Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Ina clutches her backpack in her lap while staring out the window at the trees as the car rushes past them, winding ever deeper down the old road. There’s some song playing over the speakers, accompanied by Sana humming along from the driver’s seat, tapping her fingers on the wheel as she guides them in.

Thick-trunked trees and dense underbrush wizz past her vision as the car trundles along the old, hard-packed dirt road. It eventually pulls to a stop in front of a simple chain link fence that stretches into the forest, marking the boundary of the Mori Extraspecies Preserve. The entrance is not exactly glamorous, being little more than a tiny guard booth with a manual fence gate to allow cars further into the preserve.

“Right, this is our first stop.” Sana says cheerfully, putting the car into idle just in front of the guard booth. “You brought your ID with you, right?”

“Y-Yes!” Ina says, fumbling it out of the frontmost pocket of her backpack. It’s a simple laminated card that she picked up from the Extraspecies Embassy in town a few days ago after she got the confirmation email that she’d been hired. “I just show it to the guard?”

“Pretty much!” Sana says. “Might want to step out and do it seeing as you’re new and all.”

“Right, right.” Ina says, taking a deep breath. This should not be the scary part of her first day, but it feels so important! This is the first time she’ll be let inside! She carefully opens the door and hops out, walking up to the guard booth with as much determination as she can muster.

She has approximately five seconds to react before the car abruptly lurches forward, Sana flashes her ID to the guard, and promptly peels away into the reserve, leaving her alone at the entrance with little more than a hollered: “Have fun! Meet me at the castle eventually!”

Ina stares open-mouthed as the road quickly swallows the car from sight. She can hear the guard sigh heavily and mutter “not this again .”

Swallowing thickly, Ina turns to the guard. “Um-”

“You’re new?” He asks tiredly.

“Y-Yes.” Ina nods, offering her ID for inspection. “Ina’nis Ninomae. I’m supposed to start today?”

“Yeah, I got a memo about you.” Guard says, giving her card a once-over. “Just follow the road and you’ll get to the castle in half an hour or so at a walking pace. Try not to get lost, will you? Our jobs are trouble enough with tracking down lost employees.”

That doesn’t exactly inspire much confidence, but Ina nods and walks through the gate either way. It’s not like she has the option to back out now.

As the fence slowly opens, Ina steps forward, into the shadows of the trees. She walks slowly, sheepishly, holding the handles of her backpack in a firm grip. It doesn’t take long for her to leave the forest wall, finding herself on the top of the hill with a wide view of the reserve.

The view is astounding. She can’t believe something like this exists in the real world. Ina can’t see the full borders of the reserve; they stretch far and disappear into the horizon. The territory itself is seemingly divided into various biomes, and if Ina expected to see lakes or small forests, she can’t believe she’s witnessing entire stretches of desert and snow before her eyes; and of course, like a crown for the reserve, at the center of it stands a large castle proudly towering over the land.

It’s inspiring to see such a beautiful piece of nature, and even more so exciting. 

The road continues peacefully, thankfully the hill isn’t steep, but Ina isn’t focused on it. Her eyes travel at her sides, looking at and studying her surroundings. She’s curious, she’s excited, wondering what more she’ll see. 

There’s something she notices in the corner of her eyes. Looking, she sees the rabbit. But there’s something off to it Ina recognizes quickly, with its horns sprouting out of its head.

“There’s jackalopes too?!” Ina almost screams, with her loud voice scaring the animal away, “Oh, no, sorry!” She says with the guilt in her voice. Wanting to catch it, she follows the jackalope as quickly as her legs will take her.

Surprisingly, it isn’t hard to catch it. Maybe it’s just that these animals got used to human touch. Ina isn’t sure, but soon she’s holding the mythical creature in her hands. It is as big as a normal rabbit, maybe just a bit bigger, with the only difference from its more common counterpart being the large deer-like horns. It looks incredibly cute, and is very soft to the touch.

“You are so adorable.” Ina giggles, rubbing the side of the animal with her thumb. “Sorry for scaring you earlier. But I’m very happy to see you.” She says that as she lets the jackalope go, and the creature quickly hops away into the bushes.

“Well, time to continue on my… way…” It took a second for Ina to realize that, as she looked around, this area is quite different from the road. It was now more swamp-like, with half dead trees leaning over the green stale water and a large lake over in the distance. She is way off the road. She is now lost. “H-Hold on…” 

Ina looks side to side, trying to find any way to orient herself and get back on track. The only thing she can see is the castle, but while that provides her a direction it doesn’t exactly tell her where the road is, and the path (such as it is) is obstructed by the swamp, so the only way she can go is backwards unless she feels like swimming… which is also an issue, considering behind her is more forest.

The swamp is alive with sound; crickets, frogs, and other creatures creating a discordant soundscape of croaks and chirps and whirs that don’t exactly help with the stress of the situation. There’s no wind today at least, though that doesn’t stop the sound of water lapping on the shore nearby and what she could swear is a faint chuckle…

Wait, a chuckle ?

Ina spins around, eyeing the trees behind her for any signs of people, and seeing nothing but vines and soggy plants. A splash sounds from behind her, and she spins around again just in time to see a figure saunter out of the murky water.

The figure is tall- at least compared to Ina herself, which admittedly isn’t saying much. She’d have to guess they’re about six feet, maybe more, adorned with surprisingly bright blonde hair despite the swamp water dripping off it impish blue eyes crinkled in amusement accompanied by a shit-eating grin and the sort of swagger you’d expect from a street punk. Their clothes are a fairly simple white shirt and brown pants, both clearly water immune judging by how the water slides off them, and a long, thin crocodile tail that swishes the water and dirt behind them, creating a small furrow in the ground as they approach. A few more minor details catch her eye as well, like the slitted reptile pupils, the pointed teeth when they grin, and the scales and claws on their hands as they pull them out of their pockets as well as along the back of their neck.

“I think I’d remember if I’d seen you around before.” They say with a lazy drawl, very obviously eyeing Ina up and down. They walk a circle around her, tail trailing behind, making a languid inspection of the intruder. Ina can’t help but feel a bit like prey, being scrutinized like this. “What brings a snack like you to my swamp, hmm?”

“I- uh- sorry sir? Miss? I-”

“Miss? Damn, a real polite gal too.” The girl grins, giving Ina a good look at her pointed white teeth and accompanying smug smirk. “Last time I got called ‘miss’ I was talkin’ to some government official for this whole program. You a fed, little lady?”

“I-I’m an employee.” Ina says honestly, because how else is she supposed to respond? Her training didn’t cover this!

“Ahh, good.” The girl says, leaning in close. Ina can feel her breath on her neck. “Wouldn’t wanna have to have a different sorta ‘talk’ with you, little lady. I’ve been told I tend to get a bit… nippy around the feds, and I wouldn’t wanna cause any damage to a new friend , would I? Unless you want somethin’ like that?”

Ina can practically feel steam coming out her ears. Her training definitely didn’t cover this! “I-I-I-”

“Alright, alright, calm down ya horned lizard.” A new voice interrupts. The crocodile girl blinks, and her brow furrows into frustration while she pulls back a few steps and a new girl walks into the clearing, swatting away plants that get in her way. “Can’t wait two minutes, can you Watson?”

Ina blinks rapidly, processing this new arrival. The new girl is short; shorter than Ina herself. She has pale white hair with a streak of blue under it that accent piercing blue eyes that are darker than the crocodile’s but don’t have the same scrutinizing bite to them. This girl also sports pointed teeth, but rather than the nail-like teeth of a crocodile she has the triangular teeth of a shark, accompanied by a thick blue shark tail sticking out of her lower back that (unlike the crocodile) doesn’t drag on the ground but instead stays aloft behind her, wagging slightly. She also sports hints of blue skin up along her throat and the back of her hands, as well as her legs (which are mostly exposed, as her outfit consists basically of a giant hoodie and little else).

“Hey, don’t be snapping at me, Stinky.” The crocodile girl (Watson apparently?) squints at the shark. “ She came here . I didn’t do nothin’. Just passin’ a greeting to a guest who came to visit an’ all.”

“Suuure, Watson.” The shark girl scoffs, and turns to Ina. “I bet she didn’t even ask your name, did she?”

Ina squeaks at being addressed so abruptly. “Uh, no. I’m Ina. Ina’nis Ninomae, I’m the new employee?”

“Gura.” Gura says casually. “Sleazebag over there is Amelia Watson, though I just call her Ame mostly, or stupid.”

“Hey!” Amelia bares her teeth. “You’re one to talk, Miss Gawr . Who’s the one who couldn’t do basic math, eh?”

“That was ONCE!”

“You sure? Once is singular , Stinky.” Amelia says sarcastically, leering at the short girl. “You do remember that, right?”

“ Oh my god they’re so cute. ” Ina thinks… only to realize that both of them are now staring at her. “Uhh, what?”

“You ain’t quiet with your thoughts, are you pretty lady?” Amelia says with a crooked grin, turning her slitted eyes back to Ina.

“S-Sorry.”

“Nothing to be sorry ‘bout, doll.” Amelia drawls, pulling away from Gura and circling Ina again. “Me an’ the shark ain’t ones to turn down a compliment, are we?”

“Nope.” Gura agrees, also stepping in. “Though I’m not going to act like an old mafia thug about it like the movie nerd over here.”

That certainly explains Amelia’s way of speaking, though Ina is having a hard time thinking about that once Gura joins in circling Ina like a stranded swimmer in shark-infested waters.

“Aww, don’t be like that.” Ame croons smugly. “You want a bite just as much as I do, shark-breath.”

“I mean, yeah, but I have some level of dignity about it.” Gura scoffs. Her tail sways close enough that Ina could reach out and touch it, and she has to hold back that impulse for politeness’ sake. She’s supposed to be a professional! She can’t go being handsy on her first day. “I can wait a little bit and get to know her first. Maybe you should take lessons.”

“You sure you don’t want a nibble, Sharky?” Amelia asks. Ina sucks in a breath as Amelia lays a single hand on her shoulder. “We can share~”

Ina wants to scream, feeling her ears getting red hot with each passing second of two sharp-toothed girls getting closer and closer. A quiet but noticeable yelp escapes her mouth as Gura closes in, her face inches away.

“This time… maybe I agree with you, Watson.” A smile, full of sharp shark teeth and deep, ocean-blue eyes are the only things in Ina’s vision. Her heart is ready to flip out at any moment.

But she has no time to say anything as she feels the air get punched from her lungs and her feet leave solid ground; being scooped into the air as two girls below start to shout in frustration, their words drowning in the distance, with last things Ina can recognize being “Not fair!” and “Give her back, bird brain!”.

Ina feels something holding her torso and legs in a solid but gentle grip, and as she takes a quick look, she sees a pair of bird legs, large, with claws wrapped around her body. Her gaze follows them up, seeing large legs covered in deep orange feathers, with the body of a female and two large wings replacing her arms.

A Harpy.

Ina can’t see the face properly due to the size of the creature she is held by, but she can see the wild orange and teal hair rippling in the wind. 

The flight takes a few minutes. The harpy is carrying her at quite a decent speed, and it puts quite a chill in Ina as she didn’t exactly dress to deal with extreme wind. Thankfully due to the speed the flight also doesn’t take too long, and soon she’s deposited in a nest of sorts atop the castle.

It’s not the traditional nest made of sticks and mud and whatnot; at least not most of it. The floor seems to be made of interlaced branches to keep them off the stone roof, but those are covered in turn with several layers of blankets and pillows of varying designs and textures, preferring warm colors like red, orange, and yellow. She can also see what looks like a hatch built into one of the walls of the nest; presumably to be pulled over the nest in case it rains to keep it dry.

Ina was dropped directly onto a particularly large pillow; more than large enough for her to lie her entire body on if she wanted.

She doesn’t have too much time to process this as within a few seconds the harpy herself lands on the same pillow, looming over Ina with her wings slightly held open. Bright, warm magenta eyes meet hers a moment later, accompanying the nearly nine foot tall harpy. She’s feathered from the waist down in light orange feathers, except where the legs turn to clawed bird’s feet. The only form of clothes she has is a very loose tank-top (presumably so it can be slipped on and off even without hands), but as a result her stomach and shoulders are almost entirely bare as the shirt cuts off at the bottom of the ribs. It really accents the wild orange-and-teal hair on her head, giving her an appropriately wild look.

“Kikiriki! It me! Kiara Takanashi! He-he~” The harpy laughs, flapping her wings once. “I not let Gura and Ame have all the fun! I want pretty girl too!”

“H-Hi…” Ina swallows, feeling strange mix of excitement, worry and need in those large soft eyes. “I-I am the new worker here, n-nice to meet you.”

“Oh! New friend! So nice!” Kiara giggles, her smile bright like a sun, but then suddenly changing to sadness and worry. “New friend is cold, right?”

“Uhm, actually, just a bit.” Ina nervously laughs, but she gets muffled very soon as Kiara leans in and cradles her in a feathery hug.

“Now friend will be warm!” Kiara laughs again, nuzzling into Ina, surrounding Ina by a gentle, pleasant heat. “Friend have name?”

“Ina.” Ina says, slightly muffled by the feathers. “Ina’nis Ninomae.”

“Inaaa.” Kiara sings happily. Ina can feel the sound vibrating through her body. “New friend Ina is mine! Mine mine mine!”

Ina laughs nervously. There really isn’t another response she can think of for this situation. She really shouldn’t have gone off-path or she could have gotten proper instruction before dealing with Kiara!

“Friend want snack?” Kiara asks abruptly, peering down at the little human still buried in her feathers. “Candy snack? Have candy!”

“I- Uh- sure?” Ina squeaks.

Kiara backs off for a moment so she can flip open one of the blankets on the floor with her foot and delicately extract a wrapped candy from within.

“No tell Sa-na-na! Shhh!” Kiara giggles, dropping the candy in Ina’s hands. A quick check reveals it to be something cherry flavored. “Secret stash! Mine!”

“Of course.” Ina nods. She hesitantly tastes the candy, and is surprised to find the taste quite strong. It only takes a minute for her to chew and swallow it. “Thank you.”

“Now friend pay back, yes?” Kiara asks, leaning in with a twinkle in her eye. “Pay for sugar with sugar, yes yes?”

“I-I don’t have any candy on me!” Ina protests. “I can pay you back with money if you want, I have my-”

“No no, sugar. Sugar .” The harpy grins, bringing herself nose to nose with Ina. “Human word that mean two things, yes? Sugar sugar, and sugar kiss. Sugar for sugar is fair deal! Easy to pay!” 

If she had any illusions that she’d escaped the awkwardness with Ame and Gura no longer being around, that sentence shoots the idea to pieces. “I-I- bwuh- I mean I guess!?” She stammers.

Kiara tilts her head, pulling away a little. “Guess? Not want? Kiara play with friend. Can have candy free. Play tease, yes?”

“I…” Ina swallows thickly. “No, it’s not that I mind, I’m just… overwhelmed!?”

The harpy’s eyes brighten instantly. “Sugar for Kiara! Give give!”

Ina really doesn’t know what would be acceptable, so she errs on the side of caution. She leans up, blushing at the way Kiara has expectantly closed her eyes with a smile stretching across her face, and gives Kiara a soft peck on the cheek.

Kiara squeals almost immediately, smothering Ina in another feathery hug. “Friend Ina give sugar kiss! Cute cute! I show you to Calli! Meet Calli!”

That’s all the warning Ina gets before Kiara once again grabs her with one claw around her waist and flies her a very short distance over the side of the wall and deposits her on a balcony nearby. 

“Say hi! Calli shy!” Kiara chirps, flapping overhead. “No be scared! Calli friend! Go go!”

That’s all the instruction Ina gets before Kiara flies back to her nest and out of sight, leaving Ina stranded on a high balcony with a gothic iron railing and a (currently closed) umbrella next to a small table colored in deep red. Even the door to the inside is gothic; a towering ten feet of hardwood with one of those heavy metal ring handles.

It’s rather ominous for a balcony, but with no other options Ina sees herself inside, hauling it open with both hands and blinking in surprise at how quiet it is.

Peering inside, Ina can see mostly darkness. She can make out the vague shape of a massive four-poster bed and a table next to it, but little else. The only source of illumination besides the sunlight comes in the form of a faint red glow emanating from underneath one of the two doors on the other side of the room.

With a resigned sigh, Ina steps inside. The balcony door swings shut behind her automatically with an ominous clunking noise.

Well, it’s either the door with no lights, or the one with ominous red lights and… is that music? Yeah, that’s music she can hear coming from the room, though it’s hard to make out exactly what it is.

Kiara did tell her to say hi, so she guesses she’s going in the door with light and hoping for the best.

As she slowly opens the door, the steam hits Ina’s face, making her stumble. After coming to her senses, she takes a better look at the room: it’s illuminated by the candles all over, framing the edges of the large pool sized bath, with a small man-made waterfall pouring in the water. The dim lighting and the fire of candles makes it seem as if water is red, and the organ music isn’t helping make the atmosphere any less ominous. Opposite the door and over the edge of an inset bath sat a woman, covered by shadows. Her scarlet eyes glowing in the dark, pinned on Ina.

“S-Sorry! I didn’t mean to intrude-”

“It’s alright, Miss Ninomae, I was expecting you.”

“W-What? You did?”

“Of course. As the owner of this castle and sponsor of extraspiecies program, I must to meet every new employee that is going to work here.” Ina can hear the smile and soft chuckle in the woman’s voice, as she was slowly standing up from her position.

It took few seconds for ina to connect the dots. And when she did, she yelped, almost jumping in her place.

“M-Miss Mori, Ma’am, I am so sorry for m-making you wait a-and for intruding in your private quarters!” Ina says, bowing deeply, hearing soft, wet footsteps heading towards her.

“As I said it before, it’s okay, Miss Ninomae.” Calli’s voice is steady, not too loud or quiet and gentle, almost caring. Ina doesn’t dare to look up yet, but she already can tell that Miss Mori is standing right before her. “Look up, Miss Ninomae. I much rather meet new people face to face.” 

Ina swallows thickly, shakily raising her head… Only to realize that Calli is tall . She is big, around 9 ft, with long pink hair falling down to her ankles, and piercing scarlet eyes still pointed at her, making Ina feel frozen in place. And it doesn’t help that Calli is only just covered by her shower robe, loosely held by a belt on her waist, only mostly concealing her pale, unblemished skin.

“Or I suppose i can call you just Ina, isn’t it?” Calli smiles, long thin canine tooth peeking from the side.

‘She is a vampire, isn’t she?’ Ina thinks, her heart beating rapidly, sweat rolling down on her forehead. “Y-yeah, I d-don’t mind, Miss Mori, ma’am.”

Calli scoffs. “Then please refrain from using such formalities with me from now on, Ina. I’m not your boss, so just Calli is fine.” Calli smirks, leaning in closely, now face to face with Ina. “Unless you’d prefer it that way?”

Ina manages a strangled squawk and instinctively looks down and away… which doesn’t help considering how much Calli is leaning forward to be on her level, as that only gives Ina a nice look at her… assets … instead.

Her brain decides it’s had enough at that point, and Ina’s vision fades to dark.

She can’t tell how long that lasts. Five seconds? Five minutes? Either way, when she wakes up, she’s no longer in the bedroom or the bathroom, and instead is being carried down a flight of stairs, cradled against that person’s chest like a child.

A frantic look confirms that the person holding her, dressed in ominous blacks with a cape on her back of all things, is Calli.

The outfit does nothing to make her less imposing, or hide her rather generous figure for that matter. Ina reminds herself desperately not to stare.

Calli finally stops going down stairs and marches through a few hallways to an office, which she promptly open with a mere wave of her free hand and a flicker of magic.

“Sana Tsukumo. I would have a word with you.” Calli intones ominously. “I am concerned about your methods for introducing new staff to the job.”

“Oh, hi Calli! Hi Ina!” Sana says cheerfully from her desk, as if nothing is wrong whatsoever and she didn’t abandon Ina at the gate nearly an hour ago at this point. “I was expecting you a lot later Ina! Kiara didn’t keep you too long?”

“You expected that!?” Ina squeaks.

“Of course! Kiara loves new friends.” Sana says. “Did you find Gura and Ame too? They’re a bit out of the way, but I know you love a good hike… and Gura can smell you from pretty much anywhere in the preserve anyhow.”

“I met them.” Ina says a bit sullenly. “They tried to eat me.”

“Oh no.” Sana says, not sounding at all worried. “So you’re good to be their caretaker then, right?”

“Wha-”

“And Kiara and Calli too.”

“Hang on-” Ina sputters.

“Sana.” Calli interrupts sternly. “That’s not following procedure. You’re supposed to have supervised introductions!”

Sana snorts and waves Calli off. “Oh please, that would ruin the fun! Besides, I made sure to tell Mumei that Ina was going to be around and what she looked like. She was in no danger.”

“She could have gotten lost.”

“Gura would have found her. Or Kiara. Or Mumei. I even told Kiara to go look for her! Why do you think Ina just happened to get dropped on your balcony recently?”

Calli’s eyes narrow. “You knew that was going to happen!?”

“Kiara introduces all her new friends to you.” Sana says. “She’s consistent. I made an educated guess.”

“I was in the middle of a bath , thank you. Could have warned me”

“Lucky you!” Sana says, beaming at Ina who promptly goes red up to her ears and hides her face in her hands. “The best introductions are unscripted anyways.”

The argument continues from there for a while, and Ina ends up tuning most of it out in favor of wallowing in her embarrassment and running through the last hour in her mind and how she’s somehow expected to care for those four colorful girls after such a disastrous series of first meetings.

She hopes Sana will actually teach her what she’s supposed to do before then. At least she knows her new charges are friendly.

Aggressively friendly, perhaps, but friendly either way.

Chapter Text

While her first day was eventful, the following days are less dramatic and involve far less of being carried around like a sack of flour or getting lost in the forest because she was chasing a mythical rabbit.

Instead it involves learning her day-to-day work in the preserve as a caretaker. By Sana’s own admission, Ina- and really any other caretaker- has it rather easy as all the extraspecies that sign up for the program in this early stage are inevitably the ones that already know a decent amount about humanity or have a burning interest. The only ‘issues’ expected are physical more than behavioral, and most of her job theoretically involves helping them learn how to behave in the context of interacting with humans.

So in practice her job is to chat, answer questions, and continue Kiara’s English lessons. Gura and Calli barely need any help at all and are pretty much here as a formality, and beyond her instance on acting like some sort of eighties movie thug Amelia already knows what she’s doing from, in her words, ‘keepin’ the ol’ eyes open and studying the crowds’.

“And by that she means she stole and watched movies.” Gura cut in dryly during the middle of Amelia’s explanation.

“I did not steal them!” Amelia protests. “...I broke into a video store and watched them there during the night. I saw where they hid the key.”

“But not the cameras apparently.”

“Hey! I didn’t know those little circle thingies were cameras! They look nothing like the movies!”

“Maybe Ina can educate you about the wonders of basic technology when you eventually get an outing then.” Gura says snidely.

“Don’t be so smug, Goombus, I ain’t gonna waste an outing on that.” Ame sniffs, turning up her nose. “Besides, I’m gonna be first.”

A crooked grin crosses the shark’s face. “Suuure, Gator Girl.”

Ina clears her throat. “Well, my first outing is supposed to be tomorrow, so-”

“So I will inform you about it right now.” 

Ina is interrupted by a melodic voice. She turns to see Sana standing besides them with documents in her hands and glasses sitting on her nose. “I don’t have much time to play, sadly, so I need to do this quickly.”

She flips a few pages and when she finally finds the one she needs, Sana takes it out and gives it to Ina. “Here’s some basic information about the outing process and your subject for tomorrow. Have fun~”

Sana departs quickly after that, leaving the trio alone again.

“Well then.” Ame huffs, having snuck around behind Ina and now peeking over her shoulder at the documents. “...where's my name?”

“Uhm… It says Gura-”

“WHAT?!” Amelia spins around, glaring at Gura. “Why!?”

“I’m just better.” Gura shrugs, leaning against a tree with her hands behind her head and a supremely smug grin on her face. She bares her teeth just a little bit at Ina. “Looks like I get the first nibble, huh?”

Ina can feel her ears heating up. 

Ame hisses and leers at Gura, circling around behind Ina. “You better not, Stinky. I don’t want your shark breath on my snack, y’hear?”

“Maybe if you ask nicely.” Gura says, grin getting even wider.

Amelia scrunches up her face. She spins around and glances sharply over her shoulder. “ Fine . You have your fun. I’ll show her a better time anyways.”

She stalks off into the forest to the sound of Gura snickering, and soon the shark turns to Ina.

“Oh, I’m going to have a lot of fun with you.” Gura says with a wide, toothy grin. “Hope you’re ready, newbie, because I have the perfect idea for your first time.”

###

Considering Gura’s ominous promise, Ina was expecting something quite different than a visit to the aquarium.

The local aquarium isn’t the largest in the world, not even the largest in the country, but it has enough that it takes more than an hour at a leisurely pace.

At least, that’s what Google tells her. It’s not like she had time to check it out herself considering these plans were made yesterday because Sana couldn’t be bothered to give her advance warning.

From the outside, the aquarium is quite dramatic. It has a big sign with lots of colorful fish on it, and two tanks on either side of the main door facing the street filled with… uh…

“Cherry Barbs.” Gura offers, noticing her gaze. Rather than an oversized hoodie, today she has opted for a short pleated dress with overall straps and a sleeveless white top, along with a side-tail for her hair. It’s a shockingly cute look, and if it weren’t for the tail and the white hair Ina might have assumed she was looking at a fashion-conscious schoolgirl. “Schooling fish. From Sri Lanka. Males can be pesky little things.”

“Right.” Ina says dumbly, trying to pretend she totally remembers where Sri Lanka is.

“...they look better when you actually go up to the glass rather than standing in the middle of the sidewalk.” Gura teases, tapping the back of Ina’s legs with her tail. The people walking by give a few surprised whispers seeing the tail move. They must have thought it was cosplay or something.

Feeling slightly foolish, Ina walks up to the glass with Gura lazily following. This feels backwards. Isn’t she supposed to be the one guiding Gura?

Gura casually narrates most of the stuff in the tank, from the plants to the likely methods being used to care for the fish. Her tail sways slowly behind her, and her eyes have a soft look to them, with just the barest hint of longing behind them.

“We used to have fish sorta like these back in Atlantis.” Gura adds, after finishing talking about everything else. “Paler, and way more feisty. They were fun pets.”

“Did you have some?”

“Nah. Had a pet shark.” Gura grins, flashing her pointed teeth again. “Domesticated version of the great white. Extinct now. Bloop was a good boy. Used to chase shadows thinking they were fish. Dumb as a rock he was.”

Ina isn’t sure if she should ask more, and before she can properly consider it Gura is nudging her inside the entrance. Ina purchases admission for two people and, trying to regain some measure of control, leading Gura into the building.

She immediately blanks at seeing a split in the hallway, giving her three options. Gura chuckles next to her, grabs Ina gently by the arm, and pulls her to the left.

“How much ya know about octopi?” Gura ventures as they step into a room filled with various cephalopods. 

“Enough to know it’s technically octopuses and not octopi.” Ina responds quickly.

“Ahh, smart one, aren’t you?” Gura gives her a lopsided smirk that makes Ina’s heart jump. “That’s exactly why I wanted to start here anyways. Octopuses remind me of ya.”

Ina blinks in confusion. “They do?”

“O’course. Smart, cute, shy…” Gura drawls, and then abruptly knocks her hip into Ina, prompting a squeak. “Easily startled~”

“S-Says you, the cute shark.” Ina tries to shoot back.

“Hmm, most people don’t call sharks cute.” Gura muses, unfazed. Her gaze focuses on Ina, something glinting in her eye. “Vicious, maybe. Hungry. Aggressive. Some of us eat octopuses you know.”

Ina really hopes her face doesn’t look as warm as it feels. “Actually, sharks aren’t that dangerous towards people. Some of them can even be friendly! Some of them even like head rubs.”

“Hmm~ maybe you’ll get to find out eventually, huh?” Gura smirks. “If you’re not scared by the hungry shark. We are carnivores you know, and Ame did call you a snack…”

Ina’s heart rate spikes at the side-eye Gura gives her, complete with tongue running over one of her sharp white teeth. She swallows a few times, trying to get her dry throat to work. “I- uh- so, octopuses.”

Gura laughs under her breath and lets the matter drop.

For all her teasing, Gura is indeed rather quite knowledgeable about all manner of sealife, and the shark girl is a better tour guide than Ina could possibly have asked for.

(In fact, she suspects that Gura might have already been to the aquarium in the past.)

What probably could have taken half an hour instead ends up taking two hours as Gura explains, in great detail, every single display they come across. It isn't a complaint, but rather a compliment expressing Ina’s fascination with Gura’s knowledge and her want to know more from the girl that, at first glance, is a dorky, light hearted shark. There’s an itch in Ina’s brain to ask for more details, especially about her past life, but she holds herself back, not wanting to open a sore wound once again. Maybe later, she thinks.

As they finish with the last display (funnily enough, it is a display with various types of catsharks, which are kept in one of the biggest displays of the whole aquarium. It makes Ina snicker a bit, looking at Gura at the moment, which causes the shark girl to squint back at her.) Ina looks at her watch, sighing loudly. They still have more than half a day left and Ina has zero idea what to do next. She’s glad her first outing is Gura, otherwise it would be a huge embarrassment.

“Well, watcha wanna do next, Inya?” Gura looks at her with a grin all over her face as if she knows Ina’s problem- which, given Gura probably knows more about her job than Ina does, is a distinct possibility.

“Uhm- I actually wanted to ask your preferences beforehand, but, hah, I got thrown into my first outing so quickly…” Ina feels her ears getting warmer, “Sorry.”

Ina feels a slight nudge at her legs- Gura’s tail no doubt- and Gura pouts while addressing her. “Oi, none of that! I don’t mind being your first…”

Her ears are burning, and she swallows as the shark tail curls around her leg, holding her in place for a moment.

“...outing.” Gura finishes after an intentionally long pause; a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. “Someone’s gotta be the trial run, and it might as well be ol’ Gooba.”

“W-well then. What do you want to do next?”

“Hm… Ya know, there’s a karaoke café, Japanese style, with cubicles and all that that I wanna try. We can get some food and sing… I missed singing.” Gura murmurs, “Unless you are shy about singing with me, eh?”

“No, no.” Ina giggles, relieved to have such an easy out. “I’ll be more than happy to Ina -courage you. In fact, I’ll be telling you “Miss, sing it!””

Gura’s face looks like it can’t decide between a dead-eyed stare and sparkling-eyed amusement, and as a result her eye ends up twitching for a few seconds before she half coughs half laughs into her sleeve. “Right, right. I Gura -tee I won’t disappoint then.”

Ina can’t express her unreasonable happiness at someone indulging her puns, and hides her giddiness by looking up the location of this karaoke place on her phone. It’s a few blocks off, but still located in the downtown area, so it’s no worse than a fifteen minute walk.

While the public didn’t bat an eye at Gura’s presence in the aquarium, they get a couple curious looks walking down the sidewalk. It’s mostly from kids who think, rather loudly, that the tail looks ‘so cool’ and Gura is more than happy to stop and let them see or even touch it which delays them by an additional ten minutes.

(Ina is only slightly envious that the kids get to feel the tail. She wonders if it’s rough like actual shark skin.)

The karaoke place is nestled between a café and a corner store, and a cursory look reveals that it’s actually attached to the café, and a little poster on the front advertises how you can order food from the café to your karaoke room.

The receptionist is very excited to see an actual extraspecies girl walk into the building, and so five minutes are spent answering her questions and explaining that no, shark girls do not originate from Japan and also there’s a vampire castle only half an hour drive from here so how is this new to you and do you know so little?

(Not that Ina says it in those terms, but the lack of knowledge this girl displays while being so excited about it is baffling.)

At least it gets them a discount.

The cubicle is little more than a table with two benches and a karaoke machine with a small screen above it. After a small demonstration of how the machine works and a confirmation that yes they will be eating here so she can come back in a few minutes to take the order, the two of them are left alone in the cubicle to… sing, Ina guesses. 

Thank the gods Gura goes first.

“Rightee, what ya wanna hear? I got options.” Gura says with a hint of smugness in her voice, proudly displaying the list on the screen.

With a glance at the list Ina feels slight embarrassment. Most of the songs are some sort of love song with not-so-subtle context, with the addition of a few sea shanties and just city pop songs. With the gaze Gura gives her and her chosen songs, Ina starts to think the shark girl has some other thoughts besides singing, but Ina actively tries to ignore it as much as possible.

“Uhm. I'm not so familiar with many of those songs…” lie, “so I don’t mind you choosing for me. I would love to hear you sing either way.”

Gura snickers, “If you say so, Ina~”

Thankfully, Gura goes easy on her to start. Her first song is a sea shanty, and the receptionist coming back to take their order also helps calm Ina’s nerves. Gura’s singing voice is soft, very melodic, and shockingly clear. Before, she would never have expected Gura to sing so well, so professionally. It's charming, captivating, almost hypnotizing. 

Ina doesn’t notice how quickly they go through the list, even joining in to sing some with Gura. Relaxed, Ina doesn’t even notice Gura’s slight smug expression as the last song on the list starts playing. 

At first, it goes normally, with Ina enjoying nice music and the beautiful voice of the shark girl. But soon, she started to catch on to the lyrics and melody itself. 

‘Oh’ A blush starts to creep to Ina’s cheeks, the skin on her neck heating up. ‘I-Is she singing for…’

Ina’s suspicions are confirmed as she hears her name sung, clearly with Gura’s changing the song for the moment. Ina felt her heartbeat speed up, eyes glued to Gura before her. She hears, no, feels every word, every note Gura sings for her, as if Ina is a sailor being lured by the siren in the ocean. And she would be lying if she said she didn’t want that. Especially as two of them started to get closer and closer to each other, their faces inches apart, and-

The song ends, with a soft alarm noise announcing their time for karaoke ending up. It feels like a cold shower for Ina, making her almost jump in the spot, face full red.

“I-I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be this close!”

Gura sighs, seemingly clearly upset, “Don’t stress it. I got carried away myself. Haven’t sung like that in a long time.” She looks at Ina, her expression softens. “I hope you liked it though. Didn’t want to go too far either, so I hope everything is alrighty?”

“Y-yeah.” Ina stumbles a bit, starting to regret a bit that their session ended so soon, “I really did. Your voice is… Magical.”

“Heh. Thankies. Yours was good too. We should try it again sometime.” Gura murmurs, smiling.

Ina smiles back “It would be nice…”

Gura looks at the time, whistling, “Damn, it's evening already. Time flies so fast when you spend it with someone you love, doesn’t it?” She giggles, nudging Ina a bit in the side with her elbow, while Ina tries to ignore the phrasing, “I have an idea for a last stop before we have to return. Are you up for it?”

“Well… We do have a bit of time. I don’t mind.”

“Sweet~” Gura giggles, looking down at the table, Ina notices a glimpse of realization in Gura’s eyes. “Although, we should probably finish the food we ordered first, I guess.”

Ina doesn’t even know when the food arrived, but it’s sitting on the table in front of them, virtually untouched. They clearly got very much carried away with singing. At least, Ina hopes, the food should still be warm.

###

Ina considers it a miracle her limited preparation actually paid off. Gura is a shark girl, so she might want to swim. That was the only reason she had a swimsuit shoved into her pack. Gura had her own in her purse.

Gura’s swimsuit is almost aggressively cute with a wide assortment of colors and a short, frilly skirt. Admittedly Ina has the exact same in her closet at home, but she brought a much more generic one today out of some sense of professionalism.

The sun is already starting to drop in the sky when they arrive, but that gifts them very little company as most of the beach-goers seem to have gone home already. Instead she’s nearly alone with Gura, and has no one else to distract her from how much of a flailing child she feels like trying to swim next to an actual Atlantean.

Gura takes great amusement in swimming circles around her- and under her, for that matter, and occasionally leaping over her in a display of athleticism and inevitably spraying her with a million droplets of water in the process.

Ina only screams a bit when Gura grabs one of her legs and pretends to drag her down into the water. That just about sets the tone for everything done in the water, of which Gura spends half her time underneath the surface taunting her.

Extreme vulnerability aside (she nearly chokes when Gura pokes her stomach- perhaps yelps when the girl busts from the water, grabbing her around the waist, in a dramatic takedown that she needs to be released from quickly because she accidentally swallows water and spends the next two minutes sputtering it out, with Gura profusely apologizing) some of their time is also spent on the beach itself. The sand that is. Though lacking any shovels or pails or anything they mostly end up walking along the surf, feeling the water lap at their feet as the sun starts to set with a golden glow.

“You know.” Gura sighs, her arm almost touching Ina’s as they walk, “I really enjoyed it today. A fun day with a person like you feels very special.”

Ina hums, “I enjoyed it too. I… I was honestly nervous at first.”

“Oh really?”

“Y-yeah. My first outing, I’m very new to all of this, and spending time with beautiful gi-... I-I mean!”

“Oh, someone slipped, huh?” Gura giggles, stopping before the blushing Ina, “I also think you are pretty, don’t worry~”

“Y-you don’t have to lie…”

“I’m fully serious.” Gura huffs, “Of course at first I was suspicious when we were told we would get a caretaker, because who knows who it would have been, but when I saw you and talked to you, my worries disappeared.” Gura hums, stepping a bit closer to Ina. “You are gentle, nice, soft-spoken, and fun to talk to. I really enjoyed the time we’ve had since you started to work with us.” Gura leans closer, their faces inches apart. Ina is drowning in Gura’s ocean blue beautiful eyes. “I really loved every moment we had today. And I hope-” Ina can feel the desire, the need Gura projects, their lips almost touching. She just needs to close the final gap, “-we will continue to have a fun time… Together.”

Ina wishes, she wants to feel Gura’s lips against her own, her heart ready to leap out from her chest, to burst out in fireworks. She closes her eyes, ready for the feeling, ready to melt away in a touch, under the sunset with sounds of the ocean filling her senses to keep the moment last, but…

It never comes.

Ina opens her eyes, confused, looking at Gura, who wears an apologetic and regretful smile, with just a hint of smugness.

“Would love to kiss your pretty face, but… had to step away.” She giggles. “If I do it, Ame would probably never forgive me. And I don’t wanna rain on her parade.”

“H-huh?”

“Yeah, she tries to look tough and all, but… Shes very sweet.” Gura hums, “She constantly talks about you and I can clearly see she fallen for you hard, so… I don’t mind waiting for a bit.” She hums, leaning in a bit again. “But don’t you worry. The moment she is done… I will come to collect my bite of you~”

She smirks, leaning away, leaving Ina full red hot.

“Inaaaaa, let’s go, or we will be late~”

Ina swallows thickly. She doesn’t know what to do except to mutely agree and lead the way back, hyper-aware of Gura next to her the entire way, sometimes leaning against her arm with a knowing look that inevitably sends her pulse skyrocketing again.

She can only hope that all her other outings won’t be this… dramatic , but she doesn’t have much faith in that being true.

Chapter Text

Ina awakes to a knocking at her door. She’s rolling out her bed and grabbing a shirt before she can even really think about it, and a quick glance at the clock tells her it’s only 6:30. She’s not due for today’s outing for at least two more hours. The alarm she set isn’t for another hour!

With a light t-shirt and shorts on- pajamas really- she stumbles her way to the door, rubbing sleep from her eyes.

She doesn’t look through the peephole before opening the door, and immediately regrets it when she sees who it is. A sleekly-dressed gangster with an alligator tail and a fedora.

“Heya doll; seems I came at a good time.” Amelia drawls, leaning on the doorframe and lazily dragging her eyes up and down Ina, taking clear amusement in the pajamas. “Can I come in, or are you gonna leave this poor gator out in the cold?”

She’s in the hallway of an air-conditioned apartment building, so that doesn’t make even remote sense, but Ina is a bit too frazzled to do more than stand aside and let Amelia saunter on in. Ina peeks out into the hall, relieved to see that there’s no one watching and praying to the gods that no one saw Ame before closing the door and turning to the alligator perusing her kitchen.

“Got a cute place here.” Amelia comments, taping a clawed finger on a photo she has taped to the fridge. It’s of her and Sana in college, which isn’t that long ago now that she thinks of it. Or maybe it is? Three years feels like a long time and yet not that long at all. “And damn, didn’t know you used to be even smaller . Adorable really.”

“I was hunching!” Ina protests.

“So you were still a meek little thing?” Amelia asks with a toothy grin. “Didn’t know you could be more of a snack than you already were. Lucky me.”

It’s way too early in the morning for this. Ina has a hard enough time dealing with it under normal circumstances! “H-How did you even get here!?”

“Would you believe me if I said I tracked you here?” Amelia says with a cocky grin that, after a moment, loses a bit of its luster. “I mean, that'd be a lie because I didn’t. Sana dropped me off. She, uh, said you’d be fine with it, probably? S’not a problem is it?”

“ Sanaaa! ” Ina groans internally. Of course it was Sana. She should have known she’d spring something like this on her. She’s probably laughing to herself in the car right-

Ina’s phone pings and both she and Amelia flinch, not expecting the sudden noise. Amelia coughs and looks away, sliding her hands into her pockets while Ina fumbles for her phone.

It’s a text… from Sana.

“ Heya Ina! Dropped Ame off at your apartment just a minute ago. She was super anxious to see you today and pleaded to see you early, it was super cute! Don’t let her forget about the food! Gluten free for Ame, in case you didn’t know she’s got an intolerance to that. Don’t get her doughnuts. I made that mistake once already. ”

For a brief moment Ina considers bursting Amelia’s metaphorical balloon and revealing all of what Sana said, but opts not to. No need to kill Amelia’s excitement. “It’s just Sana. She said something about not forgetting breakfast.”

“Oh shi- yeah, uh, yeah I brought something.” Amelia says, trying not to obviously scramble for the door and grab something she must have left just outside. “Made it myself…”

The plastic container at first makes her assume it’s leftovers of some sort, but the fact that the plastic is fogged up and the knowledge that Amelia is probably trying to make up for waking her up early and this was likely made just before she left.

The food inside turns out to be some sort of… frittata? She thinks that’s the term. A slab of egg with sausage, cheese, and a few small green vegetables thrown in, but clearly the main focus point is the meat and the eggs.

“It’s not fresh off the pan or anything, but it’s still gator-certified.” Amelia says with a nervous smirk, trying to keep up her facade. “...you’re not lactose-intolerant or anything, right? Sana wasn’t super clear about it? She made it sound like it was variable.”

“It is.” Ina says, blinking twice to clear the surprise from her face. “But I have pills for it. A little bit of cheese won’t ruin anything, and I can’t pass up an excuse to not have to cook, now can I?”

Amelia nods casually, as if this information was expected, but the way her tail stops flicking back and forth so frantically is a giveaway about how much of a relief her words are.

The container did its job well, as the food is still plenty warm when Ina digs into it. Amelia also brought not an inconsiderable amount of it- more than Ina would expect for just two people- but that’s quickly explained by Amelia’s own ravenous appetite.

It’s easy to forget most extra-species need to eat more than humans. They have to support their tails and wings and various other quirks somehow after all.

Alas, breakfast comes to an end all too soon, and she has to actually get dressed and pull up the map on her phone while Amelia lounges at the table, still eyeing that old college photo of her and Sana.

She makes a mental note to never mention the album Sana made (and that she has a copy of). She doesn’t need to give Amelia more material to work with.

Taking a deep breath, she leads Amelia out of her apartment into the hall, praying that no one will be out to question what Amelia was doing here in the first place.

It doesn’t help that Amelia almost instantly reverts to her ‘mobster’ attitude as soon as they’re out the door. Her hands go in her pockets and the smirk returns to her face, and Ina can see her give the receptionist a cheeky nod on the way out like she wasn’t a nervous disaster ten minutes ago.

Their first stop for the day is a movie theater at Amelia’s insistence, though that in itself entails a half-hour walk through the town, in which Amelia loudly talks about the various ‘masterpieces’ she’s watched and how she’s an expert at spotting clues now and-

Yeah, she’s a movie nerd. Gura already said as much, but this proves it. Ina lets her ramble- it makes for nice background noise as she tries to follow the map on her phone. Thankfully, the closest theater is only a few blocks away, so it doesn’t take long for them to get to the place.

The movie choice, unsurprisingly, is quick. Ame not-so-subtly directs her to the only detective movie right now airing (a quick check on internet shows to Ina that the movie has very poor reviews, but she supposes it will make it funnier rather than anything), and with snacks in hands, they take their seats. 

The entire time Ina watches Ame and her antics. The gator girl still tries to hide herself behind a veil of sleaze, but Ina can clearly see the excitement. Shining eyes, active tail movements, slightly raised and wavy voice. Ina can’t deny that Amelia right now looks incredibly cute and she can feel herself smiling.

Ina supposes this mediocre movie watch-a-long won’t be so bad.

The movie starts off as cheesy as it can possibly get, and Amelia is invested from line one, leaning forward in her seat and clutching her popcorn with desperate fervor.

“Did you catch that?” She whispers eagerly when a character drops the most obvious hint in the world. “ Foreshadowing .”

“I-I see.” Ina says, trying to keep a straight face. “Clever.”

“Isn’t it!?” Amelia asks, eyes sparkling. Ina does not have the heart to tell her that it really isn’t. This also puts Amelia’s talk of ‘masterpiece’ movies into context, as now Ina knows the gator could be talking about any movie at all rather than ones any true movie buff would call good… or even half decent.

It’s adorable either way even if Amelia has thoroughly proved that carnivores do not, in fact, have any sense of taste.

Amelia is incredibly invested in every ‘twist’ the story half-heartedly rolls their way with all the subtlety of a sixteen-wheeled cargo truck. Ina is having more fun watching Amelia than the movie itself, but that still makes for a fun viewing in her records. Amelia is literally holding her tail to stop it from wagging and making noise because she’s so excited.

After an hour and a half of what could generously be called a ‘mystery’ and action that might make her elderly grandmother slightly raise an eyebrow, the movie comes to an end with the shocking twist that none of the clues were actually relevant and the mystery therefore makes zero sense because they made some arbitrary side character the criminal for cheap shock value.

“It was brilliant! ” Amelia insists. “All the signs were there!”

“Really?” Ina says, fighting a laugh. “Do tell.”

And so Amelia tells her the signs, and Ina marvels at her ability to string together utter nonsense into some semblance of cohesion. Listening to Amelia, she can almost believe the movie wasn’t a complete train wreck, and that the twist was in fact a well-orchestrated masterstroke.

Really, with that sort of ability to put points together, she could make for a rather potent novelist if she chose to.

Her chatter goes on and on, even as they walk rather aimlessly out the doors and onto the street, until it- and Amelia- stops rather abruptly. “Uh, so… next we… you know, right?”

Ina raises an eyebrow, and Amelia coughs. “I know what?”

“Just, our next thing, you know?”

“Huh, and here I thought you had everything planned already.” Ina says teasingly. “Are you saying you don’t have any leads, detective? ”

“I- well-” Amelia sputters, hands making aborted gestures as she fumbles her words. “This isn’t a case!”

“So I’m not worth investigating?” Ina pushes, just a little. It’s cute to see Amelia flail like this.

“Wha-” Amelia double-takes. “Wait wait wait, since when was this about you?”

“WOW.” Ina laughs. “I see how it is, hmm?”

“No I mean- gaah!” Amelia groans. “Inaaa!”

As tempting as it is to keep toying with Ame, Ina restrains herself. “Have you ever been to a cafe, detective?”

“I don’t think so?” Amelia frowns. “I’ve been to Tim Hortans…?”

“Well as good as they are, I mean a proper cafe.” Ina giggles. “Tims is to a cafe what McDonalds is to restaurants.”

“They have good coffee.” Amelia pouts.

“Yes yes, that’s not the point.” Ina smiles, pulling out her phone to find the nearest cafe. “Follow me, detective.”

She takes the lead this time, guiding the girl along the sidewalks. Amelia follows a few steps behind, trying to keep her swagger and only half succeeding.

“I’m still cool, right?” She can hear the girl mumble. “Totally still cool. Cool as a… ice cube, or something. Yeah. Still cool.”

Ina rolls her eyes when Amelia can’t see, a smile stretching across her face. This girl…

The cafe she leads them to isn’t one she’s familiar with. It’s aggressively nature-themed, complete with ivy on the sign and a well-maintained flower bed out front. The sign is so overgrown that she can barely make out the words ‘The Glade” pained on in elegant gold letters.

The inside is not too busy, as it’s still about an hour before the proper lunch rush. There’s an old couple sitting at a table near the front window and a young woman with her computer in a picture perfect image of a student at a cafe.

The Glade’s counter is staffed by only a single worker in full costume. Beyond a somewhat classic maid look (if in green and white rather than black) the woman has long, tousled green hair woven in with flowers and antlers poking out of said hair, presumably from a hidden hairband, that trail their own delicate little vines with tiny white buds on them and some leaves sprouting from the antlers proper.

Ina can commend her for committing hard to the theme… though the antlers do look rather realistic, and she can see any discolored roots if that’s supposed to be a dye job for the hair. Her extra-species senses are tingling, though she doesn’t see pointed ears so it’s not an elf.

“Hello there!” The lady says in a soft, welcoming voice. “Just sit wherever you want and I’ll be with you in a moment!”

Ina pushes aside her suspicions for a moment and guides Amelia to a seat at the side of the room, out of the way of any other potential customers. Amelia’s eyes are also on the lady, and Ina can see the gears turning in her head.

“Do you think…?” Amelia mumbles, tilting her head towards the lady.

“Maybe.” Ina whispers back.

Neither of them ask the obvious question when the lady comes to take their orders. They both get coffee and a muffin (gluten free! They’re all gluten free here!) while Ina eyes the nametag on the lady’s collar.

“Fauna” it says. That sounds familiar to Ina, though she can’t quite place it.

Ina tries to see if Fauna has a tail as she bustles back behind the counter, but the dress is too long and hides anything she might be able to spot.

“...smells like flowers.” Amelia mumbles, tapping her fingers on the table. “Like, really strongly. I think I know her. I know this smell.”

“Sniffing girls is kinda creepy not gonna lie.” Ina teases quietly.

“I’m a-!” Amelia says loudly, then ducks her head, cringing, when Fauna looks her way. She speaks in a hushed whisper after that. “I’m an alligator! We have good senses of smell, I can’t help it!”

“I know, I know.” Ina smiles. A lot of extra-species have strong senses, and smell is a really noticeable one mostly because humans by default have terrible senses of smell so the difference is even more apparent. “You said you know the smell though?”

“Yeah, I-”

“Here are your orders!” Fauna interrupts cheerfully, setting down two plates and two mugs along with a small assortment of sugars and milks for their coffee. “Will that be all?”

“Yes, thank you.” Ina says politely. She resists the urge to reach across the table and poke Amelia, who is rather blatantly squinting at Fauna’s antlers.

“Hmm~” Fauna hums, suddenly turning to look Amelia dead in the eyes. It’s only at this point that it clicks in Ina’s head that Fauna has golden eyes, which are absolutely not human. Said golden eyes twinkle with amusement as she speaks. “It’s good to see some of Sana’s charges out and about for once. The program is moving along nicely I assume?”

“I- uh- yeah.” Amelia sputters.

“Amelia is currently my charge.” Ina corrects politely.

“Ahh, yes, yes~” Fauna almost sings, turning those magical gold eyes onto Ina. “She’s told me a lot about you. Her adorable little kohai. It’s nice to see you in person, Miss Ninomae.”

She doesn’t think Fauna is trying to be intimidating, but something about Fauna’s presence is just powerful . Weighty. Ina knows that some of Sana’s charges and friends are very, very old extraspecies, and she’d bet money Fauna is one of those ancient beings. “You as well, madam…?”

“Just Fauna is fine.” Fauna says, eyes twinkling. “Madame Ceres makes me sound so old!”

“But you are old.” Amelia says carelessly, and then quickly seems to register that maybe she shouldn’t have said that as Fauna slowly turns her head in Amelia’s direction. “I mean, uh… not that you look it or anything.”

“I’d certainly hope not. I didn’t spend all that time learning how to shapeshift just to look like an old crone.” Fauna responds, letting Amelia off easy. She rises from her bent-forward position and curtseys. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I believe I had more customers coming.”

Ina doesn’t know what Fauna is talking about until about ten seconds later when the door opens again. The people entering weren’t even visible from the windows. Fauna shouldn’t have been able to see that coming.

“ Old and powerful indeed. ” Ina thinks silently, sipping her coffee as Fauna greets her new customers who are blissfully unaware they’re talking to someone older than the country they’re living in. “ I have to ask Sana how they even met. ”

The fascinating case of Fauna aside, they food is incredible, and the coffee is wonderful. Ina takes her time in enjoying both while Amelia slowly winds down from nearly offending Fauna and slouches in her seat, fiddling with her cup.

“Everything fine, Amelia?”

“Huh? Uh, yeah, everything’s totally chill.” Amelia coughs, forcing herself to sit up straight. “Just scoping out the scene, you know?”

“Uh-huh.” Ina says. “For what case?”

“For… just, you know, safety.” Amelia says with a vague sweeping gesture.

“Amelia.”

“Yeah?”

“Safety from what ? I’m the one who is supposed to keep you safe in the first place.” Ina points out.

“But that’s not cool…” Amelia mumbles.

Ina resists the urge to roll her eyes again. “You don’t need to be ‘cool’ Ame. This isn’t a detective movie, it’s me helping you get used to human society.”

“Yeah but…”

“But…?”

In this moment, Ina finally sees the most cute Ame she has ever seen in the time she has known her. A shy, blushing mess who is trying to avoid eye contact with wobbling lips. “I-I wanted to impress you… to make you think I’m cool and all that… stuff…”

Ina wants to laugh; not to make fun of Amelia, but because her nervousness is incredibly unfounded. “Ame… you’re part alligator , you’re always cool.”

Amelia perks up. “Really?”

“Yes. Cute too.” She teases. “All your knowledge and incredible passion about every aspect of detective movies is just-” Ina smirks, “-stunningly adorable.”

Now Ame looks more red than green, and Ina finally has to let slip some giggles past her lips. “And you don’t have to try to act overly cool. I enjoy who you are… even your attempts to flirt with me.”

Ame looks up at her, something in her eyes sparkles. “Really?”

“Yeah.” Ina hums, “I don’t mind.”

“But- wait- my flirting was like, with my act.”

“Yep. It was nice. You can tell when people mean it.” Ina shrugs, her own face getting a bit red at the admission. She’s trying to ignore the fact she just said, out loud, that she enjoyed Ame’s aggressive flirting. Hopefully Amelia won’t register that until later.

“O-Oh really, huh?”

“Yes.” Ina says simply.

“So you know I’ve been flirting, b-but what about you , huh?” Ame blusters.

“Have you missed what I’ve been doing most of today?” Ina shoots back.

“How do I know you’re not joking?” Ame challenges, squinting at her.

Ina sighs dramatically, just to give herself a moment to prepare for what she’s going to do, and then leans over the table and presses her lips to Amelia’s.

Ina has never kissed before, and from what she can tell, neither has Ame. It starts very awkward with them trying to match their lips together, but then it smoothes out, the two of them leaning towards each other. Ina can feel her heart burning in this pleasant moment, and by how deeply Ame breaths, she knows the gator enjoys it too. But as the moment finishes, it seems to take a few seconds for Amelia to properly register what’s going on, because when she does her eyes go wide like saucers.

It’s fitting somehow. For all her posturing, she’s quite meek when it actually comes time to follow through.

“Well, I hope that proves enough.” Ina exhales deeply, trying to ignore the heat on her cheeks and Fauna’s gaze on her neck. “You said you wanted to know what our next thing would be? How about me visiting your place and watching more of your stuff?” Ina says it half as genuine interest and half as wanting to go away from the cafe and the embarrassment of what she just did in public.

“Okay.” Ame squeaks, almost screaming. She snaps out of the moment and jumps from her seat. “Let’s- uh- go?”

Ina nods, mindlessly putting twenty dollars down on the table and praying that will be enough.

###

“Well, well. Look who's back early, huh?” A voice calls out as Ina and Amelia approach Amelia’s home, or ‘den’ as she calls it. Both of them flinch, first at the voice and then at Gura casually stepping out from behind a tree. It almost feels like an ambush. “Did Watson not behave? Hmm?”

“Hey! I’ll have you know I was a perfect gentleman!” Amelia snaps; her shoulders instantly rising and her eyes narrowing. Gura just seems able to bring that out in her on command, and Ina honestly finds it amusing at this point.

“Uh-huh.” Gura says, raising an eyebrow, leaning against the tree. “So if I ask Ina, she won’t mention you using a single nickname, or leering, or-”

Amelia bares her teeth. “Like you never did anything like that on your date!”

“Date? But Watson, it’s just an ‘outing’.” Gura taunts. “Does poor Ina even know your plans for her? Taking an innocent girl back to your den? Really Watson-”

“Aww, fuck you.” Amelia gives Gura the middle finger, then glares at Ina. “I did fine!”

“Suuure.”

“I got a kiss! More than you did!” Ame sniffs, tilting her head up. “So there!”

“Really?” Gura asks, glancing at Ina.

Ina nods shyly, cheeks going a bit red again.

“About time, geeze, thought I was going to have to wait another hundred years!” Gura sighs dramatically, and pats Ame on the shoulder (which earns her a squinty glare). “Remind me not to get in line behind you ever again.”

“What do you mean!?” Ame almost shouts.

“I mean I held off so you could go first, lizard brain!” Gura huffs. “I’ve got this little thing called patience -”

“No shot! That’s a lie!” Ame accuses. She whirls on Ina. “That’s a lie, right?”

Ina looks away and doesn’t respond.

“You- but-” Amelia sputters. “Wait, really!?”

“Yes really! I’d never hear the end of your whining if I got to her before you!” Gura says, poking Ame in the chest. “Besides, you were so amped up about it! I couldn’t burst your bubble like that. What sort of friend would I be if I beat you to your own first kiss just to rub it in your face? You wanted to be her first kiss outta all of us so I didn’t spoil that! You’re welcome dumbass!”

Ame looks absolutely floored, her mouth hanging open in surprise. Gura takes this chance to step forward and grab Ina by the collar and (gently) pull her head down.

“Now, I believe I got a promise to collect on.” Gura smirks, and for the second time this day Ina finds herself kissing an attractive girl with a tail, though Gura’s experience shows in her confidence over the whole thing, taking the lead in the moment, shark’s lips pressing firm but still gentle against hers, with a soft bite at the end, as if Gura is pronouncing her victory and claiming the reward. “And seeing as you finally got your damn first out of the way-” 

It takes a second for Ina to even understand what is happening after her kiss is over, only to see Gura confidently turn to Ame and, with a grace of thousands years of experience and confidence, capturing the gators lips too, dumbfolding Ame just the same as Gura did to Ina.

“And now-” Gura breathes out, her smile wide and smug, tail wagging like crazy behind her, “-I will take my leave. Don’t wanna disrupt your date, lovebirds~”

Ina and Ame stare blankly as Gura vanishes into the trees once more, leaving them alone in front of the pond where they all first met.

“I mean, I knew that was coming kinda, but…” Ina says after a long moment of silence. “You too?”

“I- uh- fuck-!” Amelia sputters. She groans and puts her face into her hands. Her voice is almost a shriek. “Two times in one day! Two times! And I didn’t initiate either of them!”

Ina pats her on the shoulder. “There there. You’ll have plenty of chances in the future.”

“Yeah.” Amelia says, taking a deep breath. “Right. Plenty of chances.”

Ina can’t resist the urge to tease. “I’m sure Kiara will go first if you ever get involved with her, but-”

“HEY!”

Chapter Text

Kiara needs a special brush.

She’s more than capable of cleaning herself, Ina knows, but it is a lot simpler when she has help. There are fewer awkward angles she needs to bend with her claws and such…

But that’s not the full story, and Ina knows it. Kiara just likes company, and will take any excuse she can to get it. At least it doesn’t involve an impromptu airlift like their first meeting.

“-and so what would you say?” Ina says patiently, running the brush through Kiara’s wing as the harpy watches attentively.

“My fluffies! No touch!”

“Kiara…”

The harpy rolls her eyes. “Please do not touch my feathers.”

“Correct. Good girl.” Ina nods.

“Good girl deserves sugar, yes yes?” Kiara asks eagerly, stooping her head to Ina’s level. “Sugar for sugar maybe?”

Ina sighs fondly. “You give me enough candy already Kiara. I’m going to have my own stash at this rate.”

“Fine fine.” Kiara flaps the wing Ina isn’t brushing. “ Sugar for sugar then!”

“Kiara…”

“Ina is saying no?”

“Uh-” Ina falters. “Well, um…”

“Ame and Gura got sugar, I should get sugar too!” Kiara presses. “Fair, yes yes?”

Ina blinks rapidly. “Now?”

Something twinkles in Kiara’s eyes as she cranes her head to look at Ina. “If Ina friend insists?”

Ina immediately backpedals. “I- well- that’s not quite what I meant!”

“Ina does not want sugar?”

“I didn’t s-say that either!” She sputters. “I just feel like it should probably wait until after our outing? Give it time?”

Kiara tilts her head. Ina can see thoughts racing through it. “Need court Ina? Go on a date like others?”

“Well technically the outing is to help you adapt to human society.” Ina says, grasping at the comforting rehearsed words of her job. “But, um, yes, you could see it that way too. The others certainly did.”

“Yes!” Kiara says instantly. “Dating!”

“Technically it’s an outing!” Ina repeats feebly, face red, as if those words will protect her.

“When?” Kiara presses, flapping eagerly. The brush is long since forgotten in Ina’s hand as the harpy turns in her nest to face her, effectively blocking her in with her large wingspan. “Soon?”

“I… yes.” Ina frowns, thinking. “We could even probably do it tomorrow if we had an idea where.”

Kiara flaps some more, almost taking to the air in her excitement. “Please Ina! Need an idea! Want to play!”

“It’s not playing Kiara, it’s educational .”

Kiara rolls her eyes. “Sugar with Ame was educational , yes yes. Much learning.”

Ina can feel the heat from her cheeks go to her ears. “That was unplanned!”

“By Ina.” Kiara huffs with a smile on her face. “Kiara knew. Everyone knew! Plan was obvious.”

Ina knew too, kinda. Gura did basically imply as much at the end of her outing. She was trying not to think about it at the time. “Still, an outing is nominally educational.”

“Educate on sugar.” Kiara says instantly.

“And not on sugar.” Ina counters. “Unless you mean actual sugar.”

Kiara flutters her wings indignantly for a moment, then settles down. “Fine fine. Ina is shy, Kiara understands. Kiara can take Ina flying?”

“That… might be possible?” Ina says, furrowing her brow. “I don’t think there are rules against that as long as we warn air traffic control.”

“I want to take Ina flying!”

“Okay. Flying it is.” Ina agrees. “Though we’ll need somewhere to go… how much do you like food?”

“Yes! Food tasty!”

“Music?”

“Yes yes!”

An idea takes form in the back of Ina’s mind. She’ll need to check for an exact location, but… “I think I might have an idea. I just need to run it by Sana first.”

Kiara chirps happily, leaning forward to grab Ina with her wings and hug-nuzzle her. Ina can only really guess if Kiara is excited or not; totally a mystery which brings a smile to Ina’s face.

###

Sometimes, Ina forgets how much power the facility holds in their hands. At first Ina thought that asking airlines to watch out and be careful could be troublesome and she would need to wait for it for a long time, but no, as soon as she asked Sana, the permission was granted. That definitely makes things easier for Ina in planning, especially because she had a particular festival to visit, and she wanted Kiara to see it without missing it and waiting for a year.

Ina’s second worry is the means she would need to travel with Kiara. After all, it's different traveling on someone’s back, basically in open air, compared to closed up airplanes. And somehow, again, Sana managed to order a special saddle-like garment for Kiara to wear with which Ina would be able to sit on and not fall off. It looks like a corset with a specialized saddle to sit on and several belts to strap the legs of the rider in place. At first Kiara obviously protested, because it wasn’t exactly comfortable (thankfully Sana ordered a new one to fit Kiara’s sizes), but knowing Ina needed it to be safe, Kiara calmed herself and cooperated on how to make it more comfortable for her, testing different tightnesses and slight shifts.

A few test flights and a dozen adjustments later, they’re ready to fly. Ina is bundled up in a coat (because she’ll get cold flying at decent speed, and it’ll protect her from any debris) and locks her legs into the saddle while Kiara tries to keep herself still.

“Be back by sundown or I’ll make fun of you!” Sana says cheerfully, waving at them.

“Is there an actual rule-?” Ina starts to ask.

“Not as long as you stay together! Get going!”

Kiara doesn’t need further prompting and Ina yelps and grabs the saddle when the harpy takes to the air in a flurry of wings.

They climb rapidly and reach a point where even the castle looks small. They’re not quite in cloud cover, but that’s mostly because the sky is clear of clouds for the most part. Kiara circles a few times while Ina peers down to the ground in awe before eventually remembering she needs to give Kiara direction.

“We need to go north!” She shouts, pointing in the appropriate direction with one hand before realizing Kiara can’t actually see that without craning her head.

Kiara swerves north immediately, and Ina yelps and grips the saddle again. Kiara glances over her shoulder. “I going too fast? Ina friend need me to go slower?

“No, no, I’m just not used to it!” Ina laughs nervously. This really is amazing, but it’s a bit intimidating to be dozens of meters in the air with only the muscle power of a friendly harpy keeping her aloft.

Kiara sways side to side, making lazy, slow swoops. “Am strong! Ina is no worry. Carrying cute human is easy!”

“You’ve never done it before though.”

“I done it with talons. If can do with talons can do on back. Don’t have to hold you. Easier.” She says. “Ina is not heavy. I carry Calli. Calli is heavy.”

Ina tries to imagine what that would look like. Calli is possibly taller than Kiara, so the idea of Kiara somehow managing to pick her up… it’s funny. She wonders how that ended up happening in the first place. “Did you have to do that at night?”

“No. Calli can go in sun. Does not like it, but she can.” Kiara says. “Wanted to bring hat, but hat not stay on head during flying.”

Calli has a hat? No, that shouldn't be surprising. Of course she has a hat. Why wouldn’t she have a hat? Ina has a hat, even if she doesn’t wear it. “What kind of hat?”

Kiara caws out a laugh. “I not telling! You wait and see. Take Calli on date and see, yes yes?”

“Okay, okay.” Ina huffs.

“And then take all on date at same time!”

“Uhhh.” Ina blinks rapidly. Her first thought is that she’s not sure she could keep something like that under control, though the more she thinks about it the more she starts to think it wouldn’t actually be an issue. It’s not like Gura would cause trouble, Ame can restrain herself, and she doubts Calli is actually going to be an issue. Really the only ‘problem’ might be reigning in Kiara’s excitability. “We’ll have to see. Maybe.”

“Sana try that once!” Kiara offers cheerfully. “Not work well! Mumei not focus! Kronii too big! Chaos! Fun times!”

That’s not reassuring, though if Ina has learned anything it's that Sana handles the more chaotic members of the reserve, so that’s probably not a fair worry.

The rest of the flight continues similarly, with light conversation passing back and forth as Ina keeps an eye out for landmarks to make sure they haven’t strayed off course too much.

Flight is a fast mode of travel though, so it only takes fifteen minutes to get to their destination. It wasn’t that far in the first place. They circle the village a few times as Kiara excitedly casts her eyes around at the nearby farms.

“I can eat piggy?”

“No, Kiara.”

“Chicken?”

“No, Kiara.”

“...little human?”

“KIARA.”

“I make joke!” Kiara huffs. “Ina already say we go to eat food! Trust, yes yes?”

Ina lets out a breath. Maybe she did overreact a little bit. She’s probably a bit on edge with this being Kiara’s first outing. “Right, sorry Kiara.”

“Only human Kiara eat is Ina. Very tasty is sure.”

Ina sputters and almost chokes on her own spit while Kiara laughs and descends towards the village center.

They’re expected. Ina made sure of that. It wouldn’t do to have a harpy swoop down out of nowhere unannounced, so she called ahead and checked with the festival organizers to make sure Kiara wouldn’t be an issue.

Even so, several people seem quite startled when Kiara lands next to the statue in the middle of the village. It takes Ina a solid minute to figure out how to get herself out of the saddle, and then a further two to get it off Kiara’s back.

The village has a very old-fashioned feel to it. The houses are mostly wood and logs, the road is packed dirt, the statue has a sort of gothic feel to it, and most of the adults wear what are decidedly old suits and dresses. The youth wear more expected clothes, which makes it an odd mish-mash of old-timey and modern. There are stalls set around most of the village center with food and games in the process of being set up, as well as people still arriving from the more outlying farms.

A old man approaches them as Ina finally gets the saddle off Kiara’s back. He inclines his head to them while speaking, taking his walker hat off his head as he does so. “Hello there; Miss Ninomae, I presume?”

“Yes, that’s me.” Ina nods, somewhat awkwardly holding the saddle as she tries to figure out where she should put it. Kiara stands behind her, eyeing the man curiously. “Thank you for having us mister…?”

“Just call me Jimmy.” The old man says, stroking his white beard with his free hand. “A pleasure to have ya. It’s been a long time since we had visitors from out of town join us. A pleasant change for sure.”

Jimmy casts his gaze up at Kiara, who returns the stare with a quizzical tilt of her head. Someone finally approaches Ina to whisper they can leave the saddle on the porch of their shop if she wants, and Ina gratefully hands it off.

“You must be Kiara, yeah?”

“Yes yes!” Kiara nods, flapping her wings once and ducking her head to be more on Jimmy’s level. “Hello to new friend!”

“Friendly, aren’t you?” Jimmy muses.

“No, am Kiara!” Kiara says cheekily. Ina snorts into her hand, and tries to pass it off as a cough. “Forget so quickly?”

Jimmy rolls his eyes. “Yeah, you’ll fit in just fine. Pardon the kids if they get pushy. Ain’t never seen one o’ your kind before. Don’t let ‘em pull your feathers.”

“Will not.” Kiara agrees. “No pull.”

“Good.” The man sighs, putting his hat back on. “Don’t go wanderin’ into anyone’s house without invitation or clawing at anything an’ we can all enjoy ourselves. Take care now you two.”

They both watch him leave to help one of the stalls set up, and Kiara taps Ina on the head with a wing. “He think I am cat? Claw at things?”

“I think he’s just nervous. Your talons are fairly big.” Ina says.

Kiara glances down curiously. “But legs are big too, he not say don’t leg at things. Also big wings, big height…”

“Yes, but the talons are the scary part.” Ina says.

“Because human talons are very small?”

“They’re called nails, but yes.” Ina says.

Kiara ruffles her feathers. “Talons not scary, humans just very not-scary.”

“You’re not wrong.” Ina smiles.

She’s at a bit of a loss for where to start looking at various stands that haven’t totally set up or gaggles of kids running around the town square, so it’s a relief that Kiara ends up making that decision for her.

“Ina! Ina! Sugar!” Kiara says abruptly, flapping her wings in excitement.

“What kind?”

“Yes!”

That really doesn’t clarify anything, but following Kiara’s repeated glances she can see there is indeed a booth with candy. With a fond sigh, Ina nods and gestures towards the stand to encourage Kiara to move… and then snags her wing and pulls her head down a bit to press a kiss to her cheek before moving onward like nothing ever happened (fighting her own luminescent blush).

(She does her best to ignore Kiara’s excited squawking while buying some candy for her from a rather amused old lady manning the stall and then bringing it back to her harpy.)

“I think it’s some sort of caramel.” Ina says, offering the candy-on a stick to Kiara… who doesn’t have a good way to hold it, so Ina has to hold it up for her while Kiara gnaws on it. It doesn’t take that long for Kiara to bite the whole thing off and chew it contemplatively.

“Is good.” She concludes, swallowing the last of it after a minute. “Almost good as sugar! Would have more of that too, but not allowed eat humans in public.”

It takes a second for Ina to parse what Kiara is saying, and then it’s her turn to flush bright red and make squawking noises.

“See? Even make squeaky noises like food!” Kiara teases, eyes sparkling in amusement. “No tempt phoenix yes yes? Am very good hunter~”

Ina doesn’t quite know what Kiara is implying, but it’s probably not something that should be figured out in public.

Rather than make guesses at random, Ina decides on a short walk-around. She and Kiara simply approach each stall in sequence to make small talk, which Kiara is surprisingly good at. She’s more than happy to have each and every festival game explained to her, even the ones she can’t easily play due to lacking arms.

It’s about four stalls in that Kiara is distracted in the middle of an explanation by a pair of eyes peeking around the side of the table. Kiara bends over to meet the eyes, and the owner of those eyes- two kids under the age of ten- duck shyly under the table…

…and so Kiara simply squats so she can see under the table, prompting a yelp from the kids who retreat even further behind their mother’s dress.

“You have to excuse them, it’s not everyday we see a harpy and the tales aren’t flattering.” The lady apologizes, patting one of the kids on the head.

“Understand. Harpies steal sheep.” Kiara nods. “Cannot farm or keep animals by ourselves. Need to take.”

“Is it because you don’t have hands?” One of the kids- a young boy that looks barely a day over five- asks while peeking around his mother.

“Jason-” The lady starts to scold, but Kiara speaks up quickly.

“Yes! Cannot hold tools.” Kiara nods. “We have to use talons. Talons good, but not as… flexible?” She cocks her head towards Ina, silently asking for the right word.

“‘Versatile’ is probably what you’re looking for, but flexible is fine.” Ina murmurs back, smiling.

“Cannot use pitchfork or tools, hard time reaching things on high places because we need to bend whole body for it…” Kiara lists. “Also animals scared of us. Makes things hard. Had to hunt.”

“Do you really live on mountains?” The other kid, a slightly older girl, asks in a hushed whisper. “In big nests with bones and stuff?”

“Some of us.” Kiara nods slowly. “Mountains very popular. Easy to fly from and hard for angry humans to reach. I slightly different. Am a phoenix. Fire harpy. I live many places and live long time. I used to live at volcano because the heat not bother me. Had a collection of obsidian. Shiny black rocks! Very pretty. Have necklace of them back home.”

“Woah…” The kids say in unison, staring with wide eyes.

“Wait!” Says the little girl. “You said you’re a fire harpy! Does that mean you can breathe fire?”

“Yes!” Kiara nods rapidly. “Is easy. Watch!”

Without further prompting Kiara tilts back her head and exhales a short puff of fire into the air, getting a gasp out of the astonished audience including the mother and Ina herself. Ina knew Kiara could do that in theory, but she’s never actually seen her do it before now.

It’s adorable to see the kids’ reactions too. Ina can see how slowly the shock turns into sparkling excitement in their eyes. Their mouths go wide in tooth-baring smiles, practically vibrating in place. Both kids are not wasting time, coming closer to Kiara with squeals of excitement, asking for her to show more and more. 

Their mother smiles softly, looking at Ina with a silent question in her eyes. Ina, sighing hopelessly, says with a giggle: “It’s fine, Kiara is nice.”

Both the mother and Ina watch Kiara entertaining the kids, showing tricks and moves Ina has only read of in books (apparently some legends and myths about phoenixes are true- at least to some extent- like glowing feathers or siren-like singing). Since the day she met all the girls, Ina’s life has become magical. Ina would be lying if she said she didn’t want more; more time with them and not just as their caretaker.

Ina hopes Sana never knows or she’ll never hear the end of it, though Sana does seem to have a knack for figuring things out regardless of how well Ina hides them.

Eventually the mother has to get back to her preparations and the kids are called back, so Ina and Kiara move on.

While most of the food is still being cooked, some of the stalls are indeed starting to open properly, with kids that don’t have anything else to do swarming around the few games available.

Ina recognizes almost all of them at a glance. It’s sort of like a simplified carnival. There’s a bean-bag toss, a ring toss… a lot of tossing really. There’s also a donkey, and at first Ina doesn’t quite understand how that’s supposed to be a game but then she sees some of the adults trying to ride it and the donkey throwing them off without effort and it clicks in her head what the objective is.

Kiara probably can’t do that one.

Still, Ina leads Kiara to one of the various toss games. The bean-bag toss is the simplest, so she starts there. It’s nothing special by the standards of a bean-bag toss, and unlike the kids Ina is thoroughly disinterested in the prizes, but she plays anyhow to demonstrate it to Kiara who watches with an eagle (harpy?) eye as she… fails to throw it in one of the targets and falls half a meter short.

“I supposed to miss?” Kiara asks cheekily.

“Shush.” Ina huffs. “My job isn’t to throw bags.”

“Job is to be cute.” Kiara nods sagely. “I try now?”

“Sure.” 

The game owner eyes Kirara curiously, not quite sure how Kiara is actually going to hold the bag, but offers it anyways. Kiara delicately plucks it out of his hand with one of her claws, to which the man stares for a moment then shrugs, deciding he doesn’t actually care enough to comment.

Kiara squints her eyes, gently swaying her leg back and forth to gauge the throw before making a sharp flick which sends the bag spinning end over end…

…and directly into the central hole.

Ina does not pout as Kiara gives her the smuggest look she’s ever seen on her face. The reward turns out to be a stuffed bear, which Kiara takes gleefully. It’s barely bigger than a single talon, which is admittedly bigger than Ina’s hand, but Kiara snuggles it all the same, awkwardly, holding it in her wings rather than risk damaging it with her talons. It takes a good three minutes for Ina to convince Kiara to let her hold onto it for her.

Much to Ina’s consternation Kiara is very interested in the donkey game, and since Kiara herself can’t participate that’s how Ina finds herself gingerly taking a seat on the back of the ornery animal and holding on for dear life.

She lasts about five seconds before being knocked into the dirt with a chorus of laughter accompanying the action and an amused harpy leaning over her.

“Ina okay?”

“That’s one way to put it.” Ina sighs, pushing herself up and brushing dirt out of her hair and off her clothes. “Not the best I’ve ever looked.

“Don’t know. Look very good to me.” Kiara says with a hint of a purr in her tone. “Brave Ina try ride angry donkey.”

Ina isn’t sure if Kiara is being serious or if she’s being teased again. She opts not to roll her eyes and not say anything, though the moment makes her face heat up.

“Ina embarrassed?” Kiara taunts, clearly understanding what Ina is thinking. Any doubt that she’s being teased flees Ina’s mind, though that thought also starts to run when Kiara leans in close. “Very cute~”

Ina does not sputter when Kiara kisses her forehead, no matter what anyone else might say. She is a professional.

Kiara giggles, “Face red like tomato!”

Ina ignores the continued purr in Kiara’s voice, desperately wanting to move on. She picks another stall at random and points. “H-How about we try that? The…” oh gods what is that? A man standing under a bucket filled with water with a target next to it? Like a reverse dunk-tank? “...water bucket thing?”

“If Ina want to.” Kiara says smugly, obviously not fooled by her desperate redirection.

They approach the stall carefully, with Ina eyeing it to figure out exactly how this game works. It looks like the stall owners aren’t the ones being drenched like Ina expected. Instead it looks like pairs of people are taking turns trying to throw apples at the target to overturn the bucket on their friends. (The game is located right next to a well for easy refills.)

“I see I see. Want to get me wet.” Kiara nods, causing Ina to choke on her own spit for a moment. “Ina can try. You go first, I go after?”

“Sure.” Ina coughs, still clearing her airway. What is she getting herself into!?

Kiara stands proudly beneath the bucket, not at all worried as Ina is given three apples to try and hit the target. If anything Kiara looks eager, as if this is a reward of some sort rather than a problem.

Taking a deep breath, Ina steadies herself, takes aim, and throws. The first shot goes wide, the second one is just north of the target, and the third actually clips the top… but not enough to trigger the bucket into falling.

Kiara cackles in amusement while Ina reluctantly swaps places with her. If she has any luck, Kiara won’t be able to throw the apples with enough force to actually do anything, because Ina doesn’t have any faith in her missing. Kiara has already shown to have oddly good accuracy.

The first throw doesn’t hit, but that’s the extent of Ina’s luck. The next throw hits home with shocking power makes a sharp flick that imparts enough strength to move the target and-

COLD

Oh gods that water is cold . It punches through the shielding of her clothes with ruthless efficiency. Did they put ice in there!?

Still, Kiara looks happy, so Ina smiles through her chill while the harpy hops around squawking in excitement.

Ina is offered a towel after being drenched, which she accepts, but it only does so much against the afternoon chill.

“I has good aim, yes yes?” Kiara asks as Ina walks over to her, huddling under her towel.

“No kidding. Where did you learn that?” Ina asks.

“Throw rocks.” Kiara says matter-of-factly. “Don’t remember all details. Was long time ago. Played rocks with friends when I was itty bitty hatchling.”

Ina wonders what ‘itty bitty’ is by Kiara’s standards. A faint wind washes over her, and she shudders, wrapping the towel even tighter around her. She would have brought a change of clothes if she knew this was going to happen.

“...Ina cold?”

“A little.” Ina nods. “Still wet.”

Something twinkles in Kiara’s eye. “I help with that.”

Ina doesn’t have a chance to argue before Kiara swoops forward and smothers Ina with her wings… which Ina is utterly incapable of actually escaping, because Kiara is strong .

“No squirm, be good girl.” Kiara scolds, tucking one wing low under Ina’s legs to essentially scoop her up into Kiara’s lap while Kiara takes a seat on the base of the statue.

Ina shudders as the heat of Kiara’s body seeps into her, only to yelp a moment later when Kiara pulls her into an even tighter embrace that shoves her face into Kiara’s chest.

…at least it’s warm, right?

“Phoenix is warm, so snuggle with phoenix make Ina warm.” Kiara says matter-of-factly. Ina manages to tilt her head up to look at the phoenix, who looks supremely smug at the moment. “Ina very cute like this. Good snuggle friend yes yes?”

“Y-Yeah.” Ina mumbles, trying to ignore… everything she can feel at the moment. Just focus on the feathers. Soft feathers.

Kiara does stop playing after a minute and her body heats up like a heat pack, and the chill quickly melts out of Ina’s bones. If she’s not wrong she also thinks she can see steam from her clothes drying trailing into the sky.

“So, uh…” Ina says after a few minutes stuck in Kiara’s embrace. Kiara quirks an eyebrow and shifts a bit and Ina does not notice the very strong thigh muscles flexing underneath her at all because she is focused and a professional- “Want some food?”

“Yes!”

With that, Kiara releases Ina (she feels cold now for an entirely different reason, because Kiara was just that warm in comparison to the ambient temperature) and Ina sheepishly returns the towel, ignoring the amused looked of pretty much everyone.

Food, thankfully, has started to be made at this point. It’s a bit of an early dinner, but neither of them are complaining. There’s quite a selection to choose from and Kiara doesn’t look like she can choose.

As it turns out, she doesn’t have to, because Kiara can eat . It should have been obvious given her size, but Kiara needs to eat far more than Ina does especially considering that flight takes quite a bit more energy than walking everywhere.

This is Ina’s way of explaining why Kiara gets triple portions of nearly everything from turkey to apples to bread to cheese. She doesn’t actually have a good way to eat most of it though. Her talons can’t exactly use utensils, so anything that isn’t finger food has to be fed to her unless Ina wants things to get messy.

It’s time-consuming, but Kiara’s clear enjoyment makes up for it. She patiently waits for each forkful of food and is only mildly disappointed when Ina says she’s full so Kiara can’t feed her in return.

There’s one last thing to do for tonight. Something that Ina had specifically made sure was going to happen: a dance.

Ina doesn’t know how to dance exactly, but by the admittance of some of the adults it’s not very difficult. Music is provided by a trio of old men with instruments that have clearly seen some wear and tear over the years but still produce their music with beautiful clarity.

Kiara, thankfully, is equally excited, though she clearly has to focus on the footwork as the dance starts with a brisk song and Kiara’s talons make the deft movements tricky as she has to navigate around Ina.

While the kids and the younger couples seem to enjoy the brisk pace, Ina is more than relieved when they reach a slower song that doesn’t require as much focus. To Ina’s surprise, Kiara keeps the same enthusiasm, wrapping her wings around Ina as much as is possible considering their size, trying to mimic the typical slow dancing position.

“Huh.” Ina hums, her brows curved. “How do you know about this?”

“Ame showed!” Kiara happily giggles. “Asked the gator girl to help! Teach me! Movie nights were nice. Learned much new stuff! Came prepared for a da-” Kiara stops herself, “-outing, yes yes…”

Ina hums, her eyes closing for a second, savoring the thought. She exhales, thinking of the past few months and this day with Kiara in particular. She’s enjoyed the time she’s spent with her girls, and they seemed to be the same about her company, but Ina still feels shy about admitting the truth. But, with the way Kiara acts all of this time, and with how the harpy is looking at her with such beautiful magenta eyes, filled with adoration and emotions, Ina can’t keep it bottled up inside her heart any more.

“No.” Ina murmurs, leaning closer to Kiara, “It’s a date.”

It takes Kiara a moment to realize, causing her- and subsequently Ina- to stop on the spot. Kiara’s eyes slowly start to glow, sparkle even, with the harpy’s mouth growing into a wide smile.

“Date!” Kiara expresses happily, almost jumping on the spot. “Ina date! Ina our mate now, yes yes?”

Ina coughs, her face red, but she retains her composure, “Girlfriend… But yes.”

Kiara squeals happily, catching Ina off guard. She leans forward and captures Ina’s lips in a soft, gentle kiss, spreading warmth through Ina’s body in waves, almost like bathing in a sun. The both of them sway in place, with Ina’s neck only straining a bit to keep its position tilting this far up.

It’s a sacrifice she’ll happily make. Ina wants to spend time with Kiara, together, even though she expects the lecture from Sana when they return late.

Chapter Text

It’s not that Ina didn’t know it was coming, but that she somehow feels the least prepared for Calli out of everyone. At least with the others she had some idea what to do, but Calli is a giant question mark in her… well she’d say her notes, but Calli is barely in her notes. Most of her notes are dedicated to the others. Considering the whole preserve belongs to Calli and she’s very well-adjusted to begin with, Ina didn’t feel much of a need to ‘study’ Calli so to speak.

And now it’s coming back to bite her. She knows Amelia likes movies and detective stuff, she knows Gura likes her aquatic trivia and singing, and she knows Kiara likes food and snuggles, but Calli? She’s barely talked to Calli.

“Ina overthinking.” Kiara says matter-of-factly when she brings this up to her and the others. “Calli likes company. Do anything.”

“Yeah, there’s nothing to worry about.” Gura snorts. “Calli is the last person you have to worry about. You literally walked in on her in the bath and she was chill about it.”

Ina was trying not to remember that thank you very much. 

“Just cater to her theme or somethin’.” Amelia butts in. “You know? I have the whole mafia thing-”

Gura snorts and starts coughing into her fist. Amelia gives her a withering glare.

“-Kiara’s thing is food, and Gura’s a fish.” Amelia says. Gura holds up her middle finger. Amelia ignores her. “So for Calli just… do something related to vampires. Or being goth. Or castles. Don’t think too hard about it.”

“Calli like many things. Not go out much though.” Kiara adds. “Very shy. Remind me of someone, yes yes?”

Ina deigns to ignore that, though her cheeks start to burn. “Didn’t she have to go out to… eat or something, in the past?”

Gura shrugs. “Maybe? Gotta remember, Calli’s a vampire. She doesn’t need, like, food. Blood of any sort is fine and her estate used to have plenty of farmers before modern times, not to mention servants. I think I heard her mention she’d just nibble on some of the farm animals or cute cleaning girls. Didn’t really have to leave.”

Ina has a brief mental flash of Calli cornering her in a secluded spot of the castle; the vampire’s deep wine red eyes pinning her down in spot, a smile curving on her lips. She can imagine Calli asking permission to bite her, and only thing Ina could do is nod, burning red, breathing heavily, and- 

She makes a conscious effort to push such ruinous thoughts aside. This isn’t the time to be fantasizing.

“...care to share with the class?” Ame asks cheekily, clearly aware to some extent what is going through Ina’s mind.

“No.” Ina says quickly. “I mean, there’s nothing to share. I’m just… thinking of ideas.”

“Uh-huh.” Gura smirks, leaning back against a wall. “I’m sure.”

“Ideas of sugar.” Kiara teases. “Very sweet, yes yes.”

Ina groans. She really should have expected this. It’s not like any of them are going to encourage restraint.

Still, they’ve given her something to work with. She’ll figure something out.

###

As it turns out, the Mori estate is responsible- indirectly this time- for the perfect solution to Ina’s worries. Well before it was host to the Extraspecies Preserve the Mori estate was simply known as an ominous castle on a hill owned by a reclusive family that sparked many a mystery and rumor over the decades, and when the modern era rolled around and the advent of conventions for every topic under the sun became a fact of life it’s perhaps not that surprising that a few popped up in such a historically mythologized area.

“They’ve actually asked to host it in the preserve or at my castle before.” Calli murmurs, glancing back and forth warily as they stand at the bus stop just outside the preserve’s entrance. “I’ve said no every time because I don’t want to disrupt things for the others. Sana was disappointed. Said it would be ‘a valuable learning experience’ and ‘just really funny to see a bunch of goths freaking out after they meet Kronii’.”

That… sounds exactly like something Sana would say, honestly. “That’s probably a good idea, though I can see some merits to allowing it too.”

Calli nods. “So did I honestly. It would be a good way to get some human-extraspecies interaction going in a low-stakes way, but trying to chaperone all the extraspecies girls might be difficult ya know? We don’t exactly have a lot of human employees here. Some of them are responsible enough on their own, but then there’s Kiara and Mumei and even Ame to an extent. Too risky that someone might take advantage of their naivete, or that Mumei might, uh, get ‘too into’ things.”

Ina has met Mumei exactly once and that sounds pretty accurate for the harpy. She does have an odd fascination with hunting and Ina can never quite tell when she’s serious or not. She’s glad Sana is her caretaker if just so she doesn’t have to navigate that minefield. “But it's still a potential idea for the future?”

“Of course.” Calli nods. “It’s got too many upsides to disregard out of hand.”

The bus rumbles up the road and they both go quiet. It rolls to a stop in front of them, crunching dirt and gravel under its tires, before the door opens to allow them in.

“You two going to the con?” The driver asks without preamble. He’s not even really looking at them, instead checking something on the display in front of him.

“We are.” Ina says, stepping inside. She hesitates momentarily as Calli eyes the door and is forced to duck slightly to fit inside. She probably should have thought of that beforehand. At least Calli isn’t so absurdly tall she can’t enter at all. She drops coins in the paybox with a clatter, and that gets the driver to turn around for a moment.

He immediately inhales through his nose, eyes widening in surprise. Ina stares him in the eye, daring him to say anything, and thankfully he gets the message and doesn’t comment on the giant that just stepped into his vehicle.

“Front or back?” Ina whispers to Calli.

“Back please.” Calli responds, her eyes flicking to the few other passengers who are all staring in surprise.

Thankfully the very back of the bus has a bench and not just seats, because the seats would surely be too small for Calli. The vampire tucks herself into the corner as best she can and pulls her hat down over her eyes a bit while Ina sits next to her.

Calli has opted for her ‘standard’ outfit today, which is plenty fitting considering where they’re going. It’s a long black dress that ends just above the ankles with a grey belt and gold buttons as accents, a tattered black cape with dark pauldrons and shiny metal spikes (with dulled tips for safety) and thin, almost translucent black sleeves that widen a bit at the wrist. Alongside all this Calli has elegant dark-gold heels and a simple, wide-brimmed, black hat on her head sporting a few orange-and-teal feathers tucked into the band.

Ina has opted for something a bit more subdued. She also has a black dress, but rather than being smooth the whole way it’s pleated and ends at the knees. She has patterned grey tights underneath for her legs and a simple purple and white striped shirt to cover her arms. Completing the look is a set of platform shoes, glasses, a cute pink handbag, and a round, black beret.

She doesn’t need the glasses. She just likes how they look. Ina has had this outfit in her closet forever just begging for an opportunity to be used and now she finally has an excuse.

“...I think I stand out.” Calli says after the bus slowly starts up again and turns around in the parking area. She fiddles with her hat, frowning. “Not that it’s surprising exactly, just… weird.”

“Uncomfortable?”

Calli shrugs. “A bit? Part of the reason I don’t go out much. Catches too many eyes.”

Ina nods sagely. “The price of beauty.”

“The price of being at least two feet taller than everyone else you mean.” The vampire replies dryly.

Ina startles. “W-well, even if you are, you definitely have some lovely eyes on you.” Ina smiles, nodding at the feathers in Calli’s hat.

She didn’t know Calli was capable of blushing- Ina thought she might not be able to because she was a vampire- but a slight dusting of pink does grace Calli’s cheeks as she raises one hand to touch the feathers. “Yeah, Kiara insisted. Said it wasn’t fancy enough for me without it.”

“Aren’t phoenix feathers super valuable?”

“Yes.” Calli says in a tone that clearly says ‘I’m embarrassed about this conversation please stop asking about it’.

Ina smirks. “Kawaiiope Mori, huh…”

Calli squints a glare at her that lacks any heat, “Where did you-”

Ina looks at Calli, eyes filled with soft smugness.

“Guh… I need to talk with that shark later…” Calli grumbles.

The bus ride is mostly uneventful after that. Every time they make a stop and new people get on there’s an acclimation period where everyone new gapes at Calli for a minute or two until they eventually get used to her and their attention slides elsewhere. The closer they get to their destination, the more people coming on the bus are dressed like them: dark clothes, mascara, a flair for the dramatic, and sometimes props of a sort. Eventually, Calli doesn’t even stand out compared to the rest of the bus beyond her height and she breathes a quiet sigh of relief.

Their destination is a local baseball field that has been repurposed for the event. There’s chairs and a giant projector screen on top of a quickly-assembled stage in the outfield, a whole slew of stalls on the infield, and all sorts of tables and miscellaneous gatherings happening around the rest of the field.

Everyone there, without exception, is dressed up to some degree. Some of it is cosplay, some is goth lolita fashion, and all of it is impressive. The effort some of these people put into their costumes puts even Calli’s outfit to shame.

(It takes a moment for Calli to squeeze past everyone and get off the bus.)

The first thing Ina lands eyes on though, is a young lady with her group of friends that is dressed in a very familiar way…

“Calli. I think you have fans.” Ina points to the group.

Calli sighs deeply, though there’s a smirk tugging at her lips. “Yeah… I am a known figure around here after all. It’s not too surprising.”

That’s not the only outfit that catches Ina’s eye. At one of the stalls a tall man with horns and a white suit is arguing with a short lady wearing a skin-tight black dress with skeletal wings hovering behind her back while the lady clutches some sort of plushie (a cinnamoroll Ina thinks?) and gestures wildly at the stall which is selling dozens more variations of them. 

Just to their left is a pale woman with white and black hair, piercing yellow eyes, and a fluffy coat perusing a selection of heavy-looking books, and way over near the projector screen is a group of people dressed as zombies including one bizarre addition of a girl with giant swirls of red and grey hair and a comical sword-through-the-head prop.

Though the strangest thing to Ina’s eyes is the little girl with horns bigger than her head and humongous shackles around her neck and limbs. That has to be a cosplay of some sort. She can’t imagine any other explanation for such strange fashion choices and the showy purple-and-black color scheme.

“Saw something interesting?” Calli brings Ina out of her thoughts.

“Yeah, just interesting fashion.” 

“Oh really?” Calli looks in the same direction as Ina, eyeing the girl with the massive horns. “I mean, she basically wears the same colors as you do.”

Ina gasps in exaggerated offense. “Excuse you, mine are way more subdued!”

Calli arches an eyebrow and doesn’t comment, which is somehow more infuriating than if she’d continued arguing the point. “So? Where are we starting, oh caretaker of mine?”

Ina… doesn’t actually know. She didn’t plan this very well. So she does the logical thing and points at the nearest distraction and pretends that was totally a part of her plan. “Stalls!”

Calli nods and allows Ina to lead. It’s a small blessing that people are so preoccupied by the stalls they don’t pay much mind to the nine foot vampire walking amongst them.

The stalls are mostly what you would expect of any convention. Miscellaneous merchandise related to- or sometimes not- the subject of the con. There’s pins, posters, costumes, an absurd amount of stickers, some temporary tattoos, and so many more things than Ina can effectively explain to Calli as they walk among the crowd.

“From what I could tell from doing research, there’s a lot more media-related stalls here than there used to be. Stuff about books or movies or what have you.” Ina says, gesturing to a stall selling custom posters based on a number of dark anime. “Apparently it used to be more like… hair dye and candles and skull decorations. Not that there still aren't some. Just, you know, less.”

“You don’t say.” Calli mutters, side-eyeing a Resident Evil poster of a tall woman in white. She fingers her hat self-consciously. “Wonder how much was based on reality, either unofficially or without the creator realizing it.”

“Who knows?” Ina hums. “Maybe some were based on you.”

Calli doesn’t look like she knows how to feel about that. “Yeah, uh, kinda getting that impression…”

“You sound so surprised.” Ina teases. “You’re the owner of the Mori Extraspecies Preserve! You’re relatively high-profile for this sort of thing. Of course people are going to be looking at you for inspiration.”

“Mph.” Calli grunts. “Not surprising, just… weird. At least they’re not walking up to the castle and asking me to suck their blood anymore.”

“Did that used to happen?” Ina asks, instantly curious.

“More often than I’d like to remember.” Calli grumbles. “Humans are weird, man.”

“I think the term you’re looking for is ‘kinky’.” Ina corrects mildly.

Calli coughs, choking on her own spit. “Y-Yeah, I figured as much!”

“Besides.” Ina says, taking a small chance. “Have you looked in a mirror? Is it really a surprise people want to use you as reference?”

Calli grumbles something unintelligible. Ina takes that as a sign to move on.

She can’t help but buy a few things from the stalls. There’s one selling manga, which is just too tempting to pass up considering how hard it can be to legally get a hold of some series. Calli is peering over her shoulder while she does this, and the young woman running the stand is trying not to glance up at the vampire looming over the exchange Ina is trying to conduct. 

Ina doesn’t notice when Calli’s attention switches and Ina only sees the vampire after she puts her new manga into her backpack. She finds Calli standing in front of a videogame stand and she quickly squeezes through the crowd to Calli’s side. 

“Something get your attention?” Ina chirps, interrupting Calli’s focus.

“Oh, uh-” Calli fumbles something in her hands which turns out to be a cd box with an all too familiar game on it, at least for Ina.

“Oh Bloodborne!” Ina’s eyes shine and she takes the box in her own hands, “It’s such a good game! Super hard but rewarding! And the style, aesthetics, the designs! It’s all breathtaking! There’s this ingrained eldritch theme with a sense of despair creeping on you with every step in the story! It’s such a good game to try, and-”

Ina stops herself as she sees Calli barely holding in a giggle, covering her mouth with a hand. It takes a second until Ina’s face warms up and turns full red as she hands back the game.

“W-well you can try it if you want, of course. Depends on you.” Ina says with as much a casual air as she can manage given her face is on fire.

Calli snorts, “You are so cute, has anyone told you that?” The vampire smiles and Ina hopes Calli didn't notice her quiet whine as Calli turns to buy the game. “Would be fun to try the game together. Ya know, just me playing and you helping me and watching me fumble around.”

Ina musters up what’s left of her dignity and giggles weakly back, “Y-yeah, I like the idea a lot.”

The question of whether Calli even has the necessary game console to play crosses her mind, but Ina refrains from asking. It would either imply that she doesn’t think Calli understands how video games work or… no, actually, it would just imply that. She doesn’t recall seeing anything of the sort in Calli’s castle, but she hasn’t exactly gone looking around in Calli’s room.

(Actually, she hasn’t set foot in there after their initial introduction specifically to avoid anything like the embarrassment of their first meeting.)

She’s all too happy to move on and put her ramble behind them. They peruse the remaining wares on display and while there is so much Ina wants to get she can’t justify buying an entire collection of elegantly designed and embroidered hats just they’re purple and black and the aesthetic is just so perfect-

Calli is watching her with one eyebrow raised in amusement, one hand fiddling with her own wide-brimmed hat, and now Ina is imagining what they would look like on Calli as well. Some of them would certainly lean harder into the goth aesthetic than what Calli has on, but there’s no doubt she could pull it off in Ina’s mind.

She holds her breath when Calli actually tries one of them on. It’s wide and flat and colored a dark purple with a deep blue rose on the top. It doesn’t quite match what Calli is wearing but… hmm…

Ina’s hands itch for her sketchbook. She should have brought it with her.

“Not bad, huh?” Calli asks, tilting up the brim and looking down at Ina. She fishes Kiara’s feather out of her old hat and adds it to the new one, giving it a splash of bright color. “Doesn’t exactly mesh with my aesthetic, but still. Good hat.”

“You’d need a dress to go with it.” Ina says instantly. “I mean, not like your current one. One that’s more silky probably. An evening gown maybe?”

Calli blinks in surprise. “Damn, you have ideas that quickly? I just thought it was a nice hat.”

“I- well- yes. That too.” Ina coughs into her fist, embarrassed once more.

“What about this one?” Calli asks with unexpected eagerness, switching out for another hat. It’s a sunhat, also dark, but this time it’s black.

“That could go with a lot.” Ina muses, her mind racing. “There’s a lot of dresses of course. Could go with the… how to put this… young girl look? You know, skirt above the knees and all that? Flats or heels. Kind of a ‘day out’ look. Of course that’s just one idea; if we could get a simple long, black dress then it would make for a very striking look. Very ‘mysterious stranger’ vibes without being aggressive about it, you know?”

She’s not sure Calli does understand, but there’s a spark of amusement in her eyes that tells her it doesn’t really matter.

“Right, I’ll take them all.” Calli says suddenly, turning to the stall owner. The stall owner sputters, quickly followed by Ina gaping like a fish when Calli turns to her and says: “You’re going to help me get outfits for all of these.”

“Um-” Ina opens and closes her mouth a few times, trying to make herself talk. “How?”

“Dunno.” Calli says cheerfully. “But I can afford it, and you seem to have a good designer eye.”

“W-Well, maybe, but it’s hard to do without planning, considering you need a specific size of clothing to fit-”

“I guess I’ll need someone cute with a discerning eye to help model for me then, huh?” Calli says airily; a smirk crosses her face as she very pointedly looks up and down Ina’s own outfit. “So I know the look is good in advance.”

“Y-Yeah, sure.” Ina squeaks, wishing her own hat was a bit bigger so she could pull it in front of her face at the moment. She takes a minute to compose herself as Calli talks to the stall owner about getting one of each hat shipped to the castle rather than carrying them all around right now.

The crackle of a megaphone- the sort that teachers on school trips would use- sends a jolt of surprise through both of them as it blares over the din of the convention for a moment. “The Dark Roses will be starting their performance in ten minutes on the main stage! Anyone who wants to watch is advised to finish their business before then!”

Calli tilts her head. “I don’t recognize that one.”

“Local band.” Ina provides quickly. She did her research. “If two cities over counts as local.”

Calli hums noncommittally, eyeing the young men in ratty black clothes setting up on stage. “Know the song list?”

“No.” Ina says with a shake of her head. “It wasn’t provided beforehand.”

“It’ll be a surprise then.” Calli says, moving off towards the stage and gesturing for Ina to follow. Her expression is contemplative, but with a fond smile. “I wonder if they accept donations. I wouldn’t mind supporting up-and-comers. I’ve got an idea how hard it can be.”

That surprises Ina. She didn’t know Calli made music. “What do you play?”

Calli blinks, apparently not expecting the question. “Several things honestly. I’ve had nothing but time on my hands. I sing too.”

Ina desperately wants to hear what that would sound like. “What sort of music?”

“Rap, mostly.” Calli shrugs. “But again, I’ve done a lot of things. Got trained in stuff like piano and classical pieces and self-taught a whole lot of other stuff.”

“You have to show me at some point.” Ina says with restrained eagerness. “Please?”

Calli looks slightly surprised, but only slightly. Ina can’t imagine this is the first time someone has asked; her money is on Kiara at least. Probably Sana too. “Yeah, okay. I think we’re overdue for another karaoke night anyway. Sana will be happy about it at least.”

Ina pumps a fist in victory. That was easier than she expected.

“We’ll just have to make sure Mumei doesn’t break the machine again.” Calli mutters to herself. When she catches Ina’s bewildered look, she adds. “She claimed it was talking to her. Rudely.”

Once again Ina is happy she’s not responsible for questionably sane harpy. “I see.”

“Pray you don’t.” Calli responds dryly.

In the midst of their conversation the setup on the stage has wound down as the band prepares for their opening. Calli is content to stand at the back, though that leaves Ina mostly unable to see what’s going on with the growing crowd in her way.

Calli smiles and ina has little to no time to react as she is lifted up by the vampire, with a quiet yelp she is sat right on Callis shoulders, the vampire’s hat removed to make room for her.

“Well, how’s the view now?” Calli chuckles, glancing up at reddening Ina.

“W-well, quite nice.” Ina stumbles; her hands rest on Calli’s head, “T-thank you, even though i didn’t ask....”

“You were quite obvious about it, and I couldn’t leave a lady in distress, could I?” Calli chuckles, holding on Ina’s legs. “Now we can enjoy the show with a perfect view, hmm?”

“Yeah, thanks Calli.” Ina says with a smile, fighting the urge to fidget or play with Calli’s hair. It’s shockingly soft and well-kept, and she feels slightly bad about the fact she’s sitting on some of it.

Those concerns are swiftly brushed away when the opening chord of the first song rings out over the crowd. Some people fall silent, but more people start shouting which makes for an unbalanced and chaotic distribution of noise.

Ina would be lying if she said she was overly familiar with the initial song. She’s sure she’s heard it before at some point, but the name just isn’t coming to mind. Calli clearly recognizes it based on how she’s humming along. Her fingers tap the beat onto Ina’s leg.

This proves to be somewhat of a pattern. Calli recognizes all the songs and can tell Ina whenever she asks but Ina refrains from doing so too much. Even if she doesn’t know the names of the songs she can still enjoy listening to them.

Calli gets more and more into the music as time goes on, progressing from merely humming to singing quietly along with the band and swaying in time with the music. Ina keeps her quiet when this starts to happen, letting Calli enjoy herself and taking her own joy in Calli’s contentment. 

The band’s performance goes on for nearly two hours with the sun being almost entirely beneath the horizon by the time they finish. The person with the megaphone then announces that there will be a movie for all interested, and while Ina certainly is she can also feel her energy waning. Her back hurts from sitting up this entire time and her legs are going a bit numb. Calli seems fine, but it’s hardly a surprise that a vampire still has energy when night falls.

Calli surprises Ina just a bit when she speaks up. “Time to go back, I think. You’re going to fall off my shoulders at this rate.”

Ina only protests mildly when she’s set back down on the ground. Pins and needles shoot through her legs for a few seconds before she can get them to properly respond, but that’s all a secondary concern. “Are you sure? We can stay if you want Calli.”

“It’s no movie I haven’t seen before.” Calli says dismissively. “Saw it in theaters actually. Besides, you’re basically dead on your feet.”

“Am not!” Ina protests. She takes a bold step forward only to nearly trip over a beer bottle and Calli plucks her out of her fall before she can hit the ground, easily scooping the smaller girl into her arms.

“Right, so anyways, we were going back.” Calli says dryly. 

Ina grumbles out a token protest, but she can’t really argue after that shameful display of inattentiveness. “But we didn’t even look at everything…”

“Yeah yeah, the little human is grumpy when they’re sleepy.” Calli taunts, ducking her head to press a kiss to Ina’s forehead that leaves her frozen in shock. Calli carries on like nothing happened. “Let’s get you to bed sweetheart.”

“Uh- you-” Ina sputters as Calli carries her towards the bus stop, humming to herself. Her brain takes a long moment to think and somehow the first thing out of her mouth is: “Only if I get a goodnight kiss!”

Calli merely raises an eyebrow which sends another fierce blush running across Ina’s face. “I mean, if you insist.”

The resulting kiss- long, firm, and with Calli staring into her eyes the whole time- leaves Ina silent for the whole trip back and internally screaming when she finally gets to bed.

All-in-all it was a good night, she decides fervently.

Chapter Text

In some ways, her job hasn’t changed that much.

She still comes in at the same time every day and she still has to check on each of her charges. Her path has changed slightly, if only because Kiara has made a point of swooping down to grab her as soon as she gets through the front gate and taxi her from place to place.

Gura and Amelia are often found together now. Amelia’s den is the usual place they’re found and several of Gura’s items have found their way inside. The cave- once little more than a bedroom for Amelia- now has chairs and carpets and shelves and a whole mini garden out front that is apparently Gura’s doing. It’s more of an apartment that happens to be located in a swamp now than the crude shelter it was before.

(She’s surprised to learn Amelia does, in fact, have running water and electricity in the den. Apparently there are water and power lines going all throughout the preserve that Ina just never knew about.)

“You renovated pretty quickly since the last time I was here.” A low surprised hum passes Ina’s lips as Kiara gently (as possible, considering the sheer size difference) places her on the ground and stands beside her.

“Yes, yes, Ame is excited! She builds a nest for us! For all of us!"

“The hell?!” Loud embarrassed voice rings through the cave as a very red-faced gator girl comes into view. “What is your chicken brain making up this time, Kiara?!

“The nest!” Kiara giggles, flapping her wings to clear out dust. “We are mates! So it’s obvious that nest is needed! You built it for us!”

Ina smiles as she looks at Ame who can’t argue much with the harpy. “It’s okay Ame. I do like how it all looks. You did great work.”

“T-thanks.” Ame says as her tail sways behind her slowly.

“Oh, so we’re just ignoring my contribution now huh?” Gura complains loudly while rising out of the water nearby and shaking herself dry. “You think this lizard-brain knows anything about waterproofing? That was all me!”

“Yeah but it’s my house.” Amelia argues back. “I carried all the furniture and stuff!”

“Bullshit. Kiara and Mumei flew most of it over, you just moved it inside.” Gura accuses.

“You can’t prove that!”

Ina sighs, and to stop the banter escalating she comes to both of them and places a quick kiss on their lips, trying to act as calm as possible. “You both did well, okay?”

“Solve every problem like that and you’ll only encourage them to do it again.” Calli’s voice says as she looms out of the shadows of the trees, her red eyes piercing through the darkness, “See, Kiara is already looking as if she's about to jump you.”

“B-but I also want sugar!” Kiara protests, beating her wings rapidly. “Not fair! Equal treatment yes yes!”

With an exaggerated sigh of fake exasperation Ina is obliged to give Kiara her sugar, and the harpy’s resulting grin is incredibly smug. Ina shakes her head fondly. “Trouble, all of you.”

“Proves my point.” Calli shakes her head with a smile of defeat. She’s wearing a sunhat to avoid the sun today. Ina knows the sun doesn’t really hurt her, but it is inconvenient. Her eyes are light-sensitive and her other powers are less effective in sunlight. Her grin is a bit teasing. “Just your luck that all your girlfriends want to live in the swamp though. Perfectly good castle just down the road but they choose to live here with the frogs.”

“Ame likes visiting her cousins.” Gura says quickly, then ducks away from the punch Amelia throws at her shoulder while cackling. 

She doesn't, however, avoid the follow-up tail-swipe that takes her legs out from under her and sends her into the mud.

“Ame, I just cleaned this!” Gura complains, standing up while trying to brush the mud off of her shirt. “Wooow! Ina, Ame is bullying me!”

Ina pinches the bridge of her nose and sighs, trying to hide the smile she’s wearing. “Children, all of you.”

Her job hardly feels like a job most days. Outings are just dates, and taking care of the girls is just spending time with them. She even gets paid to do it! She looks at them, Gura and Ame bantering, Kiara cheering them from the side, riling them up, and Calli watching the chaos for what is not the first and certainly not last time.

Ina smiles, genuinely, giggling under her breath, walking towards her once-charges, now-girlfriends, to join the fun.