[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

[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...?

[concierto]

I'll have to try to sing for you more often. A practicing bard sings as much as he plays an instrument...

[He lets out a small weak giggle and sniffles back a sob.]

I wasn't the one who wrote the poem but it was me who made it into lyrics. The poem... could use some work.

[It did help...]

[letmewin]

( O-Oh, no... Did he make him more upset? Asriel responds quickly. )

I-I'm sorry, Venti! I didn't mean to upset you more...

( Quick, Asriel! Think! )

I bet you could make the poem even better...! You've written a lot of songs before, right?

[concierto]

[OH SWEET BOY.]

Never mind me, Asriel! It's but a mood that will pass, you've done nothing wrong!

[He giggles weakly.]

You're very kind for trying your best to cheer up an old soul like me. Please don't mind me. As for poems and songs, I have written a lot. Why... Why don't we write a new poem together instead?

[letmewin]

Uhm... Okay. ( He can most certainly try. He's not so sure that he'll be able to do it well. But, he wants to help Venti cheer up. )

What's something you really like? We could write a poem about that.

[concierto]

[Venti tilts his head. Without really questioning it he says...]

Wine and apples. Those are two things I really like. Nothing quite compares the sweetness and tart of an apple cider or a perfectly chilled wine.

[But he's already written so many songs on those two things.]

Perhaps we should write about something you like instead?

[letmewin]

... Me? ( He can't help but point at himself. )

Gosh, but... this is about cheering you up, Venti.

[concierto]

Oh... In the end, a soul like me will get over his own woes. Besides, hearing stories and writing songs about others always warm my heart.

[It really is how Venti copes with things sometimes.]