#jolenewrites

“Mhm.” Diluc replied. He'd been a little dry during the conversation, but you knew it wasn't his strong suit. He was more of a listener, and a good one, at that.

“Hey, you should turn it into a drink.” Your lips curled into something almost mischievous. You knew that Diluc wasn't a big fan of alcohol, so to suggest that he make a new drink as if he weren't already trying to get people to drink less.

You weren't surprised by the way his crimson eyes flickered up at you with something that wasn't either more irritation than it was slight amusement. “Funny,” He responded, clipped but without heat. His way of humoring you.

“Maybe I should put a sign that says ‘come all, get drunk until you can't tell between your left foot and your right.’” The man stated, wryly. a small, imperceptible twitch of his lips when he heard you laugh at his facetious response.

“Good idea, you're so smart.” You quip with an affectionate smile. That smile, the way you aim it at him so generously. It reminds him why he looks forward to your visits and a small part of him feels like the Angel's share has become just a bit more bearable. Just a bit.

KAEYA.

You were one of the knights of favonius, a wall guard that would switch with Swan every couple hours. You found standing at the entrance of Mondstadt to be a bit boring but it was your duty and duty calls.

The sigh you let out was what could be considered as long-suffering, not because of the fact that you'd been standing at the entry to the city of Mondstadt for what felt like 3 hours, which meant your legs were becoming a little bit tired.

That wasn't what was exhausting. It was that familiar sound.

The sound of boots against stone, gravel and dirt. The sound of boots you could recognize in a stampede of other boots. You were working, even if it was as mundane as standing in the same position. Then you heard it, the amused hum of your higher-up.

“working hard, or hardly working?” Kaeya taunted, harmlessly. He leaned against the inner part of the stone entry, just on the right side where you were positioned.

“Don't.” You warn. “working hard, which you should also be doing, captain.” You rebuke, without any real heat. It was almost banter. You re-adjust your sword, you refuse to look over at him. You're on the clock, you can't laugh at the moment. You'll cave if you glance.

“Unfortunately, I can't.” Kaeya sighed, mindlessly flipping a coin into the air. His single blue eye focused on it, with a lazy intent that only people like him have. “What's a cavalry captain, without his cavalry?” He complained.

“You're the captain, use your improv skills.” You suggested, with a small twitch of your lips as you resist looking over to him. “I heard Klee has been getting better at her arts and crafts, maybe she can draw you one.” You can't resist mocking him, not even during work hours.

The captain cannot contain his huff of laughter at your snark, the way you crack whenever you see him. “I should thank Varka when he returns.” He murmured, finally pocketing the golden coin of mora.

“why's that?” You murmur, curiously.

“Because if he hadn't taken the horses, I'd be on some expedition instead of here with you.” that. that causes you to finally break your focus and look over at him. His lips curl, handsomely. “There you are.” He says, warmly.

KAZUHA.

You were one of the members of Beidou's crew. One of her closest friends, just as you were deeply bonded with the wandering samurai that she'd picked up like a stray. Well, he was your stray now.

You didn't make any sudden movements. The sun had vanished beyond the horizon about 3 hours ago, most of the crew were sound tucked in their quarters. You'd be as well if it wasn't for the fact that a certain boyfriend of yours won't stop harmonizing with his leaf, right outside your shared quarters.

“You're not very good at stealth.” Kazuha murmured, not glancing back. He didn't have to, not to know that it was you admiring him from a few feet away. But still, he decided to glance back. Eyes the color of fall leaves, soft and soothing.

“Did I wake you?” His voice was soft, like the plushness of a pillow or the slight breeze on a night too hot. Kazuha sat on the edge of the idle ship, blonde ponytail swaying with the sea breeze. “No,” You reassured, sleepy. “Never went to sleep.”

You approached the edge and leaned just next to him. His presence was soft, comforting. Almost nostalgic on a serene night like this one. Moments like these that you felt were the best. “Why are you still up?” You ask, glancing at him. Admiring the billow of his hair.

“I could ask you a similar question.” Kazuha replied, glancing over at you in return. He offers a soft smile and brushes a stray lock of hair with his finger. Comforting your tired soul in a way that only he could.

“I can't sleep.” You admitted, eyes fluttering close at the softness of his finger. “partly because of your leaf whistling, but I couldn't sleep beforehand either..” You reassured him.

his smile softened, perceptibly.. “Ah, trouble sleeping. I've had my fair share of lying awake.” He empathized. He remembers those days, up at night. His mind circled his friend and the incident with the shogun. He's learned to make peace with it, now.

“Think you could poem me to sleep?” You partly joke, although curious on if it would work. Your hand finds its way into his bandaged one, carefully. “please?”

“I have many to spare, especially for you.” His gaze leaves you, focusing on the roundness of the moon hauling the midnight skies. “Close your eyes, let me soothe you.”

You work as one of the kamisato clan's servants. You were, preferably one of Ayaka's own. She often gave you breaks if you were working too hard. During breaks, you'd seek out a certain dog-enthusiast.

“Is this where you spend all your time?” You call out to Thoma, as you arrive at the Komore Teahouse. The smile you give him is immediately returned when Thoma notices you.

“There you are, I knew m'lady wouldn't keep you.” Thoma smiled, one hand wielding a tri-color dango stick while the other held one of Taroumaru's fluffy paws. “Come over, let me get you a dango.” He offered.

“Sounds good, slacker.” You tease, harmlessly. You find yourself standing next to Thoma as he plays with Taroumaru. You found his adoration for the retired ninja pup to be cute, as if your own adoration for Thoma wasn't enough.

“Lady Kamisato gave me the rest of the day off, are you busy?” You added as he offered you a dango stick. an assortment of sticky pastel colors. You sink your teeth into the biggest one on the wooden stick. “I was thinking we could have a picnic..”

“A picnic sounds great, I'll check in with m'lady to see if she needs anything from me beforehand.” He agreed, trailed by a soft bark from the shiba next to him. “Although, I've already done the floors plenty of times.”

“I'm sure the floors are spotless, Mr. Housekeeper.” You teased, nudging him gently. However, if he did go off to check and see if Ayaka needed anything then you wouldn't stop him. Ayaka was a sweet thing, compared to her elder brother. “Go ahead, I'll prepare while you're gone.” You reassured him.

“Just meet me around Hanamizaka District and we'll continue from there!” You smiled. You did enjoy it when Ayaka was kind enough to let you spend time with Thoma.

"am I interrupting, Monsieur?" You politely ask, standing before the grand judge's desk.

"Not at all." He assured. Neuvillette is a kind soul. Even if you were by chance interrupting him, He'd never admit it so bluntly. It doesn't help that the judge has displayed a particular affection for you. "What do you need?" He asked, kindly.

"Well, I.." You hesitate. The chief of justice has always been booked to the neck up. If it wasn't a meeting with the hydro archon, then it was one with a troubled denizen, a trial and 2 more after that. He was the linchpin of Fontaine.

Which made the complaint lodged in your throat all that much more tight against your heart. But Neuvillette encouraged honesty, he was a judge after all.

"Go on." Neuvillette encouraged. The soft curiosity in his eyes was accompanied by a small expectation. He wanted to hear you, valued your opinion, even more so. "I'm listening."

Your heart softens at his gentle compliance to listen to you. He always did. If anyone could help you, it was him. "I've been.. getting targeted by some.. less than friendly denizens." You stutter out, avoiding eye contact with the judge.

"Targeted?" He repeated.

"Yes." You confirm, shifting on your feet.

"Could you describe said targeting?" He rose from his chair, the leather creaking as it was released of the man's weight. That didn't help your anxiety.

You took a step back, hugging the papers to your chest tighter like it would make this moment any less intense for you, as if avoiding eye contact wasn't enough. "A-Actually.. forget I said anything." You tried to recoil your words.

"It's dumb." You dismissed. "I don't want to burden you with it." you sigh.

Neuvillette doesn't seem to like that answer. If something is bothering you, he expects and even wants to hear what it is. Especially if it involves targeting.

The heels of his boots dig into the rug as he appraoched you. You don't look up until the papers in your grip are carefully pulled from your grasp and thrown onto the desk with all the others. "Tell me what's troubling you." He repeats, no less kinder than before. He's too patient with you.

it forms a lump in your throat, your chest aches and the heart hidden within it is making no attempt to beat any less fast. "I.. Monsieur.." You stuttered. He waits still.

"It's.. a lot." You decide to open, a hard but necessary choice. "Mean stares, denial to service me at stores, muttered insults.. I don't get it, what am I doing wrong?" You break before him.

You feel his gloved hand cup the back of your head and it hurts, how kind he is. you didn't ask for this position, he offered it. not everyone was trusted enough to service the chief himself and now you were suffering from the jealousy that it circulated.

Neuvillette doesn't respond, not yet. Nothing he'll say will make you feel better. You just need to know that he's genuine with you and he knows that. He pulls you into a warm embrace, his arms find their way around your smaller body and he rests his head atop yours.

He lets you grieve into him, and the way you melt against him only assures this was the right thing to do. He listens to the soft sniffles, and feels the way you attempt to hug back.

"I'm doing my best, Neuvi." You murmured into his robes, eyes fluttering close when you feel his hand petting your hair. "I know." He sighs. "You are doing your best, and it is a more than adequate job."

You pull your head back to look up at him, the devastated glaze in your eye serves as a squeeze to his heart and all of a sudden, the skies aren't so clear outside. His hands find your cheeks, cupping them with a reverence of fragility.

"Thank you for coming to me with this." Neuvillette expresses his deepest gratitude. Not just because you spoke up, but because you trust him enough to tell him when you're being hurt. His thumb smoothes over your cheek. "I'll handle the rest."

That makes you feel a little better.