Chapter Text
Sucrose had always been a curious being. The world was an ever-evolving, ever-changing long book, and she was the delighted reader, always awaiting and theorizing the next chapter. That curiosity was not just limited to her areas of research, it applied to the rumours and stories that would float around Mondstadt on the wind, collecting different bones of many sizes and species, or creating her beautiful paradise like she dreamed. She researched everything she could get her hands on, her breakfast foods, flowers, animals, even some of the Mondstadt citizens. Although no matter how hard she avoided it, even her identity and view on herself became the subject of research and thoughts.
Thoughts about gender, and what it meant to her. What does it mean to be a girl? The books in the library had not been very helpful, most venturing topics of romance or anatomical studies. There was very little of gender and pronouns that Sucrose could find, without raising suspicion and asking Lisa. So after assessing her other methods of research, she had two options; ask others for their opinions and experience or ignore the problem completely. Due to her lack of social skills, the former option was completely out of the question. So, life became as normal as she could make it. She absolutely threw herself into her work, spending every waking hour doing something, anything to avoid time to think. Most thought this behaviour was normal of her, which they weren’t completely wrong, but it was far more extreme than usual. Timaeus and Albedo were the first two to notice, but given Timaeus and Sucrose are closer, he brought it up first.
Timaeus had been pondering how to confront Sucrose about the weird behaviour, when the perfect opportunity presented itself. Sucrose and Timaeus were inside Albedo’s lab atop Dragonpsine, doing various experiments with their teacher. Said teacher had to head down the mountain some, to collect Starsilver for an experiment, comparing it’s properties to that of other ores. So both of the apprentices were left alone for a bit. Nervously fiddling with the papers, Timaeus spoke up.
“Sucrose, I’m sorry if this is odd, but is everything okay?” He ventured, stumbling on his words a bit.
Sucrose looked up from her work, confused, not sure what had sparked the inquiry. “I’m sorry?” She squeaked out, scared she had maybe messed something up.
Noticing her apprehension, Timaeus quickly assured her “ah, you just seem to be a little, off? Maybe… I’m not really sure, but I just wanted to check in.” He finished firmly with a smile, wanting to show is concern for the girl.
“Oh, um thank you very much for the concern. I’m fine, just…” She trailed off, not sure how much to tell him. He gave an encouraging smile, urging her on. “um just figuring some things out-”
“-Oh? May I ask the subject of your current research then?” Came Albedo’s voice from the cavern entrance. Quickly both of his apprentices’ heads snapped towards him, neither of them noticing his arrival, despite the wagon sitting behind him.
Feeling cornered and about to cry out of frustration – from not being able to form a coherent sentence or at herself for letting her inner-turmoil become so apparent who knows – she cried out how she didn’t feel like a normal girl, and didn’t really understand gender. The two let her rant, letting all her feelings out, before she hurriedly shut herself up, realising her current situation.
“Sucrose, I do not completely understand the societal expectations and thoughts on gender, binary or not, perhaps that shall be a topic of research in the future” Albedo mused “although if these thoughts are becoming uncomfortable, and you want to know more I suggest talking to an expert. Perhaps someone such as Mona Megistus could be of help? She seems to know much about the topic, and often does readings that could be quite helpful.” He finished off his mini-speech, and it warmed Sucrose’s heart to know Albedo cared so much for her.
For the rest of the night her thoughts were in turmoil, wondering what Albedo had meant saying 'Mona knew a lot'. A lot about what, being a girl? Sure, but why Mona in particular. In the morning after, none of them broached the topic of the previous night, and so Sucrose didn’t ask why Mona in particular.