“Thank you for your help Sucrose!”
Sucrose smiled, looking over her shoulder and back at the girl at the other side of the room. The Church had decided to put up decorations to promote the upcoming Windblume Festival in Mondstadt. Upon hearing the plans in conversation with Barbara, Sucrose had offered to help set up some of the decorations. But she was soon realizing her horrible, terrible mistake. As the day had gone on, she had been trapped for hours upon hours in close quarters with the girl, and it had been more then her heart could take.
Did she have a crush? Maybe. Was being around her more than she could have asked for? Yes. Did she want to just blurt out her feelings to Barbara in hopes of her reciprocating? Terrifying, but a little. Was she actually going to? Absolutely not.
Not only was Sucrose terrified of her answer, but she knew that nothing could actually happen. Barbara was a nun, a daughter of God, she wasn't allowed to be in a relationship, no matter what her heart wanted. Sucrose didn’t want her to feel conflicted and guilty about her feelings and possibly ruin things for her. She didn’t know what she would do if she was the reason Barbara became gloomy or upset, it would positively break her heart. But, didn’t Barbara have a right to know?
“I think that’s all we’ll do for today, it’s starting to get late. I’ll get the others. Thank you for all your help Sucrose! I really appreciate it!” Barbara beamed, turning to look at her.
“O-Oh! If you say so. I-It’s really no problem Barbara!” Sucrose stumbled, not expecting the outburst.
Sucrose left the Cathedral in a hurry, wanting out of the heart-attack-inducing atmosphere as soon as possible. But the feeling only grew as she hurried down the steps and closer to the busying people of Mondstadt. But, didn’t Barbara have a right to know? Well, didn’t she? It would only complicate things though, wouldn't it?
Sucrose groaned in frustration as she twisted absentmindedly through people on the street. Walking had always helped to clear her mind in times of trouble, and she thought this would be no different. Maybe she just needed a different opinion on the matter? She turned on her heal and headed to Cat’s Tail winery, praying that a certain group of kids would be there.
The strong smell of liquor hit her nose as she opened the door. She shrugged it off and looked around at the tables set up, thankfully catching sight of “Bennett’s Adventure Team” in the side of the bar. Fischl seemed to be in a heated game of TCG with one of the Knights, while Bennett and Razor were watching from the side.
She walked up, hating to interrupt. Fischl slammed a card onto the table and grinned, the Knight groaning in defeat and snatching up his cards before leaving the table.
”Nice one, Fischl!”
“That seemed like a good game,” Sucrose smiled, approaching the table.
”Ah, Sucrose! Here to challenge me?” Fischl asked, picking up her cards and setting them into a nice pile.
“Unfortunately no, I’m actually here for advice from all three of you,”
”Advise?” Razor asked.
“How can we help?” Bennett chimed in.
Sucrose looked down at her hands in her lap, messing with the edge of her skirt. “If you liked someone, but knew nothing could ever happen because of circumstances, should you tell them how you feel or not?”
Fischl sat back in her chair, looking at her pile of cards. “Is their lack of availability something that could change in the future?”
”No. Never,”
”Well, then I wouldn’t put myself through the rejection,” The response surprisingly came from Bennett. “Not to mention it would cause the other guilt at your sorrow.”
Sucrose nodded, looking back at Fischl.
“I was going to say ‘tell them,’ but Bennett seems to have a point,” Fischl grimaced.
Sucrose sighed and stared at the table for a moment before looking to Razor.
“Cause you pain, bad idea,” He shook his head.
She stood up, giving them all her thanks and good wishes before leaving the bar. She wondered who else she could ask when she suddenly caught sight of a short man with dusty blonde hair heading in her direction.
“Mr. Albedo!” She called out, catching his attention.
”Sucrose, how can I-“
”I need your advice!”
She hurried to meet him before motioning to one of the outside tables at Cat’s Tail. When the two had gotten settled, the man looked at her, awaiting her question.
“This is going to sound a bit out of no where, but, if you liked someone, but knew nothing could happen due to circumstances, would you tell them how you feel or not?”
Albedo nodded at her question and leaned onto the table, deep in thought. They sat there for a moment, and Sucrose grew more impatient as time went on.
“Don’t put yourself through the heartbreak,”
”And by that you mean…?”
”If you want to hear them tell you no, then go ahead. But don’t set yourself up for that pain,”
Sucrose sighed, grabbing the hem of her skirt in frustration. She knew he would say that, it’s the only logical answer isn’t it? But it didn’t make her any less upset.
“But doesn’t she deserve to know?”
Albedo reached across the table to grab her shoulder.
“Sucrose, you have to let her go. It’s the best way,”
She sighed and stood up.
”Yes, Mr. Albedo,”
Sucrose quickly walked away, not wanting to hear that answer anymore. No. No. No. Don’t put yourself through the heartbreak. It’s not worth it.
There were still more people out there who could give her the answer she wanted. Maybe Grandmaster Jean would be of help, she was Barbara’s sister after all. Sucrose broke into a sprint as she reached the Knights of Favonious headquarters.
“Grandmaster Jean?” She called through the hallways.
“Sucrose? How can I help you?”
Sucrose whipped around and hurried to the blonde, wanting this over with. After Jean, the search was over, she was done. She wanted this whole thing over with already.
“Grandmaster Jean, I need your advice. If you liked someone, but you knew you could never be together because of circumstances, would you still tell them or not?”
This was it, her final answer. Was Barbara going to know or not?
Jean’s gaze seemed to soften as she heard the question leave Sucrose’s lips. She reached down to cup her hands in her own.
“Sucrose, I know this will be hard to hear, but-“
”Please don’t tell me no again,” She pleaded.
“Sucrose,” Jean’s grip tightened. “I think you know what I’m going to tell you, based on your response.”
”But doesn’t she deserve to know?” She cried, feeling tears well up in her eyes.
Jean paused. Her eyebrows raised as she took in her statement.
“It’ll be ok,” She tightened her grip on her hands.
”Barbara will be ok,”
Sucrose gasped, the tears spilling over as she looked up into Jeans’ eyes. She knew? How could she have known? No one was supposed to know…
Jean pulled her into a gentle hug as Sucrose started to cry, sobs escaping her body.
“Who are some of your best friends?” Collei asked, taking in the sight of all of Mondstadts decorations.
“I like to hang out with Bennett, Fischl, Razor, and Mr. Albedo. They’re all really good friends,”
”I’ll have to meet them before I leave. There’s just so much to do!”
“What about you? Do you have any friends besides Tighnari and Cyno?”
”Not many, no,”
”Well, you have me now,” Sucrose offered, giving Collei a smile. She beamed back, quickly going back to looking at the scenery.
“Do you have a partner?”
Sucrose stilled at that, she wasn’t expecting that subject. “No, you?”
”Nope!” Collei grinned. “What about someone you like?”
Sucrose looked behind her at the grand Cathedral, the afternoon sun painting it in a beautiful orange and gold. Barbara was performing, she had wished her luck just minutes beforehand. She could hear her now, the wind carrying her voice far and wide. It was breathtaking, Barbara’s performances always were. Watching her dance around on her stage while singing with her whole heart never failed to take Sucrose’s breath away. She was sure they could hear the performance all the way in Inazuma. But even still, she doubted it was possible for someone to enjoy her or as much as she did.
Sucrose looked back at Collei, who was still looking around her at the decorations. Barbara had put up those.
“Nope,” Sucrose forced a smile. “Not that I can think of.”