🇵‌🇺‌🇷‌🇪‌ 🇼‌🇦‌🇹‌🇪‌🇷‌ | Shenhe x Reader

5

You watched the orange Betta fish as he swam around in circles, looking particularly excited today. Chuckling, you patted him on the head.

"I know, Larry," you told him, "I hope she comes back soon, too. Shenhe's really nice, isn't she?" Larry bobbed up and down in agreement and you grinned, shaking your head. You weren't the only one that had become brighter since the white-haired woman had started visiting. Many of the lake creatures had taken a liking to her, too.

After you told her what you remembered the day before, she had gone to ask for the advice of some friends, promising she would return today.

You'd been so eager that you hadn't slept since, although, you had the feeling you'd never slept that regularly, even when you were alive.

You waited around for Shenhe until about noon, when she showed up with a small bag over her shoulder.

"What's all that?" You questioned, coming over to the shore where she laid out a small blanket.

"These are some delicacies from Fontaine," she explained, taking out some plates and an assortment of different foods. "A friend of mine who is an Adeptus suggested I try giving you items from Fontaine."

"An Adeptus?" You asked, shocked that she had such connections, "how do you know one of them? I thought you were human."

"I am," she replied quickly, "It's a long story, but my teacher is an Adeptus. I have a few connections with them, thanks to her. Anyway, she thought these might help bring back some of your memories." She gestured to the food.

You paused for a moment, slightly stunned at her kindness. It wasn't easy finding people who could make foods from other nations in Liyue, much less so many different kinds. She must have searched for a while to find all of these.

When you didn't respond, Shenhe seemed to get anxious, continuing.

"But I suppose I didn't consider whether you were able to eat in your current state," she admitted, glancing at your face and hair, all entirely made from water. "I apologize if this was too presumptuous."

"Oh, that's okay!" You replied, shaking your head, "I actually haven't tried eating anything since my death, and I don't think it's possible, at least, not with my form." You gestured to your limbs, flinging a few droplets of water around. "I appreciate you doing all of this, though." Shenhe nodded, but her mouth dropped into a small frown, disappointed with herself for not even considering this.

In an attempt to console her, you nudged one of the plates toward her.

"But that means there's more for you, right? I should be able to get a memory just from coming into contact with it anyway."

"Oh, I shouldn't get too comfortable with human food," Shenhe admitted, setting the plate down, "When training in the mountains with my teacher, I need to follow a strict diet, and it would only make that more difficult."

"I see," you replied awkwardly, not sure how to respond. For a moment you were both silent, before you spoke up again. "Well, let's see if I can get another memory from this food. I'm sure if I were still alive it's something I would have loved. It all looks delicious!"

Gently, you picked up a plate, waiting expectantly for another vision of some sort. When nothing happened, you frowned, glancing at the tart that lay on the plate. Usually, something would have happened by now.

"Do you...Feel anything?" Shenhe asked gently, already suspecting the answer based on the look in your eyes.

"No," you shook your head, "I guess I must not have had this food in my past life. Too bad, too, because it looks great." Not ready to give up just yet, you set the plate down, picking up another. Maybe the first food just wasn't something past you had tried before.