Work Text:
“You know Aether, you’re going to turn into an old grandpa if you keep frowning like that,” Lumine teased, poking her brother in the forehead.
Aether sighed. “But Lu… What am I supposed to do when my already lovely sister turns even lovelier? Didn’t I tell you my friends were coming over to visit your club booth for your school’s festival?”
“And I can’t wait to see them.”
“Lumine!” Aether whined. “You know how my school friends are absolutely terrible people.”
“So I’ve heard.”
“Take this seriously! Remember, all men are wolves...”
“Ok, ok!” Lumine rolled her eyes, a small smile on her face. “Your friends are always so fun to be around though. They’re all so charming!”
“Mm. Charming.” Aether muttered under his breath.
“Did you say something?”
“Uh, nothing. But if you see any of them there, be sure to stay far, far away from them. Got it?”
“Mhm. Whatever you say.”
As he was about to argue that his friends really were the scum of the earth, he suddenly got a notification from his phone.
Childe: ‘GUYS what time is the school festival again’
Of course it was the damn group chat.
Zhongli: ‘Childe, I think I’ve had to say that Club Rush was at 5:00 at least 10 times by now.’
Childe: ‘Omfg zhongli ur a lifesaver’
Aether grabbed his phone. He really needed to mute the chat.
‘Actually, it’s tomorrow.’ Aether typed.
Zhongli: ‘I remember you told us that your sister’s booth is going to be featured tonight at 5:00.’
Childe: ‘LUMINE my angel i cant wait to see her ;)’
Zhongli: ‘My sentiments exactly.’
Aether: ‘Get the hell away from her.’
He sighed, tapping out of the group chat and to his messages with Dainsleif.
Aether: ‘Dains, you’ve gotta help me out here.’
Dainsleif: ‘Is everything alright?’
Aether: ‘PLEASE come to lumines school festival tonight. All my friends are coming over to see her and well…’
He paused.
Aether: ‘My school friends are not exactly the type of people I want lumine to associate with.’
Aether: ‘Come on, please… you’re the only one i trust here. I need some help.’
Dainsleif: ‘...What time?’
This was why he was the best candidate for Lumine so far. As their childhood friend, Aether knew Dainsleif well. He obviously had a massive crush on Lumine, and he 100% supported it. His school friends on the other hand…
He turned off his phone. He had a hell of a job to do tonight.
“Welcome!” Lumine smiled brightly, handing out flyers to the people around her. “Please join the baking club, we’d love to have more members and meet new friends!”
“Lumine!” Xiangling squealed, throwing her arms around her. “There’s our star of the club! Thanks so much for doing this for me!”
“Hehe, I’m not doing anything important. I’m glad I could help out.”
“You’ve been doing plenty by attracting customers!”
Although Lumine wasn’t aware of it herself, she was undoubtedly one of the most popular students in the school along with Barbara. The number of men surrounding their booth was staggering.
“Lumine!” A loud voice shouted, running towards their booth.
“Aether! It’s great to see you.”
“Sorry I couldn’t come earlier, these brain dead idiots needed me to pick them up,” Aether huffed. “Anyway, we’re leaving now. I’ll come visit your booth later. By myself.”
“Yo, Aether!” Childe grinned, a playful smile on his face as he approached the two of them. “I think you forgot to mention how we were here too.”
“Haha. Yeah.”
“It’s wonderful to see you again, Lumine,” Zhongli smiled, right behind him.
“Lumine!” Venti exclaimed, dashing towards Lumine and giving her a big hug. “Say hello to your favorite upperclassman!”
“Childe, Zhongli, Venti! It’s good to see you guys again. It’s been a while!”
“Unfortunately,” Venti moped. “Your brother has stopped us from seeing you like three times in a row now.”
“As I should,” Aether muttered, trying to peel Venti’s arms off of Lumine. “And also, can you please move? Preferably away from my sister?”
“Hehe, what if I said no?”
As Lumine chuckled, Aether could feel his patience slowly starting to melt away.
“Anyway! It was good seeing you Lu, and I’ll definitely come visit later, but now I think we really gotta--”
“Hey! Over here!”
He felt like he was going to pull his hair out.
“We came to support your sister,” Kaeya said with a smile. Diluc silently nodded, standing behind him.
“It’s lovely to see you again Miss Lumine,” Albedo smiled.
“I hope we aren’t bothering you at all,” Xiao said softly.
“Oh no, absolutely not! In fact, I’m quite happy you all came to see me. I’m glad you all are such good friends with my brother.”
Friends… friends…
Would they still be friends if Aether murdered them all?
As Aether contemplated the pros and cons of just killing all his friends right then and there, Xiangling suddenly popped her head from behind the tent.
“Oh? And who are all these people, Lumi?”
“They’re my brother's friends!”
Are they really?
“Yup, we’re Aether’s best of friends!” Childe proclaimed proudly, throwing an arm around his shoulder.
“Get off me.”
“Aww, I love you too!”
“It looks like your booth is doing well, Lumine,” Xiao observed as he looked at the people around them.
“Right, right? It’s all because of our wonderful Lumi!” Xiangling exclaimed as she gave Lumine a big hug. “She’s been attracting a lot of people to our booth.”
“There seems to be… quite a large number of males,” Albedo frowned as he looked around at the people near the booth.
“Mm, you’re right,” Xiangling pondered. “It’s probably because Lumine’s the queen of the school. Every guy here loves her!”
Aether spat out his drink. Or he would have, had he been drinking anything.
“Y-you… can’t be serious, right?”
“Nope! I’m dead serious.”
“Xiangling!” Lumine sputtered, embarrassed. “That’s absolutely not true and you know it.”
No, Aether was pretty sure that was the case. Of course every guy at this school was in love with his sister.
“Besides, I’ve never gotten a single love confession at this school. How could any of them like me if none of them told me before?”
Aether looked at his friends. They all averted their eyes.
You know what, maybe they did have some use after all.
“Ah, don’t worry about it Lumine. You know, you could always date one of us if you’re ever feeling lonely!” Kaeya winked, Lumine laughing in response.
Nevermind.
“Hmm, they do bring up a good point. As much I love all this attention from the guys, the girls certainly don’t seem interested in our booth…” Xiangling murmured quietly. Her eyes lit up.
“Hey Aether’s friends! Are you guys interested in helping Lumine out in any way?” She exclaimed, a gleam in her eyes.
“Oh, of course!” Childe said enthusiastically, a big grin on his face.
“It might be a little tricky though…”
“For sure! We can do anything!”
The rest of the guys nodded.
“Hehe…”
“Uh, Xiangling? You alright?” Childe asked worriedly. Her laughter was scaring him. Just a little.
“You’re coming with me!” Xiangling declared as she dragged Childe out of the room.
“Wait, wait! Hold on! What are we doing?”
“You’ll see!”
“Do we just… follow him?” Diluc asked worriedly.
“It’s ok,” Kaeya smirked. “Let’s give it a minute, shall we?”
“N-no way…” Childe frowned, using his hands to cover up his chest. “I’m not seriously doing this, am I?”
“Do you want to help Lumi and her club?”
“Yes, but…”
“Then go out there and attract some people!” Xiangling exclaimed as she pushed Childe outside.
All of a sudden, it turned quiet.
“G-guys, say something. Anything. Please.”
Childe was wearing a black and white maid dress adorned with frills and laces. With bunny ears on his head. Aether couldn’t tell if he wanted to laugh or permanently erase it from his memory.
“You look great!” Lumine laughed, breaking the silence. “This is exactly the kind of spice we need for our booth!”
“Really?” Childe asked, eyes sparkling.
“Yeah! You know, I think you even look good.”
The rest of the guys tried to stifle their laughter, but Childe was far too happy to pay attention to them now.
“Well, I’ll have to go and attract potential members now!” Childe declared, a newfound vigor rising within him.
“Yeah, go and make us proud!” Kaeya said, trying his hardest not to let a smile come on his face.
“Alright, alright! I’m going out now!” He announced, stepping out of the tent.
It went silent once more.
But this time, the noise that came afterwards was deafening to the ears.
“No way, is that?”
“I think it is.”
“Is that the billionaire’s son?? What’s he doing here??”
“He’s HOT!”
All of a sudden, a massive wave of people came to the booth. Girls and guys alike tried to sneak peeks at the billionaire’s son in a maid costume.
Xiangling and Lumine gave each other a high five.
“He’s certainly… an interesting one,” Zhongli murmured as he observed the spectacle before them.
“Hehe, I appreciate it though!” Lumine said happily, handing out flyers to the hoard of people that came by. “I’ll be sure to give him a thank you when he’s done.”
“Would you give me a thank you kiss if I did it?” Kaeya teased.
“I guess I would!” Lumine laughed, eyes sparkling.
Kaeya froze. “Actually Xiangling, do you have another maid dress anywhere?”
“Wait, no fair! Do you have a maid dress for me too?”
“I suppose I wouldn’t mind one. If it helps the club.”
“I-if… you have a spare… and you really needed the help…”
Aether was going to pass out any second now.
Thirty minutes later…
“Dainsleif! You’re here!” Aether sobbed, clinging onto Dainsleif's shirt.
“I’m sorry I came late.” He apologized. “I had to wrap up something before I came and…”
His eyes turned to the crowd at Lumine’s booth. Or more specifically, the men in the center of it all.
“You know what, I think I didn’t need to come after all…”
“Don’t tell me you want a maid dress too.”
“What?”