#their tummy is not prepared for OSM hehe

[ginger-and-mint]

Request: Character A has a rather sensitive tummy but they happen to be best friends with Character B who enjoys a big party every now and again! The two of them are enjoying a night of festivities and A is slowly starting to feel achy and unwell, but they’re reluctant to pull B away since B is usually kind of serious and they’re enjoying seeing them have so much fun! Finally though it gets to be too much and either A caves or B notices anyways. C; Rubs and cuddles ensue!

Generic A+B Placeholder Version: Here Confused? Read this!

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It was the sausage bites that did Si in. Up until that stupid little tray came around the room, they’d felt perfectly fine. More than fine, even. The food was good, the drink was better, and best of all, Ryder was having a blast. It was such a special treat to see that man kick up his heels for once and let his usual serious reserve melt away.

So when Ryder had gripped Si’s arm—a little harder than he normally did, they noticed—and insisted they had to try the sausage bites, which were so good, one of the best things the kitchens sent up—well, Si could not resist humoring him and taking a handful.

In all fairness, the sausage bites were delicious. It was just that they were also greasy, and that Si’s stomach was already very full of a heavy dinner, a number of drinks, and a more party snacks than they’d been able to keep track of. A stretched-out sensation pulsed above their navel as they swallowed the last scrap of sausage, and they placed a hand on it gingerly. Their tummy felt a little like a balloon, taut and rather rounder than they were used to. But it wasn’t so bad.

The first sign of real trouble didn’t come until ten minutes later, when a cramping sensation suddenly gripped their stomach. They winced and shifted from foot to foot, hoping maybe it had just been tough bit of meat or a spot of grease going down. But the seed of discomfort only grew, twisting and churning until it was hard to focus on the lengthy story Ryder’s friend was telling through all the fuss their tummy was making.

They reached for Ryder’s hand as soon as a break arose in the conversaion. “Hey—”

“Would you hold this for a moment?” Ryder asked, passing them his glass. “Want to get another plate of snacks. Oh, and wait here for me, will you? I see Cornelia across the room, I don’t think I’ve introduced the two of you yet—you’ll like her, Si, you really will.”

He was so enthusiastic, so full of life. Si just couldn’t bring themselves to ruin his mood.

“Go on,” they said with a smile, taking the glass and swallowing the rest of their words. Their tummy gurgled ominously in repsonse.

The ache got steadily worse. Si could feel themselves growing restless, falling silent in conversations. Standing up straight became a struggle. They crossed their arms over their chest, hunching their shoulders and trying to keep a little light pressure where the pain was worst, but it only did so much good. Finally, they admitted defeat and slipped away to a beanbag that had been shoved into a quiet corner.

Sitting down helped a little, but no position could relieve the achy pressure of all the food they had eaten. It really had been too much. Back in Tideway, they were known for eating like a bird—snacking on fruit and nuts, having tiny meals that somehow sustained their boundless energy. Oppendorff, with all its rich foods and indulgent banquets, was a whole different world.

These di-mages, they thought ruefully, they’re going to be the death of me, aren’t they? Under their hands, their tummy grumbled its mournful agreement.

Oh, it hurt. Si bit their lip as they pressed their hands against the sore curve of it, flinching at the vicious squeezing sensation they got in return. Pressure rose up and tightened their throat, like they needed to burp, but nothing came out. Instead they swallowed heavily, clutching at their stomach as it bubbled and groaned.

They tried singing a little healing spell under their breath, but their stomach was aching so much that the magic wouldn’t come. There was nothing to be done but wait out the pain. They really hadn’t wanted to, but maybe they were going to have to leave the party early and go lie in bed….

A familiar voice cut through their thoughts. “Si?”

Si quickly took their hands off their belly and shoved them behind their back. “Oh! Hey, Ryder.”

Their friend crouched down next to them, his eyes a little unfocused but still full of sweet, warm, adorable concern. “Are you all right?”

“Course I am. I’m doing great.”

“I don’t think you are. You look like you’re in pain.”

“Uh, I mean… I guess I… I’ve kinda got a tummyache.” They grinned weakly. “You di-mages are killing me with all this food. I’ll be fine, though, I promise! Go back and join the party.”

Ryder looked deeply offended. “Si. I am a soother.”

“I know you are, dear, you never stop talking abou—”

“Then don’t insult me by presuming I would ever leave you to sit here by yourself in pain.” Ryder reached out and placed a hand against the side Si’s belly. They flinched a little—it was still pretty weird to them how casually di-mages touched each other there—but quickly relaxed into the touch as Ryder’s fingers stroked up over the tender flesh, sending a little curl of relief through the sharp ache.

“You feel very bloated,” he concluded, and then added in a softer voice, “Poor thing. Come on, let’s take you somewhere quiet.”

Si shook their head. “Seriously Ryder, I’ll be all right. I mean, I don’t feel very good but I can just go to my room and—” their voice quivered a little with discomfort as Ryder took their elbow and lifted them to their feet “—l-lie down, or something. I don’t want you to miss out on your party!”

“Don’t be silly. I can party any day.”

Si frowned at him. “Um, no you can’t. You can, on the other hand, hang out with me literally any day of the—”

“Be quiet and come along,” said Ryder, in a tone that brooked no argument, and Si felt a little dizzy with affection as they were shepherded down the hallway, past the back areas of the Soothing Room, and up the short flight of steps to Ryder’s apartment.

“Couch,” Ryder told them, pointing. “Do you feel nauseous at all?”

“No. Just… kinda like I’ve eaten ten pounds of molten rock.” Si sank onto the couch and folded both hands over their belly.

“Did you eat something that didn’t agree with you, or just too much?”

“Ughhh. Both, probably.” They smirked bemusedly at the little vial Ryder held as he joined them on the couch. “Is this one of your magic medicines?”

“It’s called tonic, thanks very much. And it works.” Ryder tried to remove the stopper, but his fingers fumbled over the vial and nearly dropped it. Si had to snatch it out of his hands and open it themselves.

“You are so drunk,” they giggled, and then moaned at the twinge of discomfort brought on by the movement.

Ryder snorted reproachfully. “You are a master of hyperbole, as always. I’m scarcely tipsy.”

“Well, I’m gonna—” Si interrupted themselves with another strained sound that didn’t quite manage to be a burp “—buy you a bottle of wine for this.”

“You’ll do no such thing. Stop fussing, drink your tonic, and lie down.”

Si groaned at the idea of putting anything else in their stomach, but the tonic was only a mouthful of liquid and it tasted pleasantly minty. After it was down, Ryder helped Si settle onto their back, so that their head was resting in his lap. With one hand, he gently unfastened their hair from the elastic and smoothed it out. With the other, he reached down and began to deftly stroke the sides of their swollen stomach.

“Ughhh.” Si squirmed in his hold. “Please don’t press too hard.”

“You’ve got air trapped in your belly, Si. It needs to come out.”

“I’m not trying to hold it in! It just—it feels stuck.”

Ryder’s fingers began patting, gently but firmly, slowly moving from Si’s sides up and over the crest of their belly. A sound like water bubbling through a rusty pipe squeezed through Si’s insides, and then suddenly they let out a burp so big it almost hurt their throat.

“Oh my goodness,” they gasped, partly from shock and partly from relief. “That was… disgusting.”

“That was necessary.” Ryder’s voice held a gentle teasing note. He rubbed his fingers into another grumbly place on Si’s belly, chuckling as they got out few more soft belches. “We di-mages are not known for our elegance.”

“Ugh.” Si closed their eyes. “Thank the—urp—thank the Creator I was born a song-mage.”

“And yet you ended up here in Oppendorff anyway.” Ryder switched from his patting motion to rubbing broad, gentle circles, and Si hummed softly with how good it felt. The sharp pains in their tummy were gone now that the air was out, and Ryder’s warm hands were helping their belly relax around the heaviness that remained.

Several long, peaceful minutes passed that way—the two of them pressed together on the couch, Ryder administering his gentle touches and Si sinking deeper and deeper into him. Everything was soft and warm, and Si could hear nothing except the occasional grumbles of their own stomach and the steady sounds of Ryder’s breathing.

“Bet the party’s gone and died without you there,” they mumbled eventually. Their eyelids were starting to feel heavy.

“I had more important things to attend to.” Ryder’s fingers moved softly over Si’s hair. “I’d rather be here.”

They made a quiet happy sound. “You’re the best, you know that?”

“You tell me often enough.” The hand on Si’s tummy came to a rest, lying warmly on the fullness under their ribs. The grumbling had settled, and nothing stirred under Ryder’s fingers as he gave the slight bulge a gentle pat. “Feeling better?”

“Much.” A little yawn played over Si’s lips. “Hope you don’t mind if I… fall asleep right….”

They never finished the sentence.