“Why are you dressed like a child?” Sandrone stared. She could really pull off the innocent little girl act without her headpiece and a thin white dress almost as pale as her.
“A child?” Columbina giggled. “Who’s my mother then? You?” her small giggles quickly bubbled up into heavy laughter and she held her stomach, knees bent. Unbelievable, she’s laughing at her own joke.
Sandrone walked past her and into the Harbinger’s shared pantry, switching on the lights and opening up multiple cabinets. Columbina carefully floated around her while she was picking at ingredients. “Are you cooking for your child now? That’s the spirit, Mari!” She took a spot on the counter beside where Sandrone had arranged a packet of cheese and rice. “Ah, but it seems you’ve become irresponsible. Did it slip your mind that your child is lactose intolerant?”
Sandrone rolled her eyes as she took out a knife. “A divine being gets unwell when eating certain foodstuffs? That’s unheard of.” She sliced the cheese, cheddar Columbina mentioned, whatever it isn’t for her anyway. She put the used knife in the sink then everything else back into their respective cupboards. Holding a plate of cheese and a plastic of rice, she left her annoying co-worker alone in the pantry. Of course, she wouldn’t so easily be left alone, she realised. Another presence behind her appeared just as she turned the corner to her department. Oddly, the trip was silent.
Reaching the small doorway entry of her workshop, she hesitantly turned around to swiftly glance at her stalker. Said stalker was indeed following her yet her usually fake expression was replaced with a much sadder look. She was fidgeting with the ribbons of her child-like dress. Fidgeting. The No.3 of the Fatui Harbingers, The Damslette, The Columbina, is fidgeting. The brunette had never thought she’d see any of her co-workers, let alone the creepiest one, genuinely nervous.
“It’s impolite to stare, Sandrone,”
Ah, she got lost in her thoughts again. “I noticed, you often stare.” Columbina continued.
Her voice was suddenly eerie. Empty. A void too far away to comprehend, nothing like mere minutes ago when her voice was as cheery as the spring winds in Mondstadt. Columbina looked up at her and that infuriating smile was back, plastered on her face. Oh how that smile ruins her beautiful porcelain face.
“Am I that pretty? Gorgeous maybe?” Columbina lifted Sandrone’s chin a little to make them face-to-face. Moments like these, Sandrone thanks the heavens she doesn’t believe in the other had her eyes closed at all times. If she wasn’t visually impaired, the teasing would be endless with how red her face was. Hell, Columbina might have already felt her face warm up above her cold fingers.
As if she could read minds, the smile lifted into a smug grin as she giggled. “Mariii, was I that ethereal you lost your voice? It’s quite alright, I’m free to admire everyday!” Hearing that, Sandrone swatted the hand away and shut the door.
For a long while, she stood with her back against the wooden door. Her heart running miles.
“Master? Is that you?” a Kathryne doll peeks from the bathroom.
“...062. I hav- have brought you food.” the mechanic replies quickly. At least, a few lines of code and walking metal pieces won’t ask her why she was stuttering.