|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Thu May 16, 2024 6:06 pm
It was easy to be distracted by how delighted the cubs were with Ephesus’ tiger’s attention. They were easily distracted by her tail and two of them were climbing over each other to try and grab it. The third had worn itself out and was nudging into her side with its head. It was too small to move her, but that wasn’t the point. It just wanted to be as close as possible. Pollen and flower petals clung to the side of its face from where it had been sniffing too aggressively and nibbling on anything that smelled too good.
Amarynthos’ eyes were fixed on the four creatures. He knew he didn’t have to bring out his summon; it was always here, somewhere, whenever he was. It was probably making rounds to make sure that the place looked good. He wasn’t worried by the fact that it wasn’t here right now; if something was wrong it would have come to get him.
“I dunno,” he mused, tilting his head back to rest on Ephesus’ shoulder. “Maybe.”
It didn’t make much sense to him. He didn’t feel uneasy, but it felt like such an overload of information, like a waterlogged book where all the pages stuck together. If he had any chance of going through it, he had to wait for it to dry out.
“We might be working too hard. We should ask Alastor to take us up to visit again, it’s been a while.” Not long but long enough, considering he knew Alastor went up there once a week. Elliot often asked for updates and liked to pick Devyn’s brain about the state of things. He had a never ending flow of questions but it wasn’t like Devyn ever mined. “And I want to visit Sessrumnir, too. You think your dads would let us make a weekend out of it?”
Mary wasn’t sure they’d find anything there, but whether or not they got answers didn’t entirely matter. His curiosity was enough–and he liked spending time with Effie’s dads. Besides, his parents could have a weekend to themselves, too.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu May 16, 2024 7:34 pm
While Amarynthos was looking at the tiger and bears, Ephesus took the time to look at Amarynthos. To get lost in the deep blue of his eyes, and the kindness of his expression. He wasn’t sure what thoughts he accidentally transferred over to Amarynthos, but it was likely warm and full of love.
“I know they would if we asked,” he confirmed, having no doubt in his mind that his parents would let them visit their World and Wonder if they even mentioned being interested. Well… Devyn kept wanting it to be perfect, but maybe if he was convinced that they wouldn’t judge him on anything he hadn’t fixed, then maybe he would be okay with them going.
‘Hopefully they won’t spend all their time with us,’ he thought wistfully, not wanting his parents to bug him and Amarynthos about holding hands or kissing. Not that they did, but he didn’t want to give them a reason to tell them to stop.
It was hard not to think about kissing Amarynthos when he looked so peaceful and content. So after a few more moments, Ephesus cleared his throat a little.
“Should we take our Code pieces back? Just to make sure they’re comfortable again,” he suggested. ‘Maybe Mary will want to take a nap while we’re here. I’m not tired but I want to hold him.’
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri May 17, 2024 11:01 am
Amarynthos may have been better at keeping his thoughts to himself, but the emotions from him were constant–perpetual love and admiration. Any time he looked at Ephesus, the warmth in his heart grew.
The corners of his lips twitched in an impossible challenge to resist smiling as Ephesus’ thoughts flitted into his mind. Once more, he was torn between keeping Ephesus’ thoughts to himself or confessing that he could hear them.
“I suppose we should. They’d be safer put away.”
But what threats were there here? Between Ephesus’ tiger, and his bear that was–well, somewhere–weren’t they safe? Even the cubs seemed to be getting worn out. One was still wrestling with the tiger’s tail, but now there were two cubs curling up at her side to rest.
“But I’m so comfortable here.” He yawned, a bit dramatically. Almost not even fake. “I could take a nap here, in the flowers. Look, they’re already doing it. I’m a little jealous. Maybe it’s time for bed, though.” He sighed and looked down at his Code piece. “The responsible thing to do would be to put them back. But then we could spend the rest of the night together. I wouldn’t mind laying here and watching the sky for a little bit before we head home. If you wanted. I feel like this took a lot out of me so I wouldn’t mind a little break.”
He could come up with any number of excuses. The sky was prettier here, the air was cleaner, the flowers smelled so fresh–whatever justification to just spend a little more time on the Moon with Effie before heading back.
Now that Ephesus had put the idea of a nap in his head, it was sounding like a good idea. And Effie was so pretty. He had the most beautiful smile Amarynthos had ever seen. Even if he hadn’t been tempted by a nap, he’d have been tempted by anything to give him just a glimpse of Effie’s smile.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri May 17, 2024 4:27 pm
The tiger let out a heavy sigh, but she had her eyes closed and seemed perfectly content to tolerate the cubs curled up around her. Even the one still playing with her tail would likely be worn out eventually. She didn’t seem to mind babysitting.
Ephesus tried not to seem too enthusiastic when he responded, although his thoughts were a bundle of happiness.
“If that’s something you wouldn’t mind? I would like to stay here a bit longer. I don’t think our parents would mind.”
They were safe on the Moon. And they could just tell them they were cleaning it up. That wouldn’t be anything different than what they usually said. Of course they’d let them know they figured out their Code pieces and everything looked much better than a few hours prior.
He still had his Code piece resting on his chest, and he was a little worried about squishing it. It was difficult not to just roll over and press kisses all over Mary’s face.
“Okay, really fast then?” he asked a bit breathlessly as he forced himself to sit up. “Then we can meet back here if you want?”
‘And maybe kiss a few more times.’
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri May 17, 2024 5:04 pm
“Really fast,” Amarynthos promised, and with a heavy sigh he pushed himself to his feet. He extended a hand to Ephesus to help him up, and when Effie’s hand was in his own he pulled him to his feet–and to his lips.
It wasn’t any sort of mind-blowing kiss, just his lips to Effie’s and a dramatic smooching sound. He held his Code piece to his chest and had been careful not to tug Effie so quickly that he’d drop his or get dizzy.
“I’ll race you,” he said, which really meant ‘I’ll go very fast and then try to meet up with you before you finish what you’re doing’. It was entirely unfair competition otherwise; Ephesus didn’t do sports like Amarynthos did so the only person Mary was trying to race against was himself anyway.
“I’ll send Michael a message, too. Just so he can’t worry.” He was undoubtedly worrying in some capacity anyway, so best to tell him that their Code pieces and Wonders were fine now before he and Devyn found some way to sneak up here just to check.
They weren’t that bad! But he didn’t doubt that they could if they really wanted to.
Reluctantly, he parted from Ephesus. “See you in a minute,” he promised, and spun on his heels to run off. He was really racing this time; he didn’t take off at a leisurely pace but he seemed like he was really making an effort to go fast.
So fast that the cubs–although interested in the sudden movement–made absolutely no effort to try and chase after him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat May 18, 2024 7:47 pm
When he was pulled up to his feet and into the kiss, Effie gasped and then giggled. He was happy, and so thankful that everything seemed to be settled with their Code pieces.
“Okay thank you,” he agreed somewhat breathlessly, because he was already expecting Mary to meet up with him well before he was done getting everything set up. Which meant he needed to hurry up if he was going to straighten up his room within his Wonder. So they could sit on the bed there! And maybe nap! Or kiss. Or whatever they decided to do. They had a good view of the sky from the courtyard there, and the building was open enough that they could easily look out of the door to his room to see how Amarynthos was doing. The room would be just a bit more bear proofed. Not that there was anything wrong with the cubs! They were so cute!
The tiger seemed content with keeping them distracted, anyway.
He took one more moment to watch as Amarynthos ran off, thinking about how much he admired him and loved him, before turning to hurry off and do the same.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
