Chapter Text
Sitting aboard the grand Wingalet, embraced in the warm colours of the setting sun, Sandrone was looking into the distance. She held a beautiful porcelain cup containing refreshing green tea. The scenery was quite to her liking: the sun, the body of water, familiar Fountain's flora, and the beautiful tea set. As she inhaled the cool breeze, she felt fulfilled.
The realisation that the battle against the Doctor was over and the vestiges of the Narzissenkreutz Ordo were finally taken care of washed over Marionette Guillotin. Not that she had ever doubted her own capabilities, but the thought that she could finally relax and catch up her breath a little was certainly something she needed to process more thoroughly. After all, she'd spent much of her life as one of the cogs in the grand machine that was the Tsaritsa's plan. And the machine had never stopped moving forward.
There was no doubt that Sandrone didn't have much time to herself—after all, she would most probably be called back to the Zapolyarny Palace soon enough.
However, now she was free—her body and mind born anew—free to enjoy this wonderful scenery and serenity...
Well, as if.
"Sandrone," a gentle, familiar voice broke the comforting silence surrounding the lady. "Why didn't you tell me you were hosting a tea party? I would have joined."
Columbina didn't walk—she floated and glided through the air, defying the natural laws that Sandrone so very much liked to ponder about.
"As if you ever need my invitation, hmpf." Despite putting up a grumpy front, Sandrone proceeded to pour her ex-colleague a wonderful brew. "So, what is the reason for your visit this time? I thought you and the Traveller planned to spend the evening at the Fontanalia festival. Or is it that you wanted to come see the fish again? Honestly, what is even the point if you have your eye mask on?"
"The Traveller is truly charming company, yet I found myself missing the quiet humming of your clockwork. Do you know that sometimes it whirls differently when you talk to me compared to other people?"
Sandrone coughed, nearly choking on her tea, her cheeks blushing. "And what in blazes made you think this is because of you? My clockwork simply spins faster when I'm stuck in an annoying conversation."
"Oh, but isn't that you always interrupt our conversations and leave first? That one time when you closed the door right in front of my face—"
"What is it, Columbina? Did you come all the way here to pick a fight with me?" Sandrone furrowed her brows. After tinkering with her creations all day long, she thought she deserved some rest, but this vexing dove decided to land on her ship. And anyway, is it even fair that now Columbina could simply teleport behind her back with absolutely no regard for her privacy?
"No, I came here simply to enjoy the sunset with you. I don't know why the conversation inevitably flows in that direction every time we are together."
Oh, this utterly clueless face... Sometimes Sandrone seriously doubted whether it was genuine. After all, how come she possessed this unique talent of antagonising Sandrone, her every word a barb wrapped in silk?
Sandrone crossed her legs, taking a deep breath, her expression shifting to a somewhat melancholic countenance. She and Columbina were no longer colleagues, which implied that the occasions for their meetings were becoming fewer than she'd wish for. Columbina might have acted like a troublesome younger sister, for all Sandrone knew, but she'd inevitably grown attached to her unpredictable antics.
"What's wrong, Sandrone? You look rather sombre all of a sudden."
"It's nothing. Nothing at all. I was merely contemplating that I'll finally be able to have my sleep unperturbed at the Zapolyarny Palace, now that a certain someone is gone."
"Was it really bothering you so much?" There was a trace of sadness and guilt in Columbina's voice that almost made Sandrone outright admit that this was not the case.
Yet Marionette Guillotin held back her tongue. Now that her logical and emotional modules had merged, she found herself holding back in Columbina's presence more frequently. There was something scary about the fact that the Moon Goddess was able to evoke a whirlpool of unfamiliar emotions in Sandrone. Truly terrifying. And the seventh of the Fatui Harbingers felt utterly helpless about the fact that for some of them she struggled to put a label. Was she really a fast learner?
"Well, I suppose it was tolerable. But why in the world would you persevere when I kept chasing you away?" Sandrone didn't want to admit that the Damselette's voice was heavenly.
"Although you did chase me away, I could never sense any hatred or resentment in the kuuvahki currents around you. You may have grumbled at my company, but the way you acted was suggesting quite the opposite." Columbina smiled, wrapping her hands around the warm teacup.
The old Sandrone would have reacted violently, calling her delusional, but this Sandrone remained silent. She took a sip of her tea, looking at her own reflection in its surface.
Columbina was right. After giving her emotions a rightful place in her personality, Sandrone has an ample amount of time to ponder over her relationship with Columbina Hyposelenia. In all the books that Sandrone read so eagerly, the depicted true friendship was a relationship the closest to the one they had. Their backgrounds, ways of living, preferences for tea and refreshments—so many things differed, yet they remained bound by fate. And now that his bond was threatened by the distance between Teyvat and the Moon, Sandrone was distraught.
Columbina could disappear at any moment—be off to the Moon. Did she really want to let her go like this? Without hearing any kind words Sandrone was harbouring in her soul for a long time. Would this even be fair? Of course, Columbina was no fragile girl—she was a Moon Goddess. Surely leaving words unsaid wouldn't matter. Did she even need Sandrone to spill it out? Did she care?
"What can I say? I may have enjoyed your company occasionally. As I said, watching you squirm was one of the few sources of entertainment I had back in the day."
Sandrone disliked this feeling brewing inside of her. She wanted to be free of this sombre mood as soon as possible—it absolutely didn't match her style. After all, she has already hugged Columbina on camera. Wasn't that enough sappiness for another century or so? She didn't have to act all sweet around her.
Yet, her emotions opposed that. The guilt of being insincere was slowly choking her, but the fear of being laughed at, however ungrounded, was too real, stifling her from ever expressing her true self to the full extent.
"What are you planning to do next, Sandrone?"
"Before returning to Snezhnaya, I decided to pay a visit to some of the adventurer's guild stations. I've received several letters that asked for my attendance. Apparently, they have matters that only I'm capable of attending to. Why must I always work with amateurs? "
"So, you're planning to travel? This is wonderful." Columbina's face lit up.
"Did you not hear me? I said I would be occupied with official matters."
"Would you really have no time for some more fun activities?"
"Unlike a certain someone who only horses around and sings all day long, other people have jobs and obligations."
"How about I help you out? Before returning to the Moon, I'm going to travel some more as well. After all, Lauma and Nefer advised me so much, and since the Traveller is here, I haven't been able to put their advice to good use."
Sandrone glanced at Columbina in disbelief.
"Ahem, I very much appreciate your... em, initiative, but I believe I'll be safer taking care of my obligations on my own."
"Can I at least tag along?" The Damselette slightly leaned forward as if to express extra pressure on her friend. "I promise I'll behave."
"Why wouldn't you join the Traveller? Didn't you two get along swimmingly?"
"Swimmingly indeed. Though I confess, I've never seen the Traveller sprout fins. Perhaps you know something I don't?"
Sandrone took a long, deliberate sip of her tea, her face betraying nothing. Her clockwork whirred softly—the only response to Columbina's quip.
"Not going to say anything?" She cocked her head. "It's all right. I'm still working on my puns. Anyways, so may I or may I not join you in your travels—oh, I mean in your official matters?"
Sandrone sighed, realising that she ran out of tea. Honestly, she had long decided to say yes, since when else would she possibly have another chance to travel with her friend like this? Depending on how the Tsaritsa's plan unfolds, she may never be able to do something like this ever again.
Seeing Columbina's face all excited made Sandrone oddly proud. Instead of falling for her provocation and setting sail with the Traveller, her best friend preferred her company. This was truly flattering.
"If you wish to accompany me so badly, it can't be helped. But be mindful that I won't have much time to supervise you, so if you get into any trouble—"
"I know, I know, you will come find me," Columbina smiled, rising from her chair and walking over to Sandrone, who was about to huff and puff.
With her gentle hand, she touched the Marionette's face, which instantly flushed red. Utterly confused and embraced by her gesture, Sandrone was rendered speechless—the cool fingertips came in contact with her hot skin so suddenly.
The last remaining sun rays played in Columbina's dark, silky hair. In her fluffy white gown, she looked like a true goddess—benevolent and kind. She was everything Sandrone tried to avoid, her mathematical mind hesitant to rely on the obscure magical wonders her friend's gentle hands were capable of.
"What's with this gesture, Columbina? Never heard of personal space?" Sandrone muttered.
"Do you not like me touching you?"
"Why do you keep asking such annoying questions?" Sandrone shook off her hand and stood up as well, turning away to the sea to hide her embarrassment. "If you must accompany me, fine. Just don't have any weird expectations of our trip. Are we clear?"
Sandrone knew she would not come to regret this decision, but the thought of them travelling together was making her strangely nervous. These unknown emotions that filled her heart in the presence of the Moon Goddess were daunting. Their separation was inevitable, and so was the hurt that would ensue. Yet strangely enough, the Marionette kept reaching her hand out to the flames that were slowly, unbeknownst to herself consuming her.
"Thank you, Sandrone. I'm sure we'll have a good time together, like best friends should." Before Sandrone could come up with a proper response, Columbina spoke again. "Ah, the Traveller is calling me. Would you like to join us? We will have dinner together with other friends."
"No, I pass." Refusing outright became something of a habit for her. "I still need to pack my belongings before the trip."
"Come on, it won't take long."
Before Sandrone could process the situation, the Moon Goddess had already firmly secured her hand in her own and cast a teleporting spell. Being enveloped in the bright yellow glitter, she seriously considered that Columbina had become way too bold during the time of her absence. Yet even this unruliness was endearing to her. Sandrone shook her head, chasing the wild thought away. There was no way she would think something like this in her right mind. She seriously needs to stop mingling with the Traveller.
"I'll forgive you for teleporting me again just this once," she whispered to herself, gripping the delicate hand more strongly.