Chapter Text
“Miss Nicole! Miss Nicole! We really need your help!” Aino exclaimed, panting out of breath after sprinting across Nasha Town.
“What is the matter?” Nicole replied, taken aback by the sudden sense of urgency.
“We require a few more players for a game,” Ineffa responded, “Paimon and the Traveler are unavailable, and according to my calculations, the likelihood of you assisting us seemed highly probable.”
Nicole always enjoyed helping Aino with whichever endeavours she had. After all, the Hexenzirkel is an organisation that cares for and protects children. Before Klee had been sent to Mondstadt’s Knights of Favonius, Nicole often played with the bubbly girl. From dragon roleplay to fish blasting across the ponds of Teyvat, they did it all together.
So when Aino ran to the Hexenzirkel’s stall at the Moon Prayer Night Festival, Nicole couldn’t resist her adorable expression. Though she never got to experience that childlike wonder for thousands of years, she would be more than willing to help the bright inventor.
“Alice? May I help Aino?” Nicole asked the Red Mage, eagerly awaiting her reply.
“Why of course, darling! It seems that perhaps your stall wasn’t as popular as mine or B’s after all.. So go and have some fun with the child!” Alice exclaimed.
Barbeloth’s Dodoco snickered at Alice’s remark, and Nicole felt some embarrassment. After all, she didn’t have time to plan something extraordinary for the civilians of Nod Krai, and just used some scraps Alice gave her. But alas she decided not to spiral into a longwinded explanation as to how her ping-pong activity hadn’t been as popular as presumed..
Using her magic, Alice draped a long cape over the stall to allow for Nicole to shift into her human self without being seen. Once the transformation had been complete, the cape flew back into its place onto the wooden table, folded neatly.
Aino grabbed Nicole by her wrist, dragging her along to the stall.
“We can’t miss it, Miss Nicole! We have to get there as soon as possible!” Aino excitedly declared.
“Uncle Varka?! Do you want to join us too? Please, please please!!” Aino excitedly asked the Grandmaster of the Knights of Favonius.
Varka had been enjoying the festival even before Aino’s enthusiastic greeting. After posing for photos at the themed stands, it was clear the knight was genuinely appreciating Moon Prayer Night. A warm, cheerful air seemed to surround the big man, reflecting the joy of the evening. The Grandmaster always had a smile upon his face, and his hearty laugh would echo in any place graced with his presence. After being stationed in Amsvartnir and away from Mondstadt for so long, it only made sense he became so acquainted, almost like a father figure to the young inventor.
“Haha Aino! Of course!” Varka said with a broad grin, letting out a warm, hearty laugh. “Just explain the rules a little, would ya?”
Following Ineffa’s explanation of the rules, the blonde pair begin to make sense of the aims of the game. As the four of them laugh together in guessing where the items would be hidden, Nicole takes a moment to pause and reflect on the recent events that transpired.
“Perhaps I should apologise to Mr Varka after all, I did feel a little guilty for laughing at him during the kuuhvaki transfusion..” the mage thought to herself, forgetting about the ongoing game.
“Nicole?” Varka waved his hand. “Is everything okay?” he asked politely.
She looked up at him, a little embarrassed of her actions earlier.
“Yes, Mr Varka..” she continued. “However I wanted to apologise for what I did not too long ago..”
“Err, what exactly did you do?” Varka looked dumbfoundedly at the angel.
“The kuuhvaki transmission! I assumed you would be able to withandle just as much as the Traveler, after all, you are a strong man judging from your battles. And to be honest, I did want to have a small laugh out of it, but I didn’t intend—”
“Woah, woah, woah!” Varka shook his hands. “It’s okay, seriously. Did it make me want to throw up? A little, yeah. But its fine! I am strong after all!” the knight laughed, pointing finger guns at Nicole.
“So you’re not upset?” she asked.
“Not one bit.” he smiled.
The four of them continued the game after their small dilemma (that Nicole blew up in her head) had now been resolved. But as time went on, the mage felt inclined to return to her stall.
“Thank you,” she smiled sweetly at Aino and Ineffa. “But I think I’ll return to my stall, just in case other people will enjoy the game I had prepared.”
“Wait, Nicole?” Varka walked behind her. “Care for us to continue talking there?” he asked eagerly.
“Hmm, I suppose that should be feasible.” the mage replied, smiling back at Mondstadt’s protector.
The two of them walked back together toward the Hexenzirkel’s stall. Moonlight bathed Nasha Town, the glow of Teyvat’s sky glistening softly overhead. Along the way, they chatted about all manner of trivial things, such asadventures involving Klee, favourite meals, and the like. Varka admitted he had once wondered whether food could truly sustain angels like her.
The mage reassured him that it could- angels did eat, after all- though they were also capable of consuming energy in the form of orbs. By the time she finished her lengthy explanation, she had already begun rambling again, and they found themselves standing at the stall once more.
Not long after transforming into her Dodoco form once more, the flying blanket fluttered open to reveal two familiar faces: Flins and Lauma, both clearly intrigued and eager to join in.
“May I have a go at your activity, Miss Nicole?” Flins asked Nicole, awaiting her response.
“Of course! Please enjoy it. Was your stall busy, Mr Flins?” she replied.
“A little,” he said earnestly. “It was fun to give spiritual animals to the people of Nasha Town. But Lauma insisted I should take a rest and enjoy the festival for myself too.” the lightkeeper stated honestly, smiling back at Lauma.
After watching Flins play for a few rounds, Varka checked the time and let out a soft sigh. “I should see how Durin and Albedo are faring,” he said, glancing back at Nicole. “Care to come along, Flins?”
Flins nodded simply. “I’ll go,” he said calmly, stepping beside Varka. Then, with his usual calm tone, he added, “Thank you, Miss Nicole, for letting me play.”
Without another word, the two of them walked off together, their footsteps soft on the cobblestones as they disappeared down the path.
Lauma, who had been lingering nearby with her gentle presence, tilted her head and observed her with soft amusement. “So… does this mean you and Varka are a thing?” she asked, her voice light, teasing, but kind.
“Not at all! We’re not… I mean, he’s nice, but we’re not–” she squeaked, cutting herself off as she realised how her frantic nature appeared to others walking by.
Lauma’s smile deepened, her eyes gentle as she tilted her head slightly. “Hm,” she murmured softly, still teasing, “Well… I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to see where things go.”
The Moonchanter was right. Nicole couldn’t deny the tiny pang of anticipation in her chest- the quiet, fluttering hope that perhaps she might get to know Varka better someday.
Alice’s soft laughter echoed from nearby, carrying that familiar teasing edge. Even in her Dodoco form, Nicole couldn’t hide the warm, nervous flutter that lingered inside her, a feeling both exciting and a little bewildering.