Work Text:
The cold of Dragonspine bit at Aether's face as he dug a hole in the snow. Flora has asked him to burry flowers in Dragonspine again, in hopes of finding a way to preserve them longer. So far she hasn't succeeded, but she doesn't plan to give up anytime soon and Aether is always happy to help.
Once the last bundle of flowers were put to bed under the snow, the traveler headed back to Mondstadt to let Flora know.
"Thanks Aether," Flora said, as she handed him the payment.
"It's no problem." He smiled at her. Aether eyed the flowers she put out on display. The dandelions were in their early stages of yellow, but there were pretty Cecilias and Windwheel Asters ready to pick.
"Hey actually, could I get a bouquet please?" He asked the young seller. Flora happily made him a simple but wonderful bundle of flowers and Aether went on his way.
He already knew who he was gonna give this bouquet to, since they were always whining about Aether not being a good "devotee" or whatever.
They usually met in front of the big statue of Barbatos, Aether didn't know why really. Maybe it's because that's where they formally met.
Once he got there, he saw a crowd of people gathered around someone in the middle. Aether heard the tunes of a lyre playing, tunes that could only belong to the proclaimed "best bard" of Mondstadt. The blonde joined the crowd and waited till the end of the song and when people started walking off before getting Venti's attention.
"Ah, hello honorary knight!" Venti greeted him, smiling.
"Hey," Aether greeted back. He held out the bouquet of flowers. "For you."
"Huh?" Venti's eyes widened "what's the occasion?"
Aether shrugged and held the flowers out at Venti more. "Saw them and thought I'd get some for you."
The bard sputtered as he took the flowers. "Well- well thank you, how kind." Venti held them close enough to smell. He took one out and put it in Aether's hair. "Is this your definition of an offering?"
"Well someone's always complaining that I'm not a good enough devotee."
"Aha, well any other person would take this as a romantic gesture!" Venti teased him, putting another flower in the traveler's hair.
Aether swatted his hand away. "Maybe it's both."
Venti chuckled, "I've told you such lines don't work on a bard."
Aether pouted for dramatics, then held out his arm. "Fine, can I take this bard out for dinner though?"
Venti happily looped his arm around Aether's. "Well of course! This bard loves free food!"
The pair walked off, both smelling like the sweetness of flowers.