you hide your face with your disguise // 'cause someone filled your head with lies

[monoceroscaeli]

[It had been a few days since the hunt for the Great Mujina Youkai had come to an end, having to say goodbye to the kids and to Yoimiya too. The ship that was to take him back to Snezhnaya would be arriving a bit later in the day, and Childe sighs as he sits back in his chair in the tent he's occupying in one such hidden Fatui camp. He had a great time in Inazuma. The country was beautiful, rich with a new culture to learn and all sorts of places to explore and fight new and more exciting enemies. All his things were in order- the gifts that he'd bought to bring back to his family, Teucer's Onikabuto in a little bug box with some food to keep it alive during the trip back- all he'd have to do is wait for the ship and he'd be on his way.

He tells himself that he'd return to the country one day, once tensions between the Fatui and the Shogunate calm down. It was a miracle that he was able to stay as long as he has, evading the Tenryou Commission. He has some people to thank for that, and he won't forget what they did for him while he's been here. Some gifts would be in order for them upon his return.

The Harbinger idly plays with a writing utensil between his fingers. He'd like to bring something from Snezhnaya for Yoimiya, too.

There's a sharp rap at his door, and Childe sighs. He doesn't really want to deal with work right now, perfectly happy reminiscing on the time he's spent in Inazuma before he leaves, but answers with a bored tone to his voice:]

Come in.

[An agent enters, bowing and standing at attention.]

Sir, we've captured a Tenryou Commission spy that was found sneaking around. We've taken her into custody and are awaiting your orders on how to deal with her.

[Childe's eyebrow raises. It should have been hard to find this camp, even by the Shuumatsuban. Somehow, doubt creeps into his mind, but stands from his chair.]

Alright, I'll deal with it myself. At least I can have one last bit of fun before I depart.

[The agent only bows once more, to lead Childe towards the prisoner. He knows better than to argue with the Harbinger, but feels sorry for the spy. The two cross the camp to another tent, the agent stopping him right before lifting the flap for his senior commander.]

She claims to be from the fireworks shop, but we've seen Tenryou soldiers stop frequently at it.

[Before he can answer, the flap is lifted to reveal a certain girl that he'd met not but a few days ago...]

Comments

[niwabi]

[ the mention of his lifestyle causes her own eyes to downcast. given tartaglia's role in the fatui, this is a conversation that had to happen. she knows this but still, hearing the words "i won't die" being uttered from his lips makes her heart ache. there's no way a battle-hardened warrior like him would go down so easily but even just thinking about that possibility pangs her spirit with an immense amount of sadness. ]

I understand, I...I already know about your actions in Liyue.

[ news of the nearly catastrophic event had spread like wildfire to the shores of inazuma. the event that tartagalia had instigated certainly didn't help improve the fatui's already poor reputation. yoimiya brings this up not to make him feel guilty, but to let him know that she's already well aware of some of the things he's done before. but also thanks sakujirou ]

I can't say I approve of your methods. Truthfully, it really is hard for me to wrap my head around the things that the Fatui does. But... I can understand that you're doing what you feel is best for your country.

[ while definitely not near the extent of what the harbingers do, yoimiya knows the feeling of having to take drastic measures in order to make things better for her nation. all of her actions during the vision hunt decree would have easily branded her a traitor to the raiden shogun, while also leading to her arrest.

bringing a hand up to the side of his face, she returns her gaze back to him, her soft fingers delicately stroking his cheek. ]

But regardless, I still want this. Even if you might end up doing questionable things, I don't view you as a bad person at all. I've seen your kindhearted side plenty of times throughout the time we've known each other. So... to me, you're not just a Fatui Harbinger, you're Tartaglia. [ she pasues for a moment, a soft smile forming on her lips. ] The man that captured my heart.

[monoceroscaeli]

[The moment she mentions Liyue, Childe immediately looks away, his expression darkening. He's over it, he really is- but that doesn't mean he has to like it or appreciate it, especially now that Yoimiya is telling him that she knows about what he did there. Forever known as a disturber of the peace, is what he said back then, and while he's fine with that, the way it came about was not how he would have normally dealt with a situation like that.

But there's nothing he can do about it now. He just gets the privilege of living with the consequences, he guesses.

It's not until she reaches for him and brings his gaze back to her that he looks up, sighing into her touch and closing his eyes as her fingers brush his cheek. Yoimiya has been more than understanding about this, because she's right- his reasons were for his country and his god. But most people would never share that view, and he's gotten accustomed to it and even accepted this fate.

When she finishes, he allows himself a small smile, catching her hand and kissing the back of it softly. He honestly probably doesn't deserve someone like her, but he appreciates it all the same.]

You're quite the woman, Yoimiya.

[He kisses her hand again, gazing at her from behind it. He wants to tell her what happened in Liyue, but...he can't. He never will be able to.]

Thank you for understanding. Though I can't explain my actions to you, I'll rest a little easier knowing that you're not holding that against me. I must admit, I've fallen quite hard for you- so it's a relief to hear that you can accept the shadowy path set before me. Trust me when I say that anything I do in Her Majesty's name will be in the name of pursuing the vision of peace she has.

[niwabi]

[ seeing the grim expression on his face makes her ponder on if bringing up liyue was a big mistake. everything she heard about the disaster had been through word of mouth, so it's not like she actually witnessed it with her own eyes. maybe she's not getting the full story, or she's just missing the full picture. she can't help but wonder if something else happened that tartaglia just can't talk about.

a pang of guilt starts to form in her heart, worried that she brought up bad memories that he didn't wish to be reminded of. as soon as she feel the warmth of his lips pressed against her hand, she momentarily puts those thoughts away for the time being. ]

That's fine. I know that there are certain topics you can't talk about with me and I completely understand. I do, I fully trust you, Tartaglia. You might have your own methods but I know you aren't the type of person that wishes bad things for the world.

[ she squeezes his hand, wanting nothing more than to envelop into his warmth. there's a slight shift in yoimiya's demeanor, suddenly growing quiet as certain thoughts begin to cross her mind. she's trying her best to stay composed as to not alarm him. he's already got a lot on his mind and she doesn't want to further add to his worries but it's hard to hide the expression of pleading in her eyes. ]

My only request for you is to stay safe out there. I don't think I can bear the thought of something bad happening to you.

[monoceroscaeli]

[He can see the pleading in her eyes, his own taking on a cocky arrogance that he holds for his own abilities. It's one thing he can be confident of at least, that it will be extremely difficult for anything to take him out.]

Don't worry. I'll do everything to keep myself alive. You'll find I'm not so easily defeated, haha. I wasn't awarded the eleventh seat of the Harbingers for nothing, after all.

[That's all he can really say to assuage her concern, nuzzling his head up against her own. Tartaglia doesn't know how to express it, but the fact that she'll put trust in him despite his status in the Fatui means a lot. Normally, he'd think it foolish to do so, especially with someone like him. But with Yoimiya, it's a relief. The idea of her looking at him with distrustful eyes wrenches his heart, and he can only hope that there never comes a day where his actions would cause an outcome like that.]

Sorry for bringing such a heavy topic on like that.

[He kisses her cheek, settling against her with a heavy sigh. He'll do his best to keep Yoimiya out of trouble, the real trouble that he eventually will find himself in, embroiled in a secret war against the world.]

I just wouldn't want you to go without having an understanding of the burden you may have to bear by associating yourself with me, and by proxy, the Fatui.

[niwabi]

[ while the concern for his well being will always be in the back of her mind, at the very least, hearing the egotistical tone in his voice does help to ease some of her fears. it's times like this where his cocky attitude really does help to lighten mood and lift her spirits. ]

Oh, don't worry! I don't mind at all. It's a topic the two of us really needed to hash out.

[ the kiss to her cheek elicits a soft smile from her, snuggling her head into his chest while letting out an elated sigh. ]

Yeah, I'm aware of the potential trouble I could get in just from being associated with someone aligned with the fatui. But... I'm willing to risk it all for you.

[ if word got out that the naganohara fireworks shop owner had been dating a fatui harbinger, yoimiya could already imagine it being a scandal that would rock the entire nation of inazuma. but quite frankly, she doesn't really care, she's never once thought twice about how others view her. she loves tartaglia and that's all that matters. her only concern is what people might think of her father but if she knows her dad well enough, she's fairly certain that he will just tell her to follow her heart. ]

Hehe, I think having a little bit of peril in my life is actually quite thrilling. [ she says with a giggle, both halfway joking and serious. ] I want to do my part to help you in anyway can. So, I promise to assist you in keeping a low profile. I'll work hard to make sure you don't ever get noticed by the Tenryou Commission or anyone else important.

[monoceroscaeli]

[It feels so nice to rest against her, her words allowing him to relax. He's going to make sure she and her father are taken care of from here on out, knowing that the Fatui will still continue to operate within Inazuma even if their forces have been withdrawn for now. He's already got a few of his own subordinates in mind who will be up to the task, ones he trusts to take care of this task that he deems important.]

A favor for the Fatui will never go unrewarded. Harboring me is doing us a great service, whether it's because of our relationship or not. Naganohara Fireworks, its owner, and the owner's father will always be under the watchful eye of the Fatui from now on. If any trouble or unfortunate times come your way, we will be there to assist. I will personally see to it.

[Yoimiya won't get much choice in that matter- she may be able to refuse any monetary aid that they could give, but the rest doesn't need her permission.]

I'll rest better knowing that you're taken care of in my absence.

[Tartaglia eyes the cup sitting next to him, lifting the bottle and pouring more sake into the cup for himself. He makes a gesture to pour her some more too- might as well drink it since they've opened the bottle. It tastes good, and all he wants to do now is spend the rest of his night with Yoimiya, and loosening up a little sounds like a perfect idea.]

That being said...I think having some more thrills for the night sounds like a spectacular idea. What do you say? I've been all over these islands and there's plenty of perilous danger to be found. Or...there's also our unfinished business to address as well.

[His eyes fall downward, eyeing her breasts- he could just as easily give her what she's been waiting for all night, too.]

[niwabi]

Ah, you really don't go have to go that far.

[ despite her protests, she ends up letting out a sigh of resignation. any resistance is futile, she knows good and well that once tartaglia has his mind set to something, there's no stopping him. she truly does appreciate the kind offer, though. since it's his good word, she knows that both her and her dad will be well taken care of. however, she's already starting to feel bad for that poor subordinates who ends up getting stuck with her father. she can already hear the constant back and forth of "sir, i'm here to assist you-" "WHAT?! WHAT DID YOU SAY?!?! YOU GOTTA SPEAK UP!" playing in her head. ]

You're certainly talking my game! I did promise you that we could do whatever you wanted. There's plenty of nobushi crawling around the island, or we could even find another thunderhelm lawachurl to take on. Or...

[ as her worlds trail off, a grin curves on her lips, totally noticing what he's staring at. those wandering eyes are very obvious, mister!

after taking another sip of sake, yoimiya shifts her position to where she's sitting on his lap, facing him. she leans in closer, resting her chest on top of his, making sure that her breasts are front and center in order to capture his full undivided attention. if he wants to get a closer look, she's happy to provide. ]

If you're not too tired from our previous activity, I don't mind jumping into our unattended business. I can't help but notice that you have your eye on something.

[ more like two somethings ]

[monoceroscaeli]

[He's ready for her to talk for a while, but it doesn't seem it's going to be as long as he thinks. Tartaglia shifts to allow her to sit in his lap a little more comfortably, wrapping an arm around her middle. She certainly does know how to capture his attention, letting his gaze freely take in the display she's offering. They feel nice against him, but he can imagine how much nicer it would be if he weren't wearing his jacket.]

Haha, did I make it too obvious? Sorry, [he says, letting his eyes slide back upward to meet her gaze, an unapologetic smirk unfolding.] When you see something you like, it's not easy to keep your eyes off of it.

[Unfinished business it is then. He sneaks a little squeeze in on one of her breasts, his mind already starting to imagine what he'll do with her once they're in private. Making her happy, giving her everything she wants and more- that's his only objective. And knowing her, he's willing to bet that's what she's planning too.

So it'll be an interesting night...to see who will pleasure the other more. He's looking forward to it.]

What do you say? We'll pick up those masks from Sanden and make our way to somewhere more private for the rest of the night. I believe I owe you for you help earlier...and I want nothing more than to return the favor in every way that I can.

[niwabi]

[ just that simple squeeze is plenty to elicit a mewl. her own mind begins to wander, thinking about how nice his hands will feel on her bare skin once she's completely stripped. not to mention, she's also couldn't wait to see what he looks like underneath his own clothes, she imagines that he must have an incredible physique from all the fighting that he's done over the years. ]

I can see why you enjoy them, they are pretty nice aren't they?

[ one of the reasons why she feels such a kindred spirit towards tartaglia is due to the many personality traits they share, confidence being one of them. there's an all too familiar cocky tone laced in her voice while she stares at him with a smirk. she's very well aware of her own nice figure and how alluring her body must be to him.

taking one last swig of sake, yoimiya finally peels herself off of him and stands back up on her feet. as much as she'd like to stay on his lap a little longer, she doesn't want to cause tartaglia to have another... ahem 'problem' right on the spot. after all, he still has to walk to their private location of choice and she's already well aware that his pants don't do a good job of hiding that.

once she has her backpack strapped onto her shoulder, she holds her hand out to him. ]

I say that's a great plan. We can figure out where we want to go once we're out of earshot from everyone.

[ none of the festival guests probably want to hear the couple talk about where they're going to shack it up for the night. ]

[monoceroscaeli]

I've got a few ideas of where we can go for the night.

[Listen to her, it only makes his grin wider. She knows she's cute too, and far be it from him to act like that isn't the damn truth. The sake cups get picked up once she's left his lap, handed over to her to put into her backpack, though the bottle of sake is going to get carried in his hand. He could use some more, taking his own swig right out of the bottle.

Taking her hand, they make their way down to the mask stand to pick up the presents for his siblings, thanking Sanden for holding the package for them as the two of them head off of the island and away from the prying ears of the general public. Once they're far enough away and headed back for Narukami Island proper, Tartaglia takes another drink from the bottle before handing it to her if she'd like some too.]

Before we get back to town, I'd like to thank you again for the memorable night. I haven't had this much fun in a long time that didn't involve a good fight.

[His fingers interlace with her own, giving Yoimiya a warm look of gratitude for what she's done for him so far.]

To think that this wouldn't of happened if you hadn't gotten caught earlier today by our soldiers, haha.

[niwabi]

Hearing that makes me so happy, Tartaglia. I have to thank you as well, because I know I'll never forget this night for as long as live.

[ she accepts the kind offer, taking another drink from the sake bottle before handing it back to tartaglia. there's still a little bit left, he's more than welcome to finish it since she mainly brought it for him. ]

Hehe, getting caught by your subordinates ended up working out. I'm so beyond thrilled we were able to see each other before you left. Because of it, this ended up being one of the happiest moments of my life.

[ when yoimiya woke up today, she never would have guessed that such a remarkable circumstance would lead to such and amazing day. she's extremely thankful for it. while she's never really thought about fate, she can't help but wonder if there was a red string of fate tying them together and that it was more than just coincidence they would run into each other again. either way, she's just so beyond happy and wouldn't change anything that happened today for the world.

she leans her head against his arm, the intimate connection of their fingers locking fills her with warmth. as the sights of the city start to appear in the distance, yoimiya could feel her heart racing with excitement as they got closer. ]

I guess I'll also have to thank my buddy later. If it wasn't for him telling me about the onikabuto in the area, I wouldn't have even gone into that forest.

[ somewhere out there, itto is once again, letting out a sneeze. ]

[monoceroscaeli]

I'll have to thank him too, if I ever get the chance to meet him. I'm flattered to know that I've made such an impact on you, haha.

[He could really get used to having Yoimiya on his arm like this, keeping the sad reality of his departure in mind. He really likes it here in Inazuma, the charm of the country here has really taken him in, and her along with it. Tartaglia could see himself living here at some point in his life, though he knows that would never happen while he works for the Tsaritsa.

He's not sure if he'll ever have the chance, but that's a pessimistic thought that he chases away. Who knows, when he knows he has the power to move mountains if he wishes.

And he'd do it for Yoimiya.]

How does this sound, [he continues on,] I know there's a bar inside of Uyuu Restaurant, why don't we stop there for a moment to get another bottle of sake or two before we have our fun. Now with the Sakoku Decree lifted, maybe we'll be able to find some Snezhnayan Fire-Water there...

[He could go for some of that right now. He's not sure if Yoimiya will like it, but he certainly does.]

[niwabi]

[ that settles it, the next time her boyfriend visits inazuma he's got to meet itto. they're either going to get along due to their oddly similiar personalities or compete with each other in everything. probably both. thinking about it makes her internally laugh. ]

My, my Tartaglia, I didn't realize you were such a heavy drinker. [ not that she has any room to talk, that one bottle of sake they shared wasn't enough. ] That sounds like a splendid idea! I've always wanted to try Snezhnayan drinks. I heard y'all got some mighty strong liquor over there.

[ between the shop, taking care of her father and playing with the local children, yoimiya doesn't have much time to get out and have fun drinking like this. with this being tartaglia's last day in inazuma, she really wants to make this moment count, his final night on this island should be full of fun memories and she's determined to make the rest of the evening a night he'll always look back with fondness. not to mention, she's quite excited to try the expanded menu of other drinks from other countries now that the sakoku decree has been lifted.

once they're inside the restaurant, it thankfully doesn't take them long to get seated at the bar. yoimiya excitedly waves at the bartender behind the counter and wastes no time in placing their orders. ]

Excuse us! If y'all have it, we'd like to get a bottle of Snezhnayan Fire-Water, a bottle of cold sake and... [ she stops to look at tartaglia. ] Was there anything else you wanted to try in particluar? Since today's a special day, I say we go crazy.

[monoceroscaeli]

[He keeps it to himself about his ability to hold his liquor, knowing that he's no lightweight himself. Heavy drinker isn't what he'd describe it as, still snorting with amusement at her remark, but maybe more along the lines of straight resistant because of the kind of hard liquor he's used to drinking. Inazuman sake barely makes a dent, but if Uyuu has gotten any imports in, he'll have her try a real drink that'll put some hair on her chest.

On the way over, he'll listen to her talk until they finally find themselves at the bar, tapping his chin when he thinks about it. What else would he like to try?]

Do you have any Dandelion Wine in from Mondstadt? I've heard wonders about it, and from what I understand it's plentiful due to Dawn Winery's distribution.

[The bartender nods, fetching the alcohol for the both of them, returning with them all and setting them on the bar.]

Anything else? You two want any food, or were you just here to get some drinks?

Oh, I won't be needing any food, thank you. [He quickly reaches into his pocket to produce his coin pouch to pay for all the alcohol.

He turns to Yoimiya, to ask her, since she didn't exactly eat as much as he did at the festival.]

Want anything? Everything's on me the rest of the night.

[niwabi]

[ as yoimiya starts excitedly pouring the beverages in glasses, she momentarily stops upon noticing tartaglia pulling a mora pouch from his pocket. such a mundane action isn't so startling, it's when he pays for all the alcohol like nothing else is what causes her jaw to drop. the bill is not going to be cheap and she's surprised he's able to afford it all with ease.

in the midst of her amazement, yoimiya is brought back down to earth by the bartender trying to get her attention by saying "miss?" "miss..? are you okay?" over and over again. ]

Oh sorry! A plate of sakura tempura does sound really good right about now.

[ the bartender writes down her order, leaving to the kitchen to have the dish prepared. yoimiya goes back to pouring the drinks, sliding a cup of snezhnayan fire-water over his way all the while still looking a bit stunned. ]

Huh... from the way you were talking about saving money to get gifts for your siblings. I assumed you were pretty much broke this entire time.

[monoceroscaeli]

[At first, he's not entirely sure why Yoimiya.exe has stopped working. All he did was pay for the alcohol, and she's kind of staring at him in amazement. It's a little awkward, and he's about to say something himself, but the bartender seems to snap her out of it.

He might steal a few pieces of that sakura tempura for himself, he thinks, it sounds good.]

Surely you didn't think a Fatu- ahem, someone of my stature wouldn't have money. I just hadn't brought a whole lot with me that day, because I didn't think I was going to have any ideas of what to shop for until you helped me out. Which I am still grateful for, by the way.

[He takes that glass she's poured for him, and slams it down in one go. The Fire-Water burns down his throat, but it's a good burn that he's missed in the days he's been away from home. He lets out a satisfied sigh, looking back over to her and grinning.]

Want to try some? It's not too bad.

[niwabi]

Well, I'm not really sure how your uh.... [ organization? no that still sounds suspicious. ] um, any of that works. So I just kind of thought that your um, people didn't feel like giving you that much money for your trip.

[ for now yoimiya will shrug it off. maybe she's just thinking too hard about his situation. it's just beverages so it shouldn't be that big of a deal, it's not he'll drop three million mora out of nowhere or anything (haha). regardless, hearing his gratitude does manage to transform her look of amazment into a much more soft smile. being able to assist him in picking out gifts for his siblings, whom he holds dear, fills her with joy.

watching the way he shovels that drink in one swoop is quite remarkable. following suit, yoimiya pours herself a glass and downs the drink in one go. ]

Whew! This really is hot. Ah... [ she clears her throat, feeling the burn tickling her tongue. ] Sheesh, I can see why you guys call it Fire-Water.

[ the flavor certainly lives up to it's name. while it's not a beverage she's used to, it still tastes quite interesting. a different kind of good. she returns his grin with a cheeky smile of her own, pouring herself another cup. ]

Not bad at all. That burn tastes pretty good.

[monoceroscaeli]

[He looks on proudly as she downs the Fire-Water. It's not a flavor that a lot of people are really hot on, save for Snezhnayans of course, so it's delightful to see her not only own it like nothing could phase her and enjoy it. Fantastic. Couldn't of asked for better.]

You're going to fit in back in my homeland just fine.

[Really, he could already tell his family was going to love her, but she'll also find their customs easy to adjust to, more than likely...anyone who can do what she just did will find the rest a piece of cake.

The bartender returns with Yoimiya's order, placing the food right in front of her. Childe quickly slips the bartender coin for that too, so then they could leave whenever they wanted. After all, there's no way they're going to finish all this alcohol here, so they're going to take those bottles with them.]

Eat up, take another shot with me, and we'll head out. Oh, and I don't mind if I do.

[He says that as he reaches over to try to nab a piece of her sakura tempura, like a brat.]

[niwabi]

[ from all the stories she's heard about snezhnaya through the local merchants, yoimiya has always been curious as to what the land with perpetual blizzards is like. now that tartaglia has waltzed into her life, she's especially excited to see what his homeland is like. while she's not sure if she'll actually fit in like what he claims. what she does know is that she wants to visit the country that her boyfriend grew up at and loves with all his heart. not to metion... if the drinks are this strong, she couldn't wait to see what else the region had it store. downing a second shot of fire-water is already starting to make her somewhat tipsy.

she thanks the bartender for the meal, taking in the wonderful smell of the fried goodness combined with the sweet fragrance of sakura petals. grabbing the set of chopsticks provided to her, she happily starts digging in. as she's in the middle of enjoying the food together with the liqour, she happens to notice a sneaky wandering hand making it's way towards her dish. ]

Hmmmm. I spy with my little eye, a cheeky brat trying to steal a piece of my sakura tempura. Here, let me make it easier on ya.

[ before the harbinger is able to swipe the tempura from right under her nose, yoimiya picks up the fried delicacy with her chopsticks and brings it up towards his lips. ]

Tempura's a great dish to have with alcohol. [ she giggles, both from being amused by his mischievous actions and the slight wave of tipsiness that's hitting her. ] I'm almost done so I'm ready to go whenever you've had your fill.

[monoceroscaeli]

[Childe eats the piece of sakura tempura right off her chopsticks, his eyes reflecting a joy that gives him the look of a kid who's gotten away with being naughty and still received what they wanted regardless. He chews thoughtfully on it, trying to decide if he should get another order of it to take with them to their destination. It's very good, but after he considers it for a moment, maybe it's not for the best given where they're going.]

Haha, I just wanted to give it a try. Not bad, [he comments, washing it down with another shot of Fire-Water.] I think I'm about ready.

[He closes the bottle, plenty of Fire-Water still left for them to drink. Asking for a bag to carry them in, he packs them up and stands.]

Our destination isn't too far from here. C'mon, let's go.

[He walks with her out of the restaurant, crossing the street to the hot springs establishment just across the road. He doesn't seem to be heading anywhere else, and the business is just about to close for the night- but he doesn't look like that's going to be a problem.]

[niwabi]

[ throughout the walk to aisa bathhouse, yoimiya is shamelessly snuggled up against tartaglia, giggling and nuzzling her head into his arm. the hot springs being his destination of choice is interesting, she had expected them to head over to the nearby inn to finish off the night but the harbinger is anything but mundane. it's in his nature to pick a place that's much more thrilling. she's very excited to see what he has in store but also she's a little tipsy, so her overt display of affection has something to do with that. snezhnayan fire-water really is stronger than any sake she's ever had.

the owner of the bathhouse, aikawa susumu stands in front of his establishment. upon seeing the familiar face, the eager girl energetically waves to get his attention. ]

Well, if it isn't Yoimiya. I see you have a guest with you today?

Heya Susumu! Hehe, my boyfriend and I were looking to get a nice soak in the hot springs before we retire for the night.

[ thankfully, she's not totally plastered and still coherent enough to carry a proper conversation. ]

I'd love to welcome the both of you but we're actually getting ready to close up for the night. My apologies, maybe the two of you could stop by tomorrow?

[ oh... that's a shame. hearing the news does (somewhat) bring yoimiya out of her intoxicated stupor. ]

Oh shoot. My bad, Tartaglia. I lost track of time and totally forgot they close around this hour.

[monoceroscaeli]

[Tartaglia doesn't mind in the least bit that Yoimiya is not subtle at all about the two of them and their newly-found status, giggling right along with her at how cute she is snuggling up against him like that. He's proud that she's still able to put a sentence together, having drank the sake at the festival and now with a few shots of Fire-Water in her system.

He regards the bathhouse owner, holding up a hand to stop the conversation right here. First looking down to Yoimiya, he only smiles and answers:]

It's hardly anything worth apologizing for. [And then, turning to Susumu, he continues,] I know that you're about to close, but I was wondering if you would entertain having a private session for those willing to pay.

[The owner raises an eyebrow, considering it. The Sakoku Decree had been hard on business, so it's not out of the realm of possibility.]

You'd have to put up quite a bit, the rate isn't cheap, especially given it's going to be for after hours.

[The Harbinger only smiles back, reaching for his coin purse and pressing several large coins into the man's hand.]

Will this cover it?

[A quick count shows about five-hundred thousand mora, and Susumu's eyes widen. Who is this guy?]

You two can have the place for the rest of the night. Sorry about before, you can go right on in.

You have my gratitude! Let's go, Yoimiya.

[Tartaglia steps forward to go inside, expecting Yoimiya to follow, a smug smile on his face. No problem.]

[niwabi]

[ archons above..... what on teyvat did she just witness?

yoimiya listens to the entire conversation, filled with uncertainty on how it's going to turn out. sure, a private session sounds absolutely wonderful, she desires to be alone with him above all else right now. heck, she's even certain that tartaglia has the charisma to negotiate anything he wants. however, having the mora is a completely different matter.

but as always, tartaglia manages to go above and beyond her expectations.

seeing the coin pouch will forever take her aback but it's the transaction taking place that causes her golden eyes to widen. she's counting the coins in her head and judging from the expression on susumu's face, they both added up the same amount.... five-hundred thousand mora. on cue, yoimiya lets out startled screech: ]

W-W-WHAAAAAAT?!?!

[ at first, yoimiya is frozen in her spot, jaw slacked and simply staring at tartaglia as he confidently makes his way into the building. it takes susumu waving his hand in her face to finally get her to snap out of it. once she's... okay, she'll never recover from watching that but after (somewhat) getting her bearings together, she's hot on her boyfriend's heels. her cheeks were already partially red from all the alcohol they've consumed but now she's even more flustered. ]

You didn't have to pay that much mora! We could have just gone to the nearby inn.

[monoceroscaeli]

[He acts like he doesn't hear that screech, laughing to himself as he enters the bathhouse without her, making his way over toward the washing area. Thankfully, he doesn't wait too long before she catches up to him, stopping and turning to her as she expresses her opinion on the matter.]

I wanted tonight to be special.

[Now that she's caught up, he pulls her into him, clearly amused by how she's reacted to his blatant disregard of money. He almost feels like Zhongli...except he has the money to use, where his former associate didn't.]

Haha, to a Harbinger, mora is a simple number that doesn't mean much. Very little remains out of my reach as far as finances are concerned. Don't worry, I've hardly broken the bank here.

[Tartaglia places a kiss to her forehead, before continuing to head to the washing area.]

Besides, don't tell me you don't think this will be far more entertaining than simply staying at an inn. With as much as I paid, I expect we'll be able to do anything we want.

[Said with a sly grin. He means anything.]

[niwabi]

[ sir what exactly do you mean you've hardly broken bank here? sir? SIR?????

yoimiya's head is starting to spin a little, and it's definitely not from all the alcohol. this man is going to be the end of her and she knows it. fortunately, the feeling of dizziness dissipates the moment he places a kiss on her forehead. a long, sigh of resignation escapes from her lips. as overwhelmed as she is by the entire situation, she does greatly appreciate that tartaglia is willing to go the extra mile and them some for her.

there's an all too familiar warmth stirring in her heart when he says he wants this night to be special. ]

You do have a point... I can't deny that I was quite excited when you brought me over here. I couldn't stop thinking about all the things we'll be able to do in the hot springs.

[ shameless admission on her part, but since when has she ever cared? and it definitely shows in the way she's grinning at his mention of them doing anything they wanted. ]

Besides, I did promise you that you're allowed to do whatever you want.

[ she makes certain to put an extra emphasis on the whatever part of her statement.

after a few more steps into the bathhouse, the washing area stands just before their eyes. proper etiquette would be for them to undress in separate rooms but since they have the whole place all to themselves, it's not like that really matters. ]

I guess I should start getting changed. Unless... [ she glances at him, her doe-eyes sending him an all-knowing look of intense yearning. ] you wanted to help me undress, that is.