[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

[hor]

Easy enough to find. I will send Pet ahead to scout the area.

[ His falcon familiar. She's pretty cooperative, considering they're birds of a feather in many ways. ]

What is your familiar's name, should mine encounter it?

[concierto]

[What a good way to connect. With airborne familiars!]

My familar's name is Lyric! It doesn't have the ability to speak but it makes the cutest little squeaks if that helps. Be careful not to get lost!

[Venti's familar will look like this!]

[hor]

Pet does not speak either, I simply have a sense of what she says.

[ Only because of their familiar connection though, not because he's got animal magic. ]

At the very least, she won't eat anything until we've found the two of you.

[ So there will be no bullying or hunting of Lyric. ] See you soon!

[ And he hangs up. Eventually he'll find his way to the tree. ]

[concierto]

Eat anything...? My, I hope not.

[Venti looks very puzzled at that. Now he's only imagining that whatever familiar this new friend has it must have some annoying sharp teeth.

But Venti will be there up in his tree with his bottle of wine that he's almost done nursing all alone. He will be singing to the stars above with some sweet simple song about stars and love.]

Ehe... Oh, is that you? From my messages? Ya-hoo!

[hor]

[ Horus gives a wave with an oustretched arm when he spots Venti. He's definitely the friendly sort. ]

Yes! I'm Horus, and this is Pet.

[ The falcon flies down and lands on his arm, which he stretches out for her when bringing it down from the wave. Not teeth, just talons- a falcon! Still a predator, though. And thankfully one that did not harass Lyric. The bird flies off and Horus goes to start climbing the tree to get up to him. ]

[concierto]

[Venti's eyes actually seem to light up when he sees the pretty bird. Falcons, as dangerous as they are, hold a special spot in Venti's heart. A very dear friend trains falcons back home. And Venti used to steal and cuddle one of them often...]

A pleasure to meet you, Horus! And Pet too. What a pretty bird you are.

[Luckily Horus decides to climb up instead of telling Venti to climb down because he doesn't want to leave this tree! No! He only shimmies so there is more room on his thick branch for another guest or two.]

You coming all this way for someone you're only curious about it very curious in itself, but I'm more than happy to make a new friend or two. Please, call me Venti.

[hor]

[ Horus himself is a falcon, in some ways. His wings are hidden away right now, but as a god, he's depicted as a bird more often than he is human-- and when human, still with the falcon head. ]

I am a god in a world not my own with none of my goals pursuable. If I don't follow curiosities, what else am I going to do with my time?

[ Horus has absolutely no hesitation in telling people he's a god. A few people have recognized him by name, and he hasn't found worshippers or enemies so it doesn't seem a threat. They're all the same here. Horus sits down next to Venti, and Pet goes to sit on Venti's other side. A few birds in a tree, nbd. ]

[concierto]

[Wow- same hat! Venti is often likened to that of a bird too! A smarmy little songbird but still- a bird!]

Ehe? Oh, what's this? Did you say you're a god? That's quite brave of you to admit without a bat of an eyelash.

[Venti looks pleasantly delighted at this fact, though. His eyes glittering and the heat in his cheeks making him blush from all that wine.]

Tell me, how are you a god? Can you prove it?

[hor]

What should I hide it for?

[ There's nothing really to gain from him here- he has no abilities that shine above others, same as everyone else. ]

I have wings. My fingernails are made of gold. [ he holds them up to show his nails. Surely enough, they are gold throughout- it's not polish. ] Though it would seem this place has taken away most of other godly traits same as anyone else, so it means nothing here.

[ And if anyone tried to farm him for his gold nails or silver bones, he'd be pretty embarrassed if he lost that fight. He's been training his whole life to overtake a god of war, after all. His battle prowess and training haven't been relieved of him even if his godly strength has. So he's got nothing to hide. He stretches his arms above his head. ]

A sky god who can't fly isn't very believable, hm...