AN: No beta we die like hilichurls
"Oh, it's you guys." A brunette that had been kneeling down to fix one of her potted plants stood up and dusted herself off.
"Heya, Marjorie. How's it going."
"Good morning, Miss Marjorie."
"G-Greetings, Miss Marjorie."
Marjorie smiled brightly. "Hello there! Oh, I haven't seen you around. Are you new?" she was, of course, referring to Sanae.
The maid gave a small bow, even as her eyes seemed to land on everywhere but the merchant. "Y-Yes. I have only recently finished my training. My name is Sanae."
"Well, it's nice to meet you, Sanae. Knowing new people is also great." Marjorie gave her a casual pat on the shoulder.
Sanae yelped and recoiled almost immediately.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Marjorie scratched the back of her head.
Sanae shook her head. "I-It's fine. Just… not used to being touched."
"I'll keep that in mind. Don't worry."
"I- Thank you. You're nice, Miss Marjorie."
The merchant couldn't help but coo. "You're adorable."
"Right? I can't help but think that all the maids in the Knights of Favonius are trained with cotton candy and cookies. "Belinda chuckled.
Sanae and Noelle sweatdropped. The latter thought about what would happen if they had happened to come across the senior maids.
Cotton candy and cookies? Noelle wondered what the senior maids were trained with and if that was what Belinda thought about them.
"Anyway, not that it isn't good to see you three, but what brings you here?"
"Right." Belinda cleared her throat. "Noelle needs help finding something to buy, and Sanae is here to see what Mondstadt has to offer that isn't wine."
"And where else could you go but to me? Wise choice, a wise choice indeed." Marjorie's eyes had a certain glint to them.
Off to the side, Belinda sighed. "Here she goes again."
"Unsure of what to purchase? Ignorant of the available wares that Mondstadt has and will find themselves on your list of possessions? Well, look no further than my humble souvenir shop." She spread her arms out, a wide grin on her face. "With Wind Comes Glory! Come, see what wares brought by the wind shall tickle your fancy."
Sanae and Noelle clapped excitedly.
Belinda sighed, though she had a smile on her face. "For how long have you been practicing that pitch, girl?"
"Less than you think. It comes naturally, when you're a merchant. Selling a story, getting your customers hooked on a premise before they even set one foot into the store does wonders in guaranteeing a sale!" she chuckled. "Ah, but I digress. It wouldn't do much for us to stay out here. Perhaps you would like to come inside and see what's what?"
"Yes, please!" the two maids voiced simultaneously.
"I'm sure you two will find what you're looking for. But, I do have to tell you to behave yourself."
The two maids nodded.
"No touching anything you haven't bought. Anything you break will have to be paid for. And for anything on the shelves, you have to ask my assistance, and I'll unlock it for you. M'kay?"
"Yes, Miss Marjorie." they said.
'Oh, they're like children.' Marjorie chuckled to herself.
"Well, go on then. See for yourself what I have, that may be yours very soon."
"Wow…" Noelle breathed out. Her eyes were wide as she gazed inside the souvenir shop.
"It's… like a totally different world." Sanae shared the sentiment.
Belinda gave the two a soft smile. Their amazement at the shop almost looked like it was something from a child.
Though, coming from Noelle and Sanae, she thought it was understandable enough.
It wasn't that Noelle had never gone out of the Headquarters, and she knew that she had to make deliveries to and fro the Souvenir shop, but she was pretty positive that this was her first time going inside the shop.
And then there was their little new addition, Sanae, who had just finished her training, and was evidently not from Mondstadt, she didn't think it was too out of place.
"Now, now, I know it's all very impressive but behave yourselves." Belinda told them.
"We will."
She blushed at the immediate yet gentle response. It caused an emotion that Belinda didn't know she would ever feel to emerge.
'Dear barbatos. Is this what it feels like to be an auntie?' she sighed with a smile. 'Wait, auntie?! Big sister, I am. Big sister!'
While Belinda had her little identity crisis, Marjorie brought the two maids into the middle of the room to see all she had to offer.
The room was much bigger than it seemed if one were to judge it from the outside. The pair gazed at the many neatly, yet abundantly scattered items items around the room.
Glass shelves with locks on them containing various trinkets of differing sizes and colors, open cabinets with tiny mannequins wearing necklaces and jewelry, mannequins wearing various clothing, as well as many others. The two couldn't keep track of all of them. If they tried, they were positive it would make their head spin.
It was a different world. So many things, yet they didn't look untidy at all.
"Well, go on girls. Feel free to pick anything you want. Bring it over to me and I'll tell you how much it costs."
The two maids turned towards the merchant.
"R-Really?"
"Can we truly ask for anything?"
Sanae and Noelle asked respectively.
Marjorie couldn't help but chuckle. "Of course, although I am going to have to ask Miss Sanae here to avoid touching the billets. Granted, they're not sharp, but I'd rather be cautious."
"O-Of course! Your concern is duly ap… ap… appreciated!" Sanae managed to say. She then turned towards Noelle. "D-Did I say that right? Miss Noelle?"
"You did. Congratulations." Noelle smiled.
"Yes!" Sanae performed a small jump and cheer in place before she suddenly realized where she was and rapidly turned her head to Marjorie.
Thankfully, Marjorie wasn't looking at her. Sanae sighed in relief.
"Get yourself something nice, alright?"
Noelle pursed her lips. She could see her junior eagerly picking out things she found interesting. Though, she guessed it was an effect of not being native to Mondstadt. Nevertheless, she was happy that Sanae was finding her bearings well.
On the other hand…
"Mora for your thoughts, Noelle?" Noelle turned to find Marjorie approaching her. "Concerned over your junior?"
Noelle slowly nodded. "...Yes. Although it may seem strange I… I just can't help but worry."
"Mm? How so. She passed the test to become a fully-fledged maid. I think she'd be just fine." She shrugged.
"I am aware of that, yes. But… I just…"
"You just?"
"I… do not know." Noelle slumped. "I am concerned. But if I tell her that it might seem insulting to say that I am worried about her."
Marjorie's eyes widened.
In an older setting, a time before now, two women were looking at what seemed to be a female child clad in a maid outfit who was stacking items on shelves she could barely reach with ease.
"Penny for your thoughts, Hertha? Concerned over your little helper?"
"...Yeah. It might seem strange but I can't help but worry, Marjorie."
"She passed the maid test thingy you guys have, right? She'll be fine."
"I know, I know. It's just…"
"Just what?"
"Just worried that if I look away for even a second, I'll miss something I'll regret missing for the rest of my life."
Marjorie sighed as she shook her head at the memory.
Noelle tilted her head. "Is there something wrong?"
"Nothing. Just a memory from way back when." She then pinched one of Noelle's cheeks. "And didn't come here to check up on you? The absolute gall to ask what's wrong with me when I'm concerned over you."
"I'mmm vewwy sowwwy." Noelle managed to say. "Pwease donw pinch mwy cheewks."
"Just a bit longer. I haven't been able to do this for years. You need to stop exercising for a bit, you're losing all your baby fat!"
Noelle forcibly gained distance between her and the merchant without bumping into anything. Marjorie would be impressed if she hadn't seen it multiple times already.
"On the contrary, I think it is a good indicator that my exercising is coming along well. Perhaps it would give me a more mature appearance as well."
"What's this? A more mature appearance?"
"Yes."
"Is it to impress a boy?"
"Wha-!"
"I'll let you know that I will only accept boys who know their way around haggling. I won't accept a boy that just relies on you for everything."
"It's- it's not a boy!" Noelle managed to say without attracting the attention of everyone in the store.
'Oh dear, she looks like she's about to cry.' Marjorie almost gave in to the urge to pinch her cheeks again. "Alright, alright, there is no boy."
"No boy."
"Right, no boy that interests you. After all, we already have blondie, braided, responsible, and heroic who's already caught your eye-"
"Miss Marjorie!"
"Oh, perhaps dashing would be another adjective to add-"
"Miss Marjorie!"
She chuckled. "Alright, I'll stop." Noelle nodded and turned her head away and- was that a pout? She was pouting! How cute. "Anyway, back to what I was here for. You found that thing you were looking for yet?"
Noelle shook her head. "No. It's… difficult. Everything looks wonderful, but to get something for me… it's never been something I've thought about. I've never been one for jewelry either…"
Marjorie nodded. "I see. Well, how about this? Think about things like this; What you like isn't something that other people expect from you. This item you're going to purchase isn't going to be for anyone else. It's going to be for you, and you only. Whatever you pick, whatever you buy, is for you."
Noelle took a moment to process her thoughts. "I see."
"Well, I think that's enough from me." Marjorie patted her on her shoulders. "I'll be on the counter if you need anything, but if possible, I'd like you to pick out your present for yourself."
Noelle simply nodded, and Marjorie had gone walking off back.
"Uhm, Miss Marjorie?"
She spun around. "Yes?"
"Can I ask about that bracelet?"
Both of their eyes went to what the maid was pointing to.
A circular arrangement of small topaz, held together by a sturdy string. Simple, yet elegant.
"Miss, Marjorie? What's that."
"Where are you pointing to… oh that. That's a Prithiva Topaz bracelet."
"I see."
"Why? Do you want it?"
"...No- No, of course not. It is unbecoming of a maid to be drawn to such things. I simply thought it to be simple, and yet elegant."
"Hmmm, I see. So, do you want it?"
"I do not."
"I'll save it for when you're older, okay? So no one else can buy it but you."
"Miss Marjorie!"
The image of a small girl clad in a maid outfit overlapped with Noelle's in Marjorie's mind. She let a small, soft smile show on her face as she nodded.
"That's a Prithiva Topaz bracelet."
"I see…" Noelle slowly nodded.
"Why? Do you want it?" Marjorie asked her.
…
…
…
"Yes."
Marjorie's smile couldn't be wider. And for the first time, it wasn't because she made a sale. Or, maybe it was, but rather than the sale itself and the money she made, it was more for the satisfaction of finally being able to give something to its rightful owner.
"Wise choice."
AN: Some more backstory, some more exposure to Sanae, and now a new member joins the cast! I think I'll stick to this. Every time a new member of the cast is introduced, I might have some of my backstories for Noelle.
Though I do want the next chapter to be a bit chill. No backstory, just a small light-hearted chapter. An appetizer, if you will.
I'm going to eat my words come next week. I always do, aiya.
