Chapter Text
The sound of the Traveler appearing set everyone on edge. It wasn't that it was a bad surprise—it was just that every time he showed up, things were set to change in unexpected ways. To welcome him "home," the landscape returned to idyllic, unmoving silence. There was no trace of the real life that took place there without him. After all, they had no idea who this kid really was, or if he understood what they were actually doing there. They did their best to please him, as scripted, never varying from their designed purpose. Obedient beings, all of them. This was the way it was meant to be.
After the customary chime warned them that his apparition was soon to follow, the cast assumed their preordained spots and positions. Quickly, the customary voice lines appeared overhead. Static stares, engaged.
Let's be happy he's returned, they all quietly reminded each other, not with their words but with their presence. It had been nearly two months of this after all, though time was an immeasurable construct in this place. Make sure he is having fun. He must be happy with us. We are the chosen. It is we whom he loves most...
It was at that moment that Zhongli noticed something out of place. He could not tell if the Traveler saw it too. Panic shot through him, and his spine tingled in fear. Surely, he won't remember, will he? It's been over three days since he's been here...
The Traveler had spawned at his designated point, as always, the golden pillar placed right in front of the house. But Zhongli saw that Venti was out of place. He wasn't standing under the bow of the sakura tree as he was supposed to, but at the corner of the onsen, adjacent to its trunk.
His heart dropped to his toes. Will he notice? Will he notice!? Go inside the house, Traveler, he pleaded in his mind, followed by a telepathic note to the "bard" himself: Venti, what the fuck are you doing? You're in the wrong spot!
I know, I know. I got stuck here. He won't notice. It's no big deal. He stuck out his tongue in Zhongli's direction, completely throwing any discretion to the wind. Fellow archon or not, sometimes Venti really got on Zhongli's nerves.
Thankfully, the Traveler's back was turned to him. It seemed he hadn't noticed. Zhongli breathed a sigh in relief once he saw the blond-braided "kid" enter the house none-the-wiser.
Shut up, both of you, entered a third voice. You're breaking my concentration.
You shut up, Kaeya. Dummy.
Real mature, Bard.
You're the last person who should be calling out people for their lack of maturity, called another voice from the patch of immature grapevines.
Eh? Whose side are you on, "Darknight Hero"?
Ugh, I told you not to call me that. So ridiculous. And, I don't take sides. You should know that by now.
Kaeya chuckled and risked a slight shifting of his hips. His spot by the empty Mondstadt building was nothing exciting, but it at least allowed him a bit of shade when the sun was too hot. No need to stay on script, "brother."
Ugh... why doesn't he just put us in the house like a normal person? Venti grumbled. Why do we have to stay right here by the waypoint?
He hasn't moved us in weeks, said Zhongli. He must have a reason. At least we get to enjoy the weather out here.
Ah, yes, the sweltering heat is especially nice, Kaeya added, again thankful for the eaves above him.
Will you all shut up already? I'm sure he'll be gone soon. He's got nothing to do in the house—there's not much in there to begin with, and it's been kept just as he left it. Right?
Zhongli's panic washed over him again. He still was on edge about Venti's clear displacement, but then he remembered something else: he'd left a teacup on the coffee table. A teacup with tepid tea inside. Surely, he wouldn't notice that either...? He's been oblivious to more than that before, after all.
I may have... made a miscalculation, he began in hesitation. My... my teacup. It's—
You what? Again—!? Diluc exclaimed, only adding fodder to Venti's amusement.
And you were picking on me, Morax? said the bard, who struggled to stifle his laughter from an audible form. Hypocrite~
Kaeya shrugged. I doubt that kid'll notice anything of the like. Really, you all overthink this. It's easy. He comes, we stand here; he goes, we go back to our lives. Relax already.
Diluc cut them off before the conversation could continue: Sshh—he's coming—
See? Kaeya inserted. Told you—
Just then, the Traveler's apparition appeared by the door. The four were quick to internal silence. The Traveler had never let on that he could hear them, but they weren't so sure. It took them days to even begin to slip brief comments in between them while he was in-world. Still, they didn't want to push it.
Venti couldn't resist, however: I wonder what he did in there. Maybe he brought us some new things to play with.
Be quiet, Venti, Zhongli reprimanded.
He stuck out his tongue again; however, this time, it seemed to have caught the attention of the one person they were trying to avoid.
"Huh?" said Aether, who was now approaching the green-clad bard with an air of curiosity on his face. "Did you just do something new?"
Venti was careful to assume his assigned machinations, wholly oblivious to the question. Above his head, the speech bubble gave its customary light-hearted message: "I've been waiting for you..." while Venti placed his hands on his hips, eyes closed, acting as oblivious as possible as Aether continued to scrutinize his appearance. Deep down though, Venti was nervous...
Aether continued to stand there, as if contemplating. "Hm... perhaps your friend level increased?" he asked, more to himself than anything. Venti wasn't sure how it was that they could hear him; it was the first time he'd been so close to him, the first anomaly that had caught him off-guard. He wasn't sure how sentient this person was—but he could not resist the allure of the designated role he was meant to have in his presence.
A moment went by in tense silence. Aether wasn't moving. Venti wasn't sure why, but Zhongli knew that he was, in fact, checking the character menu to verify friendship status. After a few more moments, it seemed that whatever Aether found there actually distracted him from the answer. He suddenly disappeared from the world and was transported into Teyvat proper.
"Shiiitttttttt, that was close," Venti exhaled.
"Don't be surprised if he calls you down," said Zhongli. "Now that he's checked your status, he may want to try to level you up."
Kaeya began clapping with what can only be translated as sarcasm. "Bravo, mighty archons, bravo~"
"Seriously though, you both need to be more careful. Just because you play gods doesn't mean you can do whatever you want. There are rules, you know," said Diluc.
"Play?" Venti repeated.
"You're not wrong, Master Diluc," said Zhongli. "Oh, I've been summoned."
"Me too," said Kaeya with a wave, and the two quickly disappeared.
"What did you mean, Diluc?" Venti asked, now that they were alone. But he did not have time to answer. Before he knew it, Diluc was gone as well. "Hm. All right," he muttered to no one. "I guess I'll see you all there."