This would, under normal circumstances, be an endeavor that Neuvillette does not attend in person. A presentation of new technological projects and ideas hosted by the Fontaine Research Institute? He does not deny that witnessing the scope of human imagination can be somewhat intriguing, but really, his interest mostly begins and ends with "just don't blow up another building".

... And perhaps that is why and how he got roped into the affair as a sort of consultant, to whom potential future inventors can turn for advice regarding the legality of their ideas, as well as their safety, potential risk, and the degree of trouble they could be in should something go awry. Because you see, Monsieur Neuvillette, Archons know Fontaine has already seen its fair share of such situations. Surely we do not need any more, and weeding them out before they have a chance to cause problems that will end up on your desk saves you time in the future as well, wouldn't you agree?

Neuvillette knew, of course, that there was a second hidden reason for their desperation to get him involved - much as he considers it overdone, he knows that his presence at any event raises its prestige. But, to spare himself unnecessary trouble, he did not voice that thought, and simply relented.

In the middle of these thoughts, he finds himself interrupted by a familiar voice calling out to him. Turning, he smiles lightly as its source is confirmed.

"Sir Ayato... And Miss Rosaria, too. Good day," he greets, coming closer. When the tall man mentions needing his attention briefly for something, Neuvillette's first instinct is to inquire - but given the very specific circumstances, there is no great need to do so. He has a pretty good guess.

"Are you also here for the... I see." Right, he recalls that each group of participants must have a Fontainian in order to be able to enter. The fact that Neuvillette does not necessarily count as one if one were to get really specific, he leaves unsaid. It does not actually matter in practice right now. Turning to the Melusine at the door, he nods.

"Trow, please let them in. I will vouch for them."

"Oh! Of course, Monsieur Neuvillette."

And just like that, the door stands open. The Iudex looks to the two again. Maybe this event can actually be kind of interesting now.

"I see you've also brought in some kind of project?" He asks, stepping through the door.

> @rosarots

—it takes three

It is very uncommon for the Chief Justice of Fontaine to handle cases or take up tasks or missions personally. Even if one were to set aside the matter of his rather busy schedule, he understands that it is considered unbecoming of the Iudex to handle such matters, even if he does find himself available. He has never spoken of such to anyone, and frankly he would not truly know how to phrase it even if given a chance. But he does recognize that something in him, a part of him, has been a little... bothered by this.

It is inappropriate for him to participate in such activities, perhaps because the human society sees him as standing above them. And "he's standing above them" is simply another way of saying "he is not one of them".

But perhaps that is simply how it has to be.

Of course, there is one exception that he will hold on to no matter what anyone says, and that is any cases and troubles related to the Melusines. And so, when Sedene calls out to him, he is not at all surprised by the topic she brings up.

"Sedene, good morning. Yes, I've heard about it - Cornelia thought this should be brought to my attention right away." There may be much that humans still do not know about him, but his love and care for the Melusines is the one thing they all do.

Sedene's request, however, does catch him a little off-guard. Then again, though she spends most of her time at the Court these days, Merusea remains her home. Perhaps he shouldn't be so shocked. Still, he does have some concern.

"I found myself with a day off after today's trial was rescheduled, so I was actually going to go there myself. This might be a threat to everyone in Merusea if left unattended... You wish to check on the situation as well? I don't mind at all, but there might be rubble and sharp objects in the area. I don't want you to get hurt."

deep diving

Sense of humor, she says. If this were anyone other than Miss Navia, Neuvillette would, not without genuine confusion, inquire as to what exactly he said that implied he spoke in jest, especially seeing as he was talking about the letter of the law. During his time among humans, he has picked up a few social skills - or so he hopes, anyway - but neither joking nor recognizing jokes properly as said by others are abilities found on that list.

But this is Miss Navia, and as such, Neuvillette makes no such remark, for he knows what it is that she actually says, and he shakes his head lightly - with a sigh, but also a light smile. For the great majority of people, this trick would prove utterly ineffective. Some would, in fact, find themselves potentially accused of attempting to put pressure on the Chief Justice, or perhaps even coercion.

But here and now, he merely says what she hopes to hear.

"No, it's not a problem... I happened to have some extra time, anyway. And this is a matter that must be resolved, after all."

And while he speaks, his fingers are already tapping away at the typewriter - without him looking, for the movements are fully memorized by now - producing the necessary warrant. After all, presence in person or not, the proper paperwork must still be in place.

Once the warrant is ready, he takes it out of the machine, stamps it, and motions to stand up - before remembering something. With his left hand, he grabs a smaller piece of paper and writes a note on it. Then, he gets out of his chair. The note is left on his desk by the macarons brought by Miss Navia, reading:

Away due to a matter of urgency, will be back in a day. PS. Sedene, help yourself.

With that, he nods to the President.

"Alright, please lead the way."

i think we're gonna have to kill this guy monsieur neuvillette

MII~???

(oh Nibelung's beard I'm too smol to flush him this time where is Wriothesley when you need him--)

Open rp

"and that's how we securely bury a decomposing body. follow me for more gardening tips."

tighnari gathers up his lecture notes, a final nod to the newly-fertilized flowerbed. "any questions?"

mii~ mii~

mii?

@mabiku

Of all methods of transportation invented by humans out of necessity, the ship in particular would rank low on Neuvillette's list of preferences. It was slow, it rocked back and forth at the slightest whisper from the waves, the wind messed up his hair and blew it into his eyes - and though he would, of course, never say it out loud, he sometimes could not help but think about how he would much rather be in the water than above it. It was a little childish of him to harbor such thoughts, perhaps - but alas, though the masquerade goes on, a human he shall never truly be. In any case, he keeps it to himself.

Certain aspects of life, protocols, formalities, and also pleasantries and joys require that one subject oneself to a few inconveniences every once in a while, but it is all worth it in the end.

Some time has passed by now since the Fontinalia Festival, which was when Neuvillette first met one Kamisato Ayato, the young man from Inazuma, in person after a period of only exchanging letters and documentation. Though this is a perfectly normal thing for the Iudex to do, it is nevertheless always pleasant to match paperwork with a face, and their initial encounter was not only highly productive, but also most amicable. The personality, knowledge and knack for politics that the Commissioner displayed left an impression on him, and when he received an invitation to pay a return visit at his convenience, he was honored to accept. A few months later, the time finally came when he found himself with enough time off to confidently leave Fontaine for two weeks - which, if memory serves, may be the longest vacation he has ever taken in all those centuries.

Finally, the ship arrives at the destination. As Neuvillette leaves it behind and looks around, the admiration and fascination in his eyes are genuine. A bustling port city is nothing new to him, of course, but the atmosphere is, nevertheless, very different from what he knows.

Most curious, how different human ways of being can be depending on the land they claim as their own and the god they think watches over them.

He makes his way towards the town, though with no hurry in his steps. Assuming his correspondence arrived without issues, he should soon be met by the Commissioner in person - and he has to admit that he hopes so because on his own, he does not really know the way.

Hydro DPS Politician Communication || Neuvillette & Kamisato Ayato

vivi because my friend requested I draw him :D

I dont play genshin but hes very pretty haha

Upon setting Aine back down on the ground, Neuvillette glances over towards Kaveh as the young man approaches to join the girls in their effort. He himself opts to take a step back and see how he does, seating himself on a boulder just by their newly designated construction site.

And indeed, just as he said earlier, he takes on the approach of an architect - although, at the same time, presents the information in an easy to understand way, and one that keeps Charline and Aine engaged and interested.

Watching them work is almost mesmerizing in a way, and he is just about to zone out when Kaveh speaks, and Neuvillette blinks in surprise as he realizes the words are meant for him. He does not process them in time before Aine jumps up as well, joyfully placing her hands on his knees as she looks up at him with anticipation. A soft chuckle escapes him - a sound hardly ever heard from the ever solemn and serious Iudex, whose emotions many think concealed from the public eye, hardly anyone aware of the truth of the matter.

"Aine... You know I am not creative." It is an honest confession and also the simple reality, as he shakes his head. "Hm. A moat and some towers, that sounds good. Fontaine architecture does enjoy towers. But as for names, I have no ideas..." He pauses here as Aine's eyes gain the qualities one often finds in the pleading gaze of hungry puppies, before sighing quietly with a smile. "... Not right now, anyway. Perhaps I will think of something once it's ready, so let's come back to the question then."

"Aww, okay. We can do that!" Her spirits rekindled, Aine cheerfully returns to work. "You're watching the waves, right, Monsieur?"

"Of course."

And indeed, the surface of the Great Fontaine Lake has become much more smooth and calm than it was earlier. If one were to look at Neuvillette, it may not be obvious at a first glance, but upon closer inspection, one may note the soft hue at the tips of the blue appendages on his head, a hint brighter than usual.

As the girls continue their effort, the Iudex' eyes land once more on the architect.

"I should apologize, I meant to ask this earlier... Aine has mentioned my name, but I believe I have yet to hear yours."

Do You Want to Build a Sandcastle? || Neuvillette & Kaveh

"True," is all Neuvillette says in response to Wriothesley's remark. He does not add anything else, eyeing the dragon-shaped charm in the Duke's hand, then glancing over the selection of other pre-crafted ones. One catches his attention, made from a decorative stone in a color very close to that of his robe, with golden accents. A thought pops into his head - perhaps buy that one later if it's still available.

He can still recall a time when he would have never imagined having such ideas. It leaves a funny feeling, which he cannot describe, but certainly not a negative one.

The Iudex looks over the stones while Wriothesley makes his selection, eventually opting for a light blue, in a tone that reminds him a little of moonlight as seen from the bottom of the sea. He then follows the Duke and the lady into the workshop, and finds a stool to sit on, with the other man now across of him.

At his quip, Neuvillette shows no strong reaction, though one who knows him as well as Wriothesley does will recognize the ever so slight shift of eyebrows and lips into an expression along the lines of really, now. A quiet huff escapes him.

"I think humans have a strange relationship with dragons." Try though he may, his age and certain features will always betray his nature as nonhuman, and so he does not bother to hide what is obvious to everyone, whether their name is Wriothesley or no. "Between that silly Fontainian legend about the Hydro Dragon, dragon charms said to bring good fortune, and then humanity at large fearing dragons as destructive monsters, I cannot figure out how such conflicting attitudes can come together and coexist. It simply does not fit."

A short pause, before a light shrug. "At any rate... I was indeed thinking about a dragon. What about you?" He lifts his eyes to take one more look at the stones the Duke had selected, and the corners of his lips twitch upwards. "A wolf?"

Lantern Rite: Wriothesley & Neuvillette

Lantern Rite 2024 | Dragon Charms

As Neuvillette's slit-pupil gaze met the stars that shun the light in the other's eyes, it became clear that his senses did not deceive him. Still, in spite of that, he relaxed his posture slightly - not letting his guard down entirely just yet, but whatever initial hints of hostility were present in his first words could no longer be heard as he continued.

"A visitor from below, huh." Between the eyes and the insignia on the man's chest, it was something of an obvious fact that he stated, at least for the standards of someone who knew of that tragic place to begin with. "It is no bother... If you are not aligned with the Abyss Order, that is. I apologize, but this is a point that I must bring up."

For, though Neuvillette had nothing against Khaenri'ah as a mere nation that suffered the wrath of the gods, he could not accept those who would seek to harm others out of a desire for revenge.

Still, the man before him appeared too respectful and polite to count himself among their ranks, if the Chief Justice were to try and make an educated guess. However, both his station and identity required exercising caution.

Speaking of requirements, proper manners called for an introduction. "I am Neuvillette, the Iudex of Fontaine. Is there anything I may assist with?"

We Reach up to Tall Places || Neuvillette & Dainsleif

The unspoken, yet understood split of roles went into use immediately. Neuvillette greatly trusted and valued Wriothesley for many reasons, and the man's independence, instinct and the innate ability to always know what he had to do without needing everything explained in laborious detail ranked high on the ever busy Iudex' list.

The air in the area soon filled with a chill unusual for this time of year, and yet expected all the same. The instant the smoke and dust left behind by the attack he had countered dissipated enough to allow any kind of visibility, the Iudex took notice of Wriothesley's figure, as well as the descending Ruin Guard. He stretched out his arm and began to gather energy in his palm -

"It's all you!"

- and almost as soon as the Duke spoke these words, a powerful stream of water imbued with elemental energy gushed forth. It struck the berserk machine less than a second after it had hit the ground, tearing through it without a shred of mercy or hesitation. A few beeps could be heard from the Ruin Guard, each of them quieter and more distorted than the previous one - before all that was left was debris, silence and the scent of Sourcewater in the area.

One down, three to go;

- but just as the thought passed through Neuvillette's mind, a more distant, but crystal clear set of furious beeping reached him from his right. The remaining Ruin Guards were still relatively far away, but not far enough for the missiles they came equipped with to fail to cover the distance - and surely enough, next thing he knew, there were six of those aimed and flying right at him - this time, already too close to dispatch them the same as he had done earlier.

In between the incoming explosion and the rockfall that was likely to follow, the Iudex found himself forced to warp away from the area in order to ensure a safe escape.

Re-emerging on the ground a few feet away from Wriothesley, he created and promptly detonated a few more Sourcewater Droplets among the couple boulders falling as a result of the impact, knocking them off to the sides to prevent them from putting himself and the Duke in any danger. Once that was done, he turned to face the approaching Ruin Guard, which had covered a surprising amount of ground in the meantime. The remaining two seemed to be lagging behind for the time being, but if anything, that made the issue of dealing with the nearest one even more urgent.

"We can try to freeze it, or knock it off-balance like the previous one," he said, glancing at Wriothesley. "See if it gives you an opening. I'm right behind you."

Over and Under [Wriothesley & Neuvillette]

November Commission | Ruin Guards

ooc; Plotting Call: Melt

Neuvillette is not exactly starved for threads, although if you look at a prompt and then at Neuvillette and go "YES this is the EXACT guy I want to do this one with", by all means let me know and I will most likely be down! I AM open to general plotting.

But for anyone who would like to interact with Mr. Iudex, here are a few prompts in particular that I would be interested in.

Mondstadt - Neuvillette is unlikely to wander into the city on his own, preferring to relax out in nature if he does find himself in Mondstadt. He can either be recruited by your muse to help out, or run into them by chance as he encounters the horses and goes "?" Requires a Mondstadt muse.

Sumeru - I could see him paying a visit next time he decided to take half a day off (or maybe a whole day *GASP*) and of course he arrives right on time for things to start going wack. Sure, he'll Hydro blast some Fungi. Requires a Sumeru muse, of course. We can turn this into a combat thread, even, if you would be interested! Even if your muse doesn't have an official GH combat kit yet, we can make something up temporarily.

Fontaine - for those looking for the Fontaine commission, I'm down to help out with the prompt, although with a bit of a potential twist, perhaps. He will not be submitting any ideas of his own, I doubt he has any lmao, but rather he will be a specially invited guest to sorta... participate in the show, offer feedback, be open for discussion regarding what's possible, realistic, safe/unsafe etc. He will sit in the front row and can be approached for discussion and feedback.

Boats - in which Neuvillette goes swimming. In his case, this thread would most likely be taking place near Lumidouce Harbor.

Feel free to ping me in GH's plotting channel or message me on Discord - or Tumblr directly - if you're interested!

@starshrouds

Though months pass since the fateful day, the memories come flooding back to him every once in a while when he finds himself with too much time on his hands.

Realistically, one familiar with Neuvillette's identity and situation would expect him to move on from Focalors' death with relative ease. Who was she, they would argue, other than an usurper who claimed the power stolen from his kind the same way all other Archons did? Regardless of intent and end result, o ever impartial Iudex, she laid claim to the Authority of the Sovereigns, accepting it unto herself, and deserves judgment just like Deus Auri and his ilk, does she not? If anything, should the Hydro Dragon not sneer at her rightful demise?

And the answer to that, he would respond in a voice as devoid of emotion as always, is that for one who gave her everything to restore his power and save her people while asking nothing in return, he thinks not of judgment, seeing as she has already given herself the very sentence he would have passed upon her head. And so, indeed, he will set aside his grievances - if only for a brief moment - and pay his respects, offering her Statue a small greeting as he passes by it, unlike all the others that he simply ignores.

For being impartial needs not mean being heartless.

He glances upwards, at the silhouette of Celestia floating among the clouds, uncaring as always; and though his expression hardly changes, those who know him well would recognize it as a sign of disgust. Turning his back, he walks towards the edge of the lake, watching the still surface for a moment in silence.

At least, until an unpleasant feeling passes through him like a gust of wind; one he has not experienced very often, but will recognize anywhere.

"Void Realm aura," he mutters, turning in the direction he has sensed it from. In spite of his suspicion, his voice is calm as he continues. "Who is there? Show yourself."

We Reach up to Tall Places || Neuvillette & Dainsleif

@inscryptions

The Fontaine Research Institute has its share of fame, both national and international, and both in the good and the bad sense of the word. Of course, as is the case with many aspects of the daily life in the Nation of Hydro, the good rarely ever requires the attention of the Chief Justice, and as such, he is much better acquainted with the bad.

The last couple of instances of the aforementioned bad involved malpractice that resulted in a massive and tragic explosion, and the release of Mekafish that nearly destroyed Fontaine's ecosystem - both of which caused massive, nation-wide issues that cost him and many others a lot of time and effort, to say nothing of the losses caused that proved irreparable. Third time is the charm, as they say, or at least as he has heard; so when a report reaches him about a potentially dangerous split over ethics and morals at the Institute, he decides not to take any chances.

"M-Monsieur Chief Justice?!" The tone of voice that tends to greet him during unannounced visits is one he is well familiar with, as is the chaotic mixture of emotions that tend to follow. The Administrative Officer Choiseul's eyes nearly pop out of his skill at the sight one rarely witnesses this far away from the Palais Mermonia, prompting Neuvillette to wave his hand in a reassuring gesture - or at least an attempt at one, knowing full well that the man must know to what they owe this visit. Other researchers and assistants quickly turn to him as well, startled by his presence. Behind their backs, the Iudex' eyes spot a tall man in an outfit that does not match everyone else present - a foreign visit, perhaps? It is a rather unfortunate timing that he chose, in that case.

Well. He looks over the gathered people, speaking in a voice meant for everyone.

"A report has reached the Palais regarding a split among researchers that may prove hazardous in the long term. Given some recent events here at the Institute, I'm sure everyone can understand the scope of the concerns. I ask for everyone's cooperation in solving this matter."

"Y-Yes. Of course, sir!" As Choiseul and two of the assistants run to gather documents and evidence to present to him, Neuvillette's eyes land on the visitor again while he waits. Starting conversations is not his strongest suit, but sharing information is important.

"Pardon me for the disturbance," he says as he comes a step closer. "Some unrest has been brewing at the Institute recently, and there will be an investigation taking place here. Are you a traveling scholar?"

Can We Stop Blowing Up Research Institutes, Please || Neuvillette & Alhaitham

Mr. Kaveh quickly and skillfully takes advantage of the opportunity Neuvillette had opened, following up with a series of powerful and devastating Dendro attacks that really bring the Lawachurl to the edge. It roars with fury and slams the ground, sending forth a shockwave that strikes at all of them; though the Iudex attempts to dodge by floating above the ground, he still finds himself instinctively raising his arm to shield his face in an ultimately unnecessary and futile effort, as the power of Geo passes through him and the others.

STONEHIDE LAWACHURL 10/50HP uses Shockwave and hits all enemies. (roll: 1d20=13, -1.5HP) KLEE 3/10HP. KAVEH 10/13HP. NEUVILLETTE 8.5/12HP. ALBEDO 7/10HP

The attack may seem and feel powerful for those who do not know better, but for Neuvillette, the situation is clear as day - it was desperation incarnate, a clear signal that the enemy is on its last legs.

The faintest of smiles creases his lips. No, he still could not possibly say that he is enjoying any of this - but an opportunity to showcase his strength and witness that of others has, in the end, proven a worthwhile endeavor, and now, the end is finally in sight.

He warps into the air and the atmosphere fills with Hydro for, as is his intent, one last time - refreshing and building for allies, suffocating for enemies. The Lawachurl roars and with the last ounce of strength, it launches itself to the side to avoid one wave of the deluge that Neuvillette sends forth - only to crash headfirst into another, the snarling of fury turning into screeching of pain as the deluge descends upon it.

NEUVILLETTE 8.5/12HP Energy roll: 1d3+2=5 NEUVILLETTE 8.5/12HP uses Elemental Skill. Charged Attack is enhanced. Energy remaining: 4/5 NEUVILLETTE 8.5/12HP uses Charged Attack and misses. (roll: 1d20=1, -0HP) Energy remaining: 4/5 NEUVILLETTE 8.5/12HP uses Charged Attack and hits all enemies. (1d20=18, -4HP) STONEHIDE LAWACHURL 6/50HP Neuvillette takes recoil damage. NEUVILLETTE 6.5/12HP Energy remaining: 2/5

The Iudex' eyes are calm as he observes the scene. He could probably finish it on his own, but there is no need for desperate measures on their part anymore. And so instead of attacking again, he absorbs the rest of Hydro in the area, restoring his own vitality while at the same time emanating a refreshing wave for the others. Though his skill in healing remains limited, it should serve just fine as a source of strength for one last push.

NEUVILLETTE 6.5/12HP uses Elemental Burst. (-1HP) STONEHIDE LAWACHURL 5/50HP Neuvillette heals +4HP. NEUVILLETTE 10.5/12HP All allies heal +1HP. KLEE 4/10HP. KAVEH 11/13HP. ALBEDO 8/10HP

And with that, he floats back down to the floor, landing beside the little sun that has done their best to shine forth, even through the rains and storms he brought with him - and smiled at him all the same.

"Now. Klee? If you would."

> @sunlightamed

i'm sorry mr. neuvillette sir. i didn't know your game