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Aether is walking around Mondstadt with Paimon when he hears it. They came back after the crazy adventures they’ve been having in the other nations, happy to experience the calm Mondstadt always offers.
They’re wandering aimlessly, but Aether is privately wondering if they should visit the Knights of Favonius. Maybe even pass by the church, say hello to Rosaria and Barbara. Then, a meek voice enters his ears, dispersing his thoughts. He looks over to Paimon and sees Paimon staring back, and in a silent conversation, they decide to check out what’s happening.
They run up - or fly through, for Paimon - the steps and see a girl standing next to the fountain, surrounded by a crowd. She’s telling people she wants to be a bard, and will start her song now.
It’s gods-awful. The first two lines already got some of the crowd leaving. Sansa is stumbling over her own words and apologizing every second. She can’t even seem to remember the lyrics well.
By the third or fourth line, everyone has already left. Only Aether and Paimon remain, and they approach her as she mumbles to herself. She mentions training for a ninetieth time and Paimon’s eyes go wide.
“The forty-second and ninetieth time…?” Paimon asks, worried.
Sansa goes on to tell them about how she trained a hundred times and still couldn’t do it.
“Maybe the problem isn’t the amount of practice, but something else,” Aether suggests.
“Right! That amount of practice should’ve been enough. Maybe it’s a matter of how you’ve been practicing?” Paimon agrees, nodding beside him. “Actually, the Traveler has loads of experience with performing! Maybe he can help you. And, uh, Paimon can give tips from an audience perspective.”
Sansa thanks them, and offers her notes about her practice. She tells them to ignore the second half, as they’re just random thoughts about other people’s performances. Being the curious people they are, Aether and Paimon read the entire notebook, and the “random thoughts” seem more like research reports than anything else. Paimon tells her so, and Sansa responds she’s just applying her knowledge as a would-be scholar into becoming a bard.
“That sounds logical… but feels off somehow,” Aether says.
“Well, I’m all ears. Where do you think I’m going wrong? Have I misunderstood some core principles of music theory, perhaps? Or am I approaching my rehearsals wrong?” Sansa asks, looking both stressed about being wrong and excited to learn better.
“Paimon never knew being a bard was such hard work. The Tone-Deaf Bard always makes it look so easy. He never seems stressed out at all…” Paimon ponders out loud. “And still, his singing and lyre playing always sound really great. Hmm, unless he’s actually been practicing in secret?”
Aether’s ears pick up a small rush of wind just around the corner, and from there, Venti emerges.
“Looking for me?” Venti says, humor coloring his voice.
Sansa gasps at the sight of him. “Venti!”
“Which wind brought you here?” Aether lifts an eyebrow at him.
“Why, the sweet wind of reminiscence, of course. Sweet, with a hint of exotic flora, blowing from a land far away,” he waxes poetic in lieu of giving a straight answer.
“Paimon definitely hasn’t missed that attitude,” Paimon makes sure to tell him.
Venti laughs at Paimon’s comment, and tells them where he actually was. Apparently, he was writing in a leaf, which was swept away by the wind and grabbed by the mouth of a dark figure that made him sneeze.
“It must’ve been a cat that stole the leaf, right? And with your allergies, you can’t exactly chase it down,” Paimon says.
“But we can help,” Aether offers.
“I can help too, Venti! Your music has always been a huge inspiration to me, so it would be my honor!” Sansa pauses, adopting a shy demeanor like before, when she was messing up her lines. “And, um… After we find it, could I… get some advice on songwriting from you…?”
Aether’s eyebrows go up to his forehead. Paimon and him share a look, their expressions identical. ‘ Is she hitting on him?!’ , Aether asks with his eyes. Paimon nods minimally, then they both look back to the scene.
“Whatever questions you have, ask away. I’ll gladly share my thoughts with you,” Venti replies.
“I was thinking, uh, somewhere private. Like, private lessons, haha...” Sansa corrects nervously.
Venti bites his lip in thought, but eventually nods. “Well, sure! Not something I usually do, but there’s a first for everything.”
Aether’s left eye twitches. Paimon is floating dangerously close to the floor, like Paimon’s withering.
“Oh, really? That’s- That’s great! Thank you,” Sansa stammers. “When do you- I mean, when can we do this?”
“After I find my leaf, I’ll be free for anything!” Venti reminds her.
“Right, the leaf! I’ll go home to put away my things and we can look.” Sansa hurries away after that, leaving the other three behind.
Aether and Paimon blink at Venti in unison. The bard looks at them and opens his mouth to speak, but-
“Don’t you have a boyfriend?”
“Paimon thought you liked dudes!”
Venti yelps, startled at their yelling. “What’re you talking about?!”
“You’re not gay?” The two ask, shocked.
“Yes, I am!” Venti flushes a faint pink after saying that, like he’s not used to talking about it. “What does that have to do with anything?”
Paimon lets out a sigh of relief. “Paimon was scared for a second… Wait, then why did you accept going on that date?”
“What date? The two of you are not making a lot of sense.” Venti scratches his head, frowning.
“With Sansa? The one she just asked you out on…?” Aether’s voice gets more uncertain as he goes on, noticing Venti getting confused at his words.
“That wasn’t-” Venti’s face contorts into three different expressions before settling in a surprised one. “Wait! Heavens, she was asking me out!”
Aether fights the urge to facepalm, but Paimon isn’t as graceful.
“You have to tell her you’re both cut from the same cloth!” Paimon exclaims, looking ready to hit him.
Cut from the same-?
Aether shakes his head. Not worth it.
“How do you think Xiao is gonna feel when he hears about this, you Tone-Deaf Bard?” Paimon continues.
“He won’t! It was just a misunderstanding, he doesn’t need to know!” Venti pleads, hearing the threat in Paimon’s voice.
“Oh, he will. Paimon is definitely gonna tell him,” Aether warns him.
Venti groans and rubs his face. He clasps his hands together and starts whining at Paimon for mercy. They keep going back and forth while Aether stands to the side, watching their childish arguing. Because he’s not participating in the discussion, he’s the first to notice Sansa approaching them.
“Hey, Sansa. Are you ready to go now?” He greets her and she nods.
Venti shuts his mouth for a second and stares at her, seemingly looking for a way to reject her softly. He sighs quietly and walks up to her.
“So, about that private lesson…”