[Character Quest: Furina 2] (Haunting House in Fountain, certain Funeral Parlor, and locally favorite scared-cat girl: What can possibly go wrong?)
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(Hu Tao's antics and eccentricity belies her role as the 77th Director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor and her talent as a poet. Nevertheless, she treats the parlor's operations with utmost importance, and holds funeral ceremonies with the highest dignity and solemnity. Her amber eyes, brown-ashed hairs and brown attire reminds a coffin in fire. [Pyro, Spear])
Anyway she and her team accepted a spoken up invitation and for now visited Fontaine a land of water, justice and Hydro Archon. Especially they must visited a Court of Fontaine a main city of fashion, technology and dramatic art work.
As we know Hu is a girl who is a little bit too much deep into her work in funeral service that she tried offering a prescription for they service. For that she can be seem a crazy and cute for the ideas she come with up. And that girl done that again. Due to her special connection to the spirit world route to afterlife that she can enter it and return from it… Due to the fact that locals main attraction the (Opera Epiclese) sprinkle a spark/stars of (That's awesome!) in her eyes... She come with an idea, that they shall make a show on they own. But still connected to the main theme of they work. No!-- they shall level the play up and make it onto a presentation of they company, so they can open here a local office. Three birds with one stone: What can possibly go wrong?
Now we can imagine that few of her coworkers actually facepalm themselves in a (Not again!) gesture. But the girl had been already fired up for the gig and before anybody state a (Hold on for a moment and lets us think about it!), she already launched herself head-on onto a production.
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And so~o, the day of presentation arrived and Hu Tao stand up in front of crowd. "Welcome, welcome! -to our show! The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor from Liyue, come with this time limited event. Many of you can to object that what awaiting for you is a presentation of coffins and the farewell ceremony. Sorry to disappoint you, that will be a gravely boring. No, my dear audience. The farewell ceremony and stuff with the act is indeed an important part in ours actual jpb, but the main focus is to ensure that the soul will successfully travel onto the spirit realm without any major issue." She make a smug expression with a posture as to gesture that the audience don't having a choice in this matter/transaction. "We don't want to have a vengeful spirit on lose. Don't we?" The crowd got uneasy about her statement as if they already had a some kind of experience with that topic. So she proudly pulled out her chest. "Don't worry! What we presenting here is an attraction to expand yours horizon about souls and spirits connected to you ancestor lineage. Please come close! A test of courage of the trial of mirror of the pasts, is now open." Then she dramatically make an emphasis, making a wicked grin. She was ready to scare someone with her prank. "But old folks like to call it a Haunting House." With a flick of her finger she summoned a real balloon like ghost, that she grab and treat like a sentient balloon.
In the crowd there was a particular character that stand out. (It was Furina de Fontaine. Introduced as the flamboyant and overconfident Hydro Archon, Furina's theatrics are eventually revealed to be a public persona, which she later discards in favor of living a relatively humbler life as an actress and artistic consultant. With her white-blue hairs, eyes and attire, she can impose thought on a cup of water, or on a fancy refreshing patisserie/dessert. [Hydro, Sword]) This girl too come to see whats going on and she merge with a crowd so naturally, that she dint raise any attention to herself. Except the moment when Hu Tao bring up that ghost: She tried to keep her guard up, but that sudden move jump scare her to the point she unwillingly beeped/yelped, revealing her (concealed?) presence.
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Of course that was for the brown-ash haired girl like an offered hand, and she swiftly grasped the chance when she moved to the personal space of the white-blue girl. With a crazy smile and spark in her eyes she had a plan. "Here is my scared cat. You are the perfect candidate to be the first entry…" She went out of pace to just theatrically empathize the name, while gesticulate heavily toward the stairs to that Haunting house: "...for the trial of mirror of the pasts."
But the chosen one was already backing out from any possibility to go inside, raising her hands in a defense. "No! No, no, no, no! I am not going in. Not gonna to happen."
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However the parlor director dint wanted this chance to slip from her hands and persuade the actor who got a cold feets. "Oh como~on, are you still jumpy on every fallen leaf that rustle behind you? Here is the twist for you: Everyone began as a scared cat! The only way how to get brave is to past a trial of courage like…" She turn back to do the theatrical thing again pointing at the building. "...the trial of mirror of the pasts."
But the other girl dint like it, still worrying about the ghost in the hand of brown-ash haired girl. "Hu, could you just stop? Just pick someone else!"
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Because Hu was to much pushing onto Furina a third person walked onto the discussion. (Clorinde is the strongest Champion Duelist in Fontaine. She once served as Furina's bodyguard, and has a history with Navia. She had a purple eyes, trained body in gym, dark blue hairs and office uniform of the action part of the Trial Court. [Electro, sword plus pistols]) This woman apparently always serious, approached them, radiating authority. "Hold you actions! You don't trying to do something villainous? Like kidnapping lady Furina?" Both of the girls turn they head in her direction.
The white had an expression of a maiden in distress seeing that her hero in shine armor arrived to her rescue.
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But in direct contrast of that claim from blue woman, the brow girl had (Not this again!) expression of someone whose fun… (Ehm!) business, got interrupted with (to the rules narrow-minded boomer). "Do you know how a nuisance is when someone trip during a funeral procession, because they dint pay an attention to the loosen wooden plank, that got above the floor by a single pinky? The attempts at after lawsuits are not funny. To ensure a smooth progress, we have a safety rules. And I personally check that the route is safe even for those in a panic attack who suddenly starts to run toward the exit." She once again put a proud posture. "Rela~ax! Dint I say that its an attraction? We use the light, ambient sounds and incense to create the atmosphere. Then the mirror like contraptions with those little ghostly fellow are bound to make connection with the other side. You must trust you guts to find the right portal that leading to the right person you are destined to speak. There is no person hidden behind the glass, to trick you into thinking that you talking with someone deceased." Then she will emphasize that this type of tricks are bellow her. "Those type of attractions you think off are baby level." Next she throw her hands to side in (Who cares?) gesture. "Beside: Whats the best advertising for a test of courage, other that sending the most scared one first?"
Furina feeling a little bit insulted barked back. "Could you please use a different similitude?" [similarity]
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Of course Hu dint hesitate. "Then answer me this: If she is so much worry about you being a kidnapped on occasions, then why are so many times left alone and unsupervised? I mean, you cant be more vulnerable like this? Right?" The other girl has lost her worlds, so Tao continued. "Silence… Never-mind! Do you not desire, to meet someone from yours past lineage? Maybe one of your ancestors was a queen. Of course I cannot guarantee that you will meet who you want to. Or anybody in rare case when yours connection to your past is not strong enough. Its all about a fate."
Suddenly Furina got even more reluctant to get in, nervously playing with her hairs. "About that…"
On other hand Clorinde had thinking aloud. "Now, as I think about, if what she say is at last in some sense true. Then if (I) come in, there is no guarantee, that what I will face will be a human at all. In that case, I will be unable to focus on possible guard duty, while distracted in a combat."
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This time it was the brown-ash haired girl who panic bark at the dark-blule one. "Why everything you says is connected to the violence?! We are talking about reflection of someone past in a mirror. Please do not destroy the precious equipment of the attraction. I put a swat and souls onto it." She glanced at the ghost in her hand and to protect it she let it to disappear into a shadows. "Literally."
Expect the woman stays calm. "Well, bluntly to speak, its my job to be the champion of the court. The fact that I am the strongest duelist is just a happenstance. But I am curious about the souls you mentioned. From the law perspective of course."
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Now the director had a bored expression. "Okay, this one, is not the optimal example for this attraction, shes fearless. You know… now you seems like someone who will be in often need to use the Funeral Parlor services. Like a lot. If you want, we can agree on a discount."
Champion still stay seriously focused. "And I stopping you right there. My position is a Court of Fontaine is official. What you propose is already covered in the workflow of the court. Many already tried something like you, and even more dared more, but all of them fail." She put her hand onto her cord to signalize that she will not let herself to be tricked and she will defend the rules no matter what.
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That make the brown girl to avert her face like a child caught red handed with a mischief. "I dint meant to irritate the wasp's nest. Now I have an image of someone who saw a tornado threatening they ship. So she ordered an interception course toward it. And if she can, she will be already running toward it, with a drawn blade in her hand, to challenge it." Because the champion began actually thinking about that scenario, imagining it, the director make an (I~I will be not dealing with this one.) expression.
Then a sound of camera taking a snapshot reach the director ears followed by a note in half voice. "Even an occasional business offer cannot move the executor of justice."
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Hu Tao, without a hesitation pointed in that direction and spoke with a confidence. "How about you miss reporter? Whats yours opinion on a scare cat in a Haunted House?"
(Charlotte is a journalist from The Steambird, she is always on the prowl for an exclusive scoop. Ever so relentless and indefatigable, she won't stop until she finds out the truth, even if she comes closer to danger. Green eyed, pink haired, with red like attire and a camera on her side, she is easy to spot on place where something is happening. [Cryo, Catalyst]) A face risen from behind a camera. "Me? Hmm? The scary part is indeed not an obstacle, its just when yours mind trying to protect you. I just got excited anytime there is a mystery, that is what keep me going."
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Director jumped in praising the camera girl. "That the spirit."
Journalist noticing a stare of hope from certain someone and make to her an apology gesture. "Sorry, lady Furina. Maybe I go in only before they are ready to close. For now, I just want to make the perfect photos of people exiting the curious attraction. What will be they expressions? Fear? Sad? Satisfaction? Wasted time or an amazement? On other hand, if there are some flaws, you will be the first one to notice them. I am sure that every lens here, will be focused on you, when you exit."
And the chosen one complain. "Isn't that just a kink for a breaking someone privacy?" Calming down a little bit she spoke her verdict. "Still this time, I will let someone else to take the spotlight. So, maybe latter?"
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But Hu spoke to her with a care of a friend. "So you will wait, until someone else, confirm you that is safe to go in?" That direct sumary make Furina to glance back, having a hard time to found an answer to Tao question. The brown girl continued. "You know,-- the main purpose of the trials of courage, is to have a fun. You will not get braver, by knowing for sure, that the road in front of you is completely safe. Now, face the nickname of scared cat and get inside!"
Even Clorinde agree to that. "She have a point."
And so, certain white-blue haired girl gulped on empty. "Oh dear."
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The inside of the Hunting House, by not by a coincidence reminds a walk through deserted path. Many planted pods of bushes of different heights give it the breath of a forest, or at last a garden. Many of the old looking ornaments or furniture's give it the breath of a forgotten museum past, or unused mansion. Plus the lighting of lanterns like thingies, sometime shaped like a crystals give it an ambient sounds and lighting. To maximize the limited space, the single path was turning seemingly randomly as some maze or snake like cave. It was a clever way to throw person perspective of they position and direction. The focus was on the outer edges of the turns, that were covered by trio of the contraptions mirrors. So the passerby visitors can stand in focus like spots, as if they were in a fashion shop, looking onto mirrors to see how they look in a newly sewed clothing/dress. The parlor went up with the security when they install a labels and sings with arrows pointing on the direction, of how the visitors shall progress.
Furina was walking slowly with a careful steps, looking left to right for possible scarecrow that can jump out from the hiding and scare her. But her main worries was aimed at the wisp, a ball of light, that guide her through the attraction, always only moving with her, when she walking. "Stay calm, stay calm, its only a spooky attraction. There is nothing to worry. Nothing too ghostly will happen. Everything will be fine."
Her experienced eye noticed that the first sets of mirrors, were only normal curved mirrors, to display the funny reflections of the visitors. It was like a galleries, but the audience was the art exhibit. Except, in this case; if her experiences in drama, opera and art; teaches her something, is that to be aware, that those can served to drop the guard of audience for the main act.
Her suspicion got proven when she stand in front of the well lighted staircase leading down. It was not just the change in elevation, humidity or air flow, she directly sensed the changes in ether. Forget the elemental energy this was like descending to the world of those who don't live anymore. A simple tomb cannot match this felling. It dint helped her hearth, that there was this commercial size sing that asked the (customers) to be careful while descending to the second level. Even if the staircase was top state, and the railing handle was sturdy, Furina was both handed holding onto the handle with her life, very carefully descending step by step.
When no accident happened, she make a deep sight of relief before she continued to walk. Once again she was seeing those galleries, but her eyes recognize that those are not normal mirrors. The reflection was always blur but they dint not reflect the visitor itself. Those were the real deals.
Then, she overheard a mumble whispering in the wind. She glanced onto the road, with wide open eyes, trying to spot someone or something. She was alone there.
She continued, slowly and steady. Soon, she realize that the mumbling is actually a calling. And it calls her name.
And so… she approached a single mirror contraption that shows any reflection of a person. Collecting all her courage she stand up in front of that glassed wall and look at the mirror. On first glance it was Furina who she saw. But on the second look she can noticed in this reflection a clear differences.
The heterochromic eyes was like hers, the face was like hers, the hair style and color was too similar to her. But it was the body that look like a year, two older that her, that wears a plain white sleeping nightgown.
Furinas eyes wide in confusion. "Focalors?"
The lips of reflection dint moved when the visitor asked question, but moved when the girl in mirror, responded bluntly nonchalantly calm. "Furina… we need to talk."
But that was not going to happen. The imaginary limiter that holds her panic mode on leach, reached its maximum and broke. With clear terrified expression, Furinas eyes pupils got tiny like a peas. She hold a desperate smile. "N~nope! Not a chance! I am out!"
Working more on a muscle memory, she flick her fingers and elemental burst-ed out of the gallery. Somehow the washout attracted all wisp ball lights from the house onto a single point in front of that mirror, compressing it onto one big mass. But the miss visitor was already gone.