what does freedom really mean, when demanded of you by a god?

employment (act 1 finale)

it's all get a job this get a job that. but it was starting to sound like a decent idea, thought venti. If you look at it like this- if it's a fun job, you get paid to have fun, eh? and what does pay give you? alcohol!

with the money from the court case, venti was able to rent the attic of angel's share from diluc. it was a bit dusty up here, but it was better than his cardboard box, that was occasionally pissed on by any passing dog when he wasn't looking. and, if that wasn't great enough, because he paid rent, charles thought it would be nice to give him a nice discount.

tch tch tch, you're just fueling his alcohol addiction further...
nothing wrong with a cheeky little discount on happiness, heh.

but to keep paying rent venti actually needed a stable income that wasn't singing in the square for an apple or two. with this new life, he found himself longing for more things than just fruit- material things. that's right~ he's a material gworl.

mortals had jobs, even gods did (except him). he wasn't keen on being told what to do, but he thought he'd give it a go. Surely, there was not much he couldn't do with his silly god powers.

he checked the town noticeboard like a freak. and finally, the perfect job opportunity arose....

alcohol tester needed

you silly enablers. to think he could've been paid for what he's been doing all these years for free? well, better snap up this job opportunity before anyone else does.

Venti's heart dropped when he read further down the flyer.

come to the cat's tail for an interview

SHIT.

how could he even go for an interview when there was all those cats around?? he'd barely get to say a word through all the sneezing...

his mind went to the steroids he'd kept in his pocket, yknow, just in case.. perf. he could just take these and go for the interview!!!

.....

the day of the interview. in preparation, venti had been taking steroids a lot more than he should've been. and now, he's got another addiction... he's high as balls, but at least he'll be able to go into the cat's tail allergy-free.

He sat at the table, sitting opposite Margaret. Some little cats lay around his legs, and usually he'd be having a severe allergic reaction right now but it was now replaced by a strangely nice feeling.

"so, you're looking for a job? good, because diona has been looking for someone to test her new drinks." margaret said. oh, that catgirl. venti had heard that she made good drinks, but he'd never been able to try them or even go near diona in the first place. with his new confidence, venti nodded.

"well, we don't have many requirements. you're hired."

and venti went home ready to start work. though getting up early was going to be a challenge...

beautiful morning. birds chirping. the sound of people on the streets getting on with their lives. and now, venti was one of them.

to be honest, he was 99% asleep. why did he need to taste alcohol at like 9am? i mean, not like that was a problem...

stepping into the cat's tail, he saw.. kaeya! wait, kaeya didn't get this job too? or was he just drinking at 9am? either could be possible.

"oh, hey buddy!" kaeya waved. "wait.. what are you doing here? aren't you allergic to..."

ACHOO!!!

venti collapsed to the floor in the absolute power of that sneeze, oh my god. he passed out. oh, right. he forgot to take the steroids..

when he awoke, he was in the knights of favonius headquarters. the room was empty. he was only accompanied by the rays of sunlight streaming in through the curtains.

the door opened and kaeya entered with a tray of medicine. he set it down on the table.

"omg buddy. what were you thinking??! you're not... suicidal are you???!! oh my god!!!!" kaeya held his shoulders and shook him around

"nonono nothing like that i... i got a job there..." venti mumbled. "i was gonna take steroids to stop my allergies but.."

"a job?" kaeya raised an eyebrow. "i'll work it for you, i'll give you all the money!!"

"NONONO u dont have to do that..." venti wanted kaeya to do that, tbh "maybe a loan is the only option..."

"well? what are you gonna spend it on? you can't take a loan out just to spend it on alcohol. you'll never be able to pay it back and you'll be in debt." kaeya explained.

"ugh, debt this, debt that. i'm never going to liyue again." venti put his head in his hands. "ugh, mora is the reason i'm not basking in freedom right now..."

kaeya laughed, placing a hand on venti's shoulder. "cheer up buddy! you could always cut back on the drinking-"

"dont say another word if you want to leave this room alive."