"Venti, do you think that you could play outside the tavern tonight? We need more people to come in." Charles asks hopefully.
"Outside the tavern?" But Diluc, I would like to see him. He is so pretty when he smiles.
Venti no, you don't even know if he's bartending tonight.
"Please, Master Diluc asked me to ask you, intel has been slow so we need more customers."
"Are you sure he just doesn't want me in the tavern?" Some of the flowers that the Traveler braided into my hair fall out when the wind picks up a little bit.
Charles sways a bit in the wind and I decide to cut him some slack. He did say that Diluc asked him to ask me.
"Fine. But if I play outside, I get free drinks after the bar closes. Deal?"
"I'm going to say deal and hope that it doesn't come out of my paycheck." Charles shakes my hand.
Grabbing my lyre off of the ground where I was sitting I start walking to the tavern. I could use the teleport waypoints but people without visions aren't supposed to know about them.
The walk from Windrise to Mondstadt is long, and Charles is quiet for most of it. Other than asking what song I'm going to sing he doesn't pay much attention to me.
"Venti? How well do you know the Traveler?"
"What do you mean? We talk often, except for when they are in Liyue. Why Charles?"
"There has been some information about a blonde kid the same age as Traveler, who looks a lot like Traveler, working with the Abyss Order."
"No." Looking at the ground I can feel the anger growing inside of me. That is not Traveler, but I can't tell anyone that.
"I just want you to be careful, Venti."
"Why? I thought everyone at the tavern thought I was just an annoying bard."
"You heard that? I'm sorry Venti, we were talking about all bards, not you specifically."
"That doesn't make it better, Charles." I start to walk again, after this conversation I definitely need a drink. Which means I have to play outside the tavern.
I really don't want to right now. Not anymore.
Oh but the sweet, sweet taste of dandelion wine.
At this point, I just hope I can see Diluc.
The rest of the walk is silent. And I don't mind. What the workers at the tavern had said really got to me. It's almost as bad as hearing Rosaria try to say my name.
YOU ARE READING
A Barkeep And His Poet
Romance"No like, you're really pretty." He states, his cheeks pink. "Someone has an admirer." Kaeya snorts, looking from me to Venti. I can't think of an answer so I don't speak, giving other customers their drinks. Rosaria snickers and I look over. Venti...
