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decarabiandivorce · 3 months

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Day 2: Godhood / Alternate Forms

Venti could feel Lumine’s hands play with his hair as he laid on her lap, his stomach pressed against the grass underneath Vennessa’s tree as they enjoyed the refreshing breeze. He could sense Paimon napping near them, but she refused to talk to him while he was holding her friend like this.

He didn’t get why she was so huffy about him using his wings like this! Lumine loved it!

The traveler’s breathing was steady but her heart wasn’t. He loved listening to its melody in sunny afternoons like this one. It was so perfect, a selfish part of him yearned for it to last forever. A wish that he could dream of this moment every single time he closed his eyes. No amount of words nor metaphors could ever convey the sheer peace his mind felt holding his beloved like this.

A rational part of his brain reminded him that they were no longer inside of her teapot, but the thousand other parts chirped about the speckling of the sun’s warmth. “My warrior…” he whispered to Lumine as she moved her hands from his head to his wings. He let out a little giggle as she toyed with every single feather. A jolt going up his spine the way she would trace it from the beginning to the tip. “Mh…”

Lumine did not say anything, but he could tell had a smile on her face without ever looking at her.

She had just finished her commissions by the time they reunited, having already talked to Katheryne for the day and now he had all the time in the world to hold such a lovely lass in his grasp! They had an impromptu picnic by his statue, and while Paimon ate half of his own plate, he didn’t mind it at all as long as he could hear Lumine’s voice. She has been so quiet as of late, something must have happened in the other nations that she did not want to tell him yet. He reassured her that he loved listening to here and that she was free to vent her worries to him.

He wanted to stare up into those golden honey eyes, but his own were growing tired. The lullaby that was Lumine’s silence was unparalleled, and there was no way he wouldn’t fall asleep.

Pulling up his wings closer to Lumine, he pressed his face deeper into her.

“Good night.” She muttered to him, closing her own set as she enjoyed the breeze.

Before long, the couple was awake. Sure Venti took a couple minutes to just stare up at the metaphorical goddess resting, but soon even her eyes would open- meeting his own.

She pressed a soft kiss on his forehead as she leaned, “How long did we sleep..?”

“About an hour and a half.” Venti didn’t need to double check, “Give or take ten minutes.”

She hummed, running her soft fingers into his hair once more. The bard practically purred at her movements, his wings twitching as she moved. “You might want to change back,” She looked into his teal eyes as she spoke. Venti let out a mummer and burrowed his head deeper and deeper into Lumine’s body. “Venti…”

“I love holding you like this~” He whispered.

“Venti… someone from the church might see you. I know that one of the researcher who hangs around the knight’s library studies the tree would be coming by soon. Honestly, it’s a miracle she wasn’t already there beforehand.”

“My warrior… my starlight… the sun to my moon….” Venti flipped to be on his back, his wings disappearing as he did- revealing his underlayer. Thankfully, none of the grass stained his white socks or shirt. “Where did I leave my cape?” He looked around.

“I think Paimon is sleeping on it,” laughed the knight as she pulled him close. In this new position, he could see Mondstadt in the distance while feeling his beloved’s warmth breath on his neck. It tingled more pleasant than any drink.

“Want me to carry her?”

“No that won’t be necessary,” Lumine replied, Waking up the sleeping fairy, the white-haired girl let out a sleepy sigh and then teleported away. “She is going back to the teapot to take even more naps.”

As much as he hated to move, Venti stood up, holding out his hand for Lumine, Taking it, Lumine began to dust off any leaves that fell on her as Venti picked up his cape. Venti leans forward for more kisses, and his knight happily obliges.

She stretched, “We should probably head back now, I have some time sensitive ingredients I need to use the alchemy bench for.”

Venti smiled as she tightened her grip, and the duo began to walk. The sun wasn’t going to set for a while, but Lumine looked like she needed more rest. Perhaps once they were done with whatever they were going to craft, he could spend the evening making her dinner.

“…”

Venti paused in his step, and Lumine looked at him, “Is something the matter?”

“The… wind…” He muttered, furrowing his brow, “It’s talking but refusing to say anything.”

“Huh?”

“It’s like.” Venti placed his free hand on his chin, “two people exchanging notes right in front of you but the letters look blank- however, you can smell the invisible ink from your position.” He titled his head, “I wonder what’s going on…”

Lumine frowned and quickened her step- letting go of Venti’s hand as she pressed on in a sprint. Venti would have loved to enjoy the scenery and the passing pigeons- but this was bothering them both.

The first clue should have been when Venti passed the two knights at the gate, whispering to each other with excited but shocked expressions. The second clue would should have been how the breezes in the city laughed and laughed- something they haven’t done since Alice last stepped foot in the city.

“Is there something going on?” He thought as he weaved throughout the city. There were way more people walking in the streets today- something big must have happened. Yet considering how they didn’t seem sad, it might not be a bad thing.

“--- Barbatos and --- “

“saw --- “

“--- it makes sense how- “

“Such a natural with the glider --”

“---beloved ---- “

“Excuse me!” Venti chirped, catching the eyes of the group in front of him. Marjorie, Timaeus, Cyrus, Draff, and Margaret were gossiping. “Did you all mentioned Barbatos?”

“Oh!” Margaret’s eyes widened, “Did you not hear?” the owner of The Cat’s Tail was a friend to the bard, who almost surpassed her status in being one of the esteemed drunkards of Mondstadt. “Lord Barbatos was spotted by Draff here and a couple hunters.”

“Huh!”

Draff nodded, “I was showing Jack an alternate route when we and a couple other hunters passed by The Symbol of Mondstadt's Hero and there laid the traveler, that fairy of hers, and who was no doubt Barbatos!”

“Ah?”

Cyrus frowned at the hunter, “Until there is further proof, it would be unwise for people to talk about his return.”

Margaret laughed, poking the leader of the adventure’s guild’s branch in the side, “But what if it IS true. Could you imagine that? One of your adventurers has brought back our archon!”

“I mean he was always with us…” Timeus tried to speak up.

Margaret rolled her eyes, “You are no fun. “ She turned to Marjorie, “How long do you think they have been close?”

The shopkeeper closed her eyes, “I haven’t seen her buy gifts of such variety, unless you count her lyre. Still she had an older more vintage one with her- it could be from him.”

“Eh?” Venti mind was racing, “Are you referring to the lyre she got in Sumeru?” the group of people turned to look at him, and he raised his hands up in defense, “She asked me for tips on how to tune it.” He trailed off, attempting to think of something “Do you think Barbatos would give her an untuned lyre without at least teaching her?”

Margaret giggled at his response. “Oh? You are close to the traveler, perhaps she wanted an alibi?” The tavern owner teased.

Draff’s ears twitched, “The traveler is coming right over here, why don’t we ask her?”

Right on cue, all of them spotted a blushing traveler being questioned by an enthusiast outrider. Amber was practically leaning over her with glee. Venti quickly moved closer to his beloved, and Lumine’s face got even brighter.

Amber smiled at Venti before speaking, “Venti! Did you hear the news?”

“Is it about… Barbatos.”

“Yeah!”

“You can say they got me informed,” He motioned to the group of people standing behind him. He would have said something about they should be getting back to work, but that would be hypocritical of him.

“…” Lumine stared at him and then moved her glace towards the exit of the city.

Margaret smiled at the honorary knight, “So, Ms. Lumine? Is it true that a certain winged man was spotted next to you?” Lumine’s eyes looked like she was promising disaster upon who spread the rumor, and so Venti did the wise choice and looked towards Draff. Following his gaze, the knight frowned.

Cyrus stepped in, “Margaret we should give them some privacy! Lumine has the right to not tell us and-“

“Actually I think Barbatos would be ticked at whoever spread such a half-truth,” came Lumine’s voice.

It was silent.

Then it was loud.

Amber was jumping up and down, “Lumine! You actually know him???”

“I told you I heard a voice when Dvalin sent me flying during the stormterror stuff, right? “ Lumine tried to avoid staring at Venti’s eyes, “It was such a kind and gentle voice, I managed to catch up to him again after the whole thing and we.. talked.” She laughed, “He visits my teapot sometimes.”

“Yet you mentioned.. half-truth..” Timaeus spoke, “Was that truly Barbatos with you?”

“No.. just a relative of his.” She lied.

“Huh.” Amber put her hands on her hips, “The archon has kin.”

“The anemo archon considers everyone of Mondstadt to be his children, “Venti automatically said. The group seemingly ignored his sincere words in favor for whatever Lumine was saying. As she improv-ed more and more, he listened to the breezes no longer concealing their words.

Ugh, how troublesome. It would appear that even the sisters in the church had heard the hunters’ words. Oh? And one of them had traveled back to Springvale and now the story is spreading there as well.

“I think we should give Lumine a break-“ Venti placed himself in front of the growing crowd. He could spot the pink ears of a bartender in one by one of the windows and the blue mane of the a spindrift knight listening in.

“She just took a nap.”

Lumine looked up at the sun, “Oh look at the time I got to do commissions!” and then prepared to teleport away. Subconsciously, Venti kissed his girlfriend on the cheek and then froze.

Oh of All The Times he let habit take over.

….

At least Lumine got to run away before things got worse.

“Venti.” He could feel Amber’s pryo vision warm the air, “Do you like the anemo archon’s beloved?”

“She said that wasn’t him!”

Marjorie snickered, “She was clearly fibbing.”

Ugh. Venti hated how astute his kids could be sometimes especially when it came to him. Then again he also loved it. Just.. not right now.

“I am going to tell Jillian.” Draff muttered before excusing himself to leave.

“Lumine and I passed by her earlier, “ Amber spoke again, “She was wondering if the traveler and Lord Barbatos got wed if they both would spend more time in the city-“

“WED?” oh so that’s why her face was like a tomato.

Cyrus patted the bard on his back, it was such a shame that his ‘love rival’ as the kids called it nowadays was the windblume festival was practically dedicated towards. ‘Huh,’ the adventure thought, ‘What was the flower the star had gifted the statue? Could that be the true windblume?’

He noted how the bard fiddled with his lyre as Marjorie, Draff, and Amber yapped, ‘Perhaps this love triangle is why he sings such silly songs about the archon.’

Venti let out a sigh, this was going to be a rough couple of weeks til the misinformation died down.

Then again, with how much his kin seemed to find it funny, it seemed it was going to last a long… long… long time.

#steel text #genshin impact #genshin #venti #venlumi #lumine #VentiWeek2024 #Amber genshin #genshin barbatos

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