[open] i miss the days when life was so simple

[concierto]

Who: Venti & You!
Which: Open Log
Where: The Ever Blossoming Grove, Reverein Markets & The Wishing Well
What: Two very dear friends leave Songerein and a bard sings them adieu. Venti also takes advantage of some free samples and fake things.
Warnings: Tba.


[🎐 a. poems in the grove]

[Nestled somewhere deep in the wildflowers and foliage of the newly appeared Ever-Blossoming Grove the sound of a mourning lyre can be heard. Soft and melancholy notes that sound light and airy. Yet, listening to the musical notes will give anyone a sense of warmth deep in their chest like saying goodbye to an old and dear friend.

Linger around and a melodious voice can be heard singing. The voice is pitched with longing and sweetness.]

When lovers part at eventide
To meet again tomorrow,
With laughing lips and backward glance,
Undimmed by thought of sorrow,
Ah, then, as glows the sickle moon,
And soft distils the dew,
What other word so fitting sweet
As, "Love, adieu, adieu"?

When true friends part whose lives in one,
Like rippling streamlets blended,
As clinging hands and tearful eyes
Bespeak that all is ended,
Ah, then beneath life's winter noon,
Or autumn's stormier sky,
What word so fond on friendship's lips
As, "Friend, goodbye, goodbye"?

[Perhaps the natural draw of this beautiful and nostalgic place brings others near. Or the sound of Venti’s gentle singing. Or perhaps it’s the special promise of healing that this place has to give while exploring the wilds. Either way, the wisp of wind that brushes past your ear to tickle your hair will urge you to come closer and listen or even say hello!]

[🎐 b. all you can eat sweets]

[Now that Reverein has returned back to its non-sugary state Venti is once again bard-shaped and no longer a sugar plum fairy. But it seems Venti’s sweet tooth hasn’t vanished with the change. He happily explores the newly arrived bakeries and sweet shops that have appeared in Reverein’s markets and he is happy to see that at least some of the buildings have remained as gingerbread structures.

Venti can be found sneaking into the warm buildings to escape any of the chilly snowy weather outside. He is happy to warm his hands together as he browses the collections of baked goods and sweets and takes advantage of the free samples. He doesn’t have anything in exchange to get himself a real cake or some cookies so he is spending his day snacking on anything that’s entirely free. What a freeloader...]

Oh? Free samples? Shortbread cookies? Don’t mind if I do!

[Venti snatches yet another cookie and starts to nibble on it like a happy little bird. Maybe someone should stop him before he gets in trouble for taking so many samples...

But it is called ALL YOU CAN EAT Sweets, isn’t it? Take advantage of the system!]

[🎐 c. dreamboard: clean out the well]

[Someone has poisoned the water hole?! No- Not exactly. Someone has filled the wishing well with fake wishing baubles. And while Venti can appreciate the craftsmanship of counterfeit products he is here at the well to see if he can give a hand.

And maybe see if using any of the fakes actually work.

Venti is leaning over the edge of the wishing well, his toes barely touching the ground as he sticks his head and arms into the well to try and reach any of the fake bits all on his own. But he’s a bit too short... His feet kick and Venti starts to precariously lose his balance! you would think a god would have a little more poise]

Ehe?! Quickly! Please, grab me before I fall in?!

[🎐 d. wildcard]

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

Comments

[concierto]

[This is alright.]

The sweet smell of wildflowers nestled deep inside the wilds. Everlasting healing sunlight that seeps into your skin and bones. The gentle calm and safety of the trees and grass.

[Venti nods.]

This is most definitely Miss Oriphi's dream for us.

[judicialassistant]

[ Susato is quiet, allowing the thought to sink in as she composes herself. She forces a bit of a smile, because it truly is a sweet dream. An everlasting grove, with something of a barrier to protect the wildlife and visitors...

There's a slow glance from where they sit, and suddenly, her eyes catch on a large willow tree in the grove's center.

Just then, there is the melody of a birdsong, and the hummingbird from whence it came flies closely around them in a circle. Susato tries to follow it with her gaze, but just after it finishes the circle, it stops in front of her, then flies towards the willow tree.

Beckoning. ]

Oh!

[concierto]

[Venti is a bit surprised to see the new bird appearing from the trees as well! Hummingbirds are very rare, aren't they? How curious...!!]

It seems we have a new friend! Should we follow it?

[He's already hopping up from his spot and holding his hand out to her to beckon her to follow. The wind is rustling the leaves of the large willow tree like a song itself. Venti would also like to know where this leads!]

[judicialassistant]

[ Well, Venti appears to have decided for them, but Susato would have said yes anyway. The hummingbird makes her think of an old friend, after all, but she tries not to dwell on it; because she knows this one isn't Aerith. She smiles brightly regardless and stands up after Venti, looking on eagerly. ]

Yes, of course. What could it be trying to show us?

[ ...Or was she just imagining that?

As they approach the large willow tree, however, there is a dark hollow that already comes into view, and the little bird disappears inside of it. ]

[concierto]

Why don't we find out?

[Venti is very curious about where the little bird might be leading them. To something important, he thinks. Oriphi always had a keen eye for details. And if she dreamed this place into being...

As they follow Venti will feel the flourish of the healing energy on his skin. It makes him shiver a moment before his awe is replaced with surprise at the hollow they're led to. Venti curiously peers into it as he follows the little feathered friend... And there in the grove they'll see a little collection of shiny little wishing baubles...]

Oh, what's this... Another treasure meant for us to find?

[judicialassistant]

[ Susato similarly shivers at the wave of healing energy, and she realizes that it feels familiar. Remembering the night they all faced Eustace, she thinks this must be Ori's doing. Ori's spell. ]

These are... [ She pulls a bauble out from its resting place within the hollow, seeing that there are five more like it. They sit atop various letters, acting like paper weights. Already she can see scribbling atop the first letter, suggesting that they are all addressed to someone. ] baubles meant for Reverein's wishing well?

[ They'll have to be moved before the letters can properly taken out, so Susato reaches for another bauble, and then another, as her hands allow. ]

[concierto]

It would seem so! Why would they be stashed here?

[Venti seems curious enough to help her pull out the baubles. As they do it seems the little stack of paper letters tumbles down and Venti picks them up with careful fingers before they get dirty.]

What's this...? [Venti's expression softens.] It seems they are letters addressed to various people... One for me? And including one for you, Miss Susato. [He holds it out to her.]

1/2

[judicialassistant]

[ Susato doesn't have the answers just yet; she's examining the baubles, because she knows that the fake ones were an issue for a while; but she does accept the letter when Venti offers it. ]

For me?

[judicialassistant]

[ And... She is rather quiet while she reads it, swallowing. Breathing in every word. She can still hear Ori's voice so clearly, it is as if the tiefling were reading it directly to her. ]

Oh.

[ What is she supposed to say to that? How can she respond?

She can't, and it's terribly unfair. Give her a minute. ]

[concierto]

[Venti has a feeling that these letters are directly related to Oriphi and perhaps Diluc as well. She was always a wonderfully thoughtful woman. She would be the type to leave letters behind... Just in case.

And Susato's quiet expression says a thousand pages of words.]

It's alright.

[The archon whispers softly and pats a hand to the back of her hand.]

[judicialassistant]

[ She bites her lip as she feels Venti's hand on her own. She sucks in a breath of air to steady herself, because Ori has entrusted the task to her to make sure nobody loses heart, and she wouldn't be able to do that if she did so herself.

And then, once she feels like it has been long enough, she carefully folds the letter back up, treating it as delicately as one would a treasure. It is the only thing she has left of Ori now. ]

It is.

[ It will be. ]

...We should leave the rest for the others to find. No doubt they will be drawn here the same way we were.

[concierto]

A sound idea.

[Venti will let the girl take her time with processing the words. He'll then take a moment to read his own letter which touches his heart as a friend and as an archon. She speaks of taking care of Diluc which is something Venti will always do... Yet, a part of him hopes that somehow their souls find each other again sooner than later.

He smiles softly and tucks his own letter away. More than used to the ache of a lost friend. But happy that the memories were made.

Venti holds out his hand to Susato.]

Shall we head back? I believe we have a few more songs to sing.

[judicialassistant]

[ Susato watches him as he tucks his own letter away... There is a lingering curiosity; she wonders how well he and Ori knew each other, but ultimately, she does not intrude. There is a simple nod of her head.

For a brief moment, she wonders how things would have been different, had she come and read that letter alone, and she is all the more thankful that Venti was there with her. ]

Yes, of course. May I hear another song for our journey back?

🎀

[concierto]

For you, Miss Susato? I would never refuse!

[And with that Venti will sing another song for her as they journey back.]