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SETTING: NEUVILLETTE's private quarters, specifically her dressing room. It is neatly organized: the closet, if opened, would reveal that it is sparsely populated, with barely any personal effects scattered around the room itself.
[Iudex NEUVILLETTE herself stands before the mirror. She does not seem to be considering her appearance so much as she is lost in thought, hands clasped loosely around her cane.
The door is promptly flung open, and NEUVILLETTE turns away from the mirror with a barely-held in sigh.]
THE HYDRO ARCHON: Neuvillette! I do hope you're ready for the ball.
[Lady FURINA, THE HYDRO ARCHON, strides in through the door, shutting it with a quick gesture behind her. When her eyes land on NEUVILLETTE, her brow creases for a moment before smoothing over once more.]
NEUVILLETTE: (dryly) Lady Furina. I believe it is considered customary to knock?
THE HYDRO ARCHON: And since when have you known me to be anything so boring as customary?
NEUVILLETTE: At the very least, I recall you mentioning it is considered polite in human society to inform others of your presence ahead of time and not simply... ah, what was it, "scare someone half to death by showing up unannounced out of nowhere."
[FURINA rolls her eyes, and the smile drops from her face as she begins to circle the room. NEUVILLETTE simply watches, making no move to stop her as she picks up a hairbrush and holds it up to the light.]
FURINA: It's hardly human society at the moment, now is it. (whirls around, brandishing the hairbrush at NEUVILLETTE) What, are you trying to hide something from me?
NEUVILLETTE: (unimpressed) No. Is there a reason you've come this early? It is not yet time for us to make our entrance.
[FURINA looks her up and down, scrutinizing, then scoffs and puts the hairbrush down.]
FURINA: (muttered) Not that there's much to hide. (out loud) Are you seriously wearing that?
[NEUVILLETTE looks down at her rather ornate judicial robes, then back up at Furina.]
NEUVILLETTE: I would hope so, considering there is no time for me to change into anything else.
FURINA: You're hopeless.
NEUVILLETTE: It's a formal event. This is formal attire, is it not?
FURINA: We do have tailors, you know—the best in all of Fontaine, dare I say Teyvat. Next time we'll get something more appropriate made for you, the chief justice can't be caught dead wearing her plain old uniform during such a special occasion. It's a ball, for heaven's sake.
NEUVILLETTE: I am not something to be gawked at.
[At this, FURINA throws her head back and laughs, loud and a little too hard considering what caused it.]
NEUVILLETTE: (vastly unimpressed) And what, pray tell, does my lady find so humorous?
FURINA: (wiping a tear away) Did someone step on your foot today?
[NEUVILLETTE gives her a flat look.]
FURINA: In case you haven't realized, madame, everyone will already be gawking at you. Has already been gawking at you, if you haven't been too caught up in your head to notice. You might as well give them something nice to look at. Consider myself, for example.
[FURINA gestures at her own rather gaudy outfit: it's adorned in countless tiny sparkling stones meant to catch the lights as she moves, drawing eyes, creating a spectacle.]
NEUVILLETTE: That may very well suit you and your... love of the spotlight. I suppose you don't find all of this to be tiresome nor unnecessarily extravagant—
[NEUVILLETTE looks as if she has more to say, yet she holds her tongue. FURINA cocks her head, a careful smile etched on her face as she turns to face NEUVILLETTE.]
FURINA: Why, Neuvillette, I'd say it almost sounds like you were questioning your Archon's judgment.
NEUVILLETTE: Of course, I would do no such thing.
FURINA: Of course you wouldn't.
[FURINA glances aside at the audience, with a look that seems to say "can you believe what I have to deal with?" She turns back to NEUVILLETTE, one of her greater conundrums, then lets out a heavy sigh.]
FURINA: Let me do something about your hair, at least.
[NEUVILLETTE blinks.]
NEUVILLETTE: My... hair.
FURINA: Not that we have time for anything more complicated, but something more than just... (waves her hand in a way that suggests disdain) that, should suffice.
[NEUVILLETTE visibly weighs the energy it will take to interact with people during the ball later versus the energy it will take to dissuade FURINA when she's set her mind to something.
NEUVILLETTE sighs.]
NEUVILLETTE: Very well.
[FURINA beams at her, then beckons her over to a chair set in front of the dresser.]
FURINA: Come, sit!
[NEUVILLETTE takes a seat, laying her cane across her lap. The smaller mirror above the dresser reflects her impassive face. FURINA comes up behind her, carefully undoing and removing the ribbon that's barely keeping NEUVILLETTE's hair contained then doing the same with the few pins and setting them aside. Then, she buries her fingers in the strands and begins to comb them out.
Unbidden, NEUVILLETTE's shoulders seem to untense.]
FURINA: Now, regarding your new outfit—
NEUVILLETTE: Is there to be another event so soon after this one?
FURINA: It's better to prepare ahead of time, isn't it? That way, you can make all the boring modifications you'd like to whatever I'd so graciously recommend.
[She pauses, waiting. NEUVILLETTE blinks as if startled awake, having missed her cue to respond.]
NEUVILLETTE: ... And what would you so graciously recommend?
FURINA: Hm...
[She pretends to have to consider it, hands still tangled in NEUVILLETTE's hair.]
FURINA: Long sleeves, I think. Not too dissimilar from your robes, actually, so you won't have much to complain about there. Something that flows... a strong and solid silhouette, of course... blue, perhaps layers of translucent fabric to create the illusion of flowing water...
[FURINA sounds a little lost in thought, staring at NEUVILLETTE's reflection in the mirror. She abruptly clears her throat and attempts to remove her fingers from NEUVILLETTE's hair, finding a little more resistance than she expects.]
FURINA: You would look magnificent.
NEUVILLETTE: ... I see.
FURINA: What, any objections to that?
NEUVILLETTE: ... Not at the moment. There is not much for me to object to yet.
FURINA: Hmph. Raise your head a little and keep it centered, unless you want this to be uneven.
[NEUVILLETTE complies. FURINA begins separating her hair into sections. NEUVILLETTE shifts in her seat.]
FURINA: (musing) Then again, we could really give them something to look at...
NEUVILLETTE: What?
FURINA: Well, Fontaine can hardly be expected to look at me all time, can it? Though they can never be bored of me, it is my duty to provide them a little more excitement. You'd suit that purpose perfectly well.
[NEUVILLETTE attempts to turn her head to look at FURINA askance, but is stopped by a firm tug to her hair that keeps her facing forward.]
NEUVILLETTE: That... does not seem—
FURINA: (irritated) Stop moving your head around so much.
[NEUVILLETTE exhales, then takes a deep breath. FURINA's fingers are warm against her scalp.
The proceeding silence is broken only when FURINA begins idly humming, lost in her work. NEUVILLETTE seems unusually restless, gloved hands curling and uncurling in her lap, gaze flicking from the wall to the hands in her hair to downwards. Occasionally she lightly shivers, which FURINA takes notice of but says nothing about.
Finally, FURINA leans back, judging her own work, then smiling. Seemingly absent-mindedly, she pats NEUVILLETTE's head once before standing. NEUVILLETTE goes still, eyes wide. She finds FURINA watching her intently through the mirror, and FURINA hurriedly looks away.]
FURINA: (brightly) ... There, all done. What do you think? Better, isn't it?
[After a few moments, NEUVILLETTE blinks and considers herself in the mirror. Most of her hair has been pulled away from her face, contrary to her usual style, leaving her face fully exposed.]
FURINA: Well? Don't tell me you've been stunned speechless by my skill.
[Gingerly, NEUVILLETTE brushes her fingers over the braids, following where they flow out, unrestrained, in the back.]
NEUVILLETTE: It's... adequate.
FURINA: (unimpressed) "Adequate"?
NEUVILLETTE: Yes.
FURINA: Hmph. Alright, time for us to go, then—
[She turns, as if to leave; NEUVILLETTE quickly stands, picking up her cane, and approaches FURINA.]
NEUVILLETTE: Ah, just a moment—excuse me.
[Before FURINA can turn around to ask what it is, NEUVILLETTE reaches over and swiftly undoes the ribbon tying FURINA's hair. FURINA goes still. Before NEUVILLETTE can fully withdraw her hands, FURINA grabs her wrist, head turning to regard NEUVILLETTE with a sharp gaze.]
FURINA: ... Neuvillette.
[NEUVILLETTE stares back. She's already seen it—the flash of surprise, almost terror, in FURINA's eyes before the curtain fell once more.]
FURINA: (lightly, like a dagger or a shard of glass) I'll forgive it, this time, but do make sure to ask permission before presuming you can just touch your Archon.
[FURINA's expression shifts seamlessly to a pout as she releases NEUVILLETTE's wrist; she fully turns to face her.]
FURINA: And if you just wanted to match, you could have simply asked. I would allow it, obviously.
NEUVILLETTE: Would you, now.
FURINA: You and no one else, my dear Iudex. Do try not to forget that. It's a privilege afforded to very few, after all.
NEUVILLETTE: ... I will keep it in mind.
[FURINA's hasty exit just barely avoids looking like a panicked retreat. For a moment NEUVILLETTE does not move, only watching her leave with a slightly narrowed gaze.
Then, she follows FURINA out.]