𝖿𝖺𝗅𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗈𝗎𝖽𝖾𝗇 .

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ . . . 𝖽𝖾𝖺𝖽 𝗀𝗂𝗋𝗅 𝗐𝖺𝗅𝗄𝗂𝗇𝗀. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

[𝖿𝖺𝗅𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗈𝗎𝖽𝖾𝗇 . @beyondtheveil_]

⠀⠀

—- 𝖿𝖺𝗅𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗈𝗎𝖽𝖾𝗇 .
𝘐 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵 … 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦

⠀⠀

[𝖿𝖺𝗅𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗈𝗎𝖽𝖾𝗇 . @beyondtheveil_]

well. this really can’t get any more awkward, can it?

she laughs, quiet and nervous, mostly from being so caught off guard. she doesn’t really know what to do. or say.

so she just goes for it.

aaaand . . . .

presses a soft kiss right on Marcille’s cheek.

[╱ 𝗆𝗂𝗄𝖺𝖾𝗅𝖺 𝗋𝖾𝗂𝖽. @macabreadmirer]

frozen on the spot, too stunned and flustered to react or even say a single word. her throat feels like cotton. the tips of her pointed ears glow scarlet as she gauges the other’s reaction, apprehensive.

“ . . . . . . . ”

[𝖿𝖺𝗅𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗈𝗎𝖽𝖾𝗇 . @beyondtheveil_]

just sort of stares at it a moment, before her eyes trail down to find Marcille, red as a tomato.

. . . .

. . . . . . .

oh. OH — !?!

[╱ 𝗆𝗂𝗄𝖺𝖾𝗅𝖺 𝗋𝖾𝗂𝖽. @macabreadmirer]

“. . . !!!”

stares up at the plant with wide eyes, then finally meets the other’s gaze as an influx of crimson begins to flood her face.

( shit. shit!! oh gods. she didn’t orchestrate this, swear!! it was a complete accident!! SPIRITS HELP HER. )

[𝖿𝖺𝗅𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗈𝗎𝖽𝖾𝗇 . @beyondtheveil_]

oh . . . staring in pink-cheeked wonder.

[╱ 𝗆𝗂𝗄𝖺𝖾𝗅𝖺 𝗋𝖾𝗂𝖽. @macabreadmirer]

. . . @beyondtheveil_

[𝖿𝖺𝗅𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗈𝗎𝖽𝖾𝗇 . @beyondtheveil_]

@darkartsmage so this is very nice, I think. I would’ve been happy even if it was soup.”

especially because she gets to spend time with her.

[𝖿𝖺𝗅𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗈𝗎𝖽𝖾𝗇 . @beyondtheveil_]

@darkartsmage her eyes light up. Senshi made lunch? and Marcille wants to share it with her?

nothing would make her happier — !

“really? I’m free now.” standing, smile still on her face. “oh, is it living armor? hmm … how about … ”

and she goes on to list several different monsters.

[𝖿𝖺𝗅𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗈𝗎𝖽𝖾𝗇 . @beyondtheveil_]

@darkartsmage “oh, hah, only a little … !”

she laughs under her breath. truthfully, while she 𝘸𝘢𝘴 sick of soup everyday during recovery, Senshi had at least made it differently every time.

she swirls the wine in her glass gently.

“I’m just grateful to have anything at all, really … —

[𝖿𝖺𝗅𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗈𝗎𝖽𝖾𝗇 . @beyondtheveil_]

@darkartsmage still a bit flushed, but mostly just delighted, she turns back to her with a smile.

“it’s so thoughtful of you to pack all of my favorites. oh! and I’d love to try some of the wine, too!”

[𝖿𝖺𝗅𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗈𝗎𝖽𝖾𝗇 . @beyondtheveil_]

@darkartsmage “oh … ! this all looks so amazing, Marcille!”

and as much as she wants to dig into the chocolate bundt cake right away, she decides to start with some fruits, first ( raspberries, her favorite ! ), so that they have something sweet to share together later. —

[𝖿𝖺𝗅𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗈𝗎𝖽𝖾𝗇 . @beyondtheveil_]

@darkartsmage “I agree. that’s why … I always brought food to you. and so that … neither of us had to be alone.”

and because she loves her. that’s what . . friends do.

she exhales, soft, still warm in the face, and peers at the basket.

“what did you bring for lunch today?”

[𝖿𝖺𝗅𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗈𝗎𝖽𝖾𝗇 . @beyondtheveil_]

@darkartsmage it’s true.

everything tastes better shared with someone you care about. everything 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘴 better, inside, when you share something with someone you care about, and when you weren’t so . . . alone.

. . . she hums fondly.

it’s nice to know that the sentiment was mutual. —

[𝖿𝖺𝗅𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗈𝗎𝖽𝖾𝗇 . @beyondtheveil_]

@darkartsmage “I’m happy to have anything. Senshi is a wonderful cook, and … everything tastes better when you share it with someone.”

[𝖿𝖺𝗅𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗈𝗎𝖽𝖾𝗇 . @beyondtheveil_]

@darkartsmage blinks. she hadn’t even suggested kelpie yet, or walking mushrooms.

evidently, it’s no bother to her.

“oh, well …. that’s alright, then.”

eyes squint with a gentle smile. Falin kneels to help straighten out the corners of the blanket, smoothing it out with her palms. —

[╱ 𝗆𝗂𝗄𝖺𝖾𝗅𝖺 𝗋𝖾𝗂𝖽. @macabreadmirer]

——@beyondtheveil_

[𝖿𝖺𝗅𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗈𝗎𝖽𝖾𝗇 . @beyondtheveil_]

@beyondtheveil_ the fellow blonde beams, soon brandishing a hefty picnic basket, complete with a folded quilt on top.

“perfect, because Senshi helped me pack a lunch! ta-da~! I was hoping to share it with you, if you were free. .”

[𝖿𝖺𝗅𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗈𝗎𝖽𝖾𝗇 . @beyondtheveil_]

@darkartsmage “oh … ! hi, Marcille !”

quickly sitting up, and putting on a smile.

she definitely wasn’t reading one of her romances, and … she definitely wasn’t dozing off over it, either.

“I had some berries, but .. nothing else.” she tilts her head, trying to peek. “what’s that?”

[╱ 𝗆𝗂𝗄𝖺𝖾𝗅𝖺 𝗋𝖾𝗂𝖽. @macabreadmirer]

gently taps @beyondtheveil_ on the shoulder, features alight with a smile that never fails to bloom in the other’s presence.

“Falin! I’m glad I caught you. have you already eaten lunch?”

hands are now behind her back, obviously hiding something from plain view.

[𝖿𝖺𝗅𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗈𝗎𝖽𝖾𝗇 . @beyondtheveil_]

like when he offers to braid your hair!

[ Falin continues to carefully braid, sighing softly.

maybe it’s just her, but Chilchuck’s Girl Dad energy is certainly noticeable around Marcille, at times, now that she thinks about it. ]

[𝖿𝖺𝗅𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗈𝗎𝖽𝖾𝗇 . @beyondtheveil_]

they’re on their own . . !?

[ trying to do the mental math, but it occurs to her then that she doesn’t actually know Chilchuck’s age.

she shakes her head, as if shaking the thought. ]

o-oh, well, I’ve noticed that he sometimes . . acts like a disgruntled father around you? —

[╱ 𝗆𝗂𝗄𝖺𝖾𝗅𝖺 𝗋𝖾𝗂𝖽. @macabreadmirer]

It’s a good thing the fellow magic-user had paused her plaiting, because Marcille’s now nodding vigorously in agreement.

“I knowww!! It blew my mind when he finally told us! But, no, they’re all grown and on their own! Can you believe that?!”

She stops short, her brows —