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The puppeteer fidgeted with some gadgets, purpose unbeknowns to you, while her big companion kept a watchful eye behind her. You stand at the corner of the room, observing how she slightly frowns when one of the pieces doesn't fit its destinated place. She's been at this for hours now.
"Master Sandrone, why don't you take a break?" She pauses for a moment, it looks like she forgot you where still there.
"Would you like me to prepare some tea?" You keep pressing, the well-being of your master should be the top of your priorities. At least, that is what is expected from you.
"Tea?" She says without looking away from her table. "You do know I'm a automaton, right? I don't drink human beverages." The robot behind her nods.
"Then, motor oil?"
Your question catches her off guard. She finally stops what she's doing and looks at you for a few seconds and then, she chuckles. "Motor oil? Oh dear, you have guts to joke around me like that", she says. Her voice displaying a hint of amusement. She then resumes back to her work with a little smile on her lips. You feel acomplished.
"If you want to make yourself useful", She continues. "leave the room and stand guard in front of the door. Don't let anybody enter, I don't care if it's urgent." She dismisses you with her hand, not even looking at your direction while doing so. You bow respectfully before leaving the room and stand guard in front of her laboratory as instructed.
After some time a Fatui diplomat with brown long hair comes to the laboratory. You don't recall seeing him before.
"Master Sandrone is busy right now, come another time." The diplomat frowns, clearly not pleased with your words.
"Can you please let me enter? I have urgent matters to discuss-"
"Those are direct orders, no one can enter the room right now. You wouldn't want to disturb a Harbinger now, would you?" There is a subtle threat in your voice. Lady Sandrone has no mercy for anyone who even manages to slightly annoy her, you have seen it plenty of times. It is not a pretty thing to witness.
The diplomat pauses, contemplaiting your words. He then turns on his heels and leaves, murmuring something under his breath.
In the next hour two more diplomats arrive, and the two had to leave from where they came shortly after. A sight escapes your lips. Just what could lady Sandrone possibly be doing that requiers so much time?
You hear footsteps approaching. Another person wants to disturb master. You raise your voice while you turn to see who it is. "Master Sandrone doesn't-"
The words catch on your throat before you can finish the sentence. The indistinguishable blue hair gives his identity away instantly.
"M-master Dottore! I didn't see you, my apologies." You bow the lower you physically can. Behind him follows another man. He looks at you with his eyes closed and a gentle smile. The doctor looms over you, determining if you are worhty of his time. He ultimately decides to ignore you and walks right past you. He wants to enter Sandrone's laboratory.
"Don't let anybody enter. Anybody." Sandrone's words repeat on your mind.
"Um, I'm really sorry master Dottore, but I'm afraid-"
Ah, a fatal mistake.
Dottore closes the gap between you in a step, brings his hand to your throat and slams your back into wall. All of the air escape your lungs, leaving you gasping for air.
"Tell me, left or right? " He speaks right in front of your face while his fingers dig deeper into your flesh. Your eyes widen, panic is evident in the way you look at him. You don't even dare to open your mouth to protest. Dottore takes your silence as a response.
"Mmh, then I guess I will have to make the decision for you..." He tightens his grip on your neck and forces your head into the wall, securing you in place. Then, he slowly raises his hand to your face until it's milimeters away from your left eye. You take a sharp breath and embrace yourself, until...
"Please, darling, can you not do this?" The man with the glasses speak. He looks at you with what resembles pity. "I'm not in the mood right now to see nor hear this."
Dottore releases you, your body falls to the ground and you start coughing violently. "Oh please, I wasn't going to do anything." Dottore laughs and Pantalone only rolls his eyes in response. They both enter the room, there is nothing you can do to stop them now.
"My dearest Sandrone! How lovely it is to see you again." The Doctor exclaims as he makes his way through the laboratoy, careful not to step on any piece of metal laying around. Sandrone lets out a sigh. She looks at the Doctor and his companion with an annoyed expression and speaks in a cold manner.
"Didn't the guard tell you not to enter?" She scans the room, hoping to find you, but you are nowhere to be seen.
"Oh you mean that fool? Tsk tsk..." He shakes his head in disaproval. "You should teach them to show some respect next time..."
Sandrone only looks at him with disdain in response. Despite their similar interests, they rarely get along. In fact, almost no one gets along with Dottore except the banker. "Anyways", Sandrone begins. "What do you want? I'm quite busy, you know." "Oh, I'm so glad you asked!" The Doctor snaps his fingers and all of a suden dozens of objects materialize in the air and fall to the ground. "I found all this scrap in my latest expedition and I thought you would like to have it." He waves his hand dramatically." I know, I know; how can I be so kind?" He smiles; he is quite proud of himself. "No need to thank, me of course, I'm always happy to help my dearest low rank comrades."
And with that, he turns on his heels and walks towards the door. Sandrone observes all the piles of junk now laying in her laboratory. One day she's definitely going to murder this guy.
"You can come now." Sandrone motions you to enter the room again. You aproach her with your head sinking low.
"I'm sorry." It's what you have to say.
"Why are you apologizing?" Her tone of voice is neutral, but cold at the same time.
"I let them enter your laboratory after you instructed me to not let anyone inside. I failed you."
"Hmmmh." She thinks for a moment. Her eyes never leave your bowing form. "Well, if you defied The Doctor you would most certainly be dead, I can't blame you for wanting to keep your life." Her eyes fall down the marks on your neck made by Dottore. Her eyes light up with anger for a split of a second, but she quickly masks the feelings with her usual stoic and indiferent face. "Oh? It looks like he did in fact do something to you."
"Barely, master. The Regrator stoped him before he could do anything."
Sandrone stares at you for a brief moment, thinking deeply about something. With the help of her giant robot that carries her everywhere, she grabs some bandages and alcohol from a nearby shelf. You look at her without saying anything, a look of confusion making its way to your face. "Grab a chair and sit in front of me." She says, as she cuts a piece of the bandage.
"You are going to...? There is no need, master, I can tend to my wounds myself-"
"This is an order." Her stern voice silences your complains inmediatly and you find yourself seated in a chair in front of her, back facing her. "... turn around." And so you turn around, a bit anxious of her close proximity. She dabs a ball of cotton into the alcohol and presses it to the wound carefully, the stinging sensation making you flinch a little. You watch how her hands work, how she aplies the bandage with care. You avoid her gaze, one part because it would be disrespectful to look at a Harbinger in the eyes and the other out of embarrasment. Somehow this moment feels... intimate. You can only imagine how her face looks like right now.
~~*
With one more move of her hand, she finishes aiding your wounded neck. She looks at you one last time before turning around without saying anything.
"Thank you." You say, earning a low hum in response. "Should I go back and stay guard outside?"
"No." She says before turning to face you. "You may stay here by my side." She pauses for a moment, like something just ocurred to her. "Maybe you can brew some tea. For the both of us."
You smile. "Of course."
"And before I forget", Sandrone stops you as you were about to leave. "I want you to organize all of this later." She looks towards all the metal parts and other things scattered on the floor that Dottore oh so kindly left her. You look around you; there is scrap-iron literally everywhere. You gulp, this is going to take you all day. But for now, you should just enjoy some tea with your master.