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"Hu Tao…"
Yanfei approaches cheerfully, the warm night dawning on her cheeks with a sheen of calm, the lanterns and the stars glowing their comforting light upon them, a breeze of happiness over the harbor on this fateful night. The chime of fortune coins rings in the background, the enjoyment of kids running in the streets, it's all wonderful.
"Ah, hello~! Wah, I've been so busy, it's so great to see you!" Hu Tao says happily, bounding forward and hugging her tight, even as Yanfei jolts a little, caught off guard by the contact.
"Hehe…I like your new outfit." Yanfei says with a smile, reciprocating the warmth from her skin, even if it may be a little too Pyro. And a little unnerving.
Hu Tao beams, holding up her hands to cup her face teasingly, twirling giddily to show it all off. "It's tailored just for me from a seamstress from Fontaine! Isn't it simply charming?" She asks.
Mm…charming would be an understatement to the highest degree. The new outfit is simply breathtaking, white and red and less dreary colors than Yanfei is used to seeing on Hu Tao's deathly demeanor.
"Yanfei? Are you staring?" Hu Tao pouts, amused as Yanfei startles and tries to deny the inevitable truth of the situation. Sure, Hu Tao may look…very pretty, but she's not a lovestruck mortal! She's half adeptus, she has more morals than to just…admire.
"No! I was simply assessing your situation to determine if the outfit is good! It would be unbecoming for a legal advisor to not look over the finer details." She retorts in an embarrassed panic, waving Hu Tao's question off bashfully, and crossing her arms.
"Uh-huh, sure. Well, are you having fun this lantern rite?" Hu Tao changes the subject, walking them both aimlessly through the streets like a guiding butterfly, including all the fluttery, glowing with passion bits.
A shame that the fetor will never be able to crack and seep through her skin from where it lies only in the knowledge of few, of the ones who helped dispel it. A true shame that one lantern rite, the only thing that will remain will truly be the butterflies, to tell Yanfei that fate is inevitable.
How gloomy, that thought of eternity, or at least close to it, without a friend to share it with due to mortal and immortal boundaries.
"Ah, Hu Tao. I have something for you!" She exclaims, stopping their walk to rustle with her clothes - this damn outfit doesn't have pockets! - and slip out a small, golden coin with an engraved symbol on its surface.
Hu Tao laughs, likely sarcastically to anyone else who hears her. Yet Yanfei knows it's just her voice—her sweet, stupidly deadly voice. ...Pretty.
"Aiya, is this a repayment for that wonderful cake I got you last year? Well, there's no need; you've paid me with your company." She jokes, flipping the coin over to read the engraved symbol with a light smile. "Ah, safe passage. Quite fitting."
Mhm. Fitting indeed. Yet not for the reason that Hu Tao suspects, of course. It never will be said either, with how many cracks form when Yanfei thinks of losing her love-
Her friend. Friend. Do not think improperly.
"The cake from last year was quite a good gift. I hope I can make up the sentiment this year with a simple coin." Yanfei says nervously, face dusting with pink when Hu Tao beams, and hugs her close again.
"Wah, no need to make up anything. We both know that we're the best of friends, that bond means more than a gift." The director says happily, yet Yanfei hears the hint of mellow sadness in it.
On second thought, maybe Hu Tao does know the reason for the coin.
With a sigh, Yanfei beckons to continue the walk to break the suddenly tense silence in the air, even in the middle of such a loud environment. Seems like loneliness permeates even the most chaotic of scenes. What a shame.
"Wah, don't look so gloomy. The fetor is under control, and I'm okay!" Hu Tao says, overshooting the small gesture of a continued walk by interlocking her cold fingers with Yanfei's and practically skipping them along, towards the docks.
Yanfei concentrates on the physical feelings of it all…the fact that Hu Tao's hands hold no warmth, the way her voice has to manually lift to cheerful glee, and the pure, childish nature of her essence that in certain cases, many cases, one would find Hu Tao in a losing battle of defending herself from being perceived as annoying and immature.
Yet all that she can think of the most is the mortal lifespan.
"Let's go see the pretty lanterns! And maybe we can set a few off, and then go eat something fun and festive with Xiangling, and then we can have some more fun…" Hu Tao lists off, as easy as simply taking a step. Many steps, as they're sprinting through Liyue harbor like some hyper children, with Yanfei giving weak 'sorry's' between excited, caught-up giggles to any poor citizen that they bump into.
The rush of wind past them makes everything seem just a little too fast-paced for her liking, so Yanfei slows them to a quick walk, breathing heavily behind Hu Tao. They're nearly at the bridge leading to the other side of the harbor…right by hers truly's funeral parlor.
Everything, indeed, is going too fast. Today, tonight, the days that go by…and the fragile little lifespan of a chaotic little soul.
"Hu Tao?"
Said girl looks over with a grin, as winded as Yanfei is yet glowing with smile and fervor. Temporary, no matter what happens. The high of tonight, the low of what will be a reality in maybe one, two, more decades…all will come back to the butterflies that adorn tonight's gaze.
"What is it, Yanyan~ Did you get tired from a little running? We can rest."
Yanfei knows she could say so many things, truly and utterly devoted with emotion, with sorrow, with every bit of feeling her half-adeptus soul has to offer. So many things could happen in this very moment, life-changingly ecstatic or the worst hell that exists in this wonderful little city.
Yet…
It can wait for tomorrow.
"No, it's alright. Happy Lantern Rite. Let's go and have some fun!"