Girl idk why I wrote this ok but f it we ball
Here’s venti trying to take you to the irodori festival (rip irodori festival 2022 the wonderful and iconic Coachella that you are and will always be)
Venti x nun reader who has no business being a nun because WTH you doing at angels share at MIDNIGHT babes, MIDNIGHT… but tbh that’s very camp because bet you don’t even get paid a 1/1000 of a mora so… camp
It’s becoming every night with you…You’re typically so reserved but when you come to angels share after Your long day of doing whatever nuns are supposed to do… you’re pouring your heart out even before you get halfway through the single glass of wine that the green clad bard poured just for you at the seat he saved just for you, sensing the little storm brewing.
You’re going on about how you need to get out of mondstadt- you need to start a whole new life, see every city, get lost in the lights and vanish in the stars… and maybe one day find where you belong. But you know it’s not here-
“Oh don’t do that, my dove…at least stay where I can see you…”
Very funny of him to be down looking at your little tornado with that lazy smile on his face, as he props his cheek on his hand with his elbow on the table while your forehead is on the table, your eyes peaking up at him without even a little sparkle that’s usually there.
He giggles, shaking his head at you. He teases you now.
“Aww what, being a nun at the tavern with all the “lost little souls beneath you who need to pray more” not exotic enough for you?”
“I- that’s not what I mean- I mean I don’t mean YOU anymore but that’s beyond the point. I’m simply saying… I just need a little change.”
He watches amusedly and sighs as you pick up your glass, look like you’re taking a sip, and just not take a sip for the fifth time while you look to the side with the tiniest bit of sass. He can’t help but laugh.
“What?” You ask softly, tilting your head to the side. You blink at him as if you were not just almost in tears, so lost in your own little world.
“Oh, my songbird… I just can’t help but think back to a week ago…and then before that… do you remember? What I told you…” his eyes have a little sparkle to them.
“No. I really don’t.”
“Oh? How interesting…”
“…”
His eyes glimmer knowingly as he gives a little sigh. You do know…
“…oh you know I can’t!”
He feigns innocence. “Can’t what, dear? I thought you said you didn’t remember… or maybe wine got to my head that night…”
Your cheeks turn a little rosy. “I- I can’t just go to inazuma with you! Isn’t there a decree anyway that closes it off completely?
“Decrees been lifted, songbird. We could leave tomorrow night…go through dragonspine… warm up with some cider… go to liyue.. see the city… those lights… I know just know you’d love them…and I want you singing with me so we can definitely rehearse along the way but that’s no problem, a little music for the road is always welcome isn’t it?…”
He lists off everything so casually as if he is confident you’ll be tagging along. When did he get this idea that you WERE going to go?
“Venti… I can’t go with you…”
He pauses mid thought, putting a hand on his chest. He lowers the thumb he has on his chin and looks at you curiously.
“Hmm.”
He takes another sip of his wine, then looks up as he sets his glass down. “Can’t or won’t, songbird?”
“Huh?”
He shrugs. “Can’t, or won’t.”
“I- you know I have to stay for the church…”
“Really? Sounds like you’re miserable…and you said it’s waste of time. am I right? You know…sitting around… following people around asking if you can pray for them…”
“I-I’m just being dramatic…I can be dramatic. A little.”
“You don’t get paid. You know how much a voice like yours can make right now?”
…
“See… I know you very easily could. So you won’t. Why deny yourself something you want so badly?”
He tilts his head. He’s trying to be encouraging, but seeing as you’ve never made the move to talk to him outside of the tavern, he’d like to get a little more under your skin. You look down awkwardly.
“Songbird… I don’t have to be just… some bard you only bump into at a tavern. You know that right?”
…
“I see.. Can’t get caught hanging around the drunkard… right?”
“Venti-“
“I’ll see you next time, songbird.”
He gets up, tipping his hat. He heads for the exit, keeping a casual stride.
“…venti wait-“
He lifts his hand, brushing this all off. “No no, it’s fine…you’re just a darling. I just- have some business I need to attend to…”
…”but I- that’s not how I-“
He talks a little over you, hushing you. “And a bards business… isn’t a bards business… if someone’s being nosy… is it?”
He gives you a pointed look. And then turns around, fully knowing you’re close behind. Outside… his back is turned, but he stops walking further into the alley. He turns his head over his shoulder, his eyes closed as if he’s thinking to himself.
“You know….all those times I’ve told you where id be… I’ve always wondered when id see you come around. Take me up on my offers, and take me seriously for a change…”
You pause, a bit quiet for a moment trying to think of what to say.
“I didn’t think you meant that…I- I wasn’t even sure if you actually meant any of this, like you were just joking…”
He turns around, and tilts his head to the side- in his eyes there’s a tiny twinge of hurt-
But once again, he closes his eyes, and a small smile graces his features. He hums in response.
“And here you had me thinking I was the only fool here… though it seems my bardly intuition about you weren’t far off…”
He steps a little closer, looking a little cheeky. He looks like he’s inspecting you. You look around, following his gaze. He turns you around to face him. He’s not right in your face, but he’s close enough where his eyes take up most of your vision.
“Now… all I need to figure out is… between the two of us…who is the biggest fool?”
You giggle at that, feeling a bit embarassed, and it encourages him to keep going with his soft teasing.
“Could it be…”
he puts his hand to his forehead dramatically.
“Oh woe is me! I’m so terribly full of woe about the things I CAN do… oh no…and then ignore it all so I can be filled with more woe… oooooooh the pain! womp womp womp…”
he pulls out a handkerchief and dabs at his eyes. Your red cheeks and embarassed expression after experiencing such cringe is something he thinks you deserve, and he could go so much further but he spares you. For now…
“Or… could it be me? The “drunk bard” who thinks singing from the rooftops would be loud enough for the one and only who just… hasn’t looked up? And quite frankly… might not ever?”
Your eyes widen slightly, curious but also a smidge taken aback. “Wait what-“
Of course you don’t notice-or maybe you have but you didn’t actually listen to the words-
“So! who’s the bigger fool?” He beams, so satisfied with his theatrics.
…your head is still tilted, blinking at him. Between him and you… he has his answer. It’s you.
He sighs, almost deflating…
“Aaaand… I rest my case.” He lifts his head, looking back at you. You do look as though you feel a little guilty… his brows furrow slightly, and his voice becomes gentle.
“But all the silliness aside… I think this bard needs to give you some clarity-and some advice. And it’s not just me rambling in a tavern.“
“And what’s that?” You’re playing with the hem of your sleeve before your eyes meet his.
“I- I understand… why these things may seem as a joke. But the more you try to not be a fool… well… the more you end up…being a fool.”
A simply adorable one but a fool nonetheless.
You look down. He hums gently, and lifts your chin to meet his gaze once more.
“Look up.“
“My bad…” he softly interjects, shaking his head. “No- I mean… look up. Nose out of the sand. Then maybe you’ll see that what you’ve been missing out on all this time…”
“Right in front of my face?” You whisper. His eyes widen and his cheeks turn the slightest shade of pink, but he answers you. “Yes. In the wind, in the sky… in the mirror… right next to you… and yes. Right in front of your face.”
He gets a giggle out of you.
“Please. It would be such a shame to keep watching you miss out simply because you just won’t look up.”
Never did you think you’d be taking advice from the bard you once wrote off with your fellow nuns as an alcoholic who was wasting his talent and resources… someone careless, and floated around so easily…
But here you are, and he’s lecturing you.
“And honestly…like when you look up for a change, songbird. Like right now…”
“Why?”
“He lets out a little chuckle. “Because those eyes of yours are the sweetest thing I’ve seen in a while…”
“Oh- uhm- thank you…”
“And you know what? I see so so much in them, and I can’t stand that I only see them, truly, at night in a tavern.”
It truly does infuriate him.
…
“So can you blame me for wanting to see them a little more?”
He watches your expression- of course, your eyes flicker down.
“Ehe… knew you’d do that.”
You blush. “Feels like you know a lot of things…”Oh somebody sounds humbled….is this the beautiful sound of defeat he hears?
“Not everything…but a lot.”
…
“Wanna know a little secret I know? Can’t tell anybody though. It’s a secret.”
You nod. “You can tell me, Venti…”
He looks at you, taking you in for a fleeting moment before you slip from him, again.
“I want you to come with me…I want…you, of all people…to join me.”
“But…Why?”
He steps away, slightly.
“Well… have you considered…I’d like you to think about that for yourself?”
…
“Sleep on it, my songbird. But all I ask is this;”
Tomorrow, I’ll be at windrise… we’ll talk about this. Whatever you decide… I can’t choose.”
“But even if it’s just to tell me you hope I get arrested in a foreign nation or get eaten by a big whale…you can quote me on that, ya know…”
He clears his throat, a touch displeased by that little smile he saw form on your features at his joke.
“I just… I’d like to see you.”
Your blush is almost as sweet as those eyes of yours…
“I-id like that…”
He takes you all in one last time, feeling a small tug at his heartstrings. He really hopes you’ll at least consider, but seeing you would make him so happy...
Finally, he backs away before he’s overtaken by that growing feeling…
“Then… you know where I’ll be waiting, my songbird.”
He turns into the alleyway, disappearing into the night as he typically does.
…
And You think you’re going to just fall asleep after all THAT?
It actually pains my soul that if you didn’t play genshin in march 2022, you didn’t get to go to this like that’s so sad I hope yall are ok but I’m pretty sure I’ve missed every event from Spring 2023- big 26’ so yeah I have no room to talk
