This is my piece for the Wish: A Gacha Zine. This fun project had us pull random characters that we in turn HAD to use all of them together in one work. I pulled Ganyu, Xiangling, Chongyun and Xingqiu.
It's been a long day of taking care of things, the same routine she's kept for over a thousand years.
For Ganyu, there is an order to her day. Wake up and do the bidding of the Qixing; take the unavoidable mid-day nap, no matter where she winds up; and then, do more of her secretarial duties for the austere Ningguang. Today, though, she's in rare form having finished her chores early, and she has a moment of respite.
Which she chooses to spend at Wanmin Restaurant, a risky maneuver with Xiangling behind the wok.
"One Universal Peace, at your service!" Xiangling flits about, Guoba close on her heels. She's loud as always, just as cheerful, but she hasn't set anything on fire, nor has anything exploded yet. A good sign thus far. Mildly promising.
She drops the plate in front of Ganyu with a wide and mischievous smile. Perhaps Ganyu was quick to assume things; she doesn't like that grin, nor does she like the not-so-subtle wink that Xiangling gives her.
"Hot off the grill, and-" Xiangling lowers her voice to a loud stage whisper- "With a little extra flair.
Ganyu isn't sure she wants to know what the extra flair is. She turns the plate slightly, peering at it. Then she says, politely, "Most appreciated."
Above all, Ganyu is a gracious guest.
Xiangling watches her for a moment and then bursts into laughter, nearly doubled over, hands on her knees. Guoba does the same, looking quite ridiculous in his mimicry.
Ganyu is confused, watching the young cook placidly as she rides out her amusement.
Xiangling eventually rights herself, wiping at her eyes and letting out a long breath. "Oh, you should have seen your face! You looked so worried." She laughs again. "Worry not, Miss Ganyu, the extra flair is just an extra half-portion! I just couldn't help but tease."
"Oh, goodness," says Ganyu quietly. Quite the relief; she doesn't have to navigate strange ingredients and force herself to eat the entirety of something untoward. Keqing tells her that she never has to, that she's allowed to eat only what she wants but-
Well, it's rude. And Ganyu hasn't lived thousands of years to be so ill-mannered.
"Right then," says Xiangling, "I'll leave you to it. I've got more things cooking up in the kitchen and those boar chitlins won't pickle themselves!"
Ganyu smiles even though her stomach turns at the thought of it. Xiangling, bless her little heart, doesn't seem to notice. She leaves with a little bounce in her step, Guoba right behind.
"Well," murmurs Ganyu quietly. Her food looks delectable as always, not that there was truly a concern. It's true that she avoids the restaurant at all costs and even the street that it's on, but it isn't because of Xiangling's adventurous tastes in cuisine.
It's because those endeavors usually turn out delicious, and Ganyu just doesn't have the time to sit for seconds and thirds.
Today, though, she indulges. Today, she sits in the quiet little corner of her usual spot, her food fragrant and steaming. Perfectly cooked rice, precision-cut lotus pods, and carrots; even the berries that sprinkle the top are carefully placed with the utmost care.
Xiangling delivers only the best when she's feeding others.
Ganyu sighs contentedly as she lifts her fork and knife. Closes her eyes and takes a deep sniff, breathing in the subtle flavors of the dish, intent on truly enjoying her calm lunch. It cuts easily when her knife slides through it, and she lifts her fork to her lips and-
"EVERYTHING'S ON ME!"
Ganyu drops her fork in surprise. When she turns to look behind her, there's a boy standing on a table, beating at his chest proudly as he laughs.
"Chongyun," hisses another from where he stands on the ground. He tugs at Chongyun's sleeve, trying to guide him back down.
"Oh, Xingqiu!" says Chongyun, absurdly excited, grinning wide. "You're here!"
Xingqiu lets out an aggravated groan, dragging a hand down his face. "Of course I'm- I came here with you!"
"There goes my quiet lunch," says Ganyu with a soft little sigh as she laments her meal. And the fork that's fallen to the floor.
"Chongyun, really, get down here-"
"But how will everyone know that their lunch is on me? They won't hear if I'm all the way down there-"
"Lunch isn't on you, though," hisses Xingqiu.
To his credit, he's taking it with grace, thinks Ganyu. She doesn't know the boy well but she's met him in her dealings with the Feiyun Commerce Guild. And Chongyun? Well, she's heard of him and his reputation: both as an exorcist and a nuisance.
She's cleaned up the messes he's left behind before.
Ganyu closes her eyes, counts to five to find her inner peace, and opens them again.
"So, that looks pretty tasty," says Chongyun from two feet away. He's helped himself to the spare chair opposite her.
Ganyu blinks slowly as if he's a figment of her imagination and he'll just disappear. He doesn't.
Instead, Chongyun picks up the dropped fork, shoves it into the painstakingly made Universal Peace, and shoves the bite into his mouth. He ignores the particularly dirty nature of the utensil, closing his eyes as he chews, savoring it.
"Okay, yeah, that's definitely the good work of Miss Xiangling." He pauses, looking back at Ganyu as he steals another bite. "Did you know that Jueyun chilis take on a slightly sweet taste when they're pickled? Kinda reminds me of the berries in this dish, and how they pair with the rice. I don't really do spicy things well-"
"You don't say," says Ganyu, not remotely amused but too polite to shove him off.
She isn't paid enough for this. She isn't paid enough for most of the things that she does. But, she's the one with unwavering patience and enough time to last an eon. Literally.
So, Ganyu perseveres.
"Miss Ganyu." It's Xingqiu, pink-faced and incredibly embarrassed. Most likely because of Chongyun and his incessant bothering. "I'm so sorry about him, he ate one of Xiangling's experimental concoctions, and well, it had Jueyun chilis in it-"
"And they were quite delicious," cuts in Chongyun around a mouthful of food. He's still helping himself to her lunch, quite unapologetically.
"Most of her dishes have Jueyun chilis in them," says Ganyu diplomatically.
"Yes, well, she knows that he shouldn't eat anything spicy." Xingqiu drags a hand through his hair tiredly. "Honestly, it was just supposed to be a lunch date, nothing fancy-"
Ganyu perks up at that, interested. "A date?" she asks, the barest of quirks to her mouth.
"I mean, it's not a date, but it's not not a date, and-" Xingqiu grunts exasperatedly. "Look, that has nothing to do with anything. It was supposed to be lunch and then a nice stroll through the book shop, and now it's…" He waves at the three of them vaguely.
Ah, to be young and maybe in love. Xingqiu's embarrassed by the idea of it, probably, but Ganyu thinks it's less about the date and more about Chongyun's brattish behavior. Adorable and possibly the most entertaining thing she's seen in about a decade.
And she watched a Snezhnayan Harbinger raise Osial from the sea.
"As I said," continues Xingqiu, "When he partakes of things that are spicy or hot in nature, this happens."
"So I've heard," says Ganyu. "I've filed reports for the devastation he's left as a result, and I've collected the taxes to pay for it."
Xingqiu winces slightly; if there's anything that he understands, it's money and the cost of things.
"Okay, but look, I usually pay it back." It's Chongyun, this time sipping at her drink. He makes a face, gagging slightly. "Ugh, what's that?"
"Cashew milk," says Ganyu without a beat.
"I'm the one who pays them back," says Xingqiu. "Mostly with my father's money."
"Already squabbling over the bills, I see." Ganyu directs her amused gaze to Xingqiu who looks positively offended.
"We're not-"
"We do share a lot of bills, I guess." They both turn to Chongyun who shrugs. "Xingqiu's always covering my butt. I'm pretty terrible with money so it's a good thing that he's got a smart head on his shoulders."
Xingqiu's expression is pinched. "Oh, Morax above-"
"I am paying for this date, though."
"It's not a date!" says Xingqiu.
"It's perfectly fine to date your friend," says Ganyu.
"You called it a date," says Chongyun.
She and Chongyun speak at the same time. Then, she laughs, just a tiny little thing, a breathy sort of snort. Oh, these boys, trying their hardest to play it cool which makes it all the more entertaining. At least Chongyun seems to embrace the hilarity of it all.
But, if the rumors are to be believed, he doesn't know any better, nor will he remember it.
"I'm not having this conversation," says Xingqiu. "You are on your own."
Chongyun pouts adorably which causes Xingqiu to hesitate the tiniest of bits. But then, he turns on his shiny gold kitten heels to leave.
"Wait," says Chongyun, standing abruptly. "Xingqiu- wait!" He's about to walk off, but then he pauses, thinking better of it. He grabs another forkful of food, thanking her for it. Then he says, "Honest apologies, Miss Ganyu. But I swear, your lunch is on me!"
Ganyu knows no one's lunch is on him, but smiles sweetly and waves him off nonetheless.
Her lunch is ruined and her food a disaster. Half the Wanmin Restaurant patrons are uppity and annoyed, their meal ruined by the boy's outburst. He's moved on to another table, stealing their food and chatting them up.
Harmless in a childlike way, but vexing all the same. It'll be another headache to clean up.
Once she's done eating.
Before Ganyu can flag her down, Xiangling is already at her table, a tray balanced perfectly in her hand. "I started a new one the moment I saw him," she says, apologetically.
"It isn't your fault," says Ganyu.
"Of course not, but- Well, I'm prepared for his antics now. I've got insurance on the place."
Ganyu laughs again and takes her new plate, thanking her.
What a day, she thinks, holding a fresh fork and knife as she prepares to finally tuck in. She closes her eyes, counts to five- and there's a massive crash behind her followed shortly by shouting.
Yes, being the secretary of the Liyue Qixing can be exasperating but- well, it isn't a job that she'd trade for anything else.
Interruptions included.