mincingminuet | Recolle Inbox

[And there it is. There's the sun.]

[Freya sighs gently, curling Pen closer to her, even though the light coming through the window meant they had to get up. She's been awake for a little while now, but just lying here drifting in and out in a warm nest of blankets with the woman she loved--that was good enough.]

[Reluctantly, Freya leans her head forward to press her lips to Pen's shoulder.] Mornin'.

[The sun. The cursed lamp that stops sleep.

Pen had been a little better about getting her act together in the early morning. Not all the time, but she's improving. Grumbling comes naturally, but today's different. She wakens easily enough, smiling warmly and rolling over to grin at her love.]

Morning. Didn't sleep too late, did we?

[Not that they had anywhere to be...]

Nah.

[Freya smiles back, gently bumping their foreheads together.]

Sun woke me up. Thought I shouldn't be the only one to suffer. [She says with feigned woe.]

Rude.

[With mock annoyance.]

Slept like a log anyway. Real comfy, having you here.

[Pen rolls off and out of bed, stretching almost lazily.]

More energy than normal, today. Maybe I'm getting used to it.

[Freya's reluctant to let go, letting her fingers linger over Pen's arm as the smaller woman leaves her grasp. She knows she's been clingier, since she blacked out in Magatus, but it was hard to help.]

No idea what it could be. Can't imagine havin' a regular sleep cycle bein'...

[And Freya trails off as she sat up, staring at Pen as she stretched. Was... that a trick of the light? The smaller woman looked... leaner. Freya knew she was going to the gym more with Felicia, but that was no way Freya wouldn't have noticed that kind of difference.]

[Clingy Pen didn't mind, though it hadn't gone unnoticed. Much like the way her partner trails off. At first she suspects it's the tattoos, or maybe her backside...but no, that wouldn't generate that much of a stare.]

What? Something wrong?

[Spinning, she folds her arms over her chest, the sleeping top a touch looser than it had been.]

[Freya blinks, and nods her head towards Pen.]

Look at your arms. [Was that tone? It definitely looked like tone.]

[Worried now, but not overly since Freya wasn't freaking out...Pen looks at her arms.

And then yelps.]

What?!

What the heck?!

[Squeeze.]

...This was not there last night.

Sure wasn't.

[Freya slides out of the bed, tilting her head curiously as she approached. She touches her hand to Pen's forearm, moving it up across the bicep to the shoulder. Well, damn. It was the real thing.]

Alright, what'd you do? Been to the other cities?

I went to Magatus with Sanji, like I said.

[That for sure.]

And we went up to Respartam. But that's it? Other than working out, I haven't done anything unusual.

[She frowns, running a hand down her stomach. Then pulling her shirt up.]

...Are those abs?

[...well fine, just encourage her, why don't you.]

[When Pen pulls her shirt up, Freya hums thoughtfully ("thoughtfully"). Her hand makes its way to her partner's stomach, and Freya makes a little noise of approval.]

You know, maybe you're right. Maybe those're abs. [And, a little more seriously,] Think it's like my scars?

[She will. Only, she hums thoughtfully instead of laughing at the touch.]

Maybe? I mean, I think I'll ask if people have had this happen before. But that's the only sensible conclusion.

I got magic abs.

I'm not complaining. [That hand starts wandering a bit, making another appreciative pass at her partner's new stomach before settling on her hip, thumb tracing new ridges of muscle.] Not at all.

[Pen grins.]

You're the last person I expect to complain. Though I bet people are going to cry cheater.

[Vera. Soleil. Felicia.]

How about that. I'm part of the muscle club.

Let 'em. Glad to have you, pretty girl. [Freya kisses her cheek.] I just get luckier with you every day, don't I?

[Pen actually blushes this time and leans in, gripping Freya's arms.]

Maybe. But I was lucky from day one.

[The proximity though...]

You got a new mark, yourself. [She runs a finger near the Brand.]

What's it mean? Do you know?

[Freya laughs, a quiet "heh," in response to Pen's own adoring comment. Christ, what a pair of love-struck idiots they were sometimes.]

[But there's that question she'd been avoiding. Freya had hoped if she never drew attention to it, she wouldn't have to speak of it. She's a good enough liar to shrug it off, but knowing the nature of it...]

[It didn't feel right. Even as Pen's attention reminded her of the Brand's presence, reminded her of everything she'd trying to forget and invited cold to settle into stomach, Freya smiled back at her partner, if not as joyfully as she had a moment ago. It's a lot harder to be nervous when you're honest, she figured.]

...Yeah. Don't think I'm ready to talk about it. I'll tell you soon, promise. Just gotta make sure of something, first.

[Pen felt something was wrong, knew something was wrong. Freya didn't hide things from her, and she was fairly positive she'd know of her partner lied to her. But this wasn't that.

Her lips purse, but she doesn't press. If it's something that Freya needs time to figure out, then it's something she needs time to figure out. She can trust her, with that. It isn't as though she's asking for a lot.

So, she nods and slips forward, hugging her girlfriend and pecking her cheek.]

Of course. I trust your word. But if there's something I can do to help, you tell me, okay?

[She expects to be let in on the secret eventually, that feels like a given.]

[And just like that. Freya lets out half a breath she didn't think she was holding, warmly returning the hug. Even with that blessing, it still felt wrong to keep from the shorter woman, but... Freya had to be absolutely sure before she sent the girl into a panic.]

[Christ, she loved Penelope. It was a bittersweet thought, now, and Freya had to remind herself to back away from it before she dwelt too much.]

Thanks. Means a lot. [One of her hands splays against Pen's back in the hug, determined to get to know the new contours before everything went to shit.] I mean it. Won't be long.

[Pen just nods, not wanting to further bother her partner with questions she didn't want to answer. it was a little weird, but she was adept enough at conversation to try and change the subject.

Holding tight, squeezing for a half second more, she giggled against Freya's skin. May as well do what she does best and lighten the mood.]

You want to see me in an old costume? It'll fit better, now that I'm...ah...muscle-y.

[She hums in response.] How can I say no to that, beautiful?

[Even if she, somewhat playfully this time, doesn't remove her arms.]

[Pen pulls clear, eyes already straying towards a closet. She has something in mind.]

Remember the dancer's outfit? The one my other self wore?

I...happen to have a real belly dancer's outfit from this world. Even racier.

That so? Quite an adventurous collection you've got.

[Freya takes her cue, backing up several step to sit on the bed. She doesn't bother hiding the interest in her tone, of course. She had no reason to.]

[Pen grins and trots over to her closet, digging around towards the back.]

It was a costume. For a character from a Japanese game. I just sort of got self-conscious wearing it.

But now, though...

[Stepping in to change, her voice muffling slightly...]

It's a good way to show off!

[Freya chuckles approvingly.]

Attagirl.

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