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“Will you still turn into a Seelie if you fall in love with someone?”
The question Alice threw out as if it was a normal conversation starter made Nicole start in her seat. She carefully set her teacup down and smoothed a wrinkle in her dress as she thought.
Alice sipped her own tea before propping up a smiling face on her elbow. “I suppose the first thing I should ask is if you already have someone you’re in love with.” She giggled. “Because a yes to that would answer my first question.”
Nicole blushed a little. “I have no one I’m in love with.”
“Not even our little grandmaster?” Alice leaned forward with teasing interest. “He seemed to like talking to you quite a lot~”
“No.” Nicole waved her hands in front of her to ward off the intrigue. “He’s nice, but humans all feel so- young! It would be like falling for a child!”
Alice laughed at that, clearly thinking of her most favorite child of all. “You make a good point. Even the little ones that are several centuries old are still my precious babies.” She smiled wide, eyes crinkling cutely. “So you like more mature beings then?”
“I- Why are we talking about my tastes? I haven’t even been in love to give any answers!” Nicole took a slow sip of her tea so she could hide behind the cup.
“Mm, true. And we got sidetracked from what I initially asked.” Alice tapped her cheek with a thoughtful finger. “You already escaped the punishment of the angels. Would finding a true love after all these millennia finally do you in, Nicole?”
“I don’t think so, but I’m not completely certain. Others in my situation have escaped becoming seelies, but I’m not sure about the love or lack thereof they held in their hearts. Nabu Malikata was very close to Deshret but retained her form. Although maybe love had something to do with how she sacrificed herself? Sybilla was a unique case all her own but I don’t think-”
“My dear, you’re rambling.”
The tips of Nicole’s ears reddened as she quieted her thoughts. Alice’s gaze shifting up to see the embarrassment only made Nicole flush further. She drank more tea but there was no escape.
Alice traced the rim of her teacup with her fingertip. “So basically it’s unlikely you’ll lose your form, but you don’t want to take chances. Is that right?”
Nicole nodded, hoping they could move on from this subject. “I take precautions. If I ever feel attracted to someone, I put those thoughts out of mind.”
This turned out to be the wrong thing to say. Alice laced her fingers together under her chin, fully focused on the flustered mage across the table. “Mm, so you have felt attracted to someone in the past?”
“It’s not important.”
“Everything about you is important to me, darling.”
Nicole refused to meet those beautiful eyes of sunlit flame. The teasing was always too much. “I don’t let feelings grow when I sense them. It really doesn’t matter who might have inspired them.”
“I disagree!” Alice declared decisively. “If you don’t want to tell me, I will simply guess!” Nicole’s brow creased. Alice screwed her eyes shut for a moment, pulling on all the divination she didn’t know. “Is it a member of the Hexenzirkel?”
Nicole blinked, wide-eyed. Though she never actually spoke, she was still speechless. Alice clapped her hands together in glee. “I think that’s a correct answer for me!” She began counting on her fingers. “Ooh, that narrows it down so much! I wonder who might have pulled on our dear N’s heart!”
“I should repeat again that these were only glimmers of feelings, not anything developed! So don’t-”
“Ah! I’ve got it!” Nicole looked at her companion fearfully. Alice winked. “Was it perhaps, little old me?”
Nicole’s entire face darkened and she lifted her hands to cover herself and so she wouldn’t have to look at Alice. Had the spirit of Barbeloth possessed her? Or was Nicole just that easy to read? In the name of Koitar, how did Alice get it on her first guess out of thousands of years of people?! “Like I said, it’s just a basic attraction. It’s not anything more.”
“Oh darling, I’m not upset,” Alice soothed sweetly. “Plenty of people have fallen for me. I’m quite a catch after all.” After a happy giggle which made Nicole peek out through the cracks between her fingers, Alice continued. “Still, it’s very flattering that an angel would consider going against her very nature for me.”
“You make it difficult…” The mumbled admission only made Alice preen more.
“Put your hands down, silly.” Alice gestured and Nicole reluctantly obeyed. There was a calmer, more serious note to Alice’s cheerful voice now. “I’m sorry I pulled out all your secrets, Nicole, even if I liked what it turned out to be.”
Nicole looked at her suspiciously. “Nothing is going to change. I’m not taking the risk, and you already have someone regardless.”
Alice nodded, still thoughtful. “It’s selfish of me to keep going, but I do so want to know your answer to one more question.”
“What is it?” The vulnerability in Nicole’s eyes ensured her companion knew not to go too far.
“If I was all by my lonesome and professed how deeply in love I was with you and asked you to help me raise my adorable Klee, would you still say no?” Alice batted her eyelashes. “If I begged you to love me?”
Nicole clenched her jaw and dropped her gaze to her teacup. “I’m not sure I would be able to maintain my self-control.”
“You’re being so cute right now!” Alice all but squealed. “Oh, you make it so tempting!” Her excitement died down after a moment. “But don’t worry darling, I’d never ask that of you.” She sighed wistfully. “I bet we could make a daughter just as cute and wonderful as my Klee though!” Nicole choked on her tea and Alice laughed. “Just something to think about!”