#themediummuses

 “Shopping?” Iris really should’ve seen it coming, in retrospect; Klavier had mentioned before that he wanted to take her shopping. Iris had also told him her wardrobe has long since been incredibly limited…and even with some summery dresses she’d gotten with Amako a few days prior, it certainly didn’t make a wardrobe. Not by a long shot!

  What of winter? Or casual wear? Maybe something of Klavier’s own recommendation…? That sure hasn’t occurred yet, so… She’s not sure why it surprises her as much as it does.

  “Um… Yeah! That sounds good. I’m curious on what you’ll recommend me~”

Klavier has been careful not to overwhelm Iris already from the start while being in the city. Leaving the temple to stay with him for a while is a big change for her after all and they did have quite some time together so they could definitely take it slow.

But Klavier had been, from the very beginning, very eager to go shopping with Iris. She’s such a beautiful woman that looked wonderful in her priestess robes and those dresses and outfits she had bought for her trip to LA are very well-picked too, but Klavier wanted to try something different. Something with more glamour. Something that made her look like a woman, that is going to travel all around the world. Of course, he also wants her to be still comfortable in those outfits.

Oh, I do have a few ideas what could fit you. You have a very beautiful figure and we definitely need something to compliment your curves, meine Liebe. Yet, I want to make sure that you are comfortable in what you wear.

So please be honest with me if I pick something you don’t like, okay? I won’t be hurt.

Phoenix crunched his way to the temple paths in sandals that provided no protection against the snow underfoot. Lacing up better shoes took too much work, and besides, it would be warmer inside the temple–hopefully with a nice, hot cup of tea and everything.

As awkward as the holiday had been for close to a decade now, Phoenix at least tried to come calling to his friends during the season. What few he had. Acquaintances at the club didn’t count. Kristoph didn’t really count. Trying to celebrate with Miles only came across as incredibly inappropriate. But there were a few exceptions, and that included one person much sweeter to see than most people Phoenix saw those days. It wouldn’t kill him to pick up some holiday cheer with her, right?

The sisters’ giggling might have made his face heat up and his head duck a long, long time ago, but now he just gave them a sleepy smile as he passed by, gently waving. It seemed he came along at a great time–Iris was busy working on decorations. And was that what he thought it was?

Sneaking up on her like this was kind of mean, but it rewarded Phoenix with Iris’s flustered blush and her clear realization of where the two of them were standing. He chuckled, keeping his hands in his pockets. 

Larry smiles bashfully as the shrine maiden’s gentle hands pull out the branches and twigs stuck in his sandy hair. Leave it to Larry to get himself hopelessly lost all over again, but whenever Iris calls for him, he’ll come running!

Of course I did! So I tried to find you. I, uh, found out I’m not that good at hiking. I missed you!

The impulse to wrap his arms around her is so terribly strong, but he doesn’t want to get her covered in swamp water and mud. Even so, his whole body just aches for her, and every muscle wants to move in her direction and make sure she stays put with him. His body might be cooperating, but his lips are moving a mile a minute!

Well, yesterday was National Blonde Brownie Day so I baked lots of Blonde Brownies and let him eat a lot of them. So he’s not in the mood for any pies today…

– Send “You have pretty eyes” for my muses reaction. –

Phoenix, who had been intently staring off at something in the distance and thinking about something indistinct, startles, tearing his eyes away from what he’d been staring at to focus his now wide eyes on her.

“Huh? My eyes? Pretty?” He doesn’t hear that every day. A smile creeps onto his face and his cheeks burn with a gentle pink. “I didn’t think there was anything pretty about them,” he says, sinking into himself just a tad. “But—” He chuckles. “Thank you…?”

“...!”

He...isn’t sure how to respond to that.

He’s never been the best with words- not when it comes to feelings, but...

“I...love you too. I’m so fortunate to have you, I...”

What to say?

“Thank you, Iris. You’re truly one of a kind, I’ve never met anyone with a heart like yours. Your ability to see the best in others is...unmatched, truly.”

“Mia!”

Phoenix cracked open the door and peeked inside her office, hopefully. Was she back from her outing to koorawhatsit?

“I brought some coffee! I-if you want! Uhh...”

Truth be told, he was extremely nervous about what she might have to tell him. For several reasons. He'd wasted his time milling around in a coffee shop out of nerves, so he thought he might as well buy her something... especially since she was doing all this for free. He also felt badly that he hadn’t managed to go all the way to the final destination with her. He just... wasn’t quite brave enough to face what might be there...

"Like... ghosts or something similar, I don't know... I can see and hear them, but nobody else can..."

Marshall let himself be pulled deeper into his mother's embrace, finding comfort in it. No matter how crazy or stressful his life got, he could always count on his mother's presence anchoring him to reality.