[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

[rotacalamitas]

[Bennett frowns at the sight of Venti. Yeah, you're not okay, in more ways than one.]

Hold still, I'll take the pain away for you.

[He holds out a hand above Venti's backside, aiming to heal the soreness in his tailbone. He can't do anything about Venti's drunkenness or the impending hangover he'll have later he only learned how to cure diarrhea, but he can at least deal with this.]

[concierto]

Ugh-

[Venti wobbles and has to steady himself with a hand on Bennett's arm but at least the world isn't spinning so hard. The pain dulls and he huffs.]

Healing magic, is it? It's always the hero types... Ehehe. Could you help me stand?

[rotacalamitas]

[Venti's comment actually causes Bennett to hesitate for a moment. A hero type? Him? As if... Someone as unlucky could never even dream of being a hero. He never even entertained the possibility for himself that he could ever be a hero, even if he wanted to.

The light of Bennett's magic fades. At least his luck rarely interfered when he used his healing magic...]

Yeah, of course. I help my dads up when their backs are acting up. You aren't even half as old as they are, haha!

[Bennett positions himself to help Venti to his feet]

[concierto]

[Venti wobbles and pats a hand on Bennett's shoulder appreciatively as he accepts the help up!

... And promptly makes a bit of a smile when Bennett says that.]

Oh, but I assure you I feel twice as old or if not older than that at times... Ehe.

[Pat pat pat.]

Thank you, Bennett... I'm not as light on my feet tonight.

[rotacalamitas]

Twice as old? I dunno, that'd make you pretty old then. My dads are retired adventurers, after all!

[Bennett helps walk Venti back over to the tree, attempting to help set him down gently at the base of the tree. None of this tree climbing again, mister, you're drunk.]

You should be more careful, Venti. It's pretty lucky you fell out of the tree before I got here, who knows what could have happened with my bad luck.

[concierto]

[He lets out a woozy giggle and tilts his head to the side, his braids swishing.]

Ehe... You'd be surprised at my actual age. Let's just say... I've always had a youthful look.

[Which isn't technically a lie. Venti. Might just end up spilling a few vague secrets because he's drunk??]

Are you saying that you finding me was a spout of bad luck? I don't think so! I find that excellent luck!