Chapter Text
She had been fascinating.
Columbina remembered their first meeting. She was in the garden, frost biting against her skin as she sung her mournful tune. She knew not then what fate awaited her, yet even then she knew her destiny lay not with the Fatui.
Or perhaps it did, at least… with her — the girl that watched her from the door.
Columbina remembered her amidst that cruel white of winter. She had not known her name then, but her face had been etched into Columbina's own being just from the sheer sight of her. It was strange, that sensation she has come to know as love.
The woman had met her eyes, a bored look masking the curiosity that laid within that vibrant blue gaze.
She stood regal in the shadows of the palace, the apathetic look upon her face only endeared Columbina towards her. It was not a look she was familiar with. As a goddess, mostly everyone looked at her with pitiful reverence.
Her voice came to a lull, lullaby left unfinished as she drifted closer to the stranger.
"You're annoying." Those were the first words she'd told Columbina, and even now it still makes her heart flutter. She'd never been talking to in such a way. The Frostmoon Scions had never attempted to raise their voices at her, and the Tsaritsa had been cold… yet she had held no animosity. The woman before her seemed to regard her as though she were the mud beneath her boots. It was captivating. Columbina wanted more of it.
"Hello." She moved closer, tilting her head ever so slightly. "I am Columbina."
The woman wrinkled her nose in distaste, "The newest Harbinger, I suppose."
"Yes." Columbina's smile did not waver even as the woman refused to introduce herself. She continued on, "May I ask for your name?"
In response, the woman fidgeted where she stood, eyes sharpening at the question. Columbina could imagine her arms crossing in front of her chest beneath the heavy cloak she wore. Though Columbina had only met a few of her fellow Harbingers — like the Doctor and the Fair Lady — the woman before her appeared almost too dainty for her position. She was aware their uniforms concealed most of their bodies and made them more formidable in stature than they truly were. So, she took great delight at the future prospect of meeting the woman when she was not garbed in that manner. Would she be as fragile as Columbina had imagined, or was she truly befitting of her role as a Harbinger?
"As you future coworker, allow me to offer you a bit of advice." The woman stepped closer, and Columbina was delighted to feel the warmth that seemed to seep beneath her cloak. She could not help but step forward in time, entertaining this strange waltz that they had both begun. The woman didn't even falter. She wasn't scared of her. "Names here are like Mora. Unless you're useful to me in the future, I see no reason to offer you mine."
She hummed a soft little tune. When she lived with the Frostmoon Scions, they had run themselves ragged to ensure she would want for nothing. This was the first she'd ever been refused what she wanted. "Not even an offer of friendship?"
For a moment, the woman's face went blank, the fire burning in her eyes dwindling to a dying ember. Columbina felt the slightest of regret, yet it lasted only as long as the woman's own momentary shock. Her face contorted into a sneer, eyes narrowing into slits. From behind her, Columbina heard the faint click of machinery. She had devoted all her attention to the stranger, that she had completely missed the large mechanical construct that hovered behind the woman's back. It tilted its head at her, and though it had not any eyes, Columbina could sense its focus entirely on her. If she were mortal, it might have sent a shiver down her body to be underneath the gaze of such a weapon. But what was a mere puppet compared to a goddess? She dismissed the large hulking figure almost immediately, chastising herself for even daring to think anything else would be far more interesting than the woman before her — the woman who was currenty in the midst of holding back her laughter.
"Utterly ridiculous! Did you join the Fatui out of friendship? What? Did the Tsaritsa offer you tea parties and sleepovers? What utter nonsense! We're coworkers, and that is all the connection we will ever have. Besides, as a machine, do you really think I would spare the processing power needed to sustain a friendship? Don't think yourself so worthy of such an act. The Tsaritsa picks and chooses who gets to become a Harbinger, and I've calculated enough to decipher how dangerous you potentially are. Yet even so, I will not go along with your childish whims no matter how much you threaten me." It appeared that once angered, the woman would not stop in her tirade. Columbina had found her entertaining, yet the sheer cruelty of being denied companionship almost made her smile fall from her lips. Truly, this woman did deserve her title as a Harbinger. She knew exactly where to hurt. For Columbina, there was nothing more painful than rejection. This world already wished her gone, and so too did this woman wish her out of her sight.
Columbina had tuned out the rest of what she had been saying, eyes lingering to the hand that the woman had jutted out from beneath her cloak. She was pointing a finger at her. For all her "calculations," it appeared she was far too impulsive to stop herself from confronting danger.
With a quick gesture, Columbina reached for her wrist, fingers curling around warm metal and digging into the grooves of her synthetic skin. The thought of that made her smile even wider. In a way, they were both not of this world.
It was far too easy to slam her against the nearest wall. As she did, she heard the larger automaton follow, yet it was unable to truly do anything as she had its master pinned. One wrong strike, and it risked taking the both of them out — not that Columbina would allow it. The woman beneath her had stopped talking, but instead of cowering, her hand had grasped onto Columbina's neck. Columbina wondered if she would have attempted to kill her for what she'd done, but she her fingers remained relaxed, an empty threat as if she wanted to know what Columbina planned before she decided to take further action. Columbina could see it in her gaze. She too was intrigued by Columbina, even as she attempted to hide behind a facade of apathy. They both remained nestled close, the fog of their breaths intermingling in the cold chill of Snezhnaya's night.
"I believe we're going to be really good friends." She breathed out, her eyes nearly fluttering open. It was a gift she never bestowed to any mortal. Mere humans can gaze upon the moon freely if they wish, but why should the moon bestow them the miracle of its attention?
"…Tch. Can you let go of me already?" The woman's hand curled up against her skin. Columbina only giggled, contemplating if she should let her before deciding against it. It would not do well to give a bad impression to the Tsaritsa and the other Harbingers. She slowly moved away, finger tracing the woman's inner wrist before fully letting her escape from her grasp. The woman scoffed, jolting away from her as her gaze flicked towards the wall, the paleness of her skin reddening. Columbina was happy to have flustered her. "You are… a nuisance. An interesting nuisance, at least."
"Have I earned your name then?" She tilted her head, pleased to have gain the woman's interest. Not that she would have allowed any other outcome.
"Hmph, already earning my ire, no doubt." To her confusion, the woman turned away, a hand gesturing for the large mechanical construct to follow. "Why do you want to know so badly?"
"Is it wrong to want your friendship?" Columbina trailed after her, refusing to let her part without so much as a clue to her identity. She could ask the other Harbingers, but she didn't like the betrayal of uncovering such a tender secret from anyone else. Only she could grant her the answer. "You interest me. I want to understand you. Would you allow me that opportunity?"
"You'll find me to be a terrible friend. I have no such need for one." The woman challenged, and Columbina only grew to like her more.
"But I intrigue you, yes?" Columbina tilted her head, "If not a friend, then a subject of interest."
For a moment there was silence. Then, the woman let out a huff, shaking her head as if she couldn't believe what she was about to do.
"Sandrone." She casted Columbina a look over her shoulder, "If you'll excuse me, I have experiments to run."
"Alright." Columbina watched her leave. "Until we meet again, my Sandrone."