welcome home

[outofoffice]

Who: Venti, Yuri, Saya, Lumine, and Kantera
What: A moment of respite
When: March 4th
Where: A house at the far edge of Blossomcrown
Warnings: Probably mentions of previous game trauma/violence


[ Venti has always been the type who wanders to the beat of his own drum, dipping in and out of people's lives as easily as the blowing wind. But Tokyo-F . . . changed things, somewhat.

Though his initial instinct had been to sleep under a tree and call it "home," an invitation to live with old friends put a halt to those plans. For starters, it would be protection from the unpredictable weather in the segments. For another, maybe he did get used to having a bed and a room to call "home," in no small part because of the teammates and friends who inhabited it with him. Now that solitary tree feels . . . lonely, in a way it didn't before.

And so here he is, standing at the threshold of a house full of people he loves and trusts, who asked him to stay . . . it makes him feel his age, but not in a bad way, for once. Nor does he feel that nagging urge to disappear into the wind.

Should he catch anyone watching him, the pensive expression dissolves into a smile. ]

Hehe, is this the part where we fight over bedrooms?

Comments

[sangreine]

Lupine didn't want to be in the city center. Neither do I, if I'm honest, but I'd live anywhere for this company.

[ She'd be at the beach if it was just her, but this is a whole lot better. ]

[happydreamed]

As would I, but thankfully we were given some options.

[Tokyo-F related trauma.]

[sangreine]

[ Reasons she took the TV(s) out immediately, fuck that noise. ]

Indeed. I've had it with living with whoever they decide to stick in the next room. [ She Had A Bad Experience (just one really, but it was enough. Being treated like a kink in her own home, against her will, is a no.) ]

[happydreamed]

I would have moved in with you months ago if I could have.

[Stupid sofaform, ruins everything.]

[sangreine]

[ One hand reaches out for his. (Other hand has a fork in it, which she will only relinquish for emergencies.) ]

I know. Don't you dare feel bad for something you had no hand in.

[happydreamed]

[Gives her hand a squeeze.]

I'll do my best.

[It is hard not to feel bad considering how much luckier he was with his unit than she with hers.]

[sangreine]

Is this something you need to talk about? You can, I promise. I understand not wanting to rehash unpleasantness, but if it'll help....

[happydreamed]

I just wish that you could have had in Zrael what I had in Heart Soldier. You deserved a home at least as much as I did.

[sangreine]

It's -- I don't blame anyone. Waking up as a hatching, I was a lot to handle. It's not surprising that they saw me more as a child than a friend. And I had people, just mostly in other units. It wasn't so bad.

I'm more worried about you having lost your unitmates than I am about any of that. [ She hasn't seen Zhongli here yet or "Bomb" but once she does she'll be worried about him since they are clearly not the same ones. By the same token she'll be devastated to have lost her friendship with Childe. ]

[happydreamed]

...I do worry what state Zhongli and Bomb are in, if they're still there.

[He can't do anything to help them from here - though admittedly, he couldn't do all that much in Tokyo-F to help, either.]

[sangreine]

I worry about them, too. And others. Those we left behind, those who transferred.

I've thought about trying to figure out how to go get them, now that I have my abilities it would be easier. [ She would go through so much of that place like a knife through butter. ] But I'd want to be sure I could get back, and that's the hard part.

I've decided that for now, the best I can do is enjoy it the way they'd have wanted us to.

[happydreamed]

That is what they would want. Bomb, especially - was insistent that we deserved our happy ending.

I hope someday we get to see them again, but I won't let that cast a gloom over our days here.

[sangreine]

So, we shouldn't do that. [ Handsqueeze ]

And it seems like this world needs our help. I can't imagine why we wouldn't want to offer that, assuming it's all on the level -- which I am, until proven otherwise. There's being cautious and there's being paranoid, I'd like to do a lot less of the latter.

...I'm very much hoping it is what it claims to be, though. If so, maybe they could do something about my hibernation. [ She knows he doesn't want to think about it, but they have to. It's not avoidable. ]

[happydreamed]

I can't help but worry - but I do hope they have good intentions.

[Squeeze back.]

How are you feeling? Tired at all?

[sangreine]

I hope so, too. If they don't, they made one big mistake in giving us all our abilities back.

I'm not tired at all, actually. I think maybe they reset my cycle -- it would be pretty dumb to bring me here when I was about to conk out for decades, that wouldn't supply them any energy.

That gives us more time, but I'd like to use that time to figure something else out. This place is magic, so maybe...

[happydreamed]

Ah, well - that's a relief, to have you fully awake. We have time to find more solutions then.

[sangreine]

My thoughts exactly.

It does mean that my restlessness is back, though. I'll try to come to bed every night, but I can't promise I'll always stay. I'll try to be back by morning, though.

If nothing else, I could get another job somewhere to help us out. Just until the guilds open.

[happydreamed]

I won't fret if I wake up and you aren't there. I know you'll always return to me.

[Another squeeze.]

I've taken a job at a clinic myself.

[sangreine]

I will. And I'll be good about texting if plans change. [ So wake up and check your phone if fretting takes over. ]

Oh, good. Are they only open during the day, or is it shift work?

[happydreamed]

Daytime hours, appointments only on weekdays. So you'll see plenty of me still.

[sangreine]

Of course I'm glad about that, but I was more concerned with your ability to stay awake on overnights.

[ the fondest teasing ]

[happydreamed]

...yes, that would have been an issue. I have no defense for myself.

[Called Out.]

[sangreine]

[ Affectionately called out! ]

You don't need a defense. I love you the way you are.

[happydreamed]

Ah, I fear you spoil me too much, my dear. [Nuzz!]

[sangreine]

"Too much" is a matter of opinion. I think I spoil you just enough.

Besides, you return the favor with interest. [ She takes another bite of pancakes for emphasis. ]