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After some time, with help from Neuvillette and Clorinde. The Traveler and Paimon eventually find out where Furina is living.
“Traveler? Are- are you sure this is a good idea? Paimon thinks she might not want to see us…” Paimon floats about nervously as she follows her companion to the humble-looking Fontanian home.
“No, not really.” Lumine sighs. “But we have to at least apologize, after all we did.”
“That’s true…” The little pixie very subtly (not at all) tries to sneak a hand into the bag of cake Lumine carries with her. A show of goodwill to the ex-Archon.
“Paimon….” The traveler scolds, moving the bag out of the pixie's reach.
“Oh cmon! Pleeeeaseee! Just one bite!” Paimon stomps her feet in the air, pouting all the while.
“Nope!” Lumine laughs despite herself. Speeding up to a jog as Paimon chases her.
The pixie chases her companion, trying to swipe at the bag here and there until…
She stops.
“Paimon?” The traveler stops, turning around to see if Paimon is okay.
“Traveler! Look! It’s her!” Paimon says in a hushed whisper. She points at Furina, who is exiting a bookstore.
Sure enough… The former Archon carries a bag from the store she just left.
Gone is the theatrical outfit she wore as archon; in its place are a simple white ruffled blouse, a blue-and-gold teardrop pendant necklace, black slacks, and a blue postboy hat low over her eyes.
“Furina!” Lumine calls out, running across the street to her. The woman in question freezes, looking around frantically.
The Traveler quickly catches up to her, Paimon trailing behind her.
“Wait! Wait! It’s just us! It’s okay.”
“O-oh! Traveler! Paimon!… You gave me a fright there!” She laughs anxiously, trying to put on the bravado she’s known for.
“Furina, look, we know you probably don’t want to see us, but…”
“W-we got you a gift!” Paimon adds before Lumine holds out the bag.
“It’s your favorite cake! " We uh,” The sprite puts her fingers together. “We…had to ask Clorinde for help getting it…”
“Ah, I see.” Furina takes the bag with a grateful smile, “Thank you, regardless. It’s the thought that counts, non?”
“Right!” Paimon says with a smile. Lumine clears her throat before speaking. “Anddd,” She side-eyes her companion. “We just wanted to say that we’re sorry for how things turned out. We just wanted you to see how serious the prophecy was. Not…all that.”
Furina hums noncommittally, looking into the bag. “And you mean to bribe me with sweets?”
“Bribing! No! Who said anything about bribery!?” Paimon flounders. “It’s…uhm- uh- A show of goodwill!”
For someone who’s had to pretend for so long…Furina had gotten quite good at discerning who was putting on a façade or not, and these two ring genuinely remorseful.
She purses her lips, “It’s… Thank you for your apology. Traveler, Paimon.”
A soft smile finds its way onto her face as she looks up from the bag. “I must get going now… These books and cake won’t enjoy themselves!” Furina laughs and hastily walks past the two.
“Wait!” “Yes?!” Furina spins on her heel, annoyed. “What now?”
“Can… can we at least walk you home, Furina?” Lumine asks hesitantly.
“Oh! Yes! Can we? We want to make sure you get home safely!” Paimon adds cheerfully.
“I… suppose.” Furina softens; the annoyance falls away like water. She acquiesces, waving for the Traveler and Paimon to join her on her walk home.
“I assume you’re off to Natlan, now?”
“Almost, Yep!” Paimon cheers. Lumine adds, “We are, but first we’re doing some commissions here, and in Sumeru, before we head out proper. Just wanted to apologize to you before things got really rolling.”
“Fontaine makes sense…but why Sumeru?” “It’s closer, and we want to see some friends of ours.”
Paimon grumbles. “The Traveler just wants to see Hat guy! Before our next adventure.” Lumine flushes red and swats at the sprite. “Paimon!! That’s not true!”
“Hat…guy?” Furina says under her breath, very confused.
Before long, the three of them stand in front of Furina’s humble abode.
“Ah, well..” Furina walks up to her door and opens it.
“Best be off then, no? Those nations won’t explore themselves!” She turns back to them and smiles.
“Mhm!” Paimon agrees happily.
Furina steps inside her home and is about to close the door when the Traveler catches her wrist loosely. “Wait-… Furina?”
“Yes, Traveler?” Furina grits out through a plastered smile.
“I hope you enjoy your freedom, Furina. You did well. Your 'mirror me' would be proud.” Lumine says softly, a small but sincere smile on her face.
Furina’s eyes go wide as her lips wobble slightly, barely getting out a "thank you" before she practically bolts inside. The door slams shut in the two's faces.
"SOOO....that went well.." Paimon says awkwardly.
"Y'know what?" Lumine says as they turn around to walk back to Hotel Debord.
"Yeah, i think it did."