if i didn't hear that damned audio of Itto rapping for traveler's bday, I would've skipped his himbo ass. now i'm torn between albedo and him!
Venti, a bard of Mondstadt, sighed as he plucked the strings of his lyre for inspiration as he laid on the grass on Starsnatch Cliff, the gentle winds whispering the local gossip to his ears as his bored gaze stared straight ahead towards the clouds lazily drifting by.
Another sigh escaped his lips as the wind whispered about Lili, the girl from the other night who paid for his drinks and left him in the tavern after he passed out under Master Diluc's mercy.
Well, not that she left him voluntarily. After all, Master Diluc himself kicked her out along with some other rowdy patrons long after he fell asleep.
But still, the scent of charred skin that accompanied the wind's gossip about Lili was worrying.
"Maa, it's not my issue now, is it?" Venti shrugged nonchalantly. "Her business is her business. This is Mondstadt, the city of Freedom after all."
"Eh? It's you! Hello!"
"Hm?" turning towards the familiar voice, he sat up and saw the wind's current gossip topic, Lili, who had the brightest smile on her face and a small collection of Cecilias in her arms. "Greetings, Stranger!" the bard greets, a friendly smile on his face. "Having fun picking flowers?"
She nods eagerly as she walked closer, Venti's eyes traveling towards the supposedly injured arm which is now smooth and blemish-free. Huh, that's some fast recovery.
"Yeah!" the girl responded as she sat down on a rock nearby, hands now busy with the flowers. "These flowers are so pretty; I can't help but make a flower crown!" she then blinked before her smile widened. "I know! I'll make one for you too!"
The bard let out a laugh as he sat up, hands slowly finding the right melodies to struck inspiration. "Then, shall I play you some of my new songs as you weave those flowers together?"
Lili let out an amused giggle. "Do I have to pay in bottles of wine and apples again?"
Venti let out a laugh at her teasing question. "Since we've already bonded over alcohol last night, the two songs shall be free but after that, you will have to pay, how about that, stranger?"
A wide smile and a nod were the only response Venti need before he sung her a song as the girl continued to make flower crowns.
-0-
"I have decided!" Lili suddenly says as Aether and Paimon accompanied her as the three of them walked around Mondstadt, the ditz's eyes scanning every store and buying whatever piqued her interest. It must be nice to have so much Mora.
"About?" Paimon prodded, hands full of snacks.
"I will accompany you two to your journey! That way, I'll see the world!"
Aether and Paimon side-eyed each other, unsure of Lili's decision.
"That's… good I guess?" Aether trails off, his face filled with uncertainty. His journey would be arduous, there is no doubt about it and Lili's a bit… soft and naïve.
"Now hold on!" Paimon screeches, her tiny hands waving in the air, her snacks now in her blackhole of a stomach. "Are you sure you can handle it? Paimon and traveler has been living in the wild, sleeping in tents, and getting into fights with hilichurls and treasure hunters! Not to mention the Fatui too!"
"Of course I can! Look at these guns!" Lili then proceeded to flex her nonexistent muscles, the fruit vendor choking back a laugh.
"There isn't an ounce of muscle at all!" Paimon shouts at Lili who laughed at the floating tour guide who was now waving her tiny fists around in annoyance. Aether could only sigh, resigned.
"Kidding!" Lili lightly pinched Paimon's cheeks as the floating girl squawked. "I was thinking more of as your financial aid."
"Financial…aid?" Paimon eyed the girl who patted her dress, the pouch of Mora jingling under her dress. Paimon's eyes then shone. "Welcome to the team! Aether and Paimon is glad you're here!"
Aether eyed his tour guide. She sure is susceptible to bribes. "Looks like Paimon won't be emergency food anymore."
"How many times does Paimon have to say it?! Paimon is not Emergency food!" her tiny feet stomping the air, Paimon threw a mini tantrum which caused Lili and Aether to laugh.
"But in all seriousness, where are you two going next?" Lili tilts her head in question, the three of them somehow reaching Diluc's tavern.
"We're going to Liyue next! The Rite of Ascension is going to happen soon! We're hoping to catch it!" the floating tour guide responds as the three of them entered the tavern.
"Ah, yes. The Rite of Ascension." Lili nods to herself as the three of them stood in the middle of the tavern, the dull buzz of conversation surrounding them. "It's always an extravagant event, full of gods and reds." Lili then trails off, as if trying to remember something. "Ah! But not as extravagant as Lantern Rite! Imported fireworks and precious ores everywhere! I heard that the street parties are always fun to attend!"
"Are there food?!" Paimon drools as she imagined the festivities Lili was describing.
"There sure is! Lots and lots!"
"Yay! Aether! Let's go to Liyue and attend the Lantern Rite!"
-0-
Diluc doesn't know how this happened, but it did. He just left the tavern for a little while to patrol the city in the darkness of the night and the next thing he sees as he enters the tavern after his vigilante duties is another wild drinking game and in the middle is Lili, once again downing mugs and mugs of alcohol, her opponents passed out. She even outdrank Nimrod and a few other well known drunks in the city.
"CHUG! CHUG! CHUG!" the crowd cheered as Lili downed her…Diluc doesn't even bother counting how many mugs of alcohol the girl has drank.
"Oh! Its Master Diluc!" the redhead then turned to the Honorary Knight and the floating child, in their hands are juice and mushroom-chicken skewers. "Good evening!"
"Why is your friend in here again." Diluc watched as Aether and Paimon shrank as he pinned them with his glare.
"Well…we couldn't stop her since, ya know… Cyrus and the other adventurers called her over and next thing we know, a drinking game started." The floating girl explained, their heads hung low. "…sorry..."
"YEAAHH!" The crowd cheered as another adventurer slumped forward, far too drunk to keep their eyes open.
Diluc sighs. "This ends here."
-0-
As Aether and Paimon watched Master Diluc march towards the crowd to kick them out, the two could only pray for their friend's safety as the redhead's murderous glare landed on the ditz.
"Hopefully, we don't lose our financial aid." Paimon murmurs, causing Aether to look at her, disbelief on his face.
at least pretend to care for her wellbeing, you user.
Replies:
Raeder Copious: lol cheeky little god seed is slowly turning into a drunkard. must be that Mondstadt effect. hopefully, you'll still like her as we continue :)