Erison

Rebellion

A swarm of guards trailed behind Xiao, and ahead of him were even more guards. Childe watched his every move as they walked - like a hawk that was ready to soar through open skies just to catch their prey. A few of the Adepti were there too, Yanfei - their lawyer - she wasn't a full Adeptus, but Childe seemed to like her more than most people. Ganyu was there, walking beside Keqing - she was more serious now that she was working; a stern mask permanently attached. Mountain Shaper flew over them, white feathers pure and graceful and good.

Xiao could feel the eyes of the locals on him. All on him, no one else, just him. Then again, seeing the grand crown prince, destined to live for as long as Liyue's mountains stood tall, wasn't exactly a sight they'd see on the daily.

The wind was slow and felt very, it was another foggy day in Second Liyue - Xiao could tell he was growing unused to cold weather the more time he spent in the palace. Was that his fate? To simply grow unused to the coolness he once adored? If so, he already despised it.
Mixed into the air was the scent of food; it smelt disgusting. Spicy and heavy. Xiao wasn't the biggest fan of spicy foods as it was, it'd give him stomach aches, but combined with heavy meat? He felt sick just at the prospect of having to eat something like that.

"Guards," Childe hummed. They all froze at the sound of his voice, turning in strict unison to meet his gaze - showing off their masks, purple and blues, far from traditional Liyue colouring. But they weren't from Liyue - they were from Snezhnaya. So they acted like Snezhnayan. They were nothing like the calm and graceful guards of Liyue - most of whom had been replaced or taken by the rich - their movements were heavy and powerful. In summary; it wasn't traditional, and Xiao didn't like it. "Formation." Childe spat, and each moved in eerily symmetrical movements. A curved line was made for Xiao and Childe to slither through as they walked into the restaurant. Mao Xiangling squeaked with excitement as they did so, happily pulling up a chair for Xiao, her father did the same for Childe.

It smelt worse inside, like Xiao was choking against the smokey air. He prayed that he wouldn't have to eat whatever he could smell. He hadn't done anything worth getting a punishment as of late. He had been doing his work with no complaints, he'd used his pleases and thank yous and everything in between.

Chef Mao greeted the two with a polite half-bow before going over a very long, and very over-the-top explanation of something Xiao wasn't paying attention to. His mind was still on the fact that it smelt disgusting.

Xiao was only brought back to reality when a dish was put in front of him. with a side of rice and vegetables. Xiao gulped.

cured pork dry hot pot.
Pork was heavy, and the hot pot wreaked of garlic, ginger, snapdragon, peppercorn, scallions and jueyun chilli.

Xiao felt his heart sink - or maybe it was his stomach groaning at the idea of eating that. He raised his eyes hesitantly to Childe, praying that he'd let him off this time. He was good. He was being good. He didn't understand why he had to do this. He didn't run off, he was doing his work. Why? Why? Why?

Childe glared at him, eyes sharp enough to slice Xiao in two. Childe knew he couldn't stomach this, right? Or maybe he forgot...
Yeah...
He must have forgotten, that's why...

And he would be upset if Xiao didn't eat it.

He looked around, outside Keqing had the same look Childe had, but Ganyu frowned, she knew what it was like. She could handle more foods than Xiao could, but she understood eating something like this would hurt. She didn't say anything but removed her mask of sternness from before.

Xiao sighed and looked back down at his food before picking up his chopsticks and grabbing a bit of rice. It tasted fine. He picked up a bit of vegetables next. He liked them, they were light. But his hands quivered over the boiling pot in front of him.

He gulped before picking up a cooked piece, covering it in a thick layer of cabbage and rice - hoping it would mellow out the spice. It didn't, and it just made it feel more heavy.

Xiao's stomach growled in displeasure and he had to force himself to wince away the tears that came from the heat. Childe watched him without saying a word - his face was mean and cold. Xiao shoved in another piece much to his body's discomfort - maybe Childe would like him more if he finished it...

Despite his body's pleas and groans, he downed another piece, trying to avoid focusing on the scent or the taste or even the texture. Childe hummed, perhaps in surprise, but that was the only sort of feedback he delivered. Xiao shivered, it felt like his mouth had just been lit ablaze by a wild pyro whopperflower and then a pyro slime smashed into his face directly after.

It wasn't good, it wasn't fun, it didn't taste nice - yet he swallowed another chunk of meat saturated in spicy soup; almost choking when he did so.
Before Xiao knew it he ate his fill, and Childe seemed pleased with him for once.