Work Text:
Terminal 2, Gate 1, Group 3. The 12:30 am flight from Dragonspine International Airport to Mondstadt.
Albedo looked his ticket over once more before putting it in his pocket and checking his phone. 12:45 am, his flight was late.
This was a great start.
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Although Albedo was often visiting Dragonspine week long for research expeditions, he didn’t normally take a plane. But since his usual bus route had been delayed due to an unexpected five meters of snow, he had to bite the bullet and deal with the airport.
It’s not like he didn’t like flying, but the airport security always asked so many questions, the constant delays made getting anywhere on time unreasonably difficult and buses were cheaper anyway. Now that his plane was 15 minutes late, Albedo debated finding another bus route to get back to Mondstadt until he heard someone over the intercom,
“Sorry for the delay, We will now be boarding Group 1.”
Albedo stood up and checked to make sure he still had everything in his carry on bag.
- Phone: check
- Keys: check
- Wallet: check
- Passport: check
- Sketchbook: check
- Pencils and Pens: check
- Notes from his research trip: check
- His lucky Dodoco (Klee instated that it would make his trip better): check
- That one rock that looked cool: check
- Vision (he didn’t know if it was possible to lose that. Note to self, talk to Sucrose about that): check
“Now boarding Group 2.”
Albedo started to head over to the gate, pulling out his phone along the way to check the time, 12:55. He sighs and pulls out his phone to text Kaeya, who volunteered to watch Klee when he was away, that he will be late picking her up, along with Jean, to let her know that he might be a couple days late depending on the worsening weather
Reading the responses always made Albedo smile. He loved Klee’s optimism and was glad that Kaeya had stopped Klee from blowing up anything too important. Jean thankfully understood that the weather wasn’t something that he could fix with alchemy (if he could have done that then he would have taken the bus.) and reminded him of the reports that he had to fill out when he got back to Mondstadt.
“Now boarding group 3”
With his carry-on bag slung across his shoulder, Albedo headed towards the gate to enter the plane with a small knot of worry growing in his stomach. He already wished he could have taken a bus.
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As Albedo settled into his seat, he pulled out his sketchbook from his carry on bag. He had a routine when going on public transit and he wasn’t about to stop it now that he was about to be 39,000 feet in the air.
The routine was simple:
Step 1: Sit down.
Step 2: Pull out a sketchbook to look busy and draw.
Step 3: Ignore everyone else until the ride ends.
Step 4: When the ride ends, get off and say thank you to anyone who worked on that ride. (examples: bus drivers or flight attendants)
If approached by anyone during or after the ride, answer with one word answers until they go away. It was simple and on any other day it would have worked.
Today was not any other day.
Just as the last passengers were loading onto the plane and the doors closed, Albedo thought he spotted something that made his non-existent heart stop.
There was a person? No, they were trying too hard to be human. An anemo construct? That could make sense.
The anemo construct had blue hair in braids, a funny little hat on and was currently chatting with what seemed to be another member of the flight crew. Albedo definitely didn’t remember seeing them in the waiting area by the gate but somehow felt that he hid seen that construct before and that thought made Albedo feel a lot less safe on this flight.
As Albedo looked back at the construct to try and remember where he’s seen that construct before, they were gone.
That was very weird to Albedo because the plane doors had already closed, he didn’t see that very noticeable figure anywhere in the crowded hull of the plane and didn’t think that the construct would be part of the flight crew considering his lack of uniform.
He really should have taken the bus.
Or walked, that would have been so much simpler
Albedo’s worries are quickly interrupted as one of the flight attendants, an older anemo wielding man with multicolored light blue hair and the eyes of someone who looked a lot older than his appearance, started going through the pre-flight announcements.
"Attention everyone, welcome onboard Barbados Skylines," the attendant stated in a monotone voice. "We ask that you please fasten your seatbelts at this time and secure all baggage underneath your seat or -"
He is interrupted by the same construct from earlier slamming open the cockpit in a very dramatic fashion, Which surprised Albedo as he didn't see them enter it earlier when he first spotted them.
"Now, now Dvalin," the construct chirped, "I've told you to stop with all of these constant reminders for safety. I'm sure that everyone here already knows the basics of plane safety, why bore them?"
Dvalin, who seemed to be used to this, replied in the same deadpan voice as before,
"And I've told you, this is the only reason this plane is still allowed to fly. We legally need to make these announcements."
At this the construct laughed and stepped around him into the aisle
“Oh it’s fine, no need to fret! Hello passengers, welcome onboard! This is your Captain speaking, my name is Venti and I will be flying us to the fair and free city of, drumroll please, Mondstadt! If you didn't know that, then you are probably on the wrong plane but we're already behind schedule so, ehe!”
With that Venti gave a quick smirk and shrugged while turning back towards the cockpit.
Oh no.
Albedo nearly considers breaking down the door as this construct can't be serious. What did Dvalin mean by “This is the only reason that this plane is still allowed to fly”?
Now, normally Albedo isn’t a very expressive person, (he’s not a person at all) but it still seemed like Venti could see right through him as the construct locked eyes with him, giggled and said, in a oddly cheerful voice.
"You can't get off this flight until we arrive at our destination. Please don't try and leave."
Oh hell no.
Albedo pulls out a pencil and starts to frantically sketch out this figure. If this turns out to be a plane hijacking (this is the weirdest one he's ever seen) Jean will be happy to know that they have a name and a picture of the hijacker.
Looking back to where the construct was stranded, Albedo wasn’t sure if he should have been surprised by the fact that Venti was no longer standing behind Dvalin. As Albedo turns back to his sketchbook to continue his drawing, he nearly jumps in his seat as he hears the cheerful voice of the Captain from behind him.
“I must say dear traveler, that is a fine portrait of me.” Venti says. ”Worry not for I may seem inexperienced, but I know a thing or two about flying on large objects! Just sit back and enjoy the show, once the wings start flapping, the rest of the flight will be simple!”
Albedo didn’t know much about airplanes but was certain that the metal structure holding it together wouldn’t allow for the wings to flap.
As Venti skipped back to the cockpit, Albedo made sure to lock his seatbelt tightly and keep a firm hand on his vision just in case this flight went poorly.
“Lord Barbados” Albedo prayed, (He wasn’t an active member of the church but this seemed like the time to get some protection on his side.) “Please allow this flight safe passage through the sky so we may return to Mondstadt in peace.”
Albedo hoped that would be enough with that lunatic driving the plane.
This would be a long flight.
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Sitting in the Captain's seat at the front of the plane, Venti smiled as they received the blessing from one of his people. With that he started the engine and cheered,
“Prepare for takeoff!”
This would be a great flight!