hello! you have no idea how excited i am about this ask omg. okay so, beware: long reply.

i started shipping xiaoaether when i did the chasm quest, and just how they interacted in the quest made me feel butterflies. also, during the liyue archon quest where aether fell and xiao came to his rescue. and also, when aether made xiao’s favorite food and the wangshu inn manager said “i’ve never seen xiao smile till you” or something along those lines. i just fell deep from there tbh.

i personally love their dynamics where you have “stoic” xiao and sunshine aether. it’s been made known in genshin that xiao is this soldier who’d die for liyue and he’s all serious, but he goes to aether and he just.. becomes softer. he asked aether to be with him during lantern rite, because he wanted to release the lanterns together. KILL ME? xiao saying “whenever you need me, just call my name.” AND WHENEVER AETHER DOES, XIAO ALWAYS ANSWERS. i’m gonna combust. so yeah, i love how tender and soft xiao is whenever it comes to aether when he’s usually portrayed as stoic, almost no emotions. and aether just being a lovely ball of sunshine who tore those walls down. (don’t even get me started on xiao’s birthday letters, i’d eat bricks)

AAAAA TYSM FOR THE QUESTION I LOVED IT!! <333

also! if you play on eu or asia server, let’s be friends in genshin!

i hope you’re having a good day <3