Ability will Bloom and Grow

Thomas chuckled softly as he looked up at her, expression open and gentle. Fond. God, if only he could express in words just how she made him feel. He wasn’t sure he ever truly could. “That’s right baby…” He confirmed, trailing his fingertips up and down her bare spine. “About time, we’ve only been together for… how long now?” He teased gently. “Sorry it took me so long..”

She shivered at his fingers against her spine, giving a pleased hum as she scooted closer to him, tucking her head under his chin. “I don’t think it’s taken too long. You asked when you were ready. I wouldn’t have wanted you to rush something like this. It’s not the sort of thing to rush. It means more that you’re doing it now. I know you’ve...thought about it. Or at least I think you have.”

“Sorry,” Felix turned off the little boogie tune he’d accidentally started playing by pushing one of them blinking buttons on a plastic keyboard. “As the cool kids would say nowadays, this song’s my jelly!” He laughed, quite amused by the kiddo-sized instrument but keeping his hands behind his back for now. “You were saying though… vacation time? I mean, it’s the perfect way to blow off steam now school’s out, isn’t it? Hitting the road with their mama, soaking up some sun or whatever it is you’re plannin’, it’ll do y’all wonders!” When she nudged him, he looked up and grinned. “Oh my, someone’s got the honeyglow on their cheeks…” He cupped his own in an adorable, teenage-girl manner as he continued the slight teasing. “Ha ha, some tea, yes! I want to hear all the tea on this as Alice would say.” At least he thought so though he still laughed, thinking he was really getting the hang of the teenagers their extended vocabulary.

Dulcie watched him with the toy instrument, shaking her head at the small keyboard. “I’m not sure where we would go on a vacation, though.” She thinks for a moment. “Maybe...to Paris? I could show the children where I grew up!” She looks at Felix, excited. “Oh, that would be so nice, don’t you think? I could take them to all the places I would go when I was a girl.” As his teasing continued, she laughed quietly, looking down at her shoes. “Oh, you’re awful, Felix.” She gave him a small push, turning her face away so he couldn’t see her red cheeks. “You’re really getting into this teen lingo, aren’t you? I’m not sure what sort of tea I can give you on it all, but I’ll tell you what’s happened, definitely.”

“It does sound very simple… but it sounds very treacherous as well.” Sally noted with a frown. “Some people don’t like bees, and if bees sting someone or something, they tend to die… that seems like a terrible fate.” She mused, tilting her head to the side before shrugging. “Yes I do think I’m strange, but I don’t think that’s a bad thing. There are simply not many people in town that’re like me. I have Jack, and that’s about it.” She smiled at her, folding her hands together. “I like you too Dulcie… you’re very sweet, and you’re very kind and beautiful. There should be more people in the world like you.”

Dulcie tilted her head, frowning slightly as Sally spoke. She couldn’t fathom why someone wouldn’t like her, Dulcie didn’t see anything strange or odd about her. She just saw a very kind and generous person who she cared about dearly. “Oh, thank you, darling. That’s very sweet of you. I don’t think anyone should dislike you for any reason, you’re a wonderful person.” She narrows her eyes, thinking. “Jack as in...Jack Skellington?”

Thomas couldn’t help but chuckle softly at the question, nodding his head. “Yeah baby… I’d be your guy.” He confirmed, giving her hand a small squeeze. He could see the slight twinge of fear in her eyes, one that always lingered whenever they were together. Not that he could blame her of course… she had been hurt awfully bad before he came into her life. He grinned as she agreed to be his, pulling her closer to him to rest on his chest. He leaned up, kissing her passionately and interlacing their fingers together. “Thank ya baby… I’ll treat ya real good, I promise…”

“I know you will, Thomas.” She says quietly, squeezing his hand gently as they laced together. “You’ve treated me pretty well so far, I don’t see why that wouldn’t continue when we’ve made it official. Goodness, it’s official now.” She giggled, feeling giddy as the nerves started to finally pass. “So. You’re my boyfriend. And I’m your girlfriend.”

“I don’t think so.” Sally confessed, though she did chuckle a little. “I think everyone wonders what it’d be like to be something or someone else. Kind of a grass is greener thing.. though maybe not in this case, because I’m not truly sure anyone wants to be a bee.” She mused, tilting her head to the side. “Either way, I don’t find it strange, but perhaps I’m the wrong person to ask. I’m rather strange myself.”

She hums in thought at Sally’s answer. “I suppose there might be at least one person who would like to be a bee. It’s a simple life, really. You know what you’re doing, why you’re doing it. You have one job, and don’t have to worry about bills and things.” She looks over at Sally, tilting her head as well. “You think you’re strange? Well, there’s nothing wrong with that. What is normal, really? I don’t think there is such a thing. There’s....someone like me, then there’s someone like you. I don’t think you’re strange for not being like me. Because you’re like you!” She gives her a bright smile, “And I quite like you, Sally.”

“It is awful big for just one person and a cat.” Thomas mused, looking down at the end of the bed at a very disgruntled looking cat. He chuckled softly, shaking his head. “I think she’s plottin’ my murder.” He confessed before looking back at Dulcie. “But I wanted to ask ya somethin’.” He murmured, taking her hand and looking at her adoringly. “We’ve been doin’ this without a label for a while now, and uh… I’d like to put a label on us if ya don’t mind. Do you wanna be my girl baby?” He asked her softly.

Dulcie laughed quietly, shaking her head. “I’m sure she’s not doing anything like that. She just has a very severe resting face.” She looked up at him as he took her hand, eyes wide. She blinked as he asked her to be his. His girl. She blinked a few more times, feeling a mixture of surprise, excitement and fear twisting in her gut. A terrible cocktail, especially when she hadn’t answered him yet. “Your girl...” She repeated quietly. “That would...make you mine as well, yes?” It wasn’t that she didn’t want to be his, she absolutely did. There was just...that little bit of hesitation in the back of her mind. She shook her head, pushing the what-ifs away. She gave him a soft smile, one hand moving so her fingers could play with his hair. “I would love to be yours, Thomas.”

“Oh it’s okay, I drift away all the time myself.” Sally waved off Dulcie’s apology, chuckling a little. “But I’m ready, and I am more than ready for that cup of tea, so let’s go.” She turned the open sign to close before locking the door, turning back to Dulcie with a content smile. “Where did you drift today? I personally drift to an open field, with lots of flowers and a little cottage.”

She giggled quietly as Sally asked where her mind had gone. “Oh, nowhere as simple as that. I drifted to the mind of a bumble bee, moving around that lovely flower bed.” She gestured towards the patch of flowers as she followed Sally out the door. “I wondered what he was thinking, bumbling along like he was. Is that strange?” She looked up at her, tilting her head as she wrinkled her nose. 

Thomas chuckled quietly, admiring her with a soft expression. Her confession made him hum in content, leaning in and kissing her forehead at her embarrassment. “I mean, it’s not like we fall into your bed that often…” He teased before biting his lip. “But uh… I really wouldn’t mind if we made it a more regular thing… not fallin’ into bed together but um… more of me just… sleepin’ in your bed with ya.”

She chuckled at his words, nodding. “Yes, I agree. Not sleeping together, but sleeping...together?” She tried, laughing quietly as she watched his face for a moment. “That sounds wonderful. My bed is lovely, but it’s...quite big, all by myself. Of course, I’m not always by myself.” She looked towards the end of the bed, reaching with her toes to gently poke at the side of the white cat sitting on the bench at the end of the bed, staring at Thomas with narrowed blue eyes. “I do have my lovely Madame with me most nights, but she’s quite small, and not very cuddly.”

☼*·ﾟSPENDING time with others who enjoyed cooking was more than Ralph ever thought he deserved. He hadn’t realized how wonderful it made him feel to be worthy of such a friendship. A simple act of kindness such as this made him feel like he was worth something. With a bright smile, he began taking out all of the supplies he’d brought, arranging them along the table. “Oh my! You’ve got so many good ones! Maybe one with something colorful and some spices we don’t know much about!” he asked, wondering what she might choose. He didn’t want to pick something and have her dislike it. This was such an odd moment, a moment that he didn’t want to end. “Thank you. I try to be really good and kind, you know,” he explained softly. “She’s doing good, a little stressed with school, but I’m trying to help her as much as I can. I’m just not the best student,” Ralph stated, chuckling. “Van is helping me with self-care and we’re watching lots of those YouTube videos. But you? Are you good? What’s happening with you?” he asked as he took the cover off his knife to start cutting zucchini. 

She nods, looking through the recipes she’d brought again. “There’s this radish crostini recipe? Radishes are quite bright, and there’s the green garnishes. Then there’s always ratatouille, that’s very colorful. Not quite an appetizer though.” She ended with a chuckle. She nods as he starts talking about Vanellope, smiling at the way his voice sounded. It was clear he cared about her very much. “That’s fantastic, Ralph. I’m sure she appreciates the help, even if you’re both struggling with things. I’m glad she’s helping you take care of yourself, that’s good. Oh, me? Yes, I’m wonderful!” She thinks over what had been happening with her lately, one thing coming to mind. “Everything’s been rather normal, honestly. The children are fine, lessons are going wonderfully. I think the biggest change has been in the romance department for me, really.” 

“Well, they’re satin, it feels nice on my skin.” Thomas replied smoothly, grinning a little as their legs entangled together. “Eh… warm blankets are pretty nice.” He teased, wrinkling his nose as he looked down at her before shaking his head. “But uh… nah, nah I really think it’s because of you.” He confessed, bringing a hand up and stroking her cheek gently.

“All because of little ol’ me? Well, I’m flattered, Thomas.” She says quietly, closing her eyes at his touch. “Well, not to be too inappropriate, not that it’s an issue here in my bedroom.” She chuckled, fingers moving to play with her hair. “But I certainly don’t mind if my bed has something to do with it.” She flushed slightly, slightly proud of herself for not hiding her face like a schoolgirl this time. “Because I, um. I quite like having you in it.” She lowered her voice, mumbling the last bit. Well, there went that little bit of pride she had.

Dulcie really seemed to know a lot about love…. maybe you became an expert on it when you were experiencing it. She printed out Dulcie’s receipt and handed it over to her with a smile. “That sounds perfect. Let me pack up my things and I’ll meet you outside.” Sally offered with a soft chuckle, closing up the register and picking up her bag.

Dulcie nodded, taking the receipt from her and slipping it into her purse to get lost in the mess at the bottom. She stepped back, letting Sally get all of her things packed up as she waited by the door. She watched outside the windows, her mind getting lost in the path of a bumblebee moving from flower to flower. She spent a long moment, longer than she’d care to admit, wondering what exactly went on in the little bee’s mind as he moved from place to place, gathering pollen. Did he think about where he was going to go next? Wonder what was going on back at the hive? Did he ever get bored of collecting pollen and want to rest his wings for a moment, the way Dulcie did after a long session? She shook her head as the bee flew away, turning to give Sally a smile. “Sorry about that, I seem to have drifted away. Hope I didn’t keep you waiting?”

Even though she had her back turned to him, Felix nodded. “Yeah, I get that alright.” He wasn’t quite a father himself, nor even a usual nervous Nellie, but once you cared about someone as much as Dulcie adored her little nest, he could imagine that you were always a bit on your tiptoes when you couldn’t look into their minds to detect whether their smiles were still real. It was a gift that only came to some, apparently, cause he remembered Bailey always being on top of that stuff but often hitting a wall himself when the other needed comforting. “Perhaps ya can take them out on a nice family trip once school’s over. Really connect again and catch up so they’ll remember how important y’all are to one another and shush those worries of yours to sleep.” He felt confident nothing as major as say a proposal would fall into her lap.”Maybe even bring that Thomas fellah of yours to tag along.” Pulling up a bright, beaming smile at the lens pointed at him, Felix picked up what seemed to be a very high tech version of Bop It and scared himself by accidentally pushing one of its buttons. “No, thank you. I’m ready to feel less out of place myself so let’s hop out.” He decided, making his way to the checkout for the plushie. “Considering I had no more than a sandwich on the menu for laters, and the fact that my tummy is getting very happy at the thought of your lunch… I might take ya up on that offer, yeah!”

She thought quietly for a moment. “A family vacation. That might be nice actually. Spend some time with the children, just us. I’m not sure if they’d be interested in that. I can ask them, though.” She flushed at Felix’s mention of Thomas, nudging him with her elbow lightly. “Oh come now, not you too. It seems all my friends want to tease me about Thomas.” Though she didn’t really mind. Part of her was dying to talk about it with someone, anyone, everyone. She chuckled at his acceptance of the offer of lunch. “Lovely! I can whip us up something once we get to my place. And some tea. That will be nice.”

Sally rang up the repair, the total coming up to an easy twenty-five dollars. “It’s okay, I can forgive that. You can swipe now.” She told Dulcie with a chuckle. She tucked a short lock of hair behind her ear, nodding in agreement. “Coffee is nice, but it’s never quite the same. Tea is much better.” She agreed. “Not on people that I know, no.” She shook her head. “I mean, I had the biggest crush on Gomez Addams but who didn’t?” She giggled, wrinkling her nose. “I don’t know… I guess I just haven’t found the right person.”

Dulcie swipes her card and types in the pin in a practiced motion, putting the card away and tucking the wallet back in her purse as she listens to Sally. She giggles at Sally’s confession. “I can see that. He’s a very charming person.” She nods her head. “Perhaps the right person hasn’t come along. There’s no rush, of course. Love can come at any point in a lifetime. Sometimes multiple. It’ll come when the time is right.” She’d always had particular feelings about love. Perhaps it was her upbringing, or her first love being when she was still young and impressionable. Either way, Dulcie was definitely a person who loved...well, love. “So, now that this is all squared away, I’ll put the dress in my car and then we can get some tea!”

“Hey now, ‘m still an alley cat.” Thomas corrected her with a gentle boop on her nose, chuckling quietly as he looked around the room. “I just… I could get used to this cushy house cat lifestyle. You make it feel more appealing than I thought it was…” He mused, looking back at her and chuckling. “But uh… that might just be because it’s you and not someone else.”

She rolls her eyes, wrinkling her nose at the boop. “I know you’re still an alley cat, Thomas. Don’t be silly. I’m just saying I can see you getting comfy. Sinking your toes in the sand. Or the satin sheets, as it were.” Her legs find his, tangling with them as she chuckles. “You think it’s just because of me? Is that so? You’re sure it’s not the warm blankets?” She returns the nose boop, using the corner of the comforter over them.

“I hope it happens for me soon.” Sally confessed with a soft sigh. She was experiencing so much now that she was free of Finklestein… but love and romance was something she had never even gotten a taste of. “Oh I don’t mind at all! I can tell you like talking about him, you just light up when you do.” Sally wrinkled her nose. “And I never turn down a free cup of tea.” She flashed a playful wink. “Let’s get the dress paid for and then we can go, yes?”

“I hope it does as well, dear. Oh! Of course, yes. Here.” She reaches into her purse, pulling out her wallet and pulling out her card. “Sorry about that, I got all caught up in butterflies.” She laughed quietly, waiting to swipe her card. “Then we can go and get some tea. I’ve been needing a good cup of tea, I think. I’ve been drinking a lot of coffee recently, and it’s just not the same.” She tilted her head. “So...you haven’t had a crush on anyone before?”

“Aww, I’m one of the people ya care about?” Thomas asked playfully, grinning down at her as her head rest on his bare shoulder. His arm wrapped around her, holding her securely to his side and keeping her close. He sighed quietly, smoothing his other hand gently over her hair before kissing the top of her head. “Alright baby, I understand…” He told her gently. “Gotta admit, I appreciate it…”

“You are one of the people I care about, yes!” She giggled, giving a happy sigh at his affection, snuggling close as she wrapped her arms around his torso. She listened as he spoke, comfortable sitting in his arms quietly for a moment. “You do? Well, that’s good. I’d worry if you hated it. You say you’re an alley cat, but you seem to like the cushy house cat life more than you let on.” She teases quietly, followed by a chuckle as she tilted her head to look at him.

“Now, I’d like to use more proper words for this but that’s a lot of bull stuff, Dulcie. If I can lace up my dancing shoes until the funky fever’ll take the best of me one day, then surely a doll like yourself can still enjoy some stuffed company! And I’m not talking about dinner date guests of whom I’m sure none leave your table without being stuffed, obviously.” One of the many great qualities his friend possessed was her cooking talent and he wouldn’t make no bones about the fact he’d like to exchange more than one recipe with her, after all. But this was about toys. “Alright, look away so I can whisk your favourite from this shelf away and accidentally put it purse after we leave the store.” He chuckled, the little plush was the least he could do for her. If only for funs! (or L-O-L’s, whichever one was the common one nowadays.) “Why you’ve got a point there! The best gift is one we could enjoy together, I suppose. I’m thinking ya may be on to something here. Though it’ll require a change of scenery.” Cause plastic tool sets wouldn’t be of much help for what he wanted to work on with Alice. “So are ya ready to check out? Or at least up for telling me what’s going on in your home sweet home that has got you so worried? If not, ya know, I will… be testing out all the toys here - for the sake of my non-existent sprogs - until you do.” He raised an eyebrow at her, playful but challenging nonetheless.

Dulcie giggled at Felix’s words. Felix was one of those people who always knew just what to do to help her feel better. She shook her head, “Oh, Felix. I appreciate it, but I really don’t need a stuffed cat to sit on my bed.” She raised her eyebrows, biting on her bottom lip as she turned away from the shelf, moving to pretend to look at something on the opposite shelf. “I think I’m just about ready, yes. There’s nothing really going on at home, I’m just...being a worry wart, I suppose. I’m a mother, it’s how I go.” She picked up a toy kaleidoscope, turning towards him as she looks through it, turning it to see the colors move. “If you’d like to stay and look at things, be my guest, but I am ready.” She chuckled. “If you’d like, we could finish this outing at my home? I could make us some lunch, perhaps?”