same day Venti disappears | 1/2

Date: Oct. 24th, 2023 11:56 pm (UTC)
at_heart: (blank :: that's the thing isn't it)
From: [personal profile] at_heart
[ He does... try to give it a bit. Wishing there were something as definitive in Ellipsa as Tokyo-F's team listing. Somewhere he could scroll through to find Venti's not-name still there.

Could just have gone out into the woods. That's always a possibility. And unanswered texts... well, what do those even mean? Venti still forgets he even has a phone sometimes.

Above all, he tries to keep up appearances. Busies himself with BVE, with quests, with... anything. Smiles when he feels someone watching him, because hell if he wants to deal with being asked about this.

Being asked about it would make it real.

But then Saya retreats into her spare bedroom, and — well. That makes it real, too. ]

2/3

Date: Oct. 24th, 2023 11:58 pm (UTC)
at_heart: (blank :: enjoy my back)
From: [personal profile] at_heart
[ (Should be talking to Lumine, too.) (Should be reaching out to Zhongli.) (Tomorrow, he tells himself; maybe he'll even do it.) ]

3/3

Date: Oct. 24th, 2023 11:59 pm (UTC)
at_heart: (support :: no one said it'd be easy)
From: [personal profile] at_heart
[ The rap of his knuckles is light but distinct. ]

Hey.

(no subject)

Date: Oct. 25th, 2023 12:08 am (UTC)
at_heart: (support :: so... what do you wanna do?)
From: [personal profile] at_heart
[ Sounds close enough to come on in for where they are today, so he does. Leans on the door to shut it behind him again — and for a moment, he genuinely doesn't know what to say.

Has she eaten today? Has he cooked today? It's all kind of a blur. ]


He might be back.

[ —Yeah, good job, mouth. It's true, but it's also useless. There's no guarantee either way.

And what if he comes back but it's like Zhongli and he's never actually met either of them? A more total and permanent amnesia than anything else they've dealt with. ]

(no subject)

Date: Oct. 25th, 2023 12:18 am (UTC)
at_heart: (support :: really you are)
From: [personal profile] at_heart
[ But. ] [ He hesitates, but only for a second.

Even if some masochistic part of him isn't fully sure it wants to feel better right now — he doesn't want to deny her that comfort.

Even if it makes this that much more real. Even if it feels like admitting—

He takes the seat next to her and opens his arms for her. ]


I'm here.

(no subject)

Date: Oct. 25th, 2023 12:37 am (UTC)
at_heart: (wry :: uh-huh)
From: [personal profile] at_heart
[ Already petting her hair. It does — help. ]

Heh. You're welcome.

(no subject)

Date: Oct. 25th, 2023 01:39 am (UTC)
at_heart: (blank :: a man of action)
From: [personal profile] at_heart
[ ...Doesn't immediately answer. Still stroking her hair. He murmurs, ]

We survive.

(no subject)

Date: Oct. 25th, 2023 02:23 am (UTC)
at_heart: (warm :: heh. that's kind of...)
From: [personal profile] at_heart
[ Squeeze. ]

We'll remember him. [ His lips quirk. ] You for longer than me.

...and if he comes back. We'll be here.

(no subject)

Date: Oct. 25th, 2023 03:59 am (UTC)
at_heart: (skeptic :: my friend my buddy my pal)
From: [personal profile] at_heart
[ That's been in the back of his mind, too. Her request makes him smile, though, even if it's bittersweet. ]

Of course I don't mind. Heh — hope you like my world.

(no subject)

Date: Oct. 25th, 2023 04:41 am (UTC)
at_heart: (support :: no one said it'd be easy)
From: [personal profile] at_heart
—I'd feel the same way.

[ Softer. He... knows she probably doesn't want anyone to ever see her world. ]

(no subject)

Date: Oct. 25th, 2023 04:51 am (UTC)
at_heart: (brood :: seems so complicated)
From: [personal profile] at_heart
[ ASSUMING THIS CONVERSATION TAKES PLACES BEFORE THAT ONE YES ]

—Yeah.

[ A little bit more. Distant for his part. ]

Something to talk to Flynn about.

[ Because he'd already talked to him about Teyvat. Because impossibly, Flynn had agreed to come with him to Teyvat. ]

(no subject)

Date: Oct. 25th, 2023 04:59 am (UTC)
at_heart: (fluster :: yeah yeah)
From: [personal profile] at_heart
[ And despite everything, he flusters. ]

Yeah, well.

(no subject)

Date: Oct. 25th, 2023 05:02 am (UTC)
at_heart: (sigh :: ugh)
From: [personal profile] at_heart
I hope so.

[ but he doubts it ]

(no subject)

Date: Oct. 25th, 2023 05:20 am (UTC)
at_heart: (grump :: hey)
From: [personal profile] at_heart
[ Huffs. ]

My life's ambition.

(no subject)

From: [personal profile] at_heart - Date: Oct. 26th, 2023 02:18 am (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

From: [personal profile] at_heart - Date: Oct. 26th, 2023 03:28 am (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

From: [personal profile] at_heart - Date: Oct. 28th, 2023 01:32 am (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

From: [personal profile] at_heart - Date: Dec. 1st, 2023 05:42 am (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

From: [personal profile] at_heart - Date: Dec. 24th, 2023 02:04 am (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

From: [personal profile] at_heart - Date: Jan. 29th, 2024 04:19 am (UTC) - Expand