FotD, Cinnamon Raisin #5, Mocha #18
Author: Saya
Universe: Sequel to Coconut #28/Airport
Rating: PG
Flavor: Flavor of the Day: Wanderlust (a strong, innate desire to rove or travel about)
Toppings/Extras: Pocky
Wordcount: 98
Warnings: Mild language
Notes: Remember what I said about demanding backstory? Yup, probably coming.
Leaning over, he watched the plane take off. When they leveled, he let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. God, it hurt to leave. Hurt so damn much, but he had too. It didn't matter whatever they said, it was in his blood. He couldn't stay, had to go. Had to be part of the miraculous things happening, despite the distance. Maybe, someday, he would return. Return to those beautiful eyes that looked up at him with such unabashed affection. Return and say all those things he'd kept bottled up, fearful of his nature. Someday.
Author: Saya
Universe: The Shadows Within
Rating: Everyone
Flavor: Cinnamon Raisin #5 (the reputation of a thousand years may be determined by the conduct of one hour), Mocha #18 (have I ever steered you wrong?)
Toppings/Extras: Fresh Pineapple - (It's that same old riddle / Only starts from the middle & Do you really care? / Well, then pick up your heads and walk - We Can Talk by The Band)
Wordcount: 607
Warnings: More vagueness!
Notes: No I have no idea what the ceremony is either. Although I'm sure I'll figure it out eventually. Part of the unpleasantness referenced to in Falling into Step (the first one in the post).
"Come on, Aiay! Just once, please?"
His wheedling had long ago ventured forth from the path of endearing and plodded its way into the realm of annoying.
She huffed a heavy breath and glared at him, resisting the urge to put her hands on her hips or some other undignified display of temper. Why did he have to pick today of all days to annoy the goodness out of her? Didn't he understand what all of this meant to her? Couldn't he grasp that she needed her wits about her?
His eyes widened and he looked up at her from under his lashes, trying to affect injured innocence. "Please?"
The hopeful ring of his voice made her want to throttle him. And if she growled at him, she figured it was better than killing him. "No! I'm not going to fool around right now! I have to be prepared for the ceremony!"
"But Aiay, the ceremony isn't until sundown! You have plenty of time to prepare for it. In the meantime, why can't we enjoy ourselves? I'm not asking you to do anything ridiculous or crazy. You know that I'd never do anything to jeopardize your standing with your patroness."
The whining wasn't helping her fragile nerves either. "Oh really? What about what happened last time?"
"Hey!" He cried, far more indignant than he had any right to be. "That wasn't my fault!"
"Wasn't your fault?!" She whirled on him, efforts of restraint forgotten in her anger. "You badgered me into going to that stupid party and you let me drink the wine even though you knew that it would affect me adversely. Perhaps you weren't aware my behavior would be reported back, but you were very aware of the fact you were intentionally intoxicating me! You should have known better! I was already the favored candidate, all eyes were on me. My reputation is too important and too fragile to be wasted on a stupid party!"
He didn't look nearly chagrined enough, she decided. Especially when he managed to defensively mutter "You needed to loosen up."
She pressed her fingers to her temple, willing away the headache that had started to take up resident within her brain (which she needed to be fully functional for the ceremony that evening). "Lokuto," she sighed, trying her best to regain her composure. "You know how much I want this. How hard I've worked for this. I've done too much, given up too much, to throw it all away at the eleventh hour. I'm not about to belittle everything that's gone into this by goofing off when I should be preparing. I can't let all of this sacrifice to have been in vain."
For a minute she believed he might actually drop the subject. Let them go back to their uneasy peace, back to beating around the bush and slowly driving each other crazy.
But of course, he couldn't see the wiser path even when it lay in plain sight.
"Have you ever considered the sacrifices you're demanding of everyone else because of this?" He turned to leave and she made to follow him, but he waved her off with a cold dismissal. "Oh, don't mind me. You go off and have fun being selfish and greedy and arrogant with your patroness," the title was spat with more venom than she anticipated him being able to conjure. "I'm just going to go actually enjoy life for a change."
Even if it wasn't the wisest choice on her side either, she let him stomp off without any attempt to stop him.
At least she would be able to prepare in peace.