"A what?"
"I have set you and Albedo up on a date, dear Mie." Lisa cooed. "At Angel's Share."
"For Archon's sake Lisa." Mieko let out an exasperated sigh. "What in the world possessed you to do that? I've only known Albedo for 8 months."
"Well you're clearly smitten with him. And you two see each other more often than even I see you." She chuckled. "And I think he'd be good for you, Mie. Albedo is smart enough to know how to treat someone on a date."
"You're so insufferable." she sighed at her friend, shaking her head. She glanced at the dress she'd brought with her. "I don't know why I let you talk me into these things."
"Ah, see, you do like him~" Lisa cooed happily. "Quick, quick, go and change. He'll be here to get you in an hour. I'll help you do your hair up too~"
Mieko stared at Albedo as he stood there in something other than his usual uniform, eyes wide. He looked absolutely darling, she felt her lips curve up into a big smile. "You look amazing, Albedo."
"I… Thank you. You look quite nice as well." he replied, cheeks pink. "I am unused to this…"
"It's fine, it suits you." She said. Lisa shooed them off, Mieko sighing. "I'm sorry Lisa dragged you into this. I know it's awkward."
"It's alright. I… Since it's with you, at least I know it won't be terrible… I don't usually like taverns."
"Neither do I. But a certain someone should be working tonight, so I know we'll at least have company."
"Someone?"
"You'll see." She chuckled. When they arrived, a head of red hair greeted them. "Diluc~"
"Mie?" He looked confused. "And Albedo. What are you doing here?"
"Let me explain." She smiled. After hearing it and getting their drinks started, Diluc sighed. "And so pardon me if I aggressively drink a bit tonight, since Lisa managed to irritate me and make things weird."
"You two could just treat it like an outing… Or like its business." Diluc stated. Mieko tilted her head. "You two ARE friends, right?" He asked.
"We are."
"Then why is it awkward? Lisa is just being pushy. Take that as you will."
"... Diluc. You're a genius."
"Hardly." He scoffed, placing their drinks down in front of them. "Don't forget to eat."
"I won't, I promise." She smiled at him. She and Albedo talked and had a better time than they expected, sitting at a corner table with their drinks. They both nursed them slowly, but Diluc kept an eye on them to see if they wanted anything else. When they finished, Albedo paid their tab and walked her home.
"Thank you for a wonderful evening." he extended his hand to her.
"Thank you, Albedo." She replied, smiling and offering her hand, cheeks burning as Albedo kissed the back of it.
"Try and rest. I will see you again soon, Mie."
"Y-Yes, I'll see you soon Albedo." She said softly, going inside before standing at the door, her heart pounding in her ears. She lifted her hand to stare at where his lips had touched her. She shivered, taking a deep breath. "Damn it. He really is perfect." she shook her head. "Don't get complacent, Mieko. You can't get lost in the feeling of happiness…"
Albedo stared at Mieko as she leaned back against his work table. Had he heard that correctly? He was certain he had. "You dont mind at all?" He asked. He had asked her to pursue a relationship with him as an experiment. He expected a no, or for her to be taken aback. He expected something, maybe a demand of it has to be real or something like he'd gotten before from other people in the past. But instead she said something else.
"If you promise not to toy with my heart, Albedo, then I will agree to that." She repeated. "I don't have much experience, but I at least know I can treat you right, as a partner. Or at least I hope I can…" She corrected herself, Albedo smiling.
"Thank you… I may come and seek you out more often, then." He said offering his hand to her. "Could I ask you for a favor?"
"Of course."
"Could you help me perform an experiment?"
"Oh, of course. What kind? Will we be fighting monsters? Gathering materials?"
"Um, well… I wish for you to pet my head." He said softly.
"Pet your head?" She asked. "Of course." She smiled, Albedo's heart jumping a little at such a cheerfully expression on her face. She lifted her free hand to his head and gently pet him, slowly escalating to teasing out his ponytail and running her fingers through the loose hair behind his head. "Forgive me if this is too much… Your hair is so soft."
"Not at all." He replied quickly, clinging to her hand. "It feels… Really nice." he added, smiling as she continued without him instructing her to. "May I do the same to you when you're done?"
"Of course." She said, cheeks red. As she pulled her hand away, Albedo began to touch her hair, teasing his fingers through it after she undid the red ribbon at the end of her braid.
"Your hair is very lovely… and the color is stunning." He said, making more verbal observations as he touched her hair about the feeling and the length. When his hand brushed her ear to tuck her hair behind it, she shivered, Albedo quirking an eyebrow. "My apologies. Are you sensitive there?"
"Y-Yes, quite." She replied. "But its alright… I don't mind." She looked at him, smiling. "Thank you for asking. You're very kind."
"I try to be, in instances like this."
"Oh, have you had many relationships before?"
"A few. But they were merely trials." He stated. "It never lasted long."
"Oh… I'm sorry for asking."
"Don't be." he smiled at her. "Would you mind if I sketched you?"
"Not at all." she smiled back. "Whatever makes you happy, Albedo."
Mieko walked down the street, carrying a box. She had made something for Albedo to try, and caught a hint from Lisa that he was at the Alchemy Stand. She walked over and saw a man with brown hair talking to Sucrose. "Oh, Miss Mie!" Sucrose smiled. "Welcome. Are you here to see Mister Albedo?"
"I am. But I also came to craft something."
"Miss Mieko, you know how to use an Alchemy Table…?" Sucrose asked.
"Yes. My grandmother taught me the bare basics." She smiled. She placed the box down and pulled out a small vial with some shards in it. "I found these laying around my house. So I thought I'd see what I could do with them." As Mieko used the crafting table, a certain ashy blonde emerged from the store room in the back, eyes widening to see Mieko standing there and using the crafting table.
"Amazing Miss Mieko." Sucrose smiled as Mieko inspected the piece she'd just crafted.
"Thank you, Sucrose. But like I said, this is just something I picked up from my grandmother." She turned to see Albedo, smiling. "There you are, Albedo."
"Mieko. How nice to see you." his smile made her heart race, but she did her best to hold it down.
"Here. For you." she picked the box up and handed it to him. "As promised. One new recipe, including Valberries and Apples."
"Oh, that was quick. Thank you. Let's take a break then, and share it." he said, Sucrose smiling at them. "Sucrose, Timeaus, I assume you two can mind the shop?"
"Of course, Mister Albedo." Sucrose nodded, Timeaus agreeing.
"Hey, Mister Albedo? Where's that shopkeep with the braid?" Timeaus asked as Albedo walked out from the back.
"Oh, you must be talking about Mie. She has been working herself too hard recently, so I made her go and sit down. I'm sure she's not wanting to sleep, but at least I know she's physically relaxing a bit."
"Oh. Are you two close?" Timeaus asked.
"I haven't known her for long. But we are courting." Albedo said in response, Timeaus nearly dropping the box.
"Courting?" He asked. "Mister Albedo, you're… Dating?"
"Yes. Is that surprising?" He asked.
"Ah, no, but… Where is she resting?"
"On my chair. Where else?"
"Mister Albedo… That chair is hardly comfortable enough to use as a place of rest for a lady…"
"It isn't? How strange. Mieko didn't seem to complain."
"Mieko?"
"Albedo? Is that you? I'm in the kitchen." Mieko called back, smiling as Albedo walked in. She had her back turned because she was doing dishes, glancing over her shoulder at him. Her eyes went wide when she saw him standing there, offering her a bouquet.
"I brought you some Cecilias… I hope you like them." Mieko took the flowers, cheeks pink.
"How did you know Cecilias were my favorite?" She asked in utter disbelief. She hadn't told him that they were her favorite, only that they were her grandmother's favorite.
"Oh, they are? I'm glad I picked the right flower, then." Albedo smiled softly. She was about to answer, but her stomach growled, causing her to turn redder. "Mie, did you skip lunch? Don't worry. I believe you should take a break, though. I also brought Sunshine Sprat, if you're hungry."
"Y-You don't have to do all that." She said. "I know its an experiment, so you must be trying the textbook good boyfriend behavior, but…" She felt bad for him treating her so well, as well as because her heart hurt. He was so impossobly perfect to her.
"Perhaps then… You could do me a favor as compensation?"
"A favor? Of course. What is it?"
"I needed someone's assistance with an experiment. I believe you would be the best for the job." He stated. "As you know textiles and materials well, I wanted some assistance in testing a new fabric dye made of alchemical compounds."
"Oh. A fabric dye…?" She nodded. "Of course. I'll gladly assist."
"Good. Then if you please, take your payment first so you have some energy. And we can begin the experiment."
Albedo walked into the workshop one day, looking irritated. His expression wasn't that different, but it was enough for Mieko to notice. As he walked over, she offered her arms to Albedo, the blonde staring before walking closer. "The experiments are not panning out as I had hoped." He explained.
"And that's alright. These things happen sometimes." She said, wrapping her arms carefully around him and holding him for a few moments before loosening her grip. "Come." She lead him to her couch and sat, patting her lap. "Lay your head down and rest. You're clearly needing it."
"I don't want to trouble you." he shook his head.
"It's not trouble. Please. I insist." Albedo nodded slowly in response before moving to sit. Mieko helped him tease out his braids once his hair tie was removed, then eased him to laying down on her thigh.
"This is quite comfortable."
"Is it? I'm glad." She smiled down at him. "Rest as long as you like. I'll stay right here." She said, gently running her fingers through his hair as he laid there. Albedo's eyes began to slide closed, and once he was asleep, Mieko removed her hand from his hair so she didn't wake him. She watched him sleep for a short while before turning her attention to her notes on the side table, scribbling some things down and relaxing for a while. They had really gotten into their routine, going to see one another when they wanted. Sometimes for favors, sometimes just for the company. They had gotten to learn one another's habits very well too. Mieko glanced down at Albedo, smiling sadly. "It's so unfair… That I'm so aware of how much I wish this were a more organic relationship with you." she whispered. "But you'll truly never feel this way for me. You just put up a good front, for the sake of the experiment…" She put her pen down and sighed. "Maybe just for a little while… I could pretend to be happy? Is that asking too much…?"
((Mieko's demons come out to haunt her. I hope you're all enjoying this so far~ I went to town writing this story in the beginning, it was crazy how much writing happened. And I didn't post it here, why? I have no idea.
- Winter Cheshire))