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

[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?

[sangreine]

Of course I have. I feel awful about doing this to all of you.

I just don't know whether there's time. I only have a few months.

[outofoffice]

You're not doing this, first of all. Your biology is, which is quite outside of your control.

As for time . . . I've seen miracles happen with less. We simply need to pool our resources.

[sangreine]

I know that, but I'm not going to feel any pain. All of you are. Sort of hard not to feel guilty.

I really would like to believe that, but... [ she doesn't. At all. ]