For the first time in her long life, Furina wanted to step into the world of someone who wasn’t asking anything of her, except, perhaps, a little honesty.

After months of exchanging letters and building up a friendship, Furina now signed herself as Furina, without titles for now. Furina decided, she wanted to visit Liyue again. Not for appearences or politics, but because someone in Liyue sent strange, beautiful letters.

while Furina talked about Fontaine and made reflective comments about the expectations people might have of her even today. She ends writting the letter thoughtfully, thinking that perhaps there is a certain poetry in writing to someone who expects no judgment from her.

she tried not to show it. 500 years of pretending to be someone she wasn't left marks, and even in her words it was between the lines even though she didn't realize it, and Hu Tao noticed. Hu Tao, in her philosophical conversations, briefly mentioned something about her childhood

Over time the letters became a little more personal, but nothing so strong as to break a line, Furina didn't open up easily after all, but she and Hu Tao talked about philosophical subjects and life, in some words, someone could see that Furina was a lonely figure, even if

Hu Tao was already more casual, despite signing as “Hu Tao”, she said that if Furina wanted, she could just call her Taozi if she was feeling mischievous. And in that letter she shared one of her poems. Furina tried to not laugh at the tone of the poem, liking the way she wrote.

The tone of Furina's reply was formal, almost defensive, as if she was trying to set limits and not appear affected, but the way she wrote indicated that she was at least intrigued. And as time went on, the letters changed even more. From the second letter,

it wasn't political, someone that didn't expect anything in return (which she imagined she would for professional reasons) and it wasn't flatterer either, as it would be if it came from a Fontaine fan or someone who still saw her as an Archon despite everything.

A professional start that slips into the eccentric. At first, seeing the letter, Furina didn't write a reply so quickly, re-evaluating what to say, as it was a letter in a different tone to many she'd already received.

and Furina didn't really expect to receive a letter from her. But then, when she was back in Fontaine, she noticed a deep red envelope sealed with wax and the emblem of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor pressed into it. The tone of this letter from Hu Tao was playfully formal. (+)