A Lesson in Controlled Chaos
Continuation of the Chaos Wars (masterlist here)
Song Inspiration:
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Eula’s in the middle of cleaning her claymore when the door to her room creaks open. Amber enters, followed by an unexpected guest.
“Mademoiselle Eula,” Furina curtsies. “Good day to you.”
The bluenette glances up and pauses, raising an eyebrow at the greeting, but sets her weapon to the side. The cleaning will have to wait.
“Miss Furina.”
It's apparent that Furina is feeling awkward about intruding on their living space– she puts her hands in the pockets of her shorts. But Eula sees Furina's gears turning and decides to let her guard down. Because she doesn't see the other half of chaos incarnate by Furina’s side.
“What brings you here today?” She inquires, making an effort to relax her shoulders.
“I… came to ask for a favor, if you're willing to hear it.”
“Oh?”
“Please note,” Furina continues, “it has nothing to do with the initial commission to protect me. It's more… personal.” She brings her hand to her chest, cheeks flushing a slight pink.
Eula doesn’t know what to make of her gesture. Amber apparently doesn't either. “Shall I leave you two to talk alone?” the Outrider questions, eyeing the bluenette.
In reply, Eula gives her a look that says 'No, please stay.' Even though she knows she could take Furina down easily in a fight, the bluenette doesn't think it has anything to do with combat, nor does she have a clue what she's going to ask.
“No, it's okay. You’re welcome to stay,” Furina stammers, voice lowering. “Just please, keep this between you two.”
Amber nods and gestures for her to sit, which she does. Except she sits on a huge Hydro pillow that materializes behind her instead.
“It's just that… I saw you dancing the other day, while wielding your sword,” she says to Eula, “and I thought it was so graceful. But you're obviously a skilled fighter too, and a strong one at that. Would you… be able to show me how to fight like you?”
Eula is stunned. She's never had a willing student before– most of the people in Mondstadt don't bother with her due to her lineage, or because they're already skilled fighters themselves. But she has to admit, Furina’s words boost her ego slightly; she prides herself in her fighting ability and signature style, so she's quite pleased that someone else has noticed– someone aside from her red-headed partner, that is.
But since she's curious, she asks, “Your words flatter me. May I ask what brought this about?”
“Well,” Furina replies, looking down at her feet, “I want to get stronger so I don't need to rely on my Salon Solitaire so much. Especially because they can wreak havoc sometimes, as you witnessed the other night.”
“Ah, yes…”
Eula recalls how the chaos had unfolded. Diluc had only been gone for a brief moment, leaving her to watch the tavern, but everything had happened so fast; she didn't have time to stop it. And while he had been upset initially with the whole scenario, fortunately, he didn't take it out on Eula.
“I truly am sorry,” Furina mumbled, biting her lip and twiddling her thumbs. “I hope you and Monsieur Diluc can forgive me…”
“I don't blame you.” Eula contemplates her next choice of words. “Although I’m glad you and Kaeya called a truce, it's a well-known fact that anyone within spitting distance of him is bound to get caught in the crossfire.”
Furina seems surprised by her response. “Really? So you're not mad?”
“Well, it was a lot to deal with, but it just comes with the territory,” she explains. “Diluc and Kaeya are brothers, so they're like this all the time. Albedo and I are used to it.”
“Besides, at least it was just water.” Eula replays the events from the other night in her head, after the Salon Solitaire had blasted everything and everyone in sight: heading upstairs, seeing Furina passed out, and witnessing her blue companions disappearing soon after. Diluc had closed the tavern immediately, leaving Charles to escort the rest of the patrons out. Meanwhile, he had stormed off to find Neuvillette, who was beyond himself when they returned. Just like with Kaeya's apartment, Neuvillette used his abilities to clean up the sopping wet tavern, which didn't undo the damage completely, but kept it from getting worse. He then gathered Furina in his arms and apologized profusely for the incident, leaving soon after.
“That's true,” Furina replied, “But I still want to be better. Would you be able to teach me?” She put on the most persuasive and doting expression she could muster. Normally, Eula wouldn't have given in to any of it. But a plan started to form in her mind.
“Hmm, alright. I’ll teach you.”
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“Whoa,” Furina exclaims, running toward the giant tree. “This is… magnificent!” She wraps her arms around its trunk, placing her cheek against it.
Eula chuckles at the sight. It's not every day that you see an outsider, especially the former Acting Hydro Archon, hugging the massive tree at Windrise.
“Ahem.” Upon hearing Eula clear her throat, Furina releases the tree from her embrace and dusts herself off.
“First things first. I want you to show me what you know. How you currently fight with your sword.”
Furina nods, her sword materializing in her hand. She begins to spin and swing about while Eula watches silently, contemplating.
“Do I keep going?” Furina asks after several minutes.
“No, you may stop for now.” Eula takes several steps closer. “Now, show me your dancing.”
After five minutes of humming and dancing for an audience of one under the tree’s shade, Furina stops to catch her breath.
Eula breaks the silence. “Miss Furina, I don't think there's anything wrong with your fighting style at all.”
“Really?”
“Well, aside from looking like you're not taking it very seriously." She knows that she's one to talk— mixing dancing with fighting, after all, is a fine line and delicate art. Even so, she knows Furina is sincere about wanting to learn, so she chooses her next words carefully. "But that is a part of your personality and charm, is it not?”
“Ehe, well… I’m not really a fighter,” Furina declares sheepishly, kicking up some dirt with her shoe. “At least, not physically.”
“It's kind of tough to show you how to fight since we’re wielding slightly different weapons as well...”
As much as it pains Eula to admit it, the words come out anyway. “It… might do you some good to see if Kaeya could teach you. Since some of his moves are similar.”
“Really?” Furina is quite taken back. “How so?”
“You both dash forward sometimes, like I've seen in fencing. Except yours is more graceful and feminine.”
"Oh, that makes sense! I remember seeing that before in a play, and it inspired me!"
Eula nods and stands to her feet, another idea forming in her mind. "Hmm… actually, before you reach out to him, why don't we try something different?"
Furina blinks with wide eyes as Eula approaches with her claymore. "Um, okay…"
"Let's fight side by side," Eula declares, pointing in the distance toward a camp of hilichurls and heading in their direction. "Summon your Salon Solitaire as we get closer."
Furina listens. Soon after her Hydro troupe appears, soaking the hilichurls, Eula does an icy flourish, which freezes the entire camp at once. Furina's companions continue to attack the frozen enemies with Hydro until they're taken out.
Furina just stands there, speechless in wonder. Meanwhile, Eula is thoroughly amused by her reaction. And with how… efficient that was.
“Did no one show this to you? That along with Cryo attacks, you can create a Freeze reaction?”
Furina shakes her head.
"Well, let me be the one to show you. Let's continue."
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Later that afternoon, Diluc is practically buried under some administrative paperwork when he hears a knock on the front door. Peeking through the curtains, he spots a familiar bluenette with…
Oh no.
Before he can think any further, Adelinde opens the door and lets them in.
With a light sigh, the redhead mentally prepares himself and immediately suggests they head outside. At least if we're in the vineyards, there's less collateral damage. The vineyards could use the water…
Eula speaks up. "Ahem… we have a surprise for you, dear."
Diluc can't help but notice how unusually quiet Furina has been, with her hands clasped behind her back, and her head down. The last time they had seen each other was at the tavern, after the catastrophe unfolded.
"Before all of that… I, um— wanted to say how truly sorry I am for the other night," Furina speaks up, eyes still toward the ground. "And also for getting roped in with Monsieur Kaeya with the prank he and the others pulled on you. I never meant to cause so much chaos, especially after everything you and Mademoiselle Eula have done for me."
"Please accept my humble apology." Her hands stay interlocked behind her back, body swaying anxiously. "Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?"
Diluc's eyes wander and meet Eula's. The bluenette simply smiles and nods. He's not sure exactly what that means, but he wasn't planning to hold a grudge against Furina for the events of that night. Now, as for Kaeya— he plans to talk to his brother later about suggesting such a strong drink to his friends, without knowing their alcohol tolerance ahead of time. Or their lack of control over their own summoning abilities.
He's also waiting patiently for his own revenge. Sort of. When the time is right, of course.
"Consider it water under the bridge," he replies, facepalming internally at his own pun. "I know there were factors outside of your control in those instances."
Furina's eyes well up with tears. "T-thank you, Monsieur Diluc," she exclaims. "I'm working on getting better with my abilities, so nothing like that ever happens again."
"Mm, I wouldn't worry about it." He wants to mention something about staying away from alcohol, but feels it wouldn't be proper to bring up to someone who's lived longer than his age squared. Not to mention how ironic it would be as a winemaster to say.
"Actually, that's what we wanted to show you," Eula cuts in, gesturing them in the direction past the vineyards. As they head toward the top of the hill, Diluc feels a strange sense of curiosity bubbling up inside, still unsure about the "surprise" Eula had mentioned earlier.
"Here will be fine. Go ahead, Miss Furina," Eula says with a smile. "Just like we rehearsed."
Furina bites her lower lip and summons her Salon Solitaire. They look around at once, and spotting Diluc, start circling him. He blinks a few times, trying not to appear nervous, as Surintendante Chevalmarin moves back a few steps, appearing ready to attack; but when she looks at Furina who shakes her head in disapproval, the attack bubble forming at her mouth disappears. She continues circling with the others, now seemingly content.
"H-how in the world," he whispers aloud. It's as though they had a sudden shift overnight.
"We trained them to not attack you," Eula answers plainly.
"Not to attack me? But how?"
The bluenette chuckles. "Cardboard cutouts."
"Huh?"
Furina laughs as well, while her entourage disappears. "Monsieur Albedo drew some props for us to use, of your likeness. So we could train them to NOT shoot at you." She and Eula exchange amused glances before she continues. "Of course, some of the cutouts got drenched, but they eventually learned."
"Ah, that's quite a novel idea," the redhead declares, crossing his arms. "And a surprise. In such short time, too."
"Oh, we're not done," Eula says to him, brandishing her weapon. "C'mon, let's find some enemies to ambush."
They manage to find an Abyss camp with several hilichurls, a Mitachurl and a Cryo Abyss Mage.
Furina suddenly looks uneasy. "Mademoiselle Eula, I don't know about this. We didn't fight an Abyss Mage while we were practicing…"
"Don't worry," Eula responds with a reassuring touch upon her shoulder. "Just summon them and leave the rest to us."
Eula gives Diluc a wink as they approach the camp with their claymores. Furina watches in amazement as they tear the camp to shreds effortlessly alongside her troupe, even breaking down the Abyss Mage's shield quickly, as though it was glass.
Their coordinated attacks…
Being so attuned with each other…
"Ooh— can we find more enemies to fight?" she exclaims with delight. The pair just look at each other in wonder as Furina takes off toward the next camp she sees in the distance.
An hour later, they've just about cleared the area between Dawn Winery and Windrise of all enemies (and wildlife, for that matter), when Diluc speaks up.
"Miss Furina. This has been fun and all, but I really should be getting back to the Winery." As much as he'd rather fight monsters instead of drown himself in administrative affairs, his sense of duty is too strong to ignore.
"Good point. I should be heading back to Headquarters soon," Eula chimes in, setting her weapon down.
Both of them notice the disappointment starting to form on Furina's face.
"Alright," she replies, "I know I've taken up quite a bit of your afternoon. I really appreciate it though! Mademoiselle Eula, you make an excellent teacher." She curtsies to the Spindrift Knight, who blushes at the sudden compliment.
"And Monsieur Diluc, you have been most kind and patient with me throughout my stay. Thank you. I am deeply honored." She does a separate curtsy for him, to which he bows in reply.
"Care to lead me back to the city, before we go our separate ways?"
"Sure."
As they start down the well-marked path, Furina can't contain her excitement any further.
"Now, if you two decide to get married in Fontaine," Furina continues with a wink, catching the couple off guard, "I would love to be your wedding planner! I could give you a tour of the city, see if Neuvillette can officiate— oh! I can ask Mademoiselle Escoffier to help with the catering… Mademoiselle Chiori could work on the wedding attire…" She starts rambling on excitedly in her own dreamy thoughts, skipping along in joy.
The two follow closely behind, exchanging glances. Diluc raises an eyebrow and chuckles. "Does she think we're engaged? What gave her that idea?"
"Don't look at me. She just has a vivid imagination, that's all," Eula giggles in reply. "I suspect that she gathered some inspiration after seeing us fight alongside each other."
"Hmm, well… maybe we should listen more closely. Some of her ideas might be worth noting."
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