Tʜᴇ ᴇsᴄᴏʀᴛ ᴡᴀɴᴛs ᴘᴇᴀᴄᴇ『ᶻʰᵒⁿᵍˡⁱ ˣ ᵐ/ⁿ ˣ ᵗᵃʳᵗᵃᵍˡⁱᵃ』

V

sᵘᵍᵃʳ ᴅᵃᵈᵈⁱᵉˢ?!

M/n felt as if he could faint at any given moment with the string of events over the past four days. First, it started with his meeting Tartaglia, then the next day he was sent a bouquet of Glaze Lillie's of the highest quality, next was a beautiful assortment of rare gems and stones, another was fine silk, and last was a beautifully crafted hand fan. The others of the brothel were amazed by this and began to ask M/n all sorts of questions, many he could not answer right away.
"Aiya!! Are those men insane?!"

"They seem to really like you, M/n. Even though you've spent more time with Mister Zhongli, I think the other man has taken to you just as much! Gee! You have two men dedicated to fight for your attention when I barely have one!"

"Ai darling, I didn't ask for this! Ugh! What am I going to do with the silk? It cost more than my life! Just how rich is that crazy ginger?!"Ai giggles at the panic in M/n's voice. She was so used to seeing the young male (Ai being 29 and M/n being 23) calm and collected at all times.
"I say, enjoy this until you can't anymore. Anyway, you could make something fancy to wear! Isn't today a day that Mister Zhongli visits?"

"Nine times out of ten, Sir Tartaglia will be with him...So I guess I could make something fancy for a chance."

"That's the spirit! Let's get started!"M/n smiles a bit, his worries melting away when seeing Ai's smile. She was quite the bright woman and very hopeful at that, you wouldn't even guess she's been through more than many could handle. Which is why M/n has such a big soft spot for the lady.

🤎🤍💙

Ai was excited, more so than M/n as she dolled him up just a bit.
"Oh? Is this a white jade hairpin?"

"Yes, Zhongli sent it. Surprisingly it matches the silk."Ai brightly fixes the hairpin into M/n's soft tousled hair and takes a step back. Of all the men in the brothel, M/n was the one with the softest look.
He always looks so soft and gentle, even when he's overthinking...Hm, he reminds me of that woman I met five years ago. Mysterious yet soft.
"Ai?"

"Oh, I hear a knock! You just sit here and look beautiful as always, I'll bring the snacks and refreshments!"Ai quickly jumps up and greets the two men at the door, allowing them to head in as she left. Zhongli and Tartaglia smile when seeing M/n in their gifts.

"I would like to thank you two for the gifts but I would prefer if you didn't spend so much or take up too much of your time on me like this."

"It's not too much, M/n. I enjoyed making that hairpin for you."Zhongli voices as he elegantly sits on the couch, Tartaglia on the other hand nearly flops down.
"I knew you'd make good use of such beautiful silk! I thought it would suit you when I saw it and I adore the results."

"Gee, you two are too much at times. Besides pampering me, how have you been?"The two glance at each other for a second before attempting to speak before the other, M/n blinks a bit, his only thought is if the two had been like this before?
"Your darling friend, Hu Tao is holding a sale-"

"Aiya! I told her that coffin sales are a bad idea and it's a tad bit morbid if anything! Please tell me she isn't using that 'Buy one coffin get the second half off' sales pitch?"Zhongli coughs into the side of his fist, a tale sigh that I was exactly as M/n said.
"Hahaha, that little lady is funny, I think I'll have to take her up on that offer."

"Please don't entertain her when it comes to that slogan. Death, be it natural or not is still a touchy subject for people who can't grasp that concept."

"Then are you one of those people?"Both men ask without thought and M/n...He couldn't find it in him to answer right away. Lucky for him, Ai came back with a tray full of snacks and drinks.