Elros
Midnight Tide and Maple Sugar's romance was less flash blaze and more slow burn, patiently built piece by piece like a hearth fire designed to keep a home cozy and comfortable through long, dark nights. Their ability to go on dates was sporadic at first, but they found more and more reasons to cross paths and made time to see each other.
When they got to a point where they were staying at least part of each week in each other's alcove, they finally moved in together and upgraded to a bigger place closer to the trunk. They soon settled into a routine, spending the twilit hours around dawn and dusk together taking advantage of the overlap when one was starting, and the other ending, their workdays.
Today was a little different, though. It was their anniversary; one whole season together. They'd arranged things so Maple was only working a half day and he was off for the night so they could celebrate with a nice dinner and time alone. But he had another surprise for her.
Midnight kissed her goodbye like usual, told her 'be safe' like usual, and appeared to go to bed like usual. Unlike usual, he gave her a few minute head start to get to her delivery route before he jumped out their sky exit and flew off toward the very tippy top of The Treetop to find a very special flower.
When they got to a point where they were staying at least part of each week in each other's alcove, they finally moved in together and upgraded to a bigger place closer to the trunk. They soon settled into a routine, spending the twilit hours around dawn and dusk together taking advantage of the overlap when one was starting, and the other ending, their workdays.
Today was a little different, though. It was their anniversary; one whole season together. They'd arranged things so Maple was only working a half day and he was off for the night so they could celebrate with a nice dinner and time alone. But he had another surprise for her.
Midnight kissed her goodbye like usual, told her 'be safe' like usual, and appeared to go to bed like usual. Unlike usual, he gave her a few minute head start to get to her delivery route before he jumped out their sky exit and flew off toward the very tippy top of The Treetop to find a very special flower.
Mene
Maple Sugar was in especially good spirits during her route today. A whole season together. Some days she could hardly believe it. She'd spent so much time waiting for the right man to come along....and come along he had. Her patience had paid off, as it usually did.
However, she did find herself rushing through her rounds today. She was especially excited to finish her duties and go home for some quality time with Midnight. Their relationship was steady and simple, so she wasn't expecting anything particularly grand for their evening together. Just spending time with him was enough! And, since he didn't have to work tonight, she expected she could look forward to some ~nighttime activities~ as well.
Despite her eagerness, Maple was a thorough worker, and she didn't wind up finishing any earlier than planned. At the end of her shift she headed home to their shared alcove, opening and closing the door behind her quietly so as not to wake Midnight, who was probably still asleep.
However, she did find herself rushing through her rounds today. She was especially excited to finish her duties and go home for some quality time with Midnight. Their relationship was steady and simple, so she wasn't expecting anything particularly grand for their evening together. Just spending time with him was enough! And, since he didn't have to work tonight, she expected she could look forward to some ~nighttime activities~ as well.
Despite her eagerness, Maple was a thorough worker, and she didn't wind up finishing any earlier than planned. At the end of her shift she headed home to their shared alcove, opening and closing the door behind her quietly so as not to wake Midnight, who was probably still asleep.
Elros
It had taken basically no time at all to get to the Treetop, but Midnight had had to land and go on hoof for the final part of the expedition. Turned out that giving this flower to your intended was actually a really old tradition that had seen a recent resurgence in popularity; he'd overheard the watch guys who had girlfriends nervously discussing it. Go figure a crazy significant magic flower would be a lil bit difficult to obtain~
But obtain it he did! After traipsing through dense leaf growth and carefully navigating thinner and thinner branches. Because of circumstances like this, his task took significantly longer than he'd been expecting and he'd only just had enough time to secure his prize, n** down to the Leaky Acorn for a veritable feast of Maple's favorite appetizers, and return to their alcove.
He was just putting the finishing touches on their at-home picnic buffet lunch (which mostly involved setting out the spread on their dining table and setting the flower very prominently as the centerpiece) when Maple walked in, very sweetly trying to be quiet.
But obtain it he did! After traipsing through dense leaf growth and carefully navigating thinner and thinner branches. Because of circumstances like this, his task took significantly longer than he'd been expecting and he'd only just had enough time to secure his prize, n** down to the Leaky Acorn for a veritable feast of Maple's favorite appetizers, and return to their alcove.
He was just putting the finishing touches on their at-home picnic buffet lunch (which mostly involved setting out the spread on their dining table and setting the flower very prominently as the centerpiece) when Maple walked in, very sweetly trying to be quiet.
Mene
Maple, surprised to hear and then see Midnight up already, smiled brightly. "Hello, you," she said, crossing to him to give him a kiss. "Didn't expect you to be awake already," she giggled. She went back to the door and took off her bag and her cap and hung them on a hook near the door. She ran her hands through her hair to re-fluff her curls, then came back for another kiss.
"My goodness, and you've been busy!" she said, admiring the picnic he'd set out. She stood next to him and put one arm around his waist affectionately. "Ooh, everything looks delicious, you got all my favorites." She bounced gently on her hooves. She continued to gaze upon the treat he'd prepared, feeling so special and cared for. What a lovely way to spend their anniversary!
Her eyes lit on a beautiful white flower in the middle of the table. "What a lovely flower," she commented. "I've seen some of the girls wearing one that looks just like it in their hair. Where'd you get it?"
"My goodness, and you've been busy!" she said, admiring the picnic he'd set out. She stood next to him and put one arm around his waist affectionately. "Ooh, everything looks delicious, you got all my favorites." She bounced gently on her hooves. She continued to gaze upon the treat he'd prepared, feeling so special and cared for. What a lovely way to spend their anniversary!
Her eyes lit on a beautiful white flower in the middle of the table. "What a lovely flower," she commented. "I've seen some of the girls wearing one that looks just like it in their hair. Where'd you get it?"
Elros
Midnight had been so busy internally congratulating himself and basking in her praises and kisses that it took a second for her last question to really sink in. Oh. Oh no. She doesn't know what it means! He hadn't planned on doing a lot of talking, to be perfectly frank; he rather thought that she'd see the flower, lose her head completely, 'Yes, a million times yes!', and then they'd return to the living room some time later to enjoy room temperature finger foods.
"I picked it from the very top of the Tree," he said, deciding to answer her question literally before he tried to explain the significance of it. "Only found there; it's pretty special. Magic, even. Grows with love, er, wait no. 'It grows as long as your heart does'?" Whew boy he was struggling here. "Uh," he started again and almost asked 'do those girls have boyfriends?', which would absolutely have been misinterpreted. "Besides the flower, do the girls wearing 'em have anything else in common? L-like big plans..?"
"I picked it from the very top of the Tree," he said, deciding to answer her question literally before he tried to explain the significance of it. "Only found there; it's pretty special. Magic, even. Grows with love, er, wait no. 'It grows as long as your heart does'?" Whew boy he was struggling here. "Uh," he started again and almost asked 'do those girls have boyfriends?', which would absolutely have been misinterpreted. "Besides the flower, do the girls wearing 'em have anything else in common? L-like big plans..?"
Mene
Maple smiled as Midnight went through his explanation. It sounded like it had great meaning, and she was tickled that he went all that way to the top of the Tree to get it.
"Hm," she responded, tapping her chin with one finger. "They all seem pretty happy," she offered, but she was still thinking. "Y'know, come to think of it, one of the girls started wearing one recently and everyone else seemed really happy for her." She looked up at Midnight with a playfully suspicious expression.
"Is there something you aren't telling me?" she asked, still smiling.
"Hm," she responded, tapping her chin with one finger. "They all seem pretty happy," she offered, but she was still thinking. "Y'know, come to think of it, one of the girls started wearing one recently and everyone else seemed really happy for her." She looked up at Midnight with a playfully suspicious expression.
"Is there something you aren't telling me?" she asked, still smiling.
