"Everyone there on the dance floor! Are you ready!?? Then come on! Lets turn it up!"
Myldrid had, at least once, heard that nothing was more awe inspiring than watching a person be absolutely on their element. And, watching Tempo get to work on his DJ table, he was hard pressed to agree.
The crowd roared as the song hit its chorus, energetic remix covered on the unique touches of the Galarian's Pokémon Team bringing a whole new life to it. Heh. Being down there on the club floor was nice, Myldrid would admit. But getting to lounge on the chairs on his friend's workplace certainly wasn't half-bad.
Suddenly, there was a tug on his tank top, something beckoning him forwards. Looking up, the professor saw Tempo with the biggest, most confident smirk he had ever seen. "Wanna put on a show with me?"
That offer sure intrigued him.
Myldrid let himself get pulled out of the chair, surprised by how the DJ didn't let go of the shirt in order to get a more comfortable hold on something else, dragging him along until they were both in front of the crowd. Now wh-
Tempo pulled him down.
There was a purposeful, teasing pause as the DJ let his audience shout over the display, a little cock of his head barely registered by Myldrid before Tempo finished closing the gap, strongly, roughly putting their lips together.
He knew Tempo's preferences (or lack thereof) well, even if most of the audience likely didn't. This gratuitous, delightfully forceful kiss wasn't just a little fan service act to rile them up.
It was, first and foremost, a flex. Tempo saying, at the same time, two things.
Number one: I am so good at my job, I can multitask without losing a beat.
Number two: I don't even care for this, and I can still pull like no one's business.
Both things were absolutely true. As was that little thing people said about self-confidence.
Yeah. However temporarily, Myldrid was swooning.
Tempo broke off the contact, glowing in his self-esteem that had not once been broken in his entire life. "You like this, Professor?"
He licked his lips, fully giving himself to the situation. "Make me your trophy, Tempo."
Responding accordingly, the DJ once again pulled his friend close, full power and presence in display while the audience rejoiced with full ecstasy.
A Werewolf showed up. Nothing too unusual about that.
The hyper speed intensity with which he was wagging his tail was, though. Confidently putting his cash on the table, he asked. "Soooooo? Who is it gonna be first?"
"I can do it." Paracelsus offered, discreetly looking the customer up and down, taking notes of the very particular jacket tied around waist, alongside the pants similarly pointed him to the type of riding gear he saw Hilda and Astera wear, as well as racing videos Ben watched.
Admittedly most interesting, was the level of definition the muscles on that tank top had. Cel couldn't lie, the way they felt alive and strong was very enticing. He kinda wanted to sketch, study and figure out how they worked out. Hum, yeah, that suddenly felt very interesting.
Anyway. Focus.
He began leaning down, only to be surprised by how eagerly the man rocketed against him, with a rough but not unpleasant strength, lips mashing together but not striking against each other, pointedly wrapping his arms around the alchemist's neck to keep him from leaving. It did, in fact, feel good, even if he was more befuddled than at the start.
"Sweet! Okay, your turn now!" The werewolf said, letting go of the brunette and immediately setting to get his shot of Damian.
Paracelsus just looked at the two, seeing the man put just as much energy on his second shot. Something stuck out, though. Was that tail… wagging faster when kissing Damian?
They looked decently similar in build, he thought, but Damian was a bit smaller. In fact, he was sure this customer was just smaller than Marilyn. Why was he focusing on that?
The werewolf let go of his target, chuckling delightedly. "Hehehe. Alright then! See ya! I'll come back later!"
---
"There we go." Cel purred, voice purposefully velvety clear as he let go of the other man. "Was that good?"
The blue-haired man nodded, the small roots surrounding his Cait ears poking into view adding to his nervous but interested demeanor. "Y-yeah. It was very good, honestly. U-um. Thank you."
"Huhuhu. Of course, Raymond. I'm here for you, after all." Cel half-whispered. "Stop by again later, if you want."
The man awkwardly nodded and said one last thanks as, tail swishing with some excitement, he excused himself back to his friend group, at least one of which had stopped by on the booth earlier that day, who received him with wide cheering.
"Hello, you two! Anyone wants a water bottle refill? I see you're doing pretty well." Marilyn asked, walking in with perfect timing while adorning the same set of pins that Paracelsus carried.
"Marieeeeee~! Yay! Thanks, my love." Damian said, taking the refresher and immediately downing a huge gulp of it. "Aaah, perfect! Well, Cel has to flex his charm every once in a while, right?"
"If it helps make people comfortable, then sure. Thanks, Marilyn. I appreciate it." The brunette followed, taking a more reserved swig. "How are things on the back?"
"Pretty good. Shouldn't be much longer before this shift of sorts ends, according to Voigt." She reminded. "Are you all okay? He did ask me to remind you that you can leave at any moment."
"Heck yeah! Look at this!" Damian said, showcasing his filling up donation box with a smile.
"We're pretty fine, yeah. How about Ben, though? Is he okay?" He asked.
"He is… okay? But, I guess this is about the time we should get him back home, right? Wanna see if I can find anyone available for that? Maybe Niamh too, while we're at it."
"Would be good, yeah. Thanks, Ma-"
"HEY BOOOOOOYS!" All three people gasped as they remembered, right, they were currently busy with customer service, the person who reminded them of that having done so by Loudly slamming her hands down. Looking back at the opposite side of the table, they saw a tomato-core Cait Sith girl prepping her elbows on the table, mischievously looking at them with her dual toned hair, sleeveless white shirt and black skirt ensemble. "How much for you two to kiss each other?"
Damian 'buh?'-ed. Marilyn went red. Cel attempted to locate something that could be a reasonable response to that. If they were busy with each other, that meant they would be locking themselves out other clients, so- "Pay double for each of us. Eight bucks total."
The Cait Sith immediately slammed two twenty dollar bills on the table.
Marilyn discreetly (clumsily) reached for her phone. Just in case.
That left them looking at each other. "… You're okay with this?"
"U-uh, yeah. I mean, I've already been kissing other people for a while now. You are… easier. I think. And you? Don't, uh, wanna ruin your reputation again or anything." Damian replied.
Cel chuckled. "You're worried about the chance you'll do that? After I spent the day kissing everyone who talked to me? Come on."
But he wouldn't say that the idea was tingling him a bit. Right here, as he looked at Damian… Man, it was so rare to see him outside without being fully covered up. His boyfriend was close enough for Cel to see the way sweat covered specific parts of his body, building up under the summer sun even if little physical activity had been exerted throughout the day.
Each and every inch of muscle that the blond had strongly developed over the years was in display. That collection of scars adorning his entire body, little details the brunette loved to trace and feel, with hand, pen and camera alike. The way his hair had grown messy and unkempt with the day, even if there was an earnest attempt to keep it tied back.
Gosh. He loved this man so much.
"May I?" He asked, attempting to control himself. And the answer was yes.
Cel took his hand to Damian's cheek, holding it gently as he closed the distance between them, letting his lips meet that of the strong, sturdy man that had saved him so many times before. He could still feel, in taste and texture, a bit of the lip balm they had shared, those lovely lips with a permanent scar resting just a bit below it.
One.
Cel put his other hand on Damian's face, holding him steady.
Two.
Damian suddenly put his arms around Cel's shoulders, locking them behind him. Fuck.
Three.
Okay. Calm down. Calm down. Steady. You're in public. Don't- don't go all in, okay? Just a bit longer-
Four.
"FIORE!!! Grrrr, I was gonna get myself another round first! Fine! HEY YOU TWO! I'm putting another kiss for y'all here!"
"WOOOOOO! Go Celly! Get 'im, boy! Go go go GO!"
"Now this sure is an interesting performance. Alright. I'm fine with going home on my own if this show going on for a bit longer. Come on, you two. Put forward your best act."
… Fuck it. This was what everybody wanted, wasn't it?
Cel got as close to his boyfriend as he possibly could, letting his hands run through that golden silk hair, that back, those arms, full blown making out with only basic decency in mind as a stopgap. He wanted- no, wait, no, he absolutely could not entertain sitting on his lap right now. Some limit had to be kept, some- Fuck. Damian. Damian-
Some distance away, Marilyn kept on recording, just in case, unsure of what necessity, exactly, would require this but 100% sure it would show up. And, eventually, a very soft voice emerged next to her. "They're having fun, aren't they?"
The girl blinked, looking next to her only to jump with a startle as she processed stuff. "I-IDUNN!?" Stopping her recording and putting her phone away so she could properly communicate, she let her hands hover in the air, unsure of what to say, before she began signing with what was likely the most immediate question. "What are you doing here?"
Idunn chuckled. "I'm on break, is all. And Albert was very kind to tell me that Cel was volunteering for kissing duty, so of course I had to stop by and see how that was going on. Very good, apparently."
"I would say so. We are doing pretty good on the fund goals!"
The forest ranger gave her a look that Marilyn did her best to withstand, even though she could feel her very soul being analyzed. Nonetheless, Idunn moved on. "I also figured there was a chance you all could use someone to drive Ben home, since this was meant to be your and Cel's date day. Am I correct?"
"Oh! Yes! Come, I'll take you to where Ben and Voigt are. Niamh may also be- RHIONN! I forgot to tell Rhionn we are still here! I gotta pick up my phone so hold on-"
"Hey there, girlie~ Are you really gonna let those two get all the fun?" Miss Tomato Sith asked Marilyn, suddenly barging into the conversation.
"U-u-u-u-uh!? I-I'm not in the booth, you know?"
"Yeah? Great! That means I get to smooch you for free! Soooooo, come on! I get a feeling you're just my type~!"
"W-w-wait! I-I mean, I don't want to look rude or anything, you are rather pretty, b-but I gotta- wait! Waaaaait!"
Evaluating the situation she didn't hear a single word of and deciding she could wait a minute or two before rescuing her friend, Idunn quietly picked up Marilyn's phone off of her hand as the woman dragged her off, letting the forest ranger casually resume recording duty for future teasing purposes.
---
Stubbornly attempting to clean off this one last smudge of lipstick that refused to leave her cheek, Niamh casually offering her a baby wipe to help her with it, Marilyn announced. "Okay, we're done! Mister Voigt, we have stored everything away!"
"Thank you, Marilyn! I really appreciate it!" He replied, Albert and Idunn helping him keep the financial records in check, then turned to the two men. "You too. You were a lot of help today."
Damian chuckled half-awkwardly as he tried to untangle something in his hair. "Haha. Well, I'm glad to have been of help!"
Paracelsus adjusted his jacket, making sure to cover his neck while grateful the late afternoon air made it so this attempt at modesty didn't boil him alive, a Ben that insisted on staying at the scene even if he was just boredly standing around looking at him in confusion. "Of course. Mister Voigt, did you all get enough?"
The man finished checking up the financial results that had been handed to him and responded warmly. "We have! With all the money we raised, we'll be able to keep the association's services and other works going for quite a while longer, no downsizing required. Everyone, truly… thank you! Thank you lots for helping us!"
Cel smiled, as genuine as he could ever be, in spite of how tired he was. "Mister Voigt. You're the reason I met my best friend. After all you, Idunn and the others have done for me and Ben, this is the least I could have done. And I'm glad I could assist with making sure that others will receive the help I once had."
"Yeah! We are more than happy to have been of assistance!" Damian added.
"And if you need it again, please tell us. I mean it when I say I wouldn't mind try putting on a show to raise funds." Marilyn suggested.
"Voigt… You, Idunn, the others, you helped me get a whole new way to communicate. Thank you for it. And for letting me try to pay back." Niamh said.
Idunn and Albert looked at their old teacher with a 'told you so' on their face.
"Teacher, you have to be better at accepting help. Having to beat that into Cel's head was annoying enough." Idunn poked, the boy in question scoffing and accepting fair was fair.
"Hehehe. The other leaders of the association are gonna really get you for that if they find out, Mister~! But then again, they're a prideful bunch. Maybe they'd turn them down too. You don't have their excuse, do you?" Albert added, softly adding his own, binky-step teases.
Voigt sheepishly took in the offers, the thankful messages directed to him alongside everyone else in the association. Gathering himself, he replied. "Thank you! Thank you all, truly! To see you all these respectable, grown adults in front of me… As a teacher, nothing could make me happier. Hehehe. Maybe it is about time I step down from the leading position, huh?"
"I don't think it is. But Cathryn would be very happy." Idunn mused.
"Hum hum~. Happy indeed." Albert confirmed.
"Haha. I'll offer that to her, then. Alright, everyone! We got leftovers from the event's food stands! Who is ready for some snacking!?"
"YEAH-!"
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIT!!!"
Suddenly, everyone's attentions turned to a particular, very exhausted, very panicky, very disastrous Cait Sith finished sprinting into the conversation, a particular jeweled red panda on top of his shoulder as he did so.
"Rhionn?"
"Brother?"
"Oh, I forgot to call him again." Marilyn head-palmed as realization hit her.
"Fufufufu. Thank you for that. I haven't seen him this flustered in ages. The entertainment was riveting!" Komainu said, jumping off from his spot in Rhionn's shoulder and calmly trotting over to and laying down at Niamh's feet as his teasing target tried to catch his breath.
"Rhionn. What are you doing here? Our side of the date is only like two hours from now?"
"T-THE BOOTH! I heard the booth is going on. Mraaaawww, Niamh told me, but only half an hour ago- ooooh, I missed it, didn't I? Whyyyyyyy?" The man fell on his knees, fully wallowing in misery. "Whoaaaaao… I wanted to kiss you two toooo, you know? Mrrrown…"
Sighing, Paracelsus and Damian looked at each other, then at the Cait Sith in front of them. "Rhionn?"
"Hum?"
Calmly, serenely, the two boys knelt down next to Rhionn and each gave him a mushy, gentle kiss to his cheeks, making sure to do so at the exact same time.
"Come on now. You don't need a kissing booth for that. You know very well-"
"-that if you wanna kiss us, you need only ask!"
After a quiet second of processing, the man began bawling once again, locking his arms around the other two and bringing them close. Cheerfully, whimsically, everyone laughed and rejoiced, as their imperfectly perfect event ended the only way it could ever do.
Yeah. A perfect day, filled with love.
Ethan (Werewolf/Husky Kemonomimi) and Fiore (Tomato-core catgirl) are @astr-hal's (#FioreFebruary)
Raymond is @rickastromega (go to bsky on this one I think)
Niamh and Rhionn are @alexirno's (still love u babe)
("Whew. This was a busy day. But not in a bad way. It was nice to helo everyone, after all. I should go chargr my phone, th- what is this in my pocket?
The initial set-up of the venue was completed, letting the event begin properly. And, not too long after, someone popped up. Well, someone knocked upon it, the unmistakable sound of a white cane hitting against the plastic of the booth's table.
"Excuse me. Sorry, we are having a bit of an event here in the park today. Are you okay?"
"I am. Don't worry about it." He said, elegant long red hair shining under the sun alongside what was probably a scarf and a particularly unfitting for summer outfit. "I hope I haven't broken or scuffed anything. Would you mind telling me what is going on here, while you're at it?"
"It is all fine. Nothing happened to the table." Cel told the man. "The Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Association of Waldesburgo is performing a fundraiser to stabilize their resources. You, uh, just stumbled upon the kiss booth I have been entrusted with. Would you like me to guide you through the park?"
"Ah, so that is what is going on. No need to trouble yourself. I'm just going around on a daily walk of sorts. I am tempted to go in, I won't lie, but I would rather not stumble and trip upon every new thing that has been set on this location. Besides I imagine there won't be much successful communication to satisfy my wants if I were to go inside, now would there?"
"I mean, there are also some people here who speak tactile, if that helps. As well as a couple more person of hearing hanging around, if you'd like to check things out." Cel offered.
"Sadly, it doesn't. But, well, if you're so kind as to see if one of those guides are available, I would enjoy being able to satisfy my curiosity." He said, humming a small laugh as he did so. "However, let me first request some of your services. How much for a kiss on my cheek?"
"Oh. Two reais, if you may." Calmly, the man produced the relevant amount from an antique looking wallet and extended it to the alchemist, who took it and slid it in the box that had been offered to him. "I'm going to have to touch you now. Is that okay?"
Receiving a nod of affirmation, Cel extended his hand towards the other man's cheek, only to be rewarded with a startle as the 'scarf' he was wearing did, in fact, turn out to be a very much alive snake. "U-uh…"
"She won't bite. No need to worry." As if on command, the animal brushed itself against the hand, comfortably nuzzling him.
You know what? Not the weirdest exotic pet he had seen or heard of by far. So be it.
Carefully petting her, Cel moved forwards, delivering a small peck to the other man's cheek. For all that he was wearing, he somehow still felt cold, but honestly, that didn't feel bad given the current weather. The red hair brushed against him, as soft and well cared as the skin he had just touched. At such a small distance, the boy could better appreciate the little details of precisely applied make-up that adorned the other man's skin, an as well put together appearance as possible.
"Thank you. Both for sating my curiosity, and for helping out my cousins of sort." He said, pointing towards his own eyes. "Now, if you could get me that guide?"
"Of course! Please, wait here just a second!"
---
"Oooooi! Celly!" The familiar shout of a certain Moon Rabbit got the man's attention. Almost immediately, Walder made his way up to him, grinning from ear to ear. "Hey man!!! What you doing here?"
"Walder! I could ask you the same, honestly. As for me…" He wordlessly pointed at the sign.
"Oh, the boss just asked me to come here and deliver an emergency order shipment to one of our buyers. Nothing too big. Now lemme- Aaaaaah. I see, I see. A fundraiser for the Deaf and Hard-of-hearing. Like your forest ranger friend? Wait, was that bad of me to ask?" The man asked, pep in each step and word he shared.
"It wasn't, don't worry. Idunn is part of this association, though she is not here today." Cel replied. "So yeah, if you decide to spend money on this booth or any of the other things they're offering here, you'll help them keep active and assisting each other."
Walder's black-haired ears seemed to twitch with curiosity and excitement as he processed that. "I seeeeee. And you're telling me, if I just put two bucks here, I get to do all that while kissing you about it."
"If you want to."
Confidently, the man slapped a bill on the table. "Easiest decision ever~! Come on! Put 'em up!"
Cel couldn't say he hadn't ever felt curious about the farmer before. So, he happily reached for the Moon Rabbit's chin, who wasted no time to zoom forwards for a kiss, though somehow one that didn't feel rough or coming in too strong. It was honestly fun, like he was ready to begin an energetic game of tag out of it. It was so incredibly Walder-like.
Infected with glee, the man hopped in place before prepping himself to run back to his farm. "Alright then! Thanks for that, Celly! See ya!"
"See ya, Walder! Take care!" He waved, watching mister endless energy generator go off to work.
---
An intriguing person appeared in front of Cel. Effortlessly managing heeled sandals, the man carried way-too-fancy shades, a white crop top and trousers that went Just above the knees. His purple hair joined his clothes in a style most would expect to see 40 years ago, while his pointy ears marked him as one of the Fairies.
Actually, there was something else. The way he moved, the way he was built, the Oschner was sure he had seen these before in dance tutorial videos Marilyn shared with him. More than that, he was sure this specific person was very familiar.
Pulling down his shades and bending forward just a bit in order to read the instructions left on the table, the man nodded and extracted the cash required for this particular transaction. "I see. As worthy a cause as any, I suppose. May I?"
Taking the money, Paracelsus voiced a small affirmation and motioned to get up, only for the other man to push him back on his seat and cup his cheek upwards. Bending over further, he moved towards the brunette's lips with a smirk, making sure to make that kiss count.
And boy, did it. The 'affection' delivered was cold in temperature, Cel wondering if that was a result of natural body heat or some sort of lipstick, but not in intensity. There, it was absolutely overwhelming, a clear affirmation of self that dared the other person to keep up. He was sure there was a test in there, but not which direction would make one win.
He seemed to do well enough, though. Moving back with a pleased smile, the man asked. "That was fun. You wouldn't happen to be willing to take a small trip to the next city tonight, would you? I can compensate, if needed."
"Sorry. I have family members to care for. Besides, I already have my actual partners to spend time with tonight."
"Humph. Phooey. That is fine, though. Cherish them. That which you have is the kind of thing that must be appreciated." The genuine honesty in his voice was palpable, to say the least. Then, he picked a card from a pocket and handed it over to Paracelsus. "That being said, if you are free in the next couple days and if they are okay with it, give me a call. I'm sure you'll be a lot of fun."
The piece of paper he was given carried in it the address for a Very fancy hotel in the nearest city. The highest and most expensive floor in that building, to be specific. As the man left, the Alchemist decided to grab the all-too-real possibility he was just propositioned by the number one actor in the continent, store it away somewhere and not think too much about it.
---
Whoa! A wild Waldesburgo's biker gang appeared!
"Afternoon, miss Hartmann. Are you doing well?"
"Quite so, Oschner. Even if the formality is unnecessary." Hilda greeted in return, seven or so of her girls nearby, making sure their bikes were takes care of and parked properly. "So? A kiss booth, huh? Is money being a problem again? I could probably get you some part time gig at a friend's place, if you want an excuse to wring every bit of tip money possible again."
"No need for that. Money is fine, all considered, and I promise I'm doing this volunteer work without a drop of service worker predatoriness. Everything going on in the park today is part of a fundraiser organized by Waldesburgo's Deaf and Hard-of-hearing Association. They have done a lot for me, so I'm paying back, is all." He explained, then, very purposefully, raised his voice. "There are a couple girls manning booths around the corner on my left, too!"
About half of the group Hilda brought with her immediately excused themselves and moved themselves on that direction, their leader letting out a hearty laugh in return. "Very well. Good on you for that, Oschner. So, who is the leader of this merry group again? Your brother's old teacher, right?"
"Yup, mister Voigt. Search for the red-haired man that dresses like a dystopia flick character from 30 or 40 years ago. Can't miss him."
"Noted. I'll see if there is a more direct way he and I can help each other, later. But first." Discreetly sliding a two dollar bill towards Paracelsus, she made her request with her characteristic gusto. "Come on, boy! Bring that cheek over here!"
The boy did as requested, letting out a cheerful laugh when the woman grabbed his face and gave his cheek a cartoonishly strong kiss. It felt good, though. It was alive, full of love and compassion for all she had ever met, rejuvenating in its might and silliness. He couldn't help wonder if this what it felt like, to have aunts around in one's life. It was just nice, yeah.
"Alright, girls! Come on! Time for y'all to pitch your share too!"
… huh?
Looking straight ahead once Hilda let go of him, he saw four other of the biker girls neatly standing in line waiting for their turn.
Oh boy.
---
Whew. He survived it. That was a strong round of puckering up.
"Hehehe. Having fun, Cel?"
The brunette blinked, then looked to the side to see someone sitting down on a chair just next to him. "Damian!? What are you doing here? Also, what about Ben and Marilyn?"
"Well, we knew you wouldn't let us help from the get go, so we all went to the last store we wanted to take a look at, then agreed to come back to join the volunteer crew. Hope you don't mind seeing me smooch a whole lot of people too!" He said with a cheerful tone, though the end of that sentence sure made him blush strong. Also, very pointedly, he had a 'sign slowly' warning accompanying his 'hearing person' one. "As for Marilyn, she felt like doing this could get her into some trouble on her career later on, so she decided to stick to backstage support alongside Ben. Is that okay? Should we get someone to take him home?"
Cel attempted to let himself relax, breathing out slowly. "It is fine. He can handle this kind of stuff. Just come closer for a second."
"Sure! Like this?"
"Yup. Now, let me-" With a fine level of dexterity, Paracelsus quickly took out that same vial of lip balm from his bag and applied it to his boyfriend's lips, making sure to coat it properly. "There we go. And, Damian? Thank you all for helping me with this. I mean it."
The blonde chuckled, taking in the feelings. "Of course! Idunn and the others are our friends too, after all. Now come on! Let us do our best!"
"Yeah!"
Isaac Winthrop (blind, red haired man with pet snake) is @mountainashfae's OC. Every other OC mine.
("Celly is working hard today, huh? Hum... hehehe. Guess I'll stop by later cheer him on, then!")
In front of them, there was a somewhat small woman with long black hair, red eyes and a remarkably fashionable outfit. It consisted of a rather poofy newsboy cap, a long sleeved poet undershirt, a dress-like vest that extended until just a bit halfway towards her knees, boots that picked up almost at the spot the rest of her clothes left off, gloves and some belts that were just as much for the sake of keeping stuff in place as they were decorative.
The steampunk-y, modern yet antiquated ensemble was a bit weird, but nothing too eyebrow raising. Oh no. The part that was bringing a thousand questions a minute into Paracelsus's brain was the fact their client's somewhat pale frame had visible horns, scale and a tail. She wasn't one, right? There was no way she was one.
"I see. So this is a local organization? Sorry, I'm just not from this area." The woman asked, simulaneously interestingly approachable and not. An appearance that, in many ways demanded respect, juxtaposed with a genuine curiosity that seemed to burst at the seams.
"Yup! Don't worry, I'm not from here either! I'm just visiting some relatives, and decided to help some friends that are a part of it." Damian replied, skipping the part that would demand too much explanation.
"Got it. Well, if that is the case, I might as well help too!" Pulling out a wallet from a discreetly placed pocket, she put one bill on each man's box. "Is this sufficient?"
"It is! No problems!"
"Excellent! May I begin with you?" She said, looking at Cel.
"S-sure! Of course."
The kiss was interesting. Were those white markings on her face actual scales? They certainly felt like that. And yet, the contact itself was remarkably pleasant. Gentle, but confident. Energetic, but respectful. There were no flaws in it, even as it came from a girl that otherwise made him want to ask 5000 questions a minute.
"Oh, that was fun! Now, you!" She said, reaching for the other table host, who was visibly much less worried about any of the topics Paracelsus was currently thinking of. Instead, he just performed his duty with not a speck of trouble, their client coming out of if fully satisfied. "Thank you two so much for this! Honestly, I have a lot of difficulty ascertaining when people are interested in me, so making the first move like this was a very fun novelty. I wonder if this is how people normally feel."
"I get what you mean! Being this casual still feels new for me, but in a good way. It is fun!" He replied.
"It is! Very much so! Truly, thank you two!" Calmly, the girl began leaving to go on her way, then turned back to say her goodbye with a warm smile. "Thank you two lots! Have a nice day!"
As Damian waved back at her full of joy, Cel couldn't help but wonder: did he just kiss a dragon?
An actual, honest dragon!?
---
"Niamh! How are you?"
The brown skinned Cait Sith stood in front of them, black t-shirt, pleated black skirt, white sandals and headbands as the only pop of alternative color amidst the rest of her outfit and long, smooth, straight black hair, ears and tail. It was straightforward to an almost monochromatic degree, but beautiful nonetheless, and Paracelsus was well-aware of how much attention was paid to feel when putting the entire ensemble together.
Oh, and, of course, there was a small little red panda she was picking up and carrying around. Backpack plush version, instead of the actual real deal, this time.
"Um, I'm okay. Mister Klauser asked me to come deliver some commissions he just got finished, is all. I already did so, so I have been walking around a bit." She explained. "Are you two…"
"YUP! We're here managing this kiss booth to help the association funds and everything!" Damian said, with enough enthusiasm to make Niamh flinch. "There is plenty more stuff around the block, so feel free to check it out if you're interested."
"This helps Idunn and everyone, right?"
"Yes. All the money we have here is dedicated to them." Cel confirmed.
Silently, Niamh took out a small wallet out of her backpack, then decisively put two bills on the table before her. Signing, she affirmed. "Both of you. On the cheek, please."
"You're sure? You don't have to do this with us, if you wanna help them."
"I am. It… it sounds fun, honestly. In a bit of a daredevil way. So, please. Um, Cel?"
Nodding, the boy got up and carefully approached Niamh, making sure not to touch her more than needed, and left a small kiss right where requested.
Niamh's skin was soft. Incredibly so, really. He supposed that being Rhionn's sister, with none of his reckless tendencies, would help with that. This close, he could feel the faintest smell of pumpkin surrounding her, though he couldn't tell whether it was from facial cosmetics, perfumes, hair products or just the end result of a relatively recent snack.
He could also see, however, the faintest bit of an orange hue at the tip of her nose. Heh. Adorably earnest as always.
"Thank you. Damian?"
The blond followed suit, showcasing remarkable subtlety and tenderness when he delivered his own peck. Yeah. He knew how to slow down when needed.
Blushing a fair bit, Niamh stepped back. "Thank you too, Damian. Do you two think they need more help? As in, with staff?"
"I mean, probably. Do you want to go in there and check? Marilyn is organizing things around, so she should probably be able to tell you." Paracelsus mentioned, giving full trust on the limits and capacities of the girl in front of him.
"Yes, I do. Idunn is my… she is my friend too. I want to help this thing that is important to her, and that helped me learn how to communicate with her." She answered. "So I'll do just so. Good luck, you two."
Quietly, they saw her walk past them, a bit confusedly wandering around before she found her way where she had to go, knowing she'd do just fine.
---
"Hey, I kinda wanna go check on how Ben is doing. Can you hold things here for a second?" Cel solicited.
"Of course! Go ahead, I got things figured out." Damian replied, watching his boyfriend do a quick run to the back of the event. Yup. He'd do fine!
And, before long, a curious sight appeared to test him. An statuesque girl walked down the street, one hand on a walking cane, the other holding a gray parasol shielding her pale skin from the sun. Her upper body wore a black tunic that extended to her knees, gray tunics and dress shoes accompanying it. It was rather simple, not much added to it besides a tasteful black lipstick, but he knew just enough to be aware she was wearing pieces of extremely high quality. All alongside the white hair and red eyes painted a somewhat unusual picture for this type of town, but not unusual enough to pass judgment on.
What Damian could make a much more reasonable guess on than identifying her fashion choices, however, was noticing that the woman was about to pass out, start crying or break down. Possibly multiple at once, judging by her expression. Was anyone- alright, he could leave the money box unattended for a second.
Running down, he carefully approached her, trying not to do anything too sudden once he got close. "Excuse me, miss? Are you okay?"
The woman realized his presence with a startle, holding on to her cane and parasol out of fear of letting them fall. "U-uh. Yes. I think. I-I am just waiting for someone and I- I was supposed to go ahead and find somewhere for us sit down-"
"It is okay! No worries. Um, here. The town park is right over there. Do you see it? I got some chairs you can sit down at, if you want!" He offered. "Could I guide you there?"
Recomposing herself ever so slightly, she agreed, extending one of her hands towards him. "Yes, please. That would be fine, I think."
Carefully, Damian put his hand around the one that held her parasol. Making sure it was safe, the little warrior led the way, protecting his charge as much as possible, leading her around the table and towards one of the empty chairs behind it ("Oh, it is not cushioned! Slowly…" "Of course. Thank you"). With a place to rest, putting her walking cane to the side, she seemed to stabilize a bit, however slightly.
This tiredness- maybe dehydration? No way they should risk that. Taking one of the spare cups he and Cel had on the table, the blonde filled it with a water bottle that was thankfully still just a bit cool. "Here. Drink slowly, okay?"
"I-I shall." The woman took the liquid to her mouth, revitalizing as she gulped it down. "Thank you- ah, may I have your name, sir?"
"Damian! Damian Tweed, carpe diem-er and your best bet for your all handyman needs! Nice to meet you! How about yours? Could I have your name? And, uh, you said you were waiting for someone, right? It won't be troublesome for you to rest here, will you?"
"No? I do not think so, at least. I have already told her I was going to come to this location, e-even if I got a bit lost on the way, and it is unlikely she will think of you as a threat- ah, my name! I am so sorry. Xocillia. My name is Xocillia, kind sir."
"Perfect! Feel free to rest here a bit longer. I'm going to move the table a bit so people don't think you are a part of it, though. Hold on."
As Damian remarkably effortlessly did so, she had to ask, realizing how busy the park was around her. "The table? Actually, what is going on today? I have not been here for too long, but I would presume this is not a regular occurrence is it?"
"Nope! You're looking at an event from the Waldesburgo Deaf and Hard-of-hearing Association, miss Xocillia! Everyone here is hard at work to raise funds for it! As for me, well, this is a small kiss booth. Anyone who wants can donate two reais to the Association and walk off with one." He explained.
"A-a-a-a 'kiss booth'!?" Xocillia repeated, trying out the words. "And, um, so that means people are kissing you?"
"Yup! Well, me and my boyfriend, but he took a break right now."
"Truly? Being that affectionate with that many people… is it not uncomfortable? For both of you?"
"Hum? Not really. I mean, it is a bit unusual for me, but still something me and my partners have already agreed upon. And besides, we are helping some close friends with this! So, nothing to complain about."
"I see. Is that type of romantic relationship common here?"
"Um, I don't think so. It is just what is working out for us, is all."
"Hum. I suppose I do have a couple examples of that on my family, myself. But it still piques me as something just a bit unlike that which I have learned from my readings." She reasoned, her voice increasingly full of energy and a reserved cheer. "Life is so full of incredible variety, is it not?"
"It is! And I'm really glad I'm getting to see more of it each day. Each new place and person I meet, I get to grow a little bit more, you know?"
"Yes. I believe I do." Xocillia replied, then dodged her eye, as if thinking of something or another. "S-s-so… if I grant you the amount of money you mentioned, you will deliver a caress in return, is that it?"
"Yup! Pretty much!" Damian confirmed. At first, he waited. Then seeing her hesitation, he decided to take the lead. Getting out of his chair, he kneeled in front of her, taking her free hand in his own while attempting to match her intonations. "Would you like a kiss, my lady? The decision is all yours."
A wave of red came to her cheeks, her gaze turned away out of embarrassment. But slowly, carefully, she looked back at him, curiosity winning over her. "May I, sir?"
"Of course. Where to?"
She pointed to her lips. Slowly, He approached, trying his best to pay attention to her body language and evaluate if he should fall back. At last, the two's lips met, touching one another cautiously. It was almost ghostly in its mellowness, wary to go much further, then enveloping in its level of inquisitiveness. It was a bit funny, in an utmost endearing way, how he could feel that this was something just a bit new for her to experience.
Gently breaking contact, he asked. "Was this okay, Lady Xocillia?"
"V-very much so. Thank you, Sir Damian." She replied, and it seemed like she constant tiredness left her for but a second.
Whoa. Yeah. There was one thing he could say for sure: her smile was beautiful.
"Lady Xocillia! Lady Xocillia- My lady! I am so glad to have found you." A woman came by, wearing a remarkably business-ready outfit while holding two milkshake bottles, seemingly the same flavor, though one was visibly filled with chocolate sprinkles and condensed milk alongside the pink liquid. Huh. Just like Tul, she had that particular wooden nose bridge, as well as hints of bark and leafage. "I shouldn't have agreed to let you be by yourself while I waited for our order. You remain unused to this southern sun. Are you alright?"
"I am, Senna. No need to worry. Sir Damian was kind enough to give me pleasant company."
"Hey, Damian! Marilyn told me to ask you- oh? Do we have customers?"
"Ah, you are the boyfriend, are you not?" Xocillia perked up. "Could I ask you some questions, please?"
The four of them spent some time together, interacting and talking around a barrage of curious, innocent questions. Eventually, the two women got up and excused themselves, ready to return to their previous journey. Leaving her proper donation inside the box, Xocillia closed her journal with ladylike grace and excused herself, walking away alongside a Senna who ever so dutifully held her parasol for the both of them.
As the two waved goodbye, Cel couldn't help look at his boyfriend. "You still got some of her lipstick on your mouth, you know."
"U-uh!? Oh no! I-I'll clean it up!"
Suiren (dragon girl) is @whispering-jabberwocky's OC (thanks for the offering!)
Niamh is @alexirno's OC (thanks babe love you)
Xocillia and Senna are @a-good-knights-rest's OCs (glad you liked it!)
("Cel said I'm good at handling the 'gentle princess-like' type of customer... A-Am I? I don't know... Well, I'll just keep doing my best!")
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Pocket Monsters | Pokemon - All Media Types, Pocket Monsters | Pokemon (Main Video Game Series), Pocket Monsters: Gold & Silver & Crystal | Pokemon Gold Silver Crystal Versions
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Pichu (Pokemon), Spiky-eared Pichu | Gizamimi Pichu, Kris (Pokemon), Original Pokemon Trainer(s), Celebi (Pokemon), Shiny Pichu, Pikachu-colored Pichu
Additional Tags: Fairy Stories Zine, Fairy Tale Elements, Fairy Tale Style, Time Travel, Ilex Forest, Main Character meant to be a Gold/Ethan Ancestor Style Character, Zine, zine fic
Summary:
Once upon a time, before Azalea got its name, a boy lived alongside a Pichu just like him. And, someday, he wandered into a world beyond his own understanding.
Fic written for @fairystorieszine. Go check them out while Leftover Sales are open, and make sure to check everyone else’s works!
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Fire Emblem Engage
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Fogado/Pandreo (Fire Emblem)
Characters: Fogado (Fire Emblem), Céline (Fire Emblem), Bunet (Fire Emblem), Misutira | Timerra (Fire Emblem), My Unit | Ryuuru | Alear, Pandreo (Fire Emblem)
Additional Tags: Untagged Characters - Freeform, Every Fogado Support Partner is here, Fluff, Birthday, Fogado's Birthday, Gift Giving, Post-Canon, Letters, Background Pandreo/Alear, Implied Pandreo/Alear - Freeform, Light Pandreo/Fogado, Don't Worry About It, Written for Valentine's Engage 2026, Fogado Birthday 2026
Summary:
The opportunity to have his birthday party occur in the very land of Lythos he has previously, unsuccessfully tried to sneak into, is one Fogado can't possibly pass by. But the prince of Solm has no idea how many people agree that they can't possibly pass the opportunity to give him a gift.
Or how hard it can be to find one or two people he knows are right there.
Visiting Nacrene was nice, Myldrid would say. It was good to be the one going somewhere else, for once.
One shared link talking about how Lenora was organizing a new exhibition here, some checking their respective schedules and shifting around of it thereof there, some more researching available hotel and home stay reservations possibilities over yonder, and suddenly a nice little week long vacation had been scheduled.
They still ended up getting a place on Castelia, though. The idea of sleeping on one of Nacrene's Warehouses was so, so enticing, but they accepted it'd be something for another day. After all, Castelia had more to do (its own University included), more places for them to stay at, Sam knew it better, and taking a ride to Nacrene (or Nimbasa, even!) during the days they wanted to visit it wasn't all too difficult.
Having gotten there, Nacrene certainly was amazing experience to go through, its unique buildings fully showcasing their history laid amidst the remains of old unused train tracks. And yet, with artists and creators at every corner, it remained alive, a city that wouldn't die anytime soon.
Myldrid couldn't help giggle in excitement. "Oh, I got a pamphlet advertising some local craftsmen while we were in Café Warehouse. I think I'd like to see some of the woodworkers to take some souvenirs back to Kalos. But also, this one artist- mom would love this Cottonee piece. I wonder if they still have it…"
"You're having a lot of fun right now, aren't you?" Sam said. "I mean, not that I mind, it is just interesting to see you talk this much this fast."
"Well, excuse me. I happen to be excited to have my first visit to Unova, you know? Specially in good company." He replied, falling back to his usual th. "I just haven't gotten that many chances to travel out of Kalos yet. And the previous ones were… a bit charged. I'm happy to be here. That is all. And glad you invited me to do so."
Sam couldn't quite say he understood that feeling. He'd hop regions all over for some reason or another so often that, by now, it was something he was fully used to.
People were different, he remembered. And right here, right now, he got to see a bit more of Myldrid's own unique mix of colors. Silently, they walked together, quietly affirming each other's existence. And, at last, the famous Nacrene Museum.
The building didn't have as high a rotativity as Lumiose's, its collections often being much more directly hands-on curated by Director Lenora. It was also quite a bit smaller, but that hardly mattered when the sheer academic and archivistic dedication shone just as brightly.
"… and here we have that which is called the 'Relic Crown', which, yes, we can truly call the crown jewel of the current exhibit. Uncovered by a remarkable Unovan Trainer, this Crown was appraised by Champion Cynthia of the Sinnoh Elite Four and had its attributes further evaluated and affirmed by this Museum's director." One of the museum's mediators exposed, approaching the tail end of her tour when the two men walked in. "Current theories say that the Relic Crown was not a symbol of a singular ruler, but rather that of shared power between human and Pokémon. Personally, I see that idea of cooperation reinforced in the way it was uncovered and brought here to Nacrene, and…"
It wasn't like they needed a guide. They'd get by just fine walking and watching by themselves. And maybe come back later to ask more questions.
Walking past the Museum's most famous replica, showcased in-between a set of Deep Sea Scale and Tooth, the two looked at some others of a very select pick of pictures. Nacrene wasn't as invested in its art gallery exhibit side as Lumiose's was, but it had enough related to the Abyssal Ruins and oceanic topics to be impressive.
Right now, in front of them, there was a set of three pictures. Number one, the first photographic record of the Ruins to have ever been taken. Number two, that of a painter's attempt to recreate his memory of the ruins, all of that which he saw upon diving. Number three, an unrelated artist's attempt to paint a secondhand description of the location.
Sam couldn't help be amazed by how close the first two images were to each other, and how much the last one differed. Then again, there were a decent amount of similarities too. It was interesting, to say the least.
Myldrid, though, was enraptured, the fine tuned compare and contrast part functions of his academic brains clearly fired up by the information that had presented itself to him. It was a pretty inspiring thing to see, he'd admit. But okay. Time to look around. What section of the museum would they go to next?
"Oh no."
"Hum? What is the matter?" Myldrid asked, snapping back into focus as Sam awkwardly attempted to make use of their perfect height match (but unequal body frame one) to hide behind him.
"The people at the entrance. They're some old college colleagues." He said, making the Kalosian discreetly take out one of the pamphlets they picked up on the way there, pretending to attempt to locate something in the museum in order to sneak a peak at the pair of brunettes his companion was referring to. Well, they seemed perfectly fine.
"Anything wrong with them? Did you have a bad falling off or anything?"
"No, nothing like that, it is just. I don't know. I haven't kept in touch with them in any way shape or form since I graduated, and they were dating since back then. Actually, I think they're married now!? I just imagine it is going to feel awkward if they see me."
"Hum, I can't say I don't relate to the feeling. Though, in my case, it is more because I hate the people for no reason at all. Either way, is exchanging pleasantries going to be that bad?" Myldrid asked.
"No, but…" Sam grumbled out something or another.
Myldrid thought that over, then offered. "How about, if they see us, we pretend to be together? That would put us on more equal ground, would it not? Besides, putting on a role of some sort could help you power through it."
Sam blinked. Right. Right. It wasn't like he was gonna talk with them alone right now, was it? "Um. Sure. We could do that." Yeah. This would go fine.
---
"Sam! Hey! Is that you!?" The woman called out to them, an admittedly adorable Azumarill-themed backpack present on her.
"H-hey! Monica! Nicholas! H-how are you two doing?" He replied, Myldrid close behind him.
"Pretty good! We just should have guessed you'd be here." Nicholas said, carrying a general rocker-lite demeanor and appearance to himself. "How are things going with- Cresselia and Darkrai, right? Anything here on that? Also, who is your friend?"
"O-oh! Doing pretty good, I-I think! I don't really have any big breakthrough process going on right now or anything but- uh, I'm having a lot of fun! Yeah, it is good!" Man, just what was he talking about. Right. Introductions. "This is-"
Suddenly, he could feel his 'partner' cling on to his arm and just, in general, stay real, real close. "Hi~! My name is Myldrid! I'm Sam's boyfriend, actually! I'm so happy to meet you two! Have you all studied together? You're already familiar with Sammy's research, after all."
What the fuck was going on.
Why did his voice go up by like an octave.
Why was he so close.
"Yeah! In undergrad! We didn't have that many classes together, but we did just manage to all get one together in the last semester." Monica replied, herself feeling a bit more comfortable to get closer to her partner. "Nicholas and I have moved to basic education level teaching for a while, though."
"Really? My mom is a teacher too! Oh, learning that about you two feels meant to be."
"Haha. Well, it is not an easy job, but it is a pretty good interim spot for now. I can't say I complain that much about it." Monica replied.
At that point, Nicholas intervened. "Sorry if this is too personal, Myldrid, but do you have a habit of dancing in any way?"
"Oh! Yes, I do. It is my regular exercise, actually. A fun way for me to keep up with my Gallade, is all."
"I knew it! The way you move and your body is built just reminded me of that level of purposefulness- oh, I have a bit of a music hobby - both of us, really - so I couldn't help but notice."
"Alright, we HAVE to catch up by now." Monica decided. "Are you two entering right now? How about we go see the exhibit together?"
"So? What do you say, Sam~?"
Sam felt like he was being burned alive, that is what he would say. But at the same time, Myldrid was clearly taking control of the conversation, so maybe, just maybe, it would be a slow enough death for someone to manage to shove a Full Restore down his throat later.
"Uh, sure! That sounds fun!"
"Heck yeah! Come on, lets go- Oh, look at this plate collection!"
"I see it. Hey, you two, keep up!"
"Of course! Shall we, Sammy?"
He was gonna die.
---
"It was great to spent time with you guys! Thank you lots for it!" Monica shouted as she and her husband (married just last semester, Myldrid and Sam found out) waved goodbye to them.
"Yeah! If you ever stop by Nimbasa, give us a call!"
"We will! Thanks for the offer!"
"Yeah! See ya!" Sam said, cordially waiting for them to get out of sight before turning to Myldrid. "What the hell was that?"
Sam would, if forced to, qualify the sound produced by the other man as a giggle. But, more accurately, it was the kind of laugh he was very sure he had heard an exact version of from recorded Zorua sightings and, in fact, the Kalosian's very own Zoroark. "On the one hand, I thought that if I really went all in, you would, at best, be so stunned you would stop being anxious. Or, at worst, I'd just take over the conversation and let you fade into the background while making them comfortable. But I'll admit that, on the other hand, I did just kinda want to get a rise out of you. My bad~!"
The blond took in a deep, heartfelt sigh, then let it all out in one go. "Please never do that again."
"Noted. Anyway. That aside, how was your little impromptu college reunion?" He asked.
"It was… not bad, I guess." Sam said, scratching the back of his head at the same time. "I don't know why the idea of having them see me again made me so nervous but, yeah. It was okay. And, um-"
"Hum?"
"- I maybe- well. Your playing at being my partner and stuff I-I… it is not like I ONLY d-disliked the attention or anything, you know." He sheepishly admitted.
Mischievously smiling, Myldrid once again clung on to Sam's arm, closing in the distance and tilting the other man's head to meet him for a kiss, one that happened just a bit too fast and teasing, given all circumstances.
"Yeah, Sammy? Do you wanna tell me more in our hotel room~?"
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Fire Emblem Engage, Fire Emblem Series
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Diamant/My Unit | Ryuuru | Alear
Characters: My Unit | Ryuuru | Alear, Diamant (Fire Emblem), Lumera (Fire Emblem), Ivy (Fire Emblem), Shitorinika | Citrinne (Fire Emblem), Alfred (Fire Emblem)
Additional Tags: Christmas, Christmas Presents, Flowers, Mistletoe, Mutual Pining, Post-Canon, Headcanon, Worldbuilding, Christmas equivalent holidays in Elyos, Christmas Kisses, Alear changes gender every scene, and you get to choose why, Secret Santa, Engage Exchange 2025
Summary:
Every year, as winter rolls strong, the people of Elyos come together to exchange gifts and spend time with each other, following the example set by Lumera long ago.
Well, truth be told, not all do so. Nor do they do it the same way. But, as Alear's first Day of Monarch's Grace comes by, the Divine Dragon can't help but wonder a worry shared by many: how does one pick a gift that makes their feelings ring true?
Gift Fic for Raikkuno via @events-engage‘s Secret Santa
