Grounded

14

Este's mouth is drawn to a line, and his eyes stay blank.

Diluc stands behind the counter, cleaning the counter absentmindedly.

Este's is silent on the upper floor of Angel's Share, and his eyes are zeroed in on the wine that swirls around the cup he is holding. The volume of the noise in the bar is lower than usual, even with a few more rowdy patrons talking and laughing.

Este hasn't resolved his silent feud with Diluc yet. Neither of them have even really tried.

You could say that in a way Este is jealous of Kaeya.

Because the older man had the courage to talk to Diluc, and face his cutting words without a flinch and retort back with words he carefully selected. Unlike Este who tended to blurt things out in a state of heightened emotions.

Este would love to talk to Diluc, normally. But the only words they have exchanged since Diluc came back to Mond have been either overly polite or tinged with bitterness.

He can still easily recall the venomous tone Diluc had when his pointed words came out. The glare he had fixated on Albedo who stood beside Este and had stared back at Diluc with the same poison.

Este can't take that bitterness.

But Este also can't stand not seeing his old friend at least once in a while.

So he comes to the bar whenever Diluc is present, even though they never resolve the tension.

Este's first reaction when he saw Diluc back in Mond had been the silent treatment, and god does Este know Diluc can be petty. The red-head had immediately done the same, and thus this feud of theirs has continued with only a few exchanges of heated words.

His wine is already lukewarm.

It won't taste nearly as good as it would have if it was still more chilled.

Este still drinks it, and slams the glass against the table when it's empty.

He half expects something to happen in response to the sound. He glanced down, the railing being the only thing in the way of his sight to Diluc.

The man hasn't moved a muscle from his place behind the counter.

The level of noise in the bar stays the same, Este closes his eyes if only for a moment to immerse himself in the atmosphere.

Este can hear someone loudly complain about hilichurls disrupting trading routes. Another person releases a loud exhale after drinking, and someone pats that person's back. Laughter explodes after a crude joke and Este can feel his shoulders relax minutely.

"Having a lonely evening? One without meaning?"

Este opens his eyes slowly, his eyes drawn upwards to a gentle curve of someone's smile.

Este is greeted with a familiar face.

The bard in front of him tilts his head a little more, clear eyes glinting with sympathy, twin braids following the movement.

Este stops leaning on his hand, and moves it away from his cheek as he leans on the table.

"I guess you could say that."

The bard just gives him another smile as he sits down across Este, putting down his own large pint of beer on the table.

Este gives him a small chuckle, and the god in front of him grins.

"Then may I accompany you on this lovely night? If only to make your smile a little more bright~?"

Venti says with a drunk lilt in his voice, and Este gives him a helpless smile as he shrugs.

"I can appreciate the company, but it isn't going to resolve my problem."

Venti's red face crunches up for a second. He has clearly been drinking quite a lot this night, and anyone could tell that from his flushed face.

"Every problem will have a conclusion eventually, as long as you seek a solution intentionally."

Este snorts, amusement making his lips curve up to a smile. The phrases Venti speaks have all been spoken very melodically. Almost as if in his drunk state he was speaking in rhyme without a thought.

But still, Este can see some most likely unintended wisdom seeping through those drunk words.

Este swirls his empty wine glass around, expression pensive.

"Neither of us are willing to take the first step to resolve the argument, so that solution is unfortunately far away..."

Venti blinks sleepily, a yawn breaking out as he leans on the same wooden table. His face comes close to Este's, holding eye contact for a second as he leans away from Venti.

Este can only look at him with fond but exasperated eyes.

A gentle smile shows up on Venti's face when the god closes his eyes.

"Is that truly so my friend? Or are you just afraid of what lies at the argument's end?"

Este startles.

With that last sentence out, Venti falls asleep on the table.

Este stares, stunned, and slightly afraid.

Because if those words weren't true then what is.

If the fight between Este and Diluc ends, what will happen afterwards?

Will they go back to what it was like before? No that's impossible, because Diluc has changed and that puppy like young master is gone.

Este isn't sure what their friendship would mutate into, and he is afraid of that.

He doesn't want Diluc to ignore him, but Este loathes the thought of them no longer being friends if the end result is mutual ignorance.

Este doesn't want to cut off ties with Diluc, even if this continued silence continues to point to that becoming true.

Este hangs his head only for a second, lips quivering.

He quickly rises up from his seat, the shake of the table not even stirring the sleeping bard. Este's footsteps are heavy as they slam loudly on the stairs down, and the bang of the door as he storms out of the pub echoes through the ears of the subdued crowd.

Once out of the building, the patrons continue their chattering after those few seconds of stunned silence.

Behind on the upper floor, on a lone table a bard slowly rises up. All sleepiness and the flush from alcohol previously on his face gone.

Venti's expression is pained as he feels out the wind, sensing a lonely boy crying on the empty bed of his mother.

The only thing he can do is make the air a little warmer, a little more soothing and comforting.

The people active during the night life of Mondstadt feel just a little more bittersweet that night.