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Varka could only stare blankly at the document. All he had to do was sign on the dotted line, but that seemed impossible. His mind was elsewhere. He hadn’t gotten much done today, much to Jean’s chagrin. As the papers piled up, he got through the stack at a snail’s pace. Even with Mika’s help, his progress was minimal at best. How could he focus on his work when something else was nagging at him? He let out a weary sigh. What did he do to deserve this?
It was just yesterday when he decided to crack open a rare vintage, a gift from the late Crepus. He deserved something nice after all the trouble he went through in Nod Krai, then the aftermath. He hadn’t had a chance for respite after dealing with Rächer of Solnari, the Doctor, the Bloodstained Knight, and the Abyssal Stormterror. After all of that, he had to handle the logistics of the expedition home. Worst yet, he had to answer to Seamus.
Last night was a rare opportunity to unwind. Why not indulge a little? He could afford to relax, for merely one night. That Dandelion Wine just about beckoned to him. He wasn’t the type to drink alone, either. Throughout the course of the expedition, he had the likes of Ulrike, Mavuika, and Flins, all with an immense tolerance for liquor. In Mondstadt, he truly met his match with the greatest drinker of all, Lord Barbatos.
Venti happily pounced on the opportunity to drink together, emptying the rare bottle before Varka got to fill his stein a second time. Not wanting the fun to end so soon, he just about emptied his entire stock to both placate the Archon and himself. He’d mourn his losses come daybreak. For now, he savored the sweet and bitter taste of alcohol. The buzz he experienced had him humming. The added benefit of having the god present was all the stories they shared.
It wasn’t until the witching hour that the bard had his fill and “passed out.” In reality, Varka knew the other just wanted to sleep. Where the alcohol had him sloshed, the other barely seemed tipsy. Still, he did not try to rouse his drinking buddy. Instead, he decided to get some air before calling it a night.
The cool winds hardly sobered him, but the sensation grounded him at least. The world was no longer spinning. He savored the feeling, humming along to the eventide chant. He was brought back to the frigid nights he spent in the wilds of Nod Krai. He chuckled as he remembered the very moment he set foot in the foreign land. When he had, he first found himself walking in the footsteps of the former Knight of Boreas, his predecessor. It was a surreal feeling back then. And now... He felt a strange longing for a place that wasn’t home.
His walk took him along empty streets and to the bleary-eyed guards at the front gate. The men were alert enough to notice him and offer a salute. Soon, the cobblestone beneath his feet turned to grass and dirt. He crossed the bridge and wandered into the brush. The faint scent of Calla Lily and Small Lamp Grass guided his stride.
However, another scent caught his nose. Pine Ambers? Out here in the Whispering Woods? That gave Varka some pause. He turned away from the trail and trekked in the direction of the familiar smell. The trees eventually gave way to a small clearing, a seemingly innocuous nook of the forest. His eyes trailed down to a suspicious mound in the middle of it. He was too inebriated to assume the worst.
Treasure perhaps? How curious. He scratched the back of his head, wondering if he should even dig it up and see. Considering what brought him here... He was inclined to do so. He knelt and brushed away the soil, slowly revealing a small chest. “Well, I’ll be,” he mumbled to himself as he picked it up. The thing wasn’t very heavy. Upon opening it, he understood why. There was only a note inside. “Let’s see... ‘Look behind you.’ Huh?”
He craned his neck back and... came face to face with Nicole of all people. That gave him a start, nearly causing his heart to leap right out of his chest. He hadn’t noticed her approach. He nearly cussed, but stopped himself from uttering any profanity in her company.
[Oh my. I did not expect that to work. Perhaps I underestimated you, Grand Master. How silly of me.] The angel couldn’t help but giggle at his expense. Had she baited him with treasure? [Truth be told, I did not intend to startle you. However, I felt you walking my way and did not have any treasure on me to bury.]
“You know, you could’ve greeted me normally. My body would’ve appreciated that,” Varka grumbled a bit. His cheeks were flushed at the simple prank. It wasn’t like him to get caught off guard. Even inebriated, he had to be on his toes with Vice Captain Lohen. He got back up and crossed his arms, giving her a somewhat disapproving look. He wasn’t all that miffed with her, but she did manage to spook him. His heart was also racing for another reason.
Nicole smiled up at him, uninterested in his suggestion. [Where’s the fun in that? And besides, I wanted more material for the next novel. Your genuine reaction will help immensely.] Her mind was only on her hobby. She looked far too pleased with herself. As much as he wanted to gripe, he couldn’t really get mad at her.
He found her expression rather... easy on the eyes. He did not want to admit it, but he found her pretty captivating. This was a secret he kept close to his chest. One that Nicole probably couldn’t parse on her own. “Will I at least get royalties for my contribution?” He asked jokingly. Mora hardly interested him, but he did need some funds for his alcohol and equipment upkeep.
[Sorry. All revenue from my books goes to treasure chests. If I gave you a cut, there wouldn’t be enough to go around.] Nicole indulged him happily. Ever since they met on Hiisi Island, they have slowly become closer. They started to rely on one another, whether in dire straits or simply dealing with Alice’s antics. The angel regarded him uniquely among humans. She deemed him someone worth watching.
Meanwhile, the Grand Master was kinda smitten with her.
What? He couldn’t help it! She was certainly beautiful. That’s undeniably so! An objective observation, honestly. Her personality, while a little twisted, was altruistic. She wasn’t exactly human, but she had become more and more personable. At some point, she dropped her angelic pretenses and treated him as a peer. And... That made things complicated.
Varka couldn’t stop himself from getting hopeful. He was a principled man (aside from his excessive drinking), adhering to his code and being a chivalrous individual. That included his relationships, romantic or physical. He... wanted something sincere. Like the Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius could debase him and chase skirts... He’d be derided for such conduct. He waited for the opportunity to present itself. And, well... That kinda happened. Miss Nicole left a strong impression. “So, I’m the one stuck with an empty chest then? That doesn’t seem very fair.”
[I guess so. You do deserve some reward, even if it’s only tomatoes or radishes. Hmmm... How about this? I can grant you one wish.] She was nothing if not magnanimous. She had one proud look on her face. Her smile had his heart melt. There was something so adorable about seeing her take pride in her own handiwork. He soon found himself mirroring her very expression.
“A wish, huh? You’d let me wish for anything? That seems awfully irresponsible of you, Miss Nicole.” He spoke only in jest, like he’d be unreasonable with her. The alcohol made it easier to speak freely, too.
The angel did not seem the least bit perturbed by his response. If anything, she gave him a knowing look. [I know you well enough, Grand Master. You wouldn’t ask for anything morally dubious. You’re far too morally upright to suggest something like that. So, I see no reason to provide any stipulations.]
While he wanted to refute that, Nicole wasn’t wrong. He’d never stoop that low. Besides, if he did suggest something outrageous, either she or Alice would find a way to make him regret it. Those mages tended to play rough, Barbeloth included. “Anything goes, huh?” He stroked his chin as he thought on her words. “I guess I’d like something now over later. Who knows when I’ll see you next? Oh, I’d also like something... more sentimental than material.”
She listened along dutifully, curious about what he’d decide upon. He only realized then that she had made her offer to see how he’d react. She probably wanted to see into his heart. Or something to that effect. [By all means, choose wisely. It’s not every day a person is allowed to make a wish. And for the wish to be realized.]
Her words gave him pause. Admittedly, he wanted to suggest something impossible or something noble. He imagined her rolling his eyes at him and chiding him for squandering a golden opportunity. But... What if he wanted something self-indulgent for a change? The alcohol had him reconsidering things. Her proximity to him also had some effect. He was acutely aware of his hormones. The scent of Pine Ambers on her had him especially intoxicated. “You’re right. It’d be foolish to ask for something arbitrary. I think... I have an idea.”
[Oh? Do tell. I’d love to hear what you’ve settled on. If I had to guess... Did you want to know of your new fate? Or better yet, what can you do to get stronger? No, no. That’s not it.] Her guesses had him chuckling. She knew him well enough to think he’d care about fate or being the strongest. All he ever wanted (until now) was to do what was right. That being said, he didn’t have to waste a perfectly good wish to reaffirm his character to her.
Varka succumbed to the alcohol in his system and hormones. He spoke before he could consider the potential consequences. “Well, uh, I guess… I’d like to kiss you.”
As soon as the words left his lips, he regretted his choice. He regretted even being born! His cheeks were aflame now. He was well and truly flustered, and by his own words no less! How could he be so stupid?
Nicole stared at him blankly. She couldn’t find anything to say- err, communicate. Her speech bubble remained empty. He watched her expression turn from visible confusion to utter bewilderment. Her eyes widened as the words sank in her mind. She was left in awe at his decision.
The curious thing about her reaction was that she did not look the least bit flustered, nor did she seem to register the meaning behind his words. At first, she seemed more shocked that he strayed from her expectations. [Is that... really what you want...? I, um... I see. I was not aware that you’d choose physical intimacy. That’s- Huh. Is that something you truly desire? I hadn’t realized even you were susceptible to such impulses.]
Oh. He felt pretty mortified now. How could he suggest such a shameless idea? He had to backpedal. The last thing he wanted was for her to think him so... audacious. “No, no. It’s not like that. I, just, uh... Sorry. That was a pretty horrible joke, wasn’t it?”
The angel regained some composure with his words. Her expression, however, seemed more contemplative than reassured. She did not step away from him or recoil at least. That was a good sign, right? [A joke? Oh... I wouldn’t say you were out of line. I did insist you could ask for anything. My very words were ‘no stipulations.’ It stands to reason you could have suggested something extraordinary. I merely presumed you’d wish for nothing substantive and have me scold you for it. Instead... You chose something within reason, but rather out-of-character.]
Varka did feel relieved. He averted a potential crisis. However, he did himself no favors by standing so close to her and fixating on her scent. He took notice of the warmth she exuded, too. He thought of the Seelies found all across Dragonspine, except this one was exceedingly beautiful compared to them. His hormones kept him from retreating. The alcohol elevated all these uncomfortable feelings, making it difficult to avert the crisis altogether. “Right. I, uh... got kinda carried away. It won’t happen again. That was way too crass of me.”
[Still, you made your wish. It’d behoove me to fulfill it. My words weren’t hollow. It’d go against my very nature to deprive you of your treasure.] She answered pretty sincerely, which caught the knight completely off guard.
Varka sputtered at her words. He couldn’t keep from recoiling. “Hey, hey! C’mon, it was only a joke. You don’t have to pretend like I meant it in earnest. If I had to give you a serious wish… It’d be for you to forget all about my insensitive joke.”
Nicole shook her head at that and wagged her finger almost mockingly. [Unfortunately, I only gave you one wish, which you have already spent. Not to mention, it’d be pretty foolish of me to give you another, considering how you spent the last one. I overestimated you, Grand Master. And now, we must both pay the price.] The look in her eyes said enough. There was no backing out.
The man tensed. He wanted to flee, but... he felt some pull. His eyes widened. He swallowed thickly. Whether it was his hormones or the alcohol, he felt like a passenger in his own body. Instead of giving her a wide berth, he did not retreat. He obediently remained in place. As if he were under a spell. “You’re... This is my punishment? I thought this was supposed to be a wish.”
[Don’t you know of a Jinni’s wish? There is always a twist. Say, if you had wished for the finest liquor, it’d be poured over your head instead of being gifted.] The angel sighed and shook her head. [I didn’t intend to twist your words, but you brought this on yourself. Besides... I doubt that I am really going against the spirit of your desire. If anything, I am doing exactly what you chose. You only have yourself to blame.] She did not shy from him. Even as he gave her a glimpse into his unsightly side, she did not appear bothered. Rather, she looked intrigued. His breath hitched as the gap between them started to disappear.
“I... didn’t mean-... Miss Nicole, I’m sorry. I, uh-” He did not get to finish his thought. Her lips brushed against his. The sensation was brief and more chaste than passionate. And yet, he was at a complete loss for words. The contact had him seeing stars. He nearly said his Archon’s name in vain.
Nicole, on the other hand, seemed unfazed. Her cheeks turned a lovely shade of pink, but otherwise... She did not react as he did. [See. Was that so hard?] She asked almost breathlessly. Her voice lacked its same pep from earlier. She hardly seemed as playful as before.
Something was off.
Varka expected her to be more talkative. The Nichole he knew wouldn’t be so clipped. He had a sinking suspicion. He couldn’t let it go or feign ignorance. This very suspicion might cause him to betray his code. However, there was nothing he could do. The die was cast. He had robbed himself of his better judgment, all because he had one too many drinks. This’d need to be the last time he competed with his god, particularly with booze.
“I guess not,” he mumbled. His eyes met hers, then... he made his move.
He pushed her into another kiss. This one was just as brief, but far more charged. Not only was he acting on a feeling, but he also kinda just released some repressed emotions. Mostly concerning his attraction toward the angel.
Of course, he regretted it immediately. He abhorred this sort of behavior! He’d scold any of his knights for kissing someone without explicit consent. And yet, he disregarded his inhibitions, compromising his code in the process. This’d probably haunt him the rest of his life…
However, his idea worked as intended. He was able to find some much-needed clarity. It was right on her gorgeous, ethereal, perfect face. His attention was wholly on her unmistakable expression. While the vindication did not erase his shame, it did cause his heart to thunder.
The angel, who had initially acted unaffected, was now at a loss for words. Her blush from earlier had spread all across her face. The brilliant pink turned into a vibrant red. After all her talk and insistence, she was just as susceptible to her feelings as he was. She only pretended to get the better of him.
Had she reacted normally before, Varka wouldn’t have stolen a kiss. He’d be content with her embarrassment. Now, he understood. He let out a mirthless chuckle, realizing that the woman wasn’t as unearthly as she portrayed herself. In this very moment, she looked like a hapless maiden. “Let that be a lesson. A kiss is a special thing. For me to do that... Well, I’m the absolute worst.” He sounded exactly like a kicked puppy.
It took her a minute more to catch up. She blinked and came to her senses. [Right. I see your point... You-... You needn’t let it get to you, Varka. I initiated the first one. We are both culpable. I... Alice is never going to let me hear the end of this. She probably already knows, or Barbie will tell her. I’m doomed. I’m so doomed.] She slowly grabbed her hat, then used it to hide her face. He could tell she let out a (silent) muffled scream into it.
“My apologies...” He uttered weakly, unsure of what else to say. She had an excuse for their kiss, unlike him. “If I may... I could try to clear this up. It was my idea.”
[You... don’t get it. It’s not that I kissed you or you kissed me. I have seen her share affections with Kleiner before. Ivanovna and her lover, too. It’s... If I had maintained my composure, I could pretend this was harmless. That there was no meaning behind it. Since I am struggling to hide my feelings, I’m at a total loss here.] Ah. So, that was it. Not that it made Varka feel any better. Actually, it kinda made him feel worse. He watched the angel sway back and forth, fretting over the inevitable bullying she’d receive.
“Still,” he hesitated, “there must be something… I have to take responsibility. It’s the least I can do.” He couldn’t imagine pinning any blame on her. His whole disposition had changed as he put together what his short-sighted idea had caused. He had begun to sober up, and, in tandem, became even more mortified.
[Please... Just pretend as if this never happened. I’ll need to emotionally prepare myself before I see them.] She blurted, deciding then and there just to poof. Just like that, she left him all alone in the Whispering Woods. Any words would be heard by only Barbatos. He took in a breath.
There was no sign of her, but her scent hadn’t disappeared entirely. The faint hint of Pine Amber lingered on the wind, much like the warmth on his lips. He did not know how to feel. It felt like a dream, or maybe a nightmare. He really fumbled badly. If word spread, his reputation would be in the gutter.
Varka barely had time to ruminate on what had happened, let alone exhale. He felt a presence. He quickly swiveled back, expecting Nicole to reappear. Instead, it was Venti of all people.
The Anemo Archon chuckled. He gave his most faithful follower a smirk. “Don’t let it get to you, okay? This was just how things were meant to be. Only good will come of this.”
Despite the reassurance, Varka could now only look wearily at the growing stack of documents. He knew at some point he had to answer to Alice, Barbeloth, and… Miss Nicole. “I’m not cut out to be Grand Master.”
“H-Huh?” Mika squeaked, overhearing his grumbling without any context whatsoever.