Chapter 01: Unscripted Afterparty

The bright stage lights reflected off the blue medallion as it floated gently down in front of Furina. There were audible gasps from the audience and even the other actors onstage widened their eyes in shock. But the little oceanid standing front and center, merely plucked the vision from the air and sang the final line of her song without so much as a twitch of an eyebrow. The number ended with a poignant silence, immediately followed by a roar of applause.

Up in the balcony, Arlecchino politely clapped her hands and rose from her seat with the rest of the crowd to give Furina a standing ovation. Truly a remarkable actress, she thought, a small but genuine smile gracing her lips. It was well that Furina had at last found an ambition of her own. There were few in Fontaine who deserved recognition from the gods more than her.

Furina bowed with practiced elegance amid a rain of flowers. Beside the knave, Lyney spirited a graceful arc of lumidouce bells down to the stage. The actress looked up to their origin and gave a wide wave in thanks. It was unlikely she could see any faces behind the blinding lights, but Arlecchino still glanced at Lyney in reproach. He smiled sheepishly and hid behind his hat as Lynette turned to glare at him too.

Back on the stage, the rest of the cast had joined Furina in a line and were giving their own bows. On the end, a familiar young woman with blond hair and a floating companion waved at the crowd. I should have expected, Arlecchino sighed. The traveler had her fingers in just about every pie of importance on Teyvat. Evidently she had made amends with the former hydro archon. That would be useful.

"I'm taking my leave now," the knave said to her children as she turned away from the fanfare below. "I will see you at home."

""Yes, Father.""

Arlecchino walked across the soft red carpet to the stairs. She paused to speak to one of her operatives standing guard. "Fetch the traveler for me. I would like to speak to her."

"Yes my lord." The woman saluted.

Arlecchino put a hand on her arm before she could descend the stairs. "Be polite. She currently views us in a good light and I would like that to remain the case."

"Y- yes my lord." Arlecchino released her and the operative scampered off to perform her task.

For some reason, the Fatui had an absolutely awful track record when interacting with the traveler. It was understandable for the various harbingers to clash with her since their interests didn't often match up, but the average soldier apparently felt the need to antagonize the woman at every opportunity. They could at least try to talk to her, Arlecchino lamented, thinking of the mountain of reports detailing the swift destruction of Fatui forces in every corner of the continent.

Luckily, the knave's underlings were starting to understand the value of diplomacy as evidenced by the fact the traveler appeared in the meeting room with a curious look on her face and no blood spatters on her clothes. Arlecchino welcomed her with a smile and gestured to the sofa opposite her, before settling down herself.

"Aw, you didn't bring any cake this time?" the little floating fairy asked.

The traveler clicked her tongue. "Paimon, I bought you a slice of cake before we got on the aquabus."

Arlecchino smiled. "My apologies. I would normally have refreshments for you, but this meeting was arranged on a rather short notice. I didn't expect to see you here."

"We didn't expect to see you either," the traveler replied. "I assumed you would stay in Snezhnaya once you brought the gnosis there."

The knave nodded in understanding. "That was my primary goal achieved, but there is still work to be done here in Fontaine. Besides, I have my children to look after."

The traveler settled back in her seat and raised her eyebrows teasingly. "Does your work involve musicals put on by amateur theatre groups?"

Arlecchino exhaled in amusement. "I would argue relaxation is important, but I admit I came to see because I heard Furina was involved. I did not expect her to perform though, nor that she would be granted a vision in the finale."

"She worked very hard," the traveler said with a note of fondness in her voice. "Furina has had a difficult time since… well, I guess she's never not had a difficult time. But I think her life is taking a positive turn at last."

"You are on good terms with her now?"

The traveler nodded. "Good enough. There are some wounds that will take a while to heal, but we have mended our relationship."

"I'm happy to hear that." Arlecchino pursed her lips. "I'd like to speak to her as well. I had my own part to play in her trial, and I'd like to clear the air."

"And you want our help?"

The knave waved the question away. "Only in so much as telling me where I can find her. I could find out using my methods, but it would be better if a mutual friend bridged the gap."

"You understand you probably traumatized Furina more than anyone else, no?" The traveler raised a skeptical eyebrow. "I will tell you where she currently lives, but if I hear you hurt her in any way, I will do all in my power to protect her. As will Monsieur Neuvillette."

To make such threats over a mere girl, Arlecchino rolled her eyes inwardly. This was the sort of unreasonable inflexibility which always put the traveler and the Fatui at odds. "You have nothing to fear. My intentions are pure." She lay a hand over her heart. "In this instance, I am nothing more than a Fontanian grateful for her sacrifices."

"I hope so," the traveler said with utmost seriousness. She gave the knave Furina's address and the conversation continued on to lighter topics. It had been a month since Arlecchino had left to Snezhnaya, and though she had her intelligence network to report the current events of Fontaine, it was useful to hear the traveler's perspective. For her part, the traveler asked after the children, Lyney in particular. Less of an actress, this one, Arlecchino thought as she noted the slight blush on the blond woman's cheeks.

Soon they departed to go about their respective business. The traveler still had a triumphant theatre group to celebrate with. As she and her floating companion made their way to the door, Paimon twirled around. "Hey Knave! Make sure you bring some yummy food for Furina! Even Paimon would get sick of eating macaroni for a month!"

--

Later that evening, Arlecchino leaned against the side of Furina's apartment building. The nearly full moon cast its soft glow on the streets of Fontaine. It was a cool, cloudless night. The quiet sounds of citizens talking and laughing in the closing market around the bend carried on the light breeze. It was almost perfect, but a strong smell of soot and metal permeated the air, a byproduct of the nearby blacksmith. It was a small wonder why this apartment was on the cheaper side.

Luckily, the knave would not have to wait long for her target to arrive. Furina walked with a spring in her step and a content smile on her face. As she drew closer, Arlecchino could hear her humming the song she had sung in her musical. Her brand-new vision gleamed against the large blue bow it was pinned to. She looked down to fish her keys from a pocket and when she looked back up, Arlecchino stepped forward.

Furina released a strangled squeak and stumbled backward in fright, falling to the ground, slender, pale legs all akimbo. "W- what do you want?!"

A feeling of immense deja-vu washed over Arlecchino. She raised her hands placatingly. "I'm not going to harm you, Furina. On the contrary, I want to speak with you."

"Are you going to try and kill me again?" Furina cried. She clutched her hydro vision so hard her knuckles turned white. "Well, it will be harder this time!"

Arlecchino frowned and crossed her arms. "Furina, calm yourself. I only want to talk." She lazily inspected her nails on one hand. "If I wanted to kill you, I would have done so already."

Furina swallowed and stared up from the pavement. "What is it you wish to talk about then? You've already made your opinions of me quite clear in the past."

"But that was the past," Arlecchino said. She offered a hand to Furina. "Tonight I only want to say thank you."

Furina's brow furrowed in distrust. "For what?"

"For saving Fontaine and its citizens, which includes my children and me. As well as for a spectacular performance at the opera."

Furina picked herself up off the ground, entirely ignoring Arlecchino's hand, and dusted off her clothes. "Well, you are welcome, even though I played only a small part in both productions." She stepped past the knave to the building's door. The keys jangled as she fumbled with them.

"There's more I'd like to say," Arlecchino said. "Let's speak further inside." She picked up a bag she had left next to the wall. "I brought something sweet for you."

Furina's small shoulders tensed. "I don't want any more of your cake."

"How fortuitous that the cakeshop closed before I could buy any," Arlecchino laughed lightly. "I'm going to cook crepes for you." The shorter woman remained silent. The key was in the lock, but she had yet to turn it. She's at least curious, Arlecchino thought. "Furina, I'm sure packaged macaroni is delicious, but wouldn't you like a change?"

"How-?!" Furina looked over her shoulder, first surprise and then fear swirling in her different colored eyes. Her voice dropped to a whisper. "How can you possibly know that?"

Seems I've overplayed my hand, the knave mentally grimaced. "Oh my, have you really only been eating macaroni this entire time?" Arlecchino smiled mockingly. "I said that in jest, but to think the great Furina de Fontaine doesn't know how to cook."

Furina flinched and faced the door again. Even then Arlecchino could see the pink spreading on the girl's cheeks. "Of course, I can cook," Furina mumbled. "I simply… choose not to."

"You must have exceptional self-control then," Arlecchino smirked. "Or maybe I'm just ignorant to the magnificent taste of macaroni?"

Furina's frame drooped, looking more fragile than before. "Make fun of me all you want. It doesn't matter anymore. I'm the only one you can hurt."

For a brief moment she reminded Arlecchino of a younger Freminet when he still believed his mother had abandoned him. A fear of not being needed. It was unfortunately all too common in her children, and a sentiment Arlecchino worked hard to dispel. Surprising even herself, she reached out a comforting hand to rest on Furina's shoulder. The small girl gasped and cringed away at her touch, shaking like a leaf. The knave pulled her fingers back. Of course, she's afraid, Arlecchino sighed.

"I'm sorry," she said sincerely. "It wasn't my goal to come here and insult you."

Furina finally turned the doorknob and pushed the door open with a creak. She entered and hesitated for a long moment before turning to meet Arlecchino's eyes with a defiant gaze. "Come in if you must. We'll see how well you can cook. Remember my palate has been refined over five hundred years."

"It would be my pleasure." Arlecchino dipped her head respectfully as she entered the dim building.

Furina's apartment was on the second floor. The steep stairs were barely lit by moonlight filtering in through a single window near the entrance. The two women had no issue finding their way though. Furina was used to the layout and Arlecchino often operated in the dark. They padded across the coarse carpet before Furina welcomed them into her homely little space.

The short entryway led to a combined kitchen and living room. A sofa was pushed against the far wall and a long table sat in front of it. Only a few paces beyond were the sink, stove, and countertops. A lone window gave an excellent view of a concrete wall barely a meter away. Two closed doors adorned the other side of the room, presumably leading to a bedroom and bathroom.

Furina kicked off her boots and walked over to a solitary lamp to switch it on. Warm light enveloped her home, giving it a much cozier feel. Arlecchino approached the kitchen area and unwrapped her ingredients. She noted the dirty pots and bowls piled in the sink, all covered in the remnants of macaroni. Arlecchino shook her head in dismay, her parental instinct kicking in. She definitely needs some variety.

"So what is it you wanted to say?" Furina asked from behind her. Arlecchino looked back to find the other woman had seated herself on her sofa and was idly inspecting her vision.

"Be careful with that," the knave chastised. "You don't know how to use it yet, so it's best to test your powers outside where things can't be damaged."

"Answer my question," Furina huffed. She put the vision down on the table and spun it like a top. Arlecchino returned her attention to her cooking preparations. If Furina wanted to add water damage to her expenses, far be it from her to stop her. Sometimes a practical lesson is best.

"I wanted to make amends for how things happened leading up to your trial." Arlecchino procured a mixing bowl, a pan, and some utensils by searching through various drawers. She wiped the thin layer of dust of off them with a rag. "I do not intend to apologize for my actions, but I will say I would have acted differently had I known the truth about you."

"It was rather the point that you didn't."

"I am aware." Arlecchino began putting ingredients into the bowl. "What I am trying to say, Furina, is that you went through more hardship than any mortal should ever have to. I'm sorry I added to that suffering."

The sounds of the spinning vision stopped. "Everything still worked out in the end," Furina said after a moment. "Neuvillette fixed things."

Arlecchino looked over her shoulder. "You are forgiving me so easily?"

Furina looked away. "I understand why you did what you did- why you might have wanted to kill me. I hardly made it easy to like me."

"You are too hard on yourself." Arlecchino started to mix the batter after turning on a burner to heat up. "Fontaine was saved because of you."

"I only did what Focalors told me to," Furina protested.

Arlecchino rolled her eyes as she poured some batter into the pan. "A pawn that advances across the board is better than a queen that never moves. Furina, I have more respect for you than I do for that god." She glanced at the other woman to make sure she was listening. "I do not give out respect lightly."

Furina heaved a sigh. "I would like to stop talking about this topic. You are kinder than I expected, but I simply do not have the energy. It has been a long day."

"As you wish," Arlecchino acquiesced. "Tell me about your musical." She continued to cook as Furina brightened and recounted her involvement in producing the show. It was quite a story really, full of friendship and heartbreak. Furina downplayed her role, but it was clear the musical would not have been performed if not for her help. Small wonder she gained a vision, Arlecchino smiled.

As she spoke, Furina continued to toy with said vision. She held it up to the light, tapped it on the table, pressed it between her hands, utterly baffled by the divine gift. At one point she made a tiny jet of water leap up from its surface. She gasped in joy as it splashed back on to her fingers.

Arlecchino swiftly drizzled jam across the crepes and then dashed them with powdered sugar. She brought the plate over to the table before Furina became more adventurous with her hydro powers. Furina raised her eyebrows in pleasant surprise at the presentation. Four perfectly cooked crepes were folded across each other. She poked one with her finger and nodded in approval at the silky springiness.

Furina looked over to Arlecchino. "Where's your plate, Knave?"

"I am only the cook tonight, Furina."

Furina frowned but didn't say anything. She took a bite and put a dainty hand over her mouth. She glanced at the knave out of the corner of her eye. "I am not so arrogant as to deny you have talent." Furina took several more bites, a smile slowly stretching across her lips. After demolishing two of the four crepes, she stabbed a bite with her fork and thrust it out to Arlecchino. "Eat, I insist."

The knave took the fork in her long fingers and dutifully ate. It was good. Sweeter than she preferred, but then, she hadn't made it for herself. Furina took the fork back. "Next time I would like them with cream. It pairs well with the jam. Don't you agree?"

"Next time?" Arlecchino echoed.

Furina blushed. "Ah, a slip of the tongue. Please forget I said anything."

"I wouldn't mind returning," Arlecchino replied.

Furina gave her a strange look and then stared down at the half-eaten meal. She shook her head incredulously and put the fork down. "Why would you say that?" She shifted to face the knave, her nose wrinkling. "Why did you even come here in the first place?"

"I told you why."

"To say nice things? To cook for me?" Furina scooted herself backwards across the sofa. "That's not normal! You're not supposed to be nice! Even the traveler was rude and insensitive at the beginning! Why are you so sweet?!"

For once in her life, Arlecchino was at a loss for words. What am I doing here? she wondered. She did truly believe Furina deserved some kind of recognition for her efforts, but it certainly didn't require this. A letter and a cake delivered to her door would have been more than enough. Even an in-person meeting should have happened at a café or the like. Arlecchino prided herself on thinking through every possible outcome before acting. Looking back at the entire evening, she hadn't contemplated the logic of her plan at all!

"Haven't you manipulated me enough?" Furina cried.

"I'm not-" Arlecchino reached out with an unsteady hand. I'm not trying to.

Furina swatted it away. "What more do you want from me?!"

The knave was spared from answering by a geyser of water erupting from the vision resting on the cushion beside Furina. It shot up, crashed against the ceiling, and rained down onto the horrified girl. One of Arlecchino's legs was splashed, but she emerged largely unscathed. Furina, on the other hand, was drenched from head to foot, as was her couch and carpet. Even the poor remaining crepes now swam in a soggy, jam-colored pool.

Furina hiccupped and began to sob. She pulled her knees to her chest and collapsed onto her water-logged cushions in a ball of tears. Arlecchino rose and walked around the table to find the bathroom. She pulled a towel hanging from a rack and brought it back to Furina. The crying girl yanked it away and glowered up at the knave through her shaking breaths.

"Thank you, now please go away," she demanded.

"Don't cry," Arlecchino said in a level voice. "Nothing gets fixed when you cry."

"I can cry if I want to!" Furina spat. "This is my home, and I'm not a child!" She pushed Arlecchino away. She was too weak to actually move the taller woman, but the intent was clear. "Leave already!"

How do I salvage this? Arlecchino tore through the file cabinet of her mind, searching for anything useful. Is there even anything to salvage? This entire plan, or lack thereof, had crashed and burned spectacularly. She didn't know what her parameters for success were, but the current situation certainly wasn't it. A tactical retreat?

Arlecchino reluctantly made her way to the door. Furina watched her go with puffy red eyes. "I'm- I'm sorry, Furina," Arlecchino said. Did I just stutter?! "I… hope your night improves. Farewell."

The sound of Furina's sniffling disappeared once Arlecchino stepped into the hallway and shut the door. Bathed in the safety of darkness, she let out a long breath. That had been her greatest defeat in years! To think she could go toe to toe with Iudex Neuvillette, but she lost her composure to a crying woman.

Why did I come here? she found herself asking again. It had all seemed so straightforward until Furina pointed out the oddity. Now she couldn't put a finger on her motivation for the life of her. She was sure it was important. It still felt important. She wanted to go back into the apartment and comfort Furina until her tears stopped. What the hell is going on with me? she wondered helplessly.

Arlecchino forced herself to move down the hall and descend the stairs. The cool night air soothed her somewhat, but the chaos in her mind still boiled. The more she attacked her thoughts with logic, the less they made sense. When at last she opened the door to the House of the Hearth, she clamped down on her mind with a grip like steel. The children needed their father to be calm and collected. Whatever she felt about Furina could wait.