Verisimilitude (GI Various x Reader)

Chapter Fifteen

        When we entered Bubu Pharmacy, there seemed to be no one in the building.

"Huh, the reception is deserted. And it seems kinda spooky in here... Hello? Is anybody there?" Paimon called out. A seemingly disembodied voice answered her.

"Welcome to Bubu Pharmacy." A monotonous voice responded. Paimon looked around, frantically trying to find the source.

"D-did you hear that? Wh-Where did it come from?" She exclaimed, her voice trembling. Zhongli's gaze drifted towards the back of the building.

"The reception, it seems." Paimon turned to Lumine.

"Lumine, how about... you go check it out, and... Paimon will bring up the rear." I couldn't help but shake my head at Paimon's antics.

"Just a little scared, Paimon?" I teased. Paimon huffed, shaking her head.

"N-no! Of course Paimon isn't scared!" She shouted back at me as Lumine approached the reception, Zhongli beside her. Paimon and I followed behind them and once we'd gotten closer, I could see it was just a little girl. Paimon sighed in relief upon seeing her.

"Oh, there you are! But you can't even reach the counter!" Lumine glanced back at Paimon.

"Paimon, if we're going to talk about height, you ahh..." Paimon cut her off, not even letting Lumine finish her sentence.

"Joke's on you- Paimon floats, so height is no restriction. Anyway, there's something weird about this one over here. What's that talisman doing on her forehead?" Upon closer inspection, I recognized it to be the work of an adepti talisman.

"It can't be... she's... a zombie!?" Paimon exclaimed in shock. The girl nodded, her expression monotonous.

"Welcome to Bubu Pharmacy. I am Qiqi. Once upon a time, Qiqi died. Then, Qiqi was saved by the adepti. Now, Qiqi is a zombie."

"Such nonchalant delivery for a bombshell revelation..." Lumine muttered under her breath.

"Something like this would be unimaginable in Mondstadt..." Paimon nodded softly, whispering back to her. Zhongli smiled down at Qiqi.

"Hello... little girl. Do you sell Everlasting Incense here?" He asks. Qiqi holds her hand out.

"Excuse me, sir. Did you bring your prescription?" She asks. Zhongli frowns, shaking his head.

"I... Surely no prescription is needed to purchase Everlasting Incense? It's not a controlled substance..." He refuted. Qiqi sighed, denying us the Everlasting Incense.

"Qiqi can get your medicine. But only if you show Qiqi your prescription. These are Qiqi's orders, from Qiqi." She states. Lumine raises one of her brows, tilting her head in confusion.

"Orders?" Zhongli nods.

"I'm afraid that she's probably right- it's to do with her orders. Zombies are limited to acting within the confines of their orders. And somehow, in this case, the zombie issues her own orders to herself. My dear Qiqi, we didn't bring a prescription, I'm afraid. But we do hope that you can still help us find some Everlasting Incense." Qiqi sighs.

"Okay then." Paimon glances over at Zhongli.

"How did you manage that?" She asks him, however, Qiqi responds before he can.

"But, Qiqi helps you, you help Qiqi. Only fair."

"It sounds fair enough. Just, what could a little girl like her want us to get for her?" I asked out loud. Paimon shook her head.