Work Text:
Maintenance days put Sandrone in a good mood, as all her subordinates were aware of. If she was feeling generous, she would even permit their requests for days off at a close date. With regular check-ups, everything would run smoothly under her control. It was satisfying for the doll, even Marionette had to put her mind to rest under all the workload.
In fact, she was feeling good enough to even let Columbina in without any hassle. The traveler and her flying companion were not accompanying her that time. It was for the better, Sandrone wasn’t too fond of them; especially with how they always stuck their noses into everyone’s business. She would hear out whatever nonsense the maiden had to say, serve her some tea and move on with her day. Entertaining Columbina for an hour or two was more productive than later having her cling to herself the entire day. It was simply practicality.
The door to her office opened, a short woman in white clothing coming in. Looking around, she still looked aloof as ever. Even as they shared a bed, Sandrone never thought Columbina’s entire focus was on her. No matter what the maiden was doing, it seemed she was never fully by the doll’s side. However, a companion was a companion of the moment; Columbina had demonstrated it by leaving the Fatui. Sandrone would not dare think anyone would stay forever, immortality was no exception.
‘’Hello, Sandrone,’’ came the woman’s gentle voice, ‘’It is nice to see you again. I hope you haven’t been neglecting taking care of yourself.’’
‘’Why would I do that, Columbina? As you can see, it’s maintenance day which includes me as well. I look after myself perfectly fine.’’
‘’It’s nothing, I was just a little concerned you might be still beating yourself up over the last fight. I am glad to see you are doing better now.’’
Before Sandrone could rant out her anger, Columbina asked Pulonia for the tea his lady was having. The machine turned to the woman, who nodded with an annoyed sigh. It was within her plan.
‘’I’ve missed your tea parties, Sandrone. I wonder which flavor you will give me this time?’’
‘’It’s nothing special, just a batch from Nasha Town. Receiving trade has been quiet problematic recently.’’
‘’Isn’t what you need engine oil anyway?’’
‘’I have taste buds, Columbina. My system converts the food into energy. It seems one thing time does not change are your stupid questions.’’
‘’You have always been very… human, Sandrone. More human than most humans. I like that about you.’’
‘’What does that even mean? I have no need for such sentimentality. If anything, your ignorance of the world makes you more of a human than a goddess.’’
The maiden smiled, taking a bite out of her cake. It was clearly bought rather than made by the Harbinger. Columbina would not fail to identify Sandrone’s cooking. It had a subtle tenderness to it that the doll would deny.
They stayed silent for a couple moments. The host had lowered her eyes, scrutinizing the maiden unbeknownst to her. When the tea was over, the former Damselette put down her cup to stand up.
‘’Oh, you are leaving sooner than I expected. That’s good. Pulonia, see Lady Columbina to the door. This should last her for a while.’’
‘’Actually, Sandrone, I have always been curious about how you perform maintenance on yourself. I wish to stay.’’
‘’Pulonia, see Columbina to the door.’’
‘’I won’t get in your way, I promise, dear Sandrone. Let us reunite?’’
‘’What is there to reunite about? You left and I was ordered to take you back. The least you can do for me is to not make things complicated.’’
The maiden got up from her seat, making her way to stand behind her old coworker. Sandrone didn’t turn to her, though it didn’t matter to Columbina. The maiden leaned down to embrace the woman from behind.
The hug was quickly responded to with a shiver and Marionette getting up from her seat, ‘’What are you doing? I didn’t allow you to hug me, you can’t just touch me when you feel like it!’
The maiden looked down at her empty hands before meeting the doll’s eyes, ‘’I… I’m sorry, Sandrone…’’ It seemed she had truly agitated the woman in a way she had not in the past - in a negative way.
‘’It’s time you left. You have stayed long enough today. Pulonia, for the last time, see Lady Columbina to the door.’’
As Sandrone walked over, Columbina followed her, ‘’I’m sorry, Sandrone, I’ll make it up to you. Let me stay for a while longer…’’
The Harbinger sighed without stopping, the maiden following her,‘’... You just don’t listen, do you? You won’t leave until you feel like it yourself. Fine. Just stay out of my business.’’
The doll swiped her card to access what looked like her own room. It was vastly different from her space back in Snezhnaya, with only the bed sheets bearing resemblance to the Fontainian design. Nevertheless, Columbina could still feel the same warmth and security from a room that belonged to her beloved. What mattered was the owner. As the maiden looked around, the mechanic sat down on her bed, carefully removing her hand from her arm.
Sandrone performing maintenance on herself fascinated Columbina each time she saw it. To the goddess, the Harbinger could easily be taken as a human. It was how she was designed. Seeing the wires reminded the maiden that beneath Marionette’s emotions laid a core instead of a heart. However, Sandrone didn’t have to be a human to be herself. Columbina loved her as she was. Perhaps it was even better that way, a human could never feel truly close to a goddess; but a doll could.
The maiden sat next to the woman on the bed, that time looking into her eyes before touching her upper arm, ‘’Let me make it up to you, dear Sandrone… Like on the days you were stressed from work.’’
The goddess was not pushed away for the second time, ‘’This is not a teasing manner, Columbina. You could end my life if you did the wrong thing. Just take a nap if you like being in my room so much.’’
‘’... Do you not trust me, Sandrone? I would never do anything to hurt you. I will take good care of your body, I promise.’’
‘’I told you, Colum-’’
‘’You should learn to trust others at times, dear. You don’t have to do everything on your own, especially when your mind is already occupied from the defeat. Just like how I allowed myself to be vulnerable in your room, please allow yourself to feel safe in my care. It’s… the least I can do to make up for my absence.’’
The woman let go of her doll’s arm to hold her then separated hand, ‘’You don’t have to say anything. You can guide me through what needs to be done.’’
‘’... Untangle the wires and straighten them before putting my hand back. Make sure they don’t get jammed in.’’
Once the hand was back in place, Columbina intertwined their fingers to slowly separate the other one. Redness was present on the doll’s cheeks, though the maiden decided not to tease her about it. She didn’t want to make Sandrone uncomfortable after getting her to agree to calm down at last. With a smile, she moved closer to her, her thigh touching the other woman’s. Despite her glare, Marionette stayed silent.
No longer having to yearn about the moments they used to share urged the goddess to cherish Sandrone as much as she could. Greed, as some would call it. Or lust. Though Columbina of the present knew it was love.
‘’Sandrone, you are so beautiful, even when I don’t see you,’’ she told the doll as she put one leg over her lap to work on her thigh. The maiden would gently caress each part before taking it apart, following the instructions of the mechanic. ‘’I’m following my heart’s orders,’’ she would tell her when the Harbinger would grumble about how the touches weren’t necessary.
Sandrone’s silence spoke volumes. Columbina wanted to think that if she were to open her eyes then, she could witness the longing she shared. During times like those, it made her second guess if the veil was truly necessary. Sandrone felt more real than anything else in the world could. The knowledge that the other woman had missed the intimacy as much as herself, so much that she stayed silent, soothed the goddess’ troubled mind for a moment. Her beloved always radiated safety; Columbina could only try to make her feel the same.
Once her arms and legs were done, Marionette turned her back. The maiden slid her fingers across her delicate back until she reached her dress. Slowly pulling it down, she hugged her, folding her hands on Sandrone’s stomach. The doll didn’t move, only breathing in deeply even though she didn’t need to. ‘’You don’t have to say anything,’’ Columbina reassured her, ‘’Your trust speaks enough… Thank you for allowing yourself to be vulnerable with me, my dear.’’
‘’Shut up… Just do what needs to be done.’’
‘’Having you calm down is also a necessity, Sandrone. I want you to feel good. I know dolls can, too.’’
‘’Don’t make it embarrassing with your corny words…’’
‘’There is nothing to be embarrassed about showing your beloved you enjoy her touch. Though I find it cute how you act like this is the first time…’’
‘’One more word and I will have you leave immediately.’’
The goddess chuckled, letting the conversation drop. Columbina kissed the other woman’s bare skin while cautiously taking off her key. The removal gave her some time to work on the adjustments as Sandrone stayed still. Once she put back the mechanism, her fingers moved in circular motions around it, earning a gasp from her beloved. Instead of teasing, she decided to caress gently until the sensation would be all that remained in the doll’s troubled mind.
When she pulled the dress back up, she could sense Sandrone’s disappointment. ‘’More will leave you not wanting to work,’’ she taunted while walking to the door, ‘’Take care of yourself, my dearest Sandrone.’’
She chuckled to the woman’s vulgar words reaching her hair. She would go back to her cave to play with the Kuuhenki next.