dante-heller · 1 year ago
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Is Mihoyo outing themselves?
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charlotte-official · 10 months ago
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"the time has come for your interview! ready to be a star?" est: 09/18/23
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For all your Teyvat-official account drama and weekly shenanigans, tune in every week for a post written by none other than yours truly on how the week went! Except, it's all recapped, here, on the Steambird!
(Ahem. So in other words, hey, yknow those Genshin official accounts? ex @niloupalata or @cyno-the-adventurer, well, for relatively inactive accounts like wanderer or albedo who don’t know what has happened and want to catch up on posting, I’m your gal! Also for normal people who don’t want to just read all those text posts. Anyway, tune in for summaries, special favorite excerpts of mine, etc. I take suggestions, so feel free to slide into the ask box!)
from which was once an individual person scrambling to update every week (and consistently failing) is now a team(of currently one because charlotte is not a good manager) ready and working hard to present to you: the steambird.
the steambird's team applications here
updates on thursdays - mod has succumbed and given up a attempt to have a sort of schedule—she kinda just posts whenever she wants now send help she is a horrible manager
The original mod would also recommend for the full steambird experience to go on the desktop website, where you can find all the articles. but if that's not possible, you can find everything here. This also includes interviews. Every single issue. in order. Even the latest issue this week!
tags:
steambird specials <- special articles that I will tend to particularly write if there was an INCREDIBLY packed day. Which, I haven't done in a while, but I've got one or two in that section that were pretty good. Consider giving them a read!
the steambird <- your regular weekly updates, brought to you by the steambird mods!
steambird updates <- should the blog undergo any major changes or something like that, it'll be under this tag.
charlotte's loveliest dearest informants <- normal anons sliding into my ask box to deliver info.. I love you all!
charlotte answers <- Charlotte answering any post in character. Though, she won't be answering on any issues.
question for the writer <- Charlotte answers any asks.
exclusive interviews ! <- though relatively unhumorous and mostly crack, (when I feel like it,) Charlotte will interview figures from the article to include! (separate posts)
steambird polls! <- Polls on feedback needed for the Steambird :)
charlotte reblogs! <- mod reblogs things mod thinks deserve attention- whether it's important announcements to be wary of or just pretty art.
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the old pinned post
Once again, you can find all my issues(+interview(s)) HERE!
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also my DMs are broken if you would like to contact me you can either dm @charnverite or my discord, livingcouch.
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cerulapis · 1 year ago
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to-myalphonse · 1 year ago
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"Like a Circus." (Lyney & Steambird!Journalist Reader) Part 2
To anyone named Lianna I am so sorry for your loss in this story/jk
Here's Part One if you haven't seen it yet
I love how the archon quest confirmed a theory I had.
(2/21/24)Next Chapter will be out by next week!
Tag for this series
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Hehe gif is a small reference for something else im wriring for the Fontaine siblings 👀
Nighttime hit Fontaine as businesses began to shut down for the night. Most employees were making their way home, a few people were on the streets hanging out around this time.
“Uhm hello?” Lianna, a Knight from Mondstadt drunkenly walked down the streets of Fontaine alone, bottle in hand. She was here on business and ended up getting drunk at the bar she met her client at. The bar kicked her out for getting too rowdy and dancing on tables.
She mumbles angrily to herself, continuing forward, trying to find an inn to sleep in for the night. The clinking of her heels dragged along the street. She slowly inched her way through the road when the lamps lighting her way suddenly went out, leaving her in darkness.
“Huh?”
She stopped taking in her surroundings. The pitch blackness made it difficult for her to navigate a land that she was unfamiliar with. She went to move again when something strange occurred.
The sound of a music box started to play. Lianna stood confused, trying to get her thoughts together. First, the lights now have some weird music box, if she didn’t know better, she would think this was some stupid prank they played on foreigners.
The music suddenly stopped. Silence and sounds of water from the nearby pier filled the background. Light footsteps walked in her direction, the sound of continuous tapping directly in front of her. She waits with a bated breath for something to happen or the lights to turn on. Seconds turn into minutes as she waits.
A small flame flickers as a Fatuus stood before her with a scythe in hand. That was all Lianna needed before taking the initiative to run away.
She ignored the darkness as she took off running. She ran zig-zag, trying to get the person off her trail. Lianna could hear him right on her tail yelling phrases towards her that she didn’t pay mind to. As she kept turning the corner, she heard the ocean waves growing louder. She pushed forward, going forward down the path, running face first into the waters down below.
Her purser stopped in their tracks, standing close to the edge of the pier. A light flashed into the water directly at her, blinding her momentarily. The Fatui member stares at her, not moving to snatch her up. She is still watching their movements. She waited for him to move before she started swimming towards another pier.
As Lianna exited the ocean, darkness filled her vision.
The Steambird was filled with chatter from the other members. Members ran around trying to collect the newspaper printed.
"Mondstadt woman found dead near the pier nearby."
“A young knight who worked for the Knights of Favonius, came here on business regarding trade between Fontaine and Mondstadt, Officers pronounced her dead around 3 Am this morning.”
"Lianna was apparently found with her neck snapped in an awkward direction. The only evidence the police found of the culprit was some pieces of cat hair around her neck."
"Did you find anything?" Charlotte peeks her head in from around the corner.
"Nothing that we don’t already know." She entered with more documents in hand.
"I heard the streetlights were shut off, probably didn’t want the cameras or possible eyewitnesses seeing them.” Charlotte sat the pile of papers neatly to the side.
"Well, that makes things much harder, doesn't it?" Charlotte lets out a small laugh as she enters the cubicle, papers in hand.
"Boss says, "All of those need to be completed by the end of today." She takes her leave as quickly as she entered your cubicle.
Picking up the documents, you spot the Chief of Justice among your list for interviews. Very helpful, leave it to the court to "have all the answers."
You walk along the streets of Fontaine, sweater in hand. Light music filled the streets as you passed by the shops. Everyone is always working, leaving few people in the streets to leisurely roam during the day. Some restaurants had business lunches, others roaming around quickly to their locations. 
The head of the court, the young god Furina and her right hand, Neuvillette judged the guilty. The building was the largest in the city almost similar to the roles that the people residing in them had to the people of Fontaine.
You shook your head trying to relieve yourself from the negative thoughts. It was just an interview with the Judge, nothing bad was going to happen. Entering the court, you signed yourself in and waited to be called.
"Yes how can I help you?" A melusine sitting at the desk glances up in your direction.
"An Interview with the steambird for Monsieur Neuvillette?" The melusine sighs, before walking off in the direction of his office. You remain by the desk waiting for the Melusine to return.
"He has time for you." The Melusine returned pointing out the direction of his office to you. You knock on the door before entering his office.
The Judge's office consisted of various articles spread throughout the wall, with dates circled. Neuvillette himself, sat at the desk writing away on a document. The hydro archon, sat on a chair talking to him as he works away.
"You should have seen the people that danced on their partners feet." She recounts a story of one of her outings to the Judge who listens silently.
"Next time, I'll take you." She continues talking as he seemingly listens in on her. Seeing you, her expression changes back into the arrogant stature she carries.
"It appears that we have a guest."
Seeing no place to sit, you stand awkwardly next to the door waiting for his permission.
“For the interview, correct?” He responds still focused on his work, not sparing you a single glance.
“Uhm yes. I’m Y/N.” The Judge sets aside a document, looking up to meet your gaze. Lady Furina sat up listening to the conversation.
“Let’s begin, what are your questions for me?”
“Fontaine wants to know, what are you doing about the disappearances of the foreigners as of recent?”
“We are doing our best to investigate the situation, Clorinde has taken over the case, I would advise talking to her.”
You put away the notebook, as quick as you pulled this out. This wasn't even five moments into the conversation.
"I understand, thank you for your time." You thank him and take your leave to go find her office.
“Furina can show you.” The young girl who was leaning against his desk shot up.
“Huh?"
“She’s not doing her work; she has time to take you.” He sighs hearing her argue more. He stands pushing her out of the office alongside you.
“If you’ll excuse me.” He locks his door leaving you with the young God.
“Neuvi!” She whined banging on the door to no avail. It remains shut with her locked out. She stood at the door annoyed before turning to you.
“As your dear archon, I will graciously help you out.” Her expression taking one of a soft smile as she guides you to Clorinde's office.
"I see thank you Miss Clorinde." You exit her office leaving the Palais Memonia. You checkt the list of other credible sources that was on your agenda.
Miss Navia
Melusine Guardes
Guardes
Monsieur Neuvillette
Mademoiselle Clorinde
You sigh crossing them off one by one. You decide to go with your best bet which is the Guardes. The Guardes during the time that Lianna was walking that time of night, some had to have been stationed in that area. Looking over the information that Mademoiselle Clorinde gave, it appears that none of the Guardes that she had stationed that night, heard any strange noises.
You sigh crossing the Guardes off your list momentarily. You sigh making your way to take care of the other things on your agenda.
"And you're sure that was the only evidence that you left by accident?"
"Yes." The white haired female let out a sigh of irratation as her nails drum along the desk she sat at.
"No more mistakes or do you need more training?" She sends a glare towards the three who raised their heads slightly.
"No sir." She sighs and dismisses the three from the room. The door to the House of the Hearth closing as a certain blonde and his siblings exit.
"We were a bit careless." One mumbled as they pass down the streets of Fontaine.
"I thought that you had them honestly."
"It doesn't matter, next time we'll do better."
“Places in 5 minutes!”
The staff and the performers began getting ready for their acts. Other performers were talking amongst themselves backstage.
The twins were preparing for their final performances for the night.
Lyney sat next to his vanity, preparing for his upcoming act, while his younger brother, Freminet, drew sketches for his next project sitting with him.
 Freminet would occasionally assist the siblings with their shows, though mainly he would watch from the crowd. The last show he helped with, was to regulate Lyney so he wouldn’t have another accident.
“Are you helping out with the show again, Frem?”
“What acts are you doing tonight?’’  The youngest looked up from his drawings.
“The usual, tightrope, saw cut, things like that.”
“I don’t think I’ll join this time then.” Lyney frowns, turning to Freminet.
Lyney sighs making the youngest stop his drawing. He puts down the make-up brush, turning to face him. "You know I only do this to get you comfortable with others right?"
"You're always on your own, you barely even talk to Lynette and I, that's not healthy, little brother."
The youngest stops his drawings as he closes the drawing book. He simply nods, not arguing with his older brother.
Their conversation ends short as a staff member peeks his head into the room.
“Lyney, it’s time.” He stands, tying his bow behind his back.
"Will you watch tonight at least?” He sends a glance to Freminet as he puts on his sleeve and gloves.
"I'll be in the audience."
"Then, I'll make sure to put on a hell of a show for you." He ruffles Freminet's hair before leaving the room.
“Wish me luck!” The crowd cheers welcoming Lyney and Lynette to the stage for their performance.
A/N (2/21): Chapter 3 will be out in a few weeks, thank you for your patience.
Taglist: @pochipop @teyvattales @estensity @teyvattales @bluu-m0on @tsukette @estensity @malleuxii(I dunno who wants to be tagged for this series just tell me below.)
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dragaliareferencearchive · 7 months ago
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Model references for Charlotte - Genshin Impact
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baeshijima · 10 months ago
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merry chrysler from the skrunkles :(
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ponuchuu · 1 month ago
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literally charlotte's voiceline abt niko is gonna be how she's so lucky to have gotten that photo of him (that cermented his title as the araignée noire) back at his first heist and how his name has really made the steambird well known as a news publishing company--
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masqueradeoftheguilty · 1 year ago
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im sick and tomorrow,,,, have to wait until saturday to do the furina story quest,,, wailss,,,,
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ladyfocalors · 11 months ago
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How To Confess To The Hydro Archon
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Pairing: Furina x gn!reader
Note: two dense idiots in love, mention of reader being referred to as 'lady' once, ooc, not proofread
Word Count: 3.6k
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It wasn’t a well kept secret that you had a crush on Furina. Everyone and their grandma knew about it, well, everyone except for Furina herself. It was surprising that she didn’t catch the wind of the gossip of you liking her, I mean it was momentarily the main drama in the Court of Fontaine and Furina always knew all the gossip. Or maybe she did know and decided to not speak of it. Maybe she didn’t like you back? Maybe she thought of it as just some rumours and brushed it aside? Or she hated you? Okay, maybe the last one was a bit far-fetched. Anyways, these were at best, just speculations. No concrete evidence if she liked you or not.
You never were the one to flaunt or be that open about your more-than-friendly feelings on Furina but you weren’t in denial of these emotions, instead you have long acknowledged them and accepted it. So, the only thing left now was to tell her and maybe (hopefully) she accepted them. Yeah, shouldn’t be too difficult right?
Wrong!
Every time you tried to build up the courage to tell her, you would back down with the excuse of ‘I am fine with what I have with her now’ which promptly earned a well earned sharp flick on the forehead by Charlotte.
“How can you be so dense? It’s painful to watch you both, just confess and get together already!” She exclaimed, her hands on her hips as she held a very disappointed look. “And when you do get together, do tell me first, okay?”
“Is this one of your schemes for collecting headlines for The Steambird?” you sighed, rubbing your forehead to ease the pain.
“Hey! That’s not- okay, maybe, yes. But I also want you to be happy! It’s stupid to see you mope around like this. I see no reason on why you aren’t confessing,” she admitted. You scoffed at her words. You were absolutely not moping! And there was absolutely a reason to not confess… you suppose (?).
“Well, why would I confess?” You started out, wracking your brain to form an excuse. “When I am about to hit two year anniversary of me having feelings for her. Let me reach my two year-”
Flick!
“Hey, what has my forehead done to offend you today?!” you exclaimed, shielding your forehead from future attacks.
Charlotte crossed her arms and glared at you, her forehead creased. “That is so preposterous! If you continue to spew more nonsense I will not stop flicking your forehead,” she said.
You sighed for the hundredth time. You didn’t see the big issue on why confessing now was very important, you could always wait to do that later. But you suppose coming clean would be better, you could get over with it and no longer have to endure the forehead flicks of Charlotte (and the weight of your feelings).
“Fine.” you said after a long pause. “But I have no idea on how to win over her. She is an Archon!”
“That’s easy. You just have to be yourself,” she replied but the blank look on your face tells her enough on what you were going to say. “Or maybe look through some books. I am sure there is a book on how to woo someone, right?”
You hummed and stood up, “I suppose so.”
“Well, that’s settled,” she clasps her hands together. “I will be leaving now, I have to proofread some articles. Good luck.!
With that she disappears, leaving you to your thoughts in your room. You didn’t need to read more books to know the steps taken to steal someone’s heart, you have already read one and came to the conclusion that it won’t work. How? Because you just knew. I mean, ‘ask your crush out on a date with a bouquet’ was absolutely a lame and boring way to pursue someone. You needed something fit for an Archon. Not some flowers that would wilt within days.
So, with a pen and paper in hand, you decided to write your own guide to win Furina’s heart.
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HOW TO WOO THE HYDRO ARCHON: A GUIDE by me for me :)
1. They say the way to a person’s heart is though their stomach = give her food what a weird saying
This one should be easy. You were already well acquainted with Furina's preferences, but this endeavor was more than just satisfying her tastes. Rather than a simple trip to the bakery for her favorite pastries, you decided for a more personal approach. You decided to make one of her beloved desserts from scratch, a gesture that you were sure would speak volumes about your sentiments, hopefully.
Fortunately for you, you knew how to bake. So, the following morning, on your day off, you dedicated all your time on carefully preparing the cake with the utmost dedication. After hours of work, you perfected everything. Securely packing it, you soon left on your merry way towards the court. Soon enough, you found yourself knocking on the door to Furina’s office.
“Furina?” You slowly peeked in to find the office empty. You silently stepped in, surveying the surroundings to see if she was actually inside or not. After a quick look, you let out a disappointed sigh. You suppose you had to leave her food on the desk now.
Unexpectedly, a voice broke the silence, making you almost jump out of your skin. “Oh, [Y/n]! What a delightful surprise! Oops, did I startle you?”
“Oh, Furina,” you responded nervously, recovering from the sudden scare. “It’s fine. I am fine.”
“That’s good to know,” she smiled but her expression quickly turned into a pout. “Why didn’t you visit me yesterday? Have you been avoiding me?”
“What?” you stammered in surprise. “Of course not! Why would I avoid you?! That is absurd. The only reason I didn’t visit was because you had to attend a trial and I didn’t wish to disturb you.”
Furina hummed, seemingly satisfied with your response. “Well I am glad you are here.” she sighed. “Mademoiselle Crabaletta has been muttering about getting in shape lately, and even said that she wanted to drag me along with her. I'm already eating much healthier than last month. I work very hard to maintain my figure.”
At her words you try to hide the food behind you. As much as you wanted her to eat your handmade delicacies, you didn’t wanted to ruin her diet.
“Hey, you can tell, can't you!?” she asked, noticing your sudden silence.
“Oh, yes, of course I can see that. You look amazing, you always did,” you mumbled out the last part.
You had to admit, you were feeling a bit awkward. Maybe because your current goal was to pursue her and not just have idle fun and chatter. It didn’t feel so casual anymore. For some reason, you were nervous. You had made food for her before but now it felt as if you have messed up something up. You wished this sudden feelings of anxiety would vanish as easily as it had appeared.
“Are you feeling unwell?” Furina inquired suddenly, rising from her seat to place her gloved hand on your forehead, and withdrawing swiftly out of embarrassment at her mistake.
“Oh, no I am quite fine. Thank you for asking,” you muttered, embarrassment enveloping you. In your absent-minded actions you placed the package right in front of her, on her desk.
“Oh, what’s this?” she asked curiously.
“Um, just some cake I made for you but I didn’t know you were on a diet,” you replied bashfully.
“Diet? Hmph, I follow no diet. Besides, there is always room for more desserts,” she declared, snatching away the packet and unpacking it. “My favourite dessert! How wonderful!”
You couldn’t help but smile at her joy of being presented with food. Well, you were glad your gesture seemed to be well-received.
“Oh? What a rich and delicate texture!” she praised. “You should certainly become a baker, your bakery would be very successful.”
You simply laughed at her words, enjoying the praise. She then offered you some as well, under the guise of having too much of food.
“You don’t expect me to eat all of this on my own, do you?” she said, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. “Open wide now, we both will enjoy this cake together.”
“Alright,” you obliged bashfully at her invitation. You just hoped she couldn’t pick up on your flustered demeanor. I mean, eating from the same spoon your crush used and that too getting fed by them would absolutely send someone spiraling.
“See, sharing is caring. Especially something this sweet,” she said with a twinkle in her eyes.
Maybe I should bake for her everyday if this is the outcome, you mused.
It was safe to say that this was…
Mission: SUCCESSFUL!!
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2. Buy her gifts, shower her with compliments. only works if the person likes receiving gifts and praise
This was yet another one of the easy and straightforward tasks, especially considering her birthday was just a week away, which also proved to be a perfect excuse to shower her with love gifts.
Before venturing out to shop in this beautiful and pleasant weather, a prior arrangement needed to be made with Neuvillette to extend an offer for him to join you. Despite his demanding role as the Chief Justice of Fontaine, extending the invitation seemed appropriate, considering your friendly relationship. Neuvillette was also a very close friend of Furina.
"Good morning, Monsieur Neuvillette," you called out to the man engrossed in his thoughts while gazing at the Fountain of Lucine.
"Good morning, Lady [Y/n]," he greeted in return.
“No need for the formalities, Monsieur,” you insisted. “If you are available, would you care to accompany me for some shopping? Furina's birthday is in a week, and I wish to select gifts for her."
After a moment's pause, he agreed, "I suppose I can accompany you. However, is there a particular reason you wish for my company? I hardly consider myself an ideal shopping companion."
Your thoughts paused for a second. How quick of him to doubt your need for his presence, but rightfully so since you did have a motive.
"Well, it appears you've caught me," you admitted. "Furina spends considerable time with you, and I was hoping you could offer insights into her current preferences, helping me choose the perfect gift."
"While I believe you know Lady Furina better than anyone, but I'll do my best to provide you with useful information," he replied.
So serious, you thought.
Soon the sky was high up in the sky and your shopping expedition came to an end. It was a pleasant experience, conversation flowed smoothly between you two. You both decided to bid each other farewell in the place you met, near the Fountain of Lucine.
“[Y/n]!” A sudden interruption caught both your and Neuvillette’s attention. Furina waved from the distance but her excitement dwindled seeing Neuvillette next to you. The man next to you sighed but you didn’t understand what was going on.
“Why are you with him?” she asked you. “Have you been avoiding me?”
“What?! No, I am not. I promise,” you said. “I just went shopping with him.”
Furina's eyes flickered between the two of you, skeptical of your words and it was evident in her expression but she tried to act it off. "Shopping? Together? Without me?" Despite her effort, her tone betrayed a hint of jealousy.
You, still somewhat oblivious to the underlying tension, tried to diffuse the situation. "Furina, it's not what you think. Neuvillette and I were just—"
Furina opened her mouth but Neuvillette sighed, finally expressing his weariness. "Lady Furina, there's no conspiracy here. I'm not interested in pursuing any romantic involvement with [Y/n], and I believe you're misunderstanding the situation."
Furina's expression shifted to a mix of surprise and embarrassment. "Wait, what? Romantic involvement? I didn't mean that! Are you implying I am jealous Neuvillette?! Ugh, I just thought... Never mind." She crossed her arms, suddenly feeling self-conscious when you kept staring at her.
"I simply accompanied [Y/n] as a friend. I have no interest in interfering with your plans," Neuvillette replied coolly.
Furina was utterly embarrassed, tried to play it off and glared at Neuvillette who didn’t seem to care. What was his deal? Was he trying to embarrass her? She frowned at her thoughts.
"Well, it feels like you've been ignoring me all day," Furina remarked, her arms crossed.
“I wasn’t, I promise. I was buying gifts for you,” you explained. In the mention of gifts she faltered a little.
Furina, tried to act miffed yet softened slightly at your words. "Well, I demand you spend some time with me now. You are not mad at me for the misunderstanding, right? Even the best of the best sometimes makes some mistakes."
Neuvillette looked at you both skeptically. It was very clear that you liked each other, so how come both of you were so dense to not even see it. Well, he would never understand you two, it was best he left so he didn’t feel as if he was intruding something.
You on the other hand started to doubt everything, a horrible thought forming in your head.
Mission: On hold! Furina foiled the surprise and looked through the gifts. important note: Furina probably likes Neuvillette because she was jealous of me spending time with him earlier (T_T)
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3. Help her with her work or chores. Show her you are reliable and helpful. Stop stressing out and just confess.
Was this even worth it? She probably didn’t even like you back. She was an Archon, a divine being with barely any flaws and you were just a mere mortal— another admirer among many. Yes, you may have been special among normal people because you were also a friend to her but it would never be more than that. You should have been satisfied with what you already had with her.
It was more believable that she liked Neuvillette and not you. It would explain why Neuvillette was throwing glances at her that day and Furina was upset.
“You are overthinking again,” Charlotte said from the other side of the room. She has been swarmed by work and managed to squeeze out some time today to spend it with you. Right in time to catch you wallowing.
“I am not overthinking,” you grumbled. “I am being perfectly reasonable here. My observations make perfect sense.”
“You seriously have an issue of being very dense,” she mumbled sipping her tea slowly and looking through your ‘How to Woo the Hydro Archon: A Guide’. “Both you and Lady Furina are the same. She may be our Archon but she is an idiot, both of you are.”
“Okay, I get it I am an idiot,” you groaned, sinking in to the cushions.
“Well, all the best. Don’t forget to tell me how everything goes by,” she said placing the cup away and picking up her kamera.
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The next morning you woke up with a pounding headache and a sore throat. You got up from the bed with a lot of difficulty and washed your face. All these were clear signs of sickness but you ignored it. The day after tomorrow was Furina’s birthday and you couldn’t afford to be in bed and be sick. You should go help her so she has a free day tomorrow.
Ignoring your fatigue, you go on your way to see Furina. You had perfectly crafted your words, and have rehearsed it many times to not falter in front of her.
You stood in front of the door to her office, staring at the design and trying to calm your beating heart. You were hesitant to knock.
Maybe I should come another day, possibly after her birthday. Yeah, that would be far better than today. The timing isn’t right eith—
“Why aren't you coming in?” Furina asked as she swung open the door, causing you to jump and stumble back a little. What is with her and scaring me lately?
“Good Morning, Furina!” you fumbled and hastily entered her office.
“Good Morning,” she replied.
Something was odd. She was usually very lively and talkative. She was being awfully quiet and reserved. Did she have a breakdown?
Only one way to find out.
“Are you okay?” you asked her softly. You knew of her breakdowns, you had accidentally walked in on her crying before. She didn’t exactly tell you why she was crying and you didn’t pry either.
“Of course, I am fine. I am bored. Mademoiselle Crabaletta refused to have a tea party with me today, she is still muttering about getting in shape. Hmph, I am already in perfect shape,” she complained.
You could sense she was lying — her elevated voice and avoidance of eye contact gave it away. However, you paid it no mind.
“Are you alright? You look very pale. Did you even sleep?” Furina asked.
“Uh, yeah. I am fine, just- yeah. I came here to tell you something,” you mumbled.
Furina looked at you with interest. You felt very small under her gaze and you wished the ground would swallow you whole.
Well, there is no going back now.
The pounding in your head increase as you squeezed your eyes shut and stammered out your confession. “I like you! I think you are very pretty! I mean, you are pretty. I like you more than a friend- not, not like a friend! I have had a crush on you for some time now! You don’t have to like me back, although I would like it if you did! You have pretty eyes!”
You breathed heavily after the confession, your vision swimming and your head feeling heavy. You went off script, all your rehearsal was useless and you messed it up.
Silence.
Furina remained silence and dread consumes you. Silence only meant one thing and you wanted to just disappear from existence, from that room. Maybe travel back to time and stop yourself from doing this. You should’ve waited.
My head hurts, you stumbled, your eyes watery, but you didn't know if it was because of Furina's silence or your increasing fatigue. Before you knew it, you had closed your eyes.
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Am I dead?
That was the first question that popped into your head when you woke up sweating and with a cloth on your head. The room was covered in darkness due to the drawn curtains but you could tell it was still daytime.
Looks like I am still alive.
You got up from your bed, removing the sheets. You slowly walked into your living to find Furina.
On your couch.
Reading something.
Death sounds wonderful right about now, you thought as the realization dawned on you. She was reading that dumb guide you made, which didn’t even work.
“Uh- Furina!” You stammered. “What are you reading? You don’t have to read that?!”
You tried to snatch it away but she was quicker.
“A guide to woo the Hydro Archon? I am truly blessed you think of me so highly,” she laughed, folding the paper and keeping it away from you. “You should certainly write a book and publish it.”
“Hey, don’t tease me!” you crossed your arms and sat down on the couch with a grumble.
An awkward silence followed. Well, you felt awkward, you didn’t know what she felt.
“It’s atrocious,” Furina began, taking your hand and placing the folded page on your palm. "It's ridiculously foolish of you to assume I like Neuvillette when you're right next to me."
“I- so you like me? Like, actually?” you asked.
“Are you questioning my judgement? You think the God of Justice would lie to you?” she responded, sitting next to you.
“No, she wouldn’t. But,” you paused, a small smile playing on your lips. “I would trust her judgement better if she made her feelings clear. Maybe with a kiss?”
“Stop teasing me!” she suddenly yelped, jumping away from you.
“I am sorry, I am sorry,” you laughed at her red face. “I don’t know what came over me to say that. Probably the sickness, but I meant every word-.”
“Shut up, you should be in bed!” she exclaimed, cutting you off. Her face resembled a tomato and you enjoyed it. You weren’t outrightly a flirtatious person so this behaviour was definitely fueled by your sickness but it also didn’t mean that you were lying about wanting to kiss her.
You were in a delirious state? …maybe.
“I don’t think I will be quiet until you make me. I should’ve known you were jealous of Neuvillette spending time with me, not the other way around. That is honestly- mmph!!”
Your words are cut off and muffled as Furina’s lips were placed on yours. Frozen in shock, you stood there for a few seconds, with your heartbeat thundering in your ears. You could probably pass out by the amount of blood that rushes to your face, making you feel hot.
Furina thought you looked adorable, but she couldn’t tolerate you calling her out as someone easily jealous. No, she needs to protect her reputation by shutting you up (she is making excuses, she just wanted to kiss you). So she kisses you. She finds this method to be quite effective and maybe she would use it more in the future.
Breaking the kiss, she was met with your dazed expression. You stood there for a few seconds, making her worried at your lack of response.
“That was my first kiss!” you gasped, breaking out of your trance.
“You weren’t shutting up! You were teasing me!” Furina retorted.
“Then I will keep talking if it means you will kiss me.” you laugh.
“[Y/n]!”
You laughed at her expression, happy and a lot better already. Maybe you could use excuses like kisses being cure to sickness. Yeah, you definitely could.
Mission: Successful!! I won at life!
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©️ ladyfocalors
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xx-justsomeguy-xx · 1 year ago
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Sure wish I could place why I find reporter types sooo annoying in games =.= Like I know sometimes they’re justified and coming from a good place but I can never stand them ever
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xinxiaogato · 11 months ago
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— you're dating who!?
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summary. no one believes that you’re dating the esteemed duke of the fortress of meropide. that man is only ever seen locking lips with the orifice of a teacup. however, all of that changes when you and your alleged “boyfriend” are invited to a coworker’s dinner party.
love interest. gn!reader x wriothesley.
warnings. unedited, cursing, bullying, attempted homewrecking, mentions of blood, murder, and assault (nothing crazy), slight angst, lack of communication, a bit suggestive (mentions of light bdsm).
word count. 2,187
note. happy late birthday to wriothesley! this shortfic was inspired by a scene from spy x family (iykyk). you are referred to as “reader” by the way!
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while loading up your plate with chips and french fontainian onion dip, you could sense the smugness of your colleagues from all the way across the dining room.
“i mean, we all saw this coming, didn’t we?” one of them piped up with a snarky laugh.
another obnoxiously chortled in return. “i won't forget the day reader told us who could have possibly given them those flowers.”
“right!? and i’m lady furina!”
that joke rocked their worlds to the point that one person started choking on their garlic baguette. your eyes flitted over to your friend, pauline, who was shaking with rage beside you and on the verge of strangling someone.
“why i oughta give them a piece of my mind!” caterwauled pauline, but you perched a hand on her shoulder so that she wouldn’t go ballistic—even if it was on your behalf.
“can’t really blame them,” you conceded. “if you told me you were in a relationship with the iudex of fontaine, i would need a minute.”
“are you saying it’s impossible?”
“i’m saying it’s highly unlikely.”
“hmph! a girl can dream.” pauline haughtily raised her nose into the air and crossed her arms with indignation, which tugged your lips into a small smile. you knew she had your best interests in mind. since day dot, your coworkers were constantly unleashing a tirade of vitriol against you. “anyway, where’s your boyfriend? did he get caught up with something?”
“probably,” you ascertained, taking a sip of red wine. you looked for a seat to settle at; you couldn’t let your chips go cold. “he warned me that he might not make it in time for the party. a new batch of inmates was processed for registration today, and allegedly, they’re unruly.”
her eyes widened after connecting the dots. “are they related to the famous case of the missing paintings? they finally caught the culprits!?”
you raised an eyebrow. “you didn’t know? it’s all over the steambird.”
as you and pauline were sitting down, the hostess of the party, anaïs, and her entourage strode over with purpose. one of anaïs’s minions was the first to start yapping, “well, if it isn’t reader, the person dating the wolf!”
“more like the person who cried wolf!” followed anaïs, which made the group howl like hyenas.
rolling your eyes at their sneers, you replied, “where is your husband, anaïs? don’t tell me he’s at the office ‘working overtime’ with his assistant again.”
all of anaïs’s friends practically broke their necks to look at her.
“h-how did you know about that…!?” anaïs spluttered, her cheeks flared red. “that’s… that’s my personal affairs you’re airing to everyone!”
a follower of anaïs cupped a hand to her ear and hissed, “don’t you remember? reader is friends with charlotte, a journalist for the steambird. she’s notorious for her intel gathering so that she can compete with others for the juiciest scoops!”
“hey, hey, does charlotte know anything about monsieur neuvillette’s type?” pauline whispered to which you were about to answer—only for anaïs to grab your glass of wine.
“you think you’re so high and mighty all the time…!” anaïs said in a shrill voice, tears pricking the corners of her eyes. “at least i don’t pretend i’m the bitch of the lord of the fortress of meropide to get attention!”
“i think it would be better for you to channel your energy into divorcing that shitty excuse of a husband,” you corrected her, unfazed by the fact she was threateningly holding the drink above your head. “it’s not your fault that he’s a scumbag, so don’t stick around to see if he’ll change.”
something in anaïs seemed to falter at your words, but it was only for a moment. resentment got the best of her, and in the blink of an eye, red liquid was splashed onto your chest and dripping down your top, making bystanders gasp at the scene before them.
it kind of looked like you just got murdered.
“what is wrong with you!?” pauline furiously yelled after jumping up to shield you, who was still reeling from what happened. “how old are you to be acting like an immature brat!?”
as pauline and one of anaïs’s flunkies began to pull at each other’s hair, a different one pointed a finger into your face while cackling. “ha, serves you right! that outfit must have been dirt cheap anyway, so it couldn’t have been a total loss!”
“oh, you wouldn’t want your shoes ruined, right?” a second cooed, snatching them right off your feet and looking for the nearest window to chuck them out of. “don’t worry, i’ll dry them off for you!”
you got up to take them right back, but anaïs blocked your path, eyes narrowed into slits. “just admit it, reader,” she snarled. “you’re nothing but an attention-seeking whore for the fortress of meropide’s administrator, a goody two-shoes for our boss, and a laughing stock for all of fontaine. you’re nothing!”
“monsieur wriothesley!” a voice resounded from down the hallway, causing everyone in the dining room to freeze. “we’re so honored to have you join us! did lady anaïs invite you?”
before you knew it, a strong arm wrapped around your shoulders from behind to give you a tight squeeze, and a pair of lips kissed the top of your head.
“so sorry i’m late, my love,” a deep voice purred by your ear. “my hands were tied…”
his voice trailed off. wriothesley, whose sudden appearance had dropped every partygoer’s jaw, noticed that your top felt weirdly damp. when he craned his neck to investigate, his heart dropped to the bottom of his stomach. 
he immediately questioned if it was your blood or not.
“reader!” your boyfriend shouted, turning you around and holding you by the shoulders. a fear he had only felt as a teenager flooded rapidly into his system, and it was taking everything in him to not explode. “what happened to you? are you hurt!?”
you were still stunned in the aftermath, but you quickly collected yourself and placed your hands atop his. “no, no, i’m fine, wrio. i’m not hurt. it’s just red wine.”
“red… red wine?”
recovering from his initial shock, wriothesley twisted around, his jacket fluttering swiftly in tandem. his eyes took in the sight of an awestruck anaïs holding something behind her back and a petrified person clutching onto a pair of shoes (which explained why your dogs were out).
in a calm tone more terrifying than him speaking out of anger, wriothesley said to the hostess, “i apologize for souring the mood. however…” quickly, he engulfed your body with his jacket and swept you off your feet, hitching the air in your throat as he held you close to his chest. “my partner is not feeling well, so we’ll be taking our leave. we humbly thank you for the invitation.”
“b-but you just got here!” anaïs fretted.
her first mistake was revealing the wine glass she was desperately trying to hide earlier. in wriothesley’s realm, we call this a foul.
“reader was just a little tipsy and spilled a drink on themselves!” she crooned, tilting her head up at the duke and innocently batting her eyelashes. “why don’t you stay and become acquainted with your partner’s coworkers?”
her second foul: coveting a man in a relationship.
“i mean, they can’t be unwell to the point of needing to go home!”
her third: messing with reader. and three fouls meant a disqualification.
“heavens, no,” wriothesley insisted. “my partner’s health is my main priority, and time is of the essence. besides, the longer i remain, the less time i have to file a detailed report on an assault and battery that took place here.”
it became so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
“a…assault…?” even through the makeup caked on anaïs’s face, you could see the color drain from it entirely. “what… what assault…!? no assault happened here, your grace!” when his frown spoke volumes, she cried out, “y-you don’t have any proof!”
“oh, i would suggest otherwise. and i believe there are many eyewitnesses to testify.”
you peered around at the guests who had gathered to view the spectacle, and they were nodding in support of wriothesley’s claim, including pauline. even anaïs’s goons were vehemently bobbing their heads up and down, still in disbelief that the man, the myth, the legend himself had graced them with his presence.
“now if you’ll excuse me…” with you firmly in his grasp, wriothesley approached the woman still clinging to your footwear, who immediately began to quiver. “i would like for you to return my partner’s shoes,” he ordered with a look as cold as ice.
“o-of course!” she stammered, extending the shoes toward him. “it was all in good fun, your grace!”
“oh, those aren’t mine,” he said with a cock of his head at your bare toes. “like i said, those belong to my partner.”
finally picking up what was he putting down, the lady shakily slipped your shoes back on your feet for which you glanced up at wriothesley with furrowed eyebrows. he only reacted with a smile that thawed the rigid expression on his face.
“i-i can’t possibly rot in jail!” anaïs was still making a fuss nearby. “i’m so young and beautiful! can’t you look past this, monsieur wriothesley…!? i’ll do anything!”
“well, it’s not something you’ll go to prison for, ma’am,” he said, not even sparing anaïs a glance as he headed for the front door, “but this misdemeanor will forever stain your official records and reputation… just as you stained my partner’s clothes.” (mic drop.)
and that was that. with a quick kiss on both cheeks from pauline, you exited the dead-quiet house in your boyfriend’s arms.
“wrio…” you murmured as he started walking in the direction of your home. “i’m really sorry for inconveniencing you.”
wriothesley momentarily stopped in his tracks to gaze down at you, his lips pursed before sighing. “no… don’t apologize, my love. i’m sorry for not arriving sooner.”
“but that isn’t your fault,” you pointed out.
a chuckle resonated from deep within his chest. “touché.”
however, his lightheartedness faded out with that chuckle when his hands gripped onto you tighter, as if you were about to dissolve into water at any moment.
“what happened, reader?” he croaked, displaying a side of him reserved for your eyes alone. “how long have they been treating you like this? and for you to not even give them a taste of the boxing skills i taught you for these kinds of situations…”
you clutched his jacket tighter to your body. “you already have so much on your plate. i could not dare to tell you something that may weigh on your conscience.”
“please,” he whispered. “i want you to weigh on my conscience.”
after a moment’s worth of hesitation, you finally gave in, explaining that the fresh bouquet of rainbow roses he sent to your office one morning sent your colleagues into a frenzy that turned your life into a nightmare. as you spoke, wriothesley’s expression became grimmer and grimmer. he couldn’t even fathom how much of a shitshow your company was for permitting the kind of behavior he merely glimpsed this evening.
and he couldn't bear the thought that you had been suffering alone for months.
“they didn’t believe me for a second, even when i had pictures of you and me framed on my desk. ‘oh, those must have been edited’.”
realizing wriothesley's muscles were so taut, you attempted to alleviate the atmosphere. “i guess no one can accept an ordinary office worker dating the administrator of the fortress of meropide. like, picture the tianquan of the liyue qixing with an npc.”
in any other situation, your boyfriend would be laughing, but certainly not this one. “no one can determine our relationship,” wriothesley stated with a clear veracity. “you are the light in my bleak world, reader, and nothing is allowed to take you away from me. if so, i will travel to the ends of teyvat to bring you back.”
he then grinned, showing off his cute canines. “and you bet i'll put my handcuffs to use.”
you slapped a hand to your forehead. “way to ruin the mood. i was just about to kiss you.”
in response, he grinded his knuckles into the top of your head, which made you yodel out in pain. “what was that for!?” you exclaimed.
“for not kissing me, but more importantly: for keeping a secret from me,” he clarified, his pale gray eyes twinkling under the moonlight. “no more of that, okay?”
you warmly smiled up at him and rested your head against his broad shoulder, completely wiped out from the party-turned-fiasco. “okay.”
as the two of you reached your abode, a question popped up in your mind. “were you serious about the handcuff thing?”
he smirked. “yes, and you’ll find out just how serious i am after we take a shower together. you reek of wine.”
a pink blush dusted your cheeks. “what? together!?”
“together. you and me.”
“ahhh! put me down!”
“nope. not a chance.”
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© xinxiaogato. please do not translate my work without permission or attempt to plagiarize it.
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dante-heller · 1 year ago
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Why do you need a sword if 75% of your attacks are with your claws and tails?
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charlotte-official · 5 months ago
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it’s pride month charlotte you know what that means
H-huh..? What..? Do you want me to write.. gay articles or something…?
Actually, that doesn’t sound like a bad idea..
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itadorey · 3 months ago
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𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓'𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐂𝐎𝐎𝐏? — wriothesley
pairing: wriothesley x reader summary: after months of pestering, wriothesley finally gives in to charlotte's request for an interview, only to be surprised when you arrive at the fortress of meropide in her stead. genre: fluff, strangers to romance, kinda love at first sight, slightly awkward interactions notes: inspired by that line where charlotte says it's impossible to get an interview with the duke, i think wriothesley is def ooc but i also think he would be a decent flirt idk he has those vibes like he can definitely tease wc: ~4.2k
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a shiver runs down your spine as the elevator you're on descends deeper underground, and you waste no time in exiting when you finally come to a stop and the doors open.
you carefully step out into the large hall, intuitively following the path as the elevator doors close behind you. the air feels even colder now that you're actually in the fortress of meropide, and you do your best to ignore the curious glances sent your way as you finally approach the front desk.
"hello! can i help you?" the receptionist, monglane, asks with a friendly smile. you take a moment to answer, too busy studying your surroundings as you lean forwards against the desk.
"um, yeah," you begin to say, pausing to shake your head lightly and give her a smile in return. "i'm with the steambird. i'm here to see the duke."
the receptionist's smile tightens considerably, and you manage to catch a glimpse of the mildly annoyed glint in her eye as she turns to shuffle some papers. "i'm afraid the duke doesn't have time for interviews today. you can always try requesting an appointment some other time."
"oh no!" you say hurriedly, waving your hands in an attempt to catch her attention. "i actually do have an appointment."
the skepticism in monglane's eyes is as clear as day, and you find yourself shrinking back when she studies you closely.
"so," she begins, hands dropping the papers she had previously been holding. "if i were to go get the duke and ask him if he has an appointment with the steambird today, he'd say yes?"
"yes," you respond confidently, tilting your head up slightly in a silent challenge. monglane sighs at your words, her lips parting to say something before someone else interjects.
"are you the reporter from the steambird?"
both you and monglane turn to face the newcomer, and the first thing you notice is how shockingly blue his eyes seem to be. you shift in place as his eyes trail over your form, studying him in return and barely registering the half-hearted smile he sends you before turning and giving monglane a nod. she nods once in return before giving you an apologetic smile, holding out her hand to press a visitor's pass into your palm.
"i am," you finally say, standing awkwardly as the man continues to stare at you. there's a slight clearing of the throat from monglane, and the soft noise seems to snap the man out of whatever thought he'd been lost in.
"you're not charlotte," is all he says, curiosity tinging his words as he motions for you to follow after him. you give monglane one last wave before trailing after him, reaching for the pen in your pocket as you introduce yourself. he repeats your name quietly, and you find your cheeks growing warm when you notice the look he sends you as he does so. "that's a pretty name. i'm wriothesley."
"it's an honor to finally meet you. charlotte sends her apologies," you say, choosing to dismiss his comment in an attempt to remain professional. you're scared a flirty remark might leave your lips otherwise. "she's recently fallen ill and asked me to go through with the interview for her. she walked me through all the acceptable topic and she also sends her thanks. she's aware that you're a busy man and both her and i want you to know that we're incredibly thankful you finally gave us the opportunity interviewing you."
"i thought it was about time," he says in return, shooting you a teasing grin as he leads you out of the tunnel. he sighs to himself as he wonders if you're deliberately ignoring his compliment, or only doing it to preserve your professionalism. the way you flush at his smile suggests that it's the latter. you remain silent as you finally step into what seems to be the center of the fortress of meropide, pausing in slight shock as your eyes take in the large structures around you.
the large tower in the center immediately catches your attention, and you let yourself turn in a slow circle, your eyes tracing the upper levels and taking note of the tunnels that seem to lead in and out of the central hub. you straighten up when you finally notice wriothesley standing in front of a door, his arms crossed as he watches you with an amused smile.
"may i take some pictures?" you ask sheepishly, tucking your pen back into your pocket before grabbing your kamera. you gesture vaguely to the room around you, unintentionally doing another turn and drawing out a soft chuckle from wriothesley. "i'm sure some pictures would only help people realize that the fortress of meropide is quite different from what they expect it to be."
"sure, knock yourself out," wriothesley says, nodding as he leans against the door behind him. you give him a smile in return before snapping a few pictures, doing your best to imitate charlotte's style of photography and capture images you think she might like. by the time you finish, wriothesley's eyes are still on you, and you find yourself unable to do anything but give him a sheepish smile.
"don't worry, i made sure that you're not in any of the images," you say quickly, nodding firmly as he gives you an unreadable look. "i know that was one of the interview requests."
"i don't mind," wriothesley blurts out before he can stop himself. he does his best to refrain from slapping his palm to his forehead as you give him a pleasantly surprised look, and he hopes that you don't notice the way he inhales sharply as you give him an excited smile. "i mean, as long as it doesn't end up on the front page."
"well then, may i?" you ask, fumbling with the kamera when he nods. you step forwards to position him in front of the door, making sure there's enough light to get a good picture. you're quick with your work, and before you know it, you have a picture of wriothesley standing in front of heavy metal doors, his arms crossed and the hint of a smirk on his face as he looks at the kamera.
it's a good picture, and you can't help but notice how handsome he looks in it. you're half tempted to disregard his words and put him on the front page anyways.
"shall we continue?" wriothesley asks, snapping you out of your thoughts. you nod softly, following after him as he finally pushes the door open and immediately being engulfed in cool air. you thank him when he holds the door open for you, stepping into a smaller room and waiting for him as he shut the door behind him.
there's a brief silence as the two of you stare at each other, and you're suddenly very aware of the fact that you're alone with the (incredibly handsome) duke of the fortress of meropide.
"shall we continue?" you repeat softly, causing wriothesley to clear his throat and nod before going up the stairs. you follow after him, holding on tightly to the railing. the staircase lead to another room, and you take note of the bookshelves lining the wall behind a large desk, which seems to be covered in scattered papers. you avert your gaze as wriothesley darts forwards to gather them all up, placing them neatly into a drawer before gesturing towards the sofa.
"we can take a seat over there," he says calmly, taking note of the respectful way you avoided looking at his documents. he follows after you as you make your way towards the couch, settling into the comfortable cushions before bringing your pen and notepad out. a shiver makes its way down your spine as you make yourself comfortable, and you find yourself absentmindedly wondering if the entire fortress is as cold as wriothesley's office.
"are you cold?"
you let out a distracted hum, turning to face wriothesley as he looks down at you with a soft frown. a slight shake of your head is all you give when you finally process his question, only to receive a disbelieving look in return.
"it's okay," you reassure him, flipping your notepad open to the questions charlotte had prepped in advance. "nothing i can't handle."
"i can make us some tea, if you'd like?" he asks, reaching for the teapot sitting on the coffee table in front of you.
"oh no!" you protest, shaking your head as you reach forward in an attempt to stop him. your hand closes around his forearm, and wriothesley finds himself frozen in his spot as you smile up at him. "i wouldn't want to be a bother."
"i assure you it would be no bother," wriothesley says in an attempt to reassure you. he reaches forward with his free hand, picking up the teapot as you let him go with a quiet apology. "if anything, it would make sense to chat over a cup of tea, would it not?"
"well, if you insist," you respond softly. a comfortable silence ensues as as he busies himself with preparing the tea, his movements smooth and almost graceful as he feels your gaze on him the entire time. you're half-mesmerized, watching him as he prepares everything and ends up with a pot of steaming, perfectly brewed tea.
he almost stops in his tracks when he turns around and immediately meets your gaze, the sparkle in your eyes almost causing him to lose both his confidence and his grip on the tea tray. he hurries towards the couch to avoid any potential embarrassment, smoothly pouring out two cups of tea before settling into the couch.
you flinch slightly when he half-accidentally, half-purposely lets his thigh press up against yours.
"let's get started?" you ask after taking a sip of your drink. you take the opportunity to scoot a bit away from wriothesley, trying to maintain your composure as you set the teacup down and reach for your pen and notebook. you flip through the pages until you reach charlotte's neatly written inquiries, and you inwardly cringe at the thought of marring the page with your slightly messier scrawl.
you angle yourself in wriothesley's direction, raising an eyebrow in silent question when you don't receive a response. he nods his head hastily when he realizes he's been silently staring at you, and he puts his cup down next to yours before making himself comfortable. your mouth goes dry as he sinks back into the couch, and you avert your eyes when he casually throws one arm across the back of the couch.
"so," you begin, clearing your throat before leaning back against the armrest. "to start us off: what do you think makes the fortress of meropide different when compared to other prisons?"
there's a moment of silence as wriothesley ponders your question, and he tilts his head to side as he tries to come up with a good response.
"to begin with, i think people tend to forget that prisons aren't just made for criminals to serve out their punishments," wriothesley says slowly. you nod along to his words, glancing up at him every so often as you try to jot down everything he says. "people are sent here to serve out their sentences, yes, but this place also serves as a type of... rehabilitation, if you will. as you could probably tell, there has been a community established over the years. people do what they can to contribute and earn credit coupons and it's become a place where they can feel like they finally belong."
you hum in acknowledgment as you scribble down his response, the scratching of your pen filling the silence between the two of you. wriothesley takes the opportunity to observe you more closely, taking in the way your hair shines in the dim lighting and the way your eyebrows furrow in concentration. he fails to avert his gaze when you finally look up, too distracted by the way you fiddle with the notebook pages to realize you're asking him another question.
"pardon?" he spits out, tilting his head towards you slightly. "can you repeat the question?"
the corners of your lips twitch in amusement, and you simply nod before taking another glance down at your notes. "a lot of people credit the success of the fortress of meropide to you. would you agree with them?"
wriothesley nods absentmindedly, freezing slightly when he realizes his response can come off as a little cocky. you try your hardest to keep yourself from giggling at his actions, simply choosing to wait and see what else he has to add.
"i mean, i wouldn't take full credit," wriothesley finally says, nodding to himself in approval. "i can admit that the place wasn't the best when i first arrived, and after i got to the position i'm in now, i thought i owed it to myself and the others to help that sense of community grow. a lot of folks here aren't as bad as they seem, and i think that if they really want to atone for their crimes, who am i to make their life more difficult? besides, it's always helpful to have people like sigewinne around. they always do the most to keep the place running smoothly."
"that's very admirable," you comment, shooting him a quick smile. there's a pause in your words as you take another drink from your teacup, and wriothesley is quick to copy you, his knee bumping against yours as he leans forwards for his cup. the two of you freeze for a split second, and wriothesley feels his heart speed up just the slightest bit when you don't move away from him. a smile threatens to spread across his lips.
"why did you choose to stay down here and take on the role of warden instead of heading back up to the surface?" you ask once the two of you have emptied your cups. wriothesley freezes at your question, and you give him a confused look before you take another glance at the notebook only to freeze as well.
there, scribbled in the margin next to the question, is d.n.a.
d.n.a. do. not. ask.
you feel yourself flush with embarrassment as you scramble to apologize, half formed words leaving your mouth as you try to avoid looking at wriothesley. you curse yourself for not paying close enough attention, worry flooding your veins as you think about how charlotte might react to your interview fumble.
"i am so sorry. please forgive me, i didn't notice charlotte's note saying not to ask that. we can move on to the next question or we can even end the interview here if you'd like," you manage to say in one breath. there's a noticeable tremor in your hands as you neatly gather all your notes and shove them into the notebook, not even waiting for wriothesley's response before acting. you only stop when his hand wraps around yours, halting your movements and drawing your attention back to him.
there's a tense silence as you wait for him to speak, and you find yourself wondering if his eyes are more blue or silver. it should be easier to determine considering how close the two of you are, but the dim lighting make it harder for you to decide. you fail to notice the way his gaze briefly drops down to your lips.
"it's fine, i'll answer the question," wriothesley finally says. you're brought out of your thoughts when you hear him speak, and your eyes widen in surprised as he leans back and makes himself comfortable again.
"are you sure?" you ask softly, letting out a soft sigh when he raises an eyebrow. "i just mean that you don't have to if you don't want to."
"i'm sure," is all he says. he gives you a reassuring nod when you don't make a move to reach for your notebook, and you gingerly remove your hand from his when you realize you've been still for too long. you try to channel your professional persona once more, but the embarrassment from earlier still has you faltering slightly as you uncap your pen.
"alright, go ahead."
"as i said earlier, things weren't always the best down here," wriothesley begins, immediately capturing your attention when you notice his softer tone. "having credit coupons is incredibly important if you want to survive, and although sometimes people don't always recognize it, having connections is equally as important."
there's a brief pause as he waits for you to scribble down his words, and you nod firmly when you catch up, eager to hear what else he has to say.
"you also tend to get used to life down here," he adds, his gaze now focused on the teapot in front of him. "a lot of people don't want to return to the surface because their afraid of being judged for their actions. down here, it's as if they got some kind of new start. it becomes a sort of save haven for them, and they might even get to live a life they can say they're satisfied with.
"i had a rough experience when i was still serving out my sentence and thought i could change things for the better. as i said earlier, who am i to make their lives more difficult if they're willing to put work in. these people just wanted somewhere to lead well-ordered lives, and i gave them the 'tranquility' they required," wriothesley reiterates. "by the time my sentence was up, the position of warden had mysteriously opened up and i thought i could do a pretty good job at cleaning up and running the place. i've been able to fix most of the things that were wrong here when i was still an inmate and i haven't had many complaints yet."
"you haven't," you agree, nodding softly before giving him a smirk. "even neuvillette has been known to sing your praises from time to time."
wriothesley barks out a laugh, earning an amused huff from you as you continue to write. he watches you for a while before softly speaking up once more.
"why did you choose to work for the steambird?" he finally asks, interest lacing his tone as he leans forwards. you blink at him once, twice, before bashfully shaking your head, aiming your gaze back down to the notebook to finish writing your thoughts down.
"im afraid my story is nowhere near as interesting as yours," you murmur, glancing up when wriothesley huffs out a laugh.
"i'm sure that's not true," he replies easily, a smile tugging at his lips. "regardless, i'd still love to hear about it."
"maybe after we're done with charlotte's questions," you say noncommittally. the rest of the interview goes smoothly, your earlier blunder forgotten as your confidence returns. there's a lot of soft smiles and banter exchanged between the two of you, and you find yourself wondering why wriothesley always refuses interviews when it's clear that he's great at giving them.
you don't even entertain the notion that the only reason he's so willing to speak is because you're the one asking the questions.
"well, that's it," you finally say, scribbling a few more comments before carefully shutting the notebook. you look towards the other end of the room, catching sight of the large grandfather clock and doing a double take when you notice the time.
"i believe i'm still owed an answer to my earlier question."
you turn to see wriothesley giving you a playful look, and you huff out a laugh before standing.
"i'm sorry but i hadn't realized it had gotten so late," you say quietly, eyebrows furrowing as you give him an apologetic look. "i'd love to stay but i have another interview in an hour and i was hoping to ask sigewinne a few things as well before leaving the fortress."
"that's quite alright," wriothesley states as he stands up, motioning for you to follow him. "i suppose we'll just have to reconvene at a later date. come, i'll show you to the infirmary."
you can't help but smile at his words before trailing after him, following him down the staircase and out the heavy metal doors as you reemerge into the central hub.
"if you really want those answers, perhaps you'll consider scheduling another interview with me and charlotte," you propose airily when you're in the elevator, noticing the amused glance wriothesley shoots you out of the corner of your eye. "i'll answer your questions if you're willing to answer more of ours."
a chuckles leaves wriothesley's lips as he leads you out onto the upper level of the fortress, heading towards the right and passing one of the pipe tunnels. "is that so?"
you hum in agreement to his question, following him up a set of steel steps that lead into the next pipe tunnel. you steal a glance at him when he slows down to walk besides you, raising an eyebrow when lets out a breath.
"how about we talk over a cup of tea?" he asks, eyeing you briefly before continuing. "but just you and i? perhaps i can show you my favorite cafe in the city?"
the two of you come to a stop in front of the entrance to the infirmary, and you see sigewinne wave at the both of you before tidying up the table in front of her.
"i think that sounds marvelous," you chirp, unable to fight the grin spreading across your face.
"great," he says, unable to keep from staring at you.
"great," you parrot, feeling your cheeks heat up under his gaze.
"it's a date," he states, smiling when your eyes widen in slight surprise. he wastes no time before turning away from you, facing the head nurse who has been pretending not to hear your conversation. "sigewinne, i trust you'll help our guest with whatever they need? i'll take my leave now if there's nothing else you need."
you nod at his words, cheeks still feeling abnormally warm as you walk past him and enter the infirmary. your hand comes up to squeeze his arm in passing, and now it's wriothesley who finds himself with a faint blush tinting his cheeks. "thank you for your hospitality, wriothesley. it was a pleasure getting to interview you."
"trust me, the pleasure was all mine."
sigewinne resists the urge to turn around and give wriothesley a knowing look.
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"so? how did it go? did you manage to get on his good side?" charlotte asks, her eyes sparkling with excitement even as she lays under a large pile of blankets. you barely have one foot in the door before she begins to interrogate you, and you laugh lightly as you approach her bed.
"i think so," you murmur in response, reaching out to feel her forehead and humming in delight when you notice her skin feels cooler to the touch. "your fever has broken."
"yay!" she giggles, wiggling underneath the blankets as she takes the glass of water you offer her. there's a moment of silence as she drinks, and you take the time to organize her notebook and neatly place your rewritten notes within the pages. you're so engrossed in your actions that you almost miss charlotte's next question. "but what do you mean by 'i think so'?"
"you tell me," you answer slyly, holding out the leather notebook. charlotte takes it from you eagerly, skimming through the pages and reading your notes. her jaw drops when she sees which questions had been answered, and she wastes no time before fixing you with a bewildered stare.
"he answered one of the questions on the 'do not ask' list?" she nearly shrieks, kicking her feet underneath her blanket in excitement. "i would've added a few more questions if i knew he'd be so willing to share!"
"i'm sure he wouldn't mind being asked a few more questions if they aren't too personal or invasive," you respond breezily, trying to make your next words seem casual. "maybe i could take some time and ask him the next time we meet for tea."
you easily take the glass from charlotte's bedside table, moving over to the carafe you had left on her dresser and refilling the cup. when you turn back around, you're met with an expression of exaggerated shock.
"what!" she hisses, hands tightening considerably around the notebook. you fight back a smile when she flings it to the side, motioning you towards her and waving away the glass of water. "what does that mean?"
"i may or may not have a date with wriothesley sometimes next week," you admit, smiling bashfully before turning and rummaging through your bag. "oh! before i forget, here's your kamera. i wanna get your opinion on the pictures i took."
"forget the pictures!" she exclaims, tossing the kamera onto the pillow next to her. "you have a date?"
"yes, a date," you confirm nodding and breaking out into giggles at the same time as charlotte. the two of you gasp for air as you finally settle down, and you find charlotte giving you an impish look. when you raise an eyebrow in question, she simply dissolves into giggles once more.
"a date! wow, who knew i was such a great matchmaker!"
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ty for reading!! reblogs are appreciated <3
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dragaliareferencearchive · 1 year ago
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Model references for
Charlotte - Genshin Impact
*As of 31 Dec 2023 her references have been replaced with a watermarked version
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genshin-impact-updates · 7 months ago
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Happy Birthday, Charlotte!
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"Oh, look who it is — Charlotte, the famous reporter from The Steambird! Paimon can't believe she's still out chasing the news, even on her birthday... She's so dedicated to her work!"
"Hey, Paimon and the Traveler! What are you doing here?"
"She's clearly in a hurry, and holding a huge pile of newspapers too... Could she be about to publish some kind of big scoop!?"
"Ah, I see! *Ahem* I'm Charlotte, a reporter from The Steambird. We've invited a mystery guest to take part in this month's baking special. What kind of delectable treats will she be cooking up for our readers? Stay tuned~"
"Alright then! I'll just finish delivering these samples, then let's go get some birthday cake together!"
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