Work Text:
[Aether]
Testing? 1, 2, 3…
[Click]
[Click]
[Aether]
I’m pretty sure this thing works…
(Clearing throat)
Hi? I’m Aether, the new Head Archivist of The CELESTIA Institute. Oh- By “new,” I mean this is my second day on the job. That is due to the sudden leave of the previous Head Archivist, Lumine- My… Twin sister.
(Pause)
Actually, it’s been nearly a year since she… disappeared? Left? I- still don’t know the right word. Either way, I’m surprised by how long it took them to find a new archivist. Honestly, they didn’t even ‘find’ one, they just chose her grieving, unaware brother, and plucked him out of Storage!
(Laughter)
Based on the information provided to me by the ever-illusive head of the institute, during the absence of an archivist, the archives were being managed by Lumine’s one and only assistant. I believe his name was… Daniel? Danny?… No, it was more pretentious-
(Papers rustling)
Oh! That’s right, Dainsleif! Yes, the archives were being managed by this, "Dainsleif," during the period without an Archivist, before he, too, disappeared, leading to my own hiring. I do wonder why they didn’t just hire him instead... Ah, I got off track there.
To be honest, there wasn’t much “managing” done by either of them. This place looks like a train wreck, you can barely see the floor someplaces. I, unlike Lumine, have more than one assistant, so hopefully, that’s enough to tidy this place up. Still, I’ve only got 2 full assistants; Amber and Kaeya. I’ve also got two half assistants, which I suppose makes three wholes? The first ‘half’ is Lisa Minci. She’s the Head Librarian, but I received a document yesterday stating that she’s also an Archival Assistant, so I’m not entirely sure of how that works? As far as I know, she’s still in her old position, but I’ve seen her wandering in the archives once or twice these past 2 days.
The other half is-
(Quick, light footsteps)
[???]
Me! And Paimon’s not a half, Paimon’s a full person!
[Aether]
(Sighs, fondly) Oh, Paimon.
(Clearing throat ) Yes, the last full person is Paimon, my younger sister. Or- Half, at least. I can’t leave her unattended, so she walks to the Institute after school, instead of back ho- Back to the apartment.
[Paimon]
Hmph. Paimon is nine years old! Walking back is easy-peasy, Paimon doesn’t understand why she has to come to the institute and help you do boring paper-sorting.
[Aether]
That makes it sound like I’m forcing you to do child labour. You were the one who wanted to help, you can always bring colouring materials or books and do that instead.
[Paimon]
Yuck. Nuh-uh, not happening. That’s mega-boring. Paimon will help! Paimon will be the best Archival Assistant in Teyvat!
(Pause)
Wait, why are you using this… thing to record? Didn’t we go to the shops together and buy that super cool high-tech mic? The pink one!
[Aether]
(Sighs) Well, first of all, this is called a tape recorder. The microphone we bought was somewhat… dysfunctional. I sent it to Tech Support, and they have yet to reply. For now, I’ll be using a tape recorder.
[Paimon]
Oh, Paimon remembers these! Big-sister Lumine had a loooot of ‘em!
[Aether]
Huh. Now that I think about it, she did, didn’t she? I guess that’s why there were so many in the archives.
(Pause)
Talking so much, especially to myself, is… odd, but I’ll have to get used to it, I suppose.
[Paimon]
Don’t worry! Paimon will stay with you, so that way, you’re talking to Paimon instead of yourself!… Or at least for the parts where you make… ob-ser-va-tions, after you’re done reading the statements. Paimon read one today, and it was waaay too scary!
[Aether]
(Laughs) Sure. You’ll have you show me the one you read, yeah?
[Paimon]
Mhm!
(Short pause)
Can I pretty-please press the button?
[Aether]
Sure, go for it!
[Click]