It was evening...
Venti was still asleep, as everyone were talking between themselves and preparing dinner. It was supposed to be a normal thing to do, but the traveler looked unusually amused, as they prepared a certain dish together with Vind, who decided to leave her "Storm Overseer" duties when she heard the recent news.
-Honorary knight, what are you making there...? -Sara asked them, confused at the dish she never saw before.
-I am making "Barbatos Ratatouille". -The traveler answered, their eyes shining in amusement. -It's for Venti~
It didn't take long for Sara to understand what the traveler meant, as she chuckled slightly...
-You will need to wake the tone-deaf bard first. -Paimon suddenly said, with a very serious look on her face. -Paimon wonders how you are going to do that...
By then the traveler completed making the dish and went to crouch by Venti...
-Venti, wake up! I have a surprise for you! -The traveler said, as they started shaking him, though it didn't seem like there was any reaction from him whatsoever. -Venti! Wake up! -They tried some more, this time shaking him harder and yelling right into his ear, but there was still no reaction at all. -WAKE UP! VENTI! WAKE UP ALREADY! BARBATOS!
Even yelling out his real name didn't help, as it looked like he was deep asleep...
*And Paimon was mumbling something about "sleeping beauty" while shaking her head...
...
That's when Mona decided to try waking him up herself, since they were getting nowhere, as she doused him with water using her Vision,
There was no reaction other than the church people getting annoyed with her and all the water to drip of Venti, like he was never soaked to begin with...
...
The traveler wondered if they should try some excessive measures, or it was too cruel to do to their friend...
*Thinking about it some more, dropping him of a hill to wake him up would probably be too much for sure. The same could be said for dropping something very heavy on his head and/or burning/freezing/shocking him...They were not going to do that after all.
...
-I am not surprised, it is said that he could sleep for centuries at a time. -Diluc noted, looking thoughtful. -...I don't think we can wake him up by normal means.
But before the traveler could reply to him, they suddenly felt a tug on their arm, pulling them down...
...
The next thing that the traveler knew, was that they were down on the grass and Venti was hugging them, his arms and legs tangled around their body...
-V-Venti! L-let me go! -The traveler yelled in complete and utter embarrassment, trying to break free from Venti's unusually strong grip, then realized that they were just stupid for forgetting that he was still an Archon, so his grip should be strong, right...? -...E-even if you are a god...I-I am not your personalized body pillow!
-...Warm...-Venti mumbled in reply, making the traveler even more embarrassed, as he snuzzled closer to them. -...Smells nice…
...
...
The traveler was so embarrassed they wished that the ground would swallow them whole...
...
Kaeya's (And some other people's, but mostly Kaeya's since he was the loudest) laughing at their predicament didn't help either,
Or the fact that Razor decided to check it for himself, as he leaned over in order to smell them...
-...Razor agree. Smells nice. -Razor finally said after a while, as he pulled back, looking a little hungry as he did so. -...Even better than meat.
That made the traveler's brain short-circuit...
...
They started to wonder if they were actually on another planet,
Or maybe they suddenly had a very strange nightmare...
*Was this some sort of divine retribution for their thoughts about "excessive measures"...?
...
That must be it, right...?
...
Right...?
...
...
*Okay, so maybe Venti was cute and it was nice to be hugged by him,
But not like this and accompanied with such strange comments!
…
-As much as this predicament is amusing to see...-Diluc suddenly said, as he was holding a Dandelion wine bottle and the traveler wondered how much time actually passed. Did they suddenly black out...? -...I think our "honorary knight" had enough embarrassment for one day, don't you agree...? -He continued in a serious voice, while opening the wine bottle and holding it to Venti's nose. -...If this doesn't work, I am not sure what else will...-He suddenly paused, seemingly deeply thinking of something. -...From the safe options, at least. The dangerous ones are out of the question.
...
There was no reaction from Venti at first and the traveler wondered if they will die before getting out of this predicament...
...
But then Venti started waking up, to everyone's relief,
And the traveler was glad when he let go of them as he sat up...
...
-Finally. I though I would die of embarrassment. -The traveler said with a sigh of relief, before looking in Venti's direction. -Venti, do you know how much you...? Huh...?
They suddenly paused in surprise, as they saw that Venti was absentmindedly looking before him,
And the traveler felt themselves join the other now-concerned people around them...
...
Unbeknownst to everyone (But Dvalin), that was because Venti was in the middle of listening to a heated discussion...
"...Our communication was gradually severed, then there was that sudden Fatui invasion and he almost disappeared with that suicidal plan of his...!" , the winds were yelling in anguished panic, "...And now he can't hear us anymore, even with his Gnosis returned, because he is still weak and sleepy and healing and...!"
"I GET IT! SO STOP RAMBLING ALREADY! YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES WHO ARE WORRIED!", Vennessa interrupted them, sounding annoyed, "I was watching the whole time he was brought under the tree and until now...", suddenly a sad sigh was heard, "...And he didn't even notice my presence..."
"...And then he started thinking that it was better if he disappeared and a new Anemo Archon took his place and...!", the winds sadly continued, "...We don't need another Archon except for Barbatos! He actually loves us and we love him back!", they sounded very emotional, "...You know how bad we had it under Decabarian...? ", there was suddenly a slight pause, "...For those of us who were there at the time, anyway. It was so exhausting, we were tossed around left and right! He was a tyrant in more ways than one!"
"Must have been rough.", Venessa said in understanding, "But, really...That airheaded moron! The nerve to even think something like that!", she continued in rage, "And I thought his laziness was bad. This is a hundred times worse!", it suddenly got eerily quiet, "If he didn't get things straight in this head of his, I was going to fly down in my full "Falcon of the West" form and peck him so hard that his brain (Or whatever he actually has in his head) started working again!"
Venti wondered if being pecked on the head was too much or not...
"Venti/Barbatos! You can hear me/us again!", Vennessa and the winds simulately yelled, their voices latched in shock and relief.
...
Okay, maybe he deserved it after all...
"Of course you deserve it, you idiot!", Vennessa emotionally yelled, "Do you know how worried you made us...?!"
"It's good to have you back.", the winds said in relief, before there was a sudden pause, "...At which part did you start hearing us again...?"
They suddenly asked in slight concern,
Making Venti wonder why they sounded like that...
...
Well, it was the part with "Our communication was gradually severed"...
"...So, you heard all that...", the winds said, sounding embarrassed, "...That's...Uh...Good to know..."
...
Wait, were they actually embarrassed...?
"They are embarrassed!", Venessa suddenly said, sounding slightly amused, "...Though, I am not sure how that works. How can winds be embarrassed...? Or even have their own personalities, like they already seem to have now...?", she said in a confused and thoughtful voice, "...Hum...Since they are considered as elementals (They are, right? Venti, help me with this one), it works somehow...?"
-Venti...? Are you alright? -Venti suddenly heard someone ask him and looked around to see everyone's worried expressions. -...Venti...?
How much time wasn't he responding to them...?
"...Probably a few minutes...", the winds supplied.
-...Sorry about that! I am feeling a lot better now! Both physically and emotionally, thanks to you all! -Venti decided to gratefully say, while looking between those around him, his glance pausing at the traveler, or rather, their face. -...Traveler, did something happen...? You are really red, as if...
-I-it's because of you! Y-you stupid bard/Anemo Archon/Wind spirit/Whatever else you might actually be! -The traveler interrupted him, looking even redder now. -I-I tried to wake you up! B-but you pulled me down and tried to use me...A-as a body pillow!
"It was pretty cute, actually.", the winds added in amusement, "...And looked fun too."
"...Your idea of "fun" is weird.", Vennessa said in a slightly exasperated voice, "...Venti is a bad influence..."
-So, that's where the sudden warmth and the nice smell came from...! -Venti said in realization, while he decided to ignore the discussion in the background for now, making the traveler even more embarrassed than they were before. -You are very huggable, you know that...?
-...S-stop embarrassing me...! -The traveler almost pleaded, to Venti's sudden confusion, which made the traveler look at him in slight shock. -...Y-you don't find anything wrong with this, do you...?
At that, Venti looked at them with even more confusion...
"...Really...?", Vennessa asked in surprise, as the winds chuckled.
-...Should I...? -Venti finally asked and was surprised to see as the traveler suddenly put their hands on their face, getting eerily silent. -...As you already know, I was pretty lonely most of my life. So, some human "etiquette" is either still hard for me to follow or I don't fully understand it...-He decided to explain, getting a deep sigh from the traveler. -...Like right now, I though it was okay to hug friends...?
-...I-it usually is...-The traveler quietly said, their voice full with embarrassment, as they were looking out from the gaps between their fingers. -...B-but not like that...!
Venti had to admit that the traveler was acting very cute right now...
"...If by "acting very cute" you mean "Like someone who is going to die of embarrassment", then sure.", Venessa commented in a quiet voice.
"It looks really funny, though.", the winds added, sounding amused, "Reminds us of a ripe tomato!"
"...Venti really is a bad influence...", Venessa said, before a heavy sigh was heard.
...
Venti wasn't sure what she meant by that,
He wasn't a bad influence on anyone...
...
He was simply free as the wind~
...
-...Venti, about what we talked before you fell asleep. -Jean suddenly said, sounding very concerned. -You are going to be more careful from now on, right..?
-Yes, I will! Now that I know how much you actually care about me, how could I not...? -Venti answered her, with a grateful smile on his face, before it turned sad. -Now that I know how you will react if I...How could I possibly make you go through that...? -He added while looking at those around him. And he only realized it recently, as well... -To think that I finally realized it only after seeing those..."Scenarios" and being told to be careful while hugged...-And the hug felt so nice, warm and safe. So, that's how great the "power of hugs" actually was! -To show my gratitude for your faith, love and concern, I shall bless you all with the "power of hugs"!
That made the place quiet down, as everyone looked at him in confusion and some embarrassment,
Paimon was mumbling something about "Lovable idiot", "Olaf" and "Warm hugs",
And Venessa was asking "Are you serious...?" in shock, while the winds were chuckling, again...
...
-...T-there is no need to do that...-Diluc was the first to say, looking slightly embarrassed, as Venti was searching for the first person to hug. -...R-really.
-This is hilarious! -Kaeya on the other hand, was very amused, as he was laughing at everyone else's reactions. -Hahahaha! Everyone is going to be hugged!
...
-...There! There! I am sorry for scaring you like that, Barbara. -Venti was hugging her with one hand and patting her on the head with the other, to Barbara's growing embarrassment. He found her surprised and embarrassed expression really cute! -Believe me, if I knew sooner, I wouldn't have said something so insensitive.
...
-Razor! You cute, cute wolf boy! -Venti said to the next person, as he practically latched on to him, almost squealing. -Boreas took you in, didn't he? I can recognize his body odor anywhere! -He was patting him on the head, to the other boy's confusion and the shock of everyone else. -He asked you to come here and watch over me, didn't he? And like the good boy you are, you were sitting here all this time, patiently waiting until I get better!
-...Guardian is Razor's Lupical. You are guardian's Lupical. -Razor answered in a determined voice. -So, you are Razor's Lupical too. Lupical take care of each other.
-Is Klee cute too? -Klee suddenly asked him, as she tugged on his clothes, making him stop hugging Razor and turn around to look at her.
-You are not just cute, Klee! -Venti said as he hugged her, this time with an actual squeal, before taking her in his arms and using Anemo power to levitate her up in the air. -You are simply adorable!
Which seemed to be a logical observation, as Klee was holding her arms to the sides like a plane and making "Wheeeeee!" noises...
"She's really adorable.", the winds commented, "We won't mind playing with her again."
...
-Uh, Venti...? Don't you want to know why we woke you up...? -The traveler decided to intervene, before he could hug more people and make them embarrassed, as Venti levitated Klee down on the grass. -It was actually to give you this "Barbatos Ratatouie" dish I made for you...-And before Venti could react to that...-...With Vind's help.
At that Venti looked confused...
...
Venti wondered why Vind was even here...
...
Didn't she take her "Storm Overseer" duties very seriously...?
...
And now she was giving him a strange look,
He wondered why...
"Why are you so surprised about this...?", Vennessa asked him in confusion and slight weariness, "Don't you already know why she takes those duties so seriously?"
...
...
Oh, right,
Vind was a real devotee,
Who practically worshiped him 24/7...
"We can attest to that.", the winds helpfully added.
…
Then he finally revealed himself to everyone...
*Well, that "Signora" was actually the one who revealed his identity. But she was an invasive jerk, so she didn't matter...!
"...I wish I could kill her...", Vennessa suddenly said, in an eerily quiet voice, "...Very slowly..."
...
And then he almost disappeared afterwards...
"Do you know where she is right now?", Vennessa asked, still with the same eerily quiet voice.
"She is currently on the way to Liyue harbor.", the winds informed her, sounding thoughtful, "It seems that she is at..."
...
Venti decided to ignore their strange discussion,
And think about the matter at hand instead...
...
It seems that him almost disappearing, must have been a good enough reason for Vind to come here...
...
And that made him feel guilty again...
...
He also saw her sigh deeply...
...
...
Did he somehow offend her, as well...?
...
-Oh, hello, Vind. -Venti finally said, trying to look and sound cheerful. -How are you doing on this fine day...?
-I heard about what happened. -She said in reply, looking very serious and not reacting to his fake cheerfulness at all. -I am not mad about you living as "Venti the bard" for three years, no. As the god of freedom, Lord Barbatos, you are entitled to live the way you wish to, as well. Whatever you choose to do, no one will be against it. -She told him, before he could say anything. -What I don't understand is why you decided to follow such a dangerous plan back then, which made you almost disappear in the process. -She sounded so sad and disappointed. -Lord Barbatos, do you not care about our feelings at all...?
...
He should have expected it...
-...I...Truly, I never realized it until recently. How much everyone here...-Venti sadly said, while looking down on the ground. -...I thought it was fine if I...And a new Anemo Archon...-Then he sighed, before looking her in the eyes. -But, I promise you this. Now, that I know about how you actually feel, I am not going to do something like that ever again!
She was looking at him for a few seconds, as if to ascertain that he wasn't lying...
...
Seemingly sure that he told the truth, she motioned to the traveler, who was now holding a familiar dish in their hands...
...
-...You really passed the recipe from generation to generation...-Venti said with slightly weary expression, as he inspected the dish. -...You didn't perfect it, though.
-But, isn't it already perfected? -The traveler asked in confusion, looking strangely at Venti, they weren't the only ones. -I followed the recipe word for word and Vind even helped me to make it right. How do you perfect it even more than this?
-With a pinch of Anemo energy in the form of a Cecilia and a decoration made with love! -Venti happily said, making the traveler and everyone else look even more confused. -I can make some, to show you how it's done~
-You do remember that you are not moving away from the tree until you are fully healed, right...? -Jean suddenly said, almost boring holes into Venti, before sighing slightly. -Though, it must be pretty boring just sitting around doing nothing. So if you need anything, we can bring it to you.
Venti's eyes practically shone at that...
Venti was making the perfected "Barbatos Ratatouille" dish,
In the Adepti Seeker's stove that was brought to him,
Singing a merry song along the way,
Because why not do it anyway?
...
"Carrots~
Potatoes~
Onions~
Four of each~
...
The Cecilia I will make with Anemo power~
...
Mix it all together in the bowl~
Decorate it with all your heart and soul~
...
"A Buoyant Breeze" will soon be made~
"A wind that brings hope and tiny twists of fate"~
When you eat it to the freedom of birds you will relate~
...
So much you will love the taste~
For long you won't be able to eat anything else~
...
Even when knowing this fact~
When you see it how you will act?
...
A dish created by the god of wind himself~
From sampling it would you be able to stop your..."
-Do you really have to sing when you are cooking...? -Paimon suddenly asked him, interrupting his song, while sounding annoyed. -Stop singing about how tasty it's going to be and finish cooking so Paimon can have a taste already!
-...Huh? What's wrong with me singing? I am just so happy to make this dish for someone else once again! -Venti said in reply, too occupied to fully hear her, as he was currently creating a Cecilia with concentrated Anemo power, to the surprise of everyone around. -Do you know how long it was since I made it last? It was so long ago that I almost felt aghast!
...
Paimon just sighed at his sudden rhyming, again...