Fortune of Harara

It was a restless night for Connie. Getting to Harara during the start of the festival when everyone else was arriving provided to be very stressful- even for the summer satyr herself. She was no stranger to busy, bustling areas, but she could never shake the feeling of claustrophobia she felt with so much energy and so many people crammed into one place at once. More time would have been spent exploring the night she arrived, but the travel time took much too heavy of a toll on her, so she decided to try to call it a night and just get a room in the Harara Brouhaha for the duration of her stay.

The hotel room wasn’t huge, but it was enough. There was a chair, a small work desk next to the tv and small dresser that held it up, along with two queen sized beds. She didn’t actually… ask for two beds, but she wasn’t about to go correct their mistake. This just meant Camellia and Clover would be able to stay with her and Amor. Gavner and Cherry had booked their own room right next to them so they’d be able to come over to each other’s rooms at the end of each night and check out all of the others’ hauls. 

Connie had only managed to conk herself out after going down to one of the downstairs stores and buying some melatonin to take. The room was high enough to the point where the noise of the casino wasn’t a huge issue, but it was still noticeable without a white noise machine, which Connie hadn’t had enough room in her bags to bring along with her. She was in and out of sleep throughout the entire night though, being awoken the next morning by her phone ringing. Groaning, she rolled over and ignored it, taking a pillow and putting it over the side of her face to cover her ears. Eventually, it stopped ringing, but Connie was already awake. She laid there for another 15 minutes before finally coming to terms with her awakeness and rolling over to look at her phone. Her stomach sank when she realized it was her girlfriend, Amor who had called her. 

She quickly snatched up her phone and took it off the charger, calling her back immediately. It rang twice before the line was picked up on the other end.

“Good morning, sleepyhead,” Amor teased.

“Oh my God I am SO sorry! Last night was EXHAUSTING. Are you here?” Connie asked, standing up and keeping her phone to her ear by tilting her head to the side and pressing her phone up against her shoulder. She walked into the bathroom to see Ierie in the half-filled bathtub still sleeping peacefully. She’d get her up in a little bit.

“Yeah, we’re down nearby one of the main casino areas. This place is super cool, but so convoluted… Should we just stay on the phone until we find you? So you don’t get lost, hehe.”
Connie put her phone on speaker as she walked to the other side of the room and rummaged through her suitcase. She found a low cut, white floral sundress that she thought would be perfect with her butterfly wing cloak draped over top.

“Sure, that works! I’m just getting dressed right now. What are you guys wearing so I know what to look out for?” Connie asked, slipping on the dress.

“I’m wearing a pink rose-embroidered pleated dress, kinda frilly. Gav’s wearing a forest-y green shirt with cargo pants and a denim jacket. Cherry’s in a super over-the-top red suit. Can’t miss it. I’m… not sure where Clover and Camellia went. I think they mentioned getting some food but didn’t specify where. I’m sure we’ll come across them soon enough,” Amor explained, looking around at the other guests in the general vicinity of the casino area they were in. Connie listened to her explanation as she looked into the mirror and began braiding her hair over her shoulder. Maybe if she found some flowers later on, she’d add those into it too. But as of right now, she looked ready to go.

“Awesome. Excited to see you all!” Connie commented, picking up her phone and headphones, plugging them in and popping her headphones into her ear as she went and grabbed her bag of stuff. Right as she was about to walk out the door, she realized she forgot Ierie, causing her to make a complete 180º and walk back into the bathroom to retrieve her small semi-aquatic companion. She kept Connie’s bag safe when Connie stepped away for a moment, and Connie took her everywhere she went. Good little capricorn. 

“Alright, I’m starting to head down to the lobby. Where are you guys?” Connie asked, walking down the hotel hallway and calling for an elevator.

“I’m sitting on the edge of a huge ass fountain, overlooking some slot machines and a bar and some other game tables. Gav and Cherry are next to me. Say hi!” Amor said. Some shuffling noises could be heard on the other end, probably Amor handing the phone over to the others.

“Heeeeeeeeeeyyyyyyy Cons!!” Gavner’s voice could be heard on the other line. Connie smiled, stepping into the opening elevator doors in front of her.

“Hey Gav! How are ya?” Connie asked.

“I’m here too!!” Cherry’s voice interrupted. Connie laughed.

“Hello to you too, Cherry. How are you both?” Connie repeated.

“We’ve been good!” Gavner’s voice started up again. “We just got in like, an hour ago, so we’re excited to see more than what we’ve already seen. There’s just…. So much to do….” Gavner finished.

The elevator reached its destination floor, and Heliconia stepped out, looking around for directional arrows to the fountain and main casino. She scoffed at Gavner’s last comment.

“Dude, you’re telling me. Why do you think I wanted to get some sleep before exploring? There’s SO much to see,” She said, following the hotel’s directions to the casino.

“I’m in the lobby now, heading out to the main floor. Trying to find the fountain- I remember seeing it last night,” Connie added. 

“I’ll hand the phone back over to Amorae,” Gavner said. A moment passed.

“Me again,” Amorae signified.

“Mhm,” Connie absentmindedly replied, trying to focus on finding her way around.

“Oh, I think I see the fountain! I don’t see you, though,” Connie said, walking in that direction.

“We’re probably on the other side. Here, we’ll head over to you,” Amor ended off the phone call with, hanging up right after. Connie plucked her earbuds out and shoved them in with her phone next to Ierie. Before long, Connie saw the oh so familiar set of curved pink horns and long, flowing pink hair to match. Everything about Amorae just screamed strawberry bubblegum, and Connie wouldn’t want to have it any other way. Both of the satyrs’ faces lit up as they ran to hug each other, Connie lifting Amorae off her feet and spinning her in a little circle before gently setting her down. She planted a few gentle kisses all across Amor’s face which was delicately cupped in between her hands. Amor giggled. 

“I’m so happy to see you in person again!” Connie exclaimed, keeping Amorae pressed tightly against her chest in a hug. Amor’s face was squished unintentionally right in Connie’s chest, but she didn’t seem to mind.

“Me too!! Wait wait wait wait-” Amor said, pulling back from the hug. Connie gave her one last squeeze before letting her pull away, watching her promptly reach into her purse and rummage around.

“Watcha lookin’ for?” Connie asked.

“I got you--” Amor started, her face lighting up when she located what she was looking for. “A gift!”

Connie’s eyes went wide when Amor pulled out a small white box, delicately wrapped in a lacy golden ribbon and topped with an itty bitty little bow.

“Ohh, babe, you totally didn’t need to!” Connie replied, opening the box she was handed. 

Inside the box was a small, golden brooch-like pin. It resembled a flower of some sort, but the exact type couldn’t be identified on the spot. It had a backing resembling a skewer- presumably to allow it to be used as a hair pin if the wearer so desired. A smile tugged at the corner of Connie’s mouth.

“Amor, this is absolutely GORGEOUS! Where did you even find this?” Connie asked, taking the pin out of the box and feeling the texture of the metal underneath her fingertips.

“That’s not important, my dear. Here- can I put it on for you?” Amor inquired, leaning forward slightly.

“Sure!”

The smaller pink satyr smiled, taking the golden pin back from Connie and undoing the pin backing. She held it in one hand while she used the other to gently take a hold on Connie’s braid and finding a good spot to poke the pin through. Amor gave it a gentle tug once it was secured, just to make sure it wasn’t going to fall off once they started moving more. To her satisfaction, it stayed put right where it was.

“It looks so good on you!” Amor beamed. Connie’s expression wasn’t too different.

“Thank you!! And thank you AGAIN for getting this for me… I’m gonna be scared to wear it in the future in fear of losing it though, heh,” Connie admitted. Amor rolled her eyes.

“Don’t you worry about that. I’m sure that you’ll take good care of it no matter what happens.”

Connie held up the brooch attached to her braid in her hands, looking it over one last time before letting it fall back to its previous over-the-shoulder position. She pulled in Amor for one last tight hug, kissing the top of her head as she released her from her arms.

“Anyway. Where are Cherry and Gav? Did they wander off like Clover and Cam too?” Connie asked Amor, looking around her surroundings to see if she could spot them walking off somewhere else, or maybe coming back from a place they had gone to. 

“Right here, Cons-” Gavner said, coming around from the opposite end of the fountain with Cherry by his side. Connie guessed she didn’t see them from the rushing water and how big the fountain was… weird. She didn’t dwell too long on it, though. Both of the boys waved as they approached Connie and Amor.

“Gavvie! Long time no see!” Connie chimed, holding up her hand and getting a phat high five from Gavner. He was one of the few satyrs that was actually… somewhat close to eye level for Connie. It was a bit refreshing not having to look down on everyone for once. Oh, the pains of being seven feet tall… 

“You’re telling me, dude. How’ve you been?” Gavner asked.

“Oh, let’s not dwell on me for too long. I haven’t seen you-” She paused to look over at Cherry. She’d met him before, but never too formally interacted with him. “And especially you- in ages!” 

Cherry looked… really uncomfortable. Not from Connie’s comment, but just from the general environment he was in. Everything he was doing looked like it was forced.

Connie looked back up at Gavner with a confused frown after a lack of a response from Cherry. Gavner looked down at him, and then it clicked. He looked back up at Connie, and mouthed the words, “I’ll tell you later.” Connie nodded.

“....Anyway,” Amorae chimed in again, breaking the tense silence of the four. “Where should we head to first? We could go get something to eat, walk around and see some attractions- I even set some money aside for some gambling, if you all are int--”

“No,” Cherry cut her off.

Amorae looked over at him, and then up at Gavner, who shook his head no.

“Alright… Gambling will be off the table then. Personally, I’m famished, and I’d love to try out some of the exotic foods here that you can’t get anywhere else,” Amor replied, trying not to dwell on the gambling aspect for too long.

“Read my damn mind,” Connie added. “You know me too well.”

“I’m also quite hungry. I could really go for some pancakes right about now,” Gavner voiced, stretching his back and arms. Cherry rolled his eyes and scoffed.

“You have the privilege of coming to a place as extravagant as this,” Cherry opened his arms to gesture to the Bruhaha. “And you’re STILL thinking about pancakes?”

“What? I like pancakes!” Gavner whined.

“Come on, we can see if they have pancakes at one of the restaurants here. There’s tons of them, I’m sure you’ll be able to find some,” said Connie, picking up the box that she had set down and putting it back into her bag. She gestured for the rest of the group to follow her as she walked out of the casino. The other three followed suit. Before long, they were standing outside the hotel, the blazing heat of the sun crashing down on them. There were so many people crowding these bustling streets, with vendors on either side advertising their wares. To try and get out of the heat, they decided a sit-down restaurant would be better. After some navigating, they were able to find one that wasn’t packed to the brim like a can of Celestial Sardines.

And yes, Gaver did order his pancakes.