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The eternal night of the underworld had taken its toll on March's sleep schedule. A century had passed since she started to try to fall asleep, and she had so consistently turned her pillow that there was no longer a cool side.
She stepped out into the hallway, hoping that a night walk would help alleviate her insomnia. Then, In the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of gray hair, moving away.
March pursued her quarry with all the stealth a girl with bright pink hair can muster. Which is very little. Her slippers concealed the sound of her footsteps on the staircase as she followed Stelle up to the roof.
March carefully pushed open the rooftop access door. Mindful of the chock that kept it propped open as to not lock herself out.
March caught a glimpse of Stelle in the dim glow of the luminescent Geomarrow that lit the underground. The soft golden glow made Stelle look… incredibly pretty.
She fumbles at her side for a second for a camera. Turning off the flash and moving the exposure slider a moment. Taking aim at the girl leaning against the rooftop vent.
The shutter noise broke the silence of the peaceful scene.
Stelle turned to the source of the sound and smiled.
"Good morning, sleepyhead."
"It's not morning! And I am not a sleepyhead!"
"Says the girl still in her pajamas."
March 7th cannot dispute the fact that she is a sleepyhead any longer. Stelle took immense satisfaction in this fact.
"This patio is nice…"
"Yeah, I wish I had known about this place before filling out the review card."
"Review card?"
"You know, on the desk in your room?"
"Hotels start to look the same the more you stay in them. I used to take photos of every one I stayed with on our journey but it was a really, really boring series."
"Especially when I could just point my camera out of the window of the Astral Express and always get a beautiful shot."
"I'd love to see those photos."
"Of the hotels? Why?"
"Sometimes repetitious mundanity is nice. Knowing that no matter where you are in the universe, some constants remain the same. Like those little bottles of shampoo, and those square ersatz soaps, and the free towels you can take with you."
"You sure about that last bit?"
Stelle looks genuinely baffled before responding "Yeah? Why else would they leave them in the room like that?"
March has to ask; "...Did you steal the towels from Goethe Grand?"
"Considering that we got arrested afterwards. Think they owe us one.."
"Wait, Is that why I saw a maid run screaming out of the hallway from your room?"
Stelle pauses, briefly considering how to explain it "No, no. That's unrelated."
March radiates concern, "What exactly happened?"
"I'm afraid I can't talk about this matter with anyone other than a licensed interstellar exorcist."
"I think I'm going to go get some sleep."
March turns back to face Stelle, the taller girl had her phone out, carefully aiming it. A shutter noise sounded from the phone's speakers. "Capturing a mundane moment?"
Stelle nodded side to side in disagreement, "No, you just look really pretty right now. Cute pajamas, bedhead and all."
March 7th was too flustered to really respond, "Goodnight, Trailblazer!"
They had done it, saved the planet, stopped the freeze, and joined together the underworld and overworld. The expedition group decided that they ought to get some rest in at the Goethe Grand before heading to their next destination. Stelle was able to relax for what felt like the first time in ages. Just as she was beginning to rest a series of knocks emanated from her hotel door, "Stelle! Can I come in?"
"Yes?"
"Ugh, may I?"
"The door's unlocked."
Stelle was splayed out on the luxurious bed, fully enjoying the comfort of her comforter. Wavy gray hair spilled over her pillow, and wait a damn second.
Is-
Is she wearing boots on the bed?
Stelle smiled at the girl in the entryway, before noticing the shocked expression on the girl's face. She traced her eyes to the offending material, and realized what the issue was.
Stelle, -with all the subtlety of a rocket train, deftly removed her boots entirely without moving her hands from their position under her head. Flinging them across the room at speed.
March put the back of her hand to the fore of her head "Sometimes I worry about you."
"Because..?" Stelle inquired, still attempting to play it cool.
March sighed, "I mean, beyond your desire to open every container and sincere appreciation of trash cans?" March casted her gaze aside. "Mostly I worry when you get impaled and fall a hundred feet."
Stelle wasn't exactly an expert in emotional intelligence, but she could tell that her pink companion needed comfort. She grabbed the hand of her companion and pulled her closer. Pulling her into a soft hug.
After a few quiet moments of silent deliberation and enjoyment, "How can you be so warm?" March wondered aloud.
"I'm your complimentary space heater." Stelle grinned, "Am I too hot? I can switch back."
"No, you're like a big warm puppy." March rested her head into the crook of Stelle's neck.
Stelle felt warm and fuzzy, in part because she was being described as warm and fuzzy. But mostly because she had such an adorable girl in her arms.
They stayed like that for a little while. Appreciating each other's closeness.
"I feel silly, I've only known you for a week, and yet…" March's voice tapered off.
"With you as close as this I feel like I can weather all the difficulties in the universe. This might be the most beautiful thing in the world." She prayed that the smaller girl did not hear her muttering this while looking at a trash can the other day.
They pulled each other as close as possible, each needing more than anything to envelop themselves in the other's embrace. Stelle peppered her companion's forehead with gentle kisses.
"Hey!" March 7th jerked up. A kiss meant for her forehead landed on her lips, turning her cheeks as pink as her… well uh, everything. They paused for a shared moment of respite, before March 7th nodded.
Stelle's next kiss is intentionally planted on March's lips, and it's everything they could've hoped for out of a second kiss. A warm, delicate, exploratory and eager connection.
In the morning, March took a photo of Stelle's hotel room in complete disarray, the light through the blinds softly illuminating everything, a real golden hour shot. As soon as she's back on the Astral Express, she'll put it at the end of the hotel photo album. Before Stelle looks through it, of course.
Stelle, sleepy and deprived of any hugs from adorable cotton candy colored girls -checked at her phone to see a series of well wishes from the citizens of Belobog, and one, very important message from March 7th.
March 7th: 'So, does this mean we're girlfriends?'
Stelle: 'Yes.'
PLEASE RATE YOUR STAY AT THE GOETHE GRAND
⅘ STARS
Is there anything we can do to make your next stay more grand?
Please, Invest in improved soundproofing.
- Dan Heng.