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Poppy and Branch are playing a game of chess but just when Poppy might win, Branch won't stop planting kissing all over her face and as a distraction. Branch manages to win the game and Poppy gets defensive because he distracted her.
Friday May 15th: (Affection) Poppy is usually the one who kisses, hugs, and seduces Branch. How will Poppy react when Branch is all over her?
The game had started innocently enough.
Late afternoon sunlight poured through the tall crystal windows of Poppy’s pod, turning everything warm shades of gold and pink while soft music drifted lazily from a nearby record player. Outside, Pop Village buzzed with its usual cheerful energy, but inside the cozy room everything felt slower, quieter, more intimate. A fuzzy blanket had been tossed across the floor beside the low wooden table where the chessboard sat, and colorful pillows surrounded the two Trolls as they leaned toward each other across the game.
Poppy rested her chin in her palm, studying the board with sparkling concentration. “Okay,” she said slowly, tapping one finger against her cheek. “If I move my bishop there… then you’re completely trapped.”
Branch sat opposite her with his arms folded, pretending to look deeply unimpressed despite the small smile tugging at his lips. “You’ve said that three times already.”
“Because it keeps being true.”
“It keeps almost being true.”
Poppy narrowed her eyes at him playfully. “You’re nervous.”
“I’m absolutely not nervous.”
“You are,” she teased, scooting forward slightly. “I can tell because you’re doing the eyebrow thing.”
“The eyebrow thing?”
“The grumpy suspicious eyebrow thing.”
Branch immediately relaxed his face. “I don’t have a thing.”
Poppy burst into laughter, bright and melodic, and the sound alone was enough to make Branch forget the chessboard for a second. He loved hearing her laugh like that — completely unguarded and carefree, filling the room with warmth. Even after everything they had been through together, Branch still found himself staring at her sometimes like he couldn’t believe she was real.
And right now she looked especially adorable.
Her pink hair had fallen loose from its usual perfectly styled shape, tumbling around her shoulders in soft curls after hours of lounging around together. Tiny glitter stars still clung to her cheeks from some earlier village activity, and every time she smiled, Branch felt his chest tighten in the best possible way.
Unfortunately for Poppy, Branch had also noticed something else.
She was absolutely about to win.
Poppy reached confidently for her queen piece. “Well, Branch, I hate to break it to you, but—”
Before she could finish, Branch suddenly leaned across the table and pressed a quick kiss to her cheek.
Poppy blinked in surprise. “Branch!”
“What?” he asked innocently.
“You can’t just do that in the middle of a game.”
“Sure I can.”
He kissed her other cheek before she could react.
Poppy immediately dissolved into giggles, nearly dropping her chess piece. “Hey! Stop distracting me!”
“I’m not distracting you.” Branch smirked lazily. “I’m appreciating my girlfriend.”
“That is absolutely a distraction.”
“Sounds like a skill issue.”
Poppy gasped dramatically. “Did you just say ‘skill issue’ to me?”
“Maybe.”
She tried to maintain her serious expression, but another laugh escaped her as Branch leaned closer again, brushing his nose lightly against hers. His eyes sparkled mischievously, and Poppy felt her face warming instantly.
“Branch,” she warned, trying very hard to sound firm.
“Yes, Poppy?”
“You’re cheating.”
“I prefer ‘strategically affectionate.’”
Before she could answer, he suddenly wrapped an arm around her waist and tugged her closer across the pillows until she nearly toppled into his lap. Poppy squealed in surprise, clutching the edge of the table while Branch grinned triumphantly.
“Branch!”
“What?” he repeated, clearly enjoying himself far too much.
“You are impossible.”
“And yet you like me anyway.”
Poppy opened her mouth to argue, but Branch interrupted her with another flurry of kisses — quick pecks scattered all over her face, from her cheeks to the corner of her mouth to the tip of her nose.
Poppy collapsed into helpless laughter. “Branch, stop—!”
“Nope.”
“You’re literally attacking me!”
“Mhm.”
“You’re supposed to be focused on chess!”
“I was. Then I got distracted.”
Poppy’s heart fluttered as his voice softened slightly on the last words. Branch rested his forehead against hers for a moment, his expression suddenly gentler beneath all the teasing confidence.
“You’re very distracting,” he murmured.
Poppy felt herself melt a little at the look in his eyes.
It still surprised her sometimes — how openly affectionate Branch had become with her. The old Branch would have hidden his feelings behind crossed arms and muttered sarcasm, but now he reached for her constantly without even thinking about it. Small touches. Casual kisses. Pulling her close whenever she sat beside him. Sometimes it seemed like once he’d finally let himself love her openly, he never wanted to stop.
And honestly?
Poppy loved every second of it.
Still, she attempted to recover enough dignity to continue the game. “Okay,” she announced firmly, straightening up and smoothing her hair back. “No more distractions. I am about to win.”
Branch leaned back against the pillows with a smug little smile. “Sure you are.”
Poppy moved her queen decisively. “Check.”
Branch glanced at the board.
Then he looked back at her.
Then, without warning, he reached out and gently tucked a strand of pink hair behind her ear, letting his fingers linger along her cheek.
Poppy’s breath caught slightly.
“You’re really cute when you’re competitive,” he said softly.
Her concentration immediately vanished.
“Wh— Branch—”
“And when you’re trying to act serious?” He scooted closer again, voice lowering teasingly. “That’s even worse.”
Poppy stared at him, flustered beyond belief. “You are absolutely doing this on purpose.”
“Doing what?”
“That thing!”
Branch grinned. “Still not specific enough.”
Poppy crossed her arms defensively, though the gesture lost all intimidation when Branch casually wrapped both arms around her waist and pulled her directly into his lap.
“There,” he said comfortably. “Better.”
Poppy’s face turned bright pink. “Branch!”
“What? You were too far away.”
“We were literally across a tiny table!”
“Exactly. Tragic.”
She tried to glare at him, but his chin had settled on her shoulder while his arms stayed snug around her middle, and he kept brushing absentminded kisses against her neck and jaw between sentences. It was impossible to stay focused when he was being this affectionate.
Especially because he clearly knew exactly what he was doing to her.
“You’re distracting me again,” Poppy mumbled weakly.
“Mhm.”
“And you still haven’t taken your turn.”
“I’m thinking.”
“You are not thinking.”
“I’m multitasking.”
Branch pressed another kiss against her cheek, slower this time, lingering just long enough to make Poppy’s heart skip. She tilted her head slightly toward him instinctively, and Branch immediately noticed.
“Oh?” he teased quietly. “Now who’s distracted?”
Poppy groaned softly and buried her face in her hands while Branch laughed warmly behind her.
“You’re unbelievable.”
“You like unbelievable.”
“I like winning.”
“Debatable.”
Poppy quickly grabbed one of his chess pieces. “Ha! Got your knight.”
Branch barely glanced at the board. “Worth it.”
“What do you mean ‘worth it’?”
“I got to kiss you like twelve times.”
Poppy’s flustered expression only made him smile wider.
“You’re very cute when you’re embarrassed,” he added.
“I am not embarrassed.”
“Your face is pink.”
“My face is always pink.”
“Fair point.”
Poppy finally managed to wriggle slightly out of his grasp so she could look at the board again, though Branch stubbornly kept one arm looped around her waist. She studied the pieces carefully, trying to ignore the way he absentmindedly traced little circles against her side with his thumb.
“You know,” Branch said casually, “if you lose this game, I think that means I’m officially the better strategist.”
Poppy scoffed. “Absolutely not.”
“Seems scientifically accurate.”
“You cheated.”
“I adapted.”
“You kissed me!”
“And it worked.”
Poppy tried not to smile. Failed completely.
Branch noticed immediately.
“There’s the smile,” he murmured affectionately.
Before she could respond, he tilted her chin gently toward him and kissed her properly this time.
The playful teasing faded instantly.
Poppy melted against him with a soft surprised sound as Branch kissed her slowly, warmly, one hand cradling her cheek while the other stayed secure around her waist. The room suddenly felt very quiet except for the soft music still drifting through the pod and the faint clink of chess pieces when Poppy accidentally bumped the board.
Branch always kissed her like he meant it completely — tender and affectionate but full of undeniable adoration that made her stomach flutter every single time.
Poppy kissed him back eagerly, her hands sliding up to rest against his shoulders as she leaned closer into him without even realizing it. Branch smiled faintly against her lips, clearly pleased by how quickly she’d forgotten the game entirely.
When they finally pulled apart, Poppy blinked dazedly at him.
“…You’re definitely cheating,” she whispered breathlessly.
Branch looked unbearably smug. “And yet I’m winning.”
Poppy glanced down at the board.
Her eyes widened.
“Wait — when did you move your rook?!”
“While you were distracted.”
“You moved during kissing?!”
“You seemed busy.”
Poppy stared at him in complete disbelief while Branch dissolved into laughter, pulling her against his chest before she could dramatically accuse him further.
“You are the worst,” she informed him.
“Mhm.”
“The absolute worst.”
“Still your favorite, though.”
Poppy huffed, trying to stay offended, but Branch kept peppering tiny kisses across her temple and cheek until she finally gave up and laughed again.
“You planned this entire thing, didn’t you?”
“Honestly? Not at first.” Branch brushed another kiss against the corner of her mouth. “Then I realized you’re very easy to distract.”
Poppy narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “You’re enjoying this way too much.”
“You have no idea.”
He leaned back slightly just to admire how adorably flustered she looked in his lap, hair messy, cheeks pink, still trying and failing to maintain her competitive dignity.
“You know what I think?” Branch said thoughtfully.
“What?”
“I think you secretly like when I distract you.”
Poppy opened her mouth immediately. “I do not.”
Branch raised one eyebrow knowingly.
Poppy hesitated.
“…Okay maybe a little.”
“A little?”
He kissed her again before she could answer, and Poppy immediately melted all over again with a helpless laugh against his lips.
“Definitely more than a little,” Branch murmured.
Poppy wrapped her arms around his neck, smiling brightly now despite herself. “You’re lucky I love you.”
“I am very aware.”
“And for the record,” she added, poking his chest lightly, “I still would’ve won.”
“Sure.”
“I would have!”
Branch kissed her forehead. “Whatever helps you sleep at night.”
Poppy gasped dramatically again, and Branch laughed before stealing yet another kiss from her, softer this time, full of warmth and affection that made her completely forget the unfinished chess game sitting beside them.
By the end of the evening, the pieces remained scattered across the board completely abandoned, because somewhere between the teasing, the flirting, and Branch covering her face in endless kisses, neither of them cared who had actually won anymore.