Private Parties

Mon, 20 Apr 2020 09:59:57 GMT

Prompt response for ysabetwordsmith, in response to the 4/18-4/19 Crowdfunding Creative Jam! The theme was 'Secrets', the prompt was 'Private Parties'.

Content warnings: Vague mentions of maladaptive behavior, playful shittalking. Other than that, none- basically entirely fluff, in a setting where no one has to worry about social distancing.

( Read more... )
"So, what are we doing, exactly? Because I don't think you've told me."

Zan trails behind the two girls, their hands in their pockets, as they look around the forest. There's no missing the very obvious path grown for them to walk on, lined by thornless vines on either side. It's picturesque, like a cute little fairytale. Ahead, Maggie and Lain walk with an air of familiarity, the bird girl trailing a hand over the vines.

Lain turns to walk backwards, hands coming up to sign. "We're going to set up energy sources for Bella, and a projector. I finished a blueprint for a set that have enough failsafes to prevent any catastrophic collateral damage from failures."

"Right. Okay. That makes sense. And you're sure I'm not going to have Eldritch Clifford giving me the wooly eye with the forest burning down around us?"

A hand wiggles a little. "I've been practicing my extinguishing, and I tested it. It'll be fine."

It's a little reassuring, at least. Still, as the responsible 'adult' of the group, Zan resolves quietly to be ready, just in case.

When they arrive at the greenwitch's home, Bella's already out and waiting for them- and the cat-like creature sprawled out in a sunbeam soon reveals that she isn't alone, as it stretches, straightening out into a girl around Maggie's height. One golden eye roams over the crowd, her lips pulling back to reveal canid teeth as she grins, waving to them, and Maggie waves back enthusiastically.

"Tria! You're gonna help us out today, then?" An eager nod meets the question, and Maggie grins back at her, fistpumping the air. "Awesome! This'll be great. Alright, Lain, show us what to do!"

As all eyes turn to Lain, she stiffens, for a moment. Her face remains impassive as her gaze scans over the grouping, and her fingers stroke subtly over the cuffs of her sleeve, feeling the soft catch-and-slide of the cloth beneath her fingers.

A chittering against her ears draw her eyes to her tarantula, his dark metals gleaming in the afternoon light, and she lets out the breath she hadn't been consciously holding, lifting her eyes and hands.

"Alright. So here's what we need to do first."

Day has given way to a chilly dusk by the time their efforts are finished. The teenagers drop into a bed of thick clover, sprawled out to let the cold seep into tired muscles. Around them, small bits of metal gleam in the fading light- a solar panel here, a tiny rain turbine there.

Getting the gear into place hadn't been easy. Getting it to stay there, even harder. Eventually, a solution had been worked out, with Maggie riding on Zan's shoulders, holding the equipment in place, as Bella's vines grew up to secure them there.

But the results- if this worked- will be worth it. And once they've caught their breaths a bit, their attention lifts back to the fruits of their labor. Lain's eyes slide to Bella, and she lifts her hands, signing.

"Ready to try it out?"

Bella grins, rolling over onto her stomach as she props herself up on her elbows. The others scramble into more comfortable viewing positions, as they twist around to watch-

And with a twist of her hand, the curtain drops, the vines looped around the white tarp whipping loose, letting it unroll to hang down. A few taps on her phone- and the projector hums to life, the red and black splash of Netflix's dashboard coming to life. A vine reaches out the window, trading off a bowl to another and retreating for a second, ferrying the snacks down the trunk of the treehouse in a floral conveyor belt.

Zan's eyes flick to Maggie as she lays claim to the bowl of apple chips, settling a wing around them like a shield, the protective gesture not going unnoticed. But before they can start to analyze it, Bella's voice breaks the silence.

"Taking votes now, what are we watching first?"

"Fury Road!" "Wicked!" "Naruto!"

(That last one is met with pelted food, and laughter, and one "That's not a fucking movie you piece of shit weaboo!")

Memery gives way to more laughter, playful shoving- but in the end, they settle down, wriggling in closer together to share warmth as the opening notes of the movie roll in the secrecy of the forest.

"This. Is Berk."

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Private Parties