Author's Note: Um, wow. I'll be honest, I was not expecting any reviews, let alone compliments. Thank you everyone!
Incognito74: I hope to hold your curosity to the end then~
FirstWinterLight: Writing for the main character is a ton of fun, hehe. Just finding a ton of things in Liyue so bizarre makes his comments a treat.
ASN769476: Thank you for sticking with it!
Also, I received an interesting comment about the morality of what I'm writing. I can not stress this enough: I write this, but I will never condone the actions the main character takes. Genuinely, please do not read stories with content you abhor. It'll make you happier. This is all fiction and should be treated as nothing more.
It's annoying how time seems to be the ultimate trickster. It feels like speeding up when you want it to slow down, but when you actually want it to pass by, well… every moment feels like an eternity. A true pain in the ass… and the most irritating thing about it is the fact that it's completely immune to anything I do. Well, not just me, all of us. Humans, musalines, Archons, adepti, animals, and whatever the hell hilichurls are… we're all helpless to stop or even delay this monster. We kind of just have to deal with it.
…Alright, that's enough personification. At this point, I'm just running with the first thing to pop in my mind, trying desperately to keep myself as calm as possible. I've said goodbye to Xiangling (she took back the fishing rod by the way), night has finally arrived, and now I'm just waiting for Ganyu. I'm trying my best to avoid looking towards the stairs to town too much, but it's just so freaking hard….! Every Ganyu-less glance only makes me more worried. But, I don't even know if that's a justified feeling to be honest.
For all I know, Keqing just got no time alone with her today, no opportunity. it's not like I told her to seek Ganyu out after all.
On the opposite side of the spectrum, what if Keqing did get to deliver my message, emphasis and all, and Ganyu just doesn't care? That's totally possible too, and what an inconvenience that would be- I'd have to find Keqing again, probably hypnotize her again, and think of something even more urgent to tell Ganyu. But what could be more important, yet plausibly deniable than someone needing to talk to you? I don't know, and hopefully I don't have to think about it… But that'll only be possible if Ganyu freaking shows up…!
Who would've thought waiting would be so stressful? I even have the rest of tonight's "activities" perfectly planned out, that's how long it's' been! The perfect plan!
Well, ok, there's no such thing, but hey, I'm pretty confident. As long as there are no sudden mental powers that adeptus secretly have, this should all go off without a hitch-
…Oh my Archons.
There she is!
The blue hair! The horns! The beautiful fair skin hiding behind her bodysuit!
It's Ganyu alright, right at the base of the harbor's steps!
Yes yes yes! It worked! Keqing, you are my hero! Next round of Shrimp Balls are on me, I swear!
Alright…. Alright…. Calm down….calm down….review my plan, and move…
I went back to the same spot I fished- and slept- at earlier, figuring that such distance would allow me to make the first move. A belief that has proven well-founded, I'm able to see her look around, no doubt looking for the person Keqing told her about. But just as I take my first step, something happens that somehow makes me even more excited.
Ganyu yawns.
It shouldn't be hard to figure out why a simple action like that fills me with elation. Hypnosis is all about making people sleep, and yawning means the person already isn't at the top of their game… So in essence, thank you oh-so much for removing the hard part Ganyu!
Or I guess in this case, it's more like 'Thank you Liyue Harbor for overworking your secretary!' Hahah~ If some Archon is assisting in all this good fortune, then please keep it up!
With an extra spring in my step and nervousness removed, the distance between Ganyu and myself rapidly shrinks. Until-
"Good evening Ganyu~"
"Huh? Who-" She turns mid-yawn and faces me. "Ahh…are you…? Yes, yes, the magician from Fontaine, correct?"
"You know it! Thank you so much for helping with Lantern Rite permissions, by the way." Well, she didn't really help but you know…
"You're very welcome~ I assume you're practicing for the days in question?"
"What I was just doing now in fact." It may seem like now is the best time to extend the invite for another demonstration, but nah. Too early in our little chat. "Actually, I even got the opportunity to show that other person….oh right, Keqing!"
Now that strikes Ganyu, who has her purple eyes widen. "Keqing witnessed your magic tricks? I never thought…"
"She'd be into it?" I finish, and she nods. "Yeah it surprised me! I mean, she did criticize my philosophy beforehand…"
Ganyu lets out a strange sound, some kind of stifled snort? "Ah yes. Please don't hold it against her, she's a very strong person. Steadfast in her beliefs." Hm, I sense genuine affection in those words, looks like they are acquaintances, at least.
"No worries there. And I do owe her for pointing out some blind spots I had anyway. If it's not too much trouble, will you thank her for me?"
"Of course. I'm sure Keqing will appreciate the sentiment~"
Good, good, this is going well. "I'm so grateful that everyone here has been so kind to me…you, Keqing, Xiangling- huh?"
Something unexpected takes place os I list off names… Ganyu, who I've been assuming is the gentle kind of person who appreciates everything, has a flash of disapproval cross her face. Her lips turn down, and it seems she loses some color. However I don't have to wonder long as to the cause-
"You've met Xiangling?"
"Uhh…yes? Is something wrong, Ganyu?"
As a hand goes up to her temple, she lets loose a deep sigh. "No… no, forgive me. I hold no ill will against her, but that restaurant… doesn't exactly suit my tastes. Still, I am happy she has a passion that burns so strongly."
"I do find her a little…intense." I confess, awkwardly. Luckily, Ganyu lets out another chuckle in response.
"Hm~ 'Intense' is a good word for her. Peace and quiet never does seem to be an option with Xiangling. …Ah, but I shouldn't damper the mood like this, or your opinion of her."
"No problem at all. Speaking of, what are you doing here? Late night fishing?" I try my damnest to ask that as normally as possible.
"I'm afraid not… I was told that there was someone who was looking for me. But given our conversation's length and the fact that there's doesn't seem to be any unusual faces here…" She looks past me once again, and I follow her gaze to the predictable destination of nowhere. "Did she just make a mistake….? Or did I miss them….?"
I enjoy this very much, Ganyu clearly trying to square her coworker's mistake with how responsible Keqing is.
"Either way, as I have work to do, I'll bid you a good night~" She slightly bows, preparing to leave.
Now!
"Ah, a moment? If you could?" Of course she turns around at my outburst, eyebrow raised.
I rub my hands together in fake nervousness. "Well, given that I've been practicing all day, and that, let's face it, it'd be pretty lame to come down from the Jade Palace all the way here and then just turn back… Would you like to see a trick?"
She shakes her head, softly smiling. "I appreciate the offer, but-"
"Are you sure…? I thought it was pretty relaxing the first time, but ok then…"
Of course that word choice was intentional, thank you. I can see the flash of recognition from Ganyu, and the polite smile she was given becomes just a bit more genuine. Then she proceeds to let out a quick, calming breath.
"I do recall the worries of my coworkers, their concern for my work hours… a magician's trick does sound enticing..."
"S-Seriously…?"
"However, could I request a quick demonstration? I must be returning shortly."
"Of course, I'll use the same trick as last time!" I fistpump with about, I don't know, one-hundredth of the excitement I'm feeling. Of course Ganyu remains oblivious to this hype, going over to some nearby boxes to lean against.
You know, my dear, I hope that work isn't anything too urgent~
"Alright~" I quickly whip out the weapon in my pants! "Ganyu, Probing Pendulum. Probing Pendulum, Ganyu. You've met each other before, you know."
"You talk to your equipment?" Ganyu asks, half-amused, half-concerned.
"Only before important shows~" I smirk back… then cough. "Ah, no, no I don't. But it's nice to hear your own voice. Anyway, given that we did an object last time, try to imagine a person now."
"A person…" She repeats. "Mm, got it."
I wonder if she's imagining the same person that she thought she was going to see.
"Oh, right. Do you have a pen and paper?"
"I do but why?"
"Give them for a second please." Sure enough, presumably because of her job, Ganyu hands the requested items. Is she a Vision-holder too…? No, stay focused! "I want to write the name you're thinking of down, as proof."
A face of intrigue appears on my guest. "Wow, you thought of everything."
"I didn't think of actually buying my own pen…"
She smiles at that self-punch- making my chest flutter a bit. You know, body, as happy as I am that you're reacting appropriately to Ganyu's charms, I don't think now is necessarily the best time for that. Save it for when we're looking at a mindless adeptus~
"Ready?" I ask after taking a sharp breath. Ganyu gives a tiny nod… and I start to swing the watch again.
…Man oh man! The signature, alluring purple eyes of the woman in front, fix in my direction with a healthy mix of excitement and skepticism. Of course, they're not intended for me, but rather the keeper of time being held. Someday soon that will change, but for now- I proceed to dangle the instrument right at eye-level, making it sway back and forth. Ganyu's gaze locks onto the rhythm, subconsciously following it. Her mouth opens slightly, as if to raise an objection, but it closes soon after.
"Now, Ganyu," I said, my voice a gentle murmur. "The person you're imagining, the person in your mind…. The watch is going to bring them to the forefront…"
"Impossible…" Ganyu replies after a second. "T-There's no way, r…right?"
Oh ho~ She's already starting to slip? That yawn really WAS a good sign!
"And yet, you've seen this once before. Remember what I said? There's nothing impossible in magic~ Now, I want to picture this person's face… the color of their eyes, the shape of their features, any accessories they wear. Take your time, imagine these things in detail." I make sure to take a deep breath right here, in through the nose… and out through the mouth, hoping that she'll copy me. She does.
"Excellent~ The watch is gathering your thoughts…!" I joke. "Ignore your eyelids growing heavy, and just focus… Try to recall this person's voice. Is it soft, gruff, stammering, confident? Think of the last time you spoke to them too… a nice, simple chat… feeling a smile spreading across as you do so... Voice is a truly wondrous thing after all~ Nearly everyone has it, yet they're so unique…. Wouldn't you agree?"
"M-m…mhmm…" I can see a pair of purple orbs follow the still-swinging watch religiously, no awareness that something is up. This is working! Watching the subtle changes in Ganyu's expression is a treat- and doing this the second time on the same person lets me notice them all the clearer. The dip down in her eyelids, the way her head clearly wants to begin falling, the complete lack of tightness in her shoulders…!
As the pocket watch keeps dancing, Ganyu's initial posture against the crates continues to come undone. The tension in her body has melted away, and her breathing has became slow and steady. In through her nose… out through the mouth… The once focused and skeptical secretary now holds a dreamy, far-off look.
Time to drop the pretense. "Now Ganyu, being with this person makes you happy… relaxed… calm…. After such a looooong day, you need them… you want these feelings. More than anything~"
The world around us seems to blur as Ganyu's eyelashes flutter, slowly but surely lowering… and losing focus. They still do their best to follow my watch, but it's a clear struggle. Another yawn escapes her mouth, much deeper than her last. Below my vision, Ganyu's arms don't bother moving to cover up, and her hands merely twitch in vague recognition. There will not be a sudden burst of clarity like Keqing had, she's too far gone for that.
"Doesn't talking to the person in your mind, make you oh-so happy Ganyu?"
"….mm-hm…."
"Then feel free to express it~"
Just like that, Ganyu's mouth begins to take a slight tick upwards, lazy muscles in her chin and cheeks beginning to follow the signal. A strand of drool attaches itself to her fair skin as a result. It requires a bit of squinting, but the blue-haired adeptus wears an increasingly-dopey smile. If this wouldn't wake her up and ruin everything, I'd totally lean over and at least touch noses with this sexy woman.
"Very good Ganyu~ You being happy…makes your friend happy~"
"Hap…..py…."
Honestly, I was banking on one thing more than anything else with this session- a bet I was very sure would pay off, but a risk I had no counter for nonetheless. Namely, that dear Ganyu wouldn't imagine someone she dislikes. If she did, then what I'm saying right now wouldn't make a lick of sense, possibly disrupting the induction.
But who thinks of their enemy immediately anyway? We all crave companionship, and Ganyu is no different.
"Count down with me."
"Mm…" God, she can barely remain upright, her neck is visibly struggling to hold herself up… how final.
"Three…"
"T…reeee…"
"Two…"
"…ooo..."
"One."
"…."
SNAP
An unexpected thing drops first- me! I quickly crouch down, hoping against hope that my shoulder is soon greeted by Ganyu's chest flopping onto it.
…Damn. No such luck. Next best thing then.
"Ganyu." I say, standing up. "Open your eyes."
"Yeeesss…"
Oh gods, my heart is beating quickly again! Following my instructions to the letter, a pair of purple orbs slowly reveal themselves to the Liyue night. But as hoped, they have had all details completely scrubbed. They look but they do not see. Two hollow windows, just for me~!
Upon seeing this, I whip around, stuff my mouth with my shirt, and let out a completely muffled cry of jubilation! I DID IT!
I…I did it! Oh…my….god….. Bless you, Lady Furina!
But! But, but, but! I can't let myself get too carried away! This is really the first time for Ganyu, and control is fragile! I must stick to the script as it were!
"A-Ahem…! S-so… Ganyu. Who, ah, who were you thinking of all this time…?"
"Shenhe…."
Who…? I've never heard of that person. Then again, as long as she didn't answer me with 'Keqing' or 'Xiangling', my reaction would be the exact same.
(And Chef Mao, but who cares about him?)
"How do you spell that?"
"S-H-E-N-H-E" Hm, odd spelling. Oh well, trick done~
"Now, Ganyu listen carefully. You won't remember anything related to hypnosis, your last memory will instead be the Probing Pendulum trick. But after seeing it work twice on you, you will think highly of me and of magic. If fact, if you get the chance, you will now request me for another trick some nights. Just be discreet when this opportunity arises- we don't want anyone suspecting you. Oh yeah, and it will also feel like very little time actually passed here. Understand?"
"Yeeesss…."
Perfect! Future secured! And now I'm all done with everything I "had" to do.
But it would be a shame to not reward myself for coming this far, wouldn't it?
"Ganyu, turn around please."
She agrees in the same breathy tone- and two seconds later, I'm the closest I've been to heaven since leaving Fontaine, as the upper back of the one and only Ganyu blesses my vision in its' full bare glory. For the life of me, I will never understand why she chooses to dress like this… but I am the last person you will ever see complain about it.
Dodging her long ponytail, my finger goes up right to the base of Ganyu's neck- going underneath the little accessory she wears right there- and starts its' magical journey downward, tracing down the curvature of the adeptus' spine. It's a cool, comfortable touch, free from any imperfections. I can feel my heart and lungs freeze up, as if afraid to keep going, yet the momentum continues to carry my hand down her body. As I reach the midsection and approach the tailbone area, the trip reaches its' end thanks to an X-shape cross of red string.
"Ganyu…" I whisper, low enough to barely be audible. "Feel free to stir, if you can."
But stir she doesn't, still staring into space… utterly immobile. How simply wonderful. To honor the reassurance then, my hands gingerly places itself right over Ganyu's left shoulder, cupping the blade. I have to blink, make sure that this is all real, make sure I haven't actually died from my heart exploding. Of course- it's all real, the aforementioned chilling touch being magnified through all my fingers this time as proof. Feeling the cold flow throughout my palm, wrist, and up my arm… yeah, I wouldn't give this up for the world~ The only sound coming from Ganyu is the near-silent breathing, really hammering the truth of a hypnotized adeptus home.
Though, why stop here? After all my hard work, shouldn't I get a suitable reward?
"Ganyu, turn back around."
Same sleepy obedient answer, same mindless spin around- and just like that, I'm staring at Ganyu's face again, vacant eyes and all. But I cast my vision off the face, to something much more attractive just below.. Her impressive chest, the crown jewel of the woman in front of me. It doesn't take a genius to recognize that her assets are constantly pressed up against the skin-tight black bodysuit… so why not give them just a taste of freedom? Ordinarily, something of this magnitude would instantly stir a first-timer from their trance, but just a quick peek will be fine. Assuredly.
My circle-forming finger and thumb advance to Ganyu's left side, the edge of her clothing in range. I-I'm just going to… peel it off a bit… and take a peek.. alright. Let's calm down, stop shaking, stop sweating, pinch the fabric and-
SNAP
"H… uhhhh….?"
What the-?! Wait… NO! Why the hell did I snap my fingers?! Gently take my finger off my thumb, not violently! You fucking- I'm a freaking moron!
"What's… what going on….?"
And now Ganyu's coming to! Great, just great! Ugh…!
God. Damn it… Time to put on the freaking guise again…
"G-Ganyu, a-are you alright?" I back up a few feet.
"Mm..hm…forgive me… did I fall asleep?"
"Oh nononono! Hahaha, it was fine! Perfectly fine, the trick worked perfectly!"
"Is that so…?" She lets out another yawn, but covered up with a hand this time. "Then who, pray tell, was I thinking of?"
Still taken aback by my failure- and now having to pretend that everything is all right- I fumble the piece of paper for a bit. "It was, ah…." Got it! "An individual named… Shenhe?"
"C-correct again~! That's a very impressive trick."
"Um, thanks-" I'm cut off as I see something breathtaking- Ganyu smiling at me.
Like a friend who's proud of their friend's accomplishments. The smile is simple, but much more authentic than the one I, heh, "advised" her to wear… It's strange, even though I'm certainly blushing and my heart is skipping beats lIke mad- the breath I take is absolutely calming.
Right. I still got what I wanted at the end of the day… Ganyu will now treat me positively, and will probably be the one seeking me out now… Patience man, patience. The plan is still on track, you just got greedy~
''Are you well?" Ganyu asks.
"Yes… Yeah, I'm alright." I feel my own mouth begin to grow a smile right back. "Oh, don't you have some work to finish? Don't let me keep you Ganyu."
"You're absolutely right. Have a good evening~" A curt, but still pleasant answer is our last exchange of the night, as she turns around and quickly leaves, intent to get back to the Jade Chamber and continue her never ending work clear. As she moves up the stone steps, I try not to look at her… ahem, "posterior". I fail.
I should probably get back to the hotel now… but considering I'm all alone… and with what just happened…! I can't help but take a cheery stroll to the end of the port, skipping all the way over. Inhale….
"WOO-HOO!"