A Smile Worthy of a Religion
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Content synopsis: WuWa Phoebe gets caught with her echo friends! (the reader will be named as "P/N" in this fanfic, meaning "Preferred name")
Scroll away if you do not entertain fanfics of Acolyte Phoebe x Acolyte Reader and wlw
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The city of Ragunna is a highly revered region in Rinascita for its use of common echoes that can be seen littered across its streets, mostly seen as serving more to be a functional part rather than for combat. Sometimes referred to as “Divine Envoys,” they are seen as gifts from Sentinel Imperator. These helpful, soft, and friendly echoes, however, are stated in the Codex of the Deep to be treated objectively to avoid wrongful preaches. As one of the Acolyte’s of the Order, P/N had remained at a certain distance from these cuddly creatures as much as she could. She couldn’t deny that they were certainly adorable, but the Codex is clear about its regulations.
…unlike a fellow Acolyte of hers.
She had initially traveled to Whisperwind Haven to visit one of the elders there. To assist him in his daily routine for her schedule is free in the meantime. They were well acquainted—she offers him her service; he tells her of the tales that lurk around Elga town.
The sun is high above the peaceful Egla town, enveloping it in a comforting warmth that urged the elders, echoes, and children to venture outside to bask in its warmth. A breeze had ruffled her Acolyte hat to near removal. Quickly, she raised her gloved hand to press it against her head, keeping it from flying away and be subjected to yet another sermon from a senior.
That was when she spotted a familiar figure in the distance at the turn of her head. They, like her, wear an Acolyte hat and pristine uniform worn by one.
And she knows little whom would visit the Haven apart from herself in the vacant time allotted in an unrestrained schedule.
Soft crunches followed her footsteps as she proceeds towards the blondie, bending down while surrounded by fluffy echoes. The blades of the grass tickle her skin through the white tights she wears. From where she stood, she can faintly hear the delighted laughter from the person she holds dear.
She pauses her tracks from a few meters away from the adorable scene.
“’Members of the Order are to remain at a distance towards echoes to better handle matters relating and concerning them, and to better share knowledge about them’…” she speaks up loud enough to be heard from a distance.
A few echoes jump in surprise and turn to look at her, similar to the fellow Acolyte whose eyes widened. “Right, Acolyte Phoebe?” P/N continues.
“O-oh! Acolyte P/N!” uttered Phoebe, getting up from her position in the middle of petting an echo. “I’m sorry, I didn’t notice you there…”
Her hands clasp together in a nervous habit as she faces the other, unable to meet her eyes. “Y-yes… I am aware of the instructions of the Codex towards these echoes. As an Acolyte, it is part of my duty to avoid favoritism and honor to inform the public…” –her gaze wanders to the echoes that had now seek shelter behind her legs— "but I couldn’t stop myself from indulging even momentarily… They were kind enough to present a present to me, after all.”
P/N settles in front of Phoebe, wearing a slightly amused yet endearing smile with crossed arms. She watches as the latter digs something up in her pocket before showing it to her in her hands. It was a small bouquet of flowers—most likely picked up from the flowers that adorn the fields around them—clustered together with a thin thread of string.
Her gaze lowers to the various echoes surrounding Phoebe, a Hocus Pocus, a Lottie Lost along with some Cuddle Wuddles, and a Diggy Duggy. As she scans the group of little echoes, hiding behind the Acolyte, she recognizes a pair that captured her attention the most—it was Brenno and Livia.
It was Phoebe’s closest friends, almost like family. There’s been a lot of instances when she caught the Acolyte retreating to them at certain days—she recalls a particular moment of them sneaking around the Order of the Deep in an almost comical manner. She also remembers well the moments she sees her cuddling with them in secret, or they cuddle up to her.
P/N isn’t oblivious to the fact that the instruction to stray far from them is achingly hard for Phoebe. Even if the Acolyte knows that it’ll mean trouble for her, she remains faithful to these fluffy friends.
There was one time she had conveyed the strict orders to these two, thinking Phoebe failed to tell them. However, when they only gave her a gift in response, it was only then she realizes that they know she has been spectating them from afar and that she hadn’t said a single thing to the others. After that, P/N couldn’t find it in herself to ever snitch on Phoebe. In a way, she felt it was her responsibility to have them remain a close relationship in secret.
Striking up conversations abruptly to others at a close call, taking a few errands for her own when she’s aware the place is one the trio utilizes for their hang outs, even pretending she didn’t see Phoebe patting some echoes’ head even within the Order—
But the Codex’s content is clear, as well as the instructions given. Proper punishment must be appointed to the violator of any verse in the doctrine.
She glances between the flowers in Phoebe’s hand and the sheepish smile on her face.
“You know I can’t ignore this, Acolyte Phoebe,” stated P/N.
Phoebe’s lips quiver in nervousness. The hand which holds up the gift falters. Her eyebrows furrow.
And as simply as that, her resolve is swiftly abandoned.
“But…” Once again, she takes a look at the echoes tilting their heads up towards her in an almost pleading expression. That’s odd, when has she ever been able to know that? “…I suppose I’ll pretend to not see it this time.” And the several dozen times before this.
A relieved smile dances across Phoebe’s lips upon hearing her agreement, a sentiment shared by the echoes around her. They cheered and even looked excited somehow despite how near they were to despair earlier, leaving their place behind the blondie’s legs.
“Thank you, Acolyte P/N! May the Sentinel bless your understanding heart! I was only supposed to pass by Egla town for some fresh air… but they followed me out here, I couldn’t ignore them,” Phoebe says in delight. She holds up the flowers in her hand, and her expression brightened as she takes a step closer.
P/N sighs—though not in exasperation. “It’s alright, it would be quite rude to ignore a gift from a friend, wouldn’t it—”
Suddenly, the bundle of flowers is tucked in her hair, in between her Acolyte hat and her ear.
The words die on her mouth as she looks upon Phoebe, carefully placing the gift she had received into the beautiful features of her companion. Her touch ever so featherlight yet ignited a wild rhythm in P/N’s heart. Even with the gloves she wore as part of her attire, the touch is just as heartfelt as it could be without it.
When Phoebe pulls away, a pleased smile graces her lips. “There! Take it as my and the echoes’ thanks. For keeping it a secret.”
P/N couldn’t find any smart response in the rapid train of panicked thoughts that swirl in her head. She clears her throat and attempts to find solace in the eyes of the echoes below. “S-sure… Whatever.”
At the corner of her eye, she can see Phoebe tilting her head. The echoes around them observed the two with interest.
Another wave of embarrassment brought a flush to her ears. “A-anyway—you must be careful when you meet them like this, Acolyte Phoebe. If it wasn’t me, then you would have been sent back immediately.”
Phoebe’s expression turns a touch serious and she takes a step back. “Yes, of course. I know. I promise I’ll be more careful next time.” But just as quickly, she recovers, gratitude glimmering in her eyes.
One of the Cuddle Wuddles—one she hasn’t met before—at least she thinks so—comes up towards her. She looks down to its button eyes.
It glances at Phoebe, and almost immediately, the Acolyte understood.
“Oh!” she giggles. “Marcy wants to show you something—if you don’t mind.”
The echo turns back to P/N before waddling towards a certain direction, to the side of Egla town. It looks back at them when a few other echoes followed while some remained by Phoebe’s side, wordlessly asking them to follow. Livia and Brenno were even tugging slightly at the hem of her skirt.
P/N hesitated. She really shouldn’t be entertaining this little trip the echo asks of her, much less actually indulge compared to the times before she merely observed from afar.
Yet—when she stole one glimpse of Phoebe under the cover of the shadow of her hat, she sees the contained happiness mixed with anticipation underneath the composed exterior the diligent Acolyte always wears as she gazes at her and the way the echoes that remained by their side slowly leans in, sharing the Acolyte’s subtle wish.
There was a hopeful silence that sprung as P/N remained quiet.
…really, was there ever a choice in the first place?
“…alright, but just this once,” she concedes.
As always, she can never truly bear to see disappointment across Phoebe’s face. To P/N, there is nothing more sacred to her than Phoebe’s smile.
The little echoes all cheer in unison, their fluffy figures jump in the air with hands raised in exaggeration. They soon dash away towards somewhere, the tension felt from before lifted by the obvious delight in the echoes’ actions.
Phoebe’s face softens into quiet excitement grows at her agreement, it shows at the way her eyes disappeared, and her cheeks lifting at her smile.
She chuckles and begins walking beside P/N as they follow the group of echoes. “I must thank you again for keeping this a secret between us. These echoes… they’re more than just that to me. I know it’s wrong but—they were there for me during my hardest days. I can’t abandon my friends!”
P/N looks back at Phoebe, holding her gaze with an affectionate one of her own. One that is also deemed wrong by the Order. “I understand, Acolyte Phoebe… Friends are important to keep, after all. I wouldn’t take that away from you.”
‘Members of the Order will not indulge Their favor in idle pleasures or desires.’
The familiar verse pops into her head. However, she can’t find any feeling of guilt nor regret. Her feelings—the strong tugs in her heart are more than idle pleasure. They are more than that.
Under the shadow of her Acolyte hat, P/N smiles. A gesture Phoebe mimics with a warm one of her own.
“I wonder where they’ll bring us.”
Phoebe shrugs, feigning innocence. “Let’s keep following them to find out!”
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