[MAG] Tonight At Our Beach

"Oh, Affine!"

He half-jumped, nearly falling over. Which, really, would've been both tragic and hilarious, since he was sitting, and falling over from a sitting position was just plain embarrassing. Affine half-turned, looking over his shoulder and then up, up - til his eyes met Srce's, grinning back down to him. Oh. Just Srce! Of course it was just Srce.

"NIce to see you here!" she said, all too energetic.

Not that that was a bad thing! He liked Srce. Just not right no-

"Aw, don't make that face at me," she winked as she set down her heavy tote bag.

"A- a face like what?" he was fairly sure he had not been making a face!

"Like you don't want me here," she said, with a small laugh, then paused. "You don't mind, right?"

He shifted to turn forwards again, staring down and to his right, avoiding her. Not that he didn't want to look at her! "You can, if you want, um, stay."

You are so nervous around her. She means no harm.

He glared at his tail. He knew that! Obviously!

Srce pulled out a blanket from her bag - no, a towel - and laid it on the sand. It had pretty swirls on it, in hot pink and yellow, with a giant heart in the center. Of course! Of course she had a heart... Affine reached out and touched the fabric. The threads were soft under his fingers. Was it normal to have a towel this nice?

"Do you want that one? I brought a few."

"Oh!" his hand retracted so fast it was a blur, "Uh, I don't really need one."

Srce smiled, but put a hand on her hip, "Sure, but I'm still offering!"

Affine stared at the towel, then up to Srce. When her smile didn't falter, he scooted forwards, crawling onto it. Definitely, it was nicer than the sand. Seriously, who liked sitting on sand? All... overly-hot and sticky and kind of nasty. He patted the towel. Absolutely, he needed a towel.

Remember to thank her.

"Thank you!" he blurted out.

Srce laughed, pulling out another and laying it down beside his. "It's no problem! When'd you show up here?"

Affine blinked up at her, then towards the ocean. In the distance, he could still see both Zmeya and Jedana, bobbing up and down in the water. After a second, though, Jedana slipped under the waves, and Affine bit his lip. "Um, nothing."

"...What?"

"Er, I mean, earlier today." Affine pulled his knees to his chest, wrapping his arms around them. "I kind of... stumbled on it, and then... well, um, staying here seemed preferable to, like, sitting at home."

"Do you like beaches?" Srce flopped onto her towel, sticking an umbrella into the sand. When she opened it, it blotted out the sun, and Affine blinked rapidly. "I don't normally like 'em but they're not bad, y'know?"

"...Sure." Don't be rude. "W-what about them do you dislike?"

Srce gave him a conspiratorial look. "Crabs."

"I don't think Dij made any crabs," Affine said, eyes flicking nervously back-and-forth.

"Good! I mean, would you want there to be crabs?"

"I'm... I don't know, that's oddly specific?"

Srce made little crab claws with her hands, "Maybe it is, but I don't trust their snipping." she opened and closed her fingers.

"...Why not?"

"You always see them steal people's clothes in movies and shows. They're conspiring."

Affine squinted. "I guess I can see that?"

"Surely there is some creature of the deep you don't like," Srce said, crossing her arms, though she smiled. "Which is it?"

Affine stared at the water, where Jedana had dived underneath. "Um..." his eyes slid to Zmeya, "eels?"

"Eels." Srce nodded knowingly. "Very slimy, wriggly, unpleasant. I understand."

He exhaled, leaning back on his hands instead of holding his knees. It was just Srce, why was he so worried? Did he think she'd spot him peeking? HIs cheeks burned red at the mere thought. Stars, if anyone knew, he'd just melt into a tiny little puddle. A tiny little puddle of death and embarrassment. It would be a truly tragic, flaccid way to go. 

That is a little dramatic. Maybe, but did you want to cope with someone noticing?

From the other side of his head came: Maybe it would push you into admitting your feelings.

Affine closed his eyes and imagined swatting them both. With an electric flyzapper.

"These are some cute drawings, whose are these?"

His eyes cracked open, and slid down Srce's arm to stare at the sand art she was pointing at. The crude renditions of several seagulls, fishes, and Jedana's head were, tragically, "M-mine, they're mine."

"You drew these?" Srce's expression brightened, "with what?"

"My... a stick." he picked it up. It was a very normal stick, though it was probably driftwood. Did Dij make a beach with driftwood?

"Can you draw me!?"

"Oh, uh, sure...." 

Affine adjusted his grip on the stick and then pressed the tip into the sand. They were just far enough away that the oceans' waves, curling up the edge of the beach, wouldn't destroy his drawings - at least for a little while. As he drew a large circle and then the ears, his eyes slowly slid up, arm moving on near-autopilot. 

There Jedana was, surfaced again. He couldn't see much of what the other Mag was doing, from this distance, but that was okay - he could make out the glow of his pretty colors against the water's blue, and the way his halo lit up the surface around him... ah....

Stars, if Jedana knew, he'd be super creeped out. He'd be so creeped out he'd probably punch Affine. No, that'd be too physical. He'd spit on Affine's face and kick him, maybe. Um, that was actually kind of... hm, maybe he should stop thinking about this. Yeah.

Your feelings aren't something to be embarrassed over, Affine.

He rolled his eyes. For one, he wasn't; for two, they absolutely were at times. Fantasizing about Jedana turning him down if he admitted his feelings? Ridiculous. He would never tell Jedana.

After a pause, he lifted the stick, glancing down at the drawing. It was a messy, but clear drawing of Srce. She leaned over to look at it, and he glanced to her face, watching her hair fall around her cheeks.

She was nice. It was nice, to have someone be so consistently nice to him. He was half-sure it was barely an effort, really, and he knew he wasn't her priority, but it still... kind of warmed him, inside? Srce didn't have to sit next to him, or give him a towel, or talk to him.

See, you did want her to stay! / So you should express that more often.

Stupid fucking tail.

Srce looked at the caricature of her, smiling. She glanced to the doodle of Jedana - fear impaled Affine's chest - and then up, towards the ocean, towards where Affine had been looking. Right at Jedana.

"If Jedana's over there, Zmeya can't be far behind," she said, putting her hands on her hips, then looked to Affine. "Did you come here with them?"

Uh oh. "Um... er... no...."

Srce raised an eyebrow.

"I, um," oh stars he didn't know what to say, oh stars, "I just, just uh, drew him, c-cause, cause, I think, er, he's, he's pretty?"

Affine squeezed his eyes shut as Srce loudly, high-pitchedly gasped, her hands flying to her chest. It slipped out of him, oh my stars. Just right out, like he wasn't even trying to keep it a secret. He didn't deserve to keep it a secret if he fucking babbled it this easily. 

It wasn't much of a secret, considering you drew him.

Defeated, he lowered his head.

"You think he's pretty? Attractive?"

The cat is out of the bag, so to speak. Yes, he knew that. "Yeah...."

"Affine," Srce's eyes were sparkling, he could hear it in her voice, "do you have a crush on him?"

Affine put both hands on the back of his head, and bit the inside of his cheek. Admitting that... he just couldn't spill that much. The pressure in his chest choked any concession from his throat. He'd kneel over and die here, choking to death.

Affine. You're being dramatic.

HE KNEWWWWW THATTTTTT

Srce gave a squee again, "You need to tell him!"

His fingers dug into his hair, and barely, he managed: "...what?"

"You should tell him! It's important to express your feelings... especially love!"

Affine looked up, blearily. It was absolutely a stupid idea to let this slip in front of Srce, of all the Mags. Only Zmeya could be worse, and that'd be because he'd probably run off crying, and then Jedana would hear an absolutely fucked version of his confession, and despise him with a burning passion akin to a thousand hells. 

"You shouldn't be forced to live with a secret like that. And Jedana's such a sweet boy, I'm sure he'd be understanding!"

He could very clearly picture Jedana's fist colliding with Devy's face. "You... think?"

"What's the worst that could happen?"

"Jedana throws me into the ocean," Affine weakly retorted. "And then breaks me in half. Horizontally, not vertically."

Srce patted his head, "You're always thinking of the worst-case scenario, Finny. What's the best-case?"

The best-case scenario? Those weren't usually in his future....

Humor her! / It'd be good to drop the pessimism for once.

Affine hissed through his teeth and closed his eyes. Best-case scenario, fine. The ideal, where everything went right, EVEN IF that never happened to him. So what would happen, if everything went right? 

Okay, well, Jedana would absolutely accept his confession. They would start dating instantly and Jedana would scoop him up, bridal-style, and kiss him. They'd go back to Affine's house and Jedana would tuck him in. And maybe make soup for him?! He liked soup...

And... Zmeya... would... magically be okay! He'd suddenly grow up, and say he didn't need Jedana anymore, and give them both his blessing. So Jedana didn't have to feel guilty about dating Affine instead. And Zmeya would, like, stop having all his problems and stuff. And be totally independent, and supportive of them both, and say they were such a cute couple. Cuter than himself and Jedana.

Completely unrealistic.

But it was nice, wasn't it?

He scrunched up his face.

"Well?"

"It's... I don't think it can happen...." Affine looked up towards her.

"You don't know that. You'd never know unless you tried! And it's important to be true to yourself when it comes to being loved and loving!" Srce spoke with such conviction. It was really kind of incredible.

And, like... really, what did he know about this stuff? He'd planned to take the secret to his eventual grave. But Srce... she was all about love and loving, right? She was hearts. So maybe... he just needed to trust her about this sort of thing? And the best case scenario... well, it'd be nice....

"You think there's a chance, even if it's really unlikely?" he asked, warily.

Srce gave a firm nod. "It's always worth taking that chance when it comes to love."

He inhaled, slowly. Srce reached under his arms and pulled him up, standing in sync. She leaned forwards, patting his shoulders, "Go tell him."

Affine's legs moved before he fully registered what she'd said. As soon as he realized he'd paced away from his little corner, he tensed, twirling around. Srce gave a thumbs up, then made a heart with her hands. He stared, blinked, and then tried to still his heartbeat, putting a hand on his chest. It would be tragic - but hilarious - if he died from a heart attack, claimed by his own organ before he could confess. 

He turned back around, to the beach, robotically moving towards it.

i think this is a bad idea, Affine.

He stopped mid-step.

Then, from his other half: I think you should push forwards. Srce was right. Would you rather never tell, or shoot for a chance to have your dream?

He'd... he'd kind of want to never tell? But he also... it made his chest feel lighter to think about telling Jedana....

It's going to end poorly!

You're just saying that because you don't believe in him. You never do!

Shut up. He was going to tell Jedana, no matter what. Affine willed his legs to march forwards, then darted to crouch behind a rock. He was going to tell Jedana, even if he had to wait hours until he was alone and exited the beach without Zmeya clinging to his leg. 

Affine... if you insist....

And he did.

He peeked over the edge of the stone, eyes widening as Jedana stepped out of the ocean, holding a seagull in his arms. Already?! He wasn't ready, actually! He hadn't even thought of what he was going to say! 

But... but he'd never get another perfect chance for this, right? Maybe it was a sign, that today he was supposed to confess! And that it'd result in something at least close to what he wanted!

The water dripped off Jedana in sheets as he trudged up the beach. He crouched to set the seagull down, and the sunlight glittered just perfectly off his hair and halo, making both glisten. He was... he was really pretty, and he was so... nice, to the bird, as he watched it fly up and away. Affine gulped, quickly stepping forwards from behind the stone.

Jedana's eyes flicked towards him and the other startled, nearly falling backwards. He scrambled to his feet quickly, and Affine tensed, blinking rapidly. Oh stars. He was really doing this, wasn't he? Really telling Jedana? But what if it went wrong? What if- 

Speak.

"I-" Affine choked. Jedana reached out to him, barely, as if he wanted to take Affine's hand - and then faltered, arm frozen. Affine swallowed the lump in his throat, and stuttered out, "I don't, I don't mean to intrude, on, on you."

"You're not intruding," Jedana said simply, blinking as if it were so simple, "what is it?"

"I..."

Oh fucking stars he was already off on a bad foot. Affine lowered his head, glare boring into the sand, as if it would open up and swallow him up in a single gulp. After all, death by quicksand was preferable to the raging embarrassment in his guts. Really, anything was preferable. 

He screwed his eyes shut, picturing Srce's grin. Srce believed in him. He could do this. Maybe things would work out? Maybe he just needed to stop being such a pessimist! You may have placed too much faith in her. He wasn't trying to! She would not have lied to you. He figured!

Ugh, okay, he needed to say something, before he lost Jedana completely.

"L-Look I know you're really busy," Affine blurted out, trying to ignore the way his tail waved with anxiety, "with Zmeya and stuff, but I really need to, um, Srce told me to get this out of my system. She said th-that it's always best to express y-your feelings and whatnot."

jedana was just staring at him. Granted, with the sun perfectly framing his face, he looked very beautiful, but he was just staring. And it took him a moment, before he slowly replied, "I see... go on?"

Okay... say it!

"I, um, I really like you," Affine barely squeaked, hands flying up to cup his cheeks, trying to hide his blush. As the words left his mouth, he could feel a weight pressed off his chest - almost freeing, almost exhilarating, as a shot of adrenaline punctuating his trembling shoulders.

Jedana looked him up and down, almost scrutinizing, and the adrenaline quickly became poisonous fear. And then he frowned, slowly, deliberately, and everything in Affine's chest squeezed at once. "I see."

That was the second-coldest rejection he could've imagined. A blank, empty 'I see'. Like he just told Jedana that he had a foot fetish or something and Jedana was judgemental about that. Like he was some garbage scraped off Jedana's foot and he was just informed that the garbage actually liked being there. Horribly, horribly awkward.

But you said it, so that's good, yes? NO IT WASN'T. Holy fuck, if he knew this was going to be the outcome, he'd have never told Srce about his feelings. You're right, we should've never said anything.

Uuuuuugh.

His hands shifted to cover his eyes and he shrank down. If only this was in a Timeline and he could just bounce right out and right back in and look cool and actually ask Jedana about... about the weather, or the seagulls, or what popsicle flavor he liked, or, or - anything, but leaving him standing here awkwardly on the beach, his confession nothing more than a sad fart.

He's still there, Affine. / You need to look up, Affine.

Oh my fucking god they were just standing there and Jedana hadn't walked away yet. He had to say something.

With a shuddering inhale, Affine peeked between his fingers at Jedana's expression. It was still a frown, but it wasn't Jedana's raging rip-your-arms-off expression. Which meant...? "You're not upset with m-me?"

"Of course I am." the ice in Jedana's voice made Affine squeak. The other stepped forwards, like some march of death specifically for Affine's hopes and dreams. "What did you think you would gain from telling me that?"

"U-um," Affine managed, leaning back as Jedana towered over him, "I-I don't know, I, Srce said-"

"-I don't care what Srce might have told you." Jedana pressed a finger to Affine's chest, Affine's back straining as he leaned further away, "You made the choice to tell me. So what did you hope to gain? Or are you so passive as to do everything you're told?"

Oh no. Oh no, oh jeez, oh fuck, he'd really pissed Jedana off. Oh stars.

"I'm not!" his voice cracked oh god he wanted to die. "I-I thought, I, I mean-"

"You thought I would reciprocate? No, you hoped."

"I-Is that bad?"

There was a short pause, where Jedana narrowed his eyes. Then, seemingly from nowhere, he leaned back, and stepped back further. Affine stared after him in a mixture of disbelief and astonishment, blinking further as Jedana glanced out towards the ocean. He peered after the other, catching sight of Zmeya - which only made the embarrassment flare again. Great! He'd done this all in front of Jedana's boyfriend. Was there any other way he had fucked this up?

Affine looked up to the gulls, cawing above their heads. Oh, it'd be nice to be a seagull instead of his idiot self. Seagulls didn't have relationship drama, or accidentally confess their feelings at the worst time, at the worst place, to such amazing fanfare. 

It was wrong to put that weight on him. / Was it really so bad to hope? 

Well, maybe, judging by how Jedana took it! Affine rubbed his forehead, expression scrunched in frustration. It wasn't like he came into this thinking Jedana would fall head-over-heels for him and scoop him up and spirit him away, but... but, well, maybe he thought Jedana would be more open? Ask to be closer friends, first, or anything but such cold, blatant annoyance?

It was maddeningly frustrating and sort of maddeningly hot, to have the sweet angel boy so pissed at him.

He glanced up, to Jedana again. He still hadn't turned around, and was still staring out towards the ocean. The sun had just started to tip below the horizon, making Jedana's white hair look like it was orange, instead. It kind of matched his horn. It was kinda cute.

Stop thinking those thoughts about him, Affine! / You're digging your own grave!

Fuck god they were right he needed to ask Jedana to leave.

"Jedana?" Affine asked, quietly.

"The polite thing to do would be to apologize. But, frankly, I do not feel much but pity for you at the moment, so I will not lie. Affine, I do not share your feelings."

Ouch. He just had to rub salt in the wound, huh? Affine averted his eyes. "Y-yeah, I... I kind of got that... impression." 

"I would have expected you to know that telling me about your feelings was misguided," Jedana continued, ear twitching. "I thought it was clear that I had priorities laid. Were you expecting to override them?"

Oh god Jedana was jumping to assumptions now. Oh stars. "N-No, I wasn't... I know Zmeya's important to you, I just - I just thought, maybe, um... I don't know...."

Jedana paused, body so stiff it killed any semblance of hope left in Affine. "It truly doesn't matter. I'll see you around, Affine."

He paced off towards the ocean and Zmeya, and Affine just meekly stared after him. The water took Jedana further from him, and he just let his shoulders slump, defeat overwhelming anything else. He could only think of, like, two other ways this could've gone poorer: Jedana had told him he was a disgusting little cretin and stabbed him, or someone else could've shown up, confessed to Jedana, and then Jedana accept them right in front of Affine and run off into the sunset. Auuugh.

'm proud of you for stepping forwards and being vulnerable. / It's okay, Affine. The important thing is you tried, right?

No. By no means! He let out a long, aimless sigh, and turned around. MIght as well head back to Srce and get his ego smoothed over, he guessed. Not that... it'd feel very smoothed after such an awesome torpedo towards his chest. But that'd be better than moping, right?

His tail dragged and shoulders sagged the whole walk back.

When he turned the corner of the beach, and into view of Srce, he glanced up. The excitement and eagerness in Srce's face died as he stood there, limply.

"A-Affine," she started.

He faceplanted onto the towel.

"Oh, Affine, I'm sorry," she said, putting a hand on the middle of his back. "I... I shouldn't have pressured you into saying anything."

Don't be smug about it. / I'm not.

He didn't respond.

"I should've only supported you if you really wanted to."

He kind of wished she shut up. He didn't really want to comfort her.

"Do you want to draw something?"

He didn't feel like doing anything.

"...Why don't you go get yourself a treat?"

Affine blearily looked up.

Srce pointed. There was a small building higher up on the beach, perched on actual dirt and rocks, nestled between ferns and trees. The colorful sign on the top had a picture of a popsicle. It was kind of cute, though he had to half-wonder who was running a food stand here? It wasn't like most Mags ate... even if he did....

Go get a treat. / Seriously.

He was going! Look, he was even getting up, slowly. "Okay, okay... wait here?"

"Sure! Could you get me a strawberry one?" Srce smiled at him, a smile that had such confidence in him.

Affine's wing twitched. "Y-yeah, sure."

He dragged himself up the beach, his tail leaving a heavy line in the sand. Everything still felt sort of... surreal, maybe? The confession had fallen so flat it all seemed a little fake. Like, Jedana let him down both too easy and too hard. It would've been... simpler to cope with just being thrown into the ocean. Instead he'd... gotten all in his face, asking if he thought Jedana would leave Zmeya for him.

Which... he wanted, okay? But he didn't expect it. That was like, asking a bee not to make honey. Or a dog not to bark. But... that was basically all Jedana had gotten mad over, right? He hadn't exactly said that he didn't like Affine that way...

...So he still had a chance?!

Affine perked up. It was just Zmeya in the way, then. Which... okay, he understood: Zmeya was kind of unhinged, so it made sense for Jedana to prioritize that over his own happiness.

Affine, you know that's not true.

It was! Jedana spent most of the conversation talking about his priorities. That was what stopped him from taking Affine up on his offer. Which meant there was still a chance...! Not that he should go talk to Jedana right now, or anything. But later. And first: treats. Whatever treats this place had?

As he paused in front of the stand, he looked it over, close enough to see chips in the wood and where it'd been worn. The imperfections of the stand's dark wood grated on him, just slightly. Though the colors were kinda pretty. 

And why does that grate on you? / Isn't that judgmental?

He glared at his tail. It just seemed meaningless to make something with... mistakes, like that. 

It was probably conscious choice. / It had meaning to them.

Okay... well he just didn't understand-

"Wonderful welcomes, Affine!" 

He startled, blinking rapidly at Vodo, standing across the counter from him. 

"Oh, Vodo," came awkwardly spilling out of his mouth. He hissed and slammed a palm into his forehead. "Sorry. Um. I'm a little. Um. It's been a hard day."

"What tragedies have befallen you?"

Affine cracked open an eye to stare at Vodo's face. He looked so hopeful, almost, like he was hanging off Affine's every word. It kind of made his chest churn with excitement. No, not quite excited - vindicated? Eager? Uhh... whatever.

He leaned on the counter, wings and shoulders lowering in half-defeat. "It's not really, not really tragedies, I guess. I'm mostly being dramatic."

"If I may jest - all our existences are dramatic," Vodo said, quirking a half-smile. "Would you desire a popsicle foremost?"

"...Yeah. Um, if you have lime, I'd like that. And Srce wants strawberry."

Vodo reached under the counter. "I will gather these with haste. Now speak of your troubles?"

"Okay..." Vodo kind of had that magical energy around him that made him so easy to dump all his problems on. Did he know that? "W-well, I met up with Srce today, and I told her Jedana was at the beach, and so um... you see, for um... for a while I...."

Oh, no, it was actually really hard to say. The words stuck in his throat and he just blinked at Vodo, helplessly, like a sad goat with a broken leg. ...Did Vodo like goats?

You are getting off track. / Yes, he would.

Affine hissed and facepalmed again.

"Affine, you are permitted to consume as much time as you require," Vodo said, extending a hand with the popsicle. "I do intend to attend here for all day."

"Well plan otherwise!" Dij's voice cut in.

Both Affine and Vodo looked up as Dij leaned on the counter, lightly hitting the popsicle out of Vodo's hands. It landed on the sand and sank in slightly. Affine stared after it. He was absolutely not eating a sand-popsicle.

I would not eat one either. / It would be effortless to merely magick the sand off. / That isn't the point!

Affine ducked his head just slightly, rubbing his forehead and sighing. He glanced to Dij, looking up-and-down the swim dress he wore. And the... arm warmers? Was he cold?

"Dijamant," Vodo said, "to what is the pleasure of your presence owed?"

"You two happened to be on my way," came the bright, upbeat chirp, "see that cliff up there?"

He pointed. The sand gave way to black rocks, rising above the sea's waves. They crashed and broke against the stones, leaving the surface slick and glittery. Kind of cool, in like, an almost-definitely-going-to-fall-off-that-edge sort of way.

You are catastrophizing. 

He was super not!

"Verily, I do."

"Tonight, Kolo and I are getting married there."

Affine's shoulders tensed and he compulsively gripped the counter. 

"If you guys wanna come, it'll be at sundown. Pere's officiating. I can't promise drinks or whatever but you can bring your popsicles, I guess, Vodo?"

"The greatest of congratulations to your duo," Vodo said. "I will see about the confections."

Dij beamed at him, and then turned that smile onto Affine. He stared up, knees shaking, wings lowered, like it'd make Dij turn away if he just curled into a ball small enough and acted like he didn't exist. The life of a pill bug was, truly, one he envied.

It's probably best to aspire to be more than a bug.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaa he knew that!

"Are you gonna come, Affine?" 

He was waiting for Affine's answer. He wanted an affirmative. Why?! It wasn't like Affine was that close to him! It was just passive happenstance, that they were in the same location! Why did he want Affine at the wedding? Did he know about Jedana? Was this an elaborate ploy of... mockery?!

He literally just wants to celebrate with other people. / You are reading too much into this.

M-maybe so! Affine squeezed his eyes shut, shoulders raising just slightly in tension. Just barely, he squeaked out, "Y-yeah, sure, Dijamant!"

Dij's hand patted his shoulder, "Sounds good, then, I'll see you there! Oh, and can I have a popsicle for Pere? He wants paid with something I didn't magick up."

"Certainly, Dijamant." and Vodo produced an orange one.

He didn't speak further as Dij rushed down the path, disappearing behind a bend in it. Affine rubbed the side of his head, staring at the counter. What to say? 

Affine jumped when Vodo extended another hand full of popsicles. 

"The first slipped from your hands. Do accept the replacement, unless you no longer wish for-"

"No, I want them," Affine said, all too quickly, as he grabbed them. 

His hand froze, half-touching Vodo's, at the other's warmth. Because, wow, it was seriously nice. Vodo was ambiently warm, kind of like a ray of sunshine, that comfortable-cozy that he just wanted to bask in, like a weird little cat. And the way he smiled, it was kind of, it kind of, made Affine blush-

...He was holding Vodo's hand. He'd been holding it for the last few seconds.

"I need to go," he squeaked, and ran.

He was such an embarrassment. His free hand mashed itself into his forehead as he hissed, face bright red.

Srce perked up as he jogged towards her. She opened her mouth to speak, but he didn't look her way as he handed off the popsicle, somewhat aggressively. Thankfully, she remained silent as he sat on the towel. What was there to say, anyways? That he'd embarrassed himself in front of Vodo? Better not tell Srce, or she'd think he had a crush on Vodo too.

Maybe he did?

It's not nice of you to be so ang-

SHUT UUUUUUUUUUUP if he had to deal with her acting like it was all her fault, again, he was seriously going to like, kick the beach. Threatening, he knew, but it was hard to think through the frustration, okay?

"Affine-"

"Maybe I just want to be alone!" he snapped, throwing his arms up.

"...Okay. I'm sorry, Affine." Srce stood, lingered, then quickly shoved her towel into her bag, "I'll just get out of your way-"

Before he blinked, she had already climbed to her feet, shuffling off quickly up the beach.

Affine blinked up at the umbrella, before scrambling to roll over, "Wait, Srce! You forgot your-"

She was already gone.

With an irritated huff, Affine flopped on the sand. The ocean had washed away all the drawings he'd done, and he couldn't see Zmeya or Jedana in the sea anymore. He let himself fall back, shoving the popsicle into his mouth as his wings made contact with the ground, misaligned on his towel. Sure, sand was getting in his hair and clothes, but maybe he didn't care!

The umbrella Srce had left blotted out the harshest rays of the sun, angled just enough to catch them as it lowered. 

Are you going to attend the wedding?

He was barely invited, really. Affine bit into the popsicle.

You want to go.

After all of today? Fat chance!

We felt it.

He squinted up at the sun, biting down harder. The force broke his popsicle in half, and he startled, hacking up what he'd nearly swallowed. After staring at it for a few seconds, he awkwardly shoved it into the ocean. The waves pulled it away.

You weren't trying to litter, it's okay.

Ugh, shut up. With a long sigh, Affine slumped against the sand again. Maybe he'd end up going, maybe not. Just let him have a few minutes.