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barbara and rosaria are longtime acquantainces and friends after working w each other at the church.
rosaria has a special soft spot for her and others notice it except barbara. she thinks rosaria is really kind and sort of cute. she doesnt understand why nobody else thinks the same or agrees w her when talking abt rosa.
sometimes barbara accompanies rosa to the tavern as per rosa's request bc she likes her presence there, esp when she gets hella drunk and has barbara there taking care of her.
outside the tavern, barb tries a cigarette from rosa for the first time. ends up coughing from inhaling wrong and swears to never try again. she doesnt mind the smell from rosa but also semi-pleads her to stop smoking (she doesnt smoke much anyways) and surprisingly rosa reduces her smoking.
barb decides to try alcohol for first time (rosa convinced her to try this as well). "u can do this...u can do this..." she tells herself to build her confidence. she eventually tries some, grimaces and spits it out immediately. rosa chugs like its nothing.
barb cheers on rosa when she competes w kaeya at the tavern on their days off. (rosa always wins whenever barbara is present)
rosa convincing barb to skip one session of church w her, eventually turns into a once a week thing and then a daily thing. only for around 5-10 mins at first bc barb is paranoid/feels guilty etc. - "i dont think this is a good idea..."
one time barb initiates and comes up to rosa to go sneak out when usually its rosa, which surprises rosa but she doesnt point it out, smirking to herself.
they first sneak to top of cathedral, barb is scared of heights and so she clings onto rosa. rosa lets her and keeps an arm around her waist to hold her tight. after that experience, they changed their secret spot to somewhere safer - near the cathedral/just outside out of sight.
when they first sneak off, rosa doesnt do anything or ask barb for anything and enjoys their time together. eventually later down the line rosa asks for a kiss which shocks barb.
rosa tells barb that she will only come to church if she gets a reward from barb everyday, which is usually a kiss - barb reluctantly agrees.
when they do kiss, barb always checks every single corner to make sure theyre safe - rosa dgaf but lets her check anyways.
one time she doesnt even bother to sneak off w barb and straight up demands a kiss in the cathedral before barb is ready to leave "alr i came, wheres my reward?" she closes her eyes, waiting in front of barb. "...i-in here!? not yet!" barb looks around panicked.
at first barb gives a quick peck on rosas cheek, rosa later tells her she wants it on her lips. barb gives in. starts giving quick pecks on her lips. rosa is okay w it. but as time goes on, their kisses gradually deepen.
another time barb deepens it herself without realising it - rosa is stunned and barb opens her eyes confused to see a wide eyed rosa which makes the realisation set in. she blushes full red and dashes off embarassed, as if she wasnt making out w her 2 seconds ago...
barb starts wrapping her arms around rosas neck as their kisses deepen slowly over time everytime they do it.
the time spent together sneaking away from church also increases from 5 mins to almost 30 mins.
they also spend time together in secret after church, on their days off and mostly just any chance they can get.
physical contact also increases, at first its just a quick peck, then its rosa gently holding barbs face, then its light hand touching, hand/arm holding, then a hug, eventually caresses down barbs back/sides which always makes her shiver as they kiss - rosa loves that
now when they return to church after sneaking off, barb comes back looking more disheveled, rosa looks the same.
barb starts telling rosa not to come/come less bc shes embarassed but rosa shows up without fail bc she wants her and lowk barb does too and is relieved when she sees her attend church
jean spots barb sneaking out of church and is about to go over to her and say smth but sees rosa not to far away. shes leaning against a wall somewhere sorta secluded and jean realises. "ah...i see..." she just leaves without saying anything. "it runs in the family i guess..." she thinks to herself. she tells lisa immediately when she gets back.
barb doesnt think too much of all this kissing and eventually groping/touching/caressing and holding each other in secret w rosa but she knows or feels that its wrong and should be kept a secret but also that she likes it and doesnt want to stop. she just doesnt know why.
she asks diluc (bc she knows hes jeans ex and was close w him when they were dating so she still looks up to him/trusts him nowadays) what he thinks abt someone who doesnt take church seriously, is an alcoholic, looks dead etc. (js describing rosa vaguely) and diluc js bluntly tells barb to stay away from anyone like that. this causes barb to panic to herself for a while.
barb keeps giving excuses to herself abt rosa and everything they do everyday in secret. "as long as rosa comes to church, thats all that matters...it cant be bad, right?"
theyre at it again, but as rosa keeps kissing her, she starts kissing her neck/jaw. barb blushes and asks if rosas flirting w her. stunned, rosa js stares at her. "barb, ive had my hands all over ur body and my tongue down ur throat... what do u think." barb stares back at her, panting slightly, "yeah...and?" but after a few secs of hearing this, barb blushes harder than ever before, even more than when they were kissing and tells rosa in a flustered panic that she cant do this anymore and runs away back to the church.
the next day barb is at their spot first, waiting for rosa on their day off but rosa doesnt come for a while. this has barb waiting by herself. its been so long that barb crouches down into a ball and starts to cry into her knees while still waiting at their usual place. thinking shes been abandoned due to yesterdays events she keeps sobbing. rosa finally appears w blood stained clothes. she apologises for being late and says she had smth urgent to take care of. before she can finish warning barb not to get too close as her clothes will get soiled, barb flies into rosas arms and hugs her tight, crying into her shoulder. "i thought you'd left me...". after calming down, rosa still holding barb tight, barb smells smth and looks at rosas outfit "...OMG IS THAT BLOOD?". rosa is unfazed, "relax it isnt mine". barb then hugs her tight again, this time praying to barbatos to forgive her for whatever she had done.
barbs feelings have become too much and shes really confused. barb ends up blurting her feelings after their makeout session and prepares for rejection. rosa is stunned at how clueless barb is. rosa js kisses her again deeply. later as they hold each other, barb asks her if theyre together now and rosa calls her an idiot lovingly.
bc jean and barb arent super close anymore, barb isnt aware of jeanlisa and actually is super dense. she thinks lisa is just a really close friend of jeans and that shes important for jeans duties as acting grandmaster. jeanlisa arent publicly out but dont shy away from going on dates etc. theyre very affectionate indoors/in private, moreso lisa when jean is stressed and has work.
barb drags rosa and goes to jeans office, decides to come out to jean (w lisa present obvs, alr sitting on jeans desk on the side, one hand idly caressing her shoulder) and also tells them abt their relationship and rambles on abt how she knows its against the church to do all this but she isnt straying away from the church or being led down the wrong path and how rosa is her first gf and first proper relationship but she wants to be serious etc etc. barb overthinks what her older sister might think and say and is prepared for the worst. rosa notices barbs hands shaking and nonchalantly slides her hand into barb's. jean and lisa share a look, and jean stops barb from rambling. theyd alr known abt them for a while now and also are okay w her being queer as they are too. jeanlisa tell rosabarb abt them being tgt to reassure them and support them.