After a few minutes, the Archon was finally out of whatever trace he was recently in,
As Venti was looking at everyone around him in complete confusion...
-What just happened...? I remember talking about being glad that I am not the only one under "House arrest", the Fatui and the Abyss Order being potential enemies and then...-He quietly said, his confusion rising. -...I seem to have no memory of what happened next...! -He continued in shock, his eyes wide now. -...I had memory problems before, but not remembering what happened only a few minutes ago...-His confusion then turned to slight panic. Why couldn't he remember anything...?! - What is going on here?! I don't understand! WHAT IN TEYVAT'S NAME IS WRONG WITH MY MEMORY?!
At his outburst, everyone started looking towards him in worry...
-You started talking about the "guys in Celestia" and then seemingly just blacked out. -Jean told him in rising concern, as she was looking him over. -You were just standing around, completely still and unresponsive. And your eyes, they looked completely blank! There wasn't any light reflected in them at all!
"...You said some very unsettling things, Barbatos…", the winds admitted, sounding concerned too.
"...You scared me half to death, Venti!" , Vennessa added, sounding increasingly concerned as well.
-Are you certain that you are feeling alright...? Does this have something to do with you sleeping for more than a week and then pushing yourself to do many things in the span of a day...? -Varka asked him then, his expression both worried and deadly serious. -If so, no one will blame you for taking it easy (Especially since you are this land's Archon, even if sometimes you like acting as if you are not). We can prepare everything for Ludi Harpastum ourselves, just as we Mondstadt's people, have done for decades.
Venti quietly listened to everyone's words, before sighing deeply.
...
Whatever actually happened,
It mostly affected his memory of the last few minutes...
*But what were those "unsettling things" that he said...?
And he had blank eyes as if possessed by something...?
...
...
-...No, it's okay. I am fine. -He finally said in reassurance, noting how fast everyone became worried about him now. The last attack by the Abyss Order really made everything even worse...-...Other than not having any memory of the last few minutes, I am completely fine! There is no need to worry, truly!
The others looked him up and down then,
Making sure that he was telling the truth...
-...I, okay. I believe you, Venti. -Jean finally said with a relieved sigh, before looking towards him in all seriousness. -But if anything happens, even if it's just a small feeling like something is wrong, tell me, okay...?
-...I will, Jean. You know that I will. -Venti admitted, his expression turning sad. -... Knowing why you are being so overprotective now, how could I not...?
He continued, his voice rapidly becoming apological,
As he again remembered when his people became so worried for his wellbeing...
...
They were afraid that something might happen to him, right...?
That this time, he would die and disappear for sure...
...
Did he really traumatize everyone thi…?!
-Let's go for a walk. We have stayed inside the room for long enough already. -Varka interrupted his now depressing thoughts, a warm smile on his face. -Everyone must have also completed all the necessary preparations by now.
"Yes, they are almost ready. Just a few "small touches" left!", the winds admitted, sounding happy and increasingly intrigued, "They truly are Barbatos' people, preparing everything so fast!"
...
-...Wait, what...? What are you talking about...? -Venti questioned in complete confusion, as he was now led towards the door by both Jean and Vennessa. -...What did they prepare...?!
It was a "Welcome Back" party,
One that was specifically prepared just for him...
-...But, why...? Wouldn't it be better to continue reconstructing the city instead...? -Venti asked everyone moments later, as he started to look sad again upon noticing that the city still wasn't fully repaired. -It would have been more meaningful and productive than to hold a party for the one who failed in...
-Stop talking like this, Venti! Stop blaming yourself already! -The traveler interrupted him in annoyance, both Paimon and now Endora as well floating by their side. -Or did you already forget all that everyone told you a few hours ago?!
-No one here cares about your so-called "failure". What we do care about is having you back with us, Lord Barbatos. Venti. -Victoria told him with a warm expression, as she motioned to everyone else around them, who had similar expressions on their faces. -This party was organized mainly to make you realize and accept it once and for all!
She declared with such resolution that the Archon was taken aback,
As he was now looking towards her and then everyone else with a conflicted expression.
*His emotions chaotic due to her words, the memory of a few hours ago and everyone's warm smiles.
...
W-why...?
...
Why were all of them...?
...
Why, even now, they were so...?
...
So...
...
"O̵̧̞͈̥̓͂͝u̶̧͖̬̹̲̺̙̦̹̺̖͕̲̖͛̆̋͐̌̐̋ŗ̸̛̣͇̬̈́̎̐̃͗̊̇̏̌̄́͘͜͝͝ ̸̦̻̠̀̏̂͆̐p̸̨͔͚͉̮͕͇̹͈̾́͌̈́̊͝e̸̡̢̟̰̹͔͕̼͉̥̼̜̮̅̌̂͐͊̅̓̈́̌̈́̄̕͘͝͠o̵̥͓̰̱̘̹̽̔̑͒͝͝p̸̣̥͔̤͌̕ḷ̵̰̫̖̂̔̄̾̐̂̎̕̚e̶̼͎̳̫͕̟̺̩̺̞̮̹͌̀̀́̏̏̎̐̾̎͆̿͜͠͝, they would never desert you."
...
"E̶̱̰͑͆̓͑̀̉̑̈́͋̏̈́̓̑͠v̶̝͓̹̦̬̆ę̶̩̜͎̣̻͎̦̟̎͋n̸̨̧̨̠͍̟̰̘͕̼͓͇̦̤̤͛̐͑̀͌̂̀̕ ̷̧͔̯͖̺̖̲̱͓̞͔̲̤̘̣̈̉̄͂̇̋̎̌̀̈̀͛ȉ̶͕̭̤̭̝̥̮̱̺͍̙͐́̀̿̂̂̐͜f̶̢̥̻̹̬̮͆̊̀̄̅̿̕̚̕͝ ̷͎̠͉͍̻́́̎͋̈́̈́̄̇̍͒̂͘͝͝I̸̡̨̗̫̘̠̻͚͇̩̪͔̪͓̍́͑̾̾̈́̚͝ ̸̧̜̻̤̮͑̾͐̿̍́̆́̏͘à̶̧̨̞̺̉̒͋m̴̹̳̙̑́̀͝ͅ ̴͓̩͓̪̬̗̹͙̠̖́̔̅̄̕͝g̴̢̨̛͉͍̩̪̺͉̪̤̲͓͆͆̏̽̑̈́́̀͘͝ọ̴̋́͊̀̇͘̕n̷̤͓͘e̴̡̱̠͉̭͎̭̝̙̥̥͌̂̃̉͂͗̃̽͘̕͘͝, there would still be people who care for you"
...
...
Huh...?
...
W-what...?
...
-...I...Yes, I remember. -The Archon finally said in slight confusion, before his expression changed to a grateful one, a warm smile on his face now. - Thank you. - He continued while meaning each word, as he looked between everyone present and their warm and relieved expressions. What...What did he do to deserve them…? -...You all are so…! So…! - He suddenly put his hands on his face, before starting to shake. -... I-if I could cry I would have by now...W-with tears of joy...U-uncontrollably...- He continued, his voice soon getting very emotional. -...T-truthfully...Y-you are the best thing that happened to me...I-in decades or even millennia…! - He admitted, remembering how lonely he felt for the longest time. If not for them all... -...F-for once in my long existence...I-I can surely say that I am glad to be alive now! A-and it's all thanks to you! Y-you saved me! B-both physically and emotionally!
And while he was shaking from extreme emotion,
The Archon didn't notice as a bunch of kids ran up to him, looking overly enthusiastic.
-GROUP HUG! -Many of them soon yelled out, before Venti felt himself being enveloped in a hug, one that he was completely unprepared for, as they all soon fell down from the force of it.
-We really missed you, Venti!
-You look and feel so huggable, Venti!
-It's okay, Venti! We are glad to have you too!
-We love you so much, Venti!
And many more words of reassurance were heard soon afterwards,
Making the Archon into an even more of an emotional mess than he was before...
It took Venti a few minutes to get out of his shock and embarrassment,
As he was helped get up and was now looking between everyone present again...
-...I apologize for having you see me like that, as such an emotional mess. -The Archon shily said, before sighing deeply. -... It has been such a long time since I.. .-He sadly added, before noticing the worried expressions sent towards him. -I am okay! I am okay! It's nothing to worry about! I just got so happy by your love that I got sentimental and...Oh! -He reassured everyone, before teleporting to the drink table, where more than 20 Dandelion Wine bottles stood. -Master Diluc, you weren't kidding when you said that a lot of bottles have piled up. I would be happy to drink them all! -He enthusiastically said and before anyone could react, teleported to the food table. -There are so many new apple dishes here! And they all smell so lovely! You really outdid yourself, Grace! I will gladly taste them all! -He told her, while getting even more enthusiastic, before teleporting to the middle of the "Party". -You also decorated everything so beautifully! So many Cecilias~ It's like the Windblume festival all over again! -He happily said while starting to spin in place like a ballerina. - I can feel so much love all around me! This is the best "Welcome Back" party ever! - He then spun some more, before finally stopping and teleporting to where the children now stood, watching his earlier spinning with wide eyes. -And of course I didn't forget about your previous request! You really like my singing, don't you?
After that question, it was as if a dam suddenly broke...
-We don't just "like" it Venti, we love it!
-Your voice is so lovely, Venti!
-Your stories are very interesting, Venti!
-You are the best bard in Teyvat, Venti!
-You are also the best Archon!
-Papatoes is so nice! I love you a lot!
-Qiqi also wants to hear your singing...
And many more comments soon followed, as the children soon started to talk over one another,
Before they ran up to and completely surrounded him, some of them jumping up and down in enthusiasm.
-I know! I know! Calm down everyone! I am going to sing to you, just not right now! -Venti told them, holding his hands up in surrender. - I am going to get myself some of that tasty smelling wine and food first. And afterwards I will sing to you, in my Archon form so you could also play with my wings~ How does that sound?
At his words the children stopped jumping in place like bunnies and looked towards him with wide eyes...
-...Could we...Also have a "sleepover"...? -Qiqi suddenly said, looking a little confused. -Qiqi remembers Klee talking about it. I don't know what it is, but it sounds nice.
-Venti, can we?! Can we?! Klee missed you a lot! -Klee pleaded to him, as she started jumping up and down again. - Ever since those dumdums attacked I have been so worried for you! Then we gnoomed your wings but you were asleep! -She sadly continued as she stopped jumping and was soon looking down on the ground. -...Now Klee wants to spend more time with you...Can I...?
She then raised her head, looking towards him with "Puppy eyes",
The other children around him soon showing similar expressions, which the Archon felt was quite ironic.
...
To think that they all would use his ultimate weapon against him,
Who would have thought that this day will ever come...?
...
But all of those poor children,
They must have been hurt deeply from the recent events...
*Klee admitted it herself a few seconds ago...
...
...
He couldn't refuse them this...
-Yes, we can. I will be glad to have a "sleepover" together with you all. -The Archon finally said, a warm smile on his face at their now happy and enthusiastic expressions. -And cuddling afterwards would surely feel nice~ -He added before noticing Barbara's conflicted expression. -Of course, I will still be cuddling with my cute Deaconess~ We just need to bring more beds to the room is all~ -He teasingly added, making her blush, which he found to be very cute. -So what are we waiting for? Time is moving, yet we are just standing around! -He said in mock sadness and hurt, before his expression lit up, his eyes starry now. - LET'S START THE PARTY~
He said upon jumping up, both hands to the air,
And at that cue the party officially started...