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Wind could carry rock to just about anywhere. The possibilities were as endless as the wind currents themselves.
Mondstadt's ever-flowing gales and free-spirited charm were something that a certain gentleman missed. While he had last visited the city after his rather tumultuous retirement, such had occurred over a year ago. Now that his many burdens were gradually dwindling, he saw no reason as to why he couldn't visit the Anemo Archon’s domain again.
Upon his first day in Mondstadt, the gentleman wished to taste some of the country's lesser known tea. Wine was one of its many renowned staples, which was why its tea hardly gained much traction in other domains. So the gentleman entered his favorite tavern in Mondstadt, a tavern that served a number of good teas alongside numerous alcoholic drinks.
After he sat down in the quaint establishment, he crossed paths with two good friends, friends that happened to be giving bartending a try (and who were surely more renowned than Mondstadt's famous Dandelion Wine!). It was a surprise to both parties, but also a welcomed one. The gentleman's friends then served him his favorite Mondstadt tea, which they had perfectly executed; He savored every last drop.
Tips and tricks were exchanged after a bit more conversation, for the gentleman wished for the duo to continue to excel at bartending; His trip to Mondstadt had started out well. After putting his order under the tab of his new workplace, an eccentric establishment that he assisted from time to time after his retirement, he bade his friends farewell.
Off he went to experience more of what Mondstadt had to offer. But guess what: The gentleman decided to return to Angel's Share the next day, seeking out another drink that was made by his good friends. When he stepped back into the tavern, his friends were headed for the door.
"Oh! Hey! Traveler, look who it is! Did you come back for more tea?" one of his friends asked, a bubbly, sometimes airheaded fairy. The girl next to her waved a little wave at their guest.
The gentleman spoke with a light chuckle, "Of course, I thoroughly enjoyed the tea you brewed. Might I ask if you'd both be able to make me something else? Or were you about to leave?"
"Don't worry, we'll be back soon! Paimon was going to go get more ingredients with the Traveler. You know, for our drinks!" Paimon explained, rushing towards the door as her blonde companion nodded.
"I see, you can't progress all too much with your bartending without many ingredients. You never know what you'll need to satisfy a customer's needs. Be careful when you handle those loads. Perhaps you would like an extra helping hand?" he offered at the end.
"No no no! You wait right here, Zhongli. We'll try to be quick and careful! See you in a bit!" Paimon exclaimed, flying out the door the moment the Traveler grabbed its handle and swung it open.
And so the gentleman known as Zhongli waited, sitting in the same spot as he did yesterday.
He settled down, his warm gaze flicking about; Light trailed through the tavern's window panes, making the well-kept floors and walls glimmer with a slight sheen of gold. Good ambience was something that Zhongli appreciated.
He was one of the only patrons inside of Angel's Share. The clink of cups could be heard upstairs, followed by a mix of four or five voices. It would be noontime in an hour, which surely meant that other patrons would be pouring in to try the delicious concoctions made by the Traveler and Paimon.
For now, Zhongli enjoyed the relative peace and quiet amid his waiting, merely thinking about what else he could do after he had his tea. He could always catch up with the Traveler after her work, knowing that she had fulfilled what others in Inazuma would've deemed as 'impossible' for sure. The story she had yet to tell would be an immense one. It would be a nice change of pace, especially after hearing the many fabrications of the storytellers back home.
He could then take a trip out of the city, back into the whimsical wilderness of song. Mondstadt's territory was quite different from Liyue’s. Zhongli was always fond of beautiful landscapes, no matter where they could be found. The gentleman knew of the origins of such landscapes, how the Anemo Archon built them to his desire. Mountains were flattened, giving way for the wind to flow freely across the valleys of Mondstadt, both then and now.
Not only could Zhongli indulge in the country's landscape and intricate history, but he could also spend his time catching up with someone else.. one of his closest allies and friends. This he pondered over with a tilt of his chin, left hand resting against it. The Traveler knew of this friend of his as well. Had she spoken recently to them too? He'd have to ask her about that.
And then, in the blink of an eye, the whirling wind from outside stole Zhongli's attention.
He stood up from his chair, planting his gaze upon the tavern's door as the atmosphere outside grew somewhat heavy. He could sense it easily, with the sounds battering against the establishment and whatnot.
Swirling, powerful currents whisked along, which were not reminiscent of the more peaceful winds that swept the Anemo Archon’s domain.
On top of that, there hadn't been a sole cloud in the sky when the gentleman arrived. This was no indication of a thunderstorm; The not so insouciant winds whisked on dramatically; He knew that this was not a natural occurrence.
Yet everything dragged on, making it seem as though a great storm was on the cusp of breaking out. It was clear that the wind would only accelerate, causing a flurry of leaves and other objects to pass the tavern.
Those up above audibly gasped, expressing confusion and fright over the intense change in weather. Now things were really getting out of control. Zhongli shook his head, stepping closer to the tavern's front door.
A firm hand grasped its handle. He used his other hand to rub at one of his temples.
Despite literally everything, he simply opened the door, took one step back..
"MORAAAAAAAAAX! We meet again!"
..and braced himself a little too late for the reunion that was now taking place between him and Barbatos.
The Anemo Archon, known as Venti to his unsuspecting people, rode into the tavern on the boisterous wind. He giggled away, unable to penetrate the hard look Zhongli cast upon him. Surprisingly, he hadn't flown by with a bottle of alcohol. That was the only thing that surprised Zhongli. Venti came closer, bearing child-like delight in front of the composed Geo Archon. Nothing ever changed with him. He was certainly the most cheerful of The Seven. "Not only are the Traveler and Paimon back, but you are too! I came gliding over as soon as I heard the news.”
As Venti spoke, the winds whipped about even more!
"You just so happened to arrive right as those two started to serve drinks. So how about we—"
He gave a great squeal of protest to Zhongli moving him away from any prying eyes. The Geo Archon hauled the Anemo Archon beneath the tavern's staircase, which fortunately caused the wind to die down and return to normal as Venti was briefly disoriented.
Zhongli's brows furrowed, letting his old friend go as silence enveloped the space outside the tavern once more. "I believe your care-free nature is evolving into carelessness," he stated pointedly, sighing when he then asked, "Are you drunk?"
"Oh." Venti blinked, eyes lighting up once he realized what Zhongli was referring to. "Oh that? Hah! Never fear! There's no need to worry about any of that. I just came as soon as I heard some of my good friends were back in town," he chuckled. "After all, you do visit the land of freedom the most for a reason. It's as lively as yours truly. Not to mention that it has the best drinks in all of Teyvat!"
Shoulders rounding forwards, the Geo Archon hung his head low to look down directly at his buoyant companion. No, he wasn’t drunk, as far as Zhongli could tell, but the Anemo Archon’s grand entrance must’ve been attributed to his eagerness to get drunk with his more composed friend. So he hit him with some news, “You won’t be downing any bottles this morning.” Zhongli crossed his arms and lifted a finger before Venti could verbally show his shock; It was as if Venti couldn’t believe his ears, which was actually quite humorous.
“I assume that the Traveler is not allowed to serve alcohol, for they just started to mix drinks,” Zhongli imparted, veiling his relief about Venti not getting drunk in the early hours of the day with a small chuckle of his own. “Don’t start pouting, Barbatos. Did you forget that there are other drinks to try? You just declared that your nation has the best drinks on this continent. Does that not include every drink, alcoholic or not?” When he paused, a twinge of amusement coming through his vocals and face, he swiftly led Venti towards the table he was at, who was still trying to register Zhongli’s words.
The expression of the bard finally leaned towards disappointment. “This wasn’t what I had in mind, you know! At least Master Diluc won’t try to kick me out of his tavern.. but still!”
“If you think you can enjoy anything without alcohol in it while not exposing your true identity, you’ll be surprised by how many rich flavors you haven’t savored.” He drew his hands across the menu atop the table, scanning to see if there was anything that Venti would take over wine or liquor. As daunting of a task as that seemed, he wasn’t about to let Barbatos win. “Once the Traveler and Paimon return, you could order something off of this menu, whatever your heart desires. How does that sound?” Zhongli mused, pulling up Venti’s chair for him. There was one more thing he looked forward to this morning, “We may catch up with other matters as well while we sit together.”
Venti dropped into his chair with a thud, his tongue sticking out at Zhongli. “I’ll just order multiple servings of whatever drink pleases me the most~” he said breezily, quite fitting of his character. He snatched the menu off the table, his green hues darting to and fro, closely inspecting the text on the paper. Venti leaned back in his chair, only to spring back up with a sharp gasp, “Huh? Did they really not include any apple cider on here? That’s an insult to the drink itself. They’ve got to have some kind of apple-flavored replacement!”
Zhongli could at last sit down, poised to order the same tea from yesterday while Venti dealt with quite the conundrum. He arched a brow at Venti, thinking aloud with quite the quip, “They should have some apple juice for the little ones on the menu, if you know where to look.”
Venti’s menu suddenly fell on the table. His unseen expression was unseen no more. He once again stuck out his tongue, breaking up the half-offended look that filled his face. “Do they have a discount for the elderly?” Venti teased back, hiding his face behind the menu as he picked it back up. That didn’t stifle any of his abundant laughter. “I’ll ask Master Diluc about it the next time he comes around!”
Zhongli cleared his throat briskly at the obnoxious retort. He grunted, “Ahem. Would you now?”
The Anemo Archon dropped his menu a second time. He then propped his elbows on it, also situating his hands beneath his chin. His head was cocked up towards Zhongli, winking childishly. “I really should! I should also see to it that he adds more apple-flavored beverages. You’d back me up there, Morax. I only had two drinks to pick from. There’s no variety here, which is a true shame. They even named a drink after me, but it also has no apples in it!” he argued.
“You could ask the Traveler..” Zhongli suggested, eyeing the empty bar. “..as opposed to troubling Master Diluc today.”
“Me? Troubling him? No such thing!” Venti assured, dismissing the statement he heard countless times from others. He rose from his seat, flicking a finger at the bar as Zhongli now stared at him. “You already know that I drink here all the time. I’m one of Master Diluc’s most avid drinkers. I also bring music and song with me whenever I wish to perform here. I get wine, while he and his patrons get a great tune. Isn’t that a bargain?”
Zhongli just shook his head, losing count of how many times he must’ve done so during his morning with his fellow god. The Geo Archon told the Anemo Archon to sit back down and to not slouch. Before he spoke further, he ensured that no one had focused on the conversation he was having with the bard. Any form of gossip traveled about the city of freedom at the same speed the winds had harnessed. But no, it seemed as if the small group above them was also engrossed in their own conversations. After he ensured that no one was listening in on them, Zhongli began to speak of a new topic, “Shall we move on to something else? Something much more significant than idle tavern talk. We’ve hardly conversed about anything other than beverages and your antics, Barbatos.”
“Hm? Well! If the great Morax insists~! I’ve got an inkling as to what you want to talk about.” Venti clapped his hands together, a great smile spreading across his face. He moved the menu aside as his eyes brightened up with the most eagerness Zhongli had witnessed during his time in Mondstadt.
“What have you got to say about the Travelers' latest deeds?" Venti was at the edge of his seat. He gripped either side of the table, standing on the tip of his boots. Had the bard been even more excited, Zhongli knew that he would've floated in place for a brief moment. He spoke with reverence, his words a hushed, delightful whisper, "They calmed the storm in Inazuma and the storm in Raiden Ei’s heart. Not to mention that she also avenged us while she was at it, if you know what I mean.”
When the bard made a vague mention about a fallen enemy of theirs, it was impossible to overlook the edge that crept into his tone. It partially wavered as he went on, explaining where he had gotten such news from, for he hadn’t heard from the Traveler directly in many months.
The news that the oversea winds had delivered to him was still good news.
That was something neither of them overlooked. Venti earned a short nod from the other, whose steady eyes swam with many unspoken thoughts. Zhongli alluded to but a sole thought, enunciating clearly.
“Her demise was brought forth by many factors. The Tsaritsa lost a valuable asset, one who loved her more than she loved them. The contract I forged with the Tsaritsa and Signora still stands, but the Traveler did manage to put an end to any further scheming between those two.”
Venti also nodded, dispelling the remnants of tension that had entered his muscles. The absence of his smile was brief, for he felt like he could move on after Zhongli regarded the matter with briskness and conciseness. They had better things to talk about and better things to celebrate. “You’re right. Enough talk about them. What happened in Inazuma was incredible nonetheless, truly worthy of a musical tale!”
“It is because of fate that we had the chance to meet Teyvat’s rising hero. Raiden Ei wouldn’t have recovered if not for the Traveler. Their willpower was the key to rescuing Inazuma from its suffering.” Zhongli could agree with his old friend for once, with his own flow of words and such. Recalling the Traveler’s initial days in Liyue, the days in which she assisted the people of Liyue with proving that they could stand strong without the Adepti.. and so he determined that they were ready to depart from the age of gods and other divine entities. And of course, he couldn’t forget that the Traveler had fought their first Fauti Harbinger within the Golden House.
“The Traveler went through a lot of twists and turns to figure out how to save the day!” Venti added with a cheer. “No matter what she encounters next, I’m hopeful that she can work her way around it. She’s on a roll with saving the day. I also learned that she had some help from a pink vixen! One that you’re quite familiar with.”
A soft hum of thought slipped through Zhongli's lips; They curved upwards in a knowing grin. “Lady Yae had waited for centuries to reunite with her god. When the Traveler arrived in Inazuma, she knew that it would be the perfect time to execute a particular plan. We had similar thoughts as well when they first arrived in Mondstadt and Liyue,” came the light reminder. There was much more behind Zhongli’s words, something that only Venti knew.
The Seven were all anticipating the Traveler, in a way, something that the only two original members of the septet were quite fully aware of; The Raiden Shogun had not expected for the Traveler to be so adamantly against her old principles, nor had she expected for the presence of an outlander to shake her nation to its very core. “Our fellow Archon here must’ve been expecting some threat to challenge her ideals on a grand scale when you know who got involved with her treatment of Inazuma’s people,” said Venti, the beginnings of a frown creasing his face.
His old friend could tell where he was going with this, gaze softening. There was something that Venti would not skim over when addressing the former crisis in Inazuma: “What was a threat to her was a blessing to everyone else.. it’s just that those who came before the Traveler were not as fortunate as she was.”
Seeing his friend turn solemn, Zhongli extended a hand, offering a manner of comfort. Venti perked up at this, smiling an apologetic smile when he realized that he was growing sad again. “It’s gonna take a huge amount of effort for Raiden Ei to visualize all the grief that her own grief spawned.” The next thing Zhongli knew, as he already had a calming reply in mind, was that Venti had summoned a lyre. It was no holy lyre, though. The instrument was still of beautiful quality, fit for the whimsical bard to strum.
Delicate strings were stroked with a flick of his fingers. A tune was played, teetering between wistful and melancholic. The performance was meant only for the Geo Archon.. and those who had fallen underneath the strife of the Electro Archon.
“They lended their strength to the Traveler, because they all wanted the Shogun’s actions to end. Their names, their lives, and their ambitions won’t be forgotten. Wind and music speak of their accomplishments across Teyvat. I’d like for the Shogun——no.. for Raiden Ei to hear my rendition of it all,” he admitted determinedly, setting his lyre down gently as he played it some more. Venti’s harmonious touch echoed the solemnity he used in his voice. Raiden Ei was not the only god who had to cope with loss. “She withheld freedom from both her people and herself. There is so much to rebuild, so much to heal from. I’d honor her closest companions and sister as well, Morax.”
“That is a good idea, one that she’ll be inclined to listen to in the present day. I’d be there for your performance,” Zhongli promised, now matching the same tone as Venti.
Both of them were filled with shared empathy, and a new type of calm washed over the pair of friends.
Silence fell upon the two, save for Venti’s tune, but both were comfortable. Musical notes graced their ears. There no were no lyrics, either because Venti had yet to create any, or because he wished to simply produce an instrumental; It was the translation of the past played in the present, set to echo throughout the future. The sound was rushing in and around every person in Angel’s Share. Some reacted to the beat with curious murmurings, others continued in chatter, but the bard’s songs always spoke to them in some manner.
A lively tempo could lift them and could elevate the spirit. Those who were the most interested drew closer. Many eyes were upon the duo of undercover gods again. This time they were not confused, they were pleased! The glowing expressions of the observing men spoke of their liking to Venti’s performance. There was something about the vibrations that felt so heavenly.. It felt like a nurturing lull to the gods.
The ambience within the tavern took a gradual, well-welcomed shift. Time seemed to grow naught. It was just the patrons of Angel’s Share and the dedication Venti strummed.
The call for an encore broke the trance of the tavern as Venti’s fingers stopped caressing the lyre’s strings. The whimsical bard lifted his gaze onto those appulding him with a start. “Oh! Why hello there!” Zhongli looked up as well, the melody still playing in his head, which he didn’t mind one bit. The tune gave way to a warm surge inside of the gentleman. It felt like a rising breeze.
“Look everyone! It’s the bard that always plays here! No wonder why that sounded so good!” one of the men upstairs reported. His friend concurred, arms dangling off the wooden railing upstairs as they clapped. The others had stopped clapping, but he continued to do so with pure awe. He returned, “That’s got to be the best thing I’ve heard inside of this tavern! You’ve got to perform that song at night. Everyone would fall in love with it.”
The grieving topic wasn't upon the pair anymore, leading into joy after it was handled with Venti's harmonies. “Thank you. Thank you very much!” Venti took the praise as it flowed into his ears, getting off of his chair to bow. The bard was always eager to perform in Angel’s Share; always eager to perform at any bar that was happy to have him. He promised to himself that he’d perform in the tavern tomorrow to surprise its patrons. But he planned to play a new tune that had nothing to do with the special one he just played.
It was a piece of music intended only for those who shared his experiences.
After he entertained the men above for a little bit longer with his charisma, it was back to addressing the Geo Archon. He did so with an expectant tilt of his head, putting his lyre away. "What do you think? In all honesty I played with my heart. I played what it was feeling," Venti said, a hand falling onto his puffed chest. Optimism clung to Mondstadt's god, who thought about Inazuma’s god. This tune really could help her in some way. One could never go wrong with music!
During Venti’s moment of pondering, the heave of Zhongli's chest signaled that he was on the brink of sharing some sagacious thought. The oldest of the gods could always find something to say..
"WAIT! Hold that thought, Morax. Hear me out a little more!"
..if Venti would let him.
No protests emerged. Zhongli wished to not feel all that annoyed by the interruption. The Geo Archon's focus remained on the lulling tune played on Venti’s lyre for the most part, but that focus extended towards the latter's new, bright idea. Zhongli could sense the gears churning in Venti’s head.
"The floor is still yours, Barbatos. What might you be thinking about now? Need I guess?”
That was when the gentle curve of Venti's lips turned into a wide, mischievous, and unbearably triumphant grin. Zhongli's gaze lingered on the green-clad bard, building up with the constant intrigue the gentleman had while he was around the Anemo Archon. What else would he say? Was it what he was thinking?
The other jumped off of his chair, a spring in his step. “Hear me out for a moment. You're great at listening to a bard's words, 'O Archaic Lord,” he jabbed playfully. He wouldn't lower his volume towards a whisper, not when all of his excitement combined into something huge. As fast as the winds he controlled, Venti decreed, "Now that Raiden Ei has gone down a new path, don’t you think that path should divert towards Mondstadt? The last time we shared a table with her was when she was a kagemusha. I know that Raiden Makoto would’ve wanted her to get to know us more.. and it’s never too late for her to do that. She can come over to Mondstadt, personally invited by us.”
The Geo Archon pressed his lips together, grunting as he stood up taller. More thinking; More thoughts. From the look of things, no scorn had passed through his warm-colored eyes.
He’d envision the Raiden Shogun beside them now, her eyes of pulsing-electro concentrated on Venti, who would’ve been having his bottomless full of alcohol if it weren’t for the Traveler being on bartending duty. She would’ve cast an incredulous, worrying glance his way as she quietly finished some kind of pastry. Venti would’ve gotten her to loosen up, waving at Zhongli to put down his cup of tea or osmanthus wine to come and join him in his quest to lighten up the mood. Perhaps the Shogun would’ve come around, or maybe she would’ve grown more wary and guarded.
No, there was no scorn. Only wistfulness over similar events that had happened more than 500 years ago, back when they first had the honor to meet Makoto’s kin and protector. Times had changed. The odds weren’t always in the favor of the gods. There was much to consider, whether trivial or important. Zhongli tapped the table, getting his words out at a methodical pace, “Inviting Raiden Ei to Mondstadt is most unwise. While our people and those outside of our nations know not of who we really are, everyone knows about the Raiden Shogun. For her to mingle with us outside of her palace in Inazuma, where every onlooker would stare, gape, and most likely question our relationship with an active Archon… Can you imagine how troublesome that would be?" His stance on the matter was unfortunately thoughtful.
Venti turned his chair around and straddled it, scoffing at Zhongli. There was a toothy grin stuck on his face, to no one's surprise. "I mean, she could always put on a disguise! We can get around just about any problem, you know. Besides, she deserves a breather. A loooooong breather,” he shot back, gesturing to the vacant seat at their table. He wasn’t wrong, actually. His hands gestured to the rest of the establishment, having indicated towards the upstairs area and the great bar that was near them. “She should come here. Inazuma's borders are open again. She could say she's coming abroad for diplomatic reasons. It's not a bad lie. And we can always drink our beverages in the wilderness, away from any curious folk. Then I could also play my great tune. It would be beautiful.”
It was the anticipation of being together in a way that was more than words, in a way that was so completely tangible; It would be a reunion of the century, one that could rekindle an immortal bond between those who governed three of Teyvat’s domains. Venti was wholly believing that, according to the hopes that were soaring through him. “I know Raiden Ei would love Mondstadt's rolling hills, its vast plains, the songs on the breeze.. and all the fine wine there is to savor. Oh, and all the other drinks too, hehe~”
It didn’t take any divine powers to sense any of that hope. “Well then. You yearn for her to accept this offer, Barbatos, no? So we should actually write an invitation to her at some point. Ah, and you should be in charge of drafting and finalizing this invitation. You are a bard, after all.” Zhongli was stuck between a rock and a hard place, sort of. Venti could be unbearable at times thanks to his antics, or he could be one of the greatest friends a person could have.
There was a wry crinkle in the gentleman’s facial structure, the perfect coverup to any sliver of fondness over this old feeling of fun. He’d let it slide just this once, finding that he was not as annoyed with the bard as he was during the start of their whole conversation. Funny how that worked.
"Lo and behold! When was the last time you went with one of my plans, blockhead?" Teasing words departed from the Anemo Archon, his mischief growing twofold, "You are complying, right? I need more than just your confirmation."
A tendril of wind caressed Zhongli. His nose was tickled by the smell of dandelions. Venti’s subsequent chuckle sounded as the bard put his hand out, right as the gentleman's nose was scrunched. "Shall we strike a deal? Will you help me invite the Almighty Shogun to a drink and a meal?"
A rhyming inquiry, the first of many rhymes that were to come.
"What choice do I have?" Zhongli entertained, yet he gladly shook the other’s hand. His golden hues gleamed with subtle acceptance.
"The best choice." Venti chirped. The bard's cape fluttered behind him, his tendrils of wind getting stronger. He fixed his chair and gazed back at Zhongli, beaming. "We must celebrate with a drink! I'd still like to see the Traveler's skills.. but soon I shall taste the richness of wine with the most powerful incarnations of rock and thunder that I know."
Behind the gentleman’s stoic front was an inward smile. Venti could outcompete him with smiling anyday. Today he indulged in the feeling, one that felt rare without the company of his people or closest companions.
"We will taste nostalgia, old friend."
“Sometimes it tastes better than any beverage.”
“An evening of nostalgia on wind-borne lands is an auspicious occasion. This trip of mine is something I haven't experienced for quite some time, Barbatos. You've done it again. At this point, my journeys to Mondstadt wouldn’t be complete without your presence."
“The winds welcome the ones I cherish. So don’t worry, 'O Archaic Lord. Although I’ve slumbered for many years and the world has shifted, everything is mostly the same in Mondstadt.”
“Then do not let your smile falter, Barbatos.”
“As long as you stay whole, Morax. The same goes with all the folk we cherish. We have another deal.”
“A contract. We have a contract.”
“Yes! It’s not a new one, not by any means, but we’re making sure it still stands strong.”
Shaking hands once more, the door to the tavern’s front swung open. In whizzed a familiar pixie and a familiar outlander. Venti scrambled upright, calling out to the bartending duo, “Hello there, my good friends! I’m back! May I pay for my drink with a wondrous tune? I know you’ll adore it!” Winking at his old friend, Venti bolted off, turning into a green blur of wind and noise.
Zhongli joined him as the Traveler and Paimon were most surprised to see the Anemo Archon. More reunions were underway. He nodded to himself, the surge of warmth he had felt earlier still dwelling within him. His reunion with Barbatos was doubtlessly a good reunion.
It was the perfect teatime reunion.