𝐀𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐥𝐞 | Genshin Impact

ʀᴇᴅ ᴘʟᴜᴍ ʙʟᴏꜱꜱᴏᴍꜱ

FOUR

RED PLUM BLOSSOMS and branches. A girl with dazzling scarlet eyes and matching brown hair to frame her fair face. (Y/n) sat alongside her on the cold, stone bench in front of the funeral parlor. She had been waiting outside for Zhongli to finish a few matters. He had invited her for an afternoon at the Heyu Teahouse as per usual.

(Y/n) stared down at her joint hands who rested above her crossed legs, taking the opportunity to catch the slightest glimpse of the brunette who joined her out of the blue.

"Didn't want you to feel all lonely." Was what Hu Tao had said when she plopped down right next to her. And now there she sat, with a hand raised over her eyes as she passed the time watching the clouds roll over the harbor ever so slowly.

It was quiet with the exception of a few rustling branches above their heads. And the sounds of the bustling slope kept the atmosphere somewhat lively.

But even so, (Y/n) felt compelled to say something; anything.

The woman's lashes partially obscured her eyes as she gazed down. "You know, this is where I met Zhongli," She patted the cement surface with her fingertips, "He was the very first friend I made here."

At this, Hu Tao's arm fell back to her side. She looked over at (Y/n), the ends of her lips tugging upward.

"Zhongli may look young, but he's as dusty as an old book," The brunette joked, "He knows everything, but doesn't fret over anything."

"You get along well with people like that, (Y/n)?" She asked her in a teasing manner.

(Y/n) smiled warmly. "Now that I think about it, I'd have to be honest and say yes." She looked back down at her joint fingertips, watching them move and take a gentle hold of the fabric of her dress.

The director of the funeral parlor looked rather young. And Zhongli had never once mentioned anything other than that. She wondered how much older she'd be by guess, but it wasn't really any of her business.

"Hu Tao," (Y/n) called for her, "I wanted to ask, if it's alright with you, what's it like being in charge of a funeral parlor?"

The brunette turned her torso around, lifting her bare legs to rest one over the other above the bench. Her gaze cascaded endearingly over a nearby flora from the bushes growing past the stone fence. She raised a hand to one of its stems, a fingertip gently caressing the blossom's petal. "At the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, the living give us Mora to see the dead on their way," She explained, "I, along with my employees, have a responsibility to both parties. So we gotta make sure both sides are happy."

(Y/n) listened attentively as Hu Tao turned rather quiet. Or rather, her tone lowered and became softer when speaking with subtle passion.

"Some clients want nothing more than a peaceful ceremony, some opt for a more lively style of event," She named off a few examples, "There are also those who request a funeral arrangement of the most pompous kind."

The brunette glanced back at (Y/n). "The services we provide have to be tailor-made according to the clients' needs. And once the doors to the parlor close. I invite the other consultants from different walks of life to pass on their teachings to the other undertakers."

(Y/n) tucked a few strands of hair behind her ear. "Which one does Zhongli fall under?" She asked curiously.

At this question, the smile on Hu Tao's lips grew twice as wide. "Zhongli is a consultant, the most revered one if I must say. And although I tease him a lot for his old-fashioned style, I trust him the most."

Hu Tao's lashes rose as her pupils flickered upward, almost as if she were in pensive thought. Then, one of her twin tails flew over her shoulder when she spun her head around, her scarlet eyes meeting (e/c). "Hey. There's someone I want you to meet." Was all she said.

❦

"This is Whiskers-" Hu Tao gestured to the left feline "-and this is Mittens!" She then gestured to the right feline.

Though, the two were anything but fluffy, organic cats.

(Y/n) glanced at the two stone lions in front of the ministry building, a blank look settling over her face. Her eyes went wide as they glanced from one to the other before settling over the brunette who stood between them with a patient expression.

Hu Tao noticed the dumbfounded look on her face. The girl then rushed to the left lion, Whiskers, and placed her hand over his cold paw. "Sure, their fur might be harder, but they're just as cute as any other cat!" She spoke so delicately of them as though they were real, as if trying to convince (Y/n) to see from her perspective.

The girl then pressed her head against the stone lion's side, the hat atop slightly tilting. "I don't visit them anymore, seeing how they're adults now and can take care of themselves," She explained, "But I wanted you to meet them, at least." Her eyes glanced from Whiskers' paw and back towards (Y/n)'s face.

"C'mon," Hu Tao left Whisker's side, her arm sliding underneath the girl's, "Let's go find something to do. Sitting around doing nothing is a fate worse than death!"

FOUR