Work Text:
Navia usually woke up far before the early morning rays of dawn’s first breath began to leak through the well-fortified entrance of Poisson, due mainly to the fact that her hair took her twice as long to put up in the usual style than to dress. On days like today, she made sure to sleep early the night before so she would be sure to wake even earlier than that, making her morning ritual much earlier than usual. It was easy to focus on things like this in particularly stressful times, the rhythm of her own hands carding through her hair as she meticulously put it up, combed it, brushed it, and styled it to her liking. After much fussing about with her clothes and signature umbrella, she finally began to set out into the cool, pre-dawn air. Summer’s grasp on Fontaine was beginning to slim as the soft winds of fall began to brush through the grass and leaves, whistling lavishly against the stone walls of the cavernous village.
Navia arrives on the surface of the entrance, the boat she had requested already set out for her, moored alongside the coast. She climbed in, and began to make her journey to the heart of her nation. As she sailed, just barely beginning to be kissed by the warmth of the sun as it rose above the waters, she began to think. Today was a very important day, quite possibly the most important day of the month that she had planned. It must be, for her to be up at such an unreasonable time, for her to set foot in the Court of Fontaine just as the sun began to soak into her skin and the city began to hustle to life. Such days like today required precision from her, from her organization, and from many others of the city she relied upon.
The first thing that she set about doing as she made landfall was taking a quick stop to Café Lutece, where she approached Arouet at the counter with much more liveliness in her step than to be expected of someone who seems to have been awake for hours.
“Good morning, Arouet! It's starting to get a bit chilly out, isn't it?”
“Good morning to you as well, Miss Navia. Just your usual today?”
“If you would be so kind, but make it just a little extra strong and sweet for me? Oh, and if you wouldn't mind making that to-go as well!”
“Of course. You seem to be up and about quite early today, is there something with the Spina going on?”
“Oh, no. Nothing special with us today, it's my day off, but I'm still so busy! Of course, besides that, it's a very, very special day, you know? I'm not the kind of girl to get up even earlier than I usually do for nothing, you know?”
The manager nods solemnly, as he continues to prepare Navia her cup, then hands it to her just as another person rounded the corner and started to approach the cafe. Her distinctive posture and even more distinct feathered hat was a dead giveaway to one certain champion duelist spotting the Spina do Rosula’s beloved president and making her way over to her.
Navia turned ever so slightly, and upon spotting the other heading directly towards her, suddenly grabbed the cup gently and began scrambling towards the cafe’s exit.
“Ah, Navia, wait-”
“Sorry!! Sorry, Clorinde!! I'm gonna be late for something I have to do for the Spina, I'll catch up with you later, okay?”
Navia fled the scene faster than most of the criminals that Clorinde had helped put away, and she shot a look over to Arouet. The man in question just shrugged, before simply responding, “She said she was quite busy today.”
“... I see. I suppose I'll have to go and find her later, then.”
Clorinde turned back towards the entrance of the cafe, continuing along her morning walk, somewhat dumbfounded by the interaction.
Navia had thankfully escaped the situation as quickly as she could, though she felt a pang in her heart for having to rush around Clorinde and dismiss her like that. Heaving a sigh of relief, Navia made it a point to hurry along to her next stop on the long list of things she had to do today, taking as many detours as possible to where she needed to go next to prevent Clorinde from sneaking up on her again. She was starting to get disconcertingly good at popping up when Navia wasn't expecting her to, and it was even more important that Navia kept her away as long as possible on a day like today, when secrecy and surprise were the utmost important trials, excluding avoiding Clorinde. As Navia rushed around town, gathering package after package, her arms were soon filled with the spoils of her gathering, and sensing that she needed more hand space and less packages, (she really, really should have thought of bringing a couple of the Rosula's helpers so she wouldn't have to make so many trips), she began to walk towards the main avenue of the court.
Soon after, she makes it relatively unscathed to the docks, humming to herself as she manages to put the load of various bags and boxes within the small boat, before turning back halfway through, suddenly feeling the telltale prick of another person's gaze resting on the back of her neck. She straightens up, turning around and casting her own gaze towards the end of the docks, where a tall, purple-clad woman waited for her. Navia sighed, putting a hand to her head in a sense of disgruntlement, before packing up the rest of her things and strutting towards the other end of the dock, hands on her hips. She sighed in exasperation.
“Clorinde! I didn't know you needed to use the docks today!”
“I didn't. I'm here to talk to you. You seem… off today. Flighty. I've checked everywhere I could but I haven't noticed anyone following you or trying to endanger you, so what's the matter?”
“You… isn't it supposed to be your day off? Why aren't you resting! Do you really find that much enjoyment in working? Oh, archons, what am I going to do with you if you end up overworking yourself!”
“You've been avoiding me all day, Navia. I just wanted to understand why. Have I done something to upset you, or the Spina?”
“Oh, Clorinde… I haven't been avoiding you because you've upset me! Jeez, can't a girl keep a secret from her girlfriend for a single day! You know what day it is today, don't you?”
“... My day off?”
Another sigh from Navia, and she groans as she grabs onto Clorinde's hand, dragging her toward the end of the pier.
“No, it's the day before your birthday! Clorinde! You really have been working too hard, haven't you? Look, I'm not avoiding you because I'm upset, like I said, and you haven't done anything to catch the ire of the Spina, but I've been avoiding you because I was hoping you'd keep yourself busy enough so I could set up a surprise party for you!”
Clorinde fell silent for a moment, before a rare smile crept into her face, and she looked down to Navia, all playfully frustrated and exasperated.
“I know tomorrow’s my birthday, Navia. And I know you've been trying to plan something special for me behind my back. Don't discount my skills that much. And let me guess, you've also managed to drag Lady Furina, Lyney, the traveler, and even the Iudex into it? And you've also managed to convince yourself into running a script for me tomorrow with everyone, so I have a chance to take a break and be a player for once?”
Navia was flabbergasted, standing jaw agape at the edge of the pier. She stammered a few unintelligible words out, before her cheeks began to burn a bright red.
“I-! You!! Clorinde!! You ruined the surprise for yourself! And I thought I was doing a good job to get everything together too! How did you know so much about what I was up to! Don't tell me someone told you! I explicitly told everyone not to utter a word, to act perfectly normal!”
“Well, you did a good job of hiding it like you would hide it from a normal person. You might need to try harder next time this sort of thing rolls around so I don't find out so soon, or maybe, just involve me as well. Not everything has to be a surprise, Navia.”
Navia sighs again, before walking to the very edge of the pier and sitting down, watching the waves gently lap against the stone and wood and earth, before Clorinde sits down beside her, placing her hand gently over Navia's, entwining their fingers.
“I'm sorry for being so secretive today, Clorinde. I really wanted it to be a big surprise for you, since you've been working so hard lately. You deserve the rest and the company, you know?”
“Mm. I'm not upset with you at all, Navia. Just include me next time. I'll be happy to help you with your, what I assume to be, mounds of presents and various supplies you've got shoved up in your boat.”
Clorinde leans over, gently grabbing Navia by the chin and placing a soft kiss upon her cheeks, then her forehead. Navia relaxes, before finally giving in and leaning into Clorinde's shoulder, sighing as the sound of the waves wash over the both of them.
“I guess I can have a little break from shopping, but only until noon, then we need to get back to my errands, okay Clorinde?”
“It's a deal, then. I'll treat you to dinner later.”