#can't believe this is my first foray into f/f what the fuck

[everybodyshusband]

post-show ritual

mushy may ; day three !! (approx. 680 words)

read the rest of my mushy may collection on ao3 :)

Cumulus stretched her arms out to the exhausted ghoulette in front of her, willing Sunshine to fall into her arms. “C’mon, Sunny. C’mere, let me hold you for a bit.”

Sunshine tugged her mask off and tossed it on the dressing room bench before collapsing into the chair in front of her. She reached out her arms towards Cumulus with an exhausted huff. “Hold me, ‘Lus,” she whined. “‘M so tired…”

Cumulus walked over from her side of the mirror and stroked a hand through Sunshine’s hair, purring softly. “I know, my star, I know.” As she always was after a ritual, when Cumulus ran her fingers through it, she was struck by just how knotted Sunshine’s hair had become underneath her stage mask. The sheer amount of knots the youngest ghoulette’s hair managed to hold after a demanding show was truly impressive. “You want me to brush your hair, baby? Get all the sweat and knots out for you?”

Sunshine trilled and nodded, leaning further into Cumulus’ touch. “Would you?”

Cumulus laughed and nuzzled her cheek against Sunny’s hair. “Of course, love. That’s why I offered.”

(It always went like this. Once the night’s ritual concluded—regardless of the city the band were performing in—Sunshine would drag her feet all the way back to the dressing rooms and do her best to convince one of the other ghoulettes to brush her hair for her. And neither Cumulus nor Cirrus could ever even entertain the possibility of denying Sunshine of her request. Sometimes, if Sunshine was lucky, both ghoulettes would aid her in the brushing out of her thick, tangled curls. But tonight, Cirrus had pulled a dead-on-his-feet Aether off to one of the other—notably empty—dressing rooms, and Cumulus had heard her offering up the possibility of allowing him to let go of his responsibilities and float for a while. Presumably, he’s said yes; he’d be a madman to deny any form of affection-slash-domination from Cirrus, in Cumulus’ humble opinion.)

The air ghoulette reached into the stage bag they both share with Cirrus and pulled out one of Sunshine’s favourite brushes; she’s always claimed it feels the nicest against her scalp, especially after a tiring day. Cumulus set it down on the counter in front of them both and began raking her fingers properly through Sunshine’s hair, doing her best to rid it of any smudged face paint and hair products that have weaselled their way into it over the course of that night’s ritual. Once she was sure most of the paint was out, she picked the hairbrush back up and began brushing it through Sunshine’s hair properly, taking her time so as not to hurt her partner.

Sunshine hummed happily and leant further back into Cumulus’ touch, a small smile settling on her lips as her eyes closed of their own accord. She could already feel the tension draining from her muscles, loosening even further with each pass of the brush through her hair.

After a few more minutes of brushing, Cumulus let out a pleased trill. “I think all the knots are out now, Sunny!”

Sunshine turned in her chair and pulled Cumulus’ face down until it was level with her own, pressing a soft kiss to her lips. “Thank you, ‘Lus.” She rested her forehead against her partner’s and sighed contentedly, taking in Cumulus’ soft blush at her own undivided attention.

Cumulus wrapped her arms around Sunshine as well as she could manage with the awkward angle they both found themselves in and kissed the top of her head. “D’you want me to brush your curl stuff through as well? I don’t mind doing it.”

Sunshine tilted her head, considering. “Mmm, shower first? Then we can do that back on the bus?”

At the mention of a shower, Cumulus practically melted. She’d been so eager to brush Sunshine’s hair out that she’d forgotten how hot and sweaty she’d become. “A shower sounds perfect, Sunny, Good plan.”

Sunshine stood and took hold of Cumulus’ hand, leading her in the direction of the showers. “C’mon, love. Let me take care of you now.”

[pippuns]

Deidre IS dating Alisaie from the later third of SB on!!! Esteem (who has to deal with ALL pushed down emotions not just the negative ones, such as "I can't fucking deal with a crush rn we don't have TIME for that there's a WAR going on") basically corners Deidre into biting the bullet and confessing XD.

Special knowledge tho... Is that Deidre's younger brother who ran away to become a pirate when he was 12 because their home life was not great (absentee mom that Deidre had to replace, Mom basically in Yotsuyu's pre-viceroy position but because of her father not her husband leading to.... Many half siblings Deidre had to raise) named Caelen ends up with Alphinaud XD. In-laws squared. Alphy is Bi and highly susceptible to 'the pirate is hot' u.u

What kind of dynamic does Wynn have with the twins?

esteem being used as a means by which deidre confesses is the funniest possible outcome to the drk storyline. this is everything i've ever wanted from esteem. fucking fantastic.

also i get alphinaud. pirates? hot. dont blame him whatsoever for that. i really like deidre's backstory!! it's really interesting. does she ever visit her half siblings?? is her mom ok now, or is she still stuck in that kind of situation??

wynn is very much a parental/older sibling figure to the twins!! especially during their initial forays into eorzea when things were the roughest. they do their best to keep an eye on the two in the hopes that the twins don't find themselves in over their heads, but wind up failing more often than not. f.

i don't think in my canon alwynn left with minfilia and the other scions after the bloody banquet; i find it hard to believe they would have left ul'dah unless alphinaud was with them, and i don't think they would have let minfilia go back either even though hydaelyn wanted her to remain behind. so instead they escaped with alphinaud and pipin.

which also meant that the status of the rest of the scions was in even more doubt than it is in canon. i think alphinaud and wynn probably got really close in the time between ARR and HW+in the beginning of heavensward, given that as far as either of them knew they were the only scions left. it was very much a "i can't lose you too" type of situation.

alisae and alwynn got their own special "oh god we're all alone" bonding time in the post-sb patches after the other scions got called away to the first, which especially fucked with alwynn after alisae got pulled away in front of them. tough luck mate.