The Calm Before The Storm

Childe only stared in disbelief as the plates in front of Iris started stacking up on top of each other in a matter of minutes...no...seconds...

(There must be at least a few hundred by now, no?) He wryly smiled. (Truly, an appetite worthy of an Adeptus. Oh well, I might as well start eating before it gets cold.)

Childe's mannerisms only grew sharper as he picked up a pair of chopsticks. He rubbed the two chopsticks together before he separated them and clumsily took hold of them. 

Seeing how casually Childe started eating after riling up Lumine to the point of crying made Hu Tao annoyed. She had to find a way to somehow get back at him for her friend. To piss him off somehow.

And she spotted an opportunity almost immediately, watching his form when he held the chopsticks, Hu Tao mischievously laughed, "You do know that it's rude to rub your chopsticks together, it implies you're trying to get rid of splinters because they're cheap."

The way he held the chopsticks could only be called laughable at best. Not that it bothered him much as he looked thoroughly satisfied with himself.

As he couldn't pick up the meat with the chopsticks, he chose to stab the steak with them instead.

"Hehe, did you know that if you stick your chopsticks upright in your food in any establishment in Liyue, it is seen as a lack of respect because it's traditionally done at funerals?"

His crude movement stopped and he pointed at her with the chopsticks, "Oi, let me enjoy the food."

It was working, she was finally getting under his skin. The payback was coming.

Hu Tao simply smirked and continued, "Did you know that pointing at someone with your chopsticks in Liyue is also considered very rude, much like pointing at someone with your finger?"

"Listen here you little brat...This childish behaviour is exactly why everyone in Liyue hates you!" Childe cut her off with his finger stabbing in her direction in a threatening manner. "I've had enough of your annoying rant. I didn't come here to bicker like a stupid child with you, I came here to negotiate with her. I would prefer you to shut up before something happens to you!"

Seeing that he finally erupted, Hu Tao grinned in satisfaction, leaning back on her chair, not minding his comments one bit. She knew that Liyue was a place where most people disliked being near her, but she finally found her calling in Mondstadt, where people knew her as one of the heroes that defeated and saved the Stormterror.

She did have lingering attachments in Liyue, but she wouldn't mind moving to Mondstadt to live with Yomite any time he wanted. The place was simply beautiful and the people there were all interesting, making her even happier, simply because she felt like she fit right in, with all the happy weirdos!

Hearing Childe's outburst, however, a man behind him spoke up loudly, a hint of anger spilling from his voice.

It seemed as though Childe's remarks must've irked him greatly.

"Is this just a child-like banter between two old friends, or are you trying to pick a fight?"

Childe looked back at the man who interrupted him and widened his eyes in amazement.

"Hoh, taller than me? Who might this be?"

He seemed genuinely surprised, and he was rightfully to be so.

In the whole of Snezhnaya and Liyue, there was only a handful of people taller than him, yet the man in front of him certainly could pass the scales with ease.

"I'm her owner, now piss off." The man narrowed his eyes at him.

"O-o-owner!? Yomite!? I'm not a dog!" Hu Tao swiftly stood up and protested, blushing madly.

The man turned out to be Yomite, who frantically chased after the ashamed Fischl who ran away and hid somewhere. In the end, he managed to lose her and somehow found himself in front of the restaurant, when he heard a shout in a distance and followed it.

"I never said you were a dog. I said I am your owner."

"Th-Then...o-o-okay..." She babbled awkwardly and sat back down.

"Mh?" Childe turned to face her with an astonished expression. What kind of behavior was this? Just what happened to her? 

From what he knew she went to Mondstadt for about four months and then later on, joined the party of the Traveller named Lumine. So what brought this abrupt and unthinkable change? 

Who even was this? 

This man clearly wasn't on the list provided by her Excellency Tsaritsa.

"Don't worry about Hu Tao, leave her alone, she is just in a state of total embarrassment. It's a disease that occurs within her once in a while but it's nothing serious, I will fix it tonight or the night after." 

Hu Tao covered her face behind her hands, fully understanding the implications behind his words. She couldn't believe he was saying it out loud in front of other people...Her butt was still hurting after yesterday's session...

Childe blinked several times, thrown off by the sudden response and their nonsensical exchange, although he was still smiling. 

Then a realization hit him, "Ah, so it is true that women change upon meeting a man of their dreams...You are her lover, right? My condolences…"

Childe pushed his bowl aside and rose from his seat, grabbing a bottle of alcohol from the table next to him and leisurely drank it to the bottom as he stared up at Yomite.

"It would appear my lust for battle hadn't been satiated today...wanna take it outside, huh? Comrade?" A truly brazen grin appeared on Childe's face and he stared at the menacing figure in front of him.

"My condolesces to you, if you think we are easy to be pushed around."