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[ This is not a kindness. This is to minimize Venti's complaints and torment him at the same time under the guise of being a gentleman. ]

It takes six hours to prepare, so if I do not start it now, it will not be ready for when people being to feel the effects.

Not do I think people will be coherent enough to consider potential hangover remedies by that point.

Six hours? Wow, that's a whole project. [ It sure sounds like a kindness! From what she knows, hangovers suck. ]

From what I remember from when we met [ at Drunk Cards ] you don't like drinking too much. So I guess you have as hard a time saying no to Venti as anyone else does.

The first time we met, he brought over a bottle of fine wine as a welcoming gift so there is a certain nostalgia involved. He also helped arrange meetings with the original Seven which involved food and drinks.

I take this to be a updated version of those ancient traditions.

Original... [ Yeah, she thinks she's following? Some giant meeting of gods from their world probably? ]

I'm not sure how that connects to this.

Edited 2022-02-12 19:47 (UTC)

Venti always endeavored to make us more social with one another.

I suppose I should not be surprised he is organizing such an event here as well.

It's not really an event. [ More of an effort to get her to stop being stupid. ]

We don't have to be social. If you don't want to. [ All the Ventismiles in the world are not enough to keep her here if it's a burden on anyone, or an obligation. ]

I have always enjoyed your company, Alizarin.

But perhaps the question should be asked in reverse - do you wish to be social? A lot has happened recently.

If I only knew how to answer that question, a lot of things would be much easier. [ Not just here, but in general. ]

[ And she's been drinking magic booze so for once she's actually going to try to answer honestly, instead of using as few words as possible in an attempt to hide. ]

The trouble isn't whether I like you, or like your company, because I do. But the more I learn about myself, the clearer it is that I'm not anyone good, maybe not even a person at all. Sooner or later I'm going to disappoint you, or hurt someone you love, or both.

[ Asking, genuinely: ]

And what do you define as a person?

[ She hesitates just out of habit, but the point of this is to talk. ]

Someone who is more than a weapon or a toy for others to use.

Ah. Is that how you see yourself?

I'm still putting the pieces together, but something like that, yeah. I don't know if humans made me or found me, but they know just how to use me.

And do you feel the same way here with the people around you? I imagine it would be difficult not to seeing as the production is designed to treat us as a resource and a commodity.

Of course not! Nobody here gets a choice in anything, not really. I was talking about my home world.

I see.

So even with the distance, you do not feel like a person here?

I don't know. You remember when you first met me, how I could barely talk? It was a lot worse before that. I was basically feral, couldn't say a word. I tore up half the dorm in a rage.

That's not something that happens to people when they wake up here, just me. And where I'm from I was an experiment of some kind. [ It's definitely enough to get her wondering. ]

I do remember.

I found it quite remarkable that you were able to adapt to the world around you so fast. And even now, it seems you've come a long way in the ability to express your thoughts and opinions.

As such, my own experiences paint your journey in perhaps a different light than the one you are experiencing. And I do not wish to disregard that as much as my own nature wishes me to act.

-- Your own experiences?

[ That doesn't make any sense, he's a dragon-god or whatever, not some twisted experiment slash weapon. ]

The line of good and evil is easily crossed. What I might view as mercy, someone else could interpret as cruelty. And history tells the story from the eyes of the victors.

You may see yourself as not a person - someone who is meant to be used to the wielder's benefit.

But I see someone who stands outside of a circle and in equal parts wishes to be included but does not dare to join. And wishing to belong while being cautious of harming oneself or others - that to me, seems like a very human response.

[ She looks stricken for a moment, then flushes and looks down. Somehow she hadn't expected to be caught quite so dead to rights. (Hadn't Venti said that Zhongli didn't read emotions well? Was she set up here?) ]

[ Ask him about his own emotions. And his lack of filter.

Or don't actually.

In the awkward silence that follows, he just takes a slow sip of his own drink.

Oops. ]

[ Well now she feels like she did something wrong. Great system they have going here! ]

Sorry. I was just surprised. No one ever got it that close before.

Then I apologize if I attempted to push you toward the circle before you were ready. I would rather you approach when the time is right for you. Not anyone else.

It's -- not just about what I want. I can't put people in danger for something like that.

I don't know how much of what I feel is real, but I don't want to be whatever awful thing they tried to make me.

I understand your viewpoint, Alizarin. I truly do. With power comes responsibility. And you are wise and kind enough to try and wield such things appropriately.

And while that might be fair to others, is that fair to you?

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