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]

Worried about your wardrobe already? Hehe, don't worry. You'll look great regardless~

[at_heart]

Well, my ego's getting a workout, at least.

[ So he says, but he just sounds — amused. A tiny bit dismissive still. ]

I know I complained to some people about it in Tokyo-F, but I'm not sure if you were one of them? [ Lipquirk. ] Back home, I had pretty much the one outfit. [ A little gesture to take in what he's got on at the moment. ] This. All dark colors so it won't stain obviously, wool and layered so it's good in most weather. I've had this top forever, since the sleeves were way too long on me.

[ They're still rolled up, but it's mostly choice these days. ]

But clothes shopping was an easy way to be social in that city, so I just kept doing it. If they'd brought all my clothes here, it would've been like... two full closets, maybe.

Talk about culture shock.

[ And he misses some of his Imeeji clothes, because he got a lot of them in the colors of specific people, but. What can you do, right? ]

[outofoffice]

Hehe . . . that sounds expected for the life of a warrior, right? No time to worry about fashion when there's practicality to consider.

But in Tokyo-F you had entirely new circumstances to occupy yourself with . . . and so, too, do you here. What will you dedicate yourself to, I wonder?

[at_heart]

Gonna check out the police first. [ An easy response. ] See how much they suck here. [ Answer: apparently not at all. ] Then figure out what it takes to set up a guild, because I don't think I was ever gonna be cut out for the chain of command.

[outofoffice]

[ Laughing. He can't help it. ]

The whole world is your oyster, but the first thing you think of is work!

[at_heart]

[ The truth is that he's missed his guild a lot and it's more of a calling but. ]

I mean, somebody's gotta.

[ Smirk. ]

[outofoffice]

Hehehe, that's true! Won't be me!

[ #shameless ]

Though I intend to still make a living as a bard, of course, but that will hardly afford much of anything but spare change for drinks.

[at_heart]

[ Snort. ]

Right, not like you're a world-class singer who can probably play instruments I've never even heard of. Why would anyone give you more than a moon coin or two in your little plastic cup on a street corner.

[outofoffice]

Those things are all true, of course!

[ #HUMBLE ]

But even in the city of winds and idylls, appreciation for the art of music is rarely shown through money. I won't set myself up for disappointment by assuming this world will be any different in that regard.

[at_heart]

I mean, you could just get people to buy you rounds.

[outofoffice]

How exactly do you think I funded my hobbies back home?

[ Hobbies being drinking. Of course. ]

[at_heart]

So, there you go.

Let the rest of us worry about food and shelter.

[outofoffice]

[ Yuri might be expecting another quippy response, but . . . he's quiet for a moment, instead. ]

Hehe . . . you're all so kind.

[ He's still not used to it, to be honest. ]

[at_heart]

[ A blink, then a pause, then a faint frown. ]

You okay?

[outofoffice]

[ Perceptive people are really the fucking worst.

He reaches out and bops Yuri's nose. ]

I'm just fine. There's no need for such serious faces.

[at_heart]

[ He's gonna chat up Zhongli at the opening ceremony in a couple weeks, realize it's not the Zhongli he knows, and immediately slot that part of the puzzle into place, you know. Add in your post looking for more genshins, and...

Anyway, the boop doesn't deter him. It does very clearly communicate that you don't want to talk about it right now, though, so he leans back and says: ]

We'd be working just as hard anyway, and we wouldn't get the pleasure of your company.

[ With a beat of very serious eye contact. So that he can be sure you hear the bit about it being a privilege to have you around. ]

[outofoffice]

[ Yuri: the goodest of beans, even if he wouldn't accept the accusation. ]

Surely you don't think I wouldn't be bothering you all the time anyway?

[at_heart]

[ rude!! ] [ And also you are only prolonging the deliberate eye contact. ]

I think you'd bother us none of the time. On account of not being a bother.

[ Then he turns away, breezy. ]

What do you want for lunch, anyway? We should figure out some kind of a schedule.

[outofoffice]

[ Wow!!! Gosh.

Venti might be a little relieved when the eye contact breaks . . . ]

Vegetable stew! I bet plenty of plants around here are edible.

[at_heart]

[ That's okay, there'll be more eye contact later. ]

Man, we're gonna have to pay for groceries here. Both — weird and very normal.