Chapter Text
The year was ending but with ever-nearing time for a certain Consultant's birthday.
Lumine paced around Windrise to think of what gift she could possibly give to Zhongli.
She went here to ask Venti on what his old friend could possibly like.
But somehow even the bard was stumped by this.
"How about you give him Mora?", Paimon quipped but all she got was a distasteful look from Lumine and Venti looked like he was about to laugh.
"Where's the fun in that? Besides I bet the Mora you give him won't last", Venti was, unfortunately, right about that.
Lumine paced around more until she remembered a certain sweet that a merchant in Liyue showed her. Said merchant was a sweets connoisseur of sorts. They showed her a type of clear cake from Inazuma.
They were kind enough to give her the recipe and show her how to do the important steps. After seeing her interest in it.
"Hey, Venti", Lumine called out and the bard perked up.
" Does Zhongli always had a good eye for beautiful things?",
Venti chuckled, " Yes and No ", the bard landed on the base of the tree, his harp in his hands.
" When I met him he could care less about the details on what makes something beautiful as long as it looks nice and shiny, he'll hoard it",
' Ah, dragon tendencies', Lumine thought
"After he had taken the seat as Archon and ruled Liyue did his eye for beauty came through", Venti finished.
" Why do you ask? Planning on giving yourself as a gift instead?", The bard teased and now it was Paimon's turn to give a distasteful look.
Lumine's face bloomed a bright red from the idea but denied it while stuttering.
"Come on Paimon! Let's go to Qingce Village!", Lumine hastily left and Paimon was confused by the sudden behavior but followed none the less.
Venti waved goodbye to the duo as they looked for a Teleport Waypoint.
The bard hummed and a thought passed through his head,
"Maybe I should get that vintage bottle that I have been storing and pay him a visit",