Chapter Text
Saturday, June 16th
Furina sighed into her second cup of coffee that morning. For the past few hours, work at the Fontaine Theater had been surprisingly scarce for her. Weekends were more often than not packed with performances, with very few rehearsals taking place, and as a theatrical consultant, she was rarely needed after opening nights. If nothing else Furina was a busybody, a trait she’d often blame on her status as an alpha. Her pride felt at ease when her presence was put to good use, but with no task to occupy her time, she settled to stand by the main entrance and watch as people walked into the gates. Fellow consultants greeted her as they walked in, always happy to see her bright and familiar face. She waved at directors she was friendly with and performers that she’d worked alongside as they rushed to prepare for their scheduled shows.
Indeed, weekend mornings were a tad slow on her end, but she did not arrive so early to work without reason. Furina would not be needed by any director she worked for until another two hours had passed, so to any outsider, her idle standing seemed wholly unnecessary. But as a sleek black car pulled into the theater's parking lot, Furina pressed her lips to the rim of her coffee cup in hopes of concealing her smile.
From the back seats of the car, two young children emerged. Furina assumed they were twins, likely around eleven or twelve years old. The boy bounced excitedly on his heels as his sister smoothed her skirt down. She seemed unhappy that the fabric had been shifted during the drive. Only a moment later, the driver exited the car.
This was who Furina was waiting for. The woman who had caught her eye a short two months ago when she’d first brought her kids to the theater. She was tall, handsome, and most definitely mysterious. At least, Furina thought so. The woman's long hair swayed as she crossed to the trunk of the car, opening it to pull out two large, metal boxes with handles on them. She passed them off to her kids, one box to each, and wordlessly they all walked towards the front gate.
Furina did her best not to look in their direction, especially not in a way that was obvious. After seeing the woman for the first time, Furina noticed she was falling deeper and deeper in what she described as an infatuation. While she had yet to build up the courage to speak with the attractive stranger, she felt such a strong pull to her, as if some mystical force was attempting to convince her to strike up a conversation.
She would... Probably... If she was brave enough.
Furina gave a timidly polite nod in the family's direction as they walked through the main entrance. As badly as she wanted to stop being strangers, an odd anxiety kept her from making a proper introduction.
The woman provided a greeting of her own, mimicking Furina’s nod, and motioned to her two children who offered a very formal, “Hello, ma’am” before separating from their parent, rushing in the direction of one of the smaller rehearsal spaces.
On a normal day, the tall, strange woman would have already turned and walked right back to her car, driving off and leaving her kids to do as they pleased in the theater until their allotted rehearsal time was over. However, Furina quickly noticed the presence that still lingered beside her. She glanced up, only to be met with dark and alluring eyes that almost seemed to be studying her.
“Ah, good morning!” Furina squeaked out. “Your kids looked awfully excited. Do they have a performance coming up?” She was not the best at small talk under pressure, this was something she was well aware of, but this was her chance! After weeks and weeks of watching and wishing, she was finally exchanging words with a woman she found enticing.
The tall woman smiled very faintly at the question. “In one week, yes. Those two have quite the talent for magic and properly equipped themselves with the skill of crowd-working. I do recommend attending one of their magic shows, if you have not already.”
Furina could not help but let her excitement run wild in her mind. Not only was the person before her incredibly beautiful, but the way she gushed so calmly about her children's interest was simply adorable. “I must admit, I have not seen them on stage before, but I will certainly take your advice and catch the next one.” Mentally, she steeled herself, deciding it was now or never... “I’m Furina, by the way. I don’t believe I introduced myself.”
She extended a hand for the woman to shake, and smiled warmly as she took it. The first thing Furina noticed about the hand she held was that it was rough. From her palm to her fingers, and all the way down the back of her hand, the skin was covered in scar tissue that likely ran up her arm as well. The lines were not horribly deep, it seemed, but surely they were once painful. In the overcast morning light, she’d not noticed them, and never would have if not for her burst of courage.
“It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Miss Furina. I’ve seen you around before. You work closely with directors to advise their plays, yes?” Her voice was smooth and deep, flooding Furina with all manner of outrageous thoughts simply from hearing her own name spoken in such a tone. Not to mention, she was already aware of who she was.
Regaining her wits, Furina nods with enthusiasm. “Yes! I’ve been in theaters my whole life, and this seemed to be the best way to put my knowledge to use.”
The woman hummed in a subtle interest, “Perhaps you could give my Lyney and Lynette some pointers the next time you cross paths with them. I'm confident that they’d appreciate advice from someone with your experience.”
Each word left Furina’s heart fluttering. She’d not expected to be so affected by a single conversation, and yet the idea of speaking with such an oddly inviting person had her wanting to jump for joy. If the door was open to get closer to the children, perhaps the invitation could extend to their parent as well. “It would be my pleasure! All up and coming talents deserve an external source who believes in them. I’ll do my absolute best to guide them in the right direction.”
The smile that graced the womans lips gently tugged into a prouder expression. “You have my thanks. I must be off now, though I did thoroughly enjoy our conversation. Do take care, Miss Furina.” With the simple goodbye, she turned and walked away. The clack of her heels kept Furina in a trance as she watched her return to her car.
Then, Furina was alone, left to daydream about the most lovely of sights. She rushed to the nearest unoccupied room, a small music rehearsal hall, and gave into an instinct that no amount of shame could stop her from giving in to. She’d pressed the hand that had held the scarred one up to her nose, allowing herself a long inhale. From an outside perspective, this certainly looked to be some bizarre act of perversion, but she could promise to anyone that this was important. If any pheromones had clung to her skin during the brief moment that they touched, Furina would be able to confirm her biggest suspicion.
In truth, she never could pinpoint the secondary gender of the person she was so enthralled by. On a purely visual standpoint, it was safe to assume that she too was an alpha. Her height was already quite impressive, only amplified by the amazingly tall heels she always wore. With the addition of a stone cold, confident face and strong, muscular arms that were visible though the form-fitting gray suit jacket, the woman seemed like a textbook alpha.
And yet, as Furina attempted to let her senses be flooded by traces of pheromones, she found that there was none to be experienced.
Oh. Had she made an incorrect assumption? No smell lingered on her palm. None at all. Either the woman had been a beta all along and would be unable to leave behind a scent, or she wore incredibly effective scent blockers in order to hide it. For the time being, Furina had no way to confirm if the woman was a beta or a very stealthy alpha. Though all physical signs did point to the latter. In all honesty, as much as her alpha brain may have wished for her to one day claim an omega, a person's second gender was of no real concern. She had no qualms about courting a fellow alpha.
It mattered not for now. Even if she were to fall in love, she’d need the love to be requited by-
By...
“Oh! Damn!” she angrily whispered to herself.
She’d forgotten to ask her for her name! Well, she would just have to ask the next time they meet. Now if only she knew when that would be.
One day passed, then another. On the third day, the black car holding the object of her affection did appear, but only the two children emerged. After they had exited, the car sped off, likely heading towards an urgent matter if there was no time to walk the kids to the gate.
More waiting, Furina accepted.
Then, one full week after the initial conversation, the driver finally emerged from the car once again. Her chance had finally arrived! With a fresh cup of coffee in her hands, she practically beamed at the small family as they approached her. “Good morning, Lyney, Lynette. I hear you’ve got a performance today?”
The twins nod, one with great enthusiasm and the other with subtle delight.
“In only two hours! We’ve got something big planned this time!” the boy announced, shaking his sturdy metal box in his arms. “Father even said that she’ll stay to watch this one!” He glanced up at his parent (or Father… Furina would have to remember to ask about that) to confirm that she would be staying like she told them.
“That would be correct. I will secure myself a seat as close to the stage as I can,” she spoke with the slightest hint of exasperation. Lyney had definitely asked her a number of times if she could go, and then reminded her everyday of the upcoming event until it arrived. “Run along now, you don’t want to be late for your own act.”
At that, the children darted off to set their props and finalize all their preparations.
“Have fun!” Furina called out while they were still within earshot. Soon, she was left alone with her most favored person. “Oh! I had nearly forgotten to offer a good morning to you- ah! Goodness, I can’t recall if you gave me your name last we spoke,” she feigned forgetfulness. “Would it be any trouble to remind me?”
The woman waved off the late greeting, considering it no big deal. “I had not given you my name. If I had you surely would not forget it.” She stood straight and tall, piercing eyes holding Furina’s gaze as she continued, “Arlecchino.”
She was correct. Furina would not have forgotten a name such as hers. It was bold, unique, and likely stood out in any list. A title fit for its bearer.
“Arlecchino,” Furina repeated, “it is a pleasure to be officially introduced to you.”
“Likewise. I do apologize for neglecting to tell you my name last we spoke. And I must apologize again for cutting another potential conversation short. I have other matters to attend to before the twins’ show, not to mention, I would not like to keep you away from your own work. Though I am sure I will be seeing you around, right, Miss Furina?” Her tone was cool and sincere, each word almost hypnotic in its timbre.
“Oh, yes, of course,” Furina agreed. Still, she had truly hoped for a longer conversation. She was not meant to be anywhere important for another hour, and while she was not expecting Arlecchino to stand at the front gate with her the entire time, she’d hoped to fill at least some of it with some very mild flirtation. The opportunity was slipping. But in a sudden burst of bravery, laced with a touch of urgency, she called out, “Wait...! If you would like to see me around, as you say, perhaps we could arrange something? I have an open day tomorrow, if you are not preoccupied, that is.”
Her breath caught in her throat after blurting out those words. Honestly, she’d not expected to say that at all. She knew quite well that she was currently wearing a confident smile with shimmering, hopeful eyes, but internally she was embarrassed to have been so forward.
Yet, as the poised persona she wore began to feel forced, Arlecchino hummed in affirmation. “I would be delighted to join you tomorrow, Miss Furina. Here,” she paused to pull a pen and small notepad from her jacket pocket and began to write. “I’ll provide you with my cell phone number. Feel free to contact me whenever you wish.”
She tore the paper out of the book and slipped it into Furinas hand. With a wave and a sly smile, she departed.
And Furina could not be more thrilled.
Arlecchino on the other hand, could not be more confused by her own actions. She’d been asked on several dates in her lifetime, but never had she felt so inclined to accept. Oftentimes if anyone was bold enough to ask for her number or her time, she would shoot them down. Rather harshly at that. Furina’s request had not been predicted, and perhaps that is what drew her in.
Or perhaps Furina’s gentle nature, coupled with her being an alpha, is what drew her in.
For many years Arlecchino had prided herself on the fact that she did not desire an alpha in her life, despite her own nature as an omega. And while she may have been very curious about the cute woman who asked her out, she was not sure how Furina would react to discovering that she’d attempted to court an omega. Arlecchino was well aware that most people viewed her as a beta, or even stranger, a heavily subdued alpha. The intense dosage of heat suppressants and scent blockers patched over all her scent glands ensured that all suspicion of her true nature was expelled. Since she was eighteen years old, Arlecchino had been suppressing her scent, her heats, her instincts, everything. The routine, which she’d successfully managed to keep up for a decade, allowed her a peace of mind that she was convinced would be unattainable if she ever wavered.
To start seeing Furina, an alpha, certainly counted as wavering.
Arlecchino shook the thoughts from her head as she pulled her car into the parking lot of a local market. She had plenty of time to do the grocery shopping for the upcoming week with her kids out of the house. The twins attended the theater one day during the week and one day on the weekend, and Freminet had his diving lessons the same day of the weekend. That day, being her one and only day to herself, was spent completing all the tasks and errands she could not do with three children running around her.
As she walked through the store, collecting the foods the family enjoyed, her mind began to wander. What would the long day of chores look like with a partner? How much easier would her exhausting days of working nonstop feel with a mate by her side? Try as she might to ignore the warm, pleasant tightening of her chest at the idea, the image of Furina walking through lines of produce alongside her had wormed its way to the front of her mind.
Arlecchino hardly knew the alpha, but there was much to be understood about an individual based on their scent alone.
Furina's scent was of sweet vanilla pastries and a refreshing ocean breeze. The first inference Arlecchino made about her was that she was an alpha with a determination to chase others worries away using her pure and excitable spirit. She was a tranquil seaside picnic after months of sailing though harsh waters.
Arlecchino longed to experience her.
She had never longed for anything before, or anyone.
Would it be so strange to start a relationship with her? Would her children understand?
Freminet had been living in her home the longest. He’d been placed in her care four years ago, when he was only two years old. Lyney and Lynette were then adopted a year later, when they were nine. The three wasted no time becoming friends, and even quicker did they begin to see each other as family. For years their little family of four was said to grow no longer. Arlecchino had no time for a fourth child, and had less than no intention of taking on a mate. She didn’t want to disrupt the peaceful life the four of them had built. After years of bouncing around from home to home, Arlecchino’s children needed a stable household. And for years, she’d been able to provide. She worried that throwing an alpha into the mix might be a strange adjustment for them.
Or maybe it would be a strange adjustment for her.
Arlecchino shook the thoughts away once again, paying for her groceries and returning to her car to head home and put their fresh food in their pantry. After which she would attend the twins magic show, and bring them home once it concluded. She would spend another hour tidying up before leaving the house one final time to pick up Freminet.
A rather mundane schedule, but it was low stress. Exactly what Arlecchino needed as she fought internally with her reemerging omega instincts, which begged for a mate.
When Furina returned to her tiny one-room apartment that night after work, she dove into her bed to start writing an over-text invite to Arlecchino. Yes, texting was less classy, but her heart pounded with anxiety at the thought of calling her.
Furina already had a first date plan, she only hoped that Arlecchino would be interested in the sort of activity she had in mind.
She reread the message over and over in search of spelling errors or weird phrasing. When she was satisfied, she hit send with a shaky finger.
“Hey! It’s Furina from the Fontaine Theater. Would you like to meet me at the pier tomorrow at noon? I’ll bring you to my favorite lunch table and adorn it with hot tea and fresh desserts. I look forward to your response.”
She tosses her phone to her side, not wanting to look at the screen whenever a reply notification appeared. Instead, she opted to make dinner and distract herself from her slight fear of rejection.
Minutes later, with a meal in hand, she returned to her phone, opening it to see one unread message.
“That would be delightful, Miss Furina. Assuming you refer to the pier south-west of the theater, yes. I will see you then. ”
A short answer, but a positive one. Furina almost spills her plate of food onto the floor with her excitement.
Tomorrow. Tomorrow she would finally get to know the person that danced around her dreams.
Oh gosh, she has much to prepare for now!
Arlecchino's phone buzzed after she and the children finished their dinner.
A message from Furina.
“Hey! It’s Furina from the Fontaine theater. Would you like to meet me at the pier tomorrow at noon? I’ll bring you to my favorite lunch table and adorn it with hot tea and fresh desserts. I look forward to your response.”
Going on a date with an alpha. Something Arlecchino was sure she would never do. She sighed, and was briefly concerned with how blissful she sounded, before responding in an affirmative. She would have to call her go-to coworker in the morning to ask if he could watch the kids for a few hours. He never did seem to mind last minute calls.
The only real issue now, in Arlecchino's eyes, was how to bring up being an omega to Furina. Hm. She’d need to think about that one for a while.