Venty short stories

Albedo tricks Timaeus into therapy

TW FOR - Intrusive and self deprecating thoughts.

He didn't want to see Albedo or Sucrose today. Timaeus sat by the Alchemy table in Mondstat marketplace. He'd be polite, give idle chatter to Margret. Pretend he was happy by plastering a weak smile on his face. Internally however, his thoughts were racing.

You're worthless. Albedo and Sucrose just pity you. You'll never be good enough. You're just a burden. Why talk to Albedo and Sucrose when you just annoy then with how stupid you are? Just quit. Leave. Leave leave leave-

"-Timeaus? Excuse me Mr Timaeus, y-you seem a little spaced out."

Huh? What?" Timaeus got dragged away from his out-of-focus world, but in the background his thoughts continued. A quiet hum.

"S-sorry if I'm disturbing you, but me and Albedo wanted to talk to you..."

Talk? Oh god. No no no no no. I knew it would happen someday, I'm nowhere near their level but Albedo is actually gonna drop me today? I needed a warning- why didn't I get a warning? Don't cry, suck it up. You don't need pity or to accidentally manipulate people into liking you more than you already have.

"Talk? Ohhh okay! Where are we gonna go?" Timaeus tried to keep his voice from cracking. Tried to seem happy even though his heart was racing almost out of his chest.

"Follow me..." Sucrose spoke softly, turning away from Timaeus and beginning to shuffle awkwardly away. He followed her. She was nervous - well okay Sucrose was always kinda jumpy in a public place like Mondstat - but today she was more nervous than usual. Her green eyebrow's furrowed into a frown, her ears twitching, her hands fiddling with her short fluffy hair. Something was definitely wrong. Timaeus was still subscribed to the theory that he was not going to be Albedo's protégé for much longer, and Sucrose was only confirming his unfortunate thoughts.

They left Mondstat city gates. Walk, walking. Dandelions and windwheel asters swayed and span in the wind. The luxurious green grass blowing gently in the cool breeze. A gift from the God Barbatos. While the breeze was only a little cooling, it sent a shiver down Timaeus's spine. He felt so sick he could throw up. He could barely drag his legs along without them feeling numb from the shaking. They were in the windrise area. The grand tree dedicated to Vanessa the Great stood in it's heart, and underneath someone was waiting. Albedo.

"Ah, hey Master Albedo! What did you want to talk about sir?"

"Ah, Timaeus. Firstly, please just call me Albedo. Secondly... I've been getting worried over you."

"Why?" Why would he worry about me? I'm so annoying and worthless. I'm beneath him. I don't deserve to be near him. Don't worry please just be happy. I'm not worth the effort.

"You've not been acting like yourself. I don't think you've been genuinely excited over alchemy in quite a while. You're usually so thrilled to talk about it, explain your theories. Sucrose noticed this too. I'm not great with people by a long shot but- are you doing okay?"

"I'm... Fine. Perfectly fine. Maybe I've just... Maybe I've realised I'm not cut out for alchemy."

"What makes you say that?

"Well. I'm not as smart as you or Sucrose. I mess up often, my brain can work so slowly. I'm clearly way behind what you are Sucrose can do, I've never been shy about saying that. I just don't want to hold either of you back anymore." Timaeus could feel his lip quivering, and his eyes watering.  Maybe I could just run? I've said what I need to. How I feel. He began awkwardly shuffling back until-

-THUNK!

Timaeus tripped and fell onto something. It felt metallic, not like the soft grass he expected on impact. The next thing he knew he was being lifted into the air by a metallic platform in the shape of a blooming flower.

"What the-?"

"Hold us back... Hmmm. Seems like you need a therapy session. Good thing I'm a licensed therapist."

"Therapy? You are?"

"Not really, but I have studied intensely about human emotions, how the human brain can work, etcetera etcetera."

"I'm good thank you Mr Albedo. Now can you let me down? I know you made this with your vision."

"Not until we're finished."

"Sucrose? Help a guy out here."

"I'm sorry, I-I'm with Mr Albedo."  She shuffled next to him, her hands clasped together, her face showing a silent apology. Timaeus sighed. He didn't want to burden them. However he felt falling off a floating metal flower platform and breaking his arm would be more of an inconvenience than rambling about his thoughts. So he reluctantly crossed his legs.

"Right... So, uh, where to start..."

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Aight so that's it! There's the short venty story thing. School has me exhausted and Timaeus is a comfort character of mine so I wrote this to chill out. I hope you enjoyed this- my writing is kinda rusty right now but I'm trying chiifhjhf-