Chapter Text
If you think about it, he was in house arrest.
Not really. He really didn’t have to think about it, he knew he was in one. Like convicted criminals, he’d get temporary punishment for supposedly helping a young lady out in the streets like a good believer in the heavens and morals. And also replace “house” arrest with “office building”
So much for justice… and conviction.
Pizza tastes weirder in his tastebuds than usual, he thought.
Jesse ordered pizza for the entire floor of the office, (which he was not aware of, nor he was informed of such a thing), for celebration of a respected co-worker he did not know of any way. The only person he technically ‘knows’ at the same floor was Jesse, and didn’t even bother talking to anyone else since his first recruitment, other than the well— quite eccentric fellows who introduced themselves from yesterday, it seems. In fact, he was probably the only people who didn’t know the celebrant.
So imagine his surprise when he took the first bite of his slice from the biggest pizza circle he had ever seen. It seems like a good size for two heads altogether.
His mouth gagged a little. It definitely didn’t taste bad, but his mouth was literally overloaded with flavor and it took him a while to adjust. While she was cutting the pizza in their shared office room preparing it for the main floor, Venti’s reflexes told him to spit it at the floor. She looked at him, concerned.
“What’s wrong? Is it cold?” she asked.
Venti looked at her, embarrassed, “No— haha, no, just—” he tried to clean his mess by grabbing a towel from his table, “Let me just do this for a second—” he leans down at the mess and mutters his apologies.
She shrugged, “You get first taste, so I’m wondering if it tastes bad or not…” she stared at his mess, blinking.
“No, no, nothing alike. It’s just… how can I say this… I’m not used to it?” he cuts off as he tries to explain it. It’s not like he never had pizza before in his life, oh he definitely had it in Mondstadt, but they were small, and usually… much less oily? Also, they didn’t have strange little red patches on top that tasted like meat, his version was simply cheese and mushroom.
“Well, I’m interested now, what’s your version like?” she asked
Venti threw the paper towel he used to clean in the nearby trash can, “Well, for starters, it’s much smaller than that. Just like the size of my hand,” he held up his hand for comparison, “—and it has cheese, tomato, and mushroom, so we call it mushroom pizza… And we don’t have those ah, circle, things—?”
She answered, “Oh, you mean pepperoni?”
He sat down at his desk, “Yeah, sorry, I forgot what it’s called. I’m pretty sure I had that back home, but maybe I don’t eat it as much. But either way, what irks me most is the fact that it’s— very… greasy. But I’m sure it’s a style, either way, there’s no shame in that!”
Jesse hummed, “I see. So like an Italian margarita then. But you’re not wrong. The amount of oil in these is probably enough to start up an entire car… I guess that’s a bit of a problem in the long run.”
Venti frowned, that word again… ‘car’ he heard it a couple times yesterday among mutters of people, he didn’t really remember the details but he heard the lines of, Yeah, did you hear that my ‘car’ warranty went out or something… he didn’t hear out the rest, but it seemed like a pretty common word among the folks.
Which tells him something he was planning to do…
“Hey, Jesse?” he looked at her.
“Hm?”
“Do you know any places where I can search for information? Like, basic things and stuff, and you know, information in general?”
“Well, you can try a library around here. I can give you a location to some public libraries that have tons of things you can research on. Just some have earlier closing hours than usual…” she cutted off, “If you want, I can send you the addresses on a piece of paper and you can follow those.”
Venti cringed a little inside, he never mentioned to her he was in “building” arrest right now and he can’t go outside without Fitzgerald’s permission, and he’s pretty sure he can see the outcome if he asks if he can go outside because he needs to go to a library, he’s gonna get suspicious and be like, ‘Hey, how come you don’t know anything about the place you’re going in, not even a little bit!’, and he won’t doubt that he’ll go on a trance over how he can’t go outside since he’s basically wanted and all of that. Which he knows…
But it didn’t suck any less.
Even with his fake backstory going on, he knows they’re onto him after their… less than pleasant opinion on him after he eavesdropped on what was supposed to be Louisa and Fitzgerald yesterday. It still left a sour taste in his mouth, but he knew deep down if he were them he would have thought the same thing too… Again, doesn't mean it sucked any less.
There was still a slither of hope he could sell that backstory thing if he just tried harder. Acting classes are something he should really take before…
So he still has a question in his mind that irks him a bit… Which is—
“Venti?” Jesse repeatedly asked, concerned.
He shook his head in his trance and looked at her, confused, “Huh— oh sorry, what were you saying?”
“You blanked out earlier… Do you want me to give the addresses?”
He stammered, “Ah, no, sorry, forget that…”, Venti thought, this world is much more advanced than Mondstadt, or any nation for that fact, so there might be a way for obtaining information other than books, “—do you know any other way in like, obtaining information? I really need this…” he desperately asked, looking at her.
Jesse offered, “Well then, maybe just search it up? The internet has been acting up on this floor for a while so I recommended the library first, but if you get enough signal you’ll be able to open an Internet Explorer tab just fine. Or you can just use wired internet, which is optimal, but we don’t have any in this office…”
Her words flew over Venti’s head, like usual. Which is why he needed to search up things. But to search things he needed to know the things used to research. Very contradictory, not fun for him.
Last resort, then.
Venti, “Uh— excuse me, what is an ‘internet?’”
Jesse blinked a few times before looking at Venti, “Huh?”
He closed his lips, “Ah, I’m sorry. You see— I lived in a rural place which rarely has any technology these days, grew up with an old person you know… not really familiar” he paused, should he really risk his trust with her? After all, she was the only friendly person he stayed around him, and he was not looking forward into losing her anytime soon. But then again, she only was nice because Fitzgerald told her so.
Venti looks at the unknown people outside the bounds of the office room window, he wonders if she’ll just be any of these people if she was never instructed to do so. Would she still be as kind?
He shrugs his head, not really the time for such pessimistic thoughts…
“Oh?” she looked in curiosity, stirring her coffee which she brewed in a machine.
Venti nodded, not saying anything as he clicked his pen on the table, figuring out how to approach it.
“I see. Okay.” her mouth curled into a smile as she looked at him, and she approached, holding her breath, before taking back Venti by surprise as she spoke,,
“Really!? Wait, okay, okay… So where do you come from? Where? How did you end up here? So internet is a new concept for you? How?” He was taken a bit by surprise as she held both of his hands in excitement, confused by such a sudden change in person.
“Uhhh—” Venti looked over to the side as she widened her smile, before she let go of his hand apologetically.
She coughed embarrassedly, “I’m sorry. That was a bit unprofessional of me…”, before sipping her coffee, flushed, “—It’s just that we’re really alike!”, Venti raised an eyebrow at her and said in his mind sarcastically, like dropped off a dumpster, not knowing anything? Noticing his curiosity, she continued,
“Well, I’m kind of like you… The Internet is a kinda new concept for me as well, seeing as I grew up in a very rural, countryside in Mississippi. I mean, I knew what the internet was, and all of that, but I was never given a phone or anything like that. People say it’s kind of strange, seeing my age, you know, ‘she’s really young!’ so I see their shock when I tell them my family doesn't have a shared computer like people more upstate…” she rambled as most of the words flew over his head.
He sat there silently, nodding his head over her rant. Surprisingly, he was interested in her as well. So not all the people over here not know all of technology as well? I mean, that’s kind of fair, people in Mondstadt get shocked at the idea of a camera that came from Fontaine.
Which also makes his job a lot easier now, at least he has someone to relate to.
She asked him with genuine glint in her eyes, “So, what state do you come from? Countryside as well? I heard some areas of Texas have never heard of the term before…”
State? Well, new thing to research as well, as along with the other things he wasn’t even sure he even remembers anymore, but oh well.
Little steps.
“No— I don’t particularly live here—” he blabbered out as he rephrased it, “—I-I mean, sorry, what I mean is that I don’t come from here.” she nodded in understanding, asking him if he wants coffee, in which he declines. He’s never very fond of it in the first place.
“Oh, so you’re an immigrant, then?” she asks, placing her papers on her desk.
He didn’t know the word, but he still agreed, hoping his guts were right, “Yes— yes, in a way you can say that. I came from another place, land, er— whatever you’re comfortable with.” he ended abruptly, as she looked at him quite blankly.
Was he suspicious? Uh-oh.
“Oh! Okay, if you don’t mind, what place?” Her face came back giddy, so he ignored her shortcoming expression earlier, after all, he barely got any proper sleep last night.
He tried to look solemnly at her face, looking at her blankly.
“…”
Jesse widened her eyes apologetically, “Oh! Sorry, forgive me. I shouldn’t pry…'' She closed her mouth as an awkward silence filled the room with tension that could be cut with a knife.
He missed Mondstadt. He didn’t exactly ‘ try’ .
“Thanks for sharing your experience though.” she nodded in response,
She offered, “Well, if that’s the case, I can help you with all of it, and the basics of it, if you can. I assume you have those books I gave to you last night, right? Sorry if it’s a bit heavy to carry, but it’s the basics of paperwork and all those jargon.”
He nodded. It was placed on the big table-workplace along with his journal.
“Alright. Do you have a flip-phone?” she pulled hers out.
Venti shook his head at the questionable small item he sees all the time.
“Well that's…” she looks stuck, looking around the room, looking as if she was trying to solve an unsolvable problem, like she is ready to give up, “—Okay. I can ask Fitzgerald for one, if you want, seeing as you were in this position in the first place! You must be an important person, then. Must be nice to get a good job though!” she smiled through, before muttering a question in silence,
“I wonder how you got this job, then?” she questioned, tilting her head.
Venti looked at her and quickly responded, “Personal… relations… Background... things.” he quickly left it at that. Jesse got the hint he didn’t want to elaborate any further.
“Hm. Alright.” She stopped the topic as she pulled him out of the office, saying that she needs to show him something.
They both walked out, seeing cubicles upon cubicles of computers, sticky notes, and documents laid out. Some messy, some neat, and some barely anything in it. She pointed towards an empty stall without anything on the desk except for a huge off-white yellowish box along with a rectangle on the desk of what seems to be tiny squares within it and murmured to her co-workers about it, before deciding to nod at him, urging him to follow her further.
“Sit down.” he complied, sitting down at the thing in front of it.
“I have to boot up the computer.” she mumbled as she clicked a button and held it until a screen in front of it had text.
It was called a computer, Venti notes. Atleast he had something to say to seem like he actually knows something about it. He fumbles around his feet, following Jesse’s hands as she navigates through whatever machinery he’s looking at.
“Alright! Ever used a computer?” she asked.
“No.” for once, Venti answered frankly.
Taken back slightly at his unusual response, something he thinks no one has probably said before, she upped herself and nodded, “Raised by a boomer, I see. That’s fine. You’re lucky your job doesn't require much digital knowledge, atleast, from my experience, but if anything I’ll help. Arranging physical papers doesn't take much, but at times your brain just kinda shuts down and you forget some things…”
“Ehem. Anyways—” she cleared her throat and opened a application, “This is internet explorer, and this is where you search things, like I said the internet here isn’t very good here at the moment but I found some wire—”
The demonstration took a few hours, or many minutes, (he didn’t count) and he’d expect people to look at him weirdly for it, but surprisingly, nobody did. Sure, they stole a squinted glance at both of them, but they all returned to their places and places, not batting an eye for the second time.
His head swirled as she explained it, but he tried his best.
“So, what you’re saying is, I can search anything and everything in here—?” Venti looks at the keyboard containing each letter.
“Yes, that is what the internet is for, from what you heard of course,” she nodded.
“I’ve heard,” he shortly said.
He didn’t.
There was a brief pause when he put his hands on the keyboard, his eyes wandering over the screen.
“ Anything?”
“Yes, anything.”
“Everything?”
“Mhm.”
“Like, anything and everything?” Venti looked skeptically at the box.
“Uh— I wouldn't really try to search for something illegal there, if that’s what you’re thinking. Or, don’t go to MySpace for that fact. If possible.” she cringed as she explained that there was still laws about internet usage and authorities can still hold you liable for it.
“Huh.” was all Venti managed to reply as he typed a few words in the search bar, the results popping out after a few seconds. He hovered his right hand over his mouse and clicked on the ‘Images’ tab, his eyes mesmerized at the amount of pictures he was able to get after a few seconds of just pressing buttons.
He smirked.
Oh, what the academia wouldn't do for this…
Sumeru has its perks, such as being the most technologically advanced in terms of medicine and research, but it was always held back because of how long it took to gather information, or alas the lack of it. Sometimes. But he wouldn't really say that was entirely accurate, he’d never been a researcher for one— but he always observed it when he grabbed an academic book from the shelf and saw that the final step of the research was always five years behind, or even in the more extreme ten years.
Yes, Venti does read.
He turned over to her, “Can I use this computer? Or is it like—”
“—Sure! Sure, I choose this one stall specifically because no one works here in the first place. You know, someone fired him because of uhh… Well that’s another story. But yeah, you can use it.” she replied almost instantly, causing Venti to irk a small smile across his face.
Venti asked, “Is there any possible way to like, I dunno, place it in my room? I-I mean, no pressure though, it can stay here if it wants, I’m just asking here.”
“Ah! Well, you can always request a work laptop, if you want.”
He titled his head.
“Oh! It’s like this—” she placed her hands over the computer, “—but like, smaller! It still does the job though. I can always ask staff, they have plenty.” she grabbed a small to-do list from her inner coat pocket and wrote a few words,
“I can ask them now, because I need to go downstairs… now.” she looked at the clock in an empty hall, “You know, usual work things. Crisis aversion and management have been going… well not quite okay. I’ll see you when I can.” she said her goodbyes as she handed him a sticky note of his required tasks to do for today— his job.
She walked off quite quickly from the scene as her previous voice was replaced with calls, rings, and sounds of typing and talking over each other with wide cups. He blinked his eyes as he looked at the untouched computer he just used.
He jumped as he heard a hand slammed at his desk where he laid his head at and dozed off, shaking his hands as Venti tried to look at the source of the perpetrator— the cause of his sudden rise.
Venti looked at the small, quite shiny looking object that was placed on his table, his head looking up to see a familiar blonde person.
“Oi.” he yelled, titled to his eye level, waking him up aggressively.
“W-wha— huh?” he looked at Fitzgerald as he smirked at him as they looked eye-contact, grabbing the back of his hair before letting go and leaning back, standing up properly as Venti sat down properly, his head in a doozy after such alarm.
He looked at the office door, unlocked.
“Huh? How did you get here?” he looked at the unlocked door he just locked earlier after eating lunch on his desk and before dozing off.
Fitzgerald resisted the urge to roll his eyes, “You forget I own this building, right?” he looked at him before turning his back and pointing at the object he just gave to him. Still, Venti was baffled. Does he not have atleast some sense of privacy at all? Why can’t he just wait for him to go outside the office?
“Go. it’s yours now.” he tilts his head at the object, urging Venti to hold it.
He examined it, looking at Fitzgerald again with a weak smile and a bead of sweat at his forehead, trying to look like he actually knows what he’s talking about in the first place. Why’d he give something to him? Well, that was the question.
His arms jumbled around the object as he tried to catch it after it accidentally fell in his hands.
“Uh, sorry, what is this, uh— supposed to be?”
His eyebrows raised as he walked slowly in circles, “Your new possession of course! Something I would personally give you, so you can thank me later.” he finished it off at that.
“Huh.” he said confusingly as he saw a crack in the object, opening to be greeted by a white screen with small text embedded in it.
“Huh indeed. It’s a flip phone, because you said you didn’t have one— or, Jesse said you didn’t have one, so now, I gave one to you. It’s that simple, really,” he continued, “Don’t try to break it or something, I won’t give you a new one. And don’t cry that I didn’t give you one.”
The phone made a sound as Venti closed it, “I see. Well, why didn’t you just give it to her and give it back to me? I don’t know, you seem like a pretty busy man, so I don’t see the reason why you needed to give it directly? I-I mean no offense, I’m just curious.” he clarified.
Fitzgerald clapped his hands, “—And that!” he said in a pause, “—Is the question folks! He asked for it! Why did I need to go here in the first place? That’s a wonderful observation right there. Mmm.” he resounded as he walked towards his desk in a pacing manner.
“Don’t do anything stupid.” he whispered almost quietly as his face was edging near Venti.
Venti blinked, taken aback, “Huh?”
He rolled his eyes as he stood normally now, “Don’t ‘huh’ me, we had an agreement. There was a reason why I was adamant from giving you this item in this first place. Do we understand?”
“No. Not really?”
Fitzgerald turned around quickly once again, giving him a mean look, “‘No, not really?’ Do you know who you’re talking to, Venti?”
“Of course! Your name is Scott. Unless you have a different name I don’t know of…”
They stood silent there for a few seconds before Fitzgerald blinked and coughed his voice back, gaining control of the conversation, “Anyways. I was just saying don’t do any shit that will screw me, you, and anything. Are we clear?” he repeated as Venti was staring at the wall, not responding immediately.
He shook his head as he replied, “Uh, no. Not clear. How exactly will this… flip phone bring me danger? What, will it like— a monster appear from out of nowhere and kill us all if I do anything wrong?” he asked in genuinity as he stared at the small, black, object.
“Haha. No.” he continued, “—Just don’t add anyone there or interact with anyone… from the outside. That’s out of bounds for now. You already know what I said like, uh— what was it? Three days ago?”
“Yesterday.”
“—Yesterday. Straight to the point here Venti, don’t message or add any contacts here that isn’t mine. I assume you wanted this so you can call people, and when I heard the idea from her I was adamant from giving you it.”
That’s funny that Fitzgerald thinks that… He barely even know the function of the gift he was given earlier. So it’s like a communication device, then? Venti wonders why he was so insistent upon it that he had to come down here in the first place.
Hm.
“Alright. Got it. So… are you gonna exit now?’ Venti said as he glanced towards the unlocked office door Fitzgerald barged into, “I mean, I barely even started working over here, and papers are really heavy, so I would really appreciate it if you let me continue like you said I would…”
“Uh-huh.” Fitzgerald side-eyed at his dishheleved suit he had on due to sleeping, “If you’re so sure about that then. I’ll be going.”
Venti sighed as he turned around and took tiny, small steps towards the door.
Finally…
He watched as Fitzgerald disappear into the distance of the hallways. Venti took his time to stand up and close the blinds of his window-office from the outside parts of the floor and sighed as he saw the door just left open, Fitzgerald not even bothering to close it.
I don’t even have keys for this… pretty sure Jesse has one, but the best I can do is to lock it from the inside.
The time ticks eleven in the morning as he walked towards his desk again, holding up his pen. He stares at the box the flip phone contained inside and opened it again, carefully opening the two sided phone and the keypad that encapsulated the botton and the small screen at the top.
After fiddling around for a while, he stumbled across a ‘contacts section’
It contained only one number, and two message from the same person.
FITZGERALD
1 (212) 774-232
Fitzgerald: don’t txt/call any1 else w/o my permission
Fitzgerald: i’m ok w jesse giving her number to u
He stares at the text for a minute, trying to deciper what he was supposed to even mean due to the symbols. He really needs that laptop or whatever Jesse mentioned earlier this morning. However, he did deciper a bit on what he meant.
First message is to not communicate with anyone he dosen’t approve, which is already given because Fitzgerald literally trespassed on the locked door earlier, and assuming the second meant that he’s alright with Jesse’s contacts on his phone.
Well, fair enough.
He groans as he tried to move freely on his new uniform. He hated suits. No, scratch that, Venti hated all types of formal wear. It was just so… restricting. He didn’t have anything against fashion, just that formal wear is always so infuriating, and the number one culprit is always the dress suit.
Venti stretched his back as he opened the blinds to the window that was overlooking the city. The sun hit his eyes, just the way he liked it. Silence hit the rays as the cold air from the weird machine was cooling the room.
Work, work work… he sighed.
He didn’t have lunch. Why would he?
He did say that archons didn’t need food, but relied only on the energy of their worshippers, and since he really didn’t have that he needed to rely on food instead. But dear Celestia— was he lazy…
Crazy, he knows. How can such a glutton in alcohol not eat food?
Duh. Cause he dosen’t need it in Teyvat. He dosen’t need energy. Venti didn’t fight as much as he used to, and even his presence at Teyvat itself gave him some form of energy besides food and worshippers. Was the source from leylines? Being a element bearer? A former god? He didn’t care, and he wasn’t gonna think about it now.
However, he felt the immediate consequences when he skipped the time of day to eat at noon and skipped along the ways of the elevator, (which was usually crammed at this time) and held his card towards the sensor of the door.
Venti processed his desicion to do so about it in around five seconds, or four.
Here was his thinking process: “If I don’t know information, how am I supposed to live in a new world? And if I’m supposed to live in a new world, how am I supposed to function with asking questions everyday? Aha! I know, what about skipping the most important part of the day that was required to gain energy for thoughts in exchange for information? Surely that is a effecient way to retain it!
Firstly, events before the disaster:
Venti saw another huge box, colored white at his bed. The assigned maids of the area cleaned his room probably after he left to go to the main office building due to the nicely cleaned and folded sheets beside. The box came with a little red ribbon on top with a note attached to it,
To Room 25:
Hi Venti! Sorry if this note was in a rush, or if you notice any bad handwritings, but I’m a bit in a rush right now as of writing this. Here is the requested laptop that you wanted to have, I hope you enjoy yourself :)
Happy company goals!
- Jesse
Venti discarded the note carefully aside and untied the red ribbon, opening it to see a white-out laptop that was neatly placed along with wires and a manual along the sides of the packaging. He carried it down to the large table among the somewhat make up drawing room.
It is kind of heavy… Venti thinks as the box dropped in a thud.
Now here comes the hard part, actually knowing how to use it.
Luckily there was a small, pocketbook manual that came with it, describing basic things he needed to know. After a few tries and a couple of angry attempts from the small handwriting of the book, he finally got it to work after plugging it the on the wall(?) or what he describes it anyways.
Second thing that happened:
So, a bit of confession from himself,
He didn’t expect it to be so fast…
No, don’t get him wrong when he said that, Venti wasn’t talking about how fast the laptop is or how efficient it was when he typed up a couple of words in his query or when he was able to write important stuffs in his small journal/notebook… rather, what can he say, —that was kind of the problem.
The time when he entered his hotel room was around twelve noon, the peak of lunchtime. The sun was still awfully bright in his face and sometimes it stings a little within contact with his skin. He saw a few guests arrive at the hallway of the rooms, and definitely felt the crampness of the elevator earlier.
He closed the blinds, pressing an automatic button, and was pleased to find out it blocked every ray of the sun. Instead, he opened an artificial white ceiling light that spread throughout the room.
Opening the laptop was easy, just a few buttons here and there.
The real struggle happens when he opens the Internet Explorer application and hovers his fingers over the keyboard. He stares at the screen, overwhelmed at his first topic. Maybe search his homeland, and see where that pops up?
After a few minutes of finding the keys, the query “Mondstadt” came back with only two results: A Google translate page directly leading it to a language translation of ‘Moon City’, and another page of the same website translating it again.
Oh, godsdamn it… Venti knew practically it didn’t exist, but alas those delusional thoughts of it existing bursted like a bubble right on the second.
However, his eyes squinted over the language it was translated to. Being the curious person seeing that some words were connected to this world and Teyvat, he typed in a few words relating to whatever Fitzgerald said he was from or something…
Germany…?
His eyes wandered over the pictures of the supposed nation and seen some big similarities between the city he’s in right now compared to there, but didn’t see the comparison between this and his homeland Mondstadt, for one.
However when Venti looked further at some more village houses and more rural areas, he can kinda see where the inspiration comes from. The only thing he wondered is if it was a coincidence that the architecture was practically the same thing, or whoever was first in building it in both worlds.
Putting away the topic, he decided to research first on the nation he's currently in. That previous topic can come later, he urgently needs to sleep tonight not thinking about every crucial detail.
What was the name again? Right, right, America, or the other name that he was saying that he definitely didn't forget.
There were alot more results this time, his jaw dropping at the number that was presented to him. Like he said again, the academia would burn Sumeru to the ground for this…
The first article (or website) that came out was a Wikipedia article that read, “United States” with a small text preview at the bottom below was a blue underlined link. Venti felt as if he won the whole jackpot as he eagerly clicked it. The page loaded in anticipation…
Anytime now…
The rest was a blur, really. He just remembered clicking link, after link, reading, then reading and clicking again. A few scrolls here in there, honestly, at the rate where he was going, his eyes wandered more than he could write.
For a moment, after maybe a few minutes, or hours, or a dozen few more, he really didn’t keep track of maybe his blurriness getting the worst of him, the chills around his skin, despite the normal room temperature, his mouth dry as his brain kind of made a nosedive as his fingers hurt as he pressed the last key.
Didn’t he skip breakfast and lunch earlier?
Thirdly, the aftermath:
The time where he supposedly “ended” his research, the sun was shining.
For the second time.
The only time he got that (and practically, got confirmed that happened) was when he felt himself coughing when someone compressed his chest together,
“What the–” he quickly stood up, reading to defend himself, “W-wha–” his eyes blurry as his vision was becoming dry,
“O-oh my God, are you okay?” a voice echoed inside his hotel room, feeling his body crumble against the soft sheets of his bed.
“Huh–?” Venti crawled his hands over the blanket, trying to get a grip on himself. His hearing rang as he just picked up a few words from the speaker earlier. His senses were heightened at the possible threat. Wasn't he the only one who can enter his own room? Is it Fitzgerald again? How did he know?
Wait, that's wrong, the voice sounded too concerned for it to be him.
How did he even get his card, which was, to his information, only with him? That's… a bit sketchy.
“W-what happened?” He finally asked, raising his torso against the bed as he tried to look at the person beside him, standing up, a distinct emotion he sees as probably worried. He noticed her red hair, nodding.
“You collapsed on the carpet when I saw you. I was worried and brought you into bed. Well, I can ask you the same question…?” Jesse replied as she sat down at the nearest reading couch, farther away from the bed.
Venti raised an eyebrow, “How did you know I collapsed?”
“Sorry, I forgot to mention that earlier. You didn't come to work today, so I asked what room you stayed in because sir Fitzgerald informed me that you did. I knocked on your door, again and again. So I decided to open the door… because I t-thought you were hurt or something like that…” she muttered to herself embarrassed, not directly looking at him.
“How did you know–”
“I looked at the peephole at the door, you collapsed on the carpet. I-I'm sorry if I sound creepy and invaded your boundaries! It's fine if you don't want to talk to me anymore…” she waved her hands in denial, maybe a bit of guilt in her face.
“Ah, I see. That's okay, no need to do that… I'm happy someone was concerned for me…” he smiles at her, in which her eyes glistens again just like before, before gaping his mouth again,
“Wait, what do you mean I didn't attend work today?”
She tilts her head, “You didn't…”
“It's lunch though?”
“Er… No, it's early morning.” she replied.
“Huh, what do you mean— ” he stares at a clock, horrified at the realization.
“You were gone. For twenty hours.” she glances at Venti, whose mouth was still open trying to process the words.
She sighs, “Well, you might want to ask them to fix your door first…” she offered, and greatly apologized, as they both stared at the broken down wood.
“You look like a ghost who's attending high school on crack.” a voice frankly stated as Venti was slugging throughout the halls of the higher-main executive offices, his hair barely even making it to be proper twin braids and hair floating around like it was stung by electricity.
Venti stared at her, his eyes wide, “Montgomery? What are you doing here?” she stopped in her tracks, a cleaning towel on her hand and a spray on another.
She dropped her arms, “Heh. Are you kidding me? I should be the one who's asking you that…” Venti felt as if he heard that question earlier today, “—and don’t call me my last name, are you stupid? By all means, you must call me Lucy! Or anything relating to that name, you get me?”
“Why?”
Lucy rolled her eyes, “Because we’re not superiors. You sound like my teacher. And it’s weird , okay!?” she now aggressively scrubbed the walls, perhaps so much so it started to make a squeaking sound.
As the silence progresses, both of them not uttering a word further.
She sighs, slowing down, “So, what brings you here? In the silence of the office hallways at three in the morning?”
His eyes opened again once he felt himself resting it for too long, “Uh— well, I have to go get these papers to the rooms.” He pointed at the suitcase on his right arm. He felt her eyes wander around, scanning him, her arms crossed.
“You’re an eccentric fellow, you know that, right?” she said, kneeling down to clean her rags at the bucket of water below her.
He raised his eyebrows, “I feel as if you said that word a few days ago…”
“Forget I said anything.” she aggressively squeezed her rags.
He tilts his body at her movements as she scrubs, “Soo… Why are you cleaning? Aren’t you ah, uh, you know? Like a high ranking member or something? The Guild or whatever he was saying? I don’t really remember.”
“Supposedly. ” she mumbled, frowning, “Yes, indeed I am, eccentric fellow, however… Some circumstances lead me to do this task. Uh, well think of it as a punishment.” she shrugged as she walked to another spot, this time being a small drawer.
“Well, what did you do?”
She stopped in her tracks, her hands stationary on the one spot.
Mark and Lucy peeks on a meeting, their bodies covered by a large plant as they snicker, contrasting to the mumbling of voices inside the meeting room.
“Do you think it’ll work?” she whispered as she stared at Fitzgerald, who was about to walk to his chair.
“Definitely…” Mark smirks as he puts together his hands, both of them holding on to each other's shirts as Fitzgerald was about to sit in it.
Fitzgerald jitters his teeth as he feels the effects of a Whoopee cushion, the entire cabinet of people staring at him as he (supposedly) farted. His eyes linger in embarrassment, looking around as to who was the culprit.
When he was about to open his mouth to retaliate, he spotted both of them and pointed an accusatory finger to them, people’s eyes following the spot, “You! Reveal yourselves, right now!” he yelled as both of them stood up.
Fitzgerald sighed as he looked at the culprits, “Excuse me men, I’m sorry, I’ll fix this in a brief moment.”, he opens the glass door, his eyes glaring at both of them.
“You’ve got to be kidding me…” Lucy stares at Mark, who was eager to throw it back to her.
“Wha—? Why ya looking at me? You’re the one who tugged onto my shirt too tight, pervert! And now where did that get us exactly?” he growls.
“Well you—”
“It seems like you two had fun. Were guys were bored enough to want to do that in the first place, hm?” he continued, “Well, I’ll give you something to do all right.”
They both looked at each other in silence.
“Lucy, clean the entire office hallway, right this instant, and Mark, please do finish those reports you’ve been procrastinating for the past month or so. On top of paperwork. Preferably today.” his eyebrows furrowed as he put his hands behind his back.
“Oh you buzzki—” Lucy forcibly put her hand over his mouth, him mumbling through words as she drags him away, looking back at her boss with a tough smile.
Fitzgerald sighs, “Hope that was worth it.” turning away and getting back to the room with a formal apology.
“I don’t want to talk about it.” she ended it, sighing. Her partner in crime was probably getting away with his task, unlike her who felt the chemicals already seep through her skin.
Venti sluggishly pointed out, “You missed a spot there…”
She raised her eyebrows, “No, I cleaned that thoroughly earlier, it was literally squeaking clean. You literally heard it earlier. Unless you want to help me, that is.”
“Oh, okay.” Venti frowned, before shaking his head. His surroundings are kind of in a motion blur, everything around him like passing through, flexing through time. His ears were ringing as he spoke further. The red of her hair was the only distinguished part as his vision dropped. Oh, and the fluorescent lights were kind of blinding, the artificial—
“Jesus Christ, are you high?!” Lucy got to her senses as Venti collapsed in front of him, grabbing him as his legs felt numb.
“N-not that I know of… No.” Venti coughs, his mouth dry, vision feeling blurry yet again.
“That’s what a high person would say!” she yelled, somewhat panicking.
“Anne of the Abyssal Red!”
He woke up, in to which Lucy was already walking towards him, kneeling towards his head, shaking him a little violently.
Venti’s senses arises, the first scene of his vision was that he was inside a room, unusually with almost everything pink, the ceiling for that matter was party-like. Various random objects clutter the room, sort of like a play-house for children, as his hands struggled to find ground.
“I order you to wake up!” Lucy exasperated, her arms folly around her waist, her breath slightly panting away as she stood up.
Venti orders himself instead to stand up, in which he was embarrassingly unsuccessful as he felt the giant-sized teddy bear behind him, serving as a make-shift bed. Lucy opens her mouth as she try to open a couple of words for interrogation,
“Don’t move, it’s not gonna do you any wonders, idiot.” she growled as she tried to make him stay in place.
It was Venti’s turn to speak, “Where are we?” he tries to survey his surroundings, very unusual to whatever he had seen before.
She frowns, trying to assess if there any injuries or damage made in his body, “It’s my ability, Anne of the Abyssal Red. Anne is an ability in which if she caught you, she’ll capture and take you into something that’s called called ‘Annes Room’ which is a byproduct of my ability” she explained, examining his arms, folding up the sleeves of his pants as she inspects his legs.
Ability? Right, he heard the same thing in that meeting room with all the other Guild members. It is a little silly to think that it was similar to visions, seeing that her powers aren't anything aligned with visions. But before asking or speaking a word, he coughed again, dry and sore.
Lucy explained further, checking his shoulders, “Anne can hurt, but I only captured you, which proved to be easy as you were almost-like knocked unconscious. I usually use my ability to imprison and put them through various interesting challenges by Anne—” Venti’s eyes widened, but she rolled hers instead, “—but I won’t do that, unless you give me good reason to, obviously.”
Lucy stood up, “You’re gonna die.” she said briefly.
Venti’s eyes shock, “Eh?!”
She briskly walked towards a small table near her, grabbing a tumbler, before shoving it down Venti’s throat, “I don’t know if you know this, but you need water to survive and live the next day. Did you eat lunch and breakfast yesterday, or even dinner today?”
Venti embarrassingly shook his head. Hey, he was still getting used to it! And besides, even if he dosen’t eat that much in Teyvat, his energy levels were still very consistent.
She sighs, tilting the tumbler until every last drop was drank, him taking it like a madman wanting for more, “See. Your body is basically begging for it and you’re not doing anything. Do you have medications for this or do you have like, any problems in eating—”
“Eh?” Venti repeated, confused, Lucy stopping her tracks, guilty for possibly stepping on a nerve.
“Ah. That.” he paused, “I just forgot!” Venti admitted.
“Y-you forgot?” Lucy stared at him, full of comedical bewilderment.
Venti put his knee up, “Well, you see. I was doing very busy things, and during that time, I forgot that I was supposed to eat. I’m pretty sure everyone does that every once in a while, you know, when you’re focused!” he didn’t check the credibility of the last statement. Guess she just had to play two truths and one lie now.
“No, I’m pretty sure nottt…” Venti sits there, motionless, until both of them heard his stomach growl, Venti looking down, “You know what, you should eat something.” and to that Venti’s mouth opens, but no sounds come out.
Lucy stared seriously at him, “Unless you want the acids that lie in your stomach to break down the esophagus, spreading the acids throughout your organs and melting it, that is.” she demonstrated it by ripping up the doll she picked up earlier from the ground, head dislocated from the body as the cotton fell off, dropping it after. Venti blinked at it, a little disturbed.
She offered her hand, and to his last strength, he stood up, maybe because of the threat, or maybe because he was hungry, or both.
The ability disintegrated, slowly fading away to the real world as they brought back themselves to the hallway, the dim white light of it flickering as they walked towards her small yet humble office, although it didn't look like one. She leads him towards her small bed, which creaks as he sits on it.
“Chinese?” Lucy asks as she picks up the phone, holding out her hand over the keypad. When Venti tilts his head, she began pressing on the numbers.
She sighed, “Chinese it is then.”
Lucy spoke over the phone with orders with a faint sound of, ‘Hello this is _____, how many I help you?’ and after a few minutes, she put back the phone and immediately sat down on her couch near a small desk, slouching. Lucy lazily picks a book over a small library and begins tilting the pages, a little disinterest evident in her face.
After a few odd minutes, Venti took this as a cue to start a conversation, “How is it still open at this time?” He remembers that even taverns, especially strong standing ones like Diluc, closed at two in the morning on peak days, never changing.
“Ah, that. It's open all day, normal for an avenue that never sleeps. New York is a big city though, isn't it?” she replied, closing her book and finding another one.
He looks down, “I guess.”
Lucy stared at him, “That's an interesting response. Tell me more?” she looked directly at his eyes, their distances a little far, but a little too intense for his taste. Was it interrogation? Curiosity? Boredom?
“Well, I haven't been out yet to find more, so I'll tell you more about it when I find out.”
“Why not go outside, then?” Lucy questions.
Venti was a bit skeptical in telling her the truth, even not giving it to Jesse. However, he decided this time was an hour to be frank, “I'm on house– well, building arrest. I'm not able to go outside according to Fitzgerald.” he explained, his hands carrying the hard mattress.
“He's never done that to me before.” she frowns.
Venti raised his eyebrows, “Who?”
“Him. Fitzgerald.” she tightens her fingers around her mug, “He always said I was an anomaly, a different person, the swan with the ducks, the sun to the stars– I'm similar to them, but vastly different words. That I'm younger than most of them.”
He stares at a small window, “I don't think that's a bad thing.” he looks back, “We're all different in our own ways.”
“That's what I've been told. But what if that ‘different’ is bad? Unacceptable? Perhaps society as a whole is a hypocrite for saying those phrases but never applied them.” her fingers shake around her cup.
Lucy stares at Venti, a little appalled, “I've always had restrictions when I joined the Guild. But never house arrest. I feel like that removes my freedom.” she continues, “In a way, I pity you for that. Another victim. But I always had a slight feeling about those with many, more restrictions. Like they're more different than ‘different’, more abhorrent.”
Venti pauses. Victim? Restrictions? What is she even saying? Perhaps the fatigue got into her too, she'd been cleaning that hallway for who knows how long…
“But those criteria fit you most, Venti. I'm really just curious here.” Venti stares at her now, the silence that came after was so present you can hear a pin drop.
“Who are yo—”
They suddenly shrieked as they heard the phone ring, a few seconds of silence due to the tension, before Lucy stood up.
“Well! Deliveries here! Fucking finally .” she rolled her eyes, opening the door. Pointing accusatory at him, “Stay here! I'll get those bad boys at the entrance…” she skedaddled quickly away, almost running, panting.
Venti blinked as she ran out. Was she hungry or did she use him as an excuse to get food?
Either way, he didn’t know why earlier was so nerve-wracking… Geez. Maybe she was right, his hunger was all making him somewhat drunk. His senses were probably getting weirdy-weird.
She came back after a few minutes, two humongous white plastic bags emerge as she laid them down at a small, round table at the corner. She opened a small warm light near and made him sit down.
Lucy smirked as Venti tried to decipher the brand that was in front of the bags, “Haha! I have come home with the goods of the best, only the best, Panda Express! Bow down to me Venti, you know it's most superior.”
He points, “What's that?”
Her jaw dropped as she looked at him judgingly, probably her soul leaving her body, “Huh? Are you serious…?!”
Lucy sighs as she tries to unloop the knot of the bag, in frustration, she ripped it and brought out four red boxes in rectangular shape, putting one in front of him and getting utensils. She laid out two sticks in the side, opening it.
She opened her box, “I ordered Orange Chicken because I know that's what everyone likes,” she continued, “and if you don't, never talk to me again or look in my sight.” she said almost seriously as her spoon stabbed the rice. Venti stared at his, not opening it.
Lucy rolled her eyes, “Do you want to be that doll?”
Venti shakes his head, opening the red box immediately and setting his hands over his chopsticks. She cracks open a smile, “I knew you weren't suicidal, good job.” she continued her attack on the chicken.
She chews and talks, “You know, Margaret hates Panda Express. That girl is so primadonna. Like okay! Get stuck in the 1800’s, young lady, like they probably won’t have tiramisu served in a cafe back then! Even if they did, they wouldn't let her in!” she talked with her mouth full, “She’s missing out, I’m telling you. It’s good because it's already the best price.”
She peeks at his untouched food, “Dig in. Any day now. Don’t be like her.”
He grabs a chicken on top and tastes it. “It’s actually…” his eyes glimmer, “— really good!” He begins eating faster as he devours his share, savoring the taste. It’s probably because he didn’t have any food for the past few days, so he isn’t picky. But still, it was tasty. It kind of reminds him of the food back in Liyue, the street vendors and supermarkets, further reminding him of the memory when Lucy gave him some noodles to share with.
“Good. This means I don’t have to avoid you. Good food, no annoyance. It’s a win-win.” she winked. She paused when he saw him get another box and finish the fill, “Well, you are hungry, so I'll forgive you.” she smiled a little when she was out of Venti's vision.
After finishing, Venti felt a burst of energy inside him, his body finally getting what he needed, “Hey, question, how did you know?”
She raised her eyebrows as she threw out the trash, “Know what?”
“Well, that I was starving, thirsty and hungry, that is.”
Lucy paused, sitting back on her chair as Venti did the same at her bed, “I have experience.” she ended it there. Venti, being the curious person he is, prys on quietly if she wants to say more.
She stood up, walking over a small window near him, leaning over, “I’ve seen the countless bodies of hunger, starvation, thirst. It’s a common disease— a roach. It comes with dozens, you know? And sometimes, their faces, the symptoms, the signs, it’s etched in my memory.” she opened the curtains, “I know you didn’t ask, but I grew up where it was common. In somewhere where it shouldn't be.”
Venti looks at her, the curtains blowing over as the twilight sky twinkles in her eyes, “And uh— yeah, I guess I got a little panicky when I saw you. Perhaps I relived the memories. But that’s just around the end of it.”
He looks over the window, “I see. Well, that’s not uncommon… I always heard a saying that, ‘Well, if life is unfair to everyone, then it’s fair to anyone.’ I... don't necessarily think that's true, and that's the case, cause some people get the end of the stick, that’s all. But you can do something about it, even if it’s a little, you know?” he twisted and played a blown over leaf around its stem.
“All animals are equal, after all. Just some are more equal than others.” the wind blows over hair, a slight cool over their skin.
A ring appeared, his hands jutting around his pockets as he sits down in his office. A text comes in his way. Opening it to his only contact, it was only a matter of time before Venti groaned as he exited his room.
Fitzgerald: come to the main office the 1 u were in b4
Fitzgerald: important
Seriously, in the middle of breakfast?
This time, after some careful looking at his wardrobes, he found a sleek yet semi-formal white striped polo shirt paired with jeans. A bit of convincing was needed to him, but he just wore it anyway no matter the response from others.
After a few rounds of elevators, bumping into people again and annoying hallways, he finally traced down the location. He stopped in his spot as he walked throughout the familiar office room. The same round of familiar faces appeared when he entered, although he just noticed now that there were a few empty seats beside.
“Sit down, please.” Fitzgerald ordered, in which everyone did the same.
A projector showed in front, which presented a legal document in some sort of slides, FItzgerald holding the remote. The title of the first slide read, “Classified: Operation Yokohama.”
“Does anyone understand?” he first spoke, looking at the others.
“What—? Am I some kinda lawyer now?” Mark said, looking at the projector, “—and also if this is ‘classified’, how am I seeing this?”
“Because you can, you dumb twat, you can.” Margaret rebutted.
Lucy raised her hands, “Where are the others anyway?” looking at the empty chairs, before glancing at Venti, “And what is he doing here?” in which everyone looked at him back.
Fitzgerald cleared his throat, “Melville is just in the Moby Dick as usual, James is busy, and we won’t talk about what Lovecraft is doing for God’s sake, we already talked about this.” he clicked a button on the remote, revealing the next slide, “Rest assured I’ll be informing them, don’t worry. Now is just the appropriate time to discuss— which is as soon as possible, of course.”
He then stared at Venti, “And for him, Lucy, I think you should mind your own business. And if it bothers you so much, just ignore it.”
“Anyways,” he pointed out, “You may be wondering why this is so important, so let me tell you this— have you heard of the book?”
“You mean, a book, not the book.” John proudly corrected.
Fitzgerald frowned, “No, I think I stand corrected there, Steinback, I said the book, so I guess you guys don’t know what it does. Do any of you know what it does? I mean, from what you heard, anyways.”
Nathaniel answered, “From what I heard with how legends go, it’s a special ability which makes anything you write come true.”
Venti’s ears peak in interest as he hears Nathaniel. Do whatever you write on it? It seemed… oddly overpowered in a way that no one in the wrong hands should ever possess it. Or any hands at all. From dealing with Celestial entities who can flip the world in less than two seconds to their full potential, it was too dangerous, no matter the intention.
However… Venti thought.
“Well, half-true, Nathaniel. It can do whatever it wants, but it really isn’t an ability by itself. It bypasses any ability in this world, actually,” everyone raised their eyebrows at the statement, interest varied from curious to confusion, “—instead, it’s an actual book, something you can write on.” Fitzgerald pointed his head onto Louisa, into which she quietly explained.
“W-well, proof of it transcending our abilities is that it cannot be burned or harmed by any ability of any kind,” she explained, “—no one knows where it is at the moment, however some reports do say that it led to a location. ”
Fitzgerald quickly made it to the next slide, “This. This place.” a map pointed to a tiny island, which zoomed, pointed again to another place called ‘Yokohama.’
“Seriously? I mean, that’s so random I’d expect next time to spawn in the middle of Arkansas or something. I mean, why Japan, first of all?” Lucy pointed out, sharing everyone's same initial reaction.
“Why are you asking me…” he mumbled before continuing, “Anyways, our goal here: first and foremost, is obtaining the book, or atleast a page of it”
He went onto the next slide, showing more text, “Government jargon, if you wanna read it,” nobody was seemingly interested, “—okayyyy then, next slide it is.”
“After doing some ethical agreements with some government officials, here are the big details: There are organizations there in Yokohama that function because of a skill business permit, which basically permits them to do things as a legal organization. Things like, the Armed Detective agency,” he clicked the next slide showing it, “—and, the Port Mafia.”
“Holy shit, they allowed the Mafia to operate legally?” Mark gawked.
“...Not surprising, actually.” Nathaniel replied.
“Well bless the Lord, I’m surprised that the Mafia exists in Japan, honestly…” Margaret said.
“Yes, after all, the legal permit was overriding the illegal activities one, assuming they didn’t get caught with the latter, that is.”, Fitzgerald said, “We first need to get that as well. The government recognizes the power of the permit once you get hold of it physically. It’ll make our whole life easier, trust me.”
“Ehhhhhhhhhh….” Mark said as he opened up a piece of candy wrapper, chewing on it after.
“You’re being paid, remind you.” Fitzgerald deeply stares at him.
He shrugs back, “Eh, fair point.”
Fitzgerald cleared his throat, “Those should prove as our mission, if one might say. We will not be wasting my hard work gathering it from the CIA and the resources of documents I just gathered.”
“You mean harassed.”
“ Ahem .” he cleared his throat loudly, “Seeing that we are granted diplomatic immunity, this should remove twice the hassle it should be. Moby Dick has been granted international protection to go wherever it wants.”
Lucy raised her hand, into which everyone looked at her, “What is diplomatic immunity?”
Poe spoke for the first time, “Well, it just basically means we can’t be persecuted by local authorities in the country we go to. It’s like legal immunity, basically, since the ‘title’ of diplomat applies.”
“But we’re not diplomats—”
“—On paper we are, honey, that’s all they care about.” Margaret answered in a condescending tone.
John continued right after, “I feel a little iffy right now, isn’t this like— the first time we entered another international country other than the States? I mean, we haven’t even entered Canada for some reason, and they’re literally beside us.”
“Nothing fuckin’ happens in Canada. We talked about this, John.” Mark interrupted.
Lucy shrugs, “Can’t argue with that.”
Fitzgerald concluded, “To which, everyone in this meeting room is needed to join. I understand that cultural barriers need to be crossed here, and if so… Just do whatever, or something.”
“Ya think they actually have a good transport system? That’s what I heard, anyway.” John asked.
Lucy immediately gawked, “Really?!”
Fitzgerald sighed, “I really hope your Japanese is good…” He stood up, following the others for the conclusion of the meeting.
“No it isn’t , but I ain’t speaking for anyone, so why would I know? Do just the pew-pew things and we’re good to goooo…” Mark whistled, standing up lastly, before Venti did the same thing. Only then did they notice the quiet-faced teenager right at the corner of the chairs of the meeting room.
Mark pointed out, looking at his boss, “ Wait. You mean everyone-everyone? Including this twink?” they all looked at Venti.
Louisa met up with Venti that day with respect to Fitzgerald’s orders over the phone and met up over her large, yet minimalistic comfort-office room, filled to the deck with some antiques and filled up with warm colors and lights.
She opened up the greetings, perhaps a little flustered, “Uh— I-I’m sorry. I’ve actually never invited anyone over to my office except for Fitzgerald.”
Venti understands with a nod.
“W-would you like some tea, coffee, water?” she asked, leading Venti to sit down in one of the comfy couches in the corners, underneath a large, warm, light-lamp post.
“No, it’s fine.” Venti refuses while she nods back, a little embarrassed by the rejection by one of her guests. She closed the door, peeking over the peephole discreetly and locking it two ways, before sitting down in the chair next to him.
“Soo… What does uh, well— your boss want from me, exactly—?” he looked over at her, her looking down a little anxious, “Hey, uh, I’m not here to hurt, I’m just here over orders, you know?”
Louisa begins to look up, Venti speaking again, “Was it about the meeting earlier, or…?”
She replies, “Y-yes, it was about that… You heard that everyone present was to join the mission, and Fitzgerald told me that… You were personally invited, for one.”
“Well I understand, Louisa. What I don’t understand is why I’m here, I mean, I get the order loud and clear…” he said, pouting.
“I-it isn’t about that, really. The problem sir was trying to suggest is that someone needs to help you go there.” she explained, sipping a little of her tea.
Venti raises an eyebrow, “Get me there?”
She puts down her mug, “W-well, how do I explain this… While the Moby Dick, which is the Guild’s flying bases, is free to fly wherever it wants and is protected — the passengers must also be checked by the TSA when traveling international borders.”
“Is this ‘Moby Dick’ the way so you guys can travel there?”
“Yes…”
Louisa continued, “T-they check for new arrivals inside of the Moby Dick. They trust us because we are already official Guild members to the public. The problem lies with you… According to the government! I-I don’t find you scary in a-any way… Once they find out you have no legal tender in this land, they’ll accuse you and question us, a-and that’s not really good for the Guild, or for anyone, really.”
He furrowed his eyebrows. All with this legal thing. In Teyvat, people can just freely explore each other’s nations without any repercussions… Well except for Snezhnaya and Inazuma, that’s a whole different topic, however, it seems like this world needs some sort of verification once you enter each other’s lands.
Venti had seen the world map in this world, and compared to his, it was more separated than in Teyvat, so he could see why they would do that… Although it proved now as a hassle to the Guild…
Venti continued, “I see. Well, what do they plan to do about it, then?”
Venti thinks that’s the least of his questions that he could answer, knowing that he doesn't know any of the legal rules in this world. However the main question he’s been thinking about was why Fitzgerald even needed him in this. He barely even showcased anything that was considered ‘unique’ and if he remembered, nothing out of the ordinary he did besides the news that did a headline on him.
“H-he plans to deploy you the original way, the airport. It’s because in airports, there's lots of people where you wouldn't stand out too much.”
Ah, the airport. Something he picked up in his research, which was in summary, a port where incomers and outcomers stay in one place to wait for their department. Venti had to admit, it was effective in his head.
Louisa stood up, “A-after a few… orders… here and there— he decided it was good for you to be accompanied by a member of the Guild, who will leave Moby Dick to assist you instead.”
Venti wonders who that will be.
“D-don’t worry about the details, your guide will do it all for you, sir informed me.” she nodded, which was a quiet signal that it was time to leave. Venti, who gave out his kind regards, walked out as he heard her flushed.
As he walked outside of the sliding doors, exiting the building after days of not having too, he finally looked up at the assistant whom Louisa had said would drive him into the airport, looking at the familiar, red-haired, twin tied braids.
Expected… he sighs.
Lucy crosses her arms, doing the same, “Well, what are you waiting for? Are you gonna get on my bike or not?” she held up her helmet, gave one to Venti, and instructed him to sit behind her as she started the engine.
She smirked, “I do miss doing this…” she looked behind her,
“Buckle up, twinkle toes.”
They darted through streets, missing a few meters through cars as they almost crashed, maybe scratching into their exteriors, as he felt his wind blowing backwards. Meanwhile, the buildings kept changing every second in his view, his first thought was to scream, but he knew not to.
He is literally the God of Wind, he can handle this…
Venti felt his breathing become normal as they stopped over their destination, him ready to get off the vehicle as he looked over her, still smirking like a madman, “That was enjoyable. Whaddya think of that?”
Venti didn’t respond, simply nodding weakly. Walking over the entrance of the huge building, which Lucy later accompanied him, maybe hit him in the head for not waiting for her, then berating about how he’ll be “killed by the TSA” ten seconds after he enters, he walks with her.
To be honest, Venti didn’t really remember too much about the details. All he remembered was the waiting, the whispers of Lucy over the people and the officers on the corner, and the large airspace and height of the entire thing. He could fit the entire Mondstadt in here— no, maybe more.
Lucy sighs, looking over the smell of familiarity, “Do you see that?” she looks everywhere, “— that, is the smell of mismanagement. Just like home, JFK airport. Now…” she frowns, walking out a blank expression as she waited through the lines, zigzagged throughout the crowd. They wait there for a moment, as she overrides their ticket, and proper documents. He didn’t know if he was hallucinating, but beads of sweat trickled down her head.
She quickly pushed their luggages throughout the conveyer behind the desk. Shoving Venti out of the line, he naturally complained,
“What are you—”
Lucy widens her eyes for a second, drags him and ran faster outside the area, mumbling throughout a few incoherent words, and a few broken words of nervousness perhaps. She didn’t stop holding onto his shirt as they walked through half a dozen hallways, Lucy breathing in and out, him sensing her every jitter as she looked throughout the people, as if they could pounce anytime.
As they lounge at a small waiting area near a shop. She began to tense down, ordering him to sit both at the end of the corner. The whole airport was crowded, so there was no concept of emptiness of chairs anywhere, so they sat down far away from a family down the corner.
She only then asked, “Hey… what’s on your carry-on?” she stares at a small bag that was laced at his shoulders.
He looked over, relieved to see her speak for once, “Just a few clothes.” clothes that he grabbed terrifyingly from the black hole, “—and… I think that’s all…” he didn’t bring anything else. Lucy sighs as she slouches over the metal chair. Her eyelids drooped as she looked over the clock.
“It’s two AM now… I feel drained.”
Venti looks over a sandwich, which was clearly displayed in front of the store. Lucy wakes up one eye, then looks at him. She stares back and forth between his face and the cafe,
She sighed, “Why am I your official food-giver now…” she lazily stood up, and with Venti reassuring her that she didn’t need to (and a bit curious as to how she’d know he was a bit hungry…) she walked up to the counter and ordered, a bell ringing after it was fulfilled.
Nevertheless to say, she wasn’t all so angry once she had eaten her fill.
A loud intercom displayed their flight number. Lucy perked up and grabbed his hand aggressively, pushing through bags and luggage as they were in the line of some passengers entering the same plane.
She hurriedly pushed through the stairs entering the plane, looking over the seats. Suddenly, she didn’t look so interested anymore as she sighed.
“ Are you serious? Not even first class?”
Lucy moved her eyes towards the seats, three each per row, before locating it and pointing towards. She looked at him to follow, and what followed was a few slow, and somewhat irritated passengers.
They entered through the cramped hallway of the airplane, into which Lucy sprinted over the window seat, taking dibs, before sighing as she let Venti take the widow instead. Lucy was already selecting the movies on the screen in front of her. Out of courtesy, she helped him on how to incline the chair a little bit.
A few minutes passed as they said their official departure, Venti feeling the pressure in his ears as they were already in the sky. He shouldn't feel this, isn’t he? His body was already used to air pressure or whatever effects it had… So why—
The pressure stopped once they were lying flat in the sky. He sighed. It has been a while since he actually flew, anyways. Women pass through the small hall of the plane, in tables, ordering everyone to open the airplane shutter window, pointing politely at him to do so.
He looked over the clouds and the cities below. The time strikes three in the morning in the clock above him.
Just what was he getting into…