this same song and dance

2

Dinner, typically a hearty affair in their household, always became all the more sumptuous whenever they had visitors. Especially when the visitor was the esteemed Zhongli of the Wangsheng Funeral and Ice Cream Parlor franchise (locations in Liyue, Mondstadt, Fontaine, and Sumeru; coming soon to a crematory or dairy near you!).

For weeks leading up to Zhongli and Ajax's visit; Teucer, Tonia, and any other siblings who were in the neighborhood had been recruited to assist their mother in the kitchen. She put them to work peeling and cutting fruits and vegetables, rolling out pastry dough, seasoning meat, and washing the mountains of dirty dishes produced by their collected labors.

But it was all worth it for the look on her face when Zhongli complimented her right away on the exquisite quality of the food served during that evening's meal.

"Oh my, Zhongli, you're too kind, much too kind." Their mother was quick to pile more food in front of him. "Here now, don't be shy. There's plenty."

As Zhongli subtly nudged Ajax's favorite dishes within easy reach, Ajax exclaimed, "The way you're trying to feed my husband, it's like you think I'm not taking proper care of him at all! I'll have you know I walk him daily and buy him treats every time we go out!"

Teucer couldn't help smiling into his napkin at a recollection of visiting Liyue a few years ago and watching his doting brother purchase everything Zhongli touched. Good thing Ajax was such a successful toy salesman, and that his bank account could keep pace with Zhongli's taste in art, accessories, and food.

"Ah, to be young like the both of you." Their father shook his head, an indulgent twinkle in his eye. "You two should cherish the time you have together, so you have many happy memories to look back on."

"Indeed we should — isn't that right, young Mr. Zhongli?" Ajax scooped up some food onto his fork and held it up to feed to his husband. "Let's make lots of memories, okay?"

While Ajax and Zhongli were busy staring into each other's eyes, Teucer wondered if he could surreptitiously retrieve the package from his shirt and open it under the table. He'd meant to deal with it in the privacy of his room as soon as they were finished moving things inside, but then his mother had called them all for dinner and he hadn't had time to slip away.

Anything else he would've been fine with leaving for later, but this was a hand-delivered package, it was probably important enough to require his immediate attention. The agent had even called it 'urgent' when they showed up outside the house.

Teucer was feeling through his shirt for the knot in the twine tied around the package, when his parents were at it again and everyone was politely looking at each other across the table once more.

"So, Zhongli, has our Ajax been behaving himself in Liyue?"
"He hasn't been getting into scuffles, has he? Ajax can be rather argumentative, you know."

"Me? Scuffling? Argumentative?" Ajax recoiled in overdone horror while Zhongli merely shook his head with a small smile on his face in response to his in-laws' questions. "You say that like I'm some kind of rowdy hoodlum."

"Mind your elbows, dear."
"We know, we know, you're a highly respectable merchant now. 'Purveyor of the finest toys in Liyue Harbor,' according to all those brochures Teucer collects up in his room."

All attention turned to Teucer, who was still holding the front of his shirt in an odd way. He made a weak attempt at a laugh as he leaned forward over his plate so his torso wasn't as visible and so he could quickly shovel some food into his mouth to avoid refuting himself beyond a brief, "...I just really like toys."

"Wouldn't you say," Tonia fixed him and Ajax with a pair of steely, blue eyes as she added, "that Teucer likes toys just as much as Ajax likes fishing? They have each other's dream jobs, don't they?"