Welcome to Gaia! ::

A half hour later, they had arrived at the portal. The walk out had been quiet, wordless in the warmth and comfort of cuddles and satisfaction. It was easy to hold on to that feeling, despite how the portal loomed ahead. But when they finally arrived, and stopped walking towards it, all of the warmth fled from Maebe's body. It was time to let him go, now.

Her hand was intertwined so thoroughly with his, that it refused to let go. He'd already promised her that he'd be safe, so there was nothing left to say except the most obvious thing of all.

"I love you."

"I know." She believed him. She wasn't just scared for his safety. She was just plain old hurting over the idea of living without him for a few weeks. It was surprisingly domesticated of her.

She took his kiss, as if it were something she could take away and keep. "I'll miss you too."

But she still couldn't let go of his hand.

"Get going." She urged him. She figured she would find the strength to let go, when his body was going through a portal that she was not. She'd have to let go, then.

Or he'd have a severed hand as a cuddle partner for a few weeks.

Otto's hand might have left hers, but Maebe's hand was being selfish and childish. It kept reaching, brushing fingertips against his hand even as he walked away. She followed, all the way up to the portal, but stopped as he turned to walk in. Only then, did her hand finally lower back to her side, and then eventually raise up to rest on her hip.

She stared at an empty portal, and considered how sad she was going to be without him.

And then her stomach growled.

"Damnit." Maebe huffed out, turning to leave the lighthouse and roughly brushing sudden tears away from her eyes as they welled up. "I should have eaten the sandwich."