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It had been some time since Columbina had requested to see him. Scaramouche couldn’t even begin to fathom any reason why she’d invite him to her “humble abode”, her room. If he was being honest, he wasn’t in the mood to deal with anyone today, let alone one of his "colleagues". Sadly for him it was the lesser of two evils; if he declined, Dottore said he had a new theory to try on him, so here he was outside the Damselette’s door. He was contemplating what to do for a while, honestly he’d never been invited to one of the ladies rooms…why would the Damselette invite him here, what was so important it couldn’t wait till the next meeting. Before he could think about it more the door gently opened in front of him, the Damselette herself standing in the crack of it.
“Ah, there you are, Balladeer!” She chirped as she opened it further, inviting him in. As she stepped back, her long coat dragged against the floor. He slowly entered her room, soon understanding why she was wearing a winter coat. Geez, was it cold there… How could she ever sleep in here? The damsel suddenly grabbed his arm, gently tugging him to the middle of the room where a table stood. Two spots lay empty on the table, while the other two were prepared for tea, the cups so clean they were practically sparkling, and a small plate rested on both sides, waiting to be filled with desserts and treats. As Columbina quickly pulled out a chair in front of Scaramouche, he realized what this “important business” he was called for was about. He was simply here to entertain the Damselette it seems, he understood that her usual tea-time partners are occupied with their own business but why him of all people? He tolerates her at best, so it made no sense to him why-whoever made this decision-would have him tend to the lady. Before he could open his mouth to protest sitting down, hands quickly forced him into the seat. Columbina chuckled behind him before sauntering off to her side of the table.
“Now, Scaramouche… is it alright if I call you that actually?” She questioned as she made it to her own chair, a small but clear smile being the only of her features visible once she faced him. A minuscule sigh left Scaramouche’s lips as he averted his gaze from Columbina. “I don’t care what you call me, you know.” He snapped back at her before mumbling, “It’s not that important anyways.” Columbina gently nodded, her hands resting against her chin as she leaned towards the center of the table for comfort-at least Scaramouche hoped that’s all she was doing. “Okay then Scara…” She purred teasingly to her guest, causing a small scowl to spread across his face. “Not ‘Scara’. I’m not one for nicknames, you know that. Just call me by my title if you can't say my name right.” Columbina simply nodded while continuing to buzz his name under her breath, her voice vibrating softly. Scaramouche couldn’t get why it was such a big deal to her anyways; it’s not like she didn’t know his name, maybe she was just trying to be as insufferable as possible.
Suddenly, a small whistle escaped the cooking pot in the corner of her room, the woman's wings perked up as she shot up. “Ah! The tea is ready, Mister Scaramouche, please give me a minute.” Departing footsteps were all that Scaramouche was left to hear, alone at an empty table. It gave him another second to think about all this, about how odd it was that she’d invite him out of everyone…maybe it was because her previous invitees declined her? He couldn’t tell why she was so insistent about it. The others-Sandrone, Arlecchino, and especially Signora-never seemed very interested in him joining them for their “tea parties”, as he would put it. He thought harder and harder about what her goal might be, what she might be trying to accomplish. It could be anything, Dottore could’ve put her up to it or maybe she had a personal motive for it.
Columbina took the tea kettle off the stove, a light pink very clearly tinted her face. It felt weird to talk to him one on one in all honesty. He’s always so closed off and while she understands why he is..Nevermind, that’s not important now, she has a guest to tend to and it would be rather rude of her to keep him waiting. She gently held the tea kettle handle, her other hand using a towel to safely hold the bottom. She slowly made her way back to the table. When she reached the table again, Scaramouche seemed to be lost in thought. She thought it was honestly kind of cute seeing him like that, a small pout on his face as he fidgeted with the tea cup in front of him. She quickly looked away before he could catch her staring and placed the kettle down in the middle of the table.
“Now, Mister Scara-” the Balladeer quickly cleared his throat to cut her off, a slight glare directed at her. “Just Scaramouche is fine, no need for such formalities. We aren’t in a meeting or… doing anything important right?” Columbina swiftly nodded at the man in front of her, “Ah, I apologize, Scaramouche. And, no, nothing important.” Now would probably be a good time to clear that up, she didn’t want him to think she had ill intent in her invite. “I just wished to spend some time with you. That’s alright, yes?” Scaramouche was seemingly put at ease from the confirmation,his shoulders untensing slightly and leaning back into his chair more. “Yeah, yeah, it’s fine, I just thought it was maybe something drastic.” Columbina chuckles a bit at the response, stopping when he raises an eyebrow at her. “I apologize, it’s just, when I invited Arlecchino the first time she said a similar thing. A bit of reminiscing on my part.” Scaramouche seemingly smiled for a second before going back to his normal miserable look, looking to the side for a minute before continuing.
“Well, anyways, what kind of tea are you serving me today?” His gaze returned to the woman in front of him as he questioned. “I’m rather curious what you could’ve picked out for me.” Columbina stands once more opening the lid of the kettle as she showcases two different kinds of tea. “Well, the first one is what we usually drink, rather sweet and aromatic, me and the others rather enjoy this one.” She pauses for a second as she places the teabag down for another one. “This on the other hand is rather bitter, but it’s from Inazuma… I don’t recall if you exactly hate the place but, I thought it would be a taste of home.” Scaramouche stiffened in his chair again. A grimace appeared obvious on his face.
“I’m sorry, Scaramouche, I didn’t mean to make you upset I just thought you'd enjoy-”, “It’s fine.” Initially Columbina couldn’t believe what she heard. I mean, it’s Scaramouche, he rarely apologizes, let alone says something is fine when it blatantly bothers him. The wings behind her head lower slightly. Scaramouche continues, “Just don’t bring that place up again… and, yes I would prefer that tea.” He lowers his voice at the last part, seemingly out of embarrassment, but Columbina didn’t pay it much mind. She dipped the tea bag into Scaramouche’s teacup and her own. She had bought it of course and it would be a complete waste if she didn’t indulge in it. Pouring the boiling water into both the cups, careful so it didn’t overflow. Scaramouche lifted his teacup towards his face, gently blowing on it before looking back at her.
“Shouldn’t you get the first sip? You bought the tea after all, wouldn’t be fair you know.” Columbina faced him once more, shaking her head slightly. “No need, I got it for both of us. Plus, you seemed rather interested in trying it at first.” Columbina retorted, “I wish to see if you enjoy it, Scaramouche.” He barely bothers an actual response to that. A sigh leaving him instead as he takes a sip of the bitter tea. His eyebrows knit together slightly as he tastes it, licking his bottom lip. Columbina is, figuratively, on the edge of her seat. Wishing she could know what he was thinking, had she gotten the wrong one, was that what was causing the look on his face? “I like it.” He says rather blunt, though it's rare when he isn’t.
“Really…?” Columbina questions with her right brow slightly raised. She wasn’t sure she could buy it.
“Really.” Scaramouche says in agreement. “The after taste is enjoyable, you got the good kind. So, good job, I guess.” He takes another sip of the tea, though not blatant on his face Columbina could tell he enjoyed it. She should try it herself! Columbina’s wings flutter a bit before she takes the first sip and… almost spat it out immediately. She’s normally fine with bitter tastes but goodness this was strong. The aftertaste wasn't any good either, though obviously better than the main taste it still felt horrible. As Columbina finally came down from that disgusting feeling she looked up to see Scaramouche… staring? Ah, she had made a fool of herself hadn’t she? This was a bad idea to begin with, maybe she should just see him out at this point-.
“Seriously, you know you can add sugar to it right?” He said pushing the sugar in the middle of the table towards her. “You knew it would be bitter, should’ve added it to yours in the first place.” Columbina turns at the sugar cubes for a quick second before grabbing a couple and putting it in her tea, waiting for them to fully dissolve before taking another sip. Much better, though still bitter, the sugar helped rather well. She was definitely adding more though. As she placed her fifth sugar cube in her cup Scaramouche let out a small laugh.
“What’s so funny?” Columbina asked with her head slightly tilted to the right. “Well, you know. You seemingly don’t like things that are bitter but you wanted to drink it fresh anyways. Just interesting to me.” Columbina hums for a second, thinking about it. Well there was a pretty obvious reason to it. “It’s just I wanted to see what you like about it, and I’m not too against bitter tastes, this one just wasn't as pleasant as others.” Scaramouche nods at the response, continuing to indulge in the tea shared between the two. Columbina was way more eager to finish her tea as well, especially with the added sugar.
– –
“Does sugar really change the taste that much? You’re practically gulping it down now…” The woman nods, dapping at the tea dripping from her lips before replying. “I mean a multitude of things can change the taste of things, sugar just being a strong one of them.” She takes her teacup back in her hands offering some to Scaramouche. “Would you like to try it? I believe you’d find it to be quite lovely.” Scaramouche quickly raised his hand in a motion to decline, going back to sip from his own cup. “No. I’m not fond of sugar, especially with the amount you added to the drink.”
Columbina seemed to falter slightly, her wings dropping a bit as she moved to place her tea cup back in its dish. Scaramouche watched her movements rather intently, it always confused him how she seemingly switched on a dime. She seemed rather happy for a bit, they hadn’t been talking but she kept smiling and giggling. Seriously, what is her deal today… And now she’s all upset, just cause he wouldn’t take a sip of her sugar infested tea mind you. He couldn't help but scoff at the attempt to make him feel sympathetic. Like was this truly the best a goddess could do..? He finally looked back at the damsel just to catch her facing, since her eyes are still closed somehow, him seemingly upset. Geez was she really that upset about this? It didn’t matter to him anyways, why should he, she’ll get over it.
“Scaramouche, do you not enjoy my company?” The lady in front of him said in her normal, quiet and soft tone. A small hint of sadness in her voice. He paused a second as she wavered, gently placing his teacup back down before speaking. “Sadly, Columbina, I don’t enjoy the company of any of the harbingers here. You included.” Columbina lowers her head further down, if she was trying to make him feel bad that wasn’t gonna work. “Now that we discussed that-” Columbina suddenly interrupted him, “Scaramouche forgive me for disagreeing but, I don’t believe you.”
“What.” Scaramouche said blankly, who was SHE to tell him how he feels?! She doesn’t know him, she wouldn't understand it. “Yes, I can’t believe you. I’m not the… best with emotions but I can tell, if you truly didn’t enjoy my company you likely would’ve left a couple hours ago.” Scaramouche scoffed, more just trying to push such an assumption off of him. Yes he COULD have left earlier, he simply didn’t feel the need to before. If she's going to continue "interrogating" him like this he’ll have no choice but to go. It would be rather frustrating to deal with Dottore afterwards though. Made his face slightly scrunch up in disgust just thinking of the horrid man.
Scaramouche finally answered after what felt like a century of pausing. Columbina was already cautiously awaiting for a reply, the nerves keeping her on edge the full time. “Ugh, you see, Damselette, it’s not purely you. They’re all rather frustrating, the more I talk to them the more I realize, though we capture similar goals we are nothing alike and we shouldn’t have to act as if such is true.” Columbina seemed somewhat upset at the explanation, honestly, he doesn’t understand what she’s trying to do here. Maybe she truly is working on something with Dottore and that’s what this sudden call was for, that honestly does feel like something Dottore would do. “Ah, I see Scaramouche. I apologize for bothering you with this..” She slowly stands up, likely to offer him a chance to leave. He’d, normally, gladly accept the offer to not be bothered by any of his colleagues. But, for some horrible and odd reason, he couldn’t get up himself even when the damsel herself was walking away.
It took a while for Columbina to realize the man who had entered her abode hadn’t followed her to the exit. How strange, he’s always the first to leave anything… especially if it bored him as she had earlier. She strolled back over to him, why hadn’t he moved from this chair? She gently leaned down to him, her face rather close to his which he didn’t seem to mind for once. After some time of her staring Scaramouche cleared his throat. “I didn’t come with you simply because I don’t feel like it. Don’t take this as me liking you.” Oh, so, he did like her? That made her feel oddly warm, really happy. Her lips curved up into a smile, like it had earlier, sitting across from him. Though their tea had eventually gone cold it somehow felt more warm than if it truly was.
– –
Eventually Scaramouche did take his leave, much to both of their disappointments. Though he would likely never admit his enjoyment of their time well spent or even his disappointment that they couldn’t have enjoyed themselves slightly longer. “Thank you for spending time with me today, Balladeer. I was rather nice..” Her wings gently flapped behind her head, he had always wondered how those work, but that isn’t important. Just cut to the formalities. “I enjoyed the time as well, I’m glad you felt the same. Just don’t bother me with such things out of the blue next time.” Columbina chuckled next to him as he left the room, barely setting foot outside her threshold. Before Scaramouche could fully enter the hallway Columbina gently grabbed his arm. He turned around obviously confused before Columbina gently laid a kiss on his cheek. Her soft lips pressed against his rough skin was such an odd sensation. He felt his face get hotter and his breath caught in his throat. “Columbina what was that fo-”. Before he could even question the lady her door had already closed, leaving him alone with the strange feeling in his chest. “Stupid Columbina…” he muttered as he stormed off into the hallway. Though something in his mind tells him he doesn’t mean it. An even smaller part telling him he’ll spend time with her like this at least once more.