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Lisa hummed, pouring the bubbling water meticulously over the tea, carefully moving the pour so as not to burn any of the leaves and allow any bitterness to seep into the drink. This tea may be savory, but if it made someone want to retch…well, that was one way to wake up, she supposed. Not quite how she wanted to awaken their darling Grandmaster, though.
Lisa puttered around the knights’ kitchen, doling out sugar and cream into the tea even as she sniffed. A good old-fashioned Love Poem was more to her taste, but she was happy to do whatever she could to help Jean get through the day. Besides, their Grandmaster (and those who took after her) enjoyed working themselves through the ground while the majority of the knights slacked off. And if lightning just so happened to strike any guards Lisa found slacking off, well…fate was a funny thing, was it not?
“Good morning, Lisa,” greeted Jean, a warm smile spreading over her lips as she strode into the kitchen, the fingertips of her gloves stained black with ink. “Bright and early as ever, I see. That’s our reliable librarian for you.”
“Well, the sunrise over Mondstadt is hardly a sight to miss,” cooed Lisa, sliding the fresh cup of tea into Jean’s fingers. “Besides, what would our caffeine-addicted Grandmaster do without me?”
Jean’s cheeks flushed bright red, and Lisa giggled. “Really, dear, you ought to take a day off sometime. Or at least an evening to yourself.”
Jean’s smile twisted at the edges, bitter in its wistfulness, as she gazed down at the wobbly reflection of herself in Lisa’s tea.
“Believe me, Lisa, if that were an option, I would do it,” she said, her words bleeding with honesty as she took a long sip of the freshly brewed tea, a faint spark finding its way back into her eyes. “But, for now, the fact that you go out of your way to prepare this for me every morning is more than enough. Sincerely, thank you, Lisa.”
Lisa waved off the praise with a scoff as she took a quick sip of her own Love Poem. Jean probably wouldn’t be as grateful if she knew it were actually decaf, but Lisa was absolutely not letting her go back to consuming that much caffeine; it just wasn’t good for anyone, and the placebo effect seemed to be going strong.
“It’s hardly a bother for me, dear. I was awake, anyway.”
“That’s not what a little birdie told me,” replied Jean, a mischievous glint glowing in the corner of her eyes. “Apparently, someone sleeps past noon on their days off.”
“I rise with the sun when I so choose,” huffed Lisa, taking a much longer drink of her tea than she tended to.
Jean’s eyes softened and she stepped closer, dropping a tender kiss to Lisa’s cheek.
“Thank you, my rose,” she murmured before darting out of the room, careful not to spill her tea.
If Lisa’s face wasn’t redder than a tomato and smoke wasn’t coming out of her ears, she might have noticed the red flare of the tips of Jean’s ears. Perhaps she could have teased their Grandmaster about it for some time, then. As it stood, she simply sank into the nearest chair and buried her face into her hands to hide her muffled squeal.
“Ah, Miss Lisa. Good evening,” said Albedo as he strode into the kitchen, rubbing his forehead with one hand as he scanned a report.
Lisa arched an eyebrow.
“Sir Albedo, it is barely lunchtime,” she replied, giggling as if she didn’t want to strangle him. “Have you looked up from those reports at all, sweetie?”
Seriously, about 75% of the knights were chronic slackers, but the other 25% were the hardest working people Lisa had ever seen. Often to the detriment of their own health as little more than ten people stood strong together to run an entire country while the actual leader pranced off to gods knows where with most of the army!
With a sigh, Lisa rose from the chair where she had been enjoying the latest book the Traveler had brought her from abroad. While she usually preferred to read in the library, the chairs in the kitchen just seemed very comfortable today. That was it, it certainly had nothing to do with the fact observed every single one of her friends closely and had memorized the signs of their…chronic conditions rearing their heads almost as well as they had at this point. That was simply…research.
“I have,” answered Albedo dully, one hand pawing at the fridge. “I looked over Sucrose’s most recent report on some adaptations she made to a seelie; quite fascinating, really. She produces very exceptional results in all that she does,” he added, a faint smile dancing over his lips and warming Lisa’s heart almost as much as the fire was warming the water Albedo hadn’t even noticed that she had put on, “and includes thorough reports. I could not ask for a better assistant.”
“She is a sweet girl,” agreed Lisa, pouring the hot water over the fresh ginger root waiting patiently in a cup. “What is that report about, then?”
“Hm? Oh, this?” Asked Albedo, finally managing to yank the fridge door open and select an apple off the nearest shelf. “It is a project designed to convert simple objects, such as this apple, into the materials needed to increase a weapon’s power or the ‘level’ of a person’s ‘ascension’ for lack of an official term. I believe we have the core mechanism in place, but the results so far are…unimpressive. A handguard or a feather at most. Perhaps we need to increase the quantity, to ensure we are able to replicate the importance as well as the mass,” he murmured, pressing the apple against his forehead instead of eating it.
Lisa hummed, swirling the tea around and handing it to Albedo. It seemed quite fitting that he had always taken it straight, nothing diluting this little miracle medicine she replaced the apple with.
“Well, I am sure it can wait until that nasty headache of yours is gone,” Lisa cooed, biting into the apple and beaming as Albedo finally looked up in surprise at the hot tea resting in his fingers. “A good cup of tea should do just the trick.”
Just like it had that first time he came back from Dragonspine half-blinded by a migraine, Eula carefully escorting him and shielding him from any bright lights with her cape as she burst into the library and begged Lisa for assistance. Healing magic worked on injuries and most sicknesses, but toxins and things like headaches……that was more of Lisa’s department. Luckily, one of her classmates at Sumeru Academia had her fair share of migraines as well, and Lisa couldn’t help but remain prepared.
“Oh,” murmured Albedo, his golden eyes flickering with some of his usual light as he took a sip, his shoulders slouching and the crease of his forehead smoothing. “Thank you, Miss Lisa. It is most delicious.”
“Isn’t it, dear?” Agreed Lisa, sinking back into her chair and gesturing towards the one opposite her. “Why don’t you join me for a while and tell me more about this device, hmm?”
Amber stared, eyes wide, at the large basket left at her doorstep. She had a raging fever and a stomach more likely to launch itself into the toilet than cooperate, so she had taken the day off. Well, had been ordered to by Kaeya, but semantics. But, still…she certainly hadn’t expected this, especially with Eula personally coming back from Dragonspine to look after her.
“Amber!”
Speak of the devil…Amber turned guiltily as Eula put her hands on her hips and scowled.
“If you do not return to bed this instance, I will have my vengeance!” She threatened, but Amber just giggled and scooped up the basket, coming back inside.
“I thought you were enacting vengeance now,” teased Amber, sorting through the food inside…fruity skewers…a fancy mushroom pizza…a really pretty looking pasta…and a large carton of tea that caught her eye.
“I most certainly am! Vengeance for when you foolishly sickened yourself looking after my fever,” scolded Eula, gently maneuvering Amber to the bed. “But I keep quite an exhaustive list of reasons for revenge.”
Amber chuckled, pulling out the tea and studying it with a soft smile. Turmeric tea, just what Miss Lisa always made whenever her Outrider duties had her glide in circles so many times even she got sick to her stomach. It never failed to put a bit of pep into her footsteps.
“Hey, Eula, would you mind making me a cup of this?”
“Hmph, as if you even need to ask!”
“Come back again if you need anymore, dear!” Called Lisa as Barbara hurried off, a veritable sack of licorice root tea leaves in one hand and a cheerful wave coming from the other.
Lisa sighed, shaking her head as she returned to the kitchen once more. That poor girl needed a break…perhaps Lisa would steal her away for a day trip to the beach, something to give her overworked throat some rest.
“Lisa?”
Maybe she could even get Jean to join in? Just for the day. Lisa knew she still had that cute summer outfit from last year, it would probably look quite ethereal on their Grandmaster.
“Lisa? Are you alright?”
A concerned blue eye appeared in front of her, and Lisa blinked, starting in her shoes and backing up instinctively. Kaeya immediately raised his hands where she could see them, open and harmless, his smile turning gentle like it did whenever he saw Klee.
“Hey, hey, it’s just Kaeya,” he promised. “I’m just here to bring some fruit to Jean, she forgot to eat lunch.”
Lisa huffed and rolled her eyes as Kaeya went to the fridge and pulled out two sunsettias, an apple, and a handful of grapes.
“You sure know how to give a girl a fright,” she complained, playing with her hair and smirking at the cavalry captain. “I’m quite surprised you got Jean to agree to a break. Color me impressed.”
“Ha! You overestimate me, Lisa!” Snorted Kaeya, pulling a knife out of his drawer and dicing the fruit at almost scary speeds. “But you know how immersed Jean gets in her work. All I have to do is put the fruit near her mouth and she’ll eat without even noticing it.”
Lisa almost choked on her own laughter, and Kaeya’s smile turned a little more genuine as he began creating little skewers out of the fruit. “Too bad we’re out of chicken; I usually go for my signature fruity skewers!”
“They are certainly an…unusual taste.”
“So’s your bolognese,” teased Kaeya, cutting the sunsettias into triangles to make hat-shaped tops for the skewers; it was so cute, Lisa almost cooed. “Anyway, you don’t usually spend so much time in the kitchen…anything I need to know?”
Lisa smirked as she felt him stamping down his own professional information fishing instincts and forcing himself to ask outright. If it were anyone else, she would have teased them mercilessly, but if Kaeya was willing to be straightforward, she would much rather encourage that. In her opinion, he didn’t get enough hugs as a kid.
“Ah, it seems everyone has been running themselves into the ground once more,” Lisa replied with a sigh. “Lucky for them, I’m practically magical with my teas.”
Kaeya groaned.
“Lisaaaaaaaaaaa, that pun was terrible.”
Lisa just snickered, turning to fill up the kettle with water again.
“Awww, don’t think I’ve forgotten about you, sweetie,” she trilled, and Kaeya’s eyebrow rose even as his eye darkened. “I know just the thing to help with that shaking.”
“What?” Asked Kaeya, his voice inclining up with the slightest edge.
Lisa seriously wished she could smack half these guys over the head; she was just helping, for goodness’ sake! Accepting a little help every now and then was very healthy!
“Your feet, dear,” she replied. “You shift your weight more when you’re anxious.”
Kaeya sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, and Lisa dropped fresh dandelion tea leaves into a cup. “Just a moment, this will make it all better.”
“Lisa, I appreciate—”
“Captain Kaeya,” she interrupted, her voice low enough that it was almost a growl, “do not force me to take the same drastic measures I had to last time.”
She really had no desire to pinch his nose shut and shove an entire cup of tea down a cavalry captain’s throat who was apparently incredibly squiggly even while he was still recovering from near-fatal injuries.
Kaeya chuckled, probably remembering the same experience, and simply tilted his head in acknowledgement. Lisa smiled and allowed herself to lean against him, her own exhaustion slowly taking over. The water heated and Lisa poured it into the tea while Kaeya continued putting Jean’s snack together, a comfortable silence falling over them. Kaeya rarely allowed silence, always filling it up and watching to ensure he had the upper hand in a conversation, that he could not be pinned down and interrogated. Too many conversations with Treasure Hoarders, bandits, and more…unsavory types, Lisa supposed.
Finally, Kaeya placed the final one on the stick, and accepted the cup Lisa pressed into his hand with a soft, vulnerable smile.
“Thank you, Lisa,” he murmured, low and honest, and Lisa couldn’t contain her wide smile at his words. “Make sure you get a cup of chamomile tea tonight though, we wouldn’t want to see our favorite librarian worn out.”
“Oh, as if you’re one to talk,” she teased, whapping him on the arm and joining in his laughter as he waltzed off to feed Jean.
Lisa yawned, stretching as she leaned back against the couch. That story had been far too riveting and the characters too enthralling for her to keep track of the time, and the moon had risen high into the sky. She sighed, turning towards her teapot for one last brew of the night. Truly, that Cavalry Captain knew everyone far too well……and she did love herself a good cup of chamomile tea………
“Lisa? Lisa, wake up,” called a gentle voice that sounded like it was coming from far away, and a sweet scent overwhelmed Lisa before she even got her eyes open.
“Hmm?” She mustered, rubbing her eyes and drinking in the sight of Jean kneeling beside her, a tender smile on her lips. “Ah, Jean, darling. My apologies, my book was just too good of a read to put down, and I suppose I fell asleep.”
Jean laughed lightly, brushing a brown curl away from Lisa’s face and cradling it with a smile.
“Just make sure you’re taking breaks,” she teased, turning and picking up something that Lisa didn’t have the energy to crane her neck and look at. “I wouldn’t want my habits to rub off on you.”
Lisa giggled, sitting up and cracking her back as a lazy smile spread over her lips.
“Oh, cutie, you’re just too sweet,” she cooed, turning to tease Jean further when she froze.
Jean smiled tenderly, holding out a cup steaming with chamomile tea to Lisa as she gently took the witch’s hand.
“You always like a cup before bed,” she said simply, and Lisa bit back the flood of emotions threatening to overwhelm her.
Only their beloved Dandelion Knight would remember something like that. Only her Jean, her darling girlfriend, would do that for her after such a long day.
“Thank you, Jean,” she said, soft and sweet as she accepted the cup and let the fragrance wash the day’s worries from her shoulders. “You always know just what I need.”
“I could say the same about you,” replied Jean, smirking as she sat down next to her with a cup of her own in one hand and cookies spread out on the table for them to enjoy. “Thank you for always looking after us, Lisa.”
Lisa giggled, picking up a cookie and relishing the way it melted in her mouth.
“It will always be my pleasure, Jean.”