The Magpie Emporium, Thursday (9/29)

[drumsticksandd20s]

October was literally right around the corner.

Steph hadn't been paying too much conscious attention to it, what with Alex's visit last weekend and all, but there was no ignoring the constant low-level itch under her skin that always started up about this time of year. More subdued than it had been in the past, true, and she wouldn't complain about that, but... even if she managed to make it through the month more functionally than she ever had, maybe it would never entirely go away. Maybe that was just how this kind of trauma worked.

She supposed she could live with that. It wasn't like she was trying to shut people out any more; she'd promised Gabe and Mikey she'd cut that shit out and she suspected Vi wouldn't let her if she tried, anyway.

At least she had things to keep herself busy today; there were several promising TTRPG projects to add to the recommended Kickstarters board, and a bunch of new Unearthed Arcana playtest material to peruse.

Not to mention a cat that she constantly had to avoid tripping over; Saffron was ignoring her as much as usual, but at a closer range than she typically did. So that was nice.

[OOC: Open! SP more than likely going to be a thing though.]

Comments

[giveittoyoursister]

Vi did have a habit of breaking and entering, it was true. Though with Steph she was usually leaving foodstuffs. Like now. "Hey," she said, brandishing a greasy bag at Steph. "Got lunch."

[drumsticksandd20s]

"You are the actual best," Steph said, her smile chasing away any lingering bits of gloom on her face as she came over to take the bag. "What do we have today, burgers?"

Saffron immediately arose from her inert puddle form and bounded over to Vi, meowing plaintively about how she needed cuddles immediately or she would simply perish on the spot.

[giveittoyoursister]

"Yeah," Vi said grinning and passing the bag to Steph so she could pick up Saffron. "I got the ones you like."

[drumsticksandd20s]

"The literal actual best," Steph said again, emphatically, and cleared some space at the counter to spread their food out. "Even if you don't actually have to feed me because I'll forget otherwise."

Shh, Steph, that wasn't the point.

Saffron started purring furiously the second she was comfortably in Vi's arms.

[giveittoyoursister]

"Yeah, but that's only because I've got you trained right," Vi said, scritching under Saffron's chin to even more purring. "Plus, y'know, I like getting you lunch or whatever."

[drumsticksandd20s]

"I'm sorry, trained?" Steph burst out, laughing and feigning indignation.

[giveittoyoursister]

"Were you eating regularly before I started bringing you food?" Vi asked cheerfully. "Remember, I've seen the inside of your kitchen."

[drumsticksandd20s]

"I was eating every day, at least," Steph replied, "so technically?"

Barely.

She popped a french fry into her mouth and reached out to offer one to Vi as well.

"I love how you just decided you were going to take matters into your own hands and feed me since I clearly couldn't be bothered to do it myself."

[giveittoyoursister]

Vi reached across to take the fry, with her mouth because her arms were full of cat.

"Technically doesn't count," she argued, before looking serious for a moment. "I just don't like people going hungry, especially when they don't have too."

[drumsticksandd20s]

That was what Steph had been hoping for anyway, so win!

"I know," she said softly, because it absolutely made sense that Vi would have strong feelings about that. She looked up, trying to meet Vi's gaze. "Anyone who has you to care about them is lucky as hell, you know."

[giveittoyoursister]

Except Saffron, who did not appreciate any spilt focus whatsoever.

Vi smiled softly at her. "You think?"

[drumsticksandd20s]

"I feel pretty confident about saying so, since I'm speaking from experience and all," Steph replied, smiling goofily right back at her.

Sorry not sorry, Saffron.

[giveittoyoursister]

"Guess I better take your word for it then," Vi said, leaning in to steal a kiss.

Why did you keep betraying Saffron like this Food Human?

[drumsticksandd20s]

Because she was a human who found sharing a much more acceptable practice than cats did. It was a cultural difference, really. Though clearly she was The Worst for not taking said cultural difference into account and deferring to the superior cat view on the matter.

Steph reached out to pull Vi into a quick hug as she kissed her back. "I mean, I know I feel pretty fucking lucky." She grinned. "And loved."

[giveittoyoursister]

Vi only compounded the betrayal by returning the hug. "Yeah, me too."

[drumsticksandd20s]

Look at Food Human, encouraging Snuggle Human to even more egregious depths of betrayal. Would the insult never cease?

"I'm so fucking relieved that you and Alex liked each other," admitted Steph, resting her chin on Vi's shoulder.

[giveittoyoursister]

Never if Vi had anything to say about it.

"She's pretty cool," Vi said, leaning in against Steph. "I can see why you liked her."

[drumsticksandd20s]

Woe, for Saffron was horribly unloved no matter what her humans might claim, to be treated in such a fashion.

"Apparently my type is girls who turned out to be way more kind and caring than anyone would've expected them to, after having really rough lives growing up," Steph said lightly, cuddling into her. "Which makes them fucking amazing."

[giveittoyoursister]

See how unloved she was with her dramatic flops. Forever alone.

"Does it?" Vi asked. "Guess I'm lucky I'm your type then."

[drumsticksandd20s]

Just wasting away from neglect and starvation within feet of her full dish and about a dozen new toys.

"I know I feel lucky about it," Steph answered, smiling warmly at her.

[giveittoyoursister]

Truly her life was misery.

Vi leaned in to steal another kiss. "Love you."

[drumsticksandd20s]

Let her life become a cautionary tale of the dangers of getting all mixed up with humans.

"I'm never gonna get tired of hearing that," Steph admitted, grinning goofily at her as she reached out to hook her fingers in Vi's waistband just to keep her close, after the kiss. "Love you too. You are genuinely amazing."

[giveittoyoursister]

They reeled you in then left you hanging.

"Not planning of stopping saying it," Vi said grinning back just as dorkily. "So are you. I mean it."

[drumsticksandd20s]

And just when you thought you had secured their devotion they ABANDONED YOU FOR ANOTHER (ugh) HUMAN.

"Are you trying to sweet talk me into something?" Steph teased, and tried to sneak one more kiss before she let go of Vi to get more fries for both of them.

[giveittoyoursister]

Or even worse, they forced you to share!

Vi grinned. "I mean we were talking sexy team ups in crime class today."

[drumsticksandd20s]

And they acted like you were expected to put up with the inferior human's constant presence. How dare.

Steph came over with one of the little paper dishes of fries and ate a couple before offering a couple more to Vi. "So wait, are you and I teaming up to do something sexy?"

Did she sound like she minded. Nope.

[giveittoyoursister]

How dare indeed.

Vi took a couple of fries, swallowing before she replied "They wanted us to plan a heist. So that I guess."

[drumsticksandd20s]

"I like this," Steph decided. "I do the fast talking, you're the super distracting, very hot muscle, but we're both the brains of the operation? Also, what exactly are we, uh, heisting?"

[giveittoyoursister]

"Hadn't really thought that far ahead," Vi admitted.

[drumsticksandd20s]

"We can figure that part out when we get to it," Steph said through a mouthful of fries, like pulling off a heist on the fly was an actual thing that happened. "Though I'd be in favor of, say, stealing back culturally significant stuff that got looted for the glory of the crown or something, making sure it gets back to the people it was stolen from in the first place. Getting to look hot as hell doing it is just a bonus."