in3fficient-n0velist

[in3fficient-n0velist]

Curtain Call - Genshin High School AU Part 1

In which, Scaramouche is a high schooler and his mother Raiden Ei is (unfortunately) one of the school’s seven heads. She is determined to make him a social butterfly  — so he finds himself forced into the theater crew.

(a series of standalone one-shots that I update if I have an idea)

I was leaning towards writing a college AU at first, but I wanted there to be a mix between different ‘stereotypes’, like jocks, bookworms, theater kids, etc. Soon I’ll post a guide to the AU to help understanding. I like thinking of what each person’s role would be in this.

Scaramouche awakes like he does every day — awake. And annoyed.

And to the scent of… something burning?

Smoke wafts through the air, snapping him out of his dreaming haze and sending him rushing down the stairs, pulling on a black band tee as he does. He gets his head through the hole as he steps onto the cool kitchen tiles. Ahead of him, as expected, is his mother Raiden Ei holding a frying pan. It’s a wonder the alarms haven’t gone off yet from how it’s smoking.

The indigo-haired boy snatches the pan away from her and forces the lid over it to drain the kindling fire of all oxygen. Are those supposed to be eggs?

“How did you manage to turn the food completely black?” Scaramouche demands. It’s not an understatement; the eggs are charred beyond recognition, fizzling and bubbling in the pan.

“I tried a new recipe.” Raiden takes the pan from him and washes them the waste down the sink — yes, the whole egg — and tosses it aside. “I found it online. But I messed up.”

Messed up is an understatement, but now isn’t the time to point that out right now.

She nudges him along with impatient hands. “Now finish getting dressed. I’m wanting to get to school earlier today.” Raiden is the head of the Electro Department at the high school, but in recent months she’s been… on leave. The substitute during that time was called ‘the Shogun’ by Scaramouche’s classmates because of her ruthless and strict attitude. The students will no doubt be happy to have their normal department head back.

While Scaramouche heads upstairs, she adjusts a photo on the fridge. The woman looks identical, with the same purple braid as Raiden Ei. The death of her twin sister is what degraded her mental state so quickly.

Scaramouche has seen firsthand how bad Raiden’s health was. But with the guidance of a therapist and the support of her coworker/friend/maybe more Yae Miko, she’s improved.

For the first time in months, Raiden drives them both to Teyvat Academy. The ride is tense. Scaramouche keeps his gaze firmly fixed outside the window, his hands clenched in his dark jeans. His mother looks ready to object to his black choker, red eyeliner, and combat boots, but he snatches his backpack as soon as the car parks and heads into school. His bag jingles faintly as he walks because of the clinking keychains and pins.

Several students look much happier when they see Raiden, particularly the Electro students. No more strict substitute teachers.

He chats with a couple other Anemo students that he’s acquainted with throughout the day. But for the most part he keeps on his headphones as a polite was to say, ‘go away.’

///

His mother has always been one for intervention. So when he settles down in the car to ride back home, Raiden doesn’t immediately turn on the car.

“You barely talk to anyone anymore,” she points out. It’s not a question, just a statement.

Scaramouche sighs, his bangs falling across his face as he lets himself slump. “I’m not interested in talking to the people here. You know this.”

“Yes, but you’ve somehow become more antisocial while I was on my leave from work. What’s up with that?”

“Nothing’s up with that,” he answers.

“It’s no good for a boy your age to be sulking in your room all the time.” Raiden’s fingers tap on the steering wheel as she begins her spiel. “I know I haven’t been the greatest of parents lately, but I’m trying to step up again. I even made breakfast for you this morning! So I’m deciding upon a new decree.”

This lecture? Seriously? He fights the urge to roll his eyes because he knows that her cheerful mood can quickly turn to using the dreaded flip flop.

“You have to join a club. And regularly attend it. I swear, if I hear about you skipping then I will have your—“

“I get it, I get it,” he insists.

His brow creases the more he considers it. What clubs are there to even join? He’d never consider joining the book club. His interests have never been sports-oriented either, which is obvious by his fair complexion. Art club sounds more tempting, but his skills are limited to simple doodles.

Raiden lights up when an idea strikes him. “Oh, how about theater?”

Theater?! She isn’t one to give up once she has an idea, especially when it comes to parenting him.

Archons, he’s done for.

~800 words