Chapter Text
"Another one please!" A snap rang throughout the tavern, audible enough despite the commotion.
Venti has had at least seven or eight glasses of dandelion wine, nevertheless has yet satiated him. His cheeks—rosy pink, while he wore a lazy smile.
A taller red-haired man, just behind the counter let out a low sigh. It seems stress is finally fraying his sanity. Venti chuckled after picking it up afterwards.
His fingers simultaneously tapped on the wooden surface, creating a rhythm. Thoughts drove him back to his earlier performance.
The strings he played create seraphic tunes, one that could calm one's mind. In contrast to his music, lively laughter and applause came from both elderly and young.
His songs bring ballads of the past and present—some to honor or praise the Great Anemo Archon while the other verses slander the deity's sloth and absence.
A bold move one would say. He recalled multiple reactions from the crowd—all mixed with dejections, perplexity and so on.
"This bard... Dare he speak ill of the Lord?"
"Is this a jest in the guise of a song?"
"Forgive him, o' Lord Barbatos."
Even so, there are those who dismissed the verses and let themselves be entertained. Mothers pulled their little ones away from the crowd—wearing a displeased expression directly for the green fellow.
Unbeknownst to them, the esteemed, divine archon they have worshipped is the one they have taken offense to. Does he feel woeful? Absolutely not.
The way they retaliated implies they still adore their god, carrying an immovable love as still as a clock with broken hands.
A familiar clink pulled him down to Teyvat as his eyes laid on the glass of newly filled wine. "Why thank you, Master Diluc." And thus, he downed the glass with no time wasted.
"You ought to pay a lot if you keep adding up." At last, the bartender spoke with his back faced with his hands working to clean a cup.
"Oh dear—.." a hiccup interrupted the green fellow's words before moving on, "surely a far benevolent soul shall save me!" A dramatic sigh was let out, with the back of his own hand placed on the forehead.
Now that, for sure earned an irritated sigh from the bartender as he slightly glances over his shoulder briefly. Assuming diluc is occupied with his own business, venti resumed his drunken reminiscing.
"Ah, so this is where my favourite bard had gone to."
The voice speaks of familiarity. Venti promptly shifted his gaze to another male that wore a clerical wardrobe. In addition, turquoise green met light violet's—a shade that he admired most.
"My dear deacon!" Venti placed the glass with such a loud thud—one that caused the other male to think he enraged someone as his gaze flickered between the bard and the glass.
"I have been waiting long for your presence! Has the wind m-mislead you my friend?" He cupped his own cheek while the sounds of a wooden stool scraped against the floor.
Dahlia crossed his arms in amusement, "You're drunk already? Huh.. I thought we agreed to have this moment together at the city wall." A jest frown appeared on his lips before chuckling and cutting his act out.
Venti joined in the laughter, "Well, I have not performed yet!" eyes remain focused on violet's. His head ached, proceeding to take a sip on his beverage.
"You know—" Dahlia muttered, now face-to-face with the bard.
"This morning, I was informed that someone has been prohibited from the church." Venti paused mid-way from drinking his wine, pulled away as he let out a hum.
"Oh, Enlightened me so?" Now this—piqued his interest, has someone done something tremendously offensive it had them banned from a holy ground? How astounding.
Judging from the way the deacon looked—sharp eyes lidded with that signature sly smirk of his, it's definitely something he had yet to decipher the whole story. "Sister Victoria gave me.. a piece of context." A bottle of wine was set on the table, as a gloved hand held onto the bottle to pour into a glass.
"A young man harshly pushed one of the clergy members who were on cleaning duty and injured one of them." He crossed his arms—attempting to recall the words. " He was kicked out, although.. appeared once again during choir practice where I was absent."
As the anemo archon, venti could hear everything. He is the wind after all. But that is an ability he can control whenever he wants to. He knows the concept of not.. eavesdropping and letting his people have some privacy.
So this? It was new to him.
"The person who took over my role during choir practice told me he intervened and caused a commotion by shouting out vulgar words—even attempting to injure someone again." Venti blinked multiple times, holding onto his glass.
"Hmm..—" venti shut his eyes, thinking deep in thought, "perhaps he is a drunk man? Not like it could justify his actions or anything or—"
"That's what I thought too! However, I was told he doesn't slur on his words, no unbalanced movements or bear any traits of a drunkard." Dahlia's face leaned closer, and venti made no effort to move.
The tone of his seemed eager—one venti was familiar. Yet again venti hopes the people who were in harm find a swift recovery. No wait, he can do that job..
"Buut—!" Venti's finger was up, as his previous expression shifted to a smug look. "Tell me, why were you absent?" He lidded his eyes as dahlia paused. Indeed, it is strange that the deacon isn't present on leading the choir.
"You take your work seriously, unless.."
"..Letters were piling up for me and they were urgent." Venti let out a bravado, celebrating his correct theory. Venti poured one glass and another, while dahlia took slow sips due to the fact that he is busy speaking.
Drinking together with a dearest is what makes wine tastes.. delectable. Which is why venti always hit the taverns with his deacon.
Though he fears one day, everything will fall silent.
Ah.. Deacon Dahlia.
Venti carried a heavy and haunting thought—one day, this adored Deacon will vanish forever. He acknowledged the mortal life—knew that being attached to one would be a devastating and risky road.
The pink-haired still has time ahead of him considering that he's a young adult, way much to develop. His sly, mischievous demeanor complements with his—soon to be replaced by a tedious personality just like the others.
But no matter who Dahlia becomes, venti will never have a shift of view. He desires that dahlia will bloom loudly, before he wilts.
Free from his daydreaming, the male in front of him took notice of the silent treatment from the bard. Dahlia titled his head slightly, "Venti?" He trails off.
The two of them were intervened by a rowdy call from one of the patrons. Venti turned his head to the whereabouts of the noise and saw a blonde haired man waving his hand up into the air. It was a struggle to see clearly—his vision failed him for a brief while as his eyes were lightly squinting along with uttering a clamorous hum.
Dahlia processed the man's words while silence lingers between them. "ah!" A nudge on venti's elbow, currently understanding the situation. Dahlia's lips tugged a friendly smile before elucidating.
"It seems like they want you to perform." Venti blinked blankly, eyes looking around to comprehend before his hands form a fist to place near his own face, now promptly rubbing his eyes.
The bard then cleared his throat, "You mean "usss?" Hic—" he placed a hand on his mouth briefly before smiling mischievously. "I've heard it from the wind—they would like to hear my honorable herald perform an ode."
His condition seemed.. not suitable to say the least—overly inebriated. He might accidentally uttered a word that was deemed as scandalous, or worse, reveal his own identity!
Nevertheless.. the crowd seemed spirited, which means.. he could have a chance to earn a bottle or two, perhaps also mora. Of course, he joyously obliged, this is a perfect opportunity to take!
In contrast, dahlia had not consumed much alcohol, still sober unlike a specific green fellow.
Fingers intertwined with a gloved one, before completely grasping the hand. for a moment, a thumb lightly caressed the Deacon's dorsum. The touch was discreet with fondness. It's a shame that these delicate hands were concealed underneath the gloves.
Venti made an abrupt action to snake his hand slightly upwards—reaching Dahlia's wrists and pulling him from his seat. "Well, let's not waste our time!"
At this very moment, the bard pulled the pink-haired deacon—whose eyes were widened in jolt. Venti's movements were deranged enough that he might collapse, so, Dahlia prepared mentally and physically on ways he would catch him.
The creaking of wooden floor boards were a result from the heavy footsteps—as though, pairing with the loud encouragement from the people of the tavern.
Half of the patrons were already tipsy settled onto their seats, some were still sober while the rest.. are the ones who in need to be amused by the two—applauding. Whistles can be heard as venti then brought Dahlia onto the usual location of the performance.
A smile formed onto the bard's lips—a genuine one. Dahlia watches as well as unintentionally slipping his grip away from venti. Coincidentally, they glance at the same timing which still lingered as Dahlia's still expression shifted to a chuckle.
Evanescently, he had almost forgot eyes are on him—
"Gentlemen, Gentlemen!" Now standing in front of the crowd, the deacon gaze fixated on the bard. He cleared his throat before continuing—
"Your adored bard has arrived with a guest," He continued, "And this guest—none other than the wind-favoured deacon!" His hand traced something which anemo energy followed in command, summoning Der frühling. The first strum echoed—soothing the deacon.
"I play, you sing. Can't have those sweet vocals go to waste, eh?" Venti peered closer, lidding his eyes, moreover, giving a teasing wink.
"An ode or a song?"
"Let's do both."
And thus, the noises of the tavern were drowned out by venti's lyre.
Everything was fast—the patrons seemed pleased. At first, dahlia had a change of mind and told venti he'll perform merely an ode.
But it seems the deacon got carried away and sung afterwards.
With that intoxicating vocals of his, it would stay on ones mind for a period of time. Of course, it wouldn't be easy for him to be let off the hook after a single song.
It is no secret that some made theories—that the reason he was favoured by the archon was because of his singing..
Well, Venti can confirm he loved Dahlia's voice dearly, however it was not the core reason. Right?..