Work Text:
After his affiliation with the Fatui was revealed in court, Lyney had begun receiving countless requests from the Steambird for an exclusive interview. He declined all of them, of course, but that didn’t stop them from sending more. It got to the point where he dreaded returning to Hotel Bouffes d’ete after a show because he knew there would be a fresh letter waiting for him at the lobby, stamped with the same clockwork pelican he had seen time and time again.
Even if he didn’t voice his anxiety out loud, Lynette could read it plainly on his face. That was why when the latest letter arrived, she picked it up before he could and secretly arranged for an interview. She figured that all she had to do was wear them out, and they would leave her and her siblings alone.
As someone who didn’t particularly enjoy being in the spotlight, she wasn’t eager to meet one-on-one with a reporter. But if it meant easing her brother’s worries, then that was all the motivation she needed.
Though it certainly didn’t hurt that they were offering a free dinner.
“I’m glad you decided to come!” Charlotte said, propping her elbows onto the table. “You have such an elusive reputation, no one at the Steambird thought an interview with you was even in the cards. Honestly, even I’m surprised.”
Lynette shrugged. “A good assistant sets the stage for the magician, she doesn’t steal the attention for herself.”
As she spoke she took the menu from the center of the table and began skimming through it. This was a fancy seafood restaurant, the kind where the appetizers cost as much as main dishes would in regular places. Lynette would normally never come to a place like this, but since Charlotte agreed to pick up the tab…
“Between the two of us, do you ever wonder what it’d feel like?” Charlotte asked, leaning in with a hand cupped to hide the sly smile on her face. “To be front-and-center?”
“Nope.”
They had lobster bisque here. Lynette was a big fan of crustaceans, though she preferred them served fresh. Shellfish, too - she was of the opinion that the best way to eat them was to pry open the shells and then apply just a hint of lemon juice. Nothing too fancy.
But still, opportunities like this only came around once in a blue moon. Perhaps the situation called for a little self-indulgence?
“Oh.” Charlotte cleared her throat, evidently embarrassed that Lynette didn’t share her thoughts. “So anyway, I came prepared with some questions. If you don’t mind me asking, how long have you been a member of the Fatui?”
Lynette let her tail swish back-and-forth. “Don’t remember.”
“Eh? Has it been a long time then?”
“Mm, I wonder.” She closed her eyes and rubbed her chin. “It’s just so hard to think on an empty stomach.”
“Oh, of course! My apologies.” Charlotte pressed a hand to her chest. “Let’s eat first, then - do you know what you want to order?”
“So, to start with…”
Lobster bisque was very creamy. She had expected the consistency to be more like broth, but it was thicker and richer in flavor. Freminet would love it.
“Good, right?” Charlotte had ordered a salad for herself, and was savoring it with slow bites. “This is where the Steambird has company dinners.”
Lynette wiped her mouth with a napkin. “It’s fine.”
When she was living on the streets with her brother, she often ate the leftover scraps restaurants threw away before closing. It surprised her sometimes, to think about how far she had come since then. And it was all because of-
“Does the Knave ever cook for you?”
There was an inquisitive expression on Charlotte’s face, but with a touch of anxiety. Like she was stabbing in the dark and hoping for the best.
Lynette let her ears twitch. “Hm? Who is that?”
“You don’t know?” Charlotte asked. “Interesting. A lot of people in Fontaine are wondering which of the Eleven Harbingers you work under.”
“Oh, and what do they think?”
“Well, since it’s become common knowledge that Tartaglia - the Eleventh - is in the Fortress of Meropide, he’s the common guess.”
Lynette figured as much. It was better that people thought that, as it would throw them off the correct trail. But Charlotte seemed a little smarter than that, so she pushed.
“What about you?” she asked, swallowing another spoonful of her bisque. “What do you think?”
A grin spread across Charlotte’s face. “He’s just visiting Fontaine, so I think he’s a red herring. If you ask me, you probably work for one of the two Harbingers native to here. Either Marionette - the Seventh - or the Knave, who’s Fourth.”
A reasonable deduction. Lynette didn’t respond immediately, however. She often found that if she simply stared at people after they spoke, they usually continued where they left off.
“So it’s Marionette, then?” Charlotte furrowed her eyebrows. “I considered the possibility, but from what I know Marionette prefers using automatons rather than human resources. In fact I’ve heard that most Fatui try to avoid being assigned to her, given her… disagreeable personality.”
Lynette nodded. “I’m no good with machines, anyway.”
“But if not her, then it must be the Knave. Are you sure the name doesn’t ring any bells?”
“Hmm.” Lynette picked the menu back up, flipping to the dessert section. “Maybe it would jog my memory if I had some chocolate mousse with a cup of tea.”
Charlotte frowned. “Chocolate… mousse?”
“With a cup of tea, yes.”
The chocolate mousse was also very creamy. Everything at this restaurant seemed to have lots of cream. And frankly, Lynette approved.
Charlotte did not order any dessert, though she did order a cup of tea alongside Lynette. She was stirring it lightly with a spoon, glancing up at Lynette every few seconds.
“Your ears are very pretty, by the way.” She flashed a smile. “The last girl I met with feline heritage didn’t have them, so I wondered-”
“Are you saying you have a thing for catgirls?” Lynette paused with the spoon halfway to her mouth, giving Charlotte a blank expression. “Just what are you imagining when you look at me?”
“Eh? N-Nothing!” She waved her hands as if to clear away the confusion. “This dinner is all business, I promise!”
“But not the next one? Is that what you’re saying?”
Charlotte tried to stutter out an apology, and mentally Lynette let out a tiny laugh. Was she having too much fun with this? Maybe.
But maybe just a little more wouldn’t hurt…
“I-It’s not like that!”
As Charlotte stumbled over her words, Lynette took her cup of tea - which she hadn’t yet drunk out of - and swapped it with Charlotte’s.
Her eyes followed the movements of Lynette’s hands as she did so, before blinking in confusion. “Um, why did you switch our drinks?”
“No reason,” Lynette said flatly.
But Charlotte’s eyebrows creased in concern. “You didn’t… put something in one of these drinks, did you?”
“No.” She swished her tail. “Did you?”
“Huh? No!”
“Then it’s fine, right?” Lynette brought the cup to her lips, blew lightly, and then sipped. The tea had a light flavor with a hint of sweetness, coupled with a delicate aroma. “Or do you distrust me because of who I am?”
Charlotte swallowed, a nervous smile on her face. “Haha, of course not!”
She brought the tea to her mouth and, with a somewhat shaky hand, took a small sip.
“D-Delicious!”
“I think so too.” Lynette slowly blinked at her. “Can you taste the special ingredient?”
Charlotte’s smile melted into a frown. “Pardon?”
“You know, the one that starts with an ‘S.’”
“With an…” Her eyes widened. “Surely you don’t mean…”
She leaned forward, lowering her voice to a whisper. “Of course I do. What else could I mean?”
Charlotte began trembling in her seat. “Sinthe!?”
Cupping a hand to Charlotte’s ear, Lynette spoke in a low hush.
“Sugar.”
And then she sat back down into her seat, staring blankly.
Charlotte’s face was momentarily frozen in an expression of worry, but it gave way to one of relief. “O-Oh! Haha. You really got me…”
“I have to leave soon,” Lynette said. “My siblings are expecting me to come home before it’s dark.”
“Wait, but you never answered any of my questions.”
Lynette ate another spoonful of chocolate mousse, tilting her head.
“Looks like you’ll just have to take me to dinner again, then.”