Chapter Text
There was very little that could make Navia nervous, for she always was one to take things in stride, to go with the flow and trust that everything would turn out okay. However, this scenario was unlike any she had encountered before, and for once, the prospect of having no control over what would follow her actions made her heart race and her mouth dry.
But though what she had planned made her heart race and her hands a little clammy, she knew she would regret not going through with it. That said, after rocking back and forth on her heels a few more times, she raised her hand with a deep inhale and wracked her knuckles against the door before her.
It felt like an eternity had passed before someone answered, and with each second that passed, Navia’s grip on the neatly wrapped, plastic gift bag tightened. But thankfully, before she could destroy any of its contents, the door swung open.
“Miss Navia?” Came the sound of a woman’s voice, but not the one whom Navia was there for.
“Hey there!” she greeted, a wide smile plastering across her face in an attempt to subdue her nerves. “Sorry to bother you, but is Furina around? I need to talk to her about something.”
The woman returned her smile to some degree and stepped aside. “She is, ” she replied, “Please, come in, I’ll tell her you’re here.”
Navia nodded her head and thanked the woman, rolling her shoulders in an attempt to shake out whatever anxiety she could. For the first time, she stepped into the studio Furina had acquired for herself and her troupe. It was nothing extraordinary, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t at all impressive.
An abundance of props and costumes lined the walls, lights from above were shining down onto a wooden platform, about a dozen people sat around reviewing scripts and offering feedback to their peers, and there upon the stage stood Furina, conversing excitedly with one of her troupe members.
Navia watched as the woman who opened the door approached Furina, nodding over to where the blonde woman was standing. Then, Furina all but snapped her head around, and when their eyes locked, Navia offered the shorter woman a small wave. Her mismatched eyes widened adorably, and she all but bounded towards Navia, the two sharing a friendly embrace when they were close enough.
“Navia!” she beamed once they broke apart. “To what do I owe the honour of having you in my studio today?”
The taller woman let out a giggle, her earlier nerves forgotten just for a moment. “ It’s good to see you, Furina,” she greeted. “There was just something I wanted to ask you. It’s nothing to worry about, but would you mind stepping outside with me?”
Furina cocked her head to the side, confused, and though Navia told her not to worry, there were clear hints of apprehension on her face. Regardless, she led Furina out of the studio, the privacy between them making Navia tense up again.
“Ah, first of all,” Navia began, overstretching the bag she had brought with her, gifting it to Furina.
“For me?” she asked, taking it with uncertainty. Navia nodded her head in confirmation, prompting Furina to reach her hand into the bag and pull out one of the many things inside.
Of course, what else would they be other than her famous macarons? And upon realising what they were, Furina’s face lit up tremendously.
“Oh, I’ve been dying to try some of your macarons again!” she gushed, looking up to Navia gratefully, “They’re so delectable and cute! And ooo~ the designs on these are adorable! You really do need to give me a few tips on how you get them so perfect.”
Navia felt a warmth come to her cheeks from all of the praise. “I’d be more than happy to teach you sometime,” she replied, her fingers toying with the coils of her hair. “But anyway, are you doing anything tomorrow evening?” Now, it was much harder to conceal how nervous she felt.
Furina straightened up a little, looking away as she appeared to recall her schedule. “We have rehearsals from morning till noon, but afterward is completely clear for me. Why do you ask?”
This was it, Navia told herself, pushing every trace of insecurity down into the deepest depths of her body. With confidence, half genuine half faux, she placed her hands upon her hips and asked, “How would you like to go out for dinner?”
To her delight, Furina’s response was immediate and excited, “I’d love to!” she replied, only to follow up with a question that made Navia stumble over her words a little, “Will Clorinde and the others be there? ”
“No, err, it will just be us …”
More confusion clouded Furinas features, but she was quick to shake it away, “Alright, sure!”
“Great!” Navia smiled, her heart fluttering. “I’ll pick you up then and we can walk to the restaurant together.”
“Sounds good. I’ll see you then, Navia!”
“Yeah, see you!”
With that, Navia returned to her abode, a spring in her step and a blush on her cheeks.
…
“And that’s pretty much what happened,” Navia said after retelling how she had successfully asked Furina out on a date.
It was the next day, and though her date was not for another three or so hours, she was getting ready because it never hurt to be especially prepared. She could hardly sleep the previous night, excitement and joy running through her brain which hardly died down whilst she applied her mascara in the mirror.
Then, once she was satisfied with her eye makeup, she turned around, plucking two dresses up from where they had been laid upon her bed, holding them up to her body one at a time.
“What do you think, red or black?” her question was directed to the other figure currently occupying her bedroom, sat upon her mattress with an issue of the Steambird in her hand- none other than her dearest friend Clorinde who had been, for the last few months, the one who Navia would relay all of her yearning for Furina to.
Clornide, however, simply looked at her with… something on her face.
“Hey, what’s that look for?” she asked with a small pout.
Clornide sighed and set her paper aside upon Navia’s nightstand. “Forgive me, Navia, but judging by what you just told me, I’m not quite sure Furina got the memo that you were asking her out in a romantic capacity.”
"You’re joking,” she replied, her arms falling to her sides dramatically.
“Well… did you explicitly say that it was going to be a date?”
“No…” Navia said, meekly. “But the macarons I gave her had hearts on them! Surely that conveyed the tone I was going for.”
Clorinde shook her head, and there was something about her disposition that suggested she wasn’t surprised that Navia would make such an error, accustomed to how her best friend would usually dive into things head first when she was excited.
“I’ve worked under Furina for a few years, and I can say with confidence that it would be very in character of her to have misunderstood your intentions.”
Navia put her head in her hands and groaned, sitting by her vanity in defeat. “What am I to do?!” she exclaimed, embarrassment seeping in.
“I’d say it’s probably for the best if you go and clear things up with her,” Clorinde answered. “Otherwise, you may find yourself in a very awkward situation.”
Navia sighed, but she knew her best friend was right. She’d hate to scare Furina off by doing or saying something when they were on two completely different pages. Even so, she knew there was a chance Furina would reject her offer once she found out Navia’s intentions were on the romantic side.
Either way, the blonde rose back to her feet with determination, mentally hyping herself up before heading for the door- her heart was again hammering.
“Navia,” Clorinde called out, stopping her friend before she left. Navia turned around, waiting to hear what she had to say in anticipation. “Wear the black dress, it suits you more.”
At this, Navia smiled warmly. It was the extra boost of confidence that she needed, and so she was quick to rush out the door thereafter, making a beeline for Furina’s abode. Although, with each step she took, her determination dwindled. There was no avoiding how awkward this was going to be, she knew.
It was still the early hours of the afternoon when she stepped outside, and so the streets were bustling as always, though none of the bystanders could possibly comprehend the tribulation of her pressing task which she masked with her usual smile and energetic strides.
Soon enough, she was before the door of Furina’s home, and just like the day before outside of the studio, Navia took a deep breath and tapped her knuckles against it, yet another seeming eternity before it opened.
Furina, who was clearly not expecting to see her just yet, looked up at her inquisitively, but she was hardly defaced. Her curious glance was quick to turn into one of pleasant surprise, a cute smile coming to her lips.
“Navia!” she greeted before casting her eyes over to what Navia assumed to be a clock upon the wall. “You’re a little early, but I suppose I’m all ready to go. I’m excited to find out-”
“Furina,” the other woman cut her off quickly in an attempt to stop the current scenario from getting any more awkward for the both of them. Furina fell silent, her brows furrowing and confusion growing with every second in which the unspoken passed by. “Just so we’re clear… when I asked you to dinner, I meant as a date- you know, the romantic kind?”
Apparently, five hundred years of performing was not enough for Furina to conceal her true emotions when faced with such a revelation. Her eyes went wide, and her cheeks flushed deeply, spreading all the way to her ears. Navia would’ve been worried upon seeing her reaction if it wasn’t for the way Furina’s lips continued to twitch upwards in a giddy smile. It was clear that the shorter woman was trying her best to appear unbothered.
“Well of course I knew that-!” she stammered, turning up her nose. “One could hardly blame you for wanting to go out on a r-romantic date with the likes of me.”
Navia watched her spew her facade with a smile, for there was always something endearing about it.
“However, I would suggest that you ensure you are ready. This date should be nothing but the best!”
Relief overwhelmed Navia’s senses in that moment, so much so that she let out a breath that she didn’t even realise she was holding. She cocked her head to the side and responded playfully, “I’ll do just that. I’ll see you in a bit, Furina.”
"Please, take all the time you need!" she called after her.
Thus, Navia dashed home, truly elated that all had gone well in the end even if Furina had initially misinterpreted her invite. She passed Clorinde on her way back who had since taken her leave and explained to her best friend her true success. Clorinde congratulated her warmly, but Navia knew it wise not to celebrate just yet, for there was no telling what would happen on their date. Would it be awkward, or would the two converse as though it was the most natural thing in the world? Only time would tell.
Speaking of time, Navia didn't have much of it since the trek to and from Furina's home wasn't exactly a short one. (She sort of regretted offering to pick Furina up, but she supposed it was the proper etiquette to do so, and she wanted to make a good impression.) So, she rushed to get ready, completing her makeup in record speed. She threw on the black dress which Clorinde had recommended- it was an off-the-shoulder one with short frilly sleeves and a mid-length skirt. She adorned her neck with a string of pearls and painted her nails white to match. As for her shoes, she opted for a pair of black ones that came to her shins and didn't quite give her as much height as her usual heels. After all, towering over her date would make a certain romantic activity fairly difficult.
Navia stopped herself then, realising that she was getting a little ahead of herself. Even though she had fantasised about it, there was no guarantee that the two would share a kiss, nor was it set in stone that their relationship would progress past this date, and that thought pulled a small frown to her lips. Navia might have been an optimist by nature, but she understood that it was probably for the best to not get too excited, even if her heart was beating faster than ever. Even so, she remained with her choice of boots because it didn't hurt to be prepared. In fact, she was especially prepared considering the fact that she brought her parasol that essentially doubled as a canon. In recent years, she had come to learn that bad guys and monsters were lurking around every corner.
Finally, she was ready, and with her handbag around one arm, and parasol in the other, she set out yet again to Furina's house. The rush of everyone returning from work had since passed, and so the streets were on the quieter side. Similar to the streetlights above, small establishments emitted a warm, orange glow, lighting up the path ahead. Bouts of laughter could be heard flowing from occupied taverns, and the giggle of girl-friends enjoying a night out streamed by. Said sound were accompanied by the rhythmic tapping of Navia's boots against the ground, and the pleasant thrum of her heart until she had eventually reached her destination.
The door loomed over her now more than ever, but Navia told herself she had done the hardest part already. If she were overly conscious while out with Furina, then she would not be able to enjoy herself whatsoever. That said, she let her anxiety melt away and told herself that there was excitement in not knowing was was going to happen. So, she knocked upon the door with a smile at the ready, but before it opened, one final worry entered her mind- she would've quite liked to buy her date flowers.
Well, if all things went smoothly, she could buy them on their next date.
Navia's hands fell to her hips, and she bore a confident expression. The door finally opened revealing of course the object of her affection. Her eyes softened as soon as she caught sight of Furina, her heart swelling. "My, you're quite the handsome sight," she said, drinking her date in as she stepped out further into the orange light.
The shorter woman wore a deep blue, tailcoat jacket- similar to her usual one, though this one was far less frilly, lacking in playfulness. Underneath she wore a fitted blouse that was tucked into a pair of shots which came to just above her knees. White socks rose up to her shins, and upon her feet were fancy leather shoes which had a bit of her heel. She looked incredibly regal, but Navia found something undeniably adorable about the blue bowtie and suspenders she wore.
A pink tinge came to Furina's cheeks then, and once more she tried to hide the smile playing at her lips. "You're a sight for sore eyes yourself," she replied.
Navia put a hand to her mouth as she giggled. "Let's get going, shall we?" she wanted to link arms with her date, maybe hold her hand too, but she wasn't sure how Furina felt about public displays of affection, thus she reluctantly refrained.
"So, just where is it we're going to eat? I don't believe you specified." Asked Furina, falling into step with the blonde.
Navia looked down to her, a grin spreading across her lips. "Where else but the Fleuve Cendre? They serve an incredible fish stew!" The look that came to Furina's face upon hearing this was priceless- it was clear she had several issues with such a location with how her eyes widened in horror, but for the sake of being polite, she was trying her best not to let it show. Either way, Navia could not hold back her laughter, and so her subterfuge fell short. "I'm only joking. I made a reservation at Hotel Debord. I figured that would be a safe bet."
Furina put a hand on her chest and let out a sigh of relief, as though joking about going to such a place had physically distressed her, and the sight brought out another chuckle from Navia.
They walked through the serene streets, the sky growing darkening with every step they took, revealing a veil of stars above them. Thankfully, Hotel Debord was not a far walk from where Furina lived, but during the short journey Navia couldn't help but imagine the night ahead: The intimate ambiance, the soft, live music, the candlelit dinner with Furina sitting across from her. Navia was a lot of things and a hopeless romantic was one of them. Who could blame her when she grew up reading fairy tales and the real-life escapades of her mother and father?
As they approached the entrance, Navia caught Furina glancing sideways at her, a curious yet affectionate look in her eyes. "What is it?" the taller woman asked, her voice laced with more tenderness than curiosity.
Furina shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips. "Ah, nothing. I was just thinking about how this is my first time being out like... this."
Navia's eyes widened. She was certain that, back when Furina was the righteous leader of Fontaine, she would've had plenty of adoring fans professing their love for her, begging the deity for a chance. But of course, being the Hydro Archon, she had to decline. It had been well over a year since the woman lost her throne, and Navia struggled to believe that no one had taken their chances with Furina now that she was human. After all, she was undeniably gorgeous, and talented, had the most beautiful voice, and dedicated five hundred years to a façade in order to save her people. What was there not to love?
No, Navia was just lucky. Lucky enough to exist in the time frame in which Furina became human, lucky to have witnessed her more vulnerable moments, to see her cry, to hear her musical laugh. Lucky for the possibility that her deep feelings were reciprocated.
"Well, I'm honoured that I could be your first," she replied, warmly. Her words brought a deeper flush to Furina's cheeks, and it looked as though she wanted to say something else, but whatever it was, Furina ultimately decided to keep it to herself.
Hotel Debord was indeed a safe choice, in fact, it was probably the best choice, for there were several reasons why it was so popular. The lobby was a display of grand opulence with its marble floors and sparkling chandeliers, and once they were inside, a hostess greeted them before checking the reservation under Navia's name. Then, they were led up to the mezzanine and shown to a table by a window that overlooked the court. Dinner and a nice view, Navia truly was lucky.
"Here, allow me," spoke Furina before rounding the table and pulling out Navia's chair for her, bowing dramatically thereafter.
"Ohhoho, chivalry is alive and well!" Navia replied with a curtsey, thanking her date before taking her seat.
A waiter appeared soon after, presenting them with menus and taking their drink orders. As they perused the options, Navia couldn't help but sneak glances at Furina, her heart fluttering every time their eyes met. She couldn't quite believe the scenario she was in if she was being completely honest. After all, their relationship had been an interesting one thus far. Growing up, she wasn't exactly one for tradition, and so the idea of worshiping her Archon was in the far reaches of her mind- she was far too caught up in trying to be like her father. But of course, it wasn't long before the man she idolized was taken from her- killed by none other than her best friend, and ultimately all of her relationships took a turn. It was hard for her not to be upset with Clorinde, Neuvillette, and Furina too- the trinity of the justice system that ended the life of her father.
However, Navia was a benevolent person, and so bitter feelings of disdain and hatred were fleeting- melting away like snowflakes on her palm. That's exactly why she had no qualms about looking out for Furina after she had become human, that's why she was persistent in helping her find her feet, going as far as to check in on her virtually every day with a fresh batch of macarons to lift her spirits. Navia knew she'd do it again, rain or shine, to see Furina smile. She was aware that a few confectioneries would do little to heal five centuries' worth of loneliness, but she'd happily keep trying.
Navia might not have worshiped the Hydro Archon, but she'd worship Furina.
The sight of two glasses and a bottle being placed on the table in front of them pulled Navia from her deep thoughts like a sharp jolt that plunged her back into reality. She could feel her face burning, knowing that there was no denying how serious her feelings for Furina were, and quite frankly, it was a little overwhelming but exhilarating all the same. Sure, she had childhood crushes and the odd girlfriend here and there, but this, what she felt towards Furina, was more than just a high school-style fancy.
Either way, Navia shook her head, reminding herself again not to be overly conscious to avoid ruining her time out with Furina. Thus, she leaned forward in her chair, took a sip from her glass, and initiated an upbeat conversation. They spent the next couple of hours laughing, talking, and sharing stories. Though the food was quite exquisite, (Navia had opted for a pasta dish whereas Furina chose a ragout and calamari) it was the company that made the evening truly special. The two had a lot in common which made them the good friends that they are today, however, the differences they shared did not enforce a dichotomy, but rather, a compatible contrast. Navia loved hearing about all of Furina's artistic projects, listening with interest as the other woman detailed her new ideas. In turn, Navia would recall her triumphs and tribulations regarding her work in the Spina. Every now and then Furina, who had ruled a nation for over five hundred years, would pitch in some advice whenever Navia found herself in a difficult position. Navia couldn't help but muse over how much of a great team they made.
Then, as the small orchestra band concluded their latest score, horror struck Navia. She realised it after taking a swig of her wine only to find the rim of it spotless after she pulled it away from her lips- she had forgotten to put on lipstick. Sure, an easy mistake to make for some, but Navia took her makeup very seriously. Hence, she excused herself and hurried into the nearest bathroom, rummaging through her handbag until she found her favourite lipstick. Sure, some may have seen her actions as pointless because Furina had already seen her without it, but now that Navia herself was aware that she wasn't wearing any, she felt completely naked. Additionally, the idea of sending Furina home with a smudge of red upon her cheek was awfully tempting.
At any rate, Navia pouted her lips and applied the makeup in the mirror, smacking her lips together to ensure she achieved maximum coverage. However, it appeared as though her luck for that day had run out, for seconds later, the lipstick slipped from between her fingers, ricocheted off the sink, and plunged right into the void of the drain. Navia cursed, frantically trying to grasp for it before it fell out of view, but it was no use. \
Typically, Navia, who had a seemingly endless supply of makeup, would not have been bothered about losing one product. However, that particular shade of lipstick was one Clorinde had gifted her, so she was mortified to have dropped it down the drain, and quickly she grew desperate to get it back. That said, she hurried out of the bathroom in an attempt to find someone who could help her in this particular situation- but she knew she would have to be quick, for she absolutely didn't want Furina to think that she had ditched her.
Thankfully, her luck was restored, for after whipping her head around the restaurant, she caught sight of a man clad in overalls with tools hanging from his belt slipping into a room near the back of the establishment. She followed after him, sleuthing past all the tables and chairs. However, when she made it outside of the maintenance room, the man whom she had chased down appeared to have rendezvoused with a colleague inside. So, as to be polite, she waited outside for the two to finish their conversation.
A conversation which Navia couldn't help but overhear.
"Well?" said the man, his tone impatient, and his voice gruff.
The second voice that answered also belonged to a man, although his was more refined and eloquent. "What do you mean, well ?" he sounded irritated.
"Are we getting that shipment in or not? We have a full house tonight."
What followed was a sudden thud, and from it, Navia could guess that the posh-sounding man had hit the other guy with something or other. "You imbecilic!" he hissed. "Today is not the day we put our plan into motion, that's tomorrow!"
"Well, then why was Boss making such a big deal today?"
"Because, moron, today is when we move the goods from the production zone in Erenyes to the storage unit in the Fleuve Cendre then we- ugh, you know what, just give me a pen and I'll write it down, I don't know how much I can trust you not to screw up this mission." It didn't take a genius to figure out that at least one of the men conversing wasn't pleasant enough to be around. However, what others might not have picked up on was how shady their topic of conversation was, and it was sounding alarm bells in Navia's head, so she was compelled to investigate.
"There," the disagreeable man exclaimed following the sound of folding paper. "That explains everything, now don't lose it!"
"I won't I won't!" the other man replied, and Navia imagined him snatching the paper from his acquaintance.
Then, the handle upon the door rattled, an indicator that Navia's possible suspects in shady business were about to leave the room. Hence, the blonde ducked behind a corner and watched the two men exit one after another- first, it was the man in overalls and a toolbelt, and then it was a man dressed in a formal suit- the very same waiter who had shown Furina and herself to their table. They went separate ways, but Navia's eyes remained fixated on the former man, especially when she caught sight of a piece of paper stuffed into his toolbelt which certainly wasn't in there before.
So, Navia saw her chance and went for it, catching up to the gruff man before he could slip away.
"Excuse me, sir!" she called out, causing him to turn around. "I've been a bit of a clutz and gone and dropped my lipstick down the drain in the bathroom. Perhaps you can lend me a hand?"
The man looked her up and down with eyes of appraisal, a smirk coming to his chapped lips as he nodded his head. "Sure can, doll." Navia had to try her best not to gag at the diminutive. That said, she led the plumber-looking fellow into the bathroom, pointing out the sink that had consumed her beloved makeup product. "How have you managed that then, lassi?" he asked, removing the panel that concealed the underworkings of the drain.
"I couldn't tell you sir!" she replied with a faux giggle, playing into the role of damsel in distress. "I trip over my own shadow you see."
The man laughed at her comment, all but climbing under the sink to unscrew the pipes. Not waiting a second more, Navia crept closer, and with surgical-like movements, she snagged the piece of paper from his belt before slipping it under her sleeve. She quite felt like a secret spy in that moment.
Soon enough, and the man emerged with a U-shaped pipe in one hand, and her beloved lipstick in the other- a triumphant smile on his face. "Here you are little lady," he said, handing the product to Navia.
"Oh, thank you so much, Mr...?"
"Leferve, Julien Leferve," he introduced himself. "And you are?"
"Claire Dubois," she lied.
"Hey, come back here tomorrow evening, I'd like to get a drink with you, Miss Dubois."
Goodness, she felt sick, but she tried her best not to let it show and instead, she lied again, "I'll be there, Mister Lefevre."
They shared a laugh, even if it was feigned on Navia's half, and thankfully it wasn't long before they parted ways, thus her fake smile wiped itself off of her face. Then, when she was in a safe enough place to do so, she retrieved the paper she had stolen from inside her sleeve, unfolded it, and let her eyes scan over its contents. However, what she read made her blood run cold:
Today:
(6pm) Shipment of Sinthe supply from Erinnyes to Fleuve Cendre.
Tomorrow:
-(12pm) Sinthe supply transported to Hotel Debord.
-(1pm onwards) Serve customers their drinks with mild dosages of sinthe
Day after:
-(9am onwards) continue to serve spiked drinks
- serve repeat customers drinks with a slightly higher dosage (+5ml)
For the nth time that day, Navia's heart was pounding, but this time, from horror.