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“Sooo, Bright One,” AJ drawled, watching with concealed amusement as Flick preened under Graecie’s affection, “I have a question.”
Graecie straightened up immediately, and it nearly reminded AJ of a soldier standing at attention, but her wide doe eyes and bright smile held none of the coldness or the simmering violence of a soldier.
AJ blinked, momentarily confused by the lump in her throat. That’s what they’re trying to turn us into. Who could look at her and see a soldier?
“Of course, AJ!” Graecie chirped, “What’s up?”
“You and the Alien,” AJ started, “what’s the deal there?”
“Oh, do you mean Zam?” Graecie asked, frowning slightly as she added, “I don’t think she likes being called that.”
AJ nodded, immediately dismissing the thought. “Right,” she said, “so, what’s the deal with you two? What flavor of codependency are we talkin’ here?”
Graecie’s brows furrowed. “I… what do you mean?”
“Well,” AJ continued, “are you together?”
“We’re together all the time!” Graecie replied, simply. “I love hanging out with Zam. Just the other day we went to–”
“No but like, are you together?” AJ repeated. At Graecie’s blank expression, she added, “Like… holding hands, going on dates, kissing…”
Graecie hummed. “Zam and I do hold hands sometimes,” she said, “like, when we’re doing a ritual, or when we’re walking somewhere and we don’t want to get lost, or—”
AJ huffed. “I’m just trying to figure it out, y’know? Is it, like, a Mutual Pining, Friends-To-Lovers, 50,000+ Words Slow-Burn? Or… is it, like, One-Sided Unrequited Love?”
AJ pursed her lips. “I mean, I highly doubt that one, but… Like… is it Queerplatonic? Or is this one of those Tooth-Rotting Fluff, Established Relationship scenarios and I just never got the memo?”
Graecie’s lips parted in confusion before suddenly lighting up with excitement. “Wait, wait, let me grab my book,” she said, rummaging through her bag, “okay. So, I don’t know if I have any of these already written down, but…” — her tongue poked through her teeth as she flipped through the pages, humming slightly to herself — “okay, here’s a fresh one. Could you repeat all of that for me?”
AJ laughed, frustratingly endeared. “Oh, Bright One,” she said, shaking her head with a grin, “it’s always so fun talking to you. Alright, let’s go sit down.”
An hour later, on their way to the art studio, Magpie paused, hearing voices from the other room.
“So… yuri is when it’s two girls?” Graecie was asking.
“Mhm,” AJ replied, sagely. “Kind of like you and the Alien,” she added, completely void of subtlety.
“Zam,” Graecie corrected. "And also you, and Drift, and Ros, and Amber, and Megii, and Juniper, and Melinks, and Michela, and Ghostie, and-”
AJ chuckled. “Yes, yes, we’re all girls” — a pause — “or, like, girl-adjacent. But we aren’t all in a relationship.”
“We… aren’t?”
Magpie slapped a hand across her mouth to stifle a gasp.
“Uhhh…” AJ replied, “no…”
AJ sighed, suddenly sounding a bit exasperated, “Right, so. Are you and Zam banging or not?”
All of Magpie’s painting supplies clattered to the floor.