Girl’s Night #2
"What do you mean? It was fair and square!" Thea argued, and then continued before Aaryn could further dismantle her memory. "Even if I didn't get mine that night, I got a version of it soon enough after that," Thea grumbled.
"Yes, you did," Aaryn said, and lifted a hand toward her face, brushing a thumb over the notch in her brow. "The first time I saw you with this I thought I'd perish."
Thea was going to pass out. "What do you mean?"
"Because it looks good on you."
Thea had no idea what to do with a compliment. So she blushed, got a little lightheaded from the relocation of so much blood, and cleared her throat.
Aaryn took mercy on her, a smile playing along her lips. Her gaze fell to the pipe as the party resumed, curious and eager. "How do I do this?" she asked.
Thea grinned, leaning forward and snagging the pretty pipe in her hands, along with the burn sticks provided by Maisy.
"These have a flame spell inside them," she said, and picked up a small stick. It was about the length of her pinky finger, no thicker than a blade of grass. "Activating it just requires a bit of friction, a breath of your own."
Thea struck it against a nearby rock and blew on the tip. It popped into a tiny flame, glowing brightly between them. "No magic required from the user." Aaryn gasped, and Thea's cheeks heated as her attention became so pointed.
"Just light the leaves and inhale through the mouthpiece," Thea explained, and held it out to her.
Aaryn shook her head and pushed it back. "Show me first!"
As Thea obeyed, Aaryn’s focus clung to her like honey, making her movements feel sticky and slow.
She held the burning stick to the leaves and inhaled the sweet smoke, showing Aaryn how to tap her finger to the hole to control the air flow. She swore she inhaled a bit of Aaryn, too. The cloud of smoke dissipated into the air.
"See?" Thea asked.
Aaryn nodded and slid her fingers in place of Thea's, their hands brushing as the wooden pipe exchanged ownership. Aaryn's smile was small and knowing. Thea felt hot, as if she were the one being set aflame and pulled into lungs.
She thought about suggesting that they stop adding kindling to the fire. The flames were big enough, weren't they, if Thea could feel them all the way back here?
Thea didn't want Aaryn to feel watched, but she couldn't stop her gaze from latching onto the way the mouthpiece rested on her full bottom lip.
"Gentle inhale," Thea coached. "Short, slow."
Aaryn's eyes flashed up as she followed the direction, inhaling softly. Then she pulled the pipe away, lip sticking to it just slightly, and Thea was—captivated.
She blew the smoke out easily and grinned. "It tastes nice! I don't know what I expected," she said as she handed the pipe back.
Thea took her turn and felt Aaryn’s stare brushing over her cheeks, the pipe resting between her lips, the hand curled around the handle of it. When her hands were free, she determined the jacket had to come off. She was melting.
Aaryn was mid-draw as Thea shrugged the jacket off one arm, and the chill of the night air brushed her bare skin and finally, relief—
Aaryn sputtered on the smoke, eyes wide, and Thea tossed the jacket off before taking the pipe suddenly thrust in her direction.
"Oh, scales—" Aaryn wheezed.
Choking back giggles, Thea winced on her behalf and patted her shoulder. "You okay?"
"Yes," Aaryn bit out, and if Thea wasn't mistaken, her pouty little glare was fixed on Thea's… arms?
"It happens to us all," Thea offered, in case she was embarrassed.
"How long does it take to set in?" Aaryn asked.
"Just a few minutes."
Those minutes passed as they finished the pipe and leaned against the tree, watching everyone dance and laugh and drink.
Thea felt it settle in, her body a bit heavier, her mind a little lighter.
Aaryn leaned harder into her and for a moment it was just like waking up together, pressed against each other. Their consciousness made it more visceral.
"This is nice," Aaryn finally said, long, syrupy moments later. "The fire is sparkly."
Thea chuckled softly, finding Aaryn impossibly adorable while under the effects of the blooms.
"Vaelen arranged one of these my first night back," Thea admitted. "I slept on the moss."
"Ah. Stealing my dragon was something to celebrate then?" Aaryn teased, and it lacked the usual heat when the subject arose.
Thea pursed her lips. "I like to think it's because everyone missed me."
"They must have," Aaryn agreed. "I mean, you were gone for months, right?"
"Years," Thea reminded her.
Aaryn was quiet for a long moment. "Everyone here adores you. I bet it felt good to be back," Aaryn said, and stood suddenly. "Even I can admit this place is preferable to Evergale," she muttered, holding out a hand. "Let's go walk around."
Thea stared up at her, backed by the firelight as if she were a goddess or something else as devastating. She placed a hand in Aaryn's, let her pull Thea to her feet.
Thea did not release her hand, and their arms swayed lazily as they walked around the party. They giggled at drunken dancing and said hello to familiar faces, bumping into each other more often than not, and comfortable with the proximity.
Thea’s heart pounded along with their footsteps, and a happy cheer sounded from near the fire. She recognized those cheers, the hisses of burnt fingers.
"Do you want a fire potato?" Thea asked.
"No way," Aaryn said, mouth agape. "I haven't had one of those in years."
Thea battled the hot flames—too soon?—and stole two potatoes for themselves before leading them over to the table with herbs and salts and butter.
Aaryn and Thea were generous with their butter and herbs before digging into the too-hot spuds. Thea waved a hand in front of her mouth, whining pitifully as it burned, but Aaryn laughed, so it was worth it.
And it was delicious.
The commotion of the party had caught the attention of a few dragons, and they padded around, sinking down to feel the warmth of the fire. People lounged on them as long as they welcomed it.
A particularly grumpy dragon kept his space to himself, and the party gave him a wide berth.
Aaryn sighed as she took it all in, and Thea couldn't help but admire her.
"Can I admit something, and be spared from the 'I told you so'?"
Thea waved her head back and forth. "Hmm, maybe. Depends on what it is."
Aaryn rolled her eyes, nudging her playfully before she finally said, "I love it here."
Something fluttery and bright burst in Thea's chest at the admission, and any tease she had prepared died on her lips.
"I mean, there's dragons just… here! With us. I'm still not used to it. And I feel so connected to everyone here, actually helping others, instead of being trapped in a castle. I know, woe is me." She shook her head. "You know what I mean."
"I do," Thea agreed. "I'm glad you see it too."
Aaryn smiled at her, genuine, real, a little giggly.
Thea studied her for a moment amongst the firelight, heart straining with an emotion she was used to pushing away, shoving down.
Out of sight, out of mind. But suddenly it was overwhelming and big and Thea was so glad that Aaryn was here. With her.
Clinging to her arm.
"You're staring," Aaryn told her, but she did not look or sound upset about it.
"You're worth staring at." The admission slipped out before Thea could think about it.
Aaryn's cheeks heated, and when she was all shy like that, Thea's chest went so full with affection. "I'm glad you're here with me. You're too good for them," Thea blurted.
Aaryn tilted her head to the side in question. It was so fucking cute Thea wanted to—wanted to— "Evergale," she explained. "I hated how they got their claws into you. You were always too good for them."
Aaryn turned toward her, cheeks aflame. "Well, it's a good thing you rescued me."
Thea huffed out a chuckle, bumped their shoulders together, then swayed back into place until they were resting again. "Not without hardship, thanks to a certain someone."
Aaryn laughed, the sound a pleasant chime. "You should've been less scary."
"Scary?" Thea questioned in disbelief.
Aaryn nodded. "And mysterious."
"I don't think we had the same experience," Thea mused.