Sucrose had been locked in her lab deep in her experiments when the door flew open. "Heya, Sucrose!" Hu Tao chimed as she stepped inside without waiting for an invitation.
Sucrose didn't like dealing with people while she worked. They broke her concentration. They distracted her at pivotal moments in the scientific process. As she poured the chemicals into the beaker, Hu Tao popped up behind her.
"Oo, what you doing?"
The vial slipped from her hand. She just caught it but ended up spilling a drizzle on her gloves. With a sigh, she went over to the basin, lathered her hands, and washed out the mess. Hu Tao followed her along, peppering her with questions.
"So? What's today's experiment?"
"Um miss Hu Tao, I'm very busy right now. Could this wait?"
"Oh, okay. Just one thing before I go."
Sucrose began drying her palms when Hu Tao reached into her backpack and took out a small object. Sucrose's heart skipped several beats. That was her research journal. The risqué research journal that detailed her sexual experiences with Aether was now in the hands of Hu Tao.
"How'd you get that?! Miss Hu Tao, did you steal my journal?"
"Perish the thought," Hu Tao said, "You left this in the Serenitea Pot. It must've slipped from your pocket."
Sucrose was too angry to think clearly. She snatched back the journal, locking it in a drawer. As she fastened the bolt, she began to relax.
Hu Tao said, "Make sure that's safe. You do not want Miko or Lisa reading it."
"I know," she said. "W-wait, Y-you didn't read it, did you?!"
"Had to. There wasn't a name on this thing, so I had to read. Otherwise, I'd never figure out who this belonged to."
Sucrose's cheeks exploded crimson. Her ears drooped as she hid her face behind her hands. Shame welled in her throat, her legs quavered, and embarrassment threatened to give her cardiac arrest.
Hu Tao took on a softer tone. "Hey, don't worry. Nobody else saw it but me. I swear I'll never tell."
Sucrose lowered her hands just a bit. "Promise?"
Hu Tao raised her hand. "Funeral Parlor Director's honor."
"Oh," Sucrose moaned. "They'll find out. They always do…"
"Hey, don't cry," she said. "I'll keep it secret."
The alchemist turned to her alchemy bench. Perhaps, she could concoct a cyanide. That would be one way out if worse came to worse. Perhaps sensing her thoughts, Hu Tao planted herself between Sucrose and the bench.
The impulse vanished. Sucrose sulked. Hu Tao cleared her throat.
"Tell you what, if it ever gets out, we'll tell them it's my journal. I'm weird—they'll believe I wrote it."
She grinned.
"In fact, I think we can help each other."
"What do you mean?"
"That potion you gave Aether, the 'gender bender' one. I want it."
"Why?"
"Use your imagination."
Sucrose sighed. "If that's what it takes to keep you quiet."
"And," said Hu Tao, "I'll throw in an extra deal. See, I've got a little secret too. We can have a, let's call it, an exchange."
She leaned in close and whispered, "I got a dildo modeled exactly after Aether's pp."
Sucrose stiffened. Horror wrestled with arousal. She swallowed, her throat dry, as she swayed on her feet.
Hu Tao stretched out her hand.
Sucrose was a scientist. Like all scientists, she was curious about the unknown. Any opportunity to acquire new knowledge was precious, whether the knowledge came from research or experience. An experiment with Aether's pp dong proved far too valuable an experience. She couldn't refuse.
They shook on it.
One week later, they met under cover of darkness. In the back alleys of a Liyue tavern, a cloaked figure sat at a table enjoying tea. Miss Hu Tao.
A skittish woman, draped in a black robe with a hood, entered the bar. She went over to Miss Hu Tao. Each produced a wooden box, and each inspected the goods.
Hu Tao grinned. "Pleasure doing business with you." Sucrose hurried away, carrying her own Aether Jr.