Efflorescence Arcana

             “Not entirely! Hot tuna salad sandwiches are quite common, and people do eat it plain dat way as well.” Weirdos, maybe, but it was a thing. “Typically de term ‘salad bar’ is used loosely in supermarkets to include the hot food as well. Whether the actual food in it is indeed a salad is up for debate.” 

I spent two days too many on this meme image

(stands on ur blog's front lawn holding a boom box over my head that blasts 'nothing's gonna stop us now' from cats don't dance. there she is. the girl. the cat. the LEGEND)

Her name is Odette, 26 years old

She’s a cat shifter and can shift into a sand cat. Also has a ‘between’ form that can be considered werecat-esque

She’s in charge of choir and the drama club at the Northern Galahad Academy in her main verse. Probably similar in other verses

She’s a trans lesbian

She lives with her mom in a cabin in the woods because her mom isn’t fond of other people and is very protective of her.

As such, they also generally grow and hunt their own food, and Odette knows what’s edible or not when it comes to foraging.

Kind and always likes seeing the good in people. Very trustful even to those that might not deserve it. 

Will find even the most eye-rolling joke funny

Likes making bracelets and necklaces.

Though she can easily pass off as human, she requires a glamor amongst regular people because she has pointy-ish ears even when not in her shifted form that move according to her mood.

also her faceclaim is mihoshi from tenchi muyo bc she’s gay and fits so well in the looks-department and fight me on it

               Her reassurances actually did help to quell a bit of the jitters in his soul. The girl’s assumption had been spot on– he really wasn’t used to any of this– and while she had said it was normal, things like this… Certainly hadn’t been normal where he came from. Or at least, accepting these types of emotions hadn’t been. Letting them unfurl and truly manifest in the soul was dangerous back then. To a degree it was still dangerous now– but vastly less so than it had been. It was one of the reasons he was still fighting it to a degree. Her teasing and claims of him ‘whining’ being met with a quiet muttered ‘m’not’.                   There was also a strange sense of satisfaction that came when Lacey had said she liked what he’d said. That it made her happy. It caused a warm feeling to radiate from his soul, ensuring that the steady red glow from beneath his sweater certainly wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Although, there was a small bit of coldness that crept its way in when she pushed him back– but not because he’d taken the action badly or thought he’d done something wrong. More so, it was the loss of contact that did it. The desire for said contact– still being something he was trying to come to terms with.                Confusion was only on his features for a brief moment, before cheekbones regained their red flush once he realized what she was doing. It should have been obvious, really, that he’d see her in the collar. Though apparently something in his skull hadn’t quite connected those dots. So when he was met with the visual of her in it– it caused his mind to short-circuit to a degree. 

              “U-uh… y-you…” It looked nice– he wanted to say, but seemed both his mind and words were failing him. So, all the flustered skeleton could get out was– “… Really beautiful.” To which, the color on his face deepened– seeming to realize what word he just said.  Eyelights falling away to the side in an almost panicked way. How the hell did ‘it looks nice’ turn into that!? Also why did it feel different now saying that–? He’d called her beautiful before dammit!                “… How does… it feel?” He managed out, after thoroughly yelling at himself in his skull. Magic signatures of course were something he knew about– since well, he wore his brother’s. It was around this time, that a warmth would have been felt around the girl’s neck. Not something that was sweltering like how an actual heat might have been– but more so, it was like the warm sensation of a fire without the burn or overheat. Much like other sensations related to magic, with it was carried emotions. For collars, those emotions were centered around protection because of their purpose and application. Although for collars that were for romantic partners, along with that sense of protection– was affection. Subtle since it was an indirect contact, but very definitely there. Something that Crim actually didn’t know about– since well, his collar was completely platonic. Sure, Alphys wore a collar from Undyne– but such things had never come up in conversation. Mainly, since it seemed the skeleton hadn’t been keen on finding any partners anytime soon. Welp, that sure changed, didn’t it?                “If it uh… feels weird– the uh… sensation will be lessened if its placed elsewhere.” Which, was another reason he’d made the collar as adjustable as it was. He knew very well that humans weren’t accustomed to such things, nor were they familiar to the feel of magic. 

There was a teasing lift to her smile as he stumbled with his words. This was another chance to affectionally poke fun at him. But that chance quickly burned up as, for the third time, the skeleton called her ‘beautiful’. Cheeks burning with embarrassment, her laughter turned into a giggle-snort. Seems that particular compliment was still very much effective against her. One hand lifted to hide a sheepish smile while the other ran its fingers through her messy curls.

“Whaaaat? Sorry, but I seriously think you need to get your eyesockets checked,” came her muffled voice before she lowered her hand to pull slightly at the hem of her tank top. Smile not wavering, though her gaze certainly did, drifting from his face and down to the coffee table. “I look like a mess! I haven’t even had the chance to change out of my PJs or brush my hair or any of that. Doubt a collar makes that much of a difference.”

Speaking of collars, his question brought her attention back to the strip of soft leather around her neck. Specifically, to the strange warmth that seemed to seep against the skin of her neck. It felt similar to when he’d used his magic to look at her wrist, holding that similar heat. Lacey wondered for a moment if that’s what all magic felt like, or if it was just a unique attribute of his. It felt... weird, but not bad. Kinda comforting, actually.

“Uh... I don’t know, it feels fine?” She brought a finger to tap lightly against it. “It’s strange, but I guess that’s the magic? I mean, it’s not bad or anything.” A pause as she considered her words and how to describe it as she lingered on the energy the collar radiated and how it made her feel. “S’kinda like... It makes me feel safe and... cared for and stuff? It feels like you, if that makes any sense.”

It was nice... Something she could get used to if she allowed herself. Lacey kinda scratched at her neck before shaking her head and waving a hand dismissively at his suggestion.

“Like I said, it’s not uncomfortable, and it’s just us right now so I don’t mind wearing it like this.” She gave a nonchalant shrug despite the still present flush to her cheeks. “Gotta get used to it, right?”

Ever shifting away from things that made her embarrassed, Lacey returned her attention back to Crim. His compliment might have thrown her off and saved him initially, but she still had some teasing remarks up her sleeve.

             That– that was certainly not the reaction he’d anticipated. For a moment, he merely stared at her– frankly shocked by how… okay she was about it. Than again, Crim wasn’t used to the concept of acceptance in and of itself– so– it was a bit hard to tell if this was normal or not. Though, he was thankful for it. The nerves that had started to bubble under his bones dissipating in a matter of seconds.                He was of course, drawn out of his little trance when the girl tapped on his chest. Drawing attention to the glow that radiated from his shirt like he was a skeletal lava lamp. The red flush that had calmed on his cheeks just a moment ago, flared up with a vengeance. Of course, the acceptance of his age had made it glow a little bit brighter– as if it was spiting him. The usage of his name so casually certainly didn’t help either. Or how she called him cute. Or how she said she wanted to tease him. 

            “T-that.. u-uh–” In truth he had known. He’d felt it. He wasn’t aware it had been that obvious. “… M’not old.” He first grumbled, eyelights falling away as he held her a bit closer as if to hide. Sockets closing and coming to rest against her shoulder. “N’I’m not cute.” He was well aware this would likely incite more teasing– but he certainly wasn’t about to accept it. Not to mention, there was a deep, deep part of him… that liked it. That deep part of him, was also what fueled the glowing of his soul. “N’… n’… its… nice. When ya say my name– but I… dunno how ta deal with it.” Maybe it was his hangover, maybe it was the fact that he’d given her the wrong impression about his name before– or maybe, it was for another reason entirely– but… he wanted to be truthful about that one thing, and push his walls aside for a moment. To be honest with himself– and her.              “S’different when… when ye say it.” His voice had devolved to a flustered mutter, almost a slight whine to his voice– but not one that was derived from complaining. More so, frustration towards himself. “Makes ma soul feel like it can’t sit still– makes me feel like I can’t sit still– but its not bad– just… I.. I don’t know.” He held her a bit tighter then, leaning into her more. “Makes me happy– n’this weird jittery-ness follows dat n’… n’I’m probably sounding weird, ain’t I?” Truly Crim didn’t know what to do with the desire to show affection. Nor could he recognize it as such. Because for the longest time, it had been something that was off limits. So he’d never even entertained such things in his head, or even had them in any forefront of his mind. Always shoving them deep into a whole where they wouldn’t come up. Her teasing him now, with the fact he knew the feelings were mutual– did things to him that he didn’t understand what to do with. 

Lacey merely smiled at the complaint, patting his back as he once again came to rest his head against her shoulder. He was so easy to fluster with even just the smallest of actions. It was, as she had noted aloud, very cute.

“You’re old-ish,” she commented. Though this was followed by a growing smile. She was, indeed, gonna tease him more. She couldn’t exactly help it. A giggle escaped her as she nuzzled her face against his neck since he was still hiding his with her shoulder. Tiny and light affectionate kisses against bone framed by laughter. “And yeah you are. Trust me, I’m an expert on cute! So when I say you’re cute, you’re cute. And whining about it is just gonna make you cuter.”

When she heard him begin to mutter, she pulled back so that she could properly hear since her shoulder was still muffling his voice. A faint blush crept its way onto her cheeks. What he was describing was very familiar, and something she could currently sympathize with since the same feeling grew within her the more he spoke. The more he said how happy she made him or how nice this was.

“Nah, you don’t sound weird,” she shook her head before giving his body a slight squeeze in response to his tightening hold. He really wasn’t familiar with this kind of stuff, huh? “That’s a pretty normal feeling when ya like someone. When the person you like does certain stuff, it makes you happy and it feels nice. Like how what you just said made me happy.”

Speaking of... now that she’d calmed him down somewhat, she should probably deal with the collar he went out of his way to get her.

“Hold on, forgot something,” she hummed as she gently pushed him back so that she could reach over and snatch the collar up from the table.

She turned it over once again to look at it before starting the process of putting it on around her neck. When she was outside she’d probably wear it more as a bracelet, buuuuut since they were in her apartment and it was just them, it’d be fine to wear it like this, right? Once she’d secured it properly around her neck, even testing it with her fingers to make sure it wasn’t too tight, she looked to Crim. The blush that had dusted her cheeks deepened due to not being used to wearing something like this. Sure, she’d worn chokers and such before, but this was... different.

It was a bit... embarrassing, actually. But since they were alone, she could push that aside for now. A hand went to her collar bone like she was presenting it to him.

YES!!! GO ERIKA!!!! YES!!!! get that support system U SO DESERVE