Got this idea from Ei's birthday art year. I know I'm late, but happy birthday, Ei 🎂
Inzauma at Ei's home...
The Raiden shogun hummed a little song, softly and quietly, as she concentrated on her hair. Her fingers carefully twisted the strands and moved them one over the other. Her teeth held her hair tie as her purple eyes stayed focused on her work.
"Hi Eiiiiii!"
"Hi Ei!"
Her concentration was broken when two familiar voices hit her ears. Her focus shifted, and her electric lavender eyes glanced over to find Aether and his floating companion, Paimon, approaching her. Their smiles beamed at the purple hair shogun, brighter than the sun today in Inzauma. Ei's eyes got big a little in surprise. She knew they were coming today from the visit to Fontaine, but didn't expect for then to arrive that fast. Her fingers delicately took the hair tie from her mouth that she could speak.
"Ah. You arrive earlier than expected. Just a moment, please." She said and resumed her braiding, turning away from them. The golden hair traveler watched her fingers dance slowly yet gracefully with each other to complete each braid without a twist of hair sticking out. As she twisted her hair into its signature style, Aether and Paimon watched her curiously. They stayed quiet, afraid they could distract her.
"Hey, Paimon. Maybe we should braid your hair. I think you would look like nice." Aether suggested, glancing at the floating girl who looked at him. Her lips pulled back as she thought about it carefully. "Hmmm, Paimon does like the idea. But you have to it and you got be gentle!" She remarked, earning an amused eye roll.
Aether glanced his golden eyes back to the shogun. He noticed how her braiding technique seemed unique. The traveler has braided his own hair before, but he felt that Ei's braiding was different from his.
"Hey, Ei. What braiding technique are you doing?" He asked her, thinking maybe her braiding was different because her hair was longer. Ei looked at him and pondered for a moment.
"The way I braid my hair, hmm, it should be similar to most people. Weaving three strands together, like so..." she answered, intertwining the last couple of strands as her friends watched curiously. Now, at the bottom of her braid, she tied it together with her hair tie. Letting her now finish braid rest on her lap, she turned her face to look at the traveling duo.
"Do you know any other ways of braiding hair?" She asked, revealing curiosity in her voice. Aether held his chin as he thought about it. He had definitely seen more unique braiding techniques like Shenhe, Qiqi, and Venti. "I might know some other techniques. But you know, I think there are other hairstyles that would be beautiful on you. Have you thought of trying a new look once in a while?" He suggested, already thinking of other hairstyles from his friends that could work nicely on the electro holder like Jean's ponytail or Ningguang's cat ear style.
Ei stood up from her spot, thinking about these suggestions. Her hand brushed her braid, glancing at it and picturing different hairstyles that could work with it. "I suppose I could change up my style once in a while. After all, it doesn't hurt to try something new." She responded, smiling warmly at Aether and Paimon as they smiled back. Looks like today the traveler and Paimon would help the almighty shogun try a new look.
