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Venti was back at Angel’s Share, securing his spot at the bar while Diluc tended to new customers and Venti’s ever growing bill. This happened nearly every weekend, now that Venti didn’t have his gnosis there wasn’t much else he could do than make it all disappear with dandelion wine.
Diluc noticed how Venti seemed a little more distant than usual, he was well aware of the God’s alcoholic tendencies, but usually he was a noisy drunk, unlike the quiet somber look he currently had.
“You’re quiet tonight.” Diluc said as he slid a glass of grape juice towards the bard.
Venti chuckled quietly, accepting the drink. “I’m just reminiscing, that’s all.”
Diluc raised an eyebrow, curious, but not enough to push for more information that Venti didn’t want to share.
“There’s only one of my old friends left, and I’m not even sure if he’s still alive.” Venti held the glass tight, “It’s just… lonely, being a God. That’s all.”
Diluc couldn’t reply to that, he didn’t know anything about Venti, and he wasn’t good at comforting people to begin with. He rubbed Venti’s shoulder slightly, praying to the Gods that it wasn’t as stiff as it felt.
Venti wiped at his face, “Thanks Master Diluc, sorry for being like this so early in the night. Can I get another bottle?”
With a sigh, Diluc nodded and went to grab Venti’s twelfth bottle of dandelion wine that night.
“Would talking about them help? I’m all ears to whatever you feel like sharing.”
The bard considered his offer, and nodded. “Sure! I’ll tell you about Morax then.” He took a sip, “He’s a brute, and a bit of an airhead, but he’s a good guy. Dunno if you’ve ever been to Liyue but that’s where he lives and rules over.”
Diluc nodded, he personally hadn’t fully been there, only passing through it during his previous travels across Teyvat, but it was on his ever growing list of things to do should his job get any less busy.
“Anyways, the old man is always forgetting about how important Mora is despite being the one who created it. Constantly forgets his wallet too, you’d think he’d be used to it by now since he’s older than me! And I’m not exactly young!” Venti scoffed, “Still though, as much of an oaf he can be he’s still a dear friend of mine, and the last of the original seven archons. I wonder if he’s okay, the lack of mail back from him is scary when you hear rumors that Rex Lapis is dead…”
Diluc blinked in surprise, a God dead? This is the first he’d heard of the news, and it was hard to believe someone as old and powerful as Rex Lapis could be killed.
“I’m sorry to hear it… he sounds like a good guy, though you sure chose some colorful words for him.”
Venti giggled, “Well, we don’t always get along, he’s more uptight than I am. Always going off about contracts or being an encyclopedia about Liyue. Sometimes the old man gets boring, but it still doesn’t change our friendship.”
Diluc nodded, it seemed Venti had gotten enough off of his chest for the night, and he still wasn’t very good at comforting people so he would be lying if he wasn’t a little more than relieved to see his friend doing better.
“Alright I’m cutting you off for the night, have some cider and get some rest.”
The bard whined but drank the juice anyways, staggering out the tavern to god knows where while Diluc started to clean up and close for the night.
The winds were energetic today, leaves rustling and leaving a shiver coursing through Venti’s body. It was nice, usually when the winds were like this something good happened. As Venti was enjoying his stroll, he spotted a man completely out of place. Amber eyes looked around with quiet confusion, and all Venti could do was run and jump at the man.
“You’re alive!” Venti whispered as he clung onto the man for dear life.
The man was confused at first, but upon seeing the glowing blue hair he understood. “Yes, I’m quite alright. I apologize for worrying you Barbatos.”
Venti lightly punched Rex Lapis, “That’s what you get for making me worry so much! Did you have any idea how I felt when I heard that you were dead?”
Rex Lapis chuckled, “That’s why I’m here in Mondstadt, actually. I didn’t want you to worry, I simply have some… news.”
The bard raised a brow, but ushered him to a place where they could teleport back to Windrise. Once situated, Rex Lapis explained everything from what really happened to why he decided to fake his own death.
“So that’s how it is huh… I don’t blame you for wanting to give up ruling, but is it what you truly want? What about your freedom?”
Zhongli looked out wistfully across the expanse of nature, “The era of Rex Lapis has come to an end… I wish to live how mortals live now. I want to see if my people can handle themselves after relying on me for so long, I guess you could call it a test of sorts.”
Venti looked at him confused, “A test? Actually, I don’t wanna know what scary thing you’ve thought up for your people. Anyways, time is being wasted every second you aren’t trying Mondstadt’s specialities!”
“Do you mean the Dandelion Wine you adore so much?” Zhongli teased.
The bard huffed, “Maybe so, but you know how good it is! Plus I think you’ll like the bartender, he’s extremely stubborn, just like you!”
Zhongli frowned, “I do not think that’s a very good compliment, but I appreciate the sentiment nonetheless.”
The tavern was lively, the night was young and as it was the weekend, more people than usual were enjoying themselves. Diluc didn’t exactly enjoy the sight, or how busy he was for that matter, but he busied himself anyways. He almost sighed when the bell that alerted him of another customer chimed, until he looked up into warm amber eyes.
His mouth went dry, he muttered a quiet welcome to the incomers as he internally lectured himself for losing composure over something as simple as pretty eyes. However, the more he studied the man, the more he felt his face heat up.
Venti casually hopped up in a bar stool in front of him, “Heya Master Diluc! I wanted you to meet my friend Zhongli, he’s visiting from Liyue!”
The man in question sat quietly next to Venti, smiling in greeting. “It’s nice to meet you, Diluc.”
Diluc nodded, “Same to you Zhongli, I assume you both want the Dandelion Wine?”
Venti nodded, “Yep! He’s had it before but it’s tradition to drink it every time you visit Mondstadt!”
“Oh is it now? I didn’t know you made the rules about my wine.”
Venti huffed, “Master Diluc you’re so mean to me, and in front of my friend no less! Where’d your manners go!”
“I can simply not serve you anything you know.” Diluc deadpanned.
Zhongli watched the two bicker with amusement, he could see now why Venti liked him.
“Thank you for the wine, allow me to pay for us both since I doubt Venti ever has Mora.”
Venti grinned, “Did you remember to bring your wallet though?”
Zhongli frowned, “I know that’s become my reputation, but I assure you I did bring it for once. Though I still don’t understand why Mora is as important as it is…”
“You… don’t think Mora is important?” Diluc asked.
Zhongli pondered for a moment, “I can see how it is important, I personally have just never found a reason why it should be as important when there’s better ways to trade goods.”
Diluc was bewildered, he’d never met someone like this before. Apparently his confusion was easily seen on his face because Venti started laughing at him.
“I wanna tell you a secret that’ll make this make sense.” Venti said, leaning in to whisper that Zhongli was actually Rex Lapis in his ear.
Now that piece of information did make Diluc’s fascination with the God make sense, as well as his confusion about Mora. What he still didn’t understand was how the God who created mora could forget about it’s very existence.
Diluc furrowed his brows, “I see… well you’re both welcome to as much wine as you’d like, and if you’ll excuse me I have to tend to other customers.”
“What time does your shift end?” Zhongli asked.
“Um, in an hour or so, why do you ask?”
Zhongli smiled, “I’d like to get to know you better, that is all.”
Diluc blushed, “Oh, well uh I’ll see if I can get off earlier then if that’s the case.”
--
Diluc was able to get off early, not that they could say no to his request anyways, but he still didn’t want to just up and leave unless he absolutely had to. Venti giggled to himself as he watched the pair leave the tavern, giddy that things were looking good for them.
“So.. you wanted to get to know me better?”
Zhongli nodded, “Venti told me about you earlier and said that you’re extremely stubborn, like myself, however after seeing you in person was truly when I understood what he meant.”
Diluc raised a brow, but also made a mental note to not serve Venti anything other than juice for a week for that comment. “I see… well you don’t seem like the stubborn type, more mysterious than anything.”
“Ah, my apologies, is there anything you’d wish to learn about me?”
“Why did you come to Mondstadt, Liyue is quite far, so I’m intrigued in why you chose to visit now and not during a festival or something else.”
Zhongli thought on his answer for a moment, “Well I initially came here to visit Venti, but I also wanted a change of scenery, it’s been a while since I’ve been able to freely travel.”
“I see, well I hope you enjoy your stay here for however long your visit is.”
“Thank you, also if you don’t mind, could you show me the best place to buy souvenirs here? I would like to make this trip memorable since I won’t be able to visit again for a while.”
Diluc knew some basic spots, but he wasn’t really a tourist guide so he just nodded and showed him to Flora’s stand. “She’s somewhat of a floral whisperer of local flowers, however there’s also a botanist if you’d prefer those instead.”
Zhongli smiled, “Thank you Diluc, may I ask what you would recommend from her shop?”
“Um, the small lamp grass I suppose. They’re best viewed at night since they glow under moonlight.”
“I see… that reminds me of one of my favorite flowers, glaze lilies. They only bloom at night, so in a way they’re similar.”
Diluc’s eyes softened, “They sound lovely, I’ve never seen them myself but I’ll take your word for it.”
Zhongli paid for the flower and resumed his chat with Diluc, “You should visit Liyue when you get a chance then, I think you’d like them. Would you care to learn about their history?”
He nodded, and listened to Zhongli tell him all about their history, meaning and more. His voice was so soothing, he could fall asleep to it, he couldn’t believe all he did was work at a funeral parlor.
Soon enough it was getting late, Diluc needed to do his patrols and he assumed Zhongli needed to get some rest, or whatever Gods did at night. Before he could say anything, Zhongli held Diluc’s gloved hand and brought it to his lips.
“Thank you for a lovely night, Diluc. I hope we meet again soon.”
Diluc willed himself to not make a fool of himself and simply nodded, not trusting his voice to be his normal tone.
Warm amber eyes softened, “Well, until next time. I await our next reunion.”