Archive of Our Own

One of the many lessons she learned from the Lord Artificer was the importance of curiosity for a researcher in their field. In order to confront the truths of the world, one must be open-minded and courageous enough to ask the question why. Merely accepting what had been long established would only result in a life stuck in stasis and devoid of growth, and for a scientist, that was the most cruel fate of all.

She remembered his words laced with a doting tone that often escaped during moments like this, with only the tender afternoon glow sneaking through the crevices onto their humble abode as they shared warm coffee and basked in the stories of a past long gone. He would always inquire about her progress of the day, and Sandrone, ever pragmatic, would begin to recite the tasks she did and the improvements she planned to make. He would respond with a familiar smile, his eyes twinkling and painted in emotions that Sandrone never truly understood even now.

He said that she always exceeded his expectations, and that perhaps, one day, she would be able to surpass him. Even back then, she doubted his words, after all, Sandrone knew more than anyone what his life’s work entailed. The ambitious dream of surpassing her creator was something that never crossed her mind, was something that she didn’t particularly wished for, but somehow, he sounded so confident in his assessment that Sandrone almost believed him. She knew that even while he perpetually worked in a state of chaos, with loitered scratches of paper all lying limp on the floor after he was done, Sandrone found that his hypotheses were always built on solid foundations.

He went into great lengths to explain that it was due to her curiosity, that while she had been starting to understand emotions, this one in particular would be helpful if she planned to continue her research even after he was gone. Sandrone listened intently to his words despite the frequent pauses he had to take in between coughs, finding reason in between the sentences she knew were derived from his own experiences. And while she theorized that completely understanding human emotions was not a necessary function for her, she knew that this one was certainly an exception to that.

Over time, she found that the burning curiosity would never be quelled in her inquisitive mechanical core because finding out the truth about a matter would often result in far more questions than answers. And that was fine, Sandrone found satisfaction in diving headfirst into the hidden depths of the sea of knowledge and traversing that path all by herself. But she found that lately, this feeling was starting to turn into something else when it came to this subject specifically.

At first, it was unintentional, a sudden spark of interest being lit aflame in her logic module caused by the sudden movement of wings on the back of that enigmatic woman’s head when Sandrone offered to make her experience what it was like to have a clockwork key like hers. It was normal to be curious, after all, it looked more like a hair ornament rather than actual wings, but the way it shifted as Columbina reacted to her made Sandrone doubt this initial judgment.

The scientist in herself wanted to confirm whether it was real or not, but asking that infuriating woman directly was the last thing she wanted to do. It might just give her the wrong idea that Sandrone wanted to get along with her, which, for the record, was the furthest thing from the truth. That shameless moon goddess never failed to get on Sandrone’s nerves, and it had been getting worse lately ever since she was obliged to assist her as she filed for reimbursement when she had to gall to dine alone while being utterly clueless about protocol. She didn’t want to give her more reasons to bother her during working hours. Not that she ever needed it, Sandrone thought wryly to herself.

Thankfully, there were other ways to test this conjecture, and that was to observe the oblivious goddess discreetly. She knew that from this alone, she could accurately discern whether that hairpiece was just that or if it was actual wings instead.

So really, the fact that her keen eyes couldn't stop wandering towards the direction of this aggravating woman had nothing to do with her at all, but everything to do with satiating the curiosity programmed in Sandrone's inner core. It was merely a passing fascination that would certainly dissipate as soon as she had this goddess figured out.

That was what she told herself anyway as she stared at Columbina’s picturesque side profile while the Jester was discussing the agenda they had for this unannounced harbinger meeting. There was no doubt that this matter was of importance to their ultimate goal of burning away the old world, but she found herself unbothered as the moon goddess remained motionless in the seat beside her. It was not like it was getting in the way of her work anyway, Pulonia was taking notes as well and it was not like Sandrone was completely tuning him out.

The third harbinger took it as a habit to sit beside her ever since that day at Podvorye Restaurant, and while she found it annoying, Sandrone ultimately decided that it could be a lot worse. As insufferable as this goddess was, she could instead be seated next to that bastard, Dottore, or that scoundrel, Pantalone, and just the thought of it was enough to make her feel disgusted. Luckily, those two colleagues didn’t attend this time around, and Sandrone, in spite of her lack of interest in them, had an inkling as to why. It seemed that this was correct if the smugness in Rosalyne’s smirk was anything to go by, but she immediately banished it away from her processors as nothing but unnecessary information.

The Rooster started to take the floor but Sandrone’s gaze remained trained on Columbina who still hadn’t moved an inch ever since the meeting started. With her eyes closed and covered by a silky veil, Sandrone couldn’t tell if she was listening attentively or not. There was a distinctive serenity in her expression that made her look much more divine than she usually did, and Sandrone almost couldn’t believe that this was the same woman who kept singing outside her chamber door so late in the evenings.

Her wings also remained unmoving, and she couldn’t help but wonder if perhaps, the stirring that she saw last time was merely a trick of the light. But Sandrone was arguably the best creation of Alain Guillotin, her vision was something that never betrayed her in all of the decades she lived. This possibility was simply an insult against herself, and in extension, against her creator, and so she promptly dismissed it in favor of considering other options.

It moves along with her as she walks, but that can be true for both a mere hair ornament and real wings. To form meaningful findings, the observation must be conducted when she's seated still like this. Any strange movement would increase the probability that this is an actual body part and not—

“—With that said, if we could lower the costs of production of these machines, we could allocate the excess funds to the training of these foot soldiers before they get deployed to other nations. As for the how, I believe the Marionette could coordinate with Pantalone about the revised proposed budgets,” the Rooster spoke in finality that the other harbingers merely nodded their heads in agreement. Columbina didn’t budge, however, and Sandrone was starting to believe that she was spacing out this whole time after all.

“Marionette, do you agree?” The Jester’s gruff voice resounded in the meeting hall and all eyes turned to Sandrone, awaiting her response. She was about to nod towards his direction and say yes when she saw it. Columbina’s wings moved slightly, the action so minute that if one was not paying enough attention, they wouldn’t be able to tell at all. But Sandrone’s full attention was on her, and she witnessed in great detail how Columbina’s neutral expression shifted as her brows went up and her gaze turned to Sandrone slowly.

Her sensors whirred as she came face to face with the goddess, and she couldn’t stop the heat from creeping up her neck at being caught staring at her so blatantly in the middle of the meeting. It was way too unbecoming of her that she averted her eyes. Wanting to pull herself together, she cleared her throat before she responded to their Director. “...I can’t make promises about reaching a compromise, but I suppose I have no choice but to discuss with him, at least.” Pierro nodded at that before he turned towards Rosalyne and asked her to give a report about her recent mission, making Sandrone release the breath she was holding.

The meeting went on from there, and the woman beside her unsurprisingly contributed nothing at all in the discussions. This time around, however, she could hear the quiet hums from her direction as the meeting continued. And while this would be the perfect time to see if there would be any other movements from her wings, she couldn’t find it in herself to resume her observations further after suffering such an embarrassment.

There was something mesmerizing about the fact that the flowers in the Zapolyarny Palace’s garden persistently thrived in spite of the bitter cold and the harsh winds. Living creatures had the tendency to adapt to their environments in order to survive, and Sandrone supposed that up to a certain extent, this could also apply to machines. This must be why Sandrone was slowly being acclimated to the sound of Columbina’s melodious voice as she sang for the flowers as they danced along with the sway of the currents. She wondered if this gentle, nurturing act from such a divine being was the main reason why they could flourish unabashedly amidst the unforgiving habitat they were in. She briefly remembered that Columbina also did this for the flowered pots in her quarters, and for a second, she felt some semblance of gratitude for her.

Having no other choice but to bear with the moon goddess’ presence over the years, she was starting to get used to her baffling colleague. It went without saying that Sandrone had no need for any company other than Pulonia’s, but she supposed that during moments like this, with the cold afternoon breeze aggressively making contact with her mechanical body, having someone like her close wasn’t terrible. Still, it would certainly do Sandrone good if this airheaded goddess could learn one thing or two about basic manners as she stayed by her side.

“...So this is really what you do all day long, huh?” she found herself asking as Columbina finished her song and floated towards the other side of the garden to pour her attention out on the other flowers, and she had no choice but to order Pulonia to follow her as he carried her effortlessly using his gigantic robotic hand. The idiot was wearing her white flowy robes, the same one she told Sandrone that the Kuuhenki made for her back when she was in Nodkrai shortly after her birth, and on top of that, she was barefoot like she always was. She couldn’t help but grimace at the sight as she imagined how cold it must be for her. “Aside from barging into my room, that is,” she added with a half-hearted scoff after a while.

“Hmm, there really isn’t anything much for me to do,” Columbina replied with an irritating smile as she crouched down on the ground and began to sing again.

“I’m aware. Lucky for you, you don’t need to interact with that swindling colleague of ours. I swear, if he tries to cut the budget for my research again, I’ll finally turn my politeness module off and give him a piece of my mind,” she stated with disdain as she remembered the last time she tried to renegotiate the allocations for her projects once again during their most recent harbinger meeting, only for it to be rejected so quickly. “And who is he to say that my research has no merit whatsoever just because it doesn’t give him money? Ugh, it’s such a shallow way of thinking that it pisses me off so much! And then that—”

She paused in her words as she saw that Columbina barely reacted at all, and the realization made her face red with anger. “Hey! You’re not even listening, are you?!”

That made the moon goddess stop with her soft tunes before she gingerly turned her head to look at Sandrone. From where she was seated on the ground, Columbina had to tilt her head upwards to meet her eyes, and somehow, the sight of her furrowed brows paired with a slight pout of her pinkish lips made Sandrone’s key spin a little faster. “But I’m listening. I like hearing you talk.”

“Ha! I find that hard to believe even for a second,” she said with a scoff as she averted the goddess’ gaze and crossed her arms around her, choosing to ignore the other half of what Columbina said to stop the erratic acceleration in the movement of her gears. “Seriously, I should’ve known better than talking to you about work-related matters.”

“...Sorry,” Columbina muttered quietly, and at that, Sandrone immediately turned her head back to her direction as she felt the sudden shift in the moon goddess’ mood. She was hugging her knees now as she was slumped on the ground, and Sandrone briefly worried about her clothes being stained before she remembered that this woman could easily use her powers to clean it up. She also noted that her wings were wilting from the back of her head, and in spite of herself, she felt a sharp tug on her core at the sight.

The effect was immediate as her mouth opened on its own, an anomaly in her system taking over her words, “A-Anyway, you said that you’re planning to waltz into my room later tonight, and well, while I don’t really approve of that, it’s not like I can stop you… So… Do you perhaps want anything in particular to eat?”

Sandrone noticed the wings perking up at the question, and she felt the rhythm of her key spinning back to normal as the goddess stood up from where she was seated and floated closer to where Sandrone and Pulonia were. She contented herself with watching as the moon goddess’ powers flashed moonlight on her dress as it started to look as spotless as it was when she first greeted her that morning. “Are you going to make something for me?”

She looked away from Columbina’s expectant stare when she answered, “Ugh, obviously not. I will make them for myself and you can get any leftovers, if there are any.”

Columbina’s delightful giggles resonated in the garden, and Sandrone felt her shoulders that she didn’t realize were full of tension visibly relax. “I don’t mind anything as long as you make them, Sandrone.”

She felt a blush dusting her cheeks at the genuine remark and she could only scoff in hopes of hiding it all away. “...Whatever. I guess I can make something sweet today, I’m in the mood for it.” The moon goddess cheered at that, and Sandrone couldn’t stop herself as she continued, “D-Do you want to go now? You can make yourself useful and entertain Pulonia while I bake.”

The moon goddess’ smile dropped down from her face and her wings sagged as if to follow the movement of her lips. “The Doctor actually asked for my help today, so I need to go to his lab first… But maybe I can go now so we can finish the experiment faster.”

Sandrone couldn’t help the scowl on her face from appearing, the mere thought of Columbina spending time with that psychopath was enough to make her gears speed up as they processed the unreasonable anger thrumming on her veins. While the bastard wisely chose which projects to disclose and which projects to classify as confidential during their meetings, she was aware of his track record and had heard whispers about the unethical procedures he conducted behind closed doors from terrified foot soldiers whenever they passed by her work station. She gritted her teeth and clenched her fists, and Pulonia, sensing the shift of her mood, carefully adjusted his hold of her to keep her from falling off balance.

“It will just be for a minor experiment about Kuuvahki,” Columbina’s soft voice snapped her out of her outburst, and her hands subconsciously relaxed themselves at the soothing sound. “He just asks me to strike and move things, though I’m not really sure why.”

She turned to stare at the goddess’ expression then, her features were always accompanied with such gentleness and Sandrone couldn’t help but feel a glitch in her system at how sincere and innocent she was. “I-I don’t really care, and I didn’t really ask,” she muttered weakly.

Columbina hummed at that, considering her words when she replied, “I see. I just thought you looked like you wanted to know.”

“As if,” she replied with a scoff but the bite of her words didn’t arrive like usual. She felt her core buzz like there were sirens blaring beside her ears, and she couldn’t stop the next words from bubbling out of her mouth. “...But as colleagues, take this as a word of advice. Be careful when dealing with that bastard. We’re all terrible people here, but he easily puts everyone to shame.”

“...I see,” the moon goddess replied as she hummed in contemplation. After a few moments, she floated towards the direction of his laboratory anyway, and Sandrone had to mask her expression into nonchalance as she felt a slight pang in her chest. “Then, I’ll see you later, Sandrone. I’ll come back as soon as I can.”

Sandrone and Pulonia stayed rooted from where they were as she watched Columbina’s slender figure slowly fade into the distance. She exhaled deeply before she ordered Pulonia to bring them back to her quarters.

Later that evening, she couldn’t help but frown as she noticed that Columbina’s form was more slouched than usual, her wings drooped down even as she ate the sugary snacks that she always happily munched on during the times she stayed in Sandrone’s room. More lethargic than usual, the goddess excused herself early to bask in the moonlight in the garden, and despite the mountain of work that just got delivered to the doorstep of her workshop after she finished baking earlier, Sandrone couldn’t find it in herself to focus, and before she knew it, she was already making her way towards the same path she trudged on earlier. At the sight of the goddess singing with a smile of contentment on her face and the noticeable stir of her wings, she couldn’t help but release a sigh of relief.

The harbinger coat was a symbol of power in this land of rigid cold and ice, one glance at the fabric was enough to make onlookers flinch and bow their heads in reverence. It was perhaps the deep respect and fear that they bestowed upon the Tsaritsa, and by extension, the commanders of her plan of revolution against the Heavenly Principles. Or perhaps, it was a different form of terror that they experienced at the sight of these formidable individuals that made them do such a gesture. Each harbinger had their own quirks, each one had a reputation in the capital, but despite her detachment from court gossip, she knew that all of them were infamous.

Even Columbina, who spent her days idly singing and humming, her angelic voice enough to attract the small animals to her vicinity, was not exempt from this. In some ways, Sandrone could get behind why there were soldiers terrified of her. She was the third harbinger, and she knew that the citizens always whispered about how the first to third harbingers possessed powers equivalent to a god’s. Despite her breathtaking features and innocent smiles, it was inevitable that people would part every time she passed by.

It was almost comical how they would distance themselves every time the goddess would sing in the gardens, afraid that she was about to wield some strange power and attack them mercilessly. Up to a certain degree, she understood their feeling of alienation despite the enchanting sound of her tunes. After all, Sandrone too, always felt a strange sensation in her core every time her hearing module registered the sound.

Despite this, Columbina rarely wore the cloak. The only instances that she ever did so were during their meetings and whenever Sandrone would force her to do so during the times they went out of the palace to Snezhnograd’s central square. Usually, she only wore her white dress with a flowy cape woven with threads of indigo and blue which were accompanied by wing ornaments and crescent-shaped accessories, her bare shoulders and legs fully exposed, making her look out of place in a nation where everyone wore heavy clothing to cover every inch of their skin. Sandrone, a stickler to the rules, would never imagine casting aside everything that constituted the benefits of this job, but Columbina did it so easily. Perhaps, it was because she was a goddess and had no need for this special treatment. It was just like her to crave something more mundane even when she had immense power at her disposal.

It was for this reason that she didn’t get surprised to see the moon goddess frolicking on the snow that gathered at the palace courtyard as she played with Pulonia with mere light clothing covering her frail body. The temperature in Snezhnaya rarely dropped, sunny days were a luxury, but the coldness during that day was tolerable that she found herself neutrally agreeing when Columbina asked if she and the automaton could go to the courtyard together and play. Columbina insisted that Pulonia also wanted to go, and Sandrone almost snickered at the silly notion. Pulonia lacked vocal modules so it was impossible for him to admit that to this idiot, but then, she took one glance at his face, and somehow, she found herself nodding her head.

Perhaps it was because she was in a fairly good mood, or perhaps it was the hot coffee spiked with liquor that she drank that morning that made her less guarded with her decisions than usual. At the very least, she was sure that it was not the infuriating grin painted on that woman’s face as she asked for it so enthusiastically. Absolutely not, she thought to herself with a scoff.

Despite Pulonia’s absence from her side, Sandrone managed to finish all the required paperwork for the day, and with nothing else to do, she clasped the coat elegantly over herself and decided to see what the idiot was up to. The path to the courtyard was quite far, and Sandrone felt the stares and noises that immediately quieted down as soon as she went on her way. She was rarely seen without the automaton, so the sight must have taken them aback. Sandrone paid them no mind, however, as she continued her wide strides as her heels clicked to the ground.

As she got closer, she could hear the muffled noises of giggles that could only belong to one person, and she found herself slowing down. The sound of unfiltered joy coming from the goddess managed to make the classical music pieces she loved pale in comparison, and she found herself swallowing that thought down, not willing to inspect it further. There were faint clanking sounds as well, the only telltale sign that Pulonia was still there with her.

Sandrone found herself pausing in her tracks as she finally got a view of the two of them on the snow, still keeping distance while standing beside the walls. Even from this range, her enhanced vision allowed her a clear picture of what they were doing. She was certain that even with Columbina’s senses, she wouldn’t be able to notice her when she was this far.

She found herself watching in contentment as the goddess used her small hands to dig through the snow and work on what appeared to be snow Damselettes, the ones she always proudly told Sandrone about whenever she was trying to convince her to play with her. It was so silly, Sandrone could certainly gift her with a more robust doll of herself if she wished for it, something that wouldn’t melt to the ground after a few minutes of sunlight, but Columbina enjoyed this activity, and Sandrone found it convenient whenever she did so for no other reason than that of her bothering Sandrone less.

Pulonia appeared to be helping her as well, but his enormous hands could only do so much as he clumsily placed the lump of snow on top of Columbina’s own. The misshapen figure barely resembled the moon goddess, but despite this, she smiled at Pulonia sweetly as her wings perked up in happiness, almost proud of his work, and Sandrone couldn’t stop the surge of warmth that enveloped her chest and reached her cheeks up to the tips of her ears. It was unreasonable, but she found herself feeling dizzy as she placed a hand on the wall to support herself.

My sensors must be getting affected by this cold, she thought to herself as she considered going back to her chamber and finding comfort in the warmth of her bed instead. But then, the goddess visibly brightened up as her gaze found Sandrone, and she could only stare as Columbina’s ever vibrant smile turned even wider. Despite her eyes being closed, she could see how they crinkled in delight at seeing her, and the wings behind her head started flapping excitedly. It was an aggravating sight, one that made her feel like she was overheating as the key on her back spun faster and her gears started working overtime to cool her systems down.

The carefree idiot, barefooted and only draped in a breezy attire, started waving towards her as Pulonia also turned to look at her. Sandrone could see her deep breath on the cold air as she exhaled, and she found herself putting in more effort to appear annoyed as she rolled her eyes at the stupid goddess. That didn’t deter her, however, as she started floating happily towards her, and Pulonia followed her movements robotically. “Sandrone! Did you come here to play with us?”

It was the stupidest question she ever heard, but Sandrone found it hard to get irked at her when she looked genuinely pleased with the idea. “I-I was just… about to go to the Jester’s office. I already finished my work and I was wondering if there was anything else that needed my attention.”

It was a weak lie, but Columbina believed it nonetheless as her eyebrows furrowed and her wings slumped from behind her head. “Sandrone, I don’t think it’s healthy for you to overwork yourself. Remember the last time when you wouldn’t go out of your workshop because you were so busy?”

She felt herself blushing at the reminder, and she couldn't help but growl as she answered, “Ugh, I don’t need you to tell me what to do when you’re out here frolicking so carelessly while dressed like that! Seriously, you can’t even take care of yourself…” Sandrone turned to Pulonia then as she spoke, “Pulonia, turn up your thermal functions and stay close to this idiot before she freezes herself to death.”

The only response she got was Pulonia stepping closer to the goddess as she stayed rooted in place. “I didn’t know Pulonia could do that,” she remarked to Sandrone before she turned to the automaton. “That’s really cool, Pulonia, you can really do anything!” she stated happily and Sandrone couldn’t help but sigh. She should never mention the fact that this was a new function that she programmed so Pulonia could play longer with her. Surely, the idiot would only grow bolder in her attempts to bother Sandrone if she knew, after all, she was just too much of a handful.

“Enough of that, are you quite done with your games? It’s getting colder,” Sandrone said with a groan as she scanned the goddess’ happy visage.

“Hmm! Let’s get back to your room, Sandrone,” she declared cheerfully as she approached her side and started humming.

She clicked her tongue but started walking anyway as Columbina and Pulonia did the same. “Thanks for inviting yourself to my room, I guess. Seriously…” As always, the idiot ignored her sarcastic remark and just continued floating in her steps without a care in the world. Sandrone absentmindedly noted how she stayed closer to Pulonia than to her, and she didn’t allow herself to react to that information, she only wondered if perhaps, she should also install that thermal module with her. Just to reinforce my heat-regulating functions so I won’t be cold whenever Pulonia is accompanying this stupid idiot, she told to herself as she hastened her steps and the two followed along with her.

There was nothing more laughable than a multicentenarian goddess having such a basic palate, and Sandrone, as the host of their tea parties, found it in herself to be responsible in ensuring that she would be able to expand it to the wide array of dishes found across the seven nations of Teyvat as the decades passed by. At Rosalyne’s recommendations, Columbina became interested with delicacies from Mondstadt, and while Sandrone would have preferred it if she requested for Fontainian sweets instead, she found herself making what the idiot wanted anyway.

Rosalyne looked taken aback as she served tea break pancake, apple roly poly, and moon pie along with tea specially imported from the nation of freedom. Sandrone smirked as she looked surprised at how well made they were. On the other hand, she could only groan as the idiotic goddess didn’t even bat an eye and started eating right away like she hadn’t eaten in days. It only took one look at Columbina’s frail body for her to decide to let it go.

“Sandrone, I must say these taste like they were made from Mondstadt itself,” the Fair Lady commented as she dabbed her lips using a napkin after trying each of the meals in front of her. “Color me surprised.”

She rolled her eyes as she started eating as well, and she found that indeed, the taste was exquisite. She found herself mindlessly turning her face to look at the moon goddess who hadn’t spoken a word ever since the dishes were placed on the table to observe her reaction. She was gobbling down the food in front of her and Sandrone couldn’t help herself but sigh as she pushed her tea forward to her. “...Seriously, Columbina. Drink in between so you won’t choke. And eat more slowly, no one’s taking your food away from you.”

Columbina did as she was told, and Sandrone nodded approvingly towards her direction. She couldn’t help but notice the crumbs at the corners of her mouth, and Sandrone’s hands itched to clean them off her. The moon goddess noticed her gaze, and she inclined her head to the side as she spoke, “Sandrone, you’re staring… Do you want some moon pie too?”

She felt the heat creep up to her cheeks as she growled, “Idiot, you’re just such a messy eater that it’s pissing me off! Here…” Sandrone grabbed a napkin from the table and carefully wiped the remnants of food off the idiot’s face as she continued, “And can you stop offering me food that I made?”

It was a miracle that the goddess stayed still as her gloved hand did the work, and once done, she went back to her seat and sipped on her tea like nothing happened. She could feel Rosalyne’s smug face from beside her even without looking in her direction as Columbina resumed eating her treats, but she decided to ignore it as she hoped that the blush on her face would vanish soon.

It was when Rosalyne was accompanying her on their way towards the palace gardens to see if Columbina was there when her laser sharp hearing module heard some retainers from Regrator’s faction whispering vicious insults against the Damselette, and before she knew it, Pulonia already moved to pin them to the ground. Her jaws were tight as she sent an icy glare to the two offending men. “Disrespectful dimwits like you are just a waste of space in this palace. Tell me your badge IDs so you fools would have nothing to complain about anymore.”

They answered in shaky voices and as soon as Sandrone was sure they’ve learned their lessons, she wordlessly ordered for Pulonia to let them go. They scampered off out of Sandrone’s sight as her fists remained clenched on her sides. She only remembered Rosalyne was there with her when she spoke quietly, “Pantalone might take offense over that.”

“Let him,” Sandrone stated with a growl as she resumed her strides, this time, her steps were more aggressive, reflecting her foul mood. “He should’ve disciplined them more to never let them badmouth a superior so lightly like that.”

“True,” the Fair Lady said with a laugh as she continued. “I can’t wait to let your dear Columbina know about how you defended her so valiantly. She might just swoon."

“Hmph. Don’t you dare tell her about it. That idiot doesn’t need to know something like that,” she muttered quietly in reply. “Besides, I didn’t defend her. I just find it annoying how they’re being so insolent in broad daylight.”

“Hmm, I’m sure…” Rosalyne started with a playful tone. “But you and I both know you wouldn’t have done that if the one they insulted wasn’t her.”

Sandrone didn’t humor her with any response because she found that she didn’t find any. Instead, she quickened her steps as the sound of Rosalyne’s laughter echoed through the castle halls. And as soon as they saw Columbina in the garden happily singing for the flowers she cared about, Sandrone immediately interrupted Rosalyne when she tried to bring up what happened on their way there. Even Columbina’s curious stare and the pout of her lips weren’t enough for Sandrone to cave in and reveal something so nonsensical and foolish.

Sandrone’s mind was an unlimited storage of information about knowledge that she acquired in the centuries of her life. Unlike humans, she had no trouble recalling a specific detail about something as long as she already learned it. It was one of the many things that set her apart from her human counterparts in their field, and she found herself proud of it.

She found that this particular trait also had its drawbacks. All things considered, she was now confident about her information about the moon goddess, her mannerisms, her preferences in food, and even her sporadic schedule. She managed to calculate the distance at which Columbina was sure to sense her using her Kuuvahki. She even managed to form a reasonable and solid hypothesis about her wings, that they react to her emotions using the Kuuvahki in the air. Despite this, in spite of the centuries that she found herself stuck with the idiotic goddess on her side, she was no closer to understanding what goes on in that pretty little head of hers.

Her question had been very simple, something that should have also extracted a straightforward answer, but she should have known that when it came to her, it was best to temper one’s expectations. She had been wanting to ask that for centuries but only managed to blurt it out yesterday, and yet, the idiot’s answer only managed to give her more questions rather than providing some sort of clarity.

“Hmm… A place where people don’t ask me for things I cannot give them. Where they don’t worship me, or fear me, but just want to chat with me like a normal person… I’d also like the freedom to come and go as I please. And ideally, it would be somewhere with the smell of coffee and snacks…”

Her voice resounded in Sandrone’s ears even as she tried to cover them with her pillow. She found herself uncharacteristically taking the day off, unable to sleep a wink even as the morning went by. Sandrone prided herself in being exceptionally perceptive, but even with all of her mental gymnastics, she couldn’t find it in herself to understand why Columbina could answer that question like that and expect Sandrone to react like it was nothing at all.

What the hell do I even do with that information? The answer to that question only came in the form of her telling Columbina to leave her room and take more snacks with her, a reflexive response to deflect the situation they were in. It was so frustrating that the idiot didn’t even seem affected by her own words, only nodding her head and humming happily on her way out of the room. She didn’t have any choice but to cancel her invitation for a tea party with Rosalyne as well, and the taller woman could only agree with an inquisitive gaze.

She couldn’t stop the gears of her mind from turning as they tried to make sense of everything. She felt the persistent flicker of ember beneath her ribs as Columbina’s words echoed in her head again and again like a broken record. The source of her vexation, as carefree as ever, went earlier and asked if she was alright, but Sandrone only dismissed her and told Pulonia to accompany her for the day instead. She seemed curious about the strange behavior, but she didn’t press further and went with the automaton instead.

With no other choice, she decided to turn off her thinking modules and set a time for them to restart. She also sent a signal for Pulonia to let him know about this so he could come back as soon as that goddess got bored. It was perhaps an imprudent decision considering there might be threats from within and outside the palace halls, but she found herself willing to take that risk for once just to stop herself from hearing that celestial voice as it basically admitted that her ideal home was Sandrone’s.

She felt her face being painted in crimson as she gritted her teeth and closed her eyes. Perhaps, once she wakes up, she would no longer be as affected by that ethereal presence as much as she was, and Sandrone could finally resume her life of peaceful research and work. There was a muffled voice in her head that chuckled at the silliness of that wish, but Sandrone didn’t have time to investigate as sleep overtook her completely.

“What do you think about inviting the Knave to our tea parties?” Rosalyne inquired one day as she sipped on the Fontainian tea that Sandrone saved for the three of them. Columbina was busy trying to scrape off the icing off the cake that Rosalyne brought for her, and Sandrone could only sigh at her penchant for sweets.

“Why should I do that? We barely know her,” she answered dismissively as she ate the cake with the grace of a proper lady, something that the moon goddess beside her could certainly take notes from.

“It’s been almost a decade since she joined and you still barely know her. I thought you would be interested to meet her because you’re both from Fontaine, but I suppose you’re more interested in your machines. Even Columbina here already hung out with her before,” Rosalyne stated with a disbelieving chuckle, and the sound became more amused as Sandrone jolted from her seat to look at Columbina, waiting for her to explain.

The goddess merely continued eating the icing on her plate, but after noticing the sudden silence as the two waited for her to respond, she turned to meet Sandrone’s gaze. “Hmm? What is it?”

“...I didn’t know you’ve been hanging out with the Knave,” Sandrone said as she choked back the bitter tone in her voice. “...Not that I care, of course.”

Her words made Rosalyne laugh, but the moon goddess offered her an apologetic smile as she replied, “I forgot to tell you. I’m sorry, Sandrone.”

“Ugh, I just told you I don’t care!” she said with a huff as she took a huge spoonful of the delicacy in front of her, not minding her manners for once in hopes that Columbina would let the matter go.

The moon goddess took it as a sign to continue with her food, her wings flapping as she enjoyed the sweet taste it provided her, and Sandrone could only click her tongue at her. She wanted to be grateful that Columbina didn’t say anything more, but at the same time, she was curious about what this goddess was doing with that woman.

Rosalyne, perceptive as ever, cleared her throat, making Sandrone shift her gaze to her as she listened to her speak. “Anyway, I must say she would be a great ally. And we’ve been… well acquainted lately.”

Sandrone’s enhanced vision could see the emotions swirling behind Rosalyne’s eye as she said the words, and in a second, she understood the meaning behind them. With a smirk, she remarked, “Very interesting, Rosalyne. You should've just said so from the start. I am not one to bar you from your pursuits.”

“It’s nothing serious like that…” the Fair Lady said with an almost wistful smile before her expression morphed into mischief as she smirked at her, her gaze turning to Columbina before it went back to hers. “And besides, you’re not really one to talk.”

Sandrone fumed at the insinuation, “Ugh! I already told you a million times that it’s not like that! Give it a rest already!”

Rosalyne laughed boisterously at that, catching the moon goddess’ attention as she finished with her food. “Hmm? What are you two talking about?”

The other woman was about to open her mouth and respond to her but Sandrone interrupted her quickly, “Nothing! Here, have some more of that cake.” She swiftly placed more slices on Columbina’s plate and she watched in relief as the goddess perked up at that as her focus shifted once again to the food in front of her. When she was sure Columbina wasn’t paying attention anymore, she made sure to send a meaningful glare at Rosalyne’s direction, and the other woman only shrugged in response.

Arlecchino was exactly what she expected the woman to be. As the Father of the House of the Hearth, she knew that she carried a lot of responsibilities on her shoulders even when she was comparatively much younger than them. She greeted them formally before she sat down on the chair beside Rosalyne, and Sandrone caught the flirtatious smile from that woman’s face and she had to keep herself from snorting.

She could tell that like them, the Knave was testing the waters with their conversation amidst tea and some Fontainian desserts, but unsurprisingly, this was completely unnoticed by the idiot beside her as she suddenly spoke for the first time since that afternoon. “Arlecchino, we should play that game again when you finish your next mission.”

The fourth harbinger chuckled at that, a hint of softness in the neutral facade she entered the room with. Sandrone couldn’t help herself but ask, “Uh, and what might you be talking about?”

“The game where we try to sneak on each other’s backs without being noticed. It is quite fun,” Columbina supplied before she started drinking the tea offered to her. Sandrone found herself nodding her head and exhaling sharply, the feeling on her stomach finally being expelled all at once after hearing that answer. The afternoon went on without a hitch, and at the end of the day, Sandrone found herself offering one more invitation to their regular gathering.

It was during Rosalyne’s name day that the four of them found themselves in her room. It was the first time that she hosted these gatherings, and Sandrone found herself a little relieved that for once, she could just absentmindedly go and attend instead of preparing everything. It wasn’t that she disliked hosting their tea parties, in fact, it was quite the opposite. She found great enjoyment from this activity. However, she couldn’t deny that there was also something nice in being a participant for once.

Columbina appeared ecstatic at the concept of celebrating a birthday, and Sandrone realized that even when they’ve been together for centuries, she didn’t have an idea about when this woman’s birthday was. She cleared her throat awkwardly as the two of them sat alone in the comfort of Rosalyne’s table in her room as Arlecchino accompanied her to get the food that they ordered from Podvorye Restaurant. Sandrone thought that it was bad manners to leave the guests waiting at the table, but at the very least, Rosalyne had the mind to serve them some tea before they left. She could let it go for once.

The goddess turned to look at her, urging her to voice out her question. “...I just realized I don’t know when your birthday is. Care to tell me?”

“Hmm… I’m not yet sure when it will be this year, but I can tell you when it’s close,” she answered with a thoughtful finger pressed to her lips.

Sandrone could only raise her eyebrow at that, “What the hell do you mean?”

Columbina gave her a warm smile as she continued, “Moon-Prayer Night is held at different times of the year, so I can only estimate my birthday by sensing the moon.” Sandrone found herself nodding in understanding, already thinking of ways on how she could estimate when it would be using her calculations when the moon goddess turned to her and asked, “How about yours?”

“The thirteenth day of the first moon of the year,” she found herself answering easily, a brief picture of Alain’s smile flashed to her mind, and before she knew it, she felt a faint touch on her cheeks. She turned to the offender who was grinning happily at her as she poked her cheek, making her scowl and roll her eyes as she lightly slapped the hand off her face. “Idiot, what do you think you’re doing?”

“You just had an adorable smile on your face that I couldn’t help it,” she answered with a singsong voice as Sandrone absentmindedly touched her cheek, not realizing that she was smiling earlier. “Let’s celebrate your birthday together next time.”

There was always an air of sincerity in her words, one that never failed to pierce through Sandrone’s defenses. And yet, she found that it wasn’t an unsightly feeling at all. It almost felt addictive, a sensation she realized she wanted to chase for as long as Columbina would let her. It was aggravating how this moon goddess’ simple statements could leave such an effect to the ever dignified Marionette, to the Marionette who never allowed anyone in before her, to the Marionette who didn’t even know what her wish was. And yet, a voice in her head kept calling for a certain name, and she had been trying so hard to ignore it for so many years now to no avail.

It all made sense to her, why stories often depict the heroine as someone the hero would go to war for, because surely, a being such as Columbina was worth all the pain and suffering. A being such as herself was someone you would want to protect the smile of regardless of what you had to go through. It was a scary thought, how Sandrone was willing to admit all of that to herself, but she knew that in the presence of Columbina's ever disarming smile, it was inevitable.

“Hmph. Whatever,” she found herself answering with a blush on her cheeks as she looked away. Columbina giggled before she shifted her attention to the cup of tea in front of her. She didn’t notice Sandrone’s eyes following her movement religiously as she hummed happily to herself, nor the ticking sounds that resounded in Sandrone's mind as she felt the ground beneath her vanish into thin air, unable to do anything but let herself fall.

Carefree laughter could be heard inside Rosalyne’s quarters as she kept retelling funny stories about the politicians she worked with over the centuries, and in spite of her lack of interest with them, Sandrone found herself laughing along with her and Arlecchino. Columbina also joined in from time to time whenever she wasn’t spacing out, and Sandrone found herself relieved to see her in such high spirits especially when she knew that their campaign against the High Heavens were about to be more rigorous from here onwards.

“Look what they prepared for us,” Rosalyne stated with a wicked smile as Sandrone raised her eyebrow at her in question. After a few moments of foreboding silence, Rosalyne placed four bottles of Fire-Water on top of the table, and Sandrone almost rolled her eyes. “This is what birthdays are for! Don’t you agree?”

“Well, I do not wish to dampen your mood when you’re this elated so do I really have a choice?” she asked with a scoff as she grabbed one bottle and Arlecchino followed suit. “Thank the archons you only got one for yourself.”

The Fair Lady shook her head and chuckled lightly at that, “And who said it was just one?”

“Ugh, of course…” she groaned as Rosalyne and Arlecchino chortled, amused at her annoyance.

“Their bartender told us these drinks just arrived from their distillery in Novokitezh, so even the Knave here couldn’t stop me from ordering so much,” she playfully stated as she lightly hit Arlecchino’s shoulder, and Sandrone had to look away as the shameless woman’s touch lingered for a second too long.

“Whatever. Do what you want since it’s your day anyway,” she found herself saying as she motioned for Pulonia to open the drinks for them. The two women thanked her and proceeded to sip on their glass of spirits while the moon goddess simply stared at the bottle in front of her, seemingly unsure about what it contained. “It’s Fire-Water,” she said to her as the moon goddess gaped at the words.

“Oh, it’s the drink Rosalyne always talked about,” she said as she pieced the information together. “I’ve never tried it before.”

With that, Rosalyne livened up and promptly shoved one bottle towards the moon goddess’ direction. Columbina flinched slightly at the suddenness of her action, and Sandrone couldn’t stop herself from glaring at the other woman for being so careless. “You should try it, it’s a drink meant to celebrate special occasions.”

“No need to feel pressured, Columbina. This drink is quite strong,” Arlecchino stated gently and Sandrone nodded her head eagerly in agreement.

“Arlecchino’s right. I can drink this for you,” she said as she reached for the bottle before Columbina tenderly laced their fingers instead, the action taking her aback as she felt the temperature within her mechanical body rise up exponentially.

Her eyes were closed but Sandrone could see the gentleness of the smile painted on her small face, and she felt the gears inside her speeding up their movements as a prominent blush made its way towards her cheeks. “...I’ve always wanted to give this a try, it’s fine.”

Sandrone found herself timidly nodding her head as Columbina slowly released her hand in favor of holding the bottle herself. The touch left a burning feeling on her skin as she tried to compose herself and ignore the knowing smiles from the two harbingers seated in front of them. Columbina wrinkled her nose as she poured the contents of the bottle to her cup, and Sandrone almost told her again that she didn’t need to force herself, but she swiftly raised the cup to her lips and took a gulp of the drink.

Sandrone worriedly looked at her when she had to stop midway through as she coughed, looking overwhelmed due to the burning feeling of the liquor in her throat. She couldn’t stop herself as she approached closer to bring a comforting hand on the goddess’ back and caress her slowly as Arlecchino handed her a glass of water. After a few moments, the coughing finally subsided as she looked at Sandrone, and even with her eyes closed, Sandrone could tell that there was a certain lack of focus on her gaze than usual.

“Tsk, this is why I told you not to force yourself,” she chided, but her voice remained soft as she tried to examine if the moon goddess was feeling alright. “This is hard liquor and the idiot that you are just tried to gulp it down in one go. Unbelievable.”

“T-That’s how they did it,” she answered with a ghost of a smile, and Sandrone sighed in relief knowing that she was fine.

“Whatever, just don’t drink anymore of that,” she lectured as she grabbed the bottle and poured it on her cup instead. This time around, Columbina didn’t voice out any complaints as she cradled her head on her arms on the table and played with the empty cup in front of her, tracing its outlines. She looked really sleepy, and Sandrone felt a familiar feeling on her chest emerge at the sight. “...Ugh, you’re going to hurt your neck like that.”

Rosalyne laughed in amusement, “You’re fuzzing over nothing. Columbina will be fine.”

She couldn’t help but roll her eyes as she drank the rest of the cup and turned to Rosalyne’s direction. “Whatever. It’s getting late, I have work waiting for me in my quarters. Columbina and I are going to retire for the night.”

The eight harbinger protested at that, “Please, it’s still too early. You two should stay a little longer and finish the drinks.”

She was about to object when Columbina suddenly spoke, her voice slightly slurring from the effects of the alcohol. “...This room smells like Arlecchino… We probably went to the wrong one…”

Her words immediately caused the whole room to turn silent. Even Rosalyne, always poised with her words and sure of her actions, found herself stunned at the sudden remarks from the moon goddess. Arlecchino also stopped her hands from bringing the glass of alcohol to her lips as she registered the words.

After a few seconds, Rosalyne finally found her bearings as she smiled at Sandrone and Columbina. “...You’re right, Sandrone. It would be better for our dear Columbina to take a rest now.” With that, Sandrone mutely nodded her head and asked Pulonia to carry her and Columbina to go out of Rosalyne’s chamber. She awkwardly greeted her again for her special day and Columbina also did the same, her tone more airy than usual.

As they arrived at the door of Columbina’s quarters, the goddess made no attempts to move and enter the room even as Pulonia brought her down gently to the ground. Sandrone couldn’t help but scoff as she spoke, “Hey, get it together and get inside so you can rest. Pulonia will bring you soup and medicine later.”

“No,” she answered with a petulant tone as she looked at Sandrone with a pout on her glossy lips. “Don’t wanna…”

“Ugh, you’re just so unbelievable,” she sighed as she nodded at Pulonia and the automaton proceeded to carry the moon goddess back on his hand. Columbina cheered loudly at that as he made his way to Sandrone’s quarters, his steps almost as loud as the whirring of her key on her back.

If you were to ask Sandrone any question about the existing body of knowledge of Teyvat, she was confident that she could answer them as easily as she breathed. She was centuries old now, her lifespan much longer than the years that her creator lived. Still, she knew that she was far from being able to surpass the gravity of his work, and for some reason, that made her feel at ease. There was something daunting about thinking about what came after she accomplished that prophecy, a feeling in her chest that she wanted to suppress for as long as she could.

When it came to the unknown, there was an exhilarating feeling at being the first person to navigate uncharted waters, but when it came to her, she couldn’t help but feel a spike of fear on her chest, the thought that this woman managed to seize her heart that she wasn’t even sure existed brought a sense of anxiety that she couldn’t extinguish no matter how many times she tried. She had identified this feeling for what it was on that night when Columbina came over to stay the night, but instead of keeping the overwhelming feeling on her chest at bay, the ever present urge to stay close and keep her safe never left.

She had observed this woman for hundreds of years now, she memorized every contour of her face, the absence of any blemishes that made her seem more divine than anything else. And yet, during moments like this, as she slept soundly on Sandrone’s bed as if it was the safest place in the world, she could always see the content expression on her face and she couldn’t help but let hope bloom in her chest at the prospect of her feelings being returned.

She quickly dismissed this thought as she continued staring at her sleeping face and sat unceremoniously beside her figure. It was dangerous to entertain such musings, after all, Columbina treated her as the closest individual in her life. That should be more than enough for her.

But still, one look at her was enough to show her why this world was worth saving, and Sandrone had to exhale deeply to stop herself from reaching forward and touching her cheeks the way Columbina always did whenever she wanted to. She turned her gaze to her closed eyes, ones that Sandrone never had the opportunity to see even when they already had a long history behind their backs. She briefly wondered what they looked like, before she filed it away as one of the things she wanted to know about the most in her life, as silly as it was. Columbina’s wings from behind her stirred slightly, and Sandrone’s outstretched hand moved on its own, fascinated with it for the longest time now, before she retreated in fear of the repercussions of the action.

“...You can touch it if you’d like,” the moon goddess spoke softly, her voice still slightly husky as they entered Sandrone’s ears.

“Since when were you awake?” she asked seriously, and Columbina offered her a light smile when she answered.

“I’ve been awake for a while now. I was observing you,” she admitted in a tone full of levity, and Sandrone couldn’t help but blush as she processed the meaning of her words.

“You’re just so annoying,” she groaned. “You need to eat something and drink medicine so you won't get dizzy.”

She tried to get up to help her recover from her hangover, but Sandrone felt a gentle tug on her night dress and she couldn’t help but pause in her tracks and wait for Columbina to explain herself. “...I’m fine, just stay with me here. I like it when you’re close.”

Her words never failed to ignite something within her chest, but Sandrone swallowed her emotions as she replied weakly, “...Fine. Anything to shut you up.” When Columbina beamed at her in response, Sandrone could only sigh. She knew that with that beautiful smile in full display, anything else could always wait for later.

She felt a vein pop in her head as the two bastards from the private box sofa seat beside theirs kept on chattering as the play continued on the stage at the Korolevskiy Theater. Even when these bastards were arguably the people she hated the most, she always went out of her way to act as civil as she could to avoid internal strife within their organization. That didn’t mean that they were making it easy though, because right now, Sandrone could swear she was minutes away from punching them straight in the face for ruining this wonderful experience.

The tickets were gifts from the Cryo Archon, a last chance for the harbingers to unwind before their meeting tomorrow about the key details of their plan to overthrow the Heavenly Principles. At first, she was ecstatic to learn about the opportunity to watch this play, and she even discussed an overview of the story to the moon goddess to ensure that she could enjoy the performance as well. It didn’t go according to plan as the insufferable woman flashed her a bright smile and the words suddenly kept stuttering from her throat. It was quite an embarrassing display coming from her person, but Columbina looked like she didn’t mind, in fact, she seemed more amused than anything.

She turned to the moon goddess seated beside her to complain about these aggravating colleagues, but then, she was taken aback to see that Columbina was already looking at her. At that moment, she managed to tune out the annoying voices from beside them along with the melodramatic background music reverberating inside the theater as her thoughts halted in her head. Even from the darkness inside the venue, the moon goddess’ face stood out, her beauty was undoubtedly enough to inspire a thousand songs, and Sandrone was completely pulled into her orbit with a simple tilt of her head as she waited for her to speak.

“I…” she started, and she found herself at a loss for words as Columbina’s intense gaze remained on her. “S-Stop staring at me, idiot. Pay more attention to the performance. It’s quite good.”

That was all she said as she turned to look at the stage in front of them. Columbina merely hummed at that, but she knew that she made no attempt to break her stare on her face. This time, her lack of focus at the play had nothing to do with the annoying harbingers beside them, and everything to do with the person she wanted to watch this performance with in the first place.

For the longest time, she was convinced that envy was an emotion she wouldn’t be able to experience in her mechanical life. After all, Sandrone was capable of doing anything she wanted to with only a number of exceptions. Even right now, she convinced herself that she was incapable of possessing such a petty emotion as she watched Columbina interact with one of the performers after the play finished. She recalled that this woman was introduced as the principal soprano of this troupe, and she couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow in judgment when she approached the moon goddess as the two of them were on their way out to exit the theater.

She could only guess what the woman was telling Columbina, but she seemed to be buzzing with energy as she enthusiastically shook the goddess’ hand. The moon maiden, still not that used to interactions with people she barely knew, looked almost flustered as the girl continued talking to her. Sandrone was about to step in when the two of them suddenly turned to meet her intense stare.

She felt herself oddly exposed as the other girl bowed her head and waved goodbye at Columbina, and within seconds, the goddess floated happily back towards her side like nothing happened. She found herself curious about the interaction, but she wasn’t sure if it would be a good idea to ask.

As they walked from the Korolevskiy Theater to the Zapolyarny Palace slowly, she couldn’t help but let curiosity win as she finally inquired, “What did the two of you talk about?”

“She praised my singing… Though I am not quite sure where she heard it,” the goddess mused as she placed a finger to her chin in thought.

She couldn’t help but scoff, “Please, you’re literally singing all the time even as we walk outside. She probably heard it then.” Columbina nodded in understanding at her response, before she awkwardly fumbled with her hand in the air as she continued, “I was mostly asking about when you were looking at me…”

“Oh, that,” she said as her wings perked up. “She just said sorry for bothering the two of us when we’re in the middle of something. I’m not really sure what she meant though.”

Sandrone’s cheeks slowly got dusted in pink as she registered the words before she groaned. The concept of being mistaken as lovers was something that she had never been sure how to react to, especially from someone they barely knew. “Ugh, seriously…”

“...Is something wrong?” the moon goddess asked with slight worry in her tone, and Sandrone could only shake her head, afraid that her voice would give away the vulnerable feelings on her chest as she increased the pace of her steps, making the goddess follow from behind her.

As the day of Columbina’s mission drew close, Sandrone found herself accompanying her even more. It was something that she didn’t dwell on further, especially with the loss of Rosalyne so fresh in their memories. The goddess still had a skip in her steps whenever they would go out, but there were slight changes noticeable enough for Sandrone who had been watching her for centuries. She could see it, the way Columbina would stare at the spot in the garden where Rosalyne used to stand whenever the two of them happened to visit at the same time. She misses her a lot, Sandrone thought, and the realization never failed to bring a slight pang in her chest, unable to do anything to soothe the pain in her heart.

They were on their way back to Sandrone’s quarters now, a few paces between them as she matched Columbina’s languid steps. She found herself sneaking glances at the moon goddess every now and then, and so, as soon as Columbina’s wings stirred and sagged down, she could already tell that she sensed something. She was proven right when Pulonia also alerted her of a signal that never failed to ruin her day.

As always, the bastard walked as if he owned the place, and despite the mask concealing his eyes, she could tell from his smirk that he was amused with the sight before him. It was different from the way Rosalyne would tease the two of them, the smile he had was almost mocking and it infuriated her to no end.

Despite being both researchers in their respective fields, she had no respect for the Doctor and his ways. His utter lack of care for his subordinates’ lives was something that ripped off any chance of getting along, and so she never tried to do that even when he was one of the members that were there even before she joined the Fatui ranks.

Besides, she saw the way he looked at Columbina sometimes. It never sat right with her, the way he would chuckle as if he found some valuable research material. The thought made her feel livid, and she felt her fists clenching as he walked past them. She could tell that Pulonia was also on high alert, waiting for her instructions in case his assistance would be needed. She scoffed at him, and the smirk plastered on his face grew even wider at the display of her displeasure.

For a brief second, she wondered if the moon goddess would talk to him, but she didn’t, her wings remained downtrodden as he eventually vanished out of their sight to archons know where. She felt relieved at this, and the voice in her head who continued to become persistently louder whenever she was in the company of this goddess spoke up, urging her to close the distance between the two of them and bring comfort to her. She ignored it and swallowed a lump in her throat. She knew it was a leap she was not yet ready to take.

It was a last ditch effort, one that she already calculated to have a probability of success not even close to one percent, but she still made the journey to Silvermoon Hall all alone, and the result was exactly as she expected. Of course you wouldn’t be here, she thought to herself as she walked away from that blonde traveler and her flying companion. When it comes to you, it will never be that easy.

The slowed sound of her clockwork key spinning went in tandem with the clicking sound of her heels, and a feeling of irritation entered her system. Some splashes of water as she walked soiled her dress, and she found the unpleasant feeling festering further. It was then that she saw the imposing figure of Kuutar sculpted by the Frostmoon scions. She didn’t have the time to observe it earlier, nor the other statues crafted all over Nodkrai on her way from the Kuuvahki Experimental Design Bureau to Columbina’s hovel, her mind focused on the singular goal of confirming if she was there.

But she wasn’t, and Sandrone had no choice but to look at this cheap replica as her thoughts of the moon goddess swirled over her system like she was the most important thing in the world. It was almost laughable how Sandrone’s internal processors placed her on top of the list of her priorities because she knew that it wasn’t how she was programmed at all. That goddess, despite her infuriating antics and most annoying smile, managed to achieve something that even Sandrone’s foolproof equations couldn't comprehend.

There were moon-prayer blossoms growing around the area, but the statue didn’t make them glow as vibrant the same way her moon goddess always did. The figure remained motionless, a captivating picture of Columbina, her eyes covered by a blindfold, her expression neutral as her outstretched hand reached for something beyond the firmament. It was finely made, the stonework was something that she could tell was made with a lot of care, and perhaps more accurately, reverence. But it was wrong, it was all so wrong that Sandrone couldn’t help but scowl and click her tongue as a bitter feeling bubbled in her throat.

She had memorized her features so well, the sight deeply ingrained in her core that there was no way she wouldn’t be able to tell. She thought that if she closed her eyes, she could almost see it. The sight was so vivid that it was already embedded beneath her eyelids. Columbina, her face towards the sky. Her eyes were veiled by that distinctive eye mask, but somehow, in spite of the thin material blocking her vision, it always felt like she could see more than anyone else. She was beautiful even when there was a slight frown on her face, and Sandrone would have done anything to wipe it off and replace it with the ever bright smile she always offered her even when Sandrone wasn’t sure if she deserved it. She was gazing at the one thing she's always wanted, a place she called home even when she didn’t know anything about it. There was something so wistful in her gaze, and for the longest time, Sandrone only contented herself to observe her from afar.

And for that she knew that even if these scions could never replicate her beauty, as long as Sandrone was there, the memory of the goddess would live on. Her eyes briefly wandered to the splash of the water on the ground, and she realized that in her reflection, she wore that same expression too. She grimaced at the sight as she turned to look back at the sculpture in front of her.

Even if she was gone, there would always be a part of her that remained here on Teyvat, the strongest tie she had always been looking for had always been the one beside her, in Sandrone’s remembrance. But she didn't want that. No, Sandrone was far more greedy than that. She wanted the real deal, not memories of almosts and what could have beens. So, with a determined face, she walked away and decided that there was only one thing left for her to do.

It was out of habit, the way her blue eyes would seek Columbina’s face even in a crowded room. Her presence was a strong gravity that Sandrone could never resist, but this time around, her otherworldly eyes with hues of pink and purple were always there to meet her gaze back. It would always result in a blush of crimson painted over her cheeks, and out of the corner of her eyes, she would see the gentle, almost fond smile on that enchanting woman’s face.

With an awkward negotiation with the members of Musketeer Pictures and a soft “Please?” coming from that goddess’ lips, she had no choice but to agree to help them shoot more scenes with the two of them for their film. While Sandrone appreciated and respected this craft, never in her centuries of life did she expect that she would participate as a member of productions, and for the role of a lead actress no less. But Columbina was Columbina, and Sandrone was Sandrone. Saying no to her had always been the hardest thing for her to accomplish even back then, so she decided to suck it up and just go along with her whims again.

It was worth it though, because Columbina tugged on her sleeves and flashed her the sweetest of smiles, and Sandrone found it extremely hard to act like she was upset, the urge to envelop her in another tight embrace was so overwhelming on her chest. She would’ve done that there and then, but there were other people within the vicinity, and she knew that her reputation already suffered enough hits for a decade. And so, she had no choice but to mutter a quiet “Idiot,” one that the moon goddess only giggled at.

That evening, as soon as they finished eating dinner, Columbina quietly followed her as she went into her room at the Wingalet. It was a wordless agreement between the two of them, one that was made in the centuries they spent in each other’s company. Sandrone was about to tell her that she could lend her some sleepwear, but the goddess used her authority to bring her clothes from the hotel in a simple flash of moonlight. The slight upturn of her plump lips etched on her face suggested that she was waiting for Sandrone’s reaction to her powers, but she didn't humor her as she merely scoffed and went outside to change her clothes.

When she came back, the goddess was already lying on her stomach unceremoniously on her bed, her raised legs swinging in excitement as she flipped pages on the book she was holding. She recognized it to be a part of the fantasy novels on the shelf at the corner of the room. Her night gown left little for Sandrone’s imagination, and she couldn’t help but feel the heat bloom from her cheeks to her neck at the provocative position.

She never had any interest with anyone else before she met Columbina and always found herself judging mortals for being so weak to temptations of sexual nature, but here she was now, doing the same thing. She had to remind herself that it was rude to stare at a lady with her skin exposed like that, but Sandrone had moments of weakness too, and she couldn’t stop her eyes from staring even when her logic module kept telling her to pull herself together.

Thankfully, Columbina turned towards her and saw her standing stiffly and gawking near the door. She flashed her an innocent smile and Sandrone felt that it was a different form of torture to see her so oblivious and unaffected at the situation they were in while she was so flustered and out of breath. “Sandrone, you’re back.”

She cleared her throat awkwardly as she floundered with her words, “I-I see that you’ve… you’ve helped yourself to my bed…”

“Oh,” Columbina blinked before she shifted her position to sit properly on the mattress and close the book she was reading. “Sorry, I just assumed we’re sleeping together like old times.”

“Ugh, I told you to not phrase it that way,” she said with a groan before she approached the bed and sat beside the goddess timidly. “...And it’s not like I’m particularly opposed to it or anything.”

“I see,” the moon goddess replied with a charming smile before her closed hand was suddenly lifted in the air in what looked to be an attempt to… punch her? Sandrone was mortified at the realization before Columbina paused, her mouth turning agape, her wings twitching from behind her as if she was considering something. Eventually, she unclenched her fingers and poked Sandrone’s cheek instead, and she found herself baffled once again at the thought process of this woman.

“Huh? What was that for?” she asked, confused, only to be answered by a light giggle from Columbina. “Hey… Answer me.”

“I found out recently that punching someone means you want to befriend them. But I realized you’re not just a friend to me, Sandrone,” she said gently, and her words sent tickles to Sandrone’s ears as her heart soared with hope. Still, she tried to press it down knowing that disappointment was a poison she shouldn’t willingly take. Surely, that’s not what she means…

“I-If not a friend… Then what…?” she asked in a stammer, her voice quiet in the small room they shared.

Columbina placed a hand to her chest then, an affectionate grin on her face as she spoke, “The most important person, the one I hold most dearly in my heart. My one and only bestfriend.”

“Of course…” she replied swiftly, looking away and trying to ignore the sharp pinpricks in her heart. It was something, and at the very least, the goddess put her above everyone else in that list. The fact that she was special to her was something Sandrone never questioned. And yet, the desire to be so much more was so loud in her chest that she couldn’t help but try to step forward for once. “I-I feel that way too…”

In one fluid motion, Columbina leaned forward and enveloped her slender arms around her in a warm hug, and the scent of moon-prayer blossoms filled her senses, completely disarming her. She found herself hugging back without another thought, and this time around, in the privacy of her own room, she knew that she could hold on for as long as she wanted to. “...I missed you so much, my beloved Sandrone.”

There was sadness tinged in her tone, one that Sandrone recognized in her own back when Columbina was gone to the moon gate. She found herself pulling her closer, wanting to reassure her that she was really here and that she would never ever want to leave her alone again. “Hmm, I already know that, idiot.”

Columbina didn’t respond, but Sandrone felt the sensation of wet tears on her shoulders. She rubbed the goddess’ bare back as the warmth was exchanged between their skins, and she hoped that even without the words, Columbina could understand what she wanted to convey. I miss you too, so much.

The moon goddess asked Sandrone to take a peek inside her childhood home and meet Pulonia, and she obliged that wish willingly as Columbina floated gingerly beside her. The goddess visited for a tea party with just the two of them, but somehow, the vibe shifted since their amicable, almost affectionate conversation from earlier. There was forlornness in her steps as she approached the lifeless automaton, and Sandrone found herself blinking back tears she didn’t know she was holding.

Pulonia had been Sandrone’s company in the majority of her life, but she also knew that along with her, Columbina had also become accustomed to his presence over the centuries. The pain she was experiencing was undoubtedly shared between the two of them. It was almost reminiscent of the day that the news of Rosalyne’s death reached the capital, and she couldn’t help but chuckle bitterly at the memory.

“I’m still trying to find a way to fix his core,” she stated in the midst of the loud silence in the house, and the only indication that Columbina heard her was the minute stirring of her wings.

“...Is there anything I can do to help?” she asked with a hint of vulnerability in her angelic voice that Sandrone rarely heard. It brought warmth to her chest, the thought of two of the most important figures of her life having such a bond. For a brief second, she imagined a reality where Columbina met Alain and Pulonia back when they were still here, before she dismissed it in her head as a wish that could never be fulfilled.

“Well, maybe you can keep him company from time to time once I go back to Snezhnaya,” she said with a light smile on her face as she hesitantly reached for Columbina’s hand and interlaced their fingers together. She gave her a light squeeze as she spoke, “I don’t want him to be too lonely.” I don’t want the two of you to be too lonely, went unsaid, but she thought that perhaps Columbina understood it because she squeezed back and turned to look at Sandrone for a second, her teary eyes conveying emotions that she found were also reflected in her own.

For a harbinger, sentimentality was always something that needed to be killed, but here in the Bureau, kilometers away from the homeland of the archon they served, perhaps there was some room for it to breathe. The mention of Rosalyne and Capitano brought pensive smiles on her colleagues’ faces, and even Columbina who had been focusing on inhaling the cake served for her paused eating as the silence enveloped the table.

Rosalyne was a very important friend to her, Columbina, and Arlecchino. For the Knave, perhaps it was even more than that. And Capitano was an honorable colleague for them and a fine mentor to Tartaglia. Sandrone could hear the melancholy in his voice when he mentioned how he wished he could spar with him one last time, even if he tried to conceal it behind cocky words and a forced laugh.

And despite the moment of vulnerability, it was still incredibly hard to be completely open with your emotions, and so the conversation moved away from such tragic topics as it went to more mundane ones. Childe was blabbering about the tales he had in Snezhnaya that his colleagues missed when Columbina suddenly looked at Sandrone with what she could only describe as puppy eyes. Sandrone had always been weak to her pleas, but ever since she finally opened her eyes for the world to see, or at the very least, whenever she was in Sandrone’s vicinity, she found that refusing became practically impossible.

With a huff, she wordlessly called Fagio to get the cake that she reserved for the two of them later. She had no idea how Columbina could eat so much but still look very frail, but she reasoned that perhaps, it was just because she was no ordinary human at all. The other two harbingers watched in great interest as Sandrone cut the cake carefully and placed a slice on Columbina’s empty plate, earning her a cheery smile before she partook in the delicacy in front of her. At the very least, she had learned basic social graces now to wipe the crumbs on her face by herself.

After that was done, she motioned for Fagio to keep the dessert away for storage, and that made Childe look at her in disbelief. “...Wait, what about us?”

Sandrone merely snickered at him in disdain, “You’ve already eaten enough of that. Eat something else, there’s a lot more options in front of you.”

The young man could only sigh and look at Arlecchino as if waiting for her own input, but the tall woman only sipped her tea in peace, so he had no choice but to shrug and do the same. “...I see that the two of you are as close as ever. Your relationship’s been going strong, I’ve heard,” he said with a smirk.

The insinuation behind his words wasn’t lost on her, and Sandrone sent him a glare in warning, “Do not even start.”

“Yes, yes, sure,” he said as he raised his arms in mock surrender, and she noticed Arlecchino’s barely concealed smile appearing on her face. Sandrone rolled her eyes as her gaze turned to the ever oblivious subject of her affections, and she could only sigh at the familiar sight. At this point, she was convinced that the whole of Teyvat would misunderstand their relationship before Columbina could even register the possibility of them turning into lovers. But regardless, a slight upturn of her lips and a contented hum from her direction was all it took for Sandrone to think that regardless of how long it would take, she was willing to wait for this infuriating woman to see her feelings for what they are.

Falling in love with Columbina was a miracle in itself. For a clockwork doll, emotions with so much depth were supposed to be challenging to learn, incredibly difficult to grasp. But then she arrived in Sandrone’s monotonous life and it was like her whole world shifted. The mask of composure that she always maintained easily crumbled to the ground in place of flustered expressions and stammered words.

She was annoying, a constant thorn in her side that never failed to distract her from the tasks she wanted to accomplish. But she was so captivating too, the sight of her always brought an unmistakable warmth in Sandrone’s core that took her centuries to rationalize as her own.

If Alain was here, she wondered how he would’ve reacted at the thought of his creation, his daughter, falling in love with someone, and that someone being the Trilune goddess no less. She theorized that he would have been very happy like he always was whenever Sandrone showed him her work, a proud smile plastered on his face as he told her about how she was growing so well.

It was a nice thought to have, and she found a smile involuntarily finding its way to her face. Columbina, who had been observing her more frequently ever since the day they reunited, immediately made a comment about it as she sat beside her on the bed as Sandrone was reading. “You seem to be in a good mood. What are you reading?”

“Just old notes from Alain’s notebook,” she answered simply, and she heard Columbina shuffle closer to her side as she took a peek at the contents.

The goddess stayed quiet for a few moments, reading the barely recognizable handwriting of her father, before her forehead scrunched and her confused eyes landed on Sandrone’s face. “Hmm… It’s too complicated for me. I don’t really understand, but I am happy that you’re happy.”

She chuckled at the statement before she turned to her, “These are notes he wrote when he was in the process of creating me.”

“Oh, that sounds really interesting,” the goddess replied as her eyes went wide and her wings perked up behind her. “Can you tell me all about it?”

Sandrone answered with an affectionate roll of her eyes, “Knowing you, you’ll fall asleep three minutes in.”

“I won’t since it’s all about you,” she responded so casually that it brought a surge of warmth to her chest. Columbina had such a way with words even when she wasn’t trying, and it was almost cruel how she had no idea how she could easily sway Sandrone’s heart to the tune of her singsong sentences. Her eyes subconsciously found its way to her wings as it stayed perked up, a sign that she was genuinely interested, and when she turned to look back at Columbina, it seemed that she noticed what she did. “...Do you want to touch them?”

She felt herself blushing at the question before she averted her gaze and adjusted her sitting position on the bed. Columbina only leaned forward though, and the intensity of her stare was enough to make Sandrone feel the sparks within her system as her gears started spinning faster. “...Ugh, why the hell would I want that?”

“You’re always looking at it,” she answered seriously before she continued. “It’s okay, I also watch the key on your back a lot, so you don’t need to be embarrassed about it.”

Sandrone felt herself choking in her own breath at the casualness of her words, “...Idiot. You really have no shame at all.”

“So you’ve said,” she said with a light giggle before she turned around, prompting Sandrone to take action. With the moon goddess so willing in front of her, she found herself hesitantly removing her gloves and reaching forward to gently caress the right wing. She heard Columbina laugh at that before she said, “That really tickles...”

She had the half mind to apologize as she traced the outline on her fingers, the softness of the wings felt really good against her digits. The pair started to flap as her touch lingered, and after a few minutes, she finally cleared her throat and said she was done.

When Columbina turned around, her face was a little flushed, but there was an evident smile on her face as she looked at Sandrone’s face, and the sight made the key on her back turn at a faster rate. The goddess took notice of this but she didn’t comment, and Sandrone timidly broke the silence between them. “So… your wings are real after all.”

“I guess…? Did they seem fake to you before?” she asked curiously as she batted her eyelashes at Sandrone, and she found herself looking away once again, unable to stand such a pretty face looking at her like that.

“...I thought there was a very high probability of it being real, but I didn’t want to make conclusions without further evidence,” she admitted, and she heard Columbina chuckle before she shamelessly rested her head on Sandrone’s shoulder. She flinched at the initial contact before she subconsciously relaxed as the fragrance of flowers enveloped her senses.

“You could’ve asked me instead, you know,” the goddess stated, the tone of her voice was starting to sound softer as she spoke.

“I’m not shameless like you who could ask such a thing to a colleague so easily,” she replied with a scoff, earning another chuckle from Columbina. “...You’re getting sleepy?” The only response was a slight nod from her side, and Sandrone sighed fondly as she pulled Columbina closer to her side to support her weight better. The goddess seemed pleased as she hugged Sandrone’s waist and hummed in contentment.

As Columbina’s own touch reflected the fondness in Sandrone’s own eyes, she thought that her love was akin to the flowers that bloomed in the flowers of Zapolyarny Palace. They blossomed better with each gentle lullaby from this enchanting woman’s lips, a proof that even in the harshest of places, love could bloom and grow when you least expect it to. She fell in love with this woman before she even realized she was capable of feeling it, capable of having such complex emotions. And with each passing moment she shared with her, Sandrone found herself falling more and more until there was no other choice but to hold her tight and keep her close.

This time, there wasn’t any need for a grand experiment to confirm whether her affections would be returned or not. All she needed to do was to place her faith in the one person she always knew she could count on, the insufferable idiot who kept coming back on the doorstep of her quarters to sing that melodious song even as Sandrone persistently chased her away. The one person who transcended the laws of this world to go back through time and reunite with her once again. She could only pray that once she utters the three words that she had been holding back for centuries, Columbina would still smile at her in the same way she only ever reserved for her. And once that time comes, she would hold her hand and never ever let go.