#trust?

[yes-we-exist]

I keep thinking about Gideon and Ianthe taking an afternoon to do arts and crafts.

Channeling the special mix of love and contempt (but let’s be real it’s mostly contempt) they have for each other into making the ugliest goddamn friendship bracelet for the other person.

Just so gaudy. Ugly. Clashing colours.

Then they make up a friendship handshake

Just a friendship afternoon. No ulterior motives

[scotland-wolves]

[babychoko]

🌺𝔸 𝕤𝕚𝕝𝕖𝕟𝕥 𝕣𝕖𝕢𝕦𝕖𝕤𝕥🌺

Part 14

If I had been told at that time that I should have remained a loner, I would have been against this proposal. But only deep down in my heart.

If I had been told that, if I had known how my life would degenerate, then I would agree. But not for my sake.

Some things really should have remained silent.

"Are you home alone tonight?"

"Yes, I am."

"Then I'll drive you to him. Sit tight for now, please."

His intention was so clear that I didn't deny it. Xiao took his cell phone out of his leather bag, picked out a number. I was so in shock that I didn't catch what he was saying. But the call didn't last a minute. His voice relaxed. Unlike me. I think I sounded rather shaky.

Xiao put his phone back in his jacket pocket, not worrying about it falling out, and turned back to me. A few minutes later, I was sitting behind him while he steered the motorcycle.

"Sorry..."

"What are you apologizing for?"

"For the trouble."

"You didn't cause any trouble at all. I'm not going to let you keep going down this road alone."

"How can I thank you?"

"It's all right." It wouldn't make any sense at all if I had asked why he said that. Xiao wasn't a bad person at all. Then I remembered that I still had his number for emergencies. Wait... I didn't call at all?

"But you're just the most careless person I know. If you have a bad gut feeling, don't hesitate." Gave Xiao softly as he continued. I didn't deny anything. Because Xiao is right in my opinion. I am a reckless person.

It was particularly windy that evening. I wondered if he would like his helmet back after all. Can he still see the road?

And that I would ever see him again, I never thought. Especially not in this way. Those clothes..oh and he had piercings too!

"Xiao, could it be that you're into punk?"

"Do you want me to drop you off here?"

I better keep my mouth shut.

..

"I'm just joking." He said a few seconds later. Joking?

After a while, I recognized the small forest where he passed through and saw Venti's home. When we arrived, Xiao parked his motorcycle. I got off first and took off my helmet, which I gave back to him. When he took his helmet back in his hands, Xiao looked at me for a few seconds without saying a word. "(Name), what is Venti to you?" I think he had asked me this question before. But why again this time?

I don't know why, but I think his eyes fixed on my neck for a moment. And I think on my abdomen. He then looked to the side briefly, as if he was processing something for a few seconds.

"It's fine. You don't have to answer.'' Okay...whatever he means. From the looks of it, his question answered itself.

The door opened because apparently he must have heard us. I silently walked behind Xiao, feeling a tiny bit embarrassed.

"There you are! Did you guys get here okay?" Venti stood on his doorstep and looked at us. He looked a bit worried, but relieved at the same time. "Nothing happened." Answered Xiao and then looked at me. Before I could say anything, Venti completely shamelessly hugged me in front of him. Then he broke away from the hug and took my hands in his. "(Name)! Lucky nothing happened...stay with me today, will you?" Then Venti turned his gaze to Xiao. "What would anyone do without you? Why don't you come in, I could make us all some tea." He was eager to do something good for him.

"It's all right. I have some things to do..." In the end, Xiao rejected Venti's suggestion and went on his way again. I turned to Venti with a guilty look. A feeling of shame and guilt came over me. "I'm sorry. I..."

"It's okay. Now come on in, it very chilly!" I entered his home as he then walked me to his small kitchen.

"I'll make us something to drink. Hmm...I don't have a wide selection of tea. Apple mint, Turkish apple..." Counted Venti up and inspected his tea cans.

"You know, I'm okay with anything..." I assured him and took off my jacket. "Oh, really? Hmm... it's apple with lavender then." He bent down to one of the tea cans and turned on the stove. Until now, I've rarely seen tea made the traditional way. I picked that up from him.

He sat down opposite me. The atmosphere in the kitchen was calm, the ticking of the kitchen clock was clearly in the foreground, and the orange kitchen lamp reflected off the window with its white lace curtains. This also put me at ease.

"How about you stay with me for now?" Venti suggested with a smile and lightly blew his tea. This caused the warm steam to blow in a different direction instead of upward dissipating into thin air. I looked uneasily at him because he must certainly have a lot on his mind. His hair was tied in a ponytail and he had pajamas on. Over his pajamas he had a cardigan on. That meant he must have been typing. "You know, I'd always appreciate some company..."

"I must have been imagining it." I quietly said, looking down at my cup.

"Safety first. So?"

"Alright..thanks." As I took a sip of the slightly chilled tea, I tasted the sweetness because of the apple, but also the slightly bitter of lavender. It smelled very good.

"Ah, do you like this combination? I got that last from my cottage. When we picked the apples. I let them dry in nature along with the lavender."

"Yes, I remember. You fell asleep on the sofa with the lavender bouquet." I Smiled.

"You remember that too!" Sighed Venti, leaning his head on his arms. Did I say something wrong? Then Venti sat back up and looked at me. "Xiao looks cool in those clothes doesn't he? I bet you've never seen him like that. Oh, did he just happen to spot you like that?"

I nodded in response. "It was a coincidence. I really didn't think I'd see him again. I really owe him one. But what's he doing out so late?" Venti didn't think twice about my question. His answer sounded more like a question.

"Seeing to justice...?" At that moment, I had a mental image of Xiao beating down a gang, grabbing them by the collar and scaring them. A shiver ran down my spine.

"Is he a delinquent...?"

"Nope. He's driving around at night like he always does. He's a total night owl. That's just the way he is. Pretty odd, isn't he?" I then remembered a few odd things he said. Venti stood up briefly to put the teapot back on the cool stove.

Odd?

"You know. Xiao asked me what you are to me. But then he stared at me..and then waved me off."

He then looked at me while hanging a lemon pattern kitchen towel. "Ah, that..." He scratched the side of his head in embarrassment. "He and Zhongli are good friends of mine. The fact that I have powers is not strange to them." I nodded, that they would know about it would be obvious then.

"I can tell you because I can trust you." He peeked inside a tea tin for a moment and closed it quite well. "Those two are extraordinary, too. Xiao must have seen traces of me on you." Said Venti quite unbothered.

"I see." I guess that explains some...some.... Wait a minute.

"Traces..of you..on me? How? On my body?"

Venti turned his head toward me, then looked toward the kitchen cabinet as he smiled slightly. "Well..."

I could clearly feel the heat shooting from my entire body into my cheeks. "You've got to be kidding me. Venti, please tell me this is a joke."

"Ehe, isn't such a thing natural among lovers? Surely it's nothing to be ashamed of. If you knew what Zhongli can see. Bahaha, no wonder he's so omniscient. But don't worry, they won't say anything. They respect privacy."

Oh, do they? Xiao did such a great job of that..

Oh, shoot.

Was it the fact that Venti wasn't the only one who was extraordinary, or that Xiao now knows an intimate detail about me? No..about us!

"You didn't tell me about that! Th-That's..." I said totally embarrassed.

Venti snorted and laughed for a moment. "You can be really cute. I'm just joking with you. There is no such thing."

I felt totally swindled and propped my hands on the kitchen table.

"How shameless..don't joke about something like that!" I said to him instantly upset. Venti smiled at me.

"So, was I able to distract you well now?" Huh.. I grabbed myself where my heart resides. I was able to forget for a moment what I was strongly afraid about.

"Sorry... but you should have seen your face!" He will definitely regret that someday..even if he meant well. That boy...oh, what ever.

But, it actually helped.

That night, Venti made sure he didn't let go of me at all. We slept close to each other with one hand intertwined. There was har no need for a heater. His body gave me enough warmth.

The incident had been going on for about two days.

Finally, I could not process the whole incident until we left together. I now crouched on the grass in front of the small blooming flowers and kept my eyes closed.

I had time to think. I was grateful to him for pausing and not panicking. It probably would have made me more afraid.

The wind blew through my hair and I laid my head lightly on the back of my neck. Then I slowly opened my eyes and looked at the lightly clouded sky.

We did go to the police station..but nothing could locate an unknown person.

No details, no real support. But what I got to hear was that it must have been imagination. As a student, one often imagines things. This answer did not please Venti at all. And to me, it gave a jolt to reality. It made me think.

Maybe I needed a different kind of support. Things couldn't go on like this with me.

"(Name), aren't you cold?" Venti called out, coming out of the hut with a shawl of mine. I wiped my eyes briefly, stood up and turned to his direction. "It's already gotten a little warm, so..thanks."

"Nope there!" He insisted that I wear the shawl anyway and put it around me. Then he looked toward me.

"Hey, what's wrong?"

I then turned around and looked at a small river. I could feel the wind blowing harder. My skirt flew around and the rest of what was on our bodies was not spared.

"Venti, you know... maybe I should actually get some help."

"In what way?" He continued to look at me.

I remembered what my doctor advised me and what I always denied. Besides, I shouldn't be so attached to one person.

"Maybe I should see a therapist, is what I'm saying." I smiled to myself as I looked down to the river and saw my reflection. Venti said nothing for a moment.

Then he hugged me from behind.

"Remember when I said in this very place that you could escape to me anytime you wanted?"

"Venti... I really should..."

"No, that's not what I meant." He took my hands in his and looked to me. "Whatever you decide to do, I'll support you in it. Don't ignore something like that." I looked to him, not knowing what to say. He had a serious look on his face.

"I will always be with you."

I nodded.

"So... will you accompany me, then?"

My eyes widened. "Venti..."

"When you graduate too... let's live together? That way, we can accompany each other." He then said to me with a smile. "Here or continue to live in the city...I may not be able to offer you a luxurious life. I'm really scatterbrained, tactless and shameless sometimes... but what won't change with me as well is my love for you!"

I pressed my lips together slightly and smiled.

"I love you too." I fell into his arms at that. Venti stood motionless for a second until he wrapped his arms around me tightly.

What just happened, however, was not imagination.

"I mean it, (Name). No matter where you want to go, I will stay with you. If something worries you, don't run away from it. You have to take it seriously!"

I knew long ago that I was hiding my problems far inside. But not what exactly was dragging me down. It was definitely not just the experiences I had in my youth.

His gaze became gentle. "I didn't know it was that bad. I think I must have stopped you..." What is he saying? He certainly didn't stop me! I looked at Venti now and shook my head. "Honestly, I don't know what would have happened to me if I hadn't met you. So please don't say things like that." My answer didn't seem to have calmed him down. I was squeezed harder today than I had ever been before.

"Then I'm glad I met you, too."

We went for a little walk and examined a shed that was nearby. I had seen this garden shed a few times, but I never knew what was inside.

It was an oblong but small garden shed made of brown wood. Slightly overgrown with quite a few plants surrounding it. If asked what I would think of it, I would answer with fever dream. A shed in the middle of nowhere, full of secrets.

Venti pointed to the garden shed when he noticed me looking."(Name), would you like to take a look inside?"

Somehow, I felt weird. It's not like I hadn't seen Venti walk out of the shed a few times. But still, I never got to see the inside. It's a ordinary shed..so what's the big deal?

"Can I really?"

The door rattled as he unlocked it. Together we opened the door, caught by nature. The little bit of sun that shone for a few seconds every few minutes served us some light.

"Whew, this old thing really needs work." He said, trying to move the door a little more to get the plants off. He got that done after a few times. "Okay, that's a wrap. Go on in!"

I think I was right.

It was a very normal garden shed with tools, flower pots, wood... oh and chairs? They looked very nice. They would just need to be repainted. I walked over to a window that was completely brown. But if you looked closely, you could see patterns of birds. What would the window look like if it were free of dust? Beautiful, I'm sure. Engraved patterns could be seen a little.

Venti lightly kicked the wall with the toe of his shoe. Nothing stirred from stain. When a strong draught of wind hit the little hut, nothing happened either. The garden shed only whistled lightly, as was usually the case when the weather shifted.

He then put both hands on his hips. "Hmm, stability test passed. But honestly, I don't see any use anymore. What about you?" I looked at him a tiny bit confused.

"With me? What about me?"

"Well, it can be all yours. A bit of redecorating and it'll be good as new. So, would you have some ideas?"

Speechless, I shook my head. I didn't have an idea yet. After all, I had to reprocess the info that I had just been given a little garden shed!

The steam from the warm water rose, even as I lifted the bath water with one hand. Afterwards, there was no sign of the steam as the water flowed from my hand back into the bathtub.

"Any idea..." I muttered and leaned back against Venti's chest. He seemed to be thinking as well.

"How about a greenhouse?" He suggested.

"But there are plenty of plants outside..."

"Um... then... how about a atelier?" Was his second idea. A atelier? But wouldn't it be better for a musician like him?

"I don't know... what about your instruments?"

"I have enough room for them at home." He put his arms around me and his chin on my neck. "Besides, you need a little place for your creativity. I want to give you that."

I smiled and put a hand on his arm. "Thank you...but are you sure about this? How can I give that back to you?"

Venti shook his head. "You don't have to give me anything. It's stood so lonely and rejected for so long. It's yours."

"Still, it's a great gift. Please name one thing I could do for you." I remained adamant. Venti heaved a sigh in response. "If you want it so badly, then..hmm." He didn't think twice, because he apparently thought of something. "Eheh, do you remember my promise? Come here!"

"Oh sorry. That's been taken care of." I had to state to his disappointment.

"What, when and how?!" He grumbled. I pointed to his forehead where I gave him a kiss. "Right there. You were so drunk that you fell asleep on me. So I just took over."

Venti pouted. "Ehh... how did I miss that...?!" I couldn't look at his puppy dog eyes for long and shrugged. "You know, it's not the end of the world. You can take as many as you like."

Only the dripping of water from the faucet could be heard in the background.

"As many..as I like?" Venti repeated softly as confirmation. I nodded and turned a tiny bit to face him as he sat behind me. It might have been a little cramped in the bathtub, yet the two of us fit in perfectly.

"(Name), may I now...?"

"Mhm..." He didn't really need to ask. "Anytime, actually."

It didn't take long for our lips to meet. But it took a long time for them to separate again.

The splashing of rain in the dark interrupted us. As we turned our gaze to the open wall, the sky quickly turned gray and the rain grew heavier.

"A rainstorm?"

"Yes, it is."

"I like rain, you know." I said.

Venti laughed. "Me too!"

We didn't need to dry our hair, thankfully, since we just bathed together. The whole starter pack of showers..we would have been way too tired for that. At least we now smelled like blossoms. We made the shower gel all by ourselves. It was not difficult. We bought glycerin base soap for it, which you have to melt and mix it with distilled vitamins, then let it cool. In the end, the soap is pureed with essential oils and the liquids that you can extract from plants.

Since we are both fans of handmade things, I caught myself buying less and less finished products and preferring to make them myself. I thought from the beginning that it was a joke to adapt habits from the partner. But this little joke turned into a sweet routine.

"I haven't embroidered this pillowcase in a while..." I stated, holding up the cover. I looked at the little bees I hadn't finished embroidering. "You left it here. Oho? Do I see a mistake there?" Grinned Venti as he looked over my shoulder.

"Show-off! It was still from the very beginning." I pulled the pillowcase away and threaded the patterns. Venti, on the other hand, pouted. "Please don't. Processes of a result should never be erased..." I sighed and relented. "If you care so much about the failed bee, I'll spare him." I continued embroidering a few patterns in return. Venti was content, even though it confused me a bit. It was just a pattern. He seemed really attached to a lot of things. Mistakes, for example, have a lot of meaning to him. He once told me that you are reminded of how far you have come. That's how you perceive your own development.

And I didn't have to think long about why. Because he doesn't want to deny his own past himself, for example.

"Listen, Venti." I began. It had been in the back of my mind for some time what I wanted to address. Well, not really for a long time...only since we got back out of town. "I'm all ears."

"Are you really okay with it? Being here now that you're so busy." It was his suggestion to go back to the cabin, after all. Nonetheless, I felt bad about it.

"Honestly, I really needed to get away from college. So don't worry about that." He plopped down next to me on the sofa. "Besides, I think it's safer for you to be here. I don't mean to scare you with that! I just thought it might distract you, you know?"

I nodded... "Yeah thanks..." I didn't want to make a mountain out of a molehill. But for the most part, I'm sure I wasn't imagining things. From the lounge to the day I got off work- no.

That can't be right either...

I think this has been going on for a long time. This person...I must have seen him at some point. None of this could have been a coincidence. No matter how hard I concentrated, trying to dig into my deepest memories, it ended up being like a blockage. It just gave me a headache when I tried. In this way, I did not succeed in remembering previous encounters.

"Is there something on your mind, (Name)? Should we stop talking about it?" Venti wrapped his arms around me. "Waah, we really should!"

I agree with him then. "Yeah, it's just giving me a headache now.... good idea." It's not like I could do anything about it Venti squeezed me tight once. "Nothing can happen to you. I'll protect you, okay?"

"Okay..."

That night, I woke up. I didn't know the reason because by a nightmare it didn't happen. Nor the reason why I woke up with tears. I wiped my eyelids.

When I became a little more awake, I sat up and found that I was alone in bed. Venti was no longer lying next to me. I bent over to a bedside cabinet and flicked on the little orange light because it's quite dark without the moon. A few seconds I scrambled out of bed and put on a cardigan over my nightgown, followed by slippers.

I could see him sitting right outside on the bench as I stepped out of the room. There was a rectangular window next to the door, adorned by a white sheer curtain and herbs on the windowsill that were clearly growing. For a while I watched him playing his lyre. But the sounds were far too gentle to rouse me from sleep.

Quietly, I joined him and leaned against the side of the door.

"Can't sleep?" I asked Venti softly. He stopped playing the lyre. "I woke up a while ago because I had a great need to make music." That might be one of the reasons he can be a morning sleepyhead. "I didn't wake you up, did I?" He asked to be sure. I shook my head.

"Are you going to sit with me? Or do you want to go to sleep?" I opted for the first suggestion and sat with him. I placed the wool blanket I took from the sofa over our legs.

"You'll catch cold if you don't."

"Even late at night, you're so thoughtful to me." He smiled at me and put his lyre aside. The bubbling from the running pond made one tired because it sounded very relaxed. My eyes felt heavy, but somehow I was able to keep them open anyway. It was very fresh outside and the wool blanket could keep us warm.

I leaned my head on Venti's shoulder.

"Your shoulder is comfortable."

"Then you can lean on me as long as you like." Said Venti, adjusting the wool blanket back onto my lap just before it slid down. I mumbled an okay.

"I've been thinking..." I began.

"Mmm?"

"My bed is still pretty new. Where do you want it then?"

"Huh...oh-are you really sure about that?"

"Yes, it would be a shame to throw it away otherwise."

Venti looked with me into the far distance, into nowhere.

Further away, there was a brighter sky, but the trees and everything else looked like a black shadow. And that's when you realize that even a sky without stars and moon can look beautiful.

"The bed in this cottage is very old. Maybe it can go here?" Suggested Venti. His voice was gentle as always and the smile could be clearly heard. "That's a good idea."

We would soon be very busy then.

Part 15

Masterlist

[lonely--seeker]

Haven't had so much fun watching a series in years. Haven't fallen in love with a new character in years. Now? Now it's time for the fanart.

[sabertoothwalrus]

girldad mode activate

[aimlesspoet]

a bottom-tier autistic experience is being told throughout your entire childhood that you are just an overthinker when it comes to social situations and later finding out that your friends did, in fact, hate being around you and tried to communicate that through weird little hints

[chilpilled]

his smile and optimism…….gone………

[dovesick]

endless night

[portraitofadumbassonfire]

Me being happy that one of the firefighters on the firefighter show is finally canonically Bi despite never watching a single episode:

[yesokayiknow]

[krash-8]

"what have you been doing on your phone for the past two fucking hours" hitting people leave me alone

[widebruh]

[spyglassrealms]

had a fucking hilarious dream that tumblr replaced the "block" function with the far funnier "glock" function, which did the exact same thing except whenever anyone blocked you a random bullet hole, like a png of a bullet hole, would appear on your blog. discourse blogs were unreadable bc you'd go to the page and the sheer amount of bullet hole pngs stacked over the blogs obscured everything. I woke myself up laughing

[fattributes]

Genuinely, I don’t know how else to get the word out, but I feel like if your home-cooked dinners don’t taste right, you're missing either paprika, sugar, butter, or chicken bouillon.

[ackerslut]

category of blorbo called "technically i like them but fanons obsession with them to the exclusion of other characters pavloved me into having a negative reaction whenever i see them"

[glorioustragedykid]

I dreamed that everyone on Twitter was mad at this new Sonic game about alternate universes because it had an adult Maria on it and she looked like this: