#it's maid may ! (for as long as i can keep churning out maid scenarios)

[genshin-scenarios]

just a little taste - maid!venti x reader

Summary: it’s maid day at the tavern and there’s a bonus pay for employees who dress the part! (Venti is not an employee but he has negotiated a freelance fee with Diluc). Featuring some wingman/friend energy from Mr Ragnvindr himself.

Warnings: reader is consuming alcohol (but is not drunk)

Adopt a Wanderer: Digital Store / Red String of Fate Prompt List

Diluc should’ve known this would happen the moment you walked through the door. 

You’re a weak link, one could say, within the sea of customers who are aware Venti’s just here to sing and probably not pay attention to them. Other waiters bustle about actually doing their job, but once Venti shuffles onto the seat next to you and pleads for a sip of your dandelion wine, you’re a goner for the rest of the evening.

Guilt eats at your conscience every time you say no, but Diluc is giving you a disapproving stare and motions to wait at least until a bit later into the night. Because he knows you both; you can’t say no to Venti and Venti adores you so much that once he does get a few glasses in, he starts feeling bad for taking advantage of your kindness and becomes uncharacteristically quieter. 

It’s then obvious that Venti should probably leave the rowdy tavern but preferably not alone, which means you have to escort him, and Diluc doesn’t want to deal with the moral guilt of sending you out with a drunk bard in a maid dress today. He’s stoic, but not a monster.

Venti’s performing another song, graceful as ever and seemingly unaffected by his outfit. He even does a little spin when you catch his eye, a quirk to his lips that tells you this is just another day to him. 

Figures that singing is so natural to the archon of Mondstadt. His voice is so soothing that you don’t know if you’re jealous of it, or the fact that you can’t listen to it all the time. 

When the next song comes around, he keeps his gaze mostly trained on you. You don’t know what to do with yourself when his eyes soften like that, and it reminds you of nights you’d spend together with the stars spilled across the sky; the breeze takes your worries away and the vastness of the world is comforting. But only under the cover of the dark do you feel safe, unseen and hidden from prying eyes.

The music of the lyre stops, applause roams around the room, and soon enough the bard approaches your table and sits next to you, wholly ignoring the empty space across.

Venti claims it’s because he doesn’t want to raise his voice in conversation, and it’s all you can do to raise a brow when he continues:

“So how did you like the music, Master?”

“...Venti, you don’t need to call me that.” In fact, despite the theme tonight, none of the staff is calling anyone that. “I’m sure Diluc will give you your bonus pay either way.”

“I don’t know, we had pretty specific terms.” Venti taps his chin. “And while I admit the term takes some getting used to, at least I get to choose who I serve tonight.” He brightens with a smile that says Congratulations! “You’re the lucky guest!”

Am I a guest or a sacrifice? “I’m sure it’s considered blasphemy to have anyone be treated like this by Mondstadt’s beloved… bard.” You almost call him Barbatos for a second, earning an amused ‘Hm?’ from Venti.

“Is it? I’m sure the great Barbatos wouldn’t mind.” He sidles up closer on the bench, bumping your legs together. Perfectly poised and giving you no room for escape: “Especially if you give some form of offering.”

“You want my drink that badly, huh?”

“Just a sip, so I can hold out until the end of my shift!” Venti promises with his hands clasped. If you were in a comic, you can imagine his eyes drawn with extra sparkles.

“...Alright.” You push your cup towards him. “But just—”

Rather than taking the wine, Venti’s thumb and index finger wrap around your chin and tilt your face upwards instead. You barely have any time to react as he steals a kiss, humming happily while you sit there, stunned.

He’s still close, speaking softly. “The wine tastes a little sweeter tonight, don’t you think?”

You feel dizzy.

Before you can say anything, Venti’s already tucked a stray lock of hair behind your ear with a content smile and retreated back to the stage. There and gone like a ghost of the wind.

To no one’s surprise, Venti is renewed with energy after taking a break with you. He thanks his favourite customer for sharing a bit of their wine, and you curse Barbatos for having you wrapped around his finger. 

Why did words like that have to come from an angel’s voice, too?