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Ylva:
Ylva's day had been complex so she was sitting in her hollow doing some drawing to calm down. Things that are diffirent or worth noting is that there is an extra door in the main room. The vines are in flower and sitting on the bench is an empty bottle of IPA. Its sitting right below Hyena's mirror which she is drawing.
Hyena:
The mirror surfaces ripples slightly, forming an indistinct image that blurs out the usual reflection. There's a pause and the appearance of a large, dark shape on the other side before a furred hand reaches through, scooping up the bottle and retrieving it.
There's an interval which mostly involves Hyena learning the bottle is sadly empty. This is followed by the said bottle and paw holding it returning through the mirror, followed by the rest of Hyena who's dressed in the shorts and sports bra she prefers. Eyes focus on Ylva as she approaches. "Hey there." Is offered softly, lips forming what's a smile and not at all a snarl. Tricky with sharp teeth.
Ylva:
Ylva reaches a hand up for Hyenas. "Hey you. Nice to see you."
She smiles setting down her tablet to the side. A little ashamed of it.
Hyena:
Carefully wrapping her large hand around Ylva's more diminutive one, Hyena settles down next to the dark furred Kitsune, nodding once. "The empty bottle?" She teases gently. "It would still be that right now if you hadn't drunk it." A nod, a quiet rumble as she gets comfortable. "Wanted to talk to you. Been a while."
Ylva:
Ylva expands the bench with space for Hyena.
"Hey. Yeah. We were at Club Vertigo and someone offered Vorp a drink. Didnt want that to be a problem given everything else that was happening. So I drank it. It was kinda a problem."
She curls up on the bench and cuddled into Laura. "Its been too long."
Hyena:
A pause before arms wrap around Ylva and carefully lift her into Hyena's lap, a hand running carefully over her back. "Hey." She repeats, nudging her gently. "Problems happen, we're good at rolling with them."
Ylva:
Ylva wiggles happily at being in Hyena's lap. "Yay."
"Hey." She says with a smile. "First drink in a few years."
Hyena:
"How did it feel? Not the drink, well, not exactly. Trusting yourself to give up a little control." She continues working on Ylva's fur. Pats.
Ylva:
"Well." She continues leaning into Laura. "Given there was a vampire at the table talking about stuff and my last interaction involved clarity damage. Not great."
Hyena:
"Hm." She takes a breath. "Been a while since I had anything to do with vampires." A look at Ylva. "You don't need to be ashamed, or blame yourself for when you struggle. We all do, we trip, we stumble. What do you need?"
Ylva:
Ylva butts the bottom of Hyena's jaw with her head.
"I mean. These cuddles are pretty great not gonna lie."
There is a blush to her face as she does. "Ill just add it to the list of things that is a struggle again."
"My back is healed since you last saw me which is nice."
Hyena:
"You can have all the cuddles." Hyena assures her with a grin, nuzzling at one of Ylva's ears. "And it's been a while, mm, kind my fault there." She glances at the tablet. "Can I see what you were drawing?"
Ylva:
Ylva giggles at that. "Then that is enough."
She pulls out her tablet and unlocks it showing a scene which is the wall of her Hollow with the bottle sitting below the mirror. Its all done in a dark style not at all her normal vibe with what looks like knives or blades coming in from the sides. Showing how much its grating on her.
"Here." As she passes it to Laura.
Hyena:
"Mm.." Carefully handling the tablet with one hand, Laura cants her head in consideration before offering a faint growl, and not the playful sort. "Fucker. I don't know what happened, but.." She considers her words. "No, gotta make sure I don't judge on things I didn't witness, bad habit."
Perhaps realizing her brief interlude isn't terribly helpful she nods at the picture again. "You needed to express your feelings about the whole thing? Outlets are important. Also.. gonna ask you something if that's okay, and you don't need to answer."
Ylva:
Ylva tilts her head in confusion at the first sentence. "You okay?"
She smiles with a tilted head to the question. "Yeah, of course. Ill do my best to answer honestly." Pushing her head into Lauras chin again.
Hyena:
"Yes. Just me doing the hyena thing a little." She admits. That head nudge receives a careful scratch behind one of her ears. "And, mm. What are your safety nets? Your anchors, for lack of a better word. Don't need to tell me, I just wonder if they've been any help steadying you."
Ylva:
Another confused tilt of the head as she chews at her lip.
"Ive reconnected with one of my partners. Its been really helpful. She is connected to the Mages so knows some things. Can talk kinda freely with her."
Then she pats the wall of the Hollow which shakes slightly and Octavia runs out from the bedroom.
"This place is helpful too and so is Octavia."
Hyena:
"Good. Good." A nod at that before Hyena chuckles slightly. "I've had a busy day. Not in a bad way, but it might explain why I'm not making complete sense. At least I can offer cuddles?" She squeezes Ylva slightly before carefully holding a hand out towards Octavia. "Oh. Have I ever introduced you to Fang?"
Ylva:
"Hey, I will always take cuddles and im okay with that fact."
Octavia reaches her nose up boping the hand. "Hello friend of my Mistress."
"I dont think so."
Hyena:
She smiles keenly at Octavia, scritching her ear. "Hello friend of my, well, friend." A nod at Ylva. "Remind me to at some point then. He tends to hunt in the local Hedge but I should be able to get his attention. I think you'd like him."
Ylva:
"Friend? I guess we never really did talk into that huh."
She blushes looking down at Octavia hand curling around one of her tails.
"Id like that."
Hyena:
"Hm." She gives Ylva a thoughtful look. "Is this something you'd want to talk about? What we are to one another?" She glances down at Ylva's tails, hand moving that way before she pauses. "May I?"
Ylva:
One of the aforementioned tails reaches up grabbing Lauras hand. "Please."
She chews at her lip leaning into the contact. "I dunno. Do you want to? No pressure."
Hyena:
"I.. we're the same in a lot of ways. That hunger, that drive. But I want to see you as who you are, not what. Basically, I.. I'm hopefully making sense. I want to get to know Ylva better, because you're you, not just because of.." She waves a hand at herself, then pulls a face. "I'm not making any sense at all, am I?" She takes the offered tail, carefully stroking along its length.
Ylva:
Ylva tilts her head chewing into her cheek.
"You want to get to know me, because a lot of what you know is what I am not who I am? I think. Am i getting that right."
There is a happy little squirm at the stroking of her tail a gentle moan of satisfaction.
Hyena:
"Yes." Hyena nods once. "That's it, and it's more coherent than what I was saying." She smiles, then tilts her head, stroking Ylva's tail with a slightly tighter (but not painful) grip. "I know you a little. I enjoyed sneaking into a store and grabbing clothes with you. That was fun."
Ylva:
Ylva nods. "I understand that. I also enjoy gardening. Should show you that some time when you have the time. Ive been cultivating little Bonsai Hedge Fruit trees."
She pulls one out of a cupboard. Its tiny, barely a morsel but gives all the goodness of a regular sized fruit.
The tail goes a little tense but not in a bad way. Another gentle moan. Somebody is a needy Fox today.
Hyena:
"Now gardening. Never tried that. My outlet tends towards cooking." She leans in, studying the Bonsai tree and sniffing at it carefully before very gently touching a claw to it. "I'll make time." She promises quietly. "This is beautiful." She casts a smile back at Ylva, one that develops a slightly impish cast. "New discovery too. Ylva has quite sensitive tails. And.." A lean that lets her take a look, no ulterior motives, promise. "Six of them now?"
Ylva:
Ylva places the Bonsai back with a very severe blush.
"Yeah, um, maybe. They kinda. Yes." A swirl of the ones she isnt touching. "Yeah, they kinda popped out a while ago. Kinda fun though." She says with a sly smile, that absolutely also has no ulterior motive.
Hyena:
A nod, a careful pat. "We talk, we cuddle, it's good." A slightly shy smile. "To take this further, to explore, would you want to? I'd talk to Direct Action if you do, communication matters." She removes her attention from Ylva's tails, but loosely wraps her arms around her to maintain that contact.
Ylva:
Ylva nods. A little shudder forward as the contact is removed from her tails.
"Id like to take this further. I know Vorp gave her blessing a while ago but things might have changed. Communication is important. I eventually need to discuss this with wife but, complex."
She leans into the arm wrapped around her.
Hyena:
"I know. Do you want to talk about any of that? Have you figured more out since we last talked?" She kisses the top of Ylva's head. "And in the meantime, we remain friends who like snuggling up together."
Ylva:
"More in which sense. Vorpal or Wifey?" She says with a happy wiggle at the kiss. "Vorpal is being Vorpal so like everything is always up in the air. In regards to Wifey we have a coffee date planned with her early in the new year. Klaire is helping me plan that. Having one of your lovers be a baby mage is kind of helpful."
Hyena:
"I meant with regaining contact with your wife, but asking about Vorpal is good too." She nods, grinning happily. "Magic users are good to know, mm. A mage for Klaire and a witch for Vorpal. Different strokes but still very good, hm? And that does sound a good plan, the coffee date."
Ylva:
"Yeah, its sort of lower impact. Going to go with the got involved with a shady crew, got addicted to some new thing. Not a complete lie. And Klaire found me but im not really ready for full integration back to my life."
She sighs. "Its a whole bunch of half lies."
Hyena:
"I know." She rubs Ylva's arm gently. "We give the truths we can, but they can't be complete ones. The core of it though, hopefully that stands."
Ylva:
"Klaire showing up one day when I happened to be Ironside ended up being a blessing. A teleporting Mage turned up when I was sitting in the woods. That was an adventure of a day."
She stands a little reluctantly pulling Hyena towards the orchard. Its inside her Hollow but outside of the Birdcage.
It is a large grass covered area with a dozen trees all perfectly cared for. A little pocket of perfection in the chaos that is Ylva and the Hedge.
"I have gained this hobby since coming back. Its oddly peaceful. Maybe in part because I can eat the produce."
Hyena:
"I need to get to know mages better, they.. oh!" She pouts a little as Ylva stands but smiles as she's tugged into the orchard with a squeeze of the hand in hers, taking an inhale of the fresh air as she looks about and takes it in. "It's beautiful, and calming, and feels safe. I get why it appeals."
Ylva:
"Its really relaxing. I find its one of the things that is helpful to reset the brain. Its one I can do when I dont feel safe running into other people. Because they look a little too like snacks."
She flops down in the middle of the orchard against a tree. Holding her arms open for Hyena to join her.
Hyena:
"We're keyed to react to movement, and there's a lot of that when it comes to people." Hyena agrees, before settling down to nestle against Ylva. It takes some adjusting given the differences in their size, but she manages it. "I like cooking for the same. It's creative, it's relaxing, it's safe."
Ylva:
"Yeah, have to find something that isnt dangerous."
She grabs a fruit from the tree they are leaning against and splits it with Hyena offering half.
Hyena:
"Fuck knows danger finds us often enough, no need to seek more of it out." She nods, taking the half with a smile of thanks. "Especially when part of the danger is ourselves, mm?" Chomp. Good bye fruit.
Ylva:
"Yeah. Oh I met a new person with our affliction and he is very hard line with his dealing with it. Full vegan, no cooked food. Its a whole thing. He is. intense."
Her half of the fruit chomped away.
Hyena:
"Hm." She taps her claws on her thigh. "I don't intend to judge anyone for how they deal with this kinda hunger. And if it works for him, it works. I just hope it does and he's not at risk." She glances at Ylva. "Intense in which way? Self loathing? Because I admit to some experience in that area."
Ylva:
Ylva follows those claws, tapping Hyenas thigh with her claws.
"It works for him, but. He kinda thinks its how I should be and is allot about it. Thinks I ride too close to the line. If it was self loathing I could understand, ive got a room for that."
Hyena:
The hyena's jaw sets, though she relaxes a little at the tap of her thigh, patting Ylva's hand. "It's not his right. I have my own ways, you have your own ways, he has his. But we're all different, what works for one won't for another. And it's arrogance to think it would."
Ylva:
Ylva smiles though her face is tense.
"He isn't wrong though. I don't really have the greatest hold on it."
Hyena:
"Neither do I. I doubt he has perfect control either, none of us would." She rests a hand on Ylva's cheek. "Don't be too hard on yourself Ylva. I worry sometimes you don't see your achievements enough. The hunger is powerful, so yes, you'll struggle with it. But that makes it all the more important you've gained the control you do have."
Ylva:
"I've never been good at seeing my achievements. All I can think is that Klaite levitate some plates and I panicked and bit out. Thankfully it wss at one of them not her but. Still."
There is a sigh at the contact as her cheek is touched. A blush.
Hyena:
"Does Klaire hold a grudge for that? It doesn't sound like it." She makes a rumbling sound of thought. "You're my friend, I'll remind you of achievements, and I'm sure others would too." A slight smile. "You're adorable when you blush, by the way."
Ylva:
The blush deepens Ylva shrinking down.
"Um thanks and no I don't think she holds a grudge."
Hyena:
Hyena nods, but at Ylva's reaction withdraws a little, patting her shoulder gently. "Sorry." She offers quietly. "Do you need some space?"
Ylva:
"No. I'm just not so good at the whole taking compliments thing."
She playfully reaches out to bite at Hyenas hand before grimacing at the action.
"Sorry." A hand offered to be held.
Hyena:
"Ah. Then I'll only give them out sparingly." She nods with a smile, taking that hand and sliding a little closer again. "I do need to think about getting myself going again though. Do you need anything right now?"
Ylva:
She smiles leaning in for a moment before answering.
"Need no. Want. Everything." Before a slight pause.
"Can you take that empty bottle with you. So I don't fixate on it?"
Hyena:
"Everything is a broad term.." Hyena murmurs softly, studying Ylva's movements carefully before giving a slight shake of her head to regain her focus. "Yes. Yes I'll do that." She leans in to nuzzle at Ylva's cheek before reluctantly letting go of her hand and standing, reaching to scoop up said bottle. "Thank you for showing me this, and for your company."
Ylva:
"Thanks you. Have a good night Hyena."
With that she rests back on that tree and closes her eyes. Looking far more relaxed than when they started.
Ylva:
‐---------TIME SKIP FOR NAPS-------
Ylva had spent the night under that tree.
She was relaxed for once so had curled up with the memory of Hyena nuzzling at her cheek.
Hyena:
Laura had spent the time relatively productively. Some food shopping before places closed up for the holiday, and that had been a challenge, given how busy everything was. Still, the DA house was well stocked. Aside from that, some napping of her own had taken place.
Deciding to check on Ylva before longer hibernation became needed and she made it back home, again she's heralded by the ripple of a mirror and the tap of claws on the ground. Studying at Ylva she smiles slightly before settling down nearby with a small bag containing drinks. She avoids staring at the Kitsune, happy to let her nap while she produces a book to quietly read and relax.
Ylva:
Ylva stirs slightly in her sleep but doesn't wake fully. Her sleepy cuddly brain moving a little closer. A hand and a tail reaching out to touch Hyena. A few sleepy mutters as she does.
Hyena:
A wry smile and Hyena shifts herself that way too, resting a hand by Ylva's and settling close enough to offer body warmth to the napping fox.
Ylva:
Ylva stayed like that for a good while occasionally fidgeting in her sleep until she was cuddled right up next to Laura then relaxing again.
Letting Laura read in her little pocket of peace.
Eventually Ylva started to stir looking up at Laura with a sleepy foxy tilt of the head.
"Didn't you. Leave?"
Hyena:
"I did." A hand gently paws at that head, brushing some fur from Ylva's eyes. "Been quite a few hours and just got back. You were napping, didn't want to wake you." A rueful smile. "Worried I might have done though."
Ylva:
She nuzzles at that hand near her face.
"It must have been a good nap then. I don't really sleep anymore. I just take fox naps."
She wiggles happily. "You don't need to worry about waking me. This is the best way to wake up Foxes."
Hyena:
"Lounge near them and lure them in?" She winks. "Careful with revealing your weaknesses now."
Ylva:
"Hmmm" A happy smile. "If it means more wake ups like this im okay with that?"
Hyena:
A quiet smile before she reaches out with one bare foot, nudging at Ylva gently. "How are you getting on otherwise? You told me about Klaire, and, hm. Made any other friends recently?"
Ylva:
"Im getting on. Okay? I can wake up next to you and not have a panic attack. Progress." A cheeky little smile at that. "Plus I met a mage recently, they are lovely. We were having a spa day with Sigrun at DA house and I fell asleep in their arms. I think they went and had fun with Sigrun after that."
Hyena:
A huge smile at that. "If you mean who I think you do, we've met briefly. Gotta get to know them a little better though. And that does sound good. Time with Sigrun always is." She pauses in thought. "Did you find a liking for spa days? Oh! I bought drinks, alcoholic and not depending on preference."
Ylva:
A hand reaches up to caress her face. "I can understand that kind of time."
She runs her hand through her hair and mane with a smile. "Well, not having to brush my own hair is always a good day. Sigrun has brushes that are actually designed for the double coat."
There is a twitch at the mention of an alcoholic drink. "Well, I would love an alcoholic one but should probably stick to not. Two in one day might set me going again."
Hyena:
A slight nod. "Would you like me to, some time? Your coat is so much better than mine for that sort of thing." A slightly shy grin. "And several of us have fur, so suitable brushes were welcome." She nods as to the drink, rummaging and offering a small bottle of lemonade.
Ylva:
Ylva nods with a blush. "I would love that so much. It always feels so like um, good." The blush deepening and she takes the small bottle of lemonade and swallows it in one gulp.
Not drinking it, swallowing it whole.
Hyena:
"Did you manage to taste any of that?" Hyena asks with a gently teasing tone. "And, mm. Yes. Was it, good the spa day?" she taps her chin ruefully. "Let me know if that's too personal a question. Not looking to make you uncomfortable."
Ylva:
Ylva tries to nod before eventually shaking her head with a blush.
"I miss having my hair brushed and dont really have anyone that can brush all of it because they cant see it properly and its just nice and intimate."
She eventually takes a breath. "Im apparently in a easily flustered mood today. It was lovely and ive missed having girls days."
Hyena:
Hyena nods, smiling broadly. "June once wove my mane into a braid. I really enjoyed that. So I know what you mean. Almost sad I missed it, but I'm pretty sure there'd be other times."
Ylva:
"That sounds lovely. I will have to get myself a proper brush so that you can." She stutters over her words. "Do, that, for, me?"
Hyena:
A nod, a gentle nudge. "Of course. Happy to do that, long as you're comfortable." She cants her head a little impishly. "Though is it maybe you're worried you might like it a little too much?"
Ylva:
That blush deepens and she sinks down. She sinks down basically into Lauras lap but still.
"Maybe. Is that okay?"
Hyena:
"Yes." Laura smiles. "Long as we're both happy, and we've figured out boundaries and comfort levels."
Ylva:
Ylva nods with another happy wiggle.
"Did you bring other drinks? Id like to try that whole drinking part."
Hyena:
"A good amount. Enough to slake even our thirst, for now." She nods, reaching to rummage in the bag again.
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