meow

ber-bonfamille-lyons​:

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Getting a text from Lymantria was like spotting a rare bird or something. It happened in a flash, and a flutter, and if you weren’t looking at the exact moment, it passed you by. And that was a you problem– or in this case, a Berlioz problem, who had accidentally forgotten to reply to texts or return calls or made a note to comment on something online but never did. The two of them could be like kids flashing signals via flashlight across the street. If you weren’t paying enough attention, some of that meaning got lost. 

But that was okay. It wasn’t ever personal. And actually, it made those moments when they did hang out on purpose (cuz most times they just ran into each other, usually at [name redacted], where one of ‘em would pull up a chair and then chat for a little before returning to their books or music or whatever) extra special. 

Berlioz, in fact, never last-minute canceled on Ly. It didn’t matter if he was stressed or anxious. Those meetings never added extra pressure on him. In fact, they were always a reprieve from the world.

Like she was reading his mind then, her latest text was an invitation to do just that.

He could definitely use an escape. Just a quiet hour or two just for both of them. 

So they found a time that worked and Berlioz headed out to [name redacted], his worries in his back pocket, his airpods in, and a book in his bag, just in case. He entered the caf and found Ly in their usual spot quite easily. But as he headed toward her, Lymantria stood out of nowhere.

He barely fished one of his airpods out of his ears before she blurted her news. 

It was definitely not what he expected.

“What?” Berlioz exclaimed, then dropped his bloody airpod– “Fuck, wait–” he leaned down to scoop it up, and when he righted himself again, he was wearing an incredulous type of smile. “What?!” He said again– a bit louder, for Berlioz. He laughed a little. “You’re kidding? Really? Lymantria, that’s amazing! C’mere!” 

He reached forward to pull her into a hug. 

Lymantria laughed. She actually fully laughed — not just a little huff of air, or a prolonged smile. She laughed and it filled her lungs and she hugged Berlioz and she just let herself feel completely and totally happy. 

It was new, this happiness. It was not just  big things like getting married and what not. It was little things. It was coffee in the morning and it was her phone going off with text messages and moments at Pixies’ when she caught Peri or Olaf or Marlin’s eyes from across the room and smiled. It was all these little things that she cradled to her heart.

For the first time since living in Swynlake, Lymantria decided to help out with the summer play.

She’d wanted to in the past. She loved the idea of theater, even a little community production, and since her job was literally lights and technical aspects of performances, she knew it could translate well. But she’d been scared. Felt like she wouldn’t belong. Felt a complicated relationship with the concept of a stage and how she would no longer be front and center.

But this year — this year, Lymantria could sit backstage and feel her heart soar. This year, she felt less shy about stepping out and meeting new people. This year, things would be different.

She was not in charge of the lighting and sound, which she supposed was fair, since she’d never done this for the theater before. But she had some expertise, so right now she was going through some boxes of cables that had sat in the dust since last year. She looked up as someone else entered the booth.

“Oh hello,” she said, offering a small smile to the girl. Lymantria did not remember the girl’s name but she had a very memorable presence in a way Lymantria could not quite define. “I am just sorting out some of these cables — whoever put them away last year did not do a very good job.” 

[outfit]

itsbeenareal--slice​:

Meg scrunched her nose up a bit at the kiss but then snuck her own in, capturing the illusionists lips briefly before replying. Meg wasn’t one for big parties, but for Lymantria? She’d do just about anything. For her fiancé she’d do anything. She’d travelled through dreams and faced demons for her, so a big party? She could do that. 

Her heart melted at the words the woman laying on her chest said, her half smile just appearing so soft and so crooked. She chuckled, “Okay, you’ve melted me enough, babe. We’ll have a big party at Pixie’s. She leaned up to kiss her again softly, pressing her forehead to her partner’s. “Peri’s going to flip. Snow and ice might just shoot everywhere.” 

She grinned a bit as she ran her fingers along Lymantria’s back gently and sighed. “God, ask if I’d ever get married me four years ago and I’d have said absolutely not.” She danced her fingers up her neck and cupped her face gently, “But I didn’t expect you, did I?” 

Breathed in, her brain starting to put the party together her other hand lacing with Lymantria’s as she brought it up to her lips and pressed a kiss to her knuckles, “Do you want an engagement or wedding ring or both or would you rather have something else?” She figured she’d ask. If it was important to her, she’d go out today and get her one, but Lymantria was not exactly traditional and had various trinkets and bits of jewelry. “I mean, it could be a bit much and I mean, really permanent but… we could get Peri to tattoo rings on our fingers.”

Lymantria giggled. It was soft and breathy.

“I do not need a ring. Tattoos would be nice. But maybe something else in lieu of a ring, yes? A necklace…” She traced her fingers around the tan skin of Meg’s throat. “Or perhaps a crown?” She gently touched Meg’s forehead, then pressed a kiss to it. “Maybe we can get something for the other, yes? I find engagement rings to be silly because only one person usually wears them. Both of us should.”

Lymantria pushed some of Meg’s hair out of her eyes.

“And then after we saw vows… then we can get the tattoos.” It felt romantic. Permanent, yes, but there was not anything Lymantria wanted to do more right now than proclaim her love for Megara forever and ever. “I personally think that is a very lovely idea, Meg, and I think you should say yes and then we should immediately start planning.”

Lymantria was nervous about approaching Peri, though she did not know why. The worst thing Peri could do was say no, which was not terrible, because it was not as if they could not still get married if they could not do it in Pixies. They’d just go to Town Hall and it wouldn’t be as big an affair, but it would still be lovely.

Meg and Lymantria came in before their shifts, and approached Peri’s office. Lymantria gave the door a little tap, peeking inside.

“Peri!” she said, smiling shyly. “Hello — we were hoping to speak with you.” 

Write a thread with someone who is not Meg that is wedding related

Lymantria was getting married.

This was, still, a fact she could not believe. Even with Megara at her side — sleepily making coffee in the morning, lazily resting her feet on Lymantria’s lap in the afternoons, reaching for her in the middle of the night — Lymantria could not believe it. She’d spent so long believing that she was unloveable, that the idea of romance and happiness were so far removed from her, that sometimes she woke up in the middle of the night, heart thumping, almost fearful to look over, just in case the space by her bed was empty, Megara just an illusion she’d conjured for  herself that would disappear once she lost stamina.

But, no, Megara was right there. Snoring a little. She was there and she was warm and she was very, very real. She smelled like honey. It brought a smile to Lymantria’s face and she closed her eyes and fell back asleep.

Today, she was going to do something important. Their wedding would not be a traditional affair, but there were certain things Lymantria wanted to do. She had no family that would come, but they’d both agreed that their family were the friends they’d made in Swynlake. Most of them came from Pixie’s, but Lymantria had also tucked a little letter in Dr. Tibbs’ mailbox, that was somewhat of an invite (they did not have a date, so it was more like a little announcement). She’d also video-called Maui, who shouted in excitement and immediately told her he was booking a ticket to be her best man and she was not allowed to say no. She laughed, but then the idea of a wedding party in general lingered in her mind.

This would not be a traditional affair with white dresses and churches and in-laws and diamond rings, but the idea of bridesmaids and best men and groomsmen and maids of honor did cross her mind. And Lymantria decided that she wanted two people by her side, so here she was sitting in a usual booth in [name redacted] waiting for Berlioz. 

It was an odd friendship they shared, maybe to the outside eye, but Lymantria found comfort in it. It was not something either of them needed to consciously nurture; they ebbed and flowed together like the tides and sometimes they were in sync, and other times they were not. It was not an issue. In fact, it was rather easier not to have to deal with the formalities of saying sorry for not replying and instead having a mutual understanding that sometimes life happened and sometimes responses weren’t necessary.

Lymantra felt a little nervous. She did not know why. After all, Berlioz was married himself — though he hadn’t been at the celebration. Lymantria was happy that he and Simba had gotten married the way they wanted, though she did not linger at the reception much after learning that. She did momentarily consider a quiet little wedding like that, but if there was one thing from her childhood, from her mother’s family, that she remembered, it was big, festive weddings as an excuse for the community to get together.

Lymantria did not have a family like that; but she had a little family of her own and she wanted everyone she cared for to be there for this.

Maybe Berlioz would understand. She hoped he would. 

She spotted him now, but instead of just waiting for him to approach like she normally did, she stood up. Lymantria could not help the smile that blossomed on her face, the color that touched her cheeks. She beamed and the minute he was within earshot, the news bubbled out of her.

“Berlioz,” she said, breathlessly. “I’m getting married!” 

mrsrcbinscn​:

“

Dolly– oh, that’s right! She donated one of her signed Dolly Parton items to Tiana’s grand opening auction! Funny, because every other year that would have bene much more memorable, but this was also the one-year period wherein she gave birth to her second child and also almost died. So. Everything else kind of came back to her in blips.

“Yes, that’s right! I’m glad she went to a good home. What’s your go-to Dolly song? Other than the siren call of sapphics like me, Jolene, and I Will Always Love You. Oh, and your name, what’s your name?”

~*~ 

 “Lymantria,” she replied, still a little star-struck. “And I do not want to be cliche… but Jolene has a very special place in my heart. My partner — sorry, my fiance — and I have a whole… thing with that song.” 

Saying the word “fiance” out loud made Lymantria’s heart flutter. The full story behind that was a little racier than she wanted to admit to a celebrity idol, but it did bring a smile to her face and she ducked her head down a little bit.

“But aside from that, well… probably Blue Valley Songbird,” Lymantria said. It felt oddly confessional, considering how much solace Lymantria had found in it during her darker days. There were happier songs she could’ve picked, but that one struck a deep chord with her. 

olaf-likeswarmhugs​:

Olaf nodded along. He had been in the Comic Barn a few times and always felt clueless there! Most of his life he lived without the delights of television and movies, though he’d always been an enthusiastic reader, fluttering often to the Hollow’s library to pour through different texts. Lots of fairy literature was all memoir though, so the fantastical imaginings of humans were really something else! He hadn’t known where to start, but the man there had been helpful. Very helpful. Olaf thought he had probably spent close to an hour listening to Mr. McWiggin’s recommendations on TV, movies, and comic books. 

And every single time he visited the Comic Barn, Mr. McWiggin had a new thing to suggest. 

“Yes, you have to give people the chance to look past your appearance too. It can be difficult. Sometimes people look at me funny when they find out I’m a fairy,” said Olaf. “And sure, not everyone is going to look past that but– most people do. As long as I give them a chance.” 

He squeezed Hot Brad’s bulging bicep for extra comfort. Then glanced at Ly, and back to Hot Brad. He had mostly calmed down…and technically Olaf was supposed to be at the bar… 

“Now, how about… we get you some water, and you can sit out here for a little more if you’d like? Or you can sit in the back of Pixie’s too! Or maybe you’d like for us to call someone?” Olaf asked. 

“I think I’ll stay out here,” said Brad. His voice was soft, but it no longer sounded sad. Lymantria studied his profile, his chiseled jawline and strong cheekbones. The worried crease of his brow had disappeared and his face was  back to its usual classic beauty. Except, well, sadness still lingered in his eyes —

Perhaps that was the wrong word. It was not sadness, but the sort of quiet melancholy Lymantria was intimately familiar with. It was not a bad feeling, but rather a temporary acceptance of one’s own sadness. Let it linger too much, and it could stifle, but in small doses, Lymantria found it illuminating.

“We can absolutely bring you out a water,” she offered, repeating Olaf’s suggestion. “And call someone.”

“Thanks guys,” said Brad, smiling. “That means a lot. I’ll take the water, but I might walk home. It’s a beautiful night, after all. I like to look at the stars.”

At that, Brad tilted his head up towards the night sky. Lymantria did the same, looking up at the stars above them and the pale sliver of moon. It was the sort of clear night sky that Lymantria liked to fold into a metaphorical pocket and save for her own illusions. 

Brad sniffed and then threw his arms around Lymantria and Olaf’s shoulders.