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Sandrone preferred to focus on her research at night, catching up on sleep during the day. The night was quieter; only those on patrol were awake, the rest of the world asleep.
In front of her lay the pages regarding modifying automatons. After making necessary changes, she would turn the ruin machines into improved modern weapons. However, she had yet to make even a prototype, unable to decode the advanced Khaenri’ahn technology of the core.
Being stuck on the same topic had put her in an irritated mood. Then again, she was not the one to give up. She would persevere until she saw the end of it, just like she had countless times. It had been her determination and persistence that had earned her the 7th rank of Harbingers, after all. No code was too hard for her to solve. Not only would she decipher them, but she would also make more efficient ones.
Columbina was sleeping on her bed after her earlier attempts at bothering Sandrone had proved futile. Usually, Sandrone would either indulge her (or yell at her) for a while until the maiden either left or settled for a quiet hobby beside her. That night, to her surprise, Columbina had spoken of not wanting to distress Sandrone further. She had not pondered on her comment, letting her do as she pleased as long as she could focus.
Marionette crumpled up the paper she was taking notes on in frustration. Just as she was about to stretch, the face on her shoulder made her shriek, ‘’Columbina, what are you do-’’
Before she could finish, the Damselette started to walk towards the room’s exit. For a moment, she allowed herself to admit that Columbina was indeed acting weird. During heated scrutiny, the maiden had never truly let the Marionette be. Even if she wasn’t taunting, she would at least hum with the excuse of ‘’wanting to help Sandrone work in peace.’’
‘’I would be at peace if you stopped,’’ she would say, but the truth was it did aid Sandrone in sleeping and working better. Not that she would ever admit it to Columbina, of course. However, she didn’t have enough patience to ponder on Damselette’s unusuality. No matter how much time they spent together, even as Sandrone started to be able to guess when she would get teased, how it would happen was unknown. Columbina was predictable in her unpredictability, if she had learned anything about her.
Soon enough, the door to her room opened once more. There stood Columbina, wearing a different outfit than her usual. She wore a pink poncho coat and leg warmers complemented with a white skirt and gloves. In her hands she held a hanger with what seemed to be a matching set but in blue alongside a big bag. ‘’You deserve a break, Sandrone. Put these on, let’s go ice skating.’’
The Marionette deadpanned. There was no way she would leave her work to go ice skating, in the middle of the cold night no less.
‘’Don’t be ridiculous, Columbina. I’m working, and it's freezing outside. I thought you had at least more common sense than this!’’
‘’But you haven’t made a breakthrough in hours now… I think the reason you are stuck is because you refuse to take a break. I have observed some of your subordinates and they always seem more eager after resting.’’
‘’I am their superior precisely because I don’t slack off. Just go back to sleep. You are occupying my bed, you can at least thank me by leaving me alone!’’
‘’No, I won’t leave you alone until you take a break, dear Sandrone.’’
The doll felt her eyebrow unconsciously twitching as she rubbed her temple. It was futile, Columbina would not let go until she agreed, she knew that much from her rich experience. Her only option was to agree while trying to keep it as short as possible.
She got up, taking the clothes from the maiden’s hand. She glared at Columbina for her to leave the room only for her to simply turn around.
The nerve!
‘’Don’t push your luck, Columbina. Wait for me outside.’’
‘’It’s not like I can see, dear Sandrone.’’
‘’Columbina.’’
Reluctantly, the Damselette left the room. Now alone, Sandrone took a look at herself in the mirror after changing. The theme matched Columbina’s; with her outfit being a dress instead of a skirt, tights rather than leg warmers, hat instead of ear muffs. It even had a hole for her key, had Columbina gotten it tailored for her?
Sandrone had been designed to be aesthetically pleasing, ‘’cute’’ in the eyes of the people. The outfits were indeed pretty, but what was the point of matching like youthful girlfriends? For then, she would go along with the maiden, taking a break for the sake of her research.
────୨ৎ────
‘’Come on, it’s not that fast,’’ Columbina’s amusement was unmistakable in her tone.
‘’Are you insane? Slow down!’’
‘’Just hold on to me tighter, dear Sandrone. You can hold onto my waist if you’d like.’’
‘’Stop teasing me! Slow down, Columbina!’’
All Sandrone saw was Columbina’s content smile from the side as the woman paid no mind to her pleas. Her hands were in Columbina’s, the latter skating gracefully as if she had been doing so for years. When and where had she even learned that well? It was as much to Sandrone’s horror as it was to Damselette's joy.
A couple more laps later, the Marionette was able to somewhat gain her balance. Columbina guided her, patiently teaching how to skate properly. At some point, without noticing, she got caught up in watching the maiden.
Truly, Columbina was beautiful. With her long hair framing her body and tender smile she had when teaching Sandrone, she felt her heart swell before a warm, soft sensation - as if flowers were gently blooming inside Sandrone’s chest. There wasn’t an excitement, a high as she had overheard her subordinates talking about; but a quiet, fond yearning.
She was a doll capable of many emotions, but she had never known she was capable of love. She was inexperienced, but it felt unmistakably familiar, as if it was a seed growing into the tree it was meant to be.
Before she knew it, Sandrone fell. She had been too focused on watching Columbina, she had embarrassed herself as a result. At the last moment, the maiden had let go of her hands to save herself from falling alongside her. Marionette heard Columbina laugh for the first time - it had always been chuckling until then - before reaching for her.
‘’Are you alright, Sandrone? Is your key fine?’’
The doll tried to get up on her own first, failing. To her dismay (secret anticipation), she held the hand extended to her with bright red ears. ‘’It’s fine.’’
‘’Don’t lose focus, Sandrone. You are already showing improvement.’’
‘’I know that! Whatever, this is enough, let’s go back.’’
‘’Oh? You are giving up already?’’
Columbina always knew how to test Sandrone, didn’t she? As obvious as it was, Marionette was not one to back away, ‘’Of course not!’’
Sandrone let the maiden pick up the pace again, more mindful of what she had been taught than before. She was getting the hang of it as she continued, telling Columbina she could let go of her hands then but the woman insisted on holding for her safety.
In no time at all, the sun had started to rise. Both women had grown tired as they took off their skates to wear their usual heels. Columbina had successfully taken Sandrone’s mind off her research. She would go to sleep, her research having to wait. At least the maintenance was only two days away, the thought of it motivating Sandrone to work harder.
Columbina’s steps halted. Sandrone consequently turned to her, ‘’What’s wrong?’’
Leaning in, the maiden pressed a kiss to the doll’s nose. The latter immediately felt a blush creeping in all over, ‘’What are you doing, Columbina?’’
‘’Your nose looked too cute to resist, my dear…’’
‘’You can’t just go around kissing people’s noises! Do you have no concept of personal space?’’
Columbina chuckled, ‘’I only kiss your face, Sandrone. Since you have been staring all night, do you want to give me a kiss too?’’
‘’Don’t be ridiculous! Why would I want to kiss you?’’
The maiden’s cheek was suddenly in her sight, ‘’If you give me a kiss, then I will be quiet until you finish your research.’’
The doll pressed her lips quickly to the cheeks in front of her, immediately turning back to the palace afterwards.
────୨ৎ────
When Sandrone came back to her room to rest after giving orders to Pulonia, she found Columbina sleeping on her bed again.
‘’What are you doing here, Columbina? You said you would be quiet until I was done?’’
‘’I never said how, dear Sandrone.’’
‘’Go back to your room.’’
‘’Hm… No. Your bed is warmer and more comfortable. Come, you should catch up on sleep. Or are you too shy to sleep next to me?’’