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chickenparm · 7 months

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Nothing New Under the Sun (Wriothesley/gn!Reader)

AO3 Link

Wriothesley/gn!Reader 2,229 Words - SFW Awkward dates, pining, fluff

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When you first suggested it, you’d already gone in with the assumption that the answer was going to be a solid no. That he’s too busy right now, that there’s some crisis he has to handle, that the upcoming mandated day off required him to have a presence in the Fortress to prevent any trouble.

But then he’d looked at you from behind the rim of his teacup, the smallest crease at the corner of his eye to betray his little smile, and he agreed.

Honestly, you hadn’t thought you’d even get this far. Stammering over your words, you deliver a time later that afternoon and nearly sprint from his office to the elevators that will take you to the surface once more. You hadn’t gotten anything ready; he normally says no. God, maybe that’s why he said yes, he had to have known you didn’t expect it.

Hotel Debord does takeout, don’t they? If you hurry, you can get there, order a few things to take with, and stop off at home… yeah, this should work. It will work.

The aquabus doesn’t run any faster or slower than it always does, but it feels like an eternity as your knee bounces and you tune out the sound of Elphane’s usual script about the surrounding area and points of interest. You’d lived here long enough and taken this aquabus so many times that if Elphane ever needed a day off, surely you’d be able to fill in.

Never mind the reason you’ve used the Navia Line so many times.

Does he like sweet things? You ask yourself as you search Debord’s menu. He has to, at least a little, right? He takes his tea with two sugars. Okay, Pate de Fruit, then. Maybe some Garlic Baguette. Would Lasagna be too unwieldy to eat? Probably - Tomates Narbonnaises it is, then.

Ah, shit, the drinks.

You can handle that at home, you have a few thermoses. Impatiently, you wait for the food, accepting the box with profuse thanks for their efforts in stashing pyro slime condensate inside to keep it all warm. The bag of Pate de Fruit sits neatly on top and you watch it carefully as you hustle home. A blanket or two should do it - oh, and the tea.

It’s embarrassing how scattered this has made your mind. A simple, “Sure, sounds great,” and you’re in shambles like a child dealing with their crush. Well, you kind of are dealing with your crush, but it’s not like he knows that. Though, knowing Wriothesley, he probably does and has just been messing with you.

Though, that comes with a whole host of thoughts about his motivations. As you fold the blankets to tuck into your backpack, you try to reason with yourself, murmuring beneath your breath that Wriothesley isn’t cruel. Far from it, actually, and if he did know about your feelings, it would be extremely out of character for him to mock you or string you along.

No, he either doesn’t know, or there’s something else afoot.

A quick glance at the clock soothes you - you have more than enough time to get to the location you specified. Then it’s a matter of scoping out a good place and making sure there aren’t any unwanted parties nearby. Hilichurls would have a field day with your goods, probably.

Just North of the Fountain of Lucine, there’s a hilltop angled just right to get a view of Coppelius and Coppelia spinning idly at the Icewind Suit, with a backdrop of the Court beyond it. Wildflowers dot the hill on the way up, and their scent fills your nose as you make the short hike and ensure everything is clear. Nothing to worry about except how you’re going to make conversation with this guy.

Your cheeks warm as you lay out the blanket - checkered, to be cliché. Another thing you weren’t prepared for. Usually you have time to think of arbitrary reasons to talk to Wriothesley when you head down to the Fortress once a week. But this is all purely casual; are you supposed to just talk about the weather?

God, you feel like a mess. Carefully, you set the box of lunch on the blanket, sweeping your hands against one another in little claps as you look at the little setup. Not too bad on this front, you think-

“You look exhausted. Run a few too many last-minute errands?”

The hill nearly takes your life as you almost tumble down it, catching yourself with waving arms before you turn and irritation overtakes your nerves, “Don’t sneak up on someone like that!”

“I wasn’t sneaking, I even called your name from the bottom of the hill. Not my fault you were daydreaming.” Wriothesley doesn’t hide the little half-cocked smile on his face as he tilts his head, making a show of looking at the spread behind you. “Either way, those errands paid off, huh? Looks great. Next time’s my treat.”

Next time, next time, next time-

“Uh… yeah, sure. I got a few things, I wasn’t sure what you’d like.”

“I’m not picky.” Wriothesley answers simply, stepping closer to take your elbow with his hand - it’s warm - and steer the two of you to the picnic you’ve so carefully laid out. “Checkered blanket? Cute.”

Not a single response comes to mind. You could address his light teasing, or his eating habits, or the way his fingers still wrap gently around your arm as if to help you sit down. They don’t pull away until you’re comfortable, and then he takes the space across from you, leaning back on his hands as his legs stretch out in front of him. The bottom of his boots are off the blanket, an attempt to keep from dirtying it.

God, you wanna kiss him.

Shaking your head to get back on track, you try to address any of those topics and instead you weakly ask, “So uh… weather’s nice, huh?”

And his head falls back while he laughs. Not meanly, or cruel, but this odd surprised sort of sound, like he hadn’t expected that at all. Neither did you, to be honest. There’s no attempt made to try and backpedal as you watch enraptured at the shake of his shoulders and that little flash of teeth from his laughter.

Lifting his head it looks at you, eyebrows raised just enough to make him look deeply interested despite his grin, “Yeah, the weather’s great. Lots of sun.”

You want to slap your palm to your forehead, but you instead tense your shoulders and set to work unpacking the box containing your lunch. A bit of steam wafts out thanks to the slime condensate, and as you reach in for the containers, you hiss a little at the sudden sharp temperature.

Thankfully, he doesn’t chide you for being careless, but he does quietly sit straight and all but takes over the distribution of food for you. You’re normally not so clumsy but you’re also normally not in the presence of the man you can’t get your mind to let go of. Wriothesley’s arm reaches out to offer you one of the takeaway bowls, and your eyes follow the lines of his veins, the shift of muscles beneath his skin.

If he notices how your hands shake when you accept the bowl, he graciously says nothing, and instead just reaches for the thermos of tea. Singular.

“Ah, shoot. I forgot the other one on the counter at home.” You murmur, watching as he stops in the middle of unscrewing the cap.

His eyes dart from the tea to you, then he shrugs. “We’ll just share, then. Here.”

Your bowl of food is warm on your lap as you reach for the thermos, taking it and quietly thanking him before taking a drink. Thoughtlessly, you pass it back without further scrutiny of the situation, only to be blindsided when he accepts it and turns it so that he can drink from the same spot on the rim that you did.

And when he swallows, his tongue darts out a little, and your fingers are dangerously close to cracking your bowl with your grip. He has to know. He has to know. Because there’s no way a person would ever cause this much mental damage without it being deliberate.

Your mouth opens and closes, trying and failing to say anything at all. Wriothesley looks at you, face downturned a little toward his food, waiting patiently to give you some time. When it drags a little too long, he’s graciously merciful, “You know, it’s pretty nice out here. Good view, and it’s quiet - one thing I don’t get much of in the Fortress. I’m sure the Palais Mermonia is just as busy for you, yeah?”

Mutely you nod, and just before taking a bite of the food, he says, “We can just enjoy it, then. Don’t feel like you have to fill the silence for my sake. Plenty to be said about spending time with someone in peace.”

Relief floods through you. It’s like he can read your mind, and you enjoy the ambient sounds around you as he smiles knowingly and takes another sip of tea from the same spot. Then, offers it to you.

Surely this is a test, and you look at it unsurely for a moment before he wiggles the thermos a little as if to say, “C’mon, it won’t bite.”

You’re going to pass it, you’ve decided, and you take the tea with a murmur of thanks before shifting it with your fingertips to turn in your hand and drink from that same spot as well. Wriothesley sits up a little, then leans back on one hand again, and looks oddly satisfied for something so simple.

The quiet makes things easier when there isn’t a looming expectation for you to be a good host. The food is finished, and your hunch about sweets was right as he lounges on the blanket and rummages in the back of candied fruits. Unable to keep from watching, you wear a little smile as he chews one thoughtfully, then takes another in quiet approval.

Catching your gaze, he tilts his head a little toward you and asks, “Want one? These are pretty good.”

Nodding, you hold a hand out for him to place one, but he holds his fingers up. They’re visibly coated in little sugar crystals, likely sticky from the candies. “No use getting your hands dirty. Open up.”

Not a single thought rolls through your mind. Nothing at all. Just an odd sort of white noise as you watch him pull a candy from the little bag and hold it with his fingertips, fully intent on feeding it to you. If you back down now, you’ll surely kick yourself for it later, and with bated breath you open your mouth.

The sweetness blooms across your tongue before the candy even touches it. One of his fingertips just barely grazes across your taste buds as he deposits the slice of fruit, and you look at him with wide eyes and your heart pounding hard enough that it must be visible on your chest. You want to die, or maybe you’re already dead, and your mind is shooting its last bits of electricity before you pass on.

“Good, huh?” Wriothesley asks like he hasn’t caused you to toe the line of passing out. He brings his fingers to his mouth, lips wrapping around his index, then his thumb, and he murmurs around it, “Want another?”

How do you explain that if he does that to you again, you’re going to perish?

Luckily, your stunned silence is enough of an answer that he finishes off the candied fruits on his own, sprawled out on the blanket with one arm tucked behind his head and the other idly eating from the bag leaning against his hip. This is a disaster of the best kind, you’re not sure how to recover it. Is this even salvageable?

“I really should be getting back. There’s a lot on my plate today.”

“Oh, if that’s the case, you didn’t have to-”

“No, I didn’t, but I wanted to make an exception. So I did.” Wriothesley sits up, waving one hand as if that would be enough to ward off your worries about taking so much of his time on this picnic. Except he seems more relaxed, like the weight on his shoulders isn’t as heavy, and you wonder if it was a waste at all.

Wriothesley tries to help you clean up, but you nudge him away to give him an excuse to get back to work. As you pack things up, he awkwardly stands there for a moment just watching, before finally asking, “Should we just have our next date at Hotel Debord, then? Less hassle in carting things around, even if this was really nice.”

“Oh, yeah, sure, just let me know when.” You say absently, and he lets out a pleased little laugh before agreeing and leaving you alone. Only when you’re on your way back to the Court do you catch what he’d said, and the bowls in the box you’re carrying clatter together as you realize his proposition and drop them.

A letter with his wax seal is already on your desk by the next morning. It smells like him.

#wriothesley x reader #wriothesley/reader #wriothesley #genshin #genshin impact #fic #fanfic #fanfiction #fluff #gender neutral reader #gn!reader #no pronouns or descriptions for reader

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odyssean-flower · 4 months

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The Winding Path of Fate Chapter 10 - The Honeymoon (Part 2)

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Pairing: Neuvillette x Female Reader Summary: You and Neuvillette have a fun time on Erinnyes Warnings: None except for the fact that this story is 50% written based on vibes Note: I update this story on AO3 first so please subscribe to the fic there if you’d like to read it faster Note 2: If you want to be on the taglist for this fic, please make a reply to this post, send a message or send a private ask

Have a pic of Neuvillette hanging with one of his kin

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“Madame, we have arrived at Marcotte Station.”

The whisper in your ear was accompanied by a gentle shaking of your arm. “Ugh…?” you let out a moan and opened your eyes. Your head was resting on something soft—what was it? You turned your head and was met with lilac eyes peering into your own.

You had been resting your head against his shoulder.

“Oh!” your head practically flicked back. “I’m so sorry, I can’t believe I fell asleep…”

Great, just great. Way to start your date with a good impression! You glanced at his shoulder. It didn’t seem as though you had drooled on him, at least.

“No need to apologize,” Neuvillette said as you took out a small mirror from your purse and fixed your hair. “You should get all the rest you need. We have a long walk ahead of us, after all.”

“A long walk…” you repeated as you gazed out at the long walkway that stretched into the distance. Why did they have to build everything on the other end of the island? At least you wore comfortable walking shoes today.

You stood up and stretched, then thanked Elphane before climbing down the aquabus’s ladder. Neuvillette followed, and the aquabus soon departed after.

You started marching ahead. The burbling of the fountains and the chirping of finches, along with the refreshing morning air made a pleasant accompaniment to your walk. All your earlier nervousness seemed to melt away, replaced with a bubbling excitement. You now understood a little why people woke up early to jog in the morning.

“There is no need to walk so quickly,” Neuvillette said, even as he easily caught up to you with his long legs. “We have plenty of time, and personally, a walk is much improved by enjoying the scenery.”

“Is there scenery to enjoy here?” you asked, confused. You had visited the opera a few times over the years, and while you always found the sight of the opera house rising into your field of vision awe-inspiring, you didn’t find the walk there very interesting.

“Of course. Why, just look at this river running beneath our feet and converging into the vast waters in the distance. See how clearly the water reflects the mountains, grass, and flowers. I have always considered Erinnyes to be the perfect combination of land and water.”

You couldn’t help but smile at hearing Neuvillette wax poetic about the water. Neuvillette might seem inscrutable on the surface, but he was really a man of simple pleasures and predictable habits. Although you suspected that you and him had different aesthetic tastes, you enjoyed the challenge of trying to see the world through his eyes.

“But don’t you get tired of seeing the same sights every day for hundreds of years?”

“Not at all. There is always something new and interesting to see, whether in the land or the people, particularly the latter.”

“The people?” you looked up at him. “You’re a people-watcher?”

Neuvillette rubbed his cheek awkwardly. “Is that such a surprise?”

“Yes. I mean, well…” you struggled to word your thoughts the right way. “It’s just that…you always make an effort to maintain a distance from people in order to stay impartial at all times, so I assumed that you didn’t have that much interest in humans.”

“You’re not entirely wrong,” Neuvillette admitted. “But I do in fact enjoy observing the citizens of Fontaine go about their daily lives. It helps with my duties as the Chief Justice as well.”

“That does makes sense,” you said. “Tell me about the kinds of people you see here, then.”

“Very well then, Madame, if you insist. I’m afraid I’m not much of a storyteller, however.”

Neuvillette then started to tell you about all the strange and interesting sights and incidents he had witnessed here. Though he claimed not to be much of a storyteller, you found him easy to listen to and happy to be interrupted whenever you asked for more details.

Before you knew it, the sun had climbed higher in the sky and the opera house stood before you. There were very few people around. The Fountain of Lucine danced high in the sky.

“You know, it’s funny how I've never attended a trial here since we’ve gotten married,” you said as you gazed up at the tall building. “Perhaps I should rectify that in the future.”

“I thought you didn’t enjoy trials.”

“I don’t,” you admitted. “But lately I’ve started gaining an interest in them.”

It was true. Before, you would mainly read the newspaper for the news of the day and the serialized novels, but now you've started to read the judicial affairs section, particularly the court cases presided over by Neuvillette.

“Besides,” you added. “I’m a citizen of Fontaine too, so it’s my civic duty in a sense, to contribute my part to the power source.”

You had somewhat expected Neuvillette to tell you not to force yourself, but instead he said, “If you ever decide to attend one, tell me, so I may reserve a seat for you.”

The two of you turned left, in the direction of Erinnyes Forest. As paved stones gave way to uneven dirt, you felt the atmosphere change. Not just in the sky, which seemed to darken all of a sudden, but between the two of you. It felt as if this honeymoon-date was beginning in earnest. You glanced up at Neuvillette, wondering if he felt the same way you did, and found him looking down at you with an unreadable expression in his eyes. Both of you hurriedly looked away.

“This place is very beautiful,” you said, in an attempt to distract you both, but it was also the truth. You liked the feel of the pine trees lining one side of the path and the slate gray cliffs lining the other. It felt like you were being shepherded to somewhere magical. “It’s a shame that not a lot of people come here.”

Your hometown was to the west of the Court of Fontaine, located in pretty much the middle of nowhere. It was a peaceful—some might say boring—locale. The only time you had ever come close to running into monsters was when a group of hilichurls set up camp on the outskirts of your village, but they were soon cleared out by some hired adventurers.

“I agree, Madame. But there are reasonable justifications as to why that is. Erinnyes is different from the other regions of Fontaine.”

“Because of the strange fog and the vishaps? But I read that they don’t attack you unless you attack them first.”

You had been nervous about the vishaps, but assured yourself that with Neuvillette there, there was nothing to worry about.

And, there was the long-suppressed adventurous part of you that really wanted to see them for yourself.

“You are correct, but it is still better to be careful when you come here.”

You nodded, then looked around. So far, you haven’t seen anything even remotely similar to a vishap. You didn’t even see any hilichurls or Treasure Hoarders, even though you had also read that there were plenty of both that could be found here. Perhaps Neuvillette was taking you on a safer path.

You stopped when you passed by a small waterfall.

“What kind of flowers are these?” you knelt down and stared at a small azure flower growing by the water. “I think I’ve seen them in a book, although I don’t recall their name.”

“This is a Lakelight Lily,” Neuvillette knelt down next to you. “They mainly grow in Erinnyes.”

Then, after seeming to consider something, he picked it and held it out to you. “My apologies,” he said, suddenly looking awkward. “I am of the understanding that it is a custom to give flowers on dates, but I didn’t know what were your favorites. It’s not suitable, I know.”

You stared at the blue flower in his hand, feeling your heart flutter and heat rise to your cheeks. “I…um, thank you,” you carefully accepted it, and brought it to your nose. It smelled pure and refreshing, like a mountain spring. “It’s absolutely perfect.”

You could feel Neuvillette staring at you again. You wondered what sort of ridiculous expression you had on your face right now. “I…I wish I have my flower press with me. I would love to preserve this flower. It was one of my hobbies back home, you know, flower pressing. I had an album full of clippings from the plants that grew around my village. I liked looking at pressed flowers as well. Oh, Lakelight Lilies, I’ve read about them before! Do you know the legend where the previous Hydro Archon was said to have given one to the last Lochknight?” you babbled.

It was funny. You were able to talk to him relatively easily at home, despite the fact that it was arguably a more intimate environment than here, but now it felt like you were talking to him for the first time. Although, I was nowhere near as bad as this when we first met.

“Your album must be a sight to behold. Would you allow me to see it some time?”

“Oh, you can’t now. I threw it away a long time ago. It was just a childish pastime for me anyways.”

There was an awkward silence. Neuvillette looked caught off guard. You wanted to punch yourself in the face. This is why…

“Oh, um, by the way,” you said, your voice sounding too loud in tranquil environment. “I don’t really have any favorites. For flowers, I mean. It’s not something I really thought about before. So you don’t need to worry about buying me a bouquet or anything. …Do you have a favorite flower, sir?”

Your eyes were fixed on the flower, so you couldn’t see the expression on his face as he quietly said, “I am of a similar opinion,” He then reached for the flower. “May I?”

“Oh, sure…” you said, giving the lily to him. He took it, and then proceeded to tuck the flower into your hair, just above your left ear. Even through his glove, you could feel the warmth of his hand. It lingered in your hair for a moment.

“I don’t mean to go against your opinion, Madame, but in my view, flowers are most beautiful when they are alive and placed where they look best,” he said, then gestured to the water surface. You looked no different than before, except for the fact that there was now a Lakelight Lily in your hair, and yet you couldn’t help but feel that your reflection showed a stranger. “You see? It’s beautiful.”

You couldn’t look away from his eyes—you weren’t sure you even wanted to. Somehow, you managed to tear away and turned your head to the side and spotted another lily next to the one Neuvillette picked for you. You reached for it and, spurred on by a sudden spurt of boldness, picked it and tucked it in Neuvillette’s hair.

“There,” you said. “Now we match.”

A soft sigh escaped from Neuvillette’s lips. The distance between the two of you wasn’t so close, but you swore you could feel his breath against your hair.

After a charged silence, Neuvillette stood up. “Let us not tarry here any longer. I want us to spend as much time at our destination as we can.”

“O-Okay,” you nodded, still feeling flustered.

As you continued your walk, you soon encountered a wall of thick fog. As you remembered, this place was called the Foggy Forest Path, and it did indeed live up to its name. Instinctively, you reached out your hand, and it bumped into a silk-covered one. You held onto it tightly. The hand was limp for a moment, as though its owner was surprised, and then it hesitantly squeezed yours back.

“We should hold hands so we don’t lose each other,” you said and looked up at him, or rather, where he should be. The fog was so thick that you could only see the faint blue glow of the Lakelight Lily in his hair.

“…Yes, you’re right,” Neuvillette said. His voice sounded like it was coming from far away. His hand gripped yours even tighter. “Please try not to let go.”

“I won’t,” you said, and started walking forward. Everything except the dirt road right before your eyes was obscured. You couldn’t even hear the chirping of the birds. It was as though the whole world had disappeared, and the only thing anchoring you to reality was the firm, warm grip on your hand.

After what seemed like an eternity, but was probably only a few minutes, the fog cleared.

“Wow…” you breathed out as you stared at the sight before your eyes.

It was the azure blue Weeping Willow, standing in the middle of the lake like a fountain spout eternally frozen just before its water droplets hit the ground. There were smaller willows standing on the banks of the lake, like the attendants of a glorious lady.

You stepped forward, taking your hand out of Neuvillette’s grip. You didn’t notice him staring at his hand intently after you did so.

“This place is incredible!” you exclaimed, turning back to Neuvillette. He looked up at you. “I can definitely understand why this is your favorite place in all of Fontaine.”

You had seen pictures of the willow, but seeing it for yourself was a completely different experience. Your legs seemed to run forward on their own before you remembered yourself and stopped. This was technically supposed to be a date, after all, not a field trip.

“Ahem, Monsieur Neuvillette,” you said. “Shall we go on ahead?”

Neuvillette strode up to you. “But of course, Madame,” he said, then extended his elbow out to you. You stared at it for a few moments before realizing that he wanted you to link arms with him. How unexpected.

The sun shined brightly down upon the two of you as you descended the slope. You expected Neuvillette to move into the shade, but he didn’t. The tree was even more majestic and extraordinary up close. It looked as though it was floating in midair.

“If only I have a Kamera,” you groaned. “I need to take pictures of everything!”

“In that case, let me unveil another surprise for you,” Neuvillette said. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a well-polished device. “A Kamera.”

“You’ve thought of everything, haven’t you, sir?” You took it in your hands and examined it. It looked a bit different from the Kameras you were used to seeing. “I didn’t know you owned one.”

“It was a recent gift from the Melusines.”

“A recent gift? Was it a birthday present?”

“Yes, from about a hundred years ago.”

You nearly dropped the Kamera. “A hundred years ago? That’s not recent at all! This is an antique.”

Neuvillette looked genuinely confused. “It isn’t?”

It was easy for you to forget that Neuvillette was actually hundreds of years old. If asked how, you would have to say that he simply didn’t act like it. Not that you knew what a person who was hundreds of years old acted like. Perhaps it was the fact that he never talked about his past very much.

Come to think of it, the Melusines were hundreds of years old as well. Lately, you had been surrounded by people who were vastly older than you.

The thought of it made you feel small, but also exhilarated. You imagined that this was what explorers felt when they encountered ancient ruins for the first time.

The Kamera wasn’t difficult to operate. After fiddling with it for a bit, you figured it out and proceeded to snap photos of all the flora and fauna. Neuvillette followed behind you as you trekked around, occasionally directing you away from threats.

You could feel his gaze boring into your back. He followed you at a respectable distance, neither too close nor too far, but you couldn’t shake off the feeling like you were being stalked by a starving beast that wanted something from you. It was unnerving, and it made you feel awfully self-conscious. But more than that, you felt guilty. Despite your lack of romantic experience, even you knew that this wasn’t how a date should be. Hell, not even an outing between two friends should be so one-sided. But you knew that if you brought it up with Neuvillette, he would just say something along the lines of “I’m happy as long as you’re happy.”

You had always been the type to follow the lead of others when it came to situations like this. It was easier that way, and you justified it to yourself with the reasoning that you were boring anyways. But now that you were dealing with someone who was content to follow your lead, you were beginning to understand the pressure it placed on others.

“Monsieur Neuvillette,” you turned around to face him after some thought. “I’m getting tired of this.”

Neuvillette’s face fell. “…I see. Yes, of course you would be. There isn’t much in entertainment here. I can take you back to the Court of Fon—”

“Not in that way,” you interrupted him. “I mean of this silence. This is your favorite place, and yet you’re not telling me anything about it.”

“I’m afraid that I have no talent for being a guide. I’m sure the books you’ve read are more than sufficient.”

“It doesn’t matter. I just want to hear your voice.”

Neuvillette was silent for a minute. “…Very well, Madame, if you insist. What would you like to know?”

“Well…tell me about the water here.”

Neuvillette brightened a little at that. He is so predictable, you thought. He started to tell you about the water veins that spread underground throughout Fontaine, and how the tree is affected by them. According to him, the water veins contained information, making Erinnyes a sort of information system.

“And you can learn that information by tasting these water veins?” you asked, fascinated.

“Yes, I can.”

“Isn’t that a bit…disgusting? I mean, drinking water straight from a lake is a bit…”

“Disgusting?” Neuvillette seemed genuinely perplexed. “Why would it be?”

Then, before your astonished eyes, he took out his cup and filled it with lake water and drank it. His face relaxed into a smile. “Ah, exquisite. Would you like to try some?”

“Um…no thank you, sir,” you politely declined. Sampling his imported water was one thing, but drinking lake water was something else.

“So, is this the lake where the maiden of the lake, Daeira, gave Hauteclaire to Erinnyes? Was this the place where Erinnyes threw her sword before she disappeared?” you asked a question that had been on your mind since you arrived here.

“It may very well be. I know that many of the prevailing theories believe that this is that very lake.”

“What do you mean? Surely you were…”

“No, Madame, I’m afraid I must disappoint you. I was not around during that era.”

“You weren’t?” You were mortified by how rudely you blurted that out and the genuine disappointment that sprang up in your heart. Your expression must have been equally impudent, because Neuvillette actually let out a chuckle, covering his mouth with his hand. But you could still see his crinkled eyes.

The air between the two of you was no longer quite so awkward. Neuvillette was smiling now, so everything was alright. You would endure a thousand humiliations just for that.

And now you learned something new about him.

“How old did you think I was?” Neuvillette asked, still smiling.

“I, um, shouldn't say. It’s rude,” you mumbled, looking away. “You do look very…er, good for your age, though.”

“What was that last part, Madam? I couldn’t quite make it out,” Neuvillette stepped closer. You couldn’t tell if he was serious or teasing you.

“It’s nothing. Can we go to the tree now?” You awkwardly changed the subject. “I’ve been dying to take a closer look at it. I heard that people used to worship it in ancient times.”

“Why, certainly,” Neuvillette held out his arm to you. “Let us go.”

The lake spread out before you. It was bigger than you thought. You could see geese peacefully swimming on the surface. The water was so clear that you could see down to the bottom. The tree’s thick roots stretched out beneath the water, disappearing into countless underwater caverns.

“How are we going to get there?” you wondered out loud. You hadn’t brought swimwear, and you weren’t a very strong swimmer. Was Neuvillette going to…?

“No need to worry,” he said, then led you to one of the blue trees by the lake. There was something next to it covered by a tarp. He lifted it up, revealing a wooden rowboat.

“Oh, wow,” you said, walking around the boat and taking pictures. It looked newly painted. “Did you prepare this?”

“Yes,” Neuvillette nodded, looking a bit bashful.

“It’s wonderful. But where are the oars?” You couldn’t find them inside the boat or outside.

“We won’t be needing them,” he said. “You wished to see me demonstrate my powers, did you not?”

“Agh…” you scratched your head in embarrassment. He got you there. “You really don’t have to do this just to entertain my idle curiosities…”

“Nonsense. I’m doing this simply because I want to,” he said.

Neuvillette dragged the boat out to the water, then helped you into the boat before getting into it himself. He placed his hand on the side of the boat, and it started moving out on his own.

You weren’t sure what you were expecting—something flashier, perhaps. But this was just like him.

“Shall we take a tour around the lake before going to the tree?” Neuvillette suggested, and you agreed.

The boat moved at a leisurely, peaceful pace. The swans from before glided past your boat, seemingly unperturbed by the new arrivals. Neuvillette pointed out the schools of colorful fish swimming in the depths. You couldn’t see those water veins he mentioned, though. Perhaps they were deeper under the water.

You snapped as many pictures as you could, partly because you wanted to capture all the beauty of this place, but also partly to hide your face from Neuvillette’s stare with the Kamera. Occasionally, he would take a sip from his cup.

You wondered if he realized how unsettling it was. Maybe he was so used to being watched that he had become desensitized to it. You, on the other hand, fidgeted at being the focus of someone’s attention.

At last, you couldn’t take his stare anymore. Your face wasn’t that interesting and you knew it.

“Monsieur Neuvillette, would you like to take a picture of me?”

A breeze blew a strand of your hair against your eyes, and you tucked it behind your ear. Neuvillette’s eyes followed that motion. He didn’t say anything.

“Monsieur Neuvillette?” you raised your voice.

He blinked several times, as though he was rousing himself from deep thought. “Pardon me, Madame?”

“I said, would you like to take a picture of me? You’ve been staring at me for too long now. Shall I return the Kamera to you?”

“Have I?” Was it just your imagination, or did the tips of his ears turned red? “I apologize for my discourteous behavior, Madame.”

“I would have thought that you understood how uncomfortable it felt after I did the same thing to you before. Was it enjoyable for you, at least?”

You said the last part sarcastically, but Neuvillette didn’t seem to have picked up on it. “Yes, very much so,” he said sincerely. You gave him a look. “Ah, my apologies, I didn’t realize you were being sarcastic.”

There was a short silence as Neuvillette looked anywhere but you. He took another sip of water. You noticed that his hand was shaking slightly. Was he that flustered?

At last, he spoke again. “May I have the Kamera, then?”

“Sure,” you said, handing it to him. “What are you going to take a picture of?”

“You, of course. Didn’t you offer?”

“Yes, but…never mind, do as you will. It’ll be good to have a picture of me for Lady Furina.”

“Lady Furina?” Neuvillette’s brows knitted together. “Why would I show it to her?”

“For proof of the date. I’m sure she’ll give you a hard time if you have nothing to show for today.”

“Furina,” Neuvillette said, his tone sharp. “Will have no choice but to accept what I say, proof or no proof. Please do not worry yourself about her.”

Neuvillette’s touchiness about this subject was something you were well-acquainted with. It put you on edge as well. But you didn’t feel like arguing about it with him right now.

“How should I pose for the picture? If you want me to smile, then I must refuse. I am not good at smiling on command.”

“It’s fine. I simply want a picture of you. That is what people do on dates, is it not?”

Neuvillette looked around, and his eyes landed on something. The boat moved closer to one of the smaller blue willows growing around the lake. Lakelight Lilies grew in profusion near the roots. The boat turned so that your back was facing the tree.

Neuvillette took a long time with the Kamera, frequently looking up from it. He doesn’t need to take it so seriously, you thought. It’s just a picture. In the meantime, you tried to concentrate on smiling naturally. Despite what Neuvillette said, you wanted to smile for his picture. It was the least you could do.

You thought of all the things that made you happy. The pictures of Remurian ruins in my books, that spot in the woods near my house, the cake my old housekeeper makes for my birthday each year, my comfy reading nook, talking to the Melusines…Neuvillette putting my painting in his office…

“Pfft…” a laugh threatened to burst out of your mouth as you felt the corners of your lips lift. It still made you giddy just thinking about it. Ah, this is so embarrassing…I’m getting too excited over something so trivial…

Click. Click. Click. The sounds of the Kamera went off in succession.

“I thought you said just one picture,” you said.

“My apologies. My finger slipped.”

His finger looked pretty deliberate to you. “I thought the Chief Justice didn’t lie.”

No response. It appeared that you got him.

“Shall we go to the willow tree now?” you said to spare him the awkwardness of having to explain himself.

“…Yes,” Neuvillette nodded.

The boat made for the island at a quick speed. Once it made land, you stepped onto the ground and looked up at the tree in awe. Up close, you could see that the top part of the tree was in fact connected to the base by several thick blue roots. The drooping branches were like droplets of water suspended in air. They covered the entire island and practically blotted out the sky. You could understand why the ancients revered this weeping willow.

You asked Neuvillette for the Kamera back and resumed taking more photos. Unfortunately, there were no traces of any interesting ruins as far as you could see. Maybe they were underwater. Of course all the good stuff is there.

Neuvillette was looking at the branches as well, but not in the way you were looking at them. He was staring at them critically, as though examining them for blight. You remembered what he said about the tree reflecting the state of the waters.

You walked over to him. “Does the Chief Justice’s job extend to inspecting trees?”

“This is one of my duties, although it isn’t entirely related to my position,” Neuvillette said, gazing at a branch. He took it and displayed it in front of you. “Do these leaves look a bit yellow to you?”

You stared at the leaves closely. At first glance, they looked to be a vibrant blue, but comparing them with the leaves on the other branches, they did seem to have a greenish cast.

“I’m not entirely sure,” you said at last. “The color does look a bit different.”

Neuvillette looked thoughtful at your words. “I see,” he began to walk towards the water. “It would not hurt to check the water veins to see if there are any hazards that need to be dealt with.”

“Are you going to go underwater?” you asked, following him.

“Yes, but I promise to make it quick,” Neuvillette stepped into the water, still with all his clothes on, and submerged himself.

You watched him as he swam around. He was quite the swimmer.

It was noon now, so you decided to set the picnic up. You laid down the blanket in the shadiest spot and spread out the food, which consisted of sandwiches, a pie, and of course, plenty of water for Neuvillette. Your stomach was grumbling, but you needed to wait until Neuvillette came back before you could eat.

You sat down on the blanket. In the distance, you could see little cottages here and there. They must be summer houses. Ah, if only you had the money for that.

A pleasant breeze blew. The sunlight shining down through the branches cast your surroundings in a blue light. It felt like you were underwater.

This place was very different from your claustrophobic hometown, where everyone was in everyone’s business, and the big city, where it was easy to get swept into the tide of people and never make it out. Both places have their own charms, but Neuvillette had introduced you to somewhere outside of those two paradigms.

You doubted that you would be able to come here often, but it was nice to know that places like these existed and were accessible.

Just as you decided to go to the edge of the water again to see if you could see Neuvillette again, you spotted a flash of purple out of the corner of your eye. You turned and screamed when you saw what was there.

It was a large, purple beast with a long snout. It was covered in spikes. Its magenta eyes looked oddly familiar, but there was no time to think about that now.

There was a vishap in front of you.

“Neuvillette!” you shouted. “Neuvillette, please get up here! There’s a vishap here!”

There was a loud splash as Neuvillette emerged from the water. You rushed into his arms, hiding your face in his robes. You felt him freeze up.

“What is it, Madame?” he asked urgently. His arms wrapped around you, and he began to stroke your hair. “Are you hurt?”

You pointed behind you with a trembling arm. “It suddenly appeared out of nowhere…”

“Ah, I see…” you heard a note of sternness in his voice. He gently turned you around. “It’s perfectly natural to be scared, but I promise you that no vishap in Erinnyes will ever hurt you.”

You looked up at him. His lilac eyes stared back into yours. You could see the worry in them. You felt your heartbeat settle down.

“Do you trust me?” he suddenly murmured.

“…Of course I do,” you said, and he let out a sigh of relief.

Now that you were no longer scared, the gravity of what you just did came back to haunt you.

“Um…pardon my impertinence, sir,” you said, and nonchalantly stepped away from Neuvillette. Talking with him casually—okay. Holding his hand—questionable, but at times necessary. Pressing yourself against him—the height of shamelessness. Even if you were scared for your life, you had to behave in a dignified manner. I have to remember my place!

He did see you in just a towel, though, a part of your mind whispered. So what does it matter?

Oh, do be quiet! You thought back.

Neuvillette’s hand, which had been on your shoulder, lingered in the air for a moment before dropping. You could feel him looking at you, as though seeking something, but you stared resolutely at the willow’s trunk.

After a moment, Neuvillette went towards the vishap. You heard him say something in a language you had never heard before. He sounded cross. The vishap answered him back. Was it the language of the vishaps? Did Neuvillette have some sort of connection to them?

Oh, now you remembered why the vishap’s eyes looked so familiar. It and Neuvillette both shared the same slitted pupils. Hmm…

“Come here, Madame,” he said to you. You hesitated before obeying and stopped just behind him. Perhaps it was just your imagination, but you thought that the vishap looked a bit ashamed.

“I’ve reprimanded this vishap for frightening you. She shouldn’t have shown itself before you without my presence. She told me that she didn’t mean to surprise you. She came up from the water because she smelled an unfamiliar scent.”

“Oh, she must have smelled the picnic food…”

“She apologizes for the scare,” Neuvillette said. “She hopes you’ll forgive her.”

“Um…I accept…your apology,” you said to the vishap. The vishaps here were supposed to understand human language. “Sorry for screaming.”

Now that everything was cleared up, it was time for lunch. The vishap showed no sign of leaving, so you supposed that it was joining you two as well.

You sat down on the blanket cross-legged, making sure to leave enough space for Neuvillette without having to sit too close to him. He sat down across from you. It took a few moments for him to adjust due to his long spats. He could have worn shorter ones, at least, you thought. Perhaps you should have brought a chair.

“We’ve got tomato and lettuce sandwiches, an apple pie, and water from rivers of Qingce Village,” you gestured at the spread. “I made the sandwiches, and Marie baked the pie.”

“Thank you for your hard work,” Neuvillette said. He picked up one of the sandwiches and bit into it. He closed his eyes.

“Is it good?” you asked nervously as you watched him eat. “I hope it’s not too dry.”

“It’s delicious,” he said after he swallowed. He smiled at you. “You’re a woman of many talents.”

“It’s just sandwiches…” you said. Neuvillette could really go overboard with the compliments sometimes.

“Be that as it may, it was excellently made,” Neuvillette said, then reached for another sandwich. You started eating as well.

“So, Monsieur Neuvillette, how were the water veins?” you asked as you cut a slice of pie after finishing a sandwich. “Did you learn anything from them?”

“Yes, but it is nothing too serious, thankfully. It can be dealt with swiftly,” he said, as he sipped his water. He glanced at you a little, as if wanting to say something else.

“That’s good to hear.”

Before you met Neuvillette, your idea of a Chief Justice’s responsibilities was the same as anyone else’s. You assumed that he mainly dealt with trials and other court matters. But now you were learning that his duties extended beyond that. It made sense, considering he was an ancient being. Just what was Neuvillette, anyway?

The puzzle of his true identity was not something you had ever indulged in before, but now for the first time, you were a little curious.

The vishap was sniffing at the remaining sandwiches. Was she hungry? You picked up a sandwich and held it out to her. “Would you like to try one?” you asked, then turned to Neuvillette. “Sir, can she eat human food?”

“She can,” he said. His voice sounded a bit strange.

You moved your hand closer to the vishap’s mouth. She opened it, revealing rows of sharp teeth. You tried not to recoil. The sandwich disappeared into the mouth.

The vishap blinked her eyes, then made a noise. She seemed happy.

“Hey, that tickles!” you laughed as the vishap licked your hand.

“Ahem,” Neuvillette cleared his throat behind you. The vishap ducked her head.

“Oh, it’s alright, sir,” you waved your hand. “I don’t mind feeding her our food.”

“That is not what was on my mind…” Neuvillette murmured. But he didn’t elaborate any further.

After cleaning up, you and Neuvillette spent the next half hour taking pictures, chatting, and enjoying the scenery. The vishap would occasionally go underwater and bring you treasures like shells and Tidalga, which you carefully tucked away in your purse.

Before long, it was time to leave for Merusea Village.

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Taglist: @just-simping-over-genshin, @xalphafox, @jqnehr, @favficdump, @thetwinkims, @cielclassy, @the-mxs-of-many, @mxyarylla, @lynettezz, @rosedpetal

#genshin x reader #genshin impact x reader #neuvillette x reader #neuvillette x female reader #the winding path of fate #my fics

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stellanix · 4 months

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idea: the fontaine cast from genshin but as a starfleet crew

captain neuvillette

first officer navia

science officer furina

tactical officer clorinde

chief engineer freminet

chief of security wriothesley

chief medical officer sigewinne

helmsman lyney

ship's counselor lynette

and of course a bunch of melusines in various roles, notably aeval and elphane as shuttlecraft pilots :3

#i need to see fanart of them in Starfleet uniforms #especially the melusines!#furina is the science officer because she's a nerd and smart and loves learning #i should make a separate post about why that's a really cool and understated part of her character #cuz i love it #idk what charlotte would do on a starship honestly hkgkfj #genshin impact #star trek #neuvillette #navia #furina #clorinde #freminet #wriothesley #sigewinne #lyney #lynette #melusines

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peeweekey · 1 month

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letters to the sea

Another thing; the melusines seem especially eager to share correspondence with you. They asked me personally for the mailing address of your new residence and I could not refute them. They seem to be abusing the soft spot I have for them, do forgive me.

With the help of the Hydro Sovereign, the melusines have taken over the mailbox of Furina’s new residence.

furina/neuvillette ; fluff

07/20 Lady Furina,

As per your request, I have provided you residence outside the Palais Mermonia. Take as much time as you need in moving in, I shall send Sedene to check on you every few days. I would have done it myself had it been that she was so insistent on it. Do not fret about repayment, this is the least I could do for you. It is hardly a dent in my coffers.

Rest well, if there is anything else, do not hesitate to send me a reply.

Your dear Iudex, Neuvillette

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07/28 Dearest Lady Furina,

Is your new house comfortable? When I visited you last time, it was cramped. And it was dusty and it smelled kinda bad… If you want, I can help you dust it the next time I visit. Even if I don’t understand why you’d choose to live there, if it makes you happy, then I guess I can be happy also.

The food that you made for us last time tasted funny, my lady, I think you don’t have much talent in cooking. When I told Monsieur Neuvillette, he wrinkled his brow. He does that a lot lately, and sighs a lot more too. He’s busy all the time now, especially with all that paperwork you left behind! He always asks me about my visits to you after, I think he’s worried about something. Anyway, I’ll bring that cake you like next time! I’ll just have to ask Monsieur Neuvillette what it was again…

I will stop my letter here now though, my hand is starting to ache.

All love, Sedene (P.S. I miss seeing you everyday, Lady Furina)

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08/10 Hello Lady Furina!

Work at Meropide Fortress has been hectic lately, but I finally found time to send you a letter. Now that you’re human, you have to take much more caution with your health, but if you ever come down with a case of the sniffles, I’ll come to you right away! I’ve also collected some cosmetics that you will absolutely love, I can even tell you about their properties and benefits, if you want to of course.

I’ve been wanting to visit you and Monsieur Neuvillette a lot, I have a lot of stories to share. Like when one of the prisoners at the fortress taught me how to braid hair, I tried it on Mister Wriothesley but his hair isn’t long enough. I told him he should grow it out, you agree right? I’ll try braiding yours once I find the time to visit, I’ll even ask Monsieur Neuvillette to tag along.

Anyway, I hope you don’t feel too lonely anymore. You can chat with me anytime you want, my lady, I always want to hear from you! And before I forget, I put a sheet of stickers in the envelope with this letter. It’s melusine themed! And they are scratch and sniff stickers. I’ve been saving it but I want to give it to you. Cute, right?

Kisses and well wishes, Sigewinne

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09/23 My Lady,

I have written and rewritten this letter countless times, I hope you don’t blame my poor writing skills. Some of the melusines I’ve spoken to say that they see you around the court more often than before. But I haven’t had the chance to see you again. If ever you make your way to Marcotte Station, I hope I could greet you then.

Monsieur Neuvillette has been taking the private aquabus ride to Opera Epiclese alone now, and the rides to and back are silent. He sometimes chats with me, but I’m not too fond of talking. I guess all the chatter you two had came from you.

From, Elphane

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09/30 To Miss Furina,

Congratulations on your stunning theater performance, Miss Furina. It was truly a sight to behold, you are a natural in the limelight. I hope to be able to attend more of your future performances. I can clearly see you flourishing brightly now. And truly, I am happy for you, Furina.

It is also nearing your birthday. Your first as a human, I have to say it is quite bittersweet for me. But if you’ll have me, I’d want to visit and celebrate that day with you. Like we always had done before. I will not come alone of course, the melusine children are practically buzzing with excitement.

Please do not think of me a stranger, Furina, you are the closest person to me. You are always in my thoughts and I hope to hear from you soon.

Yours, Neuvillette

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10/20 Dearest Lady Furina,

I’m sorry, my letter is probably the latest out of all my sisters! I’ve been quite busy with my aquabus shift much more now than before! I think it has something to do with the performances you do for the theater troupe now. All that heavy rain stopping is surely a plus, too. before I overheard a passenger saying that she desperately wanted to watch one of your shows, but the tickets were all sold out! It was a shame, she looked like she came all the way from Mondstat too, don’t worry I made sure to cheer her up with my tour guide skills.

If you don’t mind me saying, my lady, your face seems so much brighter! Like the glow of Lumitoiles. Even Monsieur Neuvillette has been much more perky lately, most don’t notice it but I do. Maybe because you’re spending time together again, I’ve seen a lot of articles on the two of you in the Steambird. The two of you must be super close again if you’re holding hands and sharing desserts. Your good mood is surely infectious! I’m grinning so hard, my cheeks hurt. It’s amazing!

Anyway, if you see me around, please say hi! I can be quite ignorant of my surroundings at times…

Don't be a stranger! Aeval

#neuvifuri #furina #neuvillette #key's-vault #genshin impact #neuvillette x furina #fontaine #cross posted on ao3 #melusine #sigewinne #furina de fontaine

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fallenangelflonne · 5 days

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i'm copying and pasting this from a comment i made under sigewinne's drip marketing because it needs to be said:

sigewinne is a grown woman and wriothesley treats her as such.

sigewinne is the head nurse of a prison, meaning she more than likely has a medical degree or some other high-level certification.

sigewinne only looks the way she does because she's a member of a fantasy race based around sea slugs, and most, if not all other members of that race you encounter throughout fontaine are homeowners (such as mamere and the other residents of merusea village) and/or have full-time jobs (such as aeval and elphane), meaning they're all adults and are widely regarded as such by the people of fontaine.

sigewinne is not a child just because she's short and has exaggerated moe proportions. she's 500+ years old.

wriothesley is not sigewinne's surrogate dad; he's her coworker. sigewinne does not need a father figure. please stop infantilizing her.

#[🏮] ⋮ val's rambles .ᐟ #genshin impact #sigewinne #wriothesley #sigewrio #wriosige #wriowinne

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eileenslibrary · 2 months

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Keep Your Eyes Peeled

Chapter Three: Brunch With A Stranger

This GIF fit perfectly with this chapter I simply couldn't help myself lol

Wriothesley x Noble Reader

Song Recs: Addio! by Joe Hisaishi, At The End Of Summer by Joe Hisaishi

Warnings: Murder Case, Murder, Bad Mental State (Wrio, Reader, Dominique), Fluff, Wrio's An Arse (Playfully), IF A STRANGER ASKS TO ACCOMPANY YOU WITHOUT TELLING YOU THEIR NAME DO NOT LET THEM, THIS IF OR PLOT ONLY

She fusses shooing him to the platform he groans and walks over beside you. He walks over and stands beside you. He hums crossing his arms as he looks out towards the water, you glance at him, putting a hand on your hat as the breeze picks up he looks over to you at the movement, his blue eyes scanning over you as if trying to connect the dots to an unsolved puzzle only he could solve “Can I help you” you ask looking at him, “Yeah, you can actually, I’ve seen you somewhere before” he comments “Oh it’s probably from the recent newspaper about the Debord murder case” you sulk your eyes getting misty “Ah so you’re Dominique’s sibling” he sighs “You don’t have to say anything” you hum looking back at the water bring your hat to your chest he nods and looks back at the water as well, he keeps glancing at you as if trying to figure out what to say, but can only come to silence “Where are you going on this fine day” he finally breaks the silence “I am going to Palais Mermonia to get a permit” you answer fiddling with your hat “Ah I see” he hums picking at his fingernails.

Finally, the Aquabus arrives relieving the awkward silence as you both board the bus, Elphane’s monotonous voice fills in the silence letting you relax as you look at the scenery once again, luckily it wasn’t raining this time. You look up when you feel a pair of eyes staring at you, the stranger looks at you his blue eyes hold a gentle kindness as if he understood how you felt, as if he experienced it first hand. “It’s pretty hard having someone close to you betray you isn’t it” he states instead of questioning, answering your question “Yeah it is” you hoarsely say looking at him, Elphane looks at you both questioning what is going on between you both “How about I accompany you to Palais Mermonia, I have a while until I’m needed for anything?” he asks looking up seeing how close the aquabus is to the station you nod looking back at the scenery. The breeze bats some strands of hair in your face as the bus accelerates then slows down as it pulls into the station Elphane goes through her script of safely deboarding the bus, you nod towards her and step off of the bus the stranger following closely behind “I never got your name” you sigh looking at him “Ah, I think it’s best if that stays secret I doubt we’ll see each other after today so how about we stay in blissful ignorance” he hums his icy eyes swatting away from you ‘Must be a secret all right if he’s acting shifty’ you think “Very well then.” You huff glancing at him and walking away he follows after easily catching up due to his long legs “So, why are you getting a permit?” he asks “Confidential information try again” you sarcastically hum stepping on the elevator, he clicks his tongue “Very well then” he hums, you both walk in silence it was neither comfortable nor uncomfortable but you did relax a little clicking the button to head up to Palais Mermonia you throw your hat back on your head “Does this permit have to do with the court case?” he asks with genuine curiosity “If you must know, yes it is. I’m hoping to get some information on my brothers past convictions and the people who keep bailing him out of jail” you sigh looking at the man, he was quite handsome any woman or man would kill to have him, he held a confident air around him but was charismatic and witty, but had a playful side. You analyze him if it keeps your mind off the situation for a moment longer “Why are you looking at me like that?” he quizzes you roll your eyes “You seem familiar” he slightly bristles at that nearly unnoticed by you. Still, his eyes widen and a single drop of sweat runs down his neck. “Maybe, I am a bit well known in some places of Fontaine.” He sticks his hands in his pockets. The doors open up and you both exit the car of the elevator the man offers his arm to you, “No thank you” you politely say he nods and lets you lead him, people look at you and whisper “I think that’s Mx. Vincent” one whispers you tune it out causing you to miss when one of them says “Is that the duke accompanying them?” you scoff and walk faster making the stranger try and keep pace, you tilt your head down letting your hat cover your face. You feel the stranger place a hand on your shoulder you look up and see he walks with you opening the door for you and slamming it shut

“Don’t mind those morons, they’re simply looking for a short moment out of their boring lives” you nod “Thank you for accompanying me” you say “No problem, I know what it’s like being the talk of the town” he sighs rubbing his nose “How long will it take for you to get that permit?” he asks “I’m not sure, I haven’t needed one before” you answer “Why?” you question “Well it’s a nice day out and I still have an hour and a half to kill so maybe we could get brunch?” he mumbles the last part, but you hear him clearly “Brunch with a stranger whose name I don’t even know?” you snort at that shaking your head and begin to walk towards the doors of the other room. The man grabs your bicep “Please think about it” he coughs a slight blush rising on the tip of his ears, barely noticeable to you. You huff “We’ll see” and brush past him and into the next room.

You walk up to the desk noticing how empty it is for once “I assume you are here to get a permit?” The melusine asks her eyes a bored look and a tired expression “I- how did you know?” you ask looking at Sedene “Nuevillette told me to expect Mx. Vincent sometime this week for a permit to Fortress Meropiede” she hums stamping a paper and handing it to you “His office is the door on your right” you nod turning and walking to the door and knocking on the wood “Come in” his authoritative voice says, you crack the door open and slip inside “Ah Mx. Vincent” Nuevillette sighs shuffling some papers into a neat stack before he opens a drawer on his desk and grabs another paper and places it in front of him “Come take a seat” he invites you to sit on one of the lavish sofas in his office, you follow his invite “Sorry I haven’t got any tea, I didn’t expect you to come in so early in the week” he explains “It’s fine really, I have someone waiting for me and only have time to get the permit done” you admit “I won’t take long then” he hums pushing the papers towards you to read and fill out “Hand me those papers” you do as he told, he pulls out his own stamp and stamps his approval on the paper. You read through the question and finish filling out the paper signing your name, and handing it back to him Nuevillette scans over them checking everything “Alright, you are eligible to visit Fortress Meropiede and speak with Monsieur Wriothesley” He stamps the papers you filled out. “Thank you for your time Monsieur Nuevillette” you thank him taking the papers “Hold on let me get you a folder so those are more manageable” He interjects as you turn around, he stands up and walks over to a set of drawers and grabs a manilla folder “Put them in here” you thank him again and slip the papers inside “Have a good day” you say opening the doors and quietly shutting them, Nuevillette picks up the stack of papers again continuing where he left off.

You walk out and see the stranger, his blue eyes immediately looking up at you, “That was fast you were only in there for twenty minutes” he chuckles “I’ve made up my mind” you simply say grabbing the door handle and opening the door looking at him, he stares at you for a moment before walking out of the door you walk next to him, the strangers pay no mind rather talking about the recent cases, what to eat, and whatever new book has come out. You could care less just wanting to go eat something and head home, “What do you want to eat stranger?” you question walking into the elevator as its doors open automatically, you press Station Main Hall “How about Café Lutece?” he suggests “Fine by me” you hug the folder to your chest and close your eyes, exhaustion slowly creeping up on you from the sleepless nights.

You lead the man to Café Lucerne walking up to the counter and looking at the options “You go first” you hum your eyes gliding over the menu. “How may I help you both” The manager’s eyes scan over you both before his eyes widen but he stays silent when the stranger holds a finger to his lips the manager nods, and you raise a brow at him “Hi I will order the Jambon Buerre with a Passion de Fleurs” the stranger looks at you waiting for you to order “And I will have the Croque Monsieur and a Noisette please” You pull out your coin purse “Allow me” the stranger interjects “I can pay for myself perfectly fine” you argue glaring at him “Very well” he holds up his hands above his head in surrender. You pull out enough for the both of you and hand it to the manager smirking. The stranger looks at you with surprise but you turn, walk, and sit at a table the man gawks at you for a moment before sighing and walking over and sitting across from you.

He watches as you breathe in the misty dew of the morning your eyes fluttering shut as the sun warms your face you feel at peace for the first in a long while even if grief still swells inside your chest “It’s been so loud y’know” you speak looking at him “For me at least, it’s one thing after another” you prop your chin on your palm “I understand where you come from” he agrees “This is the first moment I even get to just. . . Breathe, it’s the first break I’ve had in years” you look up at the beautiful sky clouds rolling by you can see the man nod his head from the corner of your eye “My brother was lucky, he got to go fishing with Pa and dance with Ma, run around with his friends, he got away with it because his mental state wasn’t in the right place, so naturally the family responsibilities landed on me.” You bat tears away blinking trying to get them to dry “I’m sorry, this must seem pathetic to you” One of your hands covers your mouth as you regain composure, you open your eyes and see the stranger giving you an empathetic look “It’s not. It’s sad and terrible, everything I mean,” he says in assurance you go to speak again but the waiter brings you your drinks “Oh, thank you” A small smile paints your lips as the smell of fresh coffee wafts through the air the steam floats upwards. The waiter nods giving you a polite smile. Wriothesley watches you as you slip the mask back on, he frowns thinking back to Dominique who is probably sending a letter to his little friends about how bad his life is, he huffs out shooing that thought away, returning to the present and blowing on his tea. You sip your coffee letting the warmth pass through your bones.

Soon after your sandwiches come out and you both chow down “I haven’t had such normal food since like forever” you laugh in joy “I’m always used to eating fancy food, or going to banquets or hosting them, I never could imagine the simplicity of simple foods again” your gaze holds warmth “Ah if this is simple food, maybe you should get out more often” the stranger looks at you a smile painting his face “I can’t Claude’s parents will be arriving soon and then it will be the trial, after that my duties will be upon me again” you solemnly say at the mention of Claude. Wriothesley damns himself at ruining the mood once again, you finish your meals “I should head home, I need to gather more evidence.” You sigh your gaze falling to the ground as you grab the manila folder from the other seat “I do as well, my appointment is in twenty” He hums looking at his watch. “Well, it was nice meeting you stranger” You shake his hand and part ways.

“Mx. (Name!)” A pink-haired reporter pops up out of a bush making you scream at the jumpscare Wriothesley looks back at the scene chuckling before his face fell “Shit” and he books it away before one of you two comes after him looking for answers.

#fluff #angst #x reader #wriothesley x reader #wriothesley #genshin impact #genshin fontaine #genshin wriothesley

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