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The candles were set, the wine was poured, the flowers were scattered, the fruits assorted, and the bath salts added. The bath was ready.
Today was Valentine's day, a holiday Columbina learned about from the Traveller. They said it was about love and showing appreciation to the people dear to you. When she asked what to do, the Traveler and Lauma told her that sweets and other gifts or acts of service were common ways people expressed their love on Valentine's day.
In fact, the Traveller even gave her flowers, and Lauma gave her food.
So in return, Columbina gave sweets or other snacks to all her friends too after a trip to the market. But she wanted to do something more special for Robin, so she planned a surprise bath, something she spent a long time contemplating.
A few days earlier, she and Robin had planned to meet up this evening anyway, so she got to work early on preparing the bath. Not too early the water would be cold, but early enough she wouldn't make Robin wait outside.
She also got chocolate covered berries and wine, as Robin had expressed her enjoyment of berries in the past, and Columbina had heard wine was often considered a romantic kind of drink. Something she heard from Flins. She got wine that had been imported from Mondstadt, since it was widely known to be the best.
Columbina decided she would wait on the moon structure outside to pass the time. She could see everything in Silvermoon Hall from up there, and watching the kuuhenki flit around the place was enough entertainment to last her until Robin came.
Feeling strangely excited, she found herself humming and swinging her legs, eagerly waiting for Luonnotar to lead Robin into the flower-filled cave. Robin always looked stunning among the flowers here, her blue hair and white dresses always matching the scenery. It looked like she belonged there.
Columbina liked to think she did belong there.
After humming 3 more songs, Luonnotar came flying into the cave happily, Robin walking along behind her with her wings outstretched and a basket in hand.
Robin had a small smile on her face as she called out and looked around, and Columbina let her walk to the cottage door and knock before flying down from the moon structure and standing behind her.
“Looking for me?” She lightly tapped Robin’s shoulder as she turned around and smiled wider.
“There you are. I brought a gift for you,” handing Columbina the basket, her wings fluttered as she looked at her expectantly. “I don't know if you celebrate it, but Happy Valentine’s Day.”
Columbina took the basket and opened it, finding chocolates, flowers, and some round yellow and blue gemstones wrapped in cloth. Robin explained the stones were stellar jades, meant to be another moon chess set.
“Oh… Thank you. Yes, the Traveler told me about Valentine's day. In fact, I have a surprise for you, too…” Pushing the door open, she motioned for Robin to follow her, stepping into the small cottage. She placed the items from the basket on the kitchen counter, and led Robin to the bathroom.
“I wasn't sure what to do, but I heard from the Traveller once that hot baths are generally considered to be very relaxing. I hope you like it.” She paused at the doorway as Robin stepped inside and took in the view. “...There is also wine and berries, since you've said that you enjoy those.”
Robin sighed in awe at the sight of the flower-covered room. There were blue petals floating in the water and surrounding the tub, with candles on the counter and on the various shelves built into the wall, and there was a glass of wine on the counter next to the bottle.
“I wasn't expecting this,” Looking over her shoulder at Columbina, she faintly blushed. “It looks beautiful, thank you.”
“I heard salt has soothing properties, so I added some. There was berry scent at the market that reminded me of you.”
Huffing with amusement and another thanks, Robin knelt down to feel the water, swishing her hand around and watching the petals swirl and float across the water. “Oh, it's still hot. When did you prepare this?”
“...Not long ago. We set up a time to meet today, and I assumed you wouldn't want a cold bath… Should I leave you to relax now?”
Standing up, Robin hesitated for a moment, her blush deepening imperceptibly. “Ah, actually… Would you join me?” At Columbina’s confused hum in response, her wings fluffed up momentarily and she quickly continued. “We don't need to do anything! Just, sit with me? I would like to spend time with you, after all.”
With a quiet “oh,” Columbina agreed, and at Robin’s suggestion she went to the kitchen to fetch another glass. When she returned, Robin had already settled in the bath, her hair tied in a bun and her dress folded neatly on the counter.
The water reached to the top of her chest, and the tips of her wings had already gotten wet. The wings from her back were folded over stomach, submerged in the water and pressed to the side of the tub. Blue petals swirled around her, and the candles cast a warm glow over her features.
Columbina thought this had been a good idea. Robin could get to relax, and Columbina got to see the beautiful sight of her surrounded by flowers in the candlelight.
“The water is a lovely temperature, I'm already starting to relax.” Robin’s voice snapped her out of her trance, and smiled as she filled the second glass with wine.
“Did you want me to sit by you or join you in the tub?” Columbina asked, handing her a glass.
“Whichever you're comfortable with,” Robin breathed in the scent of the wine before sipping from the glass and humming. “Where did you say this was from?”
“Mondstadt. It’s famous for its dandelion wine.” She started to step into the tub, but her foot barely touched the water before Robin laughed.
“If you're going to join me in the bath, you probably shouldn't do it in your dress, Columbina.”
She had an amused smile on her face as she said that, and Columbina paused.
After a moment of consideration, she retracted her foot and set her own glass down on the counter again. “Mm… I suppose you're right…”
Robin averted her gaze when Columbina began to remove her shawl and dress. She left the ribbons on her arms and legs, deeming them too intricate to remove, since it usually took a while to put on and take off those ribbons.
Robin kept her face covered by her wings until Columbina had fully settled into the tub, her cheeks pink again when she returned her gaze. “Oh, here, turn around.” she requested, setting her glass down on the floor momentarily.
Columbina felt her gather up all her long, dark hair, nearly half of which had already been drenched and had some stray petals caught in it, and twist it into a bun like she had done to her own hair.
When she was finished, Columbina turned around to see Robin holding her glass again and holding it out in invitation. After a moment of confusion, Columbina brought her own glass forward and tapped it to Robin’s.
“Thank you for this, really. It has been a bit stressful lately, with trying to fix the express and all. This is just what I needed, and it's decorated so beautifully too.” Robin’s wings fluttered with that, and they drifted into quiet conversation.
It was nice, sitting there together and enjoying drinks while exchanging soft words and kisses, with their legs pressed together and the warm water surrounding them. It was truly pleasant and relaxing.
Columbina originally intended for Robin to bathe alone, had planned to go play with the kuuhenki or make a poor attempt at making dinner, but she's happier that Robin invited her to join. There was a warmth in her chest that wasn't from the water or the alcohol.
She hadn't experienced anything like this before, but she enjoyed it, and found herself wishing to experience it again.
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Eventually the water grew chilly and their glasses emptied, and they had to get out.
They were presented with a small problem when they got out. Robin didn't have fresh clothes to change into, as she hadn't been told about the bath before coming.
“Oh… I… didn't think that far ahead. I'll go see what I have in my closet.” Columbina made her way to the bedroom, changing out of her towel and into a dress before looking through her things for something Robin could wear.
Columbina was shorter by a few inches and thinner than Robin, so none of her short or tight dresses would work. After a few minutes of contemplation she settled on a long, flowy black dress that would likely fit her.
She brought the dress to Robin and left her alone to change, instead going to the kitchen to rifle through the cabinets in search of things that could possibly be dinner foods. There was barely anything there, and the few things that were were growing dust and not suitable for dinner.
She had wanted Robin to stay for dinner too, but she wasn't sure what to do if there were no ingredients.
When Robin came back out, she wrapped her arms around Columbina from behind and rested her chin on her shoulder, wings tickling her neck. “Did you want to have dinner together? I could make something for us.”
“Yes, but I have no ingredients.”
“Well, how late is the market open?”
So they took a quick trip to the market, Columbina wearing a coat with a hood over her head in a small attempt to conceal her identity. They got some vegetables and bread, and then returned to Silvermoon Hall to cook them.
They cooked the vegetables in a pot over the stove, and baked the bread in the oven. Brought out the wine and candles, and set the bouquet of flowers Robin brought in a vase in the center of the table.
The night ended with a few rounds of moon chess and feeding each other sweets while sitting atop the moon structure, before it grew dark out and Robin had to return to her lodgings.
Columbina was very happy with how today turned out. It felt special, but she wanted to do it more often. She wanted to share quiet moments with hushed words and giggles with Robin more, wanted to share drinks and food by candlelight more.
Today was “Valentine's Day”, a day meant specially to show your adoration to the ones you love, but surely you could do that on other days too? She would have to ask.