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

[at_heart]

[ —ah. Eyebrows lifting gently. ]

I'm guessing it was just you and him? That you were his sole caretaker. No other family or friends in the picture?

[happydreamed]

It seems to have been that way. Or at least I don't remember them.

[at_heart]

So...

It'll be different this time.

[happydreamed]

I'm afraid. Even if I'm not the only one to take care of her - I'm afraid I'll run.

[His hands are shaking.]

[at_heart]

[ Not... failing to notice that. ]

If you do, we'll drag you back.

[happydreamed]

Promise me?

[If Yuri promises, he can maybe believe it.]

[at_heart]

[ His smile goes a tiny bit crooked, but he's confident when he says: ]

I can definitely promise that much.

[happydreamed]

Thank you.

[Breathe in. Breathe out. Be calm.]

I don't want to leave her. She's the love of my life, my moon and stars.

[at_heart]

—I know.

If you did run, it'd just be a moment of weakness. We all have them sometimes.

[happydreamed]

And you're certain I'm not weaker than most?

[at_heart]

Is that a joke?

[happydreamed]

No, of course not.

[????]

[at_heart]

Doc.

[ A breath out. ]

Look, I'm not gonna take a survey, I won't pretend I know what a 'normal' amount of weakness is — but I don't think a weak person would still be here, trying to find ways to stop himself from leaving.

[happydreamed]

Oh. ...I suppose that does make sense.

[It may not feel true to him, but logically it makes sense.]

[at_heart]

[ A tiny half smile. ]

You're afraid. Fear makes us feel weak. But everyone's afraid sometimes.

It's what you do next that matters.

[happydreamed]

...I don't know if I can stop being afraid. Not unless it stops being a possibility.

[at_heart]

[ Mmm. ]

It was that bad, seeing her in egg mode?

[happydreamed]

It wasn't, no. But I knew that was temporary. And that was before I remembered what I - what the real me, if there's any meaning in that distinction - did to Grandfather.

[at_heart]

But no weird impulses?

[happydreamed]

No, none.

[at_heart]

...so...?

[happydreamed]

So it was different.

[at_heart]

And I think it'd be different if it happened to her here, too.

[happydreamed]

...Logically, you are correct. The circumstances are different, the people involved are different - even the 'me' is different.

[at_heart]

Getting the sense this isn't much of a comfort.