[closed] three little birds sat on my window

[concierto]

🧙 WHO: Venti & Friends
⚔️️ WHAT: Planned threads for the month of August! If you would like a thread you can find me at michrure or PM my journal!
🕒 WHEN: All throughout August!
🗺️ WHERE: Where these threads happen!
⚠️ WARNINGS: Mentions and use of alcohol, tba

Comments

closed to xiao

[concierto]

[Nothing like a nice evening to enjoy a nice cold drink and some nice company. Somehow, probably with several long minutes of having to coax the other, Venti has managed to whisk away a certain Yaksha for just that. To a café with live music, comfortable chairs, and the bonus of a few choices of alcoholic options on the menu. And many more non-alcoholic sweet, warm and tangy things for those who want basic café fair.

Venti sits at his chair across from the other with his device in his hand as he promptly clicks through it with a giggle on his lips. Typing in the words… #MerlinQuest with a bit of a sly smile tugging as his lips. The name of the quest is to make someone laugh with a terrible pick-up line. And what better chance to take than with the one sitting across from Venti.

Although it will be quite the challenge… As he’s not sure he’s ever heard his café companion laugh before… Or has he and it was all a dream?]

Ehe, Xiao! Have you picked what you’d like to drink?

[whirlwindthrust]

[ When has Venti well and truly struggled to get Xiao to do anything? ...Don't answer that. At the very least it isn't difficult for the bard to get Xiao to come out of hiding. Get him outside. Now whether or not Barbatos can actually convince the Yaksha to participate outside of being a presence? Well that is a hit or miss.

Right now it might be something of a miss. Xiao is looking over the drink menu and is unsure. He still doesn't want to consume anything in front of others. Still doesn't understand dining on prepared foods. ]

They have an almond drink...

[concierto]

Hm, and I'm almond about you. Pick whatever you'd like, Xiao! It's my treat! Ehe!

[He giggles happily. Not minding the busy noise of the cafe. Actually, Venti quite thrives in environments like this. He likes the hustle and bustle and musical noise of people. And he's just happy to have gotten Xiao to tag along.]

[whirlwindthrust]

You are... Almond about me?

[ He tilts his head to the side. Xiao... Doesn't get it actually. What exactly is Venti trying to say? To tell him?

Either way, the Yaksha is going to go ahead and order the drink. He enjoys almond tofu so something with almond milk in it is bound to be permissible? ]

Venti. You seem to be in good spirits.

[concierto]

[Oof. The first strike is a total strike out. Venti pouts slightly but Xiao's comment is right. He is in good spirits. So he smiles quickly again with a tilt of his head. Try, try again.]

Why wouldn't I be! I get to spend an afternoon with you. And I get to try what's called a classic whipped topped mocha. I've never been one for tea but I hear coffee is a much better hot drink.

[whirlwindthrust]

You are having it hot even though it is still "summer?"

[ Are you sure about that, Venti? It doesn't sound like it would be all that comfortable? Isn't it better to have a cool drink on a warm day? ]

[concierto]

[Xiao is not wrong about that choice. It is a hot summer day. But Venti is clad in shorts and a light sleeveless and buttoned shirt. His hair always breezy enough to keep his neck cool. No hat today!]

It might be a hot drink... but I think I like the idea of trying something I've never had before even more than that! I can sip at the drink.

[whirlwindthrust]

[ Venti might like to play dress up. Change his clothing styles around. Xiao, however, does not. He is fine in his usual attire, come rain or shine. Cold or heat. ]

Will it not be uncomfortable? Cause you to overheat?

closed to paimon

[concierto]

[There is something in the air that is bothering Venti but he can't quite put a finger on it yet... Something off. Something odd. Something fuzzy.]

... Ah? Ehe-?

[He's minding his own business when suddenly he lets out a rather uncontrolled sneeze!]

Ahh-choo!! ... My... what is that awful fuzz in the air...

[This is just like when his allergies are acting up. But he doesn't see any pesky felines in sight...???]

[notemergencyfood]

[Oh no, no feline, only half of it. Somewhere close by, lurking from the corner, there is a set of cat-like ears twitching catching the bard's sneeze, tail flickering mischievously. Oh. That's right, a certain bard is allergic to those fuzzballs. The one peering from the corner you ask? Why it's the Paimon affected with the animal mage curse, though Paimon doesn't seem to mind. In fact, her tiny front fangs bares cunningly. See what trolling does Venti? Paimon is feeling the power.]

That's right, you're allergic to cats.

[Paimon echoes from behind peering from the same corner of the wall. Venti will witness the little Paimon with a set of cat ears and whiskers, and a playful tail. What's a little different here is, Paimon appears to be on all four, her two hands planting under, as if drawing more deeper into this curse. Hopefully Venti is paying close attention because Paimon lowers her body closer to the ground as she crawls around the corner, her body align with Venti's.

Settling down further, shaking her behind as an unsettle chuckle echoes from her throat and....

LAUNCHES up and high towards the bard's face for the pounce attack!]

[concierto]

[What is that awful and ominous feeling that Venti gets up his back...]

What is-

[What is that he's seeing? Some sort of hideous-looking paimon-cat hybrid that is looking at him with those mischievous eyes like she's about to murder someone?!]

Wait- Stay back?!

[As she pounces Venti absolutely shrieks and puts his hands up to at least block her attack and save his precious cute face! Not his cute face?!]

Get away!!!

[FOUL FLUFFY BEAST be gone!!]

closed to diluc

[concierto]

[It starts off as a gentle humming in Diluc's head... So quiet and so gentle that the man might think that he's hearing things or that a certain bard might be sneaking up behind him. But if he turns? Or looks about? He won't see anyone there...!

But as the moments tick by the upbeat boppy humming will occasionally continue. A little tune that Diluc might just recognize...

Where is it coming from? Has Diluc finally lost his marbles? There's music right in his head!]

[darksideofdawn]

. . . .

[It's making it very difficult to focus on anything really. He's been trying to master his new magical abilities and the humming is throwing him off.

He keeps hearing the bard but when he turns, there's no sign of him. It has him squinting after the third or forth time of it happening.

After another moment he grumbles something under his breath and reaches into his pocket. Pulling out a small black phone, he calls a certain bard half expecting to hear Venti's phone ring somewhere within earshot.

This all can't be just inside his brain. Diluc refuses to believe that]

[concierto]

[And low and behold Venti's ringtone is nowhere to be heard! But for now, the humming does seem to stop! As Venti answers his device!]

Hello? Master Diluc? So, you did keep my contact!

[He's calling!! And Venti's acting dumb.]

[darksideofdawn]

[....what exactly are you doing? He squints holding the phone.]

I can hear your incessant humming.

[concierto]

Ehe? Is that so? How...? We're a city's length apart at the moment.

[That is the power of these phone devices, isn't it??]

Diluc, are you sure you're not dreaming it?

[darksideofdawn]

There is no way I would have dreams of you or your singing...

[That is said very flatly. Venti....why?]

You're up to something. Your voice doesn't sound as innocent as you may think it to be.

[concierto]

[How rude!!]

Not at all?! Not even once? After all those hours I spent charming the tavern to your delight... I'm wounded!

[Pout pout pout. But he's also trying not to giggle.]

Well then. If that's so true then what are you hearing that makes you think of me?

closed to ochako

[concierto]

[Venti, the wandering bard. As is his title back home. And it's mostly the same here. Wandering as in Venti barely has enough money for the wines he likes to drink. And even less work ethic to keep a steady income to pay for a place...

Therefore, he is more than happy to freeload spend his time at the Inn. He does share a room with a rather interesting fellow but that arrangement is more for Venti's own amusement than anything else... Maybe, maybe hoping that man will smile, but...

Since he's at the inn it will be rather easy to hear the tune of a lyre plucking away. Notes of music on the air in a melodious and happy spirit. Venti's perched up on the roof of the Inn. Giving to the ambience of the place with his songs...]

[floatsaway]

[It's been a while since Ochako actually opened her windows at the Inn proper, but it's a bit hard to ignore the lilt of music that travels on the wind from above and actually snaps her out of whatever meaningless task she was doing. Nothing important - she's been doing a lot of that lately - so when the fog clears and she hears a light tune being played, she blinks and opens her window to look out and scan the grounds below to see if she can spot who was playing such a pretty melody. It was so soothing, and something about it just felt warm...

She can't spot anyone below other than people going about their business, and the song didn't seem like it was coming from below, either. No, she cranes her neck and actually looks up instead, squinting a bit from the harsh sun in her eyes that have adjusted to her dim-lit room. It's a better day today than most, in that Ochako actually managed to take a bath and change into some loungewear instead of lazing about in her pajamas, though she still looks like she'd been through it.

Curious, perhaps to a fault, she turns her head left and right before hauling herself out her own window to sit on the edge of it before throwing herself off. Something a bit terrifying if not for the fact she starts to float and waft up towards the top of the Inn with her kinetic magic, touching down quietly on a spot where she sees a lone boy strumming an instrument and looking engrossed in what he's doing. She says nothing, not daring to interrupt, and simply listens with and awestruck expression until he's finished.]

That was beautiful...

[concierto]

[Venti knows he has an audience the moment that her window opens and she floats herself upwards to the roof. He doesn't skip a single string. Gently letting his fingers glide over the notes and letting the music fill the air with soft ambient lyre notes. There's a softer meaning to the music notes and lyrics he knows in his head, but sometimes the action of playing notes without singing is soothing to him too.

When he's finished he looks up at her with a warm smile and gives her a wink. Her little kinetic trick reminds him of a curious hummingbird.]

Ehe. Thank you! It's such a lovely breezy day that I couldn't help myself. Sometimes the notes take me away. Would you like to hear another?

[floatsaway]

[Ochako doesn't quite know the meaning of the song, but it was gentle and comforting - almost like a lullaby. Maybe it's a bit silly, and her emotions are playing a part on that thought but...the song is sweet, and actually makes her feel not as heavy as she does. Burdened. That's it - what she's been feeling lately. Burdened by the weight of sadness, guilt, stress, and fear. Negative feelings, put to rest with a song. How silly...and yet warm memories are brought up, when she listens to the music. Her mama would often sing to her when she was little, scared or upset.

This feels like that.

Ochako fidgets a little nervously, looking away when the young man meets her eye - she's not as bad as she could look, thank god, but Ochako still doesn't look great, either. She's a bit pale from not eating much, not sleeping well, and there's some dark circles and redness around her eyes, too. She just hasn't cared to do much about it most days.]

Um...if it's not too much trouble? Y-Yes, please.

[concierto]

[That is the power of music. The ability to set emotions free, make a heart feel lighter. Even if only for a moment, a melody can take away the heavy burdens the heart has and allow the mind to flow and think. Or just to calm down and relax. Venti's music is always breezy and sweet, a gentle tune to carry away anything that may fall heavy on someone's shoulders.

And this poor girl looks like she has the world on hers.]

Then come sit with me, ehe. I always play better when I have company.

[He pats the spot next to him gently. His smile soft.]

I'm Venti, a wandering bard. And what should I call you, Miss?

[floatsaway]

[He's not wrong at all. Ochako has a lot of fears, a lot of stress, and a lot of growing insecurities about herself weighing her down. The past few months, and this week alone have been rife with them, all piling up until her legs gave out. It's embarrassing, and a little bit shameful, too...she's supposed to be a hero! And yet right now she feels like nobody at all. It's half why she's sort of secluded herself in the Inn - she couldn't be the help a sweet little girl needed, and had to give her away. Even if it was the right decision, and she's much better off in the hands of someone who can do what Ochako cannot, it just...her mind has spun it in a way that makes it feel like she just gave up. It hurts. It hurts her pride as a hero and as someone who cares deeply for that little girl.

But music that helps one forget, clears the heavy air and allows for someone to finally breathe again...it feels nice. And this person, he seems nice, too. Ochako hesitates a moment, then shuffles forward a bit awkwardly, patting down her clothes a little bit before taking the offered seat. She probably looks terrible.]

A bard? [It's like her fairy tale stories and fantasy books - musicians and poets and stuff.] Cool... Ah, um--! My name is Uraraka. Uraraka Ochako - you can call me Ochako-chan if you want...Venti-san.

[He's so polite (little does Ochako know...), and speaks so eloquently! It makes her feel a little, erm...unprepared? Is that the right word??]

[concierto]

Ochako-chan?

[He's not familiar with the wording, of course. It sounds vaguely like she's from Inazuma... But alas, she's more than likely, not.]

Miss Ochako Chan it is.

[Venti nods, pleased with that. Then his fingers are swaying over the lyre strings again as he tunes the notes softly.]

Now, usually, I need some sort of theme to my songs to really get my muses working. And without a... ehe, a certain kind of encouragement, [a drink of wine or two] I'll have to look to you for a theme to sing about. Tell me, what is heart's tune today? The beautiful day, an adventurish brush with death? A longing or yearning for something new? Perhaps a lost love?