-...You know, I always wondered what it would be like if I could drink a lot of alcohol without having to worry about the negative side effects, like a hangover or alcohol poisoning. But actually seeing it happen is pretty scary. -Jack couldn't help commenting a while later, upon seeing the sheer speed of how fast Venti was drinking the wines. -...I already saw this once before, during the "Drinking Competition" held during Ludi Harpastum, but he can literally "drink half of Cider Lake's worth of wine." if not more.
-...And all those wines spread out on the table would soon be completely gone, even though I also want to have a taste! -Quinn added in some annoyance, before sighing to calm down. -...I know that Venti is Lord Barbatos and should be prioritized, especially since it is Weinlesefest, but I can't help feeling jealous by this whole situation.
-I understand what you both mean. It is quite a difficult situation. -Margaret soon added, as she was thoughtfully looking between the two and the happy looking Venti. -...When everyone was making preparations for the returning Weinlesefest, I thought about having a "Drinking Competition", but...
-On one hand, he would easily drink you all under the table so it would be barely a competition at all and on another, it would be extremely rude to ban him from participating. -Rosaria ended for her, looking and sounding thoughtful herself. -...Venti is the god of Mondstadt, so his level of alcohol tolerance shouldn't be surprising, but because of this we can't really have any drinking competitions.
She ended in some tiredness and slight annoyance,
Knowing that this couldn't be helped, but still not feeling happy about it...
*Drinking with others was fine and dandy, but sometimes she also wanted a challenge,
Yet with their Archon understandably having the biggest alcohol tolerance of them all...
-Then don't hold a "Drinking Competition". Shouldn't be too hard. -Her thoughts were soon interrupted by a familiar voice of Diluc, who was now looking between some of them in rising annoyance. -I am already sick and tired of having to play babysitter to you lot when you are inebriated, so the lack of a "Drinking Competition" is quite welcome. I don't need everyone sprawled all over the city like some kind of unknown disease and... -He suddenly paused, upon noticing the still-concerned-looking person standing by his side, which made him deeply sigh. -...Kaeya, I already told you that I am alright and there is no need to worry about my wellbeing. So you should just stop moping around and join the discussion with your drunkard friends. -He added soon enough, hoping that his words would reach the other, which it didn't look like they did. -...Seriously, I already said that I am okay, why is he still so worried he wouldn't even participate in discussing a topic he loves so much...?
He couldn't help mumbling, feeling really confused, as well as grateful and sad...
...
Grateful for Kaeya's earlier help and his worry for himself,
Sad that his brother was worrying about him so much, even now,
And confused about feeling so conflicted and not being able to tell Kaeya the truth...
*Even though the two have already become closer, so why...?
Why couldn't he just tell him what he felt about this situation...?
...
That he was not used to being taken care of, but deep down was really grateful for Kaeya's help,
While he also didn't want the other to worry about himself, because that is his job as the older brother...
...
...
Seriously, why were things still so...?
-We can hold one later in Springvale. -An eager sounding voice was soon heard, as Draff almost jumped into the discussion -After the end of Weinlesefest, just for a select number of people and...
-Daddy, are you really going to drink again? Are you going to leave me all alone again…? -His words were soon interrupted by a sad sounding voice, as Diona ran towards him, looking like she was on the verge of tears. -You promised to go fishing with me later. Did you lie to me again...? Or did you forget…? -She continued, her eyes now big and pleading, as her ears drooped down. -...Don't you love me anymore...? Is alcohol more important to you than me, your own daughter…?
At these words, her tail wrapped around her body,
As her expression turned even more sad and dejected,
With the Kätzlein now quietly looking into her father's eyes...
*As she was secretly wondering if she was successfully using this "important skill",
Hoping that wherever she was doing, it was enough to have her father spend time with her instead...
...
...
And soon enough, her hope was realized,
As Draff "coincidentally" forgot about his earlier suggestion...
After tasting all the wines,
And giving them some interesting names...
*Some of which were actual human names, like "Amery Hulbart Von"~
...
It was finally time to enjoy the rest of the festival,
And thus Venti decided to check up all the stalls~
...
So with a "small" escort, he proceeded to do just that,
Soon noticing a plushie stall...?
-...Wait, haven't I already seen this before...? I could have sworn that this stall was here the last time, as well...-Venti couldn't help wondering aloud, as he stopped before and looked through it. -...With Eula, Mona and Fischl manning it, if I remember correctly...?
He soon added in rising confusion,
Currently having a bad feeling of Deja-vu...
...
...
Wait, he actually saw it before,
But at that time...
"There was even a booth that sold plushies,
Of course there would be one, would he have expected anything else...?
*And was there a bigger variety than before or was it just his own imagination...?
...
...
No, this was not the time to check it out,
First he had to do what he decided on!"
...
...
He definitely saw it before,
But decided to just ignore it at the time...
*So now he can actually check it out...
...
...
There were definitely a lot of plushies of his adorable people,
Some, like the Barbara-Jean duo he couldn't help recognizing right away...
...
But there were also a lot of plushies of his many forms and outfits,
Even his "Cherub" form and all those outfits from the photoshoot event!
*And there were even plushies of him in the same forms and outfits, but in different poses!
...
Just what happened to people to get so obsessed with him and in such an embarrassing way at that?!
...
...
But there were also a lot of plushies of his adorable people,
As well as some unexpected additions, now that he noticed...
*And surely, if he asked for some, they would be given to him as a gift, right…?
...
...
But still, why were there so many embarrassing plushies of himself?!
And not only that, they were mixed with the plushies of his adorable people?!
...
...
HOW SHOULD HE EVEN REACT TO THIS STALL?!
HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW?!
…
…
Should he be happy that there are plushies of his adorable people?!
Or should he feel embarrassed that there are so many of himself?!
-...They actually don't look half bad...-Venti couldn't help mumbling a few minutes later, as he was looking between the "Mondstadt citizens" plushies, too taken by them to feel embarrassment anymore. -...I already have the "Baby Dvalin", "Duo Siblings Barbara-Jean" and "Adorable Children inside a Bird Nest" plushies...So, I should pick something else this time. -He soon added in thoughtfulness, as well as some confliction, which only rose when he saw the sheer collection put out in the booth. -...But there are so many nice looking ones: "Singing Idol Barbara" plushie, "Duo Siblings Kaeya and Diluc" plushie, "Trio Battle Nuns- Jilianna, Rosaria and Victoria" plushie, "Boom Boom Bakudan Klee" plushie, "Mika and the Birds" plushie, "Vengeance Will be Mine!" plushie, "Fischl, Prinzessin der Verurteilung and her Loyal Familiar Ozvaldo von Hrafnavins" plushie and...! AGGGGGGH, I CAN'T CHOOSE! ALL OF THEM ARE JUST SO UTTERLY ADORABLE! -He couldn't help yelling out in rising annoyance, his voice reverberating around the place. -...I would have taken them all if I could, but considering how much time people took to make them and the booth itself being open to the public, I can't in good conscience just do that, right...?
He added in a quitter voice, his expression dropping considerably,
As he couldn't help but feel guilty about even thinking of the possibility...
*But all the plushies looked so good, that he just couldn't choose between them...!
...
...
WHY DID ALL OF THOSE PLUSHIES...?!
-Lord Barbatos, if it's alright with you, let us buy you some. -His thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a voice nearby, as he turned around to its source, soon recognizing the man from Starfell village. -...I am certain that people would have given them to you for free, if you only choose to. Yet, knowing your wish to be treated equally to everyone else, would follow your decision regardless.
The man, who name Venti somehow didn't know, continued,
Before saying something else, yet the Archon was no longer listening to him...
*All he could think about was how come he didn't know this man's name...
...
Surely, even if this man was a former cultist, since he is a Mondstadt citizen now,
Shouldn't he, as the Anemo Archon, know his name by now...?
...
Unless...
...
Wait...
...
-Weren't you that "Elder"s follower before...? Don't tell me...-He couldn't help but say to the other, looking and sounding quite suspicious, which made the man pause. -...That as*hole didn't even give you an actual name...?! YOU WERE NAMELESS THIS WHOLE TIME?!
He couldn't help yelling aloud, his voice now almost seeping with rage,
As he started wondering if he should just go teleport to that "person"s cell and beat the shit out of him...
...
"Every being deserves a name to be called upon, and woven into a song."
That's how it's supposed to be all along!
*By not giving someone an actual name,
It's as if you don't even see the other as a person!
...
And that "Elder" did just that!
All along, he saw this poor man just as a tool!
*After Weinlesefest concludes, he should show that as*hole...!
...
...
-There's a time and place for anything. There is a more important matter to take care of right now. -Venti soon reprimanded himself, before turning to look towards the now-shocked man. -...I am going to choose a name for you, one which you will be able to use freely. -He said in all seriousness, his expression mirroring his voice. -...It's been too long since you were denied a name of your own.
He told the other, already wondering on which name might fit the best,
One with a special meaning and which would describe the man before him perfectly...
...
...
For some weird reason, the name "Eduard" came to his mind almost right away,
And yet its meaning wouldn't really work here, would it...?
*Either "rich/wealthy guard" or "guardian of his property"...
...
But does a person's name really need to have a special meaning...?
*Even if the name itself is ordinary, that doesn't reflect the person who wields it...
...
A person could lead their own life, ordinary or special, regardless of that,
Since a person's name is just a part of who they are.