Work Text:
Evening at the Wangshu Inn
Zhang had once again arrived thirty minutes early to his scheduled shift. He couldn’t help it. He loved his job; simply playing his lyre for the patrons of the inn was enough to give him the sensation of floating on clouds. For as long as Zhang could remember he always loved music. As soon as he took up an instrument he knew he was going to be a musician. Whether going on world tours or simply playing at a tavern, his passion to play would be fulfilled. And he loved the Wangshu inn; the pay was good, his employers kind, and he always looked forward to meeting new travelers from all over Teyvat. Zhang couldn’t imagine working anywhere else. He skipped up the stairs to the dining pavilion on the second floor of the inn and clocked in. As he was uncasing his instrument the innkeeper, Huai'an, strode past.
“Oh sir!” Zhang called eagerly, “Any special requests for this evening?”
“Actually yes. Perfect timing,” his boss replied, “In about two hours you and the others will be performing number 11 for a red-haired man proposing to a woman with short blonde hair. They will be sitting outside in the pavilion.”
Zhang eagerly saluted, “A red-haired man and a woman with short blonde hair. Outside. Got it!” Huai'an nodded and continued downstairs to the lobby. And with that, Zhang flitted away whilst strumming a soft upbeat tune on his lyre.
Zhang strode around the floor only stopping briefly to greet new and familiar faces alike. Once in a while, he would come across one of his coworkers playing their own instrument in a section of the restaurant and Zhang would jump in adding to the melody. Time flew by like this and the time for the main event of the evening had arrived.
Number 11 was a slow sweet composition that began with a lyre solo. So it was up to Zhang to spot the guests and the other musicians would follow later to provide the full effect of the surprise to the lucky woman. He hurried downstairs and into the open dining area where many guests were dining. He scanned the tables until he found his targets.
There. Sitting at a relatively isolated table was a young couple. The man had messy ginger hair - ginger is red right? He wore a gray jacket with red and black accents along with gray pants and black boots. A blood red scarf draped around his shoulders fluttering down his back. The man was eyeing his chopsticks as if they posed a threat to his life. The girl sitting across from him was significantly shorter than the man yet she was pretty and exuded an elegant aura with her chin propped on her hand smiling softly at her companion. A blue feather fluttered amidst her short choppy blonde hair and she wore a white dress accented with blue and gold along with boots that matched her dress.
Zhang grinned as he approached the table, fingers hovering over the strings of his lyre. Let the show begin.
**********************
Lumine stifled a laugh as she watched Childe battle his crystal shrimp with chopsticks. He was losing.
“I thought you said you were least adept with a bow,” she remarked as a few giggles escaped her lips, “but the truth is, you’re utterly hopeless with chopsticks.”
Childe set the chopsticks down on the table with a harumph, “Well chopsticks aren’t weapons.”
“But anything can be used as a weapon if wielded properly,” Lumine pointed out.
“Well it’s not my fault these are impossible to use. I mean how can anyone control two different components at once? It’s like trying to take an arrow, align it in your bow, aim, and fire all with one hand!”
Lumine was a bit astounded that the mighty Tartaglia had just compared two sticks to a bow and arrow, “Uhm. Well that’s why you have fingers. You use different fingers to manipulate each chopstick.” She opened and closed her own pair of chopsticks in demonstration.
“Hmph. Alright then, since it’s so easy,” Childe pushed the steamer basket in front of Lumine as he stood from his chair and leaned over the small table until their noses were a few inches apart, “Why don’t you feed me Ojou-chan?” He said with a winning grin.
“Gah! No way!” Lumine exclaimed as she nearly toppled backwards in her chair.
Childe sat back down, satisfied with Lumine’s tomato colored face, “Fine then. I’ll eat my way.”
So said, he caught the fabric of a gloved finger between his teeth and slowly tugged off a glove. The action was strangely sensual and Lumine felt an involuntary shiver skitter down her spine. She felt her face grow even warmer and she had to divert her gaze to the plate of almond tofu before her as Childe pulled off the second glove with his teeth.
Childe - having not noticed his companion's reactions - now had bare hands. He snatched up a plump dumpling with his fingers and triumphantly popped it into his mouth. He happily chewed it like a puppy given a treat.
("Say My Name" Begins Here)
Lumine was poking at her tofu when she noticed the beginnings of a song strummed upon a lyre. Having picked out a relatively secluded spot, the two adventurers had yet to be graced by tonight's live music. But now, Lumine noticed, a lone musician making his way over to the table. His movements were slow and graceful, synchronous with the sweet melody he strummed. As the musician arrived at their table he began to dance and spin as he continued to play.
Lumine set her chopsticks down to politely watch the display. I thought musicians at diners provided simple ambience music. Are private shows normal? Lumine wondered. Are we supposed to tip him??
Childe, on the other hand, was less concerned about patron etiquette and more concerned about how much the musician was grinning at Lumine. Is this guy trying to flirt with my Lumine? His eyes took on a dangerous blue glow. He needed to hit something. Tartaglia reclaimed his abandoned chopsticks and squeezed them in his right hand until they snapped into several pieces.
Both the musician and Lumine were oblivious to Childe's growing dark aura as the former was immersed in his song and the latter was still stressing about proper audience etiquette.
Tartaglia had just about had enough. Even if the guy wasn't flirting with Lumine, he was still interrupting their dinner and that irritated Childe immensely. He started to rise from his chair to either smash the musicians instrument or use Foul Legacy Transformation to scare the dude off.. maybe both. However, there was no need as the music came to a pause and the musicians fingers came to rest. Lumine clapped politely. Childe flopped back in his chair with a sigh of relief. But the musician did not take his leave and instead continued to grin at them. He winked at Childe. The rest of Childe’s irritation was instantly replaced with pure confusion, “...Hah?”
A few awkward seconds passed. Oh Archons! He is waiting for a tip! Lumine panickedly thought. She was about to dive into her pouch of Mora when the song suddenly resumed, this time as an entire orchestral composition. She looked up and her heart nearly leapt out of her chest. In an instant their table had been surrounded by at least ten other performers equipped with various string instruments: violins, violas, and somehow a cello player had lugged over his instrument right under their noses.
Where did they all come from!? And why are they here?? Is this some kind of prank??? It then occurred to her that she was sitting across from the most mischievous person she's ever known.
" Childe! " Lumine hissed over the symphony, " What the hell!? "
“Hey don’t look at me! I never arranged for any of this!”
**********************
At this Zhang frowned. Worry began to build inside him as he scooted over to where the ginger sat. He bent down so only the man could hear him whisper, “Uhm sir, weren’t you going to propose to your girlfriend?”
“Pr-PROPOSE!?” Childe yelped loud enough Mondstadt could hear.
“ Propose!? ” Lumine repeated.
**********************
Across the pavilion a blonde woman sighed dreamily at the scene, “A surprise symphonic performance for a proposal? How romantic. I’ve never had the chance to witness one. What a lucky young lady. Wouldn’t you agree, dear?”
The red-haired companion sitting across from her was twisted in his chair silently fuming at the performance, a vein bulging from his temple. “Quite,” he replied through gritted teeth.
**********************
Lumine’s head hurt. The music continued to blare in her ears. Too many eyes were focused on her. The lyre player - who was now nervously looking around the dining area - had whispered something to Childe as if conspiring. Yet Childe himself sat dazed staring into space still gripping his broken chopsticks. It was too much for Lumine. She slammed her hands on the table and abruptly stood up causing the legs of her chair to scrape loudly against the floorboards. The music came to a halt with a couple sharp TWANG’ s. Everyone stared at her, waiting. Lumine then made a break for it, darting and squeezing between the musicians with a couple “Excuse me”s and “Pardon me”s. She fled to the comfort of her inn room.
**********************
Meanwhile, the musicians awkwardly dispersed as they presumed a proposal had just gone wrong somehow. Only Childe and the lyre player remained behind.
There was a loud clapping sound. Childe snapped out of his flustered daze and glanced down. Next to his chair he saw the lyre player hunched over in a prostration, his hands clasped over his head.
“Please forgive me!” The young man wailed, “I’ve made a terrible mistake!”
“You bet your sorry ass you did,” a deep voice growled.
**********************
Zhang leapt up at the arrival of the tall man wearing a tuxedo.. who had fiery red hair.
“You imbecile! Do you realize what you’ve done!? The surprise has been completely ruined!”
Zhang winced at the harsh words. However he couldn’t deny any of them. He started to bow like a drinking bird while apologizing profusely, “I am SO sorry sir! It’s all my fault! Please allow me to compensate you in some way!”
“Quit your yapping and take me to the innkeeper. NOW!”
“Yessir! Right away sir!”
**********************
The musician scampered off and the gruff man sauntered after him leaving Childe alone at the table. What.... just happened? He stared down at the broken chopsticks in his hand and placed them on the table. Childe blinked at the empty seat across from him. Finally, his brain kicked back into gear and he leapt out of his chair and sprinted down the hallways lined with the rooms of the inn. On the lower floor he found room number 11, Lumine’s room.
**********************
In the end, Mr. Lexing, the red-haired man was compensated with many hotel and dining benefits on behalf of the inn. Huai'an took all of the blame for giving vague descriptions but he and Zhang both apologized profusely to their grumbling customer. Mr. Lexing ended up confessing to his girlfriend that the show had been meant for their table. She laughed, happily threw her arms around her lover, and shouted: “Yes! Yes! Of course I will!” Mr. Lexing was very happy, however, he wearily wondered if this counted as an official proposal or if he would have to somehow top his original plan.
**********************
Lumine had stormed into her room and deposited herself onto the bed, face first into a pillow. She may have screamed into it a couple times. She wasn’t angry. Just supremely embarrassed and humiliated. After taking the time to think, she doubted Childe had been behind the situation. After all, he himself seemed just as flustered. Furthermore, the Harbinger seemed to prefer teasing her when no one else was around to witness her reactions.
There was a knock at the door, “It’s me, Ojou-chan.”
Lumine huffed as she sat up, “Come in.”
**********************
Childe entered and he was greeted by the sight of a pouting Lumine sitting on the bed with a pillow hugged tightly to her chest, attempting - but failing - to hide her persistent blush. So cute! Wait no! Childe shook his head. Lumine’s current state was not induced by his own actions, therefore, he could not allow himself to delight in this. He walked over and gingerly placed himself on the edge of the bed as if approaching a territorial kitten.
“Lumine, I assure you I had nothing to do with that spectacle.” Childe went on to tell her about the exchange between the red haired man and the musician as Lumine listened quietly.
Once he finished, Lumine sighed, “Yeah I figured it was something like that. Still…” she buried her face deeper into the pillow, “so embarrassing!”
Childe smiled fondly at his ojou-chan, “For the record, I know being at the center of attention isn’t your thing. So if I were to propose to you, it would be when we’re alone. Somewhere quiet where we could maybe watch the stars. Much more romantic I would say.”
Lumine raised her head and slowly blinked at him, “If you were to propose to me.”
The Harbinger grinned, “Yep!”
“We are not a couple, dummy! I’ve had enough teasing and embarrassment for today! I don’t need anymore from you!” she said as she hurled the pillow at him. She then proceeded to burrow under the sheets.
Childe simply caught the pillow with a chuckle. I wasn’t really teasing that time, Ojou-chan. Someday our relationship won’t be so complicated and you’ll find yourself sitting by my side gazing at the stars. And I’ll be ready to ask you. But until then I’ll stay by your side for as long as possible. So please wait for me.