Work Text:
“Pela~”
“Pela-gaevna~”
The girl organizing the assortment of weather reports did not acknowledge the approaching nuisance.
…Or rather, pretended not to.
“Pela-naevenya~
Pela-yaenega~”
This month’s reports were all saying the same thing. A temperature increase. She pushed up her glasses, astounded by the numbers.
“Pela-nag-ya~” I’ve heard that one already. With every wrong syllable, the annoyance grew closer. And with every provocative pronunciation, Pela moved further away.
“Pela-veena~
Pela-gavena~”
The nuisance dramatically rolled onto her desk the moment she filled her hands with papers. The concentration of heat in the Administrative District makes sense, but Everwinter Hill? We hardly have any heaters up there. It’s notoriety was in the name, so Pela’s shock at that area being less than below freezing was understandable. Brushing away the ashen gray hair draping over her papers, she wondered what would be best to relay to those on the frontlines.
“Pela-gyaena~” Oh? That’s a new one. But she didn’t voice that half-hearted praise, much less spare her a glance.
“Pela-gevaya~” No answer.
Bright yellow eyes followed the lone officer’s pacing around her station. Her steps were delicate, like skating on ice. The nuisance thought it was a fitting description. The way her eyes seemed bigger through the lens was cute. Can I pet the Pela? …
A silent aha moment struck the usually expressionless follower of the nameless.
“Pelanya.”
“No.”
Pela and the nuisance finally locked eyes. The abruptness of her dismissal, the mild irritation in her tone, and unamused glare behind frames that were barely able to stop her from freezing the Trailblazer on the spot put tingles down Stelle’s spine. Pela clenched her teeth and quickly turned away.
“Get off the desk.”
Stelle only smiled before complying. The annoyance won today.
“What brings you here Stelle?” The quick switch to a flippant attitude was one few could bring out of Pela. Much to her chagrin, the Trailblazer was now one of them.
Yet she didn’t kick her out.
“I wanted to see you. Didn’t you read my text?” One of Pela’s many new struggles was not letting those blunt confessions deter her. By now, she should have been used of them coming out of Stelle’s mouth.
“I did. I just didn’t expect you to come right away.” But the seriousness in her voice, and the unflinching features in her face were a new weakness she couldn’t counter.
“I had to. This Nameless has a couple missions here to complete.” Oh?
“And they’re in Belobog?” Stelle nodded.
Pela hummed, considering her theory. The residual effects of the Stellaron, maybe? Did the other Trailblazers send Stelle back because they knew of the potential changes? Or a lucky coincidence?
She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn’t hear the sneaky Trailblazer hug her from behind.
“Ack-! STELLE! May I remind you we’re in public?! Have some restraint or I’ll put one on you.”
“Okay, I will.” Startled by the embrace, she was just as surprised to see those hands let go. Only hovering at her sides. “Well…I will when you go shopping with me.”
An odd request. “I don’t mind but…Is there something you’re looking to buy?”
“Something like that.” Was all Stelle said. That plain stare again. As if all her face muscles relaxed at once. It left the Intelligence Officer unable to glean any intentions. I guess she won’t tell me until we get where she needs to.
“Fine. But only when I get off.” She shuffled her papers around. “And it won’t be for a while.” Stelle only nodded in agreement.
“I can wait.”
Pela pushed up her glasses. “Can you wait…somewhere else?”
“Fine. But only when I get another hug.” The nuisance copied, eagerly gesturing with outstretched hands.
Pela sighed in defeat. “Alright.” She put down her papers. “You didn’t happen to go dumpster diving before you arrived, did you?”
Stelle’s eyes widened, but only slightly. She was really joking about the hug. Many people have told her how difficult it is to read her face when it’s not blatant sarcasm, and Stelle has tried other to counteract this in her relationship with Pela using different intonations of her voice. Usually, it’d be enough for Pela to catch on (and admonish her anyways). Yet she didn’t here.
…Or maybe she pretended not to?
Regardless, it felt nice being close to her again. There was an urge to pick her up and swing her around (risking a magic tome freezing her where she stood aside), but the Trailblazer knew better. And was more than content with this.
“What If I said I did…?”
“I will smack you.”
The pair strolled around the city streets, filling the cool air with talks of museum management updates, the latest news about the declining banned book collection, and finally Stelle’s adventures on the Xianzhou Loufu.
“Speaking of which…I have to get something out. Mind holding this?”
“Huh? Uh, yeah. Sure.” Stelle had been drinking this strange concoction since they left and now that it was handed to Pela, it was a good opportunity to analyze it. Yet she couldn’t make heads or tails of it. Her hands cautiously gripped the cold and large plastic cup, intently watching the mysterious balls float around. It was apparently sweet and very unhealthy. So why has she been drinking so much of it?! She was amazed that Stelle could even hold it in one hand, much less drink a third of it. Better question, where the heck did she get it from? This isn’t from Belobog, and she never stopped by a Space Anchor once so how…?
Pela glanced over to her rummaging through her tiny shoulder bag. Whether to ask about her average calorie intake or the potential simulated pocket universe she carried on her first, the Intelligence Officer wasn’t sure.
“There, I got it. Thanks for waiting. Here you go.” Replacing the cup in Pela’s hands with what looked like a relic.
Before Pela could ask her first question, it was already answered. “It’s a comb.” The young lady adjusted her glasses, trying to get a better look at its design. What it was physically was obvious. While her fingers were gloved, Pela could feel the smooth, glass-like texture to the teeth. Evenly spaced and neatly designed down to the ridges. Tracing her thin finger along its back, she noticed the flower designs.
Ball Peony and Marquise.
Ah.
For once, she was speechless. The Belobog Intelligence Officer, revered and respected for her quick thinking and clever parlance, had nothing to say.
“It’s made of abacus jade. There’re different types of them, I learned. It’s not too difficult to find premade designs, but it was an adventure and a half finding the right artisan for the job.”
And to finally put her calculating brain to rest was the words etched into the side of the comb. When put to the sky, in a gold script that matched her work uniform:
On the left: Satelleden
On the right: “The gallery of outer space.”
PelageyaSergeyevna.exe has stopped working.
“I know it’s not the perfect shade of blue,” Stelle continued through sips, oblivious to her girlfriend’s awestruck expression. “But it still looks good, right?” Pela nodded.
“Do you like it?” Pela nodded.
“Could you see yourself wearing it?” Pela nodded.
…
“Can I give you a piggyback ride to your house?” Pela nodded.
“Can I give you Pelanyan?” She nodded again.
“Can I sell your collection of The Tales of Winterlands fan-merch?”
“When the Eternal Freese takes us all and my corpse freezes over.”
That got a nervous laugh out of her. “Duly noted. Never mess with a fangirl and her stuff.” There was a serious look on her face when she turned to Stelle.
“You really want me to have this?” Stelle simply cocked her head to the side in slight confusion.
“Yes? I care about you.”
Pela, the poor petite girl was just about ready to melt. From those sweet words or the increasing temperature, she wouldn’t dare reveal. She was so used to the affectionate words of handsome men through her phone. Their subtle gestures, moments of vulnerability written all over their faces would give so much more to Pela’s heart than scrolling text and numbers could.
Yet what stood before her was a woman who said things to her so simply, so matter-of-factly. As if the fear of messing up those stupidly simple words was the furthest thing from her mind Without hesitation or a stutter. Without a smirk or a blemish of embarrassment on her face.
Yet Pela’s was a burning mess that she swore her glasses were fogging up.
“T-thank you very much.” She stammered out, busying herself with the tiny box it came from. “I’ll treasure it like a relic.” Stelle happily nodded in approval, a slow smile resting on her face.
“Don’t go putting it up in the museum.”
“Not happening. Furthermore, there’s a specific set of paperwork to complete and the curator’s approval needed for the process of putting an item up for display.” Stelle resisted the urge to roll her eyes. “To which he wouldn’t. Because this comb is from the Xianzhou Loufu.” Pela gently placed the gift in her pocket, already coordinating tomorrow’s day off outfit to wear it with.
“Now then,” Pela latched onto her girlfriend’s free arm. “Ready to go?” Stelle nodded, silently bubbling with some pride and happiness.
The pair continued their stroll downtown, intent on making the most of Belobog’s unexpected, but warm weather.
“Can I give you that piggyback ride you agreed to?”
"Not. A. Chance."