[Zhongli. Even if Diluc didn't recognize the man himself, he does know the name. He's a consultant with Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, and with the Travler's assistance organized the Rite of Parting for Liyue's fallen deity.
(He's been keeping track of the Traveler's movements in Teyvat via his information network. It isn't that he doesn't trust Aether--much the opposite, in fact. The boy is young, talented, and fundamentally good. Diluc knows all too well how terribly that combination of traits can end up.)]
I hope we can live up to your expectations. Here.
[He hands Zhongli a piece of paper: the drink menu.]
Let me know if you have any questions.
[The fact that the man mentioned that he's also here to meet him hasn't escaped his notice. Clearly, he's left as much of an impression on the Traveler as he's left on Diluc. But he's opting for hospitality first, not least because talking about himself isn't really a thing Diluc does gracefully. Or at all, if he can help it.]
[ That Diluc doesn’t ask the name of their mystery friend is perhaps more telling than the bartender means it to be. He must have some ties somewhere that tell him enough that he doesn’t think to follow up – or perhaps he simply assumes that no one else but the Traveler could connect a man from Liyue to a man from Mondstadt.
He’d bank on the former, personally. There’s something in Diluc’s eyes that tells him he knows more than he cares to let on. ]
Thank you.
[ He slips into one of the seats at the bar, giving the menu a glance, though it’s clear he already knows what he’s here for. ]
A glass of dandelion wine to start, and if you’ve a meal that pairs well, I would take that as well.
[ No one tell Venti— but, well, he can’t very well come all the way to Mondstadt and not try their local specialty. ]
[Diluc may come to realize how much his quiet deduction and subsequent lack of follow up reveals. But in the moment he thinks nothing of it, reaching for a bottle and pouring Zhongli the dandelion wine he's ordered and sliding it across the bar before turning to flag down a server. In a quiet exchange, he gives the young man an order from Good Hunter to be brought back here and added to the man's tab. The Angel's Share's kitchen is nothing to speak of, more designed to provide bar snacks than actual meals, but the request for dinner with drinks is common enough that the tavern has an agreement with the restaurant for to-go orders in these situations. The Cat's Tail has a similar arrangement, if he understands correctly.
The server nods and takes his leave, and Diluc returns his attention to Zhongli.]
I hope you're all right waiting a bit on the meal.
[Given that it's being brought in from elsewhere and all that.]
If you'll allow a bit of curiosity on my part, what brings you to Mondstadt?
[It's framed as an innocent question, but his intention as ever is to probe for information. He doesn't know much about this man, and he intends to learn.]
[ He watches the exchange quietly, putting two and two together easily enough. The restaurant business in Liyue is competitive, as befits a city of commerce, but here in Mondstadt the prevailing notion seems to be “share and share alike”. How quaint. ]
No, I do not mind waiting.
[ In the meantime, he will simply have to sample his wine. He picks up the glass given him and gives the liquid a little swirl. He’s no great connoisseur of wine the world over, though he might claim to have some experience with it over the years, and he can certainly tell a fine vintage when he sees it. Time is kinder to wine than it is most other things. ]
Ah, me? [ The simple question curls his lips into a soft smile, something faraway in his gaze as he watches the liquid in his glass. ] I am on vacation.
[ Such a casual answer to a casual question, and yet there seems to be something more there. There is weight in the word that should carry joy, a sense of a long and arduous journey come to an end, of bright relief and terrible sadness sat side-by-side like old friends.
The mood lightens a moment later, as if the weight of the world had settled for a moment before turning onward. ]
It is as I said, I have a companion who spoke highly of this place, and its people. I have spent… a long time in Liyue, and thought it might be time to broaden my horizons.
[The heaviness of the answer, despite the simplicity of the words themselves, gives Diluc pause. For the first time since the man sat down at the bar, he takes the opportunity to really look at Zhongli, inspecting his features rather than trying to predict his next move. The man is handsome and poised, with a striking gaze even in this pensive moment, but there's also a world-weariness about him that's unmistakable. Whatever burdens Zhongli has set aside prior to his sojourn here must have been great indeed.
But what burdens could a funeral consultant carry that would be of such a magnitude? It's a curious question, and one that makes Diluc want to know more. Most would dismiss the idea as ludicrous on its face, but he knows better. His own burdens are far heavier than those of the average winery owner, after all.
A tightness passes through Diluc's chest, and he wonders if he'll wear that same sort of stare when he finishes his work in Mondstadt, carry that same weary sadness that Zhongli has let slip in this briefest of moments. That thought is quickly dismissed and disregarded--regardless of the state he ends up in when the darkness finally gives way, it will be worth it. Simple as that.
The moment passes, and Diluc moves forward along with it.]
I have to assume you mean the Traveler. Rumor has it you two worked together not long after his arrival in Liyue. [It's always easy to blame rumors for the information he's gone out of his way to know. With some luck, Zhongli won't overthink it.] I have to say, I'm honored that he spoke highly enough of Mondstadt for you to decide to broaden your horizons here.
[ He can certainly feel Diluc’s eyes on him, and while Zhongli does not make a habit of hiding his world-weary nature, he thinks it was perhaps a bit uncouth of him to let so much slip in a first meeting. The people of Liyue know him, and those that don’t at least know of him, and a great deal of his mannerisms are written off as eccentricities. Things that people don’t care to look too closely at.
Amber eyes flick up to lock with flame-colored ones for the briefest of seconds, as if to tell the other man he’s well-aware he’s being scrutinized. But as quickly as their gazes meet, Zhongli’s slides away with a small, amused chuckle. ]
I was not aware such rumors had legs enough to carry them all the way out to Mondstadt.
[ Anything is possible, he supposes. The wind carries with it many things, even words. In any case, he doesn't pry. ]
It’s true, he was a great help in preparing for the Rite of Parting. He and I shared many stories along the way, and his tales of Mondstadt captured my imagination. One can do worse for a vacation than the City of Freedom, after all.
I would much like to hear any tales you have to tell, as well.
[Most people in Mondstadt would be equally permissive, writing Zhongli's demeanor off as the eccentricities of a foreigner. Diluc is not most people. He supposes he should be ashamed that he's been caught staring, but he doesn't find it in him to be. Instead, he makes a mental note that Zhongli is perceptive along with everything else.
There's even something knowing about the chuckle, although Diluc may be imagining that part.]
Word about the Traveler around here tends to soar more than walk. People have a vested interest in his goings on, after all he's done for Mondstadt.
["People" meaning him specifically, of course, although really it's not a total lie. The citizens of Mondstadt are particularly invested in their Honorary Knight. They just don't have the resources to follow up on that interest like he does.]
You have my condolances, by the way. Losing Morax has to have been quite the blow to Liyue and its people.
[Which is an understatement, as he understands things. Mondstadt is used to their deity being largely absent, but this is the first time Liyue has been without their Archon in its history. That the city hasn't fallen to chaos says much about their resilience given the major shift.
That last bit makes Diluc freeze, and his mind immediately goes blank. That's a very loaded request, in ways that there's no way for Zhongli to even know. His tales are tainted, happy memories washed away in the rain and nothing but a quest for answers and vengeance since. Hardly the sort of idle chatter to be shared over a bar.
(Speaking of idle chatter... why isn't he annoyed by it yet? This conversation has been full of it.)
He recovers quickly, but there is no way that his hesitation has gone unnoticed.]
I'm a poor storyteller, I'm afraid. You'd do better asking one of the bards.
I suppose it is only fair, since rumors of his doings in Mondstadt preceded him all the way to Liyue Harbor.
[ The wind carries many things indeed – even change. Perhaps especially change, so long as that young man is carried on the breeze from place to place.
In any case, it hardly matters just how this man came to know of Zhongli’s dealings with the Traveler, so long as the things that happened behind closed doors remain there. He can hardly hope to enjoy his respite if word got out about who he truly is – or was. ]
Thank you, but I believe the people have reacted admirably. It was time, I think, for humans to step to the fore. They are more resilient than the Adepti give them credit for.
[ Ah, but it seems he’s touched on a nerve, with the way the other man freezes, like he’s been cornered. Some people are not so keen to share their stories, and Zhongli of people can hardly begin to blame them. Time, like so many things, can be so very cruel to humans.
He recognizes the remark for the deflection it is, but it still makes him pull a face, a grimace that he doesn’t mask quite fast enough by bringing his glass to his lips for a drink. ]
[Diluc sincerely doesn't know more than what he's already said, and at the moment it seems there's nothing more to pry into on that topic. He still has no shortage of questions, of course, but they have more to do with Zhongli himself than whatever transpired between him and Aether.
For example, about the curious pronoun he's chosen for the word "human."]
I agree that we are.
[He leaves it at that, for now. It could be a quirk of grammar, or it could mean something else. Is Zhongli an adeptus, perhaps? They've been known to walk around Liyue under the guise of humanity.
He's staring again, inspecting for some signal in his expression, looking for some irregularity in his features. All he finds there are the same captivating features and a poor-concealed grimace, which causes him to huff and pull a bit of a lopsided smile--a sincere expression of amusement.]
You may be in the wrong city, then. We've no shortage of them.
[His eyes scan the tavern, looking for a green hat among the crowd.]
Decided to pester people in another tavern tonight, it seems.
[Just because the diminutive bard is actually Barbatos doesn't make him any less of a pest when he wants to be. And in taverns, he generally makes it a point to be.]
[ In truth, it feels odd to lump himself in with humanity so easily, and that’s a habit he may never break. No matter what he might look like, no matter how long he keeps up the guise of “Zhongli”, he will never truly be human. The span of his life and all the experiences therein are enough to classify him as something… other. Something different.
So, he lets the emphasis on “we” over “they” slide without comment, and Diluc seems content to do the same.
If nothing else, his blatant distaste has drawn something of a smile out of the other man, the first genuine look of amusement since he walked in the door. Though he barely knows the man across the bar, he somehow can’t help but feel he’s been given a gift. ]
Simple storytellers I do not mind, but I have very little tolerance for drunken nuisances.
[ And who else could that possibly be but Venti? If he’s lucky, his fellow Archon will never have to know he’s in town, but that seems unlikely. They’ve already discussed how rumors carry on the wind. ]
Ah, I apologize. It is hardly my place to speak ill of your clientele.
[Diluc waves a hand, silently dismissing the apology as unnecessary.]
Think nothing of it. I'm not responsible for their behavior, or the consequences thereof.
[Up to and including being judged for drinking too much. Or having their ass kicked by a masked figure if they decide to start trouble while drunk. Not that he knows anything about the latter.
Their conversation is interrupted by the return of the server, who hands a bag and a slip of paper to Diluc before going back to check on customers within the tavern proper. In turn, Diluc goes about actually serving the meal: a salad with fresh seafood set on top of it.]
Your supper. It complements the wine without overpowering its flavor.
[Diluc may not drink the stuff, but he knows his way around it. As the owner of the Dawn Winery and, by extension, of the Angel's Share, he doesn't really have much of a choice.]
...
[Well, now he's just being awkward. It feels like he should say something to keep the conversation going, and he's surprised to find that he wants to. But such things are beyond him, and have been for years. So after a moment, he clears his throat.]
[ Even with the dismissal, he feels a bit sheepish for letting his distaste get the better of him. He hasn’t even crossed paths with that troublesome bard and he’s already letting him sour the mood. That won’t happen again - even with the weight of the world ever-present on his shoulders, vacations should be for relaxing.
It’s a lovely thought, in any case, but it’s one that goes swiftly out the window the second his meal arrives and is unveiled. If he did a poor job of disguising his emotions when it came to the mention of Barbatos - Venti, whatever he goes by these days - then the way he stills, expression twisting, may as well be a beacon. Liyue is right on the harbor, and seafood is to be expected. He knows well enough to request it not be served to him there, but here? It had completely slipped his mind.
He did ask for something that pairs well with the wine, and Diluc simply delivered.
He also realizes, perhaps a bit too late, that he’s making faces at the meal he was just given. He blinks a time or two, casting an apologetic look at the bartender. ]
Ah. Um. Apologies- [ the second apology in as many minutes, he’s on a roll. ] -I do not mean to slight you or the chef. I… had a particularly bad experience once, and I fear I may never be able to look at any sort of seafood dish the same way again.
Diluc's eyes widen slightly with realization, and he quickly removes the plate from in front of Zhongli in an attempt to minimize his discomfort. Inwardly, he curses himself for the misstep--there's no way he could have known, but why hadn't it occurred to him to ask? Surely, that would have been the more hospitable thing to do rather than simply assume what he will and won't eat.
Outwardly, he manages to shove the self-directed frustration down enough that it's not too obvious and shakes his head.]
No, I should apologize: the fault is mine. I ought to have checked before placing the order.
Either way, no harm done. I wouldn't dream of forcing you to eat something you can't tolerate. [Well, except for a bruise to his ego that he can't quite ignore. But that's beside the point.] Let me make it up to you. What do you like to eat?
[ Just as swiftly as it appeared before him, the salad is whisked away. He would have tired to eat it, if only out of respect for his host, but now that he no longer has to, Zhongli relaxes a little in spite of himself - though he certainly feels a fool for it. The great and mighty Morax, brought to a standstill by a bit of fish.
Try to hide it as he might, it’s clear Diluc is just as chagrined by his own lack of foresight. Of course, neither one of them are truly at fault for a bit of bad coincidence, but here they both are, trying to shoulder the blame.
He’s not entirely sure why, but it brings a small smile to his face, something understanding and amused all at once. ]
Please, do not blame yourself. How could either of us have known? Apart from seafood, you’ll find I’m not terribly picky.
[Diluc takes a moment to consider, then nods. He doesn't quite smile in the same way that Zhongli does, but his expression lacks much of its usual severity. Like recognizes like, and all of that.]
I'll abide by that, but only if you do the same. And I still intend to find you something else to eat, fault or no fault.
Wait here.
[Before Zhongli has a chance to protest, Diluc slips away into the back kitchen to see what's available. There isn't much--again, it's designed to supplement drinking, not provide full meals--but it doesn't take him long to put together some skewers of chicken, mushrooms, and vegetables. Warm, plenty filling, and hopefully flavorful enough to satisfy. And, most importantly, the ingredients are all sourced from terra firma. They'll do.
Without flourish, Diluc returns to his patron at the bar and sets the plate down.]
[ He’s scarcely been in the city for a day and already he’s finding the hospitality to be quite delightful - or, perhaps, that is the doing of present company? Hard to say, but he has found Diluc easy to converse with.
While the bartender ducks into the back to come up with a substitute meal, Zhongli idly swirls the wine around in his glass, watching the liquid ebb and flow with the motion. He wonders, could the Dawn Winery perhaps-? No, it would be foolish to think any mortal might be able to recreate a beverage eons gone, no matter how perfectly Zhongli might remember the ingredients.
There’s a faraway look on his face when Diluc finally reemerges - sooner than Zhongli expected if the way he blinks up at the other man is any indication. ]
Ah, thank you.
[ It looks simple enough, but there is something to be said for simplicity. ]
You did not have to go out of your way on my account but… I appreciate it.
[The faraway look in Zhongli's expression doesn't escape Diluc's notice as he reapproaches. To his own surprise, he finds himself curious and concerned, wishing there was something he could do to ease the wistful weariness he sees there.
Diluc quickly pushes the thought out of his mind. He's probably just projecting his own issues onto Zhongli, and that's unfair to them both.]
It was nothing, really. I'd hate to see you go without supper due to a misunderstanding. And I'll waive the charge for the food altogether.
[That's not taking blame--that's just basic hospitality for situations such as these (or so he tells himself, anyway). Diluc can more than afford to eat the cost of a meal from the Good Hunter and a few ingredients from his own tavern's kitchen.]
[ He does have some money on him, but he’s beginning to suspect that he didn’t prepare quite well enough. His lodgings took far more out of his pocket than he expected.
It really is hard for him to gauge the value of mora when it has held no value for so very long. ]
I don’t mean to take up more of your time, so if you’ve business to attend to, please do not let me keep you, but-- [ but. He’s found their interaction so far to be rather pleasant, and some part of him doesn’t want to see it end just yet. ] If you do not have stories to tell me about yourself, perhaps you can tell me about the city instead?
[Honestly, there are things he should be getting to. But...]
You aren't keeping me. It's a quiet night.
But I did warn you that I'm not a great storyteller, so I ask that you keep your expectations reasonable.
[This time, he speaks easily and with a hint of self-deprecating humor rather than the clear discomfort of before. His feelings toward much of what happens within Mondstadt are complicated at best, but his love for the city itself is one of the few emotional attachments he has left that hasn't been marred by subsequent experience. It's part of why he goes out nearly every night to patrol its streets.]
As you know, Mondstadt is the City of Freedom--which is a reputation that's not undeserved. The Anemo Archon has seen fit to give us a wide berth, and we in turn are responsible for much of what happens here. ["For both good and ill," he adds in his head. He pointedly censors that part of himself for the sake of his visitor.] I'm sure it must seem strange and a bit quaint to someone from a land as devout and bureaucratic as Liyue.
[ Zhongli hums in soft agreement - he won’t be expecting any grand tales, but sometimes that’s for the better. Details can often get lost in the telling, or something small can become something so much bigger with time and enough exaggeration. He would rather hear the simple truth from the mouths of the people.
Diluc’s mouth, he thinks, eyes flicking briefly to the other man’s lips, is a good place to start.
Ah, hm. Perhaps the wine is a bit stronger than he first gave it credit for. He averts his gaze to somewhere a bit more appropriate, and pushes such thoughts from his head as he instead endeavors to listen. ]
I admit, I have not always agreed with the Anemo Archon’s methods.
[ Or his general demeanor, or drinking habits, or… ]
But I think now I am beginning to come around. At least a little.
[After years of honing the skill of observing people, Diluc certainly notices the brief glance downward. It causes his own gaze to shift off to the side as he refuses to consider the implications. He's just as content to ignore the way something in his chest warms as a result. The feeling comes too dangerously close to exposing the mental gymnastics he's gone through, without even realizing it, to deny the full nature of his interest.
Zhongli is a visitor, a customer, and an interesting person. That's all.]
Not many outside of Mondstadt do. But I'm glad to hear that you're trying to keep an open mind, especially given the current situation in Liyue. [Not having an Archon and all.] It has its drawbacks, not least of which human hubris, but the people here have a way of rising up and self-correcting when conditions become too unacceptable.
[Exceptional individuals have a tendency to rise up throughout Mondstadt's history in response to hardships and corruption. Gunnhildr. Vennessa. Ragnvindr. And, even if he wouldn't dare place himself on that same pedestal and hopes that his name won't be remembered in the annals of history, his own work arguably qualifies.]
It's part of what makes Mondstadt... Mondstadt, I suppose.
[ In all honesty, he’s not sure what’s come over him. The other man’s company has been pleasant from the outset, but now he finds himself more and more infatuated with his every little move. It’s not typical of him at all to get so hung up on the minutiae of mortals, let alone a singular one. ]
Mm.
[ He takes a second to clear his head again, masking it with a long drink from his wine glass - which may prove to be counterproductive in the end. ]
It truly is a far cry from Liyue. I look forward to seeing more of it.
BOY IS ZHONGLI GOING TO FEEL STUPID WHEN HE REALIZES THIS IS HIS SOULMATE :V
[If Diluc realizes what Zhongli is trying to mask, he gives no indication of it.
He's rather pointedly ignoring it, as a matter of fact, and decides to focus on the conversation and finding something to busy his hands with behind the bar. There are some glasses that could do with being rinsed before going back to the kitchen for full washing, so he starts there.]
I hope you enjoy your time here.
And should you get your fill of the city, there's a small settlement south of here called Springvale. They're generally welcoming, and have an excellent chef among their number who is happy to cook for guests. It's worth a visit.
[Brook specializes in meat dishes, so there will be no issues there.]
Further southwest is the Dawn Winery, and we're always receiving visitors for both official and tourist reasons. I can't promise my own availability if you should decide to visit, but I can try.
[... not going to unpack the fact that he just invited this man to his home, nope. He's just offering Zhongli a quintessential part of the Mondstadt experience. Right.]
[ When Diluc turns away to busy himself with dishes, Zhongli finds his eyes following the line of his torso, down, down to his hips, and the instant he catches himself staring he decides he really has had too much to drink.
He starts in on his meal as a counterbalance to all the alcohol, because even if things have taken a bit of a turn, he doesn’t want to depart just yet.
When he finally feels like he can speak without making an utter fool of himself, he offers a quiet, ]
Thank you, for the advice as well as the invitation. I would quite like to see the Winery, at least.
[ The way his eyes flick back up to Diluc seems to say “and you, too” though he doesn’t offer as much out loud.
In the end, Zhongli’s stay in Mondstadt is fairly brief, but he always finds his way back to Diluc regardless. Like he’s drawn by a thread tied to the other man. Would that he could explain it, but surely it must not be anything special.
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digitizedsouls2021-10-17 04:04 pm
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(He's been keeping track of the Traveler's movements in Teyvat via his information network. It isn't that he doesn't trust Aether--much the opposite, in fact. The boy is young, talented, and fundamentally good. Diluc knows all too well how terribly that combination of traits can end up.)]
I hope we can live up to your expectations. Here.
[He hands Zhongli a piece of paper: the drink menu.]
Let me know if you have any questions.
[The fact that the man mentioned that he's also here to meet him hasn't escaped his notice. Clearly, he's left as much of an impression on the Traveler as he's left on Diluc. But he's opting for hospitality first, not least because talking about himself isn't really a thing Diluc does gracefully. Or at all, if he can help it.]
no subject
He’d bank on the former, personally. There’s something in Diluc’s eyes that tells him he knows more than he cares to let on. ]
Thank you.
[ He slips into one of the seats at the bar, giving the menu a glance, though it’s clear he already knows what he’s here for. ]
A glass of dandelion wine to start, and if you’ve a meal that pairs well, I would take that as well.
[ No one tell Venti— but, well, he can’t very well come all the way to Mondstadt and not try their local specialty. ]
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The server nods and takes his leave, and Diluc returns his attention to Zhongli.]
I hope you're all right waiting a bit on the meal.
[Given that it's being brought in from elsewhere and all that.]
If you'll allow a bit of curiosity on my part, what brings you to Mondstadt?
[It's framed as an innocent question, but his intention as ever is to probe for information. He doesn't know much about this man, and he intends to learn.]
no subject
No, I do not mind waiting.
[ In the meantime, he will simply have to sample his wine. He picks up the glass given him and gives the liquid a little swirl. He’s no great connoisseur of wine the world over, though he might claim to have some experience with it over the years, and he can certainly tell a fine vintage when he sees it. Time is kinder to wine than it is most other things. ]
Ah, me? [ The simple question curls his lips into a soft smile, something faraway in his gaze as he watches the liquid in his glass. ] I am on vacation.
[ Such a casual answer to a casual question, and yet there seems to be something more there. There is weight in the word that should carry joy, a sense of a long and arduous journey come to an end, of bright relief and terrible sadness sat side-by-side like old friends.
The mood lightens a moment later, as if the weight of the world had settled for a moment before turning onward. ]
It is as I said, I have a companion who spoke highly of this place, and its people. I have spent… a long time in Liyue, and thought it might be time to broaden my horizons.
no subject
But what burdens could a funeral consultant carry that would be of such a magnitude? It's a curious question, and one that makes Diluc want to know more. Most would dismiss the idea as ludicrous on its face, but he knows better. His own burdens are far heavier than those of the average winery owner, after all.
A tightness passes through Diluc's chest, and he wonders if he'll wear that same sort of stare when he finishes his work in Mondstadt, carry that same weary sadness that Zhongli has let slip in this briefest of moments. That thought is quickly dismissed and disregarded--regardless of the state he ends up in when the darkness finally gives way, it will be worth it. Simple as that.
The moment passes, and Diluc moves forward along with it.]
I have to assume you mean the Traveler. Rumor has it you two worked together not long after his arrival in Liyue. [It's always easy to blame rumors for the information he's gone out of his way to know. With some luck, Zhongli won't overthink it.] I have to say, I'm honored that he spoke highly enough of Mondstadt for you to decide to broaden your horizons here.
no subject
Amber eyes flick up to lock with flame-colored ones for the briefest of seconds, as if to tell the other man he’s well-aware he’s being scrutinized. But as quickly as their gazes meet, Zhongli’s slides away with a small, amused chuckle. ]
I was not aware such rumors had legs enough to carry them all the way out to Mondstadt.
[ Anything is possible, he supposes. The wind carries with it many things, even words. In any case, he doesn't pry. ]
It’s true, he was a great help in preparing for the Rite of Parting. He and I shared many stories along the way, and his tales of Mondstadt captured my imagination. One can do worse for a vacation than the City of Freedom, after all.
I would much like to hear any tales you have to tell, as well.
no subject
There's even something knowing about the chuckle, although Diluc may be imagining that part.]
Word about the Traveler around here tends to soar more than walk. People have a vested interest in his goings on, after all he's done for Mondstadt.
["People" meaning him specifically, of course, although really it's not a total lie. The citizens of Mondstadt are particularly invested in their Honorary Knight. They just don't have the resources to follow up on that interest like he does.]
You have my condolances, by the way. Losing Morax has to have been quite the blow to Liyue and its people.
[Which is an understatement, as he understands things. Mondstadt is used to their deity being largely absent, but this is the first time Liyue has been without their Archon in its history. That the city hasn't fallen to chaos says much about their resilience given the major shift.
That last bit makes Diluc freeze, and his mind immediately goes blank. That's a very loaded request, in ways that there's no way for Zhongli to even know. His tales are tainted, happy memories washed away in the rain and nothing but a quest for answers and vengeance since. Hardly the sort of idle chatter to be shared over a bar.
(Speaking of idle chatter... why isn't he annoyed by it yet? This conversation has been full of it.)
He recovers quickly, but there is no way that his hesitation has gone unnoticed.]
I'm a poor storyteller, I'm afraid. You'd do better asking one of the bards.
no subject
[ The wind carries many things indeed – even change. Perhaps especially change, so long as that young man is carried on the breeze from place to place.
In any case, it hardly matters just how this man came to know of Zhongli’s dealings with the Traveler, so long as the things that happened behind closed doors remain there. He can hardly hope to enjoy his respite if word got out about who he truly is – or was. ]
Thank you, but I believe the people have reacted admirably. It was time, I think, for humans to step to the fore. They are more resilient than the Adepti give them credit for.
[ Ah, but it seems he’s touched on a nerve, with the way the other man freezes, like he’s been cornered. Some people are not so keen to share their stories, and Zhongli of people can hardly begin to blame them. Time, like so many things, can be so very cruel to humans.
He recognizes the remark for the deflection it is, but it still makes him pull a face, a grimace that he doesn’t mask quite fast enough by bringing his glass to his lips for a drink. ]
I am not overly fond of bards.
[ Just one bard in particular, really. ]
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For example, about the curious pronoun he's chosen for the word "human."]
I agree that we are.
[He leaves it at that, for now. It could be a quirk of grammar, or it could mean something else. Is Zhongli an adeptus, perhaps? They've been known to walk around Liyue under the guise of humanity.
He's staring again, inspecting for some signal in his expression, looking for some irregularity in his features. All he finds there are the same captivating features and a poor-concealed grimace, which causes him to huff and pull a bit of a lopsided smile--a sincere expression of amusement.]
You may be in the wrong city, then. We've no shortage of them.
José behind you won't bother you unless you ask him to. Helen is more interested in singing from the rooftops than performing anywhere, Sansa is still too shy to do anything in front of an audience, and Venti...
[His eyes scan the tavern, looking for a green hat among the crowd.]
Decided to pester people in another tavern tonight, it seems.
[Just because the diminutive bard is actually Barbatos doesn't make him any less of a pest when he wants to be. And in taverns, he generally makes it a point to be.]
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So, he lets the emphasis on “we” over “they” slide without comment, and Diluc seems content to do the same.
If nothing else, his blatant distaste has drawn something of a smile out of the other man, the first genuine look of amusement since he walked in the door. Though he barely knows the man across the bar, he somehow can’t help but feel he’s been given a gift. ]
Simple storytellers I do not mind, but I have very little tolerance for drunken nuisances.
[ And who else could that possibly be but Venti? If he’s lucky, his fellow Archon will never have to know he’s in town, but that seems unlikely. They’ve already discussed how rumors carry on the wind. ]
Ah, I apologize. It is hardly my place to speak ill of your clientele.
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Think nothing of it. I'm not responsible for their behavior, or the consequences thereof.
[Up to and including being judged for drinking too much. Or having their ass kicked by a masked figure if they decide to start trouble while drunk. Not that he knows anything about the latter.
Their conversation is interrupted by the return of the server, who hands a bag and a slip of paper to Diluc before going back to check on customers within the tavern proper. In turn, Diluc goes about actually serving the meal: a salad with fresh seafood set on top of it.]
Your supper. It complements the wine without overpowering its flavor.
[Diluc may not drink the stuff, but he knows his way around it. As the owner of the Dawn Winery and, by extension, of the Angel's Share, he doesn't really have much of a choice.]
...
[Well, now he's just being awkward. It feels like he should say something to keep the conversation going, and he's surprised to find that he wants to. But such things are beyond him, and have been for years. So after a moment, he clears his throat.]
I'll leave you to eat, then.
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It’s a lovely thought, in any case, but it’s one that goes swiftly out the window the second his meal arrives and is unveiled. If he did a poor job of disguising his emotions when it came to the mention of Barbatos - Venti, whatever he goes by these days - then the way he stills, expression twisting, may as well be a beacon. Liyue is right on the harbor, and seafood is to be expected. He knows well enough to request it not be served to him there, but here? It had completely slipped his mind.
He did ask for something that pairs well with the wine, and Diluc simply delivered.
He also realizes, perhaps a bit too late, that he’s making faces at the meal he was just given. He blinks a time or two, casting an apologetic look at the bartender. ]
Ah. Um. Apologies- [ the second apology in as many minutes, he’s on a roll. ] -I do not mean to slight you or the chef. I… had a particularly bad experience once, and I fear I may never be able to look at any sort of seafood dish the same way again.
The fault is my own, I did not think to specify.
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Whoops he disappointed his future husband :cDiluc's eyes widen slightly with realization, and he quickly removes the plate from in front of Zhongli in an attempt to minimize his discomfort. Inwardly, he curses himself for the misstep--there's no way he could have known, but why hadn't it occurred to him to ask? Surely, that would have been the more hospitable thing to do rather than simply assume what he will and won't eat.
Outwardly, he manages to shove the self-directed frustration down enough that it's not too obvious and shakes his head.]
No, I should apologize: the fault is mine. I ought to have checked before placing the order.
Either way, no harm done. I wouldn't dream of forcing you to eat something you can't tolerate. [Well, except for a bruise to his ego that he can't quite ignore. But that's beside the point.] Let me make it up to you. What do you like to eat?
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Try to hide it as he might, it’s clear Diluc is just as chagrined by his own lack of foresight. Of course, neither one of them are truly at fault for a bit of bad coincidence, but here they both are, trying to shoulder the blame.
He’s not entirely sure why, but it brings a small smile to his face, something understanding and amused all at once. ]
Please, do not blame yourself. How could either of us have known? Apart from seafood, you’ll find I’m not terribly picky.
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I'll abide by that, but only if you do the same. And I still intend to find you something else to eat, fault or no fault.
Wait here.
[Before Zhongli has a chance to protest, Diluc slips away into the back kitchen to see what's available. There isn't much--again, it's designed to supplement drinking, not provide full meals--but it doesn't take him long to put together some skewers of chicken, mushrooms, and vegetables. Warm, plenty filling, and hopefully flavorful enough to satisfy. And, most importantly, the ingredients are all sourced from terra firma. They'll do.
Without flourish, Diluc returns to his patron at the bar and sets the plate down.]
Your meal, for real this time.
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While the bartender ducks into the back to come up with a substitute meal, Zhongli idly swirls the wine around in his glass, watching the liquid ebb and flow with the motion. He wonders, could the Dawn Winery perhaps-? No, it would be foolish to think any mortal might be able to recreate a beverage eons gone, no matter how perfectly Zhongli might remember the ingredients.
There’s a faraway look on his face when Diluc finally reemerges - sooner than Zhongli expected if the way he blinks up at the other man is any indication. ]
Ah, thank you.
[ It looks simple enough, but there is something to be said for simplicity. ]
You did not have to go out of your way on my account but… I appreciate it.
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Diluc quickly pushes the thought out of his mind. He's probably just projecting his own issues onto Zhongli, and that's unfair to them both.]
It was nothing, really. I'd hate to see you go without supper due to a misunderstanding. And I'll waive the charge for the food altogether.
[That's not taking blame--that's just basic hospitality for situations such as these (or so he tells himself, anyway). Diluc can more than afford to eat the cost of a meal from the Good Hunter and a few ingredients from his own tavern's kitchen.]
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[ He does have some money on him, but he’s beginning to suspect that he didn’t prepare quite well enough. His lodgings took far more out of his pocket than he expected.
It really is hard for him to gauge the value of mora when it has held no value for so very long. ]
I don’t mean to take up more of your time, so if you’ve business to attend to, please do not let me keep you, but-- [ but. He’s found their interaction so far to be rather pleasant, and some part of him doesn’t want to see it end just yet. ] If you do not have stories to tell me about yourself, perhaps you can tell me about the city instead?
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You aren't keeping me. It's a quiet night.
But I did warn you that I'm not a great storyteller, so I ask that you keep your expectations reasonable.
[This time, he speaks easily and with a hint of self-deprecating humor rather than the clear discomfort of before. His feelings toward much of what happens within Mondstadt are complicated at best, but his love for the city itself is one of the few emotional attachments he has left that hasn't been marred by subsequent experience. It's part of why he goes out nearly every night to patrol its streets.]
As you know, Mondstadt is the City of Freedom--which is a reputation that's not undeserved. The Anemo Archon has seen fit to give us a wide berth, and we in turn are responsible for much of what happens here. ["For both good and ill," he adds in his head. He pointedly censors that part of himself for the sake of his visitor.] I'm sure it must seem strange and a bit quaint to someone from a land as devout and bureaucratic as Liyue.
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Diluc’s mouth, he thinks, eyes flicking briefly to the other man’s lips, is a good place to start.
Ah, hm. Perhaps the wine is a bit stronger than he first gave it credit for. He averts his gaze to somewhere a bit more appropriate, and pushes such thoughts from his head as he instead endeavors to listen. ]
I admit, I have not always agreed with the Anemo Archon’s methods.
[ Or his general demeanor, or drinking habits, or… ]
But I think now I am beginning to come around. At least a little.
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Zhongli is a visitor, a customer, and an interesting person. That's all.]
Not many outside of Mondstadt do. But I'm glad to hear that you're trying to keep an open mind, especially given the current situation in Liyue. [Not having an Archon and all.] It has its drawbacks, not least of which human hubris, but the people here have a way of rising up and self-correcting when conditions become too unacceptable.
[Exceptional individuals have a tendency to rise up throughout Mondstadt's history in response to hardships and corruption. Gunnhildr. Vennessa. Ragnvindr. And, even if he wouldn't dare place himself on that same pedestal and hopes that his name won't be remembered in the annals of history, his own work arguably qualifies.]
It's part of what makes Mondstadt... Mondstadt, I suppose.
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Mm.
[ He takes a second to clear his head again, masking it with a long drink from his wine glass - which may prove to be counterproductive in the end. ]
It truly is a far cry from Liyue. I look forward to seeing more of it.
BOY IS ZHONGLI GOING TO FEEL STUPID WHEN HE REALIZES THIS IS HIS SOULMATE :V
He's rather pointedly ignoring it, as a matter of fact, and decides to focus on the conversation and finding something to busy his hands with behind the bar. There are some glasses that could do with being rinsed before going back to the kitchen for full washing, so he starts there.]
I hope you enjoy your time here.
And should you get your fill of the city, there's a small settlement south of here called Springvale. They're generally welcoming, and have an excellent chef among their number who is happy to cook for guests. It's worth a visit.
[Brook specializes in meat dishes, so there will be no issues there.]
Further southwest is the Dawn Winery, and we're always receiving visitors for both official and tourist reasons. I can't promise my own availability if you should decide to visit, but I can try.
[... not going to unpack the fact that he just invited this man to his home, nope. He's just offering Zhongli a quintessential part of the Mondstadt experience. Right.]
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He starts in on his meal as a counterbalance to all the alcohol, because even if things have taken a bit of a turn, he doesn’t want to depart just yet.
When he finally feels like he can speak without making an utter fool of himself, he offers a quiet, ]
Thank you, for the advice as well as the invitation. I would quite like to see the Winery, at least.
[ The way his eyes flick back up to Diluc seems to say “and you, too” though he doesn’t offer as much out loud.
In the end, Zhongli’s stay in Mondstadt is fairly brief, but he always finds his way back to Diluc regardless. Like he’s drawn by a thread tied to the other man. Would that he could explain it, but surely it must not be anything special.
Right? ]
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