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Teyvat's birthday gifting practice comes in handy. Aether doesn't think he would have ever wheedled that information out of Xiao, no matter how close of friends they are now.
Xiao's letter is sweet, and the gift of Crystal Cores is incredibly thoughtful. Aether is thrilled because it means he can go a few days without having to scale walls nor perform a number of questionable, desperate acrobatics that only end up providing Paimon with entertainment.
As suggested by the letter, Aether calls for Xiao. The proud look in Xiao's eyes when he sees one side of Aether's fringe pinned up by one Crystalfly makes Aether's stomach oddly flip. (A quick shop to the jeweler in the harbor, courtesy of Paimon's quick thinking, resulted in the hairpin.)
The three of them spend the day together, and even experiment with mint jelly in the Wangshu Inn kitchen, if only so Aether can ease Xiao into something new. They wrap up the evening with stargazing on the roof. Xiao even sits close, the proximity keeping them warm in the evening air. Xiao lets Aether point out the stars the traveler has come to like best since arriving in Teyvat.
There is nothing to suggest to Aether that there would be follow-up letters.
--
Do you need Cor Lapis?
There is an abundance of it outside of Cloud Retainer's abode, to the extent that she is now complaining about it to anyone within ear's distance. As you are acquainted with the blacksmith and do quite a bit of crafting, I am sure you will find a use for these.
Call for me, should you require more.
Paimon blinks as Aether finishes reading the letter out loud. "Hmm, Xiao uses a polearm, doesn't he? How did he mine these when you always have to ask someone with a claymore to do it for you?"
"Well, he is an adeptus," Aether reasons, as he examines the handful of shiny Cor Lapis Xiao included within the envelope. They are an unusually rich amber in hue; they would probably even impress Mr. Zhongli. "Maybe he has some special adeptus art we don't know about."
Paimon snorts. "A super secret mining art? What would you call something like that? Maybe he can teach us how to do it, too!"
Aether laughs, and pockets away the Cor Lapis into his inventory. "Hmm, maybe we can ask him the next time we see him. This was nice of him. It's just what we needed to make that treasure compass we've been eyeing."
"Treasure, treasure!" Paimon cheers, and promptly starts ushering Aether in the direction of the crafting table.
--
This shell was interesting.
My duties took me a little out further today. There was a hilichurl encampment that was beginning to get out of hand beyond the Yaoguang Shoal. It was nothing I could not handle, but an old woman was relentless in her prayers to have them exterminated. I cleared them out within minutes, and she... gave this to me.
I think it would be better suited for you to enjoy it.
"Huh?" Paimon wonders aloud. "What's he mean by interesting? It looks like a regular old Starconch to Paimon."
"It doesn't look like anything out of the ordinary," Aether agrees, turning the shell over in his hands. It's as smooth as all the others Aether has collected before, the same shades of blue striped all over. The white in the center of the spiral is as bright and cute as ever; there's a little chip on the starburst, and a hole on one side of the shell. A typical Starconch. Curious, Aether lifts it to his ear and listens.
He can hear the same, longing call of the sea but it's a little... different. The sound is less of an echo, and Aether finds himself straining to listen amidst the hustle and bustle of Liyue Harbor. It's faint, but Aether can swear that it sounds like the whisper of a flute; perhaps the imperfections in it played a part. Whatever the cause was, it sounds lovely, and the sound is comforting while standing in the middle of the lively harbor.
"So, so?" Paimon asks eagerly, flitting around Aether's head.
Aether lifts the shell to her ear so can listen, too. He smiles at the way her eyes slide shut while she enjoys the sound. "It's pretty, right?"
"Yeah!" Paimon nods fervently at him, gazing at it as Aether stows it into his bag. "Xiao sends you such nice things, doesn't he?"
Aether can feel his face warm but there isn't anything strange about that, really. The weather is a bit more humid than usual, Aether reasons. They've also been walking all around Liyue since early morning to complete commissions.
"Yeah," Aether says, wondering why he finds himself so flustered, "he does."
--
Some Silk Flowers for you.
The Silk Flowers in the marsh are flourishing this year. I noticed that one bush in particular was full, and these that I have picked are especially fragrant. Even so, the scent is not overwhelming, and I thought you could appreciate them.
From what Verr Goldet has told me, you can make perfume with these flowers. Perhaps you can try with these? I think it would smell lovely good nice... on you.
Aether sits at the lone, little bench at Stone Gate, and he has his face buried in his hands. Above him, Paimon is rolling around in the air and giggling up a storm.
"Stop," Aether mutters into his hands, overwhelmingly embarrassed.
"You're going to have to stop hiding eventually," Paimon tells him, and Aether feels her little hand pat him on the head. He makes a gurgled noise in response to her attempt at comfort. "You need to think of a gift to give to him, too! You haven't sent him anything back yet, have you?"
"I didn't know he was sending me love letters!" Aether says, finally removing his hands. At least the cool breeze skating through the mountains provides some relief for his heated face. It does nothing, however, to quell his mortification at realizing that he's been courted by the adeptus for several weeks now.
"Really? Paimon thought it was pretty obvious."
Aether stares at her, unsure if he ought to laugh or cry. "Then... why didn't you tell me?"
"Paimon thought you knew! He said things 'suited' you, he offered to mine for you! He sent you presents—"
"Okay, okay," Aether says, waving his hands at her. "I get it, I just... didn't think he would mean it. In that way."
Paimon crosses her arms and has that look on her face, the one where she is very unimpressed. She doesn't say anything more, and just raises one of her eyebrows in expectance.
Aether pauses. "I guess I should call for him, huh?"
He does, and Xiao appears before them instantly.
His polearm is already drawn, but the yaksha's tense form relaxes once he realizes he has not been called to a battlefield. He takes in the sight of them both, and he twirls his polearm before it disappears from his hand in a shimmer.
"You two," Xiao says, like it is any other day between them. Like he didn't, Aether thinks, write him four love letters in the span of a month.
"Hiya!" Paimon greets. "Aether really liked your presents!"
Aether splutters and his face, which had finally calmed, heats up instantly. He almost wants to scold Paimon for speaking for him, but he finds he is distracted by their newly arrived companion.
"I am glad," Xiao says gently, and there is a smile, a small one, gracing his features. "They were of use to you?"
"Yeah, helpful," Aether says dazedly, a little transfixed by the smile. It suddenly strikes Aether that he is still holding the Silk Flowers included in his most recent letter. Aether clears his throat and lifts them up. "A-And these! These are very pretty!"
"They smell really good," Paimon confirms.
Xiao nods, looking satisfied, and then he steps forward. Aether is trying very hard to regulate his breathing while Xiao approaches. The traveler promptly gives up when Xiao's hands reach for his own. Aether hopes he isn't crushing Xiao's present right now because it's really hard to focus on anything else when Xiao's face is this close.
"Their fragrance suits you after all," Xiao says, easing one flower out of Aether's grasp. He lifts it to hold it against Aether's face, and for a prolonged moment, studies them both. His smile widens, the tiniest curves; it makes Aether's heart clench. "The color does, too. May I?"
Aether nods mindlessly, and lets Xiao brush his hair aside to tuck the Silk Flower behind one ear. It's the same side of his hair that Aether previously pinned back with Xiao's first gift. Xiao's hand does not leave his face, instead moving to cup Aether's cheek.
"You look so pretty!" Paimon states happily.
"You do," Xiao agrees, looking very pleased with what he sees.
Aether grins, and when he leans to give the adeptus a kiss, Xiao meets him halfway.