A while back Genshin Impact had this event called “Of Drink A-Dreaming”, where you had to serve up drinks based on customers’ orders. The more, the merrier. There were also some interactions between some of the characters.
For me, the interactions are half the fun of the Genshin Impact experience. Applies to any game, really. Or a good book. They did a good job with what they could to squeeze in, and I was wondering, how would other character interactions be like? I decided to go with one of my favourite characters, Xiao, who is gradually letting people see past his usual reticent, to-the-point façade.
This is actually the first time I have written any fanfic. I hope I managed to keep the spirit of the characters true to the canon.
Anyway, enough yakking. I present to you:
Tavern Tales: The Yaksha’s Break
Aether, renowned blond-haired traveller by day, was now a part-time bartender by night for that week. He wiped a few beads of sweat from his forehead. The Bartenders’ Academy Week, a special event that the Angels’ Share tavern in Mondstadt had organised, was finally reaching its last day. Aether could finally get some rest soon.
Mondstadt was truly the land of freedom indeed. Until it came to their drinks. These people had some of the most exacting tastebuds ever. Even if the bartender that was serving them had once saved them from Stormterror – as the common adage went, “it’s all in the past”. “Tomorrow is a new day.”
Although, he had to admit that just a few days in, he was already settling down into his bartending routine. Of late, things around Teyvat had been much more peaceful. He had already helped a few nations to overcome their tribulations as well as successfully completed some commission that turned out to involve the Abyss Order or the Fatui. For now, things had settled down. These days, the commissions that were on the notice board were what one could describe as “trivial”, so this bartending job was a nice change of pace.
He’s had his fair share of surprises at this role here too, in the form of meeting familiar faces. For a start, the Knights were regulars at this place. That on hindsight, actually wasn’t much of a surprise. Diluc had also come in on the pretext of making sure that his tavern was still standing throughout the duration of the week.
But the real surprise came from patrons that visited from the next city over, Liyue.
Including the Geo Archon himself.
“Z-Zhongli?!” Paimon exclaimed.
“It’s quite a pleasant surprise to run into you here,” said Zhongli.
“Indeed it is. Can I get you a drink? Only non-alcoholic ones, though.”
“That’s fine.” Zhongli glances at the menu. “One Misty Garden please. I take my tea strong. Thank you.”
Aether mixed the drink behind the counter and poured it out into the glass.
“Looking good!” Paimon stared with sparkling eyes, and…was that her tongue threatening to fall out from behind her slightly-opened mouth?
“That’s not for you,” said Aether.
“Paimon knows that! Hmph! Anyway, I’ll just get my own later!”
“You mean, I’ll mix you another drink later.” Aether headed over to the table where Zhongli was seated at.
“Sorry to keep you waiting!”
“Enjoy.”
“Mmm. The tea is clear and glows with a pleasing hue. It has a rich floral and fruit fragrance. Exquisite.” Aether, Paimon and Zhongli talk about tea for a while, before the topic begins to shift to the going-ons around Liyue. Lantern Rite had just passed, but somehow Aether felt this sense of nostalgia, like he had already been away for a long time since then. The topic soon shifted to the people of Liyue.
“How’s Xiao doing?”
“Him? I passed by Wangshu Inn, and I wanted to ask him if he wanted to come along. But he said he preferred not to. That boy…” He trails off for a bit, and takes another sip from his cup as he thought of the words to say. “Liyue is at peace, and the people can defend themselves. Yet he’s still fulfilling his duty from all those years ago. I hope that one day he will finally be able to set out on his own path.”
He sets the cup down. “Anyway, I’ve taken up enough of your time. It’s time I headed back. As for the tab…put it on Wangsheng Funeral Parlour.”
He definitely forgot to bring mora on him again.
As the door closes behind him, a strange moody silence falls on the tavern. It was late afternoon, and people were likely making preparations for dinner. The only people who would be here at this time were likely those that could live free-wheeling lifestyles, those who lived on their own.
The ground floor of the tavern was empty, and Aether seemed to remember that a couple of adventurers had gone upstairs some time ago. He had no impression of them coming down the stairs, be it to ask for a refill, or to head out of the front door. All that came was the silence of the drunkards sleeping the drinks out of their systems.
Aether turned to the back and started washing down the used cups that the patrons had left behind. Clinking sounds echoed through the tavern. Just as he put the last of the cups back, he heard the bell ring as someone entered the tavern. A figure about Aether’s height with teal locks of hair slid into the tavern. They did so in a manner that they thought would make them look discreet.
But ultimately, it was hard not to recognise or ignore this person when they were dressed in a white sleeveless shirt, striking dark baggy pants, and a yaksha mask hanging off his right hip.
“Welcome, Xiao.”
“Oh, it’s you.”
He tried to keep a stoic, controlled and level tone of voice, but he was obviously relieved at seeing a familiar face. Especially when he even felt uncertain about going to the main city of the land he hailed from. He couldn’t have closed the gap between the door and the counter seats quickly enough.
“What can I get you?”
“I’ll have anything you recommend. I’ll take it.”
Hmm. Aether ran through the different possible drinks in his head for a little bit as he stared at the base ingredients. He definitely shouldn’t keep any customer – let alone Xiao – waiting for too long.
Almond tofu…almond tofu…something similar to that. In taste, and in texture. Aether thought back to the other time that he had accompanied – or rather, asked Xiao to come to Liyue Harbour, to help Xiangling taste-test some of her dishes for a cooking competition some months back. Something mild for him. Definitely, no fizzy stuff. Refreshing, without a strong biting edge in the flavour.
Guess I’ll make this for him, then. Aether poured tea into the mixer cup first.He next added mint into the tea, He looked up briefly, noticing that Xiao was leaning forward enough to give away that he was very interested. Not that he would ever say it.
A minty aroma began to rise. But Aether was not done yet. Lastly, he added milk to the mix.
“Here’s a Boreal Watch for you.” Aether poured the drink out into a cup and placed it down in front of Xiao.
“Thanks.”
Xiao blew on it a few times and then took small, delicate sips.
“How is it?”
“It’s nice. It’s a mild taste, gentle yet refreshing.”
“Glad that you liked it. I made a drink I thought that I thought you would like.”
“Hmph.” Xiao couldn’t hide the faint hint of a smile that formed at the edges of his lips.
“How did you know I was here?” Aether asked, although it was clear that it was either Shenhe or even Zhongli who had told him. It was heartwarming that Xiao and the other adepti, as well as Shenhe, got together despite Xiao’s general aversion to socialising. It seemed that with time, and in these times of peace, Xiao was really beginning to open up to reveal a tender side that he usually kept locked away behind that grumpy façade.
“Rex Lapis – no, Zhongli, told me when he was returning from Mondstadt. He said he saw you serving drinks here.”
“You came all the way here on your own just to find me?”
“What?” A suddenly-flustered Xiao nearly choked on his drink, but just about managed to hold back his sputtering. “I just wanted to see how humans outside of Liyue live and carry about with their day.”
“And what did you think about the people of Mondstadt here?”
“Hmm.” Xiao stared at nothing in particular in the air as he thought. “It feels about the same. Although if I had to comment, it would be that the people here seem even more carefree than the ones in Liyue.”
“This is the land of the Anemo Archon, after all. Carefree, living in the moment. And they can do that now because it’s peaceful, and they have the freedom to do as they please.”
“Freedom…”
“What’s freedom to you?”
“What is with this question? It’s pointless to ask me. For me, I only have my duty, which is the duty that I signed a contract with Rex Lapis, to protect Liyue and its inhabitants.”
What if that was no longer needed, was what Aether wanted to ask next. But he didn’t think that was in his place to ask. It seemed that Xiao himself was already trying to answer this question, in his own ways.
Aether changed the topic. “Would you come here again?”
His expression softens. “I am not averse to it,” he said “But… if I can, and if you can, then we can come together. Like with Liyue Harbour.”
“What if I’m the bartender again? How are you going to come here?”
“I am an adepti. I have no cause for such worries.”
Aether let out a soft chuckle. “In any case, I enjoyed your visit. Would you like another drink? It’s on the house.”
“On the house?”
Wait—did he not know this term?
“Like, free. For you. You don’t have to pay. I insist.” Aether pushed back Xiao’s hand, which was already reaching for Mora in a little purse that he used as a wallet. It was a simple off-white purse woven from silk flowers, accented with subtle wavy patterns across the material. Aether had saw it on sale at one of the shops in Liyue during Lantern Rite some months earlier, and had immediately thought it perfect for Xiao. Xiao back then had accepted it then with a simple “thank you”.
Aether couldn’t help but stare at the wallet, long enough for Xiao to notice a faint smile.
“That’s the pouch you got me the other time.”
“Mmm.” Aether seemed to awaken from his state of dreamy happiness. “Anyway, drinks on the house. I’m not taking any Mora.”
Xiao lingered with the silk wallet in hand for a few more moments before putting it away. It was then that he finished off the last drops of his drink and stood up.
“I think it’s time I went back.”
“Thank you for coming, Xiao.”
“No, thank you for the drinks. And the treat.”
He milled around at the counter for a little longer. “Um…”
Aether found this side of Xiao to be a most endearing one. “What’s up?”
“Are you going anywhere after this?
“I don’t think so. I finished my commissions with the Adventurers’ Guild, and I don’t think they have anything else for me. I’m a little tired after this long day here also, so I might hold off exploring any domains for today.” Aether paused for a little. “I’ll probably just head into my teapot, then.”
“Do you want to come to Wangshu Inn afterwards?”
“That sounds good. I’ll see you then?”
“See you. And… you’ve probably heard this many times from me, but be careful on your way. If you ever find yourself in danger—”
“I just need to call your name, right?”
Xiao gives a quiet hum under his breath. “I’ll be on my way then. If I’m not at the usual place, just wait there for me. I’ll be back soon enough.”
“See you!” Aether waves as the door closes behind Xiao. He just needed to get through the evening drinking crowd, and his shift would be done. He began to rinse out the cup Xiao had just been drinking from, and sat down for a breather, his mind already passing through Stone Gate.
***
FYI: I am not sponsored nor incentivised in any way by HoYoverse and related organisations/subsidiaries to write this.
Comments are closed