Chapter Text
White clovers, just like normal clovers, are a symbol of good fortune. They can also have the additional meaning of prosperity, protection, purity, and clarity.
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“And then Paimon said—”
“Aiya! Stop introducing so many people in your stories! Who’s this Paimon you were just talking about?”
“She’s our caretaker. When our parents aren’t there to take care of us,” Lumine answers, while her hand continues to move fluently on her math homework.
Aether continues telling his tale to Hu Tao, “So then Paimon says—”
It’s another day at your flower shop, and today, Aether and Lumine had decided to hang out at your shop and converse with Hu Tao while they were here. The three haven’t disrupted any of your customers—yet—meaning, no bad business for you yet.
It’s been thirteen days since Ajax’s departure to Snezhnaya, and not much has changed since his leave. You still have your customers, you have your friends who come in on the regular, and of course, meet some new people. It’s just that Ajax does not visit, and the two of you converse via phone and video calls.
Aether moves animatedly with wild, grand gestures, while his sister, Lumine, does her homework efficiently, only giving a couple words to the duo who were deep in conversation. Aether’s sheet of homework is left on the table, abandoned, choosing to instead converse with Hu Tao.
“Aeth, you should do your homework,” Lumine looks up as soon as Aether finishes telling his story to Hu Tao. “There’s something you might want to read on there too. At the bottom of the page. Something about an essay or maybe not.”
“Wait. What? We have to do an essay?” Quickly scanning the page, Aether’s eyes land on the last couple of phrases at the bottom of the page. “‘Now that you know how to write a five-paragraph essay, it’s your turn to write one. The topic can be on anything as long as it is school appropriate. The rough draft will be due on…’ What? No!” He leans his head on his sister’s shoulders. “Lumi! You got to help me, please!”
“Maybe later,” she answers. “You haven’t finished your worksheet yet and that’s essential to write one. I’m gonna look at the flowers here. They look so pretty.”
“Lumi,” Aether whines, but his twin sister doesn’t budge, instead leaving her seat to take a glance at the flowers around the store.
You know the sibling won’t wreck your store to smithereens, so you let them hang out on the days you’re open. From the handful of times they’re come in your store, you learned a few things about them that separate the two. Aether is more athletic, but dislikes doing homework. Or maybe he hates school in general? Whatever it is, he always complains doing his work, opting to instead chat Lumine’s or your ears off.
Lumine on the other hand, is just as athletic, but according to Aether, he’s “just a bit faster than her.” She’s quieter, diligently doing her assigned work while ignoring her brother’s calls for help. You don’t hear her complain often, not unless the two are in an argument—which luckily you haven’t witnessed much. They seemed to get along well.
One similarity though, is that they both adore flowers. Lumine chooses to watch and observe each flower for their appearance, just like what she is doing right now with the lily in front of her. Aether, while he thinks flowers are pretty, prefers to compare their scents. He’ll scrunch up his nose when a flower smells too strong for his taste or close his eyes in appreciation when he likes a certain flower.
It’s been a couple minutes since the twins had started doing their own business. Aether finally starting on—and struggling with—his homework and Lumine looking out the glass window of the store, observing the people walking in the streets. Hu Tao had left a couple minutes ago saying something about wanting to annoy the popsicle-love-friend across the street and she hasn’t come back since.
Watching the two siblings hanging out at your store brings back memories of your childhood with Ajax. The times you’ve spent at each other’s households doing homework, playing tricks on your parents, and playing card games.
But you also think about the childhood he could have had.
The one where his mother didn’t abandon him. The one where he has biological siblings. The one where he still lived in Snezhnaya. The one where he never met you.
Tomorrow, he’ll be back.
He’s explained a lot of things in the calls you’ve had every night. About the culture of Snezhnaya, the snowy weather, the various places he’s been to, and the people he’s met.
On the seventh night of his trip, he explained that he met his mother. But with a quick finger to his mouth, he added ‘I’ll explain everything when I get back. I don’t think a single call session will be enough.’
Ajax might have not explained anything with his words, but the smile he exhibited is more than enough to convey his feelings. He was happy.
And is he doesn’t regret his trip, you know if was the right thing to do.
Tomorrow, he’ll be back.
The night before, he explained that he won’t be able to call the next day since he’ll be on the plane back by that time.
“I’m so done with the cold,” you remember him saying. “I can’t wait to come back to Liyue. It’s much more comfortable over there than here. At least it’s not humid over here, but I think I’d rather face the humidity than the eternal cold.”
You can’t wait for him to come home.