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Mockery of Fortuna
Astrolabos Chapter: Travails of Teyvat
It was all Albedo’s fault.
Nevermind the anemo nature of the phenomenon that’d been the talk of the town throughout the night before. Ever since she’d moved into her new abode, she’d had the misfortune to be in the vicinity of the chief alchemist and his wily sense of nightly routine which seemed to include loosing a wind spirit on a slumbering populace. Granted, there was no damage done to public property and all that could be accounted for were a few startled cats and woken neighbors but there had been a crime committed.
The night was exceptionally warm, conditions fair and skies clear, a perfect time for consulting the stars. Taking to the walls of Mondstadt with her astrolabe and star chart, Mona had been in her element. When the winds began to pick up, she hardly thought much of it, deciding to move her cup on one curled tattered edge of the chart and angle her book a bit closer to keep it from being blown one way or the other.
Then, the world was quiet for all of a moment and the stars hummed a warning in time for her to grab the brim of her hat as a powerful gust shattered the silence. A wind spirit in the shape of an anemo crystal fly shot into the sky, spiraling with trails of green zephyrusraining down as its wings flapped erratically causing the gentle winds to howl in response.
Her astrolabe trembled and groaned, rocking precariously to one side and with a startled yelp, she dove to grab it only to hit the side of her cup with her heel. Hearing the splash, Mona shut her eyes tightly and held the brass plate tighter to keep her trembling knees from giving out.
A beat passed and when she peeked up, the wind spirit was barely a speck on the horizon, already seeming to dissolve and return to whence it came. With a relieved sigh, Mona braced herself then looked over her shoulder. She could have almost sobbed. Her beloved chart, weathered and tattered true, was now stained a horrendous shade of violet from the wolfhook juice now drained from her cup. Wolfhook juice that she’d been saving so vigorously for, even going so far as to journey to Wolvendom herself and pick the wolfhooks so that it could be madefor her at a quarter ofthe price.
Righting the astrolabe, she knelt down to pick up the cup and set it down, pushing her book further away from the growing mess. The chart held between her hands was brought to the edge of the parapet as she turned to face Mondstadt, glaring pointedly at one home in particular. Curved redroof tiles, white-washed walls, an oaken wood door with a clover set where a door-knocker would go. The lights were dull in adjacent windows but she could have sworn that she’d seen a flutter of blond curls disappearing behind the gap as it closed.
Her thumbs pressed against the chart’s soggy edges and she grimaced at the stickiness on her gloves, tossing the chart down on an empty recess then beginning the dull, arduous process of removing juice from parchment. It might not have been what the Hydro Archon envisioned when giving her a Vision but that was no problem of hers.
It would be the problem of Sir Albedo of Ordo Favonius come morning.
“Mona! You’re having breakfast with us again?”
In hindsight, preparing for a personified ray of sunshine was utterly impossible. Despite the rivalry between Mona’s teacher and Klee’s mother it was hard and actually quite ridiculous to hold the girl to the same standards. Even more ridiculous considering that her mother hadn’t even passed down any of her techniques in hydromancy. Which would have gone to waste considering Klee was bestoweda blessing by the Pyro Archon.
At such a young age too. What could a war-mongering archon see within such a small child whose inclinations toward destruction, while profound, were merely out of childlish indulgence?
Mona’s brow furrowed as she stared down at Klee’s beaming smile, fighting back the urge to smile herself. That thought could be saved for another time.
“Klee, who is at the door?” A smooth, gentle voice called out from somewhere inside the house. Its rich sound while appealing to the ear quickly soured Mona’s mood as Klee looked behind her, completely unaware.
“It’s Mona, Albedo. I think she came for breakfast.”
The door opened wider, revealing the chief alchemist in all of his infuriatingly unruffled glory. His hand rested on Klee’s head while she tugged at the side of his coat and asked what they would have for breakfast. Never once breaking eye contact with Mona, his expression remained indiscernible and poised.
Honestly, Mona wasn’t sure what she’d been expecting.
A whirlwind of a home, Klee’s wild stories of what happened the night before as proof of his involvement, maybe even a gobsmacked or weary look she’d never seen on his face before.
Not an ordinary morning where Albedo ushered Klee,and to Mona’s surprise, Sucrose out the door. Promises to see the latter drowned out by her idle mutterings barely audible to Mona’s ear. If she had any doubts that the events of the night before happened, they were cleared by Sucrose’s muttering about the potency of an anemo spirit when in closed spaces with a Vision catalyst, catching Mona’s interest and securing her victory. Looking at Albedo over Klee and Sucrose’s head as the lattermost knelt down to give Klee a hug farewell, Mona smirked. Albedo, flicking an eye between the pair then to Mona, simply raised a brow then turned his head away disinterestedly. The curls of his braided ponytail swaying on the breeze as if dismissing her out of turn.
What cheek!
Mona bristled but quickly reigned it in once Sucrose stood and bowed her head to her. “Miss Megistus, I’m very sorry for any trouble you might have experienced last night,” Sucrose said, honey-hued eyes shimmered behind her lenses and Mona knew the watery sheen of guilt. Klee pouted then looked up at Mona, standing closer to Sucrose’s side as if to protect her from any scolding she may receive.
And out the corner of her eye, she noticed Albedo’s head turned ever so slightly, clearly listening despite attempting to seem disinterested. Hmph. How cold did he think she was?
Clearing her throat, Mona swept a hand through the air and batted away the tension thickening between them. “There’s nothing to be forgiven,” she reassured softly, folding her hands beneath her elbows as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other, heel clacking against the cobblestone. Sucrose’s head bobbed a little though she kept her chin low, a light flick from under her cap revealing a pastel pink underside of.. ears.
Oh, Celestia. It was like she’d kicked a small animal.
Swallowing her nerves, Mona lowered her hands, trying then faltering to gesticulate what she meant. “W-Why don’t we discuss your findings at a later date?”
Sucrose blinked hard, finally (and thankfully, Mona might add) lifting her head. “You want to hear about my research?”
“But of course,” Mona almost huffed but the clearly amazed look in her eyes kept her from doing so. “After all that occurred, I’m sure you’ve learned something from triumphs and mistakes.”
Sucrose gasped joyously, clasping her hands in front of her, head bobbing up and down in a hearty nod. “Yes, yes, very much. You see, an anemo spirit is difficult to preserve within a closed container and thus needs an open area for observations which is quite difficult beca—” Her voice trailed off as the distant sound of a bell’s toll rang through the early morning lull, startling pigeons roosting atop the house into flight. Gasping, Sucrose shouted, “I have to get back to the lab.. u-um..” She bowed her head to Mona. “Until next time,” she said then looked down at Klee. “Please try to stay out of trouble…”
Klee giggled, which Mona had to admit was both adorable and unnerving.
Then Sucrose looked to Albedo and Mona noticed he’d actually turned around to see her off, not even the barest smile on his lips as she waved to him then hurried away. Klee bounced over to Mona, tugging at her hand while asking what she wanted to eat at Good Hunters, but Mona couldn’t take her eyes off Albedo. There was something different about his expression and tracing the trajectory of his viewpoint, she found Sucrose’s diminishing figure at the point of focus.
Her brow quirked, attention slipping back to Albedo then down to his mouth where the barest hint of a smile upturned the corner of his lips. What in the world…
“Mona!” Klee whined, seemingly upset at being ignored. Startled out of her thoughts, Mona averted her gaze when Albedo’s smile vanished, replaced by a sharp glance in her direction. Pointed in its silent accusation. By the Seven, she would not admit nor be caught staring at him. Absolutely not.
“A Satisfying Salad would be enough,” Mona answered, ignoring Klee’s skeptical look and Albedo’s dubious one.
“But that’s not even breakfast food. Noelle told me there’s different foods that you eat at different times. Like.. like.. you can eat eggs and bacon and ham or sausage, or even hashbrowns with jam and…”
Albedo laid a hand atop of Klee’s head, effectively cutting off her listing and saving Mona from admitting that she didn’t have the funds to afford meat half the time. Let alone meat that had to be curated and properly. “Satisfying Salad is a versatile dish,” he explained, taking her hand as he began to lead her down the road leading toward the lower quarter’s plaza. “If she so chooses, Miss Megistus would have her choice of bacon, eggs, even ham. Portioned into diced or cubed shapes depending on her liking.”
“That does sound like a lot,” Klee said, gasping in realization then rounding on Mona with bright scarlet-red eyes. A nervous tick led Mona to search the nearby mews for anything sizzling or bunny-shaped. She only ever saw that look when destruction was nigh or Klee made a discovery. “Mona, is that why you get that everytime you come to eat with us?”
While grateful it was the latter, Mona winced. “Yes,” she lied, smiling faintly as Klee preened and turned to Albedo with a self-satisfied air as she called ‘see’ and Albedo hummed agreeably. Though he spared Mona a knowing look over Klee’s head as they both knew that wasn’t entirely the case. Generous though Albedo was to pay for her when they dined together, it would’ve been awful of her to abuse his kindness. A persistent debate kept out of Klee’s earshot after the girl happened upon them ‘arguing’ once.
Mona relented, banishing the thought of those watery eyes and quivering lip from mind. Albedo was far too flippant with his money and insisted that she, in turn, was very frugal. Although the look he gave her at the time made it seem more like a backhanded compliment. Furrowing her brow, Mona shot a glare at Albedo and willed herself not to start when he looked back coolly.
“Oh, Mona! Did you see the.. the.. uh.. what did you call it, Albedo?”
A smug smile twisted Mona’s lips as Klee looked back to Albedo, trapping him between answering her question or deniability. Albedo raised a brow and Mona’s smile faltered.
“Klee,” he said with all the patience of a man used to waiting. “Why don’t you tell Mona how you learned you can teleport?”
And just like that, Klee’s attention diverted to a spiel about how she was asleep in Albedo’s study then awoke miraculously in her bed. Deducing that she was able to transport but only at night and when she was at peak energy thus she couldn’t demonstrate. Half-impressed by her logic, and mortified by his cunning, Mona squinted at Albedo and could have sworn she spied a smile hidden behind his hair as he turned his head away and left her to field Klee’s questions.
If that was how he wanted to play, then so be it.
Breakfast at Good Hunters was different than usual. Upon arriving, they spotted Aether and Paimon with Amber standing near the counter as Sara chatted with them. The alchemist exchanged a nod and smile with the traveler when their eyes met, then lifting his hand in a wave to Amber when she glanced up. Yet Klee in her excitement, shouted the traveler’s name and immediately ran over to hug his waist. Absorbed into the small group, Albedo was left by Mona’s side while Klee regaled her captivated audience with her stories.
The smell of smoked meat and spice made Mona’s mouth water but she swallowed thickly, intent on not allowing her stomach to get ahead of her mind. Folding her arms loosely, she lifted her chin and peeked at Albedo out the corner of her eye. “I’m surprised at you. Allowing Miss Sucrose to carry the blame for your misdeeds.”
Albedo scoffed. “I know we’ve had our differences, Miss Megistus, but I would think that you presume me above such things.”
Suppressing a wince at the hoarfrost creeping into his tone, Mona tapped her finger against her forearm. Perhaps that was a bit harsh. In all the time she’d known him, he rarely displayed anger. Indifference, true, but he always seemed untouchable. Calming the stirring shame, Mona sighed.
“I was doing a reading, and the spirit interrupted,” she said.
Albedo did look at her then and she glanced at him, surprised to find his expression softened, lips half-parted. “Was anything damaged?”
“Only my star chart.”
“The one from your master?”
She hesitated, then nodded forlornly. They stood in silence with her gaze drifting from Albedo’s and his own remaining focused on her.
“I was able to fix it.. partially,” she explained. “Wolfhook juice is terrible to get out, sugar crystallizes but the liquid..”
“Is easily removed with a solution or a Vision,” he finished, sighing. “I can lend my own. Klee has a tendency to eat while she reads or draws, and well..”
They shared a glance then Mona lifted a hand to hide her mouth as she sputtered a laugh, shoulders curled inward and head turned away. She could imagine Albedo poring over a book, trying to remove cookie crumbs and all manners of childish sweets while Klee slept peacefully an arms length away. Somehow, the thought of him doing the same for her own map lessened the sting and her ire washed away.
Brushing her fingers down her chin, she sighed and lifted her head with a beatific smile. “I would appreciate your assistance then, Sir Albedo.”
“Of course,” Albedo nodded. “Although, if this was your grievance then I would appreciate it if you shared it openly next time.”
Mona’s smile fell. “Wh—“
He raised a brow then his eyes slid to the left and he shrugged.
Mona gaped at him. “So you knew this entire time but you kept up a rouse until I mentioned it, and for what?”
“Well, I didn’t want to begin a discussion based upon an assumption,” Albedo said smoothly, and the pressure upon ‘discussion’ revealed its veiled meaning. An argument.
Mona’s eye twitched, and she stepped closer to him as he turned to face her. “You are insufferable when you believe you have the upperhand.”
“I wasn’t aware that you were an adversary to strategize against, Miss Megistus.”
Mona almost fumed but recalling the group so close, she kept her voice level and her body language hopefully civil. Even though she felt like putting her hands around his slender, pretty throat and throttling him. “I wasn’t aware that you were capable of such underhanded interrogations.”
“I assure you that all I have said and done is above board, Miss Megistus. To think you consider me so little but also ordinarily hold me in such high regard, I can only stand to wonder what your true feelings are.”
Mona scoffed, then sighed, closing her eyes and turning away from him. “I should wonder the same if you’re capable of such subterfuge. How am I to believe anything you say now?”
This felt familiar. A song and dance they’d done so many times that she needn’t look to the stars to know when it came. Knowing what step to expect next, she opened one eye and stared at the drawn curtains behind the display in With Wind Comes Glory’s windows. Waiting for a second until she looked back at him and found him staring at her, yet instead of the austere expression she was accustomed to, there was a faint smile on his lips that matched a warmth in his eyes.
The same warmth she saw when he looked at Sucrose, fond yet fleeting.
Stunned speechless, she could do little but keep his gaze even as his eyes wandered lower than her own. Heart flipping, her hold on her forearm tightened and her lips quivered drawing a curious hum from him.
“… My eyes are up here, Sir Albedo..”
It simultaneously embarrassed and infuriated her how shamelessly he met her gaze, brow arcing with unmistakable amusement. Distant laughter beckoned Mona to say something. But she was off-beat, this wasn’t how it usually went, but somehow he knew where to place his next step and she would not be outdone by Albedo of all people.
“Staring at my mouth so shamelessly may give off the wrong impression,” she said with confidence she certainly didn’t feel.
“And what impression is that?”
That was a loaded question. “That you are in search of something,” Mona said. “Very badly, might I add.”
Albedo tipped his head to one side, a blond curl brushing against the corner of his mouth. He eyed her carefully, and Mona stood as tall as she could through his assessment.
Then, Albedo leaned forward.
Mona swallowed. She knew he was taller than her by a small margin even with her heels and that margin inspired a bit of envy whenever he glanced down at her even as they stood side by side. But now he was in front of her, and the chattering group’s noise fell away. She noticed the pink of his lips was a fetching shade against his fair skin, and the puff of breath ghosting across her lips was unbearably warm for such tranquil weather.
His hair brushed against her forehead and his eyes, which were surely teal, seemed bluer than the sky or the ocean or some other likeness that her mind could not make sense of because he was so close and —
“Perhaps.”
Mona’s eyes snapped open. When had she closed them?
Looking up, all she could see was Albedo until he leant away and turned on his heel. Away from her and hardly trying to hide the smile on his face as he ambled over to the group still caught in the throes of conversation, leaving her to stare at his back.
Mona shuddered, drawing her fingers to her lips, trying to retain the feeling until it was gone with Klee’s shout of her name. Albedo sparing only a glance over his shoulder and a slight smirk before returning to speaking with Amber about the ‘strange sighting’ over the lower quarter of Mond last night. Her roaming fingers curled into a tight fist.
Oh she would have her revenge for this mockery of a performance, she thought as she stamped over. Ignoring Paimon’s questioning about her flushed cheeks and her disciple — Aether’s — concerns about her health and eating habits. The only person who would be paying for her meal was Sir Albedo of Ordo Favonius and perhaps she would decide to treat herself to a bigger breakfast today.
After all, when the fates demanded justice, it would not be denied.