Chapitre 4: Chapter 04: Unraveling
Warm, chaotic waters surrounded Arlecchino. Bubbles rushed past in the gloom, skating across her skin. She whipped her head around, but all she could make out were vague, dark silhouettes of kelp and fish. Her hands reached out blindly, grasping at nothing. Where is Furina?!
Arlecchino locked off every part of her mind which wasn't required for answering that single question. The dance, Furina's smile, her lips- nothing mattered more than finding her now. In an instant, her brain felt like a freshly wound clock and a deadly calm came over her.
Furina had panicked. She tried to get away from the threat. Me. Furina fell into the water. Either she lost her concentration, or purposefully sank in order to escape. She could swim, but would she be able to in her panic? No, Arlecchino decided. Furina was in danger of drowning. She had fallen right next to Arlecchino, so in theory, she would be beneath her. Would she let herself sink straight down? The body would naturally struggle when it began to drown. Furina could have moved further away.
Arlecchino looked around again. The few elapsed seconds were not enough for her eyes to adjust. She held out her hand and concentrated as much pyro as she could into her palm. The sea water boiled violently as a white-hot flame appeared there for an instant, illuminating the surroundings in a flash. It extinguished just as quickly, but it was enough.
Arlecchino saw Furina off to her right. The small woman's arm was caught in a drifting stalk of kelp. She was tugging frantically, and ineffectually at it, her eyes glazed with fear. Arlecchino engraved the fraction of a second into her mind and propelled herself toward Furina. She arrived a moment later, and cut the kelp wrapped around Furina's wrist with a precise slash of her nails. Now freed, Furina stared at Arlecchino through the dark water and then thrust herself back and downward in the direction of the sea floor.
The sheer stupidity of such a choice caught Arlecchino off-guard for a moment. She's swimming away from me. Her heart twisted painfully in her chest. Of course she is. Arlecchino rocketed toward her once more, her long limbs giving her speed. She wrapped an arm tightly around Furina's waist and pulled her upward. Furina struggled to escape, pushing at Arlecchino's torso and hitting her with weak fists. It's good she's still moving, Arlecchino's rational mind stated.
With a final surge, their heads broke the surface. Arlecchino sucked in a deep breath, only now realizing how much her lungs were burning. Furina coughed and choked. Even as she retched, she still squirmed in Arlecchino's grip. "Let me go!" she screamed, her voice raw. "Don't kill me! Let me go!" Arlecchino pushed herself onward, dragging Furina with her in her iron grip.
At last, they came to shore and Arlecchino slung Furina onto the sand, before crawling out of the surf herself. Furina scrabbled away on her hands and knees for a short distance before collapsing on her side. She hugged her knees to her chest and buried her face there as Arlecchino approached.
The knave knelt down next to her. Water still flowed in rivulets down both their bodies. Their soaked clothes clung to their forms. The summer air was warm, even in the evening, but Furina trembled. "Furina," Arlecchino softly called her name. "It's okay. You're safe, Furina."
"Don't touch me!" Furina's tiny, muffled voice cried. "Don't touch me, don't touch me, don't touch me, don't touch me!"
"I won't touch you, Furina." Even as Arlecchino made the promise, the three aqueous members of the salon solitaire materialized on the sand between the two women. Mademoiselle Crabaletta clacked her claw and stared coldly up at the knave. I'm not going to hurt her! she wanted to yell at the crab. Instead, she gritted her teeth and obediently scooted backward, distancing herself from Furina.
"Focus on my voice," Arlecchino calmly instructed. "Take deep breaths. In and out, okay?" Furina whimpered in her ball. Arlecchino continued speaking, giving the other woman an anchor to hold onto. "You're safe now. You're on dry ground, not in the water. No one will hurt you. I will not hurt you. It's okay Furina."
She repeated variations of those words, over and over. Arlecchino started to wring the water out of her clothes and hair, but never stopped talking. Over the course of twenty-some minutes, Furina's erratic breathing smoothed bit by bit. Her white knuckled hands clutching her legs relaxed. And at last, when she finally peeked her blue eyes out, the salon solitaire disappeared.
Arlecchino cautiously approached, holding up her hands so Furina could see where they were. "How do you feel, Furina? Are you okay?"
Furina slowly stretched her legs out and turned limply onto her back. She stared up at the moon and the stars, barely comprehending their presence. She sighed in exhaustion. "I don't feel okay."
"Can I do anything to help?" Arlecchino stopped, close to Furina's side, and clasped her hands in her lap. "The boat is here. If you feel strong enough, we should go so you can get dry."
"I'm afraid of you, Knave," Furina whispered up at the sky. Tears welled in her eyes, reflecting the moon.
"I know," Arlecchino said. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you like that."
Furina shook her head on the sand, never meeting Arlecchino's eyes. "It's not just when you surprise me, though that's the worst of it. I'm always afraid. I'm terrified, Knave."
Arlecchino felt like she had been punched in the stomach. "I won't hurt you, Furina."
"You say that, but how do I know?" Tears spilled down the sides of Furina's face. "What if you're lying? You said so many nice things to me, but what if it's an act? What if you're going to hurt me again, and I can't see it?" She tilted her head to the side to meet Arlecchino's gaze. "Knave, I don't even know who you are."
"I- What do you want me to say to that?" Arlecchino asked helplessly, searching deep in Furina's eyes for the answer to a million questions.
Furina gave her a pleading look. "I want to feel safe around you."
Arlecchino's mind shifted into overdrive, searching desperately for some combination of words she could say to make everything right. Nothing worked. Not a single sentence could convey her thoughts. Was there even a correct answer? Some past mistakes were just too imposing to surmount. What use was a promise of safety after that safety had already been violated?
"…I don't know how," she forced out in defeat. "I can only say I won't hurt you, and hope that eventually you'll believe me."
A shadow fell over Furina's damp eyes. "Perhaps that's all that can be said," she murmured in veiled resignation. "I'm sorry. It was a foolish thing of me to ask." Then she pushed herself to her feet and tried to shake the sand from her wet clothes. The conversation was over. Arlecchino silently stood as well. The whole of Furina's back was covered in sand.
"Will you let me help?" she asked. Furina nodded. Arlecchino reached forward and Furina took an involuntary half-step away. Actions really do speak louder than words.
"No, Knave, I didn't mean-" She stepped closer and put a hand on Arlecchino's forearm, eyes shining with regret.
Arlecchino stared past her at the boat patiently waiting down the shore. "I think… it might be better if we parted ways for tonight. I've been thinking a walk would be nice."
"What?" Furina tugged on her sleeve. "But it's dangerous!"
"I'm more dangerous than anything that would attack a traveler on the road," Arlecchino said. She gently pulled her arm free and turned to face the dark outlines of the mountains. "Go to the boat and dry yourself. You'll catch a cold." Then she walked away into the night.
"Knave!" Furina called after her but didn't pursue. She didn't call again.
Several minutes later, Arlecchino watched from under the shelter of a tree as Furina boarded the boat. The captain gave her a towel before disappearing to steer the craft. Furina sat down and huddled against the far side of the ship, peering blindly out at the nighttime landscape. She's safe, Arlecchino confirmed. Then she turned and continued alone.
--
It rained sporadically in the following days. The sky above the Court of Fontaine remained grey and gloomy throughout. It was just as well. Arlecchino threw herself into her work, attempting to drown herself in the reports, correspondence, and documents. She stayed in her office from the crack of dawn until long after the sun had set. Then she was so exhausted she could fall asleep without having time to think.
Yet the thoughts still snuck in. They were like termites burrowing away in the fortress in her mind. I want to talk to her. I want to see her smile. I want to watch her eat cake. I want to dance with her. Each offending thought that wiggled from the woodwork was swiftly stamped out. Yet they would continue to eat away at the foundation, little by little, if she didn't exterminate the source. Why do I want these things?
Arlecchino admired and respected Furina. What she did for Fontaine made her the most selfless person to ever live, as far as Arlecchino was concerned. It was natural to want someone you held in high esteem to experience success and happiness. Yet with Furina, Arlecchino wanted to give her those things herself. She wanted to make Furina laugh. She wanted to cook for her. She wanted to make her happy. And Arlecchino rejected all of those idiotic things because…
I'm so selfish.
She had hurt Furina. Irreparably, perhaps. Remembering Furina's vulnerable, faraway eyes when she said, "I'm terrified," felt like a knife twisting into Arlecchino's heart. What right did she have to protest when she was the root cause? How could she ask Furina to be near her when she didn't feel safe? After all, the several times she recently met with Furina were all by Arlecchino's request. It would have been better for her if I was just a distant memory.
So Arlecchino refused to face her thoughts about Furina because there was simply no point. She had resolved not to see her again. It ached in a way Arlecchino never felt before, but she was committed. She had given Furina her thanks for her sacrifices. Nothing else was necessary. In time, they would both move on with their lives as if they never met at all. It was for the best.
On the sixth day since Furina had learned to use her vision, the sun came out. The beams of warm light glowed through Arlecchino's window. She looked up from the letter she was writing and gazed outside for a long moment. The city would be coming out to enjoy the day. She wondered if Furina was too. Surely she took breaks during her theatre advising. Arlecchino imagined her taking a stroll down the Vasari Passage, face lighting up as she spotted a cat.
Arlecchino stared down at her half-finished work. This is misery, she thought. She rose from her seat and paced toward the door. A walk would be nice. Maybe she could stop at a café too. Just to exercise a little, that was all. I want to see Furina, her traitorous mind added. But that couldn't happen. She needed insurance.
"Freminet?" Arlecchino leaned into the workshop. The young man looked up from his work. A mess of gears and other mek parts were strewn around him on the table.
"Yes Father?" he asked, setting down the screwdriver he held in his hand.
Arlecchino smiled at him. "Would you come on a walk with me?"
Freminet quickly got up and grabbed a rag to wipe the grease off his fingers. Arlecchino waited patiently for him to join her at her side. "Where are we going?" Freminet asked.
"Just outside for a little while." Arlecchino led the way down the hall to the doors. "Fresh air will be good after it rained for so long."
"Okay," Freminet nodded. "I went diving yesterday, but the sun will be nice." Arlecchino pursed her lips. Not everyone just locks themselves in their offices, she chastised herself. That said, she was glad Freminet was taking care of himself.
Outside, the Vasari Passage was noisy and vibrant. The bushes and trees were all healthy and green. Parts of the sidewalk still sported wet splotches, but the sun was working to evaporate them. Fontainians of all ages walked up and down the street, enjoying the day. Bells on shop doors dinged and merchants called out advertisements.
"There's a lot of people," Freminet observed. He glanced at Arlecchino uncertainly.
She patted his soft hair. "You'll be fine. Tell me about your latest commissions."
They began their stroll and Freminet spoke of the mek he was currently fixing and the shipwreck he was investigating. Arlecchino listened and engaged, but her eyes still scanned the flocks of people. No familiar blue hat stuck out among them. Perhaps that's for the best. She allowed herself to relax and focus on the simple joys of being with her child on a fine day.
Eventually, she and Freminet found themselves on an uncrowded landing overlooking the Café Lutece. Arlecchino had bought them a small paper bag of Pate de Fruit from a vendor, and now they were sitting side-by-side on a stone balustrade eating the candy. Freminet was talking about a commission he had where he made a small penguin mek that could fight and go on adventures.
"Wait, the traveler helped you with that?" Arlecchino looked at him in surprise. "You never told me she was involved."
Freminet looked down at his feet. "Sorry. Nothing exciting happened really."
"I'm not angry." Arlecchino smiled and tilted her head down to meet Freminet's eyes. "Could you explain it all from the beginning again? I want to know."
That woman really is involved with everything, Arlecchino sighed. A curious thought struck her. What if correlation equaled causation? What if the Fatui just followed the traveler everywhere? Then they would always be involved in the most important events in the area. For example, there was now a giant, ghostly tree in the Sumeru desert which hogged all of the southern skyline at Romaritime Harbor. Apparently, the traveler had been the cause of it, and the Fatui had no idea how or what she had done.
A flash of golden hair caught the corner of Arlecchino's eye. She looked down to find the traveler, in the flesh, sitting at a table with Lyney at the Café Lutece. Speak of the devil. She couldn't hear what they were saying what with the hubbub of the street directly beneath her, but she could clearly see their actions. Freminet's voice faded into the background as Arlecchino focused in on the two companions.
They sat close to each other. They both had cups of coffee, but there was only a single plate with a rectangular slice of cake on it between them. As they talked, they both took bites from it. There was such ease in their conversation. Lyney would tell a joke and the traveler would laugh. She would add an anecdote of her own, moving her hands to emphasize. They looked at each other with so much comfort. I want Furina to look at me that way.
At a certain point, Lyney produced a deck of cards and made ready to perform a magic trick. The traveler selected a card, looked at it, and handed it back to Lyney. He made a show of shuffling them in extravagant ways. But then, tragically, he slipped, and the cards went shooting every which way. Lyney looked crestfallen as the traveler laughed. Even Arlecchino couldn't resist smiling a little. I want to make Furina smile like that.
But then Lyney reached behind the traveler's ear and produced a card. The traveler stared at it in wonder and clapped her hands. Lyney closed his hand around the card, and when he opened it, a rainbow rose rested on his palm. He tucked it behind the traveler's ear once again. She grinned and leaned forward, putting a hand on Lyney's chin. Then she kissed him. For a long time too. When they parted, Arlecchino could read her lips easily enough to make out what she said next. "I love you."
Arlecchino turned back around, suddenly feeling sick to her stomach. Oh no. The termites assaulting her mental fortress had bought a cannon. Everything was crumbling. She had thought it all so complex, but in the end there was such a simple answer. I'm in love with Furina.
To be fair, Arlecchino had never been in love before. From what it looked like from the outside, love was just some unnecessary, frivolous thing that caused problems in systems that otherwise worked fine. "Love" meant irrational decisions. "Love" meant unclear loyalties. "Love" meant foolish arguments. "Love" meant orphaned children. The sort of people who loved were too weak and emotional. Love?! Me?!
Yet that's the only answer which fit perfectly into all of her thoughts about Furina, completing the picture like the last piece of a jigsaw puzzle. I'm in love with Furina. Arlecchino held her head in her hands. Thoughts that she had suppressed bubbled to the surface. I want to kiss her. I want to hold her. I want her to feel safe whenever she's with me. Arlecchino groaned in despair. Why is this happening to me?!
Freminet stirred beside her, having never seen her act in such a way. "Father, are you feeling alright?"
Arlecchino barely heard him. So she was in love with Furina. That fact could be accepted easily enough. What did it mean for the future? Nothing. Nothing at all. That's right. It didn't matter. All Arlecchino seemed to be able to do was hurt Furina. And because I'm in love with her, I'll keep my distance. The resolution hurt deeply, but also gave her an odd peace of mind. What she wanted was already out of reach. It's for the best.
"Father?" Freminet tapped her on the shoulder.
She lowered her hands to find his blue-gray eyes full of concern. She smiled sadly at him. "I'm okay, don't worry." She stood up and turned to him, spreading her arms. "Give me a hug Freminet."
If he was distressed before, Freminet was downright panicked now. "F- father? A hug?"
"Just this once," Arlecchino said. "It's not a trap, I promise."
Freminet awkwardly approached and embraced her, wrapping his arms around her middle. Arlecchino held him close, resting her chin on the top of his head as her worries faded ever so briefly. Freminet had stronger arms than she expected. I suppose he does swim a lot. She patted his back affectionately. "You're a good boy, Freminet."
Then she withdrew. Freminet looked like a gardemek that had short-circuited. She smiled at him. "Let's go back home. I've had enough fresh air."
--
As soon as Arlecchino pushed open the door to the House of the Hearth, an operative ran up to her. "My lord, there was a delivery for you."
Arlecchino stepped inside, letting Freminet slip past and duck into his workshop. She raised her eyebrows at the woman. "A delivery? What was it?"
"Well, I'm not entirely sure, my lord," she answered. "It's a bouquet of flowers with a note attached that seems like… an odd sort of advertisement maybe. It wasn't signed. I left it on your desk for your review."
"I see. Thank you." Arlecchino walked down the hall to her office. A bundle of pearly pink Marcotte flowers lay on her desk. Their rich, sweet scent had already started to permeate the air. Arlecchino ran a finger down the soft petals. Surely this isn't from…
A small card lay beside the bouquet. There were only two lines written on it in curly cursive:
Saturday at 13:00
Wouldn't you like to try some macaroni?
Arlecchino sank into her chair and reread the note over and over. She closed her eyes and sighed deeply. She was sighing a lot these days. It never seemed to help. What are you doing to me Furina?
She opened her eyes and leaned forward to look at her calendar. She had an appointment with someone from the Spina di Rosula at the designated time, but that could easily be moved. Maybe she should just clear the entire rest of the day to be safe. Love makes you do such foolish things, Arlecchino grumbled. Despite that, she couldn't keep an indulgent smile from weaseling its way onto her lips.
— Un nouveau chapitre arrive bientôt — Écrire un avis
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone