-Oh, hello Kaeya, Master Diluc! -Venti said as soon as he noticed them approaching, looking and sounding mostly happy, though you could still hear some sulkiness in his voice. -...It's a shame you arrived only now, when we already finished our short music, dancing and singing lessons!
He added, a pout soon appearing on his face,
One that looked pretty cute, like always...
*Though Diluc had to secretly agree with the Archon,
The fact he and Kaeya arrived so late was truly disappointing...
...
But he wasn't going to admit it, not a chance,
Especially not after the "Bullying" that the Dawn Winery's staff...
-It's Mister Kaeya and Mister Diluc! They are back!
-Are you going to show us magic tricks again?!
-Those tricks were very good, even my friends were impressed!
-...Can you show some to Lily...?
The children's enthusiastic voices interrupted his thoughts,
And before long, he and Kaeya were completely surrounded and...
-Sorry, but I have to decline. There's some stuff I need to take care of. -That "Little Brother" of his suddenly said, looking and sounding apologetic as he ran out from the "children cage", leaving him alone to be completely surrounded. -But, don't worry, even if I am not here, Diluc can show you many "amazing" magic tricks~
Kaeya added in rising amusement, clearly enjoying his current distress,
Before the traitorous brother proceeded to turn away and go talk to the other people standing nearby...
*Unbeknownst to Diluc, Kaeya planned to give the gifts to Rosaria and Eula as soon as possible,
Hence he left so soon, using the sudden "child cage" to his own advantage...
...
It would be embarrassing if Diluc knew his real intention, after all...
-Eula, Rosaria, long time no see! How have you been the last week...?~ -He decided to cheerily say as soon as he arrived closer to them, before taking two small bags out of his Vision's "Hammerspace". -Here, this is for you two. -He gave each one of them a bag in turn. -The small parcel is a gift from Adelinde, while the alcohol and the "special gifts" are from me. I don't need to explain the reason for giving them, right...? -He soon added, while his expression turned grateful. -Thank you for intervening back then, during Ludi Harpastum and locking Diluc and myself in that cell. If not for your help, we might have still continued being distant towards one another.
"Tea Party:
A social gathering in the afternoon at which tea, cakes, and other light refreshments are served."
That was it's mostly known definition,
An explanation of how exactly this event should proceed,
And yet, they did not have any cake or other light refreshments to partake in...
*All they had were some freshly thawed fruits and the "Misty Garden" tea he just brewed.
...
Simply speaking, they had quite a sorry excuse for a tea party,
And yet, it did not look like either Dvalin or Durin minded it in the slightest.
*Perhaps it was due to both of them still not being fully accustomed to human culture…
…
He would have to remedy it at some point, preferably as soon as possible,
It would not do for fellow dragons to be so uneducated on other cultures.
...
...
Still, it was quite unusual for him to have a tea party in Wyrmrest Valley of Dragonspine,
Especially inside Durin's current nest, which technically consisted of his old remains...
*It reminded him of all those times in the past, during the Archon war,
Where he had to put up a base in the middle of the battlefield, amidst the corpses of the slain...
...
It was truly an arduous time, indeed,
One full of loss and...
-M-mister Zhongli...I-I have already drank my cup of tea, so...-His thoughts were unceremoniously interrupted by a shaky voice nearby, coming from a Cryo Hilichurl Grenadier who initially suggested for the tea party to take place. -...S-so can I please...L-leave...?
Clotuali, which was the Hillichurl's name, asked in clear fright,
Though Zhongli failed to recognize what he could possibly be so afraid of...
*Due to his and Dvalin's earlier "spar", there were clearly no enemies around...
...
Or perhaps there were and he simply did not notice due to choosing to drop his guard...?
*This certainly wouldn't do...
...
Their tea party should not be disturbed!
...
-Dvalin, Durin, I apologize for the sudden interruption, but I would have to leave you for a short while. -The Archon soon said in seriousness, as he got up from his seat, before turning to look towards the still frightened Clotuali. -Be at ease, friend. I would swiftly take care of the adversaries.
And with these words and without waiting for a reply, he teleported away,
Leaving the two now-incredulous dragons and a bewildered Hillichurl to quietly sit by the tea table...
...
-...Barbatos was right, Morax is indeed a "blockhead". -Dvalin said moments later, still looking towards where the Archon was previously at with confusion. -...He somehow didn't realize that the "adversaries" the Hillichurl is so afraid of are actually us...
With these words, he turned to look towards Clotuali,
Who, upon noticing the gaze, shakily turned to look at his empty tea cup...
...
-...Even in my current, smaller dragon form, I could eat him in one bite. -Durin thoughtfully added, to which the poor Hillichurl began shaking even more. -...But it would be a bother to take on a dragon form now, so I won't. -He soon added, to which Clotuali soon stopped shaking, yet continued looking at the tea cup. -...As for the Geo Archon, he is indeed quite...Dense, yes. Only recently did he realize why you were so mad at him, Dvalin.
To this, the other dragon-in-human-form visibly pouted,
As he proceeded to take the remaining thawed fruits and swallowed them all...
-...Stupid Morax made me feel like an idiot...-Dvalin mumbled in annoyance moments later, wondering if he should eat the plate as well, or not. He was really annoyed at the moment, but they could still need it later, right...? Alright, he was going to spare the plate for now...-...And he promised to tell me stories about his past with Barbatos, but now he went on a hunt for some invincible enemies and who knows how long that is going to take...!
He added in even more annoyance, his pout deepening,
Upon once again looking at the spot where Zhongli sat at just recently,
Now wondering if it would be better to eat the stupid Archon's teacup instead...
...
...
The Geo Archon broke his promise,
So punishing him like this was only fair, right...?
Minutes later, thought it felt like much more,
Diluc was finally allowed to leave the "ring of embarrassment"...
*Seriously, he did not learn nonverbal skill activation in order to play "magic tricks"!
And that stupid Kaeya, running off alone like that and leaving him to suffer!
...
That stupid "little brother" of his was clearly enjoying his suffering...!
*Being all nice and cheery with Eula and Rosaria and even giving them gifts...!
...
"Give this bottle to Barbatos for me and inform him of my knowledge of his earlier mischief. Make sure to tell that flying menace that I am no longer mad at him and wish for a successful resolution of Mondstadt's crisis aftermath."
...
Oh, that's right,
He still had to give the bard a gift, too...
*Though at the moment, it might be impossible to do, once more...
-...So, this is what happened, everyone. Do you have any idea on how I should better punish those cheeky Winds...? -Venti asked the children in intrigue and amusement, which only rose when he noticed that the wind started blowing at a slower pace, almost nonexistent. -I would be really grateful if you helped me with this~
He soon added, trying hard to stop himself from chuckling,
As he could almost imagine how shocked the Winds were now~
*Truthfully, if was quite funny to imagine after the mess they recently made,
So he didn't mind if they "suffered" a little bit more than they already did...
...
Oh, now the wind stopped blowing completely,
He better do something about that~
...
-Oh, the wind was gone and now it appeared again! So weird...
-It's not weird! Don't you remember what Venti said about the Winds?
-They were bad and now need to be punished! But they don't want to be punished!
-Klee heard that punishing when you do bad is for your own good! But Klee can't blow up the Winds, right...?
-...Lily can't see them, how can you blow up something you can't see...?
-My friends say they could feel them! They also agreed to help!
Timmie suddenly interrupted, looking and sounding dead serious,
As a bunch of Pigeons were now flying around and above him...
*From the very beginning, they were hiding in the trees with the squirrels,
And just recently seemed to want to come out, in the middle of their special lessons...
...
At least, that's what Venti noticed after a while,
As most of the time he was focused on spending time with the children...
*And now these same children were having a "very important" discussion on how to punish the Winds...
...
Truly, they all were such adorable children~
So cute he could barely keep himself from...~
-Lord Barbatos...I-I mean Venti. It's nice to have you back! -A familiar voice interrupted him, as Caleb and Sophia soon arrived to the already big group. -My sister and I, there's something we would like to discuss, if it's okay with you.
-It's me! I am the one who insisted on coming here and dragged my brother with me! -Sophia soon admitted, looking and sounding a little guilt stricken, before she sadly sighed. -...What I want to talk about is...W-well...Sister Grace, from when we were still in a cult...I saw her yesterday, in that state...I saw what she did...I heard what she said and...-The clergy trainee started explaining, as tears began to well up in her eyes. -...B-back then...I-I always looked up to her...A-and then...A-and then...A-and she ended in such a...H-horrible way...B-but she accepted her death...S-she was smiling...S-she...!
-It's okay, sister. It's going to be okay. Wherever Sister Grace is now, she should have found peace. -Caleb soon enveloped her into a tight hug, as he started reassuring her over and over, hoping that this would be enough. He still sometimes had nightmares of seeing his sister's dead body...So what happened just yesterday, he understood how hard it was for her. -Lor...Venti, the other person that was with Sister Grace at the time, we heard a little about her and what she went through. It's a miracle she is still alive, thanks to you...-He suddenly said, upon looking towards the Archon, a sad expression still on his face. -My sister and I, we briefly discussed it earlier...-At these words, Sophia stopped crying and was mostly quietly sobbing now. -...The teen called "Collei", we would like to help her get better...So that she wouldn't become another Sister Grace.
He slowly admitted, proceeding to gently pat his sister on the head,
Before he started mumbling reassuring words into her ear, in order to make her feel better...
*It was mostly "It's going to be okay" and "Sister Grace would be the last person to die in such a horrible way",
From what Venti heard, soon realizing that the two wanted to help Collei due to still being affected by Sister Grace's death...
...
Because they, mostly Sophia, were traumatized by what happened to their former elder...
...
"...I am sorry...Lord Barbatos...
...Please, forgive me..."
Constantly apologizing to him,
Not caring that she was struck...
"...I never wanted to hurt..."
...
And then sadly smiling as she disintegrated,
Unable to continue her last words...
*So it really wasn't just his imagination, after all...
...
...
Such a sad death, which happened only yesterday...
*And if things didn't go the way they did, Collei would have been next...
...
"...This teen called "Collei", we would like to help her get better...So that she wouldn't become another Sister Grace."
...
"Thanks to Venti's help, Collei no longer appears to be affected by whatever experimentation she was put through. Yet this is still not the time to celebrate. This "Eleazar" she is afflicted with still remains, akin to a curse of sorts that refuses to go away.
...The earlier effect of the experimentation she was put through, as well as this persisting "Eleazar Curse" appears to have shortened her life span exponentially. I am afraid that if nothing changes, she would meet her death in a month's time, at the maximum. As such..."
...
As traumatized as the two still were,
They still volunteered their help...
*And considering the current situation...
...
But they were still traumatized, greatly affected by yesterday's events,
With Sophia's emotions clearly going all over the place...
*Agreeing to their request now, would be the same as using them to...
-If you wish to help Collei, I would be really grateful! But please, take care of yourselves first! -His thoughts were interrupted once again, this time by the grateful and reassuring voice of Amber, who proceeded to go to the siblings and wipe Sophia's tears with her handkerchief. -Now, this is better. But you still need to take a break before even thinking about helping! -She added in all seriousness, upon looking at the other teen girl Infront of her, before she paused in thought. The thing that Venti and Eula talked about before...-...There is a way you can help, after you calm down and relax, that is! -She made sure to add again, before sighing. -My good friend and our Archon are planning to officially welcome Collei to Mondstadt. Want to help us decide how to best do it...?
She soon asked, her expression turning warm and inviting,
As she moved a few feet away and reached out her hand towards the two of them...
-Mind if I also join this plan of yours, darling? -Another familiar voice was soon heard, as Lisa arrived at the group, looking quite calm. -Don't worry, Amber and Eula dears, Little Collei is just fine. Our talk simply took some time. -She reassuringly added, upon looking between the two, before she looked around the place. -...It seems like there are already quite a lot of people gathered around. With this many people giving ideas, surely we would be able to organize the best welcoming party there could be, right...?~