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]

[ She follows him partway into the room, leaning against the doorframe. ]

Who are you talking to? I haven't known you for Millennia yet, but I know you. [ how's that for the existential crisis? ]

This wasn't the plan I know, but I want you to be happy.

[outofoffice]

[ He pretends to look out the window so that he doesn't need to turn to face her, resting his hands on the windowsill. ]

No, it wasn't the plan.

[ They should have been in Teyvat, all of them. And Zhongli too. ]

I'm sorry.

[ He knows how many hopes she hung on his offer, but it was ultimately a false promise. One he never had the power to keep. ]

[sangreine]

[ She takes two steps into the room, pauses, and then walks the rest of the way over to him to hug him from behind. If he wants to hide his face, that's fine. ]

Don't you dare apologize for things you didn't have a hand in. [ She already had this same conversation with Doctor, honestly. She's the only one allowed to blame herself for things that aren't her fault ]

We got out, didn't we? That's a victory.

[outofoffice]

[ He doesn't make any effort to pull away (he's far to selfish for that), though he doesn't quite lean into it, either. ]

I bear some of the responsibility. For creating false hope, if nothing else.

[ It's a greedy thing, not being happier with this outcome. But he wanted to be in Mondstadt, surrounded by those he loved, where he had some power to keep them safe and happy. ]

[sangreine]

It's only because of you that I had any hope. [ Even Doctor, dear as he is to her, couldn't give her a future, not on his own. ]

We had every reason to believe you'd graduate, same as the others did.

...But if you need to feel bad about it, that's fine. I'll still be here. [ She'd rather he didn't feel bad, but that's not her call. ]

[outofoffice]

I don't like feeling bad for very long.

[ If he can help it, anyway. Life is to be enjoyed as much as possible. ]

I think I'd rather hope that we can all still go to Teyvat one day.

[sangreine]

Good. I don't like you feeling bad for very long. Or at all, actually.

[ A gentle squeeze ]

That's still my plan, to all go together. I'm not letting go of it unless I have to. [ Staying here would be not-a-nightmare for her, at least if it keeps being pleasant like this, but she can't imagine Venti away from Teyvat forever. No, that's not acceptable. They're all going and that's that. Somehow. (And they'll find a way to talk Yuri into it). ]

[outofoffice]

I'll refrain from too much daydreaming about it.

[ He created false hope once and refuses to do it again . . . at least for now, while harsh reality is still rubbing him raw. ]

In the meantime . . . getting comfortable here is really the only thing to do.

[sangreine]

Daydream about whatever you want to. [ She wants to say "they can't take that from you" but she knows that they sort of can. Hopefully they won't. ]

Of course I want you to be comfortable here. And happy. But if you're sad sometimes--

I know I can be... fragile... but I'll be here if you need me. No matter what.

[outofoffice]

[ "It's okay to have dreams, as long as you don't believe in them too much." ]

Hehe . . . Ali-Rin, I don't think you're fragile at all.

[sangreine]

[ She gives him a soft kiss on the cheek. Yeah, dreaming too much when they have limited control of their lives is... it can be hard. ]

I'm glad. I'm trying to do better with it. Actually...

[ She peels away from him and stands on one foot with her crazy balance. ] I have something to show you. Back in Tokyo-F, Childe suggested I find a permanent way to remember the ones I love so when I wake up from my Long Sleep I'll know you're important to me. So --

[ Still on one foot, she peels down the fuzzy slipper-sock she's wearing (Doctor likes them okay) to show him a tattoo on her ankle, of a feather surrounded by music notes blowing in the wind. It's in sIV pink and anemo green. ]

1/2

[outofoffice]

[ Venti's expression goes from puzzled to shocked as he stoops to peer at the tattoo ]

[outofoffice]

[ Ah . . .

Are such things permanent for her, he wonders? Even if they aren't, she would likely choose to leave it permanently anyway.

Permanence of any kind isn't really something Venti's used to. But this kind of permanence -- the bond shared between them -- is something he'll gladly hang onto. ]

Silly . . . as if I'll let you forget me for very long. You'll have to listen to all my stories.

[sangreine]

[ She's hoping it's permanent, and if not she'll have it redone periodically so it's not entirely faded when she wakes. She intends for him to get very accustomed to having her around for the next however many millenia. ]

Of course I'll listen to all of them. And if I forget, you'll have to tell me again.

[outofoffice]

A bard's duty is to preserve the world's stories through song, after all. Hehe . . . though I may have to win you over to music again, as well.

[sangreine]

I have no doubt that you could.

I do retain some aspects of my previous memories. I might not remember who you are, but I'll be drawn to you all the same.

[outofoffice]

Is that so?

I'd be lying if I said it isn't a comforting thought.

[ He may be able to handle her amnesia well -- but that doesn't actually make it hurt less. ]

[sangreine]

...I'm sorry that I have to put you through this. All of you.

[outofoffice]

I'll let you be sorry because I know I can't talk you out of it. But I'm sorry for you just as much.

[sangreine]

Why? I won't know what I lost.

[outofoffice]

Yes. And that is its own sorrow.

[sangreine]

It is what it is. I've experienced what it's like to be reset, if only briefly, where we were, so I know it doesn't bother me at first.

[outofoffice]

Well, I can at least say one thing for certain. When you awake, you'll be surrounded by those who know and love you.

[ This might be cringe after the Doctor drama but oops oh well lol ]

[sangreine]

[ As long as Venti's around (intermittently) she'll be fine. Ish. ]

That's also a comforting thought. I'm sure after a few centuries it'll become routine.

[outofoffice]

As most things do after a few centuries, no doubt.

Though . . . with everyone's powers available to them in this world, have you considered seeking a way to change it?