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It's a lovely afternoon, lovely because Childe Tartaglia, has finally got an errand to run in Liyue, which means he gets to see the most gorgeous person he's ever seen in teyvat!
" Next we go out for drinks " Zhongli had promised him in his beautifully low voice those few months back,
Maybe this time instead of just drinks, he could ask him to spar, maybe instead of drinks he can finally ask him, to go out on a right proper date.
He beelines to the funeral parlor with a few souvenirs from Snezhnaya, Zhongli who lives with Hu Tao could probably be found here at this lovely afternoon
" Miss Hu Tao! " He knocks on the door, " I have souvenirs "
She opens the door, and upon seeing him " What terrible timing, he isn't here right now. "
" But i have souvenirs "
" I can pass these on to him though~" She grabs the bag with speed and golden butterflies and closes the door
" Hey, this is a robbery! I wanna see him"
He opens the door,
" Aiya, I told you it's bad timing. He's not here kid. " She pushes the sliding door into his foot
" Ow ow ow ow—" Tartaglia pushes back " Just tell me where he is then "
" I have a cadaver to cut open go away, find him elsewhere "
" He promised me we'd go out for drinks ! "
" Hehe" Hu Tao, a mischievous demeanor for some godsforsaken reason " If you want to see him, maybe you should go to the Pearl Galley tonight. Though i don't know if they'd let a liittlee childe like you in "
" I'm only a few years younger than you."
" Not lying "
" Sure you aren't. i wanna see him, i bet you have him queueing for snacks somewhere around here "
" He's at the pearl galley until tonight, i told you. "
" Fine. But if i go there and see he's not even a guest i'm not killing anyone at all this week! At all!" Facetious, of course, he is being facetious and comedic,
" Hmph as if i'd ever compromise our relationship with the fatui by lying about your boy toy. He's got work to do there so leave him alone "
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Tartaglia had to pay extra to board the Pearl Galley tonight. Seems there is a special event for VIPs and only the best of the best with wallets thicker than their skulls.
He adjusts his glasses, on his face, it feels so unfamiliar, thick and prescription much to his dismay, it makes him look like a nerd. Pantalone slapped him on the back of the head for that remark. The regrator was insisting on investing into a civilian disguise where no one high profile would panic upon seeing him
Too late he thinks. He's pretty much a distinct public figure
He arrives at the Pearl Galley. The flower boat is extra decorated with noticeably more expensive items.
Immediately he is led to his seat, far from the stage, which was the least of his interests. His current agenda, is to find Zhongli, catch up with him, maybe go for drinks after whatever he's doing here.
He seats himself down, he looks like a timid young noble, looking around like this, hands cupping his tea.
Wealthy men and women sit around, some alone, some in groups. Wait what was this event? Seems like an auction by the arrangement of the seats, separated. Maybe it's a play? All sorts of events occur here
He searches for a man with the familiar dark clothes, listens carefully to find if he can hear that gorgeous voice.
Zhongli is not among the audience.
Did Hu Tao lie to him?
No no, its too early to think that. Perhaps Zhongli was hired to pick out the decoration for tonight. Maybe he's backstage. He is by profession, a consultant.
" Rare to see a fellow Snezhnayan here, are you old enough boy? " He hears his native tongue, a tone less condescending but more concerned and guiding.
" I am of age, " His voice comes out a little timid " It's my first time in such an event like this "
" Ah well dear old Maksim will show you! The connoisseur catalogue provided on every table name which flowers can provide company for the night "
" I see. But should I not be interested i flowers ? "
" The men are just as striking! " He picks up the catalog " But tonight is a special event, an opera to show the talents of these beauties, then a silent auction "
Oh this was that sort of event.
" How does it work? "
" Its simple, just bid for the girl or boy you like the most, then have fun. "
Music begins. His fellow Snezhnayan goes back to his seat, he can't help but actually feel nervous now. It would be suspicious if he didn't order from the catalog. Where is the man he's searching for?
The soft strings getting louder, demanding everyone's attention.
Women come from back stage in perfect synchronous dance, elegant and beautiful. men scantily clad
appetizers for a main course
Beyond the silken veil, and the painted screens, there is a lady with long dark hair and an elegant silhouette, she sings with her voice slightly lower than the traditional Liyuen opera singers, an alto is what they would classify her as, if he were thinking in the theatre concepts of his homeland.
So Zhongli isn't here at all
That or he's already left the boat already, and again he is the fool.
The current performer is called Miss Sweet Osmanthus, her storytelling ability is incredible! Clearly someone who put a lot of effort abd work into her craft
Though Tartaglia has no idea who she is, something within him compels him to bid for her attention tonight. If only to ask questions, to learn from her with the way she so eloquently sings these tales, perhaps she studied under Zhongli, the way she speaks, her tone and cadence, it's similar when telling this lengthy Liyuen tale.
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He won this bid, then he is quietly escorted into one of the classier rooms of the pearl galley with rules of not doing anything that leaves marks, anything she refuses to do, things that he knows to be common sensical but may not be to some stupid customers.
He opens the door, bright red decor as if a marriage chamber, he can see her in the far end of the room combing her hair in front of a mirror
Bad luck it is to comb hair at night, but he supposes it's seductive enough
" Miss Osmanthus?" He hopes she does not recognise him to be a bad man, " I am an actor from Snezhnaya, the way you sang just absolutely captivated my heart, i had to have a talk with you "
She combs her long hair, silky and falling straight like strung strings of a zither. The rich dark colours fading from the deepest black to a vibrant colour that reminds him of shchi
He notices, her clothes are somewhat see through, her bright red dress is a traditional sort of gown called a qixiong ruqun, he recalls zhongli's words, comfortably tied atop the chest. It isn't supposed to be this see through, giving him an eyeful of her well formed rear
She turns upon noticing him from the mirror, her long flowing sleeves intricately embroidered with gold. Slowly, she pulls her ribbon to unravel her dress, a striptease.
The first layer of skirts have been undressed, leaving the thinnest layer of skirt underneath that leaves nothing to the imagination. Her body is perfectly clean, unmarred and soft
She stands, hands on the next tie above her chest but those hands hesitate. Something like recognition
There stands before him in this chamber, most expensive whore in the pearl galley, miss osmanthus, named for her bright golden eyes. And those golden eyes like cor lapis, like mora, almost glow with an ethereal light
Hold on.
Huh.
" Mister Zhongli?? "
" Childe?? "
" Is it truly you? "
At once, a gold flash, her body shifts back into a masculine form, he stands before him in bright red and gold traditional clothes, still, very much perfect. Still very much beautiful.
" Childe. " He pulls the silken curtains of the bed towards himself, then turns, tying his dress back to accommodate his changed form " I could hardly recognise you. I am sorry I am not the woman you were expecting—"
" No no , you're more than . . . Just . . .wow " He turns away to hide the redness of his face and looks out the window, the bright moon reflects herself on the ocean waters, the distant inazuman lights further beyond
" No? "
" Um. Nevermind. Uh-i-"
He joins him by the window, staring out into the sea as he does, but then Zhongli takes his attention away from the waters to look him up and down in that silly civilian disguise
" I-i'm just surprised is all!"
Come on Tartaglia, you're not that timid little boy anymore. Stand still and face him.
" You're very cute with those glasses, are they real ? Or are they for a disguise "
He takes them off gently, and Tartaglia can only stutter and freeze, as if caught by a siren or a fae, to be devoured and consumed completely
" Can you still focus on me? "
The world blurs, nearsighted, he can only focus on his face, his eyes a bright golden glow, of course he knew he was an adeptus, but truly, a beauty such as this, he should have known he was the most majestic of all adepti
" I see they're real. Do you wear those . . . That Mondstadtian invention with curved glass in your eyes "
Tartaglia shakes his head, He smiles and puts the glasses aside.
" Speak, Tartaglia. Did you not choose to spend this night with me? "
" Why are you selling yourself to the pearl galley?," He backtracks, " Not that anything is wrong with it if you so choose— i just am a little surprised to see you on stage where i was searching for you among the crowd "
" Ah. You did come to see me then "
" Of course i did. " He struggles not to stutter, not to falter. " I missed you "
" You missed me " She smiles, she. Because in gold glow she is back to being a refined lady " Taking such effort to see me, even in such form"
" Because it's you, Zhongli "
" Well then Mr Actor from Snezhnaya, you ought to take your rightful prize " She teases, smiling, pulling loose the tie of her dress and letting it pool on the floor around her feet.
Zhongli takes his hand, she is warm. Ajax didn't know why he expected her to be cold, perhaps like stone, like gold. Perhaps it was stories of how rex lapis was half dragon, how the exuvia was so intimidating in it's tough skin. But she is here before him, warm, alive, breathing and beautiful.
She kisses his palm, then places it to cup her breast. Her breasts were soft, smooth like flower petals, smelling sweet like the osmanthus wine Zhongli so loves to talk about
" I-i. I don't want to disrespect you, or. Or anything. " He takes his hand away and pulls her clothes back over her shoulder, " You're a trusted friend and you're a god of contracts, so you— so i don't want you to do anything you don't like out of contractual obligation a-"
And she laughs, so light and elegant. " You are cute. Too cute, Childe. " She takes his hand once more and holds it to her cheek " I don't approach you out of obligation " Her eyes, bright and gold, stare at his face, her gaze tracing along his jaw, his lips " I find myself quite fond of you, "
" Then . . Call me Ajax, please. " He tucks some of her hair back behind her ear,
" Ajax, i want this, i want you. "
Now closer, he can see her as she is, he studies her face, same as it was, still Zhongli just softer, somehow softer. Her lips tinted with red, same as the makeup around her eyes.
Both hands upon her cheeks, he can't help but use his thumb to smudge the colour on her lips. Zhongli's eyes intensely stare at his own, as if watching what he will do next
And so he kisses her.
Zhongli is beautiful. No matter what form, no matter what action. This, he cannot deny. Sure enough she tastes like osmanthus wine.
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Dear Mama and Papa,
My visit to liyue was quite fruitful ! I hope you received the dried fish I sent, though I know everyone might be sick of fish, I can tell you it's quite uniquely Liyuen. The cold medicine I sent for the old man also is a lot more potent than the last, so do take caution.
Tonia has told me that they are too old for toys, so instead I sent some new books written in the common language. It's a wide selection so just pick as you please, maybe give away the rest.
The new silk I sent are the colours my dear elder sisters had asked for, but nevertheless I bought a few more bolts with some patterns the merchant told me were quite new. The flowers are elegant and perfect for ladies their age.
I nearly forgot to mention, I will be introducing to you my lover the next I return to Snezhnaya. Please ask big sis to clean the oven ! I want them to be as warm and comfortable as possible when we visit home, as they are more used to the humid weather of liyue. They dislike seafood so I had sent a little more money to buy some good quality meat. Maybe we can take them to where we go on picnics.
As always, your loyal son
Ajax