[open] cause I'm in a field of dandelions

[concierto]

🧙 WHO: Venti & YOU!
⚔️ WHAT: Open log! Quests, open prompts and planned closed threads inside.
🕒 WHEN: Throughout the month of July!
🗺️ WHERE: Camelot and area & Celliwig
⚠️ WARNINGS: Mentions and use of alcohol



[A: quest: summer fever!]

[With some of the medical centers around Camelot being overwhelmed with summer fever they are in need of some more hands to help them attend to all the residents and patients in the wards.

While Venti isn’t the hardest worker there is he does have a soft spot for helping others. Even if his sense of helping others means that he’s using his musical talent to sing to the various patients, sick and injured in order to lift their spirits and spread some cheer. Maybe he could be coaxed into some other chores?

Venti can be found attending to a room here and there with an old-looking wooden lyre in hand and singing softly to the summer air. Or enjoying a serenade in one of the main rooms where people walking by can enjoy. Be proud of him since he’s working to help instead of working for a glass of wine to drink. But truly, Venti does have a heart for helping others when he feels he should.

And it is more than a good opportunity to practice some of the newer songs he’s been learning in this world! Like this brilliant tune...]

Your heart's been aching but you're too shy to say it...

[B: tdm: margaritaville pair challenge]

[The carnival that rolls through town is right up Venti’s alley. With festivities come games and with games comes competition and with competition usually comes a sort of prize. And when Venti eyes the humongous glasses of slushy margarita he seems to sparkle with mischievous delight. Drink a giant slushy of alcohol in order to win a recipe spell that helps you avoid hangovers? ... Sign him up.

But he needs to do this with a partner! Hope someone’s ready to get their drink on because Venti is very suddenly coming up to you with a smile on his lips and a twinkle in his eye. If you look like you can hold your liquor, even better!]

Hello there, friend! Care to try out a rather refreshing little bit of competition? Ehe!

[C: camelot, relaxing with the birds]

[On this breezy summer day in Camelot Venti can also be found lounging under an old oak tree basking in the warmth of the summer sun and gentle breeze. Yet it might be peculiar to see Venti sitting there with a rather large and dangerous-looking brown and black falcon on his arm. The proud bird is sitting there preening a feather or two while Venti hum gently at it.

Which might be odd to those who know him. For Venti doesn’t have a falcon for a familiar. Who does the bird belong to? Did he steal it?

Nonetheless, the bird seems quite fond of the little bard. When Venti reaches up to pet the creature it coos and nuzzles his hand. It might not give the same treatment to others...]

[D: exploring celliwig]

[The best part of exploring a new city is certainly the draws to the unique shopping that it has. Celliwig has proved to be a bright delight when it comes to new and unique forms of foods, music, and charms to buy. Magic, clothing and trinkets, and all the rest. Venti has found himself wandering about the shops and stands with a curious little glint in his eye.

He comes across a few things that take his interest. Especially a stand that is selling what appears to be different summertime potions. He wants one, as the shop owner notes that they can give some amusing special effects. Fae magic? Or curses?

Without much money in his pocket, though... He might have to resist the urge to do a little sleight of hand. Or charming someone into buying a few things for him.]

Yahoo! Would you like to try something special and new? I heard wonderful things about these.

[Beware, these fae-made potions or drinks might make you hiccup songs or sneeze flower petals!]

[E: wildcard]

[got something else? feel free to put it down here! or you can find me at michrure for some plotting!]

Comments

[letmewin]

( The side of Chara that Venti has seen is something that Asriel is suspicious about. They can sense something is off about their sibling, but they still don't know what it is.

Asriel goes silent for a moment, looking away from Venti. It's not really something he's talked about with others. Not because he's avoided it, mind you -- it's... not something that's come up. )

... I... don't really have much of a life back at home. ( Asriel kicks his feet back an forth for a moment.) Back at home-- I... I can't really feel anything for anyone else. Even if I saw Chara again, I don't think I could feel anything for them, either.

But if I'm here--then... I can love others again.

[concierto]

[Venti listens and finds that as a very odd thing to say. His expression is slightly unreadable, tucking the information away like notes to a song. For a child to be unable to feel- that could be heartbreaking. And potentially dangerous should a child not learn certain things from certain emotions felt.

Venti lets out a soft whistle, the bird in the tree coming back down to them. The bird coos softly and starts to preen a few feathers.]

Something very unfortunate must have happened to make such a young boy like you unable to feel anything. What a shame... Not being able to feel things such as love and kindness. Or all the harder emotions too. It makes our hearts what they are, don't you think? Being able to feel every breeze in your feathers makes a bird a bird.

[He smiles.]

If that's the case, I hope you can find a life worth your wonderful heart here.

[letmewin]

( If he hadn't agreed to Chara's plan in the first place, they may have lived another path in life... But, he's spent so much time regretting it. He knows that there really isn't a point in doing it anymore.

For a moment, Asriel watches the bird, admiring the way it listens to Venti before he listens to what he has to say. )

... That's why I was scared when we met before. I didn't think I'd stay like this.

I... hurt a lot of people then, just because I could. Just because I wanted to see what would happen. But, all I wanna do here is help people.

( When you can go back in time, it feels like it doesn't really matter what you do to others. )

But, without love -- it's harder to learn things like knowing what the right and wrong things to do are. Our hearts can grow because of it.

( He looks to Venti then, offering a shaky smile. )

Thank you, Venti. Your friends... they're really lucky to have you. I... I hope that you can be really happy here, too.

[concierto]

[Venti can't say for sure what the why and how are behind the boy's words. It's not his place to pry into a past and a world that isn't his own. He's always been one to believe in the power of choice and freedom, to let the tides of life guide others to a brighter day. So while the boy admits that he hurt people for the curiosity of it all, he isn't too alarmed.

Longing for something more... Wanting to see a future that is easier on his heart and mind. My my, in Teyvat Venti might have given this boy the blessing of an Anemo vision. The power of wind itself.]

It sounds to me like you already know which sort of breeze to follow to find where you want your heart to be, Asriel. Finding love and looking for happiness, those are two key factors in learning what kind of heart you truly have. While I might seek a way home as soon as I can, I do hope you can follow your own feelings here.

[He hums a tune softly.]

Your story might make for an excellent song someday.

[letmewin]

( Venti's words almost sound like the kind of poetry he read in a book he found once. They're comforting and encouraging. Asriel can't help but smile in response, though it's a little nervous all the same. )

... Thank you, Venti. I'll keep trying to make friends here. The two of us are friends already too, aren't we?

( He stops at what he has to say next. )

Gosh, do you really think so? I've never really thought about it like that... B-But, it doesn't really feel like a lot of good came out of things that happened then. ( Except for, well... the monsters going free. He can't completely and totally regret what happened then because of that. )

[concierto]

Of course, I don't mind making new friends.

[And at this point, Venti has already picked that he will protect Asriel if he can. This poor child, a past so littered with darkness through no fault of his own, it seemed.]

You'll be surprised what sort of powerful messages can come out of a song though, Asriel! Every story has meaning, every song has a powerful message. Your story is just as important as any other. Even if we don't know the ending yet.

[letmewin]

Gosh, okay...! Then, from now on - we're friends!

( Asriel looks happy enough to have made a friend. Venti seems so wise, too. ... And pretty mysterious. While he's curious, he knows that some people prefer to keep a lot about themselves a secret. )

... That's nice of you to say, but... I-I'm not sure, either. Have you ever... thought that some things were better if others didn't know about it...? It'd be nice if people knew some of what happened back then, but... maybe it's better if some things were left out.

What about your story? Have you written songs about it?

[concierto]

[A very good observation of Venti. It seems the bird agrees because it suddenly flutters in and pokes Asriel right on the cheek. Gentle but probably startling.]

Ehe, truly, I can agree with that little opinion of yours. And our bird friend seems to agree. Some secrets are yours to keep as secrets. Do not let anyone force that from you.

[Because Venti has many of his own. He understands the ache to want to keep dark things dark. Therefor, he won't press.]

As for me? I've written tons of songs! From the trees that grow to the winds that blow! About the days when I was younger to the days that I see now! I would sing myself parched if I went through every single one!

[He giggles.]

[letmewin]

( The bird pokes at Asriel, and he jumps a bit before blinking in surprise, a hand going to his cheek before he giggles quietly. )

... I think so, too. There are a lot of people who have secrets that they don't really want to share, even though... they might be secrets that are things that might be hurting them.

( He's speaking from experience. There's still things he doesn't know about his friends at home -- painful pasts. However, Asriel... respects the fact that it isn't something that they want to share. )

Wow, Venti! It sounds really great to have found something you want to do... And, I know that music is something that can make others happy, too.

[concierto]

[What a smart little one.]

If a friend wishes to share a secret or something that might hurt, then it is only if they wish to. Although, sometimes sharing can lead to healing, isn't that right?

[He smiles.]

Hmm! I've loved music for ages. I don't mind teaching music to others too. Should you be so interested!

[letmewin]

... Do you really think so? Even if... the secrets are something that could hurt someone?

( He may have been talking about Chara at first, but now he means more about himself than anything else. He's hurt so many people at this point in time. He doesn't want to burden his friends with the knowledge of what some of those things are.

Though, his face lights up quite a bit at the offer. )

Really? You wouldn't mind? Gosh, I'd love that!

[concierto]

I really think so. The ache of your heart is no one's to see but yours and only if you wish to share it. Looking towards the future... I think that is what counts. We all have dark secrets in our past.

[Venti echoes with a nod. Once again this boy proves that if Asriel were in Teyvat he would have an anemo vision. His ambitions are clear and his pain from the past is obviously something he holds close to his heart. And it's clear to see in his eyes that he's searching for something past that.]

Music can be a wonderful way to soothe the sounds of your heart! I'd be happy to teach! What sort of instruments might pick your interest, dear Asriel?

[letmewin]

Y... Yeah, you're right. If we spend all our time regretting the past, all we can really do is become angry and sad about what happened. It's... important to live for the present.

( It's reassuring to hear someone say that -- and gently, too. It's funny. He knows exactly what to say, despite the fact that they haven't really known one another for very long. )

I'm not really sure... I always thought something with string would be fun to learn. But, there's a lot of different kinds, huh?

[concierto]

That's right. How keen of you, Asriel!

[Now, on to the music! The importance of living for the present!]

Strings are a lovely choice! And my preferred avenue as well. The harp, lyre, violin, lute, why even piano! There are so many to pick from. That might be the hardest part! To pick.

[letmewin]

( If it wasn't for all the time he had to read, he wouldn't know the majority of the instruments that he named. He pauses for a moment before making his decision. )

If you're really okay with it, then... I-I think I'd like to try to learn how to play the violin.

[concierto]

The violin it is.

[Venti gives a small nod, much like a bard's bow.]

Then next time, Dear Asriel, we'll learn some notes of music and let your heart's song be heard.

[letmewin]

Okay...! Gosh, I can't wait.

( He pushes himself to stand then, offering a wave to Venti. )

I should start heading back, though. Thank you for letting me meet your friend.

[concierto]

Of course, it was a pleasure! Take care of yourself!

[The little hawk seems to chirp its goodbye too! Venti will have to tease the hawk's real owner for having such a sweet bird, later.]

I'll see you again soon! Bye bye!