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“Keep it moving! Don’t stop there, you’ll give blocking issues again.”
“R-right! Until here, and then I turn here?”
“No, no, that’s too soon I think. Perhaps a different sort of turn to better captivate the audience. Instead of just turning around, you can perhaps add a little finesse and drama by taking the turn step by step. This is a stage after all, one must keep the audience on their toes after all.”
“Yes, Lady Furina!”
Furina nodded as she fixed her top hat again while she sat on her observer seat, watching the director and actors reorganize themselves to retake the scene.
“Four, three……okay, yeah. That works.” Furina hummed to herself as she took out a small notebook, writing down some notes as she helped. “This should be the last session for this week, and then tomorrow’s the weekend. I can perhaps have some time off…….”
A pause.
“Hmm….I’ve got not much to do, and staying at home sounds nice, albeit a little lonely at times.”
She shivered a bit at the thought of loneliness. “Ugh, bad memories. I shouldn’t be thinking of such things…….” Furina shook her head. Maybe there are things she can do that would make her daily life fun, but aside from a few people she knew, there still wasn’t much for her to do left and right.
“Ah, I can always attend one of the opera shows, even if it isn’t in the Epiclesse, at least it’ll be good fun unless something else comes up.” She mutters to herself before shaking her head slightly as she gets up.
“Lady Furina?” One of the actors came up to her. “Rehearsal for today is ending. Do you have any special remarks for us?”
“Yes please.” An actress spoke. “It’d be very nice if we can get a few extra pointers, if there are any?”
Furina hummed for a moment, chuckling slightly before she shook her head. “Alas, none is currently needed. All that requires to be said has been said for today, therefore I have nothing to add. The next time we meet however, might be a different story, so do look out for that.”
“Yes, Lady Furina! Thank you for today!”
“A pleasure.”
With that, she got out of the rehearsal building, coming face to face with the evening sky that covers the top of Fontaine. She looked up, the sky pleasantly clear but growing dark as the moon and some stars began to appear overhead. Activity in the city is still bustling though as Melusines stride on patrol, Guard Mechas in their stations and people still walking left and right.
She smiled with a small sigh before turning to head for home.
“I should really think about what I want to have for dinner.” She says to herself, watching several kids play in the streets ahead.
A few adventurers stride past Furina as she walked by the receptionist of the Adventurer’s Guild, Katheryne. They seemed to be relaxed after a day of commissions, and are returning to get their commission fees from the guild.
She paused, remembering one particular adventurer; one who does not wear said green and white outfit.
‘Where is he right now? He should be done, he’s so much better than some of the other adventurers like these.’ She thought to herself.
A faint smile crept to her face without her realizing when she thought of him.
‘Hmm….maybe I can ask what he’s up to this weekend. If he’s got something interesting, maybe I can join him in his misadventures.’ Furina thought to herself further as she walked down the stairs past the guild and to the lower levels. Good thing the Blacksmith there relies on technology more so than manual labor, else her house would be a very very noisy place.
She stopped in front of her home, suddenly a bit unwilling to go in.
“Aether……hmm, should I look for him?” Furina said to herself.
While Furina is already off the spotlight, her status as an archon for so long has left an impression on the people, and thus making friends with them is something that isn’t within her capabilities. Acting for 500 years takes a toll on oneself either way.
But with him, the traveler from a world beyond theirs, it is perhaps all the more fitting for him to eventually befriend her.
Befriend?
Closest companion is more likely the answer now. It would have been Neuvilette had he not been so busy.
That and the man himself is still not too used to being sociable, even though he has gotten better at it recently. Again, another positive change brought about by the presence of the traveler himself.
Furina, who was going to go inside her house, stepped back a bit. ‘No…..actually, I think it’s nice if I had a talk with him before I end my day.’
Unbeknownst to her conscious feelings, Furina has actually yearned to be in contact with him almost every day. He may come off a little rough at first to her, but then again considering what she’d done without context, it is quite clear why she was like that to her in the first place. At least now though, they’re in a comfortably close relationship.
Relationship.
Furina’s an expert in the theater arts but when she thinks of it, what is their true relationship? Even she herself isn’t sure.
Standing there in front of her home, Furna realizes that some time has passed. “I-I shouldn’t be standing around here looking like this. I think Aether couldn’t really be far, couldn’t he?”
And as soon as she turned to the side, her answer was immediately presented right in front of her, several steps up on the stairs beside her home and heading down towards her.
“Good evening, Furina.” Aether says, casually greeting her as he walks off the last step onto her level.
“Ah, how joyous.” She smiled at him; not an actress's smile, but a genuine one. “One was just thinking of looking for you, but here you are. Good evening as well, Aether.”
He chuckled as he stopped in front of her, Furina herself turning 90 degrees to face him perfectly. “You had a good day? You seem to be in high spirits.”
Furina nodded with a small smile. “Better than my worst days, that’s for sure. The opera show’s going fine, and the actors and actresses are doing their level best to make sure it becomes an outstanding show. Personally, I think they didn’t need too much from me.”
“Ah, don’t say that. You must be indispensable to them. Even if you did not give much input; which I’m sure you did,your presence there is already enough to make an improvement, mustering up courage from the people there with someone like you present.” Aether replied with a smile.
Furina can’t help but giggle lightly. Once you get to know him, Aether knows his way around words to make anyone feel comfortable, and Furina loves it more than most.
“Ah, don’t butter me up too much, Aether. I’m not who I once was, alright? Don’t put me too much in the spotlight again.” She replied with a small smile.
Another thing she liked about him is his tendency to ask about others first when greeting them. This shows his care for other people aside himself; an act that she can’t let him be alone in.
“And how about you? Did your day go well? Also, I can’t help but notice the lack of a certain Paimon.” Furina says, looking around and confirming she doesn’t see the fairy.
“As it can be.” He replied. “Paimon’s busy at home sleeping, so there’s that.”
“Busy sleeping?” Furina asked, having to hold in a small laugh. “What kind of a combination is that? How can one be so busy, yet said business is about sleeping?”
“It’s Paimon’s logic, Furina.” Aether replied, laughing a bit as well. “She defies the logic we all know in so many ways after all.”
“Pfft- haha, how amusing, but it;s true all the same.” Furina replied, letting her laugh out loud. “In any case, I have to admit my day is indeed better when I see you. Did you happen to pass by here?”
“No, actually.” He smiled at her. “I came to see you.”
Furina paused, her eyes locking onto his as if to scan him if he's teasing. However, his golden eyes stayed still and true; echoing a feeling of accompaniment to the lonely ex-Archon. After a bit, she nodded. “I see….I should’ve expected that from you, considering how you’ve stayed around me even after all that.”
“You asked me to not disappear in Poisson, so here I am. I don’t break promises to my friends.” Aether replied, crossing his arms with a smile. “Besides, you looked like you needed the company after all.”
“I guess I do, huh?” She scratched the back of her hair. “Well, I have to thank you for that. It’s actually much nicer than I thought with you around, so please keep appearing in my life, okay?”
“Don’t worry, I won’t go anywhere for the time being anyways.”: He replied, before looking around. “You’re about to head home for the weekend? Am I disturbing?”
“Oh, on the contrary. I was about to go look for you when it was actually you who was looking for me.” She replied quickly. “I was thinking…….”
“About the weekend ahead, correct?” Aether asked, confidently raising an eyebrow.
“Wha- how did you- okay, yes.” She shook her head. “Was I so easy to read?”
“Not really. It wasn’t so much about you, as much as it is the feeling I got as the weekend approaches.” He looked around, before looking back at Furina. “May I take this lady before me to a cafe this evening?”
Furina blinked before chuckling. “Ah, a gentleman. Very well, the lady before you grants her permission.” She replied confidently before holding her hand out in a mock gesture of dancing.
Aether smiled, rolling his eyes playfully before taking her hand. Furina chuckled lightly, before the pair casually walked towards the cafe near the Steambird.
A short while later, the pair had a set of cakes in front of them with some cups of warm tea on the side as they ate.
Aether watched with a fond smile as Furina, biting into the cake, was all smiles as she hummed to herself, the soft snack lighting up her taste buds.
“Hmm~ Sweets are always pleasant when one has had a long day.” She says, Aether nodding in response.
“Can’t agree any more to that.” He replied. “So, you’re free for the weekend or something?”
She nods, sipping her tea. “Apparently so it seems. I have not much to do; scratch that, I actually have nothing to do.”
“Not going shopping? Clothes or something?”
“Oh, what do you take me for, an avid shopper? I don’t always go shopping on weekends, and right now I don’t really feel like I’d need to buy many things. Just yesterday I got a few beautiful hats to go with that new dress I got, and I’d think it’d be somewhat wise to not spend any more money in that department.”
“Heh. You sure it’s not just Surintendante Chevalmarin haunting you for overspending again?” Aether smirked at her.
“What? Of course not! I mean- I overspend from time to time, but a lady has to bear the responsibility to keep her finances in check, obviously.” She says, crossing her arms. “Besides, don’t you overspend a little feeding Paimon?”
“Ahaha, point taken, Furina.” Aether waved. “Still, if you’re free, why not indulge in some hobbies?”
“Hobbies…..being frank, while that does sound like a good idea at first glance, I’m not sure what I really want to do this weekend. Normally, if I’d have something interesting to do, I wouldn’t be in this vile conundrum, but alas, here we are.” She sighed, shrugging.
“Hmm….maybe find something new to do then?” He asked.
Furina hummed in thought for a few moments, merely looking at him. A new hobby, or a new activity does sound nice, but for lack of a better term, she had no idea what she wanted to try.
Acting? That’s already a part of who she is, though she despised it for some time in her life. Politics is out of the question; she has no interest in them from the start, and she has no reason to go with it now. Entertainment such as watching shows or trials are a major part of her life for the longest time she has known it to be, so she has frankly no desire to do such a thing right now.
So what can she do?
Her heterochromatic-blue eyes looked at Aether for a few seconds, before she smiled slightly as she seemed to have found her answer.
“Can I come with you instead?”
“Hmm?” Aether, who was looking around for a bit, turned back to her. “Come with me? Where?” He asked, raising an eyebrow.
“I don’t know, anywhere you go, I guess.” She replied. “Being frank, your company is probably one of the best things that has happened to me in recent years, and though I know you well, I don’t dare say I know you well enough. If…..if it’s alright, would you mind if I tag along for a day or two?”
“I don’t mind, honestly. Your company would probably be fine; no, better than fine. It’d be marvelous. I guess you can say it takes the dullness out of the commissions I do on a daily basis; especially if it involves some sort of fighting. All Paimon does is wait at the sides sometimes and something to break the monotony is always welcome.”
“Ah, is that so? Then if you’ll have me, I suppose I’ll come.” She replied, perking up,
“Always. Glad to have you.”
“Excellent! How early in the morning do you usually go?”
Aether paused before opening his map to check a few things. “Hmm…the commission’s likely going to be far considering I’ve cleared most of the ones nearby today, so quite early.”
“Early?” Furina deflated slightly. “Ah, merde. I was hoping to sleep in.”
“I can do the early ones myself first, and come fetch you at a later time.” He reasoned.
Furina thought for a moment, but then shook her head. “Nonsense, waking up early shouldn’t be that big of an issue for me. I suppose…if I wanted to go, perhaps a little bit of a sacrifice would have to be made.”
“Sacrifice? Don’t put it like that, it’s just waking up.” Aether replied.
Furina laughed a bit at his slightly worried response. “Ah, je rigole, it was just a joke. I don’t mind, I’ll wake up a bit earlier tomorrow for you.”
“You don’t have to force yourself though.” He replied, still a little concerned.
“Tut tut, I already said what I wanted to do, and you said yes. Now, I assume my bright and golden Aether is a man of his word, no?” Furina asked, lazily pointing her fork at him in circles.
“.....I suppose I am. Alright then, I’ll fetch you at your place tomorrow morning. 9?” He asked, finishing his cake.
“Sounds good to me.” She replied, cleaning hers up as well. “Ah, this evening snack is pleasant. And with good company too.”
“Always happy to be around.” He smiled.
“......say, if you don’t mind…..” Furina paused for a little, trying to not sound awkward. “Perhaps, even tonight I have nothing to do at the moment…..”
Aether ‘s face shifted to a smirk, knowing well and true what Furina is going to say. Looking at his expression, Furina too understood that he knew all too well what she wanted to say to him.
“......so….”
“Sure, sure, I suppose I can keep you company a little longer. You want me to cook dinner too, huh?”
“.....ugh….you can see right through me. Yes, being frank, your cooking skill amazes even me. Someone who, for 5 centuries, has eaten probably the best in Fontaine. I know I’ve fallen out from that spot; and I don’t want to come back, but I kind of miss the food a little and your cooking is perhaps a perfect replica, if not even better to those times.” Furina reasoned with him.
A hand reached out, softly patting her head from across the table, making her look up. Only to find his eyes looking at her. “Hey, I’m not one to ask for a cooking fee. This is between us, right? So I really don’t mind.”
“Really? I feel like I’ve asked a lot from you already……”
“And do I complain? After so long, you deserve an actual break. I may not be there for the whole 500 years, but I can tell what you’ve been through from your eyes alone.” He replied, gently pulling back and sitting down. “I’ll keep you company, don’t worry.”
“....I still don’t know how to properly respond to that, but thank you.” She closed her eyes, sighing contently. “Thank you so much, you have no idea how much it means to me. To have you as company is…..quite frankly, something I don’t deserve.”
“You do deserve it, Furina. Even if you only did it for 100 years instead of 500, you still deserve it.” Aether replied, softly smiling before looking up at the sky. “I think we better be off. Knowing you don’t do too much cooking, wed have to get a few things before going back to your apartment.”
“Hey. Don’t underestimate me, I still know how to cook, and I’m improving day by day!” She complained, earning a light hearted laugh from Aether as a response.
“I jest, don’t worry. You’ll be the best in no time if you keep going.” He replied as he stood. “We should go before it gets too late.”
“Yeah, yeah, I suppose you’re right. In any case though, now that you’ve said it, perhaps I can ask for your services in teaching me how to cook then?” Furina asks back, standing up as well.
“It’d actually be my pleasure. Who knows, you can catch up to me pretty soon!”
Furina rolled her eyes at his reply. “Oh, please. Now that’s going too far.”
“Haha, I mean, we never know until we try. In other news, how about another training session?” He asked, the pair trotting down the path back to Furina’s apartment.
“Training?” Furina paused. “Oh! You mean, about the vision usage? Yeah, actually, that sounds like a great idea. That being said, do you really not mind teaching me? I feel like I’m a very slow learner with regards to fighting.” She replied, scratching her hair.
“We all start somewhere, no?” Aether asked back, smiling gently. “If anything, it’s a nice change of pace that wouldn’t be too boring.” He added.
“If….if that truly is the case, then thank you. Perhaps tomorrow will be a good- no, a great day after all.” She smiled.
“Anytime, Furina. You deserve as much.” He smiled, the pair stopping by the apartment as it is quite a short distance away. “And here we are….”
She looked at the building, sighing. “It’s not much, but don’t worry Aether. This place is nice, and I can still make sure I myself get fed.”
“You make it sound so harsh, Furina. I am thinking more about if you’re comfortable here, or if you need accompaniment at times.” He responded.
She paused before nodding. “I understand, but please don’t worry too much. I mean, having personal space is nice, so it’s not bad. If I really wanted a crowd, I could always go to your place when you’re around, that is, if you don’t find me around here first.”
“.....” Aether looked up a bit before turning to her. “You’re going to cook macaroni again for dinner, aren’t you?”
“.......” Furina raised her hands with a sigh. “Fine, fine, I admit. I was planning to use some left-over cream from the other day to make it more interesting.”
Aether sighed, shaking his head. She really could be making her life better, but for some reason perhaps her subconscious guilt for living as an archon for so long is boiling away at her insides, therefore she’s secluding herself into a standard life to kind of compensate for that.
Not that Aether is having any of that, at all.
“I’m cooking. I hope you don’t mind if I make something else.”
“.....oh, I wo- eh?” She had to double take. “You’re cooking?”
“I can’t let you keep going about eating the same thing that often, Furina. Come on, I’ll fix something up for us and perhaps call Paimon out too. If you don’t mind, that is?”
Furina looked at his eyes, again they showed no signs of fakeness and were genuine about what he said. After a few seconds, she giggled slightly. “Alas, whatever am I going to do with you? Alright, I’ll play along. I wonder what the great traveler is going to cook for me tonight.” She thought out loud.
“A secret. You’ll find out later if it’s good enough.” Aether replied, before looking ahead again. “In that case, if you’ll have me, shall we go in?”
“Always welcome.” She smiled.
A pause.
Before she abruptly gave him a hug.
“Thank you.”
“For dinner?” Aether asked, returning the hug.
“No. For staying when I asked you to, although I don’t deserve it.”
He paused before gently rubbing the back of her head, his warm hands comforting her in ways she had no idea possible.
“I stay not purely out of just formality at your request or my own will, but because you deserve it, Furina. You absolutely deserve it.” He added, his tone soft and gentle towards her. “And I’ll be here as much as I can, whenever I can.”
No more words were needed between the pair as they embraced, letting go after a few seconds with Furina having a slightly red face, but a genuinely beaming smile on her face that was brighter than anything she had ever shown in her 500 years of acting.
“Maybe I can invite Clorinde or Navia in, bring a few drinks to spice the evening up?” Aether asked after a while.
Furina looked at him for another few seconds before laughing. She’s going to sleep really well tonight it seems.