Thread:TurquoiseEmber/@comment-35989680-20190214000838

Tap tap tap.

Celestial eagerly reached to open the door, but she stopped her talon inches away. She silently counted to seven, a technique Mind had taught her. It made it seem as if you were not waiting at the door, but it also isn’t an obnoxious amount of time to wait. That’s always how it was with mind. Trying to find the middle, the perfect amount of everything.

“...6, 7...”

Celestial opened the door, smiling at Mind. He was standing stiffly, back erect, his cloak flowing off of his shoulders.

“Seven seconds? Really?”, he asked, his deep, baritone voice a soothing contrast to her father’s annoying rasp.

She nodded, and the motion moved her eyes down to see what her love was holding. It was a small, clear box with a beautiful flower sitting in the middle.

“Oh! A corsage!”, Celestial exclaimed. “It’s so pretty!”

Mind took a breath and opened his mouth. “Actually, it’s not a corsage. No one ever gets actual corsages, these days. We just call them that, it’s some sort of prom tradition. The cultural designation most likely came about because dragon over 375 years ago used real corsages, before the plant’s population began declining. Now the original breed of corsage exists only in the northwest segment of the rainforest, where actions are being made to save the species. Unfortunately the corsage rescue initiative is doomed to fail within three to four years, and the plants will officially be wiped off the face of the continent. The one I have here is most likely a relative, an Indigo Speckled, which is not only more readily available to the common citizen but is also more aesthetically pleasing with the deep blue spots on the petals.”

Celestial stared at him for a moment. “Fascinating.”

“Really?”, Mind asked. It was rare that someone found his useless trivia endearing. But he should know by now that Celestial would.

“Sort of”, she said. “But my dad wouldn’t think so.” She always felt the need to remind Mind to keep himself in check around her father. Despite his cruelty, she still wished Mind and Father would get along.

“Of course he wouldn’t, the dragon has the curiosity of a pregnant cow”, Mind scoffed as he walked inside, wiping his claws on the rug.

Elegance walked into the room and spotted them. “Oh, Mind! I didn’t expect you so early.”

“To be early is to be on time”, Mind said confidently. Celestial elbowed him.

“What are you talking about?”, she asked, grinning. “You’re always late!”. She earned a shrug in response.

Elegance grabbed the corsage eagerly. “And look at this corsage! It’s exquisite!”

Mind took another breath. “Actually, it’s not a corsage. No one ever gets actual-”

Celestial laid a hand on his arm and he closed his mouth.

“It’s an Indigo Speckled, isn’t it?”, Elegance asked, peering at the spots.

Mind looked surprised.

“Y-yes, in fact it is”.

“Thought so.” She handed it back to him, and he carefully extracted it from the box, then slipped it gently onto Celestials wrist. She admired it.

Sometimes, Celestial thought, moments were really good. Too good, almost. And when things get too good, they need a healthy dose of Father.

“Oh moons, it’s you”, Virtue scoffed from the other side of the room. “Does that flower have mold on it?”, he asked, peering at it.

“Shut it, Virtue”, Mind said angrily.

Virtue turned around and walked out of the room, muttering something like, “Maybe when Panther lives and breathes again.”

After an awkward silence, Elegance rushed the two to the door. “Alright, don’t be late you two! And have fun!”

“We will”, Celestial said, hugging her mother. Then she turned and flew off, Mind following close behind her.

Suddenly, she made a decision. She DIDN’T want Mind to get along with Virtue. Virtue was an unkind, callous dragon. And Mind didn’t need to get along with a dragon like that. Why would he? Virtue was an unnecessary part of their life, and Mind would help her against him if he acted like an ignoramus.

“AND DON’T COME BACK!”, Virtue called from the window.

And then Mind’s voice, “SHOVE IT”.

Yup. Mindhunter. Her Guardian Angel. 