The water of Fontaine was as smooth as glass, interrupted only by the wake of the boat gliding across it. The sun shone bright and fierce above in the clear sky. The chatter of the city had faded some time ago. The only sounds now were the honks of waterfowl and the low rumble of the ship's engine.
Furina stood at the prow of the little vessel, putting her hands on the railing and leaning forward to gaze into the depths below. She laughed and sighed in wonder as various marine creatures swam below, like it was her first time ever seeing them. As they passed under the Navia line, Furina pointed excitedly off to the right where a family of blubberbeasts was surfacing. Arlecchino nodded politely.
As opposed to the shorter woman, Arlecchino stood a ways behind, leaning against the cabin. The small overhang there was the only shade to be found on the boat and the knave had planted herself there as soon as she boarded. After acclimating to the frigid climate of Snezhnaya, hot days like this were uncomfortable. At least it's not the Sumeru desert, she chided herself.
They continued north, around the Court of Fontaine, until the city gave way to simple coastline. The giant broken pieces of the Callas line loomed closer, but the boat slowed before reaching them. Their destination wasn't far now. Arlecchino could see the cluster of rocks on the shore, just as her operative had written in her survey report. Some of the smaller rocks scuttled around the tide pools.
The engine quieted and the ship edged closer to the sand. The captain of the boat emerged from the cabin and heaved an anchor over the side. "Alright ladies, here we are," he announced. He took a wide plank and extended it over the side, bridging the gap between the ship and land. Arlecchino stepped out from her precious shadow and glanced up to find a few merciful clouds had appeared in the sky. Thank the Tsaritsa, she sighed.
Arlecchino's stilettos tapped against the wood as she confidently disembarked. Once she was on dry land, she turned. Furina had both her arms out, carefully balancing. When she drew near enough, the knave extended a hand to help her. Yet as soon as her long, claw-like nails drew close, Furina flinched violently and nearly fell into the shallow water. Arlecchino withdrew quickly, clenching her fist at her side. Damn it!
"You okay, Lady Furina?" the captain called from the deck.
"Yes, don't worry!" Furina replied, a small tremor in her voice. She took the last few steps to land and spun around to wave at the man theatrically. "Your captaining skills are fantastic, sir! I didn't feel a single bump on the way here!"
The man laughed as he pulled the plank in once more. "You can thank the wind for not being around for that one. But I appreciate it nonetheless." He nodded to Arlecchino. "I'll be back by sundown, like we agreed."
"Very good," she replied. "Safe travels." The man winched the anchor back up and retreated back to the cabin.
Arlecchino turned to Furina as the boat began to float away. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." Furina didn't meet her eyes. "You just surprised me. That's all."
"And before? In the Hotel Debord?"
Furina dug the toe of her boot into the sand. "I guess that might have been a bit more…" She looked up at Arlecchino. "When you move toward me like that, or rather, when I don't expect you to move, I feel like- And I know it's not what's happening, but in the moment my mind runs back to the memory of that night you attacked me."
"I see," Arlecchino said haltingly. Somehow that explanation created a deep ache in her chest. "I suspected it might be that. I suppose I can't fault you for… remembering it as a poor experience."
"That's one way of describing it." Furina gave a strained laugh. "But it's okay, really. Here." She held up her hand. "Go ahead. Touch me." Arlecchino lifted her own blackened hand and pressed her palm to Furina's. Her long fingers and nails dwarfed the little gloved hand, and Arlecchino felt the strangest desire to curl them around and hold it tight. But that would frighten her.
"Your skin is very cold, Knave," Furina commented as she pulled away. "Do you see though? Everything is okay."
Arlecchino let her hand fall back to her side. Robbed of Furina's warmth, it felt empty. "If you say you're fine, I believe you," she said.
Furina smiled. "Thank you!" She turned around to take in the scenery, placing her hands on her hips. "So, this is where you'll teach me to use my vision?"
Arlecchino looked briefly up at the nearby mountains and the city in the distance but directed her attention to the rocks a short distance up the shoreline. "We'll practice over there." She pointed.
Furina followed her finger and furrowed her brow. "But there are a lot of armored crabs over there, Knave."
"Well, I thought you would prefer them over blubberbeasts." Arlecchino walked past her, glancing over her shoulder to make sure Furina was following. She was, albeit with a very perplexed look on her face.
"What do you mean?" Furina asked. "I love blubberbeasts! They're so soft and squishy."
"Exactly. So, if they died, you would cry, and we would get nothing done."
"Died?" Furina stopped in her tracks. "Then you mean we're going to hurt the crabs?!"
Arlecchino frowned at her. "You are, at any rate. They're good targets." She gestured at the crustaceans. "Their shells let them take a hit, they move around, and they aren't dangerous. Perfect for practice."
"Can't I practice on a tree or something?" Furina whined.
"No. You asked for my help, didn't you?" Arlecchino began walking again. "This is what you're going to do. Come."
They soon arrived at the cluster of rocks. About a dozen armored crabs were present, their blue shells gleaming in the sun. Some of them were buried in the sand. Others were crawling about, picking up bits of plants off the ground and stuffing them into their mouths. Beyond them, the still water shimmered. It was so clear one could easily see the seaweed and little fish beneath the surface.
One of the crabs approached the two women and clicked curiously at them, its eyestalks wobbling back and forth. Furina crouched down, hugging her knees to her chest. "Aren't you a handsome fellow!" she cooed. She patted the crab's shell, sending a dull thunking noise reverberating through its body. It clacked at her unhappily and reached up with its claw to pinch her arm.
"Aah!" Furina yelped and stumbled backward. Arlecchino swiftly planted a kick right in the crab's face, sending it flying with a resounding crack. The crab somersaulted through the air and landed upside down next to the water's edge. Its legs fell slack at its sides.
"Furina, are you-"
"Waah!? You killed it!" Furina wailed from the ground. "He didn't do anything wrong!"
Arlecchino stared down at her incredulously. There were even tears forming in the short woman's eyes. Arlecchino ran an impatient hand down her face. "Furina, really. This is foolish." Furina crossed her arms while she sat in the sand and glared petulantly up at the knave. Honestly, this is like dealing with some of the youngest children.
"Furina," Arlecchino snapped, "stand up." Furina did as she was ordered but the look she gave Arlecchino was one of surprise and hurt, like someone had just dumped a bucket of ice water on her head. Though the knave had taught all of her children to fight, often with an even firmer tone, her resolve wavered. Don't look at me like that, she almost begged.
"I'm sorry, Furina," she said quietly. When did I become so weak?
Furina hugged herself and stared at the ground. "I don't want to hurt the crabs."
"But if you can't even do this, then what happens when something dangerous attacks you?" Arlecchino protested. "People know you don't have a god's power now. What if a thief breaks into your home? Or someone tries to hurt you while you're walking home in the evening?"
"Like you?" Furina asked. The pain behind those words smoldered between them.
Arlecchino bit her lip. Why does this hurt so much? Given the knowledge she had at the time, she wouldn't have made any different decisions. She would have still intended to murder who she perceived to be the ineffective hydro archon for the gnosis. It was the logical course of action given the information. I didn't know, she told herself. I wish I had, she rejoined immediately after.
"Practice on me then," Arlecchino decided. "Forget about the crabs."
"No- Knave, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that." Furina met her eyes. "I don't want to attack you."
Arlecchino shook her head and took several paces back. "This is better. I represent an actual threat and I can offer improved feedback if attacks are directed at me."
"But you'll get hurt!"
The knave laughed lightly and rolled her shoulders. "I'm fourth among the harbingers. Believe me, I will be fine."
Furina seemed halfway convinced by her bravado but remained reluctant. "Are you sure?"
"Hit me with everything you've got."
Furina struck a pose, pointing a finger at Arlecchino. "Hydro-cannon Excelsior!" A wave of water rose from the ground before her and surged forward. Yet, a moment later it collapsed into itself and disappeared into a pitiful little flow which Arlecchino leisurely side-stepped.
"Again," she commanded. Furina performed the same elemental attack once more, but it petered out even sooner than the first. Arlecchino had her do it three more times with similar results.
Furina sighed and hung her head. "You see? This is the issue I've been having. It all just falls apart."
"Interesting." Arlecchino watched the remnants of the last wave absorb into the sand. "And what's that you're shouting every time? Hydro-cannon Excelsior?"
"That's its name," Furina mumbled, her cheeks turning pink. "It would feel weird not to say anything, right?" She blinked at the other woman. "Is that the problem?"
"No, not at all. Saying things doesn't have any impact on the result." Arlecchino shook her head. Of course, she would name her attacks, she thought. How cute. The knave pinched the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes for a moment. Where on earth did that thought come from?
"I have others, if you'd like to see them," Furina offered. Arlecchino nodded. The next three attacks were little better than the hydro-cannon. "Aqua Vortex Surge" sent a swirling disk of water flying through the air, except it came undone immediately and simply flung water droplets in a ring. "Nimbus Deluge" seemed like it was supposed to send raindrops shooting down from above but instead they only fell at the speed of normal raindrops. And finally, "Hydroquake Annihilation" made a geyser rocket up from the ground, but unfortunately the geyser was only about the circumference of a thumb.
By the end of it all, Arlecchino was slightly damp but otherwise completely unscathed. The crabs were frightened and had dug into the sand to hide, but that was probably more from all the yelling. Furina conjured a giant bubble of water, groaned dramatically, and then collapsed on top of it, the surface bending like a bean bag chair. Arlecchino walked over and nudged the bubble with her foot, half-expecting it to pop and dump Furina onto the wet sand. Amazingly, it stayed firm, unlike everything else thus far.
"What's this one's name?" Arlecchino teased.
Furina blushed and turned her face away. "Bouncy Bouncy Bubble."
"Ah, I see," Arlecchino choked out. She spun on her heel and clapped her hand over her mouth to contain her laughter. She wasn't used to such spontaneity! She only ever laughed to ease discussion or to emphasize a point. Now a genuine bout of it threatened to tear from her breast. By the Tsaritsa, she's adorable!
Arlecchino's mirth faded as she snatched the errant thought and put it under a microscope. Why was she thinking such things again? It wasn't as though Arlecchino had never found anything cute before. Small animals were cute. Most of the children were cute when they were younger, Freminet especially with his big round eyes. Therefore, calling Furina cute had precedent. So why does it feel so different? Arlecchino thought. Why does this seem so unique to her?
"Knave, I know you're laughing at me," Furina grumbled.
I wish that's all it was, Arlecchino lamented. She composed herself and faced Furina again. "Tell me more about Bouncy Bouncy Bubble."
"Agh! Don't say it!" Furina covered her face with her hands. "When it comes out of your mouth I want to jump into the sea!"
"Bouncy Bouncy Bubble." Arlecchino smirked.
"Noooo!" Furina moaned, kicking her legs as she cringed. "I never should have told you!"
Arlecchino smiled down at her. So cute. "Furina, in all seriousness, I do want you to tell me about it."
Furina peeked out at Arlecchino, revealing a glimpse of a beet-red face. "Why? It's just a big bubble."
"Why did you create it?"
Furina shrugged. "I wanted something comfortable to sit on."
"Why did you create the Hydro-cannon Exc-" Arlecchino stopped when Furina gave her a pleading look. "Why did you create the other attacks?"
"Because they seemed like the sort of attacks someone with hydro powers would use." Furina gestured vaguely at the city in the distance, the spires of the Palais Mermonia towering high above. "I thought they seemed like things Neuvillette would do."
Arlecchino clasped her hands together. "There's your problem."
"Huh? But I've seen Neuvillette do stuff like that. He doesn't show off, but every once in a while he had to subdue somebody so-"
"Furina, you aren't Iudex Neuvillette," Arlecchino calmly pointed out. "You received the vision, not him."
Furina's brow creased. "What am I supposed to do then?"
"Whatever you want," Arlecchino replied. "Whatever you have the power to do. As long as it's within reason and is unequivocally Furina, it will work."
Furina sat up on her bubble and looked to the side where some of the crabs were tentatively emerging from their burrows. "I have an idea, but it seems silly."
"It's not silly if it works." The knave took a step back, unsure of what Furina might create.
"Don't laugh, okay?" She gave Arlecchino a pointed look before clapping her hands together. "Mademoiselle Crabaletta! Accompany me!" As if responding to her call, an aqua blue armored crab materialized on the ground before Furina. The border of its shell had markings that made it look like a crown, just like Furina's eyelashes. A maid's headpiece was fastened to the top of its shell. Instead of a piece of carapace, it held a white seashell with an elegant blue bow on the front. The crab appeared solid, but a closer look showed that it was indeed, only water.
Furina lit up like a firework and hopped down to wrap her arms around her creation. Mademoiselle Crabaletta tapped its claw together and wiggled happily. "It worked!" Furina beamed up at Arlecchino. "I did it!"
The knave smiled despite herself. "Well done, Furina. I'm glad the crabs were at least inspirational since they weren't used as target practice."
Furina sat back on her heels and patted her new pet on its shell. "Yes, I suppose they were. The name came from a book though. It just felt like a good match."
"A book?"
"Yes, um…" Furina's face fell. "I guess I've forgotten the title. It wasn't a very popular book even three hundred years ago when I read it. But it meant a lot to me, and I remember all of the characters. Mademoiselle Crabaletta was the best one."
Sometimes I forget how much of the past she's lived through, Arlecchino thought. "I'm glad she could join you on your adventure now. I take it she will defend you?"
"Of course!" Furina shook Crabaletta's claw.
The crab clicked as if to agree. "I will make sure no harm befalls her," it seemed to say. Arlecchino narrowed her eyes at the crab. You had better.
"Do you want to try anything else? Or are you satisfied with Mademoiselle?" Arlecchino asked. "I'm not sure you need my help anymore, especially if you're not going to do any fighting yourself."
Furina's eyes shone as inspiration struck. "I could have an entire troupe!"
The next several hours were spent making and unmaking various animals. Furina was somewhat disappointed to find her power could only manifest three at a time, but Arlecchino assured her that was perfectly respectable. Crabaletta remained a constant, but Furina agonized over who would be her two companions. That is to say, she had the names selected, she simply wanted the proper form for them. After much debate (with Crabaletta, Arlecchino was not consulted), she decided Gentilhomme Usher would be a ball octopus and Surintendante Chevalmarin would be a bubbly seahorse.
The shadows grew longer and the sun dipped past the mountainous horizon in the west, stratifying the sky with a warm blanket of reds and oranges. Arlecchino sat on a rock, watching Furina parade around her three water familiars, giving them commands and testing their limits. In all honesty, the knave had started to feel like… a fifth wheel, I suppose? But watching Furina's exuberance put a calm, content smile on Arlecchino's face. As long as she's happy.
Much of the sky was growing to be a dark purple when Furina finally retired her salon. Their boat was approaching in the distance. Arlecchino stood and dusted off her pants. She turned to Furina only to find she had walked up to the edge of the water. "There's one more thing I'd like to try," she declared.
She took a deep breath and stepped into the water. Except she didn't step into it, but rather onto it. Furina gasped and took several more steps out on top of the sea. She did a pirouette and stopped to look at Arlecchino in absolute glee. "When I was Focalors, I always thought this would be the perfect thing for the archon of hydro to do." She did a few more dance steps, marveling at how her feet made barely a ripple. "But I think it might have just been me who wanted it."
"A wish held for five hundred years should naturally come true," Arlecchino agreed. She masked her surprise, but the knave was genuinely impressed. This was not the sort of thing just anyone could do. Even many of her fellow harbingers wouldn't be able to pull this off- certainly not for this long. Perhaps it's a remnant of Focalors' power?
Arlecchino was shaken from her analysis by Furina beckoning her toward the water. "Come over here, Knave. I need a dance partner."
"I'm afraid I can't stand on your dance floor," Arlecchino replied in amusement as she stepped up to the very edge of the shore. The water gently lapped at the tips of her stilettos.
Furina held out her hand. The first stars of the night reflected in her beautiful eyes like diamonds. "Trust me."
Arlecchino took the smaller hand in her own and Furina pulled her out to sea. "Wait-" Arlecchino panicked for a second, afraid her feet would be soaked, but her fear was unfounded. Instead of sinking, her feet glided across the surface of the water like it was solid. She looked at Furina with wide eyes. "How are you able to do this? To support two people, that's-" Impossible!
"It's what I wanted to do," Furina said simply. "It's unequivocally Furina, don't you think?" She led Arlecchino out further, such that they could no longer see the sand and seaweed below them. Only the crescent moon shivered in the dark ripples at their feet. There she stopped and placed one hand on Arlecchino's shoulder. With the other, she laced her fingers with Arlecchino's and extended it out.
Almost by second nature, the knave reached her free hand around to rest on Furina's back. "A waltz?" she questioned.
"I expect you know how, Knave?"
A wry grin stretched across Arlecchino's lips. "My lady, I am a Fontanian."
Furina nodded in approval. "I am partial to the Aubade of Coppelia. Though- it will have to be modified somewhat as I don't believe I can let go of you."
"I'm sure we can manage." Arlecchino took the initiative and began to lead Furina through the first, basic steps with practiced ease. The knave was no stranger to the ball room. Given the amount of formal events she attended as a Fatui diplomat, she was entirely confident in her skills. Yet Furina was a host unto herself. She drifted over the surface of the water weightlessly, every step immaculate.
Furina smiled as they orbited the moon's reflection in slow circles. She allowed herself to be briefly lifted and swung in a semicircle by the centrifugal force of the rotation and Arlecchino's strong, stable arms. "You are not bad, Knave," she complimented. "Better than most I've danced with, and it's a very long list."
Arlecchino spun her before gracefully catching her in her arms again. "Perhaps if I had another century, I could make it to the top of the list."
Furina laughed, her face glowing in the final golden rays of sunset. "I fear you would only ever be second. Neuvillette holds the crown, and I don't think you will outlive him."
Arlecchino raised an eyebrow. "The Iudex does not seem like a dancer."
Furina balanced her weight expertly on Arlecchino's hand as she was dipped backward. "Neuvillette is not very emotional in his movements, but his technique is flawless. We are perfect opposites in that sense."
"I think I take after him then," Arlecchino replied, leading Furina through another jump. "I don't enjoy my dances so much as make sure they are done right."
"You aren't enjoying this?" Furina winked, teasing. "I think there is more emotion in your step than you would like to admit, Knave."
Arlecchino nearly tripped over her own feet, but barely saved herself. Furina didn't bat an eye, but considering her expertise Arlecchino doubted the bump in the rhythm escaped her notice. What did she mean by that? As far as Arlecchino could tell, she wasn't dancing any differently than she normally would. Perhaps she was putting a little extra care into her movements, only in efforts to ensure the performance went smoothly. This was something she always wanted to do! Of course, I'm going to make sure it goes perfectly! That must be what Furina picked up on, surely. Meticulousness hardly screamed emotion though.
"Perhaps you're right," Arlecchino conceded. "It's hard not to enjoy a waltz with the best dancer in Fontaine."
"It's possible you may receive the pleasure again," Furina mused. "But alas, it seems this waltz is drawing to a close. I hope you savor the final moments."
Indeed, their steps were faster than before, building up to the finale. Starlight twinkled in the droplets drawn up by their feet. Furina's hand was warm in Arlecchino's. Her smile was one of absolute contentment, lost in the joy of an art she loved. Breathtaking. The nonexistent music came to a climax. Arlecchino deftly spun her companion and caught her in a low dip.
Suddenly their faces were only a few inches apart. Almost the entirety of Furina's slim weight rested on Arlecchino's arm. Their waists pressed flush against each other. Arlecchino gazed deep into Furina's dazzling eyes, sinking in the two different colored oceans. Everything suddenly seemed so much louder. The blood pumping in Arlecchino's ears, Furina's soft breathing from the light exercise, the tiny plink of a droplet falling from her raised boot.
"Knave." Furina's soft pink lips parted to whisper the title. Arlecchino's eyes slid down to her pretty mouth. I wonder if she tastes sweet. It was not so much a thought slipping through a crack in her mental fortifications but rather a million of them overflowing the dam. I want to…
Without even pausing for logic, Arlecchino lifted a hand to cup Furina's cheek. But the instant her fingertips brushed against her pale skin, Furina's eyes widened with overwhelming, irrational terror. No! She twisted away, like a fish desperate to flee an angler, and fell from Arlecchino's grasp. NO! The knave's hands closed on air as Furina sank beneath the water. And a second later, gravity yanked Arlecchino down into the dark depths to join her.