#alec the apprentice

[the-melting-world]

I cannot describe how completely in love I am with this piece! Thank you @joeyhazell-art​ for showing off this soft moment between Asra, Kipling, and Alec ( @apprenticealec​ ). I love these three together! I’ll definitely be coming back for more!

[the-melting-world]

How about some good times with Asra in his Oasis? He must have all sorts of magic at his fingertips there to make things more fun and interesting 👀 Like perhaps some temperature/texture manipulation? Hmm?

Soooo this was actually a collaboration with @apprenticealec ! Make sure to show her some love. Our apprentices had a lot of fun celebrating Asra’s birthday in his tropical oasis .... 

*Not quite a lemon, but still on the acidic side! Enjoy!!!

****

When Alec and Kipling asked Asra what he wanted to do for his birthday, they were both surprised to see him shrug and say, “I just want to spend time with you two.”

Alec laughed, slinging one arm over his shoulder and the other around Kipling’s waist. “Love, all we do is spend time together.”

“Isn’t there anything special you want? Somewhere we could go?” Kipling asked, holding Asra’s hands in hers.

Asra thought for a moment, pursing his lips. “I don’t think we’ve all been to my Gate together before. Why don’t we go there?”

Kipling’s brown eyes met Alec’s blue ones as they exchanged a secret, not-so-innocent smile. Then Alec joined hands with Kipling with Asra’s at the center. “Let’s go!”

Once they reached the magical realm, and felt the soft ground of Asra’s oasis under their feet, the three of them raced each other over to the pools, kicking up water in all directions. Shrieks of laughter echoed through the air around them as they abandoned their clothes. Soon enough, they were all soaking wet. 

“Asra, let’s play a game!” Kipling said, wrapping her arms around his hips. She let her lips fall into a small pout and Alec mirrored her, standing on Asra’s other side and holding onto his bicep.

Asra laughed, turning to press quick kisses to both of their foreheads. “What did you have in mind?”

“What about Marco Polo?” Alec suggested.

“Hm, really?” Asra raised an eyebrow, studying the two of them closely.

Kipling nodded, dark hair bouncing around her face. “Yeah! Please?”

A fond smile spreading across his face, Asra went to respond, but Alec interrupted him with a finger to his lips.

“Don’t you want to know what your prize is if you catch both of us?”

Asra’s eyes glinted in the light, and he quirked his mouth up slyly. “Oh, I didn’t know there’d be a prize. Go on.”

Kipling shot Alec a look and cleared her throat. “I thought we weren’t going to tell!”

“Sorry, sorry!” Alec laughed, stepping away from the other two, deeper into the water. “She’s right, Asra. I guess you’ll just have to find out. If you win, that is.” Slowly she sunk down until her head was the only thing floating above the water, her long hair fanned out behind her.

Asra rolled his eyes and sighed, but his grin never faded. Kipling snuck a kiss to his cheek before running into the water after Alec, giggling. “Okay, now, no peeking!” she called.

“And no using magic to find us either,” Alec added, giving him a pointed look.

Asra said with affected innocence, “You really think I would do that?”

“Yes, you would!” they chimed.

With a chuckle, Asra closed his eyes and stepped further into the pool. Once they were sure he wasn’t peeking from under his white eyelashes, the women seperated, careful not to disturb the water around them.

“Marco!”

“Polo!”

Asra cocked his head towards Kipling, who squealed when he lunged for her, just missing her hand. Alec covered her mouth to hide her laugh, but Asra still heard her, and turned his attention her way.

“Marco!”

“Polo!”

It was Alec’s turn to jump back, and taking a deep breath, she swam under him, between his legs. His fingers just missed her hair, and she joined Kipling on the far side of the pool, the two of them trying and failing to be quiet.

“Marco!”

“Polo!”

Alec and Kipling held their breath, and this time, Asra moved slowly, straining his ears to catch the sounds of their voices. As the cool water flowed around him, he had an idea. Heat poured from his fingertips as he ran them through the water, and suddenly the pool transformed into a hot spring, steam rising into the air.

“Oh!” Kipling couldn’t help the sigh that escaped her lips, and Asra used that moment to strike, a cheeky grin on his face as his hands reached out and grabbed – nothing.

Their voices came from behind him. Somehow they were just as far away as before. Pouting, Asra tried again. “You two are really making me work for this surprise, aren’t you? Marco!”

“Polo!”

Asra resisted the strong urge to try to find them with his magic, and instead let the temperature of the pool drop, sucking all of the heat back into his hands. Both Alec and Kipling gasped this time, but one was far closer. This time, Asra threw both arms out and was able to latch onto one giggling, squirming Kipling, who laughed as he pulled her to his chest.

“Got one!”

“That wasn’t fair!” She cried, and Asra opened his eyes slightly to look at her, hair wet and clinging to her face.

“You never said I couldn’t use magic at all,” he teased, and she sighed, shaking her head. Turning his attention back to their lover waiting in the pool, Asra closed his eyes again. “Marco!”

“Polo!” Alec answered, and both Asra and Kipling could hear her teeth chattering from across the water.

Asra tapped his chin, smirking. He let the water around him and Kipling heat back up, and heard Alec whine, aching for the warm water.

“Oh, doesn’t the water just feel so good over here, Kipling?”

“Definitely! So warm.” Kipling laughed, watching Alec’s eyebrows furrow together, stubbornness keeping her away.

Asra stretched one hand out towards where he thought Alec was. He smiled. “Aren’t you cold, Alec?”

“Sh-shut up!” She pouted, cold, wet hair draped over her shoulders. She didn’t want to give in, but it looked so relaxing, and her fingers were starting to feel numb.

“Hm, suit yourself then,” Asra said, pulling his hand back, but he felt the water shift around him, and knew that Alec was right in front of him.

He reached out slowly, and once he felt his fingers graze Alec’s wrist, grabbed her and pulled her into the warmer waters. She instantly melted against him, wrapping her cold arms around his waist.

“Traitor,” she said, giving Kipling a half-hearted glare.

She shrugged. “Guilty.” Then she smiled and snaked one arm around Alec and the other around Asra. Once they had all sufficiently warmed up, Asra looked between them, raising an eyebrow. “So, about that prize?”

Kipling and Alec shared a look. “Close your eyes!” Kipling said, and Asra pouted.

“Again?”

“Trust us,” Alec said, tightening her grip on his waist.

With a hum of agreement Asra let his eyes slide shut, keeping one hand on each of his lovers’ backs. Alec glanced at Kipling, and when she nodded, they both leaned forward to kiss a corner of Asra’s mouth, their lips meeting in the middle. He sighed happily, digging his fingers into their skin, pulling them closer. 

Alec left Kipling to pepper kisses across Asra’s face as she moved slightly lower, pressing soft kisses to his neck and shoulder. Asra started kissing Kipling back, cupping her chin to keep her still, while his other hand traveled up Alec’s back to bury in her hair.

When they all finally pulled away from each other, their eyes were hazy, and Alec laughed, leaning to kiss Kipling’s cheek.

Asra arched a pale eyebrow at them both. “Why are we stopping all of a sudden?”

Kipling stifled a giggle. “Maybe we can continue this somewhere we can get more comfortable?” 

Asra’s hands coasted down their backs, past their waists. “Oh yeah? Did you have a certain place in mind?”

Alec tapped her chin. “Oh, I bet we can come up with something interesting.”

[the-melting-world]

19 for Kip and Alec? 🥺 please 👉🏼👈🏼

Oh yes!!! I was so excited for this 💖 I was super inspired to find out that Alec enjoys stargazing, so you’ll never guess where I went with this one ;)

19. Cuddling

***

Kipling heard someone open the door to the roof. Good. She needed some company. She still had a few more minutes before she was done with the arrangement for this roof, and though the night sky was bright and alive, it was starting to get kind of lonely.

By the time Kipling turned around, the newcomer had made themselves at home on the outdoor furniture. Furniture that Kip was fairly certain did not belong to them.

Taking a deep breath and thinking of all the polite ways she could ask the stranger to respect the space, Kipling set down her tools and brushed her hands off on her apron. Then she approached the lounge area with the intentions of making her body language as non-threatening as possible. 

The closer Kip got, the more she recognized the individual cast lazily about the sofa. She was a popular street performer that Kip had seen many times entertaining passerby around the city’s busiest bazaars.

What was her name again?

“Come join me!” The musician chirped at Kipling as she tentatively approached. She was close enough to properly scold the performer, but before Kip’s mouth could form the words, the other girl popped up, seized her by the wrist and yanked her onto the forbidden sofa. 

“My name’s Alec,” the musician said as she used her strong arms to wrestle Kip against her side, which didn’t feel all that bad if she was being honest. It actually felt kind of nice...?

Kip shook her head. “Excuse me, Alec?”

“Hm?” 

Kip huffed, “Not to be rude, but you’re not supposed to be here. At least not on this furniture. You see, it’s private property –”

Alec giggled, threw an arm around Kip to secure her better, and pointed to the sky.

“Not to be rude, but you’re missing this.”

Kip decided to look up for just a moment to pacify Alec, but when she took in the sky above, she knew that neither of them were going anywhere any time soon.

Kip knew what the word “awe” meant, but she was sure she had only felt it a handful of times. The way these new nebulous colors swirled and bended in and around the stars above them – it definitely demanded a moment of awe and reverence.

Kipling sighed as she snuggled closer to her new companion. “I’ve always known that you could see this on clear nights, but…”

Alec gave Kip a comforting squeeze. “You don’t have to say. I know.”

And for that, Kip was grateful. She allowed herself a tired smile as she leaned her temple against Alec’s and watched as the universe revolved slowly around them and everything they knew.