the pookas

[instar]

The following day, Bella goes with Trouble, when he heads for the park.

Comments

[aeskhyne]

<Maybe.>

[megale]

"Aww." She sighs. "I don't know whether I wanna tell her I'll help. I don't know what she'd want me to do."

[aeskhyne]

<Me neither. We haven't really done that much yet.>

[megale]

"And it sounds dangerous." She shivers.

[aeskhyne]

<It is.> He coos and snuggles up and gives her tiny nibbles.

[megale]

She pets him.

[aeskhyne]

<You don't have to do the really dangerous stuff, though,> he says. <Nobody's gonna hurt you if you decide not do so something 'cause you're scared. We're scared too; we get it.>

[megale]

"I am kinda scared."

[aeskhyne]

Coo. Snuggle. Tiny nibbles.

[megale]

"If I start walking home now Mom'll be gone by the time I get there, probably."

[aeskhyne]

<Okay.>

[megale]

She picks him up and carries him home.

[aeskhyne]

Where Trouble, of course, demorphs on her bed.

[megale]

"That really is pretty gross," she says, not sounding like this has affected her.

[aeskhyne]

He giggles. "I know, it's nasty," he says, and hugs her.

[megale]

Hugs! Yay.

[aeskhyne]

Snuggly hugs. Mmmmmmm.

[megale]

Snuggles. "So hey, are you romancing me, do pookas do that, or is this just a snuggling sometimes kissing thing?"

[aeskhyne]

"I dunno," says Trouble. "Do you wanna be romanced?"

[megale]

"Does that put me in extra evil cult danger so that you have to dump me after a couple weeks for my own good or anything?"

[aeskhyne]

"Nah, it's the same either way."

[megale]

"And are you any good at romancing?" she inquires cheekily.

[aeskhyne]

"No idea," he says. "Never tried."

[megale]

"Wanna find out?"

[aeskhyne]

"Sure!" he says. "Oh, but I can still make out with other people and stuff, right? I do that."