Smoking With Him
Kaeya can't help but laugh at Kazuha's words. "You're telling me that Ei beat Childe up so bad he didn't show his face for a week?"
"Yeah," Xiao laughs, "He said something about Nahida, I can't remember what exactly, but yeah, she beat him the fuck up."
Diluc frowns, not fully understanding why they didn't like Childe. Ei sounded cool, though, going to such lengths to protect her sister.
Looking over at Diluc, Mona notices that he doesn't seem very comfortable. Maybe this was a bad idea.
"You ok, Diluc?" Xiao suddenly asks, looking at the boy who's trying his damndest to pay attention.
"I'm fine, I'm just weirdly conscious of my body," Diluc says, putting every ounce of concentration into trying to form the words.
Xiao, Kazuha, and Venti all laugh, maybe a little too hard, in Mona's opinion.
"That'll happen with a body and head high," Venti smiles, "You'll be fine." Venti pauses for a moment before continuing. "Just warn us if you're gonna puke."
Mona wants to tell Diluc that he'll be good, saying that he won't puke, but she doesn't want to jinx it. The way Diluc nods makes her think that maybe he will be fine...As long as he doesn't smoke anymore.
Diluc nods, pulling his knees to his chest where he sits on the floor, his back against Venti's bed.
"So, where do you three know each other from?" Kaeya asks the room, though coming from Kaeya they all know he's asking Venti, who seems to be the leader of his friend group.
"Kazuha and I have been roommates since freshman year. We're both attending the Akademiya's art classes so we shared a lot of interests. Xiao has been a childhood friend." Diluc can tell that Venti's leaving something out about Xiao, but he decides not to push it.
"What about you guys?" Xiao asks, lifting his head up to look at Kaeya from where he lays in Kazuha's lap.
"Well Diluc and I are brothers, our father adopted me when we were young so I've known him pretty much my entire life. Mona moved to our school when we were in middle school but we weren't close until high school." Kaeya smiles at the thought of his childhood before it turned sour.
"That reminds me, how old are you guys? We know this isn't your first year in the Akademiya." It's a question Diluc was wondering too, but he never thought Kaeya would ask.
"I'm Twenty, so is Kazuha, but Venti is twenty-one." Kaeya nods at Xiao's words before Venti continues the answer.
"We've been studying at the upper levels of the Akademiya for three years, Zuzu and Xiao both graduated a little early from Inazuma and Liyue." Venti smiles, proud of his friends. "What about you guys? This is you're first year right?"
"It's mine and Diluc's first year, we're both eighteen, but this is Mona's second year." Kaeya looks to Mona, who nods in agreement.
Diluc doesn't speak, still putting all of his focus into trying to understand what the others are saying.
Venti seems to notice this, and he wants to let it go, not wanting to make Diluc uncomfortable, but he thinks that leaving him out would make him feel alienated, neither of which is good.
"Why did you stop writing music?" Venti blurts out at Diluc, unable to stop himself.
Diluc frowns, not wanting to answer. He stopped recently, but he didn't want to say why. He didn't want to have another panic attack.
Mona glares at Venti, and he pretends not to notice, still looking at Diluc.
"I guess I just got busy," Diluc answers, pulling at his sleeve, everyone can tell that he's lying, though only Kaeya and Mona know why.
Venti decides not to push it, and the look that he gives Xiao and Kazuha tells them not to push it either.
"What about you? What kind of music are you writing right now?" Diluc asks, turning the question back on Venti. He smiles, finding himself glad that Diluc is taking an interest in him.
"Venti writes stories mostly, fairytales," Kazuha answers, petting Xiao's shoulder, asking him to get up from his position laying down in Kazuha's lap.
"He likes to call himself a bard." Xiao adds, getting up into a sitting position.
Venti laughs, throwing his head back before taking another hit. "That was one time, and it was a joke!"
Even Mona smiles at this, but she still stays quiet, not wanting to rock the boat. Though it seemed like Venti was warming up to her the more the night went on.
"What about you Kaeya? Do you do anything creative?" Kazuha asks, making Diluc smile again. Kaeya was very proud of his swordsmanship.
"I do choreography for sword fighting. Making new moves, it's mostly for show, but it can keep you alive during a fight." Kaeya smiles at his own words
"That's so cool!" Xiao almost yells, before shrinking down a little bit. Embarrassed by his small outburst.
"Thank you. I take a lot of pride in it." Kaeya smiles again, looking sheepish for a moment.
"Mona?" Venti asks, taking Mona by surprise. "What are you doing?"
Diluc looks to Mona, who has a shocked look on her face for a millisecond before answering. "Astrology and divination. I'm looking to be a teacher for the next generation of those who chose to look towards the future."
Mona smiles as she explains, slowly playing with the constellations on her skirt. Diluc and Kaeya also smile, glad that Venti was taking an interest in Mona's life instead of ignoring her. Diluc could have sworn that as the night goes on, Venti is warming up to his friend, rather than being mean.
"That's really cool, the world needs more teachers for the arts. Especially in the Akademiya." Kazuha says, a smile tugging at his lips. Xiao thinks about kissing him, god does he love Kazuha's smile. He thinks better of it, not wanting to make the others uncomfortable. Venti would be fine with it, but something tells Xiao that Mona and Diluc would feel awkward.
"What's the deal with that?" Kaeya asks, leaning back against Venti's bed as he shifts to sit closer to his brother.
"The Akademiya doesn't value the arts like some other districts do. So there's more focus on the more 'practical' courses." Venti says, doing air quotes when he says the word 'practical'
Monas nods, having been there for a year already, she had received a lot of hate the year prior. And still some this year, but Mona had learned to ignore them. She just hoped Diluc would learn the same.
"What are you here for Xiao? What do you want to do with your life?" Mona asks, even though she has an inkling of an idea.
Xiao smiles sheepishly, playing with his hands in his lap. "I'm gonna join Liyue's Millelith." He whispers.
"What's that?" Diluc can't stop himself from asking, though he thinks that it's a common knowledge type of thing.
Though Kaeya takes it as his turn to answer his brother, so he speaks before Kazuha can. "Ya'know how Mond has the Knights? If I'm not mistaken it's like that."
Quirking his head, Venti looks to Kazuha next, asking him to speak. "It's a lot like Inazuma's Tri-Commission, but the Millelith isn't a governing body. So I guess it's the military." Kazuha looks over to his boyfriend with a worried glance.
"Looks like you're a little concerned?" Mona says before she can stop herself.
Kazuha bites his lip while Xiao looks at him like he dares Kazuha to say something. "I'm just a little worried," Kazuha admits, taking another hit before anyone can ask him anything else.
Kazuha nods to Venti, who's still staring at him intently. "Zuzu had a bad experience with Ei when she was putting a lot of focus in Inazuma. They get along a lot better now, but it was really bad. So now he has a little bit of trouble with authority."
"I had no idea," Xiao whispers, reminisce of tears playing at his eyes.
Kaeya is frozen, not knowing how to deal with the sudden seriousness of the conversation. Mona looks guilty like she knew of the reason before it was spoken. Diluc speaks next, ignoring his friends and brother's reaction.
"What do you mean 'putting a lot of focus in Inazuma'?" He asks, looking Venti in the eyes.
"Um..." Venti looks to the ground like a child who doesn't want to lie but doesn't want to tell the truth either.
Cautiously, Kazuha answers, looking at Venti as he does. "The Archons have the right to 'rule' their respective districts."
"Why though?" Diluc doesn't sound like he'll give up his line of questioning, it makes Venti feel a little ashamed. What Ei did while she tried to 'rule over' Inazuma and the fact that he might have to do something similar if his parents choose to put any pressure on him.
Not wanting to admit he's an Archon, though he's sure Diluc can put the pieces together, Venti lets Xiao answer for him. "Celestia was founded by The Sustainer Of Heavenly Principles, and all of it's districts were ruled by her respective adoptive children. Since then it's been tradition for her direct descendants to adopt seven children to run the factions while they rule Celestia."
"Why isn't this something we learned?" Kaeya asks, breaking out of his daze.
"It's not really taught to anyone outside of the Archons' family. We know it because we're friends with most of the Archons." Xiao starts, looking to Kazuha again before continuing. "Not a lot of people know about it, they assume that it's their parents who make all of the rules, and for some of it, it is. But a lot of the rules and how the district is run it's the kids. Which really sucks cuz they're forced into a position of power at a young age."
Venti takes another hit, still looking at the ground. Though some part of him can feel Diluc staring at him. But when Venti looks up, Diluc's gaze isn't filled with pity, or... or disgust, or anything... other than a pang of understanding and admiration.
Diluc chooses not to say anything, a small nod is sufficient, and Venti almost loves him for that. If only for the moment.
They share a small staring contest before Diluc realizes that the room has gone quiet and looks away with a slight blush dashing across his cheeks.
Kaeya lets out a yawn, forgetting about the seriousness of the conversation... and truly, where he was, for a moment.
"I think we should go," Diluc mutters, starting to get up. Mona nods, holding back her own yawn.
"You don't have to go..." Venti says almost too quickly. "You guys could stay..." You could sleep on my floor while I play the lyre, Kaeya would rest his head on your shoulder, Mona would cuddle into you, the three of you would cuddle while sleeping and I'll do the same with my friends even if I wish I was sleeping in your arms.
High and still a little drunk, it takes everything in Venti not to say those words. Diluc would feel weird, and Kazuha and Xiao would laugh at him.
It's Mona who suggests that they stay. "Come on Diluc, you and Kaeya still haven't met Nahida. It's already five, just another hour or two?"
Venti tries not to look hopeful, but he's sure he does. Diluc doesn't look his way, but Venti can tell that the look on Diluc's face is somewhat remorseful.
"Another time Mona." To Venti's surprise, Diluc smiles, like he means it. Like he wants to do this again, maybe without the drinking challenge, but he wants to do it again.
"That's cool, I'll lead you to the door." Kazuha smiles, looking to Venti, asking if it's okay. Venti nods before speaking.
"Feel free to come back anytime. Just tell Kathryn that you're looking for me and she'll send you up." Diluc smiles at the offer Venti calls out behind him.
Diluc nods, a smile aging at his lips, though Venti can't see it. Kazuha does, smiling back at Diluc while Mona helps Kaeya up from their sitting positions on the floor.
"We'll take you up on that offer." Kaeya smiles, but he knows Venti's talking mostly to Diluc.
He would have to text Kazuha to see what that's all about. Though he would do it later, when he was sure that Diluc was asleep.