assorted non-canon and AU threads

[aesculapian]

who wants delicious post-forest terribleness

Comments

[rootless]

Okay.

[turns and. oh. cute.]

Oh. Cute.

[miraculess]

[ —BLUSHES, but. doesn't grump.

(snake knows her partner. and when to make comments about how she shouldn't fuss over comments like that when she specifically wanted to wear a cute thing.) ]

Thank you...?

[rootless]

[just. shrugs. not really sure how to follow up on that.]

[miraculess]

[ we're good at this... rubbing at the flush on her unscarred cheek and then ducking around him to get at his hair ]

...I used to be fairly good at this, but it's been a while, so let me know if I pull too hard or anything like that.

[rootless]

[tips his head cooperatively, letting her at his hair without worry at them being behind him.]

You'll probably have to pull, with the state it's in. But I will.

[miraculess]

[ lets out an almost gleeful sounding soft huff ]

Don't underestimate me. If I pull, I'm doing it wrong.

[ going for a bit near the bottom and starting to pick the knots loose ]

[rootless]

Aah, so it's a challenge now.

[miraculess]

[ matter-of-fact ]

I'm competitive.

[rootless]

Good luck beating my hair.

[miraculess]

[ ...would mentioning her old track record for mauling opponents be an appropriate if awful joke here...

nah, better not. combing intensifies; after about a minute she hums thoughtfully and then snorts a startled sort of laugh ]

Oh, for goodness' sake— mmm, I don't suppose you would be willing to trade a flower crown to the vain lump of bone I call a partner in exchange for a hairbrush and something to help detangle?

[rootless]

--A flower crown?

[miraculess]

A flower crown. She likes to ask for things like that when it comes to smaller trades...

[rootless]

She likes cute things, huh...

I can do a flower crown, easy.

[aesculapian]

I do like cute things ... I accept the terms of your repayment.

[ she sounds really smug. ]

[rootless]

It'll have to wait until after, though. Is that alright?

[aesculapian]

It is. Some things can be paid for after ...

[ still combing through his hair, with no discernible difference between her and when her host was doing it ]

[rootless]

Mmkay. I'll make a good one.

[aesculapian]

Thank you very much.

[rootless]

Any flower preference? Of the local ones.

[aesculapian]

Larkspur, please? Lycoris or aconite are also good ....

[rootless]

I can do that.

[aesculapian]

[ pleased sort of hum ]

Lilith will like that, too.

[ ...their hands stop for a moment, before continuing. don't tell him that ]

[rootless]

[so that's her name... Tips his head to look between Snake's teeth.]

Favorite flowers?

[miraculess]

[ that's not hard at all; her mouth has stayed mostly open throughout the switching, aside from that initial snap. he can actually see them switch control; Lilith's gaze and expression in general are sharper, both more focused and more closed off ]

Something like that...

...We were tested in groups, rather than singly, and each one was represented by a flower. Larkspur was mine; the other two were teams some friends of mine were on.

[rootless]

That's pretty different...

All right. Larkspur, then, and the others if I can find them.