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Columbina waits in the living room of Alain Guillotin’s house. Although, it could now be more accurately described as her and Sandrone’s home now. She had gotten home about an hour ago, with enough time to dress down and have the list of ingredients for tonight’s dinner ready on the counter.
It was a long conversation before they agreed on where the pair of them would settle down. Columbina didn't want to live in Snezhnaya anymore, while Sandrone didn't want to overstay her welcome with the Frostmoon Scions, if she was even welcome at all. And so, Columbina proposed they live in Fontaine, at the same house Sandrone did during her childhood. Whenever she was asked why she’d want to live in Fontaine, it was always the same spiel about feeling safe in Sandrone’s home.
After countless instances of Columbina reassuring Sandrone that teleporting all around Teyvat didn't wear her out at all, she finally agreed to settle in Fontaine. If it took two seconds for either of them to get to any point in Teyvat, it didn't matter where they lived. Sandrone could still work in Snezhnaya and Columbina was free to visit Nod Krai anytime she pleased.
They had a whole system ironed out for this. By the time she had to clock out for work, Columbina would already be waiting right outside the Zapolyarny Palace ready to take them both home. And sure enough, it never seemed to take a toll on her. Especially during the winter with polar nights in Snezhnaya, when the moon was high up far longer than the sun and Columbina was at her strongest.
Admittedly, Sandrone was iffy at first, having to give up the free housing and meal plan that came with working in the Fatui. However, a review of her employment contract outlined the possibility of receiving a housing and food allowance should she opt-out of living within the walls of the Zapolyarny Palace. It was more than enough for the upkeep of her home and to put food on the table for her and Columbina, on top of her regular salary and research funding. Not to mention, the hefty paycheck that Columbina had only left accumulating in the duration of her employment with the Fatui. Considering she was the third-rank harbinger, her pay grade was far above Sandrone’s own; that alone was enough to sustain both of them for many years to come.
It was a Saturday, and the pair of them decided to spend the day apart tending to affairs they normally couldn't get around doing during the week. They'd spend the following day together anyway so it wasn't a problem at all.
Columbina spent her morning in Hiisi Island, as she usually does, helping Lauma around wherever she can (but mostly just follows her around playing with kuuhenki and animals they ran into.) In the afternoon, she was at the House of the Hearth in Fontaine watching Lyney and Lynette do some dry runs for a magic show they were preparing for.
Now, it was just about the end of the day. Sandrone should’ve already been home. Except that she was late. On workdays, Columbina would be waiting for Sandrone just outside of the Zapolyarny Palace by 5:30, and she never showed up later than 5:35. On weekends, Sandrone got home by 5:00. Today, it was almost 6:00 and she still hasn't come home.
But as if on cue, the front door opens to reveal Sandrone who sashays in proudly with a small smile on her face.
“Columbina! I’m home!” Sandrone hollers as she enters the door. She sets her stuff down as she walks in; coat and shoes by the door and her purse on the living room coffee table.
Seeing Columbina just sitting on the sofa, she immediately walks over to give her a peck before sitting down herself and sinking into the cushions.
“You are not going to believe what happened today,” Sandrone starts to talk. “Sorry I was late, the tabletop campaign took much longer and we didn’t realize how quickly time flew by.”
Columbina hums. “I spent some time with the kids from the House of the Hearth today after I visited the Frostmoon Scions. What about you?”
Sandrone was almost buzzing with excitement, as much excitement as one could expect from her.
“I spent the morning at the Research Institute. No work, I just went to check out something I’ve been asking them to work on. Then I had tea with Furina and the Caspars in the afternoon. We did this tabletop campaign where me and Furina were alchemists and Navia was still… a merchant.” She laughs. “Me and Furina were laughing so hard it was almost uncouth!”
Columbina’s face dulls down into an expression that Sandrone has, admittedly, never seen before. This was the fourth week in a row that Sandrone spent her Saturday afternoon having tea with Furina, not that Columbina was opposed to it. Matter of fact, she was more than encouraging for Sandrone to spend some time reconnecting with her roots.
The only issue was that Sandrone almost exclusively talked about Furina.
“The Caspars are building a new house near the Court,” Sandrone would say, then immediately pivot to, “Furina’s producing next week’s show at the Opera Epiclese, we should go.” Or, “The Caspars’ have such a lovely little girl,” and immediately follow up with, “You would've loved her! She was absolutely enchanted by Furina’s salon members.”
And here she was again. “Furina’s been working on a new play, how exciting! She said it'll probably be staged in two months or so and she could hook us up with some tickets. You should join us for tea next week, too, everyone's been dying to meet you again.”
“Oh. That's great,” Columbina says before getting up and walking away.
Sandrone is immediately alarmed by the behavior, completely unlike what she was used to. Columbina always, always listened to her stories about her day. Whether she was pissed off about some subordinate or she made a new groundbreaking discovery in her labs. It was unlike her to just get up and walk away during a conversation.
Columbina doesn't understand why it suddenly upset her to find out that Sandrone had tea with Furina once again. It felt like a betrayal to wait by the door for Sandrone everyday and lose her to everyone else once her schedule frees up for the weekend. She tries to understand, of course she does, but was it so horrible to be selfish every once in a while?
Everyday Sandrone came home to cook dinner. They have conversations about their day at the dinner table and spend the whole night together. They spent the day together on Sundays, doing a deep clean of the house and tending to the garden. But why is it that today, it seems as though Furina has filled Sandrone’s mind?
Crispy Roast wasn't too much of a handful to make, a fact Columbina was glad for because it meant she could do it herself in an attempt to evade conversation with Sandrone. It was just mashed potatoes and roasting the meat with some carrots in the oven.
She begins with peeling and cutting up the vegetables.
“What are you doing?” Sandrone asks, her tone evidently irritated.
Columbina takes a long breath before answering, “Making dinner.” She doesn't look back at Sandrone—avoids doing so, even. She keeps her focus on the task at hand, as if trying to let it be known that she was busy so her lover would leave her alone.
“That's my job, Columbina.” Sandrone tells her. “Come on, we were still talking.”
Columbina doesn't budge, taking another long breath before speaking. “It's alright, I can do it.”
Sandrone’s patience was visibly thinning out the more Columbina wouldn't just drop the task. In the amount of time they've been living together, she's learned more than a thing or two in the kitchen. Although it really was Sandrone who took over the majority of the kitchen work.
“No,” Sandrone just says. “Columbina, what is wrong with you? We were still catching up. Dinner can wait, or Fagio can do it. Why are you being so insufferable?”
Columbina loves being able to elicit some sort of reaction from Sandrone. It's what made her fall in love in the first place, having received so much of Sandrone’s attention and not being perceived as anything but herself. But right now, it felt like a rejection that landed itself right where it hurts.
Columbina only shakes her head for Sandrone to see. Her hands move slowlier as she sliced through a carrot, trying to avoid the inevitable clumsy mistakes if she carries on at an acceptable pace.
Sandrone approaches her, taking the knife and vegetable that Columbina was holding and sets them down, ordering Fagio to carry on what Columbina was doing. It was only then that Sandrone saw the tears forming at the side of her eyes.
“Are you crying?” Sandrone asks, her voice now more panicked than anything else.
That's when the tears finally fall as they have threatened to and small sobs escape from Columbina’s lips. Sandrone is quick to scoop her up, taking the both of them to the bedroom where they can both sit comfortably.
Sandrone sets Columbina down on the bed, then sits right in front of her. It was easier for her to figure out what was wrong when they're sitting face-to-face.
“What's wrong, Columbina?” Sandrone asks once again, her voice much softer this time. “You can just tell me if something's wrong.”
Columbina stays silent, still crying and trying to wipe the tears that kept falling to no end. Not out of protest, but because she couldn't quite put into words how she was feeling at the moment. Sandrone takes the hands that were trying to wipe her tears, kissing the both of them before she proceeds to take over in wiping Columbina’s tears.
“Did I say something wrong? Golubka, you know I always make us dinner.”
“That isn't the point,” Columbina says, gaze moving downward towards her own hands.
“Then, what is?” Sandrone asks.
“Do you even love me?” Columbina asks. Although, she herself is unsure why she chose to ask that question. There was no question that Sandrone loves her, but perhaps there was an inkling that she loved Furina more?
The silence that came after was so deafening that you could hear a hairpin drop.
Sandrone finds herself dumbfounded by the question. Of course she loves Columbina! She doesn't even have to try to explain herself, she just does!
“What kind of a question is that?” Sandrone asks.
Columbina is once again silent, unsatisfied with the answer she received and unresponsive to any further prompting that Sandrone has tried.
Columbina has always had bouts of possessiveness when it came to Sandrone and her use of time. It was usually solved by cuddles, whether it was in bed or right at Sandrone’s home laboratory where she had to work overtime. But as much as possible, she tried to dedicate her weekends to spending some time with Columbina even if it meant they stayed home tending to the house.
Sandrone stays sitting in front of Columbina, who remains as motionless and silent as she continues to cry. She quickly pulls up Fagio’s control panel, giving her quick instructions for dinner.
Sandrone moves quickly, trying to figure out how to get Columbina to give any sort of indication about why she was upset. There was no point in comforting Columbina if she wasn't going to make any moves towards getting to the bottom of what she was upset about.
Then she remembers what she was so happy and excited to come home about.
“I finally finished something I was working on for a while now,” Sandrone begins. Columbina just looks at her, paying attention but unresponsive beyond that.
“I can take my key out at night now, so we can lie down in bed properly,” she explains. Columbina doesn't indulge her with much of a reaction, just a small nod.
After spending more time in Fontaine, Sandrone has figured out how to channel pneuma energy into the small device, letting it serve as a temporary power source that could turn her gears at night. It was small enough not to cause any discomfort but powerful enough that it wouldn't affect any of her functions at all. The battery she’s using now is a fully functional prototype.
It takes no more than 30 seconds to swap her parts out with some assistance, perhaps from Columbina or from Fagio, but the battery lasts her about a day of her usual activities.
“Look,” Sandrone says, sitting down beside Columbina, whose eyes are now fixed on her fiddling hands, and finally takes her into her arms. “I can finally hold you just like this.”
Columbina flinches at first, always cautious of Sandrone’s clockwork key. But when she wraps her arms around Sandrone, the key really isn't there anymore. What's left is a smooth spot of skin where her key should be. And when she is held just like that, everything feels right in the world, as if it all properly fell into place. Part of Sandrone regrets treating the battery like a side project instead of a top priority.
“What are you upset about, golubka?” Sandrone asks softly. “I can't read your mind, my dove. You have to tell me so I can fix it.”
Columbina is relaxed in her arms, head on Sandrone’s chest and arms wrapped around her waist, eventually settling down as her tears stop. Sandrone knows now that she never really meant to question her love, but needed to be reminded anyway.
“You didn't answer my question,” Columbina finally says. “Do you even love me, Sandrone?”
“Of course!” Sandrone immediately replies. “You have no idea.”
Columbina wasn't fond of being worshipped. But Sandrone loved to make sure everything was in order for her anyway. She woke up to breakfast, with lunch in the refrigerator only needing to be heated up, and Sandrone came home every night to make them dinner. What is left to do at home—light housekeeping, watering their plants, preparing the ingredients for dinner, and grocery store runs—Sandrone only left for her because she asked. Hell, her own key never even bothered her. The only reason she even thought of developing a battery was for her to be able to hold Columbina in bed properly.
This life that they had built was founded on the love they had for each other. It was easy enough to go on their separate ways and meet up occasionally, but they instead choose to build a life together even if it meant sacrificing even just a hint of convenience with how their daily lives differ from each other.
“So you love me, but you just wouldn't say it,” Columbina mumbles loud enough for Sandrone to hear. She laughs softly, used to Columbina being so stubborn all the time.
Still, Sandrone doesn't pick any other option apart from to indulge her lover. “I love you, Columbina Hyposelenia-Guillotin,” she says—soft and gentle into Columbina’s ear. “See, I even said it out loud for my whole world to hear.”
Columbina hums. Not quite satisfied, contemplating whether she’d take the win. She decides against it. Sandrone could bear to deal with her being stubborn for now. “It seems you love Miss Furina more than me, anyway.”
Then Sandrone realizes: Columbina was jealous of Furina. And now, as she thinks back to the past four weeks, she realizes that while Columbina definitely did not have any reason to doubt Sandrone’s relationship with Furina, she had been very happy about spending time with her which was reason enough for Columbina to feel uncomfortable. No doubt that Columbina didn’t want to say anything earlier because she was friends with Furina too.
“I’m sorry if I’ve been spending my weekends with and talking about Furina,” she starts with an apology. “It's just been rare to meet someone who has been around in Fontaine for as long as I have. And I’m sorry I didn't realize sooner that it wasn't alright with you.”
Columbina remains silent yet again. Surprisingly, it doesn't do much to Sandrone’s patience that she was being like this. They have known each other for centuries now. Sandrone didn't need her to speak for her to know what Columbina was thinking.
“I thought you didn't want to come with me to have tea with them, that's why we agreed to do our own things on Saturdays,” Sandrone tries to explain. “If you want me to stop having tea with Furina and the others, just say the word.”
The scowl on Columbina’s forehead is defined and her frown prominent. But, the moment Sandrone figures out what was pressing her buttons, it never takes long for her to get Columbina brightened up again.
Sandrone pressed a soft kiss to Columbina’s neck, leaving a trail as she made her way up to her jaw in gentle kisses—as if Columbina would break if Sandrone kissed her too hard.
Columbina sighs softly when their lips finally meet. Sandrone has always been so gentle with her. Columbina knows this even when she is brash. So whenever Sandrone kisses her like this, she knows she is in safe hands.
The kiss is messy, as if Sandrone wanted to drink up all of Columbina’s troubles and Columbina would just let her. By now, Sandrone could map exactly how Columbina’s map felt by now—her lips, her tongue, her teeth, and her cheeks—but she could never seem to have enough of her.
When they part, they are both out of breath. As she catches her breath, Columbina gets to look into Sandrone’s eyes, seeing the gears behind them turn as she thinks of what to say.
Once they’ve both caught their breaths, Sandrone asks her again. “What's really wrong, Columbina?”
“I didn't want you to feel like you have to do everything with me tagging alone,” Columbina finally says. “I want you to experience your homeland the same way I get to experience Nod Krai now.”
“And why the fuck wouldn't I want my wife to be with me when I grab tea with my friends?” Sandrone deadpans.
Columbina finally gives in. “I saw a column on the Steambird about a man saying he was tired of having to do everything with his wife. I don't want you to tire out, Sandrone.”
“I spent three hundred years with you sleeping in my quarters every night in the Fatui, and you think I will get tired of you just because you came with me to have tea with OUR friends?”
The response that came after was instant. “Yes.”
“Is this why you said we should spend Saturdays doing our own thing?” Sandrone asks again. Then mutters frustratedly, “Stupid fucking newspapers.”
Columbina is once again silent. Sandrone ponders for a short while before deciding. “From now on, on Saturdays, maybe we could take turns visiting the Frostmoon Scions and having tea parties with Furina and the others together? Unless, of course, the Scions are not willing to have me.”
Columbina scowls but doesn't disagree. Her marriage to Sandrone was always a difficult topic when it came to the Frostmoon Scions. It was one thing to slowly shift her relationship with the Frostmoon Scions from being their goddess to something similar to being a family member, but choosing to marry their colonizer was something else entirely. As much as she wasn’t willing to admit, the last part was selfish on Columbina’s part.
It wasn’t something she wanted to dwell on either. There was a fine line between the Sandrone that acted based solely on orders that were given to her and the Sandrone that she married. With Dottore finally out of the way, Sandrone had done her best to allocate troops to reparations and reconciliation efforts with Nod Krai. The Tsaritsa had shifted her focus to finding other means to replace the power Columbina provided, considering how it would be pointless to come after her when she can more than protect herself from Fatui efforts as she now possessed the trilune authority.
Sandrone puts her thumb onto Columbina’s forehead to smooth her scowl out. “Hey, it's okay. We’ll figure out something that works.” Even as a mathematician herself, she finds herself at a loss with coming up with a logical solution at that moment. Surely, it will come to her at some point in the future. For now, a promise was more than enough because Sandrone would never say anything she couldn’t follow through with.
Then a proposal, “Would you like to join me next week, then? The Caspars are hosting.”
“In Poisson?”
“Mhm,” Sandrone confirms, hands running through Columbina’s hair. “They have the loveliest little girl. I think you’d love her.”
Columbina just nods in response, now more enthusiastically. “I can bring Luonnotar. She’s very good with kids.”
Whenever Columbina roamed around town, whether in Nasha Town or the Court of Fontaine, Luonnotar accompanied her. Only that she often got distracted playing with kids at kids’ playgrounds, so Columbina often just came back for her before they had to head back home.
Sandrone chuckles at the sudden burst of energy. “Well, I don't know what cheered you up so suddenly, but I hope it wasn’t having your face in my chest.”
Columbina just giggles, that stupid, smug smirk on her lips as she plays with the tips of Sandrone’s hair.
“You love me,” Columbina says, giggling even more.
“I love you,” Sandrone affirms, “so much.”
Then came the grumbling stomach. “Is dinner ready yet? I’m a little bit hungry..”
Sandrone doesn't even try to hide the smile that was slowly forming on her lips as she watched Columbina fiddle with her hair.
“Fagio might just be done, do you want to eat in bed?”
Columbina shakes her head, wiggling out of Sandrone’s hold and making her way to the door. “I want to be eaten out in bed, but we can have dinner in the dining room. Let’s go?”