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Something had been bothering Arlecchino for a while now, or rather something strange was happening.
Whenever she got back to her quarters in Snezhnaya, there would be a little crafted gift there with no sender attached to it. Of course there was only one possibility in her mind about who this was but there was the issue of contacting her…
Sandrone, the seventh harbinger, was elusive and barely seen outside of important events. By the nature of the gifts it was clear to Arlecchino that the Marionette had been a victim to a little crush on her.
Arlecchino could surmise that it started after their little romantic getaway, or formally called mission, to Fontaine together. These gifts were quite nice and she wished to thank her somehow for her generosity.
It started with a clockwork music box with Lyney, Freminet and Lynette in it, and now it was enhanced weapons. She quite enjoyed the treatment but she wished that the gifter would give it up with the secrecy and give her the gifts face to face. Then she could give a proper thank you to her.
She would have to be a bit smart though and think outside of the box to catch the ever intelligent Marionette off guard.
Arlecchino decided the only way was to retire to her quarters early today; it had to be today specifically since it was Valentine’s Day. A holiday she hoped Sandrone would celebrate by dropping a gift in her room again.
Arlecchino did not put much effort into hiding–simply just standing on the other side of the door just in case Sandrone saw activity and decided to abort the mission.
It took a while–but she felt the knob turn and the door creaked open. Arlecchino held her breath as Sandrone’s silhouette appeared in the room and she placed dark red roses on the bed with an enhanced knife. Arlecchino closed the door causing Sandrone to turn around and her eyes to widen in shock.
“So it was you.” Arlecchino had a smirk on her face as she reveled in the look Sandrone had plastered on her own–it was that look of bewilderment smeared on her soft features that made Arlecchino excited.
“I was just delivering this on behalf of…” Sandrone started to get defensive as she clasped her hands together; it was as tight as they could be. “Columbina?”
“Why did you say her name like it was a question?” Arlecchino chuckled as she was like a prey animal on the other side of the room.
“There is something between you two right?” Sandrone still kept up her defenses as this was quite mortifying to someone like herself–one that appeared hard and emotionless to the world. Now she was seen meddling in the affairs of love. Somewhere she thought she had no place in.
“None of your business.” Arlecchino said walking closer to the woman. “But this is my business. Tell me why have you been leaving things for me since our mission to Fontaine?” Sandrone’s embarrassment was practically palpable now with how her cheeks had a pink rouge and how she avoided eye-contact at all costs.
“Ah…How do you know if it was me?” Even now she tried to deflect and place a seed of doubt into Arlecchino’s mind, but she knew that would not work deep down.
“Sandrone.” Arlecchino raised an eyebrow as she put one of her hands on the bedpost above her–adding to her imposing presence. “They’re mostly machinery.” Sandrone muttered a curse under her breath as she was cornered, both physically and in this fight against the Knave.
“I’m sorry to flood your room with my junk then. Good day.” Sandrone just wanted to leave immediately from how embarrassed she was.
“We’re not done here.” Arlecchino extended an arm to keep her from walking away. “I quite like the music box of my children. It plays a Fontanian lullaby as well? I would hardly call it junk.” Sandrone’s eyes seemed to light up with those words. One of her inventions being received well was unprecedented to her.
“You liked it?” Sandrone looked hopeful with those words, and when Arlecchino nodded–a smile appeared on her face. “Well, I am happy it was received well.” Sandrone said with a contented smile.
“I do want to know though.” Arlecchino tilted her head more downward, she really was quite small and doll-like. “Why have you been leaving them? Surely it is not for no reason?” Arlecchino said, noticing the blush on Sandrone’s face.
“I need my prototypes to be tested just in case they explode or malfunction.” Arlecchino could see through that lie–without even a second guess on her part. She knew, she just wanted to hear it from Sandrone herself.
“What a cute lie.” Arlecchino leaned down closer to Sandrone and put her hand on her chin and turned her to look at herself. “Can I hear the real reason now?” Sandrone had a ireful look on her face as she just seemed more bothered that she got caught if anything.
“No.” Sandrone kept up her reinforced stone walls up as she tried to keep denying it.
“Fine then, we can do it this way.” Arlecchino’s face looked disappointed that she would not hear it from the woman herself, but c’est la vie. “You have a crush on me…Don’t you Sandrone?”
Sandrone’s face was indescribable. Her mouth hung a bit open, her eyes widened, and her chest rose and fell faster.
“Only a self-absorbed idiot like you would draw that conclusion.” Sandrone sounded more nervous as her breath shook and her voice faltered–but Arlecchino could see through the little act Sandrone put on.
“And only an idiot like you would fall for me.” Arlecchino had to stifle a laugh as she saw Sandrone become speechless; something quite rare from the seventh harbinger.
“You’re still insisting on that?” Sandrone scoffed as she tried to keep the high ground in this conversation–very desperately so.
“Sandrone~” Arlecchino started to stroke her cheek gently as the latter melted into that touch. “Just admit it and I will handle the rest.” She started to see the cracks in Sandrone’s facade as she flirted more with her. It was clear this was a weakness for her to Arlecchino–good to know.
“Arlecchino.” Sandrone’s voice was hushed as she contemplated why exactly she was giving herself up like this to the Knave. “What I say does not leave here.” She suddenly looked cross again as she glared into Arlecchino’s eyes. “Got it?”
“I got it…now pour your pretty heart out to me.” Arlecchino looked satisfied in herself for being able to break down at least one wall Sandrone had put up.
“I do have to admit I admire you, in ways that are not strictly platonic.” Sandrone let out a bated breath before continuing. “Happy?” Sandrone did just confess her crush in her own way–but seemed so wroth about it.
“Very. I have to admit, I did not expect this of you.” Arlecchino sat on the bed as Sandrone just simply watched her. “I thought your only love could be research.” She leaned back on her palms as she admired how Sandrone looked in the sunlight leaking into the room.
“I did too…” Sandrone leaned against the bed pole, pressing her ear to it and practically hugging the pole. “Then…It started out of nowhere after our mission to Fontaine.” She recalled how her mind often thought of the fourth, and the jealous pangs she would get when she saw Arlecchino with Columbina.
“I have that effect on women.” Sandrone rolled her eyes with a scoff–then her gaze fell to Arlecchino with a look of desire in her eyes. “Hey Sandrone, I said I’d handle the rest.” Arlecchino smiled as she gestured for Sandrone to come closer.
Sandrone could not deny her curiosity and pining towards Arlecchino and stepped in front of her with a look of bashfulness on her face.
“Close enough.” Arlecchino put her arms around Sandrone’s thighs and brought her closer– Sandrone caught herself on Arlecchino’s shoulders as she now straddled her lap. “You do look quite beautiful from this angle.” Arlecchino loved how her dress pooled and how soft she felt in her lap. Most of all, she loved how Sandrone’s ocean gray eyes looked into hers with adoration.
“Could say the same about you.” Sandrone said with a little squeak as she felt Arlecchino’s hands settle on her hips. It was most unexpected, afterall she had barely had any romantic relations well…with anyone really.
“Just in case it's not clear to you…” Arlecchino said in a seductive whisper. “I do like you too, you’re quite different from other women, and I like that.” Arlecchino traced her jawline with a finger and held her chin as she brought her lips to Sandrone’s. It started as a gentle brush, but Arlecchino loved the feeling–that feeling of Sandrone being like putty in her arms. She deepened it immediately by putting a finger under Sandrone’s choker and pulling on it.
Sandrone had trouble imagining what kisses must feel like, she thought it would only be felt in her lips…but her stomach felt like it was doing backflips and her palms felt sweaty as she started to lose herself in the kiss; in Arlecchino.
Once she finally felt comfortable in the passionate kiss she felt Arlecchino’s hands go under her dress and grip her thighs.
“You’re terribly needy.” Sandrone whispered in her mouth before pulling her back in for more–she wanted more, she actually enjoyed this feeling with Arlecchino, more than anyone should.
“Better than hiding it. Like you.” Arlecchino murmured as she caressed one of Sandrone’s supple thighs with her thumb. She leaned into the kiss, gently sucking on Sandrone’s bottom lip bringing her closer to her, her lips and her body. She felt contentment as soon as she felt Sandrone dig her hand into her hair to bring her face nearer to her own.
It felt deprived in nature, but it just felt right to Sandrone–what she had denied herself because of her pride.
Arlecchino bit Sandrone’s bottom lip, in the most gentle yet firm way she could–Sandrone should have expected it to be honest, but it took her by surprise.
It became quite sloppy towards the end as Arlecchino moved from her lips to tenderly kiss the corner of her mouth and pepper kisses down her jawline and neck. Sandrone’s chest was rising and falling fast as she caught her breath from that heated affair. Arlecchino inhaled the scent of that toasted vanilla perfume Sandrone used. It smelled absolutely divine to her, like the pastry shops in Fontaine. Sandrone’s hand guided her on the back of her head as Arlecchino fervently kissed the woman’s neck.
“Ah.” Sandrone let out a noise that sounded surprised as she felt the kissing turn to something much more carnal as Arlecchino bit her and sucked on her skin. “Please tell me I can cover that up.”
“Oops.” Arlecchino laughed as she looked at the dark mark on her collarbone. “It looks cute on you.”
“Oh shut up.” Sandrone held her chin and brushed her lips on Arlecchino’s–her lipstick was long messed up, so she felt no care about destroying it any more. Arlecchino had a smile on her face as she returned the kiss and moved her hands along her thighs, halting herself on the warmest parts of them to savor that heavenly feeling on her deft hands.
Sandrone was much more modest, her hands opting to just dig into Arlecchino’s hair or hold her cheek and caress it slowly with her thumb. Sandrone did let her hand feel Arlecchino's covered bicep, going slowly up and down as she committed it to her fingertip’s memory.
Arlecchino’s thoughts were flooded by how soft she felt everywhere. Her thighs were soft, her hands running through her hair and on her cheek felt soft, and her lips…Gods above, her lips felt divine against hers. She felt especially flush against her as the kiss got more driven and passionate.
Arlecchino ran her tongue against the bottom of Sandrone’s lip, assuming she was ready to progress like that but Sandrone got stiff again as soon as she felt it.
“It’s ok, just let me take the lead.” Arlecchino whispered–but she made sure Sandrone would be ok with her taking this next step.
“Ok.” Sandrone ran her thumb against Arlecchino’s bottom lip before fluttering her eyes shut and meeting her lips without nearly as much inhibition or feigned restraint. Arlecchino felt like this must be how a princess kisses her lover. It was so gentle that Arlecchino thought it could have been that she dreamed this whole scene with Sandrone.
Sandrone’s stomach filled with butterflies as she felt Arlecchino’s rough tongue on her lips again, but this time she slightly parted them and let her take the lead. Her tongue met Sandrone’s in the latter’s mouth and Arlecchino felt Sandrone's hand on her shirt grip tighter as she progressed into this.
But slowly Sandrone let herself melt into Arlecchino’s warmth and lost herself in the feeling of Arlecchino’s slightly chapped lips, warm tongue and lissome hands. She felt every bit of desire Arlecchino had in how covetous she kissed her, how she felt the warmth radiating off of her cheeks and how she explored Sandrone’s body slowly and salaciously.
Sandrone pulled away from the passionate kiss with her heartbeat quickened and chest nearly gasping for breath. She rested her forehead on Arlecchino’s and cradled the woman’s flushed face in her hands.
“Hey Sandrone.” Arlecchino said, basking in the afterglow as she removed her hands from under her dress and gently held her waist instead. “Would you like to be my Valentine?”
“This is mortifying.” Sandrone said with her head falling on Arlecchino’s shoulder.
“We literally just made out on my bed doll.”
“Fine! We are Valentine’s! Are you happy?” Sandrone still had some fierceness to her words as she spoke, but Arelcchino could tell she was happy about this outcome.
“Very.” Arlecchino leaned her head onto Sandrone’s with a contented sigh as she savored how tender this embrace felt after such a passionate kiss.
She could get used to this kind of love–caustic; yet violent devotion to the other.