OH, I ADORE MODERN SIREN/MERMAID VIBES-- Neuvillette, curious, wanting to take her back to examine but she always remains out of his grasp, a little wary of coming to shore. He built trust, originally with the intent of being able to study her more but gradually found himself drawn to her. Neuvillette takes her into his home, keeping her in his bathtub -then pool- while bringing her things from the outside world (No legs here!!). Growing greedier, not want to share his 'research' with anyone else.

Him justifying it to himself, that others may hurt her, cut her up, or use her for their gain. Furina is too nice and trusting for that life! And he's not wrong when he finds that her tears and blood have medicinal properties--

Knowing he should set her free and tell her not to come back to shore but...struggling to completely let her go now that he's humanized her. She is no longer just a specimen, she's a friend...and perhaps--- :3c but can she, a sea creature, feel the way as

But can you also imagine all the cute scenes? Neuvillette adding wheels to his bathtub so he can roll her around his lab/house. Setting up a projector so they can have movie nights. He shows her all the things she's ever curious about. Furina's first words to him after weeks is a simple "Hello--friends?"

Mona story 4. I am a sucker for found family, and then they threw in some Hexenzirkel lore and I was hooked. I am also very fond of rivals/co-workers dynamic so that was the initial bait! However, with how the narrative is shaping, I find them a lot softer around each other, at the very least, soft enough for Mona to rant to Albedo about her master, and share bits of her life. Seeing as they work together, I also like that he seems to respect her abilities! This is a bit more of an HC, but I also like to think that she's quite aware of his future, as her VL for him strangely doesn't talk about it at all in comparison to everyone else.

There wasn't a specific AHA! moment, but a combination of little things I adore that made me like them.

Hehe funny you ask this since I was thinking about this (a comparison of pre-aq, post-aq, and newly awakened neuvi) for a fic concept~

For Neuvi before he became Iudex, I feel like he would be rough, unused to the difference in the world after his death. It would be a large period of adjustment. I like to think that while he was not completely 'feral' he was still centuries behind in culture and human developments. Judging by his joke(?) in Sigewinne's SQ he was rather isolated. I feel like that leads to someone who can be particularly cranky when it comes to first-person human/social interaction. Now add onto it the fact that Pre-Furina fontaine was a mess left by Egeria with nobility in power, he would probably be someone that was hard to get along with,'short' tempered (he is just clipped in tone), and 'arrogant' (he IS a dragon after all). But between all that is a man who is willing to change, learn, and adapt.

If he had not, he would not have been tempted by Focarina's letter. Furina just helped seal the deal when he got there! Now onto how they were. Awkward would be an understatement. Furina only having 100 years to hone her act is still new, especially in front of someone who has an affinity for hydro. In turn, Neuvillette is also bewildered and occasionally annoyed by her over-the-top attitude. They DO NOT understand each other at all. But what I like about NVFR is the fact that they try. It is a slow process where they begin to understand each other. Annoyance, then grudging understanding, turned into gruding respect, then into friendship. It takes months or years to make progress. I also HC that Neuvillette did not start as hating Furina for her status as archon. If he did, the letter would not work in the slightest. Curious is more aligned with what I think. Curious, a bit annoyed at their presumption. Even in his VL, he does not seek revenge, only justice. The man Neuvillette would eventually become will always be there, it was just wrapped up in a protective shell that Furina eventually chipped away.

SORRY THIS IS SO LONG ANON.