Mesqiri Draco

Before reading this quote I had already often thought about why excessive alcohol was hailed as THE epitome of freedom when the results of intoxication are warped perception, loss of reality, and destruction when consumed too much too long (and let's be real, Mondstadters consume too much). When drinking too much, wine is used as an escapist tool to avoid pain (that will catch up to you after its effect wears off) but can never actually solve the problem of its origin.

Warped perception, loss of reality, destruction. That sounds pretty much like the abyss. It reminds me of OG Durin who was captured in the warped reality of his dream while wreaking havoc without realising it.

It poses the question if Mondstadt is not actually free but just trapped in a "dream" of happiness while actually being corrupted/numbed/bewitched by wine/abyss without their being aware of it. And they can only gain true freedom if they let go/break the curse of wine/the abyss.

(Perhaps a measure by the PO/the shards to keep them in check. Or an unwanted result by Venti somehow using abyssal power/becoming corrupted?)

All in all it feels like a strong foil to Khaenri'ah.

(A variation of this is that they have been poisoned with wine (and on some narrative level by the abyss?) to keep the harsh truth of Celestia's rule over them from them by "intoxicating" them with false happiness. So the wine is more of a means to an end which keeps them complacent. And in order to defeat Celestia they need to forsake this false happiness.)

And it's very interesting how different characters are connected to wine:

Kaeya who is most likely connected to the abyss in *some* way drinks excessive alcohol, most likely as a coping mechanism and his capability as a knight is canonically impaired by it. Metaphorically you could say the abyss threatens his ability to defend Mondstadt’s safety and freedom. Even though he pretends everything is fine you could say the wine corrupts him - like the abyss would.

I think it’s also noteworthy that his favourite drink is (based on) dandelion wine and has a time-based name: death after noon. I’m sure this also has a deeper meaning, esp. since Kaeya is thematically connected to time, fate *and* death (his cape/constellation looks like Ronova’s wings). Death after the sun has reached its highest point in its cyclical journey. Sun.. sun chariot… Nibelung… I’m sure there’s a connection somewhere.

As for dandelions I think it could imply that he seeks (false) solace particularly in the illusion of freedom (also expressed in his believe that he has left his fate behind him but it’s gonna catch up – just like the aforementioned pain you try to drink away catches up after you sober up again) but also perhaps in something “angelic” since I believe dandelions are implied metaphors for angels and there is a theory that Kaeya himself has angel heritage. So perhaps despite him hating and renouncing Celestia he still clings to some “higher” power, the angels that sided with humans and tried to bring them freedom. But just like the angels “fell” – got “corrupted” – when they were degraded into seelies, the degraded form of dandelions – dandelion alcohol/wine – can’t save him.

On the other hand dandelions in its original form might still be able to guide humans to true freedom which is why Jean as the “human embodiment” of a dandelion (and also the dandelion *knight*, the angel that *fights* for freedom) might be an important anchor for him.

Diluc doesn't drink wine at all but is the biggest supplier of wine for Mondstadt and its economic pillar. He doesn't want to expose himself to the risks that wine consumption brings but profits massively from selling it to the people (of Mond and beyond) - in turn making him so powerful he largely controls Mondstadt as the"uncrowned king of Mondstadt", a kind of shadow king...you could say a "vinster king" (as vinster sounds very similar to the German word "finster" which means dark).

It's like he supplies them with "forbidden knowledge" while being aware of the danger it poses, avoiding it himself. His relationship seems ambivalent because on the one hand he tries to make non-alcoholic drinks more popular but also doesn't seem to be willing to dismantle his empire. Perhaps because he knows Mondstadt's power/existence is tied to it. It's like a deal with the devil he inherited. What keeps you alive is also what poisons you and makes you sick. So he is stuck in this ethical dilemma.

He may not have drunk much wine before Crepus' death as he was a teen back then but via his lineage and the aftermath of Crepus' death triggered by the events surrounding the delusion you could say he was corrupted by "wine" (metaphorically) in the past (and since he used the delusion himself he might quite literally have been corrupted by the abyss) and now lives with the consequences.

(Crepus' death also marked the beginning of Kaeya drinking so you could say he was *also* corrupted.)

Crepus really feels like Nibelung in this context, a well-meaning father who himself was not powerful enough. So he turned to the abyss but got so corrupted his own offspring had to kill him, corrupting his successors in the process.

Then there is Jean who according to Diona doesn't drink either (yes, she has been shown with beer in an Oktoberfest art but I'll prioritise the ingame text here) and doesn't have any major ties to wine either.

In fact, she tries to establish another economic pillar (her KoF alchemy business) to make Mondstadt less dependant on wine. It also puts her in direct competition with Diluc in terms of economic power and influence over Mondstadt.

Metaphorically this looks like her trying to combat the influence of the abyss via alchemy and push back its hegemonic control of Mondstadt.

(On that note: I need to know how her alchemy business is doing.)

She is also spiritually connected to Venti, both as the head of the KoF but also because of Venessa and Gunnhildr. So it's interesting that Venti's "battle maiden" and potential human executor of his revolution doesn't drink whereas he does. It's as if he picked a proxy to carry out his plans that is "pure"/not corrupted by the abyss because he for some reason consumes/has to consume? abyssal power.