hydrangeabloom | (no subject)

[ 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.

[ Though his expression remains neutral, inwardly Neuvillette feels the pang of regret at having mentioned the Duke; he doesn't consider himself possessive and Wriothesley is free to spend his time with whomever he pleases, but something about the thought of the false dragon of Liyue encroaching on his territory does not please him. He takes another sip of water, letting the coolness of the liquid as it slides down his throat temper that knot of emotion in his chest. ]

...I can let him know you're interested in meeting with him next time I see him, but Wriothesley rarely comes up to the surface and spends most of his time maintaining order as the administrator of the Fortress of Meropide.

[ Or maybe he'll just pretend it slipped his mind and not mention Zhongli at all. ]

[ What's one of the only ways to make Zhongli consider not seeking out a fellow tea enthusiast— tell him that this person spends most of the time living at the bottom of the ocean. Awful. Dreadful really. That and Zhongli's inability to tell if Monsieur Nuevillette actually wants to make introductions or is just making small talk out of politeness. ]

I imagine that is a very involved position, considering how I've heard that the Fortress exists in its own jurisdiction. He must be quite a commendable person to dedicate himself so wholly to the task.

[ After considering that a polite enough "out" for Nuevillette to take as he wishes (he knows the person's name now so if he really wants to, he can probably arrange his own introduction), Zhongli pours a small fraction of the bottle of fonta into the waiting chilled glass. The fizzing and popping is quite entertaining had it been able to overcome the know saccharine sweet smell even becomes more potent out in the open. Interesting.

Carefully, he allows to take a cautious sip of Fontaine's fad drink. His brow furrows for many long second before he swallows. And then there is visible hesitation as he takes another sip as if he can't trust his senses regarding the first.

Nope. Nopenopenopenope.

He sets the glass off the side just slightly out of arm's reach to hopefully not be too obviousy.

Nope.

He will not be touching that for the rest of the evening. ]

He is, and I respect him greatly for that.

[ There is a part of him that wants to continue because Wriothesley's accomplishments as the warden of the Fortress are worth talking about, but opts to leave it at that and take the out Zhongli has given him. Bringing his glass of water to his lips for a long sip, he watches the man across from him pour that garish orange drink into his glass. It reminds him of brightly colored frogs whose vibrant skin server as a warning to predators not to eat it. This Fonta just looks as toxic as those animals.

A glint of amusement flickers across his serpentine eyes when Zhongli shows visible hesitation at the second sip. ]

...It seems that we can both agree that Fonta is a foul concoction. [ He says, setting his glass back down with a soft clink. ] Its popularity baffles me.

[ It seems a bit cruel to call one of Fontaine's most popular drinks foul, but Zhongli finds himself wholeheartedly agreeing with the statement. He had tried it once and now never had to have the displeasure of tasting it ever again. ]

When it had been marketed as revitalizing, I had assumed it would have been to a high but well balanced caffeine content considering how Fontaine has taken very painstaking measures to ensure that their coffee is potent but still a wonderful experience.

But it seems that this beverage tries to achieve such a thing through brute force application of sugar, which probably adds to temporary alertness but to the consumer's unfortunate detriment within a short period of time.

[ It might as well be a drug at this point then, "over the counter" as it were.

Seemingly satisfied with his assessment, Zhongli quickly brings the cup of tea over to sip at a slightly more aggressive pace so that he may wash the lingering taste of fonta from his mouth. ]

If I remember correctly, phosphoric acid is used as an acidifying agent to give Fonta its tangy flavor, and it's more acidic than vinegar. The large quantities of sugar are used to balance the acidity and make it more palatable to the consumer, at the detriment of their well-being.

[ He will never understand why it's so popular. Part of him wants to draft a law to ban the beverage entirely, but at the same time it would not be fair of him to do so just because he personally detests it; people should be free to make their own choices regarding what they put in their bodies, just as they're allowed to smoke and drink. ]

I lack taste receptors for sweetness, so I only perceive what the sugar is supposed to mask.

[ As he finishes the sentence, he hears the sounds of footsteps moving towards their table and glances over to see the waiter approach with their food; they smile politely at the two as they set down two silver cloches in front of the gentlemen, as well as a basket containing the garlic baguette Zhongli ordered. With a flourish, the cloches are then removed to reveal their dishes—Zhongli's foie gras, beautifully seared and paired with a radish citrus sauce. Across from him, the octopus in Neuvillette's soup is in one piece just as he had described earlier, staring at Zhongli with dead eyes. ]

You cannot taste anything sweet?

[ Zhongli recalls one other that he knew which such an affliction. During his first Lantern Rite upon the surface, where Liyue had been little more than ramshackle wood structures on the sandy shores of the beach, Morax and the other adepti had been rather adamant about taking him to each and every stall to sample their wares. This included such sweet delicacies as moon cakes, treats made of spun sugar, and Xiao's favorite almond tofu. It would be many years later (and after many samplings of the festival food) that Azhdaha came to admit that he could not understand the appeal of the desserts. It took much longer to realize it was because he could not taste the sweetness that made up so much of their flavor.

Zhongli tilts his head curiously as he processes this information. He had his theories about who (or perhaps more accurately what) the long-lived Chief Justice could be. But it had never been important and he had been busy with dealing with matters of Liyue, so for the most part he had left it alone. Now, here in Fontaine, those thoughts and questions were free to simmer and conclusions change based on new information. Right now, all he had to go on were hypothesis and a series of coincidences — Rex Lapis rarely jumped to conclusions unless he was absolutely certain.

But the roads are narrowing all to a single path, and he's not quite sure how to tread upon it if it turns out his assumptions are correct.

Luckily, the arrival of their food cuts off the awkward situation by introducing another one.

What is that monstrosity on Neuvillette's plate?

Zhongli folds his napkin carefully in his lap, breaking off a piece of bread to place in his side plate. He nods in deference to Neuvillette's as he picks up his utensils. ]

It has a very unique appearance. One that will indeed be remembered.

[ And then Zhongli proceeds to not make direct eye contact with the poor unfortunate octopus for the rest of the meal. ]

Edited 2023-12-20 08:15 (UTC)

No, I cannot. According to a study made by a group of Amurtan researchers, a wide variety of carnivores such as cats and blubberbeasts also share this trait.

[ Vishap species, as well. A reminder of how evolution is quick to discard abilities that living things no longer need and how everyone experiences the world through a sensory keyhole that varies greatly between species. Humans fundamentally cannot perceive the world in the same way a Melusine does, because their eyes have evolved differently. The hydro vishaps never needed the ability to taste sweetness because they primarily feed on a diet of fish, cephalopods, and other marine invertebrates.

With the arrival of their food, the two begin to eat. Neuvillette delicately cuts the octopus into smaller pieces as he eats it, starting with the tentacles and working his way toward the body. The clams are perfectly cooked with a rich saltiness and the octopus is tender as velvet and subtly spiced with paprika and olive oil. And although the man across from him says nothing, Neuvillette is certain that he can pick up on a sense of unease coming from him that seems to be caused by the octopus.

Zhongli ensures that conversation flows continuously throughout dinner and the two chat about this and that; Neuvillette learns of recent events in Liyue, Zhongli's job as a consultant for a funeral parlor, among other things. In return, Zhongli gets to hear about the Melusines at length and what Neuvillette has to say about the water in all seven nations, and some of Fontaine's unusual laws. ]

...Lady Furina's reasoning for banning restaurants from serving pineapple on pizza is that the fruit juices damage the structural integrity of the slice and create an unpleasant contrast between sweet and savory.

[ Their meal finished and empty plates and bowl taken away, Neuvillette declines when asked if he wants dessert. Now all that's left is to pay for what they ate and leave. To the waiter: ]

We would like to split the bill.

[ Carnivores and blubberbeasts, hmmm? For a brief moment, Zhongli imagines Neuvillette strolling upon the shores of Fontaine's beaches as a herd of blubberbeasts bellow in greeting to their kin. (No, that is most definitely not it.) Curiouser and curiouser.

Throughout the meal, Zhongli finds Neuvillette to be an intriguing and courteous conversation partner. Both being workaholics, work discussions are familiar and gravitate toward similar opinions. He's also very interested on the centuries-long effort the Chief Justice has put into incorporating the Melusine more into the mortal society of Fontaine. Zhongli is fairly sure the adepti do not intermingle by choice rather the situation the Melusine have found themselves in, but it is an interesting perspective to see all the same. As for the man's fascination with all things water— well, considering Zhongli's own love of rocks, he can appreciate the passion for one's element.

Too soon it seems, the waiter is arriving with the check, and while Zhongli never had any intention of having Neuvillette pay for his meal, his wallet is still woefully empty. (And he does have his wallet, he would not forget the precious gift that his boss gave him for his birthday last year. Only all of the contents that should be inside it.) ]

Yes, thank you. Can you have my portion billed to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor back in Liyue?

[ The waiter pauses for a moment, clearly not expecting this though perhaps they should have considering everything else this strange foreigner has done today. With yet another perfectly practiced customer service smile:

"My apologies, Monsuier, but this establishment does not take credit in this manner."

To which, Zhongli replies with a slightly concerned: ]

Oh.

[ As if he is hoping, no— expecting someone to save him from this financial hardship. ]

[ Neuvillette takes out his wallet and pulls out Mora to pay for his share of the food as well as tip the waiter generously as a way of apologizing for the time wasted on having to listen to Zhongli talk about the menu, handing it over to the waiter. He then looks at the man across from him, waiting a few moments to see if there is any follow-up to that "oh." It almost looks as though he's waiting for someone else to pay. ]

...Do you not have enough Mora?

[ The thought of the god who literally invented Mora not being able to pay is equal parts baffling and amusing. ]

[ Just to be sure, Zhongli does open his wallet only to find a few tickets stubs from various theatre performances and museum exhibits of Fontaine, all perfectly pristine without a single crease as the wallet protects them. Sandwiched between some of the papers is a whopping total of seven mora, which Zhongli lays out carefully the table. ]

No, I believe I do not.

[

The waiter's eye twitches. ]

[ If "..." was a sound effect, they would be hearing it right now. Neuvillette looks at the seven coins and has to force back a laugh at the absurdity of the situation. The eldest of the Seven and the god of wealth and commerce is unable to pay for dinner? He then looks at the waiter, then back to Zhongli. ]

Were you expecting me to pay for your meal, Monsieur Zhongli?

[ For the first time since the two of them had met, there are subtle hints of distress and indignation radiating off the adeptus. Zhongli did not care if Neuvillette found his vision tacky and his attempt to blend into mortal society bewildering. He did not fault him for not wanting to have a foreign ex-Archon get involved in extremely sensitive Fontainian diplomatic affairs. He even was able to look past the man's interesting taste in cuisine.

But to be accused of attempting to swindle the other so very blatantly—

(The Northland Bank would probably disagree with this assessment, but also it's very difficult to call it swindling when a certain Harbinger was more than happy to offer to pay the bill almost each and every time.) ]

No, Monsieur Neuvillette. That would be terribly rude of me to invite you to dinner and then expect you to pay. In Liyue custom, it would most certainly be the other way around.

[ But that doesn't change the fact that Zhongli has neither the funds to pay for his or the Chief Justice's meal at this very fancy and expensive restaurant. He brings a hand to his chin, brows furrowed as he tries to think of a solution to this dilemma — one that he has never experienced before. ]

If you would be kind enough to wait until tomorrow, I will call my employer and determine when the funds can be sent to this establishment in repayment.

[ Surely his paycheck should be coming up soon (another thing that Zhongli paid zero attention to much to Director Hu's constant dismay). That could be sent here to this establishment and pay for the meal with late fees and an appropriate tip to compensate.

Yes, that should hopefully cover this truly embarrassing mishap. ]

[ It wasn't Neuvillette's intention to cause any feelings of indignation; the question was in no way meant to be accusatory. But it was evidently interpreted as such and as Neuvillette picks up on those feelings, he feels both a little bad and somewhat pleased. This is one of the usurpers after all, and one that has imprisoned one of his kin deep in the earth if those tales about Azhdaha are to believed; he deserves to feel offended. As Zhongli offers his solution to the problem at hand, Neuvillette turns his attention to the waiter who shakes their head. ]

"My apologies, Monsieur, but we cannot do that. We have no guarantee that you will do as you say."

[ It's said in a way that makes it clear they won't be accepting any arguments on this, and then they look expectantly at Neuvillette. Something in his gaze sharpens and he looks the other man directly in the eye, pale lavender meeting amber. ]

If you are unable to pay the full amount, then this will be considered theft of services.

I see.

[ A strange foreign unease wells up within Zhongli — it is quite astonishing to be able to experience something new in his long life (though it is a pity that he cannot enjoy the novelty of his situation). The creator of Mora unable to pay for a simple meal... surely the adepti would be shaking their heads and sighing greatly right now if they knew. But unfortunately they nor any other avenues of his usual support are available to him.

He'd certainly become complacent in ways he did not realize by remaining only within the boundaries of his own nation for so long.

Zhongli straightens, hands folded in his lap as he inclines his head toward both Neuvillette and their poor stressed-out waiter. There was nothing else to do but face this head on as the violator of the agreement between business and customer. ]

Unfortunately, I have no means of producing the mora required and if I have no means to guarantee it, what paths forward are available to me?

[ Ah, what a disaster this would be if he were to find himself at the Opera Epiclese to face judgement when the entire purpose of him coming here was to find out the fate of another. His already slow-moving investigation needed no further setbacks. ]

[ There's a pause that stretches on just a fraction of a second too long; this entire situation is simply baffling. Before him is Deus Auri, the god of gold. The Golden House may longer be in operation and it makes sense to him that Morax can no longer keep the entire economy going now that he's removed himself from archonhood, but surely he's still able to produce money for himself since gold is his domain? All he would have to do is "miraculously" discover some additional funds in a pocket and this could be resolved in an instant, yet he chooses not to. ]

The penalty for theft of services depends on the charge and is typically based on the value of the service stolen; in this case, you would be sentenced to up to 14 days in prison in addition to a fine.

[ He too straightens somewhat, his gaze remaining fixed on the other's as he continues in a calm and measured manner like a judge explaining the defendant's rights. ]

However, for minor offenses such as this one, there is an alternative to being tried in court: performing labor for the wronged party as compensation. Working as a dishwasher or carrying out room service duties, for example.

[ Somewhat hesitantly, the waiter nods as though to agree that this is indeed an option even if they would rather not have do deal with this man working here, even temporarily. ]

[ Two weeks in prison when they've already lost more than a month searching for Tartaglia is fourteen days too long. But the Chief Justice is praised for his fairness and equality, and it shows in the way that he is giving Zhongli an out. One that the staff seems reluctant to take based on their hesitation, but one that they are agreeing to nonetheless.

Surely Zhongli will also have to compensate Neuvillette in some manner as well.

In the name of efficiency, the offered out is the route that Zhongli should take. He would just have to work hard to prove himself to the staff. It's not like he was unfamiliar with the mortal service industry, seeing as he covered for Xiangling's Lantern Rite shift so she could spend time with her friends. There would just be no Guoba around to keep him company as he stocked the shelves and cover for him as he ran this or that random errand, stepping away for unknown lengths of time.

No, this would be good for him. He should just consider it as an enriching his mortal experience.

Zhongli turns to the waiter. ]

Then if you and your management find it agreeable, I would like to perform whatever labor is required as compensation.

[ The waiter pauses— turns to look at Neuvillette one final time with a slightly pinched expression. Though they would never admit it out loud, the populace is well aware how overworked their Chief Justice is, and there is little to no entertainment value in a trial of a bumbling foreigner such as this one. So with only Neuvillette's impossible workload in mind:

"There is always plenty of work to do around the Hotel. We will find some use for him." ]