Text | un: PrincessAllura | time for more silly network shenanigans

[quintessent]

Name: Princess Allura (un: PrincessAllura)
Date: 9/10
Format: Text

I have a question directed to the Earthlings who were brought here.

Before I came to this planet, my experience with humans was brief. As such, my knowledge of their culture is largely limited and something I have been working at understanding for some time now.

To get to the point: I am curious about human friendship rituals. Is handholding a common practice among friends?


…


And what about kissing?

[AHEM. Not lingering on that one for too long. Definitely asking for a friend and not because she’s been casually smooching her bond for awhile now and still they are acting like it means nothing. As you do.]

I only ask this because I have seen a lot of different behavior since I arrived here that is different from the culture I was raised in and do not wish to misinterpret the meanings. Thank you.

Comments

[marmoron]

[ Keith had been bracing himself for more follow up questions, but not a kiss. The affection and its now recontextualized implications is over just as soon as Keith has started wrapping his mind around it, leaving him staring at her owlishly and a little stunned into silence.

A few beats pass by and it occurs to him belatedly that he ought to be saying something instead of whatever the hell he's doing right now. ]

Is this real right now? [ The question is blurted unthinkingly. ] You were talking about Australian kisses and -- [ He laughs a little dazedly before smiling in earnest. ] I ... wow?

[quintessent]

You know, I still do not know what that means...

[She says, a little breathlessly herself. The last few dobashes moved so fast even if it's been months since the first time they kissed, and countless hours of wondering what it meant. Speaking of-

She tugs at a loose strand of hair, looking sheepish and quietly fretting.] I should apologize. I should have come to you with my question sooner.

[Her words trail off, not really sure of a good excuse for avoiding it. Other than it was complicated, and she didn't want to make things complicated between them.]

[marmoron]

[ That makes him laugh again, partly out of pure giddiness and partly out of nerves as he doesn't actually want to have to explain Australian kisses now or any other time. ]

I didn't exactly ask you about that either.

[ Sheepishly, he rubs at the back of his head with his hand. ]

I know I should've, but y'know... I got nervous. And I'm not so great at the whole heart to heart thing. [ He glances up at her face then: ] But I'm trying.

[quintessent]

[It feels like a flutter of butterflies in her stomach. Now that things have been said and done and she still has so many questions about what it meant for them going forward, she didn’t want to break the spell of this moment. She felt warm and happy in a way that felt silly and simple in a way that few things in her life were.

Hands reach out and take his shyly. Like so many times before, but it wasn’t just about the bond this time. Now they both knew it.]

Well. I am glad that we cleared it up. [Thumbs run over his knuckles,] I should allow you to get back to your rest. It’s the middle of the night for you.

[marmoron]

[ Keith looks down at their hands, instinctively turning his palms to interlace their fingers. There are a lot of things he's still getting used to about being a fully fledged vampire, but the way he feels warm all over when Allura holds his hands and smiles at him is exactly the same. He smiles a little brighter, not quite able to keep a happy laugh to himself. ]

You say that like I'm actually going to be able to go back to sleep now.

[ He starts tugging one of her hands towards his chest, then remembers belatedly that he doesn't actually have a heartbeat anymore. ]

Oh. [ He closes his eyes, then focuses on sending her just a pinch of vibrant energy through their joined hands. Grinning, he continues: ]

Want a boost for the rest of your day?

[quintessent]

[She's not sure what it is about that statement that makes her cheeks feel even warmer. Maybe that's just how it is now. Feeling warm and happy and a flip in her stomach whenever she hears a truly happy laugh out of him.

Her eyes raise to meet his, fingers curling around his hand in kind.]

It feels like I've just drank the largest cup of coffee already. [She laughs, light and airy and nearly dizzy from everything that just happened.] But yes, I do.

[marmoron]

Okay, coming right up.

[ Giddiness all but radiating from him, he tries to focus on their bond. This is a dangerous kind of cycle where her cheer only amplifies his own and it always ends in aching cheeks from smiling too damn much. For once though, it isn't really followed by lingering questions which is a new thrill all on its own. After sending her a pulse of energy, Keith looks up at her with a grin. ]

There. I think I might actually have a shot at falling asleep now. [He gives her hands a squeez before letting go. ] So ... goodnight?

[quintessent]

[She feels his rush of energy and there's a second that she's focusing on returning it - sending him a big rush of all of the warmth and affection she feels like she's been holding back for the last several phoebes. Largely, it's mixed up behind a lot of nervous, excited energy, but after a second she stops-] Oh, apologies. [Sheepishly,] You're the one going to sleep, I just wanted-

[Boy, she's going to be a buzzing, fluttery mess for the next quintant and a half, isn't she? Leaning in she kisses him again, eyes bright as she steps back.]

Goodnight. We can... we can talk more tomorrow.

[marmoron]

[ If the small burst of energy he got from Allura wasn't enough to make his face heat up with warmth, the kiss certainly is. For a few beats afterwards, he's content to just look at her like she's the whole world, but then he remembers he was supposed to be .... ]

Oh right. Yeah, let's talk more later. Goodnight.

[ Sheepishly, he starts turning away to leave. He makes it about one step away before he abruptly turns on his heel to press a kiss to her cheek. Offering a bit of a nervous laugh, he adds: ]

Forgot. Night. Again.

[ Aaaaand now it's time to go before he says or does anything awkward and ruins the good vibes. ]

/end

[quintessent]

[She waves at him- then realizes that waving looks silly here and drops her hand to her side.]

Goodnight! Sleep... peacefully.