Archive of Our Own

Furina sat on her couch with an anxious feeling in her stomach whilst she waited for an inevitable moment to arrive. Any second now, there would be a knocking at her door, and from that point on,  Furina had to carry out the task her troupe was all but depending upon her for. Nervously, she drummed her fingers against her lap as her leg bounced up and down, still waiting with apprehension. With each minute that passed, her heartbeat only increased in pace. 

She had suffered five hundred years of lonesome torment, and yet this particular task was causing her more stress than anything before in her lengthy existence. Was it failure she feared, or was it the reaction of her soon-to-be visitor that made her feel this way? Furina wanted to say that it was the former, but in reality, she knew the truth. 

Finally, after what felt like another five hundred years, the knock that she was waiting for came- seven taps in a rhythmic manner. But despite her expectance, Furina still jumped out of her seat at the sound of it. With shaky legs, she approached her front door, and with a trembling hand, she grasped the handle. Furina inhaled deeply, and with all of her might, she pulled the door open to reveal the source of her dread on the other side. 

There she was

Tall, blonde, and with slender arms that quickly found their usual spot around Furina's body as she pulled her into a warm embrace. The scent of her perfume pleasant and familiar.

"Furina! It's lovely to see you again," Navia beamed, pulling back but keeping her hands upon Furina's shoulders. 

Though Navia spoke as though it had been months since the two had last conversed, this was actually far from reality. In actuality, Navia might as well have moved in with how frequently she visited Furina's abode. This was because, not too long after learning about the former Archon's inability to cook, Navia made it her personal mission to teach Furina about the culinary arts. She would come around with an abundance of ingredients and a new recipe for Furina to try, and today would be no different judging by the paper shopping bag that Navia had brought along with her. (Undoubtedly with a selection of confectionaries she had prepared.) In turn, Navia had free access to any and all performances directed by Furina in the Opera Epiclese

Regardless, Furina stepped aside and encouraged Navia to come in, closing the door behind her once she had done so. As she usually did, Navia made herself comfortable upon the couch with the vigour of someone who did indeed live there, leaning back and letting out a sigh as her arm wrapped around the backrest. She looked upon Furina with an expectant smile, waiting for the shorter woman to join her there. 

Furina, still with a pit of anxiety in the bottom of her stomach, gathered up her courage and took a seat next to her while being sure to leave plenty of space. She felt Navia's eyes upon her, giving her companion her full undivided attention. Then, she did that thing that she always did, Furina noticed, the thing where she sat for a moment in silence, simply drinking the former Archon in. 

Furina felt her hands grow clammy and her mouth went dry, her nerves all but doubling. Thankfully though, it wasn't too long before Navia spoke up again. "So, anything new with you?" she asked.

Furina stammered, "O-oh uhh," her head was like a magnet being attracted to the source of her voice despite her inability to form coherent sentences under Navia's gaze. Her task, what her theatre troupe had been pestering her about was heavy on her mind, but the fear of rejection was stronger still. Furina made up her mind then in that moment. Today, she would enjoy her time with Navia as she did most days, and only then when the blonde woman was about to leave would she reveal what was plaguing her thoughts. So, with that in mind, she returned Navia's inviting smile and said, "Same old, I'm afraid. And you?"

Navia then leaned forward, her excitement infectious as she began to detail, "I'm glad you asked, because you'll never believe who showed up crying at my doorstep just the other night." 

And that was what kicked off their usual catch-up, gossip session. Furina listened intently as Navia animatedly relayed all of the details of her most recent adventure. Something was captivating about the way she spoke, her fervent hand gestures, the smirk that pulled at the corner of her lips whilst she recalled a masterful feat of her own, the way she would shuffle closer as to whisper slightly confidential information despite them being the only two in the house. (Sometimes, to Furina, it would feel like they were the only two in the entirety of Teyvat.) Navia's breath against her ear would send a thrilling chill down her spine, and Furina couldn't help but lean in. The same went for when she would make Navia laugh, a musical sound, and the taller woman's hand would fall upon her knee. The touch felt like what Furina imagined to be the resonance of an electro vision. 

It was safe to say that she and the president of the Spina di Rosula had grown noticeably close, closer than Furina ever had been to anyone in her five hundred years of living, and for that, Furina couldn't possibly be happier. Finally, she had made the first of, hopefully, many meaningful relationships. Although, she didn't expect such relationships to feel so... intense...

Navia infiltrated her mind almost every waking second of the day. When Furina wasn't spending time with her, she was thinking about her from the second she woke up to the moment she tucked herself in bed for the night. In moments of stillness, she'd find herself recalling past conversations, or rereading letters Navia had sent her whilst away on business because  of course  she kept them all. 

Their companionship hadn't gone unnoticed by others, either. Whenever Furina crossed paths with Neuvillette or Clorinde, the two would always ask her to pass their regards onto Navia, understanding that the two were practically inseparable.  Charlotte too was particularly nosey about it, and one day she had approached Furina with her pen and notebook in hand asking peculiar questions such as, 'Many people reported to have seen Miss Navia leave your house at late hours of the night, is there anything you would like to share with the public?' Why such behaviour roused the interest of others, Furina did not know, but she shrugged it off. 

Indeed, Furina and Navia were close now and the past between them had long been set aside. All Furina saw now was a path before her leading forward, a path that she hoped to walk down with Navia every step of the way. After all, why wouldn't she want to always be in the company of someone so kind, caring, compassionate, warm, and pretty on both the inside and outside?

"Ah, I suppose it's that time now, isn't it?" Navia said, rounding up the end of her tale and looking at the clock upon the wall. It was a little past six PM, dinner time. "Come now, I think you'll like what I have in store for you today." 

And so, Furina allowed herself to be pulled from the couch by Navia's hand before the two made their way to the kitchen. Once there, Navia laid out all the ingredients she had brought with her that day, and after the cleaning of the countertops and a wash of their hands, they got to cooking. 

As she usually did, Navia read aloud from a paper recipe and guided Furina through the instructions, being sure to shower her with plenty of praise whenever she did a job well done. (Furina would always have to bite back the blush that would spread to her ears upon hearing it.) Today's meal was one not traditional to Fontaine, rather, it was a recipe from Inazuma that had once belonged to Melus. As they cooked, Navia explained how she had always wanted to make this particular dish, but sourcing the ingredients had always been troublesome. In fact, she went on to explain that she had to ask Neuvilette himself to have them imported straight from the electro region. Tonkotsu ramen, it was called. 

Furina had this dish before, many times, actually. When she was the Hydro Archon, she could request just about any meal and have it prepared for her quickly, and Tonkotsu ramen was one of her favourites. However, she kept this piece of information from Navia because she wholeheartedly believed that she would enjoy this particular making of the meal since it was being cooked by them together. 

And she was right, because as they found themselves sat back on the couch with steaming bowls of broth, meat, and noodles in their hands, laughing and smiling as they continued their prior conversation, Furina found that she never before had a meal that made her feel so... warm. Was that the result of the fresh-from-the-pot food, the crackling of the fireplace, or the fact that Navia now sat a lot closer to her? Whatever it was, it was a pleasant warmth. 

However, that warmth soon dwindled after their hearty meal alongside the confectionaries Navia had brought with her had become nothing more than crumbs, and the president of the Spina stood once again in Furina's doorway ready to leave. "Well, I best be off now," she said, and suddenly the pit of anxiety was back in Furina's stomach. 

"Wait, Navia, before you go," said Furina, hastily, not quite giving herself enough time to collect her thoughts. Navia stared down at her in a patient and questioning manner. "If it's alright with you, then I'd like to ask a favour." 

"Of course," Navia said without missing a beat. "I'm all ears." 

"Well, I..." Furina's eyes fell to the floor, and she began to fidget with her fingers as she finally blurted out, "My theatre troupe and I would like you to be the star in our next performance." 

The silence that passed was almost painful to Furina, and, with curiosity getting the better of her, she risked a glance upward. Navia was looking at her in dumbfounded astonishment. Her lips quirked upwards in disbelief as she asked, "Are you... being serious?"

The next words that escaped Furina's mouth were an onslaught of desperate explanations, "Well, you see- we-we've been wanting to try something new and exciting and that's where we got the idea for celebrity acts, if you will. Well-known figures playing roles in our performances as to draw a bigger audience. I can totally understand if you're too busy or if you don't want to- I know, it was a silly thing to ask all things considered so-"

A giggle then, cutting Furina off as she spoke. "Sorry," she said, "I was just caught off guard hearing that I'm considered a celebrity."

"O- Of course you are! Don't sell yourself short." 

Navia smiled at her warmly. "The Spina is in a good place as of right now, so, if this is a one-time performance, I don't see why I wouldn't be able to attend a few rehearsals." 

"So you'll do it? You'll play the lead role?" Furina beamed, unable to hide her excitement.

"For you, of course," Replied Navia with a wink that upped the tempo of Furina's heart. "Now, if that is all, I shall be on my way." 

"Right, Thank you, Navia. I'll have a copy of the script handed to you soon."  

"I look forward to reading it. Ta-ta now." 

Furina could hardly sleep that night with the combination of excitement and nerves flowing through her body.

...

It was about a week later when rehearsals began, and when Furina brought the boss of the Spina di Rosula to her studio, her troupe could hardly believe it. All of them all but fawned over the sight of Navia, and Furina, though she wouldn't say it out loud, couldn't blame them. 

Once the excitement had died down, however, Furina called for everyone's attention, handed out copies of the script, and began to run through the general plot-line for their new performance.  This original piece, she went on to explain, followed the story of a young squire named Nurian. Nurian was a humble yet fierce character who wasn't afraid to speak her mind and stand up for what was right. She was skilled in combat, loved by all of the townspeople, and always helped those in need. 

However, disaster soon strikes when one day, a creature from unknown origins wreaked havoc upon her homeland ultimately killing her mother, father, and many others who Nurian held so dearly, stealing their souls to gain more power. Nurian, after rising up from rock bottom, finds her resolve and sets out to kill this beast, meeting a variety of interesting characters along the way. In the end, she saves the day, and frees the souls of those she lost, allowing her to speak with her mother and father one last time before they pass on. 

"And that just about sums it up!" Announced Furina. "Any questions?" 

A mumbled agreement sounded out then, and so, without further ado, the troupe with the new addition of Navia got to work. They started first by deciding who should play what role with Navia, of course, taking the role of Nurian. It was a process that sometimes could take a while, and on occasion would require auditions. However, each one of the troupe members all stepped up to Navia and asked her what role they were best suited to. (Furina thought it odd that they didn't ask her, the director, but Navia did have some good ideas and interesting perspectives, so she let her take the lead on dishing out the roles.)

Then, once that was out of the way, they went through one by one reading for each one of the scenes, Furina giving them pointers all the while, and she had to admit, to say that Navia had no prior performing experience, she did an excellent job of reading her lines with a compelling and eloquent tone. 

But that was about as far as they got for the first day, for soon the sun began to set, and fatigued yawns escaped the troupe's mouths. Hence, Furina called it a day and encouraged everyone to go home and rest, telling them that they would pick things back up the following morning. She also politely asked them to practice their lines during any off time that they had as to expedite the process. (Though Navia had agreed to do this, Furina didn't want to keep her away from her duties for too long.) 

And so, the following morning, the troupe was back in the studio. This time, they made use of the stage, focusing on the body language that would accompany the delivering of lines- again, something else that Navia seemingly had a talent for. A few days later, they got to work on props and set design, something that required a tedious amount of attention with how ambitious they wanted to be with the large puppet that was going to be used to depict the beast of unknown origins. Thankfully though, Navia said she had a friend who would be able to supply all the materials they needed for the crafty side of the preparations, and that she herself would cover all of the expenses. Of course, Furina assured her that she did not need to do such a thing, but Navia insisted. 

Needless to say, Navia was downright wonderful to work with. When times became slow, she was the boost of morale that everyone needed, she encouraged others to do their best, she responded well to feedback, and she'd always, always bring with her a freshly baked batch of macarons. Furthermore, watching her perform was awe-inspiring. It was as though she was made for the role of Nurian, and Furina found herself getting lost in some sort of trance every time she was on stage. Navia had such a divine aura about her despite her human nature. 

"Ahh I'm spent," Navia proclaimed one day while she and Furina were walking out from the studio. It was all hands on deck with the showcase being but a week away, so things had been hectic. Then suddenly, Navia began blurting out her lines, something that she did often in recent days, and something that Furina found endearing. "For I am Nurian! Squire to my father, the great knight Cascal, and...! Goodness, I'm so tired that I've forgotten my lines," she giggled sheepishly.

Without thinking, Furina handed Navia her own copy of the script, simply so that she could watch this little, private performance for a little longer. Navia took it with a small thank you before flipping to the scene that she was reading from. However, her features soon contorted into confusion. "What is it?" asked Furina.

Navia looked between her shorter companion and the several sheets of paper in her hand. "Oh, nothing, nothing." She continued to flip through. "Here we are, ahem.  For I am Nurian! Squire to my father, the great knight Cascal, and daughter of noblewoman Melenicete. With the weight of this lineage, I vow to strike down this beast! "

Furina giggled and gave Navia a small round of applause before accepting the script that was then handed back to her. Navia let out a yawn then, and upon seeing the sheer drowsiness behind those usually bright eyes of hers, Furina couldn't help but offer, "If you don't feel like making the trip back to Poisson, you're more than welcome to spend the night at my place." 

Navia really must have been tired, for it took her a good couple of seconds to process what Furina had said. Eventually, she smiled and replied, "Thank you, Furina, that's very thoughtful of you. I think I'll take you up on that offer."

And that was how, but a couple hours later after a warm meal, Furina found herself lying in her own bed with Navia right next to her. Of course, the two had gone back and forth disagreeing over who would take the bed and who would take the couch, and ultimately came to the compromise of sharing. A horrible idea in hindsight. 

This was just like that day so long ago now, Furina thought. She was so aware of Navia's presence that she could not drift off, and it didn't help that the taller woman was laid on her side, facing Furina. However, curiosity got the better of her, and so, she turned around as gently as possible, trying to remain composed now that their faces were mere inches away. 

Through the slivers of moonlight that penetrated the blinds, Furina could see the shimmer of Navia's eyelids, the slope of the bridge of her nose, ever so subtle freckles that hid themselves away during the colder seasons, and her long locks of silky, golden hair. Her chest was rising and falling slowly, an indicator that she was in a deep sleep, yet Furina still feared that she would wake up at any given moment. Hence, as gently as before, she turned back around and tried her best to focus on the sound of the rain that pattered against the rooftop. 

...

"Furina, there's something I would like to ask you about," Navia said. 

Furina finished up what she was doing, and jogged on over to where Navia stood on the stage. It was the morning of the performance, and their final rehearsal was taking place in the Opera Epiclese. All the sets had been prepared, the props and costumes too. (Navia was adorned in a gorgeous, lavender gown that would juxtapose her more knightly appearance in later scenes.) Now, it was just time for final preparations to ensure the performance would be the best it could be. After all, many familiar faces would be attending to see it. 

"What is it?" asked Furina. 

"Could you hand me your copy of the script?" Furina looked at her skeptically but obliged, and once the script was in Navia's hands, she began flipping through it, seemingly in search of one particular scene. "Ah, here it is. The other day when you briefly gave me your personal copy, I noticed a few scenes that weren't in the rest of the troupe's copies, including my own. I wanted to ask you because, at least from the glimpse I caught of it, those scenes looked very interesting and important to the plot." 

The script was handed back to her, and when she saw just what it was that Navia was referring to, Furina suddenly grew embarrassed. "oh, right...that." 

The scene in question detailed an encounter between Nurian and her secret lover and prince of the Kingdom, Faolan. Faolan is in distress because his subjects are demanding that he do something about the beast threatening to destroy their land. unknown to his subjects, however, he is not the true heir to the throne. Rather, it was his twin brother, Rutemonde, who had long since passed away, and Faolan stepped up to fulfill his role. But unlike Rutemonde, Faolan was no fighter, but instead, one who pursued the creative arts, and so he is powerless against the monster. Nurian encourages him to tell the people the truth, insisting that they will understand and that together they could figure out a way to defeat the beast of unknown origins.

Unfortunately, though, the people are horrified to find out the truth. And with the rage they felt upon finding out they had been deceived for many years, they take it upon themselves to execute Faolan- Faolan who never stood a chance, for he had never picked up a sword. Nurian finds him on the brink of death, and she is powerless as he dies in her arms. 

The scene was supposed to heighten the sense of loss Nurian felt, but in the end, Furina scrapped it because... well, she wasn't quite sure why. But there was just a part of her that didn't want to see Navia playing the role of someone who was in love with someone else. 

"It's such a compelling scene, I really think it should be part of the show." 

"I'm flattered you think so, Navia, but...uhm, well, I think it's a little too late to make changes to the show, especially one as big as adding a whole new character to the narrative."

For some reason, Navia's smile grew, almost as though she had been hoping that Furina would point out such a flaw in her suggestion. "That's what I thought, too. But look! Faolan appears in only two scenes with the only person ever present around him being Nurian- the addition of these two scenes won't cause any inconsistencies in the plot to arise while having the potential to add so much more to Nurian's character." 

Furina was a little stunned, not expecting her to be so passionate about this play. "That's all well and good," began Furina, again coming up with a counterargument, "But we will need someone to fill his role, to memorise his lines, and we will need a costume prepared. We don't have the time to make all that so." 

Again, Navia's smile widened, and Furina knew she had lost this battle of insistence. "And if I suggest that you play the role of Faolan?" 

"M-me?!"

"Mhm," Navia nodded her head. "He only has five lines- I'm sure the woman who wrote the play won't have a hard time remembering them. And as far as costumes go... well, I've always thought you had the charm of a prince in both your disposition and attire." 

Furina felt a hot flush spread all the way to her ears upon hearing Navia's words. Navia, the president of the Spina di Rosula thought that she, Furina, was charming. Better yet, Navia thought that she was charming like a prince. Why, oh, why did that make her heart hammer and her stomach flutter? 

"Oh, sorry, I believe I got a little carried away," said Navia, interpreting Furina's silence as a final rejection. "My apologies, I should not have pushed so hard. You have your boundaries, I understand." 

"I'll do it!" Furina exclaimed before she could think about the words leaving her mouth. Navia stared down at her, stunned. "If you really think that it's important to the play, then I'll take on the role of Faolan... for you." 

Before she could register what was happening, Navia's arms were around her as joyful giggles escaped her lips. "Thank you, Furina!" she said. "You have my word, this will be the best performance Fontaine has ever seen!" 

Out of embarrassment, Furina pulled away from the embrace, even if part of her wanted to melt into it. She turned away to conceal her reddening face and said, "Let's go and tell everyone else about the change in script. We have just enough time for one more rehearsal from start to finish." 

...

The time for the performance had arrived. 

Nervously, Furina peered out into the audience, the lot of them chattering amongst themselves as they waited. There, in the crowd, she spotted Clorinde, Neuvilette, Charlotte (who had been permitted to bring her camera so long as she kept the flash off), and even the Traveller and Paimon. She had hoped the familiar faces would ease her nerves, but in actuality, it did the opposite. 

Their final run-through, with the addition of the new changes, went fairly smoothly. Granted, a few lines had to be improvised, but the troupe adapted well and had plenty of praise to give. Their strength resided in body language and interpretation, what was not written onto paper. Truly, she and Navia played the role of two lovers well with long, loving glances, subtle touches, and heart-melting embraces. Furina couldn't help but wish that she had included Faolan's narrative from the start... because Navia was fun to play off of! Yeah, that was it. 

The light above the audience dimmed soon, prompting the observers to silence themselves and direct their attention to the stage in anticipation. Then, but a few moments later, music from the speakers sounded, and the spotlight illuminated the raised platform revealing Navia, Nurian, sat at a table enjoying a meal with her parents and two close friends. The tone was upbeat, and familial laughter was sounding, banter was passed, displaying a strong bond between the characters on stage then. 

As per usual, Furina was absolutely captivated whilst watching Navia perform. She just embodied the role so well, with sassy flips of her hair, playful eyes, and casual yet confident sips from her wineglass, which was of course actually empty. In fact, Furina was so focused on keeping her eyes upon Navia, that the sound of the prop door bursting open scared her just as much as it scared the audience. What followed was one of Nurian's attendants dragging in the limp body of a man who was a dear friend of her father. He explained in a panic that he was killed by a monster, and that concluded the exposition. 

A few scenes later, and it was almost Furina's time to shine. She stood in front of a mirror fussing over her hair, ensuring that she looked as prince-like as could be. But before she could truly feel satisfied with her appearance, she heard her cue and so she had no choice but to rush upon the stage. She inhaled deeply and stepped forward into the spotlight. 

"Nurian!" she called out, lacing her tone with fear and worry. "Nurian I-I don't know what to do!" 

Navia greeted her, their hands finding each other's like they had done so in the prior rehearsal. "Faolan! What is it, my love, why do you look so pale?" 

A shake of the prince's head, "They're demanding me to do something about this beast, but I am powerless against it. My actions will hold little power, but to do nothing would be guaranteeing the death of so many-"

In the script, Nurian was supposed to embrace her lover then as to soothe him and cut off his panicked spiralling. Navia had done as much when they went through this scene for the first time, but there, on the stage in front of plenty of people, she deviated from her stage directions 

No, there was no embrace this time, rather, a kiss. 

An actual kiss, not a clever play of angles to make it appear as though their lips were connected. Navia's lips were truly on hers, soft and warm. Though all too soon, they were gone. Furina's whole body was burning, and she was completely frozen in place. In the corner of her eye, she could see the shocked faces of the audience, but they mattered little compared to what Furina was feeling. She had to snap out of it quickly, however, for the show had to go on. 

"It's time to tell them," she spoke softly, asureingly, lovingly. "Tell them the truth about Rutemonde, and I'm sure together we can all work to stop this foul creature." 

Furina swallowed hard. She could not remember what she was supposed to say next, and she struggled to pull her eyes away from Navia's lips. "How can you be so sure about that?" she improvised. 

"Because these are  your subjects, and if they have but a fraction of the selflessness, compassion, and kindness that their prince has, then I'm sure they will understand." 

Those eyes of Navia's were so soft then that Furina couldn't tell if she was simply playing the role of Nurian, or if she had broken character to speak to Furina one-on-one in front of an audience. "Alright, I'll gather my thoughts and tell them. Thank you, my dear. I don't know where I'd be without you." 

Navia cupped her cheek then, her touch, as always, electrifying. "And you never will know, because I will always be by your side." Ah, the proleptic irony. "Go now, I'll start to conjure a plan so that we may all defeat this monster as a nation." 

After an embrace, an action that actually was part of the script, Furina hurried off stage as quickly as she had hurried on. Then, once out of sight, she leaned against the wall, panting. Her own hand fell over her chest, feeling just how hard her heart was beating. In her mind, she replayed over and over the feeling of Navia's lips on her own, and she tried to suppress the desire to feel such a sensation again. 

It would be a lie to say that that moment was the moment in which Furina realised her feelings for Navia extended far beyond what was considered platonic. Truth be told, she had known for a while, but she had been too scared to face reality. Forming friendships was one thing, but relationships of that caliber were something else entirely. Especially because there was the question of if Navia felt the same. If she did, Furina thought, then surely she wouldn't kiss her like it was nothing in front of a couple hundred people, right? 

But what if it was the opposite? What if Navia kissed her so easily because she did indeed harbour those same feelings? Could they hope to have what Nurian and Faolan had?

Before Furina could muse over that thought, however, she was snapped from her mind by the feeling of her hand upon her shoulder. It was Navia, looking down at her with a regretful expression. "Furina I am so sorry," she apologised in a hushed voice, careful as to not speak over the next scene playing out on the stage. "It was one thing to ask you to include this scene, another to ask you to play the part of Faolan, but I fear I well and truly stepped over the line by diverting from the script in the manner I did just now." 

It took Furina a moment to realise that Navia was apologising for kissing her, but once she did, she profusely assured her that it was okay. "N-not at all! You just got caught up in the moment. That's not necessarily a b-bad thing, for it's usually when we get to see the best sides of our actors and actresses. If anything, you only sold the performance." 

Upon hearing her words, Navia appeared relieved, but for some reason, there was also an air of disappointment as she spoke, "I'm glad you think so. You should really go see Miss Katlyn to have your makeup done, it won't be long before you're back on stage."

Ah, she had almost forgotten. Katlyn, the troupe's SFX artist, had agreed to make Furina look battered and bruised for Faolan's death scene. Hence, Furina hurried on over to her, and of course, as Katelyn applied the makeup, her mind was still fixated on Navia. 

...

Eventually, It was time for Furina's second and Final scene in the performance. after the set had been changed under the cover of darkness, the spotlight returned and illuminated a bloodied, dying Faolan in the arms of Nurian, the squire sobbing as her prince coughed and spluttered. "Stay with me, my love, it's going to be okay, I'll go get you some help and everything will be okay." 

Distantly, Furina could hear the sniffles of audience members, and she felt pride upon knowing how moving this scene before them was. "It's too late for me, Nurian," she said, straining her voice. "You need to get out of here, it's no longer safe in our kingdom." 

"No, no I can't leave you! We will get our vengeance on that beast for doing this to you!"

Furina shook her head with a sad smile. "My death was not by the hands of that monster. Rather, my own subjects. Knowing that their beloved Rutemonde had long since passed away, they could not see through their rage. Perhaps if I truly was my brother, a fearless warrior, then maybe I could have done something. But, well, you know I've always preferred the ink on a quill rather than the blood on a blade." 

Navia Held her closer, feigned tears streaming from her eyes. (Furina would have to praise her later, for crying on command was not an easy skill.) "This is all my fault! I've already lost so much. Clarice, Marianne, Papa, Mama- I don't want to lose you too!" 

"None of this is your fault, please don't say that." With actions that made it appear as though her limbs were as heavy as steel, Furina reached upwards and cradled one of Navia's soft cheeks. "I'm sorry it had to be this way, I'm sorry we never had the chance to get married like we said we would, but do not let my passing get in the way of you achieving greatness. I promise to watch over you from the heavens so that you'll never truly be alone. And so-"

And so, with this final breath, I shall proclaim once more that I love you - That was the line that Furina had written down onto her copy of the script. However, she decided then that she too wanted to get lost in the moment and diverge from what had been planned. 

"And so, with what little strength I have left in me, I shall leave you with this," again, as she craved it, their lips were connected in a heartfelt kiss, evoking a series of gasps and sobs from the audience. Instead of freezing up as Furina had done so previously, Navia kissed her back, her performance tears falling upon Furina's face. 

It took every ounce of Furina's strength not to continue kissing her, to deepen it and delve her fingers into Navia's long hair. But no, they could only deviate from the script so much. Hence, after dragging out their display of affection for just a little bit longer, Furina fell limp in her arms, and the spotlight dimmed once more, signifying the death of Faolan with a heart-wrenching cry from Nurian. 

...

The round of applause that erupted from the audience was loud enough to be heard across all seven nations. They had all risen from their seats, whistling, cheering, and screaming throughout the entirety of the curtain call. Their hollering grew the loudest when Furina and Navia walked back onto the stage from opposite directions before meeting in the middle, joining hands and bowing before their crowd. Furina had never felt so exhilarated before, and the proud looks upon those familiar faces did wonders for her ego. 

And said ego was only further boosted backstage as her troupe lifted her up and chanted her name. Indeed, that night had seen their most successful performance, one for the history books. 

However, Furina soon noticed that someone very important was not there celebrating with them. Thus, once her feet were back on the ground, she excused herself and went about locating Navia. She grew worried when the other woman was nowhere to be found in the Opera Epiclese, but thankfully, Furina managed to catch her walking down past the Fountain of Lucine. 

"Navia!" she called out, subsequently stopping the star of the show in her tracks. There was a tired smile upon her features as their gazes met. 

"Furina," she greeted her softly. "Sorry for leaving without saying anything, I didn't want to intrude on your troupe's celebrations." 

Reality then hit Furina in the face, hard and unforgiving. Of course, Navia wasn't actually part of the troupe. After today, she would return in full to her position as the president of the Spina. No more rehearsals, no more randomly blurting out lines, no more Nurian, and no more Faolan. Furina knew it was selfish, but part of her wished that she was part of the troupe, that tonight's performance was not just a one-off but instead one of many. 

Thus, she wanted to cling to this night for as long as possible. "How about a celebration of our own, then? At my house, I'll cook you a meal, anything you want." 

Navia's face lit up undeniably at this, and she was powerless to refuse Furina's offer. 

They took the aquabus back to the court of Fontaine. Though they had stopped running a good couple of hours ago, Navia, being the daughter of those who founded the lines, had her ways. And so, they sat in silence, a long but scenic journey ahead of them which Furina spent with her head resting upon Navia's shoulder. She probably could have fallen asleep there. 

Now, in their solace, Furina accepted that she was indeed in love with Navia, and oh it was a lovely feeling to bask in after denying it for so long. She felt lucky, grateful even, that she was a key part in the salvation of Fontaine, and somehow she made those five-hundred years of loneliness worth it. 

Maybe this was just her theatrics, but Furina wanted to believe that meeting Navia, that being sat there in that moment riding the aquabus, was fate. 

"Forgive me for my boldness, Furina, but there are some things I hope to get off my mind, and I'd like you to correct me if I'm wrong," Navia said. Furina sat upright and nervously nodded her head. "That play...It's about me, isn't it? It's an allegory for my life."

Furina's eyes widened. A story about a woman whose homeland was under threat from an unknown force that took away her dearest friends and lost her mother and father along the way. How she was able to rise above it all, and with the help of newfound company, destroy the aforementioned beast and fulfill the role of her father and mother thereafter. 

It was no wonder that Navia played the role of Nurian so well- it was because she was Nurian. Nurian's parents were Navia's own, Clarice and Marianne were Melus and Silver, and the companions along the way were the Traveller, Paimon, Lyney, Lynette, Freminet, everyone. The evil monster, a symbol of everything and everyone that had tried to bring harm to Navia- Vacher, the Narwhal, Colter. 

Without realising it, Navia, the woman she adored, had been her muse. 

But there was more, as Navia went on to expose, "And Faolan- he's you. A prince who was playing the role of his twin and had to keep it a secret only to be taken down by his own people... sounds awfully familiar. Perhaps you initially didn't want to include him in the play because you wanted to focus more on my tale rather than your own... or maybe there was some other reason?" 

By now, Furina's heart was threatening to burst out of her chest. But she was done with hiding and running away, she had been for a long while now. "I guess, part of me just thought that Nurian didn't need someone like Faolan...That maybe It was a little bit unrealistic." There was silence, one in which Furina was forced to lock eyes with Navia. And there it was, that oh-so-soft expression that could melt every glacier in Shneznaya, the one that made Furina's heart burst at the seams. 

They were so close that it was hard to determine just who it was that closed the distance, and for the third time that day, their lips were united again. This time, however, they weren't under the guise of two actresses simply playing their roles. No, this was Furina and Navia: the once Hydro Archon now human and perusing the ways of theatre, and the president of the Spina di Rosula. Nothing more, nothing less. 

The kiss started slow and experimental, the two of them trying to match each other's tempo whilst trying not to give into their desperation and longing. One of Furina's hands took refuge upon the back of Navia's head, getting lost in her hair, while the other fell upon her cheek. Navia on the other hand held Furina by her waist, her hands ever so gently rubbing up and down her sides and sending shockwaves all over Furina's body. 

Then, an increase in tempo, a desire for a little more. Furina's lips parted, and the foreign sensation of Navia's tongue in her mouth came as a pleasant surprise indeed. But despite this change in pace, the kiss' innocent origins never once ebbed away, and soon enough, they both pulled back panting with flushed faces and wide eyes. 

"You may think that," Navia was speaking in a whisper now that seeped with sincerity, "But I wanted to keep that scene in because I thought that they belonged together... But enough of this projecting and of these metaphors. What I'm trying to say is, Furina, I feel very strongly about you, and I think- no, I know that I want to be with you, that I... I love you, and I can say with confidence that I do need you." Navia brought Furina's hands to her lips and kissed her there upon her knuckles. 

There were tears in Furina's eyes, overjoyed ones that she blinked away nonetheless. This was the first time in her life that she had experienced the love that was far greater than that of an adoring fan, and for once she could believe that she was loveable with how softly Navia held her as though she was the most expensive thing in the world, like fine china. But even if she wasn't, even if she was just a common human now, it was undeniable that Navia would love her all the same. So, this was the first time that she could wholeheartedly and without a doubt and without an ounce of fear say, "I love you too, Navia." 

Again, their lips were together even as the aquabus reach the end of its trail, even at the risk of others catching them in such a vulnerable and tender moment. It didn't matter to Furina because it was impossible not to feel so safe in the presence of Navia something- she had come to learn all those moons ago whilst in her arms, laying on her bed in her home in Poisson. Something that was again reinstated a while ago when she had held Navia on the peak of that cliff when she had caught the woman at one of her lowest points. Now, that safety was Furina's own to claim and bask in forever.