-...Um, Earth to...My people, I suppose...? -Venti couldn't help saying aloud, pretty confused by the statues now surrounding him. And some of them were even blushing...Wait...-...You are not embarrassed by what I just said, are you...?
He asked just in case, wondering why they reacted in such an extreme way,
Soon getting a few small nods in reply, while some others started getting even more embarrassed...
...
All he said was a promise to stay with them if they are really fine with how he actually is,
While he changed his outfit to a certain robe they gifted him, one which had so much symbolism associated with it...
...
...
Okay, maybe it wasn't weird that they got embarrassed...
*But since they loved to constantly turn him into a blushing mess,
It was perfectly fair to do the same to them for once, right...?
...
He just got a little emotional and didn't expect to embarrass them, that's a...!
-VENTIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII! WE LOVE YOU TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
A loud yell was suddenly heard and not a moment later he felt himself being tackled from all sides,
Soon noticing that he was now surrounded by enthusiastic looking children, who were hugging him tightly...
-Of course you can stay here, Venti! I would love hearing you sing again!
-I missed you so much, Venti! I wanted to fly with you so badly!
-Venti, mom told me what this "robe" you are wearing means! And now I feel so happy!
-Lily asked mommy to teach everyone how to fight to beat up all the baddies!
-Yeah, we got "Self-defence" and "Body strengthening" trainings from Lily's mom and sister Rosaria!
-Now we can kick everyone who bullies you, father! Me and my friends will take revenge on them for you!
The children started going on an exited "rant" about how much they missed him and what they learnt,
All of them soon talking over one another in their great enthusiasm at seeing their "Favorite Archon" back...
...
-V-Venti, it's more than alright for you to stay here, in Mondstadt. I-I am saying this for everyone. -Jean decided to be the one to say, trying to sound calm due to her position as Mondstadt's Acting Grandmaster, yet failing as she remembered what he said about her and her sister. Especially about herself. Unlike Barbara, was she really able to heal anyone's spirit...? -...W-we already accepted you both as "Venti", our friend and as "Barbatos", our Archon. W-we accept both of your aspects the same way, don't worry.
She said in as much reassurance as she could muster, still feeling embarrassed by his earlier words,
So much so that she didn't notice his rapid change of expression: from confused, to realization and then to slight embarrassment...
*As Venti finally realized that he unintentionally…
So that's how they understood what he said and did…
...
Well, it would be best to ignore that for now...
...
-Soooooooooo, no "Welcome Back" party for me this time, I see...-He decided to say in fake hurt, starting to get amused. -Even though you said you liked me and already made it into Mondstadt tradition. -He added in even more fake hurt and now some dramatism as well, looking like he was on the verge of tears. -...My, how cruel of you! And here I thought we had something special! I truly believed that...!
-And I am going to stop you right here, bard. I am glad that you seem to be feeling better now, but let's not go too far with the teasing and the dramatism, alright...? -Diluc interrupted him, looking serious, yet there was a tint of amusement in his expression. -...Not that having a "Welcome Back" party is a bad idea. Just like you said, it did become tradition at some point. -He explained before looking around the area, more specifically on the ground where a bunch of fainted squirrels were still lying. -After "utilizing" them in your dramatic entrance, you seem to have completely forgotten those critters are even here.
At these words, both Venti and everyone else looked at the ground as well,
The people now realizing they forgot about them as well, due to the Archon's sudden..."Proposal"...?
-Oh, I really forgot all about them and the promise to find them a home here in Mondstadt. -Venti soon said, before sighing, wondering where he should leave them at. He couldn't help wondering why he even made this promise...Oh right, since he "hurt" their ancestors and all that...-...Maybe I should have someone take them to Dadaupa Gorge village, to annoy the..."People" there. Or maybe it would be better to just leave them at Whispering Woods, so they wouldn't start quarreling with me again later. Or maybe I should leave the quieter ones at the woods and the more noisy ones at the village...?
He couldn't help wondering aloud, confused about what to do now,
Where should he leave those annoying squirrels, as to both fulfill his promise and...?
-Venti, maybe it would be for the best to just let them decide on their own...? They were pretty mad at you after you "decided" for their forefathers, after all. -Amber interrupted his thoughts, looking and sounding conflicted. -...And truthfully, if someone suddenly sent me far away from Mondstadt, without a way to return, I would feel lost and mad too.
"Mondstadt is my home and suddenly having to leave it forever would have felt horrible.", was left unsaid,
And yet everyone understood what she meant, especially a certain Archon, who decided to ignore his annoyance at the squirrels for now...
-Alright, I will leave it to them to decide when they wake up. They did help me with my entrance, after all. -He finally said while looking at the still fainted squirrels, before turning his gaze towards the nearby KoF members, one of which turned out to be a certain tired looking person. -I will leave finding a temporary caretaker for them to you, Varka. -He seriously said, not realizing that he was continuing the "Bully the Grandmaster Week" (Or BtGW for short), before turning to look towards Diluc. -Well, now that this is taken care of, you are going to hold a "Welcome Back" party and give me all the wine, yes...? It is already part of Mondstadt's tradition, after all~ -He added in some amusement, making the Bartender sign, though it didn't look like anyone was against it. -...My, how nice of you all~ You really love me so much~ -He added in even more amusement and slight tease, suddenly getting a very funny idea. -By the way, I just decided to go and visit Andrius to say hi and show off this BEAUTIFUL ROBE, which I came to LIKE quite A LOT~ -He continued in tease, before starting to playfully spin around, unapologetically making some people embarrassed again. Which he found out was actually a lot of fun! -...Oh, right. It's not a simple "LIKE", but rather "LOVE"~ Because this outfit REMINDS ME of YOU all, you ADORABLE and LOVING children of mine~ Hehehe~
A while later, he was flying to Wolvendom,
After embarrassing his people and taking photos for blackmail~
...
And it was so amusing he could cry,
It was really really fun~
...
Now it was time to tease his old friend,
A certain grumpy Spirit Wolf he knew~
-...Venti, I know that you want to make fun of Andrius, but don't overdo it, okay...? -Vennessa soon said in slight concern, the falcon now flying on his left. -...He must already be angry enough at you for the de-aging, there is no need to annoy him any more.
She then explained, uncertain wherever he took her words to heart or not,
And yet she knew it was something she had to do, something she herself chose...
...
She and Dvalin decided to join the Archon on his visit to Wolvendom,
In order to make sure he wouldn't do anything stupid...
*Even if mostly futile, it was still worth trying, she realized…
...
Especially now, with so much danger around,
Mondstadt had to stay united, it wouldn't do for them all to fight...
*And with her now in her adult form, she was no longer overly emotional,
If any problem arises, she could take care of it in stride...
...
Carefully and precisely she would surely...
-YAHOOOO! ANDRIUS, YOU HERE?! -Her thoughts were soon interrupted by Venti's loud yell, the enthusiastic looking Archon jumping down to the familiar stage. -Ever since I heard of your "little embarrassing situation" from the Winds, I had to...!
"BARBATOS, YOU DARED COME HERE AND REMIND ME OF SUCH TRAVESTY?!"
A loud and mad sounding voice was soon heard around the place,
The area around turning cold, as a familiar shape was materializing with haste...
-Hello there, my old friend, didn't see you "in ages"~ -The Archon continued in jest, not looking as if he minded the rage. -...Hearing of your plight days ago, I so wanted to see your small form for myself: a cute wolf pup, being doted on by everyone who lay their eyes on this adorable form~ And yet, I was horribly late, I failed to see this most momentous sight! -He added in fake hurt, the amusement only rising in his voice, the materialization slowing down in turn. -...This magnificent time, when the Wolf of the North became so cuddly and small! So delicate and defenseless, in dire need of being protected from all harm! This form you want to hug tightly, it should be immortalized in Mondstadt's history as...!
"Barbatos, please, don't say any more. You are making things that much more embarrassing than they need to be. ", a weary voice was soon heard, as a familiar shape of the wolf finally appeared, "...And please, stop with the rhymes. I am too tired to pounce on you, so just stop making fun of me."
"I know that you are sad you can't come play with me, but I don't think Andrius will be too happy to have so many people visit him now. In his annoyance at me, he could hurt you too and I definitely can't have that.
So how about this, while I am away visiting him, you can help prepare for the "Welcome back" party? With you all helping out with the preparations, I am certain it would be a lot of fun~"
Was what Venti told them before he left for Wolvendom,
With them all soon promising him to make the party the best ever,
And now, together with Klee at the lead, the children of Mondstadt were doing just that...
...
...
Or rather they would have, if they didn't suddenly get distracted...
-Klee, is this really your mom's gift...?
-Your mom is awesome, Klee...!
-...It already looks so fun...
-I want to play here with my mommy, daddy and Venti...~
-I really want to play here, but would my friends like it...?
The children were saying in awe, all of them watching as certain mechanisms were now being installed,
The water streams already starting to appear around Cider Lake, so pretty and inviting...
...
When Klee said she brought gifts from her mom and she was going to share them,
None of them expected it to look like it would be so much fun...
...
-Mom is the best ever! Even more than brother Albedo and sister Emilia and Venti and and...! -Klee soon started listing everyone she liked, sounding and looking ecstatic, as she was hopping in place like a bunny. -...Thanks to mom we can always have fun playing around! We can have a "Fun Island" right here! -She yelled out a few minutes later, finally done listing all her friends and family. -Not only are there the fun "water slides", there's also a bunch of bouncy chairs and bombs and two cannons and funny costumes and floaties and a funny thing that makes music and...!
She soon went on another happy "rant", this time about all the gifts she and everyone else got,
Most of them and not just the water slides, now being installed inside and around Mondstadt city...
...
-Klee looks so enthusiastic at the idea of turning part of the city into a "vacation spot". -Emilia couldn't help mumbling in confusion, as she and Albedo were now making the last water slide installations. -...Being so happy from a thing she already experienced enough of, truthfully, I am unable to understand her thought process. What is the use of going through this "Summer Vacation" again...?
-There is not much to understand, Emilia. This is a matter of the heart, not of the mind. -The Chief Alchemist soon said, looking and sounding quite calm. -Even though Klee already experienced the fun these contraptions provide in full, the experience itself was so great, she wants to live through it over and over. -He slightly smiled, upon glancing in a certain Pyromaniac's direction. -All she wants now is to share this fun with everyone. This is seemingly such a silly thing, yet I can't help feeling glad for her.
He admitted, smiling some more as he went back to his task,
Leaving his "twin" to think his words through, to realize their implications...
...
"Sharing the fun with others", while having to do again what you already did so many times before,
And somehow this illogical thought process was a good thing, one you should feel grateful about...
...
No matter how much she thought of it, Emilia couldn't quite understand it,
Doing something fun once in a while was alright, but having to constantly repeat it...
...
And for others' sake, no less...
...
...
Would it not soon become tiresome and boring...?
Why would anyone actively spoil something they enjoy...?
*Why would anyone, for another person's sake...?
...
...
Their..."Mother" would surely never do something of the sort,
Instead opting to force you to do what she herself decided...
...
Even if it's as awful as being eaten alive,
She wouldn't give you any choice...
...
...
Simply because you are not perfect in her eyes…
…
Simply because you are useless to her.