XLVI

Sitting by the river, Ariel, a comforting presence by your side, was enough to help you relax your body more than you ever did when you tried meditating in the inn. You were still unable to truly meditate, to reach whatever barrier surrounded your mind, but you could relax in those fifteen minute increments Ariel had you do. After over two weeks of trying while waiting for the Alcor to get ready for Inazuma, you had become used to the sensation of prickles going along your legs and arms to try and get you to move, and the more you meditated, the more it petered out, leaving you genuinely content after a session.

However, halfway through this session, the sound of your name being called broke you from your concentration. Turning around, you found Aether standing there, an eager turn of his lips.

“Polaris, the Alcor is ready. We’re going, now.”

You raised your eyebrow. “Now? Right now?”

“Right this very second now. Come on!” Before you could say anything else, Aether ran off back in the direction of the inn.

“He’s excited.” Ariel commented dryly.

You huff a laugh. “Of course he’s excited. The Alcor has been preparing for a long time, and he’s eager to get to Inazuma for potential information.”

“Just information.”

You groaned, standing from your meditative position and beginning to walk away. “I’m not doing this again, I told you I wouldn’t get involved with anything.”

“Alright, alright. I believe you.”

“Do you, though?”

Ariel looked at you with a deadpan expression.

-

You finished gathering the last of your items and weapons. Your sword was hooked by your waist, your bow and quiver over your shoulder, your claymore in a sheath on your back. Your bags were hanging in your tired hands. The load was a lot, but nothing too strenuous as to tire you out. Swinging the claymore was much more of a task than simply carrying it anyway.

Aether sheathed his own sword and turned to look at you with a wince. “A lot to carry, huh?”

“Well, we don’t all have a mystical space to stick our crap whenever we want, so yes, a lot to carry.”

Aether’s eyes light up. “Actually, now that you mention it, I may have a solution to that?”

“What solution?” Your voice was cautious, which Aether slightly frowned at. He wasn’t a troublemaker, but your little brother could be mischievous and snarky when he wanted to.

“Madam Ping asked me to do something for her. These past few weeks I’d been taking requests from people to keep some money coming while we waited, and Madam Ping chimed in. I did what she wanted, and she gave me this.” He held out his hands, cupping them like he was holding something rounded, and in a small glow, a teapot appeared.

“A teapot.” You said, shocked. Of all the things to forget, how could you forget Aether’s teapot?

“An adeptus abode, she called it. Like a little pocket dimension in the teapot. I’ve only used it once, and it was pretty empty other than a manor, but Madam Ping gave me some furniture to decorate it with.” He holds out the teapot. “Would you like to decorate it with me?”

You smile softly, a warmth in your chest. “Of course, but we can do that on the Alcor. We’re bound to be at sea for more than enough time to get everything settled. Do you mind if I drop some things in there as well?”

“Of course not. My home is your home.”

You whine playfully at Aether’s soft eyes. “Ugh, you can’ say those things all nice and sweet. It makes me want to hug you until you pass out.”

Aether shrugged. “I don’t mind, but we don’t have time for me to pass out, and you look like you couldn’t carry my body anyway, so let’s get going.”

The four of you set out. You and Ariel walked side by side, Aether taking the lead, and Paimon draped over his head. He led you all to the docks and to the grand wooden ship. The bright red sails wavered in the salty ocean breeze, and the carved dragon at the front looked majestic and intimidating in the sunlight.

Climbing up the staircases, Aether led you to Beidou. One of her hands was resting on her cocked hip, the other against the railing of her ship. Her eyes were half-lidded, a grin on her lips, and strands of her hair floating in the wind. She looked every bit the pirate she was.

She turned when she noticed you and Aether, her grin widening until she looked like a rambunctious teen. “Hey! You all made it! Good to have you.”

“Thank you for having us.” You said sincerely.

“Ah don’t worry about it. My crew just finished up preparations, come any later, and we would’ve been gone.” She teased. “But now that everyone’s ready, let’s head out!”

You hear affirmative calls from around the ship as the crew gets to work setting out. Beidou chuckles, a hearty sound from deep in her throat.

“We don’t have a lot of space left. The crew for the Alcor is pretty full, but we do have one more bunk. The two of you are siblings, right? You don’t mind bunking together?”

You wave off her concern with a grateful smile. “Don’t worry about it, we’re glad you’re able to offer us space at all.”

“Here, it looks like your stuff’s heavy, I’ll get Kazuha to bring you down to the crew’s bunks.” Beidou looks over to spot a lone figure sitting up on one of the giant crossbows on the side of the ship. “Kazuha! Get down here!”

The figure turned his head, revealing a serene look on his softer face. His eyes were wide, almost doe-like, and the color of maple leaves, his thin lips parting in question, and messy strands of ivory hair falling around his forehead and chin. His clothes rustled as he jumped from his perch, little breezes of anemo carrying him down gently.

Aether gave a little wave, and Kazuha nodded back. “What is it?”

“Can ya take them down to the bunks to let them get settled? I don’t have the time.”

Kazhua nods again. “Of course, Captain.”

Kazuha tilts his head, and the four of you follow behind him. His footsteps are light, hardly making a sound against the ever creaking boards. You couldn’t tell if it was his vision or his discipline as a samurai that was allowing him to move so swiftly.

He led under the main deck to rows of bunks stacked on top of each other. The beds were thin but not so thin that the burly crew members couldn’t fit and long, covered in gray blankets with a simple white pillow. Most of the bunks were personalized by the long-time members, photos of spouses and siblings and children were nailed into the wooden bed posts, and weapons or hats were tucked under the floor level bunks.

Kazuha brought you four to a bare bunk, sheets and blankets tuck in neatly showing how little it’s been used. “This is the only open bunk we have. The others are taken by full-time members of the crew or part-time members that we’ll be picking up or dropping off in Inazuma.”

“Thank you, Kazuha. It’s nice to see you again.” Aether took the bag of your possessions from your hands and placed it on the bed and tucking your weapons under the buck like others had done.

Kazuha only smiled warmly, a glint of fondness in his eyes as he looked at Aether. “You both are very welcome, and it is nice to see you again, too, Aether. It is a pleasure to meet you for the first time…?”

“[Y/n].” You filled in quickly. “Thanks for helping us get settled.”

“Oh don’t worry, anything for a friend.” Kazuha bowed his head slightly before leaving.

With the company gone, you and Aether flopped back onto the bed, Ariel sitting on the edge, and a tired Paimon curled up on the pillow. You turned to look at the boy whose eyes were growing dimmer by the day.

“Wanna decorate?”

Aether’s eyes lolled till they found you. “Yeah.”

-

Standing on the wide island, you sighed happily. It was truly peaceful here, like a little world you didn’t have to leave. It had food and water and sunlight and comfort and no problems. For a moment you felt you could lose yourself here as the fake breeze (it was the only thing that didn’t feel real, lacking Venti’s distinct comforting caresses as he soothed your aches and promised to protect) blew through your hair.

It was a  vibrant green island, big and flat with little cliffs near the edge and an outline of sand. A Liyue style manor stood near the edge, not close enough that it would be dangerous, but far enough from the middle that it left a beautiful open area.

“Have you already checked out the inside of the manor yet?” You asked Aether.

“No, but Madam Ping told me it was empty, and most of the furniture was for the manor.”

You brushed some hair from your face as you gaze at the manor inquisitively. “She tell you how to decorate this place by any chance?”

Aether shrugged. “She said that ‘To decorate the main island, stay out of the manor, and to decorate the manor, be in the manor. When you want to decorate, imagine that you want to do so, and a grid will appear as well the inventory of things I gifted you to help this place feel more like a home.’”

“That’s not vague at all.” You crossed your arms. “Try it.”

“Why me?”

“It’s your pocket dimension.” You waved your hand at him. “Go on, think.”

Aether rolled his eyes but shut them soon enough, concentrating on wanting to decorate. Before your very eyes, bright white lines emerged from under Aether’s feet and spread across the whole of the island in a grid pattern. You were so busy spinning in a circle to look that you almost didn’t notice the ‘inventory’. In reality, it was as if multiple miniature pieces, looking like they had come straight out of a dollhouse, hovered in front of the two of you. Little trees and houses and rocks and stands. There was even a small miniature of what looked to be an Australian Shepard.

You nudged Aether until he opened his eyes. “Check it. We’ve got a lot to do.”

Aether tilted his head to the side, his hand cupping his chin. “We should probably start with the biggest buildings first, like these small houses. Madam Ping gave me the ability to allow anyone I choose to come into the teapot at any time.If they do, I’d want them to have a room to stay in.”

“You think Airel could be in the teapot?” You wondered aloud.

“Probably.” Aether shrugged, leaning closer to inspect the miniatures. “He’s physically here, right? I can just mark his hand, and he should be able to enter like anyone else would.”

“That’d be good for him. Then I wouldn’t have to hear him complain about the weather wherever we take long trips.”

“I don’t hear him complaining about the weather.”

“You don’t hear him complaining at all, kid.” You deadpan.

The two of you were silent for a moment, staring at the miniatures.

“So how do we do this?”

“I really don’t know.” You shook your head. “Try picking one of them up?”

Aether picked up a small Mondstadt style house, about the same size as your apartment, and immediately a square of several lit up points in the grid glowed underneath. The whole square was about fifteen points of the grid long and ten wide.

“Ah, I guess how much space it’ll take up. When you put it down, it’ll probably increase to full size.”

Aether nodded and moved, and the square moved with him. He walked closer to the manor and went a bit to the right, adjusting the square till it was close enough to the manor to be neighborly but far enough that it didn’t feel suffocating. “Now what?”

“Toss it?”

He did so, making sure to step out of the lit up points of the grid before tossing the miniature in the middle. Immediately, it blew up to a regular size, looking perfectly like the little houses in the main city or the small surrounding towns of Mond. Its roof was a swooping brick red, the whole building covered in wooden accents. Little windows, a wooden door, and stone are the bottom third of the walls.

The two of you took a glance at each other before big smiles took over your faces.

-

For the next few hours, decorating was all you did. While Aether was more practical, setting up the gifted Mondstadt and Liyue style houses around the manor in a sort of cul-de-sac way, you went wild with the plants. Trees and rocks and flowers, so many flowers. You planted so many trees that it looked like a little forest surrounded the housing, with flowers littered everywhere, but especially the front of the manor. You placed paths and bushes so the area felt filled, like it was real.

In the end, the island was transformed from a beach area to a small jungle. Little houses nestled between towering trees, their lanterns giving off warm light. Chairs and tables were scattered around, stone pathways leading around the whole island. Aether had placed stands down with equipment to build weaponry or toys or whatever.

It was a whole mini community. The only thing left was the people, and maybe the dog. With a bounce in your step, you hopped over to Aether. “Aether, let’s put the dog down.”

Aether turned to you with a raised eyebrow. “You want to kill it?”

“No! I meant to place the miniature down!” You gasped.

“Yeah I know.” Aether chuckled and grabbed the dog miniature, throwing it into the two points of the grid that lit up.

Before your eyes, a breathing, happy dog was bouncing in front of you. It was as you thought, an Australian Shepard, which for a moment you thought was strange considering there was no Australia, but you shrugged it off, with pretty patches of black and white and brown. Stark gray eyes stared at you and Aether, a pink tongue lolling out as it jumped on its two front feet.

You loved it immediately.

-

While the dog bounded around outside, you and Aether stepped into the manor at last. It was spacious and warm, weirdly a bit dusty. The rooms were nice and empty, three that seemed to be designated bedrooms (one being a master with an attached bathroom), two full baths, a living area, a wide kitchen, and three other rooms that could be anything.

“Which bedroom do you want?” Aether asked.

“I’ll just see which of the smaller ones has a better window.”

“Yow don’t want the master?”

You looked at Aether strangely. “It’s your house kid, why would I pick the master?”

“I just wanted to give you free pickings.”

You chuckled and ruffled his hair. “Thanks, but you can take the nicest bedroom in your own house.”

With that, the two of you separated, going to your separate bedrooms and setting them up. There wasn’t much for you to work with, just a basic bed with nice sheets, a dresser, a full-length mirror, a couple of nightstands, and a lamp. You tried to personalize as best you could with some lilac curtains and pretty pieces of art that you hung up on the wall. It wasn’t terrible, definitely comfortable. It was just a bit clinical, but there would be time to remedy that.

Meeting up in the living room with Aether when he was done with his own room, the two of you filled the rest of the house. The living room was filled with couches and pillows, the small dining area with a simple wooden table and as many chairs as could fit, a good place for eating with everyone together. One of the extra three rooms was turned into a weaponry, Aether hanging up swords you didn’t even realize he had acquired. You, too, had hung up your sword and claymore, keeping your bow by your side. The second extra room was turned into an office in case Diluc or Kaeya, or Ningguang wanted to come work in a quiet place, and the third was turned into a small library.

You had just finished placing down the last pillow on the reading nook tucked in the corner when Aether began to summon stacks and stacks of books. Soon, the room’s floor was littered with you didn’t know how many volumes of random series.

“Where did you get all of these?!” Your eyes were wide. “When did you get all of these?!”

Aether shrugged like the mountain of books he just pulled out of his space pocket was nothing. “I don’t know, I collect them.”

“Whose are they?”

“I just find them strewn around on random tables and stuff.”

“So you’ve been stealing them?” You tease.

Aether scoffed. “No, I’ve been collecting.”

“Eh. Sounds like stealing.”

“It’s not.”

The books were separated by series and arranged alphabetically by author, the only correct way to do it, you had argued when Aether just suggested throwing them on the bookshelves with no rhyme or reason.

Before long, the house was finished, the island was done, and the dog rested on the steps on the manor, looking content and tired.

-

Exiting the teapot had you suddenly feeling exhausted, and the same went for Aether if the way he dropped onto your shoulder with barely open eyes said anything. Ariel was still sitting at the edge of the bunk, the teapot in his lap, hands over it protectively, and Paimon was still curled on the bed.

Ariel gazed at you with sleepy, golden eyes. “Had fun?”

“Yeah.” You whispered back, gently maneuvering Aether to be laying on the bed properly. You gently climbed over him until you managed to get off the bunk without disturbing him.

“Where are you going? It’s night by now.” You looked around and realized he was right. The crew members were all tucked within their bunks, loud snores filling the air alongside the crash of waves against the sides of the Alcor.

“Now that I’m tired I’m relaxed, ya know? I wanted to try meditating and see if I would make any progress, especially with the sounds of the water and the movement of the boat. I thought I might be able to focus easier with everything happening around me.”

“Do you want me to go with you?” Ariel asked softly, his eyes understanding and kind.

You shook your head. “You've been helping me these past couple of weeks, and it’s been really helpful, but I want to see if I can try again on my own.”

“Alright, just don’t fall over the side of the boat.”

“I’m not that clumsy.” You scoffed.

“Maybe not, but you do attract danger, and falling over the side of a boat is dangerous.”

“Danger isn’t attracted to me, I am attracted to danger!” Seeing Ariel’s eyes narrow in displeasure, you chuckled nervously and quickly left the bunks, going up to the main deck.

The cool night air was lovely and peaceful, making you sigh happily. You were looking for a spot to sit down when you spotted a familiar figure already laying across the deck, maple eyes staring straight at you.

A/n - Hello 👋  I know it's been a lot longer than my usual gaps between chapters so I just wanted to apologize. Acclimating to the new semester has been difficult (thanks professor) and it's been genuinely hard muster any energy to write.

I'm also sorry for leaving off on such a character focused chapter with no real movement in the story. I tried to make up for it by moving forward a little in this chapter and making it a little more beefy than usual with some domesticity with Aether but 🤷‍♀️

I hope you all enjoy this chapter. As always, I look forward to seeing your thoughts and opinions on it.