premise: as the production assistant for one of teyvat's biggest music programs, you interact with idols on the daily. though, it's hard to do your job when these idols start getting a little too close and personal. (yandere! genshin idols x reader)
dark content
you remember exactly how you felt when you first entered the industry. starry eyed and bushy tailed, you were so excited to meet your favorite idols. yes, you had a notebook for autographs and everything.
unfortunately, your enthusiasm died quickly.
"what's wrong? you don't look so good."
childe slings his arm over your shoulder naturally, dragging you under his weight. you wince at the feeling of sweat on your back, the result of his prior rehearsal. mic checks were your least favorite part of your job.
"childe, could you please let go? i have a job to do," you mutter, though you knew better than to try and pry him off you. he'd only hold you tighter.
"but i haven't seen you in forever! have you been reading my texts at all?"
kaeya walks over, water bottle in hand. he tosses it over to childe with a grin on his face. "stop bothering her, it's so clear she doesn't feel comfortable with you. especially with you basically hounding at her. isn't that right, sweetheart?"
you shrug, put in a difficult spot. "it's fine, i'm used to it."
childe smiles gleefully like a little kid. "see? i just missed my best friend, that's all."
kaeya's right. but it's not like you can say anything. though you've already been a production assistant for a year, you have a feeling that if you spoke out against these idols, you'd lose your job within seconds.
having started three years ago, dckz (childe and kaeya's group) has quickly risen to fame, especially overseas. with their more mature, darker concepts, every time they have a comeback your social media feeds are flooded with thirst edits.
you met childe first. well, one-on-one, anyway. it was through some one-off chance. the timing seemingly matched up and by some miracle (or curse), he attached himself to you. it didn't take long for his members to join him. from running tedious errands, unsolicited texts, and tiny temper tantrums for you to be assigned to him, your career life has been anything but peaceful.
nowadays, whenever dckz has a new promotion, or any group for that matter, the staff don't even hesitate to send you their way, since you have a "way with idols."
at first, management was quick to transfer you elsewhere. somewhere in the shadows, where the idols couldn't see you as much. but when they realized how unenthusiastic they became (so much so that even the fans noticed), now they're even encouraging you to talk to them.
"what's going on?" it isn't long before zhongli joins the three of you.
"childe's just screwing around," kaeya replies.
zhongli raises a brow at you but says nothing. he's always like thatâhe's known among the fans for his "strong but silent" archetype after all. and after a year of interacting with him, you can't really blame them.
however, however, zhongli is not quite as impassive as the public makes him out to be. it's not obvious, but you can kind of tell. the way he brushes your hand when you hand him a towel, or the way you sometimes catch him staring.
when getting ready for the actual show, he'll beckon you over to adjust something that doesn't need to be adjusted. he'll ask you if his collar looks okay (though it's very much skewed). when you go to fix it for him, sometimes you can hear his breath hitch a little. just a little.
he doesn't say much, and you can't help but feel grateful. it makes it a lot less troubling when dealing with the group.
kaeya, on the other hand, has no problem expressing when he wants something. he grabs on your wrist and tugs you away from the conversation.
"hey! where are you going?"
kaeya waves dismissively. childe continues calling out to you two but it gets quieter the farther you move away from him.
"can you help me? i think my pants are a little lose."
yeah right, you think. his pants are so tight you can see an imprint of his dick, not like you want to see it. if they were any tighter, kaeya's circulation would've been fucked.
the staff don't say anything when kaeya drags you into the dressing room. it's become the norm at this point.
the dressing room is cleared out. it seems that the staff are tending to the other members as of right now, or at least getting ready to leave. although the members are performing tonight, their rehearsal was rescheduled early in the morning. the next group, 4nemo, should be coming in the next hour or so.
you can feel your eye bags droop at the thought.
"i think your pants are fine," you finally say when kaeya closes the door.
"you think so? could you check for me? i felt them droop a little while dancing. i wouldn't want them to drop in the middle of the performance."
"wouldn't you ask your stylist, then?"
he shrugs. "i don't see them here right now. do you? this is urgent business."
he leans closer than what is considered professional.
you know he's lying. but kaeya's always like this, pulling random excuses out of his nonexistent pockets. the staff won't humor him, so it's up to you to. apparently.
even when the two of you both know he's talking out of his ass, he'll go on like nothings wrong. just like how he's subtly showing off the semi-hard-on he's gotten.
there's a devious smirk on his face that you wish you could wipe off.
he leans forward, his lips barely brushing against your earlobe. "well? what are you waiting for?"
before you can say anything else, the door opens.
you're quick to step away, to which kaeya groans.
"of all times, diluc."
"tech is looking for you, kaeya. they wanna check your mic."
it's dead silence between the two of them. there's some sort of animosity. you heard that kaeya and diluc knew each other way back when even before they were set to debut in dckz together. though they don't hate each other enough to kill (not anymore, anyway), there's still an unspoken rivalry. the fans love it.
for you? it's a bit annoying.
especially when you're caught in between.
however, it doesn't seem to be one of those days, because kaeya acquiesces. "fine, but don't be too long."
he leaves with a huff, making sure to keep the door wide open.
you're waiting for diluc to say something, but he doesn't. so, of course, it's up to you to do something about it.
you check him out, analyzing the little patterns of his outfit down to the way he's standing. over time, you've learned how to get a read on idols. maybe that's why they like you so much.
"all the dancing mess with your makeup?"
diluc nods silently before walking over to one of the makeup chairs.
you go over to him, taking lip gloss and a thin makeup brush from your pocket. for a production assistant, it's a bit unusual. but after so many incidents, you just learned to have it on hand. it's easier that way.
his eyes follow every single one of your movements. you dab some of the lip gloss onto the brush before gliding it over diluc's lips. you take a small second to yourself to admire the sheen.
"you have a whole team of stylists, you know."
"yeah, but it doesn't look as good if someone else does it."
like zhongli, dliuc doesn't cause too much trouble for you. well, as long as kaeya isn't in the room, which isn't often but whenever he's alone he's fine. at least he doesn't throw fits whenever you're not in the room.
however, he's also arguably the hardest one to read. he always has to have some hidden meaning behind everything he says. he looks at you like you're supposed to get it, too. even if you do, you pretend not to. you're just a lowly production assistant, trying to do their job.
so you just wordlessly touch up on diluc's makeup, trying to ignore how he's staring at your lips like he wants to kiss them.
after dckz's rehearsal, it's 4nemo's.
in contrast to dckz's more sexy concept, 4nemo for the most part takes on a softer one. they're so different but popular in their own right. so when they're promotions collide, it's troublesome.
"so? what did you think of the performance? isn't my singing voice the best?" venti says.
for archons' sake, you just want to do your job...
venti's the chatterbox of the group. he doesn't throw as many fits as childe or kaeya do, but it's still exhausting to deal with him. every time you see him, you're dragged into a conversation you can't quite escape.
from what he ate this morning to invasive questions like what color were your panties, he can never shut up. sometimes he even jokes about the two of you entering a secret relationship together. you don't dignify it with a response.
it makes sense that he also helps host the music show.
xiao and aether had to leave immediately after the rehearsal. xiao has an appearance in a variety tv show to do and aether's busy preparing for a collaboration with his twin sister. for that, you're grateful.
it's quiet.
almost too quiet.
"kazuha's missing."
...great.
4nemo's manager looks distraught. he's relatively out of breath, a bead of sweat on his temple. "can you help look for him?"
you don't miss the way venti pouts. he tugs at your shirt, silently asking you not to. "she's helping me with something."
with what? entertaining?
you smile at him, as if it'd placate him. "it's okay, i'll be right back."
that's enough for venti to let go of you, though it's definitely not willingly. he has a pout on his face that you swore you saw go viral on twitter once.
it doesn't work on you. you head out to find kazuha.
this kind of phenonemon is normal. kazuha's quiet, but that just means that he's likely to go off on his own whenever his "creativity sparks."
you search all the usual spots and come up with nothing. it isn't until you're in one of the more hidden hallways that only production staff use that you find him curled up in some corner with a notebook and pen.
"there you are, kazuha. everyone's looking at you."
kazuha looks up from the paper with a knowing smile. "ah, i knew you'd find me."
you sigh exasperatedly, going down to sit next to him. it's the first time you've sat down all day. you can feel the soreness in your legs screaming at you.
"you can't keep doing this. everyone's worried."
"it's fine. they know i won't get into trouble. besides, i need to finish this next song."
"another one? but you're promoting right now. aren't you overworking yourself?" you know you are.
kazuha shrugs. "i don't know. i just...felt like i had to write something. want to see?"
of course you do. 4nemo has always been known for their soft, meaningful lyrics. their heartfelt words have always touched the heart of fans. kazuha's known for his lyrical genius, so you'd love to see it in action. you lean a little closer, eager to see his work when you catch a glimpse of something you don't like.
did kazuha want you to see it? or did he forget? either way, you'll pretend you're none the wiser.
you brush off the sight of your name scribbled on the sheet with hearts next to it. it's flattering, really. but you don't want to get caught up in some kind of scandal, despite how good these big entertainment companies are at hiding those.
"no, it's okay."
you get up unceremoniously, pretending to pat away the dust off your jeans.
you're here to do your job, not to pursue anything unprofessional with a bunch of idols. as much as you dread the shenanigans you have to put up with, you love your job. you love watching the idols dance on stage, singing their hearts out. you love the way the fans cheer and scream, just like you once did. you love knowing you helped make it happen.
so for the sake of your employment, you wave goodbye.
"i'll let your manager know where you are. good luck with your writing kazuha!"
"wait!"
you're gone without another word.
that night, everything goes smoothly. you spent the rest of the day moving back and forth, flipping between different groups like speed and endurance is your superpower.
it's all worth it though, you think as you stare at the monitor.
dckz is up right now. you watch how kaeya and diluc smoothly glide across the stage in harmony, almost as if they didn't actually hate each other. as much as these idols have their own problems and conflicts backstage, it's different once the spotlight hits them.
there's so many lightsticks in the crowd you're almost blinded. countless fans, both in-person and online, are having the time of their lives.
so yes, you'll switch between groups, fetching xiao some water and making sure that zhongli has an extra towel from when the group's finished performing. you'll turn down any unwanted advancements without so much as a complaint. if it means that these idols won't throw a fit or falter on stage, you'll do it. you'll do it all for the fans for this exact moment.
but at the end of the night, when the show's all over and you're ready to go home, you'll sit down for a long time and let out a breath you didn't know you'd been holding.
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(Synopsis): After Aether reposted a video of you it caught the attention of the more mature idol group DCKZ
(Tags/ Warnings): gn!reader, reggaeton artist!reader, idol group!DCKZ, modern au, reader knows and sings in Spanish, (if I missed anything lmk)
(Word Count): 606
(A/n): Last part did a lot better than I expected so hereâs a part 2 with DCKZ, if you want to see an idol group in the next part lmk
Part 1
Diluc
đ” A random video of you performing was reposted by his good friend, Aether. That was Dilucâs first introduction to you. Your music was so infectious that he had to listen to your music
đ” He could understand a few words but most of the words, slang, and the double entendres flew other his head. As anyone would do he looked up the translation to the lyrics
đ” Despite the initial thoughts of it being an ordinary pop song, he was blown away by your lyrics; each line expressing hope, perseverance, and community with a catchy tune. It was all wrapped up in this one beautiful piece, he looked up other songs of yours and found similar themes
đ” Seeing your onstage presence reminded him of him and his groupâs more mature theme (compared to 6reezeâs more youthful attitude). He thought it might be a good idea to collaborate with you and make some music
Childe
đ” Another one who saw Aetherâs post he fell in love
đ” As the sporty one of the group, Childe loves your footwork. Lively and energetic in each step you take, not only were your feet moving your arms moved with the rhythm
đ” The more he watched your performances, music videos, and practice tapes he saw that the movements all came naturally to you. There were barely times where you would mess up the footwork, it was almost like it was second nature to you
đ” As he kept digging through your discography he saw the sense of community you portray in one of your music videos. A traditional party with people getting along, enjoying each otherâs company and the music. Childe instantly knew you were a family person and loved your community
đ” Childe was the one who brought up doing a collab with you since your music and dance matched theirs perfectly
Kaeya
đ” Heard of you from his drinking buddy, Venti, and a potential future collab with you. After hearing your music and seeing your performances he wanted to dance next to you on stage
đ” He heard your music on social media before and it was catchy. Though he just never went out of his way to look for it, but after hearing Venti gust about you. Kaeya was intrigued
đ” Was the first one to do some research on you and liked what he saw. You had this sensual flair when you danced, the same sensuality that drives his fans into a frenzy whenever he does a similar thing on stage
đ” Seeing your dancing, it reminded him of the dancing from his home country, the one he lived in before living with his adopted family. He incorporates the same dance style into his choreography
đ” He had to convince the group to do collab with you before 6reeze
Zhongli
đ” Didnât hear of you until Childe and Kaeya brought you to his attention. When he first heard of your music he immediately knew it wasnât to his taste and thatâs fine. However the more the two would shove your music in his face and talking about doing a collab, Zhongli decided to look into you more
đ” Loves how you put your culture and its rich history. He takes pride in his own culture and takes every opportunity to show it in his performances
đ” Saw various performances where you combined both traditional and modern styles of music into it to create an unforgettable experience
đ” Though your usual stuff wouldnât be the music he would listen to unprompted, he grew to appreciate the craft and love you put into each song
Recently found out a lot of people don't know what DCKZ is so:
In early genshin, these four being grouped together was super popular. Mostly because they were all hot, but the dynamics were also funny. (If you've ever heard of 4nemo, its like that).
They're shipped in various ways, but they don't need to be shipped in order to be in the group, thats down to personal preference. (I'm pretty sure dckz is also part of the reason why klc and zhongchi are some of the biggest ships in the fandom)
A lot of people would put them in boy band modern aus, polycules, etc etc. This is just my take on it :)
Ok, so uh, I know you're probably scratching your head reading the title, but hear me out on this one.
This started with me remembering this image I had saved on my computer:
I don't know who originally made it (only that I found it on Pinterest) or what they were trying to say, but it made me go "teehee" and I saved it to my computational device. And since I love DCKZ, I thought "Hmm, why not expand on this silly idea?"
So here's my modern AU where I detail how I imagine they got introduced to the series they're given in the image, who's their favorite character, and anything else to expand this silly AU. Because I have decided that I want DCKZ to become a regular topic on my blog, and this is how I'm doing it.
Diluc and Barbie
When they were kids, Diluc and Kaeya were invited over to Jean's place and Barbara was watching one of the early 2000s Barbie movies on the living room TV.
Diluc noticed this and sat down next to Barbara. Kaeya and Jean joined in too and soon they were eating snacks and enjoying the movie.
After that experience, Diluc would ask Crepus and Adelinde to get DVDs of all the Barbie movies; he needed to see the rest of this cinematic universe.
As he grew up, Diluc found himself not enjoying many of the modern Barbie movies but had fond memories of watching the older movies with Kaeya and Jean.
One day while Diluc is in the middle of his shift at the Angel's Share, Kaeya enters the bar and takes a seat at the counter right in front of Diluc. He tries to make conversation and Diluc gives either short responses or a simple nod.
"Jean, Barbara, and I were planning on seeing the Barbie movie with Rosaria and Venti. The problem is we have one more ticket, and we don't know who else to bring with us." He said with a mischievous little smile. Diluc stops cleaning the glass he's holding and looks at his brother with his usual stern-looking expression.
"What time?"
He absolutely cried during the movie because he's a sopping wet owl like that, and Kaeya likes to tease him about it (not in a mean way, but in a "Teehee, I can't believe Diluc of all people is getting emotional over the funny pink movie" way)
I feel like Diluc's favorite Barbie movies would be Rapunzel, The Princess and the Pauper, Magic of Pegasus, Diamond Castle, and Three Musketeers.
Imagine you're his partner and you suggest having a movie night together, and he gets this look in his eyes that says "It's my time to shine" and pulls out his DVD collection of Barbie movies.
Honestly, that'd make me know I made the right choice in a partner.
Childe and The Powerpuff Girls
He was introduced to the show thanks to his siblings, so it became something they bonded over.
He watched a couple episodes of the reboot and went "Y'know what? I'm good."
I'm not sure if he would have a favorite girl; I think he'd like all three equally.
One day at work, he notices one of his coworkers has a Bubbles pin on her bag, and he goes "Oh hey, you like that show too?"
She seems surprised that he's talking to her but gives a small smile and nods. She introduces herself as Columbina and the two become friends.
The two of them read the leaked script for the live action show and they both did not like it.
Kaeya and Winx Club
As a kid, Kaeya saw a random episode from one of the first four seasons and it changed his life forever.
It definitely influenced his fashion taste.
He's not a fan of the later seasons.
I feel like his favorite would be Flora.
I know this is a modern AU, but I like to imagine canon Kaeya looking at Bloom and her story of being the survivor of a destroyed kingdom and being like "She's just like me fr"
He saw the live action Netflix show and spent an entire evening at the Angel's Share with Rosaria complaining about it, and she sat there listening to him, just nodding and occasionally going "That's crazy."
Then the reboot came out and he spent another evening with Rosaria where he ranted about the A.I. slop (Diluc was working at the bar that night and ended up being forced to listen to him as well).
Sorry, can you tell I'm disappointed in the state of the Winx franchise
Anyway, uh, I feel like his favorite forms would be Enchantix and maybe Bloomix
Zhongli and Ever After High
His coworker Hu Tao mentioned it one day and he was curious about it. She shows him some images of the dolls and web series, and to her surprise, he seems interested.
After work, she shows him an episode of the web series. They watch it together for a bit before Hu Tao notices that Zhongli is watching with his hand stroking his chin, as if he were watching something very informative.
He looks into the series more on his own time and discovers there were books. He tries to find physical copies of them so he can know more about the lore.
Hu Tao watches in real time as Zhongli learns more and more about the series (he's determined to know every bit of information about his new interest. He's just like me fr). She eventually tells him that the show never had a conclusion, and she swore she saw a glint of sadness in his eyes.
I don't know why, but when I think of which characters he'd like, my first thought is Cedar. Maybe he'd also be an Apple defender.
Ok, this ended up being way longer than I thought it was going to be, but I just want to add this scenario that I thought was funny:
Childe: "Thank god the live action Powerpuff Girls never released!"
Kaeya: "Wow, must be nice not having a live action adaption of your favorite series."
Childe: "At least yours has that reboot going on, right?"
Kaeya: "Yeah, the one with a ton of A.I.!"
Childe: "Oh, right. At least the Powerpuff reboot didn't have that, I guess."
Zhongli: "Your favorite series are getting reboots?"
Diluc: stays silent because he knows that his favorite franchise is still going strong even if the modern movies don't appeal to him
So yeah... that's my kinda crack modern AU of DCKZ becoming fans of girly series. I'm realizing that I put way too much effort into this, but it's fine because this is a DCKZ post. I don't care if this is considered ""cringe""; I'm just sharing my ideas that I think are fun and make me think about my favorite characters.
I'm not sure how to end this so... have a good day. Eat something nice today.
(Side note: I really want to see what an updated version of that image would look like. What would Neuvillette or Flins like? I'd love to see what others think.)
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synopsis *:ïŸâ§*:ïŸâ§ In which, worlds of an influencer and a popular boy band collide, and sparks fly.
a/n *:ïŸâ§*:ïŸâ§ Revamping an old fic. Comment, Reblog and Like à«ź ˶ᔠᔠá”˶ á
Comment to be added to the taglist.
Pt.II Pt.III
Going live inâŠ
3
2
1
âItâs your girl, Irris! Howâs everyone feeling today?â the blonde greeted cheerfully, flashing a bright smile at the camera as she absentmindedly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. The moment she logged on, her chat exploded with comments, flooding the screen with excitement and greetings. Her eyes darted to the neon-lit display, and a satisfied grin spread across her face as she took in the steadily climbing viewership numbers. She kicked off her stream with her usual casual banter and warm greetings, her tone light and engaging as she addressed her audience.
Her hand reached out to adjust the ring light, ensuring it was positioned perfectly to illuminate her features. Y/N, known online as Irris, couldnât help but notice the way her highlighter caught the pastel purple glow of the lighting setup. She might have gone a little overboard with it today, but her fans didnât seem to mindâif anything, they probably thought she looked radiant, almost otherworldly, like a fairy bathed in moonlight. Though the constant attention could feel overwhelming at times, Y/N had grown accustomed to it over the years. In fact, she thrived on it, finding joy in the connection she shared with her audience.
âTodayâs a very special day,â she announced, her voice brimming with excitement. âLike, seriously, itâs worth celebrating!â Her words immediately sparked a frenzy in the chat, with comments pouring in faster than she could read them. Her fans were buzzing with curiosity, their guesses growing wilder and more creative by the second. Some speculated it was a relationship update, while others joked about her announcing a career change or even a pregnancy. Y/N couldnât help but laugh at the absurdity of some of the suggestions, her eyes scanning the chat with amusement as she shook her head playfully.
âYou guys are way off,â she teased, her laughter ringing out clear and bright. âBut I love how creative youâre getting! Keep the guesses comingâIâll reveal the big news soon, I promise.â Her tone was warm and inviting, drawing her audience even deeper into the moment as they eagerly awaited her announcement. The chat kept chiming with more and more guesses.Â
âNo, no, itâs none of that,â she began, her voice laced with playful mystery as her hand momentarily disappeared from the cameraâs view. Y/N took her sweet time retrieving the items she had carefully prepared for this moment, savoring the anticipation building in her audience. The chat was a whirlwind of impatience and curiosity, with comments flying by at lightning speed. She couldnât help but smile to herself, always fascinated by how her fans reacted to even the smallest hints of something exciting. Their energy was infectious, and it made these moments all the more special.
Finally, she reappeared, holding up her treasures with a flourish. âTa-da!â she announced, her smile widening as she revealed a bottle of strawberry champagne and a single wine glass. The sight immediately sparked a fresh wave of questions in the chat. A wine glass? What was she planning? The audienceâs curiosity was palpable, and Y/N couldnât help but revel in their reactions.
âAlright, so hereâs the deal,â she said, her tone teasing yet warm. âI have some good news and some awesome news. Which one do you want to hear first?â She winked playfully at the camera, her eyes sparkling with mischief. The chat exploded with responses, some demanding the good news first, others begging for the awesome news right away. She could practically feel the excitement radiating from her fans, their energy fueling her own.
âOkay, okay, good news first,â she relented, holding up a hand to quiet the imaginary chaos. âSo, my contract with Abssosque Entertainment is officially up, which means⊠Iâm a free agent now!â She paused, letting the announcement sink in as the chat erupted with cheers, questions, and congratulations.
âBut wait, thatâs not all,â she continued, her voice rising with excitement. âThe awesome news isâŠâ She trailed off dramatically, as if waiting for an imaginary drumroll to build the suspense. âIâve received an offer from Teyvat Entertainment, and Iâll be joining the Teyvat Family soon!â
The moment the words left her lips, the chat went absolutely wild. Fans were spamming congratulations, heart emojis, and celebratory messages, their excitement overflowing. Y/N couldnât help but laugh, her heart swelling with gratitude and joy. This was a huge milestone, and sharing it with her fans made it all the more meaningful. âIâm so excited for this new chapter, and I canât wait to take you all along with me!â she added, her smile radiant as she raised the wine glass in a mock toast to her audience.
Irrisisluv : YASSSSKEHAKD QUEEN PURRđ đ âš
Nyako7 : The queen finally getting the treatment she deserves (àč>âĄ<àč)
Kai00Â : SLAYYYYY
Irrissimp : Now that our goddess is out. Time to burn that shit down. Get the gasoline boys.
Gangstagurl23Â : CONGRATSSSSS BAE
Icantstoptwinkling : * insert Dobby voice* Mother is free.
Irrissteponme : Irris lookin fine as fuck like Excuse me? Sorry. Mommy? Sorry. Mommy? Sorry.
Princessmurderkill : Ahakdhabskalja I can finally die in peace.
Mikosslut : Yaemiko x Irris when?
Kaeyaismyreligion : OMGGGGHAJHSKA YASS YAEMIKO X IRRIS IS A NEED. MOMMYx2
Childessluttywaist : Those Teyvat bitches better treat our goddess the way she deserves or else imma commit a felony.
âYes, yes, I know! Iâm just as excited as you all are,â Y/N replied, her voice brimming with enthusiasm as she addressed the chat. Her fingers scrolled through the flood of comments, her heart swelling with gratitude for the outpouring of support. âI canât wait to see what Teyvat Entertainment has in store for me. Itâs such a huge opportunity, and Iâm so ready for this new chapter. But one thingâs for sureâIâm going to absolutely love my time there. Itâs going to be amazing, and Iâm so grateful to have all of you by my side through it all!â Her eyes sparkled with genuine excitement, her smile wide and infectious as she continued to interact with her fans.
After a moment, she reached for the bottle of strawberry champagne, the golden liquid glinting under the soft pastel lighting. She poured herself a glass, the bubbles fizzing gently as she raised it toward the camera. âCheers to new beginnings!â she exclaimed, her voice warm and celebratory. She clinked the glass against the screen in a playful toast before taking a small, careful sip. Drinking on stream was usually against her rulesâshe preferred to keep things professionalâbut tonight felt different. This was a milestone, a moment worth celebrating, and she figured it could be excused just this once.
Just as she set the glass down, the sound of her door creaking open interrupted the moment. âHey, Y/N, have you seen myââ Her brother, Dainsleif, poked his head into the room, his voice trailing off as he noticed the camera and the bright lights. His eyes widened slightly in realization. âOh, I didnât realize you were streaming. Iâll come back later,â he said quickly, his tone apologetic as he turned to leave.
âNo, no, Dain, wait!â she called out, her voice warm and inviting. She didnât want him to feel like he was intrudingâthis was her family, after all, and she loved sharing these little moments with her fans. âWeâre just celebrating. Come sit!â She patted the spot on the couch next to her, giving him an encouraging smile. Dainsleif hesitated for a moment, clearly unsure about stepping into the spotlight, but he eventually relented, walking into the frame and taking a seat beside her.
âUh, hello, everyone,â he greeted awkwardly, his voice low and slightly hesitant. He wasnât used to being on camera, and it showed in the way he shifted uncomfortably, his eyes darting toward the chat. Y/N couldnât help but chuckle at his awkwardness, finding it endearing.
But her smile faltered as her eyes flicked back to the chat. The once joyful and celebratory atmosphere had shifted dramatically. The comments, which had been filled with excitement and congratulations just moments ago, were now a flood of ruthless, hateful messages directed at her brother. Her heart sank as she read through them, each word like a dagger to her chest. She bit the inside of her cheek so hard she could taste blood, forcing herself to keep her composure even as her stomach churned with anger and frustration.
Dainsleif, ever perceptive, noticed the change immediately. The warmth in his sisterâs demeanor had vanished, replaced by a quiet tension that hung heavy in the air. He glanced at her, then at the chat, his expression softening as he realized what was happening. âI should go,â he said softly, offering her a melancholic smile. âI have work anyway.â
Y/N looked up at him and nodded wordlessly, her throat tight with unspoken words. She wanted to defend him, to tell the world how wrong they were about her brother, how he wasnât the person they painted him to be. She wanted to scream that none of this was his fault, that he didnât deserve the hate and judgment being thrown his way. But she couldnât. Celebrities werenât allowed to be angry, sad, or frustrated. They were expected to be perpetually happy, their emotions carefully curated and polished for public consumption. Any deviation from that perfect image risked backlash, and she couldnât afford to let her guard down.
As much as it pained her, she knew there was nothing she could do to change the way people thought. So, with a heavy heart, she did what she always didâshe switched off her emotions, plastered on her practiced, flawless smile, and went with the flow. It left a bitter taste in her mouth, a hollow feeling in her chest, but this was the reality of her world. People liked the version of her they saw on screen, not the messy, complicated person she truly was. And who was she to complain? This was the life she had chosen, after all.
âAnyway, letâs not dampen the mood,â she said, clapping her hands together with forced enthusiasm, her voice ringing with a practiced cheerfulness. She carried on as if nothing had happened, seamlessly transitioning back into her usual stream content. As she continued talking, the chat gradually regained its joyful energy, the negativity fading into the background as her fans focused on her updates and playful banter. After about an hour of streaming, she finally wrapped things up, flashing her signature smile as she said her goodbyes and ended the stream.
The moment the camera turned off, Y/N let out a heavy sigh, her shoulders slumping as the tension sheâd been holding onto finally released. âFucking finally,â she muttered under her breath, standing up and stretching her stiff limbs. The bright lights dimmed, and the room felt quieter, more intimate, as she stepped away from the setup.
âYou done?â Her brotherâs voice drifted in from the living room, calm and familiar. She walked in to find him lounging on the couch, casually watching some cheesy Hallmark romance film, the kind heâd never admit to enjoying if anyone asked.
âWhat gave it away?â she asked, plopping down beside him and burrowing into the fluffy blanket draped over the couch. She kicked off her slippers and curled up, the warmth of the blanket a comforting contrast to the cold, performative energy of her stream.
âYou never cuss on camera,â he replied matter-of-factly, not even glancing away from the TV. His tone was casual, but there was a hint of amusement in his voice.
She scoffed, her tone dripping with sarcasm as she relaxed into the couch. âYeah, âcause I got manners and shit.â Her voice was lower, more relaxedâa stark contrast to the higher-pitched, bubbly tone she used on stream. It was a small but significant difference, one that only those closest to her ever got to hear.
Her brother chuckled at the obvious difference between Irris, the online persona, and Y/N, the real person. The sound was warm and familiar, but it earned him a playful smack from her. âDonât laugh at me,â she grumbled, though there was no real annoyance in her voice.
Y/N leaned her head against his shoulder, her expression softening as she spoke in a quieter, more melancholic tone. âIâm going to miss this.â
âMe too,â he replied simply, his eyes still fixed on the screen. There was a weight to his words, a quiet acknowledgment of the changes coming their way.
She sat up suddenly, turning to look at him with pleading eyes. âCanât you come with me?â she asked, her voice tinged with hope and desperation.
Her brother groaned wearily, running a hand through his hair as he finally looked away from the TV. âYou know I canât. I made a promise.â
A promise. Right. A promise to the person who had inadvertently dragged him into the mess he was in. Y/N couldnât help but feel bitter that her brother cared enough about that person to essentially ruin his own career. But deep down, she knew it wasnât really about the personâit was about his own unwavering sense of morality. Sometimes, she really hated how righteous he could be. It was one of the things she admired most about him, but also one of the things that frustrated her to no end.
Her gaze drifted around the room, landing on the cardboard boxes stacked in the corner, all labeled with her belongings. The sight was a reminder of the new chapter she was about to embark on, one that felt bittersweet without her brother by her side. He could have left that god-awful company and come with her if it werenât for that promise holding him back. The thought made her chest ache with frustration and sadness.
âWhatever,â she muttered, leaning back into the couch and pulling the blanket tighter around herself. The word hung in the air, heavy with unspoken emotions, as the two of them sat in silence, the faint sounds of the movie playing in the background.
For a moment, neither of them spoke, the weight of the future pressing down on them. But then her brother reached over, ruffling her hair affectionately, and she couldnât help but smile despite herself. They might be heading down different paths, but for now, in this quiet moment, they were still just Y/N and Dainsleifâsiblings navigating a complicated world together.
As the final, searing riff of Dilucâs guitar sliced through the air, the arena seemed to hold its breath for a split second before the thunderous crash of the drums brought the song to its explosive conclusion. Kaeya, the groupâs charismatic lead singer, belted out the last note with a flourish, his voice ringing clear and powerful as it echoed through the massive space. The crowd erupted into a deafening roar, their cheers and applause crashing over the stage like a tidal wave. Kaeya and Childe, the groupâs energetic main rapper, whooped and pumped their fists in the air, their faces lit up with exhilaration as they fed off the audienceâs electric energy.
The members of DCKZâDiluc, Childe, Kaeya, and Zhongliâstood together at the center of the stage, their silhouettes illuminated by the dazzling lights. They waved enthusiastically at their fans, their smiles wide and genuine as they soaked in the love and admiration radiating from the crowd. Zhongli, their stoic and dignified leader known to the world as Morax, stepped forward to deliver the closing thank-you message. His deep, resonant voice carried through the arena, calm and commanding as he expressed their gratitude to the fans who had made the night possible.
The crowd responded with even louder cheers, their chants of âDCKZ! DCKZ!â reverberating through the venue like a heartbeat. Kaeya, ever the showman, tapped his mic and grinned mischievously, his icy blue eyes sparkling with amusement. âAnd as promised,â he announced, his voice teasing as he turned to look at Diluc, who stood nearby with his guitar. Diluc, though visibly exasperated by his brotherâs antics, played along. He plucked the guitar pick from his instrument, kissed it dramatically for the crowdâs benefit, and then tossed it into the sea of outstretched hands below. Fans surged forward, their arms waving frantically as they vied to catch the coveted souvenir.
With one final wave, the members of DCKZ gathered at the edge of the stage, their voices united as they shouted, âEveryone, thank you for coming! We are DCKZ!â
The arena erupted into one last deafening cheer, the sound almost overwhelming as the stage lights dimmed, plunging the space into darkness. The members hurried offstage, their adrenaline still pumping as they made their way back to the dressing room. The moment they stepped backstage, they were swarmed by staff offering water bottles, towels, and words of praise. Childe, the groupâs ever-enthusiastic main rapper, slumped onto a nearby chair, letting out an exaggerated sigh as he wiped sweat from his forehead. âMan, Iâm beat,â he huffed, his voice tinged with exhaustion but still laced with his trademark playful energy.
âMe too,â Kaeya agreed, though his tone was lighter, his usual mischievous demeanor still intact despite the fatigue. He leaned against a wall, sipping from a water bottle as he glanced around at the bustling backstage area.
Albedo, their calm and composed manager, stepped forward, clapping his hands together to get their attention. âTodayâs show was stunning. Good work, everyone,â he said, his voice steady and reassuring as he offered them a small but genuine smile.
âBeeeeeedooooooââ Childe whined, dragging out the name in a playful, singsong tone as he attempted to engulf the shorter blonde man in a bear hug. Before he could succeed, Diluc grabbed the back of Childeâs collar, yanking him back with a look of mild disgust. âGo shower first, you sweaty piece of shit,â Diluc muttered, his tone dry but not unkind.
âRight back atcha, Luc,â Childe shot back, scowling as he shook off Dilucâs grip. He shot a mock glare at the guitarist before breaking into a grin, clearly enjoying the banter. Albedo let out a small sigh that sounded almost like a tired laugh, used to the constant bickering and antics of the group. It was all part of the job, and he had long since accepted it.
Once everyone had freshened up with showers and a change of clothes, they regrouped in the van parked backstage. The drive back began as it always didâZhongli, ever the composed and serene figure, leaned his head back against the seat, his eyes closed as he tried to catch a few moments of rest. Kaeya and Childe, on the other hand, were already deep into some nonsensical argument, their voices rising and falling as they bickered over something trivial. Diluc, seated nearby, snapped at them to keep it down, his patience clearly wearing thin as he rubbed his temples.
Albedo, seated at the front of the van, glanced back at the chaos with a faint smile. It was just another day in the life of DCKZ, and while the constant noise and drama could be exhausting, he wouldnât have it any other way. The bond between the members, though often expressed through teasing and bickering, was undeniable, and it was that very dynamic that made them so specialâboth on and off the stage.
Childeâs phone suddenly chimed with a loud notification, cutting through the usual hum of the van. His eyes widened as he glanced at the screen, and without hesitation, he shouted, âEverybody hush!â His voice was so commanding that it even startled Zhongli, who had been dozing off in his seat.
âWhaâ?â Zhongli mumbled, blinking groggily as he tried to orient himself. Kaeya, ever the curious one, leaned over Childeâs shoulder to see what had captured the gingerâs attention so completely. âSimp,â Kaeya said with a smirk, his tone dripping with playful mockery.
Diluc, who had been quietly observing the scene from his seat, raised an eyebrow in curiosity. He liked to act as though he was above the drama, but deep down, he secretly enjoyed it. After all, his deepest, darkest secret was that he often rented a hotel room just to binge-watch every episode of Keeping Up with the Shogun in peace, ensuring no one would ever find out and tease him about it.
âItâs some YouTuber he follows. Irris, is it?â Zhongli guessed, his voice calm and measured despite the chaos unfolding around him. Childe nodded wordlessly, his eyes glued to the screen as if he were watching something of monumental importance.
âWhatâs so special about her?â Diluc scoffed, his tone laced with disdain. In his mind, all YouTubers and influencers were the sameâpretty faces with zero substance and a bad case of celebrity complex. To be fair, he had never encountered anyone who challenged this belief, so he had no reason to think Irris would be any different. To him, influencers were pretentious, vain, overpaid salespeople. The word itself conjured images of reality TV stars, artificiality, undeserved wealth, wastefulness, and textbook narcissism. And the fact that Childe was so enamored with her only made her seem more repulsive in Dilucâs eyes.
âDonât you dare disrespect my wife!â Childe barked defensively, his voice rising as he shot Diluc a glare. Diluc merely rolled his eyes and turned away, clearly uninterested in engaging further.
Kaeya, ever the mediator, turned to Childe and grabbed his shoulders, shaking him gently. âHey, buddy, weâve talked about this. You canât just âwifeâ random women youâve never met, hmm?â he said, his tone dripping with exaggerated patience, as if he were explaining something to a five-year-old. And honestly, given Childeâs behavior, he might as well have been.
âSheâs not random! Sheâs Irris!â Childe protested, his voice rising in indignation. He cradled his phone closer to his chest, almost as if he were protecting Irris herself from the judgment of his bandmates. âAnd for your information, Iâve met her onceâat a YouTube seminar!â
âEveryone, please just calm down,â Zhongli interjected, his voice firm but weary. The leader had visibly grown tired of their bickering, and his words carried a quiet authority that momentarily silenced the group.
âWhatever. I bet sheâs just as fake as the others,â Diluc muttered under his breath, sinking further back into his seat. He had no desire to debate the topic any further, but his comment was just loud enough for Childe to hear.
âWhat did you just say, you emo, fatherless, edgelord motherfâ?â Childe fumed, his face turning red as he looked like he was ready to pounce on Diluc at any second. The tension in the van was palpable, and it was clear that things were about to escalate if someone didnât step in soon.
Kaeya, sensing the impending explosion, quickly intervened, holding up his hands in a placating gesture. âAlright, alright, letâs all take a deep breath. No one needs to get hurt over a YouTuber, okay?â he said, his tone light but firm.
Zhongli, meanwhile, pinched the bridge of his nose, letting out a long-suffering sigh. âCan we please just have one car ride without this kind of nonsense?â he asked, though it was clear he already knew the answer.
Childe, still glaring at Diluc, reluctantly settled back into his seat, though he continued to mutter under his breath about âdisrespectâ and âuncultured heathens.â Diluc, for his part, simply crossed his arms and stared out the window, his expression one of smug satisfaction.
âI believeââ Albedoâs calm, measured voice cut through the chaos from the driverâs seat, instantly silencing the four band members. It was rare for their manager to interject in their conversationsâhe usually preferred to listen quietly, observing their dynamics without getting involved. So naturally, everyone was caught off guard by his sudden input.
ââitâs unfair to build a prejudiced perception of her based solely on your previous understanding of influencers or Tartagliaâs⊠enthusiasm,â Albedo continued, his tone even and thoughtful. He spoke with the kind of quiet authority that made everyone pause and listen, even in the middle of their usual bickering. âAdditionally, her career encompasses multiple facets, such as modeling, streaming, hosting variety shows, and more. Sheâs not just an influencer; sheâs also a proficient dancer. So, I think itâs best you research a bit more and form a more educated opinion before passing judgment.â
The van fell silent for a moment as the band members processed Albedoâs words. It wasnât often that their manager shared his personal thoughts so openly, and the weight of his statement hung in the air.
Heâs totally a hardcore stan. The thought echoed in their minds simultaneously, though none of them dared to say it out loud. The idea of Albedo, their ever-professional and composed manager, being a dedicated fan of a YouTuber was both amusing and slightly unsettling.
They silently agreed to drop the topic, not wanting to risk offending their manager. Despite being younger than all of them, Albedo commanded immense respect from the group. He was a skilled and dedicated professional who had navigated them through countless potential scandals and shielded them from the pitfalls of cancel culture. His work ethic was so impeccable that Childe often joked (half-seriously) about whether Albedo even had a social life. But Kaeya and Diluc knew betterâAlbedo was secretly dating a sales manager from their company and even regularly babysat his colleagueâs daughter. How he managed to juggle all of that on top of his demanding job was a mystery to everyone.
The silence in the van was broken when Childe suddenly looked up from his phone, his face lighting up with sheer surprise and glee. âDilucââ he began, his voice unusually earnest.
âWhat?â Diluc replied, his tone laced with annoyance as he braced himself for whatever nonsense was about to come out of Childeâs mouth.
âCan you please tell Jean that I love her?â Childe asked, his expression completely serious.
âWhat the fuckââ Diluc started, his confusion evident, but before he could finish, Childe dropped the bombshell.
âIrris is coming to Teyvat!â
âHUH?!â The entire van erupted in unison, their voices overlapping in a mix of shock, disbelief, and excitement. Even Zhongli, who had been quietly observing the chaos, raised an eyebrow in surprise.
Childeâs announcement had completely derailed the conversation, and for a moment, all anyone could do was stare at him in stunned silence. The energy in the van shifted instantly, the earlier tension forgotten as the band members processed the news.
âWait, wait, waitâhold on,â Kaeya said, holding up a hand as if to physically stop the conversation from moving forward. âIrris? As in the Irris? The one youâve been simping over for months? Sheâs coming here? To Teyvat?â
âYes!â Childe exclaimed, his excitement palpable. He waved his phone in the air as if it were proof. âItâs all over social media. She just announced it on her stream. Sheâs joining Teyvat Entertainment!â
Diluc, who had been trying to maintain his usual stoic demeanor, couldnât hide his surprise. âTeyvat Entertainment? Thatâs⊠unexpected. I didn't think Jean would sign her,â he admitted, though his tone still carried a hint of skepticism.
Zhongli, ever the voice of reason, leaned forward slightly. âThis could be an interesting development,â he said thoughtfully. âTeyvat has been expanding its roster lately. If sheâs as talented as Albedo claims, this could be a significant move for both her and the company.â
Albedo, who had been quietly listening from the driverâs seat, glanced at them through the rearview mirror. âI told you she was more than just an influencer,â he said, his tone calm but with a hint of satisfaction.
Childe, meanwhile, was practically vibrating with excitement. âThis is huge! Do you know what this means? I might actually get to meet her! Like, in person! Not just at some random seminar where I barely got to say two words to her!â
Kaeya smirked, leaning back in his seat. âCareful, Childe. If you keep fangirling this hard, people might start thinking youâre obsessed.â
âIâm not obsessed!â Childe protested, though the way he was clutching his phone and grinning like a kid on Christmas morning suggested otherwise.
Diluc rolled his eyes, though even he couldnât completely suppress a small smile. âWhatever. Just donât embarrass us when you inevitably make a fool of yourself in front of her.â
âHey!â Childe shot back.
Albedo, ever the composed one, simply shook his head and focused on the road, though there was a faint smile on his face. âLetâs focus on the road, shall we?â he said, his tone light but firm. âWeâll have plenty of time to discuss this later.â
Childe, unable to contain his excitement, leaned forward, his arms resting on the back of Albedoâs seat. âBut Albedo, you donât understand! This is huge! Irris is coming to Teyvat! Do you know what this means? I might actually get to meet her properly this time!â
Kaeya smirked, his voice dripping with playful sarcasm. âOh, we know what it means. It means youâre going to embarrass yourselfâand by extension, all of usâthe moment youâre within ten feet of her.â
âI will not!â Childe shot back, his face turning red. âIâll be cool, calm, and collected. Youâll see!â
Diluc, who had been quietly observing the exchange, couldnât resist chiming in. âCool, calm, and collected? You? Thatâs the funniest thing Iâve heard all day.â
Childe turned to glare at him. âOh, shut it, Diluc. Just because youâre allergic to fun doesnât mean the rest of us have to be.â
Zhongli, ever the mediator, raised a hand to stop the bickering before it could escalate. âEnough, both of you. Letâs not turn this into another argument. If Irris is indeed joining Teyvat Entertainment, weâll likely cross paths with her sooner or later. Letâs focus on being professional, shall we?â
Childe crossed his arms, pouting slightly. âFine. But just so you know, Iâm not the one whoâs going to make things awkward.â
Kaeya snorted. âFamous last words.â
Albedo, sensing the conversation was about to spiral again, cleared his throat. âLetâs save the rest of this discussion for later. Weâre almost back, and Iâd rather not have to break up another fight before we even get out of the van.â
The group fell into a comfortable silence, the kind that came with the unspoken understanding that they were all in this togetherâchaos, bickering, and all. As the van pulled into the parking lot, Childe couldnât help but grin to himself, his mind already racing with plans for the day heâd finally get to meet Irris properly.
Kaeya noticed the look on his face and leaned over, his voice low and teasing. âJust promise me one thing, Childe.â
âWhat?â Childe asked, raising an eyebrow.
âWhen you inevitably make a fool of yourself in front of her, make sure someoneâs recording it. I want to savor the moment.â
Childe groaned, throwing his hands up in exasperation. âYouâre all the worst.â
Diluc, who had been quietly gathering his things, mumbled as he opened the van door. âWelcome to DCKZ.â
