Chapter Text
"Click"
The door felt heavy at first, though she could not tell whether that was due to her exhaustion or the ease with which doors at her previous residence used to open. Collecting herself, a large yet insincere smile was plastered across her face, feigning excitement at the prospect of encountering her new home as she swung the door wide open.
The first thing she took notice of was the size, as the entrance gave way to a rather large living-room and a connected open-plan kitchen, all furnished and decorated. The space, featuring an extravagant table at its centre, she thought, could probably host one of her moderately sized tea parties. After having relinquished her post as the hydro archon, she had expected to live in more modest conditions, but alas, it seemed some people still cared for her comfort.
Next, she noted the relative darkness of the living space. There were sizable windows on two of the walls enclosing the area, from which a good amount sunlight- particularly at this time of day- should have entered the building. Inquiring as to the cause, she approached one of the windows. Looking outside she saw a great number of people walking along the main road by her house, sitting in cafes, and purchasing goods. Over 500 years she had gotten used to not encountering ordinary folk in her day-to-day life. As she glanced back at where the sun should have been, she saw one of the giant pillars holding up the city’s upper canals. In the moment, it all felt somewhat surreal, to be living inside the city that she mostly used to gaze at from up top. She was living among her Fontaine’s people now, no longer “above them” per se. This would take some time getting adjusted to.
Turning back, she decided to explore further and walked up the stairs that lead to the second floor of her house. There were 3 doors in front of her. The first led to what seemed to be a home office along with a small library. The library consisted of 2 bookshelves along the walls filled to the brim with her old books from the palace. Sifting through the countless stories, plays, and myths brought her gentle memories, shifting the ends of her lips ever so slightly upwards. Her gaze then fell on a desk at the far end of the room. It was her previous. Adorned with all the trinkets and ornaments she was used to. Right behind was her old chair, a cherished companion. Seeing them once more brought with it a sense of familiarity, finally putting a slight grin to her face.
Leaving the room in a giddy mood, she headed toward the second door. Opening it revealed a lavish bathroom. Surfaces- all covered in elaborate ceramic-, the numerous lights situated around the mirror behind the sink, a mesmerizing tub- evidently from the hands of an expert craftsman- all came together create the perfect atmosphere. Perhaps she could use a warm shower. No. She did not wish to see or touch any water for now. The pain was still too fresh. She could still feel the burn, as if it had stained her.
The last door led to her bedroom. Soft colours were scattered throughout, from the light brown of the closet to the charming rose and turquoise of the bed, reinforcing the cozy ambiance. It felt inviting, luring her inside. She then, took a good look at the whole room, something peculiar catching her eye.
Right there she saw a mirror, strikingly similar to the one that had introduced her to Focalors, her divine counterpart. Coming face to face with it now completely overwhelmed her…
All the sleepless nights, the joyous conversations, tense encounters and silent cries; all the acting, fear, deception, dread came back to haunt, as a monsoon of emotions swelled up inside her. Memories of those who she had once considered her dear friends; those “friends” who had stabbed her in the back at her weakest point, put her in a sham trial and pulled apart- against her will- her façade, her only hope… Hundreds of eyes, burning with malice, staring into her very essence, judging her as the play she had tirelessly maintained for 5 centuries crumbled in mere minutes, all at the hands of her “friends”. She had felt utterly helpless that day. Although done for a noble end and in desperation, she could not forgive their betrayal.
A few droplets flowing slowly down her cheeks…
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"Gasp-"
The last few days had all gone similarly.
She would bolt awake, covered in sweat and tears, her heart clearly audible as she quivered beneath the cold blankets, hiding away from the morning sun like it would judge her too. She would try desperately to return to her slumber, her nightmares. Once it was the traveller, deceiving her with compassion and respite, offering her an escape, someone to share her struggles with when she had needed it most. Another time it was Neuvillette, the only constant in her life, always a figure she believed she could trust and rely on. This night it was Clorinde, her dutiful guard who unknowingly made sure none could challenge her claim to divinity. All her nightmares began with these people, she would reminisce about their kind words, determined spirits, and sweet smiles. Yet this peace would not last, as in the end they all would lead her back to that same courtroom. As painful as it was, the stage- unlike her bedroom- gave her a reason to stay composed.
Her futile attempt would inevitably fail. She would go back and forth on the large bed until it was night again. Some days she would be motivated enough to get up and eat. Pasta was her usual. She preferred it over the alternatives, since making and consuming a bowl would take little time and even less effort. Sometimes she would also stream some music as she went through that daily routine.
That evening, one song in particular caught her attention. Its lyrics painted the story of a chained dove, longing for her freedom. The music built up as all uncertainties were pushed aside and it shifted in tone when the bird ultimately broke free, unbound by her shackles she headed toward the moon. Furina could certainly relate to being restrained, yet the latter part of the song equally resonated with her. Maybe she too, yearned to do what was once beyond her reach.
She decided to check out some of the artist’s other songs, all of which seemingly carrying the same hopeful and bright tone. She opted to save a few of them before going back to cooking. She opened one of the drawers to discover that she had run out of some ingredients. Although it was quite late, she knew of one store that would still be open. And, honestly, this was probably the best time, as she hated the idea of walking in public during the day again. She could feel the weight of the stares, whispers, and thoughts when she would pass by others.
She could almost hear them label her. “fraud”, “liar”, “fake” … Certain people had not bought the story the Iudex had come up with, neither did they know of Focalors’ grand plan. To them, she was nothing but a failed god. She couldn’t really blame those people. In some sense, she also believed herself to be lacking. Afterall, she had just been a mortal playing archon.
Before she left though, she still felt the need to make herself presentable. She brought a bag with her to the bathroom and began inspecting her face. The back of her hair was long, messy, and tangled like Sumerian vines. Her eyes were burning a bright red with distinct purple bags beneath each, it was unclear whether due to constant tears, a lack of proper sleep or both. Most concerning of all were a few small marks on her face. They were long and thin. She raised her arms to probe them further, only to be faced with myriad more on her hands, sharper and much more noticeable…
Fallowing an arduous routine, she was satisfied enough with her appearance to head out. After carefully putting on some of her old gloves, she headed downstairs with her purse, intending to leave. She had wasted so much time that it had become pitch black outside. As she passed by the kitchen, she considered bringing a knife with her, in case anything bad were to happen. However, she decided against it, thinking herself too paranoid. She was just going out to get some groceries, what’s the worst that could happen?
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Time seemed to slow down to a halt; all she could hear were the pounding heart and laboured breaths of the one beside her; all she could see was the deep red flowing through the cloth she was holding with her hands, beneath one of her wings and down her neck; all she could feel was an arm- shaking, yet still steady-, supporting her as they walked toward… Somewhere? She neither knew nor had the energy the question where they were headed.
She could seldom think and when she did it was about her. Admiring her determination as she kept pushing them both forward, desperation seeping from her eyes. Those gorgeous, mismatched eyes, painted with fear and struggle. It was a shame she couldn’t gaze at them under happier circumstances. She decided then, that if she were to live, she would stare at them for far, far longer. As she felt her consciousness slowly fading, she saw but a glint of hope in her companion’s eyes, before she could no longer keep hers open.
It had all been so sudden.
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Robin had come to Fontaine not too long ago for an upcoming concert. During her breaks, she was allowed to roam around parts of the country with her guards. She had gone to Poisson, Erinnyes Forest, the Court of Fontaine, and even to the Research Institute of Kinetic Energy. Being immersed in the Nation’s numerous regions gave her a lot of song ideas. She got to see a lot of the landmarks too, chief among which was the Opera Epiclese, wherein her concert would take place. The opera/courtroom openly displayed the people’s perspective on art and justice. To them, the trials were just like any other play- only with the stakes and drama cranked up to eleven-, as they would watch both from the same seats.
But she coveted more. She wanted to see this city, especially the Court of Fontaine, in its purest form. She wished to wander through it, talk to its peoples, and bask in its beauty all by herself, without the constant protection of her bodyguards. It wasn’t that she hated them, far from it. She had a great amount respect for most of them. However, due to their constant presence she felt trapped, never being able to stray far from their reach.
Another problem was her fame. Whenever she went anywhere, all eyes would cling to her. People would cheer for her, ask for autographs and even photos. Some would try to get too close and inevitably face her bodyguards- and probably the pavement too. If the public wasn’t enough, there was also the Steambird and their reporters tailing her on her every visit and reporting it to all of Fontaine. With all the eyes on her, she couldn’t focus on her environment. She just wanted to experience the land as a native would.
From this desire, arose a plan. She would wait until the dark and leave her house wearing a disguise. If she succeeded, she would have several hours to explore the city, alone. All she needed to do was make sure neither Gallagher nor the paparazzi caught her leaving, as the news would definitely reach her brother as well. Just like all her other dumb ideas, the plan sounded perfect in her head.
Putting it into action would be a bit trickier, however. She couldn’t just purchase a long coat and glasses without arousing suspicion, no? So, she needed to get creative, and she had just the idea…
“So… How was the city?” He remarked through the phone, as she was walking toward the door.
“It was astonishing. The architecture, the parks, the atmosphere… They were all perfect.”. She took a brief pause.
(If only I could’ve-)
“I heard you also enjoyed the food.”
“Oh-. *giggles* Yes, Fontanians sure know their pastry! I had never seen that many kinds of cake, all together, on a table before.”
She reached into her bag and pulled out her keys
“I’m glad to hear that you’ve enjoyed yourself.” He said, followed by a small sigh.
“But be sure to get some rest. You ought to not tire yourself before the performance.” He added.
“Worry about yourself, first.” She retorted, slightly grinning by the end as she walked inside.
“Brother, I know you’ve got a very packed schedule this week. So please, try to leave some time for yourself.” She finished.
“…Thank you, sister. I’ll… make sure I do. Take care.”
“Byeee~.”
She ended the call.
She walked into a room, reserved for her brother since he would come back to Fontaine sometime later to watch her performance and made her way to the closet. Opening it revealed numerous pants, shirts, jackets, sweaters, coats, and all kinds of accessories. She looked around a bit before deciding on a long black coat, sunglasses, and a large hat to cover her halo before exiting.
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Only the sporadic person would disturb her peace, as she wandered about the bustling city turned still under the bright moonlight. The city consisted of many layers, each accessible through stairs between them, each showcasing another set of wonders. There was something ethereal to its roads, dimly lit by the warm glow of streetlights and the occasional open shop. All the buildings seemed to have their stories to tell.
While she was sitting in a park- thinking about the laughter of the children that would play in it during the day- an uneasy feeling crept up inside her. She elected to ignore it at first, but the malicious feeling only rose in intensity. Maintaining her composure, she stood up and calmy started walking away.
After turning a corner, she peered at a nearby window partially reflecting the road she just walked by. On it she saw a figure, though she could not make out any details. Concerned, she fastened her pace, but she could hear them getting closer. By now she was certain that she was being followed. However, if she called for help now, her cover would definitely be blown and she would almost certainly not be permitted to leave the building without supervision again. Thus, she veered to an alley to her left, hoping to lose her pursuer…
It didn’t work. She was now stuck in a dead end, a tall, imposing figure marching slowly toward her. The situation was much more serious than she had originally imagined. She thought to scream for help, try running past them, anything! Yet, the glint of the knife in their hand had made her freeze. She backed away, all the way up to the wall. She regretted everything. Her head filled with all the things she should have done.
"Slash-"
The knife cut partly into her neck, her instinctive movement preventing it from going any further. She fell to her knees gasping from the shock. Paralyzed, she couldn’t look back up. Only one last thought remained, echoing in her mid.
(I’m so sorry brother…)
“HEY, STOP!” The shout permeated throughout the alley.
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The dark was comforting to her, as it hid her face and eased her concerns of recognition. She was headed to a store run by Melusines, recommended by Neuvillette before she had left. It was a bit further from her house but the unjudging service she received there made it well worth the trip. As she was walking though, she heard 2 sets of far away, yet rapid footsteps. It was certainly unnerving to hear two people essentially running at this hour, so she chose to investigate.
She carefully followed the source of the sounds- straying further and further away from her initial destination-, until she came by an alley, wherein one of the sounds ceased and the other slowed down. She stopped for a moment, doubting that it would be a good idea to confront them, until she heard a faint slashing sound. She bolted for the alley, preparing herself for the worst.
Mortified by the image before her she shouted:
“HEY, STOP!”
She saw a girl in an oversized trench coat holding her neck, blood seeping through. Before her was a person holding a stained knife. As the man turned to face her, she questioned what she was even planning to do. Without a weapon, how was she supposed to help? Calling for help seemed equally pointless, as any help would probably arrive too late and only agitate the man further. Realistically, she should’ve ran. But she couldn’t bear leaving another person to die, she had caused enough suffering through inaction already.
A smirk appeared in his face, recognizing the previous archon, as he questioned:
“So, your conscience finally caught up to you?”
The words stung, yet she failed to muster a response. Before she could think any further, the man dashed at her.
(How ironic. The first time I attempt to save, will also be my last. I apologize Mademoiselle…)
She closed her eyes, accepting the very same fate she had fought to defy for 500 years. However, a bright light suddenly penetrated her eyelids. As if to make a fool of her once more, fate had smiled upon her and a hydro vision had manifested.
Taking advantage of her enemy’s baffled state, Furina conjured up some water and hurled it at him. The stream violently pushed him into the ground, knocking the knife out of his hands in the process. She sprinted for the knife, picking it up and quickly throwing it in her bag, whereas the man immediately got up and scurried out of the alley, certainly aware that he stood no chance against a vision bearer.
Now that the threat had subsided, Furina rushed beside the injured woman. She kneeled to take a closer look at her neck. Blood was pouring from the open wound and out of her hand. She hastily pulled out a small handkerchief from her bag and gave it to the girl. She then took the girl’s free arm, placed it around her own neck and pulled her up. She subsequently placed her other hand on the girl’s back to support her further.
She knew the closest clinic was still too far away, she would likely lose fatal amounts blood by the time they made it there. She decided to take her to her house, which they were rather close to. She would close the wound there, at least she believed she could, and decide what to do afterwards. She didn’t have time to think of a better alternative.
They started limping out of the alley.
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Her new home, marked by a few dead plants she had forgotten to take care of on the porch, had never looked so enticing before. Yet, mere moments after seeing it, she felt the weight on her back increasing and saw from the edge of her view a bloody handkerchief falling to the ground. She realized in horror that the girl had fallen unconscious. She couldn’t carry the both of them all the way to her house on a good day, let alone while being extremely malnourished and tired.
“No… No, please…” was all that she could muster as she frailly shook the girl, begging for an answer.
The cold, unresponsive body brought back visions of Poisson, shattering what little collectedness she had remaining as her vision blurred. Desperate, she attempted to create something, anything that would help her carry the girl to her house. And to her surprise, it worked- kind of.
She had summoned 3 medium-sized hydro beings: a crab, an octopus, and a seahorse, all of whom seemingly originating from a fantastical play. Although puzzled, she decided not to question it for now. She commanded the 3 to help carry her and hold the handkerchief in place. But before she started moving herself, she noticed blood dripping from her own nose.
As they finally made their way inside, she asked one of her summons to bring a medical bag from her room while she gently laid the woman on her largest couch. She was incredibly nervous considering it had been more than a century since she had last stitched a wound shut. But she couldn’t doubt herself now. A lady’s life was at stake.
The seahorse look-alike came rushing down the stairs, bringing a small bag with a red cross. Furina quickly took the bag from it, pulled out the equipment she needed and dismissed her summons to focus. She quickly got to work, going in and out, stitching the wound carefully. The girls skin felt slightly cold and incredibly soft, momentarily distracting her from the awful situation she had found herself in. After she was done, she took a deep sigh and inspected her work. It wasn’t perfect but she hoped it would get the job done.
Right as she was removing her bloodied gloves, she remembered how visions could be used to heal the sick and injured. Taking her chance, she used her vision for the third time this night. Before her appeared another hydro being, but this one was different. It was around her height and it radiated a divine feeling. Just by standing near, she could feel her nose getting better and her energy replenishing.
Switching her attention back to the girl on her couch, she placed the back of her hands on her chest, looking for her pulse.
“Thump… Thump”
Good. Her heart was beating at a constant rate.
The summon appeared to be working too, as the wound had now closed completely.
Finally, a bit relaxed, Furina decided to take a closer look at the girl. She first took the trench coat, glasses, and hat off, revealing long, gorgeous periwinkle hair and a… halo? Perplexed, she tried touching it. Its surface was metallic and cold, yet it was somehow connected to her? She tried pushing it this time, but the force pulling it back only intensified. Yielding, she moved her eyes back to the girl’s face, now in a peaceful slumber.
Just then she noticed something else. Beneath the soft periwinkle hair on her nape were a pair of adorable white wings. Was this woman an angel? Curious, she moved her hands through the white feathers. They felt extremely soft. For a moment she wondered how they would feel against her cheeks, the thought making her blush, before an innocuous, yet sudden movement from the girl made her jump back.
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Robin opened her eyes, as the sun gently greeted her. The room she was situated in felt unfamiliar but secure- she wasn’t sure why. She scanned her surroundings. On one end of the room was an imposing wooden closet, next to which stood a few small drawers stretching up to the door, on the other end was the window and beside it a circular object covered by a long veil, though she surmised from the shards by the floor that it was probably a broken mirror.
As she got up, she noticed some clothes, presumably left for her, by the nightstand. She was eager to wear something fresh but lost her enthusiasm once she realized they were a bit too small for her. She then dared to peer out the windows. She saw a number of people walking outside, from the looks of it she was somewhere inside the city. The sight made her remember being trailed and cornered, yet the events following or preceding remained hazy.
In search of answers, she decided to leave the room.
Opening the door, she was welcomed by the smell of freshly made pancakes and the noise of a soft whistle, making her feel as though she were back home. She walked downstairs, following the scent until she saw the back of someone familiar. Her mostly short white hair, with a hint of blue scattered across, -a strand of which defiantly pointing upwards from atop her head- helped identify her. She was wearing an oversized white shirt below her pink apron.
Hearing the steps behind her back, Furina turned around. Emerald hued eyes she hadn’t seen open since last night were now staring right at her. Seeing them happy freed her body from the exhaustion she had built up over the entire week. She couldn’t help but smile.
Pleasantly surprised by the sight of the girl, she gleefully greeted her.
“Good morning, Mademoiselle. It’s a relief to see you awake, though are you sure you should be walking right now?”
Her face, filled with joy and concern finally made Robin recall the events of yesterday. As she thought how to respond, her hand subconsciously went up to her neck. Seeing the sorrowful look on her face, Furina’s enthusiasm turned sour and she spoke again.
“Apologies, if I brought back some… unpleasant memories.”
The girl’s response caused Robin to become self-conscious, prompting her to clarify.
“Thanks for your concern but I think I’m fine now.” She said, lightly chuckling, visibly easing Furina’s concern.
“Wonderful. In that the case I implore you to have a seat. Breakfast is almost ready.” Furina said, smiling, gesturing to the table at the centre of the room.
After a short wait, Furina was done preparing their breakfast. For the first time since she arrived at her new home, she would be eating with another- for the occasion she had even brought out some fancy plates. To brighten up the mood, she decided to strike up conversation.
As they ate, they spoke at length about trivial matters, such as parts of their lives, their hobbies, and some funny stories. The pair were both experts when it came to talking, due to this, their discussions stretched on and on, jumping from one topic to another. They treaded carefully, as to not bring up those painful events. Furina hadn’t enjoyed a conversation this much since years ago.
“Mademoiselle, we’ve been talking for quite some time now and I still don’t know what to call you. Might I be so bold as to ask for your name?” She had been on the fence about asking this question for a while now, aware that it would most certainly be directed back at her afterwards. She was curious about the girl in front of her, one that had not recognized her and certainly didn’t feel from here. She had noticed that the girl knew dining etiquette including how to properly use the cutlery. Her voice was also incredibly soothing, briefly freeing Furina of the stress piled on her back over the centuries. She definitely wasn’t normal.
The girl stopped for a moment, unsure how to answer. It delighted Furina to see that she hadn’t been the only one dreading this moment, yet it also confused her even further.
“It’s Robin…” Where had she heard that name before?
“…and yours?” Oh, right. She had committed to this now. She took a deep breath before answering:
“Furina. I’m pleased to make your acquaintance” …and nothing happened. She kept continuing their previous conversation. Had she seriously not even heard her name before? Furina couldn’t complain though, staring deep into her emerald eyes as her face shone under the warm morning sun while she was passionately describing a song she had recently discovered felt immaculate. She hoped this moment would never end.
After they were done, Robin called Gallagher to pick her up, knowing that if she stayed any longer without informing him he might have to start looking for her.
“Wait for one moment, please.”
Before she could tell, Furina had already made her way upstairs and as quickly as she had left, she returned. In her hands was an elegant purple collar, adorned with several pearls.
“Here, have this.” She extended her hands.
Robin could feel blood rushing up to her face- fortunately staying inside her body this time- as she reached out to receive the generous gift.
“Thank you.”
She placed the collar around her neck, careful to cover the stitches. It felt comfortable.
It was also incredibly embarrassing. So, in retaliation, she swiftly picked up Furina’s phone- which was left open on top of the table-, entered her number and sent herself a message, before returning it with a grin.
Moments later, a car came by to pick Robin up. As she walked toward it Furina called to her.
“Farewell, Mademoiselle Robin.”
“See you later, Furina.”
She waved goodbye one last time before she got in the car.
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“*Mademoiselle Robin*, oh such lèse-majesté, would you mind tellin’ me how you’ve managed to snag for yourself the old hydro archon in a single night?” The man said, practically laughing by the end.
Robin, flustered, immediately replied.
“It’s not lik- wait, the hydro WHAT?!”
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Furina was washing their dishes while listening to some music, trying to calm her heart that had nearly launched into orbit when the girl essentially gave her number to her. But as she looked back on her phone she noticed something peculiar, the artists name, Robin…