It's been a while with this account. I'm mostly posting here just to do so.
Karina's profile can be found in my bio. It's a recommended read, although I do intend to delve into her history throughout. Please note that I will be messing with lore in many ways; as of this publication, Fontaine is not released, to say nothing of Vision lore, etc.
This story's rating is subject to change and deals with dark themes and topics throughout. AO3 tags make it easier to convey. Overall, if you're not comfortable with mentions of death, trauma, poor family relationships, mentions of previous unhealthy relationships, etc., this isn't the story for you.
On a lighter note, this will be a slow-burn that constantly borders on AU territory and subject to rating changes and retcons. Liberties will be taken.
The crowd was thick tonight. Granted, the way people from Mond talked about such affairs, and the very location in which she roamed, she expected as much.
After all, the heir to the Dawn Winery hadn't been seen in years, not since Ursa the Drake.
She hadn't been here for that. Back then, Fontaine had still been her home.
The room was lavishly decorated and the wooden floor and railings were polished to such a shine that Karina was certain she spotted someone checking their teeth in the reflection from the wax. She was almost certain that the winery's motto wasn't meant to be taken so literally.
She wandered among elegant dresses and finely tailored suits; uniforms for the evening she clearly missed the memo about. Her well-preserved coat, along with clean trousers, dead Vision at her hip, and freshly polished boots would have to do. After all, what use was a dress in her line of work?
Slinking upstairs was the easy part, if one knew where to look. Few, save two brothers and perhaps one Acting Grand Master knew, preciously where the servants pathways in the house were. Karina worked her way through the barren halls, up a staircase, and through a narrow corridor until she came through to the upstairs balcony.
From her vantage point, wine flowed freely, music swelled in time with the ringing of laughter, and there was enough food to feed just the Knights of Favonius for a week.
It was well-deserved. And yet so hollow.
She was reminded of court in Fontaine. Always being watched, careful to do the correct thing. Follow etiquette, follow law, and never criticize the Monarch. Only the Archon could do that. And even the Archon wasn't above the Laws of Justice.
Walking on broken glass bare-foot in winter was easier and less painful than a court event at the Summer Palace.
At least she never had to go back.
And just as it was elsewhere, few in this room actually knew of the events of the past few weeks, of the weight they added to the darker parts the city willingly ignored. The ones hidden away by the very figures who were red-faced with drink and telling stories of the old days.
That was the magic of freedom, wasn't it? To be able to choose your truth, your reality.
What a luxury.
"You're late."
And her host was right on time.
"Yes, well, some of us had to ensure Dotorre's notes got into the right hands," she shot back, taking the proffered grape juice.
Karina raised it in thanks but didn't drink. She was glad to have something to occupy her hands.
Diluc would find her when she wandered too far but as far as she was concerned, he used her as an excuse to duck away, even for a few minutes.
"No Delusion backfire?"
Obviously not, she reminded herself. He wouldn't be here if that was the case. She'd seen enough of them to know that.
He shook his head. "The ambush will hopefully teach the Fatui a lesson and keep them second-guessing themselves for a while," Diluc muttered. "I have no doubt someone will have recognized the device but that was part of the point."
He crossed his arms as Karina leaned forward onto the wooden railing, propped up on her elbows.
"I want to go investigate the ruins he was using," she said softly, finally taking a swig of the juice.
It was sweet but not sickeningly so. The natural sugar from the grape mingled with...was that Valberry?
"We both know that's not a call I make. I don't have a command. You're a free agent."
He said it so disdainfully it made the grape juice sour in her mouth for a moment. Always making her ask . Asking felt like she constantly had to admit she didn't feel like she could do it alone.
She could . It was more that she shouldn't.
"Will you come with me?"
Diluc let out a breath through his nose and she half-expected him to say, "I'll think about it." But instead, he said, "As if I'd pass up a chance to get inside this demented screwball's head. Pick a day. I'll make time."
Karina nodded, looking down into the burgundy liquid in the silver cup in her hands. Just darker than fresh blood. She pushed that thought down, deep deep down. Not tonight. Maybe this time her mind would listen.
Diluc turned to go but stopped, looking over his shoulder as he said, "I found that book you mentioned."
Her brow raised in interest and she pushed herself off the railing to follow him when he began walking away without another word. They stepped through a set of double doors and into the humble and cozy library towards the back of the manor. This room was one of the few she had express permission to enter whether Diluc was on premise or not; a bargain between them after she divulged just why, exactly, she carried a dead Vision at her hip.
The once-purple stone was dark, as though all color was drained from it, but shined to a polish. Its setting was just as pristine. Much like oiling her sword, it was a ritual she couldn't shake. To some, it was pointless. For her, it was a necessity.
Diluc pulled a book from the shelf that she'd taken to function as her 'loan' shelf; she could never take anything from the room but she was allowed to keep track of her reads. He'd clearly intended for her to find it at a later date but for some reason, wanted her to have it now.
And as soon as she saw the color of the binding, she knew why. He held it out to her, the cover title all but burned away, leaving only the author's name. It hadn't held up well at all.
"It's a bit damaged, the corners are scuffed and the cover's scorched. But it had a name in it."
Karina took the book gingerly and placed her cup on the nearest surface. She opened the cover with care, the binding snapping under her fingers. Her sister always took just good care of her books, even repairing them when necessary. She thumbed the pages, forcing herself not to stick her nose in and smell it. That could wait. Trembling fingers flipped to the back cover, where a book plate as fresh as the day it was applied bore a drawing of Fontaine's skyline and note in cramped, elegant writing from one Rhiannon Alexandre. It wasn't in Common but it was clearly intended for the owner of the book.
For her.
She traced the ink, thoughts of the room around her forgotten. For a moment, she was back in Fontaine, safely tucked into bed, reading to a baby sister who was no longer a baby.
"This is it. How did…?"
When she looked up after receiving no response, Diluc was already near the door.
"Lisa may have mentioned it to her Sumeru contact, who came across it on their way to Mondstadt. I wanted to vet it first."
Karina closed the book and held it close. An old friend. She bowed slightly at the waist as she said, "Thank you. It's a debt I won't be able to repay."
With the slightest smile, he said, "You'll think of something, chevalier ."
DIluc closed the door behind him, leaving her alone in the library.
Which she silently appreciated. It meant no one would see her dip her nose to the pages as she thumbed them, smelling the ink, the paper and the scent of burning firewood and juniper. It smelled like home .
A home that, even if it took her back, would never be the same.
Karina came to the book plate and pressed her lips to the words before she whispered, " Je promets de vous rendre justice, sœur."
I promise to bring you justice, sister.