The moon hung high above Mondstadt, casting its silvery glow across the cobbled streets as the cool breeze danced through the town. The sounds of the bustling city began to die down, the lively chatter of the tavern-goers fading into a more peaceful silence. However, there was one corner of Mondstadt where things were far from peaceful.
The city's most popular tavern, "Angel's Share," had its doors wide open for the night, offering warm drinks and hearty laughter. But on this particular evening, Aether and Paimon found themselves walking along a quieter street, heading to the far side of the city. They had no specific reason to be there other than the fact that they had a bad feeling about their friend Mona, who had been acting strangely the past few days.
"Mona's been acting weird lately," Aether said, his voice tinged with concern. "She's been avoiding us and seems... a little more stressed than usual."
Paimon floated next to him, puffing up her cheeks. "Yeah! And she keeps saying she's busy with some 'special job.' What's that even mean?"
"I don't know," Aether replied, furrowing his brow. "But it's not like her to keep secrets from us."
"Let's go find her!" Paimon exclaimed, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "If she's hiding something, we'll uncover it!"
The two of them navigated through the streets, moving deeper into the district. Their footsteps echoed against the stone buildings, and the light of lanterns flickered, casting shadows that seemed to stretch into every alley.
Soon, they reached the end of the street, and there stood a tavern—an unassuming, modest place that didn't quite match the grandeur of Mondstadt's more famous establishments. A worn sign read, "The Hoppy Bunny," and a soft glow of light shone from its windows.
"This is it," Aether said, his voice quiet but determined. "Let's see what Mona's been up to."
They stepped through the door and were immediately greeted by the hum of lively chatter and the clink of mugs. The tavern had a cozy atmosphere, with warm amber lighting casting a relaxed glow over the patrons. But what caught Aether and Paimon's attention wasn't the decor—it was the staff.
Behind the bar, a tall man with a well-groomed beard was pouring drinks, but the other workers caught their attention in an instant. A group of servers, all dressed in fluffy, pastel-colored bunny costumes, scurried around the tavern, balancing trays of food and drinks while their ears twitched with every movement.
Paimon blinked in confusion. "What... What is going on here?"
Aether scanned the room, trying to spot a familiar face. That's when his gaze landed on a girl standing at the far corner of the tavern, her back turned as she served a customer.
"Mona?" Aether's voice was barely above a whisper, but it was loud enough to catch Paimon's attention.
The girl turned around, and sure enough, it was Mona. But she wasn't in her usual starry robes. Instead, she wore a tight, white bodice with a fluffy bunny tail attached at the back, paired with knee-high socks and a pair of oversized, twitching bunny ears atop her head.
Her face flushed when she noticed Aether and Paimon staring at her.
"Aether? Paimon? What are you two doing here?" Mona stammered, trying to maintain her composure while clearly flustered by their sudden appearance.
Paimon floated closer, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Mona... What in Teyvat is going on? Why are you dressed like a bunny girl?"
Mona's cheeks turned even redder as she awkwardly glanced around the room. "I... I can explain."
Aether raised an eyebrow. "We were worried about you. You've been acting strange lately. So, you're working here?"
Mona sighed, setting the tray of drinks down on the nearby table. "I didn't want to tell you, but... yes. I'm working here. It's... not what it looks like."
Paimon crossed her arms, still not entirely convinced. "It's exactly what it looks like! You're a bunny girl server! What's the deal, Mona?"
Mona ran a hand through her hair in frustration. "It's a temporary job. I'm... trying to make some money. I'm not exactly in the best financial position right now."
Aether looked at her, his concern deepening. "Mona, if you're struggling, you should have told us. We could help you."
"Help me?" Mona's voice cracked, a hint of frustration mixed with shame. "I don't want to burden you two! I've had enough of relying on others. I'm perfectly capable of handling things on my own."
"But Mona," Aether began gently, "You're our friend. You don't have to carry the weight of the world alone. We're here for you."
Paimon added, her voice softening, "Yeah, we care about you, Mona. You don't need to do something like this to survive."
Mona hesitated, biting her lip. "I... I just didn't want you to look down on me. I didn't want you to think that I couldn't manage on my own."
"Look down on you?" Aether shook his head. "We've been through a lot together, Mona. You're one of the strongest people I know. You don't need to prove anything to us."
For a moment, Mona was silent. Her gaze softened, and she finally slumped her shoulders, letting out a heavy sigh.
"You're right," she said quietly. "I've been proud and stubborn. And... I guess I thought I could manage everything on my own. But I didn't realize how hard things had gotten until I started this job."
Aether and Paimon exchanged a look, and then Aether smiled warmly at her. "You don't have to do this, Mona. If you're in trouble, we'll figure something out together. No more secret jobs."
Paimon added with a grin, "Yeah! Besides, I'm sure there's a much better way to make money than being a bunny girl! You're way too cool for this."
Mona chuckled weakly, her embarrassment still lingering but the weight lifting off her shoulders. "Thanks... I guess I've been a little too proud for my own good. But I promise, this is just a temporary thing. I'll find a better way to get by. I don't want to be stuck here forever."
The sound of a loud cheer erupted from the back of the tavern, and Mona's eyes widened in panic as she spotted a group of rowdy customers waving her over.
"Uh, I... I have to go serve that table," Mona muttered, flustered. "But you two better not tell anyone about this. If word gets out, I'll never live it down."
Aether chuckled, his tone lighthearted. "Your secret's safe with us, Mona. But let's grab some drinks after your shift, alright?"
"Yeah!" Paimon chimed in. "We'll have a proper chat then."
Mona gave them a grateful smile, nodding. "Thanks, you two... I mean it. I'll be done soon."
As she walked off toward the table, Aether and Paimon exchanged a glance, both of them silently agreeing that they'd do whatever it took to help Mona.
The following night, the cool breeze of Mondstadt whispered through the streets as Aether and Paimon made their way back toward the tavern that had become the focus of their concern. It had only been a day since they had intervened to stop Mona from being harassed by a customer, but they couldn't shake the nagging feeling that there was more to the story than Mona had let on.
"Mona really wasn't herself last night," Paimon said, floating anxiously beside Aether. "Do you think she's still stuck in this... job?"
"I don't know," Aether said, his brow furrowed with worry. "She promised she wouldn't do anything like that again, but something still feels off."
"I don't trust that tavern," Paimon muttered. "Something about it doesn't sit right. I mean, what kind of place is that?"
"Let's find out," Aether said, determination in his voice. "We'll check on her and make sure she's okay."
As they arrived at "The Hoppy Bunny," Aether's instincts told him that something was different. The tavern was unusually crowded, the sound of laughter and drunken chatter louder than usual. Aether and Paimon exchanged a glance, both of them uneasy.
They walked through the door and immediately scanned the room. The familiar sight of bunny girl servers greeted them, though tonight the atmosphere felt heavier, as if something was brewing beneath the surface. Aether's eyes quickly found Mona in the midst of the crowd, moving between tables with a tray of drinks.
But this time, her outfit was different. Far more revealing than the previous night.
Her white bodice had been replaced with a much smaller, tight-fitting top that barely covered her chest, and the fluffy bunny ears perched atop her head seemed exaggerated compared to the previous night. The skirt she wore had been trimmed even shorter, barely reaching her thighs, and her entire outfit seemed more like an object of display than the more modest uniform she had worn before.
Aether felt his stomach twist at the sight. His initial worry turned to something more urgent.
"Mona!" Aether called out, his voice cutting through the noise of the tavern.
Mona froze in her tracks when she heard his voice. Her face immediately flushed red, and she looked over at him and Paimon, a flicker of panic crossing her eyes.
"Aether, Paimon..." she stammered, clearly caught off guard. "Wh-What are you two doing here again?"
Aether walked up to her, his face serious but not unkind. "We're here to check on you. Mona, what's going on? Why are you dressed like this?"
Mona's gaze darted around nervously as she shifted on her feet, clearly uncomfortable. "It's... it's just part of the job, okay? It's... not what you think. I—"
Paimon's voice broke in, her tone harsh. "It's exactly what we think, Mona! This place is taking advantage of you! Why are you still here? We told you we'd help!"
Mona's lips trembled, and for a moment, she looked like she might break down in front of them. Her hands clenched the tray in front of her tightly, as if it were the only thing keeping her grounded.
"Please don't make a scene," Mona whispered, glancing around nervously at the other patrons, many of whom were eyeing her with too much interest. "I... I need the money. I don't have any other options."
Aether felt his chest tighten. He didn't know what to say at first. This wasn't the Mona they knew—the sharp, confident mage who stood proudly on her own. This was someone else, someone trapped by circumstances she didn't feel she could escape.
"Is this really the only way?" Aether asked softly, his eyes filled with concern. "Mona, we don't want you to keep doing this if it makes you uncomfortable. There has to be another way. We're your friends. We'll help you."
Mona's face twisted in shame as she struggled to meet his gaze. "I've tried. I've tried everything... but every time I look at the bills, at the rent, at my debts, it feels like there's no way out. This job... it was supposed to be temporary. I thought I could handle it. But they keep pushing me to wear these outfits, and they keep making me serve these kinds of customers, and I feel like I don't have a choice anymore. I thought maybe... maybe if I just kept going, things would get easier."
Paimon floated closer, her voice softer now. "Mona, you don't have to keep going like this. We're here for you. You don't have to do anything like this to survive."
"I'm sorry," Mona whispered, her voice barely audible as she fought back tears. "I didn't want to let anyone down... but now, I feel like I've gone too far. I don't know how to stop."
Aether stepped forward, placing a hand on her shoulder gently. "You're not letting us down. But you are letting yourself down by staying here. You're worth more than this, Mona. You're strong, and we'll find a way to get you out of this."
For a moment, Mona stood there, her body trembling as she finally allowed herself to let out a shaky breath. She nodded slowly, as though the weight of her emotions were finally starting to break free.
"I don't know if I can leave tonight..." she murmured, her voice strained. "But... I want to get out of this. I want to stop."
"You don't have to do it alone," Aether said, his voice firm yet compassionate. "We'll talk to the tavern owner. We'll make sure you're not stuck here anymore. You're not going to have to go through this, Mona. Not when we're here."
Mona looked up at him, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips despite her evident distress. "You mean it? You'll really help me?"
"Of course we will," Paimon chimed in, her face now more earnest. "You're our friend, Mona. We care about you."
Before Mona could respond, the tavern owner, a large man with a gruff demeanor, appeared from the back of the room. He eyed Aether and Paimon with a scowl before addressing Mona directly. "What's going on here, huh? You're talking to customers again? Don't make a scene. Get back to work."
Mona flinched at the sound of his voice, but Aether was quick to step forward, blocking his path.
"We need to talk," Aether said, his tone suddenly stern and commanding.
The tavern owner narrowed his eyes, clearly not accustomed to being challenged. "What's your problem? She's doing her job."
"I don't think she's doing her job anymore," Aether shot back. "Mona isn't going to be a part of your... business any longer."
"You can't just tell me how to run my tavern, kid," the man growled, but he seemed to be taking a step back as Aether's confidence radiated through him.
"I can if I'm making sure my friend isn't getting exploited," Aether replied firmly.
The tension in the air was palpable, and Mona's face flushed with both anxiety and a flicker of hope. She glanced between Aether and the tavern owner, silently pleading with the latter to let her go.
The tavern owner, after a moment of hesitation, glared at them both. He crossed his arms over his chest. "Fine. You think you can just walk in here and tell me what to do? But mark my words, if she tries to leave, there'll be consequences."
Aether's gaze never wavered. "If you ever lay a hand on her again, there will be consequences."
With a final grunt, the tavern owner turned and stomped off, leaving the three of them standing there in the tense silence.
Mona exhaled sharply, her body relaxing for the first time in what felt like an eternity. "Thank you. Thank you so much... I don't know how I could have done this without you."
"We're here for you, Mona," Paimon said with a bright smile. "Now let's get you out of here."