" Oh, Quite Hectic, But... " She Trails Away, Smiling Fondly At Her Memories Of Aurora. " It's Worth

" oh, quite hectic, but... " she trails away, smiling fondly at her memories of aurora. " it's worth it, i believe. " agatha tells him, looking back up at him. sure, there were moments that caused great worry or frustration, and of course there was the whole ordeal with ny herlighed, but she doesn't regret having aurora with maren. not one bit. they love their daughter dearly. there isn't anything they wouldn't do for her to make sure she's safe and happy.

" and i think you'd be an amazing father, sanji. " she likes to think they've been friends long enough to be able to tell him that and be sure of it. " i doubted myself, too. i think it's natural for everyone that wants kids to doubt themselves, but it's really maren that convinced me that i'd be a good mother. " agatha reaches out, resting a hand on his upper arm. " any kid you have in the future would want you as their dad, sanji. "

as she sees him blush now, she can't help but giggle. " oh, sanji. come on, you're sharing this with me. " agatha's smile grows and she takes his hand, tugging him into the room at the back of her shop. it was part workspace and part relaxation area, a worktable and supplies at one end and a couch with a coffee table at the other. she sits, making herself comfortable. " eat with me sanji, please? "

At her claim, Sanji gifted her a beaming grin. His fluttery, flirtatious behavior had stopped once he learned she was happily taken, but that would never stop him from spoiling her and her family. She was a brilliant woman, one who deserved care of every kind, and he was glad to be one of the ones privileged enough to call her a friend. And he firmly believed that even friends ought to be spoiled now and again.

"Having a kid sounds hectic. I wonder if I'd be able to pull it off." The ideas of having a little one of his own had sprung to mind more than once, but the fact that he was single always made that idea feel like an awful one. He knew of brilliant single parents, but he wanted a proper family, like the one Agatha had.

He would have to wait, however, as it seemed he couldn't take care of himself. Now it was his turn to blush and give a sheepish smile.

"I was so worried about making sure you had something to eat that I didn't make myself anything. I wouldn't want to take any of it from you, though!"

" mm, the flowers, the slightly warmer weather. i'll miss the snow, though. " she admits with a soft laugh, wrapping her arm around meepho's waist after they lean against her. " business is always good during the spring, though, so that's something i'll be looking forward to as well. " agatha looks at them, her smile growing. " what about you? what are you looking forward to? "

Smiling Meepho leans against her, their tail wags. "I'm glad you aren't worried over it anymore." They kissed her cheek once more. "What are you looking forward the most with the season? The flowers?"

her breath hitches, heart pounding harshly against her ribs as she hears his approaching footsteps. she was really hoping the man would assume it was just an animal that snapped the twig and somehow managed to flee quickly enough to get out of sight. it seems luck is not on agatha's side for that. okay, okay, calm down. she just has to wait for him to not notice her and return to his camp. she just has to remain calm, to quiet her breathing and soothe the thundering of her heart against her ribs. when he leaves, she can make her getaway, but she doesn't hear his footsteps retreating.

at the sound of the man's voice, who is much bigger up close than she assumed he would be, her gaze flickers upward, wide and startled. so he could see her? while most of her body blends in easily enough with the surrounding foliage, it's her pink speckled skin that is the hardest to hide. maybe one could assume, at first glance, it was a patch of pink wildflowers among the green, but he doesn't seem to be fooled. a shame her wings can't hide her body better. what agatha would give for him to look away or leave so she can take that chance to flee to safety.

her frilled ears lift, no longer flattened against her skull. could she really trust him? she sniffs the air, smelling another dragon on him. does he hunt them? she doesn't smell any blood on him... is his dragon a companion, perhaps? agatha lifts herself up, staying out of his reach as she moves around him to inspect him. " who... w-who a-are you? " she asks timidly, her gaze wary now as she looks up at him. did he hear of her? is he here to kill her? tame her? agatha isn't sure yet.

@despairforme / cont. from here.

I promise, I’m fine. I just look tired a lot, thanks to… the tiredness. / offers hazel @ soryn

lack of sleep. / accepting!

soryn understands well enough that work is demanding, certain fields were even more so. still, that doesn't negate that working oneself to the bone is a completely unhealthy thing to do. " come now, hazel. let us get you to the nearest on-call room. " soryn visited to ask if she'd like to get lunch with them, but seeing just how exhausted she looked, they opted to suggest rest instead. they turn her chair away from the computer and move to face her, taking one of her hands and pulling her up to stand, tugging her to the on-call room. they're not sure if they're even allowed in this room since they're neither a doctor or a nurse, but if someone questioned them, they'll just explain themself and leave if absolutely necessary. for now, however, soryn just wants to make sure hazel gets some much needed rest. " lay down, okay? i will sit right here and keep you company. "

that's... not quite the answer she was hoping for. agatha looks away. " i-i'm j-just trying to make this dumb trip m-more bearable. " that, and she didn't much care for silence. sure, she could focus on other sounds, like the birdsong around them, the wind in the grass and trees, the footsteps of her horse, anything, but she can't deny her curiosity and a desire to talk.

" b-besides, i'm sure it's m-m-more o-obvious to you why my title is w-what it is than why your title is what it is. " is it the pale, ethereal skin that she can scarcely see any of? is it how quiet he is? maybe it's something to do with what she assumes to be a real skull obscuring his features. agatha's gaze flickers to the especially large maned wolf, who he seems more, if only slightly, conversational with. how long has he known the wolf? because it's clear to her that they can understand each other.

agatha's gaze flickers back up to ghost. she knows he owes her no answers, nor she to any questions he may decide to ask, but it isn't going to stop her from asking anyway. it takes a lot to sate her curiosity, and even then, she can always find more to ask about. " d-do you know why he prefers to— t-t-to b-be called 'soap'? "

   "ye  cannae  be  picky  where  our  money  comes  from,  si." 

   the  words  of  his  werewolf  echo  through  the  elf's  mind,  idly  glancing  down  at  him,  happily  trotting  along,  carting  ghost  with  him.  his  hand  brushes  against  the  wolf's  mane,  gently  petting  him.  a  discreet  action,  though  one  that  earns  a  soft  huff  from  the  canine.  a  smile  crosses  his  face  beneath  his  mask.  if  only  they  didn't  have  to hide  everything.  he  could  be  listening  to  johnny's  incessant  bubbly  chatter. 

   instead  -  he  gets  his  charge  talking  to  him.  something  that  causes  a  scowl  to  immediately  cross  his  features.  it's  the  stiffening  of  johnny  under  him  that  causes  him  to  reel  himself  in.  right.  the  money,  they're  here  for  that.  a  roll  of  his  eyes,  making  sure  he's  facing  forward  so  she  doesn't  see  it. 

   "why  do  they  call  you princess?"  he  shoots  back,  keeping  a  neutral  tone  as  best  he  can.  his  voice  is  gravelly  and  rough  -  fitting  of  a  man  of  his  stature.  fitting  for  a  man  wearing  a  literal skull  over  his  mask.  "why  does  'e  prefer  t'  be  called soap?"  he  motions  to  the  wolf,  who  snorts  in  response.  both  are  seemingly  pointless  questions,  just  as  he  viewed  hers  as. 

   "ain't  privy  to  your  life."  he  remarks  with  a  grunt.  "you  ain't  privy  t'  ours  either.  si'  an'  look  pre'y.  do  your  job.  we'll  do  ours."

i'd yet to post this here, but i lost my mother in april. due to it being sudden, we have no way of paying for cremation, which will cost us around $1800. my dad had to beg for a payment plan and the funeral home expects $500 by next month. i would ask for the full amount but if i can just at least get the $500 as soon as possible, i would truly appreciate it so very much. thank you for reading this far, anything helps and my paypal is allfr0gs