#gotta stuff bardven into the headcanon though the bard is the biggest influence in venti's early life imo

[vv-ispy]

anyway my other venti's history shaping how he is headcanon is that as a wisp he was rarely taken seriously — people are kind to him and will put faith in him due to his being an elemental being, but between a little wind wisp vs a storm god, the wisp isn't doing much they're in the middle of the archon war, great strong gods are getting struck down all the time. (Even later as a god he's seen as the weakest god, possibly the god with the unlikiest of origins out of a group who were gods and powerful being before reaching archonhood)

But the bard treats him not as a contender, not as a god candidate, not even as their hope to take down Decarabian but as a friend.

So he doesn't take himself seriously either, he knows he has the power now yes but habits remain and he doesn't want to be a tyrannt, and in the end the most impactful relationship in his life will always be the bard who treated him not for his role or his potential but as a friend to love and cherish and understand

#diona and venti's interaction during the alchemy event my beloved #local drunkard and alcohol lover is genuinely interested in why the kid? teen? --idk how old diona is-- hates alcohol #diona and her hatred of alcohol has probably also never been taken seriously in the alcohol city of mondstadt #vs venti 'i'll take you seriously i'm interested to know i'll keep you company and help you' #god i imagine the bard and venti had SO many talks and discussions as they grapple with the rebellion #and not just about the rebellion itself but the bard's dreams and troubles and each other and #and teenagehood being the 'developing an understanding of yourself and the world time' vs the micromanaged environment they grey up under #i think all of that influenced venti and his method of ruling a lot #genshin talk #one of my favourite fics also touches on venti-not-taken-seriously via a zhongven relationship kinda #angsty fic. very good #god killer on ao3 #gotta stuff bardven into the headcanon though the bard is the biggest influence in venti's early life imo