♫ "Barbatos...?"

With a puzzled look on his face, the bard stood there dumbfounded. The little wisp named Barbatos probably had a behind, but it never really crossed his mind to look at it.

"Honestly, probably not, but I'm sure it's quite tiny." A jubilant laugh left the boy as he shrugged. What a weird question!

𝄡 The little wisp floated close to a solidary window, sitting above the skyline of old Mondstadt. There was a breeze which beckoned them closer, a breeze that felt familiar, that felt like...

The little wisp didn't know the word, but it's little body slowed to a stop when it came across the weary looking archon. With a small tilt of their head, the little wisp drew close.

A gentle chime escaped it's tiny body as it idled close to the archon. After a couple of seconds, it closed it's little eyes and pressed it's head to the archon's cheek.

...family.

That was the word, wasn't it?

𝄡 A gentle chime graces the wind as a little spirits bobs up and down curiously. It's little head tilts as it stares at the blond, curious and cautious.

It floats a little closer, but then chimes in surprise as the blond reaches out. It floats backwards, out of the traveler's reach, but remains in front of him. The little wisp lets out a melodical chime, bobbing up and down once again.

This wasn't the current Barbatos, no, this was the Barbatos of the past.

𝄡 "Threw it on the ground?" An "offended" gasp came from the archon as they placed a hand on their chest and leaned back as if the other had said something devastating. "Morax, I didn't think you saw me to be so destructive! I assure you, it was broken when I arrived!"

They gestured to the crumbled archway and then to their small frame. " How could someone as small as myself break something so massive?"

Even if Morax had an answer, he couldn't prove it.

↪  𝑸𝑼𝑬𝑺𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵𝑰𝑵𝑮 𝑴𝑰𝑵𝑫𝑺

𝄡 "...it's not...."

It felt as if lumps of sand were firmly packed into their throat, uncomfortable and suffocating. Their words struggled against their body, attempting to answer the golden god, but Venti remained silent.

Everything felt cold.

How were they meant to explain to Luneth that their 'nightmares' were just repeated memories of the worst moments in their life. Or how...sometimes, the memories are replaced with other people. Sometimes, Venti believed that these dreams were punishments for crimes they had committed against those who did not deserve the 'judgement' which had befallen them. Or maybe, punishments for not saving those which they should have. They felt deserved in a way.

They turned their head away, shielding their wavering expression. With an amused sound, they shook their head.

𝄡 "....."

Quiet Moments of Affection Prompts

𝄡 Since early in the morning, it seemed like whispers and laughter were the only sounds escaping the couple's bedroom. Neither of them had left the bed. Breakfast was an after thought, getting up to bathe seemed to be one also. Right now, they were too involved in each other to think of anything else.

Pressing closer to Aether, Venti giggled as they slipped their fingers between Aether's. Their hands fit perfectly between each other's, like they were made to hold one another's.