Chapter Text
"What do you want, Dottore?" Lumine spat, pressing her back against a stone wall.
"It's been a while since you've sent anything- you know that don't you?"
"Well there's nothing of interest to you."
"You dont decide what's important or not."
"Oh please- you want me to send you the fact I've eaten some new food now? You need to calm yourself." She sighed, walking further down the dry, abandoned fontainian alley. "Your colleague is eyeing me like a hawk anyhow, I'm not going to be careless."
The doctor took a sigh. He was just wearing some basic clothing, which allowed him to sneak up on Lumine- which was how it all lead to this predicament.
"What? Why'd I lie about something as disprovable as that? I'm not stupid. I need to go- food wont distract Paimon forever."
"You distracted Paimon?"
"You're not as slick as you think you are. I'm pretty observant." Lumine smiled. "Dont worry you'll probably get a debrief from your fellow harbinger, and if you dont i'll be sending something soon enough- things are getting interesting!~"
"...right. Where are you possibly getting this energy from?"
"Secret!" Lumine smiled and hopped over the brick wall at the end of the alleyway onto the empty street.
Ever since she woke up back in Mondstadt, she'd had this alliance with the doctor. Well she wasn't too sure what she was getting out of it except the loose hope that he'll make something to break that seal thing the unknown god place on her. This deal more continued because Lumine was curious about what the doctor's activities. 'Curiosity killed the cat' is the expression for people wanting to know more than they should, but that statement is just a bit stupid because the cat should've just dodged quicker. Lumine's instincts were definitely better than that cats, so she'd be as curious as she wanted to be. Dottore got infomation out of it, which was a shit ton considering everyone told Lumine every little miniscule thing. And she had her own bird to deliver the letters! How cool is that?
Fontaine's a bit too classy to share their secrets to a random strange traveller, but she's getting to be trusted within the general public slowly. It's harder than it should be considering that Furina archon immediately arrested her and theres a murder investigation and shit. But that Furina isn't an Archon, or atleast she's not the one with all the powers anyway. It was clear to Lumine, she wasnt sure how she could just tell, however Dottore only wanted theories with proof or actual facts. Not theories with the proof of 'I can just tell, I dunno'.
This was one private arrangement- hell even clingy Paimon didn't know about it. She wasn't sure how considering how Paimon had a habit of coming to the scene at the worst moments, but the flying girl wouldn't spill the secret even if she did know. Hopefully anyway.
Lumine walked back to the café Paimon had gotten distracted in.
"Oh Paimon! You're still hungry?"
"Eep! Uh, no?" She coughed, her voice muffled from food in her cheeks.
"Come on, we're to accompany the Archon to a meeting with the local harbinger."
"The knave? She's scary..."
"Come on Paimon, we cant deny an Archon's wishes, we dont want to start a war with an entire nation."
"...fine, but Paimon's not happy about this!" She groaned while Lumine left the Mora on the table. They walked out and headed to the building, which was extraordinarily large- but so was everything here in Fontaine so could anything be called large if it was in proportion to the rest of the city?
Lumine sat beside Furina with a tea infront of her, and with a missing harbinger.
"..she's late." Lumine mumbled.
"Speak of the devil." Furina muttered, the door opening with a white haired figure in the centre.
"I apologise for my tardiness, there was an unexpected issue at the house of the Hearth."
"Everyone is alright, yes?" Lumine asked.
"Yes, it has all been sorted out."
And then Arlecchino and Furina chatted. Some political stuff. Lumine wasn't paying attention, really, she didnt care what happened. She would've already left Fontaine if it wouldn't have made her look as if she was running from court, and that's too much work.
As expected, the exchange was turning arguementive as most exchanges do when opinions contradict. The knave excused herself, leaving Furina and Lumine (and Paimon) alone. She saw the archon's hand shaking and out of pure selfishness she placed her own hand on top. If Furina trusted her, it gave her more connections.
Sure the Shogun didnt like her, but no one liked the Shogun so they did end up liking Lumine (annoyingly). Atleast she had so many connections. Not sure what they would be useful for, but if she ever needed a pirate she could get Beidou, or if she ever needed an emotionally suppressed girl with many unadressed issues she get meet up with Shenhe. Like she had a person for every odd job she'd need help with.
Furina tensed slightly at the touch but dud quickly relax into it.
"Is there anything I can do?" Lumine asked gently.
"No, it's fine, I just need to be think." Furina said shakily. Lumine nodded and stood up, walking to the door and needing to give Paimon a sharp look to stop admiring all the cookies and biscuits. The flying girl quickly caught up right behind Lumine as they left the archon alone.
"Summarised what happened, Paimon."
"The knave isn't happy with the way Furina is handling the prophecy. Where you really not able to keep up with that? Paimon thought it was simple enough."
"No I probably could I just wasn't paying attention. Back to that blasted prophecy thing. Am I involved in solving that?"
"Paimon would describe it as like a subplot."
"Oh my dayssss." Lumine dragged.
As they left the building the sun was spreading its colour across the sky.
"Do you want to go back to our little hotel room?"
"Paimon doesn't mind."
"Then lets quickly stop somewhere for a bite; I'm starving."
"Paimon doesn't object!"
Lumine laughed softly, as they walked to a small confectionery shop that was about to close. Lumine bought herself a savoury cheese pastry and Paimon had a donut. It was a little stale but Lumine wasnt about to go and complain against the tired woman trying to pack up her shop and go home. If something was wrong with Paimon's food, it wouldnt be obvious with how quick she devoured it.
As they returned into the room, Paimon fell asleep almost immediately. Lumine walked quietly into the restroom, and cleaned her skin. Despite her renewed energy for the pastry, she laid in the bed and did fall asleep almost immediately.
"Lumineeee!"
The traveller squinted her eyes open, glancing at Paimon. "What?"
"You were asleep for so long Paimon was getting worried!"
"Im exhausted Paimon, give me more time. You know where my Mora is grab some and go buy us some food."
"You're not coming with Paimon?"
"My legs are dying, and I can trust you to buy something I like. Be back soon." Lumine replied and closed her eyes again, falling asleep. Paimon glanced at the sleeping traveller, slightly concerned, but she did go out and buy some food for both of them. Two baked cheese pastries and two slices of a strawberry, vanilla cake with chocolate grated on top. Paimon decided Lumine's appetite would be going one way or the other, and then it still saved stuff for herself.
Lumine awoke again, this time was Paimon placing a cake on a plate. "Whatcha get?"
"Oh! Paimon got two of these strawberry and vanilla cakes, and Paimon got two of those cheese pastries you like!"
"Can I have a slice of cake please, Paimon?" Lumine asked, sitting up. She took a bite and let out a soft groan of satisfaction. "Damn these Fontainians really know how to bake, huh?"
"How are you so tired?" Paimon asked, her cheeks full of cake.
"Dunno. Maybe its just being surrounded by snitches thats making me on edge."
"What do you mean? Paimon doesnt get it."
"Fontaine loves justice. Meaning everyone is willing to get you sent to court or make you pay a fine or whatever at the smallest discrepancy. All the other nations had leeway in the citizens, not here though."
"Since when did you learn such fancy words? Paimon didn't teach you those!"
"Picked them up considering we keep talking to fancy people."
"Oh yeah."
Lumine took a deep breath. "I hate it here. Why do we get involved in everything?"
"Paimon thinks its because we saved Mondstadt-"
"Its was more rhetorical. But still, its stupid. Why do I have to stay here and be in court? That's like the most stupid thing I can be spending my time on. Alas, we can't leave or else they'll think we're fleeing from something."
"Paimon thinks you're having a one sided conversation again."
"Sorry, sorry."
"What are the plans for today?"
"Dunno. Not like we really have anywhere to go. You know what Paimon- you take me somewhere."
"Huh?"
"Surely there's somewhere you've been wanting to go, lets go there. After I finish eating though."
"Okay!" Paimon smiled. There really was a place she wanted to go.
Finishing her cake, Lumine left the dirtied plate on the nightstand. "What time is it anyway?"
"Its early afternoon."
"I really slept in huh?" Lumine yawned, standing up and stretching her arms. She walked behind Paimon as the guide led her somewhere.
Eventually, they reached a little miniature cliffside overlooking the crowded city. Paimon sat down under a tree in the area, and Lumine followed suit, smiling.
"I thought you were going to take us to a bakery, Paimon."
"Paimon could tell you we're getting irritated at the city, so Paimon decided it would be nice to just watch it from a distance!"
"Oh Paimon, you really didn't have to drag me out here. But, thank you."
Paimon pulled out the two cheesy pastries from earlier and handed one to Lumine.
"Where were you possibly carrying these?"
"Secret!"
Lumine laughed, leaning back on the tree. It was a large and old one, with battered bark and large roots, but it provided nice shade in contrast to the bright sun hitting the grass. The traveller savoured every slow bite of the cold cheese pastry, feeling the sweetened dough bring out the true savouriness of the cheese. The hardened, cold cheese contrasted perfectly with the light, airy baked pastry, creating a sensational mix on her tounge. Each bite was small and dragged out, because Lumine knew that once she finished this, it would be one step closer to returning to the city.
Once the final bites flavour started to flee away from her taste buds, Lumine took a deep breath.
"That was one good pastry, thank you Paimon."
"No problem!"
Lumine smiled at Paimon, but before she coild say anything she spotted a bird flying in their general direction. Annoyingly, the white bird had a blue stained right wing.
"Is that bird for you?"
"Yeah... its nothing. Just some loose ends from Sumeru."
"Are you sure? Paimons not convinced."
The bird landed on Lumine's knee, dropped the letter on her lap, and flew away the direction it came from. Lumine was annoyed, frankly at the sloppiness of this. Dottore surely knew the risks- so this must be either urgent or purposeful. Both, probably.
Tearing the letter open with her nail, she unfolded the high quality paper to a simple message.
'Come when you can.'
"What does that mean? Paimon doesn't understand."
"But I do. Listen, Paimon ive got some things to sort out regarding this- would you be find staying with Navia for a couple days?"
"Yeah? But why- and what if Navia's busy?"
"Navia owes me, she will make time."
Paimon grumbled under her breath, something about secrets, but Lumine couldn't really care, but it was annoying.
"Paimon if I tell you its a secret that you have to keep and we both know you're a but careless with that mouth."
"What? Paimon can keep a secret! She's really not as bad as you're saying she is."
"Fine, fine." Lumine stood up, brushing dirt off her dress. "Still not telling you though."
"What?! Thats so unfair."
"That's life, Paimon." Lumine shrugged, taking Paimon to Navia. Thankfully the blonde girl herself wasn't there to ask questions, so Lumine did just leave Paimon in the lobby to wait for Navia. The doctor must've made some sort of development large enough to the point Lumine had to go to him.
Shit she forget her notebook at the hotel. She'd have to go grab it. Not like it was related to dottore in anyway, it was just a thing Lumine couldn't leave behind.
She walked back to the centre of the city where the hotel resided. She did just quickly pop into the room and grab the book, then left once more. She reached the edge of the city and was about to get a boat, but she spotted Furina. She seemed to want to talk, but it wasn't time to indulge in chats. Lumine got into the boat and drove off before the archon could talk to her. No time for dilly-dallying, as the expression goes.
Lumine groaned silently as she saw Navia stood at the coast at the thin river she'd have to go through.
"Lumine! Where you going?"
Lumine slowed the boat down, but it was still moving. "Sorry Navia, I gotta go its urgent!"
Navia smiled. "Tell me!"
"Sorry-" Lumine instinctively ducked at a bullet heading for her head.
"Clorinde!" Navia groaned.
"She's clearly hiding something- and it's not a good suprise."
Lumine scoffed. "Oh please! What could it possibly be doing?"
"That's what were here to find out. Both Paimon and Furina said you were acting strangly." Navia countered.
The damn snitch. She should've been more careful with Paimon, but it's too late.
"Look I'll explain it all when I get back." Lumine comprised.
"There's no guarantee you'll be back." Clorinde challenged.
"Don't you trust me? You're acting like I'm a wanted criminal."
"Didn't you steal that boat?" Navia asked.
"No comment. I'll be back soon though, dont worry!" Lumine smiled, accelerating the boat and fleeing. She did barely dodge another of Clorinde's shots, but a dodge is a dodge. She placed the small notebook on the seat next to her; it really wasn't worth it to get caught for this. Curiosity doesn't kill a swift cat.