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A new day begins in the plains of Liyue. The vast horizons of the Geo nation's mountains give everyone a taste of adventure.
Tartaglia, 11th Executor of the Fatuis and Messenger of the Tsarina, knew this better than anyone. His adventures in the port of Liyue had brought him to this precise moment.
"What do you mean, 'We're going to receive another representative of my species,' Xiansheng?" he asked his Lover.
"That's what it means, Baobei," Zhongli sighs. "I invited the hydro dragon to eat with her husband."
"You mean the same dragon who sent me to his prison on false charges?"
"Himself," the Geo Dragon sighs. "But you know as well as I do that this whole thing was an unfortunate misunderstanding that was settled long ago."
Tartaglia doesn't have time to retort before a sigh escapes his lips. He knows this whole thing has been settled long ago, but still. His husband could take his mortal feelings into consideration.
"And when are they coming? Have you invited other people?" asks the ginger.
"At the end of the week," Zhongli replies calmly, "and no, it'll just be them. The meal with the other adepts is not planned until the end of the month. Cloud Retainer doesn't want to be disturbed before then."
Despite all these years spent with Zhongli since the revelation of his status as Geo Dragon and Ex-Archon of the same nation, Tartaglia has come to terms with it. The names of adepts in their non-human versions are not something he easily remembers.
Might as well remember even her husband's honorific titles. He's already used them all at least once in a context that is highly inappropriate given the power of those names.
Might as well remember the names of adepts, at least those in human form, is something he only partially remembers. His brain always takes a few seconds to associate the right name with the right person, amidst the discreet laughter of Zhongli, who always takes a malicious pleasure in driving Tartaglia crazy.
"And why did you plan this meal?" Tartaglia asks, resuming his activities.
Washing up for their evening meal is a mechanical thing that doesn't require much brain effort, and thankfully so.
"After the events in the nation of Fontaine," Zhongli sighs, "I felt that strengthening our ties was important. Since the fall of her Archon, Neuvillette must learn to manage her status
as a Dragon and the temporary position of Archon. I know the responsibilities that can weigh on those shoulders."
"But all that is in the past for you," Childe says, raising his head from his sink. "Morax is now retired."
"Just because Morax has retired doesn't mean Zhongli's memory is impaired," the former Archon sighs.
Tartaglia doesn't answer; he knows that. In any case, he can't back down. When her husband makes a promise to someone, they keep it. "A promise is a contract that can't be
broken." he's heard more than once since moving into Rex Lapis's mansion.
"Very well," Childe whispers. "If it's important to you, I'll follow you."
"I love you, Ajax."
"I love you too, Zhongli."
Once the dishes were finished and the redhead had returned, the former Archon kissed him tenderly. His long, serpentine tongue infiltrated his lover's mouth, silently promising him a night of intense love.
The weekend arrived quickly, much to Tartaglia's dismay and her husband's delight. The former God of Contracts is eager to receive guests at his home other than his friends, the
adepts. Too few people know his true identity for him to allow himself to commit such an act of folly.
"Morax," Childe said more harshly, "everything will be fine."
Hearing his former name, Zhongli turned to his husband with a frown. He doesn't know why his Ajax called him that.
"When I call you 10 times and you don't answer, I have to resort to drastic measures," the redhead sighs.
"Sorry," apologizes the Geo Dragon, "my mind is elsewhere." "You're the one who organized this meal," Tartaglia retorts before continuing more gently. "Everything's going to be fine, Xiansheng."
"Thank you, Baobei," Zhongli smiles at him.
The two then look at each other and kiss gently. When they break away, Zhongli is trembling more than usual.
"They've arrived," he smiles.
"Go open the door while I finish making the tea," Tartaglia smiles back.
Her husband then steps back to the entrance of Rex Lapis's estate. The voices Childe hears after a few minutes make him smile despite himself. Deep down, he hears that her
husband's voice is relaxed.
"And you recognize my husband, Tartaglia," Zhongli introduces him, chuckling to himself when the redhead enters the living room.
"How have you been since leaving the Fortress?" Neuvillette asks with the same chuckle.
Certain dragon habits are one of those things he'll never get used to. Beside Neuvillette stands Wriothesley, unsure of what to say. His gaze was judgmental at first, then softened at
his partner's discreet touch. "Good," Tartaglia replied with an embarrassed smile. "Life in Liyue is peaceful, especially with my husband."
At her words, the former Archon began to blush intensely, revealing the scales on his cheeks to hide his embarrassment.
"That's good to hear," Neuvillette smiled.
In the relaxed atmosphere that emerges, Zhongli decides to bring out his half-dragon form more easily. The first Adeptus prefers his human form, but in the comfort of his home
and in contact with another of his species, he feels safe enough to bring it out.
Out of pure contradiction, and a little competition, Neuvillette does so as well. Their draconic spirits feel a little competitive, but their human diplomatic spirits know that nothing
bad will happen.
Tartaglia looks at Wriothesley, who also sighs. In the end, the two might have more in common than they initially thought. Without really paying attention to their respective
husbands, the two find themselves alone in the living room.
"I never thought Zhongli would show himself like this to you," Childe sighs.
"It took Neuvillette months to show it to me too," Wriothesley says, no emotion evident in his tone of voice. And now, he does it naturally.
"I'm afraid our respective husbands are possessive," the redhead laughs.
Wriothesley doesn't really answer.
"I've known him to be much more possessive," he retorts.
"If you're talking about heat periods, I don't even want to think about the next one," Tartaglia laughs again.
"It's not such a bad period when you know how to handle it."
"I never said I don't know how."
Tartaglia smiles as she thinks back to her husband's last heat period.
"Even without the full powers of Archon," he continues. "There's something very powerful about Zhongli during that period."
"With his sovereignty restored, I'm looking forward to the next one," Wriothesley smiles discreetly.
The Duke of the Meropid Fortress blushes at his own words, but as a mere human mortal, he can't hide his blush with scales.
"Do you think it's a good idea to leave it to just the two of them?" Neuvillette asks Zhongli. —Nearly six millennia in this world, and I can assure you that Childe will do no harm in this home. He knows how much this meal means to me.
“Wriothesley won’t do anything wrong either,” Neuvillette smiles softly.
Zhongli looks at the horizon. His home is high above the port of Liyue, high in the mountains, sheltered from all human presence. He enjoys being with these mortal beings, but the
peace and quiet do him good.
"Besides," Zhongli adds, "they have a lot to discover about each other."
"That's true too," smiles the younger one.
The two Dragons then return to the living room, smiling.
"Did we interrupt your discussion?" Zhongli asks, giving his opposite number a knowing look.
"You'll never interrupt a conversation, Xiansheng," smiles Childe.
"Thank you, Baobei," Zhongli says, smiling back at him.
"Then it's time for the guests to sit down at the table. The two Fontaine residents are introduced to Liyue's specialties. And despite Zhongli's reluctance, Neuvillette and Wriothesley
use traditional cutlery instead of chopsticks.
"This is Zhongli's favorite dish," explains Tartaglia, "Slow-Cooked Bamboo Shoot Soup. You're lucky you can eat it with a spoon."
"Ajax," Zhongli reprimands, receiving a murderous glare from her husband. "I was only able to taste this dish after I learned to use chopsticks," Childe retorts.
Zhongli doesn't even respond to her husband's provocation, making the two guests smile softly.
"It's very good in any case," says Neuvillette.
"Yes," says Wriothesley simply.
The meal passes calmly. When dessert time comes, Zhongli returns to the kitchen, followed by Neuvillette to prepare tea.
"The responsibilities of Archon weigh on you more than I thought," he said to his counterpart.
"My regained sovereignty does indeed affect me more than I thought it would," Neuvillette replied.
"It's a habit to get into," smiled the former Archon, checking the temperature of the water in the kettle.
"I have no doubt about it," smiled the Hydro Dragon.
The tea leaves are then prepared in the teapot.
"And Fontaine won't collapse without Archon to lead," Zhongli said. "Liyue is doing very well without him. Fontaine is a prosperous nation just waiting to awaken again."
"It's different from what you've experienced," Neuvillette retorted.
"The tragedy that has befallen you must allow your nation to rise again. With or without Archon, Fontaine will survive. You don't need to put the weight of the Nation on your shoulders." Take it from someone who's been trying for far too many years.
"I can't guarantee I'll ease off now, but I'll think about it," Neuvillette replied softly.
"Very well," Zhongli smiled at her. "Let's go find our husbands."
The teapot and matching cups are placed on a tray and brought into the living room, then placed on the coffee table. The Geo energy emanating from the place has already sent
shivers down the spines of the guests more than once. But this constant reminder makes them smile gently.
"So I was saying," Tartaglia smiles, "Xiansheng's worst habit when he takes his half-dragon form is wrapping his tail around me at night. The weight of that thing is impossible to
remove in the morning."
"If Son Honneur didn't have a higher sense of responsibility than the average mortal, I'd fear I'd have the same problem. Especially when complicated trials are taking place."
"Instead of talking about our instinctive behaviors, drink your tea," Zhongli sighs. "It might get cold otherwise."
"It's one you've never tasted, Votre Grace," Neuvillette says.
Wriothesley doesn't need to be told twice and brings his cup close to his lips. The delicate scent of brewed tea leaves fills him with intense happiness.
The former Archon blushed; her husband knew how to make him react.
"Neuvillette's rhinophores are his most sensitive parts," Wriothesley added. "They don't even disappear in human form."
"It's so I can see you better in the dark, Love," Neuvillette smiled.
Wriothesley sighed; her husband knew how to silence him very well.
"Thank you again for the invitation," Neuvillette said in human form at the door of the mansion. "We'll definitely come back. Or we'll be happy to welcome you to Fontaine on your next visit."
"We'll stay in touch anyway," Zhongli smiled. "If you ever need to discuss a problem."
The Fontaine duo, consisting of the Iudex and the Duke of Meropid, then left. Zhongli and Tartaglia returned home, where they snuggled up on their sofa.
"You see, everything went well," laughs the Dragon Geo.
"The next time you call me by my first name in front of people I haven't approved, you'll be punished," threatens Childe.
"And how are you going to do that?"
"Follow me and you'll see," smiles her teasing husband.
The two then found themselves in their room, and if Ajax had already planned this since that very morning, her husband had no reason to know.