Fart story one-shots 2!

An Untitled Shenhe Short

The afternoon sun hung heavily up in the air. Rays blocked by various clouds, the mountain's peak remained cool—chilly even—despite the glaring heat beating down. Around a stone table sat two individuals, similarly dressed, and chopsticks in hand as they picked and munched through their food.

"So...Shenhe? How have you been recently?" Ganyu asked.

"...alright, I guess."

The two rarely ever talked, only hearing about one another through the odd story told by their shared mentor who was nowhere to be seen. Cloud Retainer had gone through the effort of setting up lunch, procuring a wide selection of handpicked dishes and finding an available time within Ganyu's busy schedule. Yet herself, the only common ground between these two individuals, failed to show up.

"That's good..."

Ganyu had always wanted to meet Shenhe, holding her in some esteem due to her still-human nature living among adepti. Maybe she could learn something about living with humans talking to one that has lived among the adepti for so long? The situation felt eerily similar to her own.

Of course, Ganyu was well aware of Shenhe's...disposition. A suppressed air hung around the woman, an ominous feeling emanating from those red knots. It made Ganyu's chest tighten. But she couldn't let it show, Shenhe was still a fellow 'sister' of sorts. Anybody Cloud Retainer took under her wing would technically be family, right?

Shenhe stared at Ganyu, watching her slightly fidget and shuffle. Despite her lack of societal values and teachings, it really wasn't difficult to figure out the Qilin's feelings towards her. There was once a time she couldn't care less, Shenhe remembered that.

"Master...has told me much about you, Ganyu."

A red-hot blush lit up Ganyu's cheeks, aware of the implication of Cloud Retainer's loose lips.

"I-I see...and what has she told you?"

"A half-adeptus trying to blend in with the humans." Shenhe tilted her head at the edge in Ganyu's response. Should she not have talked about Master? "Your efforts and diligence have not gone unnoticed. It is quite remarkable."

"Thank you. But I thought you didn't like the Harbor?"

"I...must learn. Like you have. It is natural for me as I am still a human, right?"

Ganyu now understood Cloud Retainer's words about Shenhe still being a child at heart. The girl in the cave all those years ago never had the chance to grow up.

"If that is what you think is right."

"How is it? Working in the Jade Chamber?" Shenhe suddenly asked.

"It's nice. A little busy, but I get by. Why? Are you thinking of applying for work there as well?"

"Perhaps."

Ganyu smiled, sensing a little push was all that was needed to get Shenhe to open up.

"Hey, Shenhe? Would you like to..."

———————————

Shenhe stood in front of a small building. Groups of citizens passing her by threw an odd look or two her way, processing the strange getup of his beautiful woman. It was traditional, sure, but it was neither the time of year nor the right time period.

With a ticket in hand, Shenhe mouthed out the address Ganyu gave in confirmation of her location. She had it right, but it felt a little strange. She expected an entire mass of people to show up at the place that 'encapsulates the human experience'. It was surely supposed to be something highly sought after, right? Shenhe looked around. Only a select few from the Liyue bustle broke away from the crowd and into the building, sliding past the imposing woman standing out in the open.

The doorway wasn't very large. Shenhe felt as if she were walking into some seedy establishment decorating the various alleys of the Harbor. A sigh escaped her lips, Ganyu would probably ask her about it the next time they met. Might as well get it over with.

Strange looks followed her as an escort guided Shenhe to her seat, at the very front. Surprisingly, the space within was far more grand and decorated than what the outside showed. A strange contrast. Why would people hide away something so attractive with such a poor exterior? Ganyu called it a theatre. With an intricate ceiling that seemed to shift and move as one stared upwards into it, Shenhe soon lost herself in the mystifying aesthetics of the place. It wasn't like anything she's ever seen within the human realm. Pillars of meticulous carvings and designs, rows of seats that sat on an incline one after another, and the smell of perfume mixed with a trace of aged incense, the sensations passed through Shenhe as she looked about in wonder, drawing the attention of those sat to her left and right.

And then, the lights dimmed, a spotlight shone on an empty stage as a figure suddenly appeared out of nowhere. The feminine person was short, unimposing, but her costume was anything but. Flaringly bright colours of red and orange, she wore fire over her body as it seemed to billow despite her standing still. With a sudden turn, she faced the audience with her expression covered by a ferocious mask. Something between a lion and a dragon met the crowd of people before her as the sound of drums suddenly filled the space, echoing off the walls. Where was it coming from? Behind the figure? Inside the walls? Beneath the floor? Shenhe couldn't guess. The sound was coming at her from everywhere all at once, but she still couldn't take her eyes off the performer who went against the excited rush of drums with her slow, sudden movements. Around her, Shenhe could make out the caught breaths and widened eyes as everyone seemed to be struck by the same spell, assaulted by the sound and captivated by the figure. Was she supposed to be acting the same way? Shenhe was confused, left dumbstruck by the strange feeling welling up inside her. A cacophony of strings surged into play, the audience clapped alongside the drums, the dancer continued her fight against the rhythm, Shenhe...tilted her head in puzzlement.

And just like that, it all stopped. All at once. The spotlight disappeared, plunging the entire theatre into darkness. The drums and strings, at the peak of their tempo, halted and spewed silence into the air. The audience stopped clapping instantaneously, as if they were all adhering to a script. Shenhe released a held breath.

The lights returned, but everything else didn't follow. The dancer was nowhere to be seen, the instruments disappeared into thin air.

And then a raucous round of applause filled the theatre.

———————————

Shenhe walked out of the theatre with a blank look, blending into the crowd of excited whispers and murmurs. She moved with the flow of people, at her own pace, but not colliding with anybody else's. Soon enough, Shenhe broke away to find herself at the edge of the Harbor, almost transported there by the flood of people.

And for a while, she simply stood there, watching some lights dim and others come to life as the Harbor continued its business late into the night.

The performance hadn't left her, she could still feel the drums and strings, the dancer on the stage. Yet, there was something she swore that she missed, like a word on the tip of a tongue. Did some part of the performance slip by? Was that the point of it all? Shenhe turned away, a question lingering in her mind.

Surely Ganyu would know the answer to this, right?

If not, she'd drag the Qilin into another one of these performances in the near future.

Link: https://www.deviantart.com/emmanuellawrent/art/An-Untitled-Shenhe-Short-943222452