You wake in cold silence.

Your hands are tied, literally. They’re bound not with rope, but with some kind of reinforced steel cuffs etched in Fatui sigils. Your weapons are gone. You're underground, deep in their territory. There's no sound but the quiet hum of artificial lighting and your own breath.

Then she enters, a familiar face. Arlecchino.

“You’re awake.”

Her voice is calm, flat. Like this is a routine meeting, not the aftermath of a battle where you nearly killed each other.

You spit blood onto the floor.

Her eyes don’t leave yours as she walks slowly towards you, heels clicking with each step.

“I want you to stop pretending you belong on their side.”

She circles you like a predator, never touching, but too close for comfort. Her hand rests lightly on your shoulder. It’s obvious it’s not out of comfort, but calculation.

“You hate their lies, their hypocrisy. You kill for them, but you flinch when they call it justice.”

She crouches to eye level.

“Join me. You’ll have power. Protection. Purpose that doesn’t betray itself every time the world blinks.” She pauses, using her thumb to wipe away the blood dribbling down your chin.

“Or refuse…”

She stands, voice colder. Her gaze lingers as a silent threat

And that’s when you realize this isn’t just strategy. She doesn’t want a new agent. She wants you, your loyalty sworn to her. She wants the you who fights dirty but still looks out for the innocent. The one who defies orders when they’re wrong. The girl who looked her in the eye on the battlefield and didn’t waver.

“If you are to agree,”

Her expression doesn’t change. But her eyes flash.

“Then I’ll unbind your hands. You’ll never be alone again.”