this same song and dance

1

"Teucer, are you sure about this?" Tonia came to stand next to him on the pier. "Like, really sure?"

"Sure about what?" Teucer knew exactly what his sister was talking about, but he really didn't want to have this conversation again, especially since they were so close to meeting Ajax and his husband as soon as their ship from Liyue arrived.

"About not telling him about your job." Tonia put a hand to her head as she repeated for the thousandth time, "I have a feeling he would understand completely. You're both adults. And you both trust each other, right?"

"I do, of course I do. Ajax is the best big brother a person could ever have. And that's exactly why I can never tell him I joined the Fatui. He's just a kind and hardworking toy salesman, I couldn't expose him to the kinds of things I see and do on a daily basis."

"You never know, he might be able to handle the truth."

Teucer shook his head. "No, I want to let him believe I actually work for the Fishing Association. He loves fishing."

"He also loves honesty, believe it or not," Tonia stared balefully out over the horizon as she muttered, "I can't believe I'm having this conversation again. You two should really just talk it out."

"That's unlikely to happen."

"...I know."

Teucer caught sight of a familiar figure frantically waving at them while jumping up and down on the deck of an incoming ship. He and Tonia both waved back as a tall man with dark hair grabbed Ajax by the jacket to keep him from diving into the ocean and swimming the rest of the way to them.

Despite her earlier frustration, Tonia laughed slightly. "I'm so happy Zhongli came with him for this trip. He's good at keeping Ajax entertained and out of trouble."

The ship pulled into the dock, and their brother was soon racing down the gangplank to wrap them both in one of his signature squeeze-you-til-you-drop hugs.

"Teucer! Tonia! I've missed you so much!" Ajax touched his forehead to each of theirs in turn. "You've both grown!"

"Big brother, I'll have you know I'm exactly the same height I was when you were here last year." Tonia was laughing again, despite the severely limited amount of air she was getting at the moment.

Teucer made a futile attempt to free one of his arms so he could compare his and Ajax's heights, but he was no match for the strength of his brother's affection. "I'm taller than I used to be! I bet I'm even taller than you now!"

"Oh really? We'll see about that!" Ajax gave them another rib-cracking squeeze before finally releasing them back onto their own feet. "Also! What's this I've heard about my little baby brother's new job?"

Tonia, leaning against a railing for support while she got her bearings back, gave Teucer a significant look.

"Oh yes, I'm working for the Fishing Association! It's been great!"

Tonia's grip on the railing tightened.

Teucer decided this would be a good time to deflect the focus off of himself by asking, "How about you, how is the toy selling in Liyue going?"

"Also great! Like I mentioned in my last letter, I'm here for a big toy convention for an upcoming major event. Lots of changes in store for Snezhnaya's...toy industry! We can't fall behind the likes of Fontaine, you know!"

There was a cracking sound as part of the railing splintered off in Tonia's hands.

"Oh yes, that's right!" Teucer glanced at Tonia. "Everything okay over there?"