*carefully handing you back Ei*
I just reread that little sickfic (out-of-commission-fic?) you wrote so we both know you're able to write for her without traumatizing the poor girl more. Right? Riiiight?
Ei content... without traumatizing her...? Ei content.... without traumatizing her... Ei... content... no... trauma... Ei... no trauma...
Okay fineeee :p getting around to my horror movie date night idea! Reader in this doesn't handle scary stuff well
Watching a Horror Movie with the Genshin Girlies - feat. Shenhe, Keqing, and Ei
- Shenhe -
"Are you really sure you want to watch this one?"
"Yes. Why wouldn't I be?"
"It's just that, well..."
Your eyes flicker to the side, aimless aside from the urge to avoid Shenhe's faux-innocent expression. Surely she knew what she was doing to some extent, right? Still, confronting her outright would mean having to admit your weakness, and that was even less appealing than suffering through yet another horror flick. You instead opt to force an awkward smile.
"Actually, never mind. I'll go get some snacks ready."
Archons, why is it so impossible to say no to that girl? It's not as if you let her get away with every little thing she wants. When it comes to the topic of picking out what movie you'll watch next, though, you just can't seem to stand your ground and suggest something not so terrifying. Maybe it's the novelty of seeing her so invested in a hobby? No, that wouldn't make sense, not when this is the fifth horror movie in a row you've gotten yourself roped into. Then... Ugh, whatever. The snacks are all ready, so you might as well just get this over with.
By the time you make your way back to your designated half of the couch, she's already got the TV remote in hand, her finger resting on top of the start icon. You don't even have to say that you're ready to go; the moment she notices your presence, a firm button press enters your ears.
Well, here goes nothing.
The first scene does little to calm your nerves, unfortunately. Lots of directors like to start off slow, let the audience bask in a false air of peace and tranquility before the inevitable terror starts kicking into full gear. Not this one. It's barely five minutes in and your hands are practically glued to your lips in a desperate attempt to hold back even a fraction of your embarrassing noises.
Shenhe, on the other hand, hasn't moved an inch. At least, not in response to the movie. Instead, all of her attention's directed at you and you alone. She doesn't say a word. She doesn't have to for you to understand what's coming next. Within a matter of seconds, the familiar warmth of her arms wrapping around your shaking form envelops you, quickly followed by a swift relocation from your former spot on the couch onto her lap. One of her palms moves to rest on top of your head before shifting back and forth.
"Don't be afraid. I'll protect you from any monsters who dare try to harm you."
No wonder you can never bring yourself to argue with her choice of movies.
- Keqing -
Perhaps it was a coincidence that you looked up at just the right moment to see a movie poster hanging on the wall, proudly advertising the latest addition to a series of classic horror films being shown in theaters later that day. Perhaps it was destiny. Regardless of what term you'd personally use to describe that day's events, Keqing only needed one: a royal pain in the ass.
"Oh come on! You said I could pick anything I wanted for our next date, so why are you trying to chicken out?"
"I'm not!" Her face turns sharply away, although not enough to fully hide the blush coating her cheeks. "I just have some work to attend to at that time, that's all."
"No you don't. You told me so earlier."
"Ugh." In the face of your refusal to fall for her blatant lie, all she has left to do is grumble to herself for a while. Then, she looks back at you. "Why are you so interested in this movie anyway? I don't recall you ever mentioning this series before."
"Well, to be honest..." Now it's your turn to blush. "I saw the first one a while back with a friend, but since I'm not good with scary stuff, they refused to watch the others with me. I really want to see it, but going alone is kind of sad, you know? So I was really hoping you would go with me instead. I guess it's a no, though..."
"Oh."
The two of you don't speak for a while. It's only once Keqing lets out an unusually loud grunt of annoyance that you finally look up once again. You watch as her still-red face scrunches in annoyance before settling into something different, softer.
"Well, then I guess I don't mind going. But you better not scream in my ear or anything like that, got it?"
"Got it! Thank you so, so, so much. You're the best."
"Whatever. Let's go already."
She tries so hard to act nonchalant, but you know better. It's kind of hard not to when you're staring right at her tomato-red face, now completely in view due to your clinging onto her side like a koala. Still, you do your best to hold back your giggles as you make your way over to the movie theater side by side.
By the time you arrive and get yourselves situated, the movie screen's already blaring with countless rays of light carefully orchestrated to form the image of people locked inside a strange room. One or two look familiar. Most don't. You suppose that's what happens when the premise of each movie revolves around murdering the majority of its cast. Just thinking about the fact is enough to make your skin crawl.
"Psst... Keqing." You call out, but to no avail. She's far too busy staring at the events unfolding to notice.
"Keqing..." You call out once more. Still no answer. The next time, you decide to reach out your hand and place it on top of hers.
"Keqing—"
"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
And that's the story of how you both managed to get kicked out of a movie theater after being there a grand total of five minutes.
- Ei -
"Watching a movie together as a date? Interesting..." Ei's index finger moves up to press against her lip. "I was not aware that such a custom had grown so popular. Very well, then. Where would we go to obtain one of those movies?"
"Oh, don't worry about that. I've got some over here. Just pick out whatever one looks the most interesting to you."
With an unwarranted level of pride, your arms wrap around a variety of DVDs and plop them down one by one for Ei's viewing pleasure. Her eyes shine with amazement at the new technology (to her, at least), not to mention the sheer number of options you've presented her with. And then the tip of her finger rests itself on top of one.
"What about this?"
Fuck. To be honest, you kind of forget you even had that one in the first place. You know, seeing as you were too much of a scaredy-cat to even make it halfway through your first attempt. Awkwardly, you laugh.
"Ah, that one, huh..."
"Is there a problem with it?"
"Nope! None at all." Your response comes out a little too harsh, a little too fast, but you change the topic fast enough that hopefully she fails to notice. "Oh, yeah. It's also normal for people to have snacks during movies, things like popcorn and candy. That kind of stuff."
"I see. It's no wonder the youth have grown so fond of this activity." She passionately nods in understanding. "Then allow me to be the one in charge of getting these snacks. I trust you'll take care of the technological side of things?"
You nod in response and watch as she merrily scurries away to who knows where. Most likely to find a servant to load the job onto. You decide it's for the best not to dwell on the matter... even if the time she's taking to return goes from expected to concerningly long. Perhaps she just has a hyperspecific food in mind? Eventually, you hear the creak of the door opening once more and breathe a sigh of relief before turning to look her way.
"Oh good, you're back. I was wonder...ing..."
There's no way in hell she can eat all that. Absolutely no way. Zero chance. And yet, to your horror, the minute she sets the stack of trays down onto the table in front of you, it dawns on you that she'll try anyway.
And boy does she try. Even after intently settling her line of sight on the movie screen, not a moment goes by where Ei's hands aren't shoveling one dessert or another down her throat. You honestly have to wonder if she's even paying attention to the movie at all, or just using it as a backdrop for her hour of gluttony.
Well, it's not like you're any better. Between eating your share of the food stash and watching in awe as she tackles her own, you've been so distracted that it's impossible to even recall the main character's name. That should be a bad thing, but... Hey, if this is what it takes to get through the movie in its entirety, then so be it.
"Hm..."
A soft hum escapes from Ei's throat. For the first time in who knows how long, she isn't chewing on anything. You tug at her arm.
"You all done? Need a drink or anything?"
She doesn't respond. Instead, her entire body weight shifts to the side—specifically, the side in which you just unintentionally dragged her towards, leaving her head to fall squarely into your lap. It doesn't take long before soft snores make their way into your ears.
The movie continues on in the background, but neither of you care about that any longer. Reality's far more entertaining than fiction.
