#flamingtoads

20. things you said that I wasn’t supposed to hear

Ada peered into one of her many tea tins and realized that she was nearly out of PG Tips. Checking the time, she decided she had enough time to go downstairs and rectify this situation.

As she rummaged around the tea closet, voices floated in from the main kitchen.

“Great Mary Berry, what on earth happened to your frosting, Hecate?”

“What do you mean, what happened to it?”

“It’s black, that’s what I mean.”

“Do I tell you how to do your job, Maria?”

“No, but I thought you were making a cake for Ada.”

Ada froze, one hand stretched out to the shelf.

“I am,” Hecate replied calmly.

“Well then…” Maria sounded a bit flummoxed.

“Well what?”

“Well, birthday cakes aren’t usually frosted with black frosting now are they?”

“Aren’t they?”

“No.”

There was a long silence, and Ada went back to peering at the shelf. Surely there was some PG Tips here somewhere. Perhaps behind the Twinings?

“Well, what color are they usually frosted then?”

“White, pink, light brown, dark brown, blue, yellow. Almost anything really. Except black.”

“Oh. Are you certain?”

“Oi, which one of us is the professional chef?”

“Well, there’s not time to change it now,” Hecate sighed. “But perhaps…”

“Yes, I think that will do. Brings a bit of color into it.”

“Do you think she’ll like it?”

“Of course she will. You made it didn’t you? Sure, it’s a bit…unusual, but it’s the thought that counts. Believe me, Ada will be over the moon about this.”

“I can’t tell her I made this for her.”

“Of course you can.”

“It’s too…” Hecate trailed off and Ada wished desperately that she could see her face.

“She thinks very highly of you, you know,” Maria said in a gentler tone than Ada had ever heard her use.

“Well, now that that’s done, I have other things to attend to,” Hecate said briskly.

“I’ll make sure the girls don’t get into this.”

“They had better not.”

Ada carefully pulled the pantry door mostly closed, just in time to hear the click of Hecate’s heels as she walked away.

Then quite suddenly the door opened, and there was Maria muttering “I’ve no idea what we’re going to do with those two- Ada!”

Ada made a noise halfway between a yelp and a squeak, and Maria clutched at her apron.

“Maria! I was just looking for-“ and her mind completely blanked. “Tea. PG Tips. I’m out.”

“Right. It’s on the second shelf, there wasn’t room for it with the rest.”

“Thanks,” Ada said, turned around, grabbed a box, and transferred out.

So my first official art post is actually a Recolor/collab. My dear friend Toadsy found here was so kind to let me color her gorgeous lineart! 

MoodBoard: Jedi Knight Taarius Lukurius / Former Boxer / Gentle Gardener/ Father/ Husband 

Things you said with too many miles between us.

“Help me,” begged Julie as Dimity materialized in the mirror.

Dimity smiled that soft bright smile that never failed to make Julie weak in the knees. “It’s been a whole twenty four hours, Jules. How is it that bad already?”

Julie sighed. “You haven’t met my Uncle Joseph yet. Can’t you just transfer or something?”

Dimity shook her head as her face fell slightly. “I’m sorry. It looks like the solstice witchball tournament is in worst shape than I thought.”

“And they can’t do without you,” whispered Julie. It was more a reminder to herself than anything. She’d been excited to spend their first holidays together. She’d even enlisted Millie to help her decorate the apartment for Solstice and practiced a full ceremony to greet the coming of the light.

“I do have some good news though.”

Julie popped up to look into Dimity’s tender brown eyes. “Oh?”

“It should be sorted by the last day which is—“

“The day before Christmas. You’ll be back for Christmas?”

Dimity beamed as she nodded. “And then we can still do everything you planned for Solstice. There’s nothing in the code or tradition that stops a witch for celebrating a little late.”

Julie’s eyes widened. “You knew? It was supposed to be a surprise.”

Dimity winked. “I may have questioned Mildred about how to make Christmas special and I think between the two of us, we overwhelmed her a little.”

Julie smiled. “Poor dear.”

“I think we can both manage to pretend surprise so she knows all of her hard work paid off.”

“I will if you will,” replied Julie. The knowledge that Dimity found this time to be just as significant and had taken measures to show Julie as much warmed her heart. Five days (not to mention the five countries that currently separated them) was entirely too long.

“I do miss you, you know?”

Julie smiled again. “I miss you too.”

“Hang in there. You’ll be fine and remember if you want me to hex your Uncle Joe, I’m not above it.”

Julie chuckled. “Isn’t that against the Code?”

“Would it make you feel better if I did it?”

Julie nodded.

“Then it doesn’t matter.” A voice called from somewhere behind Dimity. “I hate to rush off but I have to go.”

“It’s all right. I’ll talk to you tomorrow?”

Dimity nodded. “Of course.” She blew a kiss and Julie could swear she felt it land on her cheek.

“Be safe.”

1. She was in love with Mona Spellbody as a teen. Sometimes I think it’s requited, sometimes not.

2. She’s a Time Witch.

3. She loves romance novels

4. If she hadn’t become a teacher, she would have been a librarian or owned a bookshop. When times are hard, she fantasizes about it.

5. She taught spell science.

6. She makes a good leader because she works extremely hard at it. When she’s not running a school, she’s not necessarily all about being in charge.

7. She loves to dance.

8. Her kindness is also very much hard won and there are so many instances where she just wishes she could just let go and/or be as wild as Agatha. Ada chooses to make the right choice actively several times a day.

9. She sings lullabies to frightened pupils when they have trouble sleeping/are homesick.

It’s harder now that Hecate knows what it’s like to hold Ada’s hand. Harder when she is well versed in how sweet Ada’s lips taste and just how soft her brown (and occasionally silver) waves are.

She manages though because discretion is of the utmost importance and Hecate is no stranger to secret keeping. Besides she is a private person and just because she’s happened to fall in love (and by some happy circumstance be loved back), it is no one’s business but her own.

There are times when she almost slips and honestly who could blame her when the love of her life has a smile like pure sunshine, a particularly melodious laugh and an incredible sense of humor? Not to mention the way Ada’s hair looks when she’s run her hands through it a few times. Or how enticing she is when biting her lip in frustration over expense reports.

Hecate soldiers on though and she resists, saves all the delightful touching and kissing for behind closed doors. But in everything there is an exception and it seems this year, it’s the relief following a successful deflection of the fourth time Agatha tries to take over the school.

When they’re done redoing the protective wards and checking the perimeter, Hecate glances around to make sure no one is looking and fishes a twig out of Ada’s hair before she pulls her into a gentle hug.

Ada smiles, soft and sweet. “What’s all this?”

Hecate leans her forehead against Ada’s. “I just needed to,” she pauses and moves closer when—

“HB! Miss Cackle!”

They both sigh and pull apart in frustration. Ada pats Hecate’s arm. “Later, darling.”