The Party
"I just got a text from Xiao, there's a party happening tonight." Kaeya smiles at his phone, looking up from his seat on Mona's couch to look at Diluc and Mona in the kitchen.
Jean, who sits in one of the only chairs in the room, also looks up, but at Kaeya. "When did you get Xiao's number?" She asks, going back to her textbook.
"We're in the same math class...I got Kazuha's number too. Are we going?" Kaeya asks, his eyes never leaving Diluc's face.
"I have homework, so I can't," Jean says, turning the page of her textbook. "But the rest of you should." She says the second part as an afterthought, though she doesn't mean it. Jean thinks they should stay in, but she knows the only person who can convince Kaeya not to go is maybe Diluc, but that's still a maybe.
"I don't know, if Xiao texted you it means that Venti's going." Mona sighs, bringing the plates full of pizza into the living room, with Diluc's help of course. He's bringing in the soda.
"Do you not like Venti or something?" Closing her textbook, Jean moves from sitting on the couch to the floor, making room for the others to sit down.
"It's not that I don't like him, it's more that he doesn't like me." Mona sighs, putting the pizza on the table in front of the couch.
"Was there a falling out?" Kaeya asks, picking up his plate.
"No, nothing explicate. He just doesn't like me for some reason." Mona says, sitting down next to Diluc. "I don't know if it's something I did or if he just doesn't like my vibe."
"Seems to me like Venti is just the judgy type." Kaeya hums at Jean's words, leaning forward in his seat, reaching for his soda.
"So we're not going?" Kaeya asks, looking over to Diluc, who's been silent for most of the day.
"I think you should go, Kaeya. Making friends and connections during college is important." Mona sighs, looking at Jean. Mona seems to be the only person who can tell that Jean is being disingenuous, but Kaeya can tell too. Jean doesn't want them to go, despite the fact that she's telling them to.
She's playing to Diluc's weaknesses. If Diluc feels uncomfortable Kaeya won't go. And if they don't go they can study with Jean, who wants to be ahead of the curve for this test coming up.
"Jeans right, you should go Kaeya." Diluc smiles at his brother, picking up his own soda.
"I'll only go if you come, Luc. And Mona, I'll need emotional support." Kaeya says, smiling at his brother and Mona.
"Well, I guess that's settled then. We're going." Mona says setting down her pizza.
"Great, I'll text Xiao."
/////
"Are we sure this is a good idea?" Diluc asks as he, Mona, and Kaeya walk up to Childe's dorm room. "We don't even know Childe. Or at least I don't."
"I do, he's a good guy, even if he takes things to far sometimes." Mona sighs before continuing. "Xiao said he would meet us at the door right?"
"Yep, he should be here with Kazuha any minute. How does he take things to far? Is he a bully or something?" Kaeya stands with Diluc by the door while Mona stands a little further away on the stairs.
"He was a part of some hazings a while back and almost got expelled. The only reason he got to stay was some professor said he wouldn't do it again." Mona sighs again, folding her arms together, trying to warm herself up. It wasn't too cold, but the air was turning chilly with fall setting in.
"Yickes," Diluc shakes his head. "Are we sure this is a guy we want to associate with?"
"He's doing a lot better from what I hear, his family even paid for the other kid's hospital bill. Minor injuries."
"We're not really associating with him, right? It's more like we're becoming friends with Xiao and his group." Kaeya tries to settle Diluc's nerves, but something feels off about this party. Diluc can't shake it, but he knows he won't be drinking.
He's a lightweight, and last time didn't go well.
"Kaeya!" Xiao calls from down the sidewalk, rushing up to the rest of the group with Kazuha and Venti.
"Hey Xiao, where's my brother?" Mona asks, giving Xiao a side hug.
"He's studying back at our dorm. there's a test coming up in our creative writing class." Kazuha smiles. "I'm all good, so I decided to come."
Mona and Venti make eye contact for a second, and a silent agreement to stay away from each other is made, Diluc notices.
"Well, it's great to see you guys again." Venti puts on his best smile, walking closer to the group. "I assume this is your first real party at the Akademiya, so well be here."
"We went to some parties in high school, but this is Diluc and my first college party." Kaeya smiles back at Venti, who's pulling down his shorts a little.
"Oh cool, so you have some experience. Childe's parties get a little extreme, so I think it's best if we stick together." Xiao says, looking at the door. Diluc can feel the bass of the music in his chest, even outside of the dorm.
"Cool, we set to go in?" Mona asks, pulling down her favorite purple skirt. It has her favorite constellations painted on half-hazardly with fabric paint. Her brother made it for her when they were a bit closer, and it's one of her most prized possessions.
"Yep," Venti smiles before turning serious. "Make sure to keep your drink covered, Childe probably wouldn't do anything, but I can't make that same promise for other people."
Everyone in the group nods before heading in.
Despite the party just starting it's already in full swing. People are dancing, drinks have been handed out, people are making out, beer pong is being played, and so much more.
It overwhelms Diluc's senses. All of the smells, the flashing lights, the loud music. The beat fills his chest along with the nausea.
Venti looks over, noticing the energy shift when Mona grabs Diluc's hand.
"Venti!" A voice shouts over the music. "Oh my God, you came!" The redhead the runs up to the group, moving to hug Venti.
Venti cringes for a moment before melting into the hug a little bit.
"Hey, Childe." Venti gives his best smile. Diluc's slowly learning the meaning of Venti's smile. It's the one he uses when he's playing nice.
"Your brother is an asshole you know." Childe whines, clearly tipsy.
"Just because he doesn't want to go public with you doesn't make him an asshole. You're a student." Venti defends lightly.
"Yeah, yeah, you say that every time. That and you feel the need to remind me that he's not my soulmate." Childe pouts, looking Venti in the eyes. Though he has to look down to do it.
"Give me some credit." Venti laughs, "I didn't say it this time."
Looking over to the rest of the group, Childe perks up momentarily before smiling. "Who's this cutie?" He asks, looking directly at Diluc, who stiffens at the attention.
"Don't try to get with him to get back at my brother, Childe." Venti scowls, his voice turning sour.
"Or what, you'll call Ei?" Childe tries to call Venti's bluff, but Venti isn't bluffing. Not this time.
"Yes," is all Venti says, looking at Mona and Diluc's clasped hands.
Laughing, Kazuha speaks next. "Oh, she would kick your ass!"
"You guys are mean." Childe pauses for a moment before looking around. "I'm going to get another drink and harass Ningguang, but you guys have fun." He says, before walking away and calling Ningguang's name.
"Well," Mona starts. "That was an experience."
"Childe's always like that now. Venti's brother really chills him out, even if they're not soulmates." Xiao comments, looking around for the kitchen where the drinks and food presumably are.
"Sure, sure," Kaeya says, speaking for the first after entering the dorms. "He seems like he's cool."
"Something like that," Mona cringes, holding onto Diluc tighter, who's still reeling from being called cute. They start walking to the kitchen, and the others follow, mindlessly continuing the conversation.
"If they're not soulmates why are they together?" Diluc finally speaks through his nausea.
Sighing, Venti is the one to answer. "Because they love each other. Not everyone is chained to the whole soulmate idea." Diluc flinches for a moment, having Venti look him in the eyes makes him think he said the wrong thing.
"That being said, Zhongli was never looking for a soulmate. I think. I don't know, I don't check on Zhongli often. He is a professor after all. His personal life is none of our business." Kazuha sighs, looking at Venti who's still looking at Diluc and Mona's hands.
"He found his soulmate, but she, uh," Hesitating, Venti doesn't know if he should damper the mood.
"She died, right?" Diluc asks, looking at Venti. "His soulmark is scared over."
"When did you have the chance to see his soulmark?" Xiao looks at Diluc skeptically, his tone showing it.
"It's on his hand?" Kaeya says the sentence like a question, gently defending his brother.
"It's on his chest and hand. Yeah, she died. That's why no one ever says anything." Venti sighs, looking over to Xiao.
"Well, to their faces. People talk behind their backs." Xiao mentions, turning his attention from Venti to Kazuha. "What do you want to drink?" He asks as they reach the dorm's shared kitchen.
"That depends. Venti, are we getting fucked up tonight?" Kazuha asks, turning to Venti, who's already pouring himself a cup of vodka.
"I wasn't planning on it. Just some light drinking for me." Kaeya gives Venti a skeptical look, making Kazuha laugh.
"Venti holds alcohol really well," Kazuha assures the rest of the group, smiling.
"I bet I could drink him under the table." Kaeya challenges, but doing so makes Diluc breathe a little harder.
He's been quiet, too nervous to add anything helpful to the conversation.
"I guarantee that you can not," Venti laughs, pouring another cup of vodka and handing it over to Kaeya. "But I'd love to see you try."
Kaeya smiles, nodding. "You're on."
"I'll get Childe, he'll want to make this some kind of official challenge. If you're ok with an audience, of course, Kaeya." Kazuha smiles, as long as Kaeya isn't a sore loser this could be a bonding moment. One they won't remember, but a bonding moment nonetheless.
"I don't know if this is a good idea guys," Mona says, holding onto Diluc a little tighter. Diluc squeezes Mona's hand tighter, almost hurting her in his mute terror.
Venti almost glares, but he's taken by surprise before he can when Kazuha calls out Childe's name.
Kaeya smiles and a few people turn to look at the group.
"Shots, shots, shots," Xiao starts chanting, earning a few more looks before the entire kitchen and dining room is shouting 'shots' too.
Childe practically runs into the kitchen. "Who's doing shots?" He asks, looking around. His eyes fall on Venti, who's smiling and pointing at Kaeya.
"I got challenged to a drink-off for the honor of the Archons." Venti laughs and Mona looks shocked.
"You are not putting your-" She starts before getting cut off.
"For the honor of the Archons!" People start to shout, looking at the group with hungry eyes.
"Wait, what's the 'honor of the Archons?" Diluc asks when Childe holds up a hand to silence the room. More people have poured in, surrounding Venti and his new friends.
"Honor of the Archons, my dear redhead, is a game Venti and his siblings like to play. It's a quest, an Archon Quest if you will." Childe laughs. "If the challenger wins they get one request from the Archons themselves, but if they lose, the Archon can request anything in return. Do you still want to challenge him?" There's a slight sadistic look in Childe's eyes that makes Kaeya stand a little bit taller.
"Let's do this,"