#i need neuvillette to be an oceanid

[protect-namine]

being a kokomi fan is pain because hyv doesn't know how to write her and now the "reincarnated water vishap" theory that used to be kokomi "sleeping dragoness" sangonomiya's plausible lore... is no longer just plausibly hers now lol.

[lameow-l]

this was literally the only question i was curious about, thanks for asking that for me paimon

like fontainain people married other nationalities yeah?? how did they have kids if they were oceanids.. anddd umm if they could fuck normal humans wouldn’t that make the oceanid in springvale falling in love with a boy from mond a bit problematic lol especially since it’s no longer a fairytale but an actual thing that happened and we witnessed it last patch??

so it’s not the case and new oceanids are just turned into humans but wait!! so celestia allows that?? it keeps constantly happening but they’re not stopping it.. ok sure but also

i wonder how many generations of fontaine people will it take for them to realize that they have to sexually mate to create children now

[straylaughs]

LIVE GENSHIN 4.2 AQ REACTION SPOILERS IN THE TAGS

[hydrodragons]

as my son deserves❗️

[smallest-moon]

I HAD MY FIRST CO OP EXPERIENCE.. YALL THAT WAS SO FAST IS THIS TREMENDOUS JOY HOW EVERYONE FEELS LIKE WHEN WORKING TOGETHER???? 😭

[ohnogodpls]

Memories in the shape of water

After losing the fight with mortality, Neuvillette goes to Sumeru to research hydro eidolons. When he learns that he can't replicate Wriothesley as one, he does his best to mimic oceanidic summons, to little avail

Transcribed: ["Here you go. I added some mint the way you usually have it. We need to thank lady Navia for the leaves, they are just how you like them.

then why

why don't you say anything"]

A nice song I had in mind tonight is "Already gone" by Sleeping At Last

[lair-of-platonic-yanderes]

Little Archon

Platonic! Yandere! Neuvillette x GN! Child! Furina! Reader

Description: Archons will do anything to protect their nations, including putting a burden in a child.

Warning: OOC. English is my second language. Platonic Yandere. Focalor's actions can be seen as questionable. Reader need a hug. Spoilers for Fontaine Archon Quest. Neuvillette isn't happy with Focalor and The Knave.

_________

Her powers flow through Focalor's body. Hydro Archon looked at the distance, trying not to think too much about the current situation.

Separating divinity from body and spirit take a lot of time. And Focalor was left one on one with her thoughts during the separation.

Bit by bit, she separated everything, that even has a drop of divinity, from her body and soul. Her greatest creation. So perfectly human.

The process was almost over. Focalor's could already see the outlines of the new "Hydro Archon". She only needed to separate the last bits of divinity.

And then her mind started to wander. Plan was risqué. If it fails, Fontaine will be doomed. 

Another thought strike her, like a lightning. What if hydro dragon won't get enough powers from her divinity? Focalor's gaze feel on Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale, that now contained almost all of her divinity. Then her body fell on what essentially were her body and soul. The figure was the same height to Focalor. 

Hydro Archon carefully reached with her powers to "Hydro Archon". Divinity was a tricky thing. It was everywhere in Archon's body. Perhaps, she should separate some more bits of her. That didn't have pure divinity, but have echoes of it? 

Bit. After bit. After bit.

More powers were stored in Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale. Focalor's nodded slowly. It would be enough. Now she only needed to wake the new "Hydro Archon".

Focalor looked at them.

They became smaller. Much younger. 

Child. "Hydro Archon" became a child.

Focalor's chewed her lips. She could reverse separation and try again. And make sure, that this time her double will be older.

Her gaze fall on Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale again. All her powers were there. The chance for Fontaine's salvation. 

On one hand, the bigger chance for salvation of her nation.

On the other hand, child, that won't be forced to live centuries under curse, with no chance of normal life.

Ever since she became an Archon, Focalor's wasn't seen by her people. They won't question, why new archon are so young.

Oceanids left Fontaine. They won't reveal, that Archon aren't her.

The child will contain most of her memories. They won't act according to their age. Their behavior won't be questioned.

Maybe, hydro dragon would find kid adorable. And it will help in her plan's succeed.

Fontaine. Or a child.

With tears in her eyes, Focalor finished the separation. Remains of her divinity flew into Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale. Before fading, she whispered. 

"I am sorry, [Y/N]. I hope, that one day, you could forgive me."

_________

Sometimes, you saw a woman in your dreams. She had tears in her eyes. She would apologize to you over and over again.

At first, you thought, that she was your mother. Your mother, that entrust Very Important Mission on you.

You quickly realized, that she wasn't your mom.

You were just a shred of true Hydro Archon. And she had a Very Important Mission for you.

You are a kid and you have a mission

You are a kid and you don't have a mom. 

______

Neuvillette hasn't seen Hydro Archon before. He heard about them.

Loud, boisterous, attention seeker (with term 'spoiled brat' whispered in the dark alleys).

Today, he would see them for the first time.

When he was called in the room, where Hydro Usurper would meet with him, Neuvillette braced himself, before entering.

At first, he thought, that room was empty. He couldn't see Hydro Archon anywhere. Then his gaze fall on the child, that were sitting on the couch before a small table, full of treats. He could feel it. Child have traces of divinity.

'That child are Hydro Archon?'

Meanwhile, child struck a little pose.

"Are you speechless, Monsieur Neuvillette? I can't blame you. You are in the presence of The brightest Star of Fontaine!"

Neuvillette's eyes widen.

'Why Hydro Usurper were so young?'

Meanwhile, child waved their hand.

"I know, that you would gladly spend hours admiring me, but, you will have enough time for that! Should we discuss your new job as Chief Justice, Monsieur Neuvillette?"

Neuvillette slowly nodded.

"We should..."

________

Your room in Palais Mermonia was a dream come true for any children. Tons of toys, children books, big bad you can jump on. You need something else? You could always ask for it, and it will be delivered to your doorstep.

Everyone loves the Biggest Celebrity of Fontaine. Child Archon deserve only best things.

Among all of your toys, you only loved three.

Three plush animals.

During the first hundred years of your performance, you played pirates, adventures and theater with them.

During the second century of your performance, you played school with them.

During the third century of your performance, you played explorers with them.

During the fourth century of your performance, you read books to them.

During the fifth century of your performance, you cried yourself to sleep, while hugging your favorite three toys.

__________

Neuvillette was in his office. He had some time to take a quick break. 

He was holding his glass, full of water from The Fountain of Lucine. Some melusines decided to bring his a bottle of Fountain's water. Surprisingly, they also saw Hydro Archon with their hands in the Fountain. They quickly left, when they saw melusines near.

Neuvillette was thinking.

By all means, Neuvillette shouldn't like Hydro Archon.

[Y/N] have his elemental authority. 

[Y/N] were loud, boisterous and snotty.

[Y/N], while not being The First, still were one of the Seven Usurper.

But Neuvillette can't bring himself to hate the kid, or be angry at them.

They were just a kid. There were no reason to waste his anger on them. Neuvillette won't be surprised, if Hydro Archon won't fight, if Neuvillette decides to challenge them for hydro authority.

Neuvillette took the first sip.

He was flooded with emotions.

Emotions of a very lonely and sad child. Neuvillette froze. It never happened before. [Y/N]... Were it you? Were it your emotions?

Neuvillette drank the rest of the glass. 

Then the remaining water from the bottle.

He returned to his work. But young hydro archon were still on his mind.

__________

You were attending an opera performance in Opera Epiclese. Neuvillette refused the invitation, pretending, that he had some important work to do.

It was the truth. But, his work wasn't connected to the court. 

Neuvillette closed the door in your room behind him. Neuvillette wasn't supposed to be here, in your room. But he wanted to see, with his own eyes, how you lived. And why you were so sad.

The room was big, full of everything, that a child could ever want or need.

Yet, everything looked too new. Too clean. Like you weren't using anything in your room.

Except for three well-worn plush toys (Ball Octopus, Bubbly Seahorse and Armored Crab) on your bed. The traces of countless repairs clearly visible on the stuffed animals. 

Neuvillette looked at your bookshelves. There was a common theme in all of your books. In them, at the end, main characters will get a family. A loving parents or older siblings.

'Lonely Archon. Lonely child...'

Dragons looked after their young. In some cases, they looked after each other dragonets.

Hydro Dragon has never looked after young dragonets. But, he also hasn't lived among humans.

Neuvillette has lived among humans for five hundred years now.

Maybe, it was time to took in a child.

___________

The cat you met on the street was fluffy and playful. You can't help, but smile. Animals were good. Animals were great.

But, you can't focus entirely on the cat. One thought was bothering you.

Something strange was happening with Neuvillette. It looked like, he was looking after you? He sent warm meals to you through melusines, ordered guards to bring more blankets to your room, shut down annoying reporters... He even put a scarf around your neck that day, when temperature in Opera Epiclese were colder, than usual.

If you were honest, he always scared you a little. You don't want to think, what he will do with you, when your performance will be over. He looked distant and hard to approach.

So why he was so worried about you? Your loud attitude didn't change, so, why Neuvillette suddenly decided to take care of you?

The cat's loud meow interrupted your thoughts. It hissed and dashed away from you. You reach your hand towards it.

"Wait! Can we play some more?!"

Then a shadow fall on you.

__________

You were crying on the throne.

The last few days were a nightmare. The Knave. The Trial. 

And now Fontaine was sinking in waters of the Primordial Sea.

Did you fail? 

You felt, that you did.

Your performance was for nothing.

Your pain was for nothing.

You were nothing, but a failure.

__________

Neuvillette was looking at Focalor. True Hydro Archon. The first reason for his kid's pain.

Neuvillette listened to her explanation of her plan. When she finished, he spoke. His lips barely moved.

"You made them cry."

Focalor hide her gaze. She looked guilty.

"I know. And I am sorry for that. I wanted to save Fontaine. If there was another way..."

Sharp talons pierced Focalor's shoulders. Neuvillette growled, showing his sharp fangs.

"You made my kid suffer, Focalor! Knew, that today you aren't being judged for your predecessor's sins. Today, you are being judged for your own sins. For every single one of [Y/N]'s tears."

Neuvillette shoved her away. He was watching her, like a hawk.

"So, god of false justice, you herself gave the verdict. Execution. And don't make me wait. I have a child to look after."

_______

Fontaine was saved. Your performance was a success.

You stand before The Fountain of Lucine.

You were alone. You felt lost.

What should you do now? Where should you go?

Suddenly, you were picked up. Iudex of Fontaine was cradling you. He had a smile, you never saw on his face before.

"There you are, small dragonet! I am so glad, you didn't get lost. Let's go, your new home is waiting. I will take a good care of you, I promise! I will teach you about using Hydro powers, you will have everything you need, you will never cry again."

He started walking, while still carrying you. You closed and opened your mouth.

"What...? But... I am not... No Vision"

Neuvillette hummed. Something heavy landed in your stomach.

A hydro vision with four dragon fangs.

"Oh, don't worry, [Y/N]. Everything will be fine from now on. You will never see people, that want to hurt you. Now you can enjoy your life to the fullest."

You felt, that something drastic will happen in Fontaine.

________

If Neuvillette could cause harm with his gaze, The Knave would be a pile of bare bones on the ground. How she dared to show her face before him, after what she did to his child.

Neuvillette's tone of voice didn't betray him.

"So, you want to have Hydro Ghosis?"

Fatui Harbinger nodded. Her voice was calm.

"Yes. It seems, there is no need for Fontaine to keep it anymore."

Neuvillette pretend to think about it.

"I have a better proposition. You see, I don't need that thing. But... You scared and almost killed my kid. So, don't wait for any sighs of goodwill from me, aside our current deal. Listen closely. Conditions are: in forty-eight hours, all Fatui will leave Fontaine and will never return. If you refuse, I will force them to leave on their own feet. And then I will flood Snezhnaya."

Hydro Dragon met The Knave's gaze. Fatui Harbinger stepped back. Iudex of Fontaine wasn't joking. The Knave felt the earth trembling under her feet. Waters of Fontaine were rising.

"I will ensure, that my kid are happy. Doesn't matter, if I need to flood all Teyvat. Their happiness is the only thing, that matters."

______

Focalor's was right in her own way.

Child double did help Hydro Dragon to save Fontaine.

The nation was safe.

For a price of Teyvat being reshaped for keeping Child double happy.

[ofoceansandtombsanew]

Of All Things, I Became an Oceanid

You always imagined that if you woke up in the world of Genshin, the possibilities of being a Visionless wielder of elements and a slew of romantic shenanigans would lie in your wake. But when you instead find yourself in the body of an Oceanid with romance likely out of the question, your only conclusion is that the gods of reincarnation isekai hate your guts.

cw. you're an oceanid

pairing. navia x reader, kaeya x reader, childe x reader (separate)

notes. don't feel like being an oceanid today? well go ahead and go to the series masterlist and see what your life could be if you were something else in genshin.

So you're an Oceanid now.

You suppose there are worse things you could have turned into. God, imagine if you turned into a hilichurl or something like that. Yeah, you'll take being a graceful water being over a hilichurl any day.

You can talk, you can wield Hydro and you can go literally anywhere you want as long as water is present. It's honestly not that bad of a deal, you can be Mx. Worldwide if you so desire it.

As for finding company with your fellow lochfolk? That's not really much an option, all things considered. As it stands now, Oceanids follow one simple rule.

You stay in your lake, they stay in theirs and you call it a day.

Kaeya

Considering Springvale's small pond is already taken, you decide to call dibs on Starfell Lake since after Rhodeia made even the waters of the Dawn Winery bitter, you figured it would be better to try a source lake not connected to her spot in Liyue

To be honest when it came to being an Oceanid, you figured you didn't really need to become the companion of any of the characters

You're more than content to stay in your lake and mind your business. But truthfully, it does get boring, so when you saw Kaeya's reflection peering into your waters, you popped your head up to say hi almost instinctively

Apart from a brief look of surprise, that's the extent of your attempt to seem regal and mysterious in front of the Calvary Captain

"A water faerie so far from Fontaine? I can't believe my eye; this is the certainly the last thing I was expecting to see while out on a stroll."

It's not everyday you meet something so exciting and considering what happened after encountering the Traveler and Paimon, Kaeya decides to listen to his instincts that there'll be a lot to come from interacting with you

Because of this, Kaeya is a frequent visitor to your lake besides the people who occasionally stop by to clean the statue of the Seven

You ask him about the daily gossip of Mondstadt and he asks you about the life of being a water faerie, a fair trade even if most of your information is based on your memory of the Genshin wiki page and the limited personal experience you have

Kaeya's made a joke about how your meeting is something one might read in a romance novel, much to your embarrassment

Is he serious or no?

It's not like there haven't been any Human/Oceanid relationships in this game so it isn't completely out of the ordinary when you think about it...

At the same time though, you don't want to look super eager

One particular night, a long silence fell over you both when you asked him about his family. He tells you a bit about his past, about being adopted into the Ragnvindr family and his present less than savory relationship with Diluc

You ask if he's lonely to which he asks in return "do I seem lonely?" yet there is no bite in his tone nor is there any sarcasm either. his gaze is thoughtful but miles away from your lake

"Yes" are the words on your non-existent tongue yet you can't bring yourself to say it, all while a warm hand brushes against your watery cheek much too quickly

Navia

Being an Oceanid in Fontaine pre-Neuvillette's judgement was pretty much impossible, thankfully you airdropped into Teyvat after that deciding to call an area near Poisson your home

As to how you met Navia, you heard her crying by the sea as she does sometimes after getting new flowers for the grave of her father and much like the Spring Faerie of Springvale, you answered the call and swam to the surface

She thought maybe you were Melus or Silver, or maybe some other lost soul of Poisson. You quickly let her know that wasn't actually the case, much to Navia's initial disappointment

But Navia is an optimist, first and foremost. So she won't let the reality of the situation get her down and would ask you a bunch of questions. Afterall, Oceanids are thought to be practically extinct in Fontaine after Egeria's death so she doesn't want to waste the opportunity to learn more about you

And boy do her questions range from genuinely thought provoking to so silly it leaves you both in a fit of laughter

It's a first meeting that does Navia good, there she was so sad and then you came and turned the entire situation inside out. She promises to make you macarons as thanks, if lochfolk can even eat

Truthfully, you don't know if you can either. It's not like it's necessary to eat as you are now but fuck it you want to find out for yourself

Navia is also quick to invite you live in the waters of Poisson in general, or at least settle in if you ever want to visit and see the town for yourself

You take her up on the offer to have, if anything, a change of scenery and to see more people out and about than you normally would

You truthfully enjoy a nice yap session with Navia, it's never boring when she's around even if the most you're doing is watching her dish out orders from your comfortable pond in Poisson

But the best hangout sessions you have are when you are a good distance from the place and she can chat with you freely. She'll bring a basket of snacks, a blanket to sit on and you'll chat the day away

Sometimes she'll even bring a sketchbook and attempt to draw your portrait. Navia isn't the best artist but you enjoy looking at her artwork nonetheless

A small secret of her heart though is that Navia is quite sure that as a young girl she dreamed of something like this. Meeting an Oceanid by lakeside and falling in love before willingly being taken into the depths of Fontaine to eternally perform a watery dance of love

Maybe she can't do some of those things as the boss of Spina di Rosula, but maybe the former... maybe she's just been reading too many romance novels

Childe

When it comes to Childe, you truly lucked out in becoming an Oceanid when you lost the isekai 50/50. Because if you were something couldn't talk like a Thunder Manifestation or a Geovishap... you'd be assed out

For he, Tartaglia, is constantly finding ways to become stronger and that includes fighting mythical beings he comes across

But hey, Childe is no barbarian. Anything that can talk and beg for its life, for the most part, isn't a viable option for honing his skills

So congratulations, you narrowly avoided becoming a hashtag in someone's twitter bio twice in a row

Childe quickly laughs off your near brush with death and he dodges the spout of water you send his way. Sadly, he's somewhat charming when he says "come on, in my defense I didn't think you had any real intelligence! Now that I know we can easily become buddies, I'm sure!"

Maybe it's guilt (you doubt it), maybe it's a bit of youthful wonder permeating his soul (you're sure it's this), but he makes it a point to visit you while he is in Fontaine

Yeah, you lost another 50/50 by being airdropped into Fontaine during its Archon Quest but miraculously the water isn't painful. Maybe it's because you're technically not from this world and it grants you some sort of immunity? You're not sure

You are sure of, however, the fact that Childe comes to visit you like he gets paid for it

Apparently he wants to chat it up with you so he has plenty of interesting stories for his younger siblings when he visits them next time he is in his homeland

You sadly have a soft spot for it seems for war criminals that also happen to be family-oriented so you indulge him begrudgingly despite the rocky start to your friendship

When he gets arrested, you don't see him for a while and you admittedly grow worried when he doesn't show up even beyond the crisis of the prophecy coming to fruition but isn't like you can just discreetly find a fatuus in a city, let alone a Harbinger

Childe comes to see you soon enough though when he's recovered a substantial amount (barely any at all)

He laughs at you worriedly berate him for being so careless. "I just had to make sure my favorite Oceanid didn't miss me too much, that's all"

[emmebearpaw]

The archons but they aren't quite human. i mean. obviously they aren't. But really. I think we should let them get their uncanny on just a little bit. Or a lotta bit. Venti chooses to walk on the ground. They recognize it helps with the whole looking human thing but like, I don't think Barbatos used legs to move. Venti walks silently. Venti can seemingly get into any room. No one has ever seen them do it but they can just appear. The air around them is fresher. Like it sort of just feels nice to be in a room with it. Also, doesn't need eyes to see. Like, very clearly can seemingly navigate with his eyes closed (uses the air currents). Hair is often blowing in a breeze, even when there isn't one. Zhongli tries to tamp it down but Morax's feet never left the ground. His dragon form didn't fly either. The ground simply would move and bend to be beneath his feet at all times. I don't have as many for him but something about him feels like he should have a low rumble. Incredible at judging weights of things by eye. Like you can hold up some cheese you are about to grate for a recipe and he will tell you that you don't have enough. Also can navigate with eyes closed (just feels through the ground). Eyes glitter gold. He's getting better at hiding it but he blinks one eye at a time.

Ei + The Shogun who doesn't touch the ground when she walks. Hovering just above it. Like a bolt of lightning frozen in time. People's hair stands on end when she approaches. Is so full of static electricity. It doesn't bother her but yeah touching her can shock you.The Shogun doesn't blink but no one noticed that because Ei barely blinks either. Why would she blink? After act 2 of her quest you notice she does actually touch the ground sometimes. She blinks more too.

Nahida's not always planted in the ground but she usually is. Grass and vines and plants coiling their way around her as she stands, but usually easily retreating again when she begins moving. She might be barefoot but the power of the plants protects her from being defeated by a sharp rock. She can also easily ascend by climbing on plants like a step ladder. Yes she does manage to grow plants even if she is indoors or on tile. She actually gets tired if she stops doing it for too long. That's her fucking mycelial network. I think she should start photosynthesizing.

Furina. Furina also seems odd, why you ask? During her 500 years as the archon she learned a bunch of stage tricks to fake archon weirdness. She seems to leave water behind with every step she takes (she has water pouches hidden in her heels that release a little water with each step. Yes she does have to refill them... often). She once demonstrated she can walk on water (faked that lmao). She is genuinely blind in her darker eye though (focalors is also blind in one eye. it's also her darker eye, but i imagine their heterochromia is flipped so they are blind on different sides). This has led to her being genuinely better at navigating by other senses, including her innate ability to figure out where water is. She mostly read it as "ability to know someone is nearby" but it turns out that she could only determine when a Fontanian was nearby due to the fact they were oceanids. She was very weirded out when she stopped being able to do that. Neuvillette doesn't blink much (his eyes literally don't get dry unless he is dehydrated). He can determine where water was sourced from by taste alone (this might not be because he's a dragon. this might just be him). He can also determine when someone is coming (humans are still mostly water). It's literally canon his emotions influence the weather. Fontaine is already humid but god he can single-handedly increase the humidity of a room. anyways i think im out for now lmao

[naomeii]

Please kindly consider this angsty Neuvillette request: Neuvillette had an Oceanid mate some 500+ years ago, an Oceanid who didn't take on human form. After the construction of the Fortress of Meropide, she sacrificed her form to empower the gate that held back the Primordial Sea. 500 years later when Neuvillette enters the depths of the Fortress to reseal the gate, he hears the encouraging voice of his beloved through the surging seawaters.

Please also kindly take as long as you need with this request; I have no qualms in waiting. Furthermore, by no means feel obligated to prioritize this request over your other requests.

Beneath the Tides.

Neuvillette x Oceanid!Reader

Content : Angst/no comfort, drabble.

The ancient stone walls of the Fortress of Meropide echoed with the haunting whispers of the past as Neuvillette, the Chief Justice of Fontaine, descended into its depths. The air was thick with the scent of brine, and the distant echoes of crashing waves seemed to mourn a tale buried deep within the ocean's secrets.

Five centuries ago, Neuvillette had known love in the embrace of an Oceanid, a mysterious being who refused to take on a human form. Their love was an ethereal dance, a connection that transcended the boundaries of form and substance. She was his mate, and their moments together were like droplets of time suspended in the vast sea of eternity.

In the early days of their love, Neuvillette and his Oceanid companion would explore the untouched corners of Fontaine, marveling at the beauty of the waters they called home. "The depths hold mysteries beyond our understanding, Neuvillette," she would say, her voice as melodic as the lapping waves against the shore.

As time passed, their connection deepened, and Neuvillette found solace in the companionship of his beloved. Together, they witnessed the construction of the Fortress of Meropide, a bastion erected to hold back the relentless tide of the Primordial Sea. But with this monumental undertaking came sacrifices, and none greater than the sacrifice his one and only beloved would make.

The fateful day arrived when the Oceanid decided to surrender her form, her very essence, to empower the gate that guarded Fontaine from the chaos beyond. Neuvillette, unable to bear the thought of losing her, pleaded with tear-filled eyes. "No, my love, there must be another way. I cannot lose you," he implored, but her decision was unwavering.

"I do this for Fontaine, for us. My essence will become the strength that holds back the Primordial Sea. We are bound by duty, my dearest Neuvillette," she whispered, her touch a bittersweet caress against his cheek.

The sacrifice was made, and Neuvillette watched helplessly as the love of his life transformed into pure energy, becoming one with the gate. The waters surged, a tumultuous symphony of grief and determination.

Now, after five long centuries, Neuvillette found himself standing once again before the gate. The echoes of the past resonated in the air, and memories flooded his mind. As he approached the heart of the fortress, the surging seawaters seemed to carry the echoes of a familiar voice.

"Neuvillette," the voice murmured through the currents, a whispered echo of love and encouragement. His heart skipped a beat as he recognized the voice, the voice of his beloved from centuries past. "You carry the burden with grace, my love. The fortress remembers our sacrifice, and I am with you in spirit."

Tears welled in Neuvillette's eyes as he continued his journey, guided by the spectral presence of his Oceanid mate. The fortress seemed to respond to their enduring connection, guiding him through the labyrinthine passages with an otherworldly intelligence.

In the depths of the fortress, as he faced the gate and prepared to reseal it, the encouraging voice of his beloved surrounded him. "Our love transcends time, Neuvillette. Seal the gate, and let our sacrifice be the beacon that guards Fontaine."

With a heavy heart, Neuvillette whispered, "For Fontaine, and for you, my love." As he channeled his powers to reseal the gate, the fortress embraced him, and through the surging seawaters, he felt the eternal presence of his mate for the last time

[boundinparchment]

Undertow

He stopped officiating weddings a long time ago. There was no time for such things as the Chief Justice of Fontaine. But your family insisted. As nobles are wont to do. Only the finest for their eldest daughter. Besides, you two were friends, after all. Neuvillette/Female Reader; in which the Chief Justice can no longer deny his heart on the day of your wedding. AO3 Story Link

A joyous day.

It should have been, at any rate.

At least for you.

As long as you were happy.

Or so Neuvillette told himself. Duty came first, after all. He had a whole nation to keep from setting itself aflame, be it from Focalors’ whims or the people’s fury. In serving everyone, he was, in fact, serving you.

And in turn, you, too, served the people. Few were so generous with their time and their skills, especially those in your social standing. Fewer still went on to study law, as you had; as heir, you needed to understand property laws and taxes and the words that bound your family to its estate and your place in parliament. Neuvillette would never let it be said that you did not know the meaning of long hours and hard work. Amid the vain and the greedy, you were pragmatic, and not without the wit to prove it.

That was what drew him to you. So many in your position used their wit as sharp daggers to stab others during conversation in a clever, charming way. You flipped the conversation back on perpetrators so often that he wondered why you never pursued certification exams.

“For one, it benefits my station far too much,” you said. “My ambitions are to be able to make life sustainable for all I’m meant to govern. Naive, perhaps. But I think those in my rank need to earn their keep, prove they’re worthy of their legacy. We owe it to the people of Fontaine.”

You were certainly not without a vision, even if you were Unblessed. It was better that way. You didn’t deserve the eyes of the island above on you anymore than they already were.

Neuvillete adjusted his cuffs as he glanced down at the book in his hands. A book you’d given him, annotated with your favorite passages and thoughts. He’d stayed up far too late trying to conceptualize anything other than his legal obligations for the ceremony.

The courtroom buzzed with anticipation. Focalors had rolled her eyes when she caught him getting ready but even she had made herself scarce for once after mumbling to just get it over with. Funny. And here he thought she might be present to laugh in his face and call him a fool.

A fool who took an hour to painstakingly braid his hair in a fashion that mimicked an Oceanid’s tail, as you had once shown him.

He stopped officiating weddings a long time ago. There was no time for such things as the Chief Justice of Fontaine.

But your family insisted. As nobles are wont to do.

Only the finest for their eldest daughter.

Besides, you two were friends, after all.

You would have settled for far less; or rather, you would have been happier with his presence in another capacity. He knew as much. His estate for the ceremony and party. A speech at dinner. A dance. Your smile had been so forced throughout the entire exchange about an officiant that Neuvillette was certain you might snap right then and there.

And yet you remained rooted. Dedicated.

If only the finest would do, why did they even consider the dolt standing before him to be eligible?

Hardly remarkable in accomplishments. The family coasted on interest earned through their holdings but were not without the occasional cousin who ended up with a debt record as long as one’s forearm. Neuvillette couldn’t even justify an excuse for a pedigree; bloodlines couldn’t, shouldn’t, be about trying to maintain whatever purity they claimed to hold.

No one could make that judgment.

Celestia might try, at any rate.

And the Chief Justice could hardly see your future husband comforting you should such a thing happen, let alone caring for the people. Neuvillette could only stare when the nobleman’s eyes caught his; your fiance looked away first and Neuvillette smiled briefly to himself. No. There would be no comfort in this relationship, no challenge, no ambition.

This man would snuff your flames with his own self-importance.

Neuvillette should have offered his hand instead when you’d told him. You seemed so resolute, so determined, to carry out your duty. And he was so patient that he might as well be a coward. Time would wait for him, not you. Instead, he’d pulled every string he could to find every shred of information for you, for your parents, approved the match with as much grace as a ruling.

Mulled over every file with a glass of brandy, trying to convince himself things would be fine.

Wouldn’t they?

Nearby, a musician began the song you had chosen to walk in with and the gallery rose in unison, like the sea, to watch.

The only thing you’d had control over was the dress, you’d admitted one night after dinner. Repurposed, you’d mentioned; all lace and fashionable lines, practical but elegant in its shape. He couldn’t pull his eyes away and he tried to remember to breathe as you made your way down the aisle. In all his years, he had seen many things, including the stunning shimmers of the previous Hydro Archon, but all of them paled to you.

Likewise, it seemed you couldn’t look anywhere else but straight ahead, Neuvillette realized: most looked towards their future spouse but your gaze was fixed on Neuvillette himself. His grip on the book tightened and he was thankful for the swell of the music to hide the squeak of leather.

You weren’t making the stabbing knife in his chest any easier.

The words came quicker than he liked as he began the usual spiel. Welcoming guests, reciting the names of the parties involved, and starting off with a brief speech on the strength of a union. He could read the passage from the book backwards if you asked him.

As a judge, he was meant to be the impartial interpreter of the law. There was no place for bias, for emotion.

His eyes would give him away to any discerning onlookers. Neuvillette was no stranger to rumors and gossip columns and no doubt someone could already see the questions he couldn’t keep from surfacing. It would be obvious, he realized. He kept looking at you and not the crowd, not the man with eager eyes who held your hand the same way one held a horse bridle: too tight.

Neuvillette cleared his throat and pushed away the anguish. It had no place here.

As the Chief Justice asked you to repeat after him, to recite the vows all Fontaine citizens gave on their wedding day, something inside him cracked. Couldn’t you see this would lead to nothing but misery? Weren’t you worthy of more? If you must marry for duty, then at least commit yourself to someone equally committed…

Your lips, painted to perfection (unnecessarily so, for you were already beautiful without such coloring), opened but silence followed. Neuvillette swallowed. Your eyes left his long enough to stare at the man holding your hand before you thrust your bouquet at him, gathered your skirt, and dashed back up the aisle.

Behind you, the courtroom ignited with all of the shock and drama as a high profile murder case as you threw the doors open and dashed into the lobby and eventually out of sight.

The only trace you’d been there at all was your veil as it floated to the floor silently, forgotten.

A joyous day.

It should have been, at any rate.

And yet you shouldn’t shake the knot in your stomach and the claw clenching around your heart. Sleep eluded you for the better part of the night and your maids tutted, pressing cold spoons to your eyes before you were allowed to eat. Food tasted no better than dirt over the last few months and all anyone saw was how careful you were watching your figure.

How you wished things were different. The ring on your finger felt heavy, clunky; a ball and chain around your ankle would have been easier to manage.

It hadn’t been so burdensome at first, of course. Things took time. Perhaps, eventually, you might enjoy your betrothed’s company for longer than a few hours. The potential was there.

But was it enough?

Your maids fixed your makeup, did your hair, swatted your hand away when you reached for just one sip of water.

They all gushed about your fiance, how handsome and charming he was, how well conversation seemed to flow. Every single one of them forgot that the conversations were nothing more than surface level discussions that made you want to gouge your eyes out with a spoon.

You’d almost begged Neuvillette to forge something, anything, that would make this arrangement null and void. Every meeting since the engagement had been heavily supervised under the guise of protecting the Chief Justice’s reputation and your honor, whatever that implied.

Expectation had been there for years, lingered like a ghost. Not from you but from everyone else who cast their eyes on your station. One rarely, if ever, captured the Chief Justice’s attention, after all. Your family had hoped, as others had, but you were content to simply converse over dinner, at parties, exchange books and philosophies and see the man’s smile reach his silvery eyes. He spoke of opera and art in a way so few of your contemporaries could. You tried to control the flutter of your heart when he locked eyes with you across the courthouse foyer after parliament adjourned and you swore you saw his eyes glow.

He was engaging, enthralling, and it was easy to see why the nation considered him such a celebrity.

But your friendship was more than the attention, than the allure of the Chief Justice and all that he encompassed. Some might not call his rulings fair but he saw all of the trappings that Fontaine itself was guilty of pressing onto all of its inhabitants. When you came up with ideas for proposals, it was him you went to for proper language and legal references, always attempting to stay within his schedule, of course. More often than not, he would continue to prompt you to think the proposal through, consider scale and the impact and the precedent.

Never once did he give you an opinion, naturally. Just a different perspective.

“You can be dazed tomorrow,” your mother said as she snapped her fingers in your face. “Your flowers just arrived and the photographer is insisting on family shots here, at the house.”

You resisted the urge to roll your eyes as you were dressed by deft hands. It had been something of a game with your maid to pass time when you felt like trying your dress on; little had you known how the practice would backfire.

Something tugged at your gut and you fought the urge to vomit at the thought of the hands (the wrong hands) that would undo the buttons.

No, you made your choice, you reminded yourself. The guilt would fade. The love would fade.

You were closer to thirty than you cared to admit. What your family took for a phase they realized would be a dangerous precedent for your siblings.

Everything you did was for the betterment of the people, you would argue.

What good was the betterment of the people when you were neglecting your duty to your family, was often the retort thrown back with as much acid as your grandmother’s strong tea.

Family.

Duty.

Honor.

All of it was bullshit if the common people were unhappy and left to fend off wolves from above and below.

You’d never subscribed to these notions and they were content to let it be until it was inconvenient. Rather than let you advise on financial planning, to grow an endowment that could take care of the yearly costs of the estate, you were to be cattle in exchange for financial and political support.

Or you would be cast aside, disowned and dishonored, your position taken from you as if it were a rug underfoot.

And so, you accepted all of it with a smile.

You endured.

Just as you endured the flash of the kamera, the fussing over your flowers and your veil during the carriage ride to the courthouse.

The press were eager, as they always were, for gossip and fashion and for a glimpse of the Chief Justice presiding over the ceremony. They weren’t here for you, not truly. Why, of all things, had your parents insisted he be the officiant?

Wasn’t it enough that you were giving up parts of your life, parts of your soul, for a person who would never appreciate them?

Your feet already ached from your heels. A wave of dizziness slapped you across the face as you entered the lobby and you pushed through it. Music began, the doors opened, and your body moved of its own accord, just as you had practiced the night before.

Neuvillette had declined the rehearsal dinner. The one time you were glad not to see him. If you had, you wouldn’t be here now, you were certain.

You gave a cursory glance to your fiance but your attention whipped back to Neuvillette almost instantly. He’d done his best but you could see the faded dark circles under his silver eyes. How late had he stayed up, you wondered. And how long had that braid taken him?

He’d let you style it once, and only once, in the privacy of his library. Waterfalls of silken fabric couldn’t compare to the beautiful blue and white locks between your fingers. He’d been attentive when you showed him the technique, pausing his case review to do so, but…

An ache from your feet ran up to your heart and sat, heavy with longing; it hurt to breathe.

The music swelled to a close and your father kissed your cheek before he passed you along to your fiance. He smiled and you tried not to be disgusted at the sweaty hand that held yours. You held your flowers in your other hand tighter, glad that the florist had missed a thorn in trimming your flowers.

Before you could blink, Neuvillette was already speaking.

And although he was addressing everyone as he read the passage you read aloud to him on a particularly gloomy evening, his gaze never left yours. The man witnessed and knew of the cruelest things the nation allowed, worked under Honorable Focalors Herself, and yet the expression on his face (such as it was, for he was known for his unreadable countenance) was as if…

It was gone in all but a moment as he cleared his throat and prompted you to recite your vows.

It was the subtle raise of Neuvillette’s eyebrows, the way his eyes widened just enough for emphasis that did you in.

Doubt. Anguish.

Was this what you wanted?

You turned your head, every intention to get the words across your tongue and past your lips in mind, when your voice simply wouldn’t comply. All you could see was a life shackled, compromise after compromise and always made against your favor. Concessions that eventually wore down to wondering why you ever bothered.

Did you want to throttle yourself, your spirit, your drive, for potential that wasn’t even there? When the man you loved would be forever kept out of reach?

If not this, then what did you want?

The answer was literally staring you in the face.

You shoved your flowers into your betrothed’s hands and pulled away, not caring if your dress carried sweat stains as you gathered the skirts and ran as fast as your legs could carry you out the door. Commotion behind you roared to life as you haphazardly made your way through the lobby, down to the entrance, and then dashed to the side garden to avoid the headline-hungry press.

There were few options to hide, all of them easy enough to locate. Your family would drag you back if they found you. Assuming they weren’t bickering and that the wedding was even still on from your fiance’s point of view.

A single drop of rain plopped on your head, sudden and cold. Followed by another. And then there was no sun left in the sky as rain came down in sheets, heavy and frigid. Thunder rumbled through your entire being. You couldn’t stay here. Over the roar of the rain, you could hear your name. You wouldn’t heed.

You were tired of coming when called, of giving your loyalty and love to those who sought to keep you from your happiness. No better than a hunting dog.

Soaked, your hair and dress now destined for the Abyss, you slid off your heels and made your way towards the one place you might be able to wait out the rain in peace.

Over the chatter of the crowd, the rumble of thunder was unmistakable.

Of course it would rain. It wasn’t like he’d done a terrific job of hiding his own bias.

The speed at which you’d run back up the aisle was a feat, given the shoes you wore. No doubt those wouldn’t do you any good in this weather. You were probably cold, overwhelmed…

Movement out of the corner of his eye caught his attention and Neuvillette’s hand shot out. He grabbed the nobleman’s arm before he could move, already poised to go after you.

“Leave her be. These things happen. It is best for a neutral party to resolve these matters. Wedding planners, family, or friends are usually equipped for these situations,” the Chief Justice said matter of factly.

Fight back, you absolute–

Your betrothed’s arm relaxed in Neuvillette’s grip and it took everything in the Chief Justice not to summon his power and drown him there and then. If there was one person deserving of being reduced to their primal element…

Neuvillette’s voice cut above the crowd as he called for order, requesting that guests remain where they were and that, no doubt, everything would resume shortly. Your parents were already doing a poor attempt at damage control with your supposed-in-laws. Your siblings were casting looks at the door, half-debating if they should go after you; they weren’t like you, not as headstrong, not as independent, and one look from your matriarchal grandmother sent them further into their seats.

He intervened, diffusing arguments with ease, all the while wondering if you were okay. Your parents wanted to use city resources, send out police. For once, your fiance chimed in that such a thing might scare you and you needed help, not to be dragged back kicking and screaming.

“You should go, sir,” the young nobleman said quietly as the bickering picked up again. “You said it yourself: family or friends, and her family doesn’t seem keen to fight for her.”

The man’s smile was shaky but the Chief Justice appreciated the sentiment. At least he had a brain in there somewhere.

“Be sure to keep them from saying too much to the press. Should any ask, Her Honor is also behaving…in her usual fashion.”

Neuvillette was certain his absence wouldn’t go unnoticed and the fact that the press were still clamoring at the front stairs despite the downpour wouldn’t help matters. He paid them no mind as rain pelted him, drenching his robes and suit jacket underneath. The rain did nothing to affect his vision nor his drive to find you; he was unbothered by the chill but you…you always did love curling up right next to a fire and being bundled in winter.

There was one place you might go, he pondered, that few knew about and fewer had access to. Short of you running through the city in your dress (which would not be like you), you had little options to avoid the press but to stay near the courthouse.

He found you as he expected to, under a pavilion tucked away into a quiet garden on the property, wringing out your skirts and pacing, feet bare against the wet stone. You were never still when your mind was lightyears ahead of you, be it from following trains of thought or when you were attempting to force a filibuster. Your thoughts were likely half-way to Inazuma by now and just as tumultuous as the storms he heard so much about.

His breath caught when you jumped as you caught sight of him, eyes wide and anguish carved into your face. Neuvillette stepped under the cover of the pavilion, his robes and braid dripping unceremoniously and you immediately reached to wring his hair out gently, without so much as a second thought.

The Chief Justice took off his gloves as he let you finish before he took your hands in his. He could feel the bump on your finger where you held a pen, the tender spot where your flowers pricked you.

“I can’t do it, Neu,” you choked out, shaking your head. “I can’t do it.”

“You don’t have to if it’s going to make you unhappy, if you cannot see a future with the person standing at the altar.”

He worked in rulings, evidence, facts; managing Focalors emotional outbursts was a terrible part of his job description but they never teetered into this territory. He was used to fleeting whims and de-escalation.

This? This was a decision that would change the course of your life. Not immediately, of course. But the future was a terrifying, uncertain thing, and you had expectations to contend with.

Expectations that did not involve him.

The pall of fear lifted from your face slowly, the same way morning dew disappeared from the grass. Something else blossomed in its place, like a sweet flower pushing through the cracks in the cobblestone streets, resilient and resolute.

“The thing is, I can. Just not with the man I was about to marry.”

Shooting him would have been less painful. Such an admission should have, as with all things today, been enough to make a heart soar, even manage to turn bitter water into sweet ambrosia. Your lips parted again before he could speak.

“And I understand you feel differently; you’ve never given me reason to believe otherwise and I am not asking for more than what you have to give. I would never do that to you. If I marry the man in there,” you nodded your head in the direction of the courthouse, “it will always be a lie. Maybe I’ll grow to tolerate him but I will never love him. Not like I love you. As I do now, I will spend the rest of my life looking into his eyes, wishing he was you.”

Neuvillette’s hands dropped yours to cup your face of their own accord. Before he could process anything else, he’d tilted your head up and pressed his lips to yours as if he was a man deprived of air. You were warm, despite the weather, and he could make out the familiar scent of your perfume amid the fresh flowers in your hair. He felt you relax, curve yourself into him, hands finding purchase on the soaked lapels of his robes.

He broke away, his face hot as he admired your swollen lips. Mixed in with your slight daze was that inquisitive expression he would never tire of, one you often gave to silently encourage him to continue speaking.

“Then no more wishing, mon amour,” he whispered, brushing away the stray tears pooling at the corners of your eyes. “Marry me.”

“Don’t just—”

“I should not have let it get as far as it has. What good is duty if your heart is elsewhere?”

“And where will we go, my Chief Justice? The people of Fontaine and our Archon might enjoy this scandal a little too much…it would be quite a spectacle.”

“Qiaoying Village is nice this time of year. I have an acquaintance in Liyue I can persuade to be a witness. Beyond that…we’ll let the current decide.”

His words shook something in you as you reached up and tugged at his cravat to pull him into another kiss. Longer than the last, smooth and steady like a morning tide, passion dancing like an undertow.

[0aestheticallycrying]

I was looking a bit more in Furina’s character and

THIS POOR GIRL WHAT

She seems mentally like a teenager who is forced to act like an adult, despite not having that maturity and being forced into this leader position after Egeria died, and was promptly almost immediately abandoned by her old subordinates (Oceanids).

Not to mention her own insecurities run so deep that she constantly has to put on an act for people to like and respect her, but by doing this the people only see her as a jester so the don’t take her seriously at all, even if she wants people too. Her need for validation from her people is digging her even deeper into a hole where she continues to lose seriousness by acting in what she sees is the only way to get people to respect her.

Aside from that, she feels practically isolated from her entire country. Her judge, Neuvillette, is taken very seriously by the people and garners lots of respect, which probably leads to Furina being jealous of him. Neuvillette looks out for Furina, but has little understanding of human emotion which makes it even harder for Furina to actually talk to someone.

On top of that, when she gets attacked and nearly murdered by Arlechinno, she literally can’t tell anyone about it. Her own self doubt and insecurities make her feel isolated and embarrassed that she even was in danger in the first place. She essentially seems to blame herself for it. NOT TO MENTION that there are fatui informants INSIDE Palais Mermonia, watching and recording her every move.

This girl has absolutely no privacy, and is always being watched and despite this, is still so incredibly isolated and lonely.

She is also being accused of being ignorant and useless in leading her country in the dilemma. As of writing this, it does seem that she genuinely has a plan. Imagine being yelled at for not helping your country by the very person who almost murdered you in the middle of the night despite trying your best to help. And this is all not to mention the whole split personality theory.

Overall, I find her character incredibly tragic and misunderstood. For the archon of a region that has a heavy motif of lying, masks, and deception, I find it ironic that most of the Genshin community has taken Furina at face value.

tl;dr: Furina is just a really lonely mentally unstable teenager

[lyss-sketchbox]

I'm so glad to see more people that weren't hyped by natlan, archon quest included, after seeing so many 'this is even better than Fontaine' in the tag. I felt like I was going insane.

Sorry excuse me WHAT

I get that fontaine has its flaws but to say its better than natlan is uh. I need someone to fight me over this because i cannot see it.

Let me use the 'and then' and 'because' rule

Fontaine

Fontaine feels like a more natural progression of the plot and characters as the story goes by. We meet lyney and lynette who shows us fontaine, and then lyney was convicted. We help with lyneys trial because furina wanted to duel us in court and this gives her that chance, because of that we discovered how reckless furina is and uncovered the primordial sea water, because of that navia asked us to continue the investigation, therefore it revealed to us more about the oceanid people, about callas, and about neuvillettes stance on justice. And because of her previous fack up furina prepared better for this 2nd trial which tells us more about her character.

At the end of it all we understand the characters, how they are not what we think they are. We view them differently before and after the acts. The reveal of each clue did not feel like an info dump. We were investigating and we slowly take in these information like an investigation would. It was a slog, but it forced us to be involved, forced us to personally look at these facts because WE are suppossed to be the investigators. So it sticks with us better.

Natlan

Natlan feels more stagnant. We meet Kachina because she was being ditched by her teammates. Because of that, while we cant join her team, she offered to show us natlan much like lyney and lynette in the beginning. And then we meet Mualani and Kinich in the stadium and then they explain to us more about the pilgrimage. And then mualani and kachina went to train for the pilgrimage. And then we watch kachina win and be send off to the Night Kingdom. And then we meet Mualani and Kinich again and be offered to tour their tribes while we wait for kachina to return. Because of that we learn that the tribes often get attacked by abyssal monsters. And then kachina died. Because of that we went to meet with the archon and join the team to rescue her. And then capitano vs mavuika happened. And then she explains that the contending fire is dying therefore she must use her power to keep it alive. And then we failed to make it out of the Night Kingdom but we lived because Mavuika had reserve powers to save us.

There is no change between how i view these characters before and after the act that wants me to speculate if they will change in further acts or not. We stay a tourist throughout Natlan, we stand there and things happen around us and characters around us explain to us what those things mean.

Could lyney and navias trial ended the way it did without us? No. Could kachina's pilgrimage win and subsequent rescue happen without us? Id argue yes. That is infact an issue.

[deeranon]

May or may not be cooking up a theory that Furina doesn’t actually need to eat. She simply choses to take pleasure in tasting food as a way to stop herself from going insane over 500 years.

Furina Theory Below

Note: this is just a personal theory of mine and more so explanations to some questions I had that I turned I to headcanons with a bit of “science” behind them

If you do not agree with what I say, please ignore me and do not start an argument—otherwise you are petty and sad

Speaking on what we know, or I think is correct(I have not confirmed/checked in a while)—adepti/godly entities don’t need to eat. Furina, while technically human by other’s standards, is actually the body of a god. And when Focalors split her divinity from her body, why would that change the body’s biology or needs?

So technically Furina shouldn’t need to eat.

For example, Xiao eats almond tofu because it replicates when he used to eat dreams. But he doesn’t need it to survive. So he eats for taste rather than necessity.

And if non-humans do need sustenance, I doubt they get it from human food. Again, Xiao eating dreams/nightmares(though I doubt he would want to). Or their stomachs are simply different than a human, as they can eat human food. But we don’t really know where the food goes from there. It could evaporate the moment they swallow for all we know.

Additionally, Furina’s body was never even human to begin with. Focalors was an oceanid who merely mimicked humans outward appearances, and not things like intestines—based on the fact that oceanids prayed to the hydro god for children instead of giving birth like humans. So there is no stomach to digest food.

But what about after the prophecy? Surely Furina is human now? I hear you say?

Actually, I doubt it. During the final stage of the prophecy during the great flood, we see Furina completely submerged in water after Neuvillette kame-hame-ha’s the sky and turns Fontainians human. If she were human, I’m pretty sure at that point she would be dying of oxygen deprivation and trying to get above water like everyone else. But she doesn’t, and we know this because we see her exit the building after the water recedes, meaning she did not leave. And I doubt Furina suddenly found an air pocket while sitting unmovingly and depressed on her throne. Or that she found air anywhere else in the completely submerged building.

Then why didn’t she die by the primordial sea water?

Speaking from a theoretical standpoint without emotional interference, I can’t give an answer.

But personally, I have an idea of why:

Furina’s body. Specifically, the lack of power.

When Focalors split into Focalors and Furina, she stripped the body(Furina) of power. And we know the body does store power because the other archon’s hair glows when they use their element. Showing that the bodies they use do contain their magic.

Meaning Furina’s body is left empty, like a shell. So when the primordial sea tries to liquidate her, there is nothing for it to dissolve unlike normal Fontaine humans. Who were not technically actual humans until Neuvillette turned them. Hence, Furina could not die from the sea as a human but also is not a god.

Also, oceanids can breathe underwater—that’s a given because they are water. But we don’t really know about the human-looking oceanids living in Fontaine. I would guess that even in human form they had some sort of breathing system like gills or something for when they touched water.

Possibly Furina’s body can breathe under the water on its own without needing power. But we don’t know because any vision user can breathe underwater and there’s no way to find out. Sadly.

Back to my point about food, Furina forgot about everything but the prophecy when she was split off from Focalors if we are to take her words literally. Meaning any memories about food are null and gone.

Furina would have needed humans to introduce her to the concept of food. When she tries cake or something of the sort for the first time, I am sure she was in for a surprise. Along with every other kind of food.

The memory of the food lingers and Furina grows to like the taste. As time goes on and she starts to struggle, she might try to grasp at things that would bring her comfort if she could not confess to ease her burden. Like sweets. She starts to eat them more and more often the older she becomes. Until she looks human with how many meals she has. And then Furina gets used to eating so often that it sticks with her after retirement. Hence the macaroni.

In conclusion: Furina does not need to eat. Her species status: unknown, really. At least to me.

And that is the end of my theoretical ramble. Thank you. *bows*

[3rosx]

Fic Idea! DNI [?] if you don't like these kind of things: Canon Divergence - No actual relation to the canon plot, just my silly imagination. TW: Obsession, grooming (?), manipulation, this is just a drabble I’m not sure if I have the energy or patience to write this as a fully written out fanfic.

This is something that won’t leave my head, a fanfic where what if Neuvillette is the original Hydro Dragon Sovereign. Since we know from the lore that he’s a reincarnation, and that it was Focalores who brought him to the Court of Fontaine. I just had the urge to make a fanfic where the situation is reversed.

In the scenario that Neuvi is the original dragon, he would be a lot older than 500. But let's say that he's very vengeful against the descenders and Celestia since he lost his powers, but is unable to retaliate and take back his authority from Egeria because of some agreement he has with the Heavenly Principles. I see a lot of plots that are like "The winners get to rewrite history in their favor and the losers are spoils of war" so when Neuvillette (and maybe the other dragons too?) lost his authority, the Heavenly Principles wouldn't be stupid enough to let him live without some assurance that he wouldn't try to take his powers back and rise against them. But that agreement only included ‘Hydro Archon Egeria’ because no one foresaw that Egeria would go against the Heavenly Principles to make the Oceanids into Fontaine Humans. And so, Egeria is out of the picture.

Something happens when the power was passed over to Focalores, causing her to lose her memories. Neuvillette picks her up and ‘helps’ her to recover, when really he was discreetly trying to get his powers back without the heavens knowing. Because Focalores lost her memory and Neuvillette was the one who found her, the scenario where Focalores comes up with the idea to split her body and divinity won’t happen. Neuvillette is the one who names her ‘Furina’ since she can’t remember being ‘Focalores’ in the first place, prefers a new name that can be her own.

She becomes attached, but Neuvillette is only using her as a puppet to rule Fontaine while he is the one who really runs things behind the scenes. In case Neuvillette isn’t successful in taking back his power, he can always keep the Archon dependent on him. Neuvillette is the one who nurtures her, teaches her everything she needs to know, and tells her things like how he’s her most trusted companion and that she shouldn’t trust anyone other than him. Furina, not knowing anything beyond him would obviously never question his judgement and reasoning.

Over time, 500 years is a long time to spend with someone, and somewhere in the middle. Neuvillette starts to realize that it isn’t about the power anymore, he doesn’t know when it started but he started looking forward to the days where he gets to spend time with Furina. The darling goddess he raised to be a careless, spoiled brat so that she wouldn’t have any real interest in the Court. The one who knows his preferences and tries so hard to please him and be good, he has become possessive over her.

[dandelion-wings]

Today's co-op adventures included:

The person who was raising Furina and Neuvillette at the same time, told me proudly that they were the only 5-stars they'd ever rolled for and the only characters they planned to use ever again, and asked me to help them with the Hydro Tulpa and the Millennial Pearl Seahorse. Their Furina (level 50) and Neuvillette (level 60) were, indeed, the only characters they used. XD Fortunately Navia could solo both (with a little help from Hu Tao).

The person who was raising Raiden Shogun and needed help with the Thunder Manifestation, which I happily gave them. They brought Raiden, which was about as helpful as the last player with the Hydro Tulpa, but they also had Jean, so heals were covered! They then asked me to help with a few other things, including a small adventure in the Chasm, and at the end they were like "I have resin for one more boss but I don't know who," and I offered to help them with the Thunder Manifestation again, because their Raiden was level 70 so I was assuming they didn't have all the drops they needed. At which point they said, "But you can only fight bosses once per day?" and I got the joy of filling them in. :> Who knows how long that poor person has been grinding various bosses once per day only....

The person who had Clorinde and Beidou, said "follow me," teleported to the Electro Hypostasis, and rushed into the arena without changing characters. I followed, and despite Navia one-shotting the Hypostasis every time it took three tries to get it down because Navia and Noelle are not the best characters to deal with its prisms. At the end I told them, "hey, just a hint, for the Electro Hypostasis it's best to use other elements" and they went "I know, I just forgot who I had on the team," teleported to the Millennial Pearl Seahorse, and had charged into its arena before I even got there without, again, changing out their characters.... (At least the last boss they wanted to hit was the Oceanid!)