AN: No beta we die like hilichurls
It was a pleasant day in Mondstadt today.
"Officer Noelle, I repeat, are you ready?"
"This is Officer Noelle. Yes. I am ready, Officer Beatrice."
"Are we in a secure location?"
"This is as secure as we can get, Officer Beatrice."
"Truly?"
"Truly. I assure you, Subject Q will never find us here."
Beatrice sighed in relief as the both of them sat on a bench near the Favonius Cathedral. "Well done, Officer Noelle."
"Always happy to serve, Officer Beatrice." Noelle chuckled and gave a mock salute.
Truthfully, she didn't know why they were talking like this, nor why they needed to go all the way to the Cathedral just to find a secluded space that Mister Quinn- 'Subject Q' she corrected, wouldn't look for.
Noelle knew that the vendor would never leave his stall's vicinity unless the situation was dire. But, Miss Beatrice had wanted a very secluded area. Instead, Noelle had opted for distance instead of seclusion.
Miss Beatrice didn't seem to mind at all.
"I hope Sara didn't get too offended." Beatrice sighed.
Noelle tilted her head. "Of course not. Why would she be? Miss Sara is one of the kindest people I know."
"Of course, I know. She is to me as well. But…" Beatrice scratched her cheek with a finger. "We did rush out of there pretty quickly. You had to down your shake too when you agreed to help me out."
"Oh, please do not worry about me. I can just simply buy another shake." Noelle smiled.
"Still, I can't help but feel guilty, not to mention selfish." Beatrice snapped her fingers. "Oh! I know!"
"Yes?"
"If this all works out, I'll treat you to as many shakes as you want. I promise." she put a hand over her chest.
Noelle chuckled. "When, Miss Beatrice." she corrected, and the lady seated next to her beamed. "When this all works out. I want you to say it."
Beatrice took a few breaths to steady herself, and she nodded. "Right. When this all works out. I'll treat you to as many shakes as you want. I promise."
"Great. Being optimistic does help at times." Noelle nodded. "Though, I can afford to buy my own shakes. You don't have to."
"You didn't have to listen to me rant back at Sara's, you didn't have to volunteer to help me out, and yet you did."
"Touche." They shared a chuckle. "Well, if you say so then."
If it was the old Noelle, she would've refused any and every charity that would've been offered to her. But, thanks to her various experiences, she knew that it was because of the feeling of owing someone something that compelled one to provide charity, or perhaps because they wanted to.
Noelle would be a hypocrite to refuse things she herself did, after all.
"Now, we shall commence our planning." Beatrice's eyes gained a hint of fire in them.
Noelle narrowed hers. "Right!"
"What's this about a plan I hear?" a new voice interrupted them.
"WHOWAZZAT?"
"Oh, Good afternoon, Miss Barbara."
Shortly after encountering the deaconess, the three opted for a change of scenery in one of the newly built huts near the Cathedral. It provided shade, seats for more than three people, and most of all, a table where a blank sheet of paper lay alongside several pencils.
"Mmm, so let me get this straight." the deaconess stared at the two of them but kept her eyes when it came to Beatrice. "Please correct me if I'm wrong."
Beatrice nodded. "Uhuh."
"You're planning to confess to Mister Quinn-"
"H-Hah? Who's planning to confess to that i-idiot?" Beatrice awkwardly chuckled.
Noelle rapidly nodded. "We are talking about Subject Q, Miss Barbara."
A few moments passed as Noelle could notice the nun's gears turning in her head. Countless thoughts, suspicions, and concerns passed through the deaconess' mind to better under the situation given the context clues.
"Ahhh, so that's how it is." Barbara slowly nodded."I see. This is all hush-hush stuff."
"Right. Hush hush." Noelle smiled.
"Alright. Let me start again. So, you're planning to confess to Subject Q."
Beatrice nodded. "That is correct."
"But you've only thought about this today."
"Yes."
"And you don't know where to start, either?"
"Not at all."
Barbara leaned back down in her seat. "I see. So this is why you seek help."
"Well… I didn't really seek it. More like it came to me. Noelle just heard me ranting to Sara and offered her assistance." Beatrice told her. "Which leads us to now, and this… situation."
"Mmm, I suppose." Barbara put a hand on her chin. "It was a long time coming. We all knew this day would come, but to think it would come so soon."
"What do you mean?" Beatrice raised an eyebrow.
"That you would actually confess to Qui- I mean, Subject Q. Everyone was waiting for it."
"E-Everyone?"
"Yes. It wasn't really a secret. I think everyone but Quinn knew and just kept quiet out of respect." Barbara scratched her cheek and looked away from the troubled woman.
"E-Everyone… then, even Noelle?" she turned to the maid, who had smiled at her.
"I'm afraid that is the case indeed."
Beatrice slumped. "Was… was it really that obvious."
"Yes." Noelle and Barbara replied.
"Yet he still didn't notice."
"Nope." they replied again.
Beatrice sighed. "Maybe it's because I've been too passive over the years. Too cowardly to try anything bold, but… this year, today will be different. I need to move. If I wait any longer someone else, someone braver will step up, and I… I don't want that to happen."
Noelle and Barbara exchanged a glance, before they directed a warm smile to Beatrice.
"Don't worry, Miss Beatrice. We'll help you." Noelle spoke for both of them.
The woman wiped a stray tear from the corner of her eye. She smiled. "Thank you. Both of you."
Barbara waved her concerns off. "You are very welcome. In fact, I already have an idea in mind." a glint appeared in the deaconess' eyes. One matched by all of them.
Beatrice nodded.
"Please. I'll do what I must."
"Are you sure this will work, Officer Barbara?"
"Yes, yes, I am very sure this will work, Officer Beatrice."
"Not that I'm unfamiliar with the location but, are you sure this will work?"
"It will. It has to." Barbara said. "Besides, Noelle's never failed before, has she?"
Beatrice smiled at that. "No. I suppose she never has."
"Did someone call for me?" the aforementioned maid suddenly appeared before them. "Oh, this is…"
Noelle observed the scene in front of her. A picnic mat on the grass, with a fruit basket and a few sandwiches, as well as a pitcher of what looked to be iced tea. Noelle would've wanted some had she been hungry.
Oh, and all of this was at Cape Oath. That huge cliff. The fact that they managed the trek, even with the two of them, and still made good time was an amazing feat, Noelle thought.
"Well. The location is set. The food is prepared, the mat is set down, and the weather conditions are just right. Not a single rain cloud in sight. Everything is as it should be." Barbara moved her hand to block the sun's rays when she looked up to see nothing but clear skies, and clouds. It wasn't that hot either, especially with the breeze atop Cape Oath.
Beatrice nervously pinched the maid's sleeve, looking like she could fall from shock at any time. "I assume the job went well, Officer Noelle?"
Again with the officer thing? Noelle smiled. "Yes. I am pleased to announce that Mister Qu- I mean, Subject Q is on his way right now."
"Y-Yay…"
"Is something wrong, Miss Beatrice? You don't look too happy."
"I-I do. Noelle, Barbara. Believe me, I'm way happy. It's just… what if it goes wrong? What if all this effort and preparation is all for naught? What if-"
Noelle shook her head. She interrupted her. From the looks of it, Barbara would've done the same if the maid wasn't the slightest bit faster.
"Please don't think on hypotheticals, Miss Beatrice. They do nothing but give you worry. Instead, think about what can be, and what you can do."
A quick glance at the nun made her chuckle. The deaconess had the proudest look on her face as well as two thumbs up. Beatrice chuckled as well. "I suppose you're right."
"I learned from the best. After all."
"Beatrice?! Are you here?!"
Barbara all but clamped onto the maid's collar. "Alright. Our time is up. Time to go to the shadows."
Noelle gave Beatrice a salute. "We wish you luck, Miss Beatrice." she said as she was dragged behind a few bushes by Barbara. Then, they peaked their heads out of the bush, leaves and twigs went unnoticed atop their heads.
From that view, they saw a light-brown-haired man walk into the clearing without the usual fruit basket he always carried around. This was Subject Q, walking into the trap.
"Oh no, Miss Beatrice looks like she's gonna pop." Barbara grimaced.
An astute assessment, Noelle thought. The older woman was red-faced, and she appeared to be looking at everywhere but Quinn. In a split second, her eyes met Noelle's.
She gave her a hard gaze, with enough fire to inspire. Just like Master Varka usually did.
The older woman stopped in her panicky tracks and gave her a quick nod. Then… Miss Beatrice had gone back to being Miss Beatrice.
"Oh, never mind. She seems fine now. Look at how well they get together. Ayiiieeee." Barbara swooned. "This is just like Sister Rosaria's books. Except this one is actually for realsies!"
Noelle raised an eyebrow. "I do have to ask a question though. Why Cape Oath specifically and not, Windrise, for example?"
"Oh, do you not know the Legend of Cape Oath?" Barbara asked her. Noelle shook her head. "The Legend of Cape Oath has it that two lovers made an oath to each other here and left behind a deeply touching story. To this day the area is still known to be popular amongst young lovebirds."
Noelle slowly nodded. Lovebirds… huh? She guessed that was what Beatrice and Quinn looked like. The pair sat on a picnic mat, sharing stories, laughing, and enjoying the breeze.
'Miss Beatrice looks so happy… and so does Mister Quinn.'
And look at them, just looking on at the romantic scene without any regard for their privacy.
"Well, I think we've done enough." Noelle put a hand on Barbara's collar before she clamped down on it just as she did earlier to the maid.
"W-What do you mean?" Barbara was surprised.
"We're going."
"What do you mean we're going? We haven't seen the confession yet!"
"We'll hear about it later. Now, chop-chop. Let's go."
Barbara tried, but try as she might, no one could escape Noelle's iron grip.
"Let them have their privacy."
"No! My romance! My vision of a happily ever after come to life in front of my very eyes!"
"You'll have your moment, I'm sure. Someday."
AN: To everyone who is spending valentine's day alone, I hope you have a good day.
As for those who are spending it with someone that isn't strictly family, I hope you have a good day too.