Chapter Text
It's a snowy morning as White can just barely make out the rising sun behind the torrent of snow crashing against the window of his new room. His new quaint, and very empty, room. When he had been shown the room by the Tsaritsa he was told that if he desired a larger room all he had to do was ask but he'd prefer keeping it as is.
The room came solely with some basic furniture and nothing else. He was told that his clothing would be made soon enough so currently he's left in the clothing the Frost Moon Scions gave him, the fabric was long and completely wrapped around his legs providing coverage for his whole body but not enough to combat the cold of Snezhnaya.
Rising from his bed White stares at the unlit fireplace with annoyance as it would have been helpful, had he been provided something to light it with.
Having already looked around his room and been given a tour of the fatui base White is left with free time as he waits for the Tsaritsa to call him for a mission. A valuable thing considering he needs to find something to light the fire place, or new clothing to keep him warmer.
Stepping away from his bed he goes to open the door only to spot a piece of paper on the floor. Leaning down White takes it off the ground.
It's a small card with what seems to be gold paint along the edges to make the card seem elegant. The words on the card read, 'You, White The Squire, are cordially invited to a tea party hosted by Iseul Kim, the Manikin. Please arrive at my quarters in the Western hall of the living area at 8:30 am if you would like to join.
P.S Even if you don't come, welcome to the Fatui I hope your time with us will be enjoyable or at least comfortable!'
White stares at the card assessing what it's purpose is. The only time he was told to go anywhere with the Frost Moon Scions was when they needed his powers or status, so White comes to the conclusion this is his first mission. Though White is unsure as to why a harbinger planned it out or why they asked and didn't tell him to go it's none of his concern how they choose to operate.
Already aware there is no way to track time in his room White exits hoping to find out from somewhere else, and hopefully find a heat source along the way.
Shutting the door behind himself White is left feeling thankful that he can walk without touching the ground as the hallways are much colder then his room was and he would rather not feel just how cold the floor has become.
Thinking back to the tour he was given White can't recall seeing any type of clock across the building. Leaving him with no option but to either seek out someone and ask them or to just go to the stated location and hope he's on time.
Coming to a quick solution White starts towards the western hall hoping to run into someone along the way.
It would seem it's early enough in the day that most people are asleep and the few who are awake are not wandering around like White because he fails to spot anybody on his walk to the western hall. So without anybody to stop him he finds himself in front of the Manikin's room.
Pushing the door open White is met with a much more decorated room and a gasp of surprise followed by sounds of choking that soon go away. Stepping into the room White takes note of all the mechanical decorations and devices around the room and the fact only one person is sitting at the table surrounded by six chairs.
The person who he recognizes as the Manikin from his introduction to the Fatui yesterday stares at him for a moment clearly surprised before shaking his head and standing up.
Seeing the man's outfit for the first time not being concealed by the giant coat White has yet to get he can only describe it as foreign as he has never seen an outfit like it before. Browns, oranges, and yellows litter the outfit but he has no clue as to what style of outfit this is.
"W-Welcome! Here take a seat!" Standing from his seat at the head of the table The Manikin pulls out the chair next to him. White instead goes to the chair nearest to him leading him to sit on the opposite side of the table from The Manikin.
The Manikin frowns for a moment before pushing the chair back in and asking, "Before we get to talking, what do you want to drink?"
It's an odd question to White, during his time with the Frost Moon Scions he could make any food for himself when he had the time and energy, but while there were a variety of things to make and eat, the only thing he ever drank was water.
"Water?" It's said more like a question. In return he gets a questioning stare.
"I meant like coffee or tea?" He points towards a long line of boxes filled with different things. White looks across the boxes and his confusion is clear as The Manikin asks, "Have you only ever drank water?"
Thinking back on it White can recall a few very rare times there was some leftover milk after he finished baking that he would drink, "I've also had milk."
The Manikin's face is stuck in a look of confusion before once again being swept away with a shake of his head before he asks, "What flavor do you prefer?"
The sweets White got to make on a rare occasion were his most enjoyable moments while with the Scions, these memories prompt him to answer, "Sweet."
Nodding The Manikin stands still for a moment with his arms crossed and eyes closed but soon turns around and announces, "Ok I'll make you a mocha, that might be to your taste."
The sounds of machinery working fill the room as The Manikin makes the mocha as he said he would, though the conversation does not meet an end as he continues it, "I honestly thought no one would show up, again. Glad you did, especially since this was held mostly for you."
Being reminded of the empty seats White asks, "Where are the other harbingers."
A sigh escapes the Manikin as he pours a black liquid into a cup, "They don't come, guess they just aren't interested, by now they stopped making up excuses and just don't respond."
White watches him put spoonfuls of a brown thing and what he can recognize as sugar as he furrows his brow in confusion and asks, "Why wouldn't they come?"
The Manikin shrugs as he stirs in what might be milk and says, "Probably don't consider it worth their time, I can't offer much so they don't have a reason to talk to me."
"Why would that matter? Isn't this a mission meeting?"
The room is silent for a moment as The Manikin raises an eyebrow and answers, "No?" He pauses for a moment and then adds, "Whenever we have a new mission a messenger directly tells us, the Tsaritsa doesn't use invitations." As he finishes he places the mug he'd been holding now full of a brown liquid, presumably mocha, in front of White.
"Oh." The confusion goes away as White looks into his mug and announces, "Then perhaps I should go, I have something to find and if this isn't a mission then I have no reason to be here."
The Manikin's face once again falls into something sadder but this time it stays, "Ah, that's fair... Uh if you don't mind me asking what are you looking for?"
"A lighter for the fireplace," looking to the side White sees the fireplace of The Manikin's room being lit and asks, "Where did you get one?"
The Manikin doesn't say anything and instead walks towards the fireplace. Once close to it he pushes against the top of it and the fireplace turns off. The two stare, The Manikin looking at White and White looking at where The Manikin pressed on the fireplace. After a few moments The Manikin explains, "Uh yeah the fireplaces in here are activated by a button, did the Tsaritsa not tell you?"
"No." White now stands and joins The Manikin next to the fireplace and presses the same button, and the fireplace is once again set ablaze. White does this a few more times half intrigued by it half annoyed he didn't have to spend the night so cold.
"Damn, must have sucked having to deal with your first night in Snezhnaya without any heating." The Manikin sympathizes.
Still staring at the fire place White says, "Well, now I no longer have anything I need to do, so I suppose I can stay."
The Manikin perks up as an excited smile spreads ok his face, "Really?"
White watches slightly endeared by the smile as he says, "Mhm."
The Manikin curls his hand into a fist but stops suddenly and just says, "That's great! Here take your seat."
Following what was asked of him White returns to the seat he previously sat at, this time lifting the mug that had been set in front of him. The Manikin takes his own seat and watches expectantly.
Taking a sip from the mug White is pleasantly surprised by the sweet taste the spreads across his tongue and the warmth the liquid gives. The Manikin smiles at his reaction, "Was I right, do you like it?" White nods as he puts the mug down with it already being half empty. The Manikin folds his arms across his chest and explains, "I got a lot of good stuff for what I make, some expensive cocoa powder from Fontaine, supposedly the hydro archon supports that company specifically, and I used this invention that allows me to cool the drink faster so it's ready to drink instantly!"
White nods along and turns his eyes to the table to look at the many different, what he assumes are, foods across the table. The Manikin grabs at some of the food on one of the plates near him picking up one of the foods White can't recognize. As he takes a bite from it he sweeps a hand across the table, "Go ahead eat anything you want."
White looks across the table and then to The Manikin before asking, "Is it safe for me to eat?" From The Manikin's confused expression White explains, "If I recall correctly you are a robot, wouldn't you require things different from most people? I may be a god but I can only consume human food."
The Manikin pauses for a moment before bursting into laughter. White is mesmerized as he watches him put the food down as he curls into himself a bit as he laugh. It's a pleasant laugh and a cute smile to go along with it, White can't recall seeing anything like it.
Within a minute The Manikin stops laughing and explains, "Yeah you're right I am a robot, but I eat normal human food, not oil or whatever. Honestly haven't had a laugh like that in a while, do you really think I'd prepare a meal for humans with food you can't eat and then offer it?"
White only shrugs and responds, "I don't know you well."
"True, guess we can use this time to do exactly that." The Manikin sits taller excitedly as he closes his eyes for a moment before asking, "Got any hobbies?"
"What is that?"
"A hobby is something you do for fun when you have free time." The Manikin answers.
White very often had free time with the Scions but rarely had anything to do in that time. Most of his time was spent walking around, though that was done out of a lack of any other things to do seeing as he was never provided anything unless it was a nessesity. Though, even if he didn't often get to cook or bake it was the most enjoyable thing he did in his time.
"Does cooking and baking count as a hobby?"
"Yeah definitely! Oh if you bake in your free time I'm sure the stuff I've made won't be what you're used to." With a nervous chuckle The Manikin looks across the table at the food he laid out.
Now curious about the taste White reaches out and grabs the food closest to him. It's two pieces of bread with cream sandwiched between them, not finding a reason to be suspicious of the food he takes a bit out of it. The texture of the cream and the flaky bread are pleasant but his enjoyment is offset by the overwhelming sweetness of the dish.
His thoughts on the dish are interrupted as The Manikin asks, "So what do you think?"
"It's too sweet," White critiques without hesitation.
The Manikin clicks his tongue and responds, "Damnit, guess I gotta give that another try."
"What is this?"
Turning his attention back to White The Manikin answers, "Oh, that's a Blubber Profilterole, it comes from Fontaine, found a recipe for it from an abandoned adventurer camp. I thought it lacked flavour so I tried adding more sugar, guess that backfired huh?"
"I'd say use less, but beyond that it's good. The texture is very nice." The conversation pauses for a moment as White finishes his response and reaches for another dish.
As he lifts the plate towards himself The Manikin calls out, "Oh that's a Coffee Bavarois, another Fontaniane dish. It's less sweet considering the coffee kinda balances it out, but I can guarantee I made it right! It's really simple and common!"
Nodding along to his explanation White takes a bite out of the dish. As The Manikin said Min can't find a particular issue with the dish, it's just not to his taste.
He doesn't have to voice this opinion as The Manikin says, "Not your thing?"
White nods and puts the plate back, as he does so The Manikin looks across the table and picks out a plate before nudging it towards White, "This is taiyaki, got some once during a mission in Inazuma and thought it'd be pretty nice to make for a tea party. Though I guess this isn't really what you'd expect from a tea party huh? I've heard it's a street food not really something you make for a get together like this." The Manikin trails off seemingly lost in thought.
In that moment White takes a bite out of the fish like pastry finding it to be pleasant though not anything extraordinary, before The Manikin can ask White gives his opinion, "There's too little filling, it tastes nice but it can be better."
The Manikin chuckles and states, "That seems to be the same thing for anything I make huh?"
Seeing no reason to respond to that statement White looks through the dishes once more and his eyes land on a plate of something with a similar structure to the Blubber Profilterole but severely deformed. Pointing at them White asks, "What are these?"
Looking to the dish The Manikin breaths in through clenched teeth before letting out a nervous chuckle and answering, "Thooossee are macarons, uh they're pretty hard to make so they didn't come out looking, or tasting, very good. Probably should have just tossed em."
"Why didn't you?" White asks, The Manikin's reaction to the question is a lot more nervous then he had expected from something seemingly simple.
Scratching the back of his neck The Manikin answers, "I, uh, didn't think anyone was gonna show up, honestly. So I just left em out cause no one would be here to care, right? Though of course you did show up."
White's head tilts in a show of confusion as he asks, "Why did you think no one would come?"
"Well, firstly usually the other harbingers don't come, as I said before. Secondly, I didn't think you would show up because, well, you were an hour late." The Manikin chuckles, though White can't tell if it's a nervous habit or he found the situation to be comedic.
"Sorry, I hadn't been aware of this party until I had woken up, next time I will make sure to wake up earlier." White apologizes as he remembers the drink he was given and lifts it to take a sip.
The Manikin waves his hand and hurriedly tries to push aside White's apology, "No worries, seriously, I should have sent the invitation earlier, I mean of course yo-", the Manikin suddenly pauses seeming lost in though for a moment before asking, "Did you say next time?"
"Mhm." White responds nonchalantly as he quickly drinks down the entirety of his drink, he found the taste to be better when paired with some of the snacks provided. Though the drink already tasted better then any he'd had before so that wouldn't be a struggle.
The Manikin leans forwards clearly excited as he adds, "Does that mean you want to come to another tea party?"
Placing the mug onto the table White answers, "If I have the free time yes."
The robot goes quite for a moment and when White looks at him he's amazed at the amount of emotion expressed on what he knows is a being that shouldn't be capable of emotion. The way his eyes widen and the smile on his face seems more vibrant, his eyes even seem brighter, somehow.
Sitting properly again The Manikin excitedly rambles, "That's great! I'll make sure to set up a tea party soon! Just tell me when your first mission is and I'll plan around it! Next time I'll be sure to try even harder on the snacks, and I'll get some new options for you to drink. Would you be open to trying some tea next time?"
White only nods as he listens to the man across from him go on about what he would do for the next tea party. The continued mention of parties brings to mind something he would see from time to time. Amongst the Frost Moon Scions whenever they held a some form of celebration everyone would bring food, he can still remember sitting on the pedestal in front of his statue watching all the people place measly scraps as offerings while handing fresh meals between each other.
As the memory fades White asks, "Do you want me to bring a dish?"
Snapped out of his rambling The Manikin nods even more excitedly and replies, "Yeah that would be nice! With cooking being your hobby I'm sure it'll taste good, honestly it'd be a
honor to have you bring something!"
White nods and takes another look across the snacks on the table, he takes another Blubber Profilterole. As he chews on the pastry a ringing sound goes off in the room. White looks around curious while The Manikin simply lifts a hand to his head. Suddenly something appears in front of The Manikin, a transparent thing that White has never seen before.
The Manikin touches the thing for a few moments before sighing and tapping it one last time before it disappears, "Sorry, I gotta go, I have to head out for a mission in twenty minutes. I really wish we could keep talking, but duty calls." He seems dejected but suddenly perks up as he rises from his seat and goes to his bedside table. He rifles through the drawers for a moment before retrieving two objects and moving towards White.
Standing next to where White is still seated The Manikin holds out two objects, a pocket watch and some kinda of packet. White readily takes the pocket watch presented to him but stares at the packet warily. Noticing his stare The Manikin explains, "It's a heat pack, just squeeze it and it'll let out some heat. I remember how cold it was when I first arrived, took a while to adjust so I thought this would help! But, if I also remember correctly, the rooms don't come with clocks so this watch would also be helpful."
With the explanation in mind White also accepts the heat pack and holds onto it.
After seeing White accepts the heat pack The Manikin moves to the door and says, "Anyways, can't wait till next time! See you soon I hope!" Holding the door open The Manikin gives him yet another cute smile. Without any question White stands up and leaves the room.
As the door closes White can still see The Manikin smiling, though this time it's more to himself then it is towards White. Even still it's the same as all his other smiles in appearance.
Looking down at the heat pack in his hand White follows the instructions given by The Manikin and squeezes it. As he said it would the pack makes White feel warmer and makes the cold more bearable.