The Magpie Emporium, Monday [25/11]

[giveittoyoursister]

Vi found that the store had been left far more chaotic than usual (looks like the gremlins had been de-aged too, Vi was glad to have missed that), and Saffron had had to be coaxed down from the tallest shelf, but instead of tidying (or rather helping Little Bot with the tidying) it like she should be, Vi was stretched out on a bunch of the pillows.

That weird ominous feeling that'd been dogging her had passed, but in its wake, she felt oddly drained and weightless and generally unsure what to do with herself. Hence the not quite napping.

Comments

[giveittoyoursister]

Didn't Food Human know that this was Saffron's snuggle time? Sure she'd been over on the other side of the store, but she deserved uninterrupted access to Snuggle Human.

Vi smiled into the kiss. "Good thing I've got you to look out for them." Yes. Yes, it was, V. Maybe you should take better care of them. Just a suggestion.

[drumsticksandd20s]

It was her who should be curled up in that pillow nest with Snuggle Human! Food Human had her own office to be in. By herself, not dragging Snuggle Human in with her.

"Someone has to." Steph nipped at her lip playfully, reaching for her hand and running her thumb over the knuckles. "Since you keep falling down on the job there."

[giveittoyoursister]

It was a conspiracy! One aimed squarely at Saffron herself.

"Hey, I'm getting better at that," Vi protested. Not very hard, and not pulling her hand away. Because it was nice when Steph did that. For a bunch of reasons.

[drumsticksandd20s]

And it was all Food Human's fault. Obviously. Snuggle Human might be going along with the whole thing but she was still blameless because Saffron had deemed it so.

"You are," Steph allowed, not letting go of her hand because she knew how much Vi enjoyed it when she did this. And she really was quite fond of those hands. "But for some reason I have a vested interest in your hands being in good shape."

[giveittoyoursister]

Food Human was obviously turning her head and leading her astray.

"I'm sure I have no idea what you're talking about," Vi replied, curling her fingers through Steph's.

[drumsticksandd20s]

Obviously. Snuggle Human was perfect and wonderful and had never done anything wrong and what did you mean Food Human would agree with her? Unacceptable.

"They're very cute hands," Steph said, far too innocently, smiling as she felt her fingers slide between Vi's. "That's all. Really."

[giveittoyoursister]

Saffron and Food Human couldn't both be right! Unpossible!

Vi grinned and let her head rest on Steph's shoulder again. "So what you're saying is you think I'm cute."

[drumsticksandd20s]

They could never, ever have common ground. Never mind that they both adored Snuggle Human. That was different.

"I think it shouldn't be possible to be as cute as you are." Steph leaned her head against Vi's. "That's my girl, defying the rules of what's possible."

[giveittoyoursister]

The only thing stopping Saffron from having an existential crisis over this was that it would be undignified.

"Rules are for suckers," Vi informed her airily.

[drumsticksandd20s]

Also her humans weren't paying attention to her and her dramatics would be wasted.

"This is one of the many reasons I love you," Steph replied, looking at her with unabashed adoration.

[giveittoyoursister]

She had to conserve her energy, who knew how long it would be before Food Human remembered to feed her.

Vi brought their joined hands to her mouth to kiss Steph's knuckles. "I'm gonna remind you you said that next time you catch me cheating in one of our games."

[drumsticksandd20s]

Oh, Snuggle Human was giving her kisses again (why, Snuggle Human? Kisses should be Saffron's!) so it would be hours at least.

Steph leaned forward to touch her forehead to Vi's, laughing softly. "What can I say? You're the cutest cheater I've ever had the honor to play with."

[giveittoyoursister]

(After all did Saffron not have the most perfectly kissable forehead?) Hours in which she would surely die.

Vi grinned, reaching up to cup the back of her neck. "Bet you say that to all the girls."

[drumsticksandd20s]

(She had the most exquisitely soft and silky fur on the top of her head! Food Human certainly couldn't say the same, especially with those silly scratchy things she insisted on wearing over it!) Die, and come back, and die all over again. Especially since her humans looked like they were much more comfortable and relaxed than they usually were when they insisted on canoodling in her presence.

"Oh, yeah, all the girls," Steph said, sticking her tongue out. "Only all the ones I sleep next to at night."

[giveittoyoursister]

They didn't even have the decency to lock themselves away from Saffron's sight. Sure she would've scratched the door down if they had, but it was the principle of the thing.

"So I know exactly who to be jealous of." Herself, basically.

[drumsticksandd20s]

This was almost worse than those times they'd had to take her home with them for the night because something or other was invading and they didn't think the store was safe.

"Going to give yourself dirty looks in the mirror while I'm kissing you?" Steph asked, snickering. "When I'm not even in a position to appreciate the hotness of your 'get your eyes off my girl' glare. So inconsiderate."

[giveittoyoursister]

Didn't they know they were supposed to act like she was their topmost consideration at all times?

Vi laughed from deep in her belly. "I just don't like the look of that girl."

[drumsticksandd20s]

Even if they forgot that was the case, they should at least be acting like it. Thoughtless, cruel humans of hers.

"Shut up," Steph said, practically pouncing on her to give her a kiss, which sent another set of dice flying (and this time bursting open on impact, to Little Bot's audible dismay). "She looks fantastic in literally every possible way, and I won't stand for anyone talking shit about her."

Especially her.

[giveittoyoursister]

She'd find better humans, just see if she wouldn't.

"I'm sure she appreciates you defending her honour like that," Vi said, voice soft as she looked up at Steph with utter adoration. Again. Some more. "Must be something to have a girl like you in her corner."

[drumsticksandd20s]

She had a search going on right now. She'd tried to ask the gremlins and the squirrels to let her know if they'd heard anything, even.

"I guess. You would know." Steph smiled and nudged her nose against Vi's. "I love you. I chose you. Deal with it."

[giveittoyoursister]

Sure all their candidates were lacking in some way, but Saffron had options. Just saying.

"You make it sound like a hardship," Vi said, pulling Steph down for another kiss. "Which it's not." Overwhelming and vaguely terrifying in the best way, but not a hardship.

[drumsticksandd20s]

Never mind that she didn't even have a short list yet. She had options.

"I mean, I'd hope not," Steph said, laughing softly and chasing her mouth for yet another kiss. "Considering how easy it is to just be with you, I'd hope it was mutual."

It absolutely was terrifying, but Steph wouldn't have it any other way.

[giveittoyoursister]

Terrible options who all would be found wanting one way or another, but she still had them.

"It is," Vi confirmed, cupping Steph's face. "Easy as breathing."

[drumsticksandd20s]

She would complain loudly and heartily about any of those terrible options, but Food Human was a low bar to begin with.

"It's almost unfair that it's that easy," Steph said just before an errant d12 smacked her on the top of the head, propelled by the paw of a wrathful kitty who to be fair hadn't actually been intending precisely that result.

"Ow."

[giveittoyoursister]

That she couldn't find anyone better only showed how dire her situation was.

Vi bit her lip to keep from laughing. "Kiss it better."

Oh, no, Saffron had just been hoist on her own polyhedral petard!