucer's ship tomorrow? I look forward to hearing from Teucer's letter that you can't handle the cold and need to be shipped back to Mondsta—wait," he narrowed his eyes. "You sneak. You want to go to Snezhnaya. Going to retrieve the Anemo Archon's gnosis, huh?" He guessed flatly.
"Teucer wants me to visit," Aether retorted, "I have nothing to do in Liyue anymore. I doubt I can take it by force from your God, and, well, Barbatos didn't like it but he's not gung-ho to get it back. And..." He trailed off. He never brought up the subject to Tartaglia but pretty much everybody in Mondstadt and Liyue must know by now. "I want to see if my sister is there."
Unbidden, icy eyes softened to somber blue. He certainly sympathised with Aether's plight. He was miles apart but at least he knows his siblings are safe at home. "Um, how long...?"
The blond went quiet. Golden eyes trailed off to the large open window seeking a particular constellation. "Too long. Never this long."
"Maa," the forced cheer brought his gaze back to Tartaglia. "I know it's only been a week, but I know enough to trust you with Teucer's life." He fidgeted with his hands a little, but his tone became more genuine. "I think it's Teucer's turn to be the tour guide tomorrow."
Aether swallowed, his throat a bit dry, and smiled back. "Looking forward to meet Anthon and Tonia."