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"Pffssssshhh!"
Tales in Teyvat typically do not begin with someone doing a spit take, all over their floor. This one however, does.
"Holy Archons! Say it, don't spray it Fei~" The owner of that amused voice, who luckily has avoided getting hit just now, dashes off with a purpose, grabbing a red towel before coming back. As for the explosion-maker herself, she coughs several more times in this interim, greedily taking the cloth offered and wiping all around her mouth with it- after putting the cup of 'tofu tea' down. As oxygen makes its' way back inside her lungs, the recollection of what her friend just excitedly said starts to officially settle in.
Of course she still feels the need to make sure her ears were indeed working. Lawyer's instinct and all that.
"T-Thanks…Um, Tao?"
Her fellow Pyro-user and best friend looks at her, smile ready to go.
"Can you repeat what you said? In its' entirety too. And slowly."
"Nnnooooo proooobllllleemmmm Feeeeeeiiii."
…With a sigh, the hand of the adeptus goes up and pinches her temple. She's not sure if there would everbe a good time for these shenanigans, but she's certain that this isn't it. Still, she supposes that what makes Hu Tao, Hu Tao. There's another sigh, happier this time, before her green eyes encourages the girl in black to proceed.
"Ok~ Well, here's my pitch! First, you approach Aether just like this." To the naked eye, it appears Hu Tao literally warped to Yanfei's side, putting her arm around the lawyer's shoulders. She is rather good at that. "Ask him if he would like to accompany you for some lunch. Or some shopping. Heck, it really doesn't matter, does it? Aether's so nice and friendly, I'm sure he'll agree no matter what excuse you think of! Just keep him nice and occupied for a time~"
Yanfei imagines what she's being told for a second, and finds it is hard to disagree with Hu Tao on this point. It's an extremely well-known fact that the man they're describing - and who happens to be person her friend has a massive crush on - is someone who just loves to take on other people's problems. Doubly so if they're his friend. Honestly, Yanfei isn't z even opposed to the idea, it'll be good to catch up with Aether after a bit. But she keeps her focus, moving on to the obvious less-than-ideal part of this 'plan'.
"What about you?"
Hu Tao separates herself, moving to the center of the lawyer's vision again. "Me? I'll wait until you two leave, go inside his castle-"
"You think Tubby will just let you in?" Yanfei interrupts, only to know that this is no problem. The cheeky grin Hu Tao wears is proof of that.
"I never said I'll be taking the front door silly~ Anyway, once in, I'll set up these all around the place!" An individual stick of dynamite is thrust in Yanfei's face, although this one is red and black striped rather than the pure red coloring typically reserved for cave exploration. "I've spent weeks- no months! - of researching how to get it just right! Luckily, there seems to be a famous author who might just be crazier than anyone in Teyvat! Her books were a huge help to me~"
"Um-"
"With it all set up, I'll climb back outside, and then set one of these guys to work~" Betraying the calmness of two girls largely just talking, Hu Tao suddenly leaps forward, snatching at the air pontlessly- or so it appears. But an instant after, Yanfei's eyes can make out the tail of a ghost her friend has captured in her palm. And where there's a tail, there's a mewling spirit from the otherworld attached…
No matter how many times she sees it, Yanfei is always surprised. Even her adeptus senses can't pick them up, yet the "normal" Hu Tao does so effortlessly.
"They can breathe little sparks! With the dynamite ready to go and one of these bad boys- Mm-mm-mmm~! Kaboom!" Sound effect made in triumph, the funeral parlor director releases her 'captive', which flies away pathetically like a dying balloon, vanishing from sight after. "…Wait…'breathing' sparks…? Hmm…well, whatever! After this, the real magic happens~"
Not giving an inch of room, she presses right up to her friend. Their hats brush each other, exchanging pleasantries. "You see, my dear Yanfei, amidst the smoldering rubble and ash, a message will reveal itself - in black flames~ A message that will spell out a new beginning in both mine and Aether's life, one full of love and passion, directly from the heart!"
"The grass will read: Aether, life is a mere speck of dust in the sea of darkness. Your presence gives it a brilliant golden light, one that I wish to embrace. Yours truly, Hu Tao." Her eyes open, revealing the same flower petal pupils as always. "What do you think? Considering the space limitations I had to work with, I'm a big fan~"
While the brunette mutters more excitement, Yanfei has found her voice, and not a moment too soon either. Quickly formulating her questions before Hu Tao thinks it's 'all systems go', she launches her objections.
"…Tao, to be frank with you."
"Hm?"
"T-This is insane! For a start, what about Tubby?"
"Huh, I already-? -Ohhh, oh, don't worry! Worst case scenario, that '50% off all caskets' deal would finally hit the books!"
"Tao..."
"Plus I don't even know if my explosions can hurt them!"
"Tao."
"F-Fine, I'll call them over before letting the ghost go! Happy?"
Yanfei exhales. One life saved… "What about his stuff?! Are you seriously to blow them all to kingdom come? Not to mention- you know- the building!? His home!"
"Don't worry so much~ Nothing in there can't be remade. We even have the architect from Sumeru now, just in case. Besides, there's literally nothing you can do here that will affect the real world."
"That's not the point Tao! I'm sure Aether likes having the ability to come to his teapot realm and relax. Where will he sleep with your plan!?"
Hu Tao looks at her like she just asked what her job is. "Where? In my room, obviously. Duh."
"I-In your room?" Yanfei repeats, imagining. "Why don't you just…you know, be direct with him? Walk up, confess your feelings, and no recreating the Archon War?"
A moment passes. And then Hu Tao…laughs. "Hee hee, of course the lawyer would think that~"
"H-Hey, what does-"
"Listen Fei!" The Pyro user in black grips the Pyro user in red by her shoulders. I don't blame you for thinking your way. You have a whole host of rules you need to follow for your career after all~! Rules upon laws upon guidelines upon social norms upon who-the-heck knows what else. You know more laws by memory than I'll learn in my entire life!"
"Well, I don't mean to brag but-"
"Exactly! But!" There's a dangerous sparkle in Hu Tao's eyes. "But romance is different, the polar opposite! There are no laws in love, rules in romance, guidelines in gift giving, codes in confessing, you get it! You have to act on impulse! With passion! With purpose! Wait too long, let yourself get dragged down by laws, and you lose your chance. Your one…and perhaps, only chance…"
"Tao…"
"I know myself, my feelings.…and I will not let this chance go by- focus on the now…! And right now, a simple confession wouldn't work- I'm sure Aether has had those before me. No, what I need is this- bold, unique, and something he'll remember for the rest of his life!"
Yanfei tilts her head. "Like blowing his house up?"
"Like blowing his house up. So, what do you say? Gonna help?"
The lawyer smiles sweetly at her friend's request. "Nope~"
"Whaaat?! Why?" Hu Tao acts like the rejection physically struck her, peeling off Yanfei and sliding into a puddle. "You'd betray me after I just poured my heart out?! You're sick Fei!"
"….I know you're fake crying Tao. Get off my floor please."
"Ehehe…ah, really though? Not helping?"
"Of course not! Your 'expression of love' is still illegal in all seven regions, in about twenty different ways! And If I'm found to be an accomplice, I'd rather not rely on the legally-untested theory of 'It doesn't matter actually Your Honor, as it happened in a mystical teapot realm where rocks, wood, and paper can somehow make cathedrals!"
Hu Tao rubs her head with a wink. "Be one heck of a court story though…And hey, who's the rat that will stick their head in and spill the beans?"
"That Alhaitham guy may, if he sees. Aside from that, people like Jean, Yae, Ninggaung…pretty much any leader might have questions."
"Urk, good point…guess we need to trap them all in their houses instead~"
"Tao."
"Kidding, kidding~ Well if you really insist on doing nothing…" A pause followed by a quick nod. "Then I guess I'll just have to ask someone else for their assistance!"
Yanfei snorts. "Good luck Tao. Don't be too shocked at the reactions, k?"
"Don't worry Fei. Next time you see me, it'll be in triumph- with Aether by my side!" And with that, the young director explodes out into the bright light of Aether's chosen landscape- a rich plateau of grasslands and stone pillars, just like Liyue. Now who should I ask first…?
After Hu Tao disappears from sight, Yanfei sighs once more and closes the front door that her friend totally forgot to shut in her excitement.
"I mean it. Good luck Tao, I believe in you."
-0-
With a heavy creak by a pair of wooden doors slowly opening, Aether steps outside of his impressive two-story home, stretches his back and arms in his signature way, and engages Tubby, the teapot dweller directly outside his home, in a quick chat.
Unbeknownst to him though, there are a pair of brown flower eyes staring from some distance away. Taking in the traveler's form, Hu Tao is certainly happy with what she sees - even with the rest of her situation sucking.
And to add on to that bitter feeling, she doesn't even begin to take a step towards her target before Aether surrounds himself with an otherworldly light- and vanishes, summoning himself to the "real world" again. Hu Tao just dimly stares at the spot Aether was just in, stupidly having to force her outstretched arm down after the fact. There's no doubt about it- this is the chance she's been looking for!
This is it…but she doesn't take it. And why?
When one person, your best friend no less, rejects your idea and says you're crazy, you laugh it off, determination unwavering. But when several other people do it? Well, that's when the doubt really begins to creep in.
Yup, she had asked everyone else - as long as they had a Pyro Vision of course - if they'd be willing to burn a locale. She didn't even mention Aether either, but the results were..suboptimal.
The Outrider from Mondstadt was shocked at the mere thought of it, rejecting the idea in no uncertain terms. "The only time a Knight should use their Vision is when it's to help others, or for surviving the wilderness!"
Xinyan and Xiangling, two of her fellow Liyue citizens, responded similarly. Xinyan only used the power of Pyro "to set the greatest concert stage Teyvat had ever seen!'. And Xiangling initially seemed receptive- till Hu Tao realized that the chef was only drooling over the thought of setting something on fire…because it meant she'd be able to cook some rare meat.
Meanwhile, Yoimiya from Inazuma said that the only 'fire' she was going to be responsible for concerned 'fireworks', something done for the purpose of seeing the smiles of everyone- and the exact opposite of what an indiscriminate blaze would lead to. She was out.
And as for the rest…
"You're a mercenary, ain'tcha Dehya? Can I offer you some Mora for the help?"
"Heh~! No thanks. I decide what job I take on, and I'm more into protecting people than causing trouble and chaos."
"What- hey!"
"Well, as the housekeeper of the Kamisato Clan, I think my skills are better suited to keeping thing orderly than-
"Yeah yeah, causing trouble, I've heard that one already~ Have a good day Thoma!"
"I wasn't going to say that Hu Ta- aaaand she's gone."
"Diluc, I have a favor-""No."
All those rejections, all those shocked and concerned looks on her fellow Pyro user's faces were whittling her optimism down to nothing. Oh, and as for the two other males that fit in this special category? One was a complete newcomer to the teapot realm; their third Pyro archer, a stage magician from Fontaine. The possibility of developing a fake explosion crossed her mind, but Hu Tao knew the second she saw him- this man was incredibly perceptive, he'd be able to snuff out her true feelings the moment she asked for help. That meant she would have to be forthright from the get go, and she couldn't possibly trust a newbie with a precious plan like this! Unfortunate timing, really. Maybe in the future they'd be a wicked tag team…
And the second person, who she actually did get halfway through her spiel before realizing it wasn't going to work, wad good old Bennett. Nothing against him of course, a kind adventurous boy, but holy Archons, could he not be counted on, thanks nonsense luck. Or unluck. Either way, Hu Tao did not need a convenient rain storm showing up and ruining her message of love- and it didn't even rain in the teapot! But if anyone could somehow defy the rules, it would be Bennett by complete accident. It was best to leave him out, and after pivoting to the question she was frequently asking today, he remained oblivious.
Which left only one person….Her last hope for any kind of partner. Aether was gone for now, she needed to move to the two-story house right away.
This teapot was…weird, but strangely helpful too. Every inhabitant of the realm, no matter how often they actually resided here, knew everyone else's name and 'address'. Admittedly that explained why new people were always on edge whenever the young director strode up to them for eager introductions, but if it was helping her out here~ Hu Tao's destination, she knew, was just over a wooden yet sturdy bridge. Along the way, she found her mind wandering to the future. What she would say in a minute, sure, but also if this was really the right path. Should she pivot? Was it too late?
After all, when she asked everyone else…
"So…asking for a friend here, but- let's say you wanted to tell someone a really important message? How would you do so?"
Amber would tell them directly. Same with Xinyan. Same with Dehya. Same with Yoimiya even! And the two that said otherwise, Xiangling and Bennett, bless their innocence, each said they would give a nice meal/letter to the person in question instead.
(The Thoma and Diluc conversations died before she could get to this point.)
But that was still a majority, and it wasn't even counting Yanfei! So… should she actually just do what was recommended? Drop the creativity, drop the passion, just go up to Aether and…confess?!
The mere idea made butterflies fly in her stomach. Was she going about this all wrong? Was she just being an idiot? What would Aether think? Of her plan, of her preparations, of her? Was she just making a massive mistake, unaware of its' stupidity until it was too late, until she had done irreparable harm!?
Knock-knock!
The sound stired Hu Tao back to the current plane of existence, where she finally noticed where she was. In an act of supreme betrayal, her legs had gotten a death certificate out by carrying her to the selected house, and her arm had signed the document in blood by knocking on the door.
There was just enough time for her to resign herself to fate when the door swings open.
And out stepped a young girl with red clothes, a thick backpack, and decorated with an adorable red hat.
"Huh…? Oh, Hu Tao!" She squeals with delight, teapot working its' magic. "Are you here to play?!"
"Sorry Klee. I actually wanted to ask Alice something."
"Ohhh, I can help!" The Spark Knight turns around excitedly. "Mooom? Hu Tao's here to see you!"
"Wait, is she-"
Despite not seeing anyone else, it only took a second for a new voice to ring out, just as excited as the daughter's. "I knew it~ I knew she would come here~" It was almost like the house itself was talking, with how clear the words were coming through.
"Wha- Ms. Alice?" Hu Tao checks her surroundings, finding no one still. "Are you invisible? Are you okay?"
"Oh-ho! Just peachy dear, just peachy! But you mustn't come inside- I'm brewing a new potion, one that curses anyone without Hexenzirkel blood into having a third hand sprout out of their back! It'll be my new masterpiece!"
"You're the best Mom!" Klee pumps her tiny fist into the air.
"Thanks sweetie~ So, Ms. Hu, I have my hands full now, but I can always lean an ear! What do you need?"
"Um…" The director is at a loss for a minute… before deciding 'eh, screw it'. This is her last hope anyway.
"I want to burn Aether's house down."
"Oooh, why?" Wait…was that intrigue?
"Because I'm in love with him."
"Hee-hee, she said 'love'! Awww~" In a surprising show of normalcy, it's Klee who says that, with a dumb smile on her cute face. Yet the house goes silent.
"Umm, Ms. Alice? Yoo-hoo?"
*sniff* *Sniff*
"Ms. Alice?! Are you okay?"
The adult's voice comes right back, full of- "Ohhh, Ms. Hu! I had…NO idea I was talking to a kindred spirit! To do something so brazen, so bold, so romantic! It reminds me of myself when I was your age~! Those were the days…what fun it was, hehehe! Ahh, I underestimated you dear~" happiness. Full of happiness.
"Wait, so you mean-?"
"Yes dear. No matter what I tried at first, Klee's father never noticed my feelings! Such an oblivious man…. So! I set his entire neighborhood on fire~! The government wasn't too happy afterwards, but by then, he only had eyes for me."
"Finally! Somebody who understands!" Hu Tao feels herself almost jump for joy. "Ah…but your potion."
"Don't worry, I already have a solution! Oh Klee?" Alice calls her daughter over, who has successfully distracted herself with a frog up to now. "Go with the nice lady and listen to her instructions please? Your Jumpty-Dumpties will be a big help~"
"Ok Mom! Hee hee hee, this'll be great!" Even with her being obvious to the reason, Hu Tao suddenly finds her arm being grabbed by the overexcited child. "C'mon c'mon! Let's go!"
"Let me know how it goes you two!" Alice's rings behind the two Pyro users, flush with pride.
As soon as she has her bearings, the director shakes her head after trying and failing to understand what just happened. To say she was hoping for this would be giving her too much credit… but she got her 'partner'. Her strange, elven, not-even-a-teenager partner.
And they call ME the eccentric one!
-0-
"Ok Klee, our first step is to remove Tubby from the area, we don't want to hurt them after all. But I'm at a bit of loss just how to do- where the heck did you go?"
Hu Tao turns to her immediate right, and finds only a dust cloud. In a bit of a panic, she looks around- only to see the Spark Knight skip her way to Aether's castle. And Tubby too.
"Tubby!~"
"Ah! Little Klee~" The adeptus responds joyfully in kind. "Is something the matter my child?"
"Nope! But I think my Mom would like to talk to you! She's making something suuuper amazing, but Klee can't watch! She must be sooo lonely…"
"Oh-ho~ Alice, brewing a potion, no doubt…! I should speak with her…..and make sure nothing dies this time….
"Hm?" Klee puts a finger to her chin. "Did Mom do something wrong?"
The teapot spirit within a teapot jolts back. "O-Oh no no no! Forgive me little one, your mother is brilliant! No need to worry! But, ah, it's been sometime since I've spoken with Alice, so I think I'll take your kind offer!" And with that, the guardian hurriedly floats away from their perch.
And no less than a second after the home is Tubby-less, Klee jumps and faces back. "Ok, it's just us now!" Naturally she's calling to the concealed Hu Tao, who steps out behind a Liyue tree lookalike with a bewildered expression. Was it really so simple?!
"Hey, hey~ How'd Klee do?! Amazing right?" The younger Pyro-user beams at Hu Tao, expecting praise.
"Y-Yeah, thanks a bunch."
Hu Tao raises both arms, releases a breath she didn't know she was holding, and pushes the door to Aether's "house" opens. This is it…it's really time huh? The anticipation would prove to be too great for her alone, but her partner rushes forward, already holding a bunch of weird red-and-white spheres. Jumpy-Dumpties? That's their name right? How cute..
"One can go here. And here! Here too- oh, and here!"
While Klee excitedly redecorates the interior with unset explosions, Hu Tao staggers to the steps. She's been here before many times, yet finds herself taken in by its' atmosphere, a final rite of passage. The sheen of the floor underneath, various trinkets from every region the blonde owner has gone to, the layer of visible dust on outdated pieces of furniture…it is all completely perfect.
And when she gets to the second floor and has Aether's bedroom right behind her, Hu Tao has no choice. She furiously removes her cap and bites down on the rim to distract herself. Opening that door would spell the ultimate end of this weird saga- and as glorious as it is to imagine Aether walking in on her embracing his scent from the most intimate place possible, l-leading to her getting a taste of the real thing….no, she can't do that. After all, Klee would get in trouble! Y-yeah!
So with a sigh and a snap, her previously-empty hands get full, special dynamite summoned in.
The next few minutes are in silence, with her laying the striped sticks of destruction very carefully, in religious formation to what she remembered. Everything has been building to this, but there's no time to admire her handiwork- who knows when Aether will be back after all? To that end, she leaps off the balcony back to the ground floor, where Klee awaits.
Both demons smile at each other happily. Job nearly complete.
And finally…to ignite it all, once back outside, Klee produces her greatest creation yet! A HUGE Jumpty-Dumpty (that was somehow in her backpack) that can be timed. She remembers to thank her older brother like a good girl before handing it over to her new friend.
"Uh? Me?" Hu Tao asks, slowly taking the final bomb in her hands.
"Yeah! This is realllly important to you! You get the final *BOOOM*!"
"Aww, Klee…" She winks at her accomplice. "Alright then, stand back!"
The explosion-happy child does so, meanwhile Hu Tao digs her heels in….raises her heavy arms above her head….and tosses the Jumpty-Dumpty with all her might! True to its' name, it makes two quick boings against grass and stone, before rolling into Aether's house through still open doors.
"Now…we RUN~!" Each wearing a stupidly happy grin, both director and Knight abandon the prospect of a fiery doom by sprinting with all of their might back to the tree Hu Tao was hiding behind earlier. We should be safe here, she thinks, studying Klee's face for any worry- and finding none. I can't believe this girl is an explosion expert…
"Huh? Does Klee have something on her face?"
"O-oh, no, Sorry Klee." She looks back to the soon-to-be-obliterated castle. All is well.
Until-
"Hu Tao loves Aether, right? Klee wonders why…hehehe~"
A plume of red does its' own explosion, spreading all across the director's face in record time. Did Klee really ask that?!
"W-w-why?"
"Yeah, tell me! Oh please please please! Pretty please?!"
I suppose even girls like her are interested in this, huh? Hu Tao thinks with an embarrassed smirk. "W-well…Aether's is, the only one who didn't treat me like a freak at first~"
Her amused nostalgia is not reflected in her partner, whose face falls. "A.. f-freak...aww…."
"H-Hey, it's ok! I don't mind! When you work in my, uh, career, you get a lot of funny looks! And some less-than-funny looks."
Klee scratches her hat. "Um, career….oh yeah! Klee knows what that is! What is yours Hu Tao?"
"O-oh...I help people cross over! You know, like handling bridges!" Technically not a lie, she just really doesn't want to explain the concept of a funeral director to someone as bright and energetic as Klee. At least not at this age.
"Ok~! Well, Klee doesn't think you're a freak Hu Tao! You're so nice to me!"
"Aww~"
"Plus…hee hee~" Klee motions her hands to her, making Hu Tao lean forward down to her height.
"Aether really loves you too~"
Wait. Wha-
BOOM!
…It is quite amazing really. In one moment, there stands a proud tower in the middle of the teapot realm. And despite being not exactly 'real' with unexplainable properties exclusive to the world within, Aether's home here elicits gasps of awe from all newcomers. And yet- with nothing but a single flash of white created by a pair of…unique individuals, it's almost like the tower never existed at all. A massive fireball erupting upwards, completely eviscerating all the wood and furniture that previously stood, sees to that. Naturally the sky is also struck with severe vertigo, summoning a pitch-black cloud that quickly spreads out, ruining the comfortable atmosphere that was just present.
And yet, despite all the oppressive heat that has overwhelmed, the roaring winds that has whipped up her twintails, and the sound of scarce wood and stone thudding against the ground- Hu Tao doesn't move a muscle. How can she with what she has just learned?
Luckily for her thought, the person who responsible for this trance wakes her up again in a squeal of pure delight.
"WOO! That was SO amazing! Again, again, yay~! Heehee!"
Just like that, Hu Tao remembers why she did this insane thing in the first place- so she sprints back to the…location that used to be a building. Fighting past plumes of smokes and shutting out distant cries from who-knows-who behind her, she waits for her handiwork to start forming.
"…There!"
Reflected in her pupils, a strange ethereal flame begins to coat the scorched earth just in front of her- blacker than the Abyss itself. A turn of the director's lips grows into a smirk, growing still into a confident look of pride. And not to be outdone, the black fire continues to shoot up, spelling out letters….then words…then sentences.
A message. Her message. Her confession.
She starts to read what is burning out loud. "Ah..ahem! Aether-"
And then immediately feels a crushing grip on her shoulder.
"Hu Tao."
So she spins around, halfway forced to. And what she sees robs her of any breath the smoke didn't already take.
Or rather, who she sees.
A blonde braid flowing. Golden eyes piercing. Armor and earpiece glowing the same color.
"A-A-Aether?!"
She attempts to rubs the illusion out of her eyes, but one very rub later, the truth refuses to spare her. The very boy she's been doing all this for- his face currently stares at her unflinchingly, with a deeply unamused look plainly written.
"Hey Hu Tao. What's up."
An answer enters her mind, but what leaves is a mere babble of noises. Aether's tone is unusually booming for someone so merciful, with a touch of insanity laden throughout.
"Wha-aa-wa-"
"What am I doing back here, you ask." She can dimly feel his grip soften. "I was out talking to Zhongli, wanted to get an idea for a present for someone important So! I leave, ask, get some ideas, and come back to…..no Tubby. And no house." There appears to be a flash in his eyes here. "Do you know why that is Hu Tao."
It is not a question.
"Uh, well, I…I may…have, an idea…"
"Do tell- but not here." Surprising Hu Tao, Aether's arm goes down to her hand…and maybe it's her mind running at half-speed, but she really feels like he pauses for a second. But then time continues its' eternal march, and the famous adventurer leads the infamous director out of the smoke and black flames.
"H-hold on, where are we going?"
"Hmph~" Unbeknownst to Hu Tao, a cocky smile spreads. "Well if my house is unavailable, it should be obvious."
And so, hand-in-hand, they pass the still-thrilled Klee and several familiar bystanders, to a certain spooky home in the distance.
-0-
Aether can feel his legs begin to cramp up. Hu Tao's height means everything is just a bit smaller, naturally including her bed.
Aether can also feel his jaw begin to lock in place. Hu Tao's tale is- is so weird, utterly devoid of logic or reason- that it's a natural response.
"S-Say that again Hu Tao. I missed the important part- Why did you do this?"
"Oh come on!" She flashes her signature grin, though with quavering lips. "You and Fei- really need to remove the cotton out of your ears~ H-heheh…"
"No, no, I think you misunderstood me. I know what you did. I know how you did it. But what I didn't hear was why"
"W-well! T-That is…uh…"
"Hu Tao?" Aether raises an eyebrow. It's rare for her to be so caught off-guard, especially for what should be such a simple question. "Are you ok?"
Maybe…maybe this is what I've actually wanted…
Clenching the inside of her sleeves, a new voice emerges from the director's mouth. "Can you close your eyes for a little? It'll be easier to answer you with a show than a tell."
"…How does that make any sens-"
"Please!" She claps her hands and closes an eye. "Fifteen seconds, not a moment more!"
Aether's response is only to stare at her, at first. But just as she thinks this impromptu gamble won't work: "Fine. Let's get this over with." Hesitation clear, the traveler calmly lets his vision shut.
The first five seconds get utterly wasted as Hu Tao is distracted by what she is then her mind kicks her body into gear. TIme's-a wasting!
And so, with taunts of 'told you so' from her best friendrepeating in her mind- the impish, eccentric, infamous weirdo from Liyue who gets associated with death and misery somewhat unfairly- does her first normal thing of the day.
She gently raises Aether's jaw with one hand, leans down to the sitting boy, and kisses him deeply, smack on the lips.
… … … .
Ten seconds pass. Time's up. She separates.
Aether says nothing, so Hu Tao takes the lead. "S-So do you understand the 'why' now, my d-dear Traveler? I-I-I should think it's obviou- Waaah!"
Oh, the Traveler understands. And he's had enough.
A sentiment which is screamed at her, as he suddenly snaps. Aether grips both of her shoulders this time, wheels her around him, and lays her across the bed with him on top.
"You are…completely, utterly, ABSOLUTELY insane!"
"…I get that a lot~"
Aether shakes his head in response, face still beet red. "Man, oh man….what am I gonna do with you!?"
"You can start by unhanding me and getting off~" Hu Tao winks again, upwards this time. "If anyone else saw us right now, there'd be some pretty crazy rumors~ And, ah, there seems to be a lot of people in the teapot today."
"Can't imagine why…. But wait-" The lips of the blonde traveler spread out into a confident smile. "Do you really want me to get off?"
"Hmmm….nope~! In fact, you could say I want this moment to never die."
"Well then… Let's make sure it does just that."
With a final breath, Hu Tao lifts her head from the bed- and proceeds to toss her signature cap to the ground. It'll just get in the way. And that's the last coherent thought that crosses her mind for some time as Aether's lips devour her own.
There's the remains of an impressive building burning to a crisp right now, but neither of them care in the least.
Aether will just have to stay over until it's replaced. Oh no, the tragedy.
This story accomplished three things:
1. Being just in time for her banner.
2. Fulfilled my first poll that I put up (be sure to vote!)
3. Poked fun of me, with how often I write Aether x Pyro girl.