#Enjoying each other's company

[lightasthesun]

POV: Order 66 never happened, Anakin didn't turn to the Dark Side and Ahsoka ended up rejoining the order a couple of months after the war ended. Now years later they still like to enjoy each other's company as often as possible.

Magic happens when @ahhrenata and I brainstorm. And with that I mean Lauren does Magic. 🥰

[atths--twice]

Chapter Twelve

A dinner invite is just the thing at the end of a long week.

(This and the next chapter are two of my favorites. Hope you enjoy them as well.)

Thursday 

“You need anything before I take off?” Dana asked, smiling as she stopped by Fox’s table. 

“No, I think I’m okay,” he said with a smile of his own. 

“Get a lot of writing done today?” 

“Uhh…” He made a face and she laughed, squeezing his shoulder gently. 

“You’ll get there. You always do.” 

“I should let you take the calls from my agent from now on. Talk me up and assure her that I will,” he said and she laughed again, letting go of his shoulder. 

“If you need me to…” She shrugged and he smiled with a nod. “Okay. If you don’t need anything, I’ll see you tomorrow.” 

“Actually,” he said, standing up and clearing his throat. “I was wondering if you and Ivy would like to come over for dinner.” 

He waited nervously, hoping she would say yes. She tilted her head and stared at him and he was certain the answer was going to be no.

“Um… you don’t have to, it’s just… Samantha made a lasagna and must have hidden it behind the leftovers from our meatloaf dinner last night. I had no idea she did that, but it was front and center this morning with a note taped to it telling me to enjoy it with others.” He smiled and waited. “She’s a really good cook.” 

“I’m sure she is,” Dana said, smiling with a nod. “That was nice of her to do that for you. But-”

“It’s okay. You don’t have to.” 

“No, Fox. It’s not that at all.”  

“No?” 

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “I was just going to say, it just can’t be tonight. It’s a school night and I don’t want to disrupt the schedule we have.” 

“Oh! Yeah, no, I meant tomorrow. Shit, you’re right. I didn’t say tomorrow, but I was thinking it, I promise. I wouldn’t want to keep you both out too late with school and work the next day.” 

“That’s thoughtful of you,” she said, smiling at him. “Then yes, I accept. Lasagna is one of my favorite meals, so that sounds great.” 

“Okay,” he said, feeling relieved as he grinned broadly. “Good.” 

“Yeah,” she said, taking a deep breath, still smiling. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” 

“Yeah. Tomorrow,” he said, unable to stop smiling. 

“Goodbye, Fox.” 

“Goodbye, Dana.” 

____________

Should I bring anything for dinner tomorrow? 

A text from Dana read, at half past nine that night. He grinned and opened his message app, typing back quickly. 

Not a thing aside from yourselves. Oh, wait that reminds me, would you rather Ivy have milk or water, or could I get her some apple juice or something? 

Apple juice is fine. She’ll like that. And you’re sure I can’t bring anything? We do have apple juice here…

No, that’s okay. I got it covered. Thanks though. 

Okay. 

Oh, also… I won’t be coming to the diner tomorrow. I have a meeting with my agent that I’m sure will go long and then I have some things to do here. So… how about you come over at 5:00? Or 5:30? 

5:30 will work. Good luck with your agent. Remember, I’m on standby if you need a hype guy. Girl. Woman. Jesus... 

Haha. Thank you. I’ll remember that. 

Okay, good. Goodnight, Fox. See you tomorrow evening. 

Goodnight, Dana. See you both tomorrow. 

He waited with a smile, but no other messages arrived. Setting his phone down, he looked around. The apartment was still clean from Samantha’s visit, but he wanted to clean it again, making sure it was in perfect condition. 

Nodding, he started on his task. 

______________

By quarter after four the next afternoon, he had everything in the apartment cleaned, organized, and ready. 

The flowers he had recently purchased were picked through, the best ones remaining in the vases. To them, he had added colorful marbles that he had picked up on his way home, along with a few mason jar candles and some groceries.  

He had made a salad which was chilling in the refrigerator along with several types of dressing, not knowing which they preferred. There was also a fruit and vegetable platter that he had enjoyed preparing, sneaking bites as he cut them up. A baguette sat waiting to be sliced and the lasagna had just gone into the oven to be ready when they arrived. 

Candles lit, classical music playing softly, he took a quick shower and dressed, checking once more that everything was ready. The smell of the lasagna was making his mouth water and he decided to send Samantha a quick message of thanks for making it.

You’re welcome, brother. I was happy to do it. ❤️

Setting the phone down, he paced nervously, though he knew he really had no need to feel nervous. 

The buzz of the intercom made him jump, his heart racing. Breathing out, he walked over and pressed the call button. 

“Hello?” 

“Fox!” Ivy shouted. “We’re here!” 

He grinned and closed his eyes briefly, letting out a sigh. 

“Come on up! See you soon.” He pressed the button to let them in and he heard the door opening and Ivy’s excited chatter before he released the call button. 

Unlocking the door, he ran his hands down the sides of his jeans, and let out a deep breath. Opening the door, he waited, knowing they were most likely in the elevator and would arrive soon. Hearing a ding, he grinned as he heard the doors open and Dana telling Ivy which way to go and also to slow down. 

He stepped out into the hall and Ivy lit up when she saw him. She started to run and then stopped, looking back at Dana. 

“Go ahead,” she laughed and Ivy turned back, running headlong at him. 

“Fox!” she yelled as he caught her, laughing as he did. “Hi!” 

“Hi to you too, Miss Ivy. How are you?” 

“Good!” She pulled back and smiled at him. “Did you know it’s almost my birthday?” 

“I did. It’s next week.” 

“Six more sleeps!” she said. “Look what I got today from my birthday calendar.” She pulled up her jacket sleeve and showed him six beaded bracelets in colors of the rainbow. “Aren’t they so pretty?” She smiled and he grinned with a nod. 

“They are very pretty.” He looked at Dana who had just joined them. “Hi.” 

“Hi,” she said, smiling happily. 

“Come in. Dinner is almost ready.” He stepped back and let them enter first, feeling nervous once again. 

“Wow!” Ivy said. “It’s so pretty in here. I like the candles.” 

“Thank you,” Fox said with a chuckle as he shut and locked the door. 

“It does look really nice,” Dana agreed quietly. “The lasagna smells delicious.” 

“Doesn’t it? Here, let me take your coats.” 

“Ivy, take off your boots too, love.” 

Ivy took off her boots and placed them by the door. She unzipped her coat and handed it to Fox as she continued into the room, looking around. Dana took off the backpack she was wearing, along with her own boots, and then her plum colored coat, smiling as she handed it to him. 

“Thank you,” she said, smoothing down her black sweater with thin rainbow colored stripes running horizontally across the body of it. 

“Oh, it’s a rainbow themed evening,” he said, nodding toward Ivy who was wearing rainbow leggings and a light blue long sleeved shirt. “I didn’t get the memo.” 

“What’s a memo?” Ivy asked and he grinned. 

“A memo is a note, informing people about an idea or a plan. Like you both wearing rainbow colors, but… I’m just wearing this boring black sweater and jeans. Not colorful at all.” 

He motioned to his sweater, their coats over one arm, and stuck out his lower lip. Dana laughed, but Ivy tilted her head and looked him up and down. She walked over to him and took off three of her bracelets: green, blue, and purple, and held them out to him. 

“You can share my bracelets, then we will all be wearing rainbows.” 

His breath caught as he laid the coats over a chair and squatted down beside her. He smiled and let out a soft sigh. 

“That is very kind of you to share them with me, Ivy. Are you sure?” 

“Uh huh. I’ll put them on you.” 

He held his left hand out and waited as she slid them on one at a time, smiling when she was done. 

“There. Now you have rainbows too.” She touched the bracelets, moving them around and getting them the way she wanted them. 

“Thank you, Ivy. Thank you for sharing with me.” 

“You’re welcome,” she said, smiling and turning around, her long braids spinning with her as she walked over to the couch and flopped onto it. 

He looked down at the bracelets, touching them and smiling. They were a little tight, but he did not say anything. If they stretched out too much, he would replace them. 

Buy her a thousand of them if she wanted. 

“She’s a very sweet kid,” he said, just loud enough for Dana to hear. 

“She is,” she whispered. 

He looked at her as he stood up, her eyes on Ivy as she smiled. 

“Because of you,” he said, and she turned her focus to him. “You’re a kind person, therefore she is a kind person.” She stared at him and let out a slow breath. “It’s the truth.” He shrugged with a smile and she nodded as she looked down. 

“Thank you,” she whispered. 

A soft trilling noise sounded and he touched her arm as he walked past her and into the kitchen. Turning off his phone alarm, he opened the oven and looked at the lasagna. 

“Question for you,” he called out to Dana. “Would you mind coming here, please?” 

“What is it?” she asked, appearing beside him. 

“Well, it’s a question of taste,” he said, taking an oven mitt and pulling the rack out. “It looks done, picture perfect to be exact, but I personally like it a bit more… not burnt, but the cheese a little darker, if that makes sense.” 

“I know exactly what you mean,” she said with a chuckle. “And I agree one hundred percent. Let it go another five minutes and we’ll check it again.” 

“Yes! Exactly what I wanted to hear,” he said, as he pushed the rack back in and closed the oven door. He set his timer for five minutes and smiled at her. “It’s just better that way.” 

“Of course it is,” she said, crossing her arms and smiling. 

“Mommy?” 

“Yes, honey?” 

“I have to go to the bathroom.” 

“Okay. Come on, I know where it is.” 

As they went to the bathroom, he picked up their coats and hung them in the coat closet. He smiled at the colors hanging with his own rather somber looking black and gray coats, finding that he really liked the sight of them. 

He heard Ivy laughing, the toilet flushing, and Dana’s voice murmuring softly, as he shut the closet door. He closed his eyes and let himself think of what it would be like to have them there always, to have a family filling the empty places he did not know he was truly missing until now. 

The bathroom door opened and he jolted, turning toward the kitchen to appear he was already headed that way. 

“Fox, is it almost ready?” Ivy asked and he nodded, turning back to look at her. 

“It is. Are you very hungry?” 

“I am.” 

“Well then, how about you hop up here,” he said, pulling out one of the high backed stools and tapping the seat. “It will need to cool down for a few minutes, so how about a piece of bread while you wait?” 

“Okay!” she shouted and climbed up onto the stool. 

“I also have some vegetables and some fruit if you would like that,” he said, making sure she was settled before continuing into the kitchen. He opened the refrigerator door and took out the plate of vegetables and fruit, setting it down on the counter in front of Ivy. “Any of those look good to you?” 

“Yummy! Cherry tomatoes!” she said, picking one up and popping it into her mouth. “And peppahs too!” She picked up a yellow pepper and smiled, her mouth full of tomato. 

“This looks delicious,” Dana said, reaching for a napkin and wiping Ivy’s chin. Fox smiled and nodded as his phone alarm rang. 

“Perfect timing. Let’s see if it passes inspection.” 

He silenced the alarm and picked up the oven mitts again. Opening the door, he smiled and nodded his head at the sight of the cheese darker than it was previously. He turned to look at Dana, pointing to the lasagna. She stood up on her tiptoes and smiled with a nod. 

“Perfect,” she said and he grinned as he took it out, set it on the stovetop and turned off the oven. 

“I’d say… five to ten minutes to cool a bit. Would you like to sit on the balcony with a little plate of snacks?” he asked, looking at Ivy. 

“You have a balcony?” she asked, picking up a grape and pausing before it reached her mouth. “I want to see it. I mean, can I see it? Please?” 

A small plate of bread, fruits, and vegetables was carried to the balcony and Ivy gasped as she walked out. Stepping to the railing and holding onto the horizontal wide bars, she peeked through the small gaps and laughed. 

“We’re up so high!” she said. 

“We are,” Fox said, setting down the plate. He turned to Dana and leaned closer to her. “Would it be okay if I picked her up?” 

“Of course,” she said, sounding surprised, her eyes searching his own. 

“If she’s okay with it, I mean,” he said as she touched his arm and smiled with a nod. He turned and stood beside Ivy. “Hey Ivy, can I show you something?” 

“Okay, sure.” 

“I need to lift you up. Would that be okay?” 

“Yeah, that’s okay.” She let go of the bars and he smiled as he lifted her up. “Oh! Look at all the lights!” 

“Yeah,” he said softly, watching her look out at the lights down below, both the city lights and also the added Christmas lights. 

“I like the Christmas lights so much,” Ivy said. “It’s like a magic spell is on everything. Like a fairy has added colors to the buildings and the streets. My auntie had Christmas lights on her house and when we have our tree lights on at night, it feels…” She sighed and he felt her tapping her fingers on his back, as she thought of the word she wanted to say. “I think it feels slow.” 

“Slow?” he asked, frowning slightly, not understanding what she meant. 

“Like when you go into a library? It feels like that.” She looked at him and he smiled with a nod. 

“I know exactly what you mean and that is a fantastic way to describe it. I think a different word, one which you might not know, is reverent.” 

“No, I don’t know that word,” she said, shaking her head and he laughed quietly. 

“No, I didn’t think you would. Reverent means a feeling of deep respect. Like when you go into a library as you said, or a church, and you’re usually quiet and careful to show respect for the building and the things inside of it.” 

She moved her fingers to the collar of his sweater and twisted it gently. Looking out at the lights, she breathed in and out slowly, and then nodded as she looked back at him. 

“I think that’s a good word. You know lots of good words.” 

“Thank you. I try to know a lot of things.” 

“Yeah,” she said, still twisting the collar of his sweater. “When we are in the library at school, we have to stay quiet and have to be careful. That’s how I feel with the Christmas lights. That I want to be quiet while I see them all.” 

He heard Dana let out a breath behind him and he knew without looking that she was crying. When she sniffled, he knew for certain. Giving her a moment, he pushed past his own emotions and nodded as he patted Ivy’s back. 

“Ivy, I think you have a very keen eye and a way of explaining things. That means you understand things in a way that another person might not. It’s a very good way to see the world.” 

“Thank you,” she said softly, smiling as she looked down and took her fingers out of his sweater. She looked out at the city lights again and nodded as she whispered the word reverent, as though testing it out, which caused him to grin. 

The sliding door opening on the balcony above his, seemed to break the spell they were under and Ivy asked to get down to get some grapes. He set her down and smiled as she stepped to the table, picked up a handful, and sat down on the couch. 

He glanced at Dana and she stared at him with an expression he had not seen before, as if she was trying to figure him out. It was gone a second later and she smiled, wiping at her cheeks and sniffling. 

“Mommy, do you want a carrot?” Ivy asked, getting up and bringing one to Dana, diverting her attention from anything she might have said to him. 

A few minutes more and they went inside, shivering and exclaiming how nice the warmth felt. Dana and Ivy both helped to set the table. Ivy laid out the napkins and silverware, asking how it was supposed to be put out properly, which resulted in Dana checking on her phone to be completely certain. 

Fox dished up the lasagna and handed the plates off as he then took out glasses for ice water, setting them onto the counter. He handed a plastic tumbler cup to Ivy and asked her to fill it up and then add the ice to the glasses. She smiled when she looked at her drawings on the refrigerator, glancing at him shyly as she placed the tumbler under the ice dispenser and pushed, filling the cup. 

Dana took the wine bottle to the table and the small bottle of apple juice he had bought for Ivy. 

“I love that brand of apple juice,” she said and he smiled. 

“Me too. There’s more in the fridge, if you’d like some.” 

“Thank you. Maybe later.” 

“I got the ice in, Fox,” Ivy said, and he turned to look at her. 

“Wow! It’s perfect.” 

“It’s all the same. Every glass has eight pieces of ice.” 

“The best amount. Can you carry them to the table?” 

“Yes!” 

“One at a time. Okay, honey? And two hands, yeah? It’s glass. I don’t want you to drop it accidentally.” 

“I won’t, Mommy. I can do it.” 

Fox smiled as he watched her carefully take each glass to the table, smiling triumphantly when she was finished. He gave her a high five and she laughed. 

A pitcher of water, the salad along with all the bottles of dressing, and a plate of bread sat in the middle of the table, the flowers and candle moved aside. Glasses were filled with water, juice, and wine as napkins were placed in their laps and they began to eat. 

Ivy hummed and licked her lips as she ate, claiming it was delicious. She wiped her mouth, smearing tomato sauce across her cheek and Fox laughed softly. She grinned at him and he grinned back. 

“May I say a toast?” he asked and Ivy nodded enthusiastically, putting her fork down and carefully lifting the blue glass with apple juice. Dana lifted her own blue glass and he did the same. “Thank you both for coming to dinner this evening and keeping me company. To you, Miss Ivy and you Miss Dana.” 

“And to you too, Fox,” Ivy said and he smiled. They clinked their glasses together and his gaze landed on the bracelets Ivy had let him borrow, her own bracelets showing as her glass tipped into his own. 

“And to rainbows!” he stated, Ivy grinning as she looked down at their bracelets. 

“To rainbows,” Dana echoed with a chuckle. 

“To beautiful rainbows!” Ivy said and they clinked their glasses again. Setting them down, they continued to eat. 

Ivy told them about her day at school, her friend Audrey, and Audrey’s new kitten. 

“Audrey said she’s so soft. And she purrs so loud. She has a pink collar with a bell and she likes to play with a string and hides under Audrey’s bed.” 

“What’s her name?” Fox asked. 

“Audrey.” 

“No,” he said with a soft laugh. “I meant, what’s the new kitten’s name?” 

“Oh! Her name is Angel. She’s not white though. She’s all black with a little spot of white on her chest. Audrey said her mommy said they should call her Angel because it was like a little bit of angel was poking out from her dark soul,” she said with a shrug. “I don’t know what that means, but I think the name is pretty.” 

Dana choked on her water, coughing a little, her eyes turning red and watering. She waved them down with her napkin, insinuating she was fine. Fox used the moment to laugh under his breath as he refilled her glass, catching her eye and smiling. She wiped her eyes and shook her head, still coughing slightly. 

“You okay, Mommy?” 

“Yes, baby. I’m fine,” Dana assured her, coughing twice more. Ivy smiled and returned to her lasagna. 

Dinner eaten, Italian dressing being the one of choice for the salad, Dana started to gather the plates and stack them. 

“No. Leave them. It’s okay,” Fox said and she frowned at him. 

“Absolutely not.” 

“I insist. Ivy and I can do it, right? Ivy, you want to help me wash the dishes?” 

“Umm…” 

“I’ll fill the sink up with soapy water and you can help me. Then maybe later we could have some ice cream.” 

“Ice cream?“ she asked, her eyes wide. 

“Yup. I bought a flavor called Unicorn Cotton Candy Sparkle. Have you ever heard of it?” 

She gasped and looked at Dana, who grinned back at her. 

“That’s my favorite one!” 

“What? I had no idea,” he said as he smiled at her. He had spotted it in the grocery store and placed it in the cart, sure it would be something she liked. “So, you’ll help me with the dishes then?” 

She nodded and hurriedly slipped off of her chair and started toward the kitchen.  

“Hang on, honey. Come and help clear the table,” Dana said and she bounced back into the room. 

Dishes scraped and stacked, the sink filling with warm soapy water, Fox carried over a dining room chair for Ivy to stand on, as Dana wiped off the table. 

“So, Miss Ivy, have you ever washed dishes before?” he asked. 

“Well, only a couple of times,” she responded, climbing onto the chair as he set it in front of the sink. “My grandma lets me do it at her house. And Mommy sometimes does too, but not always.” 

“Then you have some previous experience. I mean, you’ve done it before. But…” he said, opening the cabinet below the sink and taking out one of the silly sponges from the pack Samantha had sent him for his birthday. He stood up and smiled as he saw which one he had grabbed. “… have you ever washed dishes with a pink pig sponge?” 

“No,” she giggled as he flourished the sponge at her and she took it from him. “It’s really a pig! That’s so funny.” 

“My sister sent me a bag of sponges to make washing dishes more fun. They are very silly. The last one was a sandwich and the other was an ice cream cone!” 

Ivy dissolved into giggles, squeezing the pig sponge in her hands and he laughed with her. Turning off the water, he felt through the mound of bubbles and tested the temperature, making sure it was not too hot. 

“Okay. Are you ready, Ivy and… oh, the pig needs a name. What should we call him? Or her?” 

“Hmm,” Ivy said, staring at it and giving it some thought. “What about Oink?” 

“Oink the pig,” he said, stroking his chin. Snapping his fingers, he pointed at her with a nod. “I like it. Hello, Oink. How are you this evening?” 

Ivy snorted and walked the sponge across the counter.

“I’m… doing very… well, thank you,” she replied, snorting between her words. “I’m ready to… clean some dishes… for you.” 

“Fantastic, Oink. Let me help Ivy get ready and then please clean these dishes.” 

“Great… thank you… Fox.” 

“My pleasure,” he said and she set the sponge down as she looked at him with a smile. She crooked her finger at him and he bent his head closer to her with his eyebrows raised. 

“I like when you’re silly with me,” she whispered in his ear and he drew in a deep breath, his heart suddenly racing. 

“I like being silly with you,” he whispered back and she wrapped her arms around his neck. He hugged her back, swallowing hard. 

“Okay,” he said, pulling back and clearing his throat, hoping to once again cover his emotions. “Let’s get you ready to help Oink get the dishes clean.” 

“Okay.” 

He took off her bracelets and laid them on the opposite counter then rolled up her sleeves so they would not get wet. 

Well… hopefully not too much anyway. 

Dana walked into the kitchen, throwing away the paper towels she had used to wipe the table, and smiled at the sight of them as her eyes landed on the sponge. 

“What’s this?” she asked, laughing as she picked it up and looked at it. 

“That’s Oink, Mommy. She’s going to help me wash the dishes.” 

“Oh, nice to meet you, Oink.” She smiled at Fox and he smiled with a shrug. 

“My sister sent me a bag of funny sponges. Oink was the next to be chosen. Okay! I think you’re ready, Ivy,” he said and she nodded, her expression suddenly serious. 

“May I have Oink please, Mommy?” 

“Of course,” she said, handing it to her, and rubbing her back gently. 

“Hang on one second,” Fox said as he removed his borrowed bracelets and then his sweater, leaving him in a dark gray t-shirt. “Okay, let’s do this.” 

He put the plates gently into the sink and showed Ivy how to wash them, helping her to hold them when they became too slippery. 

“Oink, you’re doing a great job getting these dirty dishes clean. Thank you so much,” Fox said. 

Ivy lifted the bubble covered sponge and snorted it at him, water pouring down over the counter, the chair, and onto the floor. 

“Oh, Oink,” Fox laughed, gripping the sponge and redirecting it to the sink. 

“I’m sorry,” Ivy said softly, looking down at the sink. He rubbed her back and hummed softly. 

“It’s just water. Don’t worry about it. I’ll clean it up in a bit.” She nodded and he added all of the silverware to the sink, except for the knives. 

“Anything else I can do?” Dana asked and Fox turned around as she put the last lid on the containers of leftovers and stacked it with the others. “Could I dry the dishes you’ve washed?” 

“Nah, that’s okay. It’s not too many and they can sit overnight.” 

“Okay. I’ll put these in the refrigerator and then-”

“Mommy, my clothes are wet.” 

“Oh, that’s okay. I have extras for you. Are you done helping with the dishes?” 

“Not yet. I want to wash the forks and spoons.” 

“Okay. Well, when you’re done we can change your clothes.” 

“Okay, Mommy.” 

Dana smiled at Fox, picked up the containers, and began putting them into the refrigerator. He watched her, once again feeling the longing for a family in his life. She caught his eye and tilted her head, furrowing her brow in a silent question. He shook his head and smiled, turning his attention back to Ivy, not daring to voice his thoughts.

“Eat your food, Oink,” Ivy said, holding a fork full of bubbles to Oink's smiling mouth and snorting as the pig ate them messily and then she dropped the fork back into the water. 

A few more minutes and Ivy stated she was done. She shook her dripping hands and bubbles flew everywhere. Fox laughed as he grabbed a towel and dried her hands. 

“Yeah, I’d say you definitely need a change of clothes,” he said, looking at her very wet shirt. 

“Let’s go to the bathroom, honey. Come on,” Dana said. 

Fox helped Ivy down from the chair and she followed Dana out of the kitchen. Dana grabbed her backpack and they walked to the bathroom, talking about how fun it had been to wash the dishes. 

Fox wiped off and then moved the chair, wiping the floor next. He took the ice cream from the freezer, removed the plastic around it, and set it on the bar top to soften a bit as he quickly finished the remaining dishes. 

He heard them laughing as he took out the ice cream bowls, the scooper, and three spoons, which he laid on a paper towel as he waited for them to rejoin him. 

The bathroom door opened and Ivy came bouncing out in a pair of pink unicorn and rainbow pajamas and fuzzy blue socks. She stopped short at the sight of the ice cream, grinning as she climbed onto the stool. 

“It’s time for ice cream?” 

“Absolutely,” he replied, opening the lid and letting her see it, before pulling it toward him and picking up the scooper. “How many scoops?” 

“Ummm…” She looked at Dana who smiled as she set down the backpack. 

“How about two scoops?” 

“Two scoops, please,” Ivy said, looking back at him with a grin. 

“Two heaping scoops coming up,” he said, starting to scoop and build a large mound of ice cream. 

“What’s that mean?” 

“It means…” he said, placing the first large scoop in the bowl and quickly adding the next. “… more than the scooper allows.” He set the bowl down in front of Ivy, the two scoops looking more like four and her eyes widened at the sight of them. 

“Wow…” she whispered and he smiled as he handed her a spoon. 

“That’s two scoops, huh?” Dana asked, looking in Ivy’s bowl and then looking at him with her eyebrows raised. 

“Yup,” he said, popping the p for emphasis. “I worked at an ice cream shop one summer when I was in high school. I know how to make the best scoops.” 

“Giving them more than what they asked for?” Dana teased. 

“Uh… yeah,” he said. “That’s how you get repeat business.” She laughed and he smiled at her. 

“How many scoops would you like? I also have cookies and cream, if you would prefer that flavor.” She scrunched up her face and he knitted his eyebrows together. “You don’t like that kind?” 

“Oh, no. I do,” she said with a nod. “I just… I’ve kind of developed a taste for this flavor, even though it’s for kids.” 

“Psssh,” he said, waving a hand at her. “Ice cream flavors are for everyone to enjoy. So how many scoops?” 

“Two, please. But not two like Ivy’s two scoops. I think it’s too much for me.” 

“Nope, sorry. We only do big scoops in this house.” He shook his head and scooped up a large mound, placing it into the bowl. 

“One scoop is good!” Dana said with a laugh. 

“You sure?” he asked, adding a little bit more. “Maybe just half a scoop.” He added a bit more again and they both laughed, Ivy with pink and blue ice cream on her lips. 

“That’s enough! Oh my goodness,” Dana said, shaking her head at him and he laughed softly. Putting a spoon in the bowl, he handed it to her. 

“Now for mine. I’m gonna have two scoops too.” He filled his bowl and covered the ice cream container, placing it back into the freezer. Adding his spoon to the bowl, he walked out of the kitchen, taking a bite as he did. 

It was sweeter than he expected and definitely not a flavor he would normally choose, but it was not terrible. Taking another bite, he suppressed a shiver at the shock of the sugary taste. 

“How about a movie? Come on, let’s sit down.” He started for the couch, but Dana stopped him. 

“We can eat here. I don’t want an accidental spill to happen.” He looked at her and she cut her eyes to Ivy then back to him. “I wouldn’t want to drop any onto your couch.” 

He smiled at her, placing any blame of possible accidents onto herself. Shaking his head, he took another bite. 

“I’m not worried about it.” 

“But-” Dana began and he shook his head again, telling her with his eyes that it was fine. She drew in a breath and nodded. 

“Come on. Ivy, you can choose.” 

“Yay!” she said as she slid off the seat and Dana carried her bowl over for her as Fox turned off the music that had been playing. 

They sat on the couch with Ivy at the coffee table sitting on her knees, her bowl of ice cream before her. She chose a movie fairly quickly and soon she was giggling at the characters. 

Fox glanced at Dana and watched her watching the movie. She turned her head and smiled at him and he smiled back. 

“Thank you for dinner tonight. For dessert. For the evening,” she said quietly and he nodded. 

“Thank you for coming,” he said and she nodded, her attention returning to the movie. 

He tried to finish his ice cream, but it was simply too sweet for him. He held the bowl in his hands however, until Ivy and Dana were finished and he offered to take their bowls to the kitchen. 

Feeling thirsty, he brought out glasses of water for everyone and sat back down on the couch. Ivy was lying beside Dana, her head on a pillow resting against her thigh. Dana ran her hand slowly up and down Ivy’s back as they watched the movie. 

Deep breathing could soon be heard and Dana laughed softly. 

“I knew she wouldn’t last too long,” she said quietly, her hand still rubbing Ivy’s back. “It’s been a long week and Friday’s she usually fades fast. It’s funny that the rest of the week I’m usually on her to get to bed and on Friday she falls asleep on the couch or she puts herself to bed. Although, not too surprising considering I’m equally as tired by the end of the week. So…” 

“Yeah,” he said, nodding as he watched them, admiring Dana’s slender fingers. “That’s why you put her in her pajamas?” 

“Hmm, yeah. Makes it easier once we’re home.” 

“Smart,” he said, suddenly feeling nervous that she may leave soon.  “Would you like some more wine?” 

“Oh, I probably shouldn’t. Need to get this one home soon.” She smiled at him and he sighed with another nod. 

“Would you… would you mind staying a bit? I uh…” He looked down at his lap and licked his lips. “… there is something I wanted to tell you. To…” He looked up and she was staring at him, her hand still in its movement. “Could you stay?” 

She searched his eyes and he held his breath, hoping she would say yes. Letting out a breath, she nodded and he swallowed as he did the same and stood up, turning off the television. 

“Will she be okay there? I could put her on the guest bed?” 

“No, she’s okay. Maybe just a blanket?” 

“Yeah. Yeah, of course.” He hurried from the room to get a blanket and take a moment to steel himself. 

Letting out a deep breath, he walked back to the living room, ready to take Samantha’s advice and tell Dana everything he had been holding back. 

[taran-chan]

Let’s goooo :D

A Thenamesh AU where Thena sees Gil with a bare torso for the first time. I mean those muscles right? Pretty sure you will write something funny yet sexy 😂

not exactly an AU but i think it fits with their very early days 🫶 I've never quite tried my hand on the canon thing but as long as it's not angsty i can get down with it.

[howifeltabouthim]

. . . to find a person inexhaustible is simply the definition of love.

Iris Murdoch, from Under the Net

[muneonim]

Happy Lunar New Year~!!

Satosugu putting mascara on Sugugu’s rainbow dragon (it was Satoru’s idea) 🥺

[sofiaruelle]

Another commission for the lovely, @flowerandthesongstress of Sam, Sebastian and Abigail enjoying the afternoon sun.

The companion piece.

my commissions are Open!

[kaban-bang]

[ruporas]

bound to want (part two) /// part one rest of pages under READ MORE after ID

[ID: 23 page digital comic of Vashwood from Trigun Maximum. The comic is in a limited palette of a dark blue, light pink, white, black, and a light beige color for Vash's skin and a mid-brown color for Wolfwood's. This comic is the second part to "Bound to Want" and is spoiler-free. The first part is linked here.

It begins with a panel close up of Vash's expressions. The sky colored in dark blue can be seen behind him. He has a neutral expression, but he holds a slight frown and the reflection of his glasses covers one side of his eyes. Wolfwood says, "Hey. What's with the distance?" In the second panel, the shot widens to show both of them, a clear physical distance separating them with Wolfwood walking ahead and Vash trailing a little behind. Vash responds, "What? I'm just walking a bit slower today..." Wolfwood looks at him with a an irritated expression, clicking his tongue. Wolfwood says, "I was going to wait for you to start... But yer just running away away."

Vash is seen looking away, unable to hold eye contact with Wolfwood as he continues, "You've been avoiding me since that night. Did ya think I wouldn't notice? It's about that dream, right? Tell me about it already if you're going to be moping like this." Vash looks slightly downwards, his brows furrowing and he starts to walk ahead of Wolfwood without looking at him and responds stiffly, "I really don't want to talk about it..." Wolfwood looks at him with a surprised expression, but doesn't probe.

A panel close up to Wolfwood's eyes as he watches Vash go on ahead before he follows suite with an irritated sigh. The panels are overlapped by Wolfwood's hand holding the bottle of the Bride with motion lines, indicating a transition in time.

A wide shot of Vash and Wolfwood in a room now. Vash is seated, his back turned away from the viewer, while Wolfwood's body faces the viewer with his eyes looking towards Vash. He rests the bottle of the Bride on the table with a "clack" and his other hand holds two shotglasses. The background is coated in a light pink.

A panel shows a close up of Wolfwood's face, his eyes looking downwards to Vash as he says, "Let's drink." Next to this panel is Vash looking up at Wolfwood, his brows furrowed and a slight frown. The bottom half of the page is a wider shot with Vash's body turned away from the viewer as he says, "I'm not going to talk about it." Wolfwood responds, "You don't have to." as he sits down.

A wide panel of Wolfwood holding the shotglass, pouring in the drink as he continues, "I'll talk." The next panel is a profile view of Wolfwood, his eyes looking down at the now filled shotglass as he continues to say, "You're..."

"... upset with me." Vash can be seen next to this speech bubble with narrowed eyes, looking towards Wolfwood. The panels are all coated in with a dark blue background. Wolfwood continues, "I can't be certain why since yer not telling me a thing -- but it's probably... my bad." The panels show Wolfwood about to bring the shotglass to his mouth but he turns way as he continued to speak, his eyes not on Vash. The bottom page shows him looking away completely with a guilty expression as he says, "I'm sorry.

If you can ever tell me why, I can try and adjust to make it more bearable. But if you're just trying to get rid of me--" The panels follow Wolfwood's certain expression as he says this, "I don't intend to leave you. I can't... and I won't." A panel shows Vash's wide-eyed expression, surprised upon hearing this, and then his eyes soften as Wolfwood again concludes with, "I'm sorry."

Vash's inner thoughts begins, a boxed speech at the center of the page and panels of his eyes, his brows furrowing again and a resigned, but frustrated expression. His thoughts starts, "Stop. I shouldn't be happy hearing that. And why are you apologizing? I should be the one to..! I can't let anything like that happen to you. You deserve to live a long steady and peaceful life. I want to be optimistic. I want to protect you, but I might end up doing the opposite." The text surrounds Wolfwood from Vash's perspective, the other man drinking out of his shotglass, his eyes downcasted.

"I shouldn't have you. And you won't leave." Behind these text is a panel of Wolfwood's eyes finally looking over to Vash. Vash's thoughts continues,  "It's so unfair." When Wolfwood sees Vash, his eyes soften and he frowns. The last panel shows the lower half of Vash's face, but tears begins to flow down his cheek. Wolfwood's hand is already reaching to wipe at them as he starts to say, "You know..."

A wider shot of Vash and Wolfwood, Vash slightly leaning forward with his mouth tightly shut, and tears steadily continuing to flow out of his closed eyes. Wolfwood continues to wipe at them with his hand as he continues, "This isn't a dream anymore. I don't know what you saw for you to be this shaken up, but whatever happened, you'll overcome it, right? If not you, I'm here too. You'll be okay, Spikey. So..." Wolfwood's expression grows more tender, "Have a little faith in me... and come back already." The dark blue starts to fade.

The wide panel has the dark blue background faded and replaced is the light pink. It shows Vash in full up to his shoulders, his eyes are still tears littered, but there's light in them as he says, "Wolfwood..." making eye contact with the other. The next panel shows Wolfwood's tender expression, his eyes and brows fully soften and he has a small smile on his lips, finally seeing the other return a level of sincerity with him.

The next panel shows the bottom half of Wolfwood's face and his hand is offered towards Vash for a dance as he says, "C'mon. We don't have to talk, but this is okay, right?" The background is now white and a ribbon flowing across the page separates this panel from the next sequence. Vash's inner thoughts continus, "I've spent too long avoiding this. It's scary to want after I've taken so much from others." A sequence close up of their hands is shown, with Wolfwood's outstretched hand on the right and Vash's reaching hand on the left. Vash gently places his hand in Wolfwood and at the bottom, Wolfwood wraps his fingers across Vash's.

Throughout the page, a dark blue ribbon starts to flow around the both of them with confetti raining alongside the effect. Vash and Wolfwood are hand and hand, dancing together with Wolfwood as the lead. The viewer can see a peak of Vash's expression, full of fondness but also a hint of sorrow as he looks down at Wolfwood. His inner thoughts continue, "I don't deserve this. I don't deserve you. But why is that even though I have these burdens, I still want to love you. I still want you to be by my side."

With a close up of their mouths, Vash's thoughts continue, the text covering his mouth, "Wolfwood, I--" Wolfwood's speech bubble covers Vash's text as he completes his sentence, "want you." Vash's eyes widen for one panel and in the next, his eyes spark, a blush appearing on his cheek and the confetti flows and spark. Tears ease up on his eyes again.

"Want me too already, Spikey." Wolfwood has leaned in enough to rest his head against Vash, a hand of his on Vash's neck, holding his nape and another hand pressed gently against his back. A ribbon separates this panel from the next, a mix of confetti flows across the page, as Vash envelopes Wolfwood in a hug too, holding him and his hand gripping tightly onto his back.

This page is just the ribbon flowly throughout the page on the white background, one white ribbon and the other a dark blue. Near the bottom, the ribbon envelopes each other in a loop. A conversation of Vash and Wolfwood is held over these ribbons, Vash starting to say, "What if I hurt you? What if you..?" Wolfwood responds, "You? How could you hurt me?" Vash, "You know what I mean... You see it everyday..." Wolfwood responds, "If you think I'm going to kick the bucket so easily, I suggest you look at me more closely from now on, idiot. I'm not that easy to get rid of."

The next page has the ribbon criss cross over the top of the page. Vash and Wolfwood can be seen in their dancing position again, Wolfwood now resting a hand on Vash's shoulder, as Vash takes the lead. Vash continues, "Well, I know that... I tried." Wolfwood responds, "But you won't anymore... since you want me... around, yeah?" Wolfwood's head cocks to the side, smiling with assurance, cheeks flushed. Vash looks at him with a wide smile and fond, loving eyes. The confetti flows across the bottom of this page and as it eases into the next page, it starts to disappear.

Vash responds, ".. Yeah... I do..." as he pulls Wolfwood into a hug again. Wolfwood says, "Not going to run away anymore, are you?" Vash says, "No... I trust you." A panel shows Wolfwood's turning away slightly with a shy expression, muttering "Geez..."

In a more simplified style, Wolfwood is seen gripping Vash's cheeks now with his hand, "Though... You do remember you avoided me for two weeks straight, right? How are you going to make that up to me?" Wolfwood asks. Vash responds with eyes closed and a pucker of his lips. A vein of irritation appears on Wolfwood's face. Wolfwood starts to squeeze at Vash's cheek with both hands, shouting, "Now that you've recovered, you're trying to be funny, huh?!" Vash says through the squished cheeks, "I'm just happy..."

The next page opens with a closed up panel of Vash's widen eye as Wolfwood's hand moves from squishing his cheeks to gently holding them and Wolfwood leans in. The inner thoughts starts again, "There's a chance I'm not making the right choice... My dreams, my fears of losing you, it will never go away. But you said you won't let it happen... And I want to hang onto your words closely this time. After all, if it's anyone who can make me believe, it's you."  The white ribbon from previous pages flows across the page and it visibly ends at the bottom of the page, enclosing the two of them as they share a gentle kiss with Vash holding Wolfwood's face, a tear in his eye.

The next pages starts with Wolfwood saying, "You cryin' again?" Vash responds, "I'm just grateful..." Wolfwood responds, "But you've always had me." Vash responds, "Being like this is different from staring at you from behind all the time though..." The two can be seen together again, Wolfwood pressing his elbows against the table with Vash leaning over him. Wolfwood is easing the tears out of Vash's eye again, just like earlier. A close panel of Vash's fond expression is seen as he says, "Thank you, Wolfwood." Wolfwood looks up at him with a small smile, gentle eyes. Confetti starts to flow lightly across the page as text starts to appear against the white background, "I'm the one who's grateful...

That you'd embrace someone like me, when I'm not fit to hold you in the first place... But I know better than to hesitate. The moment I acknowledged it, I knew I'd spend the rest of my life loving you. So, have as much of me as you want, Vash."

The final page shows the confetti gently falling down the page and at the bottom shows Vash and Wolfwood pressing their foreheads together, Wolfwood's hands cupping the side of Vash's face gently, and both of them smiling brightly with each other. ID END]

[cemeterything]

my feelings on romance really aren't complex tbh. i enjoy making meaningful and long lasting connections with people and i've definitely loved some of them in ways that wouldn't be considered platonic by an outside observer, but when it comes to the concept of "romance" and romantic relationships i'm just like

[marlshroom]

i need tome onigawara friend content please

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

Thank you all for voting in the poll to decide who was going to be the leader of the band! It turned out to be such a close race!

[atths--twice]

Chapter Seven

Leaving for the weekend, Dana and Fox exchange phone numbers so they can stay in touch while she's gone.

“What time is your train?” Fox asked Dana the next morning as she refreshed his coffee. 

“Six. Which gives me enough time to go home, shower, throw some things in a bag and head to the station,” she answered, smiling at him. “I can’t wait to see Ivy.” 

“I’m sure she’s just as excited to see you. I’m sure she’s missed you too.” 

“Yeah,” she nodded. “If you need anything, let me know. I’ve got a couple of tables stacked up.” 

“It’s Friday,” he said, knowing it was usually busier at the end of the week. “And the snow you wished for stuck around a bit, making everyone want to be in where it’s warm.” 

“True,” she said with a smile, glancing outside to the few inches of snow on the ground. “It’s so pretty.” 

“Yeah,” he said, looking at her. “Yeah it is.” 

She let out a breath and touched his shoulder, unaware of to whom his compliment was directed. 

“Let me know if you need anything,” she said and walked away, his eyes following her across the diner. 

He got lost writing what was supposed to be a short story, about a little girl playing in the snow as her mother looked on from the porch, when Dana walked up to his table and set down a tray. 

“You didn’t eat lunch and I was too busy to notice. I had Manny make you a sandwich and got you a bowl of the tomato soup we had the other day. I have to leave now, but wanted to make sure you had something before I left.” 

“Wow. I didn’t realize it was time already. The day has flown by,” he said, closing his laptop and moving it to the side. 

“Yeah, I have to go, but I wanted to bring this to you,” she said as he stood up, smiling at her. 

“Thank you, I appreciate it. Please tell Ivy I look forward to seeing her and Princess Pandy again soon.” 

“I will,” she said with a small chuckle. “I’ll see you on Monday.” 

“Yeah, Monday. Be safe.” he said. 

“Oh, that reminds me,” she said, taking her phone from her pocket. “I don’t have your number. Haven’t really needed it, but I was thinking… it would be-”

“256-7891, this area code,” he said quickly and she stared, before smiling with a nod. 

“One more time,” she said, opening her contacts app and waiting for him to repeat it. She typed it in when he did and he smiled as he saw and heard his phone beep a second later. “That’s from me. Now you have my number too.” 

“Good,” he nodded. “You better get going.” 

“Yeah.” She put her phone in her pocket and bit her bottom lip, staring into his eyes. “Bye.” He hummed and smiled with another nod. 

She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his waist, holding him close. He closed his eyes as he hugged her back, his cheek resting on her head as he breathed in the scent of her hair. 

“Stay away from the spice cupboard,” she whispered and he laughed. 

“I’ll try,” he whispered back and she laughed. Pulling apart, she smiled and exhaled.

“Bye.” 

“Bye.” 

She stepped back, gripping his hand and squeezing once before she turned and walked away, calling goodbye to the others in the diner. They waved, returning the farewell, and she looked at him one last time as she walked out the door. 

He waved and smiled, sitting down when she was out of sight. Picking up his phone, he opened her message. 

Hello. 😊

A simple short message, but it made him grin. He texted back quickly, despite the fact that he knew he did not exactly need to do it. 

Hello. 😊 Hurry, White Rabbit, you’re going to be late. 

He created a new contact as he awaited her reply, clicking out of the app and the phone itself, wanting to see the message arrive in his lock screen. 

She did not keep him waiting long and he grinned at the sight of the notification from My friend, Dana. 

If I’m anyone, I’m Alice, thank you very much. 

He unlocked his phone and typed back a message. 

Don’t forget your treats, Alice. Have fun and talk soon. 

He watched the three dots, knowing he must look like an absolute idiot with the goofy grin on his face, but he did not care. 

Not a chance, she wrote, also sending a gif of Alice taking a treat from a bowl and then another of her falling down the rabbit hole with a wave, the text of the word goodbye written on it. 

Goodbye, he replied and smiled as he locked his phone. Setting it to the side, he reached for the tray of food she had brought him, his stomach growling loudly. 

____________________

Safely on the train and the only person sitting in this particular area. Should be there in a couple of hours. 

Good. 

I’ve brought Ella’s book, so I’m going to lose myself in the story and her wonderful words. I’ll talk to you later. 

Okay. Have fun reading. 😊

He smiled as he set his phone down and then he sighed as he looked around. She was never at the diner this late, her shift ending every day at three, but it felt empty without her. 

Debating whether he wanted to wait for the usual Friday night crowd or head home, he decided to leave and take a walk before going home. The snow was nearly gone, but the air was crisp and he found it stimulating to his imagination. 

Packing up and saying goodbye, he left the diner and walked around the city. He found it odd that he was feeling lonely, when he was alone most evenings. But, being with Dana the past few nights, it felt strange to be by himself as he walked around. 

Stopping at a twenty four hour bakery, he bought food for the weekend: a couple croissants, a cinnamon roll, and a baguette. Next door was a deli and he bought some ham, cheese, and chips. Back out in the cold, he walked home, arriving just before snowflakes began to fall again.  

Putting away his items, he went and stood on the balcony, watching the snow falling silently. Last night Dana had been standing where he was and tonight he was alone. 

God, he missed her. 

“Come on man,” he said to himself. “You wouldn’t have seen her tonight anyway.” He sighed and shook his head. “No… but it’s amazing how much can change in a few days.” 

Sighing again, he headed inside and poured himself a glass of wine. He took a quick shower and put on his pajamas, suddenly feeling very tired. 

Taking his glass to the couch, he sat down and turned on the television. Zoning out to whatever was on, he nodded off, waking to the sound of his phone beeping. 

He shook his head and stood up, stretching and stumbling to the table and reaching into his coat pocket. Smiling when he saw there were five missed messages from Dana, he walked back to the couch as he began to read them. 

It’s starting to snow again. 🥰

This book is so good. I’ve gone through a range of emotions as I read it. The story is a favorite of course, but the words Ella’s added… I’ve laughed over them and just had to take a break because I started to cry. It’s so silly, but it just hit me that she’s been dead a long while, yet her words and her handwriting is here for me to read. She’s ALIVE, but she’s also not. I don’t know why, but it just made me catch my breath and I had to close the book and set it beside me. I think you would understand how I feel more than anyone, words being your livelihood. I feel silly crying over it, but it’s also so beautiful, you know? Something preserved in a book forever… 

He read the message twice, taking deep breaths at the beauty and honesty of her words, understanding completely what she meant. 

I have about forty five minutes left. Do you think I have time to go to the food car and get some wine? 

He laughed, picturing her face as she tried to work out if she had the time. 

Nah, best to leave it. I know my sister will have some in her cellar. Well, her wine fridge. We all call it that to tease her as the wine fridge is quite large. (She and her husband are wine enthusiasts, I don’t want you to think they’re lushes or something.) 

He laughed again and shook his head, missing her even more. 

Fifteen minutes… you wanna play a game with me? A riddle game? 

“Two minutes ago,” he muttered, checking the time she had sent the last message, and quickly typed one back. 

Sorry, I must have dozed off. I didn’t hear the phone. It’s snowing here too, I’m sure it’s the beginning of the storm they were talking about. Hopefully you’ll have some there to play in this weekend. Sure! I love riddles. I’m ready. 

Pressing send, he waited, watching her response begin almost immediately. Smiling, he sat back on the couch and took a sip of wine. 

Okay, this one may be too easy but… 

What can run, but not walk? 

(No cheating and looking it up either.)

I wouldn’t dream of it, he wrote back and thought about the riddle. 

“Run but can’t walk… what runs? Hmmm… ohhh.” 

A nose, he sent back, smiling happily, knowing he got it right. 

😂😂😂 Good answer, but no.

That SHOULD be the answer. I petition for the court to allow it. 

Court says no. 

He laughed and thought about it some more. 

Water. 

Oohhh. Court’s gonna allow this one as you were so close. The answer was a river. 

Oh yeah. That’s close enough. 

Now you go. 

He hummed as he thought of one of his favorites and he smiled as he began to type. 

A person lives on the top floor of a building. Every morning, they take the elevator to the lobby and walk out the door. When they come home, they ride the elevator to the 16th floor, get out, and walk the remaining six flights of stairs. They do this every day, except on days when it rains, when they ride all the way to the 22nd floor. Why?  

Sending it, he smiled again, his chin on his hand. 

Geez… I sent you a sentence and I get that in return? Okay, let me think… 

No cheating. 

How dare you… 

He laughed and took another drink before again resting his chin in his hand.

Why is the mention of the rain important? 

It’s just part of the riddle. 

It’s confusing.

That’s why it’s a riddle. It’s riddling. 

You’re hilarious. 

You give up? 

Hardly. Just let me think a minute. 

He smiled and let out a breath, finding her even more intriguing and fun, words and the lack of being face to face sometimes making people feel bolder. 

They live on the 22nd floor, but only ride up to 16…. walk the rest of the way…. they want to get their steps in? 

But not on rainy days? 

The stairs are on the outside of the building and they don’t want to slip! Ha! Solved it! 

Nope. Nowhere near. 

Shit… 

He laughed out loud and leaned back, putting his feet on the coffee table. 

I hate that I can’t get it. I’m not admitting defeat. OR giving up… but… 

But you are. You just won’t say. 

…

You want the answer? 

… sigh… hmmmm FINE! 

Okay. The person who lives in the building is an older child. They take the elevator to the lobby to go to school every morning. They are on the shorter side and can’t reach the button for the 22nd floor, so they press as high as they can reach, which is 16. They walk the rest of the way because they must. On rainy days, they have an umbrella and they use the end of it to press number 22, so they do not need to walk up the stairs. 

Pressing send, he smiled, awaiting her response. Three dots popped up and stayed for a while. 

“Oh…” he said with a soft chuckle. “This should be good. Oh here we go…” 

That riddle has too many plot holes. What parent sends their child out alone? What if something happened to them? They can’t reach the button? Why don’t they just always carry the umbrella with them? Don’t you think if a child knew they wouldn’t have to walk up the stairs, they would devise something to help them and keep it with them? Like a folding… I don’t know… an apparatus of some kind? 

An apparatus? He typed back, laughing and shaking his head. 

Yeah. Something they could fold up and yet was strong enough to push a button when needed? 

Like a tent pole? 

Exactly! You get it. 

Mmmhmm 

It was a silly riddle. 

Only because you couldn’t get it. 

Hmm…

He smiled and watched the dots going again. 

I’m nearly at the station now. Thanks for the distraction, even if that riddle had more holes than Swiss cheese. I need to put my stuff away and get ready to go. 

Okay. And I think my riddle was fine. 

I repeat my previous text: hmm…

Have fun and don’t forget to tell Ivy hello from me. 

I won’t. 

Oh, I wanted to say something about your message regarding the story and Ella’s words… I don’t think you’re silly or strange for being affected by them. I told you that’s what I enjoyed about reading your books and it’s why I took you to the bookshop. I wanted you to see the beauty in what others have written over the years and Ella’s books have always been my favorite. I knew you would like them. The power of words is amazing. The ability to bring up emotions we may not have known were even inside of us… it’s beautiful. Keep reading and letting yourself feel the emotions from it. 

He sent the message and stared at his phone, his heart racing. Was it too much or would she understand? 

Dots appeared then disappeared. He drew in a breath as they appeared again, disappeared, and then nothing. Wishing he could take back his message, he was about to write something funny to break up the awkwardness when her message came in. 

Thank you, Fox. 

It was short, but having seen her message bubble coming and going, he knew she had been struggling with the words she wanted to say. 

I’m here now. 

Okay. Good. Stay warm and safe in the snow. It’s really starting to come down. 

I will. Goodnight, Fox. 

Goodnight, Dana. 

He put his phone down, let out a deep breath as he crossed his arms, and closed his eyes. He hoped she had a good time with her family, Ivy no doubt overly excited to see her, wanting to tell her everything she had done the past few days. 

Turning off the television, he wrapped a blanket around him, grabbed his phone and went out onto the balcony. He sat out there watching the snow falling for awhile, until he was too cold and he went back inside. 

Taking another shower to warm up, he got dressed and into bed, picking up a book he was reading. Unable to concentrate, and feeling overwhelmingly tired, he decided to go to sleep early. 

Setting the book onto the nightstand, he turned out the light and laid down, closing his eyes. 

A buzzing sound from his charging phone forced his eyes open. Reaching for his phone, he opened the message to see a selfie of Dana and Ivy squished together, Pandy held between them, as they smiled happily. 

He smiled and stared at the picture. Though Ivy’s hair was slightly darker, she was nearly Dana’s copy, right down to the small mole above her lip. 

Happy to see you two together again. Have a fun weekend. 

A heart appeared above his message and he smiled. No further message came in and he left the message app, clicked the side of his phone and set it on the nightstand. 

Closing his eyes, he smiled. Turning over, he was soon asleep, dreaming of snow falling and the sound of Dana’s laughter. 

[knife-filled-plushies]

i love these two so i decided to doodle them hsjfhskfj

tiny bit of style experimentation

[painmiau]

my contribution to the crackship that has taken over me (if any besties see this then... teehee :3)

[dirty-trash-mongrel]

love me some dead girls