Work Text:
Her prototype isn't working.
In a fury, Sandrone clenches the screwdriver in her hand to stab her workbench with all her might several times.
Weeks.
She spent weeks on this research only for it to fail miserably.
Only when her arm feels numb does she let go of the screwdriver, throwing it across the room, only to rest her head in her arms.
That's a low point, especially for her.
The blueprints she designed and hung just above seem to mock her.
What did she miss? What was her first mistake when she started her research?
Suddenly, a distant humming refreshes her mind.
That noise.
That fucking, annoying noise.
Sandrone is not one to blame others for her own failures, but this time, she just couldn't ignore the elephant in the room.
Three weeks ago, she had the unpleasant surprise of getting a new neighbor just across from her own apartment. At first it wasn't much, just moving her stuff around, getting some people over, but then, she did something that drove Sandrone to insanity. Her neighbor had the wonderful idea of singing. Constantly. All day long, fucking up her already fucked up sleeping schedule.
But moping and complaining won't fix her problems.
She needs caffeine if she wants to pull an all-nighter and actually finish her research properly.
Dragging herself to her kitchen, she opens her cupboard to find… nothing.
Hoping it might be the lack of sleep playing tricks on her, Sandrone closes it before opening it once again, only to have no other alternative than to accept the harsh reality of the situation.
Her laugh is hysterical, but she can't help it.
Her project failed and she was so focused on it, she forgot to fetch her essentials to survive.
Close to losing her temper, she tries to mimic a video she once saw to calm her breathing.
Inhale…
Exhale…
Inhale…
Exhale…
Until suddenly, Sandrone hears it.
A clear and distinct humming.
She grits her teeth, abandoning her exercise.
That's it.
She's killing the neighbor.
Now a woman on a mission, it doesn't take her long to leave her place to knock on her neighbor's door.
Tapping her foot impatiently on the floor, she knocks a second time, this time louder than before.
If this neighbor of hers thinks they can get away with it, they're in for a ride. She checks her watch; almost dawn.
What a waste of time… she could be improving the functions of her prototype.
“So stupid, this is so stupid…” Sandrone mutters under her breath, ready to turn on her heels and head back home.
At last, before she can turn away, the door opens to reveal a woman, but not just any woman.
If some people were correct in their assumptions about the gods and how they love to sculpt some of their creations themselves, then it is without a doubt one of their finest works standing right in front of her.
But no words to describe her could ever do justice to her.
The anger Sandrone feels almost melts away as she stares stupidly at the woman who has yet to say a word to her.
Fuck.
She's gorgeous.
Her neighbor is annoyingly gorgeous.
She hadn't anticipated this turn of events.
Probably assuming that Sandrone can't utter a single word to save her life at this moment, her neighbor takes the lead. “Can I help you?” she says in such a gentle way with such a beautiful smile, Sandrone almost regrets bothering her.
But her question is enough to smack some sense back into Sandrone.
Right, she's here because of this woman and her damn singing.
Arms crossed on her chest, she scowls.
“I meant to choke you.”
The silence that follows is enough to make her question her whole existence.
She probably misheard what she just said.
Right…?
Her neighbor doesn't lose the small smile on her face. “You meant… check on me…?”
“That's what I said.” She flushes, embarrassed; she didn't mean to say that... fucking hell, what is she saying?
“I assure you, you did not,” insists the woman, almost like she actually enjoys seeing Sandrone make a fool of herself.
“Why the hell would I say that!?”
“I never met someone so bold who would ask such a thing before a first date,” muses the woman out loud.
“Date!?”
“Don't misunderstand, you're my type, it's just a bit soon.”
This woman must be insane.
Not a single word out of her mouth makes sense.
Worse, she seems to be making fun of Sandrone.
A very tired and irritated Sandrone.
“Stop putting fucking words into my mouth! The only reason I came to you in the first place was to tell you to shut your goddamn mouth because I can't build anything since you moved here,” she spits out, with every fiber of her body boiling with rage.
Purple eyes widen, but she doesn't look one bit taken aback or threatened by Sandrone's outburst. “What a foul mouth…”
After everything Sandrone just said, this was the only thing she pointed out.
She definitely wants to choke her now.
“I can swear all I want! I have every right to. Do you have any idea how late it is!?”
The woman turns her head to check the clock in her hallway. “Quite late indeed… maybe you should go to sleep; you look exhausted.”
It is said with so much care and genuine kindness, it only ticks Sandrone the wrong way.
“I can't because I have a project due in two days,” hiss Sandrone between her teeth.
“Ah… good luck on your project, but don't neglect your sleep; it's pretty important.”
Is she fucking serious?
No.
This woman must have been sent here to test her patience. This is the only logical explanation Sandrone could find.
“I can't do either because of your stupid humming!”
“But I thought you were trying to work.”
…
…
…
What…?
Confused, she blinks, looking straight at her neighbor who doesn't budge, also looking at her with a smile on her face.
She's definitely doing that on purpose.
Reaching her breaking point, she explodes. “What. Are. You. Saying!?”
“Only trying to understand you,” she shrugs.
This back-and-forth is driving her nuts. She needs to put an end to it.
“I'm going back to my house to work, and I would very much like it if you could shut your mouth while I do.” With that, she turns her back, retreating to her home.
“It was nice meeting you properly.”
Sandrone doesn't reply, afraid she might actually jump on the other woman to make her eat her fucking words.
Too much time wasted on this…
She needs a drink.
It is by the sound of her doorbell that Sandrone is awakened, only to realize she's lying on the floor of her bedroom next to her bed, a blanket wrapped all around her body.
Moving around makes her hear the sound of paper being crumpled under her body.
She sits up as properly as she can manage and grabs one of the many papers underneath her.
The ideas are somehow kind of familiar to her, but she doesn't have any memories of writing any of this. She must have drunk pretty heavily.
As she lifts her head to look ahead, a weird sight greets her right in her bed.
No way…
She stumbles back to her feet and rushes to her bed to inspect it more closely.
Her project lies right there on her bed, completely done by the looks of it.
Before getting too excited, Sandrone gets on the bed to take a better look at it.
Gulping, she turns the switch on. To her astonishment, Pulonia doesn't malfunction; it awaits patiently for her orders.
“Take the paper, Pulonia,” she orders, handing him the paper.
Pulonia takes a moment to register her demand before executing it with precision and a gentleness Sandrone has worked hours to reach.
The happiest she has been in months, she jumps to hug Pulonia and screams in joy.
She fucking loves her drunk self.
A goddamn genius.
She even left some notes reasonably readable. Those obnoxious pricks of the Fontaine Research Institute won't have any choice but to recognize her work.
Their work… she thinks bitterly, looking at a picture of her father, just beside her bed.
She finally did it…
Her celebration is cut short by her doorbell ringing once more.
Totally forgot about that.
Surprisingly, she doesn't trip over her feet or any materials on the floor even though she can barely look at a ray of sun without wincing. Drinking is not her thing, that's for sure.
Her eyes take time to adjust to the light when she opens the door, but she's not really surprised to find Arlecchino. Her friend, while busy helping children the best she could, always found time to check on Sandrone if she had the opportunity. Something she had done pretty often for the past few months since Rosalyne moved to another country.
Rosalyne's departure still leaves a bitter taste in her mouth, as much as she likes to pretend the opposite. It was unexpected, and it had taken a greater toll on her than she expected. Tea parties weren't that fun anymore without her…
Speaking of tea…
The small plastic bag Arlecchino is carrying has the unmistakable logo of her favorite products.
Such a life savior…
“My ears must have deceived me because I could swear I just heard you scream with happiness,” says the taller woman teasingly, leaving her shoes at the entrance and heading directly for the kitchen.
Were Arlecchino not her friend, Sandrone would feel a bit more ashamed of the mess in her place, but thankfully the woman doesn't say a thing.
Wordlessly, Arlecchino shoves a glass of water along with an aspirin for Sandrone to take without looking back, already brewing some coffee.
Sandrone sits at the kitchen table and gulps down everything before initiating the talk. “For your information, I finally succeeded; Pulonia is functional.”
Arlecchino doesn't stop her task, only turning her head briefly to smile slightly at Sandrone. “Congratulations.” Then, she adds, “Alain would be proud.”
Her words mean more than a lot to Sandrone. She doesn't seek recognition from those buffoons of the Fontaine Research Institute; she just wanted to complete what her father couldn't do, what those people thought would be impossible and out of her reach. She's proving them wrong, just like her father wanted to.
“I won't say it was easy, and I can certainly improve a lot of things, but it's a good start.”
“That's good. Furina told me you could barely speak last week from the lack of sleep. You made us a bit worried,” explains Arlecchino truthfully, setting down two cups of coffee before joining Sandrone at the table.
Another thing that had changed in Sandrone's life in the past few years.
Sandrone and Furina first met when they were teenagers. One was quiet and brooding, while the other was outspoken and bright. Their personalities clashed when they were forced to pair up on an assignment, but surprisingly, everything went well and they managed to create something interesting. Quickly, they went from classmates to… a fling, to eventually close friends once again. Neither of them is ashamed of their shared past, but it's still a bit awkward to admit they had feelings for each other, especially since Sandrone was the one who introduced Furina to Arlecchino.
It was at her first job that Sandrone officially made the acquaintance of Arlecchino. Their boss had put the two of them in charge of handling an important trade. Despite the difficulty of the task, things went smoothly, both being capable of using their skills without getting in each other's way. After their success, they would often be paired up together and eventually grew close enough to become friends.
About two years ago, Sandrone had the idea of introducing both of her friends to each other, having a feeling they could start something together. Well, to be honest, Sandrone was mostly tired of hearing them complain about their lack of relationships. But she had also underestimated how complex some lesbian couples could be, and these two idiots were still figuring things out between them.
The point is, having these two as friends isn't always easy for Sandrone. They always worry too much.
She decides to shrug her friend's concern for her away. “Well, as you can see, I'm managing just fine.”
“That's what I thought until last night.”
“Last night?”
What happened last night, anyway?
She worked, that much is obvious with the results of Pulonia, and she undoubtedly drank. A lot.
She vaguely remembers speaking to a goddess, but she's probably mixing dreams with reality…
Arlecchino sighs, coming to understand the situation. “You don't remember a thing, do you?” Taking Sandrone's silence as confirmation, Arlecchino shows her some of their latest exchanges on her phone. “You texted me that you needed coffee or you might do something stupid. Followed by a rope and two pairs of scissors.”
Sandrone can only stare at the evidence in complete mortification.
She hates her drunk self.
“So it wasn't a dream… Arlecchino, did you by chance ever meet my new neighbor?”
Arlecchino raises an eyebrow at the sudden question. “You mean Columbina? By now I thought you would've at least remembered her name.” She shakes her head in disapproval of Sandrone's lack of manners, something she often chastises her for.
“I was busy!” she says in her defense. “I'll have you know she's the one who started things up!” Always singing all day long with this alluring voice of hers…
Fuck.
Stop, that's enough thoughts for now.
Arlecchino doesn't look convinced by her narrative even for a minute. “Did you even try to talk before insulting her?”
“I did. I'm not uncivilized.” Which is basically true, except she totally fumbled her words.
“Could've fooled me,” deadpans Arlecchino.
“Fuck you, Arlecchino.”
“Come on, Sandrone. I know her; she's not the evil person you made her out to be in your head.”
Sandrone huffs. “Yeah, because I'm always the asshole with all of you.”
She is most of the time, but to be fair, people are stupid; it's not entirely her fault.
“I never said that. But I doubt she started anything to annoy you.” When she sees Sandrone open her mouth to object, she quickly adds, “on purpose. She even seemed disappointed when she mentioned you two never had the chance to speak.”
“Tsk, don't try to make me feel guilty. I admit, I may not have been the greatest neighbor, but she's hardly innocent.”
“Great, you're both guilty, then what? Are you going to sulk every time you have to face her?”
Well… she also could totally ignore her, but now that she doesn't have Pulonia to finish, it's going to be harder…
“What do you suggest? Should I invite her to drink tea, perhaps?” She's being sarcastic, but by the serious look Arlecchino has on her face, she can tell that she totally dug her own grave. “Seriously?”
“Do it for me.”
“What's the deal with that anyway? Is she your friend or something?”
Arlecchino closes her eyes for a moment, breathing in. “I told you a few months ago that a friend of mine wanted to move out, but I forgot you only half-listen when you're working, so I'll blame myself for this one. I was talking about Columbina.”
It doesn't change many things, but she owes Arlecchino to at least try and see where things go.
“I guess I can invite her to drink some tea with us next time.”
Arlecchino's smile is enough to communicate her satisfaction. “You won't regret it.”
Not wanting to seem prickly or share her negative thoughts, she moves on from the subject. “How are the kids?”
The question alone seems to drain some of the energy from the other woman. “They want a cat.”
Sandrone's tea parties are reserved for a small community of people. People she actually likes and tolerates, which is, when you think about it, not a lot of people.
When she was a kid, it was just her and her father when he still had the energy to play along with her games. When he died and she thought she would never find anyone to taste some pastries with, Furina was the one who made sure to always bring something new to eat. Rosalyne was fast to join and Sandrone always found pleasure in her presence, as the older woman always had something interesting to tell. Thrain was a surprising addition but not unwelcome, even if they weren't the closest colleagues. Arlecchino was the last person she personally invited to her tea parties and she intended on it staying that way, especially after Rosalyne left.
These days, Sandrone couldn't find the right time to invite anyone. When she wasn't personally busy, it was her friends who had business to attend to. That's why she wasn't very surprised when she received texts back from Thrain and Furina saying they wouldn't be able to make it.
Which means… She's stuck with Arlecchino and Columbina.
Passing time with Arlecchino is usually fine, but spending time with Columbina? That's a whole other story.
As embarrassing as it may sound, Sandrone doesn't feel comfortable enough to talk with Columbina. She doesn't trust her own mouth after last time and rightfully so; she made a complete fool of herself.
And for whatever reason, Columbina seems to get under her skin with ease.
She could ask Pulonia to kick her out to test his abilities in receiving orders…
Before she has further chances to plot against her neighbor, she's interrupted by the sound of knocking on her door.
She takes a deep breath before opening her door and lets Arlecchino in, flanked by Columbina.
“I see you found time to clean a little,” says Arlecchino with an appreciative nod.
However, Sandrone is too focused on Columbina to say anything back.
Similar to the night they met, Columbina is beyond captivating. She doesn't dress or wear makeup in any extraordinary way, and yet Sandrone can barely keep her eyes off her.
Realizing she might make the situation weird, she presses herself to make conversation by pointing at the small bag Columbina is carrying. “I see that Arlecchino recommended some pastries.”
Columbina blinks and slowly nods. “She told me some of your favorites.”
“That's nice of you,” she says, taking the bag and leading the way towards the kitchen.
Arlecchino is the one doing the talking with Columbina answering most of them. While making sure she doesn't ruin her guest's drinks, Sandrone still steals some glances in their way.
This Columbina is far too perfect. Yes, to some she may appear to be quiet, but being quieter or shy has never been a flaw to Sandrone. On the contrary, she enjoys silence over the noise.
However, no matter how quiet Columbina seems to be at the moment, Sandrone knows the truth. This woman can be loud and annoying, she heard it firsthand.
Seeing her all sweet and quiet makes Sandrone wonder if pushing some of her wrong buttons would ignite something in her…
Making sure the attention is off her, she pours the spicy syrup she has into Columbia's tea, mixing it before coming back to sit with her guests, the drinks on her tray.
“You can see why I'm concerned, right?” Arlecchino says, picking her own cup from the tray.
Sandrone doesn't have to worry about Arlecchino taking the wrong one, since she has her personal cup as she's a regular guest. For her part, she's more of a coffee person, so it also makes it easier for her plan to work.
Columbina takes her own cup in hand, ready to sip before answering. “I think you should let them figure some things out themselves. They may be younger, but they're very resourceful from what you told me.”
Sandrone drinks her coffee to restrain herself from smirking, watching Columbina's reaction closely.
Columbina's eyes widen suddenly, her face reddening; Sandrone can tell how she tries hard to hold herself from coughing loudly.
Noticing the change of behavior from her friend, Arlecchino lowers her cup, looking worriedly at Columbina. “Is there something wrong?”
Columbina tries to nod, but moving her head only makes her cough loudly, eyes resting on Sandrone. “It's just a bit spicy.”
“Spicy?” Arlecchino murmurs skeptically. “But I only brought sweet flavors…” Sensing Sandrone's amused mood, she turns her head to look at her, a frown on her face. “You did not,” she says, her tone accusatory.
“It's just a little bit of spice. It's harmless.” Sandrone shrugs.
“You don't even know if she's allergic to anything,” Arlecchino scolds, making Sandrone roll her eyes.
Although coughing, Columbina manages to smile. “I don't mind, Arlecchino.”
Of course she doesn't, muses Sandrone, annoyed at how composed the other woman could be.
Arlecchino simply sighs, returning her attention to her own tea. “It usually takes her longer to pull that kind of stuff. She must have taken a liking to you pretty fast.”
“Is that so, Sandrone?” Columbina grins, as if it meant she just won some kind of trophy.
“Not really,” Sandrone huffs, pushing a bottle of milk towards Columbina, who smiles at the gesture.
“Allow me,” Arlecchino says, taking the bottle to pour a glass for Columbina.
The gesture catches Sandrone's attention. Arlecchino only goes this far for a few people in her life. She and Columbina must be pretty close.
“You never told me how you two met,” Sandrone asks, her curiosity piqued.
It is Columbina who answers before handing the bottle cap to her friend. “We're colleagues.”
“What?” Sandrone frowns.
Arlecchino sighs. “Unbelievable… You never open your emails, do you?”
“I'm very busy! Also, must I remind you that I'm working for a lot of people?”
Columbina tilts her head. “I thought you were under a single contract with the Tsaritsa.”
Arlecchino chimes in to explain everything, not trusting Sandrone not to lash out at Columbina for a genuine question. “Sandrone's case is unique. She's allowed to cooperate outside of the Fatui. The boss understands that to expand we need to create more connections. As our head engineer, Sandrone designs most of our machines, but she also exchanges a lot with people working on advanced technology. She's currently trying to approach Raiden Ei for new projects.”
“With her money and resources we could build so much. But it's hard to get in contact with her; she barely gets out of her office apparently,” Sandrone feels the need to explain.
“You're similar to her, then,” Columbina playfully comments.
Sandrone could protest, but there's no need to deny something true. Instead, she decides to divert the attention from herself.
“Enough about me. I assume you don't sing for the boss, so what do you do for a living?”
“Currently? Not much. She only needs me from time to time to perform some tasks,” Columbina replies vaguely.
Sandrone can't help but snark. “First time I've heard about such a job.”
“Don't be rude, Sandrone,” Arlecchino glares at her.
“I'm not being rude; I'm making an observation.”
“I don't blame you, but it's only temporary.”
Interesting… maybe she has ambitions.
Ambition is something one might need if their wish is to climb the ladder of the Fatui. While getting in each other's way is forbidden by the Tsaritsa herself, she has nothing against those using everything they can to achieve a goal.
“Speaking of work,” whispers Arlecchino, phone in hand. “I'm afraid we'll have to cut this party short. We need to attend to an urgent matter, Columbina.”
If the woman is pressed to leave, it doesn't show on her face or gestures, and Sandrone is taken aback by how relieved she feels by that fact.
Columbina delicately places her cup on the table and gets up gracefully before turning toward the host. “Thank you for the invite, Sandrone. I look forward to the next flavor you'll help me discover.”
Sandrone takes it as a direct challenge. She'll show this woman how no one can provoke Sandrone Guillotin and get away with it easily.
“You won't be disappointed,” she says, eyes fixed on Columbina.
Columbina doesn't break eye contact, smiling brightly. “We'll see.”
Getting Columbina over for tea is something she can tolerate.
Yes, that's it.
She tolerates her presence.
So living with her temporarily might be the biggest challenge she has to surpass yet.
It's not something she planned; it just seems that since Columbina moved in, life has been testing her in every kind of way.
Really, Sandrone never expected to be put in such a predicament.
It went as fast and as unpredictably as some things go in daily life. One minute she was testing something new for her next research and before she could do anything about it, she heard something unsettling and reacted just in time to avoid the prototype exploding in her face.
She heard the power go down, and then she knew: she fucked up.
While she could definitely fix the issue herself, she didn't have the time for that. The Tsaritsa expected results in four days, so fixing her place would be a big waste of time.
Sandrone had to resign herself.
She needed a place to stay.
Putting her pride aside, she did the most logical thing. If she wanted to grab some of her tools or some of her notes in a hurry, she needed to be as close to her place as possible.
So, here she is, standing in front of Columbina's door, waiting for her to open it.
When the door finally opens, she means to immediately apologize for waking Columbina up at such an hour, but her mind goes completely blank the minute she makes the mistake of registering the nightgown the woman is wearing.
It's short and semi-transparent, which creates a glaring contrast with the black lingerie underneath.
It's almost absurd how much time it takes her to tear her eyes off the woman.
Thank Celestia, Columbina doesn't seem to notice anything, half asleep on her feet.
“Sorry for waking you up,” she finally manages to blurt out.
“Sandrone…” Columbina whispers softly, then she comes closer to Sandrone, making the latter flinch. “I heard something earlier.”
“It's under control, don't worry about it. The explosion wasn't that bad anyway.”
After what she said, Columbina seems to be checking for any kind of injury; seeing her this close makes Sandrone uneasy.
Why did she have to be so beautiful…
“You burnt your eyebrow,” Columbina says, eyes widening.
Her reflexes kick in, and she reaches out to cover them up. “Fuck!” she hisses, cursing herself for not checking her appearance before knocking on her… kind of friend and enemy's door.
Her sudden reaction makes Columbina laugh. “Just kidding.”
Slightly annoyed, she lets her hands fall down and glares at the other woman. “Very funny. What are you? Five?”
“I'm actually twenty-seven.”
“Didn't ask.”
“I know you're twenty-six.”
“Are you asking other people about me?”
“Sometimes,” Columbina admits, unbothered. “But since you're going to stay here for a while, we'll get more time to get to know each other.”
“I… I haven't even asked anything yet!”
“No need to. I'll be happy to let you stay.”
“Do you always do this?” she huffs.
“What?”
“Give people what they need without asking anything in exchange.”
“Does it bother you?”
“Of course it does!”
“Hmm…” Columbina takes a minute to think, then beams. “You could help me assemble some of my furniture.”
Her request is not the end of the world. It's even a tad too easy for Sandrone, but if Columbina is fine with it, there's no need to fight against her decision.
Sandrone exhales, shoulders dropping. “I guess it's a start.”
“Let's get you inside. Do you want something to drink?” Columbina asks, leading the way inside.
“Do you have—”
“Coffee? Yes. I also have a spare bedroom, but I won't mind a little cuddling if you need to,” Columbina teases before disappearing into her kitchen.
Sandrone can't help but roll her eyes. “I'm good, thanks.”
She waits in what she supposes is likely to be the living room for a while. Unlike her place, everything is neatly tidied up with the exception of a few boxes lying around still unopened even after months of moving in. Not that it's any of her business anyway…
There are not a lot of personal belongings attracting her attention. A few pictures with people Sandrone doesn't know are hung on the walls behind the TV, and there's also the unmissable synthesizer that caught her attention.
Maybe she produces her own music…
She wonders what kind of sound Columbina could create.
People often say that music is a direct reflection of a person's soul. If Columbina's music is anything like her, then it must be quite fascinating.
The smell of coffee makes her aware of Columbina quietly coming back. “Sorry for the wait.”
She accepts the cup with a smile, but can't help her thoughts slipping through her lips. “You don't have to do that.”
“Be kind?”
“Apologizing when you did nothing wrong. You're too kind for your own good. If you want some advice, you should stop, especially since you're working for the Fatui. Learn to say no and do things for yourself.”
Columbina shuts her mouth, then switches to a smile. “You're very protective, Sandrone.”
“That's not it!”
“Sometimes I feel like I have crossed you somehow. Does my presence bother you?” Even if there's still a smile on her face, her tone is different, more serious.
The sudden question takes Sandrone aback.
How can she explain this without sounding like an asshole? It's not Columbina's fault if Sandrone doesn't like to depend on other people. It's all she's known since Alain passed away. Asking for help is already quite humiliating, and with a person such as Columbina, it's harder than ever. She's too kind, and she's not sure what to do about that.
Not to mention the feelings and attraction she couldn't help but feel when she's around her. She hopes her theory is right and that her silly crush is going to vanish after a while.
Maybe being so isolated from the world actually made her forget how to be civil…
That's something that would make Arlecchino laugh.
“You did nothing wrong. I guess I'm just tense because of this new research.” A pathetic excuse, but it's all she can think of. It's better than the truth.
Thankfully, Columbina doesn't pick up on it, satisfied with the answer. “Alright… I'm going back to bed then, if you don't need anything.”
Her eyes quickly drift to the watch on her wrist. It is quite late… she would feel bad if she kept the poor woman awake for longer than needed.
As Columbina is walking away, she simply says, “Goodnight, Columbina.”
Most likely not expecting Sandrone to say anything, Columbina turns away slowly, grinning brightly. “Goodnight, Sandrone.”
She might see Columbina smile often, but this smile hits differently. This smile seemed more genuine, more personal.
Getting Columbina to smile for her like this again isn't an unpleasant thought…
It is only hours later that Sandrone finds the strength to get out of the bedroom. She's mostly drawn to the smell of cooking, reminding her that she barely ate anything yesterday and is working on an empty stomach.
It would also be kind of disrespectful to stay in this room and not greet her host. Not that she wants to see her…
Usually, she would try to sneak up behind Columbina and scare her, but she's not dumb enough to do it while the woman is cooking; she could burn herself.
So instead, she makes sure to bump loudly into a box and curse under her breath before greeting Columbina. “Smells good.”
Her precaution works pretty well; Columbina turns her head to greet her as well without hurting herself. “I hope I didn't wake you up.”
Sandrone sits at the table, wincing, feeling pain in her neck. That's what you get for working too much. “I didn't sleep.”
Columbina turns around, concerned. “Are you serious?”
“It's fine, I'm used to it,” Sandrone brushes off.
“It doesn't mean it's good for you,” Columbina pushes.
Sandrone knows she only means well, which is why she tries to contain herself from snapping at her.
“I'm an adult and this is my decision.” Then in a kinder tone, “I'll catch some sleep when this research is done.”
“For someone so smart, I would have thought you would know the damage lack of sleep can do to you.”
“Can we change the subject of conversation? I'm really not in the mood.”
Sensing that she won't be able to make Sandrone yield, Columbina concedes reluctantly. “Fine.” She puts Sandrone's plate on the table before sitting across from her. “What do you usually do when you're free?”
“Work.”
“And…?”
Work…
“Stuff in my place.”
Columbina hums, amused even though it can't be concealed in her eyes. “When was the last time you went out? Groceries don't count.”
The last time she went out… fuck, she can't even remember. Usually, she just makes a bunch of orders and has them delivered; it's just easier this way for her to get things done without having to think much about running to the market.
“Fine, I'm starting to see your point, but it's just the way I live. It's not that bad.”
Columbina frowns. “But you never see anyone.”
“Even better,” Sandrone snorts.
“You don't take care of yourself.”
Again with this?
“I'm eating right now, aren't I?” she says, taking another bite of the fried chicken the woman made.
Columbina presses her hand in front of her mouth, acting like Sandrone said something out of character. The look of delight on her face only makes Sandrone scowl. “Are you implying you need me to feed you?”
Sandrone almost chokes on her food. “What!? You really have selective hearing! You're such a pain!”
Instead of getting offended, Columbina bursts out laughing at Sandrone's outburst. “You're so cute when you get angry, Sandrone. Like a cute and feisty cat.”
Columbina makes a movement to pet Sandrone on the head, which she dodges like her dignity depends on it. “That's it… I'm going back to work!”
She makes her escape quickly, hearing faintly the sound of Columbina's laughter. Curiously, she doesn't stay mad for long; somehow she never stays mad when it comes to Columbina. Maybe it has to do with how frail she looks sometimes, or maybe because of her overwhelming kindness…
Chasing the thoughts away, she dedicates all her attention to her task, eager to finish it.
Before she realizes it, it's already dark when Columbina comes back to see her.
“Did you take a break?”
“I went to pee if it counts.”
Columbina sighs and sits down on the bed just behind Sandrone, who's slung over the desk, tightening another screw. “I made you dinner.”
“Thank you…” Realizing it might be impolite to just let the conversation die after Columbina's efforts, she takes it upon herself to continue their small talk. “How was your day?”
“Fine. I bumped into some old… friends.”
“People from your pictures?”
“No. You might know them, Lauma and Nefer.”
“Doesn't ring a bell.” She knows exactly who these two are. In some of her tasks for the Tsaritsa, she's asked to keep information on influential people in secret. Nefer manages a small group of people herself where she controls information. Information she keeps an eye on from time to time as the Tsaritsa requested. Hacking her is always fun and challenging…
“They asked me to come to their house to catch up tonight.”
“Why not go?”
“Your presence is more soothing.”
Damn Columbina and her flirting…
What is Columbina's sexual orientation anyway?
Is she attracted to women? Men? Both? Or just attracted to pissing Sandrone off?
Maybe she's one of those girls who likes to mess with the feelings of the lesbians around her.
But… unlikely considering Columbina's deep kindness.
Sandrone decides to play deaf. “I won't be done for a while. You should go to sleep.”
Columbina attempts to hide her yawn behind her hand. “I'm not tired. Could you keep working and explain to me what you're doing?”
It would be easy to just say no, but again, Sandrone finds it hard to refuse anything to Columbina.
It's just a harmless request…
“Sure. Now that I'm done with putting these pieces in their place, I can finally move on to the most crucial part, which is…” Without even noticing, she rants about her research all night, only stopping once she's done with it. Proud of herself after finishing it sooner than she expected, she turns around to celebrate with Columbina, only to find her already asleep.
She should be annoyed to see that Columbina wasn't even listening to her, but the sight just melts her and she chuckles under her breath.
Instead of scowling and waking Columbina up to make her go to her own room, Sandrone stands up carefully to grab the blanket and put it softly on top of the woman sleeping.
Far too exhausted to move anywhere else, Sandrone sits back in her chair, putting her head in her arms, finally indulging herself by closing her eyes, falling asleep at the desk.
When Sandrone opens her eyes the next morning, she realizes how much she has neglected her body for the past few days. All she can do is groan when she moves to lift her upper body. Her movement makes something drop from her shoulder, suddenly making the room chillier.
A blanket… It's the blanket she gave Columbina earlier.
Sandrone lazily stretches, wincing when she hears a few cracks. Maybe going out for a walk wouldn't be a bad idea after all…
It's already past dinner, which means Columbina probably already ate without her.
Maybe she's out, she thinks for a moment.
But she's interrupted by the clear sound of music echoing in her ears.
While not an expert in music, she's still able to appreciate such a beautiful sound and finds herself following the melody as if hypnotized all the way to the living room.
With the curtains open, the sun is directly touching the graceful form of Columbina, playing with her eyes closed, in her own world.
As she expected, there's a profound kindness in the music Columbina is able to play. However, there’s also a lot of melancholy and loneliness that Sandrone is all too familiar with.
Maybe, one day, Columbina will tell her who she also lost or abandoned her. Either way, Sandrone will be there to listen.
Stuck in place, she stays here behind Columbina, enjoying simply seeing her play.
That is until Columbina begins to hit the same note over and over again, a look of frustration on her face.
“Stuck in a slump?” she asks, knowing all too well how frustrating it can be to be stuck on something.
Not taken aback by her presence, Columbina simply nods. “It's supposed to be the passage where everything becomes clearer, the one where everything is going to be alright… but I can't visualize anything yet.”
“Keyword is yet. Sometimes it hits you in the most unexpected way; you just have to wait. I'm not sure what your definition of alright is, but I'm sure you'll find what you're seeking.”
“Didn't know you could be so wise.”
“I just woke up and you're already trying to insult me?”
“Don't sulk, Sandrone.”
“Don't treat me like a pet!”
“Sorry, it's just… you look so cute. Like a grumpy cat.”
There's no use fighting against this annoying woman, she thinks, turning away just to face her own reflection in the window. Then she finally understands why Columbina looks delighted every time she looks at her. This bitch drew cat whiskers on her face while she was asleep.
“Co-lum-bi-na!” she yells at the top of her lungs.
Columbina bursts out laughing loudly, holding her phone. “Arlecchino is going to love this.”
“Shut up! I'm going to kill you,” she threatens before storming to the washroom to clean her face.
When she comes back with her face clean, she spots Columbina waiting for her on the couch, always with a damn smile on her face.
Sandrone doesn't budge from her place, glaring daggers at the woman who decides to walk over to her, light on her feet.
That's another thing she noticed about Columbina, she always walks with a strange lightness. Almost as if she's floating…
Columbina pokes at her cheek. “Are you mad at me?”
Sandrone slaps her hand away. “Don't you have something better to do than to bother me?”
“Not really. Are you going to build my furniture?” she asks, gesturing to one of the boxes in the corner of the room.
Of course, she always honors her deals.
“Depends. Are you going to annoy me?”
Columbina shrugs innocently. “I'll play music for you.”
The musician doesn't play for long, finding Sandrone's activity far more interesting. Usually, Sandrone doesn't mind someone watching her work, but the concept of personal space must be non-existent to the other woman.
So here she is on her knees trying to concentrate on her task while she feels Columbina's breath on her neck.
“Pass me the wrench,” she asks, hand over her shoulder.
“This one?” Columbina questions, putting the tool in her field of view.
“Those are the pliers.”
“Just messing with you.”
Learning how to ignore Columbina's antics might save her sanity… “Where are the rest of the bolts and nails?”
Columbina blinks. “We used all of them.”
This makes Sandrone turn around to check on all the tools and equipment left. “That's impossible. They usually provide you with all the materials and we're not done yet.”
“Maybe they forgot some of them.”
Sandrone audibly groans.
Just their luck.
“What a pain…”
“We can go buy them,” Columbina offers. “It could be fun,” she insists, sensing Sandrone's clear hesitation.
She hates going out, but she hates leaving things unfinished even more, and since her place is currently full of strangers, she won't have a chance to check if she has the right materials…
Damn it.
“Fine, but no wandering around. We get what we need and we head back home.”
“Home…” Columbina hums so quietly, Sandrone barely catches it.
“You know what I mean,” she's quick to add, before showing her phone. “By the way, I got a message telling me I can get my place back. I need to check on Pulonia anyway, so I'll be out of your way sooner than expected.”
She expected Columbina to reply with something sassy, but the woman only stops dead in her tracks. “Oh. That was fast.”
Hating to see her disappointed, Sandrone tries to cheer her up in her own way. “Don't be like this; we're neighbors, we'll see each other plenty of times.”
Columbina grabs her purse, simply humming. “Right…”
Sandrone doesn't have the time to ponder on what just happened, but she can feel right in her bones how much she hates to see Columbina's mood suddenly drop and just wishes her heart would leave her alone.
It doesn't take her long to regret ever going out in the first place.
Between the sun kicking her ass and Columbina dragging her everywhere, her social battery is definitely spent for the day.
Apparently, Columbina barely had the chance to buy new things for her wardrobe, hence why she dragged Sandrone to dozens of different shops and made her carry the bags.
The worst part of all this?
Sandrone had to watch and act normal when Columbina tried some clothes on.
Her heart almost gave out when Columbina stopped briefly in front of a lingerie store.
Columbina is some next level of evil to play with a lesbian's heart this way… she bitterly thinks as she watches the woman pet a random dog while making conversation with its owner.
Just when she thinks her day can't get any worse, Sandrone spots a familiar pair of eyes in the crowd.
They're in the area mostly reserved to art which means…
Shit.
No doubt even with a mask on her face, she can recognise her from miles away.
Fuck me…
She grabs Columbina's wrist, trying desperately to make her turn around and avoid them being seen by Furina before it's too late.
“Are my eyes deceiving me? Sandrone! It's been a while!” her friend shouts, waving in their direction.
Sandrone swears under her breath only to turn around swiftly to greet Furina. “Don't scream like that, I don't want some crazy fans running in our direction.”
Furina ignores her and takes Columbina's hand to kiss it dramatically. Arlecchino would lose her fucking mind is she saw this… “You must be Miss Columbina! I heard a lot about you.” she says her eyes on Sandrone before letting go of Columbina's hand, with a smile.
She knows damn well what she's doing.
Writing her thoughts is sometimes not enough and she may have shared the past events of her life with her best friend. Including some very confusing ones where she stated she was torn between wanting to choke her neighbor to death or shutting her up with a kiss.
She knows damn well what she's doing.
Writing her thoughts is sometimes not enough, and she may have shared the past events of her life with her best friend—including some very confusing ones where she stated she was torn between wanting to choke her neighbor to death or shutting her up with a kiss.
She could kick that idiot and her big mouth.
“This is Furina, a friend of mine,” even if she's questioning her choices of friendship at the moment.
“A friend of Sandrone…” Columbina hums, intrigued by such a pair.
Which is a very interesting one from the point of view of anyone who knows Sandrone well enough. She doesn't hang out, she's obsessed with her work, and yet is the closest person to one of Teyvat's most beloved stars.
Sandrone can already see the cogs turning in Columbina's head; she doesn't like this one bit.
“We dated for a while,” Furina adds to Sandrone's exasperation.
“As you love reminding people for some reason.”
“I'll never be ashamed of my past relationships,” proudly states her friend. “And I just wanted to clarify that it's all in the past. Sandrone is a hundred percent single,” she winks toward Columbina.
Sandrone pinches Furina on her sides. “What are you trying to do!?” she hisses.
“Nothing!” The wink she also sends in Sandrone's direction says otherwise. “Why don't we all take a break from the sun? I'm paying, of course!”
“Sure.”
“Absolutely not!”
Columbina and Sandrone both speak in sync.
“You don't want to hang out with your friend?” Columbina asks with that wicked smile of hers.
“I'm tired.”
“How about just an ice cream? I have to meet with Arle anyway,” Furina tries to reason.
“You know Arlecchino? Oh. Are you the one she—”
“Fine! Let's go get this ice cream,” she cuts off before Columbina can ruin their friend's credibility.
“Perfect! So I've heard you can sing,” Furina says, interlocking her arm with Columbina's.
Columbina throws a playful look in Sandrone's direction. “Never thought Sandrone would speak so often about me.”
“She sent me an audio. You should go for a professional career; I could help you!”
If looks could kill, Furina would be long gone.
She keeps throwing her under the bus, fucking idiot.
“That's not something I'm inspired to do. I think a quieter life might be better.”
“Because singing in front of my door is so quiet,” Sandrone mumbles.
“Stop being cranky, Sandrone. Art needs to be shared and you should be happy Miss Columbina decided to share her voice with you.”
“I'm curious, was Sandrone a good girlfriend?” Columbina suddenly asks out of nowhere.
“I don't see how this is relevant to this conversation,” Sandrone bites immediately.
But of course none of the women are listening to her, taking a step forward towards the ice cream seller.
“I guess it depends on what your standards are for a good relationship, but ours wasn't bad at all. It was more a fling than a real relationship and we quickly understood we were better as friends.”
“You didn't answer my question.”
For a moment, Sandrone thinks Furina might shut up and have mercy on her, but she's proven wrong as Furina abruptly drags Columbina out of line, laughing. Sandrone moves to follow them, but it's already too late, she's next in line to buy ice creams and wouldn't want to pass as disrespectful to such an hardworking man.
While waiting for the man to do his job, she can only observe from the distance the two of them talking. As much as it's irritating, a part of herself can't help but be glad to see them get along.
They're her annoying duo.
“Will someone help me carry the third ice cream or do I have to grow a third arm?”
Furina doesn't waste a moment and runs to her. “Coming!”
Sandrone hands her her ice cream with a sigh. “I fucking hate you.”
Furina smiles brightly at her. “Thank you for the ice cream, Sandrone! There for your troubles,” she puts the amount Sandrone just spent in her pocket, taking the opportunity to whisper to her, “She's a keeper.”
Sandrone huffs. “You keep her, then.”
Furina only shakes her head laughing. “Never change, Sandrone. Your actions speak louder than any words,” she says, eyeing the two ice creams Sandrone is still holding.
Blushing furiously, she rolls her eyes. “Don't you have a date with Arlecchino to attend instead of pestering me?”
It's Furina's turn to turn red. “Not a date! This is simpl—” she gasps as she takes a look at the time, “Almost late!” Without wasting another second, she turns around to kiss Columbina once more on the hand. She really needs to stop doing that. Not that Sandrone is jealous or anything, it's just so outdated. “It was nice meeting you, Miss Columbina! See you around, Sandrone. Don't forget to text me.”
She's going to make sure to avoid her texts for a few days just to get back at her.
Columbina regains her side, watching Furina run until they lose her in the crowd. “Strawberry flavor…”
Sandrone blinks before getting a grip on herself and hands her the ice cream. “You once mentioned it's your favorite.”
She's afraid of being wrong for a moment, as Columbina just stares at her, a strange look on her face before she licks the ice cream, visibly pleased. “Are you ready to go?”
Sandrone exhales. “More than ever.”
Building the furniture is faster now with all the right materials. Columbina doesn't bother her, occupied in the kitchen preparing dinner for the night.
Time passes smoothly and quickly; it's mostly quiet with the exception of Columbina's singing, which Sandrone weirdly grows more and more accustomed to.
Too focused on her task, Sandrone barely notices Columbina kneeling down beside her.
“Time to eat.”
“I'll eat later…” she says, shaking the furniture to see if it's stable enough.
Columbina slowly brings her hand up to gently hit Sandrone's head. “Now.”
Flushed, she backs out. “Stop that!” She ignores the ache in her bones and stands up to sit on the comfortable sofa, not forgetting to grab her plate to put it on one of the cushions on her lap. It feels good to sit down for a bit… “Do you want to watch a movie while eating?” she asks, relaxed.
Columbina seems a bit surprised by the proposal. “What about the bookcase?”
She eyes the bookcase briefly; it's basically done. She can finish the final touches after the movie…
Then, she takes a second try at Columbina's question.
She felt so comfortable at the moment that she completely forgot herself. She's a guest; she can't just impose herself on Columbina for longer…
Trying to act nonchalant, she tries to justify herself. “We're not in a rush. If that's fine with you, of course. I don't want to impose, I just thought—”
“I want to watch something funny.” Columbina cuts her off, sitting close to her, too close to her…
Sandrone gulps, trying to resist her urge to inhale too much of Columbina's perfume. “If that's what you want.”
The movie is probably not bad, not that Sandrone would know because the moment Columbina put it on, she was too focused on the feeling of Columbina's head resting on her shoulder.
It's not that uncomfortable… she could actually get used to it…
Sandrone mentally slaps herself for the thought.
Focus on the damn movie, you fool…
You've been alone for so long, you can't handle a little physical contact.
That's so fucking pathetic…
Despite doing her best to watch the movie, she's too busy fighting her inner demons and only comes to the realization it has ended once Columbina removes her head from her shoulder to speak to her.
“What did you think of it?”
“Wasn't that bad…”
Is she even talking about the movie…?
“Really? You didn't even laugh,” Columbina points out, skeptical.
“I've seen better and worse. You picked it; did you like it?”
“It's really bad, but I liked the company.” Columbina shrugs, a smile plastered on her face.
Sandrone blinks, stunned. “That's…” Say something back, be honest. “Cool.”
She's so fucking lame; she's going to die and be miserable and alone for all eternity.
Here lies Sandrone Guillotin, more skilled with machines than human beings, and she died all alone because of it because she's a fucking spineless idiot.
Columbina chuckles softly. “Cool,” she repeats before getting up. “Do you want a cup of coffee before leaving?”
Her question brings Sandrone back to reality. Don't push your luck and go home before you embarrass yourself further…
“I'm good, thanks. The bookcase already waited more than it should.”
Columbina nods like she already expected Sandrone to say something like this. “I'll make some tea for myself, then.”
Sandrone watches her go, sighing in relief. She really doesn't trust her mouth around this woman.
Pulling herself together, she makes sure to respect her deal and be done with the bookcase before leaving for good.
She doesn't leave or try to sneak out like a thief; instead, she waits at the entrance with some of her stuff in hand. When Columbina finally joins her, she tries to speak the words she just rehearsed in her mind.
“Thank you for what you did and, huh… you're always welcome to come if you want to see me or if you need help… or whatever,” she says, opening the door.
“Does that mean we're finally friends?” Columbina asks when Sandrone is already a foot outside.
Sandrone frowns, even a little pissed off that Columbina is still asking such an obvious question. Did she ever clarify anything out loud? No. But it should be obvious enough! “Are you seriously asking? I let you go to my tea parties; of course we're friends.”
“You always insist we're neighbors.”
“Because we're also neighbors,” Sandrone deadpans.
“Friends sounds nicer.” Columbina shrugs. “But I'm glad to hear you're inviting me to your home; I'll make sure to come as often as I can.”
“Is that a promise or a threat?”
Columbina doesn't answer, but from her smile, Sandrone takes it as both.
Columbina finally closes her door, leaving Sandrone alone with the moonlight.
When she finally gets home and sits by herself in her kitchen, the stillness strikes her; for the first time in a while, Sandrone doesn't enjoy the silence and the loneliness she once thought were what she needed.
Instead of falling asleep or writing new notes, she fondly looks at the bright moon she can see from her window, wondering if Columbina might also be looking…
Before she knows it, she and Columbina are seeing each other outside of their tea parties.
It usually goes like this: Sandrone doesn't leave the house, Columbina texts her to ask if she can come over, and because she apparently can't find the words to say no, they spend most of their day together.
Having Columbina around has its ups and downs. Sometimes she would piss off Sandrone by asking the most annoying questions ever about her work or take a nap in Sandrone's bed, but then she would make her coffee and put a blanket over her shoulders when she fell asleep on her workbench.
Needless to say, Columbina really took her words to heart and almost came to see Sandrone every single day.
It wasn't really bothersome; Sandrone actually grew accustomed to the company. A company she keeps quiet, knowing well all the endless teasing she could endure from Arlecchino and Furina.
Because while she loves to pretend otherwise, her heart simply did not move on. But because of Columbina's strange way of acting and her own fear of fucking up their relationship, she decided to keep her feelings to herself.
Things are working just fine as they are anyway…
Not like this piece of shit machine she's trying to repair for Thrain.
Her screwdriver nearly slips from her hand when she stabs it into the front side of the machine.
Thrain told her it wouldn't be easy to get through it, and she obviously took it as a challenge, and if there's one thing Sandrone never does, it is admit defeat.
“You.fucking.bastard.” she grits through her teeth, adding more strength to open it while being careful not to damage the batteries.
“That's not something nice to say to your friend, Sandrone,” comes a familiar nagging voice from behind her.
The sudden intrusion makes her jump, with her screwdriver still in hand. As usual, Columbina looks ethereal, wearing a beautiful white dress in contrast to Sandrone, who is still wearing her shorts and black shirt from yesterday.
Ugh… she really needs to take a shower.
“Columbina! How many times do I have to tell you not to sneak up behind me!? I could injure you!” she scolds before focusing back on the mess in front of her.
“I trust you with my life,” Columbina says cheerfully before sitting on a chair beside Sandrone.
“I'm busy; don't talk nonsense to me right now.”
“I know. Last time, you said to only come see you when you're busy if I need help, right?”
She… did say that.
It's not entirely untrue, but she mostly said that so Columbina would let her take a breather. Being around the person you forbidden word can be exhausting at times.
But Columbina is persistent and would always find an excuse to see Sandrone, like today.
“So?”
“I think my computer is malfunctioning.”
“Yeah? Good luck with that.”
“You're very good with that stuff, aren't you, Sandrone?” Columbina says sweetly, so sweetly it almost makes Sandrone ease her temper.
“If I wasn't, I wouldn't be working on this piece of shit!” she articulates angrily, using all of her strength to open the compartment needed.
“So you'll have no problem fixing it.”
“It depends on what's broken, but I can build it again from scratch if you need to—”
“Great! I'll go get it.”
Before she can stop her, Columbina is already running out of the place, only returning a few minutes later with the said computer.
Or at least what is left of the computer.
It takes Sandrone a few seconds to get out of her stupor.
“You said it was malfunctioning,” she says, eyeing the pieces in front of her.
Pieces.
“Yes,” Columbina replies innocently, like bringing this to Sandrone is the most normal thing in the world.
“This computer looks like it was bashed over and over again. Are you trying to waste my time?”
“Is spending time with me wasting it?”
Her question only confirms Sandrone's assumptions.
“No, but intentionally breaking your things is dumb.”
Columbina has the audacity to pout. “We barely spoke these days.”
It's not entirely untrue… not that she counted the days or anything.
Three days and five hours.
Fuck.
“Fine. What do I need to do for you to stop breaking your stuff?”
“Let's ask each other questions.”
She can't help but frown at the request. A simple one, yet it could also lead to uncomfortable situations. “Really? Questions?”
Columbina nods. “I'll start. Why make Pulonia dog ears?” she eagerly asks without wasting time.
She… hadn't expected this kind of question.
Columbina is pretty observant, huh…
“We had a dog once in the family, and I wanted to make him more approachable.”
Seymour is probably the only one she still has memories of aside from her father. He died from a terrible cancer two years before Alain. They spent the whole day digging the perfect grave for him and buried him near his favorite tree, where she also made her father rest forever.
But she's not about to share this with Columbina, not right now at least. She doesn't want to bring the mood down.
“Your turn.”
“Who taught you how to make music?”
“That's a good one,” Columbina muses. “When I was younger, I used to sneak off from my own skating lessons to see a local band practice. They never reported me and pretended not to see me so I could learn some things from them. My mom eventually found out and let me get proper lessons.”
Sandrone briefly pauses her movements, realizing it's Columbina's first time mentioning her family. The pictures she keeps are probably of her family, then…
“Didn't know you could skate, but I kind of see it now.”
“Really?”
“The way you move, it's very… graceful.” She almost said pretty… control yourself, idiot.
“I could teach you one day if you want.” Not leaving Sandrone any time to respond, she quickly asks her next question. “Why work for the Tsaritsa?”
“The pay is good and she lends me plenty of resources without complaining about the price. She's also a very smart woman; it would be foolish to reject her.”
Columbina hums. “That's how you see it…”
“Where are you from?” Sandrone asks, grabbing the opportunity to know more about her friend's past.
“Would you believe me if I said I don't know? I guess I'm still trying to figure it out. I know where I was born, but it doesn't feel like home. Home is supposed to be more than just a place.”
“Is that so important?”
“We all want to know we belong somewhere, no?”
It's probably true to some extent…
“What about your family?”
“It's my turn to ask a question,” Columbina gently nags, Sandrone having no choice but to concede. “What's your last name?”
Sandrone turns around to look at her, baffled. “Are you fucking with me? You can read it on my mailbox.”
“Never did that. So you know mine.” Columbina grins, acting like she caught Sandrone doing something embarrassing.
“Of course I do, because I can read.”
She had searched Columbina online a few days after they first met. In her defense, it's also kind of part of her job to keep information on people.
Hyposelenia.
Out of respect for Columbina's privacy, she didn't dig deeper, but she has to admit her last name really suits her.
“And yours is…?” Columbina insists.
“Guillotin,” Sandrone mumbles.
“Sandrone Guillotin…” Columbina whispers, before thinking out loud, “Columbina Guillotin…”
“Stop that,” Sandrone hisses, despite finding the thought quite appealing.
“Maybe you'll love Sandrone Hyposelenia more…”
“The people you keep pictures of, are they your family members?” Sandrone quickly asks to change the subject of conversation.
Columbina nods, a smile plastered on her face. “My mom raised me with the help of her sisters. It wasn't always easy; I was very sick when I was young. My condition didn't allow me to do what most children were doing, but my mother always made sure to give me plenty of good memories. When I eventually got better, they were very scared to let me out on my own, but thankfully I found good friends.”
“Lauma and Nefer.”
Columbina smiles in affirmation. “Also Lumine, Jahoda, Flins, Arlecchino… They helped me discover many things. I'm really grateful they stayed by my side. What about you, Sandrone?”
Usually, she doesn't like to talk about herself, and even less about her family, but with how Columbina just opened her heart to her, it would be rude not to do the same.
“My mother died giving birth to me. Alain, my father, was her dearest friend, and he decided to raise me as his own. My childhood was nothing extraordinary; I didn't have any friends, but it never bothered me. I only needed my father. He's the one who taught me everything I know; he was a genius and loved by many.”
“He sounded like a great man.”
“He was. When he died… I don't know, I felt like I should do my best to make his legacy live on. That's why I worked so hard on Pulonia.” Her grip on her tool tightens. “It was his last project. Those obnoxious pricks at the Institute thought it would be pointless research because it would cost too much for little result, but we proved them wrong,” she spits, gesturing to Pulonia doing a puzzle on its own. Becoming self-aware of her sudden burst of emotion, she clears her throat awkwardly, calming herself down. “Anyway, do you keep in touch with your family?”
Columbina hums. “I do. It wasn't easy to move out. They're very protective of me, but I can be quite stubborn.”
Sandrone snorts. “I don't doubt that for a minute.”
And she's proven right when Columbina asks her next question. “When your father passed away, you were on your own?” Her tone is slightly more soft-spoken.
Fuck, this is exactly why she never wants to open up or talk about herself. People always find some kind of way to pity her.
She lost her father when she was young, so what? Plenty of people lived through the same and even worse. It could have been worse.
He left her enough money so she could be independent, and she worked her ass off to succeed in what she wanted.
“Don't cry me a river about it. We all lose people in our lives,” Sandrone says flatly.
“Still—”
She doesn't let Columbina finish her sentence. “I found new people. I found Furina, Rosalyne, Arlecchino, Thrain…” A beat, “…you.”
The following silence might be the longest she has ever been through in her entire life. For a moment, she fears her words might have upset Columbina somehow, until she feels two arms wrapping around her from behind.
“I'm glad we met, Sandrone,” Columbina whispers into her ear.
It's hard to remember the last time someone hugged her; it must have been a while because of how alien this kind of touch feels to her.
“Hmph… No need to— it's just— words and… let go of me!” she stutters, trying to get out of Columbina's hold on her, suddenly feeling too vulnerable. A small part of her begins to panic, and she successfully pushes Columbina away but with more strength than she intended. Sending Columbina stumbling on the floor, yelping. In an instant, Sandrone is right on the floor alongside her, guilt already eating at her. “Shit! Are you alright? I didn't mean—”
But Columbina is already on her feet; though Sandrone can't see her face, she can tell her action has hurt the woman the moment she speaks. “I'm fine. I'm the one who overstepped.” When she finally looks down at Sandrone, she does so with a smile, but it may be the saddest one Sandrone has ever seen since the day she met her.
Knowing she's the one who caused such a pained expression on Columbina is enough to make her heart heavy.
“I'm sorry, Columbina,” she still feels the need to say.
Columbina shakes her head. “You did nothing wrong. I guess I…” she stays still for a moment before smiling once more, attempting to be more cheerful. “Maybe I should go.”
Seeing Columbina walk away feels like a cold shower, but still, Sandrone doesn't protest or make a move to prevent what she knows might change everything for them.
Instead, she stays on the floor looking right where Columbina was a few seconds ago, aware of her own cowardice.
She fucked up.
Since the hug, she admits she has been avoiding Columbina the best she could.
There wasn't just any excuse to justify her actions.
The truth is just painfully dreadful to admit, but she just can't bear her own feelings for Columbina anymore.
She had hoped it would just go away, but the more time she spends with the woman, the more Sandrone falls for her. It's stronger than her, and she fears her feelings might ruin their relationship.
Saying the three important words that could possibly free her was simply a nightmare to her.
Because in the midst of all of this, Columbina still has to say she feels the same, and deep down Sandrone knows her heart wouldn't take the rejection.
Staying as simple friends is just the easy way out.
Columbina must have felt her withdrawal and had strangely complied with it, even taking the initiative of not crashing any of Sandrone's tea parties, which is… not something she asked for.
It pains her, but she can't risk it.
Columbina deserves someone better anyway.
Still, she doesn't expect to actually receive a message from Columbina telling her she wants to talk to her.
Despite having a bad feeling about the situation, she doesn't waste time, heading straight outside.
Her fears are confirmed once she steps inside Columbina's place. It's even worse than she thought as she looks around the place to find it emptier than it was months ago when she first stepped in.
Her brain can't wrap around what is happening.
Everything is clear and yet so blurry.
Columbina is moving out.
Did something happen to her?
You don't move out unless you've made up your mind a while ago or got kicked out.
In search of more answers, she finds Columbina in her kitchen, putting some of her cups in a box. Her movements are slow, lacking any motivation.
Sandrone finally decides to let her presence be known. “Hi,” she manages to say softly, trying to contain all her emotions.
Columbina can't hide the surprise on her face when she turns around to see Sandrone, stuck in place. “Sandrone… I didn't expect you so soon.”
“You're moving out?” She hates how her voice sounds so small; the last time she ever felt like this was when she stayed for hours at Alain's tombstone after his burial.
Columbina's thumb trails on the cup in her hand. “It seems so.”
“Why?” she blurts out too fast. “Is it my fault?”
Once more, Columbina can't hide the surprise flashing on her face. “Why would it be your fault?”
“Because I'm an asshole to you most of the time.”
And we barely spend time together lately, because I'm a fucking idiot.
Columbina shakes her head, smiling with a soft smile Sandrone grew to love more as each day passed. “You're very kind to me, Sandrone.”
Sandrone doesn't perceive any lie in her words, making the situation somewhat more painful.
“Then why are you leaving?”
Why are you leaving me?
Columbina takes the time to sit at the table, even inviting Sandrone to do the same, who just stands until Columbina speaks. “Remember when I told you I wanted to belong somewhere? I thought that perhaps this city would do the trick, but… I don't think people care for me as I do for them and it hurts to pretend it doesn't affect me.”
This is not true, she wants to shout.
She cares.
Fuck.
She cares so much for Columbina.
She's slipping through her fingers, and all because Sandrone is too scared to let herself have her.
Would her father approve of this attitude? He always hoped Sandrone would grow to let more and more people in, but it's simply too difficult.
And another person she cares for is about to leave.
“It's just a bit sudden...”
“The Tsaritsa was very kind to me and wanted me to extend my contract, but I'm not cut off for what she expects of me. I took your advice and decided to say no. Not because it was something good for other people, but because it is truly something that I wanted,” Columbina explains further.
How ironic… her big mouth coming back to bite her ass. Idiot, you pushed her away…
“What are you going to do?”
“Go back to my hometown for a while, maybe teach music to some people. I eventually always find my way. My time here was only temporary after all. Just until my contract reached its end.”
And their time together? Their relationship? Was it also temporary to her? Did everything never mean anything to her after all?
All those shared moments? She's just going to run back to her hometown?
Sandrone thinks back to the boxes she saw months ago. Was Columbina's intent to move away no matter what?
She should've apologized for what happened and spent more time with Columbina… It's too late now and she only has herself to blame for it.
She must face the fact that she probably ruined their last chances at spending time together.
“I see. Good luck, then,” Sandrone says, feeling her heart bleeding at those words.
Columbina smiles at her; it's still beautiful, but there is something more behind it, like she expected Sandrone to say something else or at least something more. “Thank you, Sandrone.”
“When are you leaving?”
“Tomorrow.”
Sandrone tries hard to ignore the way her throat tightens. “Want help moving out? Pulonia can assist us.”
“I can manage. Lumine and Jahoda are going to empty what's left of my belongings next week.”
The rejection stings more than it should, but she has to face the evidence… Columbina is leaving.
For both of their sakes, it's perhaps better if she leaves right now.
“I should get going, then. I still have plenty of work to do,” she says, looking at her watch, leaving with no intention of turning back. “Take care of yourself.”
“You too, Sandrone.”
Is the last thing she hears before leaving Columbina's home for good.
It comes as no surprise when she can't close a single eye the night before Columbina's departure.
Sandrone stays in her bedroom alongside Pulonia all night to make some new commands for him, hoping some work would distract her from the dull silence she used to appreciate.
Her heart tells her it might not be too late, but she knows better than to trust her heart over her mind. Trusting her heart only leads to more pain, and she doesn't want to inflict this on Columbina.
If she thinks she can build another life and find what she seeks far from Sandrone, then there is no arguing against her decision.
Hours later, she hears the sound of a door opening and closing.
Knowing it might be her last chance to see Columbina, she decides to monitor the camera she has set up outside her door. Seeing the woman debating if she should knock on Sandrone's door makes her heart ache with actual hope for a different outcome, but it all vanishes the moment Columbina slowly turns around with her two pieces of luggage, leaving for good.
Clenching her phone in her hands, she doesn't drop it until Columbina is fully out of sight.
As if all strength had abandoned her, she sits down on her bed staring pointlessly, the truth and reality slowly sinking in.
Columbina left, and she's not coming back.
Quite strange how a woman she met not that long ago already took such a big place in her life.
Feeling like nothing makes sense anymore, Sandrone paces in her bedroom for a moment until she gets tired of it, knowing that speaking about the situation would be a better solution.
Contemplating her options, she does the last thing she wanted to do and sends a text to Furina.
I fucked up bad with Columbina and she's leaving, she quickly taps before sending it.
Her phone vibrates a few seconds later; it doesn't take her by surprise to hear Furina already yelling at her.
“What are you saying!? What do you mean she's leaving!? Did you kill her pet or something!? This is bad, Sandrone!”
Sandrone can hear the distant sound of cars honking at Furina. What the fuck is she doing…?
“She doesn't have any pets.”
“That's not the point, Sandrone!” Another honk. “This woman is head over heels for you. You can't just let her leave!”
“She already made her decision,” she says bitterly.
“Not on my watch! Grab your stuff, we're getting your Demoiselle off that plane!”
“What's the point!? Maybe it's for the best...”
“Shut up, Sandrone, and listen! She makes you happy and you also make her happy. Things don't need to be complicated for love to work. Love can be beautiful and painful at times, but it's all worth it, and I watched you reject it for years, convincing yourself you never needed it, but it's not true. You must chase after her; it's not too late!”
“What if she doesn't feel the same? Maybe I've been interpreting things wrong the whole time.”
“Stop spouting nonsense and finding excuses to run away. I spoke enough with her to know a thing or two.”
“But it's already too late. She left; I'll never be able to catch up to her.”
All because she didn't have the guts to be honest with herself sooner…
“Don't worry about it; I'm almost at your place. We're going to catch up to her before she gets on that plane.”
“Are you kidding?”
“I'm not. This is serious; this is the ultimate operation to save your tragic love story. Arle is somewhere near the airport, so I told her to wait for further instructions.”
Hearing her friends doing all of this for her… she'll get emotional later.
“You're insane.” she scoffs.
Which could also be translated as thank you, but Furina is used to it.
“I want a front row for the wedding!” Furina screams back.
“I'm hanging up!” she yells before rushing to get dressed.
Furina doesn't take long to pick her up, speeding up the second Sandrone is sitting in the passenger seat.
It takes them almost an hour and several near-death experiences before they catch up to where Columbina might be, probably stuck in traffic.
Having taken another road to reach their destination, they were in front of hundreds of frustrated people in their cars, about to murder the person calling for help.
“What the fuck is happening?”
“This is Arle's doing… I told her to find a way to block the road until we arrive. Luckily, Columbina is probably stuck in the traffic.”
She'll have to extend her gratitude to Arlecchino later.
“Do you think you can keep it that way until I find her car?”
Furina smirks. “Let the show begin,” she says before stepping outside the car, dropping her mask on her seat and running towards Arlecchino, waving her arms. “I'm here to pick you up, Love!”
Sandrone swears she never saw Arlecchino turn around so fast. “Furina? What are you—”
“I would never let the love of my life get stuck on the road, you can count on me!” Furina declares before jumping to wrap her arms around Arlecchino's neck.
The familiar silhouette and voice of the biggest star of Fontaine quickly drew all the attention to the couple, making people leave their cars to get a better view of them.
“Is that Furina De Fontaine?” mutters some stranger.
“She's in a relationship!?” another person shouts, hastily grabbing their phone to capture the moment.
As Furina probably expected, a small crowd begins to form around the couple, people shoving their phones into their faces to get more information on the new partner of Fontaine's beloved star. She makes sure to smile and whispers something in Arlecchino's ear, making her sigh but also wave at Sandrone to get going.
Making sure this sacrifice won't be in vain, Sandrone runs to the best of her ability between the cars, searching for Columbina.
For what seems like an eternity to her, she runs and stumbles, unable to find Columbina.
Maybe she's already in the airport…
No.
It can't end this way; she won't allow it.
Sandrone stops in the middle of the road to inhale before shouting from the top of her lungs, “Columbina! Where are you, Columbina!?”
She walks and shouts, not caring about the people looking at her, focused on a single thing: finding Columbina.
One day, Alain asked her if she ever wished for something. Nothing came to her mind at that time, but as of today, if she could only mutter a single wish to the world, it would be to be given the chance to say everything she has to say to Columbina.
Her throat hurts from screaming, but it doesn't stop her from going on.
She has to.
Finally, after what seems like an eternity, she hears the voice of the woman she thought she had lost for good this morning.
“Sandrone!? What are you doing here?”
Sandrone whips her head around to see Columbina in the back of a taxi, window rolled down, looking oh-so-beautifully shocked to see her.
“I decided to take a walk... I'm here for you, obviously!” she snarks between a few coughs from exhaustion, walking towards the car.
“Did you forget something? I didn't take anything important for your next research by mistake, did I?”
“You really think I would run for something so dumb?”
“Maybe…?”
“Well, obviously not! I came for you!” Sandrone yells and comes to immediately regret it when she's struggling to breathe after coughing many times.
“Okay, I get it, stop pushing your voice, you're hurting,” Columbina says, concerned for her.
Hearing Columbina worrying for her upsets her more than she could ever admit. She doesn't deserve such kindness when she and her avoidant attitude are why they're in this mess in the first place.
“I don't care! I can recover, but not from this, Columbina. I can't lose you,” she admits quietly, her voice shaking.
Columbina smiles sadly at her. “We can stay in touch…”
“Not like that! I don't want to see you through a stupid screen, I want you here.” She knows she probably sounds like a damn brat throwing a tantrum, but it doesn't make anything she says any less true.
“You say that right now, but it didn't seem like that's what you wanted a few days ago.” Maybe a slap would have hurt less…
“I want you to stay,” is all Sandrone finds the strength to repeat.
“You're so unfair, Sandrone. Saying all of this when I went that far…” Columbina looks so torn; maybe she just needs more arguments.
“And it's not just me, a lot of—”
“Yet you're the one who went to look for me even though you hate going outside,” Columbina cuts her off.
“I did,” Sandrone concedes easily.
“Then, let's be honest with each other.” If it makes Columbina stay… Sandrone nods, aware she's not in a position to refuse.
“What do y—”
“I love you, Sandrone.” Columbina once again cuts her off, but this time with a confession said with more conviction than Sandrone ever heard from the woman.
It completely throws Sandrone off how easily Columbina could say those words, especially to such a person as her. A person who makes everything so much more complicated than it needs to be. A person who has hurt Columbina.
But also, it confuses her. If Columbina is in love with her, then why not say so earlier?
“Then why leave instead of telling me?”
Her question is obviously clumsy and only manages to upset Columbina.
“I thought you weren't ready, and to respect your wish and spare me the hurt, I decided to leave. You're confusing, Sandrone! One second, you're being the most attentive person anyone could ask for and a second later, you're pushing me away, literally.”
Sandrone feels her throat tighten at the memory. “I know and I said I was sorry; I meant it. It's just… I panicked and wasn't sure you were on the same page as me.”
“Neither did I, but I still knew the minute I opened my door to you that I wanted you. I told you I wanted to belong somewhere and I finally understood what I was seeking for so long. It's you. Wherever you want to be, I want to be by your side. I was just waiting for you the whole time, the missing note on my music sheet.”
Columbina's words hit her hard.
Love at first sight…
She used to make fun of it, and now look at her… truly laughable. She also wanted Columbina the second she laid eyes on her; she just took her denial of feelings too far. Probably the biggest mistake of her life.
She's such a fucking idiot; she almost ruined everything.
“I never felt anything like this for anyone in my entire life,” Sandrone starts to confess, feeling her voice trembling. “And I thought that if I cared for you too much, I wouldn't be able to keep you by my side, because everyone I care about just leaves me. But all I did was push you and avoid you, and I'm sorry, okay? I don't know how many times I would have to say it, but it's true. All I know for sure is that I want you by my side. I want to drink tea and coffee daily with you. I want you to nag me about my lack of sleep. I want you to keep humming all day even if it sometimes drives me insane. I want you, Columbina,” Sandrone manages to spill out in slightly broken sentences, feeling some tears running free on her face.
“You still haven't said it,” Columbina encourages gently, almost teasingly in the familiar way she often uses between them.
Seeing Columbina still staring at her, smiling expectantly—actually here in front of her and not out of reach—gives Sandrone all the strength and the push she needed all along to speak the words she was too afraid to utter for so long.
“I love you,” Sandrone finally chokes out.
It's freeing in a way to let the words out.
Especially when, in a blink, Columbina has her arms wrapped around Sandrone's neck and pulls her into a kiss. The kiss is soft and lasts a few seconds. Sandrone makes a mental note to herself that she wouldn't mind being kissed for hours by Columbina before the said woman pulls away.
“I wanted to kiss you for a while.” Columbina shares, a wide smile spread on her face, cheeks red. The only thing Sandrone can do is just stand here, dumbfounded, making Columbina burst out laughing. “Did I break you?”
Sandrone remains speechless until she's broken out of her stupor by the sound of loud weeping coming from Columbina's driver. “Young love is so beautiful…” wails the old driver to Sandrone's embarrassment.
This isn't a damn stage play!
“This is the woman I told you about! She's now my girlfriend,” Columbina declares proudly, not letting go of Sandrone.
“You really have to stop being so trusting of strangers,” she scolds, trying hard not to smile at the whole girlfriend thing…
“She's so cute and overprotective,” Columbina coos.
“Alright, enough!” she says, pushing Columbina back into her seat before opening the door. “Let's go home.”
Columbina smiles widely at her in response, and Sandrone can't contain the way her heart flutters.
She doesn't expect this relationship to be perfect; she just wants them to try their best and be together for a long time.
Looking at Columbina excitedly grabbing her luggage to rush to her side, Sandrone has never been so sure of a decision.
She will never let go of her.