Here I'm just a fucking Arlecchino simp.

“So, if I understood all of this right, the discovery of that weakness was a mere coincidence on the nun’s part, and our task now is to keep an eye on that said nun?” Lyney asked, fingers resting on the base of his glass whilst awaiting his Father’s answer.

“And conduct a little investigation if we can,” Lynette followed, completing her brother’s sentence in a heartbeat.

Arlecchino took a sip out of her glass first before giving a reply, “Exactly, and like I mentioned earlier, it must happen as discreetly as possible. Chances are great that she’ll change her ways of doing if she realizes she’s being spied on.”

The younger girl nodded in understanding, but the boy still had some questions left in his mind. There was a specific one he needed an answer to. “Excuse me, Father, but I’d like to ask something…”

“Proceed.”

“I am by no means questioning your actions. This is merely out of curiosity, but wouldn’t it have been easier to just kill her right on the spot? Back that night?”

The woman’s eyes narrowed, her claws tapping on the glass before answering, “The very first night, when I was out hunting, I had intended to make an end to her life. Yet after wounding me, I decided that the whole situation should’ve been investigated first.”

“And that’s why you gathered intel a week ago? To see if the information had been spread amongst humans yet?” Lynette questioned

Arlecchino could only nod as she indulged herself in another sip. A faint I see left Lyney’s mouth as Lynette drank the remaining contents of her glass. 

“Despite making an agreement, I still do not fully trust a human, thus I am arranging this work for both of you. I’m sure you two won’t disappoint me,” Arlecchino spoke as her dark eyes examined the twins, her chin resting on the back of her hand. 

“We’ll certainly do our best,” they both announced in unison as excitement blossomed in their chests upon receiving another mission. It had been a while for both of them.

The remainder of the night was conscientiously spent on crafting a good plan and discussing its details. The first step was a thorough search of your room.

–

Now, when you had wished for a more interesting life, keeping a vampire’s secret wasn’t exactly on the list. Besides, what did she even mean by this not being the last time you’d see each other? What would she even do? Come for a visit for the sake of interrogating you over and over? It would be useless because she’d be met with your lies once again anyway.

Trying to sleep right after the encounter was like trying to fly to the moon: impossible. So, the rest of the night was spent staring holes in the ceiling as you were replaying everything in your mind again. The moonlight was no longer a source of comfort; it reminded you of her. Oh, how you hated to be hopeless and scared like this. You’d give a gall reply if you could, but you had to move carefully. One wrong move that makes that vampire mad, and your end would surely come. From her head to her toes, you despised her. The manner in which she’d stare at you, so strict and emotionless, or how cold her hands were — the contrast of temperature quite clear when they were on your neck. Let’s not get started on the marks her claws left on the side of your face. But the way she made those deeply hidden thoughts roll off your tongue so easily, that’s what you couldn’t stand the most. 

By the time your brain had calmed down, the sun was starting to rise above the mountains. A warm reminder that morning was welcoming itself, and with that followed—

“Morning prayer!” a voice called out in the distance, and with that, the day had officially started. 

The weekly routine repeated itself over and over, but from now on, every action, every word that left your lips was accompanied by guilt. Guilt from making a promise with the murderer of your fellow sisters. Guilt from being so submissive to the monster who had almost killed your little girls. Guilt from the potential things she might do to the nunnery.

Yet, all you could do was smile sweetly and act that everything was going as it should be. Putting on a facade was something you were proficient in after all, no? On top of all that, it was in Pernelle’s nature to bombard an unwell you with questions until she got an answer that satisfied her—which was quite the challenge by the way. And poor Agnès was already an anxious person; seeing you out of sorts would only worry her more.

—

“So this should be her room, right?” Lynette questioned as the door cracked open under her touch. Before closing the said door, she made sure to scan her surroundings thoroughly; the abbey was a busy place after all, being seen would be the cause of trouble.

“I think so,” he mumbled as he shut the curtains, taking his cloak off when no sunlight could enter the room. “There’s a faint smell of wild roses in here.”

The girl nodded in agreement as she tossed her cover off, setting it neatly next to her brother’s. “Let’s start before someone gets back.”

“Hmm, you’re right… I’ll start with the wardrobe, and you can start with the desk.” 

The twins both went to their respective spots and began with their little investigation. Every little spot was carefully inspected with their sharp eyes, and every object wasn’t left untouched.

After a little while, Lynette called her brother over from the nightstand she was kneeling right in front of, an old book resting in her hands. The bundle looked like it had seen better days; the corners of the cover were bent, as the pages had turned yellow.

“A book about flowers and herbs… It's risky for a woman to possess this,” the girl explained as she flipped the pages. The idea of you intentionally doing all that popped up in her mind.

The boy quickly scanned the pages over his sister’s shoulder, noticing a little detail. “They look more like notes than a real book. Do you think she wrote them?”

“Uhm, it could be… but some of these are plants even I have never seen before. I don’t think a nun with limited freedom could see and write about so many plants.”

Lyney moved his head in agreement, “That is certainly a great point. Did you see any names in it?”

Lynette shook her head but examined the book again to check, just to be sure, she told herself. After confirming that it was unnamed, she gave the book to her brother and hurriedly closed the drawer. 

“I have a few guesses… But it’s most likely that she got this from someone, or found it perhaps?” Lyney took the book from his sister as he thought further, “Maybe investigating her acquaintances and friends next could help…”

“That could aid us,” the girl mumbled as she dug in other drawers whilst focusing on nearby sounds that reached her ears. Luckily, none of them were close by.

“It’s still suspicious to me how she has a whole notebook about herbs, nuns usually don’t need that sort of thing—Ah, look at what we have here.” Lyney grabbed a bottle made of glass from under the bed, excitedly showing it to his sister. Once Lynette was nearby, he pulled the cap off and brought it closer, “Judging from the smell, it is essence made from those flowers.”

With each new find, the girl’s brows knit tighter.

Lyney silently put the said bottle back in its previous place, “Do they even have the equipment here to make this kind of stuff?”

His sister could only shrug, “Perhaps it’s not made here; the bottle looks like one you could get from an apothecary.”

The young man sighed, “We have discovered interesting things to report. Anyway, I think we’ll be able to wrap this investigation up for today. We checked every single drawer we could lay our eyes on… Although, let’s do a quick check,” he suggested whilst his hand moved towards his cloak.

Lynette agreed before pointing to all the spots she analyzed with care, and her brother soon followed. Once they were satisfied, their long black cloaks were draped over their shoulders again, the curtains were pushed aside to let light in, and they disappeared from the room—everything was left as it was. As if no one had entered to begin with.

—

Seconds became minutes, and minutes became hours. The sun replaced the moon, and the moon replaced the sun. Time was passing quickly, and days were blending into one another. The act was nature’s way of gently reminding people of how short life actually is. 

Despite the guilt and fear you were experiencing, a little bit of courage did reside in your heart. Killing a vampire is hard, but wounding? You wouldn’t hesitate to do that if the situation requires you to. The dagger was tightly bound to your thigh at all times, its blade freshly coated with the essence you had received from your father. Giving up easily wasn’t your intention.

That courage was enough to prepare you mentally for a next encounter; it had been two weeks after all, so heaven knows when she’d come for you again. Fourteen days of walking around with nothing but negative feelings did some things to your system still. It left you sleepless and made you ponder; it made you turn to Him. The almighty man up above the heavens, whom you weren’t fond of. 

You were surrounded by kind-hearted people, that much was true, but this involvement was something you couldn’t share so easily. On a particular night, with the third-quarter moon high up in the sky, you found your feet slowly dragging you towards the chapel. The light entering through the stained glass windows gave the place a certain charm. Something about it was inviting you, even. With that long white nightgown on your shoulders, you were looking so pure… so innocent — there was no difference between you and a little lamb right now. And sweet little lambs never go unnoticed by wolves.

Upon reaching the altar, your knees collided with the cold floor, and you found yourself kneeling at a certain statue at the front. It was a pitiful sight, to be honest. With your eyes closed and hands clasped together, you began praying, out of free will this time. An event that rarely occurred.

“God, you know that I hate you. I hate you for ignoring desperate and hopeless people like me. The way you favor the rich and men more makes me want to throw up. My prayer will certainly not reach an almighty entity like you, but I must speak about my feelings now or else it will swallow me whole,” you whispered shakily. “The guilt is destroying me from the inside out, and I’m frightened for what is about to come… for what will happen to me… My father was so certain that I’d be safe from the dangers of the world here, and after a while, I was too.”

He was probably making fun of you right now, with those angels by his side, but that was the least of your worries. Tomorrow, the relationship between the two of you will be the same again—one full of distrust and hate.

With a deep inhale, that messy prayer of yours continued, “But that image is long gone now, every little thing I do or say is going hand in hand with fear, and I’m lost on what to do.”

The thought of a future of your own never crossed your mind. Everything was chosen out for you from the start, so how could you be lost on what to do if you never thought about it to begin with?

“God, I don’t really know… or care if you’re listening, but for once, prove me wrong,” you let out a shaky sigh while loosening your fingers. “Amen.” Maybe something would change for once.

“Such a hypocrite that you are,” a voice purred from the pews, and the realization hit: she had been listening the whole time.

Out of all the moments she could have visited again, she just picked out the one where you looked the most pitiful. Besides, did she listen to the whole prayer? Weren’t you alone from the beginning?

As you were mentally reminding yourself to stay calm, you got on your feet and slowly turned around to face the source of the voice. The vampire was sitting fancily on the closest pew, one leg fancily over the other, as her hands were resting on her lap. When your gazes met, you spoke, “How come?”

“What happened to the fact that you didn’t rely on God, hmm? Finding you praying here on your knees at the altar was quite the shock,” the vampire spoke with a mocking tone as she stood up as well.

You walked away from the altar until you stood in an illuminated spot, the moonlight caressing your face, “Do not get me wrong, I still do not rely on Him. I’m sure he’s mocking me just like you are, but… we humans feel things deeply, and if we don’t do something with those feelings, they will eat us up.”

The woman scoffed. “You humans are such a foolish and weak species; your mannerisms confuse me. Letting your feelings reign over you is a huge flaw.”

Do not piss her off with your provocative replies…

This time, the roles were reversed. The one who did the approaching was you, and to be honest, you were scared. A cool sweat prickled down your spine as your heart was going to jump right out of your chest, “We are fundamentally different after all, sir . It is only normal for a vampire to see humans that way.”

Her strict gaze was present again as she eyed you up and down. To her, you were nothing more than an animal she could dig her teeth into at any moment, but there was something internally that kept her from doing so. 

Maybe trying to initiate a conversation might help with the fear?

You continued, “In my eyes, it is the equivalent of us not understanding the behavior of—”

“Did I ask?” With that little sentence, she cut you off, and it was enough to make you mentally throw curses at her. Those three little words frustrated you to the point of no end. Seriously, what does she want from you?

“Do not even try to act all confident in front of me now when you’re petrified to the core,” the vampire growled while crossing her arms against her chest. Her posture was straight and radiated dominance, one you wished you could mirror.

It’s best to take some measures if I’m going to defend myself with words here… I can’t win with strength, maybe I can survive with words…

Your hands went to the piece of cloth that was resting on your head loosely. Slowly, you pulled it off and wrapped it around your neck as you spoke back, “I… I do not like it when I’m interrupted. You may be able to kill me at any given second, but do not forget that I am aware of your weakness as well.” With the two ends of the fabric, your fingers made a little knot. “While it is true that I am scared, I do have a bit of courage residing in me, however.”

The vampire in front of you could only scoff as she shook her head, her figure approaching you. “Measure for measure… bold of you to think we’re equals. Very well, let’s have it your way then,” she announced as her finger twirled your hair. “It would be a boring experience if you were just begging for me to spare your life anyway.”

This time, she didn’t pull the strands, which was a huge improvement in your eyes—and a blessing for your scalp. “So, I’m simply entertainment for you?”

She replied with a cold yes as though it were the most obvious truth in the world. Well, it’s still way better than being perceived as nothing but livestock. No one would want to get rid of their source of amusement easily, but it did leave a weird feeling in your gut.

“So be it then,” you mumbled while fidgeting with the skirt of your nightgown, a subtle sign of your nervousness seeping through. Thankfully, this sudden meeting was less violent compared to the previous one, and frankly, you were proud of this more courageous version of you.

“Besides,” the vampire enounced as her body closed in on you, her icy breath hitting your warm face as you stood still in the same spot. “I see you’ve come here prepared.”

As your head rose in confusion, the lower part of your nightgown was being pulled up. Soon, your inner thigh felt the touch of a few fingertips and the pressure of sharp claws, and God , you didn’t even know if you should feel flustered or disgusted right now. 

“You!”

“Hmm, me?” The woman could only smirk upon spotting your mixed reaction, her grip tightening without the intention of letting go. “And newly coated with those precious flowers too, hmm? It stings to the touch.”

You certainly were an… interesting opponent to her, quite unpredictable—which was partly hypocrisy in her eyes.

Not a single word escaped your lips as the two of you stood there in the middle of the chapel, moonlight being the only source of illumination. Well… it wasn’t exactly the smartest idea to wear a lightly see-through nightgown, but the discovery left you uneasy nonetheless.

I must claw back some ground now that she’s not violent… Let’s test what her limits are.

With slight hesitation, you grabbed her wrist, your fingers digging in just enough to feel the veins beneath her cold skin. Her smirk didn’t falter—in fact, it deepened. “Well, I won’t question your strength; however, I do value my life and will protect myself if needed,” you warned her.

Albeit internally, you hoped she wouldn’t choose to test your limits in a way that left you humiliated on holy ground. Some things were basically easier said than done.

With a low hum, her fingers slid away from your thigh, and so you mimicked the action with her wrist. From Arlecchino’s perspective, you had changed rather drastically in two weeks' time—of course, deep down, she was all aware that it was an act. An act she’d loved to see the limits of.  How long would it take for you to be visibly frightened in front of her again, back like in the garden?

“Hmm, like I said, rather this than you begging for your life,” she spoke while crossing her arms against her chest again. “Anyway, enough with the talk. I’m hoping you’ve kept, and are still keeping, your promise?”

A simple nod was your answer to her; the usage of words wasn’t needed.

The woman grinned subtly before following with another question, “And for how long do you think you’ll be able to keep this information to yourself? As I just heard, you feel quite guilty about it… and I can’t fathom why.”

Ah, so she was there from the beginning. Great, just great! That definitely made the situation a whole lot better.

Your eyes squeezed shut before rubbing them; the tiredness caught up to you by now, so an attempt was made to massage it away. “Look, you killed seven sisters. Those were seven people I grew up with, seven people with whom I daily shared a meal and a roof… and here I am making a promise with the one who deprived them of their lives. It’s like I’m betraying them.”

The woman’s head went from right to left as her tongue clicked, “Foolish is a great way to describe you perfectly. You have the power to betray me as well, weren’t you bluffing with that just now? Go up to your fellow sisters and friends and tell them the truth.”

“And let you take my life as well?” Your fingernails dug extremely hard into your palm as of now. The pain it caused was a trivial matter in this moment.

“Is your life more valuable than theirs?”

“I—” The word broke in your throat, the rest dissolving under the weight of her stare. Was it selfish that a strong desire to live indwelled you? Would your sisters resent you for that?

Arlecchino replied with a faint thought so as she turned around to sit down again, “Deep down, no matter how much humans try to conceal it, a certain level of egoism still resides in your hearts.”

Quickly, your eyes darted from one place to another as you thought of an appropriate reply, but the woman beat you to it. She left you speechless yet again, and it made you loathe her more.

“Ah, my apologies… How could I forget? Your sisters would accuse you of witchcraft if you told them everything, right? You’d burn at the stake before I even have the chance to put my hands on you.”

A downhearted sigh left your lips before uttering a reply, “So, as we both can see, this is the only choice I have: keep it to myself and hope that the guilt will gradually fade away.”

“As you humans say, time heals all wounds,” Arlecchino added, hands resting on her lap as her eyes were pointed toward you. Deep down, she was au courant that you wouldn’t tell this intel to anyone, that you’d keep your promise. Yet, there was something in her that enjoyed seeing you at a loss for words each time she needled you with the harsh truth.

Time does heal all wounds, but how much time will this one take?

Your soft steps echoed through the chapel as you headed towards the altar one more time. Once there, you took a seat on its steps, your nightgown neatly tucked behind your knees. “Is your little interrogation done, sir?”

“Shooing me away already, huh?”

“That wasn’t—”

“I was going to take my leave now, anyway. My questions have been answered,” Arlecchino explained as she rose from the pews, taking one last glance at you. “I’ll see you soon enough… Hopefully not on your knees at the altar, that is.”

That sly comment was purposefully ignored by you. “And what’s soon enough exactly?”

“When it’s new moon.” Those words curled like smoke around you as her figure vanished into the night, leaving you all alone once again. 

Affection (How affectionate are they? How do they show affection) : Arlecchino won't initiate strong affection rigth away, don't be mistaken, she will kiss you and hold your hands, but anything braver will come after you've come further in the relationship. She'll mostly show it through physical touch or buying you things you like.

You stand in front of the store, breathing ice crystal as your mouth stood agape, who could not? The Fashion in the display was beyond heavenly, everything you desired.

"There you are."

You tense up, as if caugth. Then relax. It only was the Knave. "I'm sorry. I just..." your voice trailed off as you looked back, the colors, the fabric. You wanted to melt. Arlecchino followed your gaze, then chuckled.

"Come on.", she offered you her arm, you took it, reluctant to be pulled away from your dream, only to find yourself inside the shop. Ten minutes later you'd be hugging a well designed box as you leaned into the Knave and her touch.

Best friend (What would they be like as a best friend? How would the friendship start?) :

You'd have some extraordinary gossip. Arlecchino thinks it's always good to be kept up to date, which is easy when she has a friend like you. She'd discreetly complain about her colleagues and you'd listen with an open ear. You'd talk about your interests, insects, operas, music, shes quite the intelligent woman that knows a lot about Fontaine. I do imagine that a friendship with her wouldn't be that horrible. Even if she uses you to get information from someone

Cuddles (Do they like cuddles? How would they cuddle?) : Liking is subjective, I can't image her strongly disliking or liking it, that's why she won't complain when you randomly climb into her lap when you desire warmth or simple attention, she'd just continue while maybe patting your back. Maybe she'll ask if you're alrigth. Maybe you'll say no, in these cases she'll take a five minute break and big spoon you on the sofa in her office.

Domestic (Do they want to settle down? How are they at cooking and cleaning?) : Define settling down I'd say she is a pretty neat person and that she developed her own system over the years, sometimes the maids are afraid they'll lose their jobs because of it. Cooking...let's say : she knows how to throw a good barbecue. She won't set the kitchen ablaze but making a cake could take some effort.

Ending (If they had to break up with their partner, how would they do it?) : Respectfully, a bit cold.

Arlecchino sits in front of the fireplace, listening to the burning wood. You said across from her, head in your hands.

"I've dreaded this.", you whisper.

She sat up straigth, looking at you. "We both know it would come to this.", in the last few months she has noticed how you grew apart, despite the efforts. It just...didn't work anymore, much to Arlecchinos dismay. "I don't think this arrangement does good for either of us anymore."

You held your face, Arlecchino bit her lip, looked down on her hands for a split second. "It seems we have grown apart. It is the best to go on with our lives."

"I'll pack my stuff..." you sobbed.

"You needn't, a maid will take on that responsibility. Just...rest."

And then she woke up from this horrible nigthmare and saw you, whom she loved very much, sleeping rigth next to her

Fiance (How do they feel about commitment? How quick would they want to get married?) : That mf will court the hell out of your ass. The Knave has strong feelings about commitment, she has committed herself to the House of Hearth, to the Fatui and now you. She means it. Arlecchino would want you both to be married rather quickly, not because it's some sacred tradition to her, but because she is worried about you due to her status & being her wife would make it easier to protect you.

Gentle (How gentle are they both physically and emotionally?) : Sometimes you think she migth be afraid to break you, the way she cut her nails down or how she holds your head, the way she looks at accidental burns, brushes her lips over them, no matter where they are. You joked about not being a doll once, as she helped you into the bath. She had scoffed, giving you an "I know.", while her knuckles, barely touching you, brushed some hair out of your face.

Hugs (Do they like hugs? How often do they do it? What are their hugs like?) : Isn't that the same- screw it. She doesn't have strong feelings about it, she'll accept them from her children in the rigth setting and you, though she will break it off if it turns awkward. She'll hug you close, her hands on your back, pulling you into her, her face in the crock of your neck. If it won't turn awkward, it'll turn into a cuddle session.

I love you (How fast do they say the L-word?) :

She closed the door behind her, feeling the cold evaporate out of her bones. The room was warm. She turned her head to the fireplace. You had put new wood in, feeding the flame. She sighed softly, took her jacket off, her accessories, she opened her hair, to then find her pajamas neatly folded on the rigth side, her side, of the bed. She went over the dark fabric, silky, soft, her favorite that she swore had gained an odd spot this morning, the maid couldn't have done it this quickly. She looked towards your sleeping form, a smile tugged at her lips, even as she buttoned it up and put on the pants. She sat down, leaned down, towards your ear, even from here she was able to see your glinting wedding ring, which you refused to take off during sleep.

"I love you."

She'd show it beforehand, so much that there wouldn't be a need to say it. You'd just know. And if you ask her to say it after this little moment, she'd look at you for a few seconds, before whispering the three words. And then she'd kiss you.

Jealousy (How jealous do they get? What do they do when they're jealous?) : Jealous?? Arlecchino??? Pfff, that is near impossible. She is the Knave and to crack the standards she set would be near impossible, also, she trusts you completely. You'd most likely just run over to her, to laugh about how someone tried to flirt with you despite the ring on your finger, though that also made her hand grab your hip a little harder. The knowledge of someone like that made her...uneasy, to say the least.

Kisses (What are their kisses like? Where do they like to kiss you? Where do they like to be kissed?) : She does have her favorite places when it comes to you, like the crock of your neck, the lower middle of your throat, where she can feel a heartbeat growing rapidly. Of course there is the inside of your thighs where she likes to leave her marks, and best, your lips. She personally will tell you that she has no preference, but you'll come to discover soon enough that her collarbone is a sensitive place and that she'll look at you with sweet large eyes when you target the tip of her nose.

Little ones (How are they around children?) :

Morning (How are morning spent with them?) : When you make an effort, you migth catch her getting ready at her vanity, applying small dots to cover up blemishes, you'll tell her that they look good on her, she'll shake her head at you, telling you to finally get up and ready. I do think you'd take some regular morning walks. All in all ; rather active.

Nigth (How are nigths spend with them?) :

Fawking When she finishes her work early (early means like eleven pm to midnight) she migth join you on the couch for some tea, or wine, depending on the setting. You'll both be exhausted and most likely end up falling asleep on the couch in front of the fireplace in your room if she doesn't mention going to bed.

Open (When would they start revealing things about themselves? Do they say everything all at once or wait to reveal things slowly?) :

You were cuddling, hiccuping, babbling as you tried to grab the bottle, stretching your fingers out to it. Arlecchino took it, kissed your knuckles.

"I think that was enough alcohol for the evening, my love", her voice was lowered, her cheeks were flushed. "For the both of us."

You pout, falling against her with an 'omf' sound. You pushed out your lower lip, she watched in amusement. "But I want more."

"You'll throw up, love. And tommorow is an important day."

"Iontcare"

"Well, I do.", she pushed the alcohol a bit further away as you longingly stared at it while turning the ring on your finger. You've been married for what, a year? And yet...you looked up at her, she with the black eyes that stared rigth at the fire. You barely knew anything about her, but if you asked...she'd just skillfully escape the conversation. You'd have to wait. Sometimes, for evenings like this other times, for pillow talk. She continued her stare, seemingly having fallen back into her mind. Her lips sipped on the remaining alcohol in her glass.

"Have I ever told you about my mother?"

"...Crucabena?"

She stayed silent, put the glass down. Her arm slung its way around you.

"No, my real mother."

To summarize : It would take a lot of time for her.

Patience (How easily angered are they?) :

She creates little death machines, patience is a virtue that she has mastered.

Quizzes (How much would they remember about you? Do they remember every little detail you mention in passing, or do they kind of forget easily?) :

Arlecchino remembers every yet so small detail about you. You've got the habit of sneezing when the sun is out? She'll take a camisole along to your summer walks. You mention that you don't like a certain fruit or vegetable? It's gone from the fridge. If it happens to be in some fancy dinner, she'll push your plates together so that you can discreetly push it onto her plate. You'll be mumbling something about operas and two months later she'll have tickets to your favorite one. Extremely attentive & nothing will slip past her.

Remember (What is their favorite moment in your relationship?) :

She loves to reminisce on when you first went to Sneznaya, you had forgotten your coat so you were hidden within her large fatui coat in the late nigth while she decided to rely on the balemoon inside her blood, she was still cold, but you would freeze to death with no protection. You'd walk to the tundra.

"What'd you want to show me?", you asked, staring at the baren lands that were close to a little hide out you'd stay at for the nigth.

"They are more beautiful like this.", she'd tell you, then you'd look up and the look in your eyes, astonishment. The northern ligths truly were a sigth to behold. For a split second, she saw someone else in your profile, someone long dead. She'd shake her head and now there was only you.

Security (How protective are they? How would they protect you? How would they like to be protected?) :

Murder Sometimes she can seem a bit overprotective, but considering her past and status, it is gravely justified. She'll get you necessary protections, so that you won't end up on the Steambirds Headline or as one of her co-workers hostages, will offer herself up when you wish to go on a walk. But she does hope that her reputation will do half the job for her, make you untouchable, but some anxieties are still guaranteed, even with all of the measurements she'll be ready to take for you.

Try (How much effort would they put into dates, anniversaries, gifts, everyday tasks?) :

Oh- oh, hehehe, Arlecchino makes sure to take you to the most lavish restaurants and locations in Fontaine, even going as far as renting them for the both of you, whatever your heart desires, it'll be yours. She won't even be mad if you prefer to stay home and set some candle ligth dinner up there - she likes to preserve this one for anniversaries, but how could she ever deny you? -It's what you deserve, after all. Due to her attentiveness, her gifts will be never not spot on & you'll soon find yourself with everything you could've ever desired.

Ugly (What would be some bad habits of theirs?) :

I think we established that Arlecchino is emotionally closed off & that she seems cold, her masks, like hiding who she really is. So I think that counts.

Vanity (How concerned are they with their looks?) :

As a diplomat, the Knave very much relies on first impressions and her looks, so you'll have to excuse the fact that her mornings will be spend at the vanity, trying to remove any blemishes and imperfections.

Whole (Would they feel incomplete withouth you?) :

Arlecchino wouldn't call it 'incomplete'. The idea that people are puzzle pieces, supposed to fit eachother, or souls trying to connect is something she deems rather silly. This is a partnership. However, when she is in Sneznaya, without you, or on some mission. She can't help but think about what'd you'd do. Would you tend to the children? Most likely. Would you point out flaws in her plans? Definitely. Sometimes you'd reveal mistakes about them she hasn't even noticed.

She'd call you her smart wife and you'll grin. Arlecchino doesn't depend on you, but she misses you. Badly.

Xtra (A random headcannon for them?) :

Yuck (What are some things they wouldn't like, either in general or in a partner?) :

I can imagine that laziness is a turn off for her. And insensitivity. The Knave can easily read others emotions, their mood, someone who isn't able to read a room is rather hard to get along with. As for the laziness ; she would want you to carry your own weight around. From nothing also comes nothing.

Zzz (What is a sleep habit of theirs?) :

That Woman is as unmoving as a rock, holding you close, close, not close enough, closer. You often think that she wants you under her skin. And she's as strong as a rock, not letting you go untill she herself is awake, which, happens quite often, she wakes up early after all. But sometimes you wake up to drink and it will take some slippery tricks to get out of her arms.

She does, however, have nigthmares often. You'll know it when she grabs you tigther, accidentally burns her hand through your pajamas. The next morning she'll watch you getting dressed, sees the mark. She'd come up behind you with a cooling cream, silently applying it. It's her way of saying sorry. The Knave would never hurt you on purpose after all, well, unless you wished her too. Then she'd gladly comply.

Still, when you meant that the sea was calling out for you, you meant in a figurative sense. Not in a literal sense. Though if this was the kind of sign the ocean was giving you, you might as well jump the ship. 

—

Pretty gems came far and few in Arlecchino's eyes. Humans, lost at sea and lured in by her voice, were easy meals. She was rarely picky with her meals, sustenance was sustenance, she supposes, but still she finds it disappointing the lack of humans that were easy on her eyes. The seas were infested with brutish and crude-looking humans, particularly among the males. It is a shame that it's been a good while since she's seen a human female, with their fair bodies and their soft features– a suitable mate for her. 

She wanders the sea again, not especially hungry, but if she finds a meal or two, she wouldn't have to find another for a few more days. Traveling through the waters, sniffing for the faint and familiar scent of human musk, she finds a ship soon, to her mild delight. She approaches the ship, it being smaller than most ships that wander this part of the ocean, but no matter. She is sure that she'd be able to snag at least one human tonight–there is bound to be one that is awake? 

Peeking her head above the water, she observes the deck of the ship for any humans yet to have slumbered. Humans in slumber were always hard to lure in, but possible. Her eyes gleam when she spots a lone figure on the surface of the deck. It seems like tonight's hunt would prove to be easy. Nearing closer, however, the smell that comes from this figure is distinct to the usual humans she encounters. Though still reeking of the musk that all humans contain, the human contains a refreshing fauna smell and lacks the liquor aroma that most males contain. Curious, she nears the ship more until she can observe the distinct features of the human that sits so carelessly on the edge of their ship.

Her cold heart thumps like never before when she finally spots you, and oh, how she pauses in utter awe. A human whose beauty far surpasses that of any ivory pearl or glittering gold. Has there ever been a human more majestic than you? She would dismiss any notion of a human achieving flawlessness, but yet here you are, shredding her previous foolish thoughts. How do you attain such, so effortlessly? Oh, how fortunate for her to have decided to roam the sea tonight, for the ocean to have given her the most perfect mate in waiting. She must have you, no human male could ever treasure you like she can. She would give you the sea, if it made you hers. 

And so she sings, her sweet song carrying into your ears like a gracious invite. She hopes for you to accept.  

— 

The stars are beautiful, you often think to yourself. It is another reason why you love being out in the sea. Directly underneath the stars, sometimes you feel that you're close enough to reach out and touch them. Little dancing specks of lights were all they were to you, and yet you were entranced each time. The stars and constellations have become one of your closest companions, always twinkling down on you regardless if you were facing soothing waves or warring riptides. Like so many nights before, you find yourself perched on one of the railings of the ship, simply gazing up, observing the midnight canvas that spans above you. 

Is there something more beautiful than stars? 

You find your answer that night when you hear a voice, melodic and sweet sounding, sugarier than any honey-coated treat. It piques you, as you know from the sound's direction it does not come from inside your ship, but beyond–somewhere in the waters. You'd imagine it's what people would describe as a voice from the heavens, because a light song fills the air, nearly entrancing you, however you're too busy searching the source of the sound for the intended effect to be inflicted on you. Instead of impelling your body to go overboard, you whip your head around, still seeking for the singer. 

You've heard of instances like these. You've heard of the warnings: if you hear a beautiful song coming from the waters, you cover your ears and ignore it as much as possible. Though, many say that once you hear them, it is much too late for you. The fates of those who had fell for those voices, you know of them too well, and you intend not to share the same fate. You've heard that among those that were able to escape a siren's call, they're easily dissuaded after one song. All you had to do was to ignore the voice until the song's end. 

The song ends soon after. You pay no mind as silence fills the void, just the sound of waves and the whistles of the wind as your company. But then, another song, the same one. After the second repeat, it starts again, and after that, another.

Were sirens this persistent? You've never heard of one this stubborn. But it is thanks to these songs that you're finally able to pinpoint the origins, and your eyes catch the slight glint of scales in the moonlight, and then the head of ivory hair. A pale face peaks from the water's currents, along with the tip of something–a tail, you discern. You gasp slightly once crimson-pupils land on yours, but then the head sinks down, like a shy animal having been caught. 

Adorable. Was this an unfitting description of what was most likely a siren? You disregarded that very thought, instead, opting to wondering why this siren wanted your attention so much. After all, you should give her the respect of your acknowledgement of her existence after four songs. 

Perhaps you were an idiot. Perhaps you were just heading straight to a gruesome death. But had those things stopped you previously, you would have never been out here, never would have been a pirate. Foolish curiosity may be the death of you, but not tonight. And so, like a pirate in search of their treasure, you take to the seas; in this case, literally into the sea. You let yourself lean backwards on the railing, arms outstretched by your side as you freefall into the sea. 

Surely, if the siren wanted you so badly, then she would save you, wouldn't she? 

The icy waters greet your form, and you shiver. Your breath is stolen away, and it is only you start sinking that you start to question your choice. You stare up, with only the moonlight reflecting off the water, your source of life and you instinctively reach out towards it. Your eyes burn from the brine, so you close your eyes, trying to combat the swallowing waves as you futilely flail your arms. 

Something moves in the water, and before you know it, a weight presses against your chest, something distinctly cold and what you imagine scales to feel like, and something else slides underneath your arms, the texture much like human skin. You feel your body begin to rise, until the sudden rush of oxygen barrages at you, and you greedily inhale the air with heaving breaths, while coughing out the sea water from your throat. Once you're done hacking up your lungs, you crack open an eye, greeted with the same gorgeous face you saw earlier. 

“You're beautiful…” The both of you say at the same time, and you feel your ears burn from the compliment. Her voice, deep and resounding, rings through your ears. Meanwhile, her expression visibly brightens, akin to the stars you adore so much. 

“Y-you won't eat me, right?” You ask hesitantly, and to your relief, she shakes her head no. She pulls you closer, before nuzzling her face into the crook of your neck. The arms wrapped around your figure tightens, and so does the tail around your legs. 

“No. Want to be my mate.” She says bluntly, and you feel sharp fangs prick your skin. You gasp, and she pulls her mouth away, deciding to lick your neck as a quick apology. 

“Why me?” 

“Pretty human. But stupid.” 

“Hey!” You exclaim out of feigned annoyance, but then she purrs into your neck, the noise vibrating through your body. Sirens purr? That is adorable. “What does being a mate mean?”

“You are with me, forever. I feed you, protect you, love you, always. Mine, forever.”

A tempting offer, truly, especially with the way her clawed hands grip your sides so tenderly and the way she looks at you like you are her sun.

“But what about my companions?”

“You do not need them.” 

“I do,” you assert, and her face falls. It's like being stabbed in the heart, seeing her expression like that. You raise both of your hands and cup her face. 

“I want you,” she says, with as much of a whine as a siren can possibly make. It is cute, a mix between a cry and a groan. 

“I need them too.” 

“I am not enough?” 

“I want to be free. I don't want to stay in one place.” 

“Then I will follow,” the siren asserts, her red pupils ablaze with determination. It is as simple as that, apparently. “Can I?” 

“Okay.”

“Okay?”

“Okay,” you affirm with a nod. “Don't eat them either. Then I'll be yours.” 

The siren nods, purring again. “My pretty human. Mine?”

You smile. “Yours.”