: FLOWERS FOR CHIVALRY : for zapnap

[windbursting]

[ Jean hadn't been feeling very well for the longest time.

It had started with a little tickle that settled in her lungs; just the slightest tickle that caused her to cough and then scatter her mountains of Mondstadt paperwork everywhere. She was then forced to go around her office and gather it up. Then it progressed rather easily into little bits of white blossoms emerging from her mouth as she hiccupped uncontrollably.

Her best friend, Lisa would fuss over her which progressively made it feel better and also worse, if that was even possible to begin with. Tea was shoved at her which she dutifully drank, though she stoically said that it was probably just some sort of cold that was excessively hard to shove away-- but it was hard not to want to sink into Lisa's ministrations and just let her take care of it all.

A trip to Diluc had him calling her an idiot, which she had no real clue what he meant. Instead he'd shoved some fire whiskey at her and told her it may help ease it a little bit. She ignored of course the fact that she could catch some petals coming from his own lips.

Was what she had catching? ]

Comments

[zapnap]

You are definitely working too much.

[Lisa nodded slowly. She bit at her lower lip as she tried to figure out how to bring this up. Jean deserved to be treated delicately in this. The heart was a strange and confusing thing, and Lisa knew that Jean wasn't being deliberately stupid and putting herself in danger.]

But I think this once that's not the root of the problem, mm?

[She reached over, setting a gloved hand gently on Jean's back as she coughed, a gentle touch, intended to soothe.]

I did some research, and... maybe we should find somewhere a little more private to talk about this.

[windbursting]

[ The gloved fingertips felt like warmth personified; and for once she could hear that there was no flirtatious tone to Lisa's lilting voice; and Jean did not know whether to be terrified by it. A talk in private meant that it could be dire--

And Jean had to be steeled for anything.

The young woman's back straightened perceptibly as if taken by a thread of iron that went through every single bone and blood vessel. She took a sip from her glass and then dug in for some mora to leave as a tip, a meaningful glance was directed at Lisa and then she nodded. ] Ah yes, a private spot-- the crowd is mostly here at the Angel's Share so if we step outside, we can start walking back toward my office and talk enroute.

[ Why did Jean have to be so damnably stoic about everything? ]

[zapnap]

...back to your office.

[The look that Lisa gave Jean was one that had struck fear into so many young knights, like a cat who had decided that she was going to play with her food before she devoured it. This infuriatingly stubborn woman, all work and responsibility and so little concern for herself. Lisa loved her and wanted to strangle her.

She sighed, reached over to take Jean's glass of fire whiskey from beneath those gloved fingers. Holding the Acting Grand Master's gaze, Lisa tosses back the rest of Jean's whiskey, swallowing it all in one shot. Her whiskey now.]

I see I'm going to have to be strict with you, aren't I? But that's fine. We can walk in that direction and talk.

[She slid to her feet, clasping her hands in front of herself and waiting.]

[windbursting]

[ Jean was only a little bit cowed by Lisa's expression. She should not show fear, except when Lisa got like this, it was hard not to-- but it was so rare and so it did command more than a fair share of respect. She slipped her cloak over her shoulders then and then with a half bow and a motion toward the door, she did an 'after you' which of course was the knightly thing to do.

Jean had always been a person of impeccable manners who knew how to say the right things, whose entire soul breathed responsibility and duty, though she did have her moments-- such as when Kaeya was training new recruits and was confusing them with his circuitous behavior and that sparkle would come to her eyes, where she would lean in to whisper into Lisa's ear her amusement.

Little moments that were rare but precious, like anemoculi found out in the wild.

It would take but a few seconds for them to be out underneath the starry sky of the evening, with the lights softly humming in time with the sweep of the windmills over Mondstadt. ]

[zapnap]

[They were precious to Lisa too, those small glimpses of Jean beneath the mantle of responsibility that she wore so constantly. And she wore it well. The other woman was a paragon of knightly virtue, of bravery and dedication and duty. Lisa knew that she was not the only one utterly in awe of Jean.

But she cared about more than the Acting Grand Master. She cared about the woman beyond that title. Especially now.

Lisa slipped outside, waiting for Jean so they could fall into step side by side. The sun was still lingering in the sky, but dusk was starting to stretch its fingers across the firmament.

Eventually Lisa breaks the silence.]

It's getting worse, isn't it?

[windbursting]

Yes, it is..

[ There was shadows in Jean's voice as she spoke, her eyes straight ahead and the breeze lightly playing with the golden curls that were caught up in her ponytail. It was hard to look Lisa in the eyes because she did not want sympathy or empathy, she did not know what she wanted. But there was starting to grow a fear within her that this would end horribly and then she would.. not make it.

One day her eyes would close and she would not see Lisa again and that was perhaps the greatest pain of all as it ran through her body, through her heart and made it clench painful.

She paused and pressed her palm against a wall and started to cough, a few petals falling right out of her mouth though she struggled to keep it inside. ] You should not stand too close to me Lisa, it may be.. communicable. [ And Jean would fall on her own sword than make Lisa suffer as she was suffering. ]

[zapnap]

[Lisa's eyes widened and she moved quickly to Jean's side, setting a hand on her back gently once more. She ignored the cautions with a shake of her head.]

It isn't... Oh Jean...

[Her other hand lifted to brush back that golden hair, urging the other woman to look at her. Sweet, noble, beautiful Jean. Her hand rested against a cheek, thumb caressing gently.]

I was worried. The last time we talked, I saw the flower petals. It felt familiar... I did some research and I found it. I know what this is, and I know how to cure it.

[Ignore that there was a faint sadness in her eyes, because that sadness was selfish. Jean mattered. If Jean had fallen in love, Lisa would be happy for her. And if whoever was lucky enough to earn Jean's heart was foolish enough to not understand what a treasure that was, Lisa would electrocute them until they were crispy.

And maybe someday she'd be choking back her own flowers, but that bridge could be burned when she got to it.]

You're going to be okay, Jean. But you have to face this.

[windbursting]

[ The knight knew that she was feverish, she felt feverish-- and Lisa's fingers tingled ever so slightly in a way that was familiar. And in a way, she was glad that the other woman was there, all flirtatious and coquette that she was, had seen Lisa break so many hearts; she closed her eyes only a little bit as she thought about the heart that she'd kept quietly to herself, but a heart was not a proximity thing by any stretch.

Jean then opened her eyes. ] There is the most clever woman in all of Mondstadt, figuring things out but.. what is it? How does this end? I still have much to do, I cannot... [ But the word she didn't say, it was a place where no one came back form. ]

Also, Diluc has the same thing I do.. I.. I cannot believe that it isn't catching.

[zapnap]

Flatterer.

[Lisa chided softly, a lilt to her voice in some attempt at normalcy, at pretending that the cure for her best friend meant a crack in her own surprisingly fragile heart.]

Ah, so Master Diluc is just as foolish.

[Not surprising. But that was fixable as well, if she sics Kaeya on him. She would add it to her list.

But first and foremost, was Jean.]

It's love. [She murmured softly. And then summoning up the best breezy note to her voice that she could, she tapped a single finger beneath Jean's chin.]

Love kept quiet and pushed down until it takes seed and blooms in your lungs. The cure is simple enough. You have to let it out, make the confession to the object of your affections.

[She forces a smile.]

So who is it, Jean? We'll need to set up a rendezvous, perhaps somewhere romantic. Aaah, I'm sure it'll be a sweet story in the end. Once you stop being too stubborn to remember you're allowed to do things for yourself, and not just everyone else.

[windbursting]

[ Lisa touches her with such infinite gentleness that Jean almost melts into it; if Jean is somewhat stupid, well one could add Lisa to the list as well for not noticing the very distinct lean in like a gravitational pull that linked the two young women together. But she does not notice, and Jean's eyes widen in surprise at the thought of it being love.

Love, no one ever got sick from love.

At least not that Jean had ever been aware of. ]

That cannot be.. I'm not... this is not caused by love. [ Another cough, because it felt nearly laughable that it was except was it though? She did not afford her the luxury of love though she had read the popular love novels of Vennessa quite voraciously, in fact her and Lisa had swapped the volumes back and forth, like silly idiots. ]

That only happens in fairy tales.. dying for love.

[ Though she knew that one could die for love in other ways, such as she would do anything to protect Lisa, safeguarding her heart carefully and with a Knight's vigilance that typified singular dedication. ]

[zapnap]

[Oh Lisa was just as much an idiot, it was true. She was just certain she wasn't. It was a sad and sorry statement about her own self awareness. She pursed her lips into a frown.]

Are you so sure? Love does the strangest thing to people, in and out of fairytales.

[Another brush of her fingers along Jean's cheek.]

Master Diluc is going to choke on flower petals because he and Kaeya don't know how to act like adults and not the silly boys they were years ago. And you... you're too noble for your own good, and that'll be the end of you.

[She lifted her chin, stubborn too. Jean wasn't the only one who could be headstrong and obstinate.]

And I won't have it. So. You're going to tell me who is lucky enough to have your heart, and then we're going to go find them and have a talk.

[No options here, Jean. Lisa was not taking arguments. She couldn't. Not when so much was at stake.]

[windbursting]

[ Well it was true that everyone knew that Diluc and Kaeya were down bad for each other to the point where they could not help but snipe at each other when they were in the same room, one would have to be blind, deaf and mute in order to avoid it. But then came the next words, those obstinate words coming from Lisa.

Spoken matter-of-factly; a blush coloured Jean's cheeks as she thought of it, holding her forearm to her mouth to curtail any coughing while she glanced off to the side. She knew that she was not going to get off the hook and it was not in her nature to lie, she could not lie even if she wanted.

The option to stay silent was not an option. ]

Ah, it's.. well-- I do not need to, it's not required I-- [ Jean was starting to fumble over her words quite adorable as if they were a dozen fatui agents coming at her in but the span of six seconds. ] I never want to force my feelings on anyone, I do not.. want to force them on..

[ Jean could feel herself spiralling down into a pit of her own making while her ears turned a bright shade of red. ]

I do not want to force those feelings on you--

[zapnap]

Of course you'd never force your feelings on anyone. But if someone out there is foolish enough not to be in love with you, then they--

[Lisa stopped the scolding mid-word because Jean had just said something utterly ridiculous and impossible. Wide green eyes blinked then blinked again as she took in the other woman.

The blush in those pretty features, the way Jean was looking everywhere but at her and--

Oh. No, there was no way. Her own heart started fluttering in her chest like it was no more than a wisp trying desperately to escape to flee over the rolling hills outside the city.]

Me?

[A soft hushed whisper before all at once a soft peal of laughter slips past her lips, breathless and giddy.] All this worrying you've put me through and it's because you're worried about forcing your feelings on me?

[The relief and the wonder are making her feel half intoxicated a she wraps her head and her hear around this piece of information. She takes a step back, hands setting on her hips as she regards the other woman.]

Do you know how many nights I've spent dreaming about a beautiful gallant knight sweeping me off my feet? How long I've been pining after the brave, selfless, chivalrous Acting Grand Master?

[A playful smile on her lips as she tossed her head to the side, sending her hair back over her shoulders.] It seems to me you have a lot of lost time to make up to me for.

[windbursting]

[ The laughter was like music to her ears, and they seemed to play a melody that answered to the own in her heart; it was not something that registered blatantly but rather wiggled inside until it had reached the very core of her heart, up into her lungs to spread soothing theoretical balm-- her coughing nearly ceased in her chest and while there was tightness there, it was the fact that now Lisa knew her secret.

She ducked her head when Lisa started to speak, a hesitant shyness that was not bold at this moment; it took a little bit time for the words to sink in that Lisa was.. somehow fancied her. ]

You haven't---

[ It was hard to believe, as Jean did not consider herself to be very well, interesting. She did not hold the smooth charm of Kaeya or the brooding smoulder of Diluc; she was a good obedient girl who was content to do all the not-so-glamorous work of the Knights. ] Have you?

[ She had to question it, to make sure. ]

[zapnap]

[Lisa had known to some degree that Jean was utterly blind to just how amazing she was, how she shone so brightly that she put the sun to shame. The good, dutiful knight who put everything and everyone ahead of her own self. Her own desires.

The realization that she was one of Jean's desires was a revelation. Lisa would never have dared risk their friendship. She loved the other woman and would have been content to be by her side in whatever way she could, but oh now that she knew...

Well, that changed the shape of things, didn't it?

Slowly, she stepped in closer, quite deliberately moving to back Jean up against the wall of the building. They were close in height, close enough that she only had to look up ever so slightly as she lifted a hand to take her chin, to bring those blue eyes to meet her own.]

You're so adorable... you really didn't know.

[A flicker of a smile on her lips as she admitted,] I suppose I was a bit blind to it as well.

[windbursting]

[ Often times Jean had thought that Lisa should've had cat ears and a tail for how very cunning and clever she was; and right now Jean felt like she was a yarn ball that was being batted about, it was one of the most peculiar sensations she'd ever felt. She had been used to her best friend's flirtatious attitude, it had been very difficult for her to think that it meant anything when she had seen Lisa refer to everyone as cutie or some other endearment.

One did not think one was special when everyone got that same treatment.

Jean was not thinking of the times when Lisa showed her the marked serious side of her, the one that was quite content with quiet conversation; that was obviously where the love lay in all of it's gift-wrapped glory. ]

I did not want to tell you because I.. I'm just Jean.

[ She said nearly helplessly as she was aware of the proximity, of Lisa's fingers against her cheek or the way that their breasts pressed so closely together in such snug proximity-- that she could feel the rise and fall of the other girl's. That caused her heartbeat to spike somewhat erratically.

Her cough was gone, but so was her breath. ],/small> You could have anyone you wanted and I...

[zapnap]

[Just Jean? Lisa looks at the other woman incredulously for a moment. It's starting to make sense, how they've managed to dance around each other so intricately for so long. Her sweet, wonderful, beautiful Jean who was so good and proper and brilliant... was an idiot.

Ah.

And Lisa did play and tease, flirted with most everyone who crossed her path and caught her attention. But it was all just that -- play. She'd deliberately evaded anything serious, any actual romantic entanglements.

Jean was indeed the only one who was trusted in her quieter moments, the sanctuary of who she really was, behind the flirtatiousness.]

You are not just anything... you're... [She shifted even closer now, winding her arms around the other woman's neck slow and deliberate, close enough so that they were sharing the same breath as she spoke.] ...Jean, you're everything... I want you. And if you don't kiss me very soon I'm going to make a scene.

[windbursting]

[ Jean's eyes widened for a brief flicker of a second.

It was because she knew well Lisa's scenes, there had been dramatic scenes in the schoolroom when they had been growing up; there had been scenes all across the day and time that she'd enjoyed watching and did nothing to stop (after all one could not stop the lightning from striking), but she understood that this could mean a bit of public disturbance.

Couldn't have that, could they?

So Jean slipped her arms around Lisa's waist, and with a face that was tinged pink, she leaned in to kiss the other girl; it was a bit awkward but gods was it sincere; it was also clear that Jean had little to no experience with kissing cute girls because her mouth was unclear on what to do, or if her mouth was pliant enough.

Was it pliant enough? She did not want Lisa to think that she was kissing a stone brick from the cathedral. ]

[zapnap]

[So maybe it was a little obvious that this was not something Jean had a great deal of experience with. But that was fine with Lisa. It was not like she had much herself. None of that mattered anyway. What mattered was that Jean was kissing her, and it was new and uncertain and thoroughly perfect.

She smiled against the other woman's lips.]

You're so cute.

[Soft and earnest in a way that her usual flirting had never been, and she brushed another light kiss against Jean's lips.]

Now. We're not going back to your office, are we?

[No work. No offices.] You'll come back to my room with me, won't you? So we can... talk?

[windbursting]

Ah yes, talking.

[ They probably should talk about what this all meant; of course they should. These feelings should be discussed, perhaps it would be best to see if the other had any expectations going forward with this. Jean had not quite picked up that talking was probably not what was on the agenda; poor sweet Dandelion knight that she was. ]

You are right, we should talk.

[ She wanted to chase those lips though, to capture then once again and to taste the nectar of them, and she felt just a little bit drugged from it.

No, talking was good. ] I won't go back to my office tonight, I will go with you and we can definitely talk about all of the things, every single one of them.

[ And now Jean was rambling, maybe that was just the fever-induced kiss that made her like this. ]

[zapnap]

[Lisa giggled. She couldn't help it, not with Jean rambling on in what had to be the most charming display she had ever witnessed in her life. Her heart was a mess of racing and pounding in her chest, and yes it was true that they should talk. And they would.

But maybe they'd talk after she'd trapped Jean in a chair and planted herself in the good knight's lap, or sometime tomorrow morning tangled up in her bedsheets and...

She was getting away from herself here.]

Every last one, yes. We'll be up all night at this rate.

[She stepped back then, unwinding her arms from around Jean oh so reluctantly. Another step back and she held out her hand towards the other woman. Hand holding? Please?]

[windbursting]

[ Jean did like any good knight would do, she took that hand.

And then she lifted it very carefully, treating it as if it was something precious, and she pressed a very blushing kiss to the back of it. Perhaps she did not wear armor like most of the Knights of Favonius but being a knight was not in the dress, it was in the heart and right now it radiated from her.

But the truth was that she was still convinced that they were going to talk right when they got to Lisa's rooms, so there was that. ]

We will probably need our sleep, Lisa-- eventually.

[zapnap]

[Lisa should have seen that coming. She really should have. Instead Jean kissed her hand and her face lit up in a vivid pink blush, blinking at the other woman. Oh. That was... that was so charming. She felt strangely weak kneed in a way that no one had ever made her feel before.

Jean really was a knight straight out of a fairytale.]

Eventually. [She agreed breathlessly, glancing away for a moment of thoroughly rare shyness as she let herself truly wrap her mind around the fact that she was the one Jean wanted.]

[windbursting]

[ Lisa was the fair lady that Jean had always loved; it was true. And perhaps come their rendezvous in Lisa's room, such would be revealed within the light outside of the Knight's mind. Every Knight needed a Lady, that was in all of the fairytales and Jean had read much of them-- so in her heart, on that pedestal there had been Lisa.

Except she was now going to find out that the effigy that she had all but set up a shrine too would be so much better in the flesh; a living breathing woman who was warm to the touch and who would feel like beating reality in her arms. ]

Lead on then, Lisa-- I look forward to whatever this is between us and I ah.. well, I would like permission to kiss you again very soon.

[ Her voice, normally direct and forthright, held a little note of breathless anticipation where that wonderment had set in. ]

[zapnap]

[Lisa will indeed lead on, her hand in Jean's, heading back through the familiar Mondstadt streets. And thank goodness her feet knew this path with a sort of muscle memory because her mind was racing elsewhere, thinking of how nice it felt to be holding hands with Jean, thinking how much she wished there were no gloves in the way of feeling those hands.

Well, time for that later.

She glanced over with a smile playing over her lips.]

Mm... you definitely have permission.

[She shouldered into the other woman gently.] In fact, you can consider it an order, Acting Grand Master.

[Did Jean outrank her as the humble librarian? In theory yes, but Lisa rather thought she could get away with this.]

[windbursting]

[ Oh did Lisa ever have permission to pull rank on her, and well now that they had much to discuss, Jean did not mind having Lisa boss her around-- in fact, the thought filled her with no small feeling of heat that added to the flush across her cheeks. Even though Lisa had been calling the shots in their friendship, it was because the livewire had always been Lisa, ever since they were girls in school.

She imagined pulling Lisa close, pressing her lips against her friend's once again.

But also she wasn't immune to thoughts of going out for dinner dates, for picnics in the park, all of those little things that were what girlfriends did. Though perhaps that was rushing the gun a little bit; they'd admitted feelings not if they were going to do anything about it-- and Jean was not someone who rushed in head first but rather strategized. ] I'm fine with that, my Lady Lisa.

[zapnap]

[Careful, Jean. Lisa did not need to find that out -- she would, of course. And she'd have more fun with it than she had any right to. For now though, she was still caught in the trying to believe this is real stage.

She was also thinking about kissing more though, about finding themselves alone and indulging in getting to know the taste of the other woman's lips intimately. Maybe find out just how deep Jean could blush.

And yes, picnics and dinner dates and walking hand in hand. Quiet afternoon tea at the cafe. Making sure to interrupt Jean's workaholic tendencies to make sure the other woman was taking care of herself as a human being. ...Lisa was already quite convinced they were going to pursue this. The hard part was the admitting feelings, wasn't it?

She looked over at being called my lady, lifting her free hand to her lips to cover the smile that blossomed.]

I think I like that very much, being your lady.

Their path took them back to Lisa's quaint little home.]

[windbursting]

[ Lisa had been here several times, but it felt different-- it felt like they were walking a familiar path but as different people, with the warmth of Lisa's hand in her own and the way that the scent of flowers never seemed sweeter. And then there was Lisa, her sweet fragrant blossom-- how many times had she sat at her desk, and then Lisa had walked by and she'd caught the faintest scent of hair that teased at her.

How many times had she longed for just a look, flirtatious though it may be.

It felt endless the yearning she'd indulged in. ] Mmmhmmm..

[ And Jean dared to brush her thumb lightly against the side of Lisa's hand, hands that were still so soft despite holding a sword with practiced ease. ]

[zapnap]

[That small touch sent a thrill, more electric than the power of her Vision, racing over her skin and settling in a flutter in her heart. Her brave, beautiful knight. This was going to be dangerous for her not being in a swoon constantly.

Lisa stepped forward as they approached the door, leaning her back against it. She reached her free hand out to catch at Jean's collar and tug the other woman close.]

Kiss?

[Question? Maybe. But probably more of a demand.]

[windbursting]

[ That could've been a demand for all that Jean was concerned but then she was tugged into Lisa's magical orbit once again and then their bodies flushed as she leaned down at hunted down those lips with her own, this time her mouth parted over the other woman's and the collar of her outfit was gripped in manicured hands.

Jean went willing, a fucking simp for this girl and quite content with her fate.

Perhaps she would call in tomorrow. She had not taken a unscheduled day off in at least a few years, perhaps she would treat herself? All she could think about was lounging about with Lisa-- and the fact that the both of their absences would be mutually noted was the furthest thought from her head.

Tea and fire whiskey, this was what Lisa tasted like, it was positively addictive. ]