kaisou | ah, si je pouvais vivre dans l'eau

Entry tags:

ah, si je pouvais vivre dans l'eau

WHO: Furina & You!
WHERE: Labyrinth / Libra App.
WHEN: Eve of November 20th.
WHAT: The Spirit Realm spits out another person for wet France.
WARNINGS: None at the moment, will update if needed.

LABYRINTH.

[ it had been raining when furina finally placed her head on her pillow. not heavy, mind you, but just enough to make it difficult for her to fall asleep. to allow herself to relax into her bed, to put thoughts of waters rising from her head. truly she had no idea how long she had laid there, anxiety crawling through her limbs, but eventually - eventually - she drifted off to sleep.

a mistake, the most dreadful of mistakes, as the sound of rain seeps into her dreams.

she wakes with a start, a yell caught in her throat, jumping as mismatched eyes scan the room and quickly realize this isn't her apartment. no, no, no, this is her former room in the palais mermonia. panic claws its way up her throat, her mind racing as her feet move independently from the rest of her body.

why? why did she wake up in the palais? why is it so quiet? why isn't there anyone in the halls? her footsteps, slow at first, echo off the walls as she walks through the empty halls. water drips from the ceiling, seeps from the carpets underfoot, and furina's footsteps get faster, more frantic. ]

No, no, no!! It's ─ It can't be! It can't! [ she all but sprints through the palais mermonia, pushing open the large heavy doors and stumbles outside where she suddenly stops. fontaine isn't underwater, it looks as it did right after the waters receded. but where there were people she sees only trinkets; a badge here, a hairpin there, a teddy bear, a camera, and so on. as far as she can see there are only objects of life, of the people who had once been there.

furina walks towards the teddy bear and reaches down, fingers curling around the soggy form, and stands up straight holding the bear to her chest. ] This... this is a joke, right? Just a bad dream brought on by the rain. I'll... I'll wake up any minute now!! Yes, exactly, this is nothing but a bad dream. Wake up, Furina, wake up...

[ as her voice trails off she falls to her knees, shoulders shaking with uncontrollable sobs. ]

─

[ or maybe you've stumbled upon furina after she's found her way out of the labyrinth; which has decided the best place to deposit her is right next to a lake. thankfully she wasn't thrown directly into the lake, but it's close enough to have her scrambling away from it with a panicked yelp ─ utterly unaware of the phone beside her feet. ]

W─what was that?!

► APP, un: regina.

[ it is much later, and with some coaching from wriothesley, that furina even dares to investigate the app. which results in the video feed flicking on with an upside down shot of furina herself, she tilts her head, mismatched eyes widening with sheer delight. ]

─Oh!! Hehe, it is like a Kamera! But it's so much smaller! Wonderful! [ she claps excitedly, looking off screen at another before turning her attention towards the phone once again. she should introduce herself, right? the book did mention that others can see and communicate with her through this, didn't it? well, now that she has gotten it working it would be rude not to introduce herself.

she shifts slightly and clears her throat, putting on her best smile. ]

Hello, people of Kaisou! Stand up and rejoice, for Fontaine's most beloved star, Furina, has graced your lovely city with her presence! [ a laugh and her expression drops slightly, her voice taking on a more somber tone. ] Although I am still uncertain as to how exactly I ended up here, or for what reason I was brought, it is... a welcomed change of scenery.

So, um, one might need to get a proper lay of the land if I am to be here for some time. [ something in the back of her mind feels as though she might just be. ] Thus I implore you, my good fellows, to help me do just that!

[ she'd love some cake right about now. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He glances over his shoulder. Ah. That must have slipped, he didn't mean to...

Well, there's no point in pretending.]

It is.

[He leads her carefully so she doesn't trip on anything, as one would escort a princess. In his eyes, this is not far from the truth, even if she's dressed to run and tumble as much as she wants. She deserves the utmost care and kindness.]

I heard of your deeds in Fontaine. How brave and unwavering you were in the face of doubt, and how you gave of yourself to save your people and deliver them. I suspect some of us have waited a very long time to meet you, and what an honor it is.

[At last he turns to face her, still holding her hand. His manner is solid and warm like a hearth.]

There is no one better suited to the title of the God of Justice after all you accomplished. I think the rest of the Seven gathered here would agree.

['The rest'...]

Things are about to get very interesting, and you may doubt yourself still. Please do not doubt that we will do all we can to see you well, regardless of thrones or the Heavenly Principles.

[ her steps are cautious yet she allows herself to be led carefully, the desire to be free of this nightmare stronger than the building dread sitting in her stomach. truly furina had not given much thought to how the rest of teyvat would regard her. if stories would spread about the hydro archon who fooled a nation, or if they too knew the story of how she gave up her divinity in order to save her nation.

and it is exactly why zhongli's words appear to hit hard, uncertainty knitting itself deeply into her features. brave and unwavering? she does not remember being brave, nor unwavering. once the floor began to crumble underneath her she had crumbled, as useless as a doll. ]

You've got it wrong, all I did was lie for five hundred years. [ every lead turned up empty, every avenue filled with nothing but despair - all she could ever do was simply lie. ] Besides I'm... I'm not a god any longer, not that I ever truly was.

[ the rest. furina feels her stomach sink like a stone, and her grip on his hand tightens, she cannot think of something more terrifying than the thought of others amongst the seven being gathered here - wherever here may be. ]

To call it a falsehood would be a disservice. It was a performance, was it not? A show on a scale even the heavens could not see through.

[He places his other hand on top of hers. His smile is in his eyes, heard and felt more than seen.]

Fearing I might overstay my welcome as Rex Lapis, I once orchestrated my own demise and made the world believe it. But in the end, the people of Liyue still saved themselves. It was a far cry from the selfless actions one young woman took to shelter her people from inescapable divine wrath.

We are all made to play a part, Miss Furina. Even the gods. It may have been an act, but to the people, your service—your presence—was very real.

[gently]

You have nothing to fear.

A long and tiring performance.

[ there is a part of her that cannot help but think she isn't deserving of such kindness, that she will not live up to his nor the other archon's expectations of her. after all, divinity has long since departed her leaving only a human form in it's place, flawed in all the ways humans are. ]

This... this not what I expected. Maybe I thought you would judge me as harshly as the people of Poisson still do, that you may condemn me for my role in the destruction of the Hydro Archon's Throne. [ for what does she know of the other's allegiance to the heavenly principles? they were among the many who could not know the truth after all. ] Who would have thought Rex Lapis would be so kind?

[ she laughs, a low and tired sound. ]

Thank you, for saying those things. Although it will take some time before I am fully able to accept them.

And now it is over.

[How ironic that until this morning, he had no divinity at all.]

Even among the Seven, you will find there is little affection for Celestia. [He just comes right out and says it, for once.] Power has its price that must be paid.

... Take your time. I know full well how difficult it is to rearrange one's way of thinking. I fear you won't be able to return to Fontaine immediately [or perhaps ever] due to the circumstances, so it will be a good opportunity to learn about yourself and the world you are in.

[He doesn't let go of her hand, though he tilts his head in a gesture for them to continue walking.]

Shall we proceed?

I'll admit I am surprised, I thought most of the Seven would think favorably of Celestia for the power they were granted. [ once again furina laughs, sheepish this time. ] Goes to show how much I truly did not know.

[ so focused on her singular task with no time nor desire to investigate the other nations, but she has the chance now doesn't she? she has the freedom to seek out those things she never could before. ]

Yes, I suppose it will be as good of an opportunity as any.

[ but those are things to think about later, once the adrenaline of the day has faded and she can rest her head on a pillow. she offers him a smile, as awkward as it is, and nods. ]

Lets.

I traded my Gnosis to the Tsaritsa as part of a contract. One could take such a gesture as implicit endorsement of her actions in gathering such items. But I can speak no more of it. I was once the God of Contracts, and even in this life, I shall always keep my word.

[He leads her down the abandoned road until the sound of water lapping at... something can be heard. Eventually they come upon a tear in the wall that leads to a lake and a park covered in leaves and snow.]

This is it. Hold on tightly, Miss Furina.

[He keeps his own hold firm, even as he starts through the portal.]

The Tsaritsa... [ she tries to suppress the shiver that runs through her, fear clawing its way up her throat, as the memory of her attempted assassination comes to mind unbidden. that agent who held her life in their hands, the knave's piercing gaze across a table. despite everything the fatui did during the disaster, despite the lives their assistance saved, she cannot help the unease that sits within her chest. ] It is almost a comfort to know that so many seem to share the same sentiments about them as my divinity once did.

[ she has to wonder what exactly the tsaritsa has planned, with the hydro archon seat destroyed what good is the gnosis now? that thought gets pushed aside however, as zhongli leads them towards the tear. ]

Okay.

[ she holds her breath and closes her eyes as she also steps through, grip tightening further as the world feels as though it is spinning only to stop with the sound of her heels crunching in fresh snow. ]

[She must have had a run-in with the Fatui. Isn't the Knave said to be from Fontaine? Now isn't the time to ask, however.] They were certainly... key players.

[If only he could remember how that story ended.

When they're out, he turns to her, still gripping her hand. His other is there on her shoulder to steady her. He's not trying to be parental, she is quite clearly an adult, but he just can't help it. The lost look in her eyes is impossible for him to ignore.]

There you are.

You stand in Kaisou, which is a modern-day city on the world called Earth.

You must be cold. [She isn't divine anymore, right? He lets go of her hand so he can unbutton his coat and set it around her shoulders. It's big and surprisingly warm, and smells like tea and leather and whatever the fuck dragon smells like. (I really need to buy the fanfic scent flaw because he keeps doing this.)] Shall we stop in for a cup of tea and let your nerves settle?

[ she doesn't shrink away from it, a sign of the exhaustion that still sits heavy in her bones, at the very least. it is almost a comfort, in truth, some of his mannerisms remind her so clearly of neuvillette that she cannot help but relax a little in his presence. maybe it is also because he so quickly dissuaded so many of her fears, assuring her before they had a chance to dig their claws in deep.

'you must be cold.'

furina blinks rapidly, surprised, as though she did not notice the snow until it was mentioned. the cold quickly seeping in, like thousands of little daggers piercing her skin. ] It's ─ [ with her hands free she quickly hugs them to herself, a shiver running up and down her spine. ] W-wait, you don't have to ─ [ he has already buttoned his coat and set it around her shoulders by the time she tries to refuse it, warmth immediately chasing away the cold that started freezing her in place. ]

Thank you. [ she pulls it more around herself, cheeks dusted lightly pink. ] Tea would be wonderful, and maybe something to eat...

[ she didn't have a chance to eat breakfast after all. ]

[Zhongli smiles faintly, but it's more in his eyes than the rest of his expression. Asking for tea and a little snack isn't too much considering the kind of day that she's had. Crying takes a lot of energy.]

I live close by, if you don't mind a short walk.

[He folds one arm behind his back and leads her down the street, going at a pace she can keep up with despite his long legs. A few snowflakes drift idly down.

He hopes Xiao isn't eating snow while he's not looking. He's not sure how he'll explain a strange boy on the roof of his house who is also eating snow.]

I don't mind at all.

[ anything to be out of this bone-chilling cold, anything to have a moment to properly re-organize all her thoughts. a small shiver and furina follows after him, keeping up easily despite the height difference.

it is almost as though she is used to matching pace with someone much taller than her.

she doesn't say much as they walk, only taking in the surroundings as they pass them. the city itself is beautiful dusted lightly with snow, as beautiful as the court of fontaine itself. ]

[Zhongli lapses into comfortable silence. Sometimes he holds out his hand to catch a few of the snowflakes in his palm. The wind picks up a little, but he doesn't appear to shiver. Every once in a while he glances back at his charge to make sure she's doing okay.

He pauses at a crosswalk and glances both ways, then starts across the street. Eventually they turn down a row of houses. There is one small home that stands out against the rest because of the golden ginkgos still retaining their leaves. It looks like it belongs in Liyue.]

Here we are. Do you prefer black tea or green tea?

[He opens the door-- which is unlocked-- and leads her inside. There is a spare pair of house slippers in light green that he offers to her.]

Make yourself comfortable in the living room to the left. I'll put the water on.

[ for the most part furina does not seem to be bothered by the chill, his coat is enough to keep the worst of it out and when the wind picks up she only shivers briefly as it ruffles her hair and brushes past her ears. an event that leaves her somewhat put out briefly, her attention shifting from the city around them to fixing her hair.

when they arrive, however, furina's attention is back on her surroundings. her eyes widen at the house he leads her towards, the golden ginkgos standing out starkly against all that surrounds it. they're beautiful. ]

Either is fine. [ she might be a little eager to get inside, offering zhongli a smile in thanks taking the slippers, and removing her own shoes. slipping them on furina moves towards the living room as directed, giving it a good look over before sitting herself down on the couch - no, it is more that she sinks into the couch with a sigh.

it was only in this moment that she realizes how exhausted she is, how tense she had been. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

ah, si je pouvais vivre dans l'eau

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject