hydrangeabloom | (no subject)

[ Straight to business, and honestly that is what Zhongli preferred. Patient as he was, these weeks of dead-ends had left him feeling unusually anxious about the whole situation. About what, he did not know, but the sooner that they got the bottom of this, the better. For all parties involved. ]

Yes, he is currently not on assignment— a vacation in the very loosest sense of the word. Though he does check in with the Northland Bank regularly to keep up correspondence.

One of his subordinates overheard him saying he was here on a personal matter, looking for something though he did not know the specifics. They also said he was unusually... reserved here in Fontaine.

[ Which is hard for Zhongli to imagine considering the gusto and enthusiasm Childe had shown at becoming acclimated to Liyue culture. One might argue that the Vanguard of the Tsaritsa only had a taste for battle, but Tartgalia was a performer and a chameleon. "Foreign prince" the bulletin boards praised of him until he summoned Osial. The fact that he was not seen out and about the city was baffling to Zhongli. Surely every merchant should have been pestered for appropriate gifts to send back to his family at the very least. ]

And one of the only times he'd seen him truly animated was when he ran into the Traveler at the blacksmith many weeks back. The two of them are—

[ Complicated ]

They walk a line between friend and rival, understanding that they walk very different paths. Perhaps there is a place that we might start.

[ If only Zhongli knew where the Traveler was currently. That would make this much easier.

If only Zhongli knew that they were actually in the Fortress of Meropide with Childe (more or less) at this very moment. ]

[ Neuvillette listens in silence from start to finish without interrupting at any point, nodding as he takes it all in. If taken at face value, this indirectly confirms that the Knave is, at present, the sole Harbinger currently on the move to take the Gnosis. He files away a mental note that the House and its activities should be monitored more closely; Gnosis aside, he would like to find an explanation for Furina's recent odd behavior whenever the Knave is brought up. Neuvillette wanted to take an evasive stance by ignoring the letters addressed to him, but then that woman went against his advice and accepted the diplomatic meeting. ]

I see. [ He says, placing a hand to his chin in thought. ] Your timing is rather unfortunate; two days ago, the Traveler and her floating companion ran afoul of the law and were sentenced to forty-five days in prison.

[ He intentionally neglects to mention that the charges were made up and that they're actually there to investigate Tartaglia's whereabouts. Where could the Harbinger possibly have disappeared to? ]

The Fortress of Meropide operates autonomously of Fontaine, so I cannot simply walk in there to ask them about this encounter.

[ ...Well, he could ask the Duke for a personal favor, but he would rather not put their convert investigation at risk by making an appearance. A letter could potentially be an option, but the Fortress sends out and receives mail at the pace of a Slime in mud. Their sentence would likely be already over before he would receive their reply. ]

[ Flatly: ]

The Traveler and Paimon are in prison.

[ Considering how they almost got arrested in Liyue during the Rite of Descension, such a statement is not shocking. Such is the risk taken when one meddles with the existing powers that be in any nation. It is probably a small miracle that it did not happen sooner in Inazuma or Sumeru (not intentionally anyway). What is more surprising is that they were jailed in a nation where the Traveler seemed to be working well within the limits of the Fontaine system of justice, and 45 days seems oddly specific.

Ah well. Zhongli can ask them later when they meet up for tea next time they meet. ]

Ah, if the Chief Justice does not have jurisdiction, I cannot imagine the approval required for a foreign traveler who is neither friend nor family to either party is easy to come by.

Still, I am loathe to delay our findings for another 43 days to wait for the two of them to be released. Perhaps there might be someone else within the Fatui that I might talk to.

I assume you've spoken to the proprietor of the blacksmith already?

[ If they ran into Tartaglia at the blacksmith, then perhaps Estelle happened to overhear their conversation at least in part... on the other hand, many weeks have passed since the encounter Zhongli spoke of and the human memory is fallible, especially in criminal cases and after an extended period of time. Even if she happened to hear what they were talking about, it's likely that much of it has been lost like a river running into an unknown sea—

—River. Water, filled with emotions and memories, converging at the Fountain of Lucine. Now that's an avenue he hasn't considered before. Bringing a gloved hand to his chin in deep thought, Neuvillette mulls it over for several long seconds, not paying attention to whatever reply Zhongli gives in response to his question about the blacksmith. ]

My Hydro powers allow me to sense emotions and memories from all waters in Fontaine. If I were to find Tartaglia or the Traveler's memory of the encounter, I may gleam useful information from it. [ Another, shorter pause. ] Finding a specific memory is akin to searching for a needle in a haystack, however. But perhaps the addition of Geo could act as a dowsing rod to lead me in the right direction.

[ He has no idea if this would even work, but his powers are amplified when he comes into contact with Hydro reactions—it's worth a try, if nothing else. At worst it would just be a waste of time. ]

I did speak with Madame Estelle, and she does remember Childe and the Traveler's encounter, but understandably was more focused on the thwarted debt collection than what they discussed afterward. I'm afraid that also was a dead end.

[ Not that Neuvillette seems to be listening to Zhongli's answer as he obviously is in deep in his own mind. Zhongli doesn't mind though. As Morax, attention was paid to his every word and deed; he was in constant scrutiny from all around him whether intentional or not. Zhongli, however, was prone to ramblings that some even wandered away from mid conversation. It was quite a shock the first time it happened — that he must consider the content of his words appropriate for the person he was engaging with. Quit the shock indeed. In his retirement, however, he thinks he prefers the later regardless of how troublesome it might be. It just feels more— human, for lack of a better term.

For this particular instance, such distractions result in a solution much more plausible than trying to dig up months old overheard conversation. Zhongli has certainly heard the legends of the waters of Fontaine and has spoken with the Oceanids that live there. It should not surprise him that memories can be stored within their waters with even greater potency and recoverability than the ley lines of Teyvat.

Ah, but that means there are billions if not more memories floating adrift. Finding a particular one — even recent or significant — will surely not be an easy task. Needle in a haystack is an apt phrase indeed. ]

Then I will lend you as much geo as you need to navigate such a space.

Though such a concept is quite novel to me. Might there anything else we might use to ease the search? A possession of either person, perhaps. Or focused thoughts on our connections to them.

I don't typically use this method of investigation, so I'm not sure if there's anything that can be done to make it easier. [ The memories contained within the waters are too chaotic and he dislikes having his senses overwhelmed by an endless stream of memories belonging to people he's never met; besides, if it was easy to sift through the waters for specific memories he would singlehandedly put the entirety of the Gardiennage out of a job since he could solve all crimes in an instant. ]

But if you happen to have one of their possessions, it wouldn't hurt to bring it along to the Fountain of Lucine; all of Fontaine's waters converge there, making it a vessel of countless emotions and memories.

[ A moment's consideration, and: ] Shall we meet up outside the opera house at 10 pm? A little late, but it's best to do this after nightfall when fewer people are out.

Understood. I will make sure that I bring it with me when we reconvene outside of the opera house.

[ And by all means, at that point, Zhongli should have turned to leave, busying himself with the wonders of the Court of Fontaine as he waited for the appointed time.

But something stops him.

Zhongli sees some of himself in Neuvillette, a person who held himself to impeccably and impossibly high standards but perhaps did not afford much thought to anything that landed outside the bounds of his own self-discipline. A man who worked tirelessly for his people for years (400 years according to the townspeople who are very fond of their Chief Justice). But duty was not all there was to life even if it must take priority over everything. And Miss Sedene had told Zhongli that this was the Iudex's last appointment of the day...

Perhaps Hu Tao was rubbing off on him, pestering him to come to dinners with her friends and not spend his time doing "stuffy old man hobbies." Perhaps it was also due to Xiangling who popped her head out of Wanmin to try and coax him to try one of her new recipes. Perhaps even the Harbinger Zhongli was chasing after was to blame as he accepted all of Zhongli's oddities and invitations and ramblings (under pretense unfortunately) to enjoy their very mortal friendship.

Yes. Today was Zhongli's turn to pay the kindness of others forward. ]

If you are finished with your duties for today, might I invite you to dine with me at Hotel Debord? Their menu is quite diverse, and it lives up to all the praise and fondness the people of Fontaine have for it.

[ The pause that follows Zhongli's question is almost long enough that one might think he's not going to answer, but not quite. He considers politely declining by saying he still has paperwork to go over (not a lie; earlier today he received a document from someone within the Palais about expensing a single key cap that he has yet to properly look over) because the less time spent in the presence of one of the usurpers, the better. But as one of the Seven Sovereigns, it's his sworn duty to pass judgment on the Archons in the (highly unlikely) scenario of his elemental authority one day being returned to its rightful owner. A fair judgment cannot be rendered in haste or if the judge is moved by bitterness or anger—he must first rid himself of the taint of preconceived notions and get to know the usurpers better to properly understand their character and learn if they share his views regarding the Heavenly Principles. ]

Certainly, Monsieur Zhongli. [ He replies, nodding his head.

And with that, the two of them leave the Palais Mermonia and make their way over to the restaurant inside the hotel where a waiter directs them to a somewhat secluded area in the back of the room, behind some potted ferns that will offer some degree of privacy from fellow guests who may be interested in the Chief Justice's conversation. Neuvillette reaches back to push his long hair aside so he doesn't sit on it as he takes a seat in the chair across from Zhongli, then plucks one of the two copies of the menu from the wooden holder at the center of the table. As he peruses the list of beverages, he frowns a little. ]

...They've significantly altered the menu since my last visit twenty years ago, but it still does not specify where their water is sourced from.

[ It just says "water" and "sparkling water" which is not helpful at all to a connoisseur. Why do so many restaurants omit this information? ]

Twenty years...?

[ Zhongli peeks over his own menu at Neuvillette as the man frowns over their lacking descriptions. He should consider himself quite lucky indeed that the Chief Justice agreed to dine with him if it had been that long since he had ventured into this famed establishment.

In contrast, Zhongli felt more at ease dining with someone who knew of his true identity. It let him relax into some of his more eccentric behaviors without having to worry about keeping up appearances. These few weeks he had spent in Fontaine (enjoyable as they had been as Zhongli was such a person that could hold friendly conversation with nearly anyone) still left him adrift and unmoored. He had never travelled outside of Liyue for this length of time, especially not on personal matters. Being unknown, starting from scratch — these were growing pains he had not dealt with in many millennia. ]

Perhaps we might inquire with the waiter or chef so that you might choose something to your liking.

[ Zhongli shifts in his chair as if he means to do just that— that is to say, walk right into the kitchen and query the staff personally. Certainly that would be less embarrassing than the time he wandered into the back rooms of Xinyue Kiosk and recommended that the chef source their salt from Yaoguang Shoal for its superior pairing to their high-quality seafood.

. . .

To this day, he was still still not sure why everyone at the restaurant had been so aghast when he had made such a heartful and honest recommendation. ]

I rarely eat at fine dining establishments.

[ It simply isn't for him when his inhuman palate makes it difficult for him to properly experience the food the way it's intended to be experienced, so he does not consider it worth the Mora. In his opinion, if you're not at least a bit of a gourmand, which he is definitely not unless water is involved, high-grade expensive food loses a lot of its inherent value. When he goes out for lunch, he usually gets something light like a grilled chicken sandwich from Café Lutece. Dinner is typically spent either in Furina's suite at the top floor of the Palais, where their food is prepared and served by the personal chef in her employ, or at his own place—in which case he either makes soup or simply eats raw fish paired with a glass of water. And that's really all he needs to be satisfied with a meal.

When he does eat out, it's usually in the company of Wriothesley, who prefers modestly-priced and casual places like tapas bars over anything that would be considered fancy and high-end. As he skims over the appetizer and entrée options, he looks up when he notices the man across from him shifting as if about to get up. ]

Are you going somewhere?

[ Given that he just mentioned inquiring with the chef, which would require entering the kitchen, he assumes Zhongli does not intend to take a trip to the restroom. ]

Yes, to the kitchen. But please, do not concern yourself. I also have a request to make of the chef as well.

[ Marchosius in days past (and now adorable Guoba) chided Zhongli on many occasions for his extreme particularities with food. He normally circumvented this by meticulous research and testing the full array of a restaurant's menu to ensure he received exactly what he wanted. In Liyue, this eccentricity was seen as endearing— a charm point of the eclectic funeral parlor consultant.

But here in Fontaine, where they had woefully stopped accepting opening a tab for the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, he was left with a weaker understanding of the cuisine than he would have liked. This restaurant in particular (well outside of his budget usually) also heavily leaned toward fish dishes. Best make his preferences absolutely known to the chef before he become not on a rude dinner guest but a rude visitor to the lands of Fontaine. ]

Is there anything else you wish me to ask about besides the source of the water?

...Perhaps it's common for guests to speak directly to the kitchen staff in Liyue, but in Fontaine it's generally not acceptable to enter the kitchen of a restaurant without explicit permission from the manager unless you are a licensed food or health inspector. Allowing guests to enter freely could compromise hygiene standards and disrupt the flow of work.

[ It's not illegal, but most places only allow authorized personnel to access the kitchen area because the nation has rather strict health code regulations with hefty fines (and depending on the severity, a trip to the Fortress for those deemed responsible) and even closures if they're not properly adhered to. Matters of hygiene and efficiency concerns aside, a busy restaurant can be a dangerous environment with hot surfaces, sharp knives, and heavy equipment and the establishment is legally liable for any injuries sustained. ]

I suggest that you instead tell your request to the waiter so that it can be forwarded to the kitchen.

[ Neuvillette certainly has a point. And outside of pop and daughter shops like Wanmin, it's probably not common for guests to speak to the kitchen in staff in Liyue either. But when had such things ever stopped Zhongli? —Unfortunately never as the director of the funeral parlor knew all too well (which is perhaps why he was sent on the most random fetch quests). Why hear anything second hand when one could hear from the chef themself?

Zhongli looks somewhere between sheepish and offended at Neuvillette's request. ]

That seems rather unnecessary when going to the source would provide the best answer.

[ But who is Zhongli to comment on complicated bureaucratic processes? The only country that holds a chance of rivaling Fontaine's love of paperwork is his own beloved Liyue. ]

But it that is your recommendation, then I shall follow it.

[ Which is to say that Zhongli waves their waiter over immediately: ]

Excuse me, might I inquire to where the ingredients are sourced in these dishes?

[ Zhongli rattles off the most popular dishes on the menu as well as asking how fine they mince their catches of the sea.

The waiter answers with a perfect customer service smile, glancing over at the Chief Justice as discreetly as possible more than a couple of times as they can't believe that Neuvillette is here of all places in the company of a foreigner who does not appear to be a high ranking dignitary. However, professionalism comes before gawking. Being one of the most prestigious restaurants in Fontaine, they are able to accurately lists the ingredients and sources of a number of the dishes (the fish mostly coming from Fontaine herself). ]

"And of course we can prepare the dish in any way that you would like, Monsieur. So if you prefer your seafood finely chopped that is something we can accommodate. But might I also suggest these specialties of the house that do not contain seafood as they may be more to your liking."

[ And so on and so on does Zhongli stretch on the conversation, seemingly to have a honest interest in the not only the composition but the history of each dish he is considering. ]

[ And here Neuvillette was under the impression that Zhongli just wanted to make his request and ask a few quick questions to ensure he gets exactly what he wants, but now he just won't stop talking about the composition of a dish and its history; is this what they do in Liyue? Are the waiters there expected to listen to their guests prattle on and on about irrelevant things? Not even Lady Furina would do this—she may have quite a few flaws, but at least she understands the value of a waiter's time and does not needlessly waste it.

He can't remember the last time he experienced a rush of second-hand embarrassment like the one currently rippling through him. Perhaps he shouldn't have agreed to this... but he can't exactly get up and leave; propriety forbids it. ]

Ahem. [ After waiting for an appropriate moment to interject, he clears his throat. ] Very interesting, Monsieur Zhongli, but I'm sure the waiter has other tables to tend to.

[ Though said waiter's perfectly practiced smile remains affixed to their face, a tiny flicker of something like relief crosses their eyes as they turn their attention to the Chief Justice in the hopes that this will be their chance to get away from the foreigner and his incessant talking. ]

I just have one question; where is the water sold at this establishment sourced from?

"Our sparkling water is sourced locally from the mountains north of the city, while the still water comes from Mondstadt's Cider Lake. I believe we also have a few bottles from Liyue's Tianqiu Valley, if you would prefer that, Monsieur Neuvillette."

Thank you. In that case, I would like to order a bottle of Monstadtian water and the Poisson-style octopus and clam soup.

[ He was going to order the consommé, but Zhongli asking how finely they mince their seafood has him wondering. Is it some kind of texture issue, similar to how he tends to prefer liquids to most solid food that isn't meat? Or is it something about how seafood looks that bothers him? It's a little petty of him, but he'd be lying if he said he wouldn't get a little schadenfreude out of making the usurper uncomfortable. ]

Ah.

[ Zhongli almost startles as he is interrupted, anchoring himself back to the present and sparing the poor waiter of having to answer yet another slew of questions. Right, they surely had other tables to attend to and it was right during the dinner hour. To take more of their time would be discourteous. Perhaps if he came back at a more unusual time, he might be able to indulge in his curiosity without hindering the staff.

Zhongli folds his menu closed as Neuvillette places his order, expression blandly neutral at his choice. Certainly not what Zhongli would prefer (there were not good octopi and the only acceptable ones were those kept far away from his person) but if there was anywhere to eat seafood, it would most likely be here in Fontaine. It makes him almost order a finely minced dish for himself.

Almost. ]

Yes, thank you for your knowledge and your patience. I'll have the foie gras and an order of the garlic baguette for the table. And tea please— whatever that you would recommend.

[ More than the dish he ordered, Zhongli wonders if Neuvillette ordering the Mondstadt water over the one from Liyue is some sort of statement. Was it noteworthy of his attention or perhaps simply a preference of the Iudex? (What was better about Mondstadt water over Liyue besides the fact that it was probably sourced from the pure runoff of snow-capped peaks and meandering untouched rivers? Cider Lake was probably lovely this time of year.) Unfortunately, Zhongli does not know the man well enough to say either way so he does not give it more than a passing thought. One more thread of observation to weave into the larger picture.

Before turning back to his regularly scheduled questions regarding Fontainian history and culture. This time with poor Neuvillette as the target. ]

Poisson-style? I believe I have heard that name before. Is it not the village built into the shores not too far from here?

[ After taking their orders, the waiter nods and scribbles them down in their little notepad and then walks away with hurried steps (either to get away from Zhongli in case he decides to keep talking or to make up for the time wasted, or both) to relay the information to the kitchen. Neuvillette too folds his menu closed and returns it to the holder, glancing briefly in the direction of the waiter before returning his attention to Zhongli to resume the conversation. ]

Yes. [ He nods. ] Its residents mostly work in the fishing or underwater salvage industries, and octopus is a staple in the local cuisine; after being beaten against the rocks near the sea to tenderize the flesh, they're traditionally boiled in large pots and served almost whole. The beak and the inedible internal organs are carefully removed to keep the rest of the animal in one piece.

[ Sometimes the eyes are also discarded, but typically they're left even if most people nowadays find them unnerving and don't actually eat them even though they're perfectly edible. ]

[ Zhongli's head cants curiously to the side as Neuvillette describes how the octopus is prepared, it bringing back many memories of Liyue well in her early days where the harbor was a plentiful source of fish and other such creatures that budding merchants would hawk as wares. It's a bit nostalgic— to think of one particularly elderly lady who would expertly prepare the fish almost straight out of the ocean, hands steady in spite of how stooped her back became over the years.

It was truly a shame that he could not enjoy such dishes, the texture of the fish sealing the final nail on that coffin if the sight of it alone did not. But he was a guest here and should not be rude especially to that which had such cultural and historical significance.

Perhaps if he shifts his water glass just so when the dish arrives that it artfully reflects through the glass— ]

I see. So it is a dish of the people, one where the presentation of the octopus is paramount to the character and creation of the cuisine. It speaks volumes of the establishment here to include such a rustic and familiar dish into their repertoire.

[ He folds away his own menu, setting it aside so that the waiter may come to retrieve it (for their sake hopefully without Zhongli indulging in round two of questions.) ]

Does the pairing with water from Monsdtadt hold any significance?

Mondstadt has quite the adventurous people— full of those who are not afraid to start their life anew. I imagine with their sense of humor they would find such a dish quite enjoyable. Though I do not know if they would settle for simply water.

[ The Iudex shakes his head at Zhongli's question, thumb idly running over the back of his other hand where they rest in his lap. (Keeping one's elbows off the table is such an arbitrary rule he doesn't understand the point of, but he must conduct himself with propriety for as long as he is out in public.) ]

It's merely a personal preference. I don't mean to cause offense, but I'm quite sensitive to impurities in the water I consume and I've found that most of Liyue's water is of subpar quality.

[ He explains, serpentine eyes watching Zhongli's reaction to being told the water in the country he once presided over does not meet the Iudex's exacting standards. ]

Qingce Village has water worthy of praise, but the Chasm and other mining sites negatively affect the quality of the water in the southern parts the nation.

[ As he speaks, the waiter returns to set the table with silverware (finely crafted with floral accents in gold), elegantly folded napkins, crystal glasses as well as a dainty teacup with a matching saucer, etc, and even freshly cut lumidouce bells. Tucking the menus under their arm, they then leave before Zhongli gets the chance to start another lengthy monologue. ]

[ Zhongli's eyes do widen a bit at that revelation. While he too was often extremely particular about his ingredients, the source of the water was not something he dwelt on too much. It would make sense that the people (and someone so close to the Archon) of Fontaine would have much to say on the subject.

He puts a hand to his chin thoughtfully, brows furrowed for a moment. Now which department would be responsible for that? ]

My apologies. Upon my return, I will send in a formal letter of inquiry to the Qixing. It would not do to have the largest port in Liyue suffer from poor drinking water quality.

[ As the table is set, the waiter is unfortunately not spared from Zhongli's attention — though at least this time he does not dive into a full blown monologue but simply another addition to his order. ]

Monsieur.

I'd also like to try the drink that is so highly praised in Fontaine if you don't mind.

[ The waiter does his best not to double take at the request. While certainly a popular drink, it was certainly not one expected when dining with the Chief Justice. "Yes, monsieur. One order of fonta for the gentleman." And off they scurry... ]

That is good to hear. Should the Qixing need any Fontainian expertise on the matter, I know of a few water treatment engineers they can commission.

[ It's unfortunate that Fontaine's water treatment facilities are designed to operate with Arkhe and Indemnitium as their power source, which only exist within this nation. If that wasn't an issue, he would be happy to sell their existing technology to Liyue at the cheapest possible price; after all, access to clean water of good quality is a thing every creature on Teyvat should have.

...And then the man across from him orders a goddamn Fonta. Why? It's not a good beverage. It's painfully mediocre, and that's being generous. The only good thing he can say about it is that it's a cheap way of hydrating and replenishing blood sugar. He forces himself to maintain his neutral expression and resist the urge to share certain unpleasant facts about the beverage Zhongli just ordered. ]

Are carbonated drinks uncommon in Liyue?

Your generosity is greatly appreciated. I will kindly have them reach out to those your recommend.

[ Perhaps it was just a weird quick of Rex Lapis or perhaps he was trying to keep his nation away from Celestia's watchful eye, but in spite of them being a major hub of commerce, Liyue itself remained rather limited in technology. Of course, they had great engineers who built floating castles and giant ballista and pots that could cook, but when compared to the sheer technologic advances of Snezhnaya and Fontaine, such advancements were almost whimsical and primitive in comparison.

Yes, it would probably be good to have some of Fontaine's engineers come over and see to the project personally. (Under Cloud Retainer's watchful eyes probably. But there was really no helping that.) ]

Hmmm?

[ Zhongli blinks at that question, confused for a moment. ]

I would say so. The most recent trend among the common folk is a style of drink imported from Inazuma since the Electro Archon re-opened her borders. Bubble tea, I believe it is called though. Despite it being more sugar than tea, it has caused quite a few number of youths to become interested in more traditional types of tea.

Considering the amount of advertisements I have seen for the very brightly colored fonta, I assume that it has gained quite amount of popularity here. It would be a shame to return to Liyue without trying it at least once.

That's correct. It started out as a novelty beverage developed by the Fontaine Research Institute, but then it quickly gained popularity and became a staple, particularly among Fontainian youth.

[ The waiter returns a second time, carrying two bottles—one filled with a bright orange liquid, one with water—as well as a pot of tea filled with a black tea blend with notes of bergamot and lime, a faint trickle steam rising from its spout. Tea is poured into Zhongli's cup and the bottles are opened with swift dexterity, a sizzling noise coming from the Fonta caused by the release of carbon dioxide gas that has been dissolved in the liquid under high pressure. ]

I've heard of bubble tea; it's still relatively unknown here, but has started appearing on menus at some cafes in Quartier Lyonnais. An associate of mine tried it for the first time recently and was not impressed—he called it an affront to tea.

[ Wriothesley has Opinions on bubble tea. ]

[ Zhongli blinks almost owlishly at the fizzing bright orange drink in front of him, sugar almost palpable even though he has yet to even pour himself a glass. Ah, what is this feeling? Regret perhaps— as he reaches out with cautious fingers to move the drink from it's loud printed bottle and to a glass that was much too fancy to ever touch soda.

Inwardly, he chides himself softly and reminds himself not too be harsh on the ways and culture of the current generation. Many in Liyue had found Xinyan's rock music to be too far from traditional music to be classified as such, but Zhongli had enjoyed her performances immensely. Surely this was something similar. ]

Oh?

[ Zhongli shifts his attention quickly to the topic of tea in an unconscious effort to avoid the fonta for even a few more seconds. ]

Did he have any specific criticisms in particular? I'd be interested to hear his opinion.

[ Off screen, the waiter and nearby staff have already started a betting pool on who will get rid of the fonta from their table first — the strange longwinded foreigner or their beloved Chief Justice. ]

He said the price didn't match the quality and that it tasted more like syrup than tea. The tapioca pearls add nothing of value—he described them as an unpleasant mass with a density and consistency similar to chewing gum that do not complement the rest of the drink.

[ Neuvillette pours water into his wine glass and lifts it up by the stem, holding it delicately between his thumb, pointer, and middle fingers as he swirls the liquid like a wine connoisseur would with their Pinot Meunier until it is perilously close to cresting over the edge; with wine, this is done to oxidize it and express any aromatic compounds. Neuvillette is just doing it because he enjoys seeing it move around within the glass.

Taking a delicate sip, he continues. ]

He's an avid tea drinker with quite the collection of teas from every corner of Teyvat, so he was rather disappointed when it failed to meet his expectations.

[ Zhongli watches the water swirl in the glass artfully, wondering briefly if that actually makes drinking it even more enjoyable. Something to test out when next he enjoys a glass of water... though he doesn't usually pour his into a wine glass. Was that also part of the charm? ]

An avid tea drinker?

[ Zhongli perks up in a way that he hasn't this entire conversation, no— in all the interactions (few as they may be) shared between them. While he has a healthy curiosity for all things cultural or historic, it is quite obvious that tea is a tried and true passion of his.

It is also relieving the a workaholic like the Chief Justice also has time to make friendly acquaintances or perhaps dare he say friends. Perhaps Zhongli's own worries on the matter are simply a matter of his own self-projection. ]

I would like to meet this person and listen to his expertise in the matter. While I do enjoy teas from all around Teyvat, I cannot claim myself to be such an expert on anything that originates outside of Liyue.

Would such a meeting be possible? Perhaps as another shared meal if you would like to join us.