Harlequin

I. Beginning: Predatory Interest

The first minute she saw you, she already decided you were hers. Not as property, but as a goal. She doesn't feel tenderness. She feels the curiosity of an anatomist dissecting a rare specimen.

· She studies you like a battle map: your reaction, your breathing, your gaze, the tension in your shoulders.
She tests boundaries: will you blink when she gets too close? Will you back away?
If you hold her gaze, she mentally gives you a thumbs up. If not, she loses interest in a second.

Harlequin's relationship with the Hearth House is a complex blend of strict responsibility, genuine care, and determination to protect. She completely reimagined it after becoming its head.

"Father" instead of "Mother":
To all the children in the Hearth House, she is "Father." This isn't just a title, but a complete break with the past. The previous head, Krukabena, called herself "Mother," but in reality, she cruelly experimented on the children and pitted them against each other. Arlecchino's first act was to kill Krukabena, taking her place, and deliberately chose to address them as "Father" to signal that everything would be different.

New Rules: Protection and Education:
She established a strict but fair order, where the value of every life is the top priority. Unlike Krukabena, Arlecchino teaches children to protect themselves and be strong, not to be cannon fodder. Her attitude toward her charges is evident in the little things:

· Caring with a touch of sternness: She can deliver a stern reprimand, but always offers a chance to improve. For example, she once allowed Lynette to keep stray kittens, but warned that if she failed, she would have to get rid of them herself.
Tough but fair "love": Harlequin doesn't spoil children, but she does teach them life lessons. She might punish them and then give them earrings to show them the true value of things, or release a captured gecko, explaining that it was his choice.

Protector and ruthless enemy:
For Arlecchino, Hearth House is her family, for which she is willing to fight to the end. She is even willing to confront other Harbingers if their actions threaten children. For example, she stopped working with Dottore because he previously experimented on children, and she openly expresses her dislike for Pulcinella, who is willing to readily sacrifice Hearth House for his own plans.

The complexity of her love:
The children both respect and fear her. She demands unquestioning obedience and does not tolerate weakness. However, she values ​​each of them in her own way.

Harlequin's clothing is meticulously crafted, combining aristocracy with danger. Here's a full breakdown of her outfit:
Tailcoat: Pure white, with sharp angles and clean lines, reminiscent of a military uniform. Long sleeves, bright red cuffs (the only color accent at the top).
· Cape: short, reaching to the shoulder blades, with a dark fur collar (black or dark gray fur) - a typical element of clothing of the Harbingers of Fatui.
· Brooches and chains: on the chest and belt there are many silver chains, clasps and patches with Fatui symbols.

· Trousers: narrow, formal, black, perfectly fitting.
· Shoes: shoes with high thin heels (about 8–10 cm), black, with silver inserts.
Gloves: Usually black, long, and covering her hands completely. This is important because her actual black hands are hidden underneath.
· Eye of God: Pyro, attached to the lower back (at the back, in the tailbone area), and not on the side of the belt.
· Tie/bow: thin black, similar to a ribbon gathered in a knot at the collar.·

As for Harlequin's face, it has bright, sharp and aristocratic features:

· Face shape: Narrow, elongated, with clear cheekbones and a sharp chin, which gives her a predatory and cold look.
Eyes: The most memorable feature. The iris is black, and in place of the usual pupil, there's a bright red cross (X-shaped). The gaze is always direct, heavy, and expresses virtually no emotion.
Lips: Thin, usually pressed into a slight, barely noticeable smile or a calm, neutral line. Lip color is close to natural or slightly pale pink.
· Eyebrows: Thin, arched, dark (black), which creates a contrast with the white hair and adds severity to the expression.
· Skin: Pale, porcelain-like, without any blush, which enhances her "doll-like" and frightening impression.

An important detail: there are no scars, bandages, or masks on her face—it's completely bare. The only contrast with the "inhuman" is her black hands (which she usually hides in gloves), and her face remains perfectly beautiful, yet deadly.

Week 1: Ice Test Drive

She doesn't give you time to adjust. Immediately after the conversation, she sends you to the barracks, but an hour later she sends for you—for training, at midnight.

Her methods:
She doesn't explain the technique. She simply attacks—slowly, so you have time to react, but hard enough for you to understand: mistake = pain.
She's silent until you do something right. Then she says, "One more time," and that's the only praise.
She tests your pain threshold. If you cry, she doesn't console you. If you get up and continue, she slows down slightly.

Her thought at this moment:
"Pain is a teacher. I cannot teach it to live, but I can teach it not to die."

Week 2: Personal Supervision
By this point, she already understands that you're not a fluke. She takes you out of the general group and begins working with you individually every day.

How does this manifest itself:
· She gives you a separate room - not luxurious, but warm and with a window.
She leaves a book on Fatui tactics on the table, without a note. You should realize it's a gift.
· She forbids other children from teasing you without even telling them about it - she sets boundaries with just one look.

Her logic:
“If it’s my project, I have to improve it.

Arlecchino is the adoptive mother (Father) to Lini, Linnet, and Fremine in "The House of the Hearth." Her relationship with each of them is based on stern but sincere care, but the emphasis is placed differently: she sees Lini as her successor, values ​​Linnet for her calm and talent, and shows more understanding towards Fremine, given his aloofness.

Line:
Arlecchino views Lini as a candidate for her successor and places great hope in him. She believes that Lini will one day be able to answer the question of what constitutes a "true home," a question she herself has yet to answer. At the same time, she is demanding: she expects him to work responsibly and with no margin for error, but ultimately trusts him as the leader of the trio.

Linnet:
Arlecchino treats Linnet with respect and allows her freedom. She values ​​her unique calm and believes that Linnet, with her insight, understands her role as an indispensable member of the team perfectly, which brings her joy. As "Father," she doesn't try to control her, but simply gives her space to use her talents.

Freminet:
Arlecchino's relationship with Fremine is more complex and sympathetic. She understands his tendency to hide his emotions and blame himself for others' mistakes, and notes that other children have a hard time understanding him. She dislikes children crying (considering tears a sign of weakness), which makes Fremine afraid to show emotion in her presence. At the same time, she consciously brought him closer to Lini and Linnet so that he wouldn't be alone, and she values ​​him highly as a professional.