You're right, you're right. It isn't the time to talk about the Chief Justice's schedule of hanky panky.
Just head out of your room. I'll meet with you. I'll see you in a moment.
[Wriothesley shoves a few items into his pants pockets before leaving his room. While the warden tries to stay relaxed and his usual, there's just a bit of agitation in his steps. A tension in his shoulders he can't get rid of.]
[He huffs at Wriothesley's response, shaking his head, but keen to meet up with the man.
He takes a moment to get his shoes and overcoat on. And by a moment, it's a good five minutes but he eventually emerges. He spots Wriothesley immediately and clears his throat to get his attention.] I apologize for the delay.
[Wriothesley gives Neuvillette his usual smile. Despite his usual demeanor, there's a weariness that lingers. It's barely noticeable, but it lingers at the corners of his smile and settles in steel blue eyes.] No need to apologize. I suddenly asked you to accompany me. I'll be sure to schedule my appointments better in the future. [His tone is teasing as he gestures the other to follow him.
He pulls a folded paper from the breast pocket of his waistcoat. There's a few locations of the Resort scrawled out. Some are scratched out.] Let's go to the gardens.
[Whether Neuvillette initially picks up the teasing tone, the ludicrousness of Wriothesley needing to schedule an appointment to meet when he has nothing but free time is silly enough to make him exhale a singular, soft chuckle before clearing his throat. He is aware that something has Wriothesley on edge, which makes him feel as though this is no time for laughter.]
Very well.
May I ask what it is you're looking for? [This whole thing is quite mysterious so far.]
[Wriothesley walks alongside the other as they head to the Cloud Dwelling Garden. He kind of wished the other kept laughing. The sound eases him somewhat. Also, he did crack a bit of a joke. Neuvillette had always given him the time of day when it was reasonable.]
Did you know Furina was here? [Wriothesley doesn't answer Neuvillette's question at all and merely asks a question of his own instead. Neuvillette can think about it as he will.]
Yes, I met her briefly in the casino. How is she settling in? [He hadn't thought to try looking her up, but now that Wriothesley has mentioned it, he adds catching up with her and making sure she's doing alright to his to-do list.]
She was fine when I last her. Feeling homesick I think. [So is he, but he doesn't bring it up. This isn't about him.
They easily make their wat to the gardens and Wriothesley seems to bee line to any of the lifelike statues that help decorate the gardens, glossing over them as he seems to be looking for something.] I haven't been able to get in contact with her recently though.
[He doesn't like the sound of that - 'was fine'. Wriothesley immediately has his undivided attention.]
Do you know which suite she resides in? Why are we not searching there? [It almost sounds like he's bordering on annoyance, not understanding why they're wasting time walking around a garden when Furina might be in trouble.]
[He stops for a moment before straightening himself. He is patient, but the tone the other has does get under his skin.] Monsieur Neuvillette, I would appreciate that you keep your wits about you reconsider your question. Do you think that I have not been trying to locate her for some days?
[He sighs and runs through his hair and the signs of stress are more apparent now.] We've been here for months. Her and me. [He starts heading towards the hedge maze. He knows there are more statues and even a pretty fountain in the center of the maze. This could be all for naught, but he has to search everywhere.]
Do some of these statues not make you feel uneased? [He changes the subject, not wanting to think too much about how long he has been here now.]
It's been that long? [Neuvillette seems to take little or no notice of any annoyance aimed back at himself, but it's more accurate to say he more than notices but immediately understands why Wriothesley is so agitated. Agitated or not, however, he still hadn't told him why they were searching here.]
You have not been missing for months... another piece of this puzzle, no doubt.
But you still haven't answered me as to why we're searching the gardens. But to answer your question... yes, they are a bit too detailed. Too lifelike. [And each appeared different.] Is that significant? [Surely, Wriothesley isn't trying to suggest that people were being turned into statues.]
For me, yes. I thought you knew? Our first interaction was months ago. A couple months passed between then and when we met in the elevator. You didn't know? [He had thought the other would have found out, but he reprimands himself for not being more obvious about it. It wasn't information that should have fallen through the cracks.]
I wouldn't say it is a puzzle. At the very least, between here and there. Time means nothing in this place. Time passes, but it also doesn't. The flow of time isn't quite right.
[They walk through the maze, Wriothesley going through the paths with practiced ease.] Yeah. I have some theories and I'm pretty sure I'm correct. I just- [The hedge maze opens up to a little opening. It's a nice spot with a gorgeous fountain with plenty of statues and rose bushes. It has a few grassy areas. It would be a nice spot for a picnic.
He isn't paying attention to that. He scans the statues, and there's something like a sinking feeling. Recognition without as he looks at the back of one of the statues.] I didn't have confirmation until now.
[He has seen Furina enough. Has walked behind her enough times. It is a figure he has not easily forgotten.]
I did not... As you've said, time does not seem to flow normally here. You're not the first person I've spoken to who said they spoke to me here months ago. As far as I can recall, it was barely a day between our first encounter and the one in the elevator...
[Whether Wriothesley considers them pieces of the puzzle or not, Neuvillette certainly does. All of this information tells him that this place can't be some things while still possibly being others. He's still leaning toward this being something of a pocket dimension. These things occur and often require something specific in order to exit.
But these are things to ponder later. At the moment, finding Lady Furina is far more important.
Unlike Wriothesley, he is momentarily distracted by the fountain. Half a second later, he's following Wriothesley's gaze, his breath catching in his throat as his chest becomes tight. While usually hidden in the massive building, they're in the one spot where the pattering of rain against the glass ceiling is immediately noticeable.] Lady Furina... [His voice is barely audible. Making his way to the statue, he reaches out to touch the statue's shoulder, but hesitates, his hand never getting closer than hovering just above the stone.] You're sure this is her? That she's been transformed to stone?
[His smile is a little sheepish. Damn, Neuvillette thought they just had sex back to back like that. He feels he should be a little embarrassed about it. He was damn shameless both times.
It's too bad the whole situation right now is so sobering.
Wriothesley is quiet as they approach the statue. Seeing the statue properly and there was no way one could say this was not who it was. He wasn't close to Furina. Not by a long shot. They were amiable and he enjoyed her company here, but they weren't close. They barely interacted before then. Still, to him, it was seeing the Hydro Archon even so powerless that they could reduce her to a decoration for their garden that it leaves him feeling...anxious.
He instinctively digs into his pocket to get his box of cigarettes.] I don't know. I don't have full confirmation. It could be in her likeness, but... It feels like what I'm staring at is more than just a very well made statue for decoration. It also doesn't make sense for it to be just that. I won't say we truly know, but I think you and I know what we're looking at.
[From Neuvillette's perspective it had been an absolutely insane couple of days. So much so that he'd found himself a little surprised the past day or so that a million things weren't happening.
Neuvillette lets his hand lower to his side, still looking at the statue, the almost blank expression, like something had caught her a little unaware but hadn't gone far enough to startle her, in silent, soft gasp dying on marble lips.]
If it is a statue... I must admit, the scaling is exact. [There are even incredibly delicate looking stone eyelashes.] This is beyond any power I'm familiar with.
[He tilts his head slightly to glance over his shoulder toward Wriothesley.] What made you suspect that this would be her fate?
[He gives Neuvillette a little time to try and process the figure in front of him. He pulls his box of cigarettes out and shakes one out of the flimsy cardboard before pressing it between his lips. He had thought he kicked the habit of stress smoking awhile ago, but it had slowly been rearing its head up with this place.]
The same way I suspected that kids weren't being adopted. [Wriothesley was sharp even as a kid. Of course, he had fallen into that false happiness of living a blessed life under his foster parents. He had for awhile, until he had to confront all the wrong little details. Come to terms the lie his childhood had ended up being. This felt a little similar.] I suddenly couldn't contact her anymore and checking her room regularly just solidified that she hadn't been in her room for some time.
[He lights the cigarette with a lighter, flicking it shut with a clack.] A lot of the statues here give off an uncomfortable feeling and I've always been someone who trusted his instinct quite a bit. The appearances of all the statues seem to differ that I just made a guess. We aren't allowed to leave this place, so why would people just suddenly leave? Coupled with the state of the long term guests and some of them being dead, I feel like I had a solid guess. [Wriothesley obviously had been doing more than just having sex.
He sighs as he takes a long drag from his cigarette, holding it in for a moment, before exhaling smoke.] Honestly, anything could have happened and I don't doubt this is the only way. It's why I had been looking around.
[He echoes Wriothesley's words, lost in thought, the rain on the glass ceiling pattering more insistently.] But why her? Why now? Do you think she did something to cause this? Found something she wasn't meant to?
[He's wracking his brain for any and every possibility. New people, including himself, have just arrived, but he can't see how that would cause something like this. If the creator of this space had the conscious power to do this, what could Furina have possibly done to attract their ire? And was this their fate too? Could this happen to anyone? At any time?
The rain outside intensifies.
None of it makes sense and, yet again, he feels powerless to help.]
I don't think the answers to these will mean much nor offer any sort of reprieve. As far as I can tell, our arriving here doesn't offer much rhyme or reason. There doesn't seem to be any real pattern, so I don't think that there would be much of a pattern as to why she ended up like this either. [Wriothesley feels his words are not exactly kind, but he also thinks that lamenting on this would be helpful nor would it bring the peace that Neuvillette probably wants. It would be kinder to steer the man towards a different path.]
As far as I can tell, Furina stayed in line and didn't make much of a fuss in comparison to others, so it is highly like that her leaving has no real basis in anything specific. [Leaving. Because they don't know what any of this means. Perhaps she is comfortably back home handling Fontaine's affairs where she should be.
He sighs and after a moment, he reaches to brush his finger against Neuvillette's cheek.] You're thinking quite loudly, Neuvillette. I thought you would want to be aware, but it makes me wonder if I should have sought this out on my own. [Neuvillette never seems to lack worries and Furina was so quiet that it felt like it would have been easy to miss her. He could have never known she was here for as long as the warden had been.]
Leaving... [Neuvillette echoes Wriothesley's choice of words. He'd very much like to believe that, though he's not sure he can.]
She's been through so much lately... I hope that's true. She deserves to enjoy her newfound freedom. [Neuvillette swallows thickly, finally looking away from the statue to lean subtly into Wriothesley's light touch. The rain patters heavily on the roof and he finds himself wishing for nothing more than to be outside, to feel the water hitting his face.]
I'm grateful you showed me. [He glances back toward the statue, knowing he'll likely gravitate back to this place to visit her often.] Is this the only place the statues appear? [If others 'leave', he wants to know where to find them.]
Leaving. She isn't here anymore, no? So she has left. [It is up to Neuvillette how he wants those words to mean to them. Wriothesley would rather not dwell on it either way. There wasn't anything they can do for her at this point.
Like on Neuvillette's words.] What do you mean by newfound freedom? [He does not doubt that Furina has suffered aplenty. The prophecy had probably weighed heavy on her for awhile- ah.] Neuvillette. From your point in time, has the prohecy come to pass?
[He slides his hand into Neuvillette's hair, gently carding fingers through the long locks.] No. There's quite a few places where they show up. I'm sure you've seen them around.
True enough... [He still sounds mournful. He can only hope for the best, but the statue left behind in Furina's absence certainly makes it feel like less of an absence and more that she's been turned to stone.
Wriothesley's question offers a distraction from darker thoughts.] Hm? That she no longer has to parade as Archon. She is free to travel and live her own life.
[Neuvillette's puzzled pause speaks volumes. He reaches up to cover Wriothesley's hand with his own.] Yes... And your boat was invaluable in helping to save many lives. [His other hand comes to rest on Wriothesley's chest before sliding up to his neck, cupping the back of his head. The gesture doesn't exactly feel natural but it feels right. He finds himself longing for this closeness and physical touch. It's reassuring in a way he hadn't expected, or thought he would want.] If you haven't yet experienced the prophecy... then I have quite a bit to tell you...
[He chokes on his inhale, pulling his cigarette away from his mouth and turning away as he coughs.] I beg your pardon?
[His free hand immediately grabs Neuvillette's wrist, but he doesn't move the other's hand away from where it's cupping the back of his head. He seems to be trying to get his thoughts together. Especially when he feels like Neuvillette dropped information akin to the Fontaine Research Institute exploding.] Give me a second.
[You can't blame him for being surprised.] I haven't. The Traveler and Paimon are still inmates in the Fortress. They weren't due for release for a little longer.
[The urge to snatch the cigarette from Wriothesley and toss it to the ground to stamp it out is almost overwhelming, but he resists, instead simply giving Wriothesley a look of subtle disapproval as he coughs.
His gaze flickers to Wriothesley's warm fingers pressed against his skin before moving back to his face, letting him process what he's just said.] Hm... I see...
Much has happened in quite a short amount of time after that.
... How much do you wish to know? [He asks, but his gaze becomes unfocused as he thinks through everything.] There are some important revelations that it seems wrong to keep from you. Even if you've yet to live through them.
[He sighs and pulls away from Neuvillette so he can lean down and put the cigarette out on the top of his boot before tucking the remainder of it behind his ear. Look, he'll be good and not finish it around Neuvillette. He'll finish his cigarette away from Neuvillette. The cough is enough for him to at least stop at the moment.
Bad habits die hard.]
Apparently. [He can't help but chuckle this time.] You know me? If given the option, I'd want to know everything you can offer. You can just tell me what you feel I should know though. In the grand scheme of things, me knowing anything here really means very little.
[His gaze softens and there is a genuinely relieved smile.] It worked out in the end. That's good to hear. [Wriothesley did not need to hear the heroic doings they all had done. He merely is glad that Fontaine's people may move forward to a brighter tomorrow.]
Hmm? Do you not think you'll remember your time here? [He finds that a curious stance to take given that pocket dimensions occurred all the time in Teyvat and those who entered them did not forget their time there. But... he'd also never known for two people to end up in a pocket dimension from different times. Or worlds.]
There were some casualties, but Fontaine and its people persevere. In no small thanks to you.
Well... in the chance that you do remember your time here.
... Where to begin? Perhaps the source of the prophecy and curse on the people of Fontaine. The Hydro Archon who preceded Focalors, Egeria, granted human life to Oceanids using water from the Primordial Sea. This was seen as a sin by Celestia. Focalors inherited this sin and, in an attempt to deceive Celestia, split herself into two beings - one who was purely an Archon and one who represented her human-ness, Furina. Her plan was to... essentially destroy herself and return her elemental power to the sovereign hydro dragon. [He speaks slowly and evenly, but he knows everything he's revealing is complicated and impactful, even just finding out one was actually an Oceanid made human is difficult enough on its own. He pauses to allow Wriothesley to process what he's just said.]
The true Focalors succeeded - the hydro archon is no more, Furina is free to live her life as she sees fit... and my full power has been restored to me, granting me the ability to forgive the "sin" of the people of Fontaine.
I don't know about that, but I think that information about the current state of Fontaine doesn't matter here. There is very little I can do. I will say, knowing that Fontaine is safe and has been able to move forward does give me solace though. It has settled in the back of my mind most uncomfortably, so knowing this means I don't have to worry about the its fate. [It does make him wonder just what exactly is able to make the time discrepancy exist without causing issue. Like they can so be easily plucked from their world at any given moment in time...
And well, apparently the prophecy and the Fontaine's fate is possibly the least crazy thing that Neuvillette says to him.]
What? [No, really. What? He stares at the other with a blank stare and honestly, it's really impressive of Neuvillette to get him speechless.
So he's a descendant of an Oceanid? Is an Oceanid? Okay, you know what? Somehow the Primordial Sea dissolving them makes sense. A lot of it puts things into perspective. Furina...Oh. A lot of how Furina acted towards him in the short time they both were in the resort also made sense. That she was merely human all along...playing a part she didn't know how to play.
He had already had certain thoughts about Furina and, while surprising, made certain things that he thought click and make sense.]
Okay... [He's going to be chewing on all this for awhile. Quite awhile.] So...Sovereign dragon. Well, even I couldn't guess that. [He almost wants all this to be a joke. Not because of any of the details, but because of what it implied going forward. The future that loomed over them seemed...precarious.]
Hey. [He absentmindedly tucks some of Neuvillette's hair behind their ear.] How are you feeling? It must be heavy, monsieur, the weight of everything that happened at home and now here.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
text; un: cerberus
Date: 11 Mar 2024 05:11 am (UTC)Message me when you're free.
It's Wriothesley.
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Date: 12 Mar 2024 05:41 am (UTC)What can I do for you?
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Date: 12 Mar 2024 05:52 am (UTC)Nevermind that. Are you free to meet up? I'm looking for something. I think that it's important for you too.
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Date: 13 Mar 2024 05:31 am (UTC)But, yes, I'm available. I believe you reside only a few doors down from my own suite. Should I come to you?
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Date: 13 Mar 2024 05:36 am (UTC)Just head out of your room. I'll meet with you. I'll see you in a moment.
[Wriothesley shoves a few items into his pants pockets before leaving his room. While the warden tries to stay relaxed and his usual, there's just a bit of agitation in his steps. A tension in his shoulders he can't get rid of.]
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Date: 16 Mar 2024 11:23 pm (UTC)He takes a moment to get his shoes and overcoat on. And by a moment, it's a good five minutes but he eventually emerges. He spots Wriothesley immediately and clears his throat to get his attention.] I apologize for the delay.
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Date: 16 Mar 2024 11:39 pm (UTC)He pulls a folded paper from the breast pocket of his waistcoat. There's a few locations of the Resort scrawled out. Some are scratched out.] Let's go to the gardens.
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Date: 19 Mar 2024 06:36 am (UTC)Very well.
May I ask what it is you're looking for? [This whole thing is quite mysterious so far.]
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Date: 19 Mar 2024 06:45 am (UTC)Did you know Furina was here? [Wriothesley doesn't answer Neuvillette's question at all and merely asks a question of his own instead. Neuvillette can think about it as he will.]
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Date: 22 Mar 2024 04:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 22 Mar 2024 04:39 am (UTC)They easily make their wat to the gardens and Wriothesley seems to bee line to any of the lifelike statues that help decorate the gardens, glossing over them as he seems to be looking for something.] I haven't been able to get in contact with her recently though.
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Date: 22 Mar 2024 05:10 am (UTC)Do you know which suite she resides in? Why are we not searching there? [It almost sounds like he's bordering on annoyance, not understanding why they're wasting time walking around a garden when Furina might be in trouble.]
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Date: 22 Mar 2024 05:21 am (UTC)[He sighs and runs through his hair and the signs of stress are more apparent now.] We've been here for months. Her and me. [He starts heading towards the hedge maze. He knows there are more statues and even a pretty fountain in the center of the maze. This could be all for naught, but he has to search everywhere.]
Do some of these statues not make you feel uneased? [He changes the subject, not wanting to think too much about how long he has been here now.]
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Date: 24 Mar 2024 01:49 am (UTC)You have not been missing for months... another piece of this puzzle, no doubt.
But you still haven't answered me as to why we're searching the gardens. But to answer your question... yes, they are a bit too detailed. Too lifelike. [And each appeared different.] Is that significant? [Surely, Wriothesley isn't trying to suggest that people were being turned into statues.]
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Date: 24 Mar 2024 02:04 am (UTC)I wouldn't say it is a puzzle. At the very least, between here and there. Time means nothing in this place. Time passes, but it also doesn't. The flow of time isn't quite right.
[They walk through the maze, Wriothesley going through the paths with practiced ease.] Yeah. I have some theories and I'm pretty sure I'm correct. I just- [The hedge maze opens up to a little opening. It's a nice spot with a gorgeous fountain with plenty of statues and rose bushes. It has a few grassy areas. It would be a nice spot for a picnic.
He isn't paying attention to that. He scans the statues, and there's something like a sinking feeling. Recognition without as he looks at the back of one of the statues.] I didn't have confirmation until now.
[He has seen Furina enough. Has walked behind her enough times. It is a figure he has not easily forgotten.]
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Date: 25 Mar 2024 06:23 am (UTC)[Whether Wriothesley considers them pieces of the puzzle or not, Neuvillette certainly does. All of this information tells him that this place can't be some things while still possibly being others. He's still leaning toward this being something of a pocket dimension. These things occur and often require something specific in order to exit.
But these are things to ponder later. At the moment, finding Lady Furina is far more important.
Unlike Wriothesley, he is momentarily distracted by the fountain. Half a second later, he's following Wriothesley's gaze, his breath catching in his throat as his chest becomes tight. While usually hidden in the massive building, they're in the one spot where the pattering of rain against the glass ceiling is immediately noticeable.] Lady Furina... [His voice is barely audible. Making his way to the statue, he reaches out to touch the statue's shoulder, but hesitates, his hand never getting closer than hovering just above the stone.] You're sure this is her? That she's been transformed to stone?
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Date: 25 Mar 2024 10:26 am (UTC)It's too bad the whole situation right now is so sobering.
Wriothesley is quiet as they approach the statue. Seeing the statue properly and there was no way one could say this was not who it was. He wasn't close to Furina. Not by a long shot. They were amiable and he enjoyed her company here, but they weren't close. They barely interacted before then. Still, to him, it was seeing the Hydro Archon even so powerless that they could reduce her to a decoration for their garden that it leaves him feeling...anxious.
He instinctively digs into his pocket to get his box of cigarettes.] I don't know. I don't have full confirmation. It could be in her likeness, but... It feels like what I'm staring at is more than just a very well made statue for decoration. It also doesn't make sense for it to be just that. I won't say we truly know, but I think you and I know what we're looking at.
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Date: 28 Mar 2024 12:46 am (UTC)Neuvillette lets his hand lower to his side, still looking at the statue, the almost blank expression, like something had caught her a little unaware but hadn't gone far enough to startle her, in silent, soft gasp dying on marble lips.]
If it is a statue... I must admit, the scaling is exact. [There are even incredibly delicate looking stone eyelashes.] This is beyond any power I'm familiar with.
[He tilts his head slightly to glance over his shoulder toward Wriothesley.] What made you suspect that this would be her fate?
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Date: 28 Mar 2024 01:09 am (UTC)The same way I suspected that kids weren't being adopted. [Wriothesley was sharp even as a kid. Of course, he had fallen into that false happiness of living a blessed life under his foster parents. He had for awhile, until he had to confront all the wrong little details. Come to terms the lie his childhood had ended up being. This felt a little similar.] I suddenly couldn't contact her anymore and checking her room regularly just solidified that she hadn't been in her room for some time.
[He lights the cigarette with a lighter, flicking it shut with a clack.] A lot of the statues here give off an uncomfortable feeling and I've always been someone who trusted his instinct quite a bit. The appearances of all the statues seem to differ that I just made a guess. We aren't allowed to leave this place, so why would people just suddenly leave? Coupled with the state of the long term guests and some of them being dead, I feel like I had a solid guess. [Wriothesley obviously had been doing more than just having sex.
He sighs as he takes a long drag from his cigarette, holding it in for a moment, before exhaling smoke.] Honestly, anything could have happened and I don't doubt this is the only way. It's why I had been looking around.
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Date: 29 Mar 2024 05:33 am (UTC)[He echoes Wriothesley's words, lost in thought, the rain on the glass ceiling pattering more insistently.] But why her? Why now? Do you think she did something to cause this? Found something she wasn't meant to?
[He's wracking his brain for any and every possibility. New people, including himself, have just arrived, but he can't see how that would cause something like this. If the creator of this space had the conscious power to do this, what could Furina have possibly done to attract their ire? And was this their fate too? Could this happen to anyone? At any time?
The rain outside intensifies.
None of it makes sense and, yet again, he feels powerless to help.]
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Date: 29 Mar 2024 05:47 am (UTC)As far as I can tell, Furina stayed in line and didn't make much of a fuss in comparison to others, so it is highly like that her leaving has no real basis in anything specific. [Leaving. Because they don't know what any of this means. Perhaps she is comfortably back home handling Fontaine's affairs where she should be.
He sighs and after a moment, he reaches to brush his finger against Neuvillette's cheek.] You're thinking quite loudly, Neuvillette. I thought you would want to be aware, but it makes me wonder if I should have sought this out on my own. [Neuvillette never seems to lack worries and Furina was so quiet that it felt like it would have been easy to miss her. He could have never known she was here for as long as the warden had been.]
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Date: 1 Apr 2024 05:51 am (UTC)She's been through so much lately... I hope that's true. She deserves to enjoy her newfound freedom. [Neuvillette swallows thickly, finally looking away from the statue to lean subtly into Wriothesley's light touch. The rain patters heavily on the roof and he finds himself wishing for nothing more than to be outside, to feel the water hitting his face.]
I'm grateful you showed me. [He glances back toward the statue, knowing he'll likely gravitate back to this place to visit her often.] Is this the only place the statues appear? [If others 'leave', he wants to know where to find them.]
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Date: 1 Apr 2024 07:13 am (UTC)Like on Neuvillette's words.] What do you mean by newfound freedom? [He does not doubt that Furina has suffered aplenty. The prophecy had probably weighed heavy on her for awhile- ah.] Neuvillette. From your point in time, has the prohecy come to pass?
[He slides his hand into Neuvillette's hair, gently carding fingers through the long locks.] No. There's quite a few places where they show up. I'm sure you've seen them around.
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Date: 13 Apr 2024 09:12 pm (UTC)Wriothesley's question offers a distraction from darker thoughts.] Hm? That she no longer has to parade as Archon. She is free to travel and live her own life.
[Neuvillette's puzzled pause speaks volumes. He reaches up to cover Wriothesley's hand with his own.] Yes... And your boat was invaluable in helping to save many lives. [His other hand comes to rest on Wriothesley's chest before sliding up to his neck, cupping the back of his head. The gesture doesn't exactly feel natural but it feels right. He finds himself longing for this closeness and physical touch. It's reassuring in a way he hadn't expected, or thought he would want.] If you haven't yet experienced the prophecy... then I have quite a bit to tell you...
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Date: 13 Apr 2024 11:03 pm (UTC)[His free hand immediately grabs Neuvillette's wrist, but he doesn't move the other's hand away from where it's cupping the back of his head. He seems to be trying to get his thoughts together. Especially when he feels like Neuvillette dropped information akin to the Fontaine Research Institute exploding.] Give me a second.
[You can't blame him for being surprised.] I haven't. The Traveler and Paimon are still inmates in the Fortress. They weren't due for release for a little longer.
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Date: 19 Apr 2024 01:35 am (UTC)His gaze flickers to Wriothesley's warm fingers pressed against his skin before moving back to his face, letting him process what he's just said.] Hm... I see...
Much has happened in quite a short amount of time after that.
... How much do you wish to know? [He asks, but his gaze becomes unfocused as he thinks through everything.] There are some important revelations that it seems wrong to keep from you. Even if you've yet to live through them.
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Date: 19 Apr 2024 02:16 am (UTC)Bad habits die hard.]
Apparently. [He can't help but chuckle this time.] You know me? If given the option, I'd want to know everything you can offer. You can just tell me what you feel I should know though. In the grand scheme of things, me knowing anything here really means very little.
[His gaze softens and there is a genuinely relieved smile.] It worked out in the end. That's good to hear. [Wriothesley did not need to hear the heroic doings they all had done. He merely is glad that Fontaine's people may move forward to a brighter tomorrow.]
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Date: 21 Apr 2024 05:26 am (UTC)There were some casualties, but Fontaine and its people persevere. In no small thanks to you.
Well... in the chance that you do remember your time here.
... Where to begin? Perhaps the source of the prophecy and curse on the people of Fontaine. The Hydro Archon who preceded Focalors, Egeria, granted human life to Oceanids using water from the Primordial Sea. This was seen as a sin by Celestia. Focalors inherited this sin and, in an attempt to deceive Celestia, split herself into two beings - one who was purely an Archon and one who represented her human-ness, Furina. Her plan was to... essentially destroy herself and return her elemental power to the sovereign hydro dragon. [He speaks slowly and evenly, but he knows everything he's revealing is complicated and impactful, even just finding out one was actually an Oceanid made human is difficult enough on its own. He pauses to allow Wriothesley to process what he's just said.]
The true Focalors succeeded - the hydro archon is no more, Furina is free to live her life as she sees fit... and my full power has been restored to me, granting me the ability to forgive the "sin" of the people of Fontaine.
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Date: 22 Apr 2024 06:08 am (UTC)And well, apparently the prophecy and the Fontaine's fate is possibly the least crazy thing that Neuvillette says to him.]
What? [No, really. What? He stares at the other with a blank stare and honestly, it's really impressive of Neuvillette to get him speechless.
So he's a descendant of an Oceanid? Is an Oceanid? Okay, you know what? Somehow the Primordial Sea dissolving them makes sense. A lot of it puts things into perspective. Furina...Oh. A lot of how Furina acted towards him in the short time they both were in the resort also made sense. That she was merely human all along...playing a part she didn't know how to play.
He had already had certain thoughts about Furina and, while surprising, made certain things that he thought click and make sense.]
Okay... [He's going to be chewing on all this for awhile. Quite awhile.] So...Sovereign dragon. Well, even I couldn't guess that. [He almost wants all this to be a joke. Not because of any of the details, but because of what it implied going forward. The future that loomed over them seemed...precarious.]
Hey. [He absentmindedly tucks some of Neuvillette's hair behind their ear.] How are you feeling? It must be heavy, monsieur, the weight of everything that happened at home and now here.