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kumeko · 19 days ago

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A/N: For the Hilibrew café zine! I wanted to play with some otome tropes and also some fun comedy tropes (a bit of an homage to Clue and its ilk). I’ve come to the devastating realization despite loving Xiao and Zhongli, I don’t actually write either of them that much. I really need to correct that in the future. Kinda wish I could have made each scene a bit more flirty, but alas. Next time.

…

Lumine collapsed on her brother’s soft bed, her hair splaying on the yellow comforter below her. Aether flopped down beside her, his long braid unravelling slightly and strands of his hair mixing with hers. It was strange to think that after they’d finished Teyvat University, they’d both move out, that one day she’d come home and her brother wouldn’t be around for her to complain to.

Then again, considering their debts and their pay, they’d probably live together till they’re sixty. Lumine sighed. Another reason her job was probably not worth it. “Today was exhausting.”

“Mine too,” Aether groaned, raising a hand to cover his eyes. “Why are the people here so weird?”

“I don’t know,” Lumine answered honestly. They were both working at different places, Aether at Liyue Eats, her at Mondstadt Café. Between the two of them, she’d hoped one of them hit the jackpot, but it seemed they’d both just picked the worst places to work instead.

The only question was which place was rock bottom. She glanced at her brother slyly. “I bet my day was worse.”

Aether burst into laughter, turning his head slightly towards her. “Why are you competitive about everything?”

“Comes with the territory of being the big sister.” Lumine shrugged.

“I’m pretty sure I’m the big brother.” Aether rolled his eyes. Their parents had never confirmed either way. “Alright, I give. Let’s see who had the worst day. What happened?”

Lumine grinned. “Well…”

-x-

The Drunkard

The café door opened, a bell chimed, and Lumine looked up from the latte she’d just finished making. A familiar man dressed in green strolled in confidently, as though he owned the place. His body swayed slightly with each step. “Lumine!” Noticing her, he waved.

Lumine frowned, setting down the cup to the side. Her coworker Amber could take it later; right now, she had to deal with this old drunkard. “Jean said not to come here drunk, Venti.”

“Jean says a lot of things. She’s a worrier.” Venti smiled innocently as he approached the bar. “And I’m not drunk.”

She wrinkled her nose as the scent of dandelion wine hit her. “You’re as drunk as a skunk. If you’re going to lie, put some effort into it.”

He swayed slightly. “Well…”

Lumine poked him, irritated. “You just walked here from Angel’s Share.”

“Alright, alright, you got me.” Venti held his hands up in mock surrender. “But come on, do you really want to see me walking the streets like this? Anything could happen.”

“It’s the middle of the day and fresh air is good for you,” Lumine replied tartly, hand on her hip.

“Please?” Venti pleaded, his eyes big and teary. She’d heard other people compare the man to an angel. Looks-wise, she had to agree, though she was certain his personality was closer to the devil’s. “I just need a moment to get my bearings.”

Despite her better judgement, Lumine caved. “Fine. But just for a little.”

“Scout’s honour, just for a little.” Venti grinned as he clambered onto a bar stool. “Could I get an espresso—”

“No mora, no food.” Lumine held out her hand. “I’ve already bent one rule, I’m not breaking another.”

“Some rules are meant to be broken,” Venti cajoled.

This time, she held her ground. “Not this one. How did you run this place before Jean?”

“Well, there’s a reason I’m the ex-owner.” Venti patted his pockets. “I know I have a coin in here somewhere.”

“Did you spend it all on wine?” Lumine asked, watching him expectantly.

Venti shook his head, still pulling out his pockets. “No, I dipped before Diluc could ask for the bill. I can give it to him next time.”

Privately, she had no idea how Venti even got into Angel’s Share, considering there was literally a poster telling him to keep out. If only she worked there, though. Then she could have asked for Venti’s driver’s licence and seen his age. The man in front of her looked like he was her age, maybe younger, but considering how Jean talked…he had to be like fifty.

Even with all of that baby skin.

“Oh! Found it!” Venti grinned as he pulled out a five-dollar bill. “Told you I was good for it.”

-x-

The Spy

Lumine placed a mug in front of the café’s regular, Kaeya. “Here’s your venti dark roast with almond milk and an espresso shot.” She paused. “Why do you order a different drink every time?”

“To keep things fresh,” Kaeya purred, tearing his eyes away from the window for a moment to wink at her. With his eyepatch, he had a roguish look that she couldn’t deny was handsome. “And to keep you on your toes.”

“I’m on my feet enough without your help.” Lumine followed his stare as he looked out the window once more. There, across the street, was Angel’s Share. The bar run by the infamously cranky Diluc. Kaeya had sat in this window seat so often, his name might as well be carved into the table. “Are you still spying on him?” She pursed her lips. “Is he a friend?”

“It’s not spying,” Kaeya replied smoothly, with the tone of an expert bullshitter. “It’s information gathering.”

“I’m pretty sure that’s still illegal.” Lumine stared at the bar. From here, they could make out Diluc and his fiery red hair as he moved across the bar. “Is he an ex-flame?”

Kaeya merely smiled mysteriously. “What do you think he’s brewing right now? He’s mixed together three different bottles.”

In all honesty, Lumine would rather solve the puzzle in front of her instead of the mystery across the street. She had been serving Kaeya for months and had no idea what his favourite drink was (he ordered randomly off the menu, as though testing out every combination), why he sat here or what his job had to be if he was sitting here all day like this. “I don’t know. Poison because he’s a murderer and you’re here to catch him in the act?”

“He’d be a terrible murderer if that were the case. And he’d be out of business if he killed all of his customers.” Kaeya rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “I think it’s a new drink.”

Despite herself, Lumine watched Diluc move. The glass in his hand held a reddish drink with a hint of blue. “The Russian ex-mobster is making a fruit cocktail.”

“Oh, that’s an idea.” Kaeya nodded. “Maybe a seasonal drink since it’s summer.”

Twenty minutes later, Lumine hummed as she returned to the server bar. A second later, she stamped her foot—once again, Kaeya had tricked her.

She was never going to figure out why he was here.

-x-

The Flirt

“Hi, princess!”

Lumine stiffened as a familiar voice pierced the room. Slowly, she turned around from the espresso maker. Standing right behind her, confirming her fears, was a grinning redhead. Childe. He waved merrily.

She crossed her arms and glared. “Do you ever work?”

“You wound me.” Childe did not sound the least bit hurt. He chuckled. “Of course I work, otherwise I’d be here 24/7.”

Lumine shuddered. That would be a nightmare. It was hard enough to work with everyone as it was, without him following her the entire time. “Let’s pretend I believe you. You do know you work at a café, right?”

“Right,” he agreed easily, nodding.

“Can’t you just drink there?” Lumine gestured around her café. “Why come all the way out here?”

“There’s no law saying I can’t come, right?” Childe grinned, slipping onto a stool. He propped his chin on his palm, his elbow resting table. “Besides, I’d miss seeing you if I went anywhere else.”

“Liar,” Lumine sneered. One of the better aspects to having a twin in another café is that she had access to double the rumour mill. “You go to Liyue Eats all the time.”

“Sometimes—why, jealous?” Childe cooed, not taking her line of questioning seriously in the least.

Ignore it, Lumine reminded herself. “You’ve been to every café and bakery in the city,” she ground out. “Multiple times. Are you stealing recipes for Snezhnaya Delicacies?”

“Oh, princess, how could you accuse me of something like that?” Childe covered his mouth, appalled. She wondered how long he had practiced that line. If he even needed to practice or did lies flow out of him like air? “I would never.”

“Really.” Lumine cocked her head. “Then it was just a coincidence that Snezhnaya now sells spark candies that feel like static electricity? Right after you visited Inazuma Tea Shop?”

“Pure coincidence,” he swore sincerely. “I can’t believe you’d think like that.”

“Uh-huh.”

“I promise.” He crossed a hand on his chest and raised his other one. “Scout’s honour.”

For a second, she almost believed him, but then the doubt rushed back. Raising a brow, she asked, “Were you ever a scout?”

“Nope.” He chuckled, throwing his hands in the air. “But it’s the thought that counts, right?”

“That’s not what that means…” Lumine groaned, rubbing her forehead. If she kept this up, she’d have a headache. It was better to just deal with him directly instead of playing his game. Resting her hands on the counter, she asked, “What do you want?”

“Your smile,” he flirted with a disarming smirk. “Oh, and a frappe.”

-x-

“And then Bennett broke every plate. I don’t know where Klee kept those fireworks, I thought I’d checked every pocket.” Lumine groaned. “My fingers still feel like they’re burned.”

“Ouch. I know we’re not one to talk, with our parents giving us free reign since we were like, eight, but Klee’s mom might be a little too ‘free’.” Aether reached down and squeezed her hand. “Sorry about your day.”

“It’s ok. I think my skin’s getting tougher from all that.” She smiled. Honestly, for all her complaints, she did like working at the café. It was never a dull day and even at its worst, well, she had her brother to complain to. All she needed was to let it out and she was right as rain. “So, how was yours?”

“Well, I,” Aether drawled dramatically, she could almost hear the drumroll in his head, “fought a sea god.”

“A what?” Immediately, Lumine sat up.

“I’m joking. Kind of.” Aether laughed, reaching up to pull her back down. “So, remember how I told you about our boss, Zhongli?”

“The cute one that has fluff for brains?” Lumine asked, already picturing the tall man constantly in a suit.

“Yeah.” Aether snickered at the description. “Anyways, so he just came in this morning and grabbed Keqing by the shoulders. He told her, extremely seriously, ‘You must defeat a sea god’. And you know how he looks and sounds! It’s impossible to tell when he’s joking.”

“He needs to smile more, that’d probably help.” Lumine poked him. “And?”

“Keqing just replied bluntly, ‘It’s just an octopus.’.” Aether guffawed. “Her face was so blank! Apparently this happens like, once a week.”

Lumine stared at her brother incredulously. “An octopus runs around in your café once a week?”

“Yeah, apparently it’s like a pet or something?” Aether shrugged. “Come on, our café has a funeral parlor in the back. That is like the least strange part of it.”

“True.” Lumine relaxed, letting it go. “Proceed.”

Aether grinned. “Right, so then…”

#genshin impact #genshin traveler #lumine #aether #childe tartagalia #kaeya alberich #venti #fanfic #i wanted each scene to feel more like the start of a route (but subtly #since zine rules #didn't quite get there with the word count #but almost!

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