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

[happydreamed]

No, I'd rather he not find out about that. We know the risks and we've planned for them, thank you very much.

[sangreine]

That's right. Better to ask forgiveness than permission... not that I intend to ask forgiveness for something that has nothing to do with him.

[happydreamed]

Good. 'Tis frankly none of his business to begin with.

[sangreine]

I know. Maybe if I knew whether I could trust him I might have asked for help, but... [ sure as hell not now. ]

[happydreamed]

You're already stressed over how many people are involved in this, are you not?

[Even though all of them are helping happily and willingly.]

[sangreine]

I'm fine.

[ She is not. This entire thing is one giant knot of unimaginable strain. But it's even worse on the people around her who will have to live with the consequences if it fails, so... ]

[ So. Her smile sure looks convincing, because she wants to make this a tiny bit easier on him. ]

[happydreamed]

-If you say so. I would hardly blame you if you were not.

[That smile looks genuine, and he doesn't want to doubt her words.]

[sangreine]

I'm happy right now, hunter revelations aside. I don't want to ruin what time we have being endlessly miserable.

[ That, at least, is perfectly honest, so it's not like she's lying really. ]

[happydreamed]

Nor I. I wish for all the happiness in the world to come to you, my dear.

[He kisses the top of her head.]

[sangreine]

For all the happiness in the world to come to us, you mean.

[ As long as she has her memories, they're a package deal. ]

[happydreamed]

That goes without saying. When you're happy, I'm happy as well.

[sangreine]

Then you should be happy. I know how lucky I am.

[ To be here instead of Tokyo-F, both of them, all of them who live here. To have as many wonderful friends as she has despite all she's done and all she's lost. To have even a slim chance to prevent her hibernation. ]

[ ...that doesn't mean she's not in pain. She definitely is. It's just that she knows that's unproductive. Sure she could be perfectly honest all the time, make these last months a drudgery, but to what end? ]

[happydreamed]

If you are half as lucky as I am, to be here with you and our dear friends, then you are quite lucky indeed.

[He presses a gentle kiss to her hair.]

[sangreine]

[ She snags his hand and kisses the back of it, then keeps it to hold. ]

Speaking of dear friends... something I should let you know. Two things, I guess. You've been great about me having more explicitly romantic connections with others given my nature, but I always want to be sure to let you know. [ She never wants to hide anything from him. ]

One of those people is Venti, feel free to lightly tease him if you want to, goodness knows we insisted it wasn't 'like that' long enough to deserve it. The other is Red Son... and I'm sure you know that teasing would only embarrass him. [ So please be delicate, if it's brought up at all. ]

[ She looks up, how we doing? ]

[happydreamed]

Congratulations.

[Said completely sincerely. Although he doesn't personally have romantic feelings outside of her, he knows she does, and it doesn't make him less important to her.]

Should I avoid becoming intimate with either of them? I haven't with Venti before, and Red Son only once.

[That thread is very backdated and in progress but presumably enough happens that he counts it as intimate. And he knows Rosen was off limits to him, so it's good to clarify.]

[sangreine]

[ Saya snuggles against him. He's far too good to her. And no, none of this makes Doctor any less her husband. ]

[ She is doing her very best not to wince at that question. ]

Venti, if I ever restricted him at all, it would be like clipping his wings, if you'll pardon the pun. I can't say it's my favorite thing to imagine but I won't throw up any roadblocks there. I don't especially want to know about it if anything does happen, but if it comes up then I'll do my best to swallow my jealousy.

Red Son... he's so new to all this. It might take a while to figure out things like that. [ And for all anyone knows she doesn't have that kind of time. ] We know that there are feelings we want to pursue, and that's as far as I think he's gotten. But he didn't ask me to restrict myself, so...

[ She obviously doesn't love the idea, but when does she ever? ] He's clear that it's not a romantic thing between the two of you, yes? If that's true then I won't ask you to change anything. [ Crossing the streams, so to speak, would be a terrible idea. Beyond terrible. Just screwing around, while it brings her Queen's blood to a nice simmer, is something she can swallow. Reluctantly. ]

[happydreamed]

[He's sorry to have to ask when it's something she doesn't like to think about, but he needs to know what she's okay with now before he does something that upsets her.]

Not a hint of romance and don't bring it up to you. I understand completely. [He presses a gentle kiss to her hair.]

I'm glad you're surrounded by people who love you.

[sangreine]

Thank you, love. And in case there was any doubt, you're still the one I come home to. [ Even if she's not in the bed every night. ]

Just so you know, Red Son promised that he'd fix my hibernation cycle and gets my memories back, no matter how long it takes. So if I fall asleep, make sure he runs things, possibly it'll mean sending me along with him. He'll bring me to Teyvat once things are settled if so. [ Saya has yet to tell Venti about the change in plans but surely he won't stand in the way, not when it could mean she won't have to lose her memories anymore. ]

[happydreamed]

I know, and I'm glad.

[She doesn't have to be home every night for it to still be home.]

I shall make sure he has all the resources he needs to help you. Rest assured.

[sangreine]

Good. [ That he knows. That there's no question in his mind that he's on another level from the others. She can't possibly rank people in terms of importance, but in terms of commitment he has an edge. ]

I honestly don't know how you're so okay with this, but I'm glad. I know how lucky I am.

[happydreamed]

You have a vast amount of love in your heart. How could I be upset about that?

[It's one of the things he likes about her.]

[sangreine]

[ What she has is a harem, but yes also lots of love. ]

How to have love without jealousy escapes me. But I'm glad it doesn't escape you.

[happydreamed]

[same thing really]

When the moon shines down on you, are you jealous that it also shines its light on other people? That is how I feel about you.

[sangreine]

Knowing me, I'd find a way. [ It's just her nature. Being passionate has its downsides. ]

As long as you can assure me that you're happy, I'll take your word for the rest of it.

[happydreamed]

More than happy, my dear.

[She never has to worry about him getting jealous.]