#olivethesecuties

[minifrenchfry-kabbit]

From X.

@olivethesecuties

When the feline had woken up with a small headache, plus a cresting rise and fall of fluctuating nausea, she was naturally, very reluctant to rise within the next hour or so.

When her fiancée began to stir and rolled over in their spooning position to face her, eyes still closed, Katrina couldn't help but drop her head onto her chest, and grumble her request for a lazy day-in, not exactly expecting Luci to try and grant it.

Tufted ears twitched when she felt her hands cupping her face, quiet purring starting up, complete with an affectionate nuzzle of her cheek against her stroking fingers, both half-closed eyes visible with her bangs being moved aside, able to quietly stare up at her companion, through her good, and blurred- defunct eye.

She smiled at the playful tap of her fingertip to her nose, but lamented the thought of letting the world burn in their bed all alone, with a muffled whine and outward stretch, arms wrapping around her mate to bury stubbornly in her side, fluffy tail swishing agitatedly beneath their blankets.

She otherwise remained quiet so Luci could conduct her calls in peace, opening her eyes and peeking up from her side when she delivered the news, it had sounded promising, but at the confirmation, she tightened her embracing grip, sitting up enough to pull her partner back against her fluffy, bare chest.

"I absolutely did not prearrange it, but bless Minnie and Lola. I gotta like.. get them something nice, or make sure to pick up shifts when they need it."

She nodded her head in compliance, her tail sweeping over to curl around her lover's lower half, carefully removing Luci's glasses to return to the nightstand, before framing her face against the soft pad of her paw, leaning in to pull her into warm kiss, with a soft giggle.

"I'll totes be ready to tolerate the world by the afternoon, promise.~"

[rohankama]

❛ i just wanted to make sure you’re okay. ❜ (Listen, Ro and Oliver haven't had a thread and that feels like a crime.)

@olivethesecuties

"..to be honest, everything is sort of a mess still."

Ro's harassers finding out where he's working now, the fucking bond, Benji avoiding him and then talking and getting somewhat better, THE HORRIBLE FUCKING EVENT, Benji injured, Penny's increasing anger issues as the gene has started to kick in with more vigor, Fynn's stress about possible stalkers from his past primed to mess with them (???), how weirdly strained and stilted giftmas had felt-

Fucking hell.

Ro grimaces, his eye-light dimmer than normal as it meets Oliver's worried gaze.

"It feels like so much has happened in to short a time... just, one thing on top of another, even if it was... technically spaced out? It just... ugh, there was barely time to process anything!"

He sighs and sits back in his chair, pouting down at the bowl of ice-cream slowly melting on the table before him.

"Why must everything about me and everything surrounding me be so complicated Olly? Why must life be plagued by so much bullshit? I don't actually want to be living in a shitty soap opera!"

[rohankama]

Hmm. Did he have the energy to throw more of a tantrum than he already had?

...

...

...no. No, not really. He was in more of a pouting mood than an actual upset mood. Ki-ki's juice boxes were safe from his greedy hands- for now.

Oliver is always good at sorting and managing things with priorities in mind, so Ro's really not surprised when he picks a topic without much pause. It wouldn't be surprising if this one had been bugging Oliver for quite awhile.

He is not the only one it bugs.

"I can't say he's been very specific about that with me either." Ro sighs, long and hard. "The topic makes him very anxious, and that is not what he needs right now, so I've stopped trying to get more out of him about it... but I do have some details that I've been able to sus out."

The spoon is dropped into the now empty bowl as Ro meets Oliver's gaze, eye-light flashing as he leans towards him.

"It has to do with his past... less than legal activities when he was more or less living on the streets. This snake is someone he met that more than likely paid for his services," He grimaces at the word, "and must have had a lot of power over him back then, if they're freaking Fynn out this much now."

"I know for a fact that both Benji and Coco- I'm pretty sure you know Coco- know whoever this snake is as well, but they're even worse than Fynn has been about explaining anything! Not that I've really tried to get more out of Benji while he's recovering..."

Ro presses his mouth into a thin line, glancing down at the table before looking back up at Olly.

"The only new info I got from Coco was to watch out for any suspiciously loitering cars outside of work or my house, or to mention if I notice any new monsters start to follow me. As if I can possibly do that when I'm managing a coffee shop!"

The concept of Ro being adopted made him snort. Not a chance in hell of that. Himself and Eden were far too alike. They even had the same squint of their sockets when irritated. Which, frankly was quite funny.

And while he certainly wasn’t going to say it aloud, He did certainly get his height and jaw from his father.

Not that he spent all of this time analyzing features of others or anything, just some things he’d noticed between his interactions with the family as a whole.

He shakes his head as the other talks about wanting to throw a tantrum instead, leaning back in his chair.

“Well you certainly could have a tantrum, far be it from me to tell you can’t if that’s what you feel would be helpful. Then after I could always grab you one of Ki-Ki’s juice boxes. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind sharing with her dear Ro-Ro.” He snickered.

“Hm…Could go chronologically but that’s also difficult. We could start with the apparent snake problem? Though I’m not quite sure how to feel about all of that myself.” He frowns with a bit of a click of his tongue.

“More specifics would have been nice, but he’s always been vague with me about anything that he decides to share.” He gains a small pout himself for a moment.

And Penny also hadn’t been told much about that, at least from what he gathered in their own conversations about it.

Which was understandable that he’d want to keep her out of stressful things as much as possible with the accident having occurred around the same time.

It’s fine, just had to keep scraping at the gunk from his cover. He’d get him eventually. At least he hoped he could.

[minifrenchfry-kabbit]

Aspiration.

@olivethesecuties

She felt like even more of a space cadet than usual, it was all she could do to keep waning focus on the road, occasionally moving a paw from the steering wheel to dig her claws into her pad, the needle-sharp pain enough to penetrate the anxious haze that clouded her thoughts.

Get it together Katrina.. the last thing you wanna do now is to get into an accident.. not ever, but like.. DEF not today..

Exhaling a slow breath to try and slow the rapid beat of her soul, she flicked her turn signal and smoothly turned her little battered car onto the familiar suburb street, maneuvering as quietly as she could in front of her girlfriend’s house, and cutting the engine.

She flopped back against the driver’s street, hands dropping from the wheel as she turned her head to her mobile on the dashboard charger, reaching for it and unlocking it to glance over her messages.

With a sting, she noticed she still hadn’t responded. She felt guilty all over again for more or less ghosting her lover that morning, not intentionally, but she had so much to prepare and she wanted it to be a surprise..

Curse her inability to focus on more than one significant thing at a time..

She just hoped that Lucinda was home, it was impossible to tell when she always kept her car safely in the garage, and with the daylight, it was as equally impossible to see if there were any lights on inside.

It’d be her own fault if she’d made other plans, she’d closed up the restaurant for a reason.. she didn’t want to work on Valentine’s Day, so it stood to reason she didn’t want to spend it alone at home either.. the whole reason she’d been trying to gauge what she was up to that day.

Gah..! You’re such a freaking fluffbrain Kat..!

Her head dropped dejectedly against the steering wheel with a brief stutter of a honk, the sound startling her from her negative self-talk.

Okay.. you’ve had your little mental beratement.. just get out of the car, and check. Don’t just assume you’ve fucked things up..

Taking a deep breath, she raised her head, snatched the wrapped bouquet of forget-me-nots and roses - (red, burgundy, and purple.. because she was an absolute plant-nerd sap;) from the passenger’s seat and finally exited the car, shutting it after her as quietly as she could manage.

She glanced back to ensure her tail was still slipped neatly through the back of her dress, the same emerald green sleeveless that she’d worn ages back.. she’d thought about opting for something different but if Luci remembered.. this would have much more sentimental weight to it.

And if she didn’t.. no biggie! At least this one shaped nicely to her curves, right?

Before her anxiety could spike up anew and send her retreating back into the car, she forced herself in a march up the pathway, cradling the bouquet to her chest as she carefully alighted the steps of the porch to stop at the door, swallowing thickly and moving a shaky paw out to knock.

“..Lu-.. Lucinda? My geode - are.. are you home..? It’s.. it’s Kat..”

[minifrenchfry-kabbit]

" who bullied you into coming to one of these horrid parties?" (Lucy)

@olivethesecuties

Extricating herself from the milling crowd of people, Katrina found herself standing mostly alone near the hors d'oeuvre table, glancing down to the glass of wine in hand, idly stirring it around with the toothpick olive that had been leaned onto the frosted rim.

It was exceedingly difficult to feign the calm and poise of just about everyone else in attendance, other guests chatting amiably, or simply appreciating the delicate music being played by a group of violinists making the rounds in similar fashion as the suited servers.

Even though rationally, she knew that no one was paying any mind to her, that it wasn’t so excruciatingly obvious that she didn’t belong amid their number, it didn’t stop her anxiety from spiking every time she was spared a passing glance, her mind cruelly telling her that every titter of laughter, or murmured whisper was aimed directly at her.

It was all she could do to keep her rising levels of discomfort from visually showing, though the nervous swaying of her plumed tail was something that was beyond her capability to completely halt, at least nothing short of tying it down that was.

She just hoped that the motions wouldn’t further tear the back of the green dress she’d worn for the occasion, it was all she needed for the custom rip she’d had to make for her tail to fit through to be made any worse, the fear making her subconsciously turn to press against the table itself, so that any possible wardrobe malfunctions wouldn’t be immediately obvious.

Oh that would totes be just the cherry on this Horrible Mistake Sundae she’d made for herself, accidentally flashing her big, furry ass to all these rich, hoity toity jerk-holes.

Maybe it wasn’t too late to slink out the back entrance.. she was sure she’d hadn’t been recognized just ye-..

The startled squeak that escaped the distressed cat monster was enough to draw some attention, conversation going silent for a beat, before the din returned to normal, the girl’s face burning with shame and embarrassment beneath her fur, wanting nothing more than to duck under the table and hide.

By some miracle she managed to compose herself however, taking a steadying breath before turning to face the one who had sidled up to and addressed her, the person in question whom she had subjected herself to this very high risk of public humiliation for.

Face still heated from her hidden blush, she toyed idly with the furl of ribbon in her hair, tufted ears pinned back as she tried to find her voice, hoping to whatever higher power that she wouldn’t croak like a stupid frog, or make a complete idiot of herself.

No more than usual..

“H-hey Lucin-...Lucy.. Hahah.. bullied? I wouldn’t say like.. bullied..”

She swallowed nervously, her gaze shifting away from those cutting magenta, sipping at her wine to bolster her nerve, or at least wet her dry throat before she attempted to speak again.

“I just like.. remember you talking about this event and how much you.. totes were dreading it? Dad got invited cuz’ he’s part of the committee, so.. I thought maybe.. a friendly face might make it more.. bearable..?”

[rohankama]

The pat to her head feels... nice. More than it would on her shells head. Maybe normally it would feel like she was just being indulged, but Oliver was just so fucking nice she couldn't take it any other way than sincere praise.

She wasn't praised all that often, let alone after she'd freaked out on someone. It felt weird.

Weirder that an apology was, apparently, unnecessary. Even though she had forced him to come after her and she'd yelled at him, all after she had been the one to initiate the conversation that lead to all of this.

Oliver was strange. But, he wasn't bad either.

Her ears, pinned back all this time, slowly rise as he takes her metaphor and twists it into a point that makes quite a lot of sense. She meets his gaze fully when he turns, one visible eye latching to his own.

Hesitantly, she nods.

"I like reading." She mutters, nubs poking together. "And older books have a nice smell anyways, even if they are covered in dust mites... so, sure. I can give you a shot."

A small beat of silence before she opens her mouth again and quietly mumbles:

"...can we still get ice cream?"

He can’t help the somewhat bark of a laugh that left him from her blunt response, waving a nub to disregard and continue. collecting himself with a small clear of his ‘throat’.

He listens and lets it all get out, saving his own responses for when she was finished, making sure that while he did want to give her eye contact, that he also was staring at her for too long.

Something that he apparently had a habit of from all of the times it had made others uncomfortable during conversations.

“It did make sense, that was an excellent use of a metaphor.” He smiles, reaching over to lightly pat her head with a nub.

“However, your head is not stupid. While I appreciate the apology. It’s not exactly needed either. You’re going through one of the absolute worst times of growing up. Though sometimes being an adult isn’t much better.”

He blows out some air making ghost bangs flip up for a moment before they fell back over his eye.

“You’re right, we’re not objects. And we’re not papermache crafts either, Not something to paste over. That can be hard to remember sometimes. And peeling back the gunk can be….exhausting.” He drops his head back against the dome wall again, turning his gaze back to her again.

“But…Maybe we can both work together on that, peeling the gunk off and making our covers more…personal. That is, If you’re willing to give this dusty old book a shot?”

[rohankama]

@olivethesecuties from xXx

She isn't sure why she wants to talk to Oliver about shit. Usually she reserves her bitching about this stupid stuff for Benji. Sometimes Fynn, but, she's never sure what exactly is or isn't safe to say with Fynn. Most of the time, he's fine, but... she hates it when something she says makes the light behind her cousin's eyes turn off.

Oliver's... not exactly someone she trusts. She barely knows him, to be perfectly frank. Only really remembers a very old impression of him from when she was too young to really care about trying to remember shit. Dark hair, conniving smile, a welcoming twinkle in pale purple eyes, so similar to her own... that's all she knows.

Seeing the pale-blond nervous wreck that he was these days almost constantly thanks to Fynn's insistence that someone pick her up after school all the time just, really didn't mesh with that memory.

But, after the last actual conversation they'd had... she'd inferred that maybe, perhaps, they were in similar situations. And that, maybe, perhaps, she should... make an effort to reach out.

Which means talking. Which, sense she's annoyed and tired and honesty so fed up with the stupid shit child services has her do, means she's only capable of bitching.

And what an interesting reaction she gets out of Oliver. Pretty sure she's never seen him roll his eyes before. Or sound that bitter. Not that it lasts long, but still.

"But, what if the anger or resentment I feel isn't aimed at the people those stupid councilors an' therapists think it's for?" She mutters, pale purple eyes trained on Oliver. "Is it still fair for me to feel angry?"

The last party. A vivid memory of her hand still hanging in the air where it'd been shrugged off; of high heels tap-tap-tapping against tile as she walked away. Her fancy blouse, pale blue, had felt soft. The gloved hand, cold and tight around her shoulder, had not.

"Is it fair to the person in question, for them to put up with my angry bullshit, if what they did to me probably came with a good reason that I just couldn't see at the time?"

Her face scrunches up into more of a scowl than before, her tail flicking against the seat behind her.

"Least, there better've been a good reason..."

[minifrenchfry-kabbit]

Before she could even open her mouth and try to refute the other’s misdirected guilt, the unexpected flash of playful mischief wiped her mind blank, hardly aware of her wrist being snatched up before she was being whisked away from the table, her shell-shocked brain going on autopilot to simply run after Lucinda as she was pulled along up the stairs.

Similar scenes from silly books and movies made her imagination run a little wild, a kaleidoscope of intensely romantic scenes meshed together to create new fantasies of her own, the heat from her earlier blush returning with a vengeance as she tried desperately to recompose herself.

Even shattered into a million pieces, this naïve heart of hers would never learn, would it?

The cold dash of reality was more than enough to break the swooning spell, and she was mostly back to her rational self by the time they’d reached their destination, a little out of breath from their trek up the stairs, but more than relieved to be away from the prying, judgmental gaze of the other guests.

Watching her boss collapse into one of the chairs, she took a moment reflect on how much things had changed between them, her other paw placed over her wrist where the slight pressure of the other still lingered, her gaze slightly downcast.

Since when had she seen her so differently.? Maybe she was too much of an airhead to recall exactly when her snobbish employer had differentiated herself from the callous people downstairs, but.. she had.

Here she was, all dolled up and pretending that she had any right to be here, all because she’d known, had seen past that cold façade to someone that was all alone, and hurting.

Even if she so deeply related to that feeling.. what difference could she really make..? She was just a silly little girl, playing dress-up in a world so set apart from hers that it was laughable.

Even Lucinda had laughed.. hadn’t she.?

But then who wouldn’t.. after hearing such a childish excuse for being there..

Her heart was hurting, but she masked the negativity with a smile, stepping away from the door and toward the railing of the balcony, resting her leaning weight against it as she gazed out over the garden, the beautiful sight of the flowers and plants bathed in gentle moonlight, a balm for the pain, allowing her to completely blink away the tear that tried to escape her visible eye, a genuine giggle bubbling up while her tail began a hesitant sway.

“Omgee! That’s like, the understatement of the fricking year! I’ve never even seen some of these beauties before, as a plant mom, I’m totes jelly..”

She breathed a wistful sigh, leaning her head down on her folded arms, the nightly breeze blowing through her exposed silver fur, and making the assorted flowers billow like a gently lapping, segregated rainbow sea.

“They look happy, though.. seems they’re being well cared for by someone.”

X

@minifrenchfry-kabbit

Ah yes, the unbearable Limo ride. She knew it well.

This was usually where she would focus on Penny and enjoy the quiet snarking remarks that they would make between themselves, or poke at Oliver in a playful manner.

But seeing both of those seats empty....left her with a stab of melancholy.

Oliver was probably too busy with the baby and well...Penny was with Fynn. Which meant that she was no longer forced to go to events like these.

Not that she would have this time if she was still with her parents. The drama around her father......well she didn't blame those two for wanting to keep low after all that.

Still, it made the ride all the more insufferable. And she found herself twisting open the flask from her inventory much sooner than she'd anticipated.

Just something to take...the edge off. A sip or two. Nothing more.

That was the damned lie she told herself every time right?

Blocking out the annoying voices and commands. She knew how to act at this point, she'd spent years perfecting it after all.

Going through the round about circle of introductions to people she wouldn't remember or ever really see again until the next meeting in this god forsaken building. Once she was given a window of opportunity to lose them all in the crowd she took it. Doing her usual routine of planting herself at the drinks and fancy finger foods.

However, something was different about this routine. There was someone that she actually gave a damn about there. an unexpected face and it takes her a moment of processing to even realize that it's genuinely not a figment of her imagination.

Good to know she hasn't sunk that far into insanity that she's imagining her only friend in places out of a pathetic amount of loneliness.

Being so used to making conversation that she was speaking before she'd even realized it, leaning against the table as she joined the cat monsters side. Grabbing a drink of her own off the table to swirl around idly while a conversation of some sort would be held.

At least she hoped for that much.

However magenta hues widen in surprise as she's told of how Katrina came to be here in the first place and she almost barks out a laugh. Now doing a bit of a glance over of oddly fancied up cat.

She looked out of place, that much was obvious but not in the way that the snobs around them would call it. Not to her anyway.

She was an shining Emerald amongst the boring Quartz and Diamonds. And maybe said dress was rather flattering to her curves but that wasn't something to observe out loud.

Spluttering slightly as she's realized that she's just been staring at the other like a damn meal rather than a person, finding words to actually spill out.

"You came here....because I was whining about it?" And this time a laugh does escape her, taking a sip of her drink and shaking her head. "You didn't have to do that, now I feel bad that you're forced to suffer such a boring lame excuse for a party."

"Guess I'll have to remedy it, so that you at least have a moderately decent time." She smirked reaching over and gently grabbing the cat monster's wrist, tugging her along as she moved toward the back of the hall and up the stairs, pushing open the balcony door and finally letting the poor girl go as she stretched before flopping rather ungracefully onto one of the chairs.

"There, now we both don't have pricks staring at us and I can actually hear myself think. Not to mention a much better view." She exclaimed, with a breath of relief as she gestured to the garden below the night sky.

[minifrenchfry-kabbit]

While she could subtly feel some of the differing emotions that her partner was feeling, she still couldn't fully know what was going on in her overly analytical head.

Even in knowing that trauma was still leading her thoughts, she was thankful that it wasn't the same self-deprecating spiral. She'd take those victories where she could.

"You sure you still want to share the bed with me, when I'm all gross and pregnant?"

She snickered and stuck her tongue out playfully, giving herself enough of a pause to be sure the nausea had subsided for the time being, before she took her fiancée's hand, and with a flourish, pulled her over to heft her up into her arms rather than just following her back.

She didn't carry her often, but it was always just a little satisfying to get the surprised squeak out of her, and extended arms going reflexively around her neck, giving her the perfect vantage to affectionately nuzzle their heads together.

She couldn't hold her weight for long, but certainly enough to make it back to the bed, flumping back on her side while resting her on hers, her fluffy tail coming to rest in a protective curl over her exposed lower half, while Kat pulled the blankets back over to cover them.

Her purrs resumed while she got comfortable, her paw gently caressing Luci's messy bangs from her face, visible eye half-closed with a sleepy yawn, and a momentary happy blep.

"Mm.. you're right as always. Bed is nice. Told you getting up was gonna be bleh. Though.. guess in my case, it was more blargh. No more of that for a while, please.."

"I know.. neither of us were like.. prepared for this, at all. We haven't even had that ceremony you've been so giddy about planning."

She smiled a little, and squeezed her close when her head drops against her, just holding her while she shared her thoughts and fears, feeling the few floating tears that managed to escape, impacting with and soaking into her fur.

She bit her lip for a moment, her swaying tail gently curling around her shaking partner. For once, she needed to shelve her silly antics and speak with full sincerity.

"Listen, Luc.. we have a few months to decide. If they make it, I'm going to have this little one. If after they're born, we decide they're better off with another family.. then that's okay."

Still caressing her cheek, she leaned down to press a kiss to her forehead, eyes closing.

"I know it's scary. I'm.. terrified too. Halfie pregnancies are hellish.. especially with a pure parent.. from what Eden's told me before. But we have a responsibility to give them the best possible chance that we can. Even if they end up.. elsewhere."

Taking her hand from its placement on her chest, she laced their digits, and placed a kiss to the back of her hand.

"I will never ask more of you than you can give. And I will never resent you for making a choice prioritizing your comfort, okay? We'll figure out what's best in the end.. for all of us."

She grinned a little, her purrs starting up anew while she affectionately nuzzled her face into her hair.

"For now.. I will totes try not to throw up on you. Or the bed. Ooor any other easily-staining furniture. Pinky swear.~"

[rohankama]

He is laughed at, and it's expected, but he still feels justified in shooting the biggest pouting face he has at Olly. There can be whatever apologies he wants to give, Ro will still pout with a huff, because he meant what he said.

Life gave them too much bullshit last year. This soap opera stinks, and he wants out.

Mentions of an evil twin get a snort out of him, his pout broken by a smirk and a roll of his eye-light.

"I'll let you know if it's suddenly revealed I'm adopted." He adds dryly.

That was something else shitty soap opera's did, right? Even if that twist was very much impossible, at least it was more probable than evil twins. At least in his universe.

Knowing what he did about things way out of his control, he wouldn't be surprised if there was an evil twin somewhere out there in the ether.

He leans forward to stab at his ice cream again, because there was no reason to waste ice cream just for theatrics, only to about spit the spoon out as he starts laughing. Fucking hell, life as a dommy mommy was not the kind of dom he asked for.

He could only hope that this year, she'd get her head on straight and at least have the decency of providing aftercare. Because there was absolutely going to be more bullshit, he just fucking knew it.

With a shake of his head, he licks cream off his spoon and goes for another bite. Smiling in quiet acknowledgement of Olly's roundabout compliment.

( It was shit like that, right there, though Oliver really didn't seem to realize how flirtatious he sounded, that turned a slight infatuation into a crush. Even though it has long since turned to a fierce fondness, Ro could still privately think to himself, damn Oliver, you have class. )

"I suppose talking about things would be good..." He sighs, scrapping the side of his bowl to get some of the melted cream in his next bite. "But maybe I'd rather tantrum like a toddler about it instead. What then, hmm~?"

"...also there's just.. a lot. I'm not sure what to focus on..."

@rohankama

X

He listens, attentive and focused. Fingers brushing over the surface of the warm mug of tea. With everything that had been going on lately, he’d figured he should check in. While he had sent a couple messages to Fynn and Penny both, gotten some details. He’d tried his best not to push too much.

Even if he was worried. Especially after such an odd call from Fynn not long ago, vaguely speaking about Serpentine monsters that he needed to keep an eye out for and stay away from?

That didn’t exactly make much sense, considering there were quite a lot of Serpentine Monsters. While he couldn’t exactly call a few of them friends, there were some he was acquainted with.

Mostly from talking with some of the parents at pick up for Ki-ki. But conversations he had none the less.

Fear. Was what that message had been. And he didn’t like the sounds of that.

So naturally, once things had appeared to settle down a little. He took the opportunity to check in on his dear friend.

And it seemed things were about as bad as he expected.

Though he couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped him from Ro’s rather over the top exclamation, soon giving a small apologetic wave with his hand.

“Sorry, Sorry. I didn’t mean to laugh, It’s just…..this would be a horrid soap opera, though I suppose it would get quite the viewership going. Might need to add in an evil twin reveal somewhere though.” He gives a playful wink of his eye, with a soft shake of his head.

After taking a sip of his tea, he leans forward a little, as if he was about to whisper some sort of secret. “Well….life is a shitty dominatrix, she’s going to leave you sore and exhausted with no after care. And has a bad habit of dragging people back kicking and screaming for a second round.”

He taps his cheek some in thought for a moment. “As for why you specifically? Well, the strongest and often kindest people often face the most challenges.” He folds his hands together and rests his chin on them for a moment.

“In all seriousness though, Since there’s been no time for you to process….maybe going over it together would help a little? While we aren’t toddlers trying to learn the difference between dying and needing a drink. Sometimes breaking things down does help.”

[minifrenchfry-kabbit]

"I know.. neither of us were like.. prepared for this, at all. We haven't even had that ceremony you've been so giddy about planning."

She smiled a little, and squeezed her close when her head drops against her, just holding her while she shared her thoughts and fears, feeling the few floating tears that managed to escape, impacting with and soaking into her fur.

She bit her lip for a moment, her swaying tail gently curling around her shaking partner. For once, she needed to shelve her silly antics and speak with full sincerity.

"Listen, Luc.. we have a few months to decide. If they make it, I'm going to have this little one. If after they're born, we decide they're better off with another family.. then that's okay."

Still caressing her cheek, she leaned down to press a kiss to her forehead, eyes closing.

"I know it's scary. I'm.. terrified too. Halfie pregnancies are hellish.. especially with a pure parent.. from what Eden's told me before. But we have a responsibility to give them the best possible chance that we can. Even if they end up.. elsewhere."

Taking her hand from its placement on her chest, she laced their digits, and placed a kiss to the back of her hand.

"I will never ask more of you than you can give. And I will never resent you for making a choice prioritizing your comfort, okay? We'll figure out what's best in the end.. for all of us."

She grinned a little, her purrs starting up anew while she affectionately nuzzled her face into her hair.

"For now.. I will totes try not to throw up on you. Or the bed. Ooor any other easily-staining furniture. Pinky swear.~"

The plan had very much been not to look.

Katrina trusted that Luci would be able to determine if there were any abnormalities since she'd seen her soul just recently, though the pink speckling of the gene could potentially make things more difficult, maybe the contrast could actually be helpful.

She couldn't imagine trying to locate a teeny light in Luci's soul if the roles were reversed, when the swirls of pink more or less obscured her core. It was mesmerizing to look at, but definitely would complicate looking for any deviance from her norm.

Her fur fluffed up in reaction to the thrum of energy that shot straight through her, and in that moment, both she and her partner's attention had been simultaneously drawn to the glint of their tiny souling, in equal reaction to their mother's energy spike.

Rather than the "controlled" panic that had colored her mate's words and actions upon confirming her condition, a contrasting calm had washed through the typically anxious feline, gently caressing a thumb over the spot their little seed had come to rest and grow, just shy of the center of her core.

While she certainly hadn't planned on motherhood now, nor had they as a couple discussed the possibility of children as a concept yet.. she was sure she'd made her personal stance on the idea well known, from her ranting at Luci's deplorable grandmother.

Ghost kittens, as she recalled. The thought made her soul flutter.

With a slow breath, she gently pushed her soul back into her chest, giving herself a moment to be sure she wasn't about to get hit with morning sickness again, before she slowly rose onto her feet.

Luci was still in a poorly disguised frenzy, shaky voice breaking into stutters of high and low volume while she tried to compartmentalize and plan, but for this, she was very much out of her element.

Before she could continue to anxiously pace, she stepped into her path and gently wrapped comforting arms around her shorter partner, a low purr starting up in her chest, meant to soothe both of them.

"Lucinda.. love, take a breath. It's going to be alright. It's not like I'm in labor. No rush to this.. okay?"

A paw softly framed her face up to meet her gaze, pad lovingly caressing her metal cheek, with a hesitant smile, her stripey tail swaying calmly to and fro behind her.

She needed to know one thing, before moving forward with anything else. And as fiercely protective of the life they'd created that she already was.. she loved and respected her partner's wishes even more.

Her free paw gingerly took her smaller hand, moving it up to press it in the fluffy center of her chest, directly above the faint glow, and beat of her occupied soul.

"I love you, geode.. no matter what your decision is. But I have to.. ask it. Please be honest.. I can take it. Do.. you want this baby, Luci?"

[minifrenchfry-kabbit]

The plan had very much been not to look.

Katrina trusted that Luci would be able to determine if there were any abnormalities since she'd seen her soul just recently, though the pink speckling of the gene could potentially make things more difficult, maybe the contrast could actually be helpful.

She couldn't imagine trying to locate a teeny light in Luci's soul if the roles were reversed, when the swirls of pink more or less obscured her core. It was mesmerizing to look at, but definitely would complicate looking for any deviance from her norm.

Her fur fluffed up in reaction to the thrum of energy that shot straight through her, and in that moment, both she and her partner's attention had been simultaneously drawn to the glint of their tiny souling, in equal reaction to their mother's energy spike.

Rather than the "controlled" panic that had colored her mate's words and actions upon confirming her condition, a contrasting calm had washed through the typically anxious feline, gently caressing a thumb over the spot their little seed had come to rest and grow, just shy of the center of her core.

While she certainly hadn't planned on motherhood now, nor had they as a couple discussed the possibility of children as a concept yet.. she was sure she'd made her personal stance on the idea well known, from her ranting at Luci's deplorable grandmother.

Ghost kittens, as she recalled. The thought made her soul flutter.

With a slow breath, she gently pushed her soul back into her chest, giving herself a moment to be sure she wasn't about to get hit with morning sickness again, before she slowly rose onto her feet.

Luci was still in a poorly disguised frenzy, shaky voice breaking into stutters of high and low volume while she tried to compartmentalize and plan, but for this, she was very much out of her element.

Before she could continue to anxiously pace, she stepped into her path and gently wrapped comforting arms around her shorter partner, a low purr starting up in her chest, meant to soothe both of them.

"Lucinda.. love, take a breath. It's going to be alright. It's not like I'm in labor. No rush to this.. okay?"

A paw softly framed her face up to meet her gaze, pad lovingly caressing her metal cheek, with a hesitant smile, her stripey tail swaying calmly to and fro behind her.

She needed to know one thing, before moving forward with anything else. And as fiercely protective of the life they'd created that she already was.. she loved and respected her partner's wishes even more.

Her free paw gingerly took her smaller hand, moving it up to press it in the fluffy center of her chest, directly above the faint glow, and beat of her occupied soul.

"I love you, geode.. no matter what your decision is. But I have to.. ask it. Please be honest.. I can take it. Do.. you want this baby, Luci?"

Whether it had been from the sharp mint of the toothpaste, or she was just bound to get hit with a second wave, no sooner than Katrina had spit the foam from her mouth and was about to gargle water, she instead had to dive back for the toilet.

It was little more than bile at that point, but she still shook and heaved, pinned ears pricking upright when she heard her partner leaving the bed to join her in the bathroom, miserably dropping her head against the cool of the seat, as she panted a little.

She was embarrassed to be brought so low, so quickly, but she appreciated the supportive rubbing along her back, lifting her head to meet her fiancee's gaze with a confused blink at the request.

She was a notorious airhead, but it didn't take long for the puzzle pieces to click into place, eyes beginning to widen in realization.

Oh it was mortifying that it hadn't occurred to her sooner! All the times she'd had to watch and sympathize with her friends when they were carrying for other monsters, she'd been witness to it all!

The frequent waves of sickness, the fatigue and now that she was very aware of her own soul, beating hard in her chest - the subtle heaviness that evidently became smothering towards the end. All the early signs were there.

She dropped back hard on her fluffy ass, blinking mist from her eyes that had begun to brim. She was immediately conflicted, staring up into her partner's eyes with her ears folding back, fur reflexively bristled.

They were magically bonded now, when Luci had taken things further in a passionate moment, and shyly consented to letting their magic merge, Kat had been completely over the moon. After her semi-botched proposal, she certainly hadn't been expecting them to take another step forward in their relationship for a long time yet.

It'd been about a week, and the feline's worry that Luci would come to regret that impulsive decision had more or less faded, but with this new possibility, that insecurity reared its ugly head.

Would this finally be too much..? Would she backpedal again, pull away and leave her to handle this alone..? Or worse.. would she try and convince her to give up the souling to maintain their relationship..?

Part of her screamed that she would never do either, but her fear of abandonment was difficult to completely smother, especially if a little light was now part of the equation, too.

Blinking back the fearful tears, she exhaled a shaky breath and nodded, not trusting herself to speak. She closed her eyes and after a beat of hesitation, called her soul into her paws for the other to examine, visibly shaking a little but trying to steel herself for whatever came next, bristly tail thumping anxiously against the tile behind her.

[minifrenchfry-kabbit]

Whether it had been from the sharp mint of the toothpaste, or she was just bound to get hit with a second wave, no sooner than Katrina had spit the foam from her mouth and was about to gargle water, she instead had to dive back for the toilet.

It was little more than bile at that point, but she still shook and heaved, pinned ears pricking upright when she heard her partner leaving the bed to join her in the bathroom, miserably dropping her head against the cool of the seat, as she panted a little.

She was embarrassed to be brought so low, so quickly, but she appreciated the supportive rubbing along her back, lifting her head to meet her fiancee's gaze with a confused blink at the request.

She was a notorious airhead, but it didn't take long for the puzzle pieces to click into place, eyes beginning to widen in realization.

Oh it was mortifying that it hadn't occurred to her sooner! All the times she'd had to watch and sympathize with her friends when they were carrying for other monsters, she'd been witness to it all!

The frequent waves of sickness, the fatigue and now that she was very aware of her own soul, beating hard in her chest - the subtle heaviness that evidently became smothering towards the end. All the early signs were there.

She dropped back hard on her fluffy ass, blinking mist from her eyes that had begun to brim. She was immediately conflicted, staring up into her partner's eyes with her ears folding back, fur reflexively bristled.

They were magically bonded now, when Luci had taken things further in a passionate moment, and shyly consented to letting their magic merge, Kat had been completely over the moon. After her semi-botched proposal, she certainly hadn't been expecting them to take another step forward in their relationship for a long time yet.

It'd been about a week, and the feline's worry that Luci would come to regret that impulsive decision had more or less faded, but with this new possibility, that insecurity reared its ugly head.

Would this finally be too much..? Would she backpedal again, pull away and leave her to handle this alone..? Or worse.. would she try and convince her to give up the souling to maintain their relationship..?

Part of her screamed that she would never do either, but her fear of abandonment was difficult to completely smother, especially if a little light was now part of the equation, too.

Blinking back the fearful tears, she exhaled a shaky breath and nodded, not trusting herself to speak. She closed her eyes and after a beat of hesitation, called her soul into her paws for the other to examine, visibly shaking a little but trying to steel herself for whatever came next, bristly tail thumping anxiously against the tile behind her.

"Mhm.. when you're right, you're right.~"

The sleepy feline conceded when her partner snuggled back into her hold, flumping them both back onto their pillows, with a giggle when she nestled back into her chest fluff, letting her paw brush through her already-messy aqua locks, eyes beginning to close.

Tire began to crest over the icky feeling of nausea, but when her jaw was peppered with kisses, she snickered and peeked her eyes open again, the attention still drawing out steady purrs from her chest, lovingly pressing her fluffy head to hers.

"Def a good thing you're not a healer, you would maybe have to change careers. Because IIII- wouldn't want to share them. At the very least, you would have a pouty kitty waiting at home.~"

She pouted just to demonstrate her point, before poking out her tongue in a blep, and leaning in for a sneaky smooch to her blush-warmed cheek, her visible emerald eye shining with mischief.

"Good thing we don't have to worry about that."

Getting comfy again, she was about to pull their blankets back over them so they could get a bit more rest, until the nausea ramped up with a warning burn in her chest.

"Uh oh.. babe.. I need to get up."

Her fur was suddenly bristled up, ears pinned, and she swallowed a few times to keep the rising feeling at bay, having some experience in holding back sick at inopportune times, from her binge-drinking days. Not something she was proud of, but.. useful in this situation of not upchucking all over her partner.

When she was released, she hastily shoved back the blankets and darted for the en-suite bathroom, a paw slapped over her mouth as further assurance that she wouldn't make a mess to clean up later, making it to the toilet, assuming the position on her knees, and slamming the lid up just in time.

Thankfully she'd burned through most of dinner, so it was, in fact, just the contents of snacking that she retched, and coughed up into the bowl, slight tears in her eyes from the burn and the slight heaving of her chest as she expelled everything in her body, pressing her head against the cool of the seat when the feeling finally let up.

"I'm.. okay, Luci.. just gonna clean up, then I'll come back to bed.."

Shakily, she pushed herself up and flushed the sick down, staggering to the sink and washing her mouth out with water from the faucet, deciding to go the extra mile and brushing her teeth to rid herself of the aftertaste, tail wrapping around herself as a self-comfort reflex.

[minifrenchfry-kabbit]

"Mhm.. when you're right, you're right.~"

The sleepy feline conceded when her partner snuggled back into her hold, flumping them both back onto their pillows, with a giggle when she nestled back into her chest fluff, letting her paw brush through her already-messy aqua locks, eyes beginning to close.

Tire began to crest over the icky feeling of nausea, but when her jaw was peppered with kisses, she snickered and peeked her eyes open again, the attention still drawing out steady purrs from her chest, lovingly pressing her fluffy head to hers.

"Def a good thing you're not a healer, you would maybe have to change careers. Because IIII- wouldn't want to share them. At the very least, you would have a pouty kitty waiting at home.~"

She pouted just to demonstrate her point, before poking out her tongue in a blep, and leaning in for a sneaky smooch to her blush-warmed cheek, her visible emerald eye shining with mischief.

"Good thing we don't have to worry about that."

Getting comfy again, she was about to pull their blankets back over them so they could get a bit more rest, until the nausea ramped up with a warning burn in her chest.

"Uh oh.. babe.. I need to get up."

Her fur was suddenly bristled up, ears pinned, and she swallowed a few times to keep the rising feeling at bay, having some experience in holding back sick at inopportune times, from her binge-drinking days. Not something she was proud of, but.. useful in this situation of not upchucking all over her partner.

When she was released, she hastily shoved back the blankets and darted for the en-suite bathroom, a paw slapped over her mouth as further assurance that she wouldn't make a mess to clean up later, making it to the toilet, assuming the position on her knees, and slamming the lid up just in time.

Thankfully she'd burned through most of dinner, so it was, in fact, just the contents of snacking that she retched, and coughed up into the bowl, slight tears in her eyes from the burn and the slight heaving of her chest as she expelled everything in her body, pressing her head against the cool of the seat when the feeling finally let up.

"I'm.. okay, Luci.. just gonna clean up, then I'll come back to bed.."

Shakily, she pushed herself up and flushed the sick down, staggering to the sink and washing her mouth out with water from the faucet, deciding to go the extra mile and brushing her teeth to rid herself of the aftertaste, tail wrapping around herself as a self-comfort reflex.

Her quiet purring became more pronounced when she felt her partner's arms wrap around her waist, tufted ears lying back in contentment as her eyes closed, letting her head drop against the smaller monster's, holding her close.

She let out a small huff, with a playful puff of her cheek when Luci stirred from their loving embrace, to voice her concern over her well-being.

She appreciated it, truly.. she did, but she also didn't want to squander their extra, hard-won quality time together over something so minor, probably just ate something that didn't agree with her, or.. her notorious late-night snacking was the culprit, it was nothing serious.

"I'm fine, babe. Just some on and off nausea, bit of a headache. Doesn't feel like The Plague of Yester-Year."

She put plenty of emphasis on the title, both verbally and with spooky woo-woo paws, before they returned to their proper place, holding her fiancée close, planting a kiss against the top of her mussy bedhead, with a purring nuzzle of a whiskered cheek.

"I feel better already, from your like.. miraculous cuddles. Should have been a healer, not a restaurant owner. ~"

She sighed gently at the unease she could still feel radiating off of her partner, her fluffy tail-tip lightly tapping in her lap, but otherwise still in its possessive curl, ears pinned back in guilt for making light of things, when she was genuinely worried about her.

"If it gets any worse, I promise I'll stay home. Okay?"

[minifrenchfry-kabbit]

Her quiet purring became more pronounced when she felt her partner's arms wrap around her waist, tufted ears lying back in contentment as her eyes closed, letting her head drop against the smaller monster's, holding her close.

She let out a small huff, with a playful puff of her cheek when Luci stirred from their loving embrace, to voice her concern over her well-being.

She appreciated it, truly.. she did, but she also didn't want to squander their extra, hard-won quality time together over something so minor, probably just ate something that didn't agree with her, or.. her notorious late-night snacking was the culprit, it was nothing serious.

"I'm fine, babe. Just some on and off nausea, bit of a headache. Doesn't feel like The Plague of Yester-Year."

She put plenty of emphasis on the title, both verbally and with spooky woo-woo paws, before they returned to their proper place, holding her fiancée close, planting a kiss against the top of her mussy bedhead, with a purring nuzzle of a whiskered cheek.

"I feel better already, from your like.. miraculous cuddles. Should have been a healer, not a restaurant owner. ~"

She sighed gently at the unease she could still feel radiating off of her partner, her fluffy tail-tip lightly tapping in her lap, but otherwise still in its possessive curl, ears pinned back in guilt for making light of things, when she was genuinely worried about her.

"If it gets any worse, I promise I'll stay home. Okay?"

From X.

@olivethesecuties

When the feline had woken up with a small headache, plus a cresting rise and fall of fluctuating nausea, she was naturally, very reluctant to rise within the next hour or so.

When her fiancée began to stir and rolled over in their spooning position to face her, eyes still closed, Katrina couldn't help but drop her head onto her chest, and grumble her request for a lazy day-in, not exactly expecting Luci to try and grant it.

Tufted ears twitched when she felt her hands cupping her face, quiet purring starting up, complete with an affectionate nuzzle of her cheek against her stroking fingers, both half-closed eyes visible with her bangs being moved aside, able to quietly stare up at her companion, through her good, and blurred- defunct eye.

She smiled at the playful tap of her fingertip to her nose, but lamented the thought of letting the world burn in their bed all alone, with a muffled whine and outward stretch, arms wrapping around her mate to bury stubbornly in her side, fluffy tail swishing agitatedly beneath their blankets.

She otherwise remained quiet so Luci could conduct her calls in peace, opening her eyes and peeking up from her side when she delivered the news, it had sounded promising, but at the confirmation, she tightened her embracing grip, sitting up enough to pull her partner back against her fluffy, bare chest.

"I absolutely did not prearrange it, but bless Minnie and Lola. I gotta like.. get them something nice, or make sure to pick up shifts when they need it."

She nodded her head in compliance, her tail sweeping over to curl around her lover's lower half, carefully removing Luci's glasses to return to the nightstand, before framing her face against the soft pad of her paw, leaning in to pull her into warm kiss, with a soft giggle.

"I'll totes be ready to tolerate the world by the afternoon, promise.~"