Chapter Text
“So, Albedo. From what I understand, you’re really interested in studying life, correct?” Aether asks.
He and Lumine hover over Albedo’s desk, staring at the complicated diagrams he sketches onto paper.
“Yes. It is through our understanding of life, and all that that entails, that we may begin to understand more of the real world and our purpose here.”
“Cool. And plants are all about life, aren’t they?”
“Intrinsically, yes.”
“I recently came into possession of some really interesting documents about rare plant species that I think might aid in your research. I’m willing to let you borrow them, if you want.”
“Thank you for thinking of me. If you have them readily available, I can take them off your hands.”
“Here you go.”
Aether produces a thin stack of documents from who-knows-where and hands them to Albedo.
Lumine crosses her arms and scoffs. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to.”
“What am I up to?” Aether asks.
“Those are Tighnari’s papers from his old time at the Akademiya.”
“They are,” Aether says. “Is that a problem?”
“You have ulterior motives for doing this.”
“Ulterior motives?” Albedo repeats.
“Duh— don’t listen to her!” Aether jumps. “She’s just jealous because I’m such a good wingman!”
“I’m unfamiliar with the term. What does it mean to be a ‘wingman’?”
“It’s an anemo thing.”
Albedo shrugs. “If you say so. Now, if that is all, I still have some work to complete today. Perhaps we can catch up some other time?”
“Absolutely,” Lumine says. “We’ll see you later, Albedo.”
She tugs Aether’s cape and drags him outside.
“What was that about?”
Aether crosses his arms and grins. “I don’t know, Lumine, what was it?”
“You’re trying to pair up Albedo and Tighnari? But why?”
“Why not? They’re both scholars. They’re both single. I feel like Tighnari is the sort of guy who would balance out Albedo’s dry humor, you know?”
“Maybe…”
“Don’t worry about it. It’s just a report, not even love letter or anything like that.”
“I guess you’re right. I’m getting worried for nothing.”
“Exactly. It’s a long stretch anyway. It’s not like you can really learn anything from someone just by a little report about mushrooms. And if you can, well, even better.”
…
…
Some days later…
“Aether. I must thank you for that report you gave me last time. It deemed to be quite interesting reading material.”
“I’m so happy to hear it! I have the address of the author if you were interested in sharing your thoughts with him. I’ve heard peer review is important, and all that.”
“Ah, that won’t be necessary. I have already written to them.”
Aether’s jaw drops open. “Really? Have you gotten a response yet?”
“No, but they live in Sumeru, so I expect it will take some time before I get a response.”
Aether reaches out, holding Albedo by the shoulders. “Good luck!”
In the distance, Lumine holds her face in her hand, shaking her head.
…
…
The tent’s humid this early in the morning. Tighnari’s at his desk, starting up a report, when Collei bounds up to him with a letter in her hand.
“Hey, Tighnari! Some mail came for you today,” she calls.
“Oh, is that so? What is it?”
He accepts it from her and studies it.
It has a few different things going on. A wax seal depicting a crest on it, an address from Mondstadt, and two different postmarks. And finally, Tighnari’s current address with his old one at the Akademiya crossed out.
It looks like someone’s had some trouble figuring out where to mail this.
“What in the world?” He says.
He returns to his desk and drops into a chair. He reaches for his letter opener and slides it across the top of the envelope.
Out comes a letter written in fine, cursive handwriting. It’s addressed to him and uses the kind of language Tighnari doesn’t miss from academics trying to puff up their boring research with long words just to sound smart.
Once he’s read it once all the way through, though, he has to admit his tail would be wagging if it weren’t pressed against the back of his chair. This person obviously knows what they’re talking about, even if they’re from a different area of science. They posit interesting questions and quote some of Tighnari’s favorite parts of the paper back to him.
He retrieves some blank parchment and an inkwell, prepared to write up a well-articulated response to all of his colleague’s questions.
…
…
Some time later…
“Hey, Tighnari, how goes everything?”
“It’s going well. What brings the twins back around Avidya Forest?”
“Aether said he’s here on ‘wingman duties,’” Lumine says with a regrettable look on her face.
Tighnari crosses his arms. “Is that so? And how are they going?”
“That’s undecided,” he says. “I was wondering if you’ve been receiving any letters recently from a certain ‘Albedo’ character?” Aether strokes his chin as if he’s deep in thought.
“Yes, that’s right,” Tighnari says. “I take it you know him?”
“We have reason to be in contact with one another, yes.”
“What’s the consensus? Do you think he’s going to murder me in my sleep?”
“Oh, gods, no! Quite the opposite!”
Lumine jabs Aether in the side and he yelps.
Tighnari smiles. “So long as he has your seal of approval, then I won’t be overly concerned.”
…
…
Albedo’s taking a rare visit to his study back in Mondstadt when the twins visit him again. Aether knocks on the door to the room, which creaks open to reveal Albedo sitting at his desk with a quill and parchment.
“Give me just a moment.”
“What are you doing?” Aether asks.
“Writing to Tighnari.”
“You guys are writing to each other? Did you finally get a letter back to him after that thing about the mushrooms?”
Albedo cocks his head to the side. “Mushrooms? …Oh yes, my first letter to him. Yes, he responded to it. I have been in regular contact with him since.”
“About what?”
“About all sorts of things.”
“I’ve been wondering. Lumine and I are gonna go visit Sumeru soon, and we were wondering if you’d like to come along. Maybe for some time off?”
“I see no need to. I still have research to do.”
“But you always have research to do,” Lumine says. “I think Aether’s right. You should give yourself a break from time to time. If you don’t, you risk running yourself into exhaustion.”
“Mmm…” Albedo hums and looks over his work. “I’m not sure I want to go. Duty calls…”
“I think you should go.” Sucrose enters the room and sidles up to Albedo’s side.
“But what about Klee?”
“The Knights of Favonius can take care of her while you’re away, so there’s no need to worry. Have fun! It sounds like you’d enjoy spending some time with Mister Tighnari.”
“See?” Aether says. “Sucrose agrees with us!”
Albedo sighs. He puts down his quill and pushes himself away from his desk. “I suppose there is no helping it. Alright, I’ll go with you.”
“Yes!” Aether cheers. Lumine grabs his hand and they do a little jump together. “We’ll get preparations done right away!”