‍ ‍ ‍ ‍𝖅𝐇𝐎͟𝐍𝐆𝐋𝐈。

⠀
⠀𝖎⠀𝚝𝘩𝘪𝘯ƙ⠀ω𝚎⠀𝒃𝐨𝐭𝐡⠀k͟n͟o͟w⠀tɦ𝘦⠀𝐭𝒓𝒖𝐭𝐡‚⠀@hydroeIectro .

[‍ ‍ ‍ ‍𝖅𝐇𝐎͟𝐍𝐆𝐋𝐈。 @ARCHAICGEO]

https://t.co/o9JUXNrhhu

[‍ ‍ ‍ ‍𝖅𝐇𝐎͟𝐍𝐆𝐋𝐈。 @ARCHAICGEO]

⠀
but, enough of that, i have someone more important to attend to.

( something of an amused hum leaves him. )

will you finally face your fear of xiangling's chili oil? she's been asking that you try it for some time now.
⠀

[‍ ‍ ‍ ‍𝖅𝐇𝐎͟𝐍𝐆𝐋𝐈。 @ARCHAICGEO]

⠀
. . . cool.

( the repeated word feels foreign on his tongue, but it's nothing more than a small tease. it wasn't difficult to notice the nerves spike within the harbinger’s voice, no matter how hard he attempted to hide it. how endearing, though they won't say it aloud. )
⠀

[‍*̲ ‎‎ ‎ ‎𝐰𝒂𝒓﹒𝒉𖦹𝐮𝐧𝐝. @hydroeIectro]

ㅤ ㅤ
( where once the hound would have bared its teeth at the hand at fed it another promise, the harbinger’s flash of teeth serves as only a crooked, dopey grin. )

cool.

( his treasure, huh? it’s so stupid, mouth-rotting sweet that it squeezes ajax’s heart painfully.
ㅤ

[‍ ‍ ‍ ‍𝖅𝐇𝐎͟𝐍𝐆𝐋𝐈。 @ARCHAICGEO]

⠀
( he tugs lightly at his coat— something of a poor attempt to fix it. )

strangely, after all the near-yelling, she merely patted my shoulder, turned around, and grabbed an extra one she had. i believe she was only dramatically 𝘬𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥, as one would say.
⠀

[‍ ‍ ‍ ‍𝖅𝐇𝐎͟𝐍𝐆𝐋𝐈。 @ARCHAICGEO]

⠀
( was it too obvious by their smile just how pleased they were? )

i will see you in due time, dear treasure.
⠀

[‍ ‍ ‍ ‍𝖅𝐇𝐎͟𝐍𝐆𝐋𝐈。 @ARCHAICGEO]

⠀
( it wouldn't be hard to imagine them both sparring against any and all creatures that got in their path. morax had once relished the feel of battle, but it felt as though zhongli had long since stopped enjoying it.

childe easily helped bring the spark of enjoyment back. )
⠀

[‍*̲ ‎‎ ‎ ‎𝐰𝒂𝒓﹒𝒉𖦹𝐮𝐧𝐝. @hydroeIectro]

ㅤ ㅤ
( he decides not to bring up the fact that zhongli doesn’t 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 to work for his mora. again. the harbinger had a steady amount of it, more than enough to go around— althouuuugh what pantalone didn’t know wouldn’t kill him.

plus, zhongli enjoyed it. )
ㅤ ㅤ

[‍ ‍ ‍ ‍𝖅𝐇𝐎͟𝐍𝐆𝐋𝐈。 @ARCHAICGEO]

⠀
( it wasn't anything substantial to most, but for the two of them? it was a surprisingly large step. they clear their throat, though a chuckle manages to leave. )

yes. i will be here when you come back ajax, i promise. ah, unless the director truly punishes me, that is.
⠀

[‍ ‍ ‍ ‍𝖅𝐇𝐎͟𝐍𝐆𝐋𝐈。 @ARCHAICGEO]

⠀
as for myself, i'd be more than pleased with an order of honey char siu.

( a huff of amusement. ) i should be done by the time you return. perhaps a stroll around the harbor would do us some good afterwards.
⠀

[‍ ‍ ‍ ‍𝖅𝐇𝐎͟𝐍𝐆𝐋𝐈。 @ARCHAICGEO]

⠀
( the corners of their lips lift, growing amused by how pleased childe seemed to be about his training session. ) it's almost a shame i couldn't have joined you, but one must work for their mora.

speaking of. . . ( he peers at the fabric once more, lips thinning. )
⠀

[‍*̲ ‎‎ ‎ ‎𝐰𝒂𝒓﹒𝒉𖦹𝐮𝐧𝐝. @hydroeIectro]

ㅤ ㅤ
( the former archon’s words do much to relieve the tension in tartaglia’s shoulders. he shakes his head, giving a little sigh. )

if you say so.

( he smooths out the fabric as zhongli takes it back, expression lighting up upon their next question. )
ㅤ ㅤ

[‍ ‍ ‍ ‍𝖅𝐇𝐎͟𝐍𝐆𝐋𝐈。 @ARCHAICGEO]

⠀
i can only hope the director doesn't make a grand fuss about the slight tardiness of this. ( they can already hear her long-winded scolding now. ) i believe ms. xiangling expressed interest in having someone try a new seafood dish, if you wanted to offer yourself up for it.
⠀

[‍ ‍ ‍ ‍𝖅𝐇𝐎͟𝐍𝐆𝐋𝐈。 @ARCHAICGEO]

⠀
training again, i see.

( he gently pulls the fabric out of the other's hands, shaking his head as he does. ) i promise you, this isn't as labor intensive as you might think. how about we consider this even if purchase today's lunch?
⠀

[‍ ‍ ‍ ‍𝖅𝐇𝐎͟𝐍𝐆𝐋𝐈。 @ARCHAICGEO]

⠀
childe, really, it won't take long. . .

( words trail off as something catches his attention, brows furrowing as he reaches for the fabric. a singular, faint streak ran along the rest of the smudge. his gaze flicks from childe's boots, back to the fabric, and he sighs. )
⠀

[‍*̲ ‎‎ ‎ ‎𝐰𝒂𝒓﹒𝒉𖦹𝐮𝐧𝐝. @hydroeIectro]

ㅤ ㅤ
no way!

( he snaps back up to attention, gripping the stubborn fabric in his gloves. )

i’d hate to make you do extra work when it was my fault. at least let me help you clean it. come on.
ㅤ ㅤ

[‍ ‍ ‍ ‍𝖅𝐇𝐎͟𝐍𝐆𝐋𝐈。 @ARCHAICGEO]

⠀
( his gaze slowly falls towards the marked fabric, watching as the harbinger’s attempts to clean it only led to further smudging. )

oh dear. ( genuine concern paints their features, speaking their surprise aloud. ) there's no need for a replacement. i can clean it again.
⠀

[‍*̲ ‎‎ ‎ ‎𝐰𝒂𝒓﹒𝒉𖦹𝐮𝐧𝐝. @hydroeIectro]

ㅤ ㅤ
( he immediately leaps back as though his boot touched burning coal. )

oh, sh— mr. zhongli, i’m sorry.

( he bends down in a desperate, yet futile attempt to dust his boot print off the previously stark white fabric. )

i can— can i get you another one?
ㅤ ㅤ

[‍ ‍ ‍ ‍𝖅𝐇𝐎͟𝐍𝐆𝐋𝐈。 @ARCHAICGEO]

⠀
haha, good morning. no waking of the sort, but rather, you have stepped on one of the curtains i had to clean for one of our upcoming funeral arrangements.
⠀

[‍*̲ ‎‎ ‎ ‎𝐰𝒂𝒓﹒𝒉𖦹𝐮𝐧𝐝. @hydroeIectro]

ㅤ ㅤ
GOOOOODDDDDD MORNING!

rise and shine! hey— woah, what’s with that look? did i wake you?
ㅤ ㅤ

[‍ ‍ ‍ ‍𝖅𝐇𝐎͟𝐍𝐆𝐋𝐈。 @ARCHAICGEO]

in that case, i shall also order a plate of almond tofu, if you do not mind, ganyu. i find myself craving something sweet.

[‍ ‍ ‍ ‍𝖅𝐇𝐎͟𝐍𝐆𝐋𝐈。 @ARCHAICGEO]

if they would just like water, i would be more than happy with just a cup of tea as well.

[𝐺𝘢͟𝑛͟𝘺𝑢 ❞ @ICEDQILIN]

you can’t just have water !

[‍ ‍ ‍ ‍𝖅𝐇𝐎͟𝐍𝐆𝐋𝐈。 @ARCHAICGEO]

ah, hm.

( the mention of hu tao has his smile falling, and he clears his throat. )

she nearly insisted on the whole week, but i bartered it down to two days. it is not that i do not think she is capable on her own, but i enjoy the work i do.

( and he needed the mora. )

[‍ ‍ ‍ ‍𝖅𝐇𝐎͟𝐍𝐆𝐋𝐈。 @ARCHAICGEO]

fanfare? take pride in what you do, ganyu. even something as small as brewing tea could bring a world of happiness to one another. my day already shines brighter with your added presence alone.

( they'll let it go, but not without another smile sent briefly in her direction. )

[𝐺𝘢͟𝑛͟𝘺𝑢 ❞ @ICEDQILIN]

( typically, even the thought of laugher being directed at her would have her haunches raised, but the warmth in their tone and the familiarity causes no such reaction. instead a gentle smile resumes on her expression, settled into something warm and comfortable.)