Chapter Text
The moment you wake up, you stretch, glancing around the tent. And are surprised, to say the least, to find Isabeau’s side empty. You freeze the moment you realize that, frantically looking around in confusion. You didn’t sleep in that much for Isa to wake up first, did you?
Scrambling to put on your cloak, you step outside. Just to see that most is still lightless, if not for the darkless sun that seems to have just woken up like you.
You must have been pretty loud while looking around, because you hear a “Ahem,” coming from your left and see Odile outside of her tent as well. Lucky for you, she doesn’t seem bothered, if anything she looks…amused?
“Good morning to you too, Siffrin,” She speaks when you don’t say anything, and raises an eyebrow as she eyes your, slightly messy appearance, “Ah, I assume you were looking for Isabeau, correct?” You nod… “Don’t fret, he woke up minutes before you with Mirabelle to go into town. Which, if you didn’t remember, is almost an hour on foot.”
You nod, it makes sense, Bonnie isn’t even up yet to begin making breakfast. But you don’t trust your words as you feel utterly embarrassed by your…Ah, rather strong reaction. “Mhm…” You manage to get out, feeling worse as Odile smirks at you, and you return to your tent before anything else happens.
You were thinking of going back to sleep. Which you could have done, if your stomach didn’t groan in a way you feared Bonnie could even wake up—you guess that’s what happens when you don’t eat again after staying up for hours. You cover yourself with a blanket as you feel your face burn. But you remain in place, trying to reposition yourself to—hopefully—sleep until breakfast.
You ended up lying still for stars know how long when you heard Bonnie’s enthusiastic yelling outside.
———
Well…this town sure was further than what Mirabelle had expected..!
But, oh Change, was it worth it. Her feetsies were a bit sore from walking, and darkless light was covering it all already, but they had done it. She glanced around the welcoming shops as she walked by the street, seemingly already buzzing with life.
And people. Lots of it.
She didn’t like it. Even if with this crowd people didn’t even pay her a glance to overwhelm her with… being a savior kind of thing. And yet, she already felt overwhelmed with people bumping into her every five seconds.
But no matter! She was not going to let it get to her! She had a job to do here—other than getting those ingredients Bonnie asked for…—and it was to get things for a perfect birthday for Siffrin! She puffed her cheeks with determination. This was especially special for her, considering how birthdays were seen as a Change believer. They were always seen almost sacredly, because it symbolizes a year of change you had and a new opportunity for it!
Siffrin is not into Change though— she tried to remind herself. Right, and she by no means wanted to try and push them. They also seemed…content enough with their, Universe belief, if she remembered correctly.
But!! Still! She was going to try her best to give his dear friend Siffrin the greatest birthday they could have if she had a say in it!
Mirabelle didn’t notice she was clutching her tear brooches so tightly until a hand on her shoulder made her jump, and quickly turned to see Isabeau looking at her with a gentle smile. Oh! Yes, Isabeau was with her too…
She really hoped he hadn’t said anything, she didn’t want him to think he was ignoring him!! “Sorry, Isabeau, did… Did you say something?” Mirabelle looks back at him with a soft—if maybe nervous—smile.
“Nah, not really, but, I did wanna ask…You okay?” He chuckled, clearly trying to put her at ease, “You’ve been…grabbing at those brooches like they insulted Change itself.” That got a chuckle out of Mirabelle. She then sighed, a frown forming on her face as she let go of said brooches.
“I’m alright. I just–I just want to make the best for Siffrin. They deserve it! They really do!!” She averted her gaze, “But what if we’re not able to give them that? One of the only things we could give them, and it’s not even good! And I–we care so, so, so much about him! But, but…”
“But what if nothing I ever do is good enough to make him realize that?”
Isabeau’s face softened with each word, letting the bubbly grin slip, “Oh, Mira…” He took her hands to his own, “Breathe with me, okay? Like Sif does.” He took a deep breath for her to do the same. And then was when Mirabelle noticed she was breathing almost erratically. She’s been really distracted today, hasn’t she? But she does as told, matching Isabeau as she breathes in, and out.
Phewwwwwww.
She sighed once again, but somehow felt slightly lighter having voiced her thoughts, even if she was basically craving her pills right now, “Thank you.” She smiled up at him.
“No problem!” Isabeau grinned down at her, before it got softer once again, looking at her with quiet reassurance, “And, I’m sure Sif knows you, I, and all of us care,” He added, moving closer to Mirabelle as he rubbed her back soothingly, “Too be honest, I can relate to that as well. But I’m even more sure he won’t even pay a second thought if this is not as perfect as we have planned.”
She chuckles lightly, glancing back at the road, “I hope so.”
“Yeah–oh! Hey,” Isabeau pointed at a rather cute looking shop on the right of their path, “I think we could check out that local, right? I have a feeling about it.”
Mirabelle eyes the place, halting her steps with Isabeau, and smiles, “I think I agree.”
And they were absolutely right.
What were the chances of finding such a perfect local for this type of event? Considering how this town seemed to be relatively small—rivaling Dormont, if this one a little bigger.
Mirabelle felt in her element here. It wasn’t even a little bit close to how full it had been outside, so it was a magnificent breath of fresh air—funny to say that considering they’re inside.
And right now, she was looking at these cute little signs of ‘happy birthday’ that she was sure Bonnie could place over a little pastry just for Siffrin. She and Isabeau settled on taking a nice lightless one with darkless touches, since it reminded Isabeau of the night sky Siffrin seemed to like so much! They took a little of this, a little bit of that, and ooohh were those gift cards???
Mirabelle couldn’t resist, and started sorting through them, with Isabeau catching behind her. “Hey, Mira! Watcha found here–” He asked, right before seeing said cards with a grin, “Okay never mind I get it.”
Mirabelle beamed as she nodded, not taking her eyes off of them, “Mhm! I saw this earlier, but had seen many other things, so!! We really should find one for Siffrin right?” Isabeau nodded repeatedly, when a frown set itself on Mirabelle’s face, “But none of them seem to tell me ‘yes!! I’m for Siffrin!! Take me!’” Isabeau had to hold back a giggle, “and there’s definitely none with, the darkless… stars! So I’m not sure if we should take anything at all…”
“Hm, well,” Isabeau mused, glancing at the differently shaded—light darkless, dark lightless, some in-between, and so on, but no pure lightless or darkless in sight, “I’m sure Sif will appreciate any card we get him! Even if it’s not his favorite color, you know?”
Mirabelle sighed, letting down the little Valentine's day cute cow one she had found—yes it has ntohing to do with the situation she's aware but it was cute, “Yes, but… Well!” She turned her head to face Isabeau, a determined look replacing her earlier frown, “Maybe we could ask for one customized! Or make one ourselves, or, come back tomorrow super early!”
The mentioned man let out a laugh, but placed a hand encouragingly on Mirabelle’s shoulder, “Yeah! But it’ll have to be super-super early, considering tomorrow is, you know, the day. And I’m not sure how early I’ll be able to wake up considering I already did today!”
Mirabelle giggled softly, eyes twinkling as they made their way to the cashier, “I guess you’re right, but we gotta try!”
“Absolutely,” Isabeau placed a hand over his chest dramatically, “You wound me if you think I wouldn’t at least try so!” He grinned triumphantly as Mirabelle laughed once again, “Now, I’m pretty sure Bonnie had left us a task today too. Do you have the ingredient list?”
Mirabelle gasped, turning her head to him again, he was right!!! “Oh Change, you’re right! I had completely forgotten!! And oh, how late is it already? We have to get going!!”
And so, after Mirabelle bargained with the cashier to let them pay full price for the cute trinkets they had gotten —because they got so little!! It’s not even worth the 100% discount!!!— they went outside again with their bags. Looking around the, unfortunately still quite busy, market to buy the ingredients said pre-teen had very enthusiastically asked —or maybe demanded?— for.
Mirabelle’s not sure how long they spent marveling at each thing the market offered them, and how much actually looking for the things. But the important part was, that they were done.
“Alrrright,” Isabeau started, setting down all that he and Mirabelle had on a wooden bench just outside one of the shops alongside her, “We’ve got the sugar, the various milks–Huh, didn’t know there were more types– some eggs, and the vanilla extract.” He seemed to mentally recount them just in case, before he glanced up to Mirabelle with a smile, “Yep, pretty sure we’re done!”
Yes, they spent quite the time looking for four ingredients, but in Mirabelle’s defense, she wasn’t aware there was a library here.
Mirabelle locked eyes with him with a twinning smile, if less wide, “Yeah, I think so too,” She grabbed the bag they got to put their things in, making room for everything inside. She stood up with a satisfied look on her face, offering a hand to Isabeau to get up as well, “Which means, we should get going!”
Isabeau let out a content laugh as he nodded, accepting her hand as he pulled himself up, hands on hips as he took in the town for the final time this day, “Yeaahh, I’d love that actually. Crab, I’m real hungry now that you mention it…”
They continued their walk back to their camping site, mindless chatter between them. Discussing that maybe they should stay in an inn of the place before moving on, the little cafe that was just in the corner of the market, the unusual amount of people for such a small place, and so on.
Mirabelle smiled. She glanced at the man who at the moment was explaining about how he swears he saw a cloud shaped cloud— “Seriously, you just HAD to see it-”— before back at the road, that already turned into a light shade of grass that almost mixed with her similarly shaded boots.
Mirabelle was…happy.
She hoped they could make Siffrin happy too.
Their conversation came to an abrupt end as Bonnie spotted them—mind you they still were a considerable distance from their tents—shouting at them something almost incoherent as they made their way to the site.
“You CRABS!!!” Bonnie spoke as they catched up with them, poking at Isabeau’s tummy while he laughed nervously, “You took a MA–LEE–NIA!!” They huffed, crossing their arms as Mirabelle and Isabeau exchanged amused glances.
“Milennia, Boniface,” Odile quipped with a small smirk at the pre-teen, walking behind Bonnie to greet Mirabelle and Isabeau as well.
“That’s what I said,” Bonnie responded, looking away for a moment, earning a chuckle from Odile, patting the child’s head, who leaned on the touch.
“Of course,” Odile then looked back up at the duo with a questioning look as she raised an eyebrow, “But they’re right, you did take your time.”
“Psshh, Madame, we couldn’t have been gone for too long, I mean…” Isabeau chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck, with Mirabelle nodding her head in agreement.
“Yes!! I didn’t even notice how the time passed…” She pouted, looking down as she recounted her morning in her mind. Did they really spend that much time out there? Well, she was very hungry, more so than how she usually is when Bonnie serves them breakfast, and her feet were more sore than they were when they had arrived but…
Odile merely raised both her eyebrows, a look passing her eyes, “I assume then neither of you are aware that you were gone for nearly two hours then, without counting the time you spent walking back.”
And Mirabelle’s and Isabeau’s jaws fell.
“Oh CRAB!! YEAH!!!” Bonnie suddenly cut in, not letting either of the duo process Odile’s words, and took both their hands and dragged them to their camp, “Come, COME!! You need FOOD!! I don’t get how you’re ALIVE right now!!”
Bonnie scolded both of them as they made their way, sat them down and passed on their breakfast.
“Oh, yeah! I almost forgot–” Isabeau exclaims, making a stop in eating his food before handing Bonnie their bag of ingredients, to which they respond with a satisfied smile, “–here Bonbon!” And they scurried to their tent.
Mirabelle giggled as she watched the excited pre-teen run to hers and their tent, probably making sure she and Isabeau got everything. But now that they were gone, she finally took in the absence of a certain traveler. She noticed the moment they arrived, really, but hadn’t had a moment to say anything.
“So, where’s Siffrin?” She looked up from her scrambled eggs, rice and sausage—she never thought those could go as well as they did, but that’s Bonnie’s magic she supposes—to look at Madame Odile, who sat across from her, book in hand.
“Oh, him?” Odile chuckled, glancing at Isabeau’s and Siffrin’s shared tent before looking at the former, “Probably sulking that you two went somewhere and left him alone at his tent. Poor them really thought you abandoned him, Isabeau.”
Isabeau gapes before shaking his head in such a way Mirabelle thought he may get nauseous, “NEVER Madame!!! How is that even a question?!” He blurted, “Please, please please tell me you explained the situation to him.”
Madame laughed, laughed, before nodding her head, “Of course, I couldn’t let our rouge sulk more than he probably is already,” She gave a look to Isabeau, whose eyes widened for a moment, and then proceeded to fill his mouth with his remaining food before bolting to said tent.
Odile shook her head with a ghost of a smile as she looked at Mirabelle, “So, that aside, did you get all you wanted?”
“Mhm!” She hummed with a smile, “The town was really full actually, but it was so worth it Madame!! And, there was this little antique store beside the library, that I thought you may be interested in..?” Mirabelle mentioned with a sparkle in her eyes.
“Hm,” Odile nodded slowly, as if musing over it, “Maybe a little outing with Siffrin and a small something of the place can be my gift. Thank you, Mirabelle.” She announced with a soft smile.
Mirabelle’s smile widened at her words, before glancing to the side in thought, “That’s good, but to be honest Madame, I’m not sure what I could give them…if you have any ideas?” She asked, a twinkle of hope in her voice as she saw Madame Odile stand up.
“I apologize, I have no ideas at the moment,” She replied curtly, Mirabelle visibly deflating, “But, I’m sure anything you get him will make him cry from happiness, so don’t think about it too hard.” Odile ended with a rather encouraging smirk as she made her way to her tent.
Leaving Mirabelle alone with her thoughts.
“That’s two of you that tell me that already…” She huffed as she recalled Isabeau saying something similar earlier in the day.
“I guess that means it’s true…”