STRAWBERRIES
Okay, so this is another unedited baby ficlet. Dialotte because its soft™.
Lotte didn’t bake strawberry pies too often. She always insisted that the fruit had to be in season, and the weather had to be perfect. So many variables just for one pie. But it was Diana’s favorite. Sweet and mellow, with a crisp crust woven from buttery pastry. But they were only baked on warm sunny days, when the breeze blew from the forest; bringing in the fresh smell of sprouting plants. Lotte insisted that the atmosphere made the pie, but Diana was convinced that Lotte was a more talented baker then she let on.
Those types of days were few and far between in England, where most days were misty and cool. The rain would patter along the windowpane and the world would be covered in a quiet cover of gray. While Diana appreciated the quiet, reading alongside Lotte, she wanted to see Lotte bask in the warmth. Diana missed the way the sunlight bathed Lotte’s hair into gold, and listen to the quiet song of the spirits while she dozed. She missed waking up to flowers braided into her hair.
Diana let out a sigh and looked out at the drizzly gray. Deplorable. She shoved the thick tome aside, she had lost interest. Instead of continuing to read about tomorrow’s potion lesson, she opted to trace the flow of raindrops on the window pane. Watching the flow of water weave it’s way down the glass was hypnotic in a way. Peaceful. Calming. Diana lost track of time as she tuned out the world around her; her senses consumed by the rain.
She barely noticed Hannah and Barbara speaking, only being roused when a sweet smell crept its way into the room.
“She’s been moping for hours. Her vibes have been completely rancid. We’re heading out to the Library to escape.” What. She hadn’t been moping at all! Diana turned towards the door, only to be surprised by Lotte stepping into the room while Hannah and Barbara left.
“Hi.” Lotte said, a small grin on her face. There was a dusting of white in her hair, and her glasses were slightly askew. A small basket was cradled in her hands, which seemed to have a thin layer of dried dough covering them. “I brought you something.”
Diana took another sniff of the air. It couldn’t be. Lotte would never. She had told Diana time and time again that atmosphere was the most important thing about pie making. “What about your rule?” Diana asked, her hands playing with the hem of her shirt.
“If living with Akko taught me anything, it’s that rules were made to be broken.” Lotte said with a smile. Shuffling her feet in embarrassment.
Diana couldn’t help herself. She dashed forwards, a dopey grin on her face. She hugged Lotte, the momentum turning them in circles. “Diana! The pie!” Diana didn’t care, she was too happy.
Once they finally came to a halt, Diana leaned forward and kissed Lotte. It was soft and sweet, and tasted just like strawberries.
