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“Once I saw a lovely snail
slither out a water pail
his house was divine
and so was his slime
and so I followed his trail.”
— Franklin (the snail)
“My, my, Franklin,” Lord Percy Cunningsnail said with a smile, “you really mustn’t be so hard on yourself in regards to your poetry. You are a natural.”
“Why, thank you, my Lord,” Franklin replied, stammering profusely.
“Please, Franklin, you may call me Percy.”
“But my Lord-”
“Franklin, please. It lends a weird power imbalance to our relationship that I simply cannot bear any longer. I would have you as my equal in every way imaginable; mind, body and soul. I-” he faltered, eyes locked on the ground just a second to long, just a tinge of sadness leaking from the corners of his eyes. He looked back at Franklin with a weak smile.
“My- Percy,” the named rolled off Franklin’s radula, unfamiliar with saying it out loud despite the countless whispered adorations he had already whispered to it in the tranquil hours before dawn. “Is everything alright? You seem like something is bothering you.”
Percy took a deep breath. “Well, Franklin, I…”
“Forgive me if I have been to forward, I-”
“No, no, Franklin! No! I’m- I’m sorry, my mind, it’s a bit all over the place today. What I wanted to say is,” he looked away, steeling himself. “I love you, Franklin. I love you madly, and deeply.”
“You… you love me…”
“I’m sorry, I have overstepped-” he began to slide away, having already accepted defeat.
“No, Percy, wait! I love you, too. I have loved you since we first met, and I shall continue to love you, if you’ll have me.”
“Wha- Franklin, yes of course I will have you! I- I cannot even put into words how much this moment means to me.”
They shared a breathless grin.
“Well, you don’t need to, Percy.”
And then they kissed. A snail kiss. A sniss.