a court case

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venti awoke not long after back in mondstadt. his wound had actually been bandaged, so thanks, ig. next to him was a letter. he could recognise that stupid handwriting anywhere. morax!!

to barbatos

i know we're having a quarrel right now but i must admit your cosplay was impressive and that it fooled me. it couldn't fool the actual xiao, though, so you got stabbed. please don't come back to liyue. here is some compensation. hopefully this will keep you away. thanks.

from, morax.

that was so easy?? he should get stabbed more often??? and in the envelope... a bag of mora!!! it wasn't much objectively, but to venti this was more than his life's savings (which were zero, so i guess it's not that much of an achievement, but still)

his whole body ached as he got up, but soon enough he'd be too drunk to care.

next thing he knew he was stumbling awkwardly out of angel's share with nothing but an empty bag of mora. it was so worth getting stabbed!! he couldn't even feel his body anymore!! he staggered out and over to the cardboard box nearby that he usually slept in.

it was damp and uncomfortable but it worked and it was better than sleeping on the grass. maybe the grass would be more comfortable, sure, but waking up soaking wet after a night of thunderstorms or amongst the morning dew wasn't very nice.

that morning he once again made his way into angel's share. there was a big banner in the back. venti was a bit too hungover to read what it said, but oh well. he slumped onto the bar where diluc was looking at him with a sigh.

"i must admit last night was impressive. i'm surprised you didn't lose your voice after all the singing you must've done to rack up that much mora." diluc said.

"do you think i can take an adeptus to court?" venti said quietly, more to himself, but diluc caught it.

"an adeptus? to court?" diluc scoffed. "it seems the effect of all that alcohol hasn't yet worn off."

"nonono i'm sober.." venti argued. "like maybe i could sue him for assault."

"god, what happened?" diluc raised an eyebrow.

"it's a long story." venti sighed. "do you happen to... know any lawyers...?"

"there's one in liyue. although i believe she's an adeptus too."

"shit! thanks anyway." venti said as he ran out the door.

he guessed he'd just have to find someone else. jean was pretty trustworthy and she even knew he was a god, so maybe she'd be on his side? he rushed off to the knights of favonius headquarters.

knocking on her office door, as soon as she called for him to enter he ran inside out of breath.

" what the.." jean said, a little surprised at his very abrupt entry.

"DO YOU OFFER FREE AND TRUSTWORTHY LEGAL SERVICES THAT COULD POSSIBLY HELP ME IN WINNING A COURT CASE AGAINST AN ADEPTUS?"

her jaw dropped. she looked like she was going to say something but nothing came out.

venti sighed, taking it as a no, turning to leave sadly.

"wait!" jean said, jumping out of her seat. "okay, i'll help you."

YES!!!

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