Chapter Text
There was a strange girl at the Adventurer’s Guild in Mondstadt. She was good at her job, and reliable, but strange nonetheless. Her name was Fischl. Barbara was totally fascinated with her.
Barbara would occasionally go to the Adventurer’s Guild on business, and she would often see Fischl. This girl who carried herself with an air of royalty, spoke in heightened literary language, and could shoot a bow with expert marksmanship. The way she spoke and acted often earned her some laughs and criticism, but Barbara didn’t mind it. Fischl liked to speak that way, and she was nice to Barbara, so why should Barbara care? It helped that Fischl always enjoyed Barbara’s company. They could chat and share stories for hours. Fischl offered a wonderful escape for Barbara. A real friend who she could relax around. She enjoyed her company so much it almost felt selfish, but it couldn’t be so bad if Fischl enjoyed her company too. Barbara was liked by everyone, and Fischl was not very popular. Barbara definitely envied this a little. How nice it must be to not have so much attention on you…
There was a strange girl at the Favonius Cathedral. The deaconess, Barbara. The famous idol and skilled healer. An adept magic user who was loved by everyone in Mondstadt. It used to make Fischl roll her eyes. How good could this girl possibly be to be so popular? She must have an ego bigger than Dragonspine. But Fischl saw why everyone liked her after she met her for the first time.
No wonder everyone loved Barbara. She was sweet and kind, with a voice as gentle as a soft breeze. Fischl couldn’t compare. She knew that people didn’t like her, and she had stopped caring. Her persona gave her an identity that was not defined by others. Despite her strict walls that surrounded her heart, something about Barbara’s willing acceptance of her made her want to let them down. Perish the thought! It seemed Fischl sometimes couldn’t help it, however, because when they hung out together she found herself getting so comfortable she’d slip out of her persona. What on earth was this mysterious power Barbara held over her? Barbara was so nice, Fischl knew she wouldn’t be judgemental. Sometimes even the silly, foolish, utterly useless notion of romance would cross Fischl’s mind. The prinzessin had no time for such things! As much as Fischl tried and tried to shove those thoughts away, Barbara was always able to yank them back to the surface, just by being herself. Her gentle voice, her laughter, her good looks…something about her melted all of Fischl’s cares away. How particularly strange…
Fischl yawned and stretched. It was evening in Mondstadt, and she was sitting at a table at Good Hunter waiting for someone. Her very good friend, Barbara. A long expedition into Wolvendom that day had really consumed Fischl’s energy. She was sleepy, but still found a way to muster the energy to make it to dinner that night. She rested her chin on her hand, eye half open.
“Fischl~!” Yelled Barbara in a singsong voice.
“Greetings, fair Barbara!” Fischl replied happily.
Barbara pulled out a chair and sat down with a thud. It looked like she was tired, too.
“How has your day fared?” Fischl asked.
Barbara noticed how tired she looked and sounded.
“Are you alright Fischl? You look very sleepy. Do you need to go home?”
“Not at all, my lady! It is merely my long and perilous journey today that has rendered me fatigued! I assure you I am still filled with vigor regardless.”
“That’s good. What was your journey like?”
FIschl gave her a wry smile.
“I asked you first, Barbara.”
“Oh!” Barbara said, putting a hand to her mouth.
FIschl always delighted in teasing her. She was sinfully cute.
“Yes, of course! I spent all morning practicing my singing. I’m working on a new song, actually! And then I had lunch…and then I cared for the sick at the church.” Barbara explained.
Then Barbara sighed, and then smiled. “It’s been a very long day…I’m glad I get to spend time with you now.”
Curse the archons! Any minor compliment from this girl sent Fischl’s heart into a rush! Did she even realize the power she had over her??
“Ahem. I greatly admire your stamina.” Fischl said.
Barbara smiled.
“Thank you Fischl.”
What was happening in Fischl’s head? Internal screaming, maybe. She had spent time with Barbara many times in the past, but it seemed that ignoring her feelings had only allowed them to fester and grow stronger. She decided she had better continue the conversation to distract herself.
“During my day,” she began, “I and some other members of the Adventurer’s Guild went on an excursion to Wolvendom. Oz and I led the team to clear out a band of evil creatures that were disturbing the wolves.”
“Hilichurls?” Barbara asked.
Fischl laughed haughtily.
“Worse! Rifthounds! But they were no match for us!”
Barbara gasped. She became enthralled by Fischl’s detailed account of the team’s battle with the rifthounds. Fischl loved to tell Barbara stories. She loved to see those blue eyes fill with wonder. She knew how hard Barbara worked, and if her stories could give her some respite, she would happily oblige. They eventually remembered to actually order food and didn’t leave until the sun went down. It seemed they could barely tear themselves away from each other. As Fischl walked home in the yellow street lights, she decided to ask for some advice.
“Oz?”
Oz appeared in a puff of black smoke.
“Yes mein fraulein?”
“How do you tell your friend that you have a giant flaming crush on her?”
Oz laughed.
“Fischl, dear, I am the night raven Ozvaldo, I know not of human relationships. But if you really want my advice…”
Oz perched on her shoulder and whispered in her ear. “You should tell her before you go insane.”
“Oz!!” Fischl exclaimed. “Insanity is not in the question here! Unless you want to count my…unbecoming feelings towards her. I will just keep ignoring it. They will have to wear off eventually.”
Oz chuckled knowingly.
“Very well, mein fraulein.”
“Plus…I don’t even know if she likes girls…”
“Well, why don’t you ask her?”
“I don’t want to blow my cover! She’s never talked about relationships before, so I would be too nervous.”
“I could ask her.”
“No way!! I will ask around. Someone has to know…”
“Master Jean, perhaps?”
Fischl thought for a moment. That wasn’t a bad suggestion.
“I don’t know…that’s her big sister. If Master Jean wants to be protective and get involved I might lose my other eye. I have an idea of who I could ask.”