(no subject)

[wimdy]

Who: Venti and open /o/
What: laaate post-event thing for him, waking up from a little stress nap and being tiny.
When: near september!
Where: hurikane mostly!
Warnings: none really except maybe coming back from death and trauma-y memories if he talks about that. other than that he’s just a small fairy being an idiot.


[ it's not very responsible of him, but 1) responsibility and 2) venti: pick one. he is actually the kind of person who tends to disappear at occasional moments, sometimes at the most irresponsible times. he's also the kind who could stress-nap entire decades away, so maybe a good couple of days or even a week is being almost responsible for him. there's darkness, then he wakes up in bed rather unexpectedly and painfully by his new roomie. he processes that he's returned to life and rafaela is back and instead of talking to her or going out and checking on other people, why not just... go back to sleep. so he does.

a day later or so, he kind of disappears entirely, like wind invisible that may float away.

and maybe a week after that, the wind may slowly pull himself together. but he is weak, he's not terribly strong, he's rather tired and maybe lost more faith in himself. venti himself hasn't been around in a good while but a fairy-looking thing, something small and white that practically looks like a bird from a distance, would be slowly floating through the ship towards a bar. you can maybe find this creature:

1. fluttering rather dazedly, like a dizzy bee, charting a little path through the ship en route to deck five.
2. it seems to take breaks every so often to simply sit on the ground, or maybe even float to sit tiredly on your shoulder or head if you're nearby and make a nice perch.
3. sitting on the ground staring up at the door to hurikane, looking bemused at how to open it, chirping tiredly at you if you're nearby to please open the door!
4. if he manages to get in the bar, the critter is sitting on the counter making half-hearted little chirps to the ghost bartender who apparently doesn't get the hint that he needs wine.
5. eventually, or maybe a day later or so, venti would find it in himself to transform back and simply be found in hurikane at a table surrounded by bottles. he needs this, he really does.
(6. wildcard/anything else!! i might just make this a catch-all for september too i don't know yet) ]

Comments

[skaikru]

( deck five and seeking hurikane means a brief foray into tauva is completely reasonable right? because that's perfect; that's where clarke happens to be (a new home base as such) with her head in a notebook and ballpoint pen tapping a rhythmless beat against on a sparse tabletop. she notes out of the corner of her eye what first looks like a bird. but looking up and focusing more intently and... no, that's absolutely not any sort of normal wildlife.

she's seen mizuki's keychain memento, has been told of venti's alternate form. arguably she knows what she's looking at. but the in person manifestation of a sprite looks just different enough when animated that, in addition to her own barely contained waves of an existential crisis and the sudden surprise of being ripped from studying text and geometric symbols, that it doesn't compute. leaves her just... staring at the thing flitting around the tables, humidifier, and whiskey shelves. what is that?

...well, only one thing to do about confusion and mystery, and that's try to catch the object of it with her bare hands, right? absolutely standing on top of tables and chairs if she has to in order to reach it. )

[wimdy]

[ the creature seems to be amazingly absent-minded to not even notice his believer sneaking up behind him and trying to catch him until it happens; with a small startled sound he is indeed caught in her hands. the feeling of him is rather delicate, slightly cool to the touch rather than warm-blooded, rather soft 'fabric' of his cloak and though he is solid enough there's the strange sense that even this from could disappear.

the creature blinks pale eyes up at her. dimly in the back of his mind of course he recognizes, 'oh it's clarke' but...

he's rather tired. he doesn't really feel like doing much at all. even trying to get alcohol is kind of like practically force of habit. he makes a muted little chirp before sitting in her hands placidly, not very energetic at all. ]

[skaikru]

( she catches him like one would a butterfly or firefly — cupped hands, the sudden enclosure of fingers over flighty sprite, then the careful descent from on top of a chair and slow unraveling of fingers to catch a peak. the weight of him is nothing in her palm, but clarke can feel the flutter of too-soft fabric against gun callouses, and the sheer lethargy that leaves venti settled in her hands. it doesn't take long for the cage of fingers to fall away, more akin to the cupped bed flower petals would make for bees.

curiosity reigns, and is quickly sated the harder she looks at the tired creature she holds. )

Oh, Barbatos... ( sighed and pitying. it suddenly feels like she's holding something very precious in her hands, like he'd break if she faltered in the slow return to her table. like he'd vanish, flicker out of existence like a light. and even on a ship with regeneration mechanics, that's a thought that tugs at her general fear of losing people. ) What happened to you?

[wimdy]

[ what happened to him…

dying for the third time, maybe. which, maybe that’s one more than her now? not to compare something like this at all and he does make a concerted effort to try not to linger on it, to try to brush past it emotionally, to try to be stronger and come through it as intact as he could with varying amounts of success, but perhaps this instance was bad. it speaks to a weakness he’d tried not to acknowledge, that he tends towards avoidance, towards drinking, towards sleeping entire decades or centuries away to recover himself.

despite knowing how unreliable he is he does want to be. but now he simply droops his wings and sits tiredly, simply not feeling up to doing much at all. surely someone or something unworthy of worship or reliance. ]

(wildcard)

[opheliac]

(jinx is aware that venti tends to just disappear for days or maybe even longer. he had warned her many, many, many times as wind and as god, that is something he does. janna, after all, did the same thing from what the stories her mother and vi had told her. which only further proves that venti or barbatos, rather, is janna but she left zaun and reincarnated as him because... reasons unknown. she could be very wrong about that but is it really a stretch for a god to travel through different realms and become a different version of themselves? to have memory loss in the process or that's a downside of becoming something else? they are a mighty being that can do so much -- probably too much for a mortal to even comprehend. but still even in his absence, jinx continued to pray every day to him.

doing so became the norm for her, really. and the thought of not doing it or just not at all will throw her entire day off. it would feel something is missing; something that's incomplete. and jinx tried not to worry that she hadn't seen him. a lot of people didn't reply to her message but she figured that. the last excursion was intense and maybe people didn't feel like speaking. in fact, she'd been pretty exclusive herself. she only allowed three people to keep close to her so far: ekko, rin, and dylan. beyond that, she had been in the theater working, in the brig with "silco", or running around the ship to try and keep her speed up without crashing over like she did during the excursion.)

(she may look busy and even decent on the outside, but on the inside -- she is drowning with so much guilt. how she felt if only lumine had left her there, she and venti would had survived. they died because she was dead weight to them, a burden, a problem as sevika would put it. or if she had just been training, she could had saved so many of her favorties. but instead, all of them died because she was incompetent... just like "powder". and jinx can't seem to shake the image of "silco" among the rest of the dead outside the diner. how the two of them locked eyes and only having the glass to be their barrier. ekko tried to convince it was the captain just toying with them but how can he be so sure?

jinx killed him and then damned him -- because of her, he isn't up in the heavens where he should be. he is hurting and suffering because she couldn't control herself. and seeing that right in front of her eyes only furthers confirms that the letters she sent out that day was definitely the right decision to make. if her curse is damning people to such fate, everyone needs to stay clear away from her as possible. or well, unless they are her enemies. then she will get close and rip them apart because that's what an omen does. an omen brings despair, bad luck, and unfortunate circumstances. that is who she is and she needs to stop running away from the truth.)

▬▬

(who knows what particular day this is or what venti's been doing as a tiny fairy thing prior, but it's nightfall now. and throughout his absence, jinx periodically checks her phone just to be sure he, lumine, and alex are still in her contact listing since chrissy disappeared roughly around the same time of the excursion. she is being a bit paranoid and a little obsessive with how much she checks her phone but she can't help but to be anxious. clarke suggested to just barge in their rooms to check on them but... she shouldn't do that, either. not when she's still incompetent.

when she is stronger and more useful, then she should approach them. but now? not now. it's just better she keep her distance. and quite honestly, she's debating even if she becomes stronger, should she remain distant. once an omen always an omen no matter how strong. anyway.)

(jinx is currently on deck one; sitting on the floorboards on the main deck -- looking out in the sea through the railing bars. she had been sitting here for a little while and she knows in time, ekko will start seeking out for her. but this time instead of being cruel to him like usual, she shot him a message she will be at the theater soon just... not right now. with her knees close to her chest and her arms wrap around her legs, she stares off as she sings a song softly and tone is sorrow in repeat:)

♪ Dear friend, across the river,
My hands are cold and bare.
Dear friend, across the river,
I'll take what you can spare.
I ask of you a penny,
My fortune it will be.
I ask you without envy,
We raise no mighty towers.
Our homes are built of stone.
So come across the river,
And find the world below. ♪

(it's the first time in quite a little while, jinx just wishes she had her big sister with her.)

[wimdy]

[ maybe through even this week of fatigue and numbness and listlessness he could hear jinx's prayers through it all. and maybe this might be what gave him the energy to even do this much rather than sleep for another two weeks or more--he could hear her. he could guess she's worried for him but... oh, he has no idea. maybe she'd be angry at him for trying to help caitlyn? he's too tired to think. he's a little too tired to do anything but want to sleep or drink, even if he's surely never tried alcohol while in this form, it's not like a wind elemental needs sustenance like food or water. but when he just wants to forget and not think he goes and wants to rely on drink.

...

but, he could hear her prayer. and his dizzy little flight veers until he could find his way towards her on the deck, because despite everything her faith still glows like an ember. a worship, belief that he didn't have in himself. the draw of it might be stronger than even to alcohol.

the wisp a-lights to her shoulder, shivering a little, noticeably so much less energetic and cheerful than the last time she'd seen him like this. and he whistles only the first few notes of the song before falling quiet. remarkably even music, or even hearing her sing... he'd normally be so cheerful to hear, to prompt more of it. he doesn't really feel like it now. ]

[opheliac]

(the whistle breaks her from own little trance and carefully she glances to her shoulder. and at the sight of him, she doesn't really react right away. it's not because she is angry or isn't happy to see him but more so she can't seem to distinguish if this wisp is him or the doll again. that maybe she brought the doll along with her but not remembering in doing so; it's not that far fetch that she's been dissociating again.

although at this point, does it matter if this wisp is real or not? because regardless, she is happy to see him. finally and carefully, she scoops him up with her hands and like she does often with the doll version of him -- jinx plants a small little kiss on the top of his head. she shifts in her seating position now sitting cross legged so to have him rest in her hands still but also in her lap; letting him look out in the sea too.)

... You can stay here for a lil' while if you want. — But if you stay with me for too long, it might be dangerous, y'know. I don't wanna bring more trouble to you.

(her tone is very hushed and calm despite the words being somewhat of a warning or self-loathing. and still being gentle, she raises up an index to lightly pet him along the top of his head.)

[nyktifanis]

( it's the fairy-like creature that perches on her shoulder that's able to garner her sympathy. she would have ignored him at first had it not been the subtle and faint feeling of energy that comes from it.

honestly, sitting in front of a bar does no justice, and she wishes there was a more soothing setting she could immerse the creature in, unfortunately she finds that too much moving might be a bad thing.

curious as she is, pollux shifts just a bit so that she can hold the creature in her hand as she stares down at it. there's something special about him, but she doesn't dare try to pry yet, and instead figures out to remedy what ails it. )

You must be one of the many who have inhabited this ship for awhile.

( the longer their stay, the worse they get— their suffering is what natsuno had told her, and she wonders if he's managed to be subjected to that fate. )

I have an idea that may help, will you hear me out?

[wimdy]

[ the small creature appears to be rather fatigued for some reason or another and maybe that's why it would flutter down to sit on any stranger rather than actually try to communicate or do anything remotely... useful or anything, like trying to transform back. he has little energy. he doesn't recognize this girl but she looks kind enough, surely she would make a kind perch.

however the moment he touches down on her hand there's the new feeling of divinity. he could feel it from her quite strongly, and it makes him perk up a bit more with a flutter of his wings and a rather surprised chirp. he himself has a similar yet foreign energy; like might barely recognize like, when they are both foreign gods not only to this world but also obviously each other. and he is rather weakened from lack of faith in himself, among other reasons. and his godhood had been taken from him but still that faint feeling is there, he was once a god for thousands of years.

he blinks at her twice, then nods his head in agreement. well he has the vague idea he could transform back after more... rest, or energy, but not quite right now. ]

[nyktifanis]

( unknown divinity that she cannot quite place, but the feeling is there and undeniable to her, but her one worries comes from if he'll steadily lose despite her assistance. if she can keep the energy concentrated inside of him, then perhaps he can nurture what she offers into something stronger, and from there be able to regain his strength. it would be favorable for her, meaning that having the assistance of another god, even if she doesn't know his identity would be a good thing. if something ever happens to her then perhaps she can be treated in the same way, so there's nothing to lose from this.

she could do it here, but with so many people around she'd rather not draw attention to a weakened god— the old divine gods could if they felt threatened or mocked, but pollux sees no reason to highlight this grave error. with him in her hands, she slowly lifts from her seat while placing the creature against her chest, and making her intentions clear. )

We'll go to the deck together as the stars shine beautifully tonight, and I'll raise your spirits.

( her presence alone helps instill hope and determination to overcome the challenge that they face, and it wafts off her constantly. that energy happens to be separate from what she mentions, as her pace quickens down the hall and the heels of her shoes knock against the surface. )

You'll feel better after this, ( the moon's already upon them as the light of the stars twinkle bright above and the sea below crashes against the side of the boat. it's breeze is lukewarm, nothing too chilly, but this is the world's loving embrace to all those who encompass a ship of any kind. a familiar circumstance that she knows so well that puts her at ease, better than assisting someone around an unhealthy amount of booze.

now that would just help no one. ) I promise.

3

[mikraitios]

( Hmm... Well that is certainly a little creature. Castor is only here to familiarize himself with the lay of the land, so to speak, having only just arrived, but this little guy is looking way more interesting than the surrounding shops and such. Or maybe he's just biased. Don't call him out on that though.

In any case, he can't help but feel kinda bad for it. It's like a cat pawing at the door, y'know? Castor can help, but... it sounds a little tired too.

So rather than skipping straight to opening it up for the little guy, Castor's gonna crouch down next to it. Hold out his hand. Hey, c'mere. )

Do you want to go in?

( He'll give you a lift. )

[wimdy]

[ if he were a cat he'd be allergic to himself. and also what kind of extremely questionable animal would be staring longingly at the wines and bottles on offer through the glass like this?? those bottles are taller than himself, like twice or three times as tall, can a creature like this even drink alcohol?

still, it looks up at castor upon being addressed, lets out another rather docile sound (normally he is so energetic, not that castor would know, but he'd be more annoying) and then reaches to tap a small little limb to castor's hand.

the touch actually instantly seems to startle him--the recognition and feeling of contact to another deity. he himself would probably feel terribly weak in divinity but he seems to perk a little as he looks castor over with more curiosity, a flutter of his wings, then hops to his hand in equal parts trust and new interest. ]

[mikraitios]

( He does get a sense for it as the critter reaches out to meet his offered hand—the divinity it possesses. A familiar or companion, maybe? It's nothing overwhelming in any case, but hey, Castor's own sense of divinity probably isn't going to come off as much stronger anyway with what the humans did to him, so he's hardly one to judge. Instead he raises a brow, betraying just a hint of curiosity before a smile tugs at his lips. )

That's right. You can trust me.

( This little guy hasn't exactly done anything to him, so they're probably fine for it. Once they're settled, Castor goes on ahead and lefts them up—maybe they'd prefer a shoulder perch or something? But, well, in any case, wherever Venti chooses to make himself comfortable, Castor will open up the door at long last and walk them in to the bar.

... Which is kind of deserted, but okay. A glance around for anyone who might be tending it, but nope. He'll make his way around the counter at least, taking a look at what's up for display. )

Guess we have to serve ourselves here.

3

[mooninthewater]

[ Mizuki had waited by the portal back to the ship for a long time. It wasn't hard, since the zombies didn't come into the diner, but that doesn't mean that he just sat in there. It makes sense that he'd want to clear the outside, right? It makes sense that he'd want to make it safe for everyone. To make it easy for everyone to get inside. To leave it clear for when Venti gets back to the diner, surely.

…

But he never came.

And thus, when it got dark, and Ebalon had pulled him inside, Mizuki had attempted to quell that bubbling anxiety in his chest. It's okay, he'll be back. It's okay, you prepared for this. It's okay, you talked about this. It's okay, death isn't permanent. It's okay, things are going to be normal tomorrow. It's okay, it's okay, it's okay…

And for a while, the words did… something. To say they "helped" might be disingenuous. They didn't make him feel better, but them made him feel numb, so maybe that could be worse? Who knows. It's hard for him to put his thoughts together on a normal day, let alone with a circumstance like this.

But then the next day, he doesn't immediately see Venti around. And then the day that and after that and after that, and suddenly all the "It's okay"s turn to "You didn't protect him." He should have done more. He should have gone out to look for him. He should have stuck by him. He shouldn't have left the "finish line" before anyone else. It's his fault that Venti died. Once again, he failed to protect the people he cared about. Maybe he'll never be able to? Maybe he'll always be weak?

And maybe when he spots Venti's wisp form floating around the bar to try and get in instead of trying to find Mizuki who's been worried sick about him, he nearly breaks down on the spot. Nearly. But he's like this, now. In a small form that Mizuki can easily hold and protect and though it may be more fragile, he can make sure nothing happens to Venti like this. Because nothing can happen to Venti. Mizuki is realizing that he just… can't… deal with death. Even if it is cheap.

Maybe he really can't change his mental.

He staggers towards the wisp to cup hands around him before he can slip into the bar somehow and just falls to his knees to cradle him close. He doesn't say anything. His voice might be broken right now. ]

[wimdy]

[ he's not very catlike or so he would think, but it might be that he is occasionally. he's capricious. he likes hanging around his favorite people, bothering them, meowing loudly in their faces, but can also fuck off and barely be found at the most inconvenient times. independent, probably, maybe to a fault or he thinks of himself as that. and...

he doesn't actually want to show his weakness. it's not a conscious thought exactly, though he has the vague feeling that--he wants to see mizuki, of course he does. but still, he'd woken up tiredly from sleep and practically just wants to hibernate again for another week or month. if his mind wanders, it wanders back to trying to save caitlyn, to the sight of that corpse wearing his braids and that familiar cloak, bony and decaying hands and fingers clawing at him. the grip of the dead clutching to his limbs, his wings, tearing--

it had actually hurt more than a moon or a scythe.

rather unconsciously, he has the vague feeling he needs to get his shit together before he could look for mizuki. he'd rather sleep or drink. drink never lets him down! so here he is in front of his favorite bar, but then there's the sound of footsteps and he looks back to see mizuki, mizuki grasping to him and falling to his knees and... oh. maybe he should've gone to see him. he knows this, but he's weak. he made mizuki worry. he died, he was unsuccessful in saving caitlyn, he just failed on so many fronts, what can he even say or do?

he offers a soft chirp, the sweep and flutter of his wing to mizuki's cheek. he's tired. maybe he can't do much or never had done much at all. ]

[mooninthewater]

[ He isn't mad, really. He knows Venti has his reasons for not wanting to see Mizuki. Perhaps ending up in this form is even one of the reasons? He doesn't know for sure. He doesn't really care in the moment. Nothing really matters beyond the relief of just having Venti here. ]

I'm sorry. [ He can't imagine how Venti might even be feeling right now. What he saw. What he felt. ] I-I didn't mean to leave you be. I just… I thought if I waited by the diner, you'd— [ Excuses. ]

I'm so sorry. [ He gently runs a thumb over the top of his head. ] I… I really am trying to do better. To protect you. To not let stuff like this affect me, but… [ Sniff. ] I hate, hate, hate the thought of anything happening to you.

5

[winepouring]

[ Ah...

Seeing someone sitting alone surrounded by bottles of wine, a small needle pricks at Shi Qingxuan's heart. He knows the look of drinking one's thoughts away, until there's no room in the brain for anything other than the comfortable, heady buzz of wine.

The fact this man himself doesn't look that old only adds to the sharp sense of sympathy. Even if he can't know what, exactly, is the root of this current feelings are.

What a sad state, he thinks, before inviting himself to slip into one of the chairs at the table. ]

It's not good to drink alone. [ His voice is light and airy, friendly rather than reprimanding. ] If you're going to drink, then you should have some company.

[ And aren't you lucky? Company has invited itself! ]

[wimdy]

[ yeah... he definitely doesn't look old enough to drink, but here he is being served by ghosts who offer up bottles to him practically with the tired resignation to a very familiar regular and binge drinker customer. this is one of his favorite haunts! and if it's possible to put a dent into the very formidable if not limitless alcohol supply on the ship, venti would do his best to do that.

he's halfway through what might be bottle twenty-something (yeah...) before qingxuan appears to take a seat opposite him; there's a blink, a tilt of his head. the small smile he offers is... he means for it to be nice and friendly like he always is, but it's probably only fatigued now and barely anything else. ] Hm~m, you're not wrong. I usually do like drinking with others. But...

[ actually, he's extremely talkative and cheerful but. just not now. he seems to be at a loss for what he'd try to say after that, and just kind of comes up with nothing. so he simply refills his glass, then a ghost brings over another highball for qingxuan, and he fills that one for him.

the air around him is still and flat. ]

[winepouring]

Oh, thank you!

[ Shi Qingxuan grabs his glass and lifts it in his hand as he waits for Venti to continue. Seeing so many empty bottles around him, Shi Qingxuan wonders if it's not that he had companions earlier, but they had just left him alone at the end...

If that's the case, Shi Qingxuan really can't just abandon him. Venti might not be feeling chatty, but Shi Qingxuan is still as chatty and friendly as ever. His tired smile is met with a brighter one as Shi Qingxuan proclaims: ]

Well, since you like drinking together then I, Shi Qingxuan, shall drink with you.

[ Let's put this bar out of business! ...is something he would say, if the atmosphere wasn't so oppressive. For the Wind Master, the air falling still and stagnant, even indoors, is an uncomfortable and foreboding sensation not unlike being trapped. It doesn't take more than a flick of his fingers against the side of his glass to make the air start moving again, though, even if only for a moment. ]

So, what's this young master's name?

1

[theweakhavepurpose]

[Pratt has noticed the strange little critter fluttering around for a while now, starting to follow it on the off chance it's the lil dude from Journey and is going to lead him on a whirlwind adventure.

But the longer he watches it, the more it looks like it's confused and maybe bordering on exhaustion. Pratt approaches the wisp carefully, trying to catch it like a humongous moth in both hands so it'll stop drunkenly bumbling around.]

Hey buddy, you okay?

[wimdy]

[ the journey dude is so much more legit than he is. especially because it’s journeying to hike a mountain, whereas venti is journeying his way over to a bar to try to get wasted, if that’s even possible for him right now.

he’s in a state where he’s practically too fatigued to even fly properly, and might be in danger of just careening down to the ground when pratt catches him. and so instead of eating dirt it blinks up beady eyes up at pratt and gives a brief little chirp.

and then just. sits down in his palms.

not exactly docile, just seeming kind of tired and given up. ]

[theweakhavepurpose]

Aight. Let's get you some water huh? You seem sorta... not doing so hot.

[He has no idea the weird creature he's caught is sentient, but boy is Pratt the kind of person to talk to animals like they're people.]

Dunno what you are lil dude, but are you hungry or anything? Need a soft place to sleep?

4

[killed]

[ The remnants of former passengers are passable enough in their work, but as one would expect, they lack the finesse and expertise of a fully formed human being. Hiyori is no expert in the matter of bartending, but he knows more than enough to slip behind the bar and pass himself as one. ]

The service here truly is inadequate, isn't it? Please, let me help you... What can I get for you, my friend?

[ Give him a moment and he'll rattle off the various liquors to see which one garners a response. ]

[wimdy]

[ ah, someone helpful! someone sympathetic to an alcoholic… tiny… little fairy thing. someone who isn’t actually a mute ghost. yes please, he’ll take…

well, he’ll take just about any wine on offer. but just maybe he’d be especially louder in squeaking for one of the older vintages on the top shelf because he wants to get wasted if that’s even possible for a tiny, whatever he is, not that hiyori would know. wine! wine! wine!! ]

[killed]

[ If his size was a suggestion of how easy it were for him, then he should be felled by a single glass. Alas, it's hard to know with the supernatural and harder to know with a person who seems to know their wines well enough. He hums before taking a red bottle off the shelf, an
1978 E. Guigal Cote Rotie La Mouline setting it down on the counter before adding a pair of glasses. ]

Have you tried this one before? Wine connoisseurs claim it to be one of the best in history...

[ He pops the cork off and rolls off a drop stopper, pouring wine into both glasses in a practiced manner; his hold toward the bottom, the label facing, slowly pouring in about five ounces. He slides the second one in front of the adjacent seat, walking around to sit next to him, fingertips touching the stem without taking it up. ]

Going through a difficult time? Ah, though I suppose everyone here is...

[ There's only so many reasons a person (?) would be fighting with the incorporeal to get a glass of wine. Either that or they're that much of a lush. ]