No One Calls Me Baby Girl

Stella “Star” Butterfly || 27 || she/her

[menodoramoon]

Roadtrip to Mjaunie (Sort of) || Stellaluna

Characters: Stella Butterfly @stellabfly, Menodora Perhonen Mentioned: Cass Hamada @auntcass-hamada When: Early March 2026 Summary: Cass, Moon, and Stella drive to a gateway to Mjaunie, hoping to make it to the Magic Sanctuary and earn Glossaryck’s aid against the Commission. Related: ◆ The Countess Butterfly - Stella challenges the Commission. The fate of Mjaunie is in Stella’s hands. ◆ Mjaunie Succession Plot Directory - Links to the major beats of the arc/plot

[Read Here or Below]

MENODORA

There was a unique sort of rush that flooded Menodora as they drove at a responsible speed down the country road. Her hair whipping only slightly as the wind blew through the car between cracked windows. Clean air and grass and all those other scents and senses flooding her.

Had Menodora ever been on a road trip? What a silly question; the answer was no. The farthest drive she’d enjoyed was to and from the airport, and even then, dread had filled her in a myriad of ways. 

It filled her now, even if she was pushing it down.

Cass was behind the wheel, going at a sensible speed. Stella was in the backseat, Google Maps directions playing from her phone. Menodora sat in the front passenger seat, focusing on the sensations of everything around her to keep the worry at bay.

They were headed to what Menodora could only explain as a pre-existing, teleporting portal. A secret door that relocated after every use, activated by bursts of concentrated magic.

This one had apparently been etched into a cliff by the sea for some time, according to Eilonwy, who’d tracked it down against all odds. With England’s general mistrust of magicks, the door had been left alone by the few who had even recognized it. Besides, no one would even know where it went!

Well, Menodora knew. Sort of. In this case, they would use the portal to get to the Magic Sanctuary in Mjaunie. Menodora hadn’t been in years, and she figures that must be by design.

A temple to magic built in the ruins of what might have been a temple to monsters. Guilt churns in Menodora’s stomach then. She tries to banish it like bile.

This would be fine. They’d track down Glossaryck, ask him to help them against the Commission, and everything would be fine. No need for executions. 

This is the part where Mjaunie is no longer a fairytale.

“Stella, does it tell you how much farther we are?”

STELLA

They were actually doing this. They were actually here, going through with this whole wild plan. Of course, it was her fault they had to do this in the first place. She couldn’t help but feel guilty, sitting in the back seat, looking at her wand more than the maps on her phone. She ran her thumb over the gemstone set in the middle. All of the things that had gone so wrong, not just with her but the whole history of her home, that led to this. 

She had to wonder if it was all worth it to those in control. Was Mjaunie really worth it to the commission? Or was it just a stepping stone to the potential for even wider spread destruction and control?

It was terrifying, really, knowing that not only her family’s lives, but the lives of all those deemed “Monsters” in Mjaunie were at stake. 

Her mother’s voice pulled her from her thoughts. “Hm? Oh, um… yeah, just a few more kilometers, then you’ll turn left,” she said, not glancing up from her wand. This wasn’t hers, though. Not really. She was still in possession of the Family Wand. How much harm had this one object done? Was there any fixing what her family had broken?

MENODORA

Everything was stiff and awkward between herself and Stella. Despite their growing resolve, their personal lives were still in desperate need of repair. Mending these things takes time, of course, but Menodora wishes she could have a wand or snap her feelings and reassure Stella with words like a hug.

Menodora glances at Cass, confirming the directions, before she turns in her seat to look back at Stella. 

Her little girl, all grown up. 

Sometimes River used to drive them down to the southern point of Mjaunie, a lively area with local stalls and businesses. It felt extravagant to take a car when they could walk, but at the same time, there was a certain thrill to being in a motor vehicle.

Stella used to try to free herself from her car seat. Menodora can't remember if they still did that by the time Stella was in a booster seat.

“Talk to me, Starlight, are you okay?”

It's a stupid question. So she follows it up with, “what are you thinking about?”

STELLA

What was she thinking about? What wasn’t she thinking about right now. She kept looking out the window, not really wanting to look at her mother. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to look at her, no. That sounded wrong. She couldn’t look at her. She couldn’t bear to look at anyone right now. She could barely stand the glimpses of her reflection in the window. 

“It’s just a lot,” she finally said softly. “It’s… I know things were bad before, but if we can’t do this then they’ll be so much worse and—” it would be all my fault. She doesn’t voice that part. Just sniffles a bit, hugging her arms around herself tighter.

“I’m thinking of all the things that could go wrong. All the ways we could get caught. All the worst case scenarios,” she murmured. “For a while I wouldn’t think about those at all, I was just being positive and hoping this would all work out, but… I guess those thoughts had to come out sometime.”

MENODORA

Stella's fears and worries are justified. Make sense. Menodora turns back in her chair, having noticed the way Stella would look anywhere but at her. 

“It was silly of me to have asked,” Menodora says softly, though it's meant to be a comfort. “Of course it's a lot, I didn't mean to trivialize it.”

She glances at Cass for a moment, wondering what Cass would do right now. Cass was always good at the ‘reassuring’ thing.

“There's no scenario where I won't be by your side, Stella,” Menodora says, trying to muster up confidence in her tone. “Nothing is broken forever, we can make this better. Make this right, alright? You can be very persuasive, and you have a good cause. Surely Glossaryck can't deny you at least the time to hear you out. He may be laissez-faire, but he's not heartless.”

STELLA

Stella gave her mother a quick wave of her hand, dismissing the comment. She didn’t trivialize it. Not intentionally. For once, this seemed like her mother was genuinely trying to connect. Not dismiss Stella’s fears as silly or childish, not even to trivialize this situation. But what else do you even ask someone in such a situation?

Especially as she continued. Stella glanced her mother’s way, the smallest smile at the edge of her lips. At least Moon saw the flaws now. Finally. That the system was broken; she all but said that out loud. 

“But…” she started, not really wanting to finish. “But what if he doesn’t listen? Or what if he refuses to help? What are we— what do I—?” She could feel her heart rate rising knowing how the pendulum would swing if they couldn’t convince him. All of them made enemies of Mjaunie, all being tried and executed for being and conspiring with monsters. She tried to take deep calming breaths, slow and steady like she’d done before the play. Calm. She could be calm. She could do this. They would do this. 

MENODORA

They’ve come a long way from early morning fights at the breakfast table. Arguing and storming off and then arguing some more. It felt like all these topics that they danced around or didn’t feel quite as obvious  – the corruption and unfairness of Mjaunie’s system, the unrealistic expectations it foisted upon them – were allowed to live in the light. Be seen as the ugly truths that they both knew them now to be.

“If he doesn’t listen..” Menodora starts, though she doesn’t entirely know how to finish. It’s a good question. Then what? What can any of them do in that case? “Then we still stand in front of the Commission and make our case and try to convince the commission to split their own vote–...”

The will to finish that thought seems to die slowly. And what? Let Stella die? Because Menodora was too focused on decorum and propriety and pride? To finish out a trial that might end with them dead? It would be easy to run, allowing cowardice to take over, but to do so would be to leave monsters at Mina Loveberry’s mercy.

No one wins in any scenario, really. Winning the challenge, though, feels like the least amount of harm, at least.

“We will ask Glossaryck for help and if we fail we figure something else out,” Menodora says with a soft smile, trying to be reassuring. It likely falls flat, though. Menodora’s never done well with uncertainty.

STELLA

For as much as Stella and her mother had their differences, for as many flaws as they both had, one thing Stella so rarely saw from her mother was uncertainty. Especially in situations such as this. Where things mattered, where the county was involved. Sure, in the past her mother’s view of the commission and their policies was flawed but she at least spoke with conviction about them. 

So the hesitancy here was stressful to say the least. She wished Moon would tell her she was being silly for being so worried but they were so far past that. 

“Okay,” she said softly, giving her a small nod. They would figure it out. They had to. Even if they had to go on the run, even if they had to fight the commission, Stella was determined to figure something out. 

She just hoped Glossaryck would listen.

MENODORA

Moon turns to face forward, watching the road come and come and come. The more distance they cross, and yes, they could go back if they so chose. Physically, they could go back to Swynlake and try to make a case. Possibly seek legal help. That would be a mundane option. That would be an option that made sense. 

Nothing seemed to make sense to Moon anymore. In the past year, everything had turned on her and Stella. Their lives were on the line, and if not their lives, their way of life.

Menodora glances over at Cass, who seems to be doing them the courtesy of letting them talk without judgment or commentary.

“I won’t let them hurt you, Stella,” Menodora promises, though she truly wonders how much of that is, well, a lie. “We’ll figure it out, we’ll get answers. And even if Glossaryck won’t help us, I’ll pour over the charter and come up with something. We’ve got a little under a month. We can do this.”

STELLA

Stella was focusing on the passing scenery again. Thinking about all her friends at home. And how much she had to explain, how much she failed to explain. Would she tell them if this was all going to shit? She’d tell Mim of course, and there was an obligation and need to tell Banzai as well, but the others? Her friends that didn’t sit as close to this side of her life, would she burden them with the feelings and fear and stress of her potential demise? Or just let them wonder “hey whatever did happen to Stella Butterfly?”

It wasn’t herself that she was worried about. It was everyone else. It was every Monster she’d be sending to a life of misery and potentially torture in Mjaunie if this failed this. It wasn’t just her life on the line, and in some ways that was the one that was the least of Stella’s concerns.  

“Yeah,” she said softly, not turning back to look at Moon. “We can do this.”

[menodoramoon]

Resolutions/Revolutions || Stellaluna

Characters: Stella Butterfly, Menodora Perhonen When: January 1st, 2026 Summary: Stella and Menodora discuss their plan moving forward. Related:  ◆ The Countess Butterfly - Stella challenges the Commission. The fate of Mjaunie is in Stella’s hands. ◆ A Recipe to Remember - Stella, Mim, and Cass bake an enchanted pie with the goal of breaking Moon’s memory curse. ◆ Everglow - Stella bring Mena the enchanted pie in hopes of breaking the memory curse. Stella and Moon reunite @stellabfly

[Read Here or Below]

Menodora Perhonen

It was... strange, actually, waking up as herself. Waking up and truly being able to say she was Menodora Eline Perhonen Butterfly-Johansen, the name she couldn't keep in her mind when Tófi had told her. The name she couldn't retain when she was Mena.

Another New Year's Day waking up in the reading chair in the living room. She'd fallen asleep there after calming Stella to a point of sleep. Menodora had pulled a throw blanket over her daughter, set some water on the coffee table, and mulled over the implications of what Stella had told her.

Stella had challenged The Commission, and all of their lives were on the line if they lost. The only way to save not only themselves but all the monster in Mjaunie was to beat them. And how to do that? Find Glossaryck, a djinn who Menodora hadn't seen in years at this point.

The worry spun, but Menodora was far too tired to ruminate all night and soon after Stella, she too had fallen asleep.

Sun had streamed through the window, signaling morning, and Menodora couldn't even tell that she'd slept. It felt like a blink, and suddenly the world was back again. Her mind was recalibrating to being her. Her.

And right now, she would make some breakfast for her daughter whenever she woke.

It was a small thing, but compared to this time last year, Menodora hopes that they could be better. That she could be. That she could do right by Stella and that everything would be okay between them...

Breakfast is almost done when Stella begins rousing, and Menodora wonders if it's the noise or smell of breakfast being made that wakes her. 

It's then that there's a slight fear that comes over her. Did... were she and Stella okay? She knows that they had hugged last night, but that didn't mean that they were alright. Menodora had promised that there wasn't anything that they, together, couldn't fix, but the idea of challenging the commission.... it was a big task. It was, perhaps, an impossible feeling one. 

And besides the grandeur of that monumental undertaking, there was also the fact that this was the first time in months and months that Menodora, as herself, was facing Stella. The last time they'd spoken, really spoken, was during their failed magic lesson. Moon had rejected Stella back then, unwilling to acknowledge the truth of their family's lineage and the consequence -- those dark marks on her own arms -- of her deal with Eclipsa...

There was no use drowning in thoughts of that now. Stella sits up and Menodora... Moon... smiles at her, forcing a cheery tone.

"Good morning, Starshine," Menodora says brightly, though unable to meet her daughter's eyes. "I've got breakfast almost ready if you'd like some. I've got some juice, and I've made some coffee but honestly can't remember if you like it. Do you? I can make more." 

Stella Butterfly

As soon as the shock and, admittedly, relief and joy of having her mother back settled, Stella had immediately began to spiral. She told her mother everything. Everything that had happened since Hekapoo picked her up in Ralph's apartment to making the pie with Cass and Mim. She told her about her discoveries, about Eclipsa and actually going through the forest and finding, about bringing her to Swynlake, about Ralph and what he had done, about his own trial with Hekapoo and the truth of what he'd done spurring her to challenge the commission. Word vomit of terrible thing after terrible thing, confiding in her mother her stress and fears like she'd never done before.

Because maybe there was a small part of her that understood her better now. She'd been in her shoes, even for a brief time. And she had hated every second. She hated it so much that she found the truth and decided to put a stop to it. Some might call it breaking a cycle. Perhaps she was, regardless of the outcome of this Challenge. Either way, this was going to be a new era in Mjaunie, for better or worse. 

She didn't remember falling asleep. She vaguely remembers her mother soothing her, bringing her a blanket and tucking her in. When she wakes up in the morning, her hair a bit of a mess from how she'd slept, her eyes groggy with sleep, she has a moment of not knowing where she is. Her mouth is dry and her eyes burn, dehydrated from all her crying. She sits up and looks around, trying to blink the sleep from her eyes when finally she sees Moon.

Stella tries to smile but she's not a morning person, so its tired and unenthused. But it is genuine--it comes from a genuine place in her. 

"Hi," she says, clearing the sleep from her throat. She squints against the sun streaming in through the window. "What-- Oh, um... sure?" she stretches as she sits up more. "Sometimes I like coffee but... juice sounds good. Maybe some water too, please?" she hates how tacky the inside of her mouth feels.

And for a moment she truly doesn't remember all the horrors she'd spilled the night before. She's still in this space of waking up where the world isn't quite real and things are a little less serious. 

Menodora Perhonen

For a moment, Menodora braces for rejection. She braces for the possibility that Stella will have decided that it was a mistake to confide in her mother; Stella might hate her once again for things that would be entirely appropriate to hate her for.

Instead, Stella says hi, and it's not saying that everything was alright, but it's not an outright rejection. Menodora smiles at that. She's grateful. 

She brings Stella a glass of water and orange juice, setting them on the side table. It's cautious, overall. Not so much that she was worried about spills, but because this proximity to Stella felt foreign.

"I've got pancakes," Menodora says, straightening her posture and walking back towards the kitchen. "Also some fresh fruit, and if you'd rather have a parfait I can do that."

Perhaps it's silly to be so nervous around Stella, but there was another component to this that Menodora didn't want to address. How was it so easy as Mena to say the things that Menodora only wished she would as herself. 

I'm proud of you, being the most prominent thing. Yes, Menodora had said it when she'd given Stella the shears, but saying it as Mena when Stella was going to face her quest - that Mena hadn't even known what it was? 

There's a shame burning in Menodora's chest for that.

Why was she better when she was not her?

Every time. Every time, in every dream, in every reality? Why?

"I suppose," Menodora says, stacking some pancakes on a serving plate, "that we have to talk about what you told me last night. And a plan for moving on." 

Stella Butterfly

“Pancakes sound good,” she says, yawning. “Thank you.”

She sits there for a moment, hearing her mother in the kitchen. It’s like some weird alternate reality that she’s woken up in. A world where everything is fine and they’re both normal. 

The bubble pops as Moon brings up the obvious. 

“Right,” she says. “I… um… which part?” She’d said a lot of things. 

And maybe if she weren’t so tired it would’ve clicked that obviously there was only one part she probably wanted to come up with a plan for. 

Her mind is mostly focused on the smell of pancakes filling the apartment. 

Menodora Perhonen

She sees Stella's trepidation and Moon's heart stops for a moment. Is she saying the wrong thing? Has she gone too fast? Stella asks which part and Moon tilts her head. Though, then she recalls all those times that they'd fought over Stella getting up in the morning, even erupting into full-on shouting matches. Moon remembers she ought to be patient so she serves Stella's mean at the table. 

"Well, I suppose how to move forward with finding Glossaryck and ensuring you win the challenge for Mjaunie. I'm not countess anymore, I don't think I ever shall be again, so I ought to defer to you, don't you think?"

Menodora brings her own plate and coffee to the table, sitting across from where Stella's seat was. 

"Syrup, Starlight?" Moon offers, sliding the dispenser towards her. 

Stella Butterfly

Her mother deferring to her made her wonder if she was still asleep and this was some weird dream. But no. It was very clearly reality. Because if it was a dream the whole challenge thing wouldn't even be mentioned. 

"Right, yeah," she nods, feeling a little queasy. Thankfully there's food, so hopefully that solves the problem. 

"Thank you," she says as she takes the syrup, drowning the poor unsuspecting pancakes in it. "Um, yeah, I guess if you... have any insight on where I could find Glossaryck, that'd... be a big help?" it felt weird talking to her mother about all of this. Like her memories came back and some sort of switch flipped and everything was different between them now. 

It wasn't, she knew, but there were bigger issues at hand. And it was clear to them both, it seemed, that despite it all, they cared deeply for each other. So that may be enough of a resolution to that conflict for now. 

Menodora Perhonen

That's something Moon's not too easily able to help with. The whereabout of Glossaryck have been a mystery to Menodora for as long as she can remember. At least, when he wasn't at the estate... Menodora's shoulders slump slightly and she looks rather reproachful.

"I'm sorry," she says, quietly, "I don't know." It sounded like quitting. It sounded like giving up. She shakes her head and looks up at Stella, "but that doesn't mean I can't try to find out. I'll give it some thought, alright, darling? I'm sure I have a memory or two I can share somewhere, they just might not have come back to me yet."

She smiles, trying to be optimistic. "It was interesting. When I was a child, he seemed relatively indifferent to current events. Always made a big deal about getting away to enjoy the fresh air, you know. A djinn and all, he wasn't tethered the Mjaunie the way that we were. I always got the impression he'd stay for a strategy meeting and then go off to wherever he could to observe from afar."

The thought strikes Moon then that she wasn't aware of how much Stella knew from that time. Nothing, probably, if Stella didn't find it on her own or Elsa hadn't shared Moon's memories with her.

"He wasn't interested in politics," Menodora admitted. "Just the pure principals of magic. I don't think he sees or saw the effects or consequences of war. Just.... magic in use. And nature running it's course." 

Stella Butterfly

It was interesting to hear more about Glossaryck, even if Moon didn't know where he was. Which was... a wrench in the plan for sure, but at least she could get some information about who he was as like, a guy. Maybe she could put some pieces together?

"So how'd he get involved in it all, anyway? If he didn't seem that interested in the politics side. That's like, all the Commission seems concerned with, really. So why does he default to side with them?" she wondered, a little frustrated about all of this still.

She took a bite of her breakfast to try to calm down. 

"He always seemed connected to that Book of Spells," she recalled. "Could there be answers in there about where he might run off to? Or... a way to summon him back? Do you think there's any way to get that back from the Commission?" 

Menodora Perhonen

Menodora sighs. "I think," Menodora says, quietly, "he came with the territory. In the sense that he's been around forever, either drawn to Mjaunie when our family first arrived or, more of my suspicion, tying himself when they they proved magical prowess. I'd say Glossaryck was more interested in magic for magic's sake. It's why he stuck around so long. I... At this point, with so many wars, it's possible we could have even bored him after all the skirmishes."

She thinks, has another bite of breakfast herself.

"I think it's because The Commission asked and Glossaryck agreed. He doesn't feel particularly strongly about anything, and he doesn't care for presiding over matters that don't concern him. This would not concern him. Even if I think it should."

Moon's face is more serious now. She does wonder how Glossaryck could have possibly gone so long as a steward of a land he seemed to lack investment in. His binding to the place was possibly a reason. Or perhaps it was a way to control him as an incredibly powerful djinn.

Stella asks if it's possible to get the book back and Menodora grimaces. It was a good thought, but, "I doubt the Commission would let us take it. Let you take it. By asking or by force. It's a good idea, though. I recall bits and pieces of the histories that weren't taught to you. By my own tutor, actually. I must wonder if there's something in them that could give us some answers." 

Stella Butterfly

That all felt like it would have been something important to learn in one of her history classes. Then again, half the stuff she'd discovered during her stint as countess probably should have been taught to her, but as it turned out the Commission was super full of liars and hypocrites. 

Her heart sunk when her mother said this wouldn't concern him. Because... well, it was wrong. So what if he was a being above mortal concerns, this should concern him! If he wasn't on the Commissions side, they would probably hunt him down and lock him back in the book. 

"Does your tutor remember the whole book? That thing's like... huge," she said. Then, she remembered who her mother's tutor was and she frowned. "Could we actually trust them more than the commission? What if they lie to us too?" 

Menodora Perhonen

Menodora has to think on that one. Would Tófi have remembered it? Tghey didn;'t seem to care for it at all. 

"I doubt it. It's been years, and when they cut ties with our family line... well, I don't know if it's worth asking." There's a distance in her smile. "I doubt they're interested in helping, either."

There's a deep sigh building in Menodora's chest. She feels the weight of hopelessness pressing down on her shoulders, but now's not the time. She's to come up with solutions and help Stella.

Her thoughts drift. She turns her fork in her hand.

"I-- I have to think that there's some place in Mjaunie that Glossaryck is most likely to be. Somewhere he'd have an affinity for. I'll have to look in my books, but I might... I might be able to come up with something. The issue, though, becomes getting to Mjaunie, even if we track him down. Hekapoo will know if you cross a portal... let alone myself, who should have no business with portals if my memory is still failing. No, this is going to take some creative problem solving."

The sigh is released and Menodora gives Stella the most earnest attempt at reassurance that she can.

"Let me think on it, Starlight. I may be able to come up with something. Either with my tutor, or alone." She taps her fingers lightly on the table top - a nervous habit she wishes she could shed - before redirecting her attention. "Let's focus on breakfast for now... and after? We'll figure something out." 

[stellabfly]

A Messy Interaction || Mochabee

[stellabfly]

"Oh shit!"

She missed a step. And with coffee in hand, she started to stumble.

It would have been embarrassing enough to spill her coffee on a stranger, but after catching herself from hitting the floor, her iced coffee getting squished in the process, lid popping off and liquid going everywhere, Stella realized she knew the poor soul who had just gotten drenched in coldbrew.

"I am so sorry," Stella said, her face turning pink, the heart marks in her cheeks starting to appear with a subtle glow. "I... let me help you get cleaned up."

@audrey-auto-motive

[stellabfly]

A Messy Interaction || Mochabee

[madmagicmim]

A Rockin' Good Time || Stim

[madmagicmim]

Mim was slowly starting to get her laughing fit under control. That was until Stella started meme-ing at her. Instantly, she burst into another wild fit of laughter, reaching under her glasses to wipe away the tears that were starting to collect there.

"I mean, we could have probably sold him some rocks from the sandpit section. They'd be pretty anyway. Well. Some of them would work out." Not all of those crystals were water safe. Which was the minor problem.

"Then again, maybe it would be too much like having a stained glass window around and then he'd give those fish Catholic guilt."

She barely made it through that sentence before starting to laugh again, fully collapsed on top of the case by now, especially as Stella's laughter joined hers.

@stellabfly

[stellabfly]

Stella started laughing along, hiding her face in her hands. She shook her head at the thought of giving those fish catholic guilt, falling silent for a moment.

"That isn't funny, Mim, you can't joke about that," she did her best to sound serious and keep a straight face, "Fish Jesus died for their fins." More laughter bubbled out of her, collapsing as well as tears started streaming down her face at this absolutely ridiculous conversation. Her sides were hurting and she was pretty sure her makeup was getting a little smudged.

She was having a great time.

@madmagicmim

[madmagicmim]

A Rockin' Good Time || Stim

[stellabfly]

Stella scrunched her nose up at Mim, giving her friend a quick pout before she turned to the person that came in.

"Hello, welcome to the Rock Shoppe," Stella said in her best customer service voice. "Do you need help finding anything today?"

"D'ya got any rocks?" the guy asked, looking over one of the shelves of minerals.

"We have lots of rocks--all sorts of crystals and gems. Were you looking to use them for any sort of specific spell or--" Stella did her best to keep her smile on.

"Nah, just need some little ones. Like a lotta 'em," he shook his head, studying a pendulum. "Just got this fish thing from my ex-brother-in-law, need something to put at the bottom."

Stella blinked. "I--" she had to stop herself from saying something rude as the shock sort of took over. She cast a glance Mim's way before she looked back to the man.

"So, we don't really have those kinds of rocks..." she said tentatively. The man finally looked at her.

"You're sayin you call this place a rock shop and you don't have any rocks?" he cocked an eyebrow at her, hands gong to his hips.

"Maybe try a pet store?" she offered. The man scoffed, entirely offended by this notion it seemed.

"Call that some bullshit false advertising," he gave a disappointed head shake. "Get better rocks." and he turned to storm out.

Stella blinked a few more times, just staring at the door, watching him angrily storm away through the window.

"What---"

@madmagicmim

[madmagicmim]

The man started talking and Mim had to bite the inside of her cheek. This was not the first time she'd had someone come in with a question like this, but she was pretty sure it was Stella's first time.

Yep. It was. And this was a great version of these kinds of interactions.

As soon as he stormed out and the door slammed shut, Mim burst out laughing, feeling all the tension from the day fade in that one outpouring.

"Merlin's Beard, look at your face. Get better rocks. That's a wall of famer for sure."

Another glance at Stella had a wild burst of laughter spilling out as she hunched over the counter again, wiping away the tears that were streaming from her eyes.

@stellabfly

[stellabfly]

Stella looked at Mim angrily--not like, true anger, more just feigned annoyance--as she rolled with laughter.

"Okay, har-har, so funny," she said when she finally could process everything that was happening. "But like, really... what? What was that, what-- what does that even mean?" Stella did honestly want to laugh about all of this but she was still in shock, she couldn't laugh about it yet.

"You're laughing," Stella shook her head. "That man has a rockless fishtank and you're laughing. Do you know how much fish shit is probably accumulating on the bottom of that tank?? Do you know how ugly it probably looks? And you're laughing?" Stella tried to keep her tone serious but at the end of her little rant a laugh escaped, sending her into a giggle fit right along side Mim.

@madmagicmim

[madmagicmim]

A Rockin' Good Time || Stim

[madmagicmim]

Mim snorted at that, slowly sitting up again. She stretched her arms out overheard, hearing her spine pop a few times along the way before she rested her arms back on the counter. Maybe she'd do a good salt water wash across the doorstep. Just to be sure.

The story Stella brought up did make her smile slightly. Yeah, that girl had been pretty cute. Points to her.

"Yeah, I have a feeling we'll be seeing here again. Probably when she -" the doorbell jingled as someone else walked in, and Mim immediately went quiet over anything she might have said.

Instead, she quickly touched her nose and looked over at Stella. "Nose goes, this ones yours."

@stellabfly

[stellabfly]

Stella scrunched her nose up at Mim, giving her friend a quick pout before she turned to the person that came in.

"Hello, welcome to the Rock Shoppe," Stella said in her best customer service voice. "Do you need help finding anything today?"

"D'ya got any rocks?" the guy asked, looking over one of the shelves of minerals.

"We have lots of rocks--all sorts of crystals and gems. Were you looking to use them for any sort of specific spell or--" Stella did her best to keep her smile on.

"Nah, just need some little ones. Like a lotta 'em," he shook his head, studying a pendulum. "Just got this fish thing from my ex-brother-in-law, need something to put at the bottom."

Stella blinked. "I--" she had to stop herself from saying something rude as the shock sort of took over. She cast a glance Mim's way before she looked back to the man.

"So, we don't really have those kinds of rocks..." she said tentatively. The man finally looked at her.

"You're sayin you call this place a rock shop and you don't have any rocks?" he cocked an eyebrow at her, hands gong to his hips.

"Maybe try a pet store?" she offered. The man scoffed, entirely offended by this notion it seemed.

"Call that some bullshit false advertising," he gave a disappointed head shake. "Get better rocks." and he turned to storm out.

Stella blinked a few more times, just staring at the door, watching him angrily storm away through the window.

"What---"

@madmagicmim

[madmagicmim]

A Rockin' Good Time || Stim

[madmagicmim]

The thing was, Mim had grown up in London. She'd grown up being made fun of for being 'the witch'. At every turn, she'd needed to minimize or hide her magic because practicing it in public was illegal, despite the fact that everyone loved to talk about her literal ancestor Merlin and make stories about him. Practicing it as openly and often as she did here in Swynlake was a statement against every person who had made her feel like this was something to hide.

Maybe that was part of why people like this frustrated her so much. They thought they could simply borrow the trappings of who she was for fun. At least if they were going to do it, she should get some profit out of it. For fuck's sake.

"Fuck, that was like having flashbacks to Phineas being here. I swear, I'm going to be haunted by him until my death."

Sitting upright with a groan, she put her elbows on the counter and rested her chin on them. "I still say that it would imbue any potion you made with the essence of finance bro and it shouldn't be risked. Plus I'm pretty sure the carbonation would make it explode."

@stellabfly

[stellabfly]

"It's the curse of a finance bro--they'll linger forever unless properly cleansed from the space," she joked but it did feel true. Like a hydra, if one finance bro left, it seemed like two more popped up in his place, their polos always a little more starched than the last.

"It definitely would," Star agreed. "And if it somehow didn't explode, it would summon something otherworldly and deeply evil."

Maybe all those religious fanatics who thought Monster Energy drinks were satanic were onto something...

"I know they sucked," Stella said, though, being a little more supportive of her friend. "But remember last week when that girl came in buying components for her very first potion? She was so excited to talk to you about the difference between using sun charged and moon charged Reagents." For every shitty tourist, there was one genuine person who really did make this job a little more fun. "She was really cute, and like, super knowledgeable for how young she was."

@madmagicmim

[madmagicmim]

A Rockin' Good Time || Stim

[madmagicmim]

Mim let out another annoyed groan as Stella started to laugh. It was justified. But still. Rude.

Customers like this always came in waves. People who wanted to touch magic without having any of their own. Or people who thought that practicing whatever faux-New Age thing they'd found out about in a book meant they were on some voyage of meaning instead of just being taken advantage of by other fakers.

Sometimes those customers could be funny. Other times they made Mim want to bite someone just to hear them scream.

"She barely even bought anything. All that and she only left with a single worrystone and the cheapest quartz crystal studs we have in the place. Like what is even the point!"

@stellabfly

[stellabfly]

Stella gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "There, there," she held back more of her laughter. "Maybe next time she'll buy a selenite wand and a mini broom to hang beside her door." Stella teased.

There were some people who were serious about finding this sort of spirituality and connection to nature and Magic through witchcraft. There were others who thought a few crystals would solve all their problems without putting in any actual effort. Some were nice, a lot were annoying. And while Stella had grown up in such a superstitious town, she knew Mim's background probably involved a few less of these ignorant mundus', so perhaps she should be a little nicer and not laugh at her friend's plight.

"And hey, at least she wasn't like that one guy who came in here asking if he could use mountain dew as a potion base, right?"

@madmagicmim

[madmagicmim]

A Rockin' Good Time || Stim

[madmagicmim]

The customer left, and Mim kept up her cheerful customer service smile and wave until the woman finally exited the shop. Then she immediately melted down to lay her head on the counter.

"I'm going to fist fight Skye Alexander and Silver Ravenwolf. If I hear one more person insisting that the 'grimoire just found them' and now that means they're a practicing Wiccan I'm going to embed a clear quartz into their skull. Maybe then it would give them some insight."

She could hear Stella moving next to her, but she didn't feel like getting up. That woman had talked forever.

@stellabfly

[stellabfly]

Stella couldn't help snort a laugh. "Oh my gosh I saw the fire in your eyes as soon as she started to reach into her purse to show off the 'grimoire'," she leaned against the counter not as dramatically as Mim had.

"You handled it really well, if its any consolation. I think you only twitched twice when she mentioned 'cleansing oils'. And you only tried to correct her once when she insisted thats a 'real things' and 'no she isn't talking about essential oils', and that store bought kosher salt could work for any of her spells."

Stella wasn't as patient with these sorts of customers. Usually she'd give them a glass of tap water, call it 'blessed full moon water', and tell them they should drink it to heighten their connection to the 'grimoire'. And more often than not, the customer would make some sort of claim that they could feel the power growing.

@madmagicmim

[audrey-auto-motive]

Audrey x Stella (Mocha Bee) - You've Got Mail

Summary: 2026 You Got Mail event, kisses, confusion, confession and more kisses. (Copied from Discord) @stellabfly

Stella Butterfly

She didn’t know why she did this. Maybe as revenge for how he’d hurt her, maybe to feel like someone did care, maybe because she just wanted to. Whatever the reason, she had done it. And it felt strange and wrong and exciting and new all at the same time.

She didn’t know if Banzai did it as well. In writing letters, there were a few she hoped were him, but she was quickly realizing none were. Which either meant they didn’t match, or the universe was sending her some sort of sign—no don’t look at it that way, she scolded herself.

Finally she came across one name that she’d really connected with. Someone she had actually flirted with. Maybe she shouldn’t go up to her but… she had to just meet her.

“Hi,” she greeted the young woman, channeling some of that confidence of the anonymity. “I was hoping I’d run into you here.”

Audrey Ramirez

Audrey had been enjoying her little matches, but there had been one she was definitely the most interested to meet.

She was pleasantly surprised that she found her first.

“Bumble.” She grinned behind her mask, looking her outfit over, which fit her extremely well, “Look at you.” She said appreciatively. “I was also definitely hoping we’d run into each other. Honestly, I was the most curious about you.”

“I’m Audrey by the way.” She held out a hand for her to take.

Stella Butterfly

She smiled as she was greeted in return.

“Look at you!” She replied. “I love the suit. I’m so glad you wore that and not a space suit.”

Stella couldn’t help but grin. And maybe she shouldn’t. But….

“I was really curious about you,” Star smiled. She took her hand.

“Stella,” she introduced herself. “Some people call me Star.” And maybe she should leave it at that. They’d met, right? And she should say bye and go look for banzai or something right?

“Do you want to dance?” She asked. “I mean, we did want to check our connection, right?”

Audrey Ramirez

Audrey grinned, looking at herself a bit, yeah, she'd figured it out pretty well. "Nah, I leaned more into the coffee. I don't think silver metallic and a helmet is really my vibe." She let out a chuckle.

She felt herself grow a little bit smug inside that she really had been interested in her on personality. Audrey was pretty sure she could feel it, but it was nice to have the confirmation in person instead of over e-mail.

"Yeah, I think we said something about a physical spark, if I remember correctly." She took Stella's hand, "Think a dance could be kind of perfect for that."

Audrey didn't think twice about it and led her out onto the dancefloor, slipping a hand around her waist. She definitely found that there was something there, whatever that was, it made the mechanic interested.

Stella Butterfly

As soon as Audrey’s hand was on her waist, Stella felt a buzz through her body. Just having her so quickly agreeing to dance with her, to holding her and smiling at her and…

She shouldn’t be doing this. She shouldn’t be wanting to do this.

But she put her arms around Audrey’s neck.

She noticed how gentle yet strong her touch was. Confident in a way.

“I think you could’ve pulled off the spacesuit look. But it would’ve definitely made it harder to do this,” Stella laughed, her fingertips brushing against the nape of her neck, feeling the little wisps of hairs that didn’t make it into the ponytail. “And then I wouldn’t have gotten to see how pretty your eyes are.”

What was she doing?????????

Audrey Ramirez

Audrey definitely felt that physical spark now. The one she suspected might be there between them. The way Stella touched her when she spoke, the way her fingers left that tingle at the nape of her neck.

"Yeah? Well, that would've really been a shame." Audrey smirked a little bit as they moved on the floor, grip at her waist tightening just slightly, fingers splaying across her dress, feeling the fabric beneath her fingers. The blatant flirting made Audrey feel a little warmer under the collar, but in probably the best way she could think of.

"I'd have a really obstructed view of how gorgeous you look tonight." Her eyes moved from her face to her outfit, lingering on her lips a second beyond that hat and then back up. Even if she was used to wearing helmets on her motorcycle, she wouldn't want to be wearing one now. Not with how she was leaning in a little bit more.

Stella Butterfly

Oh this was maybe not a good idea. She felt heat spread across her back where Audrey's fingers rested. Her voice and words made a blush creep across Stella's face, especially as her gaze lingered on her lips. There was a pulse of heat that went through her, spiking her heartrate.

Audrey was leaning a little closer, Stella's mind was reeling. She knew she should stop and pull away. She knew she should say never mind this was a mistake. But she couldn't.

It felt so good to have someone flirting with her like this. It felt so good to have someone wanting to dance with her in front of a crowd of people and hold her gently. It felt so good to feel wanted. Not that Banzai didn't make her feel wanted, but... lately she felt like she wasn't enough. That no matter what she did or said it wasn't good enough. He would still pull away, he would still get upset,  he would still yell at her on the street.....

He had made her cry more than he'd made her laugh recently. She couldn't talk to him about her problems without him saying she didn't understand how bad his were. Like he was the only one going through something. He called it life or death but wouldn't elaborate. He told her he couldn't tell her. Or maybe it was just that he wouldn't. She worried about him, she worried what he was up to and how he would greet her--would it be with a smile or annoyed that she was taking too long.

He still told her he loved her but sometimes it didn't feel like it. She spent all her time worried or stressed or upset. Like she wasn't allowed to have fun because he was suffering.

Audrey didn't have any of that baggage. She didn't make Stella feel any of those ways. And sure, she didn't know her more than a few emails, but... it was nice to not feel that way. To just dance and enjoy her time and life and the closeness she had to another person.

"You're one to talk," she grinned a little, her voice a little lower. She stepped a little closer so their bodiess were more pressed against each other as they danced, her eyes now lingering on the other woman's lips. She shouldn't, she knew she shouldn't...

But she really wanted to.

Audrey Ramirez

Audrey continued dancing with her, feeling that press of her body against the front of her suit, her arms just holding her closer.

They both were hiding their time, feeling that tension continue to cause sparks between them.

She did barely know her, but she honestly knew plenty of other people a lot less. At least with Stella she knew there was some kind of connection, whatever it was.

She watched as she looked at her lips this time. A smirk appeared on her face, “Is that so? Does Miss Bumble feel that physical spark we were talking about before then?” She teased, her fingers toying with her dress as their faces drew even closer. Just a little more and there’d be no space between them left.

Stella Butterfly

She couldn't hide the smile that Audrey's words brought to her face. She didn't want to hide it. It felt so good to smile like that.

"Maybe she does," she felt her stomach do a flip, a blush creeping to her cheeks. The more Audrey played with her dress, the closer she wanted to be. The heat of her hand was driving her wild, and her lips inching closer didn't help anything.

She shouldn't. She really shouldn't.

But then she would know, right? She would know there were no sparks, and then they could move on from this. She could say it was a mistake and explain her situation and they could all have a good laugh about it.

But what if there were sparks? What if there were more sparks than she knew what to do with?

How long had it been since she felt those kinds of sparks?

She could feel the warmth of her breath. They were so close. Just one kiss, right? Just one quick playful kiss that she could pretend was her 'trying it out' or something.

Stella hated that her mind went to Banzai. But not in a way of thinking that this might hurt him or she shouldn't do it because of him. No. She thought, maybe this will finally get him to pay attention to me.

Their lips touched. Light and barely there. And within a second Stella felt warmth spread across her body, her lips pressing more surely against Audrey's. Her lips were so soft, the kiss was so nice. That physical spark was burning through her like a shooting star. She should hate how much she loved it. She should.

But she doesn't.

Audrey Ramirez

The teasing playfulness of their emails seemed to translate immediately to the in person. The vibes were definitely still there.

She let Stella close the distance, softly and light at first, their lips pressing together. And then that rush of excitement, that spark, ran through her as Stella leaned further into it. Her arms wrapped around her more firmly, pressing them close and melding their bodies together as their lips met again and again.

The concept of making out on a dancefloor wasn’t new to her. The concept of doing it in a well lit not club scene was more foreign. She blocked out the thoughts of the potential audience they might have.

Her one hand slipped up along the back of her dress and then back down again, feeling the warmth of her body through the fabric. The girl who was a so called contradiction had her interested, that’s for sure.

Stella Butterfly

It shouldn't feel as nice as it did. Stella shouldn't have continued to kiss her over and over, her arms tightening around her to pull her closer. Their bodies fit so well against each other. Every curve of Audrey's seemed to compliment hers so well.

She felt weightless. She forgot where she was. It was exciting and scary, soft yet fiery. Just like all the contradictions they'd talked about.

It sparked in Stella something she felt like she'd been missing for far too long. It broke her heart to admit that.

Stella pulled away, her face flushed and breathless. She looked up at Audrey, her lips still parted, waiting for the words to come out.

"I--" she started, but the words she knew needed to follow wouldn't come. "That was really nice."

Her throat tightened. "I'm so sorry, though, I... I don't think I should have done that."

And she hated how much she wanted to do it again.

Audrey Ramirez

It was strange to think about all this. Audrey hasn’t really thought anything would come of the emails. Maybe meet a person or two, send a few jokes. And yet, she came away with it with at least two people in her corner and a very pretty girl who she was at least interested in.

But she didn’t want to think about it. She just wanted to continue to kiss Stella until they both were breathless, feeling her melt into her body through her suit.

That spark was there. Just depended on what they did next.

Audrey caught her breath as Stella pulled back, lips curving into a bit of a smirk.

Nice? She couldn’t help but raise a brow. Kind of a knock of the ego which then got followed up with a I’m so sorry. Not exactly what you wanted to hear in this situation.

“Why shouldn’t you have?” Audrey questioned quietly, her fingers gently running along Stella’s jaw and down her neck.

Stella Butterfly

She saw the way Audrey's brow rose. "Oh--no, like... like really nice like-- like 'that was so hot' kind of nice," she rushed trying to fix what she'd said. Not that she'd really said anything wrong but she could also see how it could be taken that way.

A shiver went through her as Audrey's fingers moved from her jaw to her neck.

"I just..." she felt awful. But she didn't know which part felt worse--the fact that she'd done this and she knew that would hurt Banzai, or the fact that she had to tell Audrey she hadn't been entirely honest with her. "I'm not, like... one hundred percent... single..." that felt bad to say.

"I--sorry, no, I don't know. I've--things have been in a really bad place with my relationship and i just... Never mind, you shouldn't have to worry about any of that. That's all on me, that's not..." she swallowed, feeling awkward and embarrassed. She shouldn't have brought it up.

"I haven't felt a spark like that in a while..." that didn't fix this. "I really like kissing you." That might make it all worse.

"I'm sorry," her voice was small and quiet. And during all of this she should have probably pulled away from Audrey, but she couldn't bring herself to do it.

Audrey Ramirez

Okay, that was better than just a nice. Still there seemed to be something she wasn’t telling her.

“Oh.” Audrey hasn’t been expecting that. It wasn’t like Stella had indicated she was in the emails for friendship. And she’d just kissed her. She didn’t think she’d find herself the other woman in a relationship. If that’s what she was. “Do you guys have an open sort of thing or…?”

Guessing not with how flustered she was. Still, it sort of tugged at her heartstrings a little bit seeing her distressed and unhappy after she’d been so bright and shiny two seconds ago. Maybe she was just getting soft or something.

The spark comment and the kissing did obviously feel nice, but it was sort of bittersweet. She had gotten so quiet and seemed much smaller. “Yeah, it was really good,” she admitted sighing slightly.

“Do you want to go sit somewhere?” She asked, softly, “You seem like you need to talk about it and you know I like you enough to listen.” She teased slightly, trying to lift her mood. In Audrey’s opinion she’d kind of punished herself enough and the dancefloor wasn’t exactly the place for her to have a breakdown and existential crisis.

Stella Butterfly

Did they? Could they? She wasn’t sure. She wouldn’t have minded an open relationship with anyone. But that wasn’t a conversation they’d had before. Partially because Stella worried how Banzai might take it. She worried he’d be upset or hurt at her saying that. But it would have been for both of them. Right?

But she shouldn’t do any of what she’d done because they hadn’t had that conversation. Though they hadn’t even had a conversation about anything in quite a bit. Maybe some texts here and there but nothing really about their relationship.

“I don’t even know how ‘in a relationship’ I am right now.”

She laughed a little, mostly at herself. “Maybe I do. I don’t know. It’s just been… a lot.” And she felt bad for unloading on Audrey. She should feel worse for kissing her.

“If you want to listen… I would appreciate it,” she said with a small grin.

Audrey Ramirez

Audrey could read the words conflicted across Stella's whole face. This definitely wasn't what she had planned for tonight, but maybe the little bumblebee had softened her up a little bit.

"Yeah well, why not, I think this whole e-mail thing has made me a better listener... or reader, or something." She huffed slightly, a little smirk peaking out of the corner of her mouth. She didn't wait for the song to end, slipping her hand into Stella's, she pulled them off the dancefloor.

Walking them from the ballroom and away from the bulk of the people, she ducked into a hallway of the town hall, sitting them down on a bench.

She tugged her mask off her face, not caring about whatever masquerade rules she was breaking, she couldn't take herself seriously in the thing. "Okay, what's going on." She breathed out in a sigh, her hand reaching over to touch Stella's. Feeling that little spark light between them again and travel up her forearm.

Stella Butterfly

She went with Audrey to a quiet bench, sitting beside her, perhaps too close.

Audrey was even prettier with her mask off.

As she took Stella’s hand, she felt that tingle in her palm, swirling all the way to her stomach.

“My boyfriend has been really distant lately. He won’t tell me what’s wrong and the most he’ll give is vague dark bullshit where he acts like I couldn’t understand. Or like he’s the only one going through shit. I had a family emergency that took me out of the country for a while and he acted like it was my fault or my choice to stay there but it wasn’t. I came back to visit as much as I could but he’d just be in a bad mood or it wasn’t enough to make up for the time apart and…. And we’ve just felt really distant. We barely talk. We’ll hang out and see each other but talking… isn’t something we do a lot of.”

She sighed, squeezing Audrey’s hand. “I hate to say I haven’t felt a spark like that with him in a while. I still care about him so much. I still love him. But… I don’t love how he’s been acting and treating me. I don’t love that I feel neglected and alone and it’s like no matter what I do to try to understand it’s not good enough. I don’t get to know because it could be dangerous. Or whatever excuse he wants to come up with.”

She shook her head, realizing she was talking a lot. “You’re a good listener. Thank you.” Her shoulder nudged Audrey’s. “Almost as good as you are at kissing.”

Audrey Ramirez

Audrey did her best to listen to all the information that was dumped upon her. If gossip was true, she might even have an inkling of who her boyfriend was and at least what he'd been up to in the past. But, no way to know really.

She held Stella's hand through it, listening and frowning at parts that she especially didn't like, brows knitting together. "Think it's hard to find that spark when you've got all that invisible bullshit running interference." She said simply, attempting softly but part of her kind of felt annoyed about the situation. "Even if you do love each other."

"You should never feel neglected, Stella. Not by someone you love." She looked her in the eyes, "I'm sorry all of that is happening to you. Do I think kissing me may have complicated all of that? Yeah. But, you know, I don't blame you really after hearing all this."

She apparently had a way of making people feel wanted and desired she had found out over the last couple weeks. She nudged her back gently with a smirk at the compliment, "Well, I mean, the damage is already done so if you want another kiss..."

Stella Butterfly

Audrey made good points. It felt nice to be heard and have something constructive and helpful said back. It felt nice to not feel like she was overreacting for her feelings.

“Thank you,” she said. “I did all of this because I just… wanted someone to talk to. And someone to listen. So that maybe I knew it wasn’t just me that was the problem. That there might still be people that… cared what I had to say.” Not that she thought banzai didn’t care. He just had so much else going on.

“Kissing you definitely complicated things,” Stella laughed. “But I don’t think in a bad way. I think… it gave me some clarity I really needed.”

She was still working on the words needed to express what that clarity was, but she wasn’t going to regret this in the morning.

Stella didn’t bother to hide the grin on her face. “Maybe just one for the road?” She batted her lashes. And just so there was no confusion about if Audrey should feel weird about initiating after everything Stella said, she leaned forward first, capturing the other woman’s lips in hers, melting against her as she enjoyed this moment.

As she enjoyed, for the first time in a while, feeling truly and wholly desired, messy feelings and all.

Audrey Ramirez

Audrey had wanted to know in some way that people could look past her hardened exterior, that her general personality could attract someone who shone like she thought Star did. She'd found a match with a lot of strings attached, but at this point she said fuck it, she'd already gotten caught in them. She'd admitted a couple things to Stella in their short time of communicating, things she didn't think she'd admitted to anyone in a while.

"Hey, I'll always listen, Bumble, okay?" She said with a slight grin, tossing in her username nickname. "And remember, you're a contradiction. The best kind. And if he can't figure that out, take your gossamer self elsewhere."

Clarity. Well, that was a first. Usually kissing sort of clouded things up.

"One for the road," She repeated with a grin as Stella leaned in, easily pressing her lips against the other woman as she wrapped an arm around her, pulling her in closer as they kissed. Sparks flooded through Audrey's veins, her heart pumping them through as they kissed. Her hand finding its way to her cheek, cupping it as she conveyed all that desire in the kiss. It was intoxicating really, getting wrapped up in it.

Stella Butterfly

She grinned. She couldn’t help it. Audrey was saying all the things she had wanted to hear for so long. It sucked that this was how she got those words. From a situation she shouldn’t have put herself into.

Yet here she was. So might as well make the most of it.

One of Stella’s hands got trapped against Audrey’s lapel, the other went to wrap around her and pull her closer. Her heart pounded harder and faster than it had in a while. Those sparks flew around her mind as she deepened the kiss, knowing the taste of Audrey’s lips would haunt her long after this kiss was done.

She didn’t want this moment to end, but she knew it had to. It wasn’t fair to Audrey. It wasn’t fair to Banzai. Perhaps that was why she didn’t want it to end; as soon as it did Stella would have to go and find him and they would have to speak about all of this.

So she may as well enjoy this moment while it lasted. Just a spark of that fictional world of bumble and mocha getting to experience what they’d both wanted to in the emails. If only reality could be so simple.

Audrey Ramirez

Her hands felt good against her suit, it was odd how comfortable Audrey was with her, like each touch was just something natural that flowed to the next.

She felt herself want more than just this last kiss, prolonging it as long as Stella would let her.

Did she want her more now that she couldn’t have her? Or was it because those sparks were too good to just let fade away? Whatever the case she also felt her heart thud a bit harder.

She followed Stella’s lead, deepening the kiss with her, her fingers slipping into her blonde hair as she pressed closer. If this was their last kiss, she’d better make it a good one. One she’d think about later, one that was worth each email they passed back and forth. One that told Stella she was someone to be desired and wanted. And one that they would’ve had endless amounts of time to do if they’d simply just been Bumble and Mocha.

Reality was harder than the emails, so with each press of their lips and swipe of a tongue they chose to remain out of reality just a while longer.

Stella Butterfly

Eventually, the kiss had to end. Stella knew that. With every taste and touch, Stella knew this moment couldn’t last forever.

The thing that made her finally pull away was when the spark started to grow and spread, heating her stomach, sending an aching to her core. When she had to resist the urge to swing her leg over and straddle Audrey’s lap, she finally pulled away, her face bright red.

“I…” she started, her gaze dipping once again to Audrey’s lips. She forced herself to refocus. “I should probably go… talk to him…” she said softly, her cheeks flushing more.

“Maybe I’ll… depending on how the talk goes, I mean, maybe I’ll hit you up sometime? We could um… get coffee or something?”

Audrey Ramirez

Audrey was feeling it slowly ramp up as well, the way their hands seemed to hold on tighter, grasp a little harder. It was probably best that Stella pulled away from it.

She really was cute, that blush coating her cheeks as she tried to figure out her words making Audrey's smirk deepen just a little bit, even if her own cheeks were flushed. Somehow reminding herself that this girl had a boyfriend and a very messy situation right now was not steering her away from wanting to kiss her again.

Audrey's own eyes mirrored Stella's glancing down at her lips one more time before she resigned herself to the fact that she needed to get back out to the party and Stella needed to talk to her boyfriend and sort things out.

Her hand hadn't moved from her blonde strands of hair, gently tucking it behind her ear, "Yeah, let me know how it goes and we'll see, bumble." She leaned forward, pressing one more quick kiss to her lips, sneaking that last little touch, before she sighed and managed to untangle herself from Stella. Slipping her mask back on and straightening herself out a bit, she looked over to her, "Just remember, you deserve to feel wanted okay? Bare minimum, the bar is in hell." She winked at her from behind the mask and stood up from the bench, making her way back towards the ballroom.

What a start to her night, huh. Still plenty more ball to go.

[stellabfly]

🌙I Love My Parents🌊

Oh, dream maker You heartbreaker Wherever you're going, I'm going your way Two drifters off to see the world There's such a lot of world to see We're after the same rainbow's end Waiting 'round the bend My huckleberry friend Moon River and me - Moon River, Audrey Hepburn

@menodoramoon

[stellabfly]

Happy Valentines Day (pt. 1/?) aka Carr learned how to use canva

Feat: Jaz, Foxsnake, Worthy, Beach Boyz, June+Matty (sorry i love them lmao), Foxhop, Seahound, Malette

[Note: i became obsessed w making these junk journal-esque phone wallpaper style aesthetics. i made them for my Task and here are a bunch more. and I will happily make so many more so if anyone has any ships (canon/present/together/separated/noncanon) and want me to make these silly little graphics hmu lmao (i might make more on my own bc its been my de-stress activity at night and also keeps keeping me up lmao) Also if anyone wants theirs in an individual post or just wants the image i can make you one i just didn't want to spam the dash. or just take the image and do whatever u want with it lmao idc have fun]

@the-pumpkin-king-lament @ben-books @it-is-your-destiny @nobody-like-robaire @nobody-like-z @matt-man-maam-tholomule @june-von-drake @officer-judy-moon @lucathedreamer @plutothe-pup @mal-mchale @collette-richards

[nobody-like-taehyun]

And the songbirds are singing | Open

[nobody-like-taehyun]

Practice was getting more and more tough. And then there were the photoshoots and trying to promote. There really wasn't a lot of down time to process at all. But he finally had a few hours for himself. No practice, photoshoots or even class.

At first he didn't know what to do with himself. But then, after a half an hour of indecision he found himself changing out of his pajamas into some comfortable clothes and grabbing a hold of his camera. There was no sign of one of the others to say goodbye to. He made his way out of the house and onto main street.

There wasn't really anything to take pictures of there, so he drifted toward the park, taking pictures of some of the trees and the snow that lingered on them. He made his way further in the park until he finally spotted something beautiful: a heron that seemed to be working on putting together its' nest.

Beautiful.

Taehyun froze and then slowly lowered himself to the ground so he was on his stomach, angling the camera so he could snap a good shot. He had just managed to get one, maybe two when he heard the crack of a branch behind him. The heron took off immediately. "Oh..." he glanced over his shoulder. "You scared it away," he told the person, sighing as he made himself sit up. "Did you see that bird? So beautiful."

[outfit]

[stellabfly]

Apparently Stella went for walks now? Sitting at home made her head spin too much and she'd just dwell and focus on the ticking clock and her crumbling relationship and the betrayal from one of her oldest friends.......

So she went for daily walks now. It was nice. she could collect reagents and see neat things.

One of the neat things she saw was a guy laying on the ground. Maybe not neat, but it did get her attention. Was he... okay?

Star started to walk closer and stepped on a branch. At the same time, a beautiful bird took flight, its wings flapping heavily as it brought itself into the sky.

The guy on the ground turned around.

"Oh, shit, I'm sorry," she said, lowering her voice, like that would help anything. "Sorry, you just--I wanted to make sure you weren't like... you know, dead?" She saw the camera and everything clicked even more.

"It was a really cool bird. Sorry if I messed up your shot."

[outfit]

@nobody-like-taehyun

[stellabfly]

💜Brimstone Aesthetic🔮

Oh, it's such a perfect day I'm glad I spent it with you Oh, such a perfect day You just keep me hanging on - Perfect Day, Lou Reed

@madmagicmim @headless-bram

[stellabfly]

🦊Mighty Aesthetic💎

When I wake up in the morning, love And the sunlight hurts my eyes And something without warning, love Bears heavy on my mind Then I look at you And the world's alright with me Just one look at you And I know it's gonna be A lovely day - Lovely Day, Bill Withers

@ambereyed-mountain-prince @geehosaphat

[stellabfly]

⛰️Icebreaker Aesthetic❄️

Like a northern light You're dancing over every borderline Passing every sign Between reality and fiction - Icebreaker, Agnete

@vvinter-queen @ralph-wreckin-reilly