shipwrecked || furina & neuvillette

🫧 46 🫧

Furina and Neuvillette stand side by side at Lumidouce Harbour, saying goodbye to their visitors from Liyue, Inazuma and Mondstadt.
"Please come and visit Inazuma, Furina." Ei gives her a small smile. "I have a feeling you will like our desserts."
Furina grins, nodding. "I would love that."
"Inazuma will be waiting," Yae Miko grins.
"Miko is desperate to show you the publishing house," Ei laughs, nudging her.
Furina smiles - the idea of writing sends a little shiver down her spine. Maybe she could write something. Maybe she could do something. She can't ignore the little tiny flutter of inspiration in her chest. Perhaps not right away, because she was so exhausted from the events of the last few weeks... but maybe eventually, she could be ready to write again.
"Oh, Ei." Miko giggles. "No, but really, Furina. You must come and visit us."

"I'm really glad you're alright, Furina." Hu Tao hugs her. "It would've really sucked if I'd had to plan your funeral too." She sighs, shaking her head. "Great for business, of course - but I think I would've been a bit sad."
By the end of the afternoon, Furina's hand is sore from waving goodbye. It is weird, to be saying goodbye to these people - who stood up for her, who were united because of her.

It has been so long since Teyvat had been united, so long since all Nations have worked together like this. She can't help but watch their boats as they sail away, a pang of sadness in her chest. She didn't want it to go back to how it used to be.
The sun is sinking into the mountains by the time she's sitting on the aqua bus on her way home.
"Furina," Neuvillette says her name gently.
"Hm?" She glances up at him, her head on his shoulder.
"I want you to know that your apartment... I will ward it - similarly to the Palais Mermonia... I want you to feel safe there. No one will be able to enter any other way than the front door, and even then... only if you invite them in." He tells her. "And... I think we should talk about... about the curse."
Furina's heart skips a beat. "I don't want to talk about that." She shakes her head, averting her eyes.
"Why?" Neuvillette asks, his brows furrowed.
"Because... I..." she trails off, finding it hard to tell him what she's feeling. "I don't... I think I like being cursed by you. It's a lot less stressful, anyway. Besides - if there's still an assassin on the loose, perhaps I... perhaps I need it still." Furina sighs, her teeth clenched together. She's really struggling with this new way of life - of being open and honest and having these difficult conversations. Putting on an act, a laugh and a joke seems much easier than speaking from the heart. She doesn't think she'll ever get used to it. "I don't... I don't want..." She wants to give up. She's been far too honest today, and it's hurting her head.
"That is alright," Neuvillette nods. "I simply didn't not want you to think that I had forgotten, or that I was keeping you prisoner under my curse."
Furina giggles a little at that, glancing up at him, sliding closer to him.
"Neuvillette?"
"Furina?" He smiles at her. Furina's cheeks are warm as she glances up at him with wide eyes.
"I... what if I don't want to grow old and get all wrinkly and boring?" Furina shrugs. "What if I want to live with you forever?"
His eyes study her face, she sees him trying to decide what to say. His eyes get a tint of sadness as he watches her.
"You have lived five hundred years, my darling. Focalors... she wanted-"
Furina shakes her head. "She wanted me to keep my humanity," Furina tells him. "She didn't say in what form it had to take. Besides, we don't have to think about forever, at the moment it doesn't even seem like I can think about things in a week from now. I can't even think about tomorrow."
"Eternity is a curse I wouldn't wish on anyone, Furina." Neuvillette tells her, and she can basically feel the rain clouds brewing. "I couldn't bestow that kind of curse on you."
Furina sighs, staring down at her hands, which are clasped in her lap.
"I don't think of it as a curse." She meets his eye as the rain begins falling. "Don't cry, Neuvillette." Her voice breaks as she turns to face him, cupping his cheek. "Don't cry."
Neuvillette closes his eyes as her hand touches his skin, but the rain doesn't cease. She strokes his cheek, her fingertips brushing away his tears.
"Furina..." Neuvillette's voice breaks as he says her name.
"Neuvillette," she says his name gently, turning her who body to face him. "Right now, all I want is to be with you. Right now, all I want is to figure out... what I'm supposed to do with my life. I want to decorate my apartment and I want to travel Teyvat, and I want to go out for coffee with Navia, and I want to train with Clorinde... I want to invite you over for tea... I want to cook you a nice meal, I want to bring you coffee and cake in the middle of the day because you've been working hard... I just... I want to do all of these things that I've never really gotten to do before." She pauses. "I just... I just want to live life with you for a while. Who knows, maybe I'll get tired of hearing you giving me random facts about water... maybe you'll get sick of me and my unhealthy coping mechanisms..." She leans in and kisses his cheek, grinning with a little laugh. "But it's not now's problem, Neuvillette."
Neuvillette chuckles, and nuzzles his head into her hand.
"I want you to get to do all of those things too," he murmurs. "And you're right, perhaps... perhaps eventually..."
"But right now," she tells him softly, "All that matters is that we're here. Let's not... let's not worry about the future." It's easier said than done, and she knows that. "Right now, let's just... let's just exist together."