Genshin Impact: One Shots

sneaking into a mall at 3am to get whale plushies [ slowed playlist ]

- inspired by namesake playlist -

- playlist by kodzureii on YouTube -

- originally written in July 2021 -

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"Venti, are you sure this is alright?" You asked him, the corner of your lip curled into a disbelieving smile. You've managed to come so far without getting caught, and you were so close to the whale plushies now, so there's no backing down. 

"I'm sure." Venti turned over, hooking an arm around your shoulders. "Besides, if anything, we can run away, we're at the back of the line, so the escape is the closest to us." 

You laughed in response, hastily remembering to bring up a hand to cover your mouth belatedly. 

"Don't laugh." Lumine turned around to meet your eyes. Her eyes glistened with tears as her cheeks turned red. "Aether's been trying to get me to laugh out loud for ages. I think I'm on my final straw now." 

"Not my fault you have a low laughter threshold." The twin butted back, making a funny face towards them. 

You and Venti just beamed from ear to ear, while Lumine's shoulders shook as she tried to contain the giggles. 

"Lumine." 

"I know." Lumine just wheezed in response to Zhongli's chiding, wiping away her tears. 

"Zhongli, if you don't like that, then you definitely won't like this." Tartaglia called from somewhere in front as you perked up. 

Slowly, you and Venti rushed forwards, and saw that Childe was pointing towards an escalator. 

 "We need to go upstairs for plushies?" 

Childe shook his head. "They're downstairs. But the good news is, they're just next to the escalators." 

"And?" Zhongli brought your attention back to him as he adjusted his hat, pulling it down further. 

"We slide." Childe said, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he back up slowly towards the railing.

"Yes!" The twins cheered and before Zhongli could say anything, Childe was already halfway down the escalator, laughing in delight without a chair in the world.

"Why do I put up with you people?" Even though Zhongli said so, you could see that he had a smile on his face. But in the end, he opted to walk down after the twins slid down the railing, shrieking and yelling in excitement. 

Venti turned over to you. "Do you want to try?" 

"Sure, why not? We'd reach there faster than walking, right?" 

"Yep, it also feels like flying somehow. I love the feeling of anything close to flying." Venti said as he sat on the railing opposite you. "And now, three, two- no fair!" 

You slid down first, giggling in joy as you dangled your feet over the edge. Venti came down after, and the both of you slid down just after Zhongli walked off the unmoving escalator as well, laughing. 

You lifted your head as Lumine threw you a whale plushy. One was already in her arms, as was in Aether's. Childe however, had four. He caught your questioning gaze and just beamed. "My siblings get one too." 

Venti took one as well, but only after he face-dived first into the rack, hugging as many as he can. "I wanna stay in their arms forever." He said, muffled. 

Zhongli just ignored him as he pulled one out of Venti's grasp. 

"Hey!" 

"You were hogging. What was I supposed to do?" 

Your hands tightened around the matching whale plushy as you watched the scene unfold. You beamed at them, your heart warm as your gaze lingering on each of your companions. 

I want this moment to last, you thought silently.