#I prompted myself and that counts

[jmflowers]

prompt #32: make that scene make sense in the episode

Blindfold

“Agh,” Maya hisses, pulling away quickly with her eyes shut tight.

Three times now, Carina’s tried to lean in for an innocent kiss and three times now, there’s been a box of pastries or a Liam or a fucking breeze that’s gotten in the way.

Three fucking times since she’s gotten home.

And it really just makes Maya want to scream.

“I’m sorry, bambina,” Carina whispers, stepping away, “What can I do?”

Detach my boobs, Maya wants to say, Take all these hormones out of my body.

Rip my fucking clothes off.

She opens her eyes instead, willing herself not to cry with frustration. There’ve been enough tears for today.

Enough tears for a lifetime.

“My entire body feels like it’s on fire,” she confesses, sucking in a wavering breath.

Carina nods, understanding.

Always so understanding.

“It will be worth it tomorrow,” she promises, inching closer without touching, “And then you will start to feel better.”

“Because it’ll be your turn to feel crappy.”

Carina shrugs, unperturbed. “We’re making a baby.”

The tears start to pool in Maya’s eyes again, betraying her. “I wish this was more romantic,” she whispers, slipping her fingers between Carina’s.

“This isn’t romantic?” Carina smirks, her eyebrow quirking. “I find it very romantic that your nipples are exploding.”

Despite herself, Maya laughs. “Shut up.”

“We could make it more romantic,” Carina suggests, waving the baby monitor in her left hand like it’s a prize they’ve won: Liam sound asleep in his crib. “Hop up on the counter.”

Maya frowns, confused.

“If you are higher,” Carina explains, pushing at Maya’s hips to ease her backwards, “I can kiss you without touching your exploding nipples.”

“You’re going to make me regret using that analogy, aren’t you?” Maya mutters, hopping up onto the thin bit of counter not already dedicated to sink space or the toaster or drying dishes.

God, they really need to renovate.

She tries not to wince as her body settles again, leaning against the cabinet doors.

Carina grins, backing away with a glint in her eye. “Un secondo,” she promises, holding up a finger as she disappears into the dining room.  

“I thought you were going to kiss me,” Maya calls after her, spreading her legs in a hopeful invitation.

“I am,” Carina teases as she reappears in the doorway, sliding a strip of fabric between her fingers. “Your body is on fire, no?” she asks as she saunters closer.

Maya swallows roughly, watching.

Knowing that look on her wife’s face.

Rip my fucking clothes off, her insides scream again.

Carina smirks. “Tell me our safe word,” she instructs, already in charge.

Already lighting a fire low in Maya’s belly.

Because there is love here, burning between them – love and consent and affection. Carina knows how the blindfold can heighten all the other senses. How it helps Maya to relax, to feel more present in her body.

How fucking hot she finds it.

Maya does as she is told, whispering the word as she leans forward, allowing Carina to tie the soft fabric around her eyes. Allowing Carina to take full control.

“Stay here,” Carina commands.

Maya waits, listening intently as Carina’s feet pad across the kitchen floor. As the cardboard pastry box is opened once more.

She waits, until she feels the warmth of Carina slipping between her legs, the smell of her perfume and the faint sweetness of donuts wafting in between them.

Until Carina leans closer, her nose brushing against Maya’s own.

Maya opens her mouth, desperate for the kiss she’s been waiting hours for.

Instead, she feels Carina’s finger slip past her lips, tasting of cream filling. She opens her mouth wider, feeling Carina’s breath on her tongue.

Carina, and the taste she’s actually craving.

“Lick,” Carina orders.

Maya closes her mouth dutifully, sucking the custard from Carina’s slender finger. Her hand sneaks around Carina’s back, sliding down to find purchase on her ass.

She grins when Carina gasps at the contact, taking it as an opportunity to seek out Carina’s mouth once more. Carina’s beautiful, delicious mouth.

Maya only manages to dip her tongue behind Carina’s teeth before she’s slipping away again, giggling as she drifts to the end of Maya’s fingers.

“Where are you going now?” Maya calls after her.

“Be good,” Carina chuckles instead of answering.

The fridge opens across the room and Maya does know, then, where Carina is going. Knows exactly what path Carina intends to take them down this evening.

She pries the blindfold from her head, slipping off the counter as quickly as she can manage. Grinning, as she disobeys.

Somehow, it’s fast enough to surprise Carina before she can lean inside the fridge for the chocolate sauce or the strawberries or whatever else is on her menu.

“No more food,” Maya mutters, pushing the door closed as she eases Carina back against the sink. “I only want to taste you.”

[lurking-loaf]

It's essential to teach them color theory when they're young so they understand how to mix colors. How else will you get art that's good enough for the fridge?

Day 6 of DCA Promptober - hues plus bonus animation of Sun imitating the Mac's wait cursor aka the Spinning Beach Ball of Doom

[pokeberry5]

Stray Tim please 🙏

Goggles!!

[maulfucker]

So fucked up that obimaul is a rarepair. What do you mean not everyone is obsessed with enemies to lovers with a Force connection, where one side is completely obsessed with the other who barely acknowledges him (but is just as affected)

[dansconcepts]

Loveybug: I'm in love with you!

Chat Noir: No you aren't!

Loveybug: Yes I am! Why won't you believe me?!

Chat Noir: BECAUSE NO ONE DOES!

Loveybug: ...

Loveybug: ...W-What?

Chat Noir: Nobody loves me. Not Ladybug, not the team, not my friends, not even my damn family. Nobody loves Chat Noir.

Loveybug: stunned into silence

[stormikitty]

I desperately need to see pictures of Danny and Damian enjoying childish things with a caption like "let your inner child heal" or the quote from Jazz's bumper sticker, "have you hugged your inner child today?", or something like that. I need to see them surrounded by squish mallows and a Stitch plushie and watching cartoons and making a pillow fort and stuff like that.

[sweetvalentinescandy]

struggled a lot with tweeks pose unfortunately. love how kenny turned out!! if only it was their week but its NOT!!!

[kitsunesakii]

Two is Better than one

I went wild with this one :D

Chapter six

Sasha entered her apartment with the quiet click of the front door. She tossed her backpack onto the chair in the kitchen and started a cup of tea. A clatter from the adjacent room caught her attention. She frowned slightly before peeking her head into the other room.

It took her a moment to process the scene before her eyes.

Micheal was sitting on her living room floor, long fingers carefully curling through the fur of a content cat purring below him. She noted a secondary feline to the left, pawing at a strand of long spindly blonde hair. He glanced at her lazily, tipping his head to the side and humming.

There was only one thing wrong with this picture. Sasha didn't own pets.

"Micheal-what?"

His smile widened. "Hello my dear."

She gestured to the cat now rolling onto its back as Micheal petted its belly. "Where did these come from?"

He looked over at the one still playing with his hair. "They followed someone into my corridors. They followed me here."

Right. Sasha shook her head and sat down, the one on its back stretched out before moving towards her curiously, it had orange hair like a tabby. She pet it and it purred in response.

"Micheal."

"Sasha."

"I don't have the stuff for these guys. I barely have the room, you don't really expect me too-" Her words were cut short as she watched the grey one tangled in Micheal's hair sound out a small mewl as Micheal tenderly picked it up in its hands with too much bone and fingers that stretched too far across. The cat didn't seem to mind.

Micheal hummed as he watched the cat in his arms twist and curl, purring contently as if Micheal wasn't a terrifying monster. Sasha dared to smile.

"I believe, if I remember correctly, these creatures need food, water." He chimed lightly. Sasha rolled her eyes.

"Fine. There's a store down the way from here. They have pet supplies." Sasha sighed as she stood to her feet. "And they are cats, Micheal."

He didn't so much as stand to his feet, rather a blur of motion and colors that stretched out and scattered like sand before he was standing in front of her. "Cats. Yes."

She grabbed her bag and walked towards the door, stopping when she realized Micheal was following her.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm coming with you of course." He giggled, "silly question."

"Right." Sasha smiled, "This won't end badly at all."

----------------------------------------------

The actual trip wasn't horrible.

Besides the fact that every single dog started barking at Micheal which earned them a few curious glances from the staff, they made it out with a sack of cat food, cat litter, and a box. Even more than she had expected, Micheal paid. Handing the cash to the women as Sasha looked at him with such a confused expression she partially believed he did it just to see her reaction. Laughing as they left the store with the supplies. She simply shook her head.

"I think- he had one."

Sasha looked over at him, he looked, well, human. The way his coat sat on his shoulders and down past his boots, his hands wrapped around a bag of cat food. His eyes trained on nothing before looking over at her with a sharp smile.

Sasha frowned. "Who?"

"Micheal. Before-" His words echoed and trailed off.

Sasha understood. "I'm sorry." The words felt stupid in her mouth.

"Do not be, its-" he paused. "It's a nice memory, I am not sorry to have it, amongst the fractals of everything and nothing and the not-in between, it is nice."

Sasha thought about her question a moment before asking. "What's it like?"

"What?"

"The...what you said about the fractals and the nothingness, delusion...what's it like?"

"It Is Not What It Is and it is a part of me" he said it like a broken tune from some forgotten nursery rhyme. "It is madness- throaty, hollow, the depths of doubt- madness that stirs in the mind. It is not a physicality, but, within it, there is a certain…” He paused. “Ah! Beauty. Like a fine piece of decoration in a mundane hallway." Micheal laughed long and hard as they approached her building.

"You say it's beautiful?"

He giggled and shook his head. "You tell me, my dear, what with your It Knows You, all that knowledge will never satisfy, never relief, you see all and yet-" They entered her house to the two cats scratching up her couch and seemingly content with life. “Madness floods the senses and dilutes the mind, leaving it clear. It changes perception, blinds reality. It's a song sung with all the wrong notes and the wrong tune but it is beautiful nonetheless.” He sat the bag on the kitchen table and she prepared two bowls.

“A broken melody is still broken.”

“Ah, but only you would know if it's broken.”

Sasha paused and stared at him. He was crouched down, pouring the food into the bowl she had provided. It got everywhere and he giggled. Letting out a hummed “oops.” Before moving a long finger to scatter the dropped food even further. His hair cascaded around his shoulders and swept across the floor, the grey cat already taking interest in his dubbed playtoy.

She understood what he meant. And maybe there was a relieving beauty to it. Someone’s only lost if they themselves don’t know how to get to their destination. But if someone is simply wandering, well. There could be a comfort to that. Ignorance is bliss after all. A buzz of muddled headspace that someone looks for within drugs or alcohol. A weight lifted from the mind as it's consumed by something that isn’t tangible.

“Do you understand?” He looked back at her, the pieces of food that had missed the bowl now nowhere to be seen. The two cats had taken an interest in the food and water and were quick to indulge themselves. She looked into Micheal’s eyes, the swirling spirals that seemed to impossibly dilate as he looked at her. He seemed softer, somehow. All folded up and crouched on her floor seemingly as protection to the felines happily eating away. His sweater changed and morphed in color and she half wondered where his coat went. His scarf was wound around his neck and seemed to move like a snake, continually curling over his shoulders. Twisting and bending and pulling in every direction. He was an enigma to look at. Madness. An ever shifting idea that barely took shape before it was changing again. Beautiful. She decided.

He was beautiful.

She almost forgot he was waiting for a response. “I understand.” The words didn’t feel nearly enough. Some part of her reminded herself that she was supposed to be scared of this thing that had casually dropped two cats at her feet like it was nothing. This thing that bought the supplies with money she wasn’t sure he was even supposed to have. This thing that had given her a distorted flower that she still had in the living room. This thing that followed her around with a curiosity she couldn’t explain. This thing that had kissed her cheek instead of killing her when she had been in its corridors. She ignored that voice and instead moved to fix the litter box in the washroom.

Not even an hour later she was curled up on the couch petting the tabby as Micheal played with the gray one on the floor not even a foot away.

“What are their names?” She asked him, breaking the silence that seemed to muffle Micheal’s laughter as he let the cat swipe at his long fingers, pulling them away just in time.

“Names are redundant.”

She rolled her eyes. “I think I’ll call this one Pumpkin.”

He didn’t look away from the cat, letting it catch his fingers and pull them down to bite playfully. Micheal hardly seemed bothered. “Daisies.”

“The cat? That’s a pretty name.”

“No-” He giggled. “I remembered. I was picking them up.” He drew his hand away and pointed at the mess of lines and colors that had once been a flower, sitting in a jar on the coffee table.

Sasha smiled back. “Daisy it is. Pumpkin and Daisy.”

Chapters:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

[btheleaf]

35 for the hugs ^~^

From the hug prompts

1.4k words/ Ao3 link

Cloud kids, air kids, Pema, and Lin.

35. Cuddle pile

Tenzin cracked his eyes open to see rolling multicolored clouds painted red and yellow by the vibrant light of the sunset over Yue Bay. A few baby bison flew around as they played. He groaned and fell back down when he tried to sit up.

 “Oh good, you’re awake.” Bumi’s voice came from beside him.

Tenzin turned his aching head to see his brother laying on the ground next to him. “What happened?”

“I sorta knocked you out while we were sparring and I didn’t want Pema to yell at me, so I kinda laid on the ground next to you so it looked like we were just hangin’ out.”

Tenzin sighed and turned his attention back to the clouds. “You’re an idiot.”

“Yeah,” Bumi agreed and the pair of them remained silent for a little while.

“Who hurt who?”

The brothers looked up past their bushy eyebrows to see Kya standing over their heads with water at the ready. Where other people would see a healer ready to do her job, Bumi and Tenzin knew better. The clip of her words was all they needed to know she was annoyed already. They didn’t see one of the best healers in the world, they saw their sister who could and would turn that water into ice picks if they made a wrong move.

They pointed at each other in unison.

Kya groaned. “Seriously? Come on. Pema thought one of you died because you haven’t moved in like 20 minutes.”

Tenzin smirked at Bumi who pouted at the realization that Pema would be yelling at him later.

“Lay down, sis. The clouds are looking beautiful right now.”

Kya turned her face towards the sky and let out a small sigh. She put the water back in her flask and made each of them scooch to the side so she could take the spot between them.

She pointed at the sky. “That one looks like a baby bison.”

“That is a baby bison,” Tenzin said.

“Oh.” A pause. “Sorry, I’m really high right now.”

Bumi laughed and Tenzin voiced his displeasure with a resounding, Ugh.

“That one looks like Uncle Zuko’s scar,” Bumi said after another minute. Kya and Tenzin murmured in agreement.

“This one’s shaping up to look like Druk.” Tenzin waved his finger back and forth at a long oblong of a cloud formation.

“All I see is a banana,” Bumi argued and then squinted. “Or a dingy.”

“Dragons are kinda shaped like bananas,” Kya interjected which finally got a laugh out of Tenzin as well as Bumi.

The sound of a glider closing whipped through the air. “Daddy, what are you doing?”

“We’re cloud watching,” Tenzin said.

“Oooooo!” Ikki exclaimed and hopped up in a spin to float herself down into the space between Kya and Tenzin. Both of them moved to cushion her landing even though it wasn’t really a necessity now that she had a better handle on her bending. “Have you seen any good ones?”

Kya pressed her finger to the tip of Ikki’s nose which made the young girl laugh. “Your dad saw a dragon fruit and Uncle Bumi saw a thingy.”

Tenzin rolled his eyes and Bumi cackled.

More whistling wind followed by wooden clattering came from nearby. Jinora and Meelo stood with their arms crossed over everyone’s heads.

“Ikki, you got distracted again,” Jinora complained.

Ikki shrugged. “It can’t be that important if it wasn’t better than clouds.”

Now it was Kya’s turn to laugh.

“Get down here, soldiers. That’s an order,” Bumi commanded with a playful lilt to his words.

“Aye, aye, sir!” Meelo saluted and was careless as he stepped over and on top of Kya and Bumi to take the space between them.

“Oof! Ah!”

“Settle down, kid. Yeesh.”

Jinora pouted and sat cross legged next to her father. Tenzin held out his arm to invite her into the fabric of his robe, and even though she was trying to be serious as a newly anointed master, she cracked a smile and took the spot, using his shoulder as a pillow.

Ikki started pointing at nearly every cloud in the sky. “That one looks like a papaya. That one looks like Twinkle Starchild’s nose. That one looks like a tree that I saw the other day. That one looks like a cloud. That one looks like a bean bun.”

Heavy clinking footsteps approached as Ikki went on.

“Uh-oh. Here comes the fuzz,” Bumi warned.

Everyone on the ground looked up over the tops of their heads again, this time seeing Lin approaching in her noisy metal uniform along with Pema who was holding Rohan.

“This some kind of Air Nation sit-in protest about dinner?” Lin asked.

“Maybe if we were sitting it would be, but as you can see, we’re laying down.” Kya wagged her finger at Lin and everyone in the group snickered.

“Are you high?” Lin leaned down over Kya to inspect her.

“What, are you a cop?” Kya pouted.

Lin sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose.

Bumi snorted again. Tenzin shot Pema an apologetic look.

“Okay.” Pema put Rohan down on Bumi’s chest. “Since no one wants to help with dinner like they said they would, Lin and I will eat since we’re doing all the work and then the rest of you can fight over what’s left in the snack cabinet later.”

The group grumbled and groaned in protest.

Pema stared at each of them in turn as she spoke. “Yes, you’re all very cute when you act like this, but it’s too late to throw an extra 10 people into the dining hall, so we need to figure something out.”

Kya pulled something with specks of chipped white paint from her belt, took a deep breath, and blew on it.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake.” Lin shook her head and guided Pema to stand closer to the group on the ground.

Pema looked from Lin to Kya. “What did you just do?”

Kya threw her arms up towards the sky as a mass of shadows descended on them. “Bison party!”

Pema’s jaw dropped when she looked up and saw what had to be every bison on the island getting ready to land around them. Oogi came down by Tenzin with a thud and Jinora narrowly avoided getting licked by his big tongue. She yelped and flew out of the way. Tenzin accepted his fate and laughed the whole time he was getting covered in bison saliva.

The group was soon crowded in by the few adult bison and the dozen or so baby bison that the acolytes had migrated to the island a few months ago. The smaller bison floated down bleating and whinnying until they filled all the available space between their adult counterparts.

“Watch this.” Kya smirked. “Sugar, go night-night.”

The bison behind Lin and Pema let out a low huff and toppled onto its side. Kya got up and hugged the beast’s stomach. Little bison got closer, curious about what Sugar was doing, and being the social creatures that they were, began to relax into laying and sitting positions to imitate Sugar. Oogi and the other adults followed suit, and soon the group was completely surrounded by a ring of fuzzy creatures that had no intention of moving.

Tenzin hopped up to lay face-down on Oogi’s stomach and everyone else dispersed to find their own cuddle partner. Pema’s lips pressed into a thin frown of annoyance. Lin put her hand on Pema’s shoulder.

“It’s not too late to order takeout.”

Pema sighed and nodded. She climbed over a few baby bison to exit the circle and came back a few minutes later to find the bison huddled even closer together with her family lounging all over them. Tenzin called her over to get set up on Oogi’s legs between him and Lin. He wrapped her in his arms and Lin took her hand.

She watched Kya shepherd the baby bison until they were forming a tight-knit group for the kids to get comfortable in, and then smiled as the waterbender shepherded Bumi and Rohan to get into the circle with them. Kya then hopped in herself and everyone inside the fuzzy ring of baby bison relaxed back to put their attention to the sky.

The clouds were getting dark, now taking on more tones of pink and purple as the sun lowered across the ocean. Shadows disappeared as dusk approached. Pema rested her head back onto Oogi’s side, figuring she’d give Tenzin a moment of peace before telling him he needed to go out to pick up dinner… and give Bumi another minute or two before the yelling started.

[pencap]

Hi! I love your work, and it's wonderful to hear you might start writing poetry again. I hope it goes well, and please be kind on yourself ❤️

For the three words: silver, fall, power.

No pressure and feel free to ignore this entirely! I just wanted to tell you that it's great to see you around again.

Thank you for the kind words, love! It's wonderful to be back and be met with so much love. Please know that your support is infinitely encouraging and infinitely appreciated.

My darling, for you I wish to be silver like the full moon dancing on silent feet silver like the first sleepy snowfall of winter silver like constellations shimmering in a peaceful night. You deserve a soft-spoken silver as shining and carefree as bellchimes. But darling, all I know how to be is silver like a sniper's scope staring from the rooftop silver like spikes of hoarfrost glinting on barbed wire silver like starfall crashing down in a shattered sky. I am made to be a sharp-edged silver as powerful and deadly as bladesteel. I ache that I cannot be a lullaby singing you to sleep. I weep that I cannot be a flashlight in your darkest night. I mourn that I cannot be a diamond ring on your finger. But I will be the sentry standing guard at your doorstep. I will be the smooth tongue to lay your enemies bare. I will be the chainmail wrapped around your softest spots. And darling, perhaps if you are so very kind if the world is so very forgiving if my fate is so very lucky-- Then perhaps, my dearest darling, that can be enough.

[thoughtfulfangirling]

Okay, I've made sure my Bluetooth keyboard is easily set up to my phone. I will now be able to type seamlessly on different devices. I am ready to try and start writing next month.

I still have no clue what though. I've found some prompts but am not ready to post them. So uh, free for all prompts in my ask/comments for now? 😅 If anyone's interested XD

[southern--downpour]

one college app artist statement down baby lets fucking go

[stagehunt]

god i woke up to unimaginably good food today

[griseldabanks]

for the ask game, would you do #23 for link and zelda?

Let Me Count the Ways ask game

Prompt: "I feel like we've met before…."

“You only want to go there because you think she'll be there.”

“I do not!” Link retorted, hanging his helmet on Epona's handlebars while holding his phone to his ear with the other hand. “I'm going to study for midterms, like I said. Not my fault you didn't want to come along.”

“And watch Malon making googly eyes at you the whole time? No thanks.”

Link paused halfway through slinging his backpack over his shoulder. “What? Malon?”

He could practically hear the rolled eyes across the phone line. “Oh brother. She's had her eye on you since orientation!”

“Really? How can you tell?”

“Because I have eyes in my head!”

Suddenly, Link spotted a familiar pink backpack weaving through the tables outside the coffee shop, heading towards the door. “Sorry, Navi, gotta go.”

“Hey! Listen to me—“

He hung up and darted over to the front door, managing to reach it just in time. He grabbed the door and pulled it open.

The girl who'd been reaching for it started at his sudden appearance, then let her extended hand fall back to her side. “Oh...thanks!”

She smiled up at him before stepping inside, and for one glorious moment, their eyes met. Link grinned stupidly, but she'd already passed him.

Heart pounding in his chest, Link followed her into Lon Lon Cafe. He stuffed his hands into the pocket of his green hoodie, trying to act casual as he stepped into line right behind her. He glanced up at the girl behind the cash register, and the pleasant giddiness in his chest deflated somewhat as he remembered what Navi had said. Sure enough, Malon spotted him and immediately shot him a grin, tucking a lock of red hair behind her ear. And she kept glancing at him as she listened to the next customer's order.

Link looked back at the girl in front of him instead. Zelda. So was so pretty, her blonde hair pulled back in a half-ponytail, golden earrings dangling from her ears and catching the light.... And there was an elegance to all of her movements, even simply in the way she pulled her wallet out of her purse. Like a princess...if princesses ever graced college-town coffee shops.

Suddenly, she looked over her shoulder and turned to face him. “Hey, do I know you?”

The bottom dropped out of Link's stomach. “What?”

Zelda cocked her head to one side. “I feel like we've met before....”

Link swallowed, mouth suddenly dry. “Uh...History 101. Professor Rauru.”

Zelda's face brightened with recognition, and somehow she looked even more beautiful that way. “That's it! So are you ready for—“

“Next!”

With a little start, Zelda quickly turned around and stepped up to the front of the line. While she was ordering her drink, Link couldn't help noticing that Malon wasn't smiling anymore, but answering Zelda tersely and stabbing at the register with more force than necessary.

When it was his turn to order, Link was a little nervous at how Malon would receive him, but to his relief, the second her eyes landed on him, a huge smile lit up her face again. He might have been imagining things, but he thought he detected a hint of sharpness in her gaze that wasn't there normally. “What can I get you?”

Link opened his mouth to reply, but she talked over him.

“Pumpkin spice latte, right? As usual?”

He'd actually been thinking of trying out something different this time, but she was already ringing him up, and he did like anything pumpkin spice-flavored, so he remained silent and just handed over a couple blue rupee notes.

Zelda was still waiting for her drink at the other end of the counter, and Link's heart skipped a beat when she glanced up from her phone as he strode over to her to wait as well. “So, what's your major?” she asked, her blue eyes bright and interested.

“Uh...undeclared, so far,” Link admitted, feeling his cheeks go warm. “I came in with an archery scholarship, but I don't know if that's what I want to go with....”

“Well, that's okay,” Zelda said. “You're a freshman, right? You've got plenty of time to figure it out.”

“Wait, are you not a freshman?”

Zelda giggled. “Oh—no, I'm a sophomore. I just didn't get around to history last year. I wanted to take harp lessons, and my schedule didn't work out.”

“So you're a music major?” Link brightened at that. Maybe he should've signed up for singing lessons or something after all.

“For now,” Zelda said with a thoughtful frown. “I love the harp, but I've been thinking about switching to political science instead. Do some real good in the world, you know?”

The more they talked, the more relaxed Link felt, just like he was talking to Navi or Saria—except that every time their eyes met, he felt a glorious swoop in his stomach. “Maybe your harp can usher in world peace,” he said with a grin.

As Zelda laughed, the barista slid their drinks across the counter towards them. “So do you play any instruments?”

“Oh, just the ocarina—“

They both reached for their drinks at the same time. Both froze, staring at the backs of their hands. Link's left, Zelda's right. Like a strangely geometric birthmark, against their pale skin was the clear outline of a triangle divided into four smaller triangles. On Link's hand, the smaller triangle on the bottom right was filled in; on Zelda's, it was the bottom left.

Link stared at their hands, the marks upon them perfect mirrors of each other. For his whole life, his soul mark had been there, as familiar a sight as the moles and freckles on his arms. He knew it was supposed to be a reflection of his soul, and the legends went that somewhere out there, his soulmate bore the mirror image of it. But who that person was, or if he'd ever meet them...that just wasn't something he bothered thinking about too much.

Just like anyone, there had certainly been times when he'd wondered who his soulmate was. Growing up, he'd compared soul marks with his friends—Saria had been extremely disappointed when she realized that the swirly mark on her shoulder was nothing like his soul mark. In idle moments, he would daydream about whether his soulmate would turn out to be someone he married, like his parents, or a really good friend, or maybe even one of his children someday.

But then life got busy, and there was no time to think about something so frivolous when school and archery club ate up so much of his time. If he ever met his soulmate, he would deal with it then.

Then was now.

Slowly, Link's eyes traveled up Zelda's arm to her eyes, which were open wide with shock. “Does this mean...?”

“You're...m-my....”

“Oh my!” Zelda's face instantly grew as red as a tomato, and she whirled away from him, covering her cheeks with her hands. Link's eyes were glued to the back of her right hand. The soul mark was unmistakable.

Without warning, Zelda began speed-walking back through the cafe, almost knocking into several people on her way out.

“Wait—Zelda!” Link grabbed both of their drinks and rushed after her, finally catching up to her where she had collapsed into a chair at one of the tables under an umbrella out front.

Hesitantly, Link set Zelda's drink down in front of her, then slipped his backpack off his shoulder and sank into the chair across the table. He looked over at her staring fixedly at the cast-iron tabletop as if she could melt it with a glance.

Just to have something to do, Link sipped his pumpkin spice latte, but it scalded his tongue, so he set it aside.

She was so pretty, even with the blush extending all the way down her neck. Actually, the blush made her look even prettier, the pink tinge of her skin setting off the pink shirt she wore.

She's my soulmate, he thought numbly. All I wanted was to talk to her, maybe ask her out eventually...and she's my soulmate. The most important person in my life.

“Um...sorry,” Zelda said with a shaky laugh, looking up at last and tucking a strand of golden hair behind her ear. “I didn't mean to run out, I just...that took me completely by surprise!”

“Yeah, uh...m-me too.”

They both realized at the same time that they were staring at each other's hands, and broke into nervous laughter.

“So, we're...soulmates.” Zelda let out a long breath. “No, saying it out loud didn't help. It still doesn't sound real.”

A sudden thought occurred to Link that made his heart sink. “Hey, um...just because of this,” he pointed at the back of his hand, “that doesn't mean we have to...I mean, it's just a legend. You don't have to feel, like, obligated to...to hang out with me or....”

To his relief, she smiled sweetly at him. “You're right. But...I'd still like to get to know you. If...you don't mind.”

“No, of course!” Link said, a little too quickly and too loudly. He cleared his throat, his cheeks burning again. “Can I buy you coffee or something sometime? I-I mean, I know we already got coffee, but....” Crap, he was making such a fool of himself....

But Zelda just giggled, hiding her smile behind the hand that bore the mirror image of his soul mark. “Yes, you can take me on a date sometime. But, um...what's your name, anyway?”

“Oh!” They'd been talking all this time, and he still hadn't introduced himself. “It's Link. Nice to meet you.”

Zelda cocked her head to one side. “Link...strange...it feels somehow familiar....”

Link realized he'd felt the same way, the first time he'd learned Zelda's name. He'd passed it off as merely thinking it was a pretty name, but...maybe it was a sign that their souls were bonded to each other.

Either way, as they sat at the coffee shop and continued to get to know each other, everything felt right with the world in a way it never had before.

[sweater-daddiesdumbdork]

If still wanting Soft Yearn prompts how about this for Curtis and Honey:

interlocking your fingers while holding hands

I just adore these two so much and often mind myself thinking about them. You have completely brought them to life and so happy you share with us!!

THANK YOU BABES. Sorry this took so long but I have been in a slump for the longest time. Thank you so so so much.

CURTIS AND HONEY DRABBLE

Life Is Short So Make It Sweet Masterlist

You couldn't say you liked this, cause you were letting Curtis lead you forward completely blind.

And every step forward, even with his hands heavy on your waist to guide you made you nervous in that kind of way you knew you didn't have to be scared, but you were. "Curtis." Your tone wavered a bit as one hand was held out front of you and the other was clutching at his wrist.

"Almost there Honey." He let his lips brush against your ear and his broad chest pressed against your back, making you feel reassured that he had you in his hold. "I promise to make this worth the surprise."

Another voice sprang up, you heard Ella's voice spring from out of nowhere, making you jump back into him. Luckily Curtis was ready for it and his hold tightened on your waist, keeping you steady. "Curtis, would you just show her already!"

You itched to pull the blindfold off, behind you, you could hear Curtis give a grumble at his cousin as he moved you a few steps to turn you in whatever direction he wanted. "You weren't supposed to say anything Ella." You felt his hands at your face, sliding the blindfold off and lights made you blink a few times rapidly.

"You never told me those were the rules Curtis." Ella snapped back from behind you while you started right at the otter enclosure at the local aquarium. "But surprise!"

You glanced around the completely empty room, save for you three and the otters swimming up to the glass and then darting away once their curiosity was done. "What's going on?" You were doing the math in your head, counting the hours since closing. "You guys are closed."

Ella laughed and Curtis grinned at your slight bewilderment as you looked between the cousins, waiting on an answer. "Exactly! Curtis wanted to see if you two could get the private tour. Im gonna be busy setting up new displays with Cole. And Paul from security is wandering around, but you two shoo, go exploring."

"She's serious?" Your tone raised a bit in anticipation, Curtis witnessed your features go from confused to excited. He tilted his head in a let's go motion.

"Very Honey, we have the whole place to ourselves this time."

Your hand slipped into his, allowing him to pull you along, back to the beginning of the aquarium where the main map was, allowing you two to decide where to start.

From the next room, you heard Ella's muffled tone "Don't forget there are cameras all over this building! and the Exit's are alarmed!" You muffled a laugh, heat creeping up your cheeks at her referring to the previous visit before Christmas. Curtis chose not to answer but did toss up a middle finger in the direction of his cousin while disappearing around the corner.

"I can't believe you did this..." You started and Curtis shrugged, not realizing what you were implying.

"It was nothing Honey, Ella let me know that she was gonna be here half the night setting up and-"

You shook your head, tugging him gently to stop. He turned to face you with a quizzical look. "No, I mean this Curtis." A wave of your hand around the aquarium. "That you would even think to do something like this for me at all, regardless if you were able to or were not. I mean the first time I just considered myself lucky at all but twice..." You could feel yourself starting to choke up at the very sentiment of it all.

Curtis let his fingers weave with yours then, finally what you were saying clicked in his mind. Gently he had you step in closer towards him, his other hand free to touch your face, a light grasp tilting you to look up at him with a gentle touch of his fingers under your chin. "Pretty Girl, this is what you deserve, okay? I saw how much you loved it the first time, and I always planned on bringing you again. Later down the road, we will visit more till this place is as much yours as any other place you love."

You stared at him in silence for a moment, your words seemingly lost to you for a second as you let what he said sink in, your fingers tightening with his, relishing in his touch, trying to come to terms with being in this kind of relationship, one where you mattered. "Thank you... for noticing me." You said softly and Curtis pressed his mouth to your forehead, letting you go enough to embrace you and wrap you up in his arms.

"Noticed you since that day you stepped off that bus and introduced yourself Honey."

[ifmywishescametrue]

"it doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to be done" except it does need to be perfect, or else it's not done