[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

[whirlwindthrust]

Do not play games with me at this moment.

[ Tell him. ]

[concierto]

[Truly, Venti doesn't want to be alone. That's the last thing he wants. So even if he plays a small game at the start he crumbles and Xiao's forward tone and he holds in a sniffle.]

One of the largest trees on the north side of town. I'm not sure ... exactly where. You should be able to spot my familiar somewhere nearby to guide you? If you could bring another bottle of wine, that would be delightful.

[Don't.]

Xiao... I want to see you.

[whirlwindthrust]

I refuse to bring any more wine to you.

[ He will, however, maybe swing by a café on the way and grab some hot tea. Since chances are that Venti will need it. ]

Though I can see your familiar. I should be there shortly.

[ Xiao will too. He does understand, in part, what Barbatos must be feeling with the departure of Zhongli - an old friend. It doesn't settle well on him either.

Off he goes, fetching the tea and following the familiar until the tree the bard is in comes into view. ]

[concierto]

But Xiao...!!!

[He lets out a suffering sigh...

While he waits for Xiao he does sip the rest of his wine sadly. Looking up at the sky and humming old sad tunes. He doesn't even leave the tree when Xiao arrives either. He will have to climb up. But he does perk up and waves excitedly.]

Xiao! You found me.

[Of course he did, not hard finding a drunk person singing in a tree.]

[whirlwindthrust]

As you said, your familiar guided me.

[ Well, he'll have to be careful with the tea won't he? Yet scale the tree Xiao does, wishing that he simply had his powers and abilities. That would make everything easier.

Gently, he reaches out for the wine to replace it with the tea. ]

You act as though you are in mourning, Barbatos.

[concierto]

[Anemo would make so many things easier.

He'll let Xiao take the wine bottle only because it's Xiao. But the yaksha should be careful with the tea and the rest of it because Venti is immediately going to hug him.]

... Aren't you feeling it too?

[whirlwindthrust]

Rex Lapis would spend a great deal of time to himself, as you well know. I do not think much of his coming and going.

[ A hand places itself on Venti's back. Awkwardly because Xiao himself is a little awkward. ]

Simply because he is not physically present on Avalon, does not mean he is not with us still.

[concierto]

[Don't mind as Venti practically leans into the yaksha. Mostly to hide his teary eyes.]

Well, that stupid rockheaded wit could have made a single mention of his coming and going, now couldn't he have...

[He's weepy and upset. Of course, he is. Venti may have bullied Zhongli to the moon and back but he did quite enjoy their friendship. It was an unsaid thing made over thousands of years. And while it really isn't Zhongli's fault that he vanished Venti can't help but feel mad.]

[whirlwindthrust]

[ He'll allow this... As long as Venti allows for Xiao to, like, try to coax some of that tea into him. It's fruity and sweet. How could the Archon refuse? ]

Perhaps. However I doubt it was done intentionally.

[concierto]

[It does smell fruity and sweet... Venti lifts his head from Xiao's shoulder. He is still slightly wobbly as he sits back. Balancing on a tree branch is nothing to people who love the sky yet Venti should probably be careful should he fall...]

Intentionally or not... Now I can't give him this song. After all the work I put into it too...

[He pouts...]

[whirlwindthrust]

[ Even if he were to actually slip and fall backward, Xiao would ensure that he'd put himself between Venti and harm's way. Xiao isn't going to permit the other to come to harm if he can avoid it. ]

Keep working on it then. This way when you see him next, you can metaphorically blow him away.

[concierto]

He'd deserve to be blown right into a lake.

[Venti snaps with a huff. He then lifts a hand and with a small swish, the taken wine bottle starts to float in the air. Using kinetic magic to make it hover there. Then he's gently reaching for the tea.]

I'm sorry, Xiao. I know how much he means to you, too. I never thought that him leaving a world that's not even our own would sting as much as it does... Perhaps it's because I never had a chance to have a better conversation with him.

[whirlwindthrust]

I am not too fussed. He is alive. He is well. What more could I ask for? Perhaps he truly does deserve to have the rest of his days to himself. One who has granted the freedom of many now may have it for himself.

[ He wouldn't know what to do if Morax could constantly be within sight. It isn't something that Xiao is used to. ]

It does make sense in a way. You have known him for a considerable amount of time. Always able to visit when you so desire. Now this isn't possible.

[concierto]

[Venti makes a small whiny noise.]

Don't you put it that way...!

[Freedom for the geo archon? Away from his pesky contracts? Celestia knows the old archon, older than all the rest, deserves such a rest. And has put on quite the dramatic show in order to gain that rest. Venti can't help but commend him for chasing it. But still... Something deep in Venti feels a tad selfish.]

You hit the target on the head as always, Xiao. [He sighs and puts his hands on his cheeks.] It feels lonely... Now I only have you. Won't you give me a bit more comfort?

[Okay, now he's just being dramatic.]

[whirlwindthrust]

Is there any other way to put it? I thought that you and he were of the mindset that I should express myself in this manner more often than what I do.

[ Going to try to start to gradually get Venti to come down from the tree. ]

You do not only have me. There are still some from Mondstadt that remain. However, I am here. If you require it.

[concierto]

[Venti can't help but let out an airy little laugh. As old and wise as they are Xiao seems to carry with him the words needed to soothe something in this old and hankering soul.]

Ehe... While I love the others from Mondstadt dearly... I find your company a special kind, Xiao.

[They're alike, after all. The kiss of anemo that draws and ties them together, of course. But something deeper and unsaid.

Meanwhile, his wine bottle is still floating there above them with Venti's magic. And Venti reaches out to touch Xiao's hand. Tugging him to bring them brow to brow.]

Can you promise to stay with me just for tonight?

[whirlwindthrust]

Given how things are... Between you and I, that is a given is it not?

[ That Xiao is as special to Venti as Venti is to Xiao. They are inching ever so closer to that deeper unsaid thing becoming something of a said thing. The Yaksha is slowly coming to terms with the fact that it is all right to desire something. To want something more. It's taken time, but progress is consistently made between them.

Just like he doesn't refuse the Archon's touch. Doesn't pull back his hand as it is taken. How he doesn't flinch at the contact. ]

I will stay with you as many nights as you require.

[concierto]

[Look at all this improvement and none of the skittering. Venti's eyes sparkle with some mischievousness.]

Given how things are between you and I... Could I sleep in your bed?

[Quick, answer quickly!!]

[whirlwindthrust]

[ Venti should know better. After all, Xiao is rather... Pure. In some areas. So this request doesn't seem that outlandish to him? ]

If that is what you need.

[ Then Venti can? ]

[concierto]

[Oh, he's being so innocent and soft. Venti can't help but giggle and then grab for his hands and tug.]

Surely, it's what I need-

[He's so ready to tug and pull that suddenly Venti seems to misjudge where he is. The world spins and suddenly he's falling off the side of the large branch and might just be bringing Xiao right with him...!!

Maybe he shouldn't have been drunk in a tree...]

Ehhe??!

[whirlwindthrust]

[ Oh... Oh down he goes indeed. Right along with Venti and the Yaksha swears that this time he is going to ensure that this bard drinks less. There is no reason for either of them to be tumbling out of a tree.

Yet Xiao still works as quick as he can. He tugs Venti in tight and attempt to roll them so that he can break their fall instead. ]

[concierto]

[If this were Teyvat the winds would have carried them gently to the ground below. But Venti is yet again bitter about that-

When they crash to the ground in a lump it appears Venti is tugged tight to Xiao so he takes most of the brunt of the fall. Leaves and grass whoosh upwards and Venti's hat is nowhere to be found. Frazzled hair around his face as he winces and looks up.]

Xiao...?! [Oh no.] Are you alright?!

[whirlwindthrust]

[ Goodbye hat! No one wanted you anyway. B(

Only Xiao is not quite as sturdy as he usually is. This time he can actually FEEL that fall. It's sending quite the pain signal into his brain. Nothing is broken, but he's definitely feeling winded.

He raises his hand to keep Venti from panicking. Xiao is fine. He just needs a moment. ]

[concierto]

[He pouts.]

I've knocked the winds right out of your lungs!!

[Venti moves to pull himself off of Xiao so he can help him sit up...]

[whirlwindthrust]

[ And sit up he will! Xiao rubs at his ribs slightly, huffing and sucking in deep breaths. ]

It's... Fine....

[ That being said, he looks up at Venti proper. ]

Are you... Hurt?