Tea Time? I Thought You Said Pee Time! [Wriothesley/Kokomi]

[DirtyDeku]

What exactly does a Divine Priestess do, anyways? Fight the power? Reassure her fellow Inazuman? Inazumen....? Whatever they were supposed to do, Kokomi has been up to her eyes in matters that concerned her ever since Inazuma's borders have opened back up. Fishing, agriculture, affairs between all of the islands-- being prepared to do all of this work didn't mean it was any less exhausting. She's barely even had any time to settle down and read a book until now! But even now, she couldn't help but feel as though she should aid in opening up communications again by offering a friendly interaction in person to each of the other nations. Why would she pick Fontaine first instead of Liyue? Uh... Don't ask me that.

As expected of the nation of Justice and technological advances she still couldn't wrap her head around, everything was so fancy and-- well, technological! She couldn't help but be reminded of the Maguu Kenki as she observed the Gardemek going about their programmed tasks. Of course, they did so without the assistance of marionette strings, but instead a series of gears and a turning key that shone golden or deep blue light. She spent quite a while just watching them pace back and forth before she remembered what she was even there for, scurrying to meet with the Archon and Chief Justice. The meeting had gone well, of course! A bit awkward, considering Furina fumbled about unbefitting to a God and Neuvillette spoke for her-- even though he seemed to be quite uncomfortable speaking. Perhaps he was more accustomed to presiding over trials, not so much in small talk. Kokomi couldn't blame him for that, she often forgot to forget her duties as Divine Priestess when speaking in a casual manner.

Either way, she'd presented them both with decadent teas from her homeland as well as a few local specialties like an unusually large Sango pearl. Upon departing, Furina had mentioned a certain somebody who would be beyond grateful for a gift of teas, to which Kokomi had hopped onto as she had extra. Neuvillette had warned her against it, reasoning that the trip was far too much of a hassle-- and to which Kokomi had cheerfully gestured towards her Hydro Vision. With that, she set off on her journey to the Fortress of Meropide.

Neuvillette had been right about the long journey, at least in that somebody without a Vision would likely never get even half of the way down. She manages it, albeit a bit exhausted. At least the return trip to the surface usually felt quicker, from her experiences diving in Inazuma. She squeezes excess water from her long hair and shakes her clothing as well, making sure she wouldn't track too much water with her as she headed to the receptionist's desk. When she mentions meeting with the Duke, the lady behind the desk stares at her blank-faced until she realizes Kokomi is serious, and picks up the phone to warn Wriothesley of an incoming visitor. Then, she offers up some pretty vague instructions and sends Kokomi on her way, but not without a funny look.

Must be the Fortress' culture, she assumes. It is a prison, after all. Kokomi wanders past inmates who give her similar looks, guards that stare at her suspiciously as she passes, and other staff who honestly seem entirely baffled by her presence. Maybe she should have chosen to wear something less... extravagant? It seemed respectful to do so above shore, but now she certainly feels like she's completely missed the memo. Oh, well. She soon finds the Duke's office, explaining that she was expected to the guards standing outside before being let inside.

Oh! Usually an office doesn't open up to stairs, but she pushes her confusion down and ascends the stairs. She really stands out once she gets to the top and does a quick observation of the room before smiling politely at the Duke and leaning forward in a greeting bow. "I hope I haven't arrived at a bad time, Your Grace. My name is Kokomi Sangonomiya, the Divine Priestess of Watatsumi Island in Inazuma."

[cynnabnnuy]

Well. A foreign visitor was not what he was expecting when he'd awoken that... "morning" in the fortress. He knew it was morning, of course, his alarm having told him such, but that was about all he had as an indicator for the time. And, even then, who knew if it was actually eight in the morning or evening in the overworld. Not like he had a sun to go by.

Regardless, he'd made quick work of readying himself, he went on to repair things beneath the office he held. Making sure the sluice gate was holding well enough or checking the needle indicator was a frequent task, one he'd need to repeat at least twice on good days. Usually the needle never changed, but the more it did, the more pressure put on the gates, the more he had to return to the area. He didn't mind, he'd always have time for tea after, but it was concerning how rapidly it seemed to be changing.

Today, though, he was to be distracted by a guest, and had to instruct Jurieu and Lourvine on his usual objectives, even if they may not have to. Most folk didn't tend to stay in Meropide longer than necessary, especially those coming of their own volition.

The call had been taken briefly, his responses confused but resigned to taking the visitor in for a brief chat. It couldn't hurt, and if need be, he could escort them out personally to ensure nothing made its way out of the fortress that shouldn't. Said call did not, however, prepare him for the gem that had willingly made the trip down to his dwelling. She was stunning, bright and perfect, an astounding specimen of creation, and he was caught, hook, line, and sinker. He couldn't help the brief widening of his eyes as he let his eyes scan over her once before he took note of her greeting. Eyes lowering to follow her for a moment, he stood in turn, offering a bow in turn as well, he stepped around his desk carefully.

"Not at all, Mistress Sangonomiya, in fact, it's quite a treat to have a guest of divinity reach the depths of my sanctum." Voice smooth, he approached casually, offering out a hand to take hers and press a brief peck to her knuckles. "It's truly a pleasure to make your acquaintance, and I do so hope this visit is not due to such a lovely woman breaking Fontainian law."

[DirtyDeku]

She couldn't blame Wriothesley for being taken by her appearance, though of course she assumed it was simply because he'd never seen somebody quite like her. Nobody has, outside of her homeland and-- well, whoever had molded her out of clay. Though she hadn't really begun life as a person-shaped little thing, but rather more like a tiny cross between a fish and a tadpole once she'd hatched from a pink transparent egg. She'd grown rapidly once she'd reached a sort of puberty-- only about a month or two, rather than the 13-ish years it took for a human child to reach puberty-- and become an adolescent, growing limbs and more humanoid features. Only within the last year had she developed the horns on her head, starting as the same pink as the majority of her complexion and deepening to a violet color near the tips.

Through hardship, and boy, did she have some hardships, did members of her family get their horns. Females had short, nubby horns and males grew long, pointed ones. Because she was assigned male at birth, her horns were longer but they remained rounded at the tips-- likely the result of the hormone treatments she took. She liked to think it helped out when it came to getting dressed, as she didn't have to worry about tearing her clothing if they got caught on her horns. Other than showing maturity, though, they were really only for looks.

The fins on the sides of her head wriggle and her tail sways side to side as she laughs a little bit at his reaction to her visage, stepping further into his office to stand across from him. She offers him her hand, being careful with her claws as he brought it up to his lips. She giggles further upon being called Mistress, pushing the dirty thoughts that rose to mind to the back of her brain for now. Hopefully the tip of her cock just barely peeking out of its sheath wasn't noticeable, either! Almost like a clit. Nice.

"No need to worry about that, Your Grace," She reassures, pulling her hand back. She holds both of her palms close together, palms up, and in a flash of light a waterproof box appears. It drops gracefully onto her palms, and she flashes an excited smile with just a bit too many teeth as she offers it up to him. Witchcraft! Or just like, a Catalyst thing. "Since Inazuma's borders have opened up once more, I decided it would help ease tensions if I were to reach out with gifts to the other nations of Teyvat. We may be isolated from the main land, but I assure you that my fellow Inazuman are quite happy to share our specialties."

[cynnabnnuy]

Almost like a clit! Nice! He was, thankfully, too captivated by the intricacies of her visage to notice the lil weewee slip, but he did notice the care for her clawed digits. His own concern was not directed towards them, but instead the downright adorable little flicks of her fins when she laughed. She was so pretty. Truly. A woman far more befitting of the status Furina claimed to hold. But, he kept his thoughts to himself, remaining civil as he observed her when the response came shortly.

Her procured box earned a quirked brow, silvery eyes flicking over it cautiously for a moment before he let out a light chuckle. "That's quite kind of you to do. I've yet to hear of other Inauzmans sharing the same sentiment, but I can happily say yours is not lost on even someone as ill-socialized as myself. Isolation can be unkind, I can most certainly attest to that, but it's always quite lovely seeing those who have not allowed it to dampen their kindness." Pleasantries, mostly, but he knew he'd been removed from civilization for quite some time and... well, that could do things to a man. Or any other person, even if he had grown accustomed to life as the fortress' warden. He still took what was offered, placing it on his desk for the moment. It would be opened soon, but-

"Might I interest you in a cup of tea as a thanks? I was just about to brew some for myself, and it would be quite the privilege to share it with someone so sweet." A bit of a play on how he enjoyed the drink, not that she'd know, but regardless. He was not above using flattery on someone so beautiful to earn even a speck of favor. "I believe white would be fitting, crisp and light while not too caffeinated as to leave one uncomfortable. Perhaps peach or pomegranate? A delicacy for a delicacy." Smile smooth, he motioned for her to make herself comfortable as he set about flicking a few switches on the backside of his desk. With a few seconds and plenty of mechanical whirring, one of the bookshelves nearby pulled back and slid into a slot in the wall to reveal a simple kitchen. "Please feel free to make yourself at home, I'm quite certain your trip was arduous considering I haven't heard the main lift start up since last night. You're more than welcome to stay as long as necessary to regain your energy, and I can ensure your trip to the overworld will not be as enduring."

Stepping over to the sink, he made sure he grabbed his finest teapot, definitely not trying to impress, before filling it with water to place upon a small stove to heat the water. Oh to be a pyro user. Not really, he knew that his cryo vision far more suited and beneficial to him, but the joke was there. With that set up, though, he moved about the space simply, pulling down a small container of sugar cubes to place on a tray alongside cups and other items for the drinks. While he didn't actually wait for her agreement, he still intended to prepare the drink for himself, so he could walk and talk, in a sense.

[DirtyDeku]

"I'd love to have a cup of tea with you!" She nods her head eagerly, motioning towards the box of gifts she had brought along with her. It's the Duke's lucky day, it seems! Not only is a beautiful Priestess visiting him, but she's also brought him the one thing he seemed to enjoy more than any other food or beverage.

"I have to be honest, Your Grace, I wasn't even aware that visitors like me would be allowed to enter the Fortress," She admits, moving her tail in between her legs and settling down on the sofa. She could sit with her tail against the back of it instead of having it be beneath her when she sat, but frankly it was quite painful to have it up like that. It's an extension of the spine-- it wasn't meant to be bent so harshly like that. She coyly touches the tips of her clawed fingers together, swaying side to side as though she had a mischievous secret. "But... Monsieur Neuvillette happened to mention your love for tea, and since I had some leftover, I simply could not not come pay you a visit."

"I brought Lavender Melon and Naku Weed-based teas, if either of those pique your interest," She continues, watching him with interest as he prepares everything they'd need to enjoy some tea. In Inazuma, tea was something that everyone enjoyed and drank frequently, but she honestly hadn't expected the Duke to be such a big fan of it. He didn't seem the type to drink, ah, what was that drink again... Fonta? It was delightful and fizzy, but it was intensely sweet in a way that she doubted somebody like Wriothesley would be fond of it. Funny, considering how sweetened he liked his tea, but there's a difference between manufactured sugary and adding actual sugar to one's drink. "I would recommend the Lavender Melon, personally. Naku Weed tea is used more for sore throats, body aches, injuries-- that sort of thing."

"Lavender Melon has an astringent effect, and the flavor has been compared to passionfruit or lychee. Oh, and it has the tendency to stain your tongue a vibrant violet!" She laughs. "The fruit itself is often roasted and served alongside whatever fish is being served, and the skin is used in order to dye magnificent fabrics."

[cynnabnnuy]

Fuck, she was just perfect. He had to force down the giddy little grin that pulled at his lips when she nodded so happily before motioning to her box. The one already offered, of course, get your head out of the gutter, Wrio. He raised a brow as he moved back over, bringing the tray out to place on the table before her as he observed her choice in seating position. Cute. His curiosity piqued further at the tail's placement, though, his eyes roaming it briefly before he caught himself and tuned back into her voice. Questions later, sir. Calm down. (A difficult task when she was acting so sweetly.)

However, her mention of visitors earned a raised brow as he looked back from bringing the offered box to the kitchen. "Ah? Hm. Well, anyone is more than welcome to reside in the Fortress of Meropide. Plenty of former convicts even elect to remain down here after serving their sentences, but there has proven to be little need to make any sort of rules against visitations." Musing aloud, he chuckled softly, mostly to himself. "Not many people in the overworld would ever want to visit us here, and those who do don't stick around long enough to do damage or reveal all of our deep dark secrets~"

He was mostly playing around with that, but her mention of the Iudex made him falter. "Oh-?" Shocked speechless for a moment, a faint tint tainted his features, quickly disappearing as he used his vision to regulate his temperature, even if the little shimmering ornament would be more obvious than his flush. "How kind of you both..." Muttering cautiously, he took note of her words, nodding at the information as he thought it over for a moment. While it was far less convenient, he moved to one of the many drawers to pull out two small mesh pouches before flicking through his cupboard. From there, one was filled with the lavender melon blend, the other with the peach blend he'd suggested. An extra of each were then prepared as well, just in case, then all four were brought on a small dish and placed alongside the cups as he offered a small smile.

"I'm certain our nurse, Sigewinne, will be most delighted by the Naku Weed blend, in that case. I'll be sure to bring her some to study later if we find it would be beneficial to order her more." Voice light, he mentioned the head nurse briefly before proceeding to pace between the table and the kitchen a final time once the water was boiling. "Is that so? How delightful," Her laugh, not the fruit. "I'll have to arrange a means to visit Inazuma in hopes of trying that fresh someday. The fruit seems quite useful, though. Bulle Fruit is one of our local specialties, but it's certainly far less versatile. Citrus is hard to go wrong with, though. I can't not recommend trying to find some when you return to the overworld if you can do so."

[DirtyDeku]

"Oh, no!" She shakes her head, seeming to have realized how it might've seemed for her to have mentioned hearing about Wriothesley from Neuvillette and Furina. She really hadn't meant to sound like she was speaking behind the back of somebody she's never even met before! He doesn't seem particularly upset about it, but still! "I'm sorry if that sounded like I was swapping secrets or rumors about you with Monsieur Neuvillette, I promise you that nothing besides your affinity for tea was discussed."

But then he's talking about the fruit Fontaine was known for, and she relaxes her tensed shoulders and panicked expression. Phew, she'd kick herself all the way back to Inazuma if she'd managed to somehow upset someone after specifically reaching out to heal a rift in communication between the two nations.

"I saw them growing everywhere on my way to the Court!" She chirps, holding out her hands as if to estimate the size of the mentioned fruit. But... it just so happens that her gesture also looks quite similar to what one might do to show the person they're speaking to the size of a woman's breasts, or a questioning gesture to whoever's breasts one might be interested in groping. She doesn't appear to realize this, though, even as she seems to visibly think about squeezing two big Bulle fruits with her bare hands. "I'll definitely have to bring some back to Inazuma with me, as I'm sure the members of the Tri-Comission will be quite happy to try them."

"Opening exports back up, or at least bringing the idea up, is a big part of why I chose to travel so far. Both the Kanjou and Tenryou Commissions are quite hesitant, possibly with the assumption that the Raiden Shogun will change her mind and close the nation off again," She explains, her Bulle fruit squeezing gesture turning vague. She had a lot of people to speak to in the next week or so, and honestly she got pretty tired of using her big girl words so often! Plus, it seemed a bit rude to elevate what was a casual enough invitation to enjoy a cup of tea into something stiff and formal. "Ah... We'd be up all night if I went into the intricacies of Inazuma's recent history. You mentioned the head nurse-- does she keep you company, as well as the rest of the Fortress' staff? As much as I love the ocean, I can't imagine going more than a certain amount of time without seeing another person."

[cynnabnnuy]

He turned his head to glance back at her, smile soft, albeit slight as he offered a slight laugh. "I assure you, you're more than fine. I have no doubt it was all positive, after all, the only secrets I hold are the ones the Iudex himself instructed me to keep." A lie, but also a joke, (hopefully) made clear as he flashed her a brief wink. The secrets of the primordial sea meant little to those not from Fontaine, and any other secrets he had were unknown to Neuvillette- as far as he knew. But... Melusines were notoriously bad at keeping secrets with him around, so who knew what the man did and didn't know.

Poor thing, so worried about someone who she had no real reason to entertain the idea of visiting. It was sweet, though, warming a piece of him he hadn't touched in a long while. Not in any meaningful sense, at least. And, while this may prove to be just as meaningless, it was interesting nonetheless. So, he let it linger, tasting it on his palette as he moved about the room for all of two seconds before she was stopping him again. Silvery eyes widened at the motion, his lips pursing in secondhand embarrassment before he turned right back around. She could figure that one out on her own. If his ass didn't distract her, of course.

"You're quite thoughtful, aren't you, Mistress Sangonomiya?" With all her words pinning her as the type to put others first, he didn't hesitate on the assumption, bringing the kettle over once the water inside was properly heated. "Miss Sigewinne is indeed quite friendly when she's free, and when she's not, of course, although I can't say I'm lucky enough to spend much time under her care." Speaking simply, he flinched slightly as he placed both hands on the kettle to pour the boiled water into the two cups for them, setting it aside to press the hand-made sachets towards her to choose from on her own. "Admittedly, I spend most of my time on my own, but the fortress has plenty of paperwork to file and busywork to keep me seeing people frequently. I've grown accustomed to it, though, so there's no need to worry too much."

Assuring her lightly, he placed one of the sachets of Lavender Melon tea into his cup as he moved a final time, bringing a stool over to the opposing side of the coffee table. He wanted to look at his guest as they spoke, and while it may seem a tad demeaning, he was a bit pleased that she was the one occupying the couch instead of him. Although- "By the way, are you comfortable? I apologize for not taking your tail into consideration when offering you a seat. While I doubt a measly stool would be better, would you prefer it? It'd be a shame if such an honoured guest was made uncomfortable simply because I was thoughtless in my offer of seating." If she came back, he'd make sure he had a cushioned seat with a space for her to lead her tail through instead of sitting on it. But, there were no such items in the fortress that fit his standard for that yet.