synopsis : snippets of what it's like being the manager of 5WIRL !
— genre/tags : 5WIRL ( imagine it says that in the gc plz ) x manager!reader , fluff , crack , mostly jokes xx
— contains : kazuha , heizou , venti , scaramouche and xiao x fem!manager!reader
— a/n : i mean you can interpret this as romantic or not your choice really , mostly kazuha x reader but that's purely because since he's the most respectful one he gets shipped with you the most ;) , it's not really implied but just know i envisioned this with them ALL having some form of small crush on you because you take care of them who wouldn't love you with all you do for them . also lowk rushed ok?
hey so how do you think venti would deal with him bringing up that he given them poems and gifts over the years and how he will always keep doing it. And he finds out his s/o has kept every single thing he has given them in a secret stash for safe keeping in their apartment. He did not know about any of this? (Like a box that is hidden in a wall somewhere with all the stuff he’s given them in there. Even the drunk written poems or letters that don’t make sense).
venti x reader who keeps all his poems 🍃
hello there!! this is an interesting scenario, one that i think would 100% happen if venti had a s/o
thanks for the recommendation!!
firstly, i’d just like to say that this is right up his alley.
yes, he’s the anemo archon Barbatos, but before that, he was a mere wind spirit, gliding without a care in the world.
essentially, he’s a poet at heart.
we all know about his part-time job as a bard in mondstadt, and though it’s simply a cover up for his true identity, he can’t deny the fact that he loves doing it.
he enjoys seeing the faces of the little boys and girls that come to watch his recitations, and he also loves the dances of the older children when he sings his ballads in the tavern
so, naturally, his love language is words. this man will write you mountains of poems and love songs, ones where he’ll compare you to the sun, the flowers, and most significantly—the wind itself.
sometimes he’ll even perform these songs if they aren’t too private or vulnerable. most of the time venti doesn’t mind sharing his feelings through his songwriting and performance, but on the occasion his heart chooses to dance to a more intimate rhythm, he’ll keep the ballads to himself
and maybe you, if you ask him nicely ;)
speaking of sharing his work with you, he loves it!
he thinks it’s the best gift of all. and he isn’t wrong in this assumption.
physical things will fade over time. they tarnish and rust and die in your memory.
but words … words live on forever. they’re a promise of what’s passed, what’s now, and what’s to come. that’s why venti loves them so much and why it’s his favorite way to show affection for you
just like his words, his love is eternal and unconditional.
now if he found out that you were literally keeping every. single. poem…, he’d be ecstatic!
like … you care about him THAT much??! that you wanted to keep all of his poems and love songs?? even the drunken ones?!!?
the boy’s a flushed mess to say the least—which is pretty hard to accomplish, i might add
as much as he likes to appear as the carefree, happy bard, moments like these make him emotional.
he’s typically the one writing love songs about two fictional characters, describing their trials and triumphs of romance through his lyrics.
so for the focus to be shifted onto HIM for once?
oh he’s in tears
happy tears, of course, but tears nonetheless
it’s times like these that venti realizes just how loved he is, and it makes him so happy that he can’t help but write you a million more love songs.
now what will you do when he mentions a shiny diamond ring in the next ballad?? :)
a/n: sorry for going AWOL on you guys!! life’s been pretty busy and i’ve been going through some personal things, but i had the random motivation to write, so i simply picked a random request from my inbox and started typing lol, which is why im replying to an ask from more than 6 months ago 😭 sorry sorry
hopefully i can get back into the habit of writing fanfiction soon!!! luv you all vv much and am wishing you the best ! 🪷
^ needy venti tries to convince u to stop doing hw:(
• ash's note: arghh venti is such a needy boy (and a bad influence like wtf cant u see im trying to do my hw!!) raise ur hand if u want him so bad
"Windblume?" Venti called out the nickname you knew better than your real one, swinging his feet on your bed as he sat on the edge of it.
"Hmm?" you didn't even look up from the homework you were doing. You nearly jumped out of your seat when you felt him breathing down your neck, his hands discreetly traveling up your shirt.
"...Want you. I want you." he whispered, nuzzling against your cheek like a needy cat. Your hand left your pen, reaching out to run your fingers through his hair. "'M almost done here, Ven."
His lips curled into a smile hearing the nickname and your soft-spoken voice, but then he pouted. "But I need you so much... please?"
You sighed. "You'd have to forcefully bring me to bed if you want it that bad. This assignment is due tomorrow."
"You're obsessing over your grade," he groaned, pressing his lips on your neck. "Won't kill ya to miss just one assignment."
"Venti, no."
You hadn't realized it until now, but his hands were dangerously close to your breasts. "C'mon, windblume... lemme take care of you."
idk much, but imagine being loved by all of the anemo boys?? it'd be so dreamy, I know I wouldn't be able to choose only one of them
MY PRECIOUS SHORT KINGS!!! 😍😍😍😍
You have NO IDEA how many times I would have a whole ass scenario in my head about me in a Harem of anemo boys whenever I'm bored in class 😭😭
I am so sorry for the late reply! School has not been easy to deal with for me and my schedule is getting more and more busy...
Also I wrote this while I'm in church 🗿 (Also I'm having major writer's block, and this is a WIP)
YOU ARE A TRAVELER IN TEYVAT, BUT YOU ARE NOT THE TRAVELER!
Aether who would accompany you in your travels around Teyvat. Wanderer tags along cause he's "bored and has nothing to do" which is odd cause he would usually refuse and scoff whenever they ask him if he wants to tag along...
"Huh? You want to come along? But I thought you were busy."
"What? Am I not allowed to change my mind now?"
"No no, It's not that... Is this because of [Name]-"
"Shut up you useless worm!"
Kazuha would also tag along whenever he sees you traveling Inazuma with Aether and Wanderer (he surprisingly followed along all to way to Inazuma...)
Xiao who would be in the balcony of the Wangshu Inn with you, admiring the view of the sky at night. You would look up at the stars in the sky, meanwhile Xiao is admiring you...
"It's beautiful, isn't it?"
"Hm..."
He hummed in agreement... looking at you ❤️
Venti immediately tackle you into a hug as soon as he sees you in the gate of Mondstadt city, ignoring Aether's whole existance 🗿
"Windblume!! You're back from your travels! I missed you so muuuuuch!!"
"Ack- Venti you're squeezing me..."
"... I'm here too y'know?"
Heizou who would flirt with you 24/7, asking in asissting him on one of his missions as a detective. Kazuha decided to come along as well. Aether also decided to come alone despite him saying he was busy doing comissions a few minutes ago...
"Well, my dear lovely partner. It is you and I agains the mystery of the ca-"
"Hey [Name]! Mind if I join you? Another partner to solve cases wouldn't hurt, yes?"
"Aether? I thought you were doing comissions? Kazuha too?!"
"Hello dove... You won't mind me tagging along as well, right?"
Insert Heizou frowning cause he wishes to spend time with you alone...
Wanderer who would carry you like a princess and proceeds to fly up into the sky to watch the sunset together, you insisted that it's better to watch the sunset from a tall hill but he said that this way is faster. Totally not because he wanted to hold you.
"J-Just stop looking at me like that, it's faster for me to just carry you like this..."
Kazuha and Xiao would bring you small trinkets of nature, whether it would be a beautiful leaf, or a good looking stone, or just anything they find while they were out.
"Hello there dove, I've brought you a little gift from my travels. It's a delicate maple leaf from my homeland. It would remind you of me, no?"
"[Name]... I found this stone... it's quite nice. I want you to have it..."
Venti who would sing lullabies to you whenever he noticed that you're having a hard time sleeping, Xiao happens to be around as well and he let you cuddle him while Venti sing you both to sleep.
"There there, windblume... Let the sound of the wind lull you to sleep. Let me and Xiao protect you from nightmares, we'll keep you safe from any harm in your sleep..."
Aether let you stay in his teapot, he even made a room only for you. He loves nothing more than just sit down and talk to you about his adventures whenever you both cross paths.
"[Name]! We've crossed paths once again! Would you like to go to my teapot? I have so many stories to tell you since our last meeting."
Heizou would engage in any physical touch. Hand-holding, hugging, head patting, you name it. Even if you're not in a romantic relationship, he couldn't help but be clingy. Both in public and in private...
"Huh, it's getting crowded in this market. Here, hold my hand. We don't want you to get lost in the crowd now, do we?"
Just Anemo Boys who loves you so much, showering you in affection with their own ways. They just hope that you'd feel the same, to all of them. Since they're all aware of the others having a romantic attraction to you too...
Part 2
Posted by @oceanisty on 04/11/2023
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Genshin Impact Masterlist
Hi can I req what would be like watching a movie with venti? can be in a cinema or at home. make it as a headcanon form.
the reader is also gender neutral plsss
-
🪐
Watching A Movie With Venti Headcanons !!
Gender-neutral reader
Pairing/s: Venti x gn!reader
Genre: Fluff
Koihan's Venti Masterlist
Warnings?: Viewed Romantically
Like in the movies...
Venti is the type of guy who would buy a ton of popcorn and soda
Venti is the type of guy who would a troom-troom YouTube tutorial on how to hide snacks when it is forbidden to a cinema..
Venti is the type of guy who will always hold your hand while watching a movie..
Venti is the type of guy who whines and begs for you to cuddle with him before the movie starts.
Venti is the type of guy who will look at you with a smirk on his face whenever a romantic scene comes up.
Venti is type of guy who would force you to wear matching onesies with him before watching the movie since he said it's comfy (it's the frog one!!)
Venti is the type of guy who acts like he isn't scared when you two are watching a horror movie. (he screams like a girl when he does.. IT HAPPENED TWICE ON UR LATEST MOVIE DATE W HIM)
Venti is the type of guy who will keep on scaring/jumpscaring you after watching a horror movie that made you jump a hundred times.
Venti is the type of guy who lovesss laying his head on your lap
Venti is the type of guy who really HATES sad endings.
Venti is the type of guy who gets really emotional during a very touching moment in the movie.
Venti is the type of guy to give you major spoilers on a movie you haven't watched (you bonked his head after /lovingly)
Venti is the type of guy likes romance and comedy! especially when combined.
Bonus!
1# - Whenever the popcorn is almost finished you two would fight with pick up lines and whoever blush first will make the popcorn.
In the cozy confines of the living room, the tantalizing aroma of freshly popped popcorn filled the air. As Venti and (Name) settled onto the couch, their eyes glued to the screen, they reached for the bowl of popcorn.
"Your eyes sparkle like the popcorn, my dear," Venti whispered a knowing smirk forming on his lips as he took a handful.
"Oh, Venti" you replied with a playful smile, "Your words are as sweet as the kernels themselves"
With each handful, the banter escalated.
"Your smile is like a buttered kernel, melting my heart," Venti said.
"And your voice is like the popping sound, making me crave your attention," You retorted
As the popcorn dwindled, so did their inhibitions. Venti reached for the final pieces, only to have the your hand intercept his. Your eyes looking away from the screen.
"My sweet," Venti said, his gaze locking with yours, "Your lips are as irresistible as the last popcorn kernel."
A rosy pink color started to appear on your cheeks as a giggle escapes your lips. "And you, Venti," you murmured, "Are as charming as the butter on the cob."
With a mischievous twinkle in his eye, Venti leaned in close. "Then let us seal this pact with a kiss. The loser will have to replenish the popcorn."
Your heart fluttered. "Challenge accepted."
Your lips met Venti's in a soft, heated kiss. As you pull away, his eyes held a glimmer of amusement.
"It seems I have won," he whispered with a smug grin. His fingers finding yours to pull you again for another kiss.
You blushed furiously. 'Well, I suppose I do deserve to make the popcorn hmph..."
Serenitea pot shenanigans 3~ Little Whopperflower🦋✨🌺
(Ven ven x reader)
~In which you decide that stealing his bowtie is the best idea ever🎀(TM)~
CW: it gets a little smutty
ヾ(｡>﹏<｡)ﾉﾞ✧*。
"W-windblume? Windblume! There you are...I've been looking all over for you! I just- "
He stops.
You turn your head innocently, eyes a glimmer and hair gently flowing among the thousand winds.
"hmm..."
To the bard, you're always a stunning sight~ a shade more ethereal than white.
But you've really taken the cake this time~ spoiling him with this sight. Even if it meant you were a little whopperflower at the same time.
He raises an eyebrow and smirks, shaking his head and putting his hands on his hips. "Of course...I see..." He whispers to himself, soft and low.
A few hairs stick to your lips as you tilt your head innocently. You push them back.
"w-whats wrong?" You ask sweetly, trying to maintain eye contact. He naturally notices how your eyes dart to his chest for just a splinter of a moment, and how your cheeks gain a slight hue of pink. At his undone shirt.
You're holding back your giggles. He knows you are. You're batting your eyelashes...you know you're guilty. Every inch of you is riddled with guilt!
Yet here you are...wearing his bow, so beautifully tucked into your locks...feigning innocence.
"W-whats wrong?" Venti asks, playing fake ignorance to match the caliber of your acting skills. But you know that look. That mischevious yet silly smile growing on his face as he closes his eyes.
"Ah, it's nothing, my muse! Ehehe..."
He comes closer, and you turn your head slightly away from him to hide your stifled giggles. He's right behind you now, just close enough to be touching. But not quite yet...
"I just...I can't help but feel I've misplaced something..."
"Oh really?"
You feel Venti's breath now, on the back of your neck. It gives you a rush of butterflies that you try so very hard to conceal from him.
"Oh...yes...I was going to wear it for our stroll tonight..."
"Oh, it's only a stroll, my love..."
"Not on evenings when it's with you, my muse."
You can't help the small laugh that escapes you from that line. It's also so wonderfully comedic hows he's gone from increasingly suductive to pouty within a matter of seconds.
"Hey, what's so funny? It's true!"
"i-im sorry! C-carry on!" You giggle again, and he keeps pouting for a moment before getting back into character.
"so...what is it that youre looking for?" You ask, twirling the bow in your finger. "May I...help?"
His heart pounds out of his chest as you press your back into him. Would he really need to cut the act so short? You really are quite the tease, getting him all flustered...
...
You're being such a whopperflower in so many ways this evening!
"Ah...well...maybe if..." He begins to weave his fingers through your hair gently. You think he's about to take the bow out of your hair at first, but instead, he grips your waist and purrs into your ear.
"mmm...nevermind. I believe I've found it~my little whopperflower~"
"W-whopperflower? What's that me-ahh!"
You squeal as he wraps his arms around your middle tightly, lifting you off the ground and then plopping you onto the ground among the asters. He chuckles devilishly, lapping up the picture before him. What a beautiful sight it is, for his eyes and his eyes alone...wearing something belonging to him so graciously and lovingly. Even though it was stolen...sometimes, you just have to learn your lesson...right?
Immediately, his body is on top of yours, using his weight to pin you down so there would be no escaping his affect- consequences.
He proceeds to lay his love on you, letting his hands roam so freely along your body as he kisses you. Simple kisses on the lips become sloppier until they are no longer just on the lips, but all over your face, your neck, and even getting closer to your collarbone. The cute noises you make just for him fill him with more desire and love, so much so that his body aches from it. He groans against your neck, still trying to press into your body even more. You wrap your legs around his soft waist, eliciting an even stronger reaction from the bard. He chuckles darkly.
"Hm...you're enjoying this too much, aren't you, you little whopperflower..." He teases, his lips and breath brushing against the skin of your neck.
"N-no...what makes you think that?"
"oh?" He lifts his head, his hair brushing against your cheek and tickling you before his turquoise eyes shine in dramatized concern. "Then, pardon me! Since you're obviously not pleased...perhaps I should...hmm...I should go..."
Your eyes widen. You purposely stole his bow just to get this...
When he slowly and dramatically pulls himself off of you, drudgingly, you yank him back down by his collar. His eyes widen for a moment, but they become filled to the brim with lust and mischief within mere seconds.
"Wow, you~ you're asking for it now, you little weed..."
"I'm not a weed! I'm your windblume!" You pout.
"Oh? Are you sure? Positively absolutely sure?" He purrs, and then lovingly caresses your cheek~ the eye of the storm before he gives you your divine punishment.
"yeah!" Oh. That little pout.
"Aw...wonderful." He giggles and closes his eyes. An even denser fog descends upon the area. If you weren't even one hundred percent sure that the two of you had privacy tonight before...
Well...
His cape comes off so delicately. So, so very delicately. His hat, he places on top of it, giving it a few pats. His eyes are still closed. He seems so calm. At divine peace.
He gently, oh so gently, crawls on top of you, his braids gently tickling you in the face. For a little bit, he's looming over you, as if he's waiting for you to do something... His braids still dangling, brushing your cheeks.
You know very well how this works...It's your waiver, a contract between you and your lover...and this is how you sign it~ especially on evenings where he just knew that you may get a little...caught in the storm...
You undo his braids at a largo pace~ painfully slow and gently. You can see the cracks in his smile forming, and he's getting impatient. You giggle, imagining how this will present itself.
"Oh, my Little whopperflower, my sweet, lovely, divine, innocent whopperflower...I have all of the time in Teyvat for your shenanigans..."
kissing them with their favorite flavor feat. thoma, venti & kazuha
genre: just fluff <3
cw: gn! reader, mentions of alcohol and being drunk during venti’s section
a/n: reupload from my previous blog!
˚⁎⁺ thoma :
the bell rang musically as you stepped through the doors of the komore teahouse, searching around for a familiar head of reddish blonde hair, decorated with a red bow tie. you caught a glimpse of him as he stacked a box into a corner, wiping his brow.
he glanced up, eyes lighting with fireworks once he saw you. you ran over, practically jumping into his arms. “y/n!” he smiled, tucking a strand of hair behind your ear. “what are you doing here? I didn’t think I was going to see you today,”
you quickly pulled him into a long embrace, your body working almost mechanically as you felt his familiar lips on yours.
“I missed you,” you whispered, smiling.
he seemed to be caught in shock for a moment, your sweet caresses always catching him off guard. he raised a finger to his mouth, licking it. “you taste like sakura blossoms.”
you grinned at him as his eyes danced across those lips he already wished to kiss again. “I knew it was your favorite.”
he chuckled, pulling you into a loose hug and planting a quick kiss so he could taste you again.
˚⁎⁺ venti :
after searching around mondstadt city for some time, you knew the only place you would find your partner was the angel’s share. your theory was proven correct as you walked through the door, letting the scent of alcohol and sounds of chatter wash over you. a braided bard with a bright voice and a cup of wine sat at the counter, murmuring idly to himself as he strummed the lyre.
“my songbird!” he sang musically once he caught sight of you, beaming as you sat next to him.
“hello, venti.” you smiled back, leaning in and pecking him on the lips, catching him off guard.
he looked surprised for a moment, eyes narrowing and a grin toying on his face as started playing with a piece of your hair. “you taste like cecilias,”
you giggled, never failing to be infatuated with his sly aura, even when he was slightly drunk. “for you.” you murmured to him.
he didn’t hesitate to pull you back into another long embrace as he ran a hand through your hair and practically kissed the chapstick right off your lips.
˚⁎⁺ kazuha :
on days like these, you knew you would find your lover on top of the flat rocks, letting the setting sun cast gentle waves of orange and pink light. his silver-like hair seemed to glow in the sun, and you crept up carefully as to not disturb him. “kazuha?”
he turned, his face lighting up once he saw it was you. “y/n! I was simply working on a new haiku.” he gestured to the pen and paper that sat in his lap.
you came up next to him, sitting down and leaning over. “can I see?”
he turned it over quickly, giving you an awkward smile. “ah, not yet. it’s not quite finished. I need to make sure it’s perfect.”
you let out a hum in response, watching as he turned his head towards the glimmering sunset. you pulled him closer to you, kissing him when he turned his head. his eyes opened in surprise, but slowly closed again as he melted into you.
when you broke apart, he gave you a love filled glance. “you taste like maple, and the scent of the autumn wind…so familiar…”
“I knew it was your favorite,” you murmured, kneeling your face into the crook of his neck and breathing in his familiar scent.
he chuckled, running a hand over your head and planting a kiss in your hair. he admired the sunset as he thought of the perfect next line to his haiku, the one about his one and only: you.
Pairing: Diluc x Reader, Venti x Reader (gender-neutral)
Word count: 2927
Summary: The Darknight Hero tends to your wounds after a sudden encounter in the forests of Mondstadt. However, this task seems to be a challenge, especially when one meddlesome bard keeps intervening and proving to be a constant nuisance, both sober and drunk.
In which, Diluc grapples with his infatuation with you whilst competing with Venti for your heart.
part one (current), part two (coming soon)
It was just a scratch.
That’s what you keep telling him. But that stoic redhead, that formidable and powerful protector with an aloof aura, that refined nobleman with a furtive allure, which inevitably reels in admirers no matter where he goes, seems to have quite the stubborn streak. Annoyingly so.
When you catch him in moments like these, you ponder if you’re talking to the very owner of the the Dawn Winery, if you’re gazing at the same intimidating Dark Knight Hero doused in twilight, wielding a claymore that reflects the galaxies along his blade, or if this is this is the Fabled highly-esteemed knight of Ordo Favionus that heralded great praise amongst the citizens of Mondstadt. However, the one who stands before you is everything but that. In this moment, his accomplishments, experience in battle, and his scars don’t matter.
They don’t matter - not when you stumble into the Angel Share, skin bruised, gasping for air, desperate for it to enter your lungs, and a rich stream of crimson running down your forehead. Diluc almost loses his composure. Almost. With fast strides, he envelops your hunched form into his careful embrace, guiding you slowly to the oak counter.
Teetering between two planes of consciousness, you giddily chuckle into Diluc, grateful, oh so grateful he had a late shift at the Angel’s Share despite his colleagues’ futile attempts to get him to return to his estate. Diluc’s one to take pride in his appearance and his tavern. He certainly doesn’t like the trail of blood left on the mahogany floors and he would normally be displeased with the vermillion specks that litter his pristine jet black coat. Despite all of that, the only thing on his mind is to make sure your injuries are not life-threatening. Propping you on the counter, he has to firmly grip your shoulders to keep you from swaying. Removing his coat, he allows your head to fall against his shoulder.
The scent of rosemary, cinnamon and grapes that exudes from his figure puts your mind at ease. The full throbbing in your head slowly vanishes as his very presence brings you peace. Diluc can feel your tensed muscles relaxing in his hold, taking advantage of your averted gaze to allow the corners of his mouth to crease upwards. Swiftly, he cards his fingers through your hair, attempting to find the source of the blood that steadily flows along the side of your face. Ah, he realises. It’s a mild head injury. Ghosting his fingers down your arm, exposed as the shirt you adorn is tattered with gnarly gashes and stained with scarlet, his touch is like a flickering fire against your skin. You lean into his being, throwing yourself into his whims like coal in a furnace. You wish he could melt you as he exposes this new side of him, like a moth drawn to a flame.
“I have to treat your wounds. What on earth happened? Was anyone with you when you were attacked?”. His voice booms in the silent tavern. Your headache seems to dissipate with each vowel and consonant that tumbles out of the redhead’s mouth. His mind racing with worry and thoughts about your safety makes you just as giddy as the adrenaline rush you felt earlier fighting the horde of hilichurls at the camp near Stormbearer Mountains.
You smile at his concern. “It’s just a scratch.” It really feels like it is. The pain seems to be nothing in comparison to how Diluc’s clutch sets your figure ablaze, how his breath along the length of your spine sears your nape, or how his intoxicating perfume infiltrates your senses. You feel at peace. The serene, sweet and serendipitous moment you’ve been longing to share with the man, ferocious on the battlefield but warm and pleasant like a fire licking the tops of a stone hearth. In his bar, you snidely think to yourself, it’s only natural that you’re drunk on him.
Eventually, the door swings open with a resonant bang that echoes throughout the tavern. It sharply cuts through the intimate, dreamlike and almost illusory sphere you feel like you’ve hallucinated if not for Diluc’s fiery gaze grounding you, pulling you out of the clouds and reminding you he’s here in the present moment. He’s here with you. The redhead’s garnet orbs snap towards the individual emerging from the night. Flickering oil lamps illuminate his form briefly before he trundles into the Angel’s Share.
Diluc can’t help but scoff. ‘It’s that bard again’, he confirms distastefully. His drunken misadventures flash before him and he’s thoroughly displeased with the tracks of mud he oh so graciously leaves as he swiftly treads towards you. “My Dandelion, I’ve finally found you! Those Mitachurls were no match for me, with an arrow or two, they were done through!”
Venti’s nonchalance is appalling, Diluc is once again reminded. With quick movements, he snatches the bandages and saline he stores for his midnight escapades and arranges them on the counter. “What are you doing here?”, he hisses, paying no mind to how he doesn’t mask the irritation evident in his vexed cadence.
“Isn’t it obvious? We were out having an adventure! And where adventurers like my sweet Dandelion go, storytellers must follow!”
“Then could you explain what exactly I’m looking at.” It’s not a question - not when it’s said with such authority that makes your knees weak. Venti quirks his lips in a sheepish grin, fully aware he’s in for a rigorous scolding by the very Master of the Dawn Winery. He didn’t see the full extent of your wounds but he’s assured by Diluc’s capability in patching you up. He titters, lightly like his laughter is air itself, “it would be easier to tell you through song! Hehehe, it seems that I have a captive audience. Though it seems that it will cost you, Master Diluc, a pretty Mora… what do you say I exchange my tale with a glass of your finest Dandelion Wine?”
Diluc’s used to the Windborne Bard’s petty schemes. He doesn’t really know how you handle him, seeing as to how he’s constantly attached to you. Levelling a glare towards Venti, he conveys his frustration and reluctant acquiescence. A victorious smirk flashes across the bard’s face. He’s taken the bait, he thinks, it’s good that his beloved trump card is present.
Your very being places Diluc under a spell, and he can’t help but feel that he and the Darknight Hero are so alike in that aspect. Venti crafts the story of your endeavours through his melodic voice. The harmony builds swathes of fields and expansive lakes, the melody transforms into terrain and pulls clouds into the sky, and the lyricism paints two figures fighting alongside each other in unison, almost as one. The resounding notes he plucks from his lyre and the staccato narrate the unfortunate scenario you both found yourselves in. The lyrics unravel and amongst the gentle waves of the thrumming lyre, a scene surfaces.
Venti’s melody masterfully transforms the day’s events into a wave of images that crash softly into the sandy shores of the minds of any listener. From the tide, a sepia woven picnic basket filled with an assortment of untouched food surfaces, a ruby gingham blanket unfurls, and two individuals emerge.
The afternoon sky is dyed in hues of orange and yellow whilst delicate pinks are smeared across a canvas of clouds. As viridescent foliage slices through the rays of sunlight, Venti is beautifully bathed in the glow of the sunset. He’s absolutely ethereal. The beams of light cast fleeting shadows over his content face, making his turquoise pupils sparkle and his grin seem even more breathtaking than usual. You can’t help the way your heart swells as you gaze upon him. You can’t help how his smile is downright infectious. You can’t help how he makes you feel like you’re drifting, like you’re flying and gliding through the same clouds you both admire from the foot of the immense oak tree at Windrise.
It’s not strange to have these reactions towards your best friend, right? It’s not abnormal to think that the head resting against your thigh has always meant to be there. It’s not unusual to be perfectly at peace with someone your heart and soul is connected to. That’s because he’s your most beloved companion. That’s because he’s your most trusted confidante.
And that’s all there is, right?
Reaching down, you brush the navy locks that have been disturbed by a gust of wind. Slowly, you push them behind his ear, caressing the side of his face as you pull away. Briskly, his fingers nimbly and tenderly clasp around your wrist, bringing your hand back to his cheek. That cheeky bard, you think, as he nuzzles into your open palm and your heart leaps as his lips graze against your skin for just a second.
Diluc listens intently to every note that floats in the tavern as gently cleans your wound with a warm and damp cotton towel. The first verse of Venti’s song is filled with hums of tranquil conversation, the second overflowing with innocent laughter and light giggling, and the third mellows as fatigue overcomes the two figures and they succumb to the spell of drowsiness that washes over them.
When the bridge rolls around, it’s turbulent. His sonorous voice recounts of a crystalline sphere suddenly materialising, drastically shattering the quietude of the scene, and drowning it into murky depths. Diluc can vividly visualise it, the sharp shattering of falling ice, the crackle and roar of fire being throttled through the air, and the piercing whistle of an arrow. He closes his eyes and briskly swipes a swab of alcohol against your head. Busying his mind and hands with tending to your wounds, he tunes out the bard’s voice. He knows how the rest goes. Being in countless battles, he knows the ruthless nature of the creatures that emerge from the abyss. He’s aware of the danger they pose. He understands the pain they are capable of inflicting.
But, even if he’s well aware of all of that, it doesn’t stop his desire for retribution to flare up in the back of his mind. It doesn’t help how his hands want to reach out to his sturdy claymore, that’s already witnessed the wrath of his burning hatred, his insatiable lust for a just punishment and his scorching thirst for vengeance.
‘Later, I’ll deal with them’, he reassures himself, quelling the hot molten fury within him that threatens to boil over. ‘After all’, he wonders whilst looking into your eyes that twinkle in the dull glow of the tavern, ‘I have someone more important to take care of right now’. His heart clenches at the whimper that tumbles past your lips involuntarily.
Brows furrowing, his left hand falls to cup your cheek. He’s not used to this. He’s not used to comforting others nor is he used to being in such close proximity with your irresistible and your utterly beguiling presence. Around you, the air of professionalism he yields and his cool exterior slowly erode as you peer innocently, curious as to his next move, with a gaze he selfishly desires is only reserved for him. His glove is cold against your skin but the heat that emanates from his hands beneath the leather and the tenderness of his grasp is plenty a distraction from the debilitating throbbing coming from your wound. Absent-mindedly, his thumb strokes the tops of your cheeks as he tilts your head higher. You feel content in his hold. You can’t help but think about how his hands would feel like in yours. You can’t help but think about how perfectly his fingers would mould between yours, intertwining and flawlessly slotting into yours like you were made for this, like you were destined for each other, like you were two halves tethered by some invisible yet potent force. Patiently, you watch as he unravels the white gauze. With dexterous and nimble movements, it is wrapped around your injury, round and round, and once Diluc deems his handiwork satisfactory, he deftly fastens it.
He takes a step back even if he’s reluctant to place any distance between you. Although, he steels himself and gives you space to breathe (ironic, since you would gratefully indulge in his existence like it’s the very air that you inhale). He’s terrified he’ll grow ravenous for your company, that he’ll grow addicted to your touch or he’ll never be quenched by anything but by drinking in your very aura.
Clambering onto the countertop, Venti seats himself beside your form. Cupping your cheeks, he whispers amiably, careful not to aggravate your thudding headache: “Ahh, you’ve done an excellent job tending to my Dandelion, Master Diluc. Shall I reward you with a performance or - ah! I see you’ve forgotten one of the most important tasks, how careless of you!”. His turquoise eyes glint mischievously and a knowing smile carves itself onto the bard’s face before it’s coyly hidden by his sleeve.
Suppressing the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose at Venti’s antics, Diluc hisses: “What could I have possibly forgotten that someone like you would know?”. As he exasperatedly responds, he catches a whiff of the alcohol that dances on Venti’s tongue.
He exhales audibly. He should have locked up the other bottles of Dandelion Wine in the cellar. Inspecting the empty containers strewn about an isolated table in the tavern, he inquires “What exactly did I miss? And pray tell what can you actually discern when you are this drunk?”.
A light flush dusts the apples of Venti’s cheeks as he states, as though it’s blatantly obvious: “Silly of you to forget, Master Diluc! Of course, you need to kiss it better!”.
Flinching from the bard’s sly words, the redhead can’t help how it flusters him, the tips of his ears are set alight as the flames spread down his neck. Diluc’s rational train of thought abruptly stops as Venti’s jovial exclamation ignites a bomb under its tracks, incapacitating him momentarily. The rosy blush the bard sports must be infectious, he thinks, coolly quelling the blood rushing to his cheeks and slowing down the beating of his erratic heart.
“Hehe, do you need a demonstration, great Dark Night Hero?”. That cheeky brat.
Sending Diluc a playful grin but glancing behind his shoulder with a devilish glint flashing in his optics for a millisecond, Venti presses his lips to your temple. Something deep within his core flares up upon witnessing the intimate moment shared between the bluenette and you. Something buried in his being abhors seeing the way the contact puts you at ease. He loathes how Venti latches onto instantly the second he tears his eyes away from you. He despises how his hands creep up to your shoulders to soothe the kinks and knots embedded in your back. He detests how Venti is so familiar with your physical responses to his experienced touch.
His crimson eyes narrow at the way the bard and you lock gazes in the dimly-lit tavern - like you’re the only two who co-exist in this space. Venti ensnares you into the same reverie that Diluc had previously trapped you in.
His fists slowly clench at the way his index finger pushes a strand of hair back behind your ear. The Windborne bard’s very actions serve as a reminder that he could never achieve the same familiarity and intimacy that the bluenette shares with you, he could never stand by your side as a confidante, whose soul is fated to be tied to yours, and he could never bare his heart to you and force upon you his affections, his thoughts of you and the scars he hides under his clothes and underneath his very flesh and bone.
He doesn’t want to impose a love that you may never reciprocate. He doesn’t want to take you away from something you might have been waiting for in this life, your past life or any future lives you may live.
Despite the brief feeling of despondency that overcomes his being with these intrusive ideas, the redhead feels emboldened. From his sources, that is, Kaeya being rather too interested in the romantic endeavours of his colleague, the Cavalry Captain had informed him that you were yet to be formally courted, which is what can be implied from his originally rather crude comment that you were “on the market”.
Suddenly, something flickers within him and his crimson eyes are set aflame with newfound determination. He knows that you could feel the fire of his infatuation from the small distance you shared prior to the bard’s arrival, and that you were receptive to his tender touch and how the embers that emitted from his warmth mutually affected you both. Assuredly, he quells the inferno that is on the verge of overflowing and spilling onto his last vestiges of rationality, a process that has undeniably proved hard to control no thanks to the bluenette who contently, and rather smugly, burrows into you like the cat who got the cream.
Finally, it seems, Venti reluctantly pulls away from your gentle embrace and flashes that impish smirk once again. It only appeared momentarily but it was long enough for Diluc to catch the mischievous glint in those vexatious aqua orbs. It was enough for the nobleman to perceive that silent declaration - a beginning of an unspoken competition between the two males to compete and vie for your affections.
Of course, the Darknight Hero has never been one to turn down a challenge. Especially not one where the prize is securing the claim to your heart.
‘If that is how it will be, I accept your challenge. I hope you’re prepared Barbatos, for this means war’.
