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Sunday May 18th: (Free Day) You are free to write whatever comes in mind. You can write a smut, you can write adventures with Brozone and The Snack Pack. It is up to you to decide and have fun with this!!!
Branch and Poppy accidentally strand Viva on a raft in the middle of the lake by herself after they were too busy flirting and kissing. The couple have to figure out a way to get her back to the dock.
The afternoon at the lake had started perfectly.
Warm sunlight shimmered across the crystal-blue water surrounding Pop Village, turning the entire lake into a sparkling sheet of glittering reflections while colorful lily pads drifted lazily near the shore. Music echoed faintly from the village in the distance, mixing with birdsong and the gentle sound of water lapping against the dock. It had been Viva’s idea to spend the day relaxing outdoors together — just her, Poppy, and Branch enjoying the weather with snacks, music, and one very questionable inflatable raft shaped like a giant rainbow starfish.
At first, everything had gone exactly according to plan.
Until Poppy and Branch remembered they were hopelessly in love.
“Okay,” Viva announced dramatically while balancing on the raft, “this is officially the greatest invention ever.”
The oversized raft drifted several feet from the dock as she spun in a slow circle with her arms stretched wide. Poppy laughed from the edge of the dock, kicking her feet lightly above the water while Branch sat beside her.
“You’ve said that about six different things today,” Branch pointed out.
“Because life is full of wonders!”
“She also said it about garlic bread earlier,” Poppy added.
“Garlic bread deserves respect.”
Poppy dissolved into giggles, leaning automatically against Branch’s shoulder while he smiled softly at the sound. His arm slipped around her waist without thought, fingers resting comfortably against her side as they watched Viva float farther into the lake.
The breeze carried the scent of flowers and fresh water through the air while sunlight warmed Branch’s dark vest and made Poppy’s pink hair glow almost gold around the edges. Everything felt peaceful. Easy.
And unfortunately for Viva…
That was exactly the problem.
Because the second Poppy relaxed against him, Branch’s attention shifted completely away from the raft.
“You know,” he murmured quietly near her ear, “you look really pretty today.”
Poppy immediately smiled shyly. “Branch…”
“What? I’m serious.”
“You’ve already told me that like five times.”
“Still true.”
Poppy tried not to blush.
Failed immediately.
Viva floated another few feet away while Branch tucked a loose curl behind Poppy’s ear, his expression softening into that warm affectionate look that always made her stomach flutter.
“You’re staring again,” Poppy teased quietly.
Branch shrugged. “Can you blame me?”
Poppy laughed softly before leaning up to kiss him quickly.
Which turned into a second kiss.
Then a third.
Then Branch pulled her fully into his lap and suddenly neither of them remembered there was supposed to be a third person involved in this outing.
Meanwhile, Viva finally noticed she was drifting farther from shore.
“Uh…” She looked around nervously. “Guys?”
No response.
Poppy was too busy smiling into another kiss while Branch cradled her face gently in both hands like she was the only thing in the entire world worth looking at.
Viva blinked slowly.
“Oh no,” she muttered. “I’m third-wheeling again.”
She grabbed one of the tiny plastic paddles attached to the raft and attempted to steer herself back toward shore.
Unfortunately, she accidentally spun herself in the opposite direction.
The raft drifted farther into the middle of the lake.
“…Guys?!”
Still nothing.
Branch had started kissing along Poppy’s cheek while she laughed breathlessly and tried weakly to push him back.
“Branch,” she giggled, “we’re supposed to be supervising Viva.”
“Mhm.”
“You’re not listening.”
“I’m multitasking.”
“You absolutely are not.”
He kissed her again before she could continue, slow and warm and entirely distracting. Poppy melted instantly against him with a soft happy sigh, fingers curling into the front of his vest.
Out in the lake, Viva’s eyes widened in horror as the dock became noticeably smaller.
“POPPY!”
That finally got their attention.
Poppy pulled away from Branch blinking dazedly. “Huh?”
Viva waved both arms frantically from the middle of the lake. “I’M DRIFTING AWAY!”
Poppy gasped.
Branch looked over calmly. “Oh.”
“OH?!” Viva shrieked. “THAT’S ALL YOU HAVE TO SAY?!”
Poppy immediately scrambled to her feet so quickly she nearly tripped over Branch’s legs. “Viva! Don’t panic!”
“I AM LITERALLY ALREADY PANICKING!”
The raft spun dramatically in another slow circle.
“Oh my gosh,” Poppy whispered, horrified. “We lost Viva.”
Branch stood beside her with considerably less urgency. “Technically the lake lost Viva.”
Poppy stared at him. “Branch!”
“What? I’m helping.”
Viva cupped her hands around her mouth. “YOUR BOYFRIEND IS MAKING JOKES DURING MY TRAGEDY!”
Branch looked entirely too amused by this situation.
Poppy grabbed his arm urgently. “Okay, we need a plan.”
“A rescue mission?”
“Yes!”
Branch smirked slightly. “You really like saying things dramatically.”
“This is serious!”
Out on the raft, Viva was now lying flat on her stomach while clutching the edges dramatically. “THE WATER IS EVERYWHERE!”
“You’re on a lake!” Branch shouted back.
“I KNOW!”
Poppy immediately marched to the edge of the dock, scanning the area for solutions. Nearby, a small paddleboat bobbed gently against one side of the pier.
“There!” she announced triumphantly. “We can use the paddleboat!”
Branch looked unimpressed. “Or we could just swim.”
Poppy crossed her arms. “Some of us care about efficiency.”
“Some of us care about seeing you in wet clothes.”
Poppy’s face turned bright pink instantly.
“BRANCH!”
“What?” he asked innocently.
“You cannot flirt during a rescue mission!”
“I think I just proved that I can.”
Viva screamed from the raft. “PLEASE STOP FLIRTING WHILE I’M STRANDED!”
Poppy buried her face in her hands for half a second before dragging the paddleboat toward the water. Branch, meanwhile, casually walked over behind her and wrapped both arms around her waist.
“You’re cute when you go into hero mode,” he murmured.
Poppy tried very hard to stay focused.
Very hard.
Unfortunately, Branch was warm and affectionate and currently resting his chin on her shoulder while smiling against her cheek.
“Branch,” she whispered weakly.
“Yes, Poppy?”
“We have to save my sister.”
“Mhm.”
“So maybe stop kissing my neck for five seconds?”
“No promises.”
Poppy squeaked softly when he pressed another kiss just below her ear.
Out in the lake, Viva stared in complete disbelief.
“I cannot believe this is happening,” she muttered dramatically to herself. “I’m literally stranded because my sister and her boyfriend are obsessed with each other.”
Finally, after far too much flirting and absolutely no urgency from Branch whatsoever, the couple climbed into the paddleboat together.
Poppy grabbed the pedals immediately. “Okay. Focus.”
Branch stretched casually beside her. “I am focused.”
“You’re staring at me again.”
“You’re very stare-able.”
Poppy groaned while beginning to pedal.
The boat moved painfully slowly across the lake.
Viva waved frantically as they approached. “HURRY!”
“We’re coming!” Poppy called back.
“YOU SAID THAT TEN MINUTES AGO!”
Branch leaned toward Poppy with a teasing smile. “You know, if we paddle faster together—”
“Then help!”
“I was going to say you’d owe me a kiss.”
Poppy glanced at him in disbelief. “Now?!”
Branch shrugged. “Motivation matters.”
Despite herself, Poppy laughed helplessly.
And because she laughed, Branch immediately leaned over and kissed her cheek.
Which caused Poppy to accidentally stop pedaling.
The boat slowed to a halt.
“OH MY GOSH,” Viva yelled. “YOU TWO ARE A NIGHTMARE!”
Poppy snapped back to attention. “Right! Sorry!”
Branch finally started helping pedal, though he still looked entirely too entertained by the situation. Together they managed to move faster across the sparkling water while Viva continued spiraling emotionally on the raft.
“I’ve accepted my fate,” Viva announced dramatically as they neared her. “Tell everyone I was brave.”
“You are literally fine,” Branch informed her.
“You don’t know that!”
Poppy reached the raft first and carefully grabbed the edge. “Okay! We got you.”
Viva lunged toward the paddleboat immediately, nearly capsizing all three of them in the process.
“Whoa!” Poppy grabbed her arm while Branch steadied the boat from the other side.
“Careful,” Branch laughed. “We’re trying to rescue you, not drown too.”
“I panicked!”
“That part was obvious.”
Eventually, after several chaotic minutes involving too much screaming and one accidental splash fight, they successfully transferred Viva into the paddleboat.
Viva collapsed dramatically against the seat. “I saw my life flash before my eyes.”
“You drifted twenty feet,” Branch pointed out.
“It was a traumatic twenty feet.”
Poppy wrapped an apologetic arm around her sister. “I’m sorry, Viva.”
Viva narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “Were you making out while I floated away?”
Poppy’s face immediately heated.
Branch answered for her. “Yes.”
“BRANCH!”
“What? Honesty’s important.”
Viva groaned loudly while dropping her head back against the seat. “I really am the third wheel.”
Poppy laughed awkwardly. “No you’re not.”
Five seconds later Branch casually kissed Poppy’s temple.
Viva pointed immediately. “See?!”
Branch looked entirely unapologetic.
On the ride back toward shore, Poppy and Branch worked together properly this time — mostly. Poppy steered while Branch pedaled beside her, though he continued finding ways to distract her every few minutes.
At one point he brushed water droplets off her arm just to watch her blush.
Another time he leaned over to murmur, “You looked really heroic back there, Poppy.”
“You literally caused the emergency.”
“And you handled it beautifully.”
Poppy tried not to smile.
Failed instantly.
Viva watched the interaction with exhausted acceptance. “You two are disgustingly in love.”
“Accurate,” Branch replied immediately.
Poppy hid her face behind one hand while laughing softly.
By the time they finally reached the dock again, the sun had started dipping lower in the sky, painting the lake in glowing shades of orange and pink. Viva climbed onto solid ground dramatically kissing the dock floor.
“I survived.”
“You’re ridiculous,” Poppy informed her affectionately.
“You abandoned me for romance!”
Branch climbed out behind Poppy and wrapped his arms around her waist automatically. “Worth mentioning,” he said thoughtfully, “we still came back for you.”
Viva stared at him.
“You know what? Fair enough.”
Poppy laughed while leaning back comfortably against Branch’s chest. He immediately kissed the side of her head, smiling faintly when she relaxed into him.
Despite all the chaos, Viva couldn’t help smiling a little watching them together.
Because honestly?
Even if they were complete disasters when left unsupervised…
It was painfully obvious how much they loved each other.
Still, as Branch leaned down to steal another kiss from Poppy right there on the dock, Viva pointed dramatically toward the village.
“Okay! You two can continue being adorable after we get snacks. I deserve emotional compensation.”
Branch pulled away just enough to grin. “That’s fair.”
Poppy laughed warmly against his shoulder while Viva walked ahead muttering about “romantic menaces,” and Branch slipped his hand into Poppy’s as they followed her back toward the village together — this time making a genuine effort not to accidentally lose her sister in a lake again.