songerein | open mingle 🍷 grand opening

Who: Diluc Ragnvindr, Barok van Zieks, and anybody!
Where: At Day's End bar and winery
What: After a few months of preparation, Diluc and Barok's Fine Drinking Establishment is finally ready to open! So they're doing that. With a party! Bring your own toplevel.
When: A few days before the flower festival
Warnings: I mean. Alcohol?

Welcome to the grand opening of At Day’s End!

As a nod to the upcoming holiday, the bar has been decorated with carefully arranged flowers in addition to the planned garlands and lanterns to evoke a comfortable but festive atmosphere. Although the pair didn't exactly anticipate the sudden influx of emotion-steampunk-land natives, they have temporarily removed a few tables in the interest of opening up the floor for more visitors, and the weather is thankfully warm enough for the doors to remain open. Attendees are encouraged to try small tastes of different drinks before deciding upon a full glass, giving an easy opportunity to mingle with others.

At Day’s End serves a variety of locally-crafted wines and spirits as well as non-alcoholic options such as juice, coffee, and tea.

ALCOHOLIC SPECIALS
- Cider Special: Applebloom Cider - Apple cider brewed with apple blossoms. Light and floral. Usually only available during Windblume in Mondstadt, and similarly will only be available during the month of April in Songerein.
- Red Wine Special: Midnight Harvest - A sweet red wine with a very fruity taste and hints of nutty flavor.
- White Wine Special: Winter Moon - A dry, crisp white wine for those seeking a less sweet drinking experience.
- Cocktail: Thorns of Springtime - Whiskey, honey, chamomile tea, and elderflower liqueur. Served over ice.
NON-ALCOHOLIC SPECIALS
- Gray Valley Sunset: It’s just fruit punch with a fancy name.
- Rosé Bloom: A mix of juices made from only the finest red and white grapes, according to van Zieks.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ It is difficult for her to comprehend just how much Lord van Zieks had closed himself off over the past decade-plus. She did hope that clearing things up about his brother... not to mention, being in Reverein (Verens?) and not Great Britain, would help. He formed enough of a bond with Diluc to form this partnership though, so perhaps he has opened up some.

Idly, Susato places the other remaining gift bag she's been carrying onto the bar next to her. The bag is made of cloth colored a royal purple, tied off with pink ribbon. Before she can offer it to Diluc, however, she is surprised by the question so casually posed. Maybe Barok isn't the only one who's opened up a little more than she thought. More than she was led to believe. But she still doesn't know just how much Diluc's been told. ]

That's correct... His father and mine were very close, so I suppose it was only natural. I was to be his judicial assistant, before circumstances got in the way.

[ Circumstances named Herlock Sholmes.

Kazuma has become quite the young man despite all this, she thinks, but she trails off there, even as she glances his way. ]

[What little Diluc knows is from Barok, not Kazuma. It was offered as an explanation for why Kazuma had allowed his emotions to cause him to become overwhelmed with nightmare energy when they both arrived in Songerein back in the fall. Despite his interest, he has declined to bring it up with either of them in search of more details. He knows from his own experience how raw and terrible feelings on both sides must be, and relates with each of them too strongly to betray that understanding in the name of his own curiosity.

Similarly, he more or less is content to drop the subject with Susato after she's more or less confirmed his question.]

It's good of your father to have done that. My own father took a boy in when I was a child, and he and I were inseparable for our entire childhoods.

[Up until his father died and some dark truths came out. But that's a story that he has no intentions of getting into. Besides, there's something about the way she keeps glancing back at Kazuma that makes him think the situations aren't all that comparable.

While he notices her place the bag onto the counter as she settles in, he pays it no mind. Something that resembles a purse from her world, perhaps, or a gift for the business owner that she actually knows.]

[ It's not really a purse, though it is a cloth bag that is a touch fancier than than something you'd get from a store. She decides to wait though, until he's finished with her Rosé Bloom at least, before she says anything about it.

She does think though, that for someone who claims to hate small talk, he is rather good at it. Somehow it is easier to talk to him than the owner she knows. ]

Really? [ Did Diluc fall in love with him, too, or is he normal? ] Is he here... in Reverein?

[Um... it's complicated.]

No, he isn't here. No doubt he'd be causing trouble if he were, sitting at the bar and pestering me throughout the night.

[The statement is not nearly so barbed as it would have once been--there's almost a fondness when he speaks. Diluc has had some time to think things over, especially after some rather eye-opening experiences here, and it's put some things into perspective. He has no idea how he would even handle it if Kaeya were to arrive here, at this point.]

I'm glad you're both able to be here together like you are.

[He sets a glass of pale pink juice down in front of her.]

Here's your drink, Miss Susato.

[ Pink...! Well, Susato is a simple girl with pleasures, and even that alone is enough to bring a smile to her face. She has to wonder whether Kazuma would speak of her with the same fondness as Diluc seems to regard Kaeya, but she will put that thought out of her mind as she takes her first sip. ]

Thank you, Mr Ragnvindr. [ She may have struggled with that pronunciation the first time, DON'T MIND HER. The point is, she will finally push the gift bag she'd set on the counter towards him. ] Before I forget, these are for you. As congratulations for your opening night.

[ Diluc may have noticed Van Zieks carrying a similar bag, before he tucked it away. Probably wherever he keeps his endless supply of wine and hallowed chalices. ]

[There's something charming about the way she lights up at the appearance of the drink. It's a good thing--presentation is just as important as taste, after all. Besides, he's the last person to judge someone for having an asethetic.

He notes the pronunciation. ~~His last name is missing some key vowels, so it's only fair.~~]

You can call me Diluc if you'd like. Family names aren't often used to address people where I'm from, so it's more familiar anyway.

[He suspects she'll be more likely to go for it if he frames it that way. Something about her seems very... proper.

When she pushes the gift bag over, he blinks at her a few times. He's broadsided by the fact that she's brought him, a total stranger a gift.]

I, ah. Thank you. This is far too kind of you, Miss Susato. May I open it now, or would you prefer I wait?

[ English letters, how do they work in this combination?

Anyway, she was raised to be quite proper. It may take a bit, but she'll stop being so formal eventually. It helps that he has officially given her the OK. ]

You may open it if you'd like. I believe Lord van Zieks is waiting, but... [ She pauses, but then she'll just go ahead and spoil the surprise. ] they are just cookies. We just debuted them at the Wild Harvest this week for the spring.

[ She wants to say a little more, and perhaps she will, but it's a bit of a story and Susato isn't sure if it's worthy of his time. She stirs her Rosé Bloom idly. If Diluc does choose to open the package, he will find blue, floral themed cookies with a dark base. ]

[Great question!

Diluc accepts her permission to open the package. That the gift is homemade makes it that much more precious, by his estimation. It means that there's been thought and effort put into it. His expression softens, and he even goes so far as to give Susato a genuine smile.]

These look wonderful. Thank you again--I look forward to enjoying them when I'm not working.

[It would be improper to eat them now, tempting as the thought is. He has a business to run and a bar to keep.]

Between the two of us, I'd certainly welcome more of a relationship between At Day's End and The Wild Harvest. But it's not entirely up to me, and I'm sure you understand why.

[ Susato easily smiles in return, giving him a nod, as if to say "You're welcome." This feels like a little victory somehow, though getting Diluc to smile may not be as impressive as, say, someone like Van Zieks.

Or even... Kazuma, as of late. She looks in his direction again as she takes another sip of her drink. ]

I... understand completely. For what it is worth, I would welcome it, too. But I suppose we are in similar positions.

[ Quietly, she wonders if Kazuma and 76 saw her as a "partner." Probably not great to be wondering such a thing, four months after the fact, but here she is. ]

Perhaps it is something we can work towards. [ And by we, she means they. ]

open mingle 🍷 grand opening

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WOW i lost this notif jakhsjk i'm so sorry

if it makes you feel better, I wouldn't have been able to tag back any sooner anyway. all good!

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