[video un: dandelionwine] at our next merry meeting away in the sky.

[concierto]

[The video starts with a tall tree and collection of bright stars above as Venti is pointing the device upwards. The night sky is sparkling with bright nightly colours. The video pans down wildly to show feet dangling from one branch. One brown loafer shoe just barely hanging on by a toe. Then a weepy voice sings along with a soft sad melody...]

An arbor of flowers and a kettle of wine... Alas in the bowers no companion is mine.

[The shoe falls from his foot and hits the ground below. Only to be met with a huff and whine as the one in the tree starts to sip from a large wine bottle. The camera pans up again with the view of the whole bottle before there is a glimpse of Venti's face as he sips it.]

Then the moon sheds her rays on my goblet and me... And my shadow betrays we’re a party of three.

Party of three...! Your poem is the worst! Just terrible...!!

[Venti sighs...]

See the moon–how she dances in response to my song. See my shadow–it dances so lightly along... While sober I feel, you are both my good friends. ...While drunken I reel, our companionship ends...

[A soft sob as Venti takes another big sip of wine and lets the lonely ache overtake his singing. The camera pans down again as he's unable to finish the last few lines of a poem that Zhongli wrote him. Now that his old friend is gone.]

You and the curious starshine too... how boring...

Comments

Video: un:spirit_blade

[pureyang]

[Oh dear... that's quite a video.]

...Venti? Is everything ok?

[concierto]

[... Is everything okay?? Does everything LOOK-]

Oh, dear Chongyun. Everything is just fine.

[pureyang]

[Press X to Doubt.]

...Are you sure? Forgive me, but it doesn't sound like things are just fine.

video: un:sephiroth

[sefirot]

How long do you intend to be like this?

[concierto]

For as long as I wish.

[sefirot]

If you end up inhibited beyond the capability to re-enter the premises I am not assisting you.

Video; un: Uravity

[floatsaway]

[Oh dear, this doesn't sound good at all. The song is lovely, if a bit slurred given Venti's drunken state, but it doesn't exactly seem...as jovial as Ochako's known his songs to be. Ever since she's started lessons with the bard to learn violin, she's always been happy and smiling - he has a pleasant sort of air about him, a calming one, too.

So this is...different. Concerning. Something happened.]

Venti-san... [She pauses before asking if he's alright. Clearly not.] Wo-Would you like some company?

[concierto]

[His sweet cute adorable student... Uwuuuuuu.]

My lovely little dove, my sweet Miss Ochako Chan...

[...]

I'm alright, please don't worry your pretty head.

[floatsaway]

[Hm, what's that smell? Smells like horseshit. :|

Ochako sighs and shakes her head. This is a familiar tune a 'song' she knows very well, because she was singing it just a few weeks ago. Her lip quirks up at the corner and--]

...Venti-san? Do you remember when we first met? And how you played me a song to cheer me up? [Ochako smiles, deeply, a warmth in her eyes as she looks down at her newest, but still so dear teacher.] I can't play yet, I still have so much to learn from you, but I have a voice, and I'd like to share a preview of what I want to perform...if you'll honor me to hear it.

video - un: starblazing

[letmewin]

( That... does not look good. Almost instantly, Asriel can't help but reply. He's really worried. Venti is usually so calm and cheerful. )

V-Venti! What happened? Are you okay?

[concierto]

[Oh no- his other sweet student. His adorable little Asriel...

Venti is going to tear up at the look of his precious student. UWWWWUUUUU]

I'm ... I'm quite alright, sweet little Asriel... Just a moment of poetic sorrow.

[letmewin]

... The song was kinda nice. I've never heard you sing before.

( Monsters were creatures made of empathy and love. How could he not worry? This was his friend. He just wants him to be alright. He doesn't know what happened, but Venti doesn't have to talk about it if he doesn't want to - if it would make things worse. )

Did it help...?

video: un: capn_benny

[rotacalamitas]

Umm... Venti, are you okay...?

[Bennett can tell Venti is... not okay. But he wants to see what Venti says first.]

[concierto]

[Bennett... Fire-hearted boy...]

I'm ... I'm as okay as I should be, Bennett. Please don't mind...

[He sniffles.]

A song to be sung this night. That is all...

[rotacalamitas]

Venti...

[Oh, you are not alright at all, sir.]

My dads once told me that if someone's drunk, they're either trying to dodge their responsibilities, or their feelings...

[And judging by that sniffling, it's the latter. But he's not really sure how he could help Venti with that.]

...Do you want some company? Or maybe an audience for your songs?

voice | un: xiao

[whirlwindthrust]

Your location. Now.

[concierto]

[Xiao...]

A tree somewhere.

[That's not very helpful.]

video | un: arcturus

[theleadingman]

I actually think the verse has some potential. Perhaps a bit less wine would do the trick.

[Though the remark itself is flippant, the voice that delivers it bears concern, even if its owner is unfamiliar.]

Are you quite alright?

[It doesn't really need to be asked. Obviously, the singer is not alright, but asking is the decent thing to do.]

[concierto]

You would be surprised at the kind of writing that can come out of a mind flush with wine and unfiltered honesty.

[He huffs and puffs. Venti has always used wine to get certain emotions to flow. Sometimes not for the good- But sometimes it is.]

I would quite alright if this wine wasn't as tart, I do have to say...

video; un: lilmonix3

[peninhand]

It doesn't sound like that bad of a poem. There is a certain musicality to it.

[ Monika has no idea who that boy is, but she remembered how she'd reached out on the network during her big depressive phase... And it'd felt nice to speak to people, even strangers. ]

Do you know the author, per chance?

[concierto]

[Oh good! Someone who appreciates his hard work. The poem is musical! Thanks to him! And not the author!]

I do know the author! And it's no thanks to that stupid rock-headed idiot that I made his poem into the beautiful song it is now!

[... Someone has strong feelings for the author. And his song isn't even properly finished.]

Private Video | UN: hijikata

[mayoninofukucho]

[Hijikata rarely responds to video posts on the network, rather preferring to catch up with people later in person if he thinks he can contribute to whatever they're dealing with. Venti's post is so jumbled, though, that it rings alarm bells in his head. Did something happen? Or did he just overdo it at the pub and needs someone to drag him home?

He's glad that others are checking in on him already, and chances are he won't even be needed, but he wants to make sure. He sets his video call to 'private' so he doesn't look like an overly fussy moron to the general public (he's the Shinsengumi's demon vice-commander and now the Yuureisengumi's commander too, he has a reputation to maintain!).]

Venti, what happened?

[Did someone upset him? Does he needs to kick anyone's ass?]

[concierto]

[When the private message comes through Venti looks down and feels a soft inch of ironic sadness well up inside of him! But he puts on a small sad smile and huffs.]

It's a bit funny that you find me like this too, Hijikata.

[Although because of the circumstances he can't really refuse Hijikata an answer. So he'll answer as vaguely but honestly as he can.]

It seems that a friend of mine has left me behind in this world, too. How funny that history repeats itself for many, hmm?

[Can't kick someone's ass if they're not here anymore. Although Venti would have greatly appreciated that.]

video; un: 𓅃

[hor]

I do not know you, but a man drunk with sadness is no way to enjoy your alcohol. It is a beautiful night, and you are in need of distraction from who knows what. Will you hear my proposal?

[ Sometimes it's good to get in trouble with a stranger to keep you from your thoughts. ]

[concierto]

[Venti blinks at the image and curiously ponders. A flicker of drunken interest at what might be a game...? He does like games...!

Okay- He'll bite.]

I suppose sometimes the best friends made are ones over games and drinks... What's your proposal?