"Hey now, there's only one recluse allowed at this party, and that's me." Marceline teased, pulling Bonnibel from her thoughts as the princess gave a forced smile. It made the vampire curious, floating delicately next to the seat as Bonnibel slowly turned her gaze back to her lap. "Is…is everything all right, Bonnie?" Marceline asked as Bonnibel sighed, gently running her fingers along her thighs to smooth out the pink leggings.
"Marcy…do you-"
"Movie time!" Finn interrupted, stopping Bonnibel's question in its tracks as she waved it off and let the evening begin. Marceline found her self somewhat frustrated, mostly towards Finn but also at Bonnibel for stopping. Clearly something was up with the girl.
Even during the movie – an action one like always – Bonnibel just curled up in her seat. She rested her head against the armrest closest to Marceline and would every so often give a tired sigh. When it ended and the room gave a round of applause Bonnibel was already halfway to the door, forcing Marceline to give Finn and Jake a quick wave before chasing after her.
"Bonnibel wait!" She called, swooshing up the hill after the princess. Bonnibel had left her snacks untouched, even making Marceline feel guilty when she'd pull out one meant for her. "You were saying something before the movie started," she insisted as Bonnibel turned her face away, gripping the shoulder strap tight in her hands. "Bonnie, come on. Something is obviously bummin' you out."
Again, hesitation filled Bonnibel's very bones. She shouldn't tell Marceline, she didn't deserve to worry about Bonnibel's problems. But...maybe that wasn't entirely true. They had spent so much time together talking about different adventures in their lives and Bonnibel could easily say they were friends. Good friends. And maybe good friends knew that not everything was perfect all of the time. Maybe Marceline truly wished to help, whether she could or not wouldn't even matter. Bonnibel just needed to find a way to vocalize her thoughts and the Vampire Queen had willingly offered to listen.
"Marceline…" Bonniebel paused, turning back towards the vampire as the lights of the Candy Kingdom glowed in the background. "Do you think I'm a bad person?" Marceline blinked, startled by the question as she reached out, gripping Bonnibel's shoulder to stop her. An evening breeze drifted across Marceline's face, pushing her thick black bangs back. There was never a time that Marceline had seen Bonnibel so unsure. It was frightening. Marceline always respected PB for how strong and sure she was and whether her decisions were the right ones she made them without hesitation. But now here she was, looking at Marceline like she was supposed to have some magical answer.
"What the Glob gave you that messed up thought? Of course you're not," Marceline commented and yet Bonnibel didn't look satisfied. Because she wasn't. Marceline didn't know what Bonnibel had done in the past and unlike the Vampire Queen she couldn't just move on from them. She couldn't be bad like Marceline. And yet…maybe she was.
Marceline puffed as words of wisdom from centuries past drifted through her thoughts. The vampire couldn't even remember who had said them to her, but due to how often she used them to assure herself…it must have been someone important. "You know what I think, Bon-Bon?" Marceline asked, scratching nervously at the back of her head. "I think there's two kinds of people in this world. There's the normal kind of people, and then there's good people. And good people can sometimes make…bad mistakes."
Bonnibel found herself smiling as she looked at Marceline. It made an odd bit of sense and coming from Marceline it was strangely comforting. She reached forward, embracing the vampire and trying her best to push off a sudden wave of tears. "You have no idea how much I needed to hear that, Marcy." The woman's scent drifted into Bonnibel's nose, filling her with the same comforting sensation that Marceline's shirt had all those weeks ago. Slowly, Marceline's tensed body relaxed as her arms looped around Bonnibel, gently rubbing her back.
"Anytime, PB. You know that, right?" PB nodded her head against Marceline's shoulder, blue eyes turning upright to dry away her tears.
"I'm sorry," she giggled, finally pulling back. "It's been a bit of a rough day. Thank you." Bonnibel scratched under her left eye, catching what was left her of her exhausted emotions and hiding it behind the casual act. Marceline simply continued to smile, giving a nonchalant shrug as she always did. Bonnibel could never tell if the vampire did that out of habit or to hide any real display of emotions. Probably the latter, but Bonnibel wouldn't be foolish enough to say it. At least not unless she was trying to frustrate Marceline. Which knowing how their friendship worked could easily happen tomorrow.
"Hey…maybe you could use a break?" Marceline offered as they started their walk again. Bonnibel glanced at the vampire out of the corner of her eye, waiting for her addition. "I just mean, maybe it would be good. Just for a day or two. Go somewhere new."
"Maybe," Bonnibel shrugged, the top of their tree appearing off in the distance. "I could use to do some more research on the marsh ecosystems," Bonnibel muttered to herself, making Marceline chuckle. "What? Well, do you have any suggestions?" The accusing question suddenly made Marceline blush with a nervous bead of sweat pooling on her grey skin.
"Maybe. I mean…I'm going to visit my dad in the Nightosphere. Maybe you could come with me? After what happened with Finn and Jake the last time I'm not up for going alone."
"What happened the last time with Finn and Jake?" Bonnibel questioned as a shiver trickled down Marceline's spine at the memory.
"Nothing…my dad was just trying to force me into the family business again. Having friends there tends to help…ease the situation. But, think about it. You wouldn't know anyone there except me and you'd have the whole place to poke around and collect data or whatever. You could just…I don't know, be you." Their conversation paused as they stopped at the tree, the glow of the moon speckling through the branches and leaves. Bonnibel looked at Marceline's face, a small smile appearing as she looked at how the light accented her narrow jaw and slightly peaked ears. There were times that Marceline looked more human than vampire. Sometimes it was in passing, just out of the corner of her eye, but it was like she was looking at an entirely different person. Either way, Marcy had a point and Bonnibel had never been able to bring herself to the NIghtosphere alone. And the idea that she would be there with the princess of the Nightosphere made her a little less hesitant.
"All right. That sounds like fun, Marcy. When do you want to go?"
Marceline grinned, excitement filling her hollow chest as she started nervously toying with the ends of her floating hair. "Well I was actually going to go after the movie night…"
"Perfect!" Bonnibel exclaimed. Now that the idea was there she couldn't get going fast enough. She had learned from experience that in her kingdom if she wanted to do something it could quickly fall through the cracks behind royal duties. "Grab your things and meet me in my tower and then we can head out. I have a few things I need to deal with and then I'll be set." Her excitement pushed her onto her toes, her lips brushing a delicate kiss on Marceline's cheek before she darted towards her kingdom. There was no realization of her actions, at least with the princess. Marceline, on the other hand, had been unable to move.
