𝚂𝚘𝚛𝚛𝚢 𝙰𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚝 [𝚐.𝚒 𝚟𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚘𝚞𝚜 𝚡 𝚐𝚗!𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛]

VII

Your limbs were sore but you couldn't help the grin that lit up your face or the energy that still buzzes through you. You were excited in a way, proud and excited.

Despite the longing in your limbs for the bed, and Ariel stretching put across his love seat, you didn't even bother collapsing. You dressed in your fitted black pants, a clean white button down that you tucked in, and your boots that shinned even though you waded them through the dirt today.

Buttoning up the last button, you grabbed your mora pouch, walking towards the door.

"Where are you going?" You turned and saw Ariel, who instead of sleeping had stood up and gave his best dad pose. His arms were crossed, his head tilted, and his eyes were narrowed in a way you thought was meant to be intimidating but only came off as endearing.

However you, as a grown adult, had nothing to hide. "I'm going out to a tavern tonight to celebrate my accomplishments!"

"You're going to get drunk?"

You shook your head in a so-so manner. "Maybe not drunk but I do feel the longing for alcohol, yes."

He sighed but dropped his arms. "Why do you need to celebrate anyway? All you did was some tasks."

You gasped in outrage, dramatically holding your heart as if you had been shot. "Ariel! No! I did not do 'just some tasks'! I finally integrated myself in this world. I got a job that will help us travel and now I have a steady income so we can move out of the inn and pay back Ms. Blanchard when we can! This is great! Besides, what's one night of fun going to do before I really crack down on my training and work?"

Ariel rubbed the bridge of his nose but he didn't look angry or terribly resistant.

"Alsoooo," you drawled. "Positive reinforcement makes people want to keep doing stuff. If I do this, I might do better tomorrow for training and commissions."

Ariel just looked at you as if you had spouted the biggest amount of bullshit. "I fail to see how a hangover will help you but, be my guest."

You smiled. "I wasn't asking for your permission!"

He smiled back, almost mocking. "But I gave it anyway."

You sprinted out the door, your last view of the room being Ariel grumbling and situating himself back on the loveseat.

You skipped through the now dusky streets. You took way too long in that shower and arguing with Ariel. The setting sun glittered off the dull rooftops of Mondstadt, coloring the city in a way you would never see any other time.

You made your way to the Angel's Share, fingers tingling with not only the anticipation of finally drinking some of the ever famous dandelion wine, but also potentially being able to meet Diluc, Venti, or even see Kaeya again, since you hadn't seen him all day.

The lanterns across the street lit up and caught the people still wandering in its soft glow.The door to the Angel's Share was wooden yet well cared for, laughter booming from the other side.

The door creaked as you opened it but it went entirely unnoticed by the drunken fellows slapping each other's shoulders and guffawing at a joke they probably would've never found funny sober. It was a warm and inviting atmosphere, one you were glad you got to experience.

The excitement bubbling in your chest only grew tenfold when you witnessed a flash of red behind the counter of the bar. You skipped up to the bar, gazing at the menu but already knowing what you were going to order.

You slid into the barstool, kicking your legs and drumming your fingers on the table.

The red hair you saw earlier, pulled into a messy ponytail bobbed its way until it stopped in front of you. Diluc stood there entirely too tired to be there but still held a professional indifference, if not a somewhat grouchy frown that couldn’t help but make you want to laugh.