The Magpie Emporium, Thursday (10/13)

[drumsticksandd20s]

The town felt quiet and empty this week with everyone off on the trip, and Steph could have been doing much worse this week than she was, emotionally, if not for Vi's stubborn insistence on not leaving her alone.

This week's board game spotlight was on murder mystery games. It just felt kind of necessary today.

[OOC: Inspiration-free but open!]

Comments

[giveittoyoursister]

Stubborn insistence on not leaving her alone did you say?

That sounded like Vi's cue to arrive bearing lunch only to get waylaid by an extremely distraught Saffron when she was barely in the door.

[drumsticksandd20s]

Look, there was only one person here who'd said in no uncertain terms that she hadn't been about to leave Steph alone this week and it sure as hell wasn't Saffron.

"I'm not sure if she's more upset that you're back to being human, or that you weren't at work on Monday," Steph said with a wry laugh.

[giveittoyoursister]

"I'm probably a lot harder to grab and hide in the storeroom like this," Vi said, offering Steph the bag of food before bending to pick up Saffron, who could only be appeased with hugs, right now.

[drumsticksandd20s]

"And yet I don't put it past her to try," Steph replied. She peered into the bag and made a happy noise as she pulled out sandwiches, laying everything out on the counter. "I swear, I almost lost my mind when I couldn't find you, and then I saw her walking out of there looking smug."

[giveittoyoursister]

Given how Saffron had climbed up onto Vi's shoulders and was nosing at her collar, Steph wasn't wrong there.

"It was harder than it looked getting out," she told her. "Those boxes are a lot harder to navigate as a kitten."

[drumsticksandd20s]

"I know you tried your best," Steph said playfully. "Gold stars for kitten you."

No lie, she was halfway hoping Saffron was about to start licking Vi's hair like she needed another bath.

[giveittoyoursister]

"Well, kitten me knew who she wanted to spend her time with," Vi said, as Saffron, having realised she couldn't pick up her inconsiderate Snuggle Human by the scruff of her neck, settled in to wash her instead.

[drumsticksandd20s]

So rude of Vi to go back to being a big unwieldy human, really.

Steph half grinned at her and set down her sandwich so she could pull out her phone and get pictures of Saffron attempting to administer a bath to Vi.

"You know what you want, whether you're a cat or a human, and I know better than to argue with that."

[giveittoyoursister]

"Damn straight I do," Vi said, letting Steph and Saffron have their fun with a good natured eye-roll. Her expression softened. "How are you doing?"

[drumsticksandd20s]

"I'm doing okay. Genuinely," Steph assured her, though her own expression softened into affectionate gratitude at the question. "This month is never easy, but it's... finally getting easier, at least. And now that the anniversary itself is over with, and I'm not making myself sick with anticipation..."

She drew a breath and gave Vi a nod.

"I'll be fine. I swear, I'm not just saying that."

[giveittoyoursister]

"Good," Vi said softly, reaching for her hand. "And I trust you to tell me if you're not."

[drumsticksandd20s]

Steph took her hand and squeezed it, running her thumb back and forth over Vi's knuckles.

"You know that goes both ways, right?"

[giveittoyoursister]

Vi nodded, squeezing Steph's hand in return. "I do."

[drumsticksandd20s]

"As long as we're both clear on that." Steph, still watching Saffron's antics with clear delight, brought Vi's hand up to her mouth to kiss the back of it briefly. "Even as a kitten you've been amazing at wrangling my brain into a decent place all week, and it means so much. Thank you."

[giveittoyoursister]

Vi smiled, tracing her thumb over Steph's mouth. "I'm just glad I could help."

She would've leant over to try and steal a kiss, but any time she shifted too close to Steph, Saffron's grooming grew more furious.

[drumsticksandd20s]

Steph just smiled in barely contained amusement and, not willing to invoke Saffron's full wrath, kissed her thumb. That would have to do for now.

"Of course you help. You're here, and you understand. That's huge."

[giveittoyoursister]

Vi curled her fingers between Steph's. "I know, I guess I just wish neither of us did."

[drumsticksandd20s]

"I know." Steph's smile turned thoughtful and just a little bit sad. "But if neither of us did, maybe neither of us would be here, so..."

[giveittoyoursister]

"Maybe," Vi repeated, not really wanting to think about that. Instead she brought their hands to her mouth so she could kiss the back of Steph's. "Love you."

[drumsticksandd20s]

"Love you too," Steph said, and squeezed her hand. "And while it still absolutely fucking blows that we both have all this shit to live with, at least we can do it together, right?"

[giveittoyoursister]

"Yeah." Vi nodded with a small, soft smile. "Together."

[drumsticksandd20s]

"And now that we've been cheesy as fuck for the day," Steph said after a moment of just smiling back at her, "what do you think about the idea of planning a trip together somewhere, for real? No fancy cruise ships or anything, unfortunately, but a few days of decent hotels, we can probably swing that."

[giveittoyoursister]

Yeah, that wasn't doing anything at all to get rid of Vi's dopey grin. "I'd like that," she said. "Just you and me deciding where we want to go."

[drumsticksandd20s]

"Taking all the dumb tourist pictures we want," added Steph. "Maybe we could go camping? Just find somewhere miles away from any cities out in the middle of nature somewhere. Even just for a day or two."

[giveittoyoursister]

"I've never been camping before." That wasn't a no, just a reminder you were dating one heck of a city girl.