Archive of Our Own

Act 1: Exposition

Aventurine was liking Fontaine very very, much. The other regions were certainly interesting by sheer way of delicacies, events, and the way their world functioned, but something about Fontaine...felt nice. It probably helped that Fontaine was so advanced compared to what the other regions lacked. There were no high-speed electric cars or electric billboards displaying the hottest trends, but the boats and charming steampunk of it all made the Land of Hydro a nice change of pace.

But alas, work was work, and those charming desserts he saw in a café will have to wait.

It was strange, he had to admit, to meet a god so...casually. The Aeons did...whatever the hell they wanted and Gaiathra Triclops never deigned to visit any Avgin (or at least none that he was aware of) at all. So seeing people line up to meet with the God of Justice, even confessing to waiting in line almost once a week was...a culture shock to say the least.

However, thanks to his status as a diplomatic guest, Aventurine was able to skip the long line and meet with Furina de Fontaine herself. The IPC guards were hesitant to let him go alone without any backup, but the gambler reassured them all in that since hundreds of Fontainians see the god every day with none dead, he will surely be the same.

Besides, what good is a bet with no stakes?

"Enter!"

Ah, right. He has a meeting to get to.

Stepping into the meeting room, Aventurine noticed the bookshelves scattered around the room, seemingly almost every kind Fontaine had to offer. The room looked homey, with carpet lining the floor and small lanterns on the walls. And in the center of it all, was two couches, a table, and two people waiting for him to sit.

Aventurine had to admit, he expected the god of any world to be otherworldly, emanating divine aura at every turn. Furina was...a surprise to say the least. She looked very much human, the only possible god thing about her were the different colored eyes on her face. The strange man-Monsieur Neuvilette as he learned, look a bit more like the part, however. Regal, poised as he stood behind the god, the window behind both of them making them shine with grace.

"Ahem!" Furina cleared her throat, obviously impatient, "Are you simply intending to just stand there?! You called upon us to have a meeting about our land's resources, did you not?"

Aventurine snapped back out of his shock and contemplation. "Haha, you'll have to forgive me Lady Furina. It's not everyday you meet with a god."

The Hydro Archon laughed heartily, "Well, I can surely understand that! It is only the grace of my being that I allow my people to view my august self in the flesh, especially so often." She tapped the table in front. "Come now, negotiations must take a while and the tea will only get colder."

Aventurine dutifully sat down on the opposite couch from the pair. Neuvilette was eyeing at him very carefully, almost seeming afraid of what he could do.

Understandable to be fair. According to the reports, this planet was largely isolated from the rest of the galaxy. And for whatever reason, letters, radio waves, even ships themselves seemed barred off from entering, as if some kind of force was keeping it all out. Luckily, the ship Aventurine was on managed to push through the mysterious force and arrive safely on some of the far-off planes of Fontaine.

But now wasn't the time to contemplate whatever that was, he is Aventurine of the Ten Stonehearts, he's made negotiations with a knife behind his neck, so sitting leisurely with some delicious desserts and tea will be a breeze.

"Thank you for inviting me here once again, Lady Furina. Monsieur Neuvilette." he began, "I trust that we will reach amicable terms between both parties?"

"Why of course!" Furina agreed. "We will strive to meet your conditions of your requests, it is only fair that you will reimburse us in return, no?"

Aventurine chuckled, nodding for his agreement. He laid out the standard fare, Fontaine (and by extension all nations of Tevyat) will surrender a set amount to the IPC annually. In return, the IPC will lend out standard welfare goods sure to help develop the planet. Radios, electric candles, even a standard model of the smartphone the gambler currently had on him.

Furina seemed happy to receive such wonders beyond her imagination, even declaring the IPC as "The men from the skies that blessed us with good fortune". Neuvilette seemed more cautious, asking about what the items were made out of, what exactly Fontaine will surrender in return, everything Aventurine expected. It would be decided that the trade would be effective in a couple system months or so, given that most of the ships still had to figure out how to enter Teyvat in the first place. As negotiations winded down and the treats on the table diminished, Aventurine took to conversing about Fontaine's traditions and lifestyle, responding back different stories of the planets he's visited in turn. And eventually...

"I've heard a little "prophecy" since my arrival at this city." he casually put out. Both Furina and Neuvilette seemed to freeze a little, but returned back to their postures. "'The people of Fontaine are born with a sin. And that sin cannot be absolved no matter how many trials occur. One day, the water levels in the nation will rise, and the sinful people shall drown. In the end, all will be dissolved into the waters, leaving the Hydro Archon alone, weeping on her throne.' It sounds quite far-fetched, if I'm being honest. I do wonder, however, what are you two doing to prevent all this? How could you possibly save a nation doomed to die?"

The questions feel a little more personal than he would like to admit, especially considering that he would've given anything to know why the Avgins were fated to die through not a prophecy, but by the world they lived in. At least these people knew that something was committed that needed to be forgiven.

"W-well," Furina began hesitantly, "Rest assured, we are doing our utmost best to circumvent the prophecy. I have been working on measures to prevent the people of Fontaine from dissolving into the waters."

"Oh? And what are those measures?"

"L-like the climax of a play, my machinations will reveal themselves at the perfect moment, you needn't worry. You will receive the resources we negotiated earlier. I will not let Fontaine fall. Their god will not allow it."

Aventurine has seen many people in his lifetime. People with kind hearts taken advantage of the world, scumbags with money to throw at the cruelest possibilities, shells of people who had nothing to lose.

Throughout all his adventures, throughout all his life, he's rarely met someone he finds like him. A bold peacock spreading its feathers for the world to see, hiding the shaking of its plumage with every bold step. It would be easy, terrifyingly easy, to put the Hydro Archon in a corner, all he would have to do is ask questions he's feared to face himself. To force her to see the truth of what truly lies beneath her mask.

But he won't. Because he's not here to probe. He's here for one purpose only. To negotiate.

So he leaves the conversation at that. He doesn't miss how Furina looks happy to avoid the subject of the prophecy.

...

Act 2: Rising Action

Aventurine's time in Fontaine since then has been quite...eventful to say the least. During his stay, he has been housed in the Palais Mermonia, along with the rest of the IPC soldiers that came with. He gave vague instructions to all of them, there wasn't much they could do in a completely foreign land with no way to call for backup. And within the opera house, he's seen some quite interesting things. Not the famous Traveler he's heard praises upon praises about (yet), but things to keep him entertained nonetheless. The trials were certainly an interesting way of bringing about justice, even if the crimes themselves are watered down all the same because of it. And it's not every day you see a serial killer drop like a sack of potatoes in front of a fountain.

Ah yes. The Fountain of Lucine. One of Fontaine's most prized possessions. He's seen Fontainians pray at the heart of the fountain, wishing for their unborn children to survive to childbirth. For the child persist past childhood with the parents' traits alive. It's quite intriguing, to say the least. It reminded him of Mama, how she prayed to Gaiathra Triclops for the rain to fall and for her children to receive just a bit more nourishment to make it past the week. Back then he would stumble upon hidden puddles of drinkable water and somewhat decayed meat to bring back home, to which both Mama and Big Sis would cry with relief.

However, something strange happened once. It was late at night, and Aventurine just got back from questioning Fontainians about the prophecy, the serial killer "Vache", whatever he figured would be important to note later. He came to the Fountain of Lucine, glistening in the night. And then, he heard it.

"So interminable...*sob*...so lonely...*hic*. Just...how much longer...?"

It gave him pause, if nothing else, but he soon returned to his quarters to not avoid suspicion. That voice...it was diluted, but it was still recognizable. It was Furina herself. What was interminable? Why was she lonely? What was she going through to make her question how much more she had to endure? It made him feel light-headed, for those were questions that he spoke to himself before when he was a slave. Questions that he eventually had to cross out on his own, because no answer would've ever been enough.

It made him quiet for the first time in a while, attempting to deduce what made the Hydro Archon so miserable. It led him to the garden with the Opera Epiclese a few weeks later. He had no reason to, but it was a nice change of pace from the bustling city. And then-

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaie!"

A scream. It sounded like Furina's. His brain halted for a quick second. What should he do? Run in and jeopardize the IPC's mission? Or stay quiet and leave the God of Justice by herself? In the end, he chose to run. But not to confront. He simply hid behind a bush and waited for the interaction to play out, ready to step out just incase. Besides, this could possibly benefit him later, right?

Furina was on the floor, shivering. A masked figure-likely a woman-was standing over her, the intent to kill exuding from her body. A cat was running away, obviously in shock from the masked perpetrator.

"Who are you?" Furina begged. "A—And wh—what are you trying to do? Please don't kill me, I'm begging you, please..."

The woman took a step closer, and then ran off. Whether she found it too risky to kill Furina right then and there, or whether she noticed Aventurine's presence, it was too difficult to tell. Furina sat still on the courtyard floor, chest still heaving with heavy breaths. The cat sat right next to her, purring in an attempt to calm her heart.

Aventurine patiently waited until he confirmed the masked woman was gone, and stepped out from his hiding place. Furina didn’t notice him until he was right in front of her, still dazed from the encounter.

"Kyaaaah!" Furina screamed, now suddenly aware of the person in front of her. "H-how long have you been there?!"

"Not long actually," the gambler admitted, "But long enough to see the encounter with that mysterious woman a few minutes earlier."

The Hydro Archon's face went pale, obviously embarrassed that someone saw her in such a pathetic state. "W-well," she stammered, "If you saw that then, surely you wouldn't mind...forgetting about that occasion now would you? A-and to help me stand back up, if you please."

Aventurine considered pressing the issue, such as why was a god afraid of death, but looking upon the Lady of Justice once more, he decided that she wouldn't be able to answer his questions anyway, and silently helped her back up.

"Would you like to go to a cafe for some refreshments?" He asked politely. "I've taken a liking to this certain herbal tea they sell, but perhaps you know the way of desserts better than I, considering that you-"

"No thank you," Furina interrupted abruptly. "I have of plenty of desserts and tea blends available in my room, why would I ever want to go to a cafe when it could be delivered straight to me with the utmost care? Now, I must be returning to my chambers. Farewell now."

She staggered back to chambers, where it was heard from one of the IPC workers passing by her chambers, that she did not eat a single piece of cake at all when she came back.

Aventurine was slowly beginning to unravel Furina's secrets, whether he liked to or not. He could understand why she'd want something as important as this kept under lock and key, but unfortunately the gambler has spent too much time at the table to ignore a secret passing by.

And the final clue was what he witnessed of Furina's fear last night. That she was not afraid of dying, but afraid of losing all that she had gained.

...

Act 3: Climax

The IPC guards were getting anxious, and with good reason. The so-called prophecy of the land was coming to fruition, and most were worried that they would get swept away by the oncoming flood as well. Yet Aventurine refused to leave. Something told him he had to stay to see the end of the story, no matter what. His intuition has never failed him before, and his luck will only ever carry him further.

It was certainly a...mysterious call to action that made him go to Opera Epiclese. The Chief of Justice suddenly calling Fontainians to witness a special trial? How could he ever miss that?

The stage darkened, and soon a mysterious box appeared on stage. In it was the famous Traveler and one very confused Lady Furina. As soon as the trial began, Aventurine understood what was happening. This was a callout. A reveal of the god that did nothing for her country. A stage to showcase the phony that lied to Fontaine for centuries. The Avgin's blood ran cold. It wasn't him onstage, he was safely tucked away within the audience.

But he could feel it all. The resigned tone in Monsieur Neuvilette's words, the conviction in the Traveler's companion's voice, the way everyone was looking upon the stage wondering if the god they followed for so long had lied to them all along. To him, it might as well have been everyone he's ever met forcing his hands to be flourished at the table, judging the way he shook and the tight grip on his chips drenched with sweat, scrutinizing every possible way he had lived and survived.

And he could see it too. Specifically in Furina. Her confusion, her realization that everyone she knew was turning against her, her desperate pleas for the audience to believe her breaking act, her paranoia as every leg she's ever stood on was collapsing through no fault of her own, and...

her complete and utter resignation at her defeat.

It left him cold. Colder than he had ever been. Was this what could await him at the end of his story? His comrades he believed that he could at the very least trust what they were doing, all turning their backs and leaving him for death? Topaz and Veritas, would they betray him like this too? On top of a stage where the backdoor was closed off so he couldn't escape?

He looked up again at Monsieur Neuvilette's horrified reading of the Oratrice's judgement.

"The Hydro Archon, guilty. To be punished via the death sentence."

His blood ran even colder. All that work, and Furina was just supposed to die? He stared at the girl, speechless. She was resigned to her chair, weeping silently. Not even the news of her death made her look up.

And then, chaos struck. The stage, space itself tore apart in two, and a giant narwhal of all things emerged, and at the same time, a mysterious figure jumped to fight it. They looked inhuman, much how the Stonehearts looked in the Emanator forms using their Cornerstones. His own aventurine stone was sitting in his breast pocket, waiting to be used to protect its master. He kept silent, unsure if now was the time to reveal one of his best aces.

And then the Oratrice started glowing. And as far as he was concerned, it was definitely not supposed to do that.

Aventurine's brain was working a mile a minute, it was going to hit Furina, there was no other explanation, it was going to carry out the death sentence. He couldn't let that happen. Not to her! Not to a kindred soul that he felt the heart beating with fear. Call him selfish, call him an idiot for knowing what not to do, yet to risk it for a phony.

But it was not Aventurine acting. It was Kakavasha. And what little of Kakavasha's spirit left in him knew; he wanted to save Furina. He wanted to save the girl that seemed so similar to him, the girl who nearly bore the same scars as he. He jumped for her, just as the Traveler was doing the same. He touched her tears intending to move her out of the way and then...

All went black.

...

Act 4: Falling Action

It was dark. The opera house was in its proper form, yet no one was here, except for Traveler, who looked as confused as he. Kakavasha was scared. What had happened? He touched Furina's tears in an act to push out of the way, and then what? Darkness?

Kakavasha calmed down, and Aventurine took to analyzing what was before him. Furina was back onstage, seemingly confident as ever despite the horrifying experience she was subjected to mere minutes ago. The Traveler was here too, questioning on how he arrived here. He admitted he didn't know. He asked the Traveler what their theory was, and they responded that it was likely because tears from a Fontainian contained their strongest emotions, and by touching Furina's, they were now the only witnesses to Furina's true self. For now, all that they suggested was to talk to Furina to understand what was happening. Aventurine couldn't do much but agree. Stepping on the stage and nudging the Hydro Archon's shoulder, she looked mildly surprised.

"Oh?" She questioned. "Who permitted you to come onto this stage? Now, I understand your admiration for my august self, but I must ask you to keep to the rules." It seemed that she didn't recognized either the Traveler or Aventurine, otherwise-the gambler surmised, her reaction to at least him would be much different. The Traveler tried to question her, but it was no use. She simply chided them and repeated her order for them to scurry off the stage.

And then, he saw it. Text bubbling around the throne, shaky and unsure, but still there, begging to be seen.

"Don't look at me, don't look at me..."

It seemed that the Traveler noticed, but continued questioning, and asked why she was performing when an audience was absent.

"Hah. Do not jest." She cried. "Can you not feel it?"

More words floated to surface.

"Just let the stage lights go off, please, if only for one second..."

"I am Focalors." She explained. "The eyes of countless Fontainians are upon me. I must, at all times, display the utmost elegance and nobility."

"...That way, I can...become "myself" again..."

Aventurine felt his heart ache. How many times did he repeat those words to himself? To assure him that this was all necessary? How many times did desperate pleas attempt to escape past his lips, only to be drowned out for his safety?

For now, all he could do was abide by Furina's wish. To turn off the lights. She cried out to not touch them, for they were what was needed for the empty audience to gaze upon her figure, yet she never moved from her spot, afraid of what would happen if the audience caught her "slacking". Silently, Aventurine disobeyed and flicked the others off too.

When all the spotlights were off, all that was shown were two tickets, assigned to the Traveler and Aventurine respectively. And two spotlights shone on two seats, nodding to both that the audience needed to take their seat. They did.

A play began, just for them.

{Scene 1, Before a Mirror, Furina}

It started off quaint. Furina, standing alone, was suddenly called to the mirror. There, she saw not her reflection, but someone else.

"W-wait a moment!" the young girl cried. "You're...mirror-me? How can this be?"

The reflection enjoyed the idea of being called "Mirror-Me", she decided to ask Furina to please continue to refer to her as such.

A disembodied voice of Furina spoke out, narrating her own life.

"It was that day when she called me. It was that day when my life was changed for good. Before all this, my life was nothing. Stuck within a room because somehow, someway, she told me long beforehand that I was not to be seen. That everything would've been ruined if I made a friend. No memory of childhood stood behind, no dreams of the future stood after. I knew not how old I was, only that I "existed" for...two weeks maybe? Only two weeks of my young body existed before she talked to me."

Aventurine's gut coiled. He was Kakavasha, the child blessed by Gaiathra Triclops herself. Told he was blessed since birth. But at least he had his Mama. He had his Big Sis. Alone in a room no matter how long your existence was declared seem too cruel to him.

"Mirror-Furina" explained herself, that she was a magical meeting to the real Furina. That Fontaine would fall to the prophecy sooner or later. But she had a plan, a plan to save everyone. And it needed Furina's cooperation. That she would suffer greatly, but Fontaine would be saved because of her.

The young girl was relieved, berating her reflection for making her worry.

"And as for the suffering," she continued. "Well, I will admit that the first thing that came to mind was, "Why do I have to be the one to suffer?"..."

"But if the prophecy will come true, I'll also die anyway, right? So if I've already met you as my 'magical meeting' in this world..."

"If there were scales, with all the people of Fontaine on one side, and my pain on the other...Is it not obvious where the scales would tilt?"

Aventurine's heart ached. There was a time, long ago, back when the Avgin massacre was still fresh in his head, when the commodity code seared in his neck was still red and burning. He wondered aloud in his cell, what would've happened if he was made the savior? That his Mama showed him off as the child blessed by Gaiathra Triclops herself? That he would be placed upon a throne and treated as someone important, more important than what his Mama sung about him every night? Maybe they would've seen him as a god themselves, that Mama Fenge's child came to bless them all with luck and fortune. Could anything have changed if he lent his luck to his people? Would they still be alive right now? Would Mama be safe in an IPC sanctuary instead of buried beneath Sigonian sand? Would his Big Sis be at home marveling at the jewelry he came back home with, instead of drowning in her own blood from the Katicans? It plagued Kakavasha, it plagued Aventurine even now, because those what-ifs will never come true.

But this was no time to wallow in pity. He had a play to watch.

"Mirror-Furina" was happy. She praised Furina as the perfect human-as her "ideal".

For some reason, Aventurine detected a hint of envy within her voice.

Mirror-Furina told the real one her plan. Fontaine lost its original Hydro Archon, and all Furina would have to do is fill the role. Not as a true god, but one everyone wanted. To not pursue "divinity", but to challenge "humanity". She could never let the mask down. She could never let anyone know the wiser. She would be trapped until Mirror-Furina could find a way to circumvent the prophecy. She would never age, never die, and she would end her performance in the most dramatic and fantastical trial she would ever witness.

And sweet, human Furina was nervous, but she nodded to the plan. Once more, Furina's voice spoke out.

"That was the first and last day I ever saw "Mirror-me". Whenever I stared the mirror, it was me staring back. Whenever I got frustrated that things weren't going to plan, it was me shouting at myself. Whenever I was shaking because I was tired, it was me looking down at myself in pity. Never would she reach me to update me on the plan. Never would she warn me if I was straying the path. Never would she simply praise me for doing my best. And never would she ask me to come closer to the mirror and attempt to hold me as my tears stained the glass."

The Traveler remained silent. Aventurine remained silent. It was best to stay quiet during a play, wasn't it?

{Scene 2, Accession Speech, Furina}

This scene was rather simple. Furina stood upon stage and spoke to her people, admitting that while she knew little of being a god, she swore to be one her people could stand by. That as long as divinity and humanity worked together, Fontaine would see new heights.

Aventurine thought it was good, but evidently the audience didn't see it the same way. They were disgusted with the person before them. How someone so meek, so modest possibly be their divine light for the future? How could a god suggest she work with humanity? It wasn't their job to lead Fontaine, it was the divine's. All they would do is just follow their commands, but what use were commands from a sheep? Half of the audience was already speculating that she was a puppet, made to be ordered around however you liked, and that the real Hydro Archon was behind the scenes, watching and puppeteering her every move.

Aventurine claimed that this was humanity at its core. Selfish, greedy, unwilling to believe someone lesser could soar to the sky. No matter how hard someone could try, no matter the amazing feats they could pull off, you'd never be loved by humanity if you weren't what they saw in the paintings.

And Furina saw that too. She panicked, but calmed her nerve. She spoke with bravado, claiming her demeanor before as an "act". She restarted her speech speaking with conviction, drama, and that so long as she was the center star in Fontaine, so long as she stood onstage with the Oratrice as her witness, not even other gods could be safe from her judgement.

The audience was happy. They saw new hope in their deity. In Furina. Their Furina.

It was better for the people, but worse for Furina. At least that was what Aventurine thought.

{Scene 3, Opera House, Furina}

This scene was quite light-hearted. Furina complained about trials, she saw to a sickly child and the mother praised her blessings as their Archon.

He ignored that last bit for a mere second. It reminded him of how his Mama would act when he got better after a cold.

She investigated the reports about the water levels. She claimed complete knowledge when they were clueless.

She lied back into her marvelous bed. She was hesitant about using it, but her people insisted that only something like this was worthy of her status, that it was worth the extra days in the farms and woods.

Furina smiled. All was going well. None doubted her, and all she needed to do was to be this for a bit longer. Surely "Mirror-Furina" was smart, surely she'll burst out like her favorite storybook characters and announce her solution to the masses. Surely everyone would praise Furina for a job well done, and surely they would all get together in the Palais Mermonia for a hearty feast and happy ending.

...Right?

For what seemed like the last time for awhile, the Hydro Archon's voice rang out.

"I was happy, playing my role back then. It used to be so simple. Listen for their cries, investigate the water levels, witness the trials, repeat. My people became more demanding as the years went on, and I continued to serve them to the best of my "divine" abilities. 'It'll be okay,' I thought. 'Mirror-me will have this all figured out. All I have to do is play my part.' My people needed this. Fontaine needed this. As long as the prophecy still stood tall, I would never rest until it would be crumbled under my feet. Looking back on all this now, if I knew the pain that would follow the rest of my life, I wonder, would I have still walked this path for my people? I think I would answer yes all the same."

Aventurine stayed silent. It wasn't proper for the audience to interrupt a play.

{Scene 4, Opera House, Furina}
{Scene 5, Opera House, Furina}
{Scene 67, Opera House, Furina}
{Scene 231, Opera House, Furina}
{Scene 5,089, Opera House, Furina}
{Scene 23,596, Opera House, Furina}

Scenes upon scenes flickered by. Furina performed them all the same. She was noticeably getting more tired as the years crawled by, yet she would never let the mask fall.

"It's been 100 years?" Furina questioned at Scene {36,500}. "I can't believe it's been that long. 'Mirror-me' is certainly taking more time than I had thought. But it is no issue. If I have lasted 100 years, I can last 100 more, can't I? It's all for my people. It's all for my country..."

...

...

...

{Scene 98,745, Opera House, Furina}
{Scene 100,002, Opera House, Furina}
{Scene 123,456, Opera House, Furina}
{Scene 138,720, Opera House, Furina}
{Scene 142,890, Opera House, Furina}
{Scene 168,923, Opera House, Furina}

...

...

...

{Scene 182,375, Opera House, Furina}

Furina sat in the same couch as she always had for 499 years, 37 days, and 22 hours. The woman spoke in front of her overjoyed. How it has been passed through generation after generation the story of their ancestor, who once sat in the same seat as she was, marveling at the Hydro Archon's willingness to visit such a poor peasant-like house such as hers, all just to cure her son.

Then suddenly, without any reason to her, Furina started...crying?

"Eh...huh?" Furina sounded the most vulnerable she had been in centuries. And then as soon as it showed, the mask was being taped back together with what little she had left. "Hahahaha, really now? I didn't even notice..."

"This must be the overflow of Hydro from my person!" she fibbed, unable to stop the tears cascading down her cheeks. "Well, can't quite help being the god whose dominion is the waters, can I?"

The woman was overjoyed, to know that she was a sole witness to the power of the Hydro Archon. Cursing at herself for forgetting her Kamera, only wishing that she could immortalize this special moment for the years and even more generations to come.

And after hours of silence, after piles and piles of scenes not saying anything, Furina's voice whispered out to the lonely crowd. It was much more tired now, but it persevered to explain.

"...That moment, that second where Miss Delarose mentioned how I visited her ancestor 20 generations ago, it finally dawned on me. How long was I to remain here? How long was I to stay put in that couch, watching generation after generation go by? I've seen her great-great-great grandmother confess her feelings on having a child. I comforted her great-great-great-great grandpa on his wife having a miscarriage. And every time I've tried to go beyond the scope of divinity, their sons and daughters would be the only thing that remained of their person. It dawned on me then that I never actually knew when this suffering would end."

Aventurine stayed quiet. Deathly quiet. But Kakavasha's mind was buzzing. Specifically, if it were him in Furina's place instead. If Gaiathra Triclops were to show up in his dreams, declare that if he were to play his part and suffer quietly without end, if that meant that his family and his people would been saved, would he have done it? Aventurine knew he lost himself long ago, but he also knew when that facade would end. When he would finally be allowed to leave the table and let himself live in what little leisure he could afford.

He knew his lifespan. Furina did not.

The scene changed. It showed Furina in her four-poster bed, hugging a pillow and shaking.

""So interminable...*sob*...so lonely...*hic*. Just...how much longer...?" she cried in her head.

"Hundred of years must have passed by, and maybe hundreds more will follow suit. Maybe, even when the earth below me rots and Fontaine becomes so developed I will be unable to recognize it anymore, I will still be here. Playing my role in this horrid play as I always have."

The young lady cried alone, wishing that somebody would come to her and she could release her frustrations all at once, but fearing what that could mean for the work she's done so far. She's spent 499 years, 38 days, and 6 hours for this part. Confiding in someone would mean sending that number back to 0, and she'd never be able to put it back to where it would go.

She cried for "mirror-me". To hurry and save her from this never-ending hell.

Kakavasha wept in his heart. Aventurine hid his face with his hat.

{Scene 182,376, Opera House, Furina, and...}

The Traveler's voice spoke out with no actor. The real one leaned forward, eager to know what she would've said if the Giant Magic Box didn't break.

They conversed. The Traveler begged Furina as one last chance for her to spill everything. The Hydro Archon denied. The Traveler insisted that they were not an actor...but merely a witness to the chaos on the stage, so surely that would mean she could confide in a non-actor, right? The Hydro Archon...gave it thought.

"It'd be so nice, wouldn't it? To confide in someone at last?"

These words, while they felt like Furina's monologue, they also felt like his. Speaking to him on the stage, conversing to him as if he was an actor performing with her.

"No. You mustn't be selfish." Furina chided.

"But what if...it's really alright?" she asked carefully. Aventurine could not think of a response to her. It was always a fantasy of his, to let someone see his shaking hand beneath the table and hold it tight, to share his cards and let someone help him for a change. But such dreams will never come to pass for someone like him now, and they wouldn't come true for someone like Furina then.

"You've worked hard for so, so long...! Surely it would be okay, just once...to put yourself first?"

Forever and always, they would be doomed to play a character that wasn't them, but yet at the same time was, at least to the audience.

"Is it so outrageous to want something so little? To desire someone with whom you could confide in with your frustrations and secrets? Surely, it wouldn't hurt, right? What's so sinful about wanting to finally share your pain?"

No one should ever know the shaking of fear they feel at home, no one should ever know how scared they are to bet it all. All the audience should be allowed to see is the results. The royal flushes, full hands, the gathering of chips in their corner. That's all that should be shown, and that would be all they'd ever let them see.

"You must think about it...long and hard. Make sure the choice you make will never be one you come to regret."

And true to his belief, Furina shut down the opportunity. The opportunity that would never come again for as long as she lived. Just as Aventurine expected.

And the Traveler was bitter that she didn't share. Standing on stage with her, angry. How ironic. If news articles and rumors of the illustrious blonde-haired traveler were as true as Aventurine's real self, the Traveler was long since an actor in the play in his opinion.

{Finale, Furina, and Focalors}

Lights dimmed and shone one last time, and there Furina stood. No divine aura, no chest puffed out. It was only her. She begun dancing, a final ode to her performance. Music coming from the high seats of the court.

Yet something felt...off. Furina was stumbling through her dance, yet something was keeping her aloft. Looking behind her, Aventurine could make out another figure. One that looked just like Furina, the "Mirror-Furina" that was shown all the way at the beginning. She was leading Furina from behind, dragging her along, not caring if she were to trip on her own two feet. She looked mildly concerned, but never reached out to help her counterpart. Through around halfway into the dance, Furina started crying. Tears poured down her face, but her dance didn't stop. She got better as the music progressed. If one were to look at her from a far enough distance, one could even believe that she was the lead all along. But up close like this, Aventurine could still see her stumbling to the music, only saving herself because she experienced that mistake before. There were times that "Mirror-Furina" loosened her hold, but never at all. Furina stayed trapped within the dance, dancing over the tears that fell on the stage.

Suddenly, "Mirror-Furina" pulled her back, and pushed her forward into a bow. A guillotine materialized above both of them, but Furina's fell first. Her hat fell off her head, and the young girl's body crumpled to the floor. Tears still trickled down her face, and blood was seeping out from a wound on her neck.

Aventurine was no longer sitting the audience. Instead, Kakavasha ran upstage to cradle Furina in his arms, weeping for the lost child. To cry for life to be snuffed out so cruelly. He held her even tighter in his embrace, and Furina weakly lifted her arms to hug back.

Never would this scene be revealed to the public. For as long as the rest of history and the rest of any race in the sky or the ground ever knew, "Focalors" was simply just a phony. "Aventurine" was simply just a lying rat.

This one scene where both Kakavasha and Furina wept over their pain and everything bit of suffering they ever through would be only remembered to them. And for what little it seemingly mattered to the audience or the rest of the cast, it meant worlds of relief to the two loneliest actors and all their anxiety wash away in the ocean, where their tears would be indistinguishable from the rest of the water.

...

Act 5: Resolution

It's quite funny, how once you have the biggest-probably only cry in your life, everything else just kinda...flashes by after that. The IPC guards insisted he leave and flee to higher ground. The water submerged everything in the city. Then, as soon as the waters rose, they sunk. Fontainians cried in relief, the prophecy was wrong! They wouldn't dissolve in the water after all! Friends and family were hugging each other, swearing to never leave each other's side ever again. It made Aventurine feel nostalgic.

It's been two weeks since then. Fontaine has begun to start repairs for everything that broke during the flood. And while some IPC officers insist that they leave, most were reluctant to, knowing that wherever else they stayed, it wouldn't be nearly as comfy as the Palais Mermonia. Meanwhile, Aventurine has taken to contact Topaz, informing her that while things were getting slightly off-track, the IPC was handling negotiations down here pretty well. For the first time in history, Fontaine was beginning to look up.

Aventurine was strolling down the street, cake in hand with the intent of visiting one particular place. After the flood had ceded, Furina promptly left the Palais Mermonia, and no one has known where she has been since. Neuvilette, now the Sovereign of Hydro (honestly couldn't they just stick to one name??) of course, knew where Furina was staying, but was unable to visit due to Fontaine needing an entire life-style change and the endless amount of paperwork that followed. So after some convincing and bantering and conceding, Aventurine was tasked to hand off some complimentary desserts to the former Hydro Archon.

Admittedly, Aventurine was morbidly curious on how Furina was too. Just like it had been two weeks since the great flood, it's been two weeks since the gambler learned of Furina's true nature. This was...a question he wanted answering, if he allowed himself to be selfish. He and Furina were alike, almost like two sides of a coin, yet maybe the same side at once as well. Through her, he could finally answer his last question for his future; What would happen to him once his façade was worn down?

Soon, he arrived at the new abode of the former Hydro Archon. One knock, two knocks, three knocks, and someone opened the door to see who it was.

"H-hello...?" Furina peeked out the door, tiredness in her voice evident. Upon realizing that Aventurine was standing there, she freaked out and tried to close the door, and Aventurine promptly jammed it with his foot so she couldn't.

"I-I have no idea what you're doing here!" Furina stammered. "I-I'm not Hydro Archon anymore, so I have no use to you for negotiations! P-please just go talk to Monsieur Neuvilette for anything-Wah!"

A battle of one girl who hasn't eaten for the past day vs a fairly physically healthy man did not last long. The gambler managed with little difficulty to kick open the door, sending the poor girl flying into the floor.

The house was...moderate to say the least. Only the barest necessities were included in the house and it was obvious Furina never dared to venture outside to buy any kind of decoration. A suitcase was on the floor half-open, as it was pretty clear that Furina just grabbed whatever she could to pack.

Furina herself wasn't doing much better. Her jacket was off her person, and her clothes while clean, were stripped bare of any accentuating features. Her hair was also short now, messy and unkempt because she swore that any barber she would ever talk to would cut all her hair off out of spite.

She looked...very sad to say the least. Aventurine just held up the pastry box and said, "The Monsieur tasked me to do errand boy for you. Got a table so we could sit?"

Furina looked hesitant, but eventually gestured him to come inside after standing up. She guided him to a modest table that was already beginning to collect dust, for she had no reason to use it much. Aventurine gently unboxed the pastries, and she took note that all of them seemed to be her favorites from when she used to mass-order them to the Palais Mermonia. After Furina insisted that he take share in the sweet delights as well-it would be terribly awkward if she was the only eating after all, and with some meager tea that Chlorinde had given to her, the two fell into a...peaceful silence. It wasn't something either was used to, always talking to make sure no one saw the pitiful person beneath, but this...this was a nice change of pace.

Eventually though, the silence became too much for either to bear, so Aventurine struck up conversation to ask what Furina had been up to since the flood. She looked shocked, but gave a little information as thanks for the desserts. After she left, it dawned upon her that she didn't exactly know where to even go. She had no vacation home within Fontaine, Poisson was obviously off limits, and she doubted that any Fontainian would be nice enough to let a phony Archon into their home. Just as she was about to curl up in an alleyway to get some shut-eye, a Melusine ran to her to drop off a house key. Apparently Neuvilette realized the same thing as her a while ago, so he took to buying a house for her. The Melusine-Serene also promised that Neuvilette would cover anything Furina wished to purchase, and that she would always be welcome back into the Palais Mermonia. The rest of the Melusines missed her very much, she said.

"It seemed so...wrong at first," Furina admitted, "I didn't do anything throughout my tenure as the Hydro Archon, why was Serene so happy to see me then?"

Aventurine kept quiet. Because as much as he wanted to console her, to say that she meant something if someone wanted her back, he knew deep down she would refuse any answer that came forth. Instead, he simply replied, "Maybe its cause they miss the work of carting your hundreds of pastries in."

Furina gawked, evidently shocked that the gambler would say such a thing, and insisted that she never made that many orders! ...Only every two to three days. The atmosphere was lighter as the two shared a laugh, and Furina took to sharing other interesting things about what happened since.

"...I had to stop her from marching out my door to pay for better furniture in my house!" Furina complained, clocking in about a half-hour at this point well into her second dessert, whilst Aventurine was still on his first. "Can you imagine the sight? The Champion Duelist, known to everyone as having never lost a fight marching out the former Hydro Archon's house demanding that she buy better furniture with the poor girl clinging on her coattails not to!" Furina waved her fork to and fro, bits of cream getting stuck on the walls. "And even after that, she demanded that I clean up my abode and worked me to the brittle bone until it was spotless! I had half a mind to hit her with my hat and push her out the door!"

Aventurine laughed. This Clorinde person reminded him very much of Dr. Ratio. Why, he could imagine the mundanite himself prattling about this very same situation to him as well! He'd never see Aventurine's actual home of course, that would stay locked away if he had anything to say about it.

"And what then?" he inquired.

"Then...she invited me to a party," Furina quietly responded, "I tried to say no, that no one would ever want me playing hooky and drinking shots with them, but Clorinde just flashed her sword out in front of me and said, 'They better be, or else they'll be the ones to experience a tispy Master Duelist knocking them off their feet.'!" Furina laughed. "The party was...nice. I don't remember much of it since apparently I am a pitiful lightweight, but...it was good, not to worry about what everyone was thinking of me."

Aventurine smiled. This was what people like them should deserve, a time, no matter how short, to be one without a mask and celebrate their truest self. He didn't know when that would come to him of course, but he wished that it could come for him like it did for the young actress.

Tea was drained from the pot, and it was clear to both that pantry wouldn't have any more, so he stood up and asked if she wanted to try buying some more blends. Furina of course freaked out, insisting that no-one would want to sell anything to her, yet it was clear that Furina needed to go outside sooner rather than later. So with a shoddy cloak serving as her "disguise", she started sneaking out like one of the protagonists in a horrible spy movie. Aventurine followed suit. It's been two weeks since the reveal of Furina's lie, and everyone's been busy with reparation plans, so surely it wouldn't be too horrible, right?

...

"Six thousand mora."

Aventurine and Furina blanched. Whilst he may not be familiar with the money system in this world, what is probably 6,000 credits for two boxes of tea is just too much!

"S-six thousand mora for only this?!" Furina exclaimed, her hands shaking with the two boxes.

"Can't do anything about it," the shopkeeper lied, "Reparation costs are heavy." He leaned forward. "Actually, you're Furina, aren't you? In that case, pay me ten thousand mora. What's wrong? Can't our illustrious and august Archon front the pay for two measly boxes of tea?"

Furina was shaking even more, there was no way she had ten thousand mora in her purse right now. She meekly put the boxes down and wiped her hands on her shirt.

"Marketing costs. Pay me two thousand."

"F-for what!?" Furina exclaimed.

"You think anyone would wanna buy those boxes after knowing a liar held them?" the shopkeeper threatened. "Gimme two thousand mora to pay for those boxes or I'll just take whatever's in your silly purse. And maybe your dirty friend's too."

Tensions were rising, and Aventurine barely had any idea what to do. It was something he experienced back when he started out in the IPC, but what was he to do as a spectator? And then-

*SPLAT!*

A fresh tomato hit Furina on the back of her head, she turned around to see the perpetrator. It was a woman with a bag of groceries, chest heaving with her arm still forward, evidently not even hiding that she was the culprit.

"My brother and my niece died because of you!" She wailed, tears pouring from her face. "Remember Desyree? Remember Cannes?! They trusted you with all their heart! 'The Hydro Archon will save us all', they said. And what did you do?! You sat in your chair eating desserts whilst my brother flung himself into the Primordial Sea for his daughter! To hell with you, you fake Archon! To hell with the phony that never lifted a finger towards her citizens!"

Other people started jeering at her. Cries of anguish poured out from every citizen, mourning the loss of their families, their friends, their lovers. Cacophonies of shouts and wails were overlapping each other, insisted that had they known Furina was a phony, they would've ripped her right off her throne and threw her into the Primordial Sea to endlessly drown. Furina's entire body was shaking. Her eyes darted back and forth, akin to a frozen deer being cornered by her predators. Aventurine was shivering too. People were also throwing insults at him for simply being associated with the fake, declaring that he was a faker too, and that an outsider should've never stepped his grimy feet into their land. It all hit too close to home. People were beginning to march towards the shaking duo, intending of robbing them whilst turning a blind eye, but then-

*PHWEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!*

The cry of a whistle shouted over all of them. A Melusine was standing there, breathing heavily from the amount of force she had to put behind the whistle.

"What are all of you doing?!" she demanded, "This isn't the time for fighting! Don't you see Fontaine needs everyone to help right now?! All of you are under arrest for verbally and physically assaulting both a foreign diplomat and the Ar-I mean a citizen! And you, shopkeeper! You're also under arrest for improper market deals! Marechaussee Phantom, let's take them away!"

The crowd was quickly carried off by the force of Melusines, and if their expressions were anything to say, their trials might be the shortest ones recorded in Fontainian history. And soon as crowd had an opening, Furina booked it for the hills with Aventurine following suit, the boxes of tea stayed knocked over on the floor.

...

Furina was running somewhere. She didn't know where, but she had to run. Somewhere, anywhere would be better than that street right now. Why, why did she never try any harder?! She should've tried harder, she should've sent more people to research the waters, she should've done better...!

Cannes, Desyree, Korina, Erin, Elizabeth, Mariannie, Lemony, floods of names from headlines and mourning loved ones that truly believed that she was their god until the end, and all their blood rested on her hands. If she were just a better Archon, would any of them still be alive today?

Her legs collapsed under her, she fell on top of a hill-when did she even run upwards? Her chest was shaking with every breath. This wasn't enough. She forced herself to stand back up. She had to run even farther. It was her penance, for every crime she's committed against her country. She had to run somewhere where no one would ever see again. Sumeru? No that was too close. Inazuma? Yes, yes, Inazuma would be where she would travel to. It was isolated, right? No one would ever find her there! And no one would ever find her pitiful-

"Furina!"

Who was that? Someone who escaped the Marechaussee Phantom? Unlikely, the Melusines were always great at their job, but what if it was...?

"Furina!"

Someone grabbed her arm. No, no! She can't go back! Not right now! Everyone would see her! And everyone would see just how much of a failure she-!

"Furina, are you okay?"

It was gentle, a genuine question. Furina looked back at who was grabbing her. It was Aventurine, panting and heaving, looking seriously worried for her.

"Wh-what are you doing here?" she asked.

"Came to see if...you were...okay," Aventurine breathed.

Furina fell back down, Aventurine sat next to her. They said nothing for a while, only looking at the scenery in front of them. It was clear that Aventurine wouldn't speak to her unless she was ready, so there they stayed. After some unknown time, Furina spoke up.

"I...did remember them," she said.

"Hm?"

"I remembered Cannes, and I remembered his daughter, too. Desyree was a sweet child from what I remember." she explained. "She gave me flowers from outside the city, wanting to express her thanks of me taking care of Fontaine, she even cried because her father wouldn't let her go outside any further. It was my first time seeing those flowers since I was unable to leave the city, and I kept them in my room until they withered." she paused, then continued. "Every person I've ever met, every person that took care to send me gifts, I've done my best to remember them all. Even if they were in danger of being forgotten, I'd write them down in a notebook so I could look back upon them anytime I desired. I must have hundreds of those books I forgot to pack..."

"You couldn't leave the city?" Aventurine questioned. "Why?"

"I tried to. Once," the actress explained, "I once planned to leave to go visit Sumeru. I thought that maybe, maybe, the God of Wisdom knew what to do about the prophecy. It wouldn't look suspicious either. It was going to be two Gods talking, surely humanity wouldn't be skeptical of that, right? Well, when I tried setting even a foot outside the city, I couldn't. I felt this...overwhelming sensation, like I was stuck at the bottom of the sea, endlessly clawing up to the surface wrapped in chains. It was then I knew that I could never leave. This city was where I was "born"-created? And this city would be where I would die, too. The only way I could experience even a taste of the other nations were gifts my followers gave me."

It was silent after that. Aventurine didn't know what to say to all of that, and Furina couldn't blame him. And then he said, "Well, you're outside of the city now, aren't you?"

She looked surprised at the question, and sure enough, once she looked behind her, the Court of Fontaine was so far away. It seemed that she ran all the way here without noticing she left the city.

"Huh," she said dumbly. "I guess I did."

She paused, and then she spoke again after some thought.

"It's funny, for the longest time, I always thought stepping out from Fontaine and into the rest of the world would be so exhilarating. That freedom would be in the air and I'd be happy for the first time in centuries! …And now that I have, it doesn't seem as grand as I always thought. I'm out here, but nothing has changed about me. The only thing that's changed for me was how the people of Fontaine saw me. Could I really call this freedom? The book on my story has been closed, doesn't that mean that my usefulness has expired? What is freedom when you have no ideals to turn to?"

As soon as she let out those words, she chuckled, "But I've learned that "freedom" does not mean "solitude". You could be with people all around you and be lonely, and you could have no one but your thoughts for company and feel at peace. Yet the opposites are also true. What "freedom" shall be defined for me is something fate will keep from me a bit longer, but I trust that whatever it is, the last and final scene will have me happy at my deathbed."

Aventurine was quiet again, until he asked, "Would you like to hear a story?"

"A story?" Furina repeated, "Sure, if you don't mind."

He told the story of a child. That child was blessed by a god, as stated by his mother. Even his name was a reflection of that blessing. The child had incredible luck, and he always used it to keep his family alive for another day under the god's watchful eye. Then the child's mother died, and her two children were left alone. The older sister of that child sacrificed herself to ensure his safety, and so did the rest of his clan. He survived, but he couldn't say he lived. He was sold to a slave market, where he was forced to use his luck for someone he hated. He killed that man and fled, eventually getting picked up by a giant corporation as another asset. The boy tried his best, but his best would never be enough. So he begged a stranger to take his place, unable to live through the pain. That someone never knew who the child truly was. His likes, his dislikes, his fears and everything that made him who he was became foreign to him. That someone has been living for that child ever since, and he has never been seen in public ever since.

"What would you say to this child?" Aventurine asked after finishing his story, "Would you tell or do anything to him?"

Furina was quiet, taking in the story she had heard, processing it as not a play or a story, but as the life of the man sitting next to her. Eventually, she spoke.

"You tried no harder or less than I. Your only fault is that you never learned how to be backstage. Dear child, none of the struggles you faced were your fault, and I sincerely believe someone will be waiting for you once the curtain closes."

Aventurine said nothing, he just silently cried on top of that hill. She cried with him in return. It was a quiet play, known to no one but these two, yet it would be their favorite show for all the time they lived.

...

Act 6: Epilogue

Time flew, and eventually Aventurine and the rest of the IPC guards he brought with him were ready to depart. He traveled to Liyue, Inazuma, Sumeru, and even Mondstadt, but he left the more desolate nations alone since for now, as he had no means or way to venture through their lands.

The ship was getting ready for departure, as boxes were piled high with resources and the people of Tevyat in marveled shock of the gadgets and items the IPC gave back in return. The gambler was conversing with an officer on how to navigate the forcefield when Furina ran to the ship, obviously quite out of breath considering the far distance she had to travel.

The first thing he noticed about her was that she looked much more at ease. Her hair was now properly trimmed, her outfit-though lacking the bits and bobbles she used to adorn herself with-did look put together and not a random assortment of fabric she decided to throw on that day. It was almost impossible to believe this was the same girl that barely left her house and relied on macaroni to get by.

The second thing he noticed was a strangely wrapped box with a blue-gold ribbon.

"My, my Lady Furina," he said. "One last gift for me before I go? I might start to fall in love."

"As if you would," Furina retorted. The two had become close friends since their cry on the hill. It was a strange sight to see from both the eyes of the citizens of Fontaine and the IPC, but the duo paid them all little to no mind. Eventually, people got bored after a number of tabloids trying and failing to capitalize on their growing companionship, so now nobody barely even blinked twice whenever they decided to hang out together. "An-y-way, this is for you." She shoved the box into the Stoneheart's hands bouncing on her feet, her eyes making it obvious that she was greatly anticipating his reaction. After some light (failed) prodding to figure out what the gift was before opening it, Aventurine opened it. In it was a set of matching bottles, one of which was already filled with some kind of fluorescent pink-ish liquid.

"What are these?" he inquired.

"There's a belief in Fontaine," Furina explained, "It is said that water will contain memories of anything and everything, and it is more trustworthy than the lands and sky. The memories of friends long lost, the feelings of joy and hardship, all that is recorded in water. So some Fontainians have taken to collecting water during their travels, as a sign to remember the land they visited and the memories that were made. I already filled one up with some Primordial Seawater. Now that the people of Fontaine are forgiven, it's little more than some strange drinking water."

Aventurine felt incredibly touched, reminding him of a tradition of the Avgins. Children often took to molding their family with sand, hardening it as best they could to let it surpass the harsh conditions of the land. If you were to see a lump of sand that looked suspicious on your travels, it was common courtesy to leave a portion of food for the sculptures, as it was both a gift of survival and a gift of mourning if the family didn't make it.

"Aww, but what if I wanted the waters of Liyue instead?" the gambler pouted sarcastically. "How could you think I wanted memories of Fontaine instead?"

Furina gawked, obviously offended by the notion that he wouldn't like to remember their bonding and insisted that if he were so ungrateful, she'll just take it back and give it to some IPC rando with her salon summons rearing for a fight. The Avgin laughed and said he was joking. He thanked her for the gift and she puffed out her chest and declared that of course her gifts were great, she was Furina de Fontaine after all!

"...And that child," Furina cautiously spoke up, careful to not let anyone else hear what she was about to say. Aventurine was tense. "What...became of him? I don't believe you ever finished the story."

"I didn't?"

"Indeed. All stories begin with birth and end with death. That is what Fontaine believes to be a story with an end. As you never described how the child died, I can only assume that he is still living, no?"

Aventurine smiled. He never thought of it like that. "I suppose that's on me. Yes, the child hasn't died yet, so I guess I must apologize for telling you an incomplete story."

"I look forward to knowing the end. I believe that someday, that child will have a happy ending. And so will the stranger the child asked to live in his place. I will be incredibly upset if he doesn't."

"Haha, I'd be pretty upset too."

After some more light banter and conversation, the IPC was ready for departure. Aventurine thanked Furina one last time for the gifts and comfort she gave, and Furina responded with her own thanks of him doing the same.

"May the Hydro Dragon bless you with fair trials for your performance to come!" she cried out.

"And may Gaiathra Triclops bless your soul with fortune and luck for the trials ahead!" he cried back.

It would incredibly rare for these two to meet once more. The next time the IPC visited, it was some random guards and senior officers instead of anyone of the Stonehearts. It was the same after that visit, and for thousands of visits more. And Aventurine would constantly be too busy bustling from deal to deal to rarely visit Tevyat in his lifetime even for a vacation. Even if he could, Tevyat was incredibly big, it would take an absurd amount of luck for those to ever cross paths once more. But luck was always on his side, yes?

Neither actor nor actress would forget any of their bonds shared, nor the scenes of heartfelt connections that were left behind on the cutting room floor. For as long as the curtains continued to rise for Furina de Fontaine and Kakavasha, both would give their best act with a smile.