Work Text:
Bennett sat down for once. The day was bright and welcoming, like he could simply walk to a tree, eat a fresh apple, and lose track of time napping. A hilichurl camp was just over the hill, so he wouldn’t close his eyes yet. Down by the lake—if he squinted, he could keep track of Diona.
Diona rummaged around in the mud, looking for one more- Aha! There’s a frog right there for a horrible drink! She stomped around in the mud a little longer, hoping to find something like- That butterfly would be perfect! She jumped higher and higher to reach it before it fluttered to land on Xingqiu’s shoulder.
Xingqiu continued to scrawl ideas into his notes; inspiration for novels, refinement of his sword technique, even private criticism of his travelling companions. He was quite absorbed in it and paid no mind to Diona plucking the butterfly into a jar. Xinqiu kept at his shorthand script for “Odour away from the City”, which was to be self-published in the new year. Of course, the exception to odour was Chongyun. He glanced over to Chongyun, still underwater.
Chongyun was meditating. He had taken in plenty of air beforehand. Now was the time for feeling the fish pass by and the texture of the underwater garden bed. A fish nibbled at his nose and he resolved to have Bennett cook it for Diona if it-. He breathed – in with the soul, out with the impulse. It was a form of mental breathing he had learnt from an acquaintance. The fish would live. That was time enough.
As Chongyun walked out of the lake to dry himself, and Xingqiu stood up to stretch his muscles, Diona helped Bennett to his feet. Bennett knew they didn’t do the adventure pose with him, but, looking around at Mondstadt, he was happy to have them around.