She was in the downstairs kitchens, with one hand holding the last of her poppyseed bread and deep red eyes staring at some of the pots and pans that hung dry on the rack. The kitchen staff by that point were gone for the night, having already done the prep work for the next morning’s course of meals and cleaned Farrah did remember dinner, but only past dinner time and when her stomach made its demands in the middle of something she was focused on. She knew better, honest! At the rate she was going she knew she was going to be late to her own funeral. It was just a little harder adjusting to being back home where there were more constraints. It was only temporary; she was still a princess and was back on a week’s leave, so she had to do… whatever tasks she needed to do. And she did, and she did her best to not let her face reveal how bored she was listening to the political side of it all. She reached her hand up to touch the bent handle to one of the large copper pots. Under her fingers, it shifted back into its original shape and became as smooth as it was when it first got there. With her other hand she finished off her bread and used her wrist to flake off the yellow crumb that didn’t make it into her mouth. She did a similar move to the other handle then the body of the pot altogether. ’Good as new.’
She heard the sound of a door closing and quickly ducked behind the large wooden prep table. Her eyes peeked over the top to find the server’s door moving to and from in the doorway. There wasn’t anyone else in there with her, it was dark but not that dark. If it been one of the cooks, they would have gently nagged for her to go upstairs where she belonged. That was debatable but she wasn’t one to argue when she had already satiated her hunger. Farrah pushed the door open and looked both ways to see who might have slipped through the kitchen. No one so far, but there were footsteps. Light ones, definitely not the sound of boots or fancy dress shoes. She went in the direction she heard them going and stepped as quietly as she could in her own leather boots. The distinct noise of one of the outer doors rang and she quickened her pace before they got away. It was likely no one but with as often as she frequented the kitchen at this time of night she hardly saw a soul.
And there she was, a petite woman with shiny blonde hair making work of a tree that grew up against a tall stone wall. Farrah tilted her head to one side and put a hand on her hip as she watched her trying to scale it. It wasn’t an impossible feat; she could see the best winding branches to put steady footing on and there wasn’t much else to it once you pulled yourself up to the top. It looked like a bit of fun to Farrah. But why scale a wall when there were perfectly acceptable gates? She looked from side to side in the part of the grounds they were standing in and it was so far, so good in terms of guards or staff. She was no snitch either, and after thinking about it, she didn’t have much else planned for the evening except being leisurely and avoiding sleep. She threw the back of her hand to her mouth to hide a yawn, then approached the young maiden seeking escape. ”Where you going?” She grinned wide and playfully as she took hold of a lower branch.
It was late, and she should have been in bed, but the young Duchess was told of a little gathering that was happening outside of the royal grounds. Obviously, her father would rather tie her to a pole and lock her away forever than let her go and associate herself with the common folk, so the only choice she had was to sneak out.
The sounds of servants walking down the hallway caused Lily to freeze in place, she pressed herself against the wall around the corner from them and held her breath. ’Do not get caught, do not get caught…’ repeated in her thoughts. She was so close to the kitchen where she knew there was a servants exit. No guards typically stood there; it would make for an easy escape. When the sounds of footsteps disappeared down the hall, Lily peaked around the corner, looked both ways, then continued to hurriedly, but quietly tiptoe down the hall.
Lily inhaled deeply and slowly pushed the doors to the kitchen open, the creaking of the wood forced her to pause. She bit her bottom lip in anticipation of someone hearing her, but nothing came about it. After about a second Lily slipped into the dark room and swiftly made her way to the doors that led outside. In the distance she could see the silhouettes of two guards standing by the opening of the gate. She sighed, ’s**t’ Of course she would have to try and scale the fence.
She scanned the courtyard for an opening then dashed over to a tree near the large stone fence. Lily observed the ancient oak tree, it was twisted in a way that created almost a perfect bridge over the barrier; this would be her way out. If she hadn’t been exhausted from a long day she could have shape-shifted and climbed over it with ease, but unfortunately, she had yet to perfect her abilities and once fatigued, it was hard for her to keep focus long enough to actually do anything.
Each arm of the tree created a handle for her, “This isn’t too bad.” She whispered to herself as she stretched her arm to another branch slightly higher up. Then, the sudden sound of an individuals voice startled Lily, causing her foot to slip. Instinctively she was able to catch herself from falling by grabbing a branch close enough to her. With frustrated growl she pulled herself up onto it and balanced herself so she could sit. Her eyes snapped below her, “Nowhere.” Lily was terrible at lying, she always had been, and her voice immediately outed her. She sighed then closed her eyes momentarily, so she could catch her breath. Part of her was annoyed- but that was her hot temper, which she quickly pushed down. No point in getting mad at the stranger, plus—Lily reopened her eyes and observed the girls features, a small smile replacing her subtle frown—she was really pretty.
“Can’t a girl relax on a tree in the middle of the night?” Lily tried switching the attention away from her, “Anyway… where are you going?”
ᴄᴜʀʀᴇɴᴛ ᴍᴏᴏᴅ ➢ intrigued ◆◆ ʟᴏᴄᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ➢ Mars, Royal Castle ᴍʏ ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴀɴʏ ➢ Lily ᴍᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴꜱ ➢ NA ᴀʟʟ ᴅʀᴇꜱꜱᴇᴅ ᴜᴘ ➢ this getup with pants and boots
talking -- thinking
The girl, whoever it was that was trying to scale the building, was a good climber and she wondered if this was something she always did. Though they both looked similar in age, it reminded her of how as a kid she liked to scale trees. It was funny how the reasons to do it usually changed when they got older.
She started to shift in Lily’s direction when she saw how her words caused a sudden change in her position on the tree. Before Farrah was able to offer some kind of assistance, the young blonde took hold of another branch that stabilized her once more. The low noise that bellowed from her confirmed that now the girl was probably mad at her now. She grimaced and pulled a closed hand up and under her chin. ”Sorry about that.” The Martian princess pulled herself back toward the side of the tree she was on with her other hand, the one that was on the branch earlier.
Farrah looked up at Lily sitting on a branch and then she started to make her own way up there, careful to secure her hold on the twisting branches and to find a firm footing as she went. The way the other girl answered her initial question had one of her eyebrows quirking upward with how snipped it sounded. She wanted to ask why she was up the wall if she was going nowhere but paused before she upset her again. Once she was high enough on a nearby branch of her own, she threw one leg up and over it, sitting on the arm of the tree in the riding position.
Now that she was up and closer, she could get a better look at who she was set on following. She was shorter by her observation, with bluish-green eyes and a darling shade of pink to her cheeks. She obviously wasn’t a part of the staff there; they would have no need to scale a wall like they were doing, so she could only assume it was some out of town nobility staying there as a guest. Whoever she was, Farrah shared a wide grin of her own.
She pulled part of her bottom lip between her teeth to hold back a laugh at how Lily talked about spending the night in their current tree. It was kinda cute the way Lily said it so matter of factly, as if she were to believe that was the intention all along. ”You can if you want to.” While it sounded like a good idea, Farrah knew there were better trees around to sleep in but she wouldn’t stop her if she wanted to. With one arm wrapped around another nearby branch, she reached out to her tree mate with the other and an open hand. ”I’m Farrah by the way. What’s your name?”
There was a shrug of her shoulders at Lily’s question. “I don’t know, I was gonna follow you to nowhere.” She teased. Wherever no where was, there had to be something important enough there to go through all of this trouble. ”I got nothing this fun to do so I thought I’d tag along.”
Lily tracked the girls’ movements as she too started to climb the tree. They probably looked like a pair of children playing to an outsider. Lily slowly raised an eyebrow, watching each hand as she skillfully pulled herself closer to her, then sat on the branch similarly to herself. Her laugh forced one out of Lily as well, it really was a ridiculous excuse as to why she was up there. Who in their right mind sleeps in trees? “I'm Lily.” She reached her hand out, delicately taking it in her own. The name sounded familiar, perhaps she was a noble. Lily was certain she had never met her before though, she would have remembered her. One hundred percent. She had one of those faces that was impossible to forget.
She hesitated for a moment, decided if she should tell her about the party. It could be fun to let loose with a new friend, plus it couldn’t be so bad to have someone there that she knew. “You’d follow me to nowhere, huh?” She giggled quietly, with a playfulness in her eyes, “That’s rather brave, being I am someone you just met,” A mischievous grin pulled at the corner of her lip—she was known around the Palace as being someone who got into trouble rather frequently. Her father told the help that they needed to always keep an eye on her. But unfortunately for them she was sneaky and charismatic. Most of the time she was able to bribe or charm her way out of trouble. It worked so far at least.
“There’s a bonfire not too far from here in the woods,” She lifted her arm and pointed toward a column of smoke barley visible in the distance. “A few of the stableboys were talking about it, and I was intrigued.” She chewed on the inside of her lip, it wasn’t the first time she had gone to one of these little get-togethers, and in the past when she had gone she managed to also steal a kiss here and there from some of the guys. It was fun, drinking and pretending like she didn’t have any responsibilities for a few hours. It wasn’t like her mother cared what she did.
“You’re more than welcome to continue to follow me…” Lily stood and carefully managed to get over the rest of the wall, using the tree for support, she then turned her gaze up to her new friend when she made it to the ground, “…I'm flattered by the way. You know, that you'd follow me anywhere.” She teased, then turned on her heal. Lily was a flirt, in fact rumors about her having an interest in both boys and girls had circulated around the grounds more than once. They were true, obviously. But Lily liked to keep the mystery alive so she never addressed them, plus her father wouldn’t be pleased knowing it were true.
Lily glanced around once more for guards, then headed toward the woods, following the smoke and orange light contrasting against the dark sky. When she arrived, there were already several people standing around and socializing. She sighed, it made sense of course, she was an hour or so late. The groups consisted of common born students who lived in the town, stableboys, servants’ children and other people who were close in age to herself. She raised her hand and waved at one of the guys who told her about this little fire. He swiftly approached her and handed her a drink, then thanked her for coming. She nodded and smiled—it was a perfect night for a large fire, there was a cool crisp in the air but not too cold, and definitely not hot. Just enough that the blazes kept her warm, but didn’t make her sweat. As the boy walked back to his group, Lily turned her head to look behind her, hoping Farrah decided to come along.
ᴄᴜʀʀᴇɴᴛ ᴍᴏᴏᴅ ➢ intrigued ◆◆ ʟᴏᴄᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ➢ Mars, Castle Wall > Forest Bonfire ᴍʏ ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴀɴʏ ➢ Lily ᴍᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴꜱ ➢ NA ᴀʟʟ ᴅʀᴇꜱꜱᴇᴅ ᴜᴘ ➢ this getup with pants and boots
talking -- thinking
Her new friend Lily had a soft feel to her skin, and only hoped her own hand felt passable. She had been lucky that her hands, let alone the rest of her body, didn't suffer the same as others in the forges or out in the field. ”Is that with one L or two?”
Farrah grinned to the giggle that came with Lily’s question, and it froze in place while her eyebrows lifted contemplatively to being called brave. She had a point. They had literally just met minutes ago and to her recollection, she hadn’t met Lily prior to now. There was also that other minor detail that slipped her mind lately: she was a princess. Even if she was running around glowing metals and soldiers like common folk, the title was still there. Rah thought about mentioning it and decided to hold off instead. There was no point in fixing something that didn’t feel broken. Farrah looked back to Lily in her eyes and held down a giggle. ”Should I be worried then?” She had a good gut feeling about Lily. The only thing she felt she’d be in danger of was having a good time.
Farrah looked out to where Lily pointed, red eyes catching sight of the thin, billowing stretch of smoke in the sky. She had picked up on the event from the stable boys. Not the kind of men she was supposed to be around, being a female royal still early into womanhood and all. She didn’t actively go looking for interactions with them, but didn’t stop them either. Rah was intrigued as well.
She crossed over one side of the wall and worked her way down the other side of it, dropping to the ground once she was only a couple of feet away. Nowhere was a place where bonfires and fun with stable boys and other common folk was, and Lily was inviting her to keep following. Farrah felt a light, tingling sensation across her cheeks, just after her eyes widened a touch. Did Lily just flirt with her…? She couldn’t tell. It wasn’t exactly a common occurrence to be flirted with, at least not to her. She flashed the blonde an open smile. ”That’s brave of you too. To be okay with me following you, I-I mean.” If she was flattered, then Rah was doing something right somewhere. She hoped.
Farrah stood by the wall and watched as Lily walked toward the orange glow of the woods. She had a choice now: turn back around and go back into the palace, or follow this new acquaintance into the woods. Both options were of interest to her, one considerably more than another, but she was hesitant despite being so sure before. She turned to look back up at the wall. The feeling of potential remorse filled her as she thought about going back, like she was going to miss out on the fun, not to mention making a new friend out of this Lily girl. So she turned on her heels and made a run for it.
The bonfire was at first glance just as she imagined. A large fire roaring, music filling the air, and swarms of people hanging out and having fun. Farrah walked further in and turned in place here and there to gaze more on the things that caught her eye. ’How often do these bonfires happen?’ It wasn’t her first one, but it was moments like this that had her wondering how much she missed while she tinkered in her work spaces in all hours of the night. She turned again to see a friendly, familiar face from the forges who greeted her and gave her a cup, which she took after a second with a thanks and a nod. Another second passed before she took a drink of the sweet and spiced concoction. It was… good! Farrah scanned the area for Lily while poorly keeping an ear on her colleague who asked her something she didn’t fully catch. She had to be around there, unless this was the wrong bonfire.
When she caught sight of Lily, Farrah gave her colleague a pat on the arm with a grin then left to walk over to her. There were people she recognized, but there was a sense of relief to see the face that was new. ”Nice nowhere you led me to, Lily.” She grinned with a crinkle of her nose.
She took a sip from her cup and remembered something she wanted to ask Lily about. ”What has you at the palace?” She wasn’t any staff she recognized, then again she hadn’t been home in a few months. All of the meetings and politics going on led the Martian Princess to believe she was someone of court. It didn’t matter in the grander scheme of things. Unless it were something dangerous, she had no plans to ditch anytime soon.
OOC: Farrah didn’t know she had her healing ability until much later.
Several minutes flew by and Lily was convinced Farrah decided that perhaps this was not the night she was going to follow a stranger out into the woods. It did disappoint her a little, but the more she thought about it, the argument for not coming along seemed like the most logical choice. She turned her head away from the tree line and instead faced the bonfire, where there were a few stumps placed around for sitting.
The fire felt warm against her skin; it brought a comfort that she struggled with finding at the palace. There was a rumor floating around as of recent that Lily had unfortunately heard about, stating that her mother wasn’t really her mother. Of course she refused to believe it, she didn’t even bring it up to her father yet because she knew it was all bullshit. She didn’t think she looked that different than her parents. Lily tilted her head back, downing the drink almost instantly. Enough of those negative thoughts, tonight was supposed to be fun. Her hand raised up in the air, and like clockwork someone brought her another drink. This one was wine, commonfolk wine, bitter and dry, but drink it enough times and one would get used to it quickly.
A few people came back within the few minutes she had been sitting at the fire, holding quick conversations with her before moving on to the next group. It was nice to be around friends but she did find herself missing the new one she had just met.
“Nice nowhere you led me to, Lily.”
Lily snapped her eyes from the fire up toward the dark-haired girl grinning down at her, eyes a deep red that she found herself staring at—a bit too long, ’She came!’ Suddenly she was standing and before she could stop herself, her arms were around her new friend. Maybe that was the alcohol’s fault? “You came!” She finally said out loud, letting Farrah go almost as quickly as she pulled her into her arms 5 seconds earlier. “I’m—” An unfamiliar heat spread over her face leading into a soft blush, embarrassed by her reaction, “—So glad you came, I thought you had turned back.”
Shifting her weight from one foot to the other, Lily took another sip, swallowing her nerves one gulp at a time. The flickering light from the large flame made the other teen glow and honestly, it was making it hard for Lily to focus on the words coming out of Farrah’s mouth—
’s**t, what did she say?’
Lily squinted, digging in her head, pausing momentarily so she was certain she would be answering the question, “Right the palace!” A smile pulled at her lips, good, she figured it out, thank the Gods, “I live there, lowering her voice she continued, “…my father is the Duke.” She thought it was obvious she lived there but maybe her new friend thought she was a servant or maid. Lily glanced down at her clothes, she wasn’t necessarily wearing clothing that could count as royalty. The whole point was to fade into the crowd of commoners, take the night off for once.
In one quick movement, Lily had pulled a stump closer to her own, then sat down gazing up at Farrah, “Want to join me by the fire, my lady?” She put on a playful posh accent and raised her hand motioning to take the other girls hand in hers as to help her sit next to her, “May I ask what brings you to the palace?” Her smile slipped into a coy grin, “I’m surprised I haven’t noticed you before.” Lily turned to look back at the fire, watching the flames dance about, pulling her into sort of a trance. It was calming, dissolving into the heat, allowing her anxiety to burn into smoke.
ᴄᴜʀʀᴇɴᴛ ᴍᴏᴏᴅ ➢ intrigued, light ʟᴏᴄᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ➢ Mars, Forest Bonfire ᴍʏ ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴀɴʏ ➢ Lily ᴍᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴꜱ ➢ NA ᴀʟʟ ᴅʀᴇꜱꜱᴇᴅ ᴜᴘ ➢ this getup with pants and boots
talking -- thinking
Farrah couldn’t ignore how pretty Lily looked when the warm light from the bonfire hit her face. It was like it suited her and she wondered if the blonde would look as similar in the dimness of a forge. The atmosphere tended to put a highlight on people, usually for the better. That, or she just liked the appeal. She blinked with surprise at the sudden hug she was brought into. Not at all objectionable. Rah enjoyed hugs and giving them but knew not everyone felt the same about them. Xenia wasn’t a hugger, and Richie let her with only a little fuss. She threw one arm back around her and kept the other holding her cup away. Lily sounded happy to see her, and she couldn’t help but to smile about that. ”I didn’t want to miss out.” There was only so much time she was going to have before returning to the field and her weapons team. Her shoulders lifted with a quiet giggle as came back to the moment. She knew the feeling of losing yourself in thoughts well enough.
Hearing Lily say she lived at the palace told she was off on her guesses. She continued to be full of little surprises. Rah’s lips parted as she took in the new bit of information. ”So you’re not just visiting…” Her time back at home had been so infrequent since her dad and his counsel found out about her metal skills. This was exciting information. Lily was from her court and lived there too. Of course, there were plenty of people there that were interesting enough to talk to but not as interesting as the teen she was standing and having a drink with. ”I live there too. Well, not a lot anymore."
”Why thank you, my lady! Your assistance is most appreciated.” She couldn’t restrain the giggle at Lily’s charming act and took her hand to take the seat that was prepared for her. Good thing too, she wasn’t anywhere near intoxication but she could feel the warm flow of tingles in her limbs. Farrah took her hand without a second thought and held on while being guided to the stump. Had she decided to stay home, she thought, she would have missed out on the bonfire and getting to hang out with a new friend.
“May I ask what brings you to the palace?”
She took a sip of her drink before holding it over her leg. Like her, Lily didn’t know who she was, not that she could help it or that Rah found it to be a bad thing. Farrah glanced around at the nearby people before leaning in and speaking, keeping her voice down. ”I got to come back for a week to rest and take care of some of my duties.” She leaned her head to one side and the corners of her lips turned down with mild annoyance. ”Mostly watching old men argue, and then mingling with people in court.” It was what she was told, but she could see that her father had ulterior motives for pulling her back. The dresses with delicate fabrics and intricate beading she was met with in the mornings, not to mention the coincidence of there being men who could be considered suitable crawling all over the place said it all. She was confident that the interest fizzled out when the exchanges fizzled to awkward silence if she didn’t walk away first, and this was fine with her. Not what her dad expected, and it was likely he was displeased with how it made him look, having a daughter not trying to charm her way to a wedding ring. ”I’ve been in and out for training around the Kingdom the past few years. Before getting here I was at the border.”
”I haven’t noticed you either. I will now.” She gave Lily a grin and took another drink. ”Do you always sneak out at night? I won’t say anything if you do.”
Lily’s gaze dropped, unintentionally, traitorously, to Farrah’s lips as they parted mid-sentence. Soft. Distractingly soft. “Wait—” Her voice caught as her eyes flicked back to Farrah’s, now wide with sudden realization. “You live here too?” She blinked, trying to make sense of the words. ’No way, that can’t be right’. Farrah wasn’t just some random girl at the bonfire, not some distant cousin she’d never met. Unless... no. Not going to go there..
Then it hit her.
’Oh.’
A warmth, unmistakable and wholly unrelated to the fire pit, crept up her neck and flooded her cheeks. She swallowed. Lily smiled, the faintest tug at her lips, betrayed how dumbstruck she felt as the memories returned. ‘You’ve met her before.’Once or twice when they were children. Lily could barely remember the words exchanged, but she remembered her.
And now, here she was. The princess. At a bonfire. With her.
“P-Princess…” she whispered, barely finding her voice. “I’m so sorry, please accept my apology—it’s been so long.” Lily lowered her voice to keep the surrounding ears at bay. She reached out and took Farrah’s hands gently, bowing her head. Her eyes fixed on the ground, embarrassment anchoring her in place. Her father was going to be livid. Not just for speaking to royalty without the proper address, but for flirting with her. And bringing her here of all places. this wasn’t some guarded ballroom. It was open, vulnerable.
She couldn’t move.
She said she’s been at the border? Was it in battle? Lily slowly looked up, her hands releasing Farrah’s. Her brows furrowed. That explains why she hadn't seen her recently, but still. Before she could say anything, Farrah’s next words knocked the air from her lungs.
“I haven’t noticed you either. I will now.”
Her stomach flipped, ’Gods help me.’ Lily’s gaze slipped again, back to Farrah’s lips as she took a sip, watching the small, playful smile curve there. Her confidence, fragile to begin with, dissolved like sugar in water. This was no ordinary girl. No kind stranger around a bonfire. This was the Princess. “I—” The word clung to her throat like honey. She looked into Farrah’s eyes, then away. She inhaled slowly, quietly, trying to steady the chaos inside her, “—I, um, don’t?” A lie. A really bad lie too.
She winced, internally cursing herself, “No. That’s not true,” she admitted with a quick shake of her head. “I do. Far too much.” Her eyes dropped to her nearly empty cup. She gave it a slow swirl, watching the liquid slosh. Lily knew better than this. She’s the princess. She’s not supposed to be here. With a gentle bit of her lip, she hesitated, then met Farrah’s eyes again, her cheeks still flushed. A thousand thoughts pulled her in different directions; duty, fear, the nagging voice of responsibility in her head. She should make her to leave and take her back to the safety of the palace. This couldn’t keep going. But then again—Farrah didn’t seem to mind.
On top of that, the alcohol wasn’t helping her judgment. Not one bit.
Something shifted in her. Her shoulders loosened, her words laced with mischief, “You know I could get in trouble for bringing you out here, right?” she said, her tone light, teasing. She leaned in a little, emboldened by Farrah’s presence, and maybe the drink. “It is my duty to take you home, Your Highness.” Lily smirked, tilted her cup back, and drained the rest. A sigh escaped her lips as she closed her eyes for a moment, arms crossing, a small frown tugging at her mouth. “Unless…” She cracked one eye open. “Unless you can convince me it’s worth it.”
’Stop.’ Her brain screamed the word, but her mouth didn’t listen. She shouldn’t be flirting with her of all people, this was dangerous. Stupid. Reckless. But it was too damn easy. Farrah said she wouldn’t tell anyone about her sneaking out. That had to count for something… right? But how much could Lily really trust her? They had just met—again—barely an hour ago. She was the one person she couldn’t afford to misjudge.
Still, Lily watched her, reading every flicker of expression, curiosity tangled with anticipation. How would she respond? Without realizing it, Lily had started picking at the edge of the log beneath her. Her nervous energy betrayed the act she was trying so hard to keep together. She might have been putting on a good show—smooth, confident, flirtatious, and none of it was fake.
But being near Farrah made her nervous in a way she hadn’t expected. Because truly, one wrong move wasn’t just a mistake. It was everything that could go wrong. She would be locked away forever, barred from seeing the outside world. Worse if the King and Queen found out. They could even exile her. Again, she pushed those thoughts down, taking another deep breath. It was going to be okay. Right?
ᴄᴜʀʀᴇɴᴛ ᴍᴏᴏᴅ ➢ intrigued, light ʟᴏᴄᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ➢ Mars, Forest Bonfire ᴍʏ ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴀɴʏ ➢ Lily ᴍᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴꜱ ➢ NA ᴀʟʟ ᴅʀᴇꜱꜱᴇᴅ ᴜᴘ ➢ this getup with pants and boots
talking -- thinking
Farrah gave a cheerful nod of her head when Lily repeated her. They both lived at the palace, even if her return was going to last only a few more days. She looked back to her companion and watched as realization dawned on her. Oh no. She knew that look. Rah’s lips pursed and she held onto her cup with one hand over her lap. The reactions she received from those in the field unfamiliar to her usually remained acceptable because of her title. That wasn’t to say she didn’t worry about what could come of this. Everyone around them looked to be having a grand time, and she didn’t want to be the one that crashed the bonfire.
”P-Princess… I’m so sorry, please accept my apology–it’s been so long.”
She let out a sigh of relief. Lily was kind enough to breathe her discovery only into the air between them. Farrah blinked and watched as her hand was taken with the bow. She noticed how smooth her hand felt where it touched her own and she felt a light flush over her face. Was the feeling that noticeable before or was it from the drink in her cup? Rah smiled sheepishly. ”You don’t have to apologize. I didn’t say anything so you couldn’t have known, and thank you for not being loud about it.”
Farrah thought back to childhood. She did remember a girl with blonde hair but she couldn’t recall much else at the time. For the longest time she wore her hair long -- down to her hips -- but cut it off when it started to feel like a hindrance in the forges.
’Was it something I said?’ Her head tilted as she watched Lily piece an answer to her question together all while acting flustered. Rah looked back into her eyes and gave a small smile before the blonde looked somewhere else. At first she denied going out only to correct what she said to the opposite. She had not taken the chance to go wander outside of the palace herself, and it had been long enough that she wondered if anything changed with the places she used to frequent. A light giggle escaped her and she took a drink from her own cup before speaking more. ”It’s a lot more than me. You must be good at getting past guards huh?” Now that she thought about it, this was probably the first time in a while where she was without so much as a guard standing outside of a door or something.
’Shoot. I made this awkward. Hopefully I can fix it...’ Rah looked over to the bonfire and watched as the flames reached up to the sky. Yeah, she was glad she decided to follow Lily out there.
The way Lily presented her question had Farrah turning her head back with hesitation. No, she didn’t know that. It didn’t cross her mind that she could get in trouble but believed she was likely right about that. It would not have been the first time she got a scolding for breaking away from set perimeters or wandering off without an escort. Her eyes widened slightly. ’No one knows I’m missing…’ No one checked her room the night before, at least when she was awake. She winced while becoming hopeful no one has checked in on her room. Red eyes darted from side to side at who was behind Lily’s head, looking to see if anyone was paying attention to them. Her gaze fell back on the girl in front of her and she followed suit, matching her lean. She caught a smirk just before Lily kicked her drink back and she couldn’t help but to stare. There was something about how it looked on Lily and how it was made toward her that got her chest to flutter. That, or it was the alcohol.
She put her finger to her chin and tapped it as she considered what she was asking. Even though Lily brought their predicament to light, she didn’t want to go and pouted her lips at the thought of it. If they were caught, she’d tell anyone that needed to know she went to the bonfire on her own. ”It’s been worth it to me, but since you did bring me here I can return the favor somehow. Do you have something in mind?” Rah hoped her answer was good enough. She didn’t know what to offer or what Lily would find worth her while but she was willing to find out and go from there. Rah rested her chin over the top of her hand while she kept her eyes on Lily, smiling happily her way.
The words were soft but not shy, they were honest, and they made Lily's heart stutter in her chest. Her breath caught before she could respond, her mouth twitching into a nervous smile, as if her body was reacting before her mind could process it. She wanted to hang out with her again, if anything to sneak around with each other which was even more exciting. That alone made Lily’s cheeks flush with warmth. She shifted slightly on her spot, the wooden stump beneath her creaking faintly. She dropped her gaze to her knees, letting her bangs fall forward just slightly to shield her face. Maybe if Farrah couldn’t see her expression, it wouldn’t be so obvious how red her face was.
Everything about Farrah pulled her in, the way her voice dipped when she was teasing, the sharp flick of her eyes when she was thinking, and her laugh was especially magnetic. She forced herself to breathe through it and stay present. When Farrah mentioned she’d only be here for a few more days, Lily's stomach dropped. The warmth fizzled into a hollow ache, she turned her head, catching the other girl’s gaze with more force than she intended. She had forgotten Farrah mentioned she’d only be around for a week earlier that night. “Oh. Right.” Her voice cracked slightly, so she swallowed it down quickly and added, “Well then, we have a lot to do these next few days, huh?” Her words were bright, maybe almost too bright. She was doing her best to sound excited, but it was hard when every moment suddenly felt numbered. ‘She’s just a friend,’ She reminded herself, ‘This is a friend thing. Only a friend thing.’
And still, her thoughts fluttered.
To distract herself, she mirrored Farrah's movement and tilted her head back, staring up at the sky above them, stars blinking quietly in their places, “Do you think the sky looks the same to everyone, no matter where they are?” Her voice was soft, the question escaped her like breath, a silly thing, too sentimental for someone she’d just started spending time with again. But it sat in her chest like she needed to say it. As corny as it sounded. She didn’t look over at Farrah right away. Not until she felt the crackle of firelight shifting, warming the space beside her. Then she dared to glance sideways, just a peek. The firelight lit up the curve of Farrah’s neck. Lily’s eyes caught on the delicate movement of her throat as she swallowed, and she stared, slack jawed for a second too long. Farrah was stunning, in every way. The storybooks were right. Princesses were in fact, astoundingly beautiful.
Eventually, Farrah agreed to one of the games she had mentioned, and Lily perked up, grateful for the change in pace. “This is going to be fun. I love would you rather!” She twisted on the stump to face her more directly, legs folding neatly, her hands landing in her lap. She made herself hold Farrah’s gaze, even as her heart did cartwheels and when Farrah looked at her, it took every ounce of willpower Lily had not to glance away. Her skin felt hot, she knew the blush was inevitable, and yet, she stayed in place. “Hm…” Her teeth catching her bottom lip, and she tapped thoughtfully at her chin, pretending to think over the question like it was the most important decision in the world. She didn’t want to say something lame.
Finally, she answered, “I think I would get bored if I ate even my favorite food,” She paused, looking at Farrah again with a small shrug. “So… let’s go with something different. If I don’t like it, I don’t have to eat it again, right?” Her fingers brushed the edge of the log and she leaned slightly closer, her eyes flicking toward the fire, “I love trying new things,” She continued, her voice softer now, almost teasing. Her thoughts twisted back to kisses, not just any kind…girl kisses. Had Farrah ever kissed anyone? She was a year older, maybe she had. Lily had kissed boys but not yet girls. She'd flirted with them before, nudged the boundaries with her words, smiled too long, but never crossed that final line. Never leaned in, never asked for more.
“Would you rather…” Lily dragged out the words, trying to buy herself time while she thought of a good question, “Would you rather be able to see your own future or be able to see everyone else’s future, but not your own?” It was a silly question and quite safe. The one she really wanted to ask hung silently in her chest, Would you rather kiss a girl or a boy? She bit down on the question, letting it dissolve on her tongue. Lily glanced at the space between their logs, she wanted to be closer. Not in a scandalous way, just enough to feel her warmth better, to catch the little expressions that flickered across Farrah’s face when she was thinking. But the wood was too heavy, and the eyes around the fire too many. She’d made a promise to Farrah, no attention. So instead, she stayed where she was, inching forward in the only way she could, with her words.
The fire popped, sending a little spray of embers into the air. A few of the others sat nearby, laughing at something Lily could care less about. But then she heard feet moving a little suddenly, and the next thing she knew, two boys, stableboys she noticed, were standing just outside of the ring of stumps, eyes narrowed, and shoulders squared. Lily rolled her eyes, “Boys…” She muttered under her breath, turning her attention back to the pretty girl in front of her. She didn’t have time for such childish behavior. This is exactly why she didn’t date, despite her father’s wishes for her to be courted. She turned him down every time. Stating she would meet someone when she got older, as for now she was still young and had much learning to do. At least that’s what she would tell him. Lily didn’t feel young, though, she was only 16. She always felt more mature. Even if she did play silly games, climb walls and sneak out all of the time.
The optimism that was beginning to shake with her internal thoughts seemed to stop as Lily went back to addressing her like she did before she realized she was a princess. She didn’t like it when that happened, the way others seemed to shift her into a different box when someone learned that. It was defeating, but could she blame them? With the title commanding things, she knew that misfortune could come to those who didn’t show it respect, even if she didn’t always recognize it. The duchess spoke softly about being loud, and Farrah’s cheeks brightened when she picked up the meaning behind the words. She watched Lily’s smile and how it was held in a way that made her want to keep looking at it, but she closed her eyes with a shy giggle hid behind her fingers.
â€Lets just say I’ve had practice. Perks of being underestimated. I smile the right way, drop the right title, and suddenly doors open. Or guards look the other way.â€
That sounded like… something she wanted to learn how to do. â€Like opossum…†She murmured. Like how a possum would pretend to be dead. It was deceptive and Farrah was aware of it on the battlefield but hadn’t made use of those skills in everyday life. Well, at least not in the way Lily was talking about. She didn’t usually have issues with guards most days, but she chalked that up to being a princess along with the fact that she was compliant. Well, a majority of the time. â€I try to work around them.†And when she couldn’t, she moved on to something else. So when Lily mentioned being able to show her the ways of her craft, she looked at her with piqued interest. â€I want you to. Please.†She said in quick but soft excitement in her voice, as if the opportunity would disappear if she didn’t snatch it in time.
The panic that crept up was going to be pushed down in favor of enjoying the night and the bit of freedom. If luck and the Gods were on her side, she could slip into her bed before her maid found it cold and empty. So when Lily swooped in and spoke in that sweet reassuring manner, some of the tension in her shoulders loosened. She’d gotten there with being seen by a single person from the forges, but they and no one else addressed her as a princess besides Lily. Rah gave a nod of her head with a small smile. She’d follow the expert’s lead.
Farrah leaned her head to one side, contemplative on her companion’s words. It was an honest admission, and so far she trusted Lily enough to be honest at least about that night. But the kinds of things she asked for in return for showing her a good time at the bonfire sounded easy enough. Not only easy, but something to look forward to. The idea of dancing with Lily in a time and place much like the one they were in had her chest feeling fluttery. She didn’t think she meant the more traditional Martian dances either. Farrah leaned in and made an open smile with her lips. â€But I’m only here for a few more days. If you want we can do this again or something else before I go. Or when I come back. That can work too.†She considered the secret bit but nothing came to mind, at least not anything she could think of that was worthy of being secret.
She lifted her head as far back as it could go and looked up at the sky, feeling the heat of the bonfire radiate against her bare neck. Yes, slipping out of the palace was the better choice after all, consequences be cursed. After a moment of making imaginary shapes with the stars like a dot-to-dot puzzle, she felt something on her knee to find Lily talking to her again.
â€Alright. If we’re both going to keep pretending we’re not a little tipsy and extremely curious about each other… let’s play something. Maybe truth or dare. Or… Would you rather?â€
She was familiar with these games though didn’t have as much experience with them as Lily might have had. When she had played them they were silly and often revolved around boys or gossip. Silly was most fun, but boys and gossip were only as interesting as learning new details about individual people, which was hit or miss for her. Lily on the other hand was far more interesting and she did want to learn more about her, and the truth in what she said had her stumble over words as she answered. â€We could play Would You Rather if you’d like…â€
Farrah stopped holding onto the cup and put it down beside the log under her. Her cheeks tingled and she believed it to be from all of the drink she consumed. She laid her gaze on Lily and tried to think of something to ask her, something she wanted to know about her. â€Would you rather eat your favorite food every day for the rest of your life, or eat something different every day but you don’t get to know what it is until you get it?†Gods, she hoped she was doing it right. She was no expert at this game, but at least learned not to ask about things that pertained to smithing and forges the first time she ever played it.
ÊŸá´á´„ᴀᴛɪá´É´: Mars > Bonfire, 5 years ago ★ á´Ê á´„á´á´á´˜á´€É´Ê: Lily ★ á´á´‡É´á´›Éªá´É´êœ±: none ᴀʟʟ ᴅʀᴇꜱꜱᴇᴅ ᴜᴘ:this getup with pants and boots ★ ᴛʜá´á´œÉ¢Êœá´›êœ±: "Lily’s so cool…"
The words were soft but not shy, they were honest, and they made Lily's heart stutter in her chest. Her breath caught before she could respond, her mouth twitching into a nervous smile, as if her body was reacting before her mind could process it. She wanted to hang out with her again, if anything to sneak around with each other which was even more exciting. That alone made Lily’s cheeks flush with warmth. She shifted slightly on her spot, the wooden stump beneath her creaking faintly. She dropped her gaze to her knees, letting her bangs fall forward just slightly to shield her face. Maybe if Farrah couldn’t see her expression, it wouldn’t be so obvious how red her face was.
Everything about Farrah pulled her in, the way her voice dipped when she was teasing, the sharp flick of her eyes when she was thinking, and her laugh was especially magnetic. She forced herself to breathe through it and stay present. When Farrah mentioned she’d only be here for a few more days, Lily's stomach dropped. The warmth fizzled into a hollow ache, she turned her head, catching the other girl’s gaze with more force than she intended. She had forgotten Farrah mentioned she’d only be around for a week earlier that night. “Oh. Right.” Her voice cracked slightly, so she swallowed it down quickly and added, “Well then, we have a lot to do these next few days, huh?” Her words were bright, maybe almost too bright. She was doing her best to sound excited, but it was hard when every moment suddenly felt numbered. ‘She’s just a friend,’ She reminded herself, ‘This is a friend thing. Only a friend thing.’
And still, her thoughts fluttered.
To distract herself, she mirrored Farrah's movement and tilted her head back, staring up at the sky above them, stars blinking quietly in their places, “Do you think the sky looks the same to everyone, no matter where they are?” Her voice was soft, the question escaped her like breath, a silly thing, too sentimental for someone she’d just started spending time with again. But it sat in her chest like she needed to say it. As corny as it sounded. She didn’t look over at Farrah right away. Not until she felt the crackle of firelight shifting, warming the space beside her. Then she dared to glance sideways, just a peek. The firelight lit up the curve of Farrah’s neck. Lily’s eyes caught on the delicate movement of her throat as she swallowed, and she stared, slack jawed for a second too long. Farrah was stunning, in every way. The storybooks were right. Princesses were in fact, astoundingly beautiful.
Eventually, Farrah agreed to one of the games she had mentioned, and Lily perked up, grateful for the change in pace. “This is going to be fun. I love would you rather!” She twisted on the stump to face her more directly, legs folding neatly, her hands landing in her lap. She made herself hold Farrah’s gaze, even as her heart did cartwheels and when Farrah looked at her, it took every ounce of willpower Lily had not to glance away. Her skin felt hot, she knew the blush was inevitable, and yet, she stayed in place. “Hm…” Her teeth catching her bottom lip, and she tapped thoughtfully at her chin, pretending to think over the question like it was the most important decision in the world. She didn’t want to say something lame.
Finally, she answered, “I think I would get bored if I ate even my favorite food,” She paused, looking at Farrah again with a small shrug. “So… let’s go with something different. If I don’t like it, I don’t have to eat it again, right?” Her fingers brushed the edge of the log and she leaned slightly closer, her eyes flicking toward the fire, “I love trying new things,” She continued, her voice softer now, almost teasing. Her thoughts twisted back to kisses, not just any kind…girl kisses. Had Farrah ever kissed anyone? She was a year older, maybe she had. Lily had kissed boys but not yet girls. She'd flirted with them before, nudged the boundaries with her words, smiled too long, but never crossed that final line. Never leaned in, never asked for more.
“Would you rather…” Lily dragged out the words, trying to buy herself time while she thought of a good question, “Would you rather be able to see your own future or be able to see everyone else’s future, but not your own?” It was a silly question and quite safe. The one she really wanted to ask hung silently in her chest, Would you rather kiss a girl or a boy? She bit down on the question, letting it dissolve on her tongue. Lily glanced at the space between their logs, she wanted to be closer. Not in a scandalous way, just enough to feel her warmth better, to catch the little expressions that flickered across Farrah’s face when she was thinking. But the wood was too heavy, and the eyes around the fire too many. She’d made a promise to Farrah, no attention. So instead, she stayed where she was, inching forward in the only way she could, with her words.
The fire popped, sending a little spray of embers into the air. A few of the others sat nearby, laughing at something Lily could care less about. But then she heard feet moving a little suddenly, and the next thing she knew, two boys, stableboys she noticed, were standing just outside of the ring of stumps, eyes narrowed, and shoulders squared. Lily rolled her eyes, “Boys…” She muttered under her breath, turning her attention back to the pretty girl in front of her. She didn’t have time for such childish behavior. This is exactly why she didn’t date, despite her father’s wishes for her to be courted. She turned him down every time. Stating she would meet someone when she got older, as for now she was still young and had much learning to do. At least that’s what she would tell him. Lily didn’t feel young, though, she was only 16. She always felt more mature. Even if she did play silly games, climb walls and sneak out all of the time.
Farrah stared a quiet moment before blinking as she watched the blonde in front of her make a little smile. She followed it with one of her own with her bottom lip parting from the top. She really had meant it, and not only as a means to learn something. There was a stirring somewhere between her head and her chest that pulled at her attention. It had her a little flustered but also fluttery at the thought of being able to go home and see her again the next day. There weren’t many, if any at all, that stirred her up like that. When Lily looked back to her, her face went warm with a light dusting of pink across her cheeks. Looking back at Lily, she felt pinned by her gaze as the light from the flames flicked across them. The way her words came out had Rah thinking back about what she said earlier.
The two of them had the better part of a week to do as they felt together and the thought of it could not have made her happier. ‘Then I’ll have to leave and we can do it again next time.’ It sounded fine. That is, until she thought more about what all that entailed. ‘Then I’ll have to leave…’ and there it was. They wouldn’t be able to meet up or even sneak out like they were now. It would just come to an end, full stop. Rah didn’t know when she’d be back either. That could be weeks, months easily. It was a deflating realization to come to and her chin dropped slightly at it. She originally didn’t mind going back out to where she left because of all the extra constraints of palace life, but now they didn’t sound so tedious if it meant hanging out with Lily. Rah balled her hands together at her knees.
Lily’s words with that spark of enthusiasm that helped some. Like she was ready to make the most of it. Her next question had her pull her head back down to look at her before looking up again. “Maybe. I know the stars move…” Farrah trailed off, thinking back to what she remembered from her lessons. “I bet they look alike but not the same… I never thought about it. Is that what you think?” But now, she was thinking about it, and curious about what the girl next to her was thinking. Sure, she could probably go ask an old instructor but where was the fun in that? The wheels in her head were already turning as she thought about how to figure it out for sure. Farrah pulled her head back down and turned it to look back to Lily. Her offer to find an answer got lost on the way out of her mouth as she took notice of how soft her cheeks looked under the glow of the light. She shooed away the idea of testing that thought and took in breath as if that would cool down the heat that hit her own face. “I could take a map with me and let you know if you want.” A refresher on the subject would probably be needed, she thought, but it’d be worth finding out for her.
Her lips curved into a smile and she giggled behind the back of a closed hand as the shorter blonde lit up after their more serious and somber moment. It was clearly much needed. She gazed on Lily as she appeared to be making careful considerations to her question. Her answer about preferring different foods over an eternity of one singular meal was heard and to Rah had a valid point, but nearly missed it with how Lily’s bottom lip found itself under her teeth. Farrah had the same question as before, except the idea that came to mind this time around had nothing to do with using touch with her fingers to find out. She rolled her lips together at the mental image. The most experience she had with kissing were the times when one was placed on her hand by some possible suitor or flirt. It was as effective on her as giving her celery. She shifted closer to the edge of her wooden stump and leaned in, putting her elbows to her knees to cradle her chin into her hands.
But things like telling her you like to try new things? It yielded better responses from her. Her brows rose and she leaned her head to one side. “Oh yeah? Anything new lately? I like doing that too.” She grinned at the awareness that she was currently in the middle of doing just that: something new. Sneaking off beyond the palace walls with an intriguing girl one just met and joining her at the bonfire fit well into the newness category.
That question… that was a good question. She found herself immediately diving to one answer and at first opened her mouth to answer, only to stop and think about the other option. Dark brows knitted together while she peered forward as she juggled the two choices in her mind. Both had their pros and cons. Then, she spoke up. “I think I would lose my mind if I couldn’t see my own future on top of everyone else’s, so I’d rather just see my own.” Farrah gently drummed her fingers in sequence against her cheeks.
Her chin lifted from her hands at the sound of feet, red eyes darting in the same direction. There were people all around, but the two boys that she found in her sights stood in a way that had her lining up her own shoulders and shifting her legs apart where she sat instinctively. After a once over on both of them and seeing nothing but pouty little baby boys, Farrah put her sights back to Lily, giving her a smile instead of the hard stare she sported just before. In the beginning she worried about being spotted as a princess, but that was before the two stableboys decided to pay them unwanted attention. She certainly didn’t like it and by the looks of it Lily didn’t either. Not only that, if the eye roll were any indication, this wasn’t her first rodeo with them. They wouldn’t get a chance to have another, not while she was there. The way the embers flew in the air near them looked like miniscule glow bugs that made Lily’s presence pop out from the rest of the surroundings. She locked eyes with Lily and leaned in closer to her, her voice low in a whisper. “May I?”
Farrah took Lily by the hand and tugged at her gently to follow as she stood up from her stump. She wasn’t sure where they could go, or that the stableboys wouldn’t follow, but decided to leave that bridge for when she needed to cross or burn it. She led her away from their circle of stumps and in the opposite direction of the intruders, circling around to the other side of the wide bonfire. When she noticed an open wood shed, she walked toward it, then around to where it opened up and out of sight from the hoodlums. ”They must be as exhausting as they looked.” she could only guess. She looked around the place, noticing the pile of firewood and occasional tools before over to Lily with a breath of relief, glad to be rid of them. Maybe they would take the hint. She hoped she didn’t move too forcefully with Lily, whose hand she was still holding on to. “Are you okay?”
ʟᴏᴄᴀᴛɪᴏɴ: Mars - Bonfire (5 years ago) ★ ᴍʏ ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴀɴʏ: Lily ★ ᴍᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴꜱ: none ᴀʟʟ ᴅʀᴇꜱꜱᴇᴅ ᴜᴘ:this getup with pants and boots ★ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛꜱ: 'because men are stoopid.'
Lily smiled, unable to help herself when Farrah said she would tell her if the stars looked different. It was such a ridiculous promise, so small, so inconsequential. And yet, it sank deep into her chest, because beneath the silliness, it meant something. It meant Farrah was leaving open the possibility that maybe they could write to each other. That she could reach across the distance of miles and borders and not be… strange or unwanted.
Her heart gave a sharp little kick. Gods, it was silly of her to feel this way about it, to read too much into a careless remark. Still, the thought of Farrah’s letters, her handwriting, her words carried across paper meant only for Lily, made her stomach lurch like she’d stepped off a ledge. When Farrah laughed, the sound was warm, it fluttered through her like restless wings. She already knew, that when she laid her head down tonight, she’d hear that laugh again. Her jaw tightened, another mental kick. ’Stop. Stop thinking like that.’
She forced her gaze down, hands folded tight in her lap, practicing trained restraint. Don’t lean closer, and don’t let yourself want too much. But Farrah didn’t seem to care for restraint at all. When she slid closer on the stump, just a shift, just a breath nearer, Lily’s pulse stumbled. Her chest tightened so sharply she almost wondered if her ribs could crack beneath it. She held her breath, afraid to breathe in case it betrayed her. Then Farrah responded to her teasing and Lily thought she might unravel right then and there. The force of her heartbeat was violent, drumming harder against her ribs. She couldn’t speak, couldn’t even think of speaking. Instead, her gaze betrayed her, fell traitorously downward straight to Farrah’s lips. She memorized the curve, the way they moved when they quirked into that grin. How they caught the light of the fire… her lungs burned, but she refused to give them a break.
Farrah asked her something and Lily barely heard it, the words dissolved before they could even reach her brain. She wanted to answer, she really did. But her silence stretched thin. When she finally managed to re-focus on the game, Farrah was already answering her question, and in response, Lily murmured, “I’d just be jealous, honestly,” Her fingers toyed with a loose strand of hair, twirling it around her finger until it nearly cut off circulation, “Like, they get to know, but I can’t? So mean.” Her laugh came out softer than intended, a thin, breathless thing. Then came the footsteps, the scuffle of boots against dirt. Lily’s head snapped to the side, her eyes narrowing before she even saw them, the boys, of course. She rolled her eyes so hard she thought they might stick, the firelight made their faces look even more obnoxious than usual. She’d dealt with them plenty of times before, and not once had she ever given them what they wanted. Annoying, relentless, and predictable. Maybe she’d kissed one of them once out of boredom, she couldn’t remember, which told her all she needed to know.
But then she turned her head back, and…Her breath caught.
Farrah was watching her, with that soft and unassuming smile. It struck her like lightning. The sweetest smile Lily had ever seen. Her eyes widened and her face heated, warmth spread from her cheeks down her neck. She tried to cover it with a laugh, but it came out shaky, nervous even. “Can you believe them?” She wanted to roll her eyes again, but she couldn’t, not when Farrah’s gaze was fixed on her with that unbearable intensity. It felt like Farrah looked at her like she was the only person in the world. Like there weren’t boys hovering, like there wasn’t a fire crackling, like the night itself didn’t exist outside of this moment.
Lily’s lips parted with words that stirred on her tongue, but they withered before they could form and then Farrah spoke first.
“May I?”
Lily blinked, her thoughts scattered, the princess was so close to her. Lily had no answer, not in words. Farrah’s hand slipped into hers, and the world tilted. Heat spread through her palm, up her arm, into her chest until she thought her heart might combust. Her stomach flipped violently, tossing like a ship caught in a storm. She didn’t dare look up, couldn’t, her face burned too hot. She didn’t want to know how red she was, the fire couldn’t be blamed now, they had walked away from it, further into the shadows. No, The heat came entirely from Farrah’s hand in hers.
So, Lily followed obediently and helplessly. Eyes glued to the point of contact, to the delicate way their fingers fit together. She couldn’t see where they were going and honestly didn’t care. She could’ve walked off a cliff and not noticed, so long as that hand stayed in hers. It wasn’t until Farrah’s voice pulled her back, until a shadow shifted and blocked the light, that Lily realized they had stopped. Her throat constricted, and she opened her mouth, but nothing came. ’Say something. Gods, say something.’ She was drowning in her own silence, her chest tightened, while her heart was in her throat. Lily was down bad.
At last, she scraped together something, “They are…” Her voice was faint, barely a whisper, almost too faint. She cleared her throat, forcing more sound into it, “I’m okay now.” Even then, the words betrayed her, her tone shy, coy without her meaning it to be. She squeezed Farrah’s hand, instinctively. Her pulse thudded so loudly she was sure Farrah must feel it through her palm. Lily wanted to pull her closer, wanted to close the distance between their lips. Wanted to feel how soft her lips were. But she didn’t. Instead, with reluctant, trembling fingers, she let go.
The emptiness was immediate, her hand felt cold. She curled her fingers into her palm, twisting them into the fabric at the hem of her dress, as though she could trap the feeling there. She needed distraction, literally anything, “How did you know this was here?” She stepped further into the open shed. It was a little cramped, lined with rusted tools, and firewood. As she moved, her shoulder brushed Farrah’s arm, it was just the faintest touch, and yet her stomach flipped violently again, betraying her completely. She bent, peering through a stack of rusted metal, wondering out loud who might’ve used the place. Then she straightened, and leaned back against the wall for support. Her nerves screamed through her veins, and she couldn’t resist the teasing tone that slipped into her voice, “...You play hero quite well.” The words hung between them, Lily was a flirt, she couldn’t help herself. Farrah made it too easy.
After a beat, her teeth caught her bottom lip, “Earlier…” She began, the words trembling before they left her, “You mentioned you were at the border.” Her heart stuttered, was this too much? Too personal? “What was that like…?” She stopped herself, panic sparking, she had no right to pry into something far deeper than she deserved, “You don’t have to answer that,” She rushed to add, shaking her head, “I just… you’re clearly very brave.” The breath she let out was heavy and a bit defeated. She had no business asking, but still, the want throbbed in her chest. This aching need to know her, to learn every story, or every thought. To, pull apart every layer until she knew everything there was to know about Farrah.
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