Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Odessa sighed, muttering a Snezhnayan cuss word under her breath.
“Zhongli, out of the few days a year I visit, why bring me out to meet someone new?”

Morax chuckled softly.
“‘Dessa, you must get away from that small cottage sometimes. Hiding away from your people 75% of the year doesn’t prove the point you think it does.”

He was right, and she hated it.

Odessa pouted slightly, choosing instead to focus on the bustling streets sounding outside Xinyue Kiosk. It was calming, the bustle of a crowd. The business of merchants desperate to sell their goods, families clambering, childrens’ laughter ringing through the streets.

The entrance bell rang, announcing the guest long before formal introduction. A pair of heels clacked across the floor, becoming less muffled as the guest approached Zhongli and Odessa’s private dining space. When the booth’s door slid open, Odessa flushed. Behind it was the prettiest man she’d ever set her eyes on.

Azul eyes bluer than the melted glaciers of Odessa’s homeland. Posture straighter than Odessa ever was (which wasn’t saying much).

The mystery man sat down. When he spoke Liyuean to Zhongli (addressing the consultant as Morax, which Odessa noted), he had a distinct accent, one that Odessa couldn’t quite place…

She switched to her… questionable Fontanian. Hey, she’s locked up in a cabin for 9/12 months of the year. What else is Odessa gonna do?

“Qui est ce type, pourquoi l'as-tu invité et pourquoi est-il si sexy ?” She inquired without shame.

The man glanced between the two dragons.
“Je m'appelle Neuvillette.”

Oh, was that Fontainian?

OH SHIT—

Odessa flushed cherry. All the way down from her hairline to her chest.

Putain.

She… she said that out loud, didn’t she? In a language this man very clearly understood.

Salvaging her nonexistent dignity, Odessa switched to Liyuean.
“So… what’s your name?”

The man hesitated for a moment.
“Neuvillette. I am the Chief Justice for the Court of Fontaine—pleased to make your acquaintance.”

“You as well. I’m Odessa.” She extended her hand briefly to shake Neuvillette’s.

The Iudex paused briefly to sip some herbal tea.
“Your current profession? Apologies if this is an intrusion, I’m merely curious.”

Odessa shook her head.
“It’s fine, I don’t mind. As for my profession… all I can say is I’m the sovereign dragon of Cryo, truthfully.”

Neuvillette addressed Zhongli as Morax, thus it didn’t feel as revealing to admit the true race she hails from.

“And I, Hydro.” Neuvillette replied.

Odessa nodded.
“Coolio.” She chuckled.

The other titled his head. He looked like a confused puppy. It was… endearing.
“What is the definition of ‘coolio’?”

It was a genuine question.

This poor, poor man…

Odessa attempted to explain the lingo, but the other could only scratch his head.

After about an hour, Odessa perked up at the sound of the entrance bell ringing once more. A familiar red-haired Harbinger entered, joining Zhongli by the consultant’s side.

Naturally, he was merely here to foot the bill.

Though with the way he (not discreetly), took Zhongli’s hand in his, the ginger didn’t seem to mind.

Odessa wouldn’t know, she was fixated on this Neuvillette…

Hmm, an interesting character indeed.

Chapter Text

It was a warm, humid day in Liyue Harbor. Morning dew still permeated the air well into the afternoon. Neuvillette was rapidly approaching Xinyue Kiosk, where the sweet, sweet promise of air conditioning resided.

Oh, and he was meeting Morax for a meal. That too.

Why, you may ask?

Well, Morax (sorry, Zhongli) promised to let Neuvillette sample Liyue’s finest water, of course.

How could one refuse such an offer?

The Iudex sighed, standing mere feet from the restaurant’s entrance. There was promise of premium water, he needed to get through this, if only for that.

Upon entering and ringing the bell, a staff member promptly addressed him.
“Hello, sir, how may I be of service to you?”

“I’m with the ‘Zhongli’ reservation.”

The host nodded before gesturing for Neuvillette to follow.
“Right this way.”

The venue was pleasant, not too fancy, but not informal. Maybe Zhongli would be able to pay with his own money this time without ringing up his partner.

The host paused at an unassuming private room, slid open the door, bowing once Neuvillette was firmly inside.
“Enjoy your meal, Xiansheng.”

The Iudex nodded, replying with brief but standard formality. He was quite astonished, maybe a little irked, to see another sat at the table. She was on the taller side if her stature suggested correctly, with white hair that glistened like an aurora at its tips. Objectively she was quite pretty.

“Hello, Morax.” Neuvillette greeted, sitting down opposite the woman, and beside Zhongli.

The woman’s expression shifted from confused, to frustrated, to flushed in a matter of seconds. Puzzled, she turned to Morax and asked, “Qui est ce type, pourquoi l'as-tu invité et pourquoi est-il si sexy?”

Neuvillette damn near choked on his water (which was the quality promised, might he add). He didn’t desire the woman to feel bad for an honest mistake, the question was one Neuvillette was certainly not meant to have heard.

He cleared his throat.
“Je m'appelle Neuvillette.”

The poor lady looked ready to pass out once the implications of his sentence sunk in. Her pale face was redder than the Justin Chilis scattered about the dishes, skin clammy, demeanor startled.

That silence lasted for way too long.

She asked for his name, he obliged, providing his position as well.

“I’m Odessa.”

Odessa, huh. A pretty name, suitable for the beautiful woman opposite him. What did she do, though?

“I’m the Sovereign Dragon of Cryo, truthfully.”

That was definitely unexpected. Not an unpleasant surprise, though.

“And I, Hydro.” Neuvillette replied.

Odessa nodded.
“Coolio.”

What? What is the meaning of this ‘coolio’? Is it a new word for something horrid?

Sensing his confusion, Odessa attempted to explain what the slang meant. It went one ear and out the other. Wasn’t exactly helpful when he kept daydreaming the moment their gazes locked.

After all was said and done, Neuvillette gave his regards to both Odessa and Zhongli, as well as the young Harbinger.

This wasn’t planned, but Neuvillette might decide to extend his stay in Liyue Harbor for a while longer.