Diluc/Venti

Pairing
Pairing:	Diluc Ragnvindr/Venti | Barbatos
Alternative name(s):	DiluVen, VenLuc, VentiLuc, RagnVenti, dlvn
Gender category:	M/M
Fandom:	Genshin Impact
Canonical?:	No
Prevalence:	rare pair
Archives:	Diluc/Venti on AO3
Other:
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DiluVen is a pairing in the Genshin Impact fandom. In canon they are acquaintances who work together toward a common goal, while in fandom they are sometimes shipped romantically.

A screenshot of Diluc and Venti taken during Weinlessfest when players could find Diluc inspecting the vineyard as an NPC.

Canon

Diluc Ragnvindr is the heir to the prestigious Ragnvindr Clan of Mondstadt. As such, he is the current owner of both the Angel's Share Tavern and the Dawn Winery. Because of his lineage and the control he holds over Mondstadt's beloved wine industry, he is regarded as the "Uncrowned King of Mondstadt" by many of its people. However, Diluc works in the tavern infrequently, spending more time working from the shadows as a vigilante, eliminating anything that threatens the safety and well being of Mondstadt and its citizens.

Meanwhile, Venti is known as the "most popular bard in Teyvat" to many. A select number know the truth behind his identity — Venti is the Anemo Archon and God of Freedom, Barbatos, living among his people in secret. Diluc is one of few who know Venti's true identity.

In canon, Diluc and Venti meet for the first time after Venti cajoles the Traveler and Paimon into helping him steal the Holy Lyre der Himmel from Mondstadt's cathedral. It is needed to quell Stormterror's attacks on the city. As the three of them run from the Knights of Favonius, Venti, Traveler, and Paimon take refuge in the Angel's Share where they run into Diluc. While this is the first time the player encounters Diluc and Venti together, their dialogue in the following scenes implies they have an established level of familiarity.

He is Master Diluc, the boss of... ah, the owner of this tavern. He's very famous. By the way, his dandelion wine is one of my favorites. Though most of the time I can only afford a bottle or two...

Venti, Prologue Act II: For a Tomorrow without Tears [6]

Even with the Knights of Favonius in pursuit, Diluc does not rat out Venti or the Traveler, instead asking them if and why they stole the Holy Lyre. After consulting Jean, Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius and one of Diluc's childhood friends, Diluc joins Venti and the Traveler on their quest to cure the corruption within Stormterror.

Outside of the Prelude Archon Quests, Diluc and Venti aren't often spotted together. Diluc does, however, make a small cameo in Venti's story quest, Carmen Dei Part 1. During the party at the end of Jean's story quest, Diluc admits to keeping track of Venti's "alarming pace of progress through [Diluc's] wine," so that he can present him with a bill when the party is over. Paimon calls Diluc a "meanie" for this to which Diluc smiled and explained it was only a joke; Venti will not have to pay the bill. This is notable because Diluc rarely smiles. In her voice lines, Klee says, "He's one of the weird grownups. He's so grump all the time... Why does he never smile?" Similarly, Barbara mentions in her voice lines that "Last time, when I was performing at Angel's Share, he kept frowning."

Fandom

The first fic on Archive of our Own featuring DiluVen was published on 12 October, 2020. As of 1 April, 2023, there are 930 fics tagged Diluc/Venti. As characters introduced during Genshin Impact's Prologue, fans have been creating Diluc/Venti works since the early days of the game's launch.

As is common within the Genshin Impact fandom, the order of the character's names in the ship's nickname or tag holds deeper meaning among some DiluVen fans. While not ubiquitous, some fervently believe that ship names (for example DiluVen versus VenLuc) determine the characterization and personalities of the individual characters. Most of the fan events about Diluc/Venti have subscribed to this belief, barring works which do not fit the "Diluc/Venti" archetype. ^{[citation needed]}

Fan Commentary

diluven is such a good ship though it's like

on one side the battered and traumatised protector of mondstadt who thinks he's fighting all alone in the dark, looks expecting a drunkard and sees a wise and caring being, who sees him for who he is, bringing him and everyone else in mondstadt light

and on the other side, the ancient archon, waking up once again, perhaps fearing he hasn't done enough for his people, worried over dvalin... and here's this grumpy bartender who not only helps him with the crisis but has been watching over the city the whole time. who believes in him, even knowing who he is, unlike the nuns at the cathedral who believe in the theoretical him but throw the real him out. who doesn't treat him with too much reverence, but doesn't dismiss him either. and the wine is just a bonus, of course

in a city where both of them wear disguises, both of them see each other's true self and appreciate it

musingsofabooklover via tumblr 

Diluc! I think Venti would flirt first, tease, etc., but I think he’d be really hesitant to start a relationship with a mortal. Cue Diluc, maybe a bit shyly or discreetly, trying to convince Venti to give him a chance. That, or he gets sick of the teasing but nothing more happening, and throws down his cards—he’s ready to get down to business.

banterismylovelanguage on Who's the pursuer? via tumblr 

Common Tropes and Fanon

Reincarnation

Due to Venti's status as an immortal god — it is worth noting, immortality in Genshin Impact doesn't adhere to the same rules as the definition typically implies — reincarnation is a common trope. This can take different forms. In some depictions by fans, Diluc is reincarnated in the future after his death in the current timeline. In other's, the Diluc of the current timeline himself is a reincarnation of either the Red-Haired Warrior or Ragnvindr the Dawn Knight. The Red-Haired Warrior was in league with Venti — then just a wisp — and the Nameless Bard during Decarabian's reign and eventual downfall; Approximately 1000 years later, Ragnvindr the Dawn Knight befriended Venessa eventually joining her rebellion. Together with Venti, they overthrew Mondstadt's tyrannical aristocratic government of the day. The Ragnvindr clan, including Diluc, are descended from Ragnvindr the Dawn Knight. It is heavily implied that Ragnvindr and the Ragnvindr clan are also descended from the Red-Haired Warrior. These connections between Diluc and important people of Venti and Mondstadt's past are one of the reasons why reincarnation is a popular Diluc/Venti trope.

The "Wedding" Weapon Series:

During patches 1.4 Invitation of Windblume and 3.5 Windblume's Breath, an event exclusive weapon was available as rewards for completing event quests and mini games. These weapons were Windblume Ode (bow) and Mailed Flower (claymore) respectively. Windblume Ode is considered one of Venti's best free-to-play bows, and Mailed Flower is a good free-to-play option for Diluc. Among fans, these weapons have jokingly been referred to as DiluVen wedding weapons or simply as the DiluVen weapons for several reasons. The bow, while a good fit for Venti, is more like Diluc's aesthetics. Similarly, the claymore is a good fit for Diluc but is styled like Venti's aesthetic. The claymore is also styled with lamp grass and cecillias. Lamp grass being Diluc's ascension material and cecillias being Venti's ascension material. Additionally, the Windblume Ode's description features lore about Diluc's ancestors, the origins of his clan, and what they stand for.

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  Windblume Ode

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  Mailed Flower

Example Fanworks

Fanfic

• speak low if you speak love [7] by waterleveldropping is an example of asexual spectrum Diluc.
• by your side[8] by whimscott is an example of Diluc/Venti and the reincarnation trope.

Fanart

Diluc carrying Venti bridal style is a commonly utilized trope by fan artists. Other common tropes are similar to those found in other types of fanworks including trans Venti and/or Diluc, sunshine/grumpy, divine date, and parenthood.

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  Example of DiluVen and the divine date trope by junoliberty on tumblr.

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  Example of Diluc carrying Venti bridal style by clemaqti on Twitter.

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  Diluc and Venti featuring the "wedding" weapon series by burquillos via tumblr.

Zines

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  Shards of Memories: DiluVen Zine 2022 on itch.io.

Memes

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  by Bee on Twitter

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  An example of the grumpy/sunshine (opposites attract) dynamic that is popular with Diluc/Venti fans.

Other Fanworks

• 🔥🍃;; of the fire who loves the wind, and the god who fell in love with a mortal a fanmix by shekaos
• diluven 🍷 a fanmix by michaelmagma with a detailed explanation on tumblr

Fan Events

DiluVen Big Bang (2021)

The DiluVen Big Bang was announced by @DiluVenWeek on Twitter on 26 July, 2021 and ran from 30 July, 2021 to 30 December, 2021. The works are hosted in a collection on Achive of our Own moderated by Cho_ranch. As with other events run by @DiluVenWeek, the big bang barred the use of VenLuc or other representations of DiluVen's ship name.

Archives and Communities

• Diluc/Venti (Genshin Impact) tag on AO3