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It is to note that among all the things tucked away in Furina’s room, decorating the space in their own way, there is a small calendar, pinned to a cork board on her wall, surrounded by photos. More photos have filled the space over time and Furina finds it… reassuring.
Photos of friends met on journeys. Photos of places she found beautiful. Photos of animals. Photos of objects. Photos of events. They are moments in her life she has not shared with anyone, has not sent away. They are solely for her.
And on that calendar, surrounded by the memories she wishes to keep, there is not much written. Only a few scribbled notes about plays and plans with friends, and then it is otherwise empty; other than the five dates circled in yellow, covered with stars and hearts. There are no writings on the dates, not that Furina needs any to remember what those days mean. She’s vowed never to forget. Not again.
As the days approach, her excitement and anxiety rises until she can hardly sleep. And when she does it is filled with fitful dreams of the worse case scenarios that could come to pass… though a few are a bit…. unrealistic, Furina has to admit. Still, the worry stays all the same.
Until the first day arrives.
March 30th begins cloudy and chilly and Furina almost wishes that she could stay bundled up in her bed forever. Though there is no use to it, it’s a comfort all the same and- comforts can’t all be that bad, can they?
She recalls a witch she once met and the comforts she tried to get her to partake in. The witch hardly did any work, preferring the comforts, and she had enticed Furina into the same sort of life during her short stay in Mondstadt.
Still, not having a use for something makes it hard to continue doing such a thing. And so she stands and gets ready for the day. Comfy and now quite worn blue sweater, check; stylish but warm hat, check; sword cleaned and around her waist, check; kamera hanging from her neck, check. And finally, the most important thing of all, the bag sitting next to her door, so she does not forget it when leaving.
Furina steps outside her house and locks the door behind her.
As she walks through the streets the wind brushes through her hair and she idly notes that she should likely get a haircut soon. It’s long enough to be passing her shoulders at this point and while it doesn’t feel horrible it still makes her think of… Dances. Apologies. Trials. Pain. Loneliness. Godhood. … A home she can no longer return to. Friends she can no longer greet as such. People she can no longer see smiling.
The citizens do not smile at her anymore now than they did years before. Staring, yes. Smiling… only from a few. Always filled with pity. Time passes and yet they still seem to hold some sort of grudge. Not that Furina can really blame them. She, of course, deserves such a-
Sometimes, she wishes that the things in her head would slow and stop. That they wouldn’t continue whirling around and around and around until she can not breathe, until she can not think anything but what is horrible, what is so against her.
At least it isn’t so bad today.
The first drop hardly registers to her. By the second or third, she is snapped out of her thoughts and quickly forced to walk faster. A downpour, though expected in this sort of month, (and likely having nothing to do with her old friend), isn’t something that Furina wants to be caught in, especially not with her package. And so she takes a deep breath, squashes down the lump in her throat, and begins to run.
As the rain begins to pour down she lifts her hand and creates a bubble of water over her head, using it to catch the falling water and keep herself dry. It’s a helpful trick, one she’s grateful to have learned from some of the other hydro vision holders on her journeys.
Other vision users. Because she has one. One all of her own. Not Focalors, for Focalors would have no need for such a mortal tool. It is Furina’s.
Thankfully, going on runs with Clorinde and Wriothesley has built up her stamina enough that she manages to run to the restaurant without getting too out of breath, even without having to take any rests along the way. Though she still pauses outside for a moment to catch her breath before pushing her way in.
The rest of the group is already there and Furina places a smile on her face, stepping towards the table they have to themselves. Five. Five others, sitting around the table, faces alit with candlelight as they laugh. And they look up when Furina approaches. They smile. They wave. And they welcome her into the group like she is an important part of it. Like she fits. Like she matters.
So Furina steps forward, smiles brightly back, and carefully places the bag on the table. Then she is jumping up onto a chair, holding out her arms. “Welcome, welcome, my dear party goers! I’m certain you will all have much grander of a time now that I am here,” she winks, “and so onwards we go!”
Turning to the smallest at the table, (ha! Furina is not the shortest this time!), Furina mock bows at the waist, winking dramatically, “For one sole reason I have traversed far and wide to arrive here. And that is only to give you a gift. And so, I bequeath this upon you, Lady Sigewinne! That you may have a very happy day.”
The others laugh and clap and Furina bows once again, miming catching roses from the air and what not. Then she is sitting, smiling wide and tucking a fake rose behind one ear before pretending to lift another to tuck behind Sigewinne’s own ear.
“Happy birthday, Winnie.”
The next circled date takes a little longer to get to and the closer it gets, the more Furina finds herself restless once again. Clorinde has planned this one more than Furina has, just like how Wriothesley worked tirelessly to plan Sigewinne’s, though Furina still assisted in that one. For this party, there is nothing that Furina has to do other than show up. Clorinde mentions that she doesn’t even have to bring a gift.
That stumps Furina for a while. What is there to give someone who doesn’t even really want anything at all?
Then it hits her.
On the day of August 16th, Furina wastes no time in rushing from her house to Clorinde’s. She is the first to arrive, other than Clorinde herself, of course; and though Clorinde says she doesn’t need to help with anything, Furina offers herself anyway. And so the taller woman puts her to work.
Furina helps decorate, helps place food out, helps clean up some unfortunate spills. And then she is whispering into Clorinde’s ear - more for dramatics than anything else - and hoping, hoping , that the other woman will accept the idea.
She does.
Furina smiles.
The other four arrive slowly, one after another. With the last, of course, being Navia herself. They had planned it that way, knowing that this is what Navia would prefer. And so, when the woman walks into the home, expecting just Clorinde, there are four other friends waiting and smiling at her.
They all shout out congratulations, making Navia gasp and tear up as she hugs them one at a time.
The presents are opened a little later in the evening, once everyone has had some food and settled down a little bit. One by one, the wrapping paper is torn off and discarded, Navia smiling wide and thanking each person for their gift individually.
Furina does not hand her a box. Instead, she asks Navia to stand, and then she gently leads her from the house to the front yard. That’s where she stops, under the warm evening sun, the last remains of summer filling the air around them. The sky is blue, the clouds are fluffy, and the sun is bright. That is where Furina kneels down and lifts something to Navia. A small pot, holding a single, white flower.
A Cecilia, she explains, can only grow where the harsh winds blow, as told to her by some new friends she met when visiting Mondstadt recently. Then Furina smiles and explains further that they represent indestructibility and hope. They are about true hearts and feelings. And as she gently passes the flower to Navia, she smiles further when she speaks again.
“Even when hardships come, the flower stays strong, just like you. Actually,” she chuckles, “I originally wanted to get you a Mugunghwa blossom. Those ones… they are able to regrow despite harsh conditions and even when damaged. A symbol of triumph… There are also stories of it being something of an eternal blossom that never fades,” she looks up at Navia then, reaching into her pocket to pull out a simple five petaled flower charm, she offers the other woman it, “Eternal blossom that never fades, just like our memories of people we lost, right?”
As Navia carefully takes the charm from her, Furina grows more quiet in tone, “I got it custom made from someone in Inazuma… It… I think Melus and Silver would like to remind you that they won’t fade from your life and- and even when you feel hurt, you’ll still grow. Just like the Cecilia’s, who are at their best when the harshest of winds blow.”
Navia passes the gifts to Clorinde to hold and tackles Furina in a hug. The shorter woman can’t help but laugh, hugging her back.
“Happy birthday, Navi.”
True to Furina’s word, she does not invite all of Fontaine to Clorinde’s birthday party. She keeps it small and even makes sure that Navia does not go overboard with it, though she can’t help but accept a few of the woman’s suggestions. Afterall, their Duelist definitely deserves something grand, even if there aren't many guests.
On September 20th, Clorinde, of course, doesn’t get the whole day off. According to her, the duels could not be postponed for such trivial things. So instead of spending the entire day with Clorinde, making up for the lost time of missed years, she waits with the others for the duels to be over at her house. Of course, Neuvillette isn’t there either, instead at the duels. Wriothesley can’t show up early either…. So really it is just Navia and Furina waiting for everyone else.
Navia has a key to get into the house, so they do not have to wait outside, which is a relief. It has been getting colder lately, and while Furina has her jacket on… well her shorts leave much warmth to be desired.
They begin setting up. And then they finish setting up. And then they sit and chat for a while before Wriothesley and Sigewinne arrive. Then the four of them chat. Sigewinne seems concerned for Furina’s health, Navia accidentally letting it slip that most of what she eats is macaroni.
When Neuvillette and Clorinde finally show up they walk in on Furina standing on the table, halfway through a rant to defend her honor and her macaroni. Furina’s face heats up but Neuvillette claps with a gentle smile and Clorinde hugs her while laughing and Furina knows she wouldn’t want it any other way.
Then the rest of the night is filled with tea and sweets and secrets and laughter and warmth and it is so much to Furina. It is so great. So grand. And Furina hopes that Clorinde feels the same way.
In her smiles, her laughter, her gaze, Furina can at least tell that Clorinde is happy, and that, for now, is enough.
At the end of the night, while quiet chatter is still floating around, Furina approaches Clorinde and gently tugs her off into her bedroom. Then she steps closer and reaches into her pocket, pulling out a small bear statue.
It’s about the length of her hand, not too thick, and it doesn’t have many details. Though simple, it is carved in light maple colored wood and smooth to the touch. The grain is beautiful, in Furina’s opinion. And she’s quite proud of it.
“I- er- picked up whittling recently, on my travels, just to try it out,” Furina says, “I know you said there wasn’t a need for a gift…. but… This didn’t cost me anything so it’s fine, right? It- uhm- bears represent family.”
Clorinde’s thumb runs over the wooden ears of the bear before she looks up and smiles, thanking Furina.
Furina smiles back.
“Happy birthday, Clorinde.”
Wriothesley gets the day off for his birthday. Yet on the day they still all visit the Fortress of Meropide instead of going out anywhere. It is Wriothesley’s choice and they all decide that it’s a fine one, not being able to come up with anywhere else nearby to visit. It’s not as bad being down there as Furina would have feared it would have been, and for that, Furina is grateful. She would hate knowing that she has sentenced so many people to a horrible way of life, even if they sort of deserved such a thing. Some of them at least.
Others would think Furina deserves worse.
The Duke’s office is covered with little stickers of cakes everywhere and it makes Clorinde chuckle, even as she tries to keep a straight face while greeting Wriothesley. Furina finds the stickers adorable and is sure that some sort of melusine is behind such a thing. She’s seen the stickers before, she realizes after looking closer at one for a bit, in Neuvillette’s office. It’s not too much of a surprise though, with how close he and the duke were.
Still, Furina tries to remember if the stickers were often seen around November 23rd, and from most of her memories, it seems likely. The thought makes Furina chuckle slightly.
The group shares tea and sweets, just as at Clorinde’s party. Still, this one has a different vibe, even while holding the same warmth. They all sit together, talk together, and Furina finds it easier to meet Neuvillette’s gaze, to watch his face as he watches Wriothesley with his lips quirked just slightly upwards in a smile.
It makes her smile herself, seeing him happy in such a way when just a couple of years ago he was flooding the streets with what counts as his tears. Not that Furina blames him. Those few months were… stressful, to say the least.
Furina gives Wriothesley his gift at the same time as everyone else. A pack of tea from Liyue. She’s met a rich woman there, in the past, and she gave her some tea that Furina has never had before. With that, Furina also brought a tea set from Sumeru, beautifully crafted and painted.
Wriothesley seems excited, insisting that they should try the tea right away and Furina smiles brightly.
“Happy birthday, Wriothesley.”
On December 18th, it is snowing.
It’s beautiful with how the large flakes gently fall from the sky, blanketing the grounds and tops of buildings. The sun sparkles off of everything, making the world brighter. For a few hours, the snow is not touched, and it remains peaceful and a fluffy white blanket. Then the city wakes up and it is cleared away.
Before stepping outside, Furina bundles herself in a jacket and her warmest pair of pants, not that she owns many pants at all. She finds them… weird, usually. But warmth triumphs weird.
When she is outside, Furina lifts her palms upwards, letting snowflakes drift down onto her gloves and watching them melt. She begins to walk.
The plan has been made for days and Furina repeats it in her head as she walks, her steps and her words creating a rhythm but there is a knot in her chest.
What if he doesn’t want her there.
She didn’t have him at her birthday back then…
He probably-
She focuses on the snow and her steps through it. Then, just to see if she can, she summons her vision friends, and lets her feet step on top of the snow instead of sinking into it.
The feeling makes her giggle and she gestures for Crabella to follow her as she rushes forward. It’s much easier to run on top of the snow; she makes good time to meet with the others outside of the Palais mermonia, greeting them with cheers and hugs.
Wriothesley teases her about her cheating with her vision and she, of course, points out that he could likely do the same with his if he is creative enough. It makes the others laugh and Furina smiles at her accomplishment.
Then they are walking inside to tug Neuvillette away from his desk. Furina decides to wait outside. Navia waits with her, chatting as the others leave. She keeps talking until they return with Neuvillette in tow.
Furina greets him with a smile and a wave when he sees her and he smiles back. He doesn’t look upset.
They walk through the city as they talk, stopping for hot chocolate and warm water. It’s a while later before they decide to stop and play in the snow. It has been snowing the whole time, big flakes that stuck to the ground.
They make snowmen, sacrificing their own scarves and hats to decorate them. And once that has been done, the others decide to go to a nearby store to pick up some carrots as well. It didn’t feel right to any of them to leave them without noses.
Furina decides to stay, choosing instead to take pictures of the snowmen and snow covered landscape.
Neuvillette stays too.
He asks questions about her kamera and photography and Furina answers, leading to conversations branching out into swords and training and visions and plays. A lot of things they’ve never discussed before. It’s refreshing.
Furina gives Neuvillette his gift.
A collection of bottled water, each one labeled from a different place in Teyvat. Countries, cities, lakes, rivers.
Furina explains where she got each one and what led up to obtaining them and he listens while nodding. He asks some questions but not too many and when the others come back they are still sharing stories of travels long since passed.
They build more snowmen.
The day passes and they head back home.
The others begin walking.
Furina calls out to Neuvillette and when he turns, Furina throws her arms around him with a whispered: “Happy birthday.”