Soothing the soul

[Keegan nó Orchis]

“The farmer stood up, his face red and angry. The little brown bunny was so scared he could hardly breathe, he was frozen in place. The farmer began to take a step towards the bunny, but before he did, he sank back down on the steps and began making those awful noises again. The bunny watched, confused and still frightened. After what seemed like forever, the farmer raised his head again, his face was all wet and streaky now, and looked at the bunny.

‘Go ahead,’ the farmer said. ‘I won’t hurt you’

Still the bunny stood frozen for a couple long moments, but somehow he knew the farmer meant what he said. Finally, hunger overwhelmed fear and the bunny took the last step to the carrot and began nibbling. As he nibbled, he looked at the farmer who now had his face pressed to his hands and was making the noises again, though not so loud.”

I stopped to take a breath before continuing.

“The little brown bunny ate just enough so he wasn’t hungry anymore and then began to hop back to the tiny hole in the fence. He stopped though and looked at the farmer. Then, instead of hopping to the fence, the little brown bunny hopped towards the farmer.”

[Nyx nó Cereus]

I knew that something had happened to the wife, but I didn't ask about it right then, loving the suspense built from the story.

"Did he stop crying?" I asked.

[Keegan nó Orchis]

“No, the farmer kept crying. He didn’t see the little bunny until he was close enough to touch the farmer’s leg. Finally the farmer looked up and saw the bunny.

‘She loved you little bunny,’ the farmer said. ‘I’m sorry I blocked the hole.’

The little brown bunny wasn’t sure what was going on, but he could feel how sad the farmer was. Slowly the farmer reached out his hand towards the bunny. At first the bunny wanted to draw away, but he held still and let the farmer touch him. Gently the farmer stroked the bunny’s head.

‘She died, three days ago. I miss her so much.’

The bunny could feel the farmer growing sadder so very carefully he jumped up into the farmer’s lap. The farmer laughed softly and began stroking the bunny gently. From that day on the bunny and farmer were friends and the hole in the fence was never covered. The bunny reminded the farmer of his wife and of all the good things about her and the bunny learned that life was better with someone else in it, someone he cared about.”

[Nyx nó Cereus]

"That's a nice story," I murmured with a smile, content in his arms. "I like happy endings."

[Keegan nó Orchis]

“Me too,” I said, smiling and leaning my head against hers.

[Nyx nó Cereus]

"Good thing the bunny understood D'Angeline," I said with a little chuckle.

[Keegan nó Orchis]

“He was a d’Angeline bunny, of course he did,” I said, chuckling.

[Nyx nó Cereus]

"Lucky bunny," I said, my eyes still closed. "Can forever come? Cause I rather like it here."

[Keegan nó Orchis]

“If wishing could only make it so, my love,” I said softly, holding her closer.

[Nyx nó Cereus]

I breathed in the smell of him deeply. It seemed, if we were careful, that there was middle ground that we could enjoy. Middle ground where we could still be with one another without being fearful of punishment. And we were enjoying it now to the fullest. "Well, I wish," I whispered.

[Keegan nó Orchis]

“So do I,” I murmured, feeling myself come to a sense of complete happiness and peace that was only possible when I was with her.

[Nyx nó Cereus]

We stayed that way for a long time, just soaking in each other's company. It was several minutes before I spoke again. "So tell me all the juicy details from Orchis. Please?" I asked with a smile.

[Keegan nó Orchis]

I chuckled. “Only if you plan to spill all the juicy tales of Cereus to me,” I said grinning.

[Nyx nó Cereus]

"I think I could manage that," I replied with a grin. "You first though."

[Keegan nó Orchis]

“Well, Terrance was sentenced to a week of helping clean the privies for switching the salt for sugar in the kitchens and ruining a dinner the Second was having with a patron,” I said, chuckling.

[Nyx nó Cereus]

"Does he think it was worth it?" I asked with a smile.

[Keegan nó Orchis]

“Not three days into his punishment. He did at first,” I replied, smiling.

[Nyx nó Cereus]

I giggled. "The Second must have known what he was doing then, to give him a week," I said with a grin. "Let's see, what's a good one from Cereus... Oh, last week, someone switched Claire's eau de toilet for cat urine. She managed to wash it off, but her room stank for three days. No one was ever caught, but we all have our suspicions."

[Keegan nó Orchis]

“And who are you suspicious of?” I asked, chuckling.

[Nyx nó Cereus]

"Nathan. He had his eye on a patron that chose Claire instead. It's hard to blame him though, because Claire gloats. A lot," I said with a grin.

[Keegan nó Orchis]

“Gloating is not an attractive quality on anyone,” I agreed, chuckling. “Sounds rather like she deserved it.”

[Nyx nó Cereus]

"She certainly deserved something. I'm not sure I'd go as far as cat urine, but..." I replied with a chuckle of my own.

[Keegan nó Orchis]

“That does bring to mind the question of where the saboteur got that much cat urine,” I said, chuckling.

[Nyx nó Cereus]

I laughed at that. "It does indeed. I'm not sure I want to know," I replied with a grin.

[Keegan nó Orchis]

“I’m rather certain I don’t want to know,” I told her, laughing. I hugged her closer and buried my face in her hair, inhaling.

“You know, you smell much better than cat urine.”

[Nyx nó Cereus]

I giggled. "I hope so. I do use soap," I said, perfectly happy in his arms.

[Keegan nó Orchis]

Turning my head, I ran my nose along the curve of her neck. “I can tell,” I said softly, grinning. “You smell good enough to eat.”

[Nyx nó Cereus]

I giggled again, the feel of his nose strange against my skin. "Stop that, it tickles."

[Keegan nó Orchis]

“What? I can’t hear you,” I whispered before running my nose along her neck again.

[Nyx nó Cereus]

I giggled again, louder. "It tickles," I protested, trying to move away from the nose.