"Hmm," murmured Mualani as she stared at Itto.
"Hmm," he said as he stared back.
"It's weird but I feel like I know you," she said.
"Same."
They stared at each other a while longer lost in thought.
"I don't know why," she said, "but I want to call you 'Skull.'"
"I want to call you a cat for some reason."
"I'm not a cat! I'm Mualani, a guide of the People of the Springs!"
"Hmm."
"Hmm."
At that moment, Venti entered the mansion along with Chevreuse and Baizhu. The three paused and regarded each other, as well as Itto and Mualani.
Mualani looked at Venti and froze.
"What a meow-villous girl!" Her hands went over her mouth. "Why did I just say that? He's a guy, isn't he?"
"Maybe he's actually a car," said Chevreuse. Her eyes narrowed. "Wait, what the heck's a car?"
Venti put a finger to his chin. "Weird, looking at you guys feels…nostalgic for some reason."
"Really?" said Baizhu. "I can't say I share the feeling."
"I do," chirped his little snake buddy Changshen. "Especially the fish girl."
From the stairs, Dilluc and Rosaria descended. They too paused before the others.
"Huh," he said. "Why do I feel like Venti, Itto, Changshen, and I went to high school together?"
"You too?" exclaimed Itto. "Man, this is bizarre. It feels like the nun lady over there used to be a lawyer who was after us."
Rosaria frowned. "That's exactly how it feels."
They all regarded one another in silence. Itto and Mualani continued shooting each other annoyed glares. Dilluc became uncharacteristically nervous, while Rosaria had an inexplicable interest in lawsuits. Changshen had a sudden desire to pick up an axe and Chevreuse imagined herself typing at a keyboard.
"Hmm," they all said.
Venti shrugged. "Well, it must be Déjà vu. Anyways, you guys want to go steal Zhongli's heart?" The bard scowled. "Why did I say that?"