Double Date
It was a typical dark evening in Ooo, the wind blowing softly and the giant snails smooching. The treehouse, the new treehouse, was lit from within with bright candles. The slight muffled sounds of video games and nails being hammered into wood faintly emitting from the work in progress of a new home. It wasn't a whole lot to look at just yet. A small home at the base of the tree, a work in progress. The more the tree would grow, the more they could progress. For now they had to settle for something more cramped but cozy.
Not that the old place wasn't cozy.
"Ow! Okay, now I wish I did go pick up a new hammer."
Jake was putting up a wooden sign on the wall, a wooden frame with a carving that spelled out 'The Fern House.' Lacking the proper tools to do so, the dog had morphed his hand into a big makeshift hammer. But obviously, no shape he took could stop the sensation of his soft dog-hand smashing itself into a small metal nail. Clearly, he was going to have to make a trip to pick up some tools to save his poor hands more bruises.
Jake wasn't the only one struggling, though. Sitting at the table, Finn did his best to play BMO's games with half the intended hands. His metal hand was clutched on BMO's joystick controller, attempting to twist the stick with the same finesse he used to possess. Judging by his slightly frustrated grunts, it didn't seem like he was having a pleasant gaming experience. With each virtual death, each villainous cackle that mocked every failure, he lost motivation. Eventually he would just sigh and slump his back into the couch.
"I think my gaming days are over, man." He said glumly as BMO's screen flickered back into a face, looking at his new appendage, identical to the one he lost to Golb. "It just feels wrong to play with this thing."
"Hmm, I could make the game easier." BMO suggested helpfully.
Finn didn't like the sound of that, though. He wasn't a scrub. He used to take on the greatest challenges BMO could provide. He didn't want to go back to easy mode. That would be like...the greatest fall from grace.
"Nah...best I try to adapt." Finn quietly decided.
Jake strolled past the two to look out the window. He seemed rather interested in what he could see outside. His eyes were oddly alert. A slight amused expression on his dog face. Finn couldn't help but notice.
"Somethin' out there, man?" The teen asked curiously.
Jake was very quick to dismiss such curiosity, however. Turning briefly to physically wave off the question with his hands, shaking his head.
"Nah, nah. I'm just...admiring the beautiful evening landscapes of grass fields." He brainstormed the justification expertly. "It's really pretty."
"Hmm...well okay then."
A little while had passed. Finn was content to listen to Starchy's radio show as an alternative to gaming while Jake continued to have an odd fascination with what was outside. In Finn's boredom, resting his head on his hand, he found it so unusual. He was very close to asking once again why Jake was acting so weird, but before he could, the dog lit up. Jake's eyes would widen, before he retreated into the kitchen section of their house.
Now things were really weird.
"Jake, what are y-"
Finn was interrupted by the sound of knocking at the door. Guests at this hour?
"Hey Finn, can you get that? I'm makin' an evening snack." Jake called out from the kitchen.
Finn's questions would have to wait. He got up from the couch, and headed over to the door. As he did so, Jake was listening very closely just around the corner, eavesdropping and snickering. Opening the door cautiously considering the hour, before opening more swiftly when he saw familiar peeps on the other side of it.
"Greetings Finn!" "Hey, Finn."
Finn's eyes lit up. Before him stood Princess Bubblegum and Marceline, looking at him with pleasant warm looks. They certainly looked dressed to impress. Bubblegum was donning a pretty pink jacket and skirt, letting her hair fall freely. And Marceline? She was rocking some black leather, with her hair cut down just above her shoulders.
These two girls always did have something new to wear whenever he saw them. It's like a girl's whole life was a customisation menu from one of BMO's games.
"Oh, m'ladies!" Finn welcomed them warmly. "I, uh...didn't know you were coming."
Marceline and Bubblegum exchanged an odd glance.
"Oh?" Marceline questioned, raising an eyebrow. "So...I guess you're not coming for our date, then?"
Finn blinked, face blank.
"D-date?" He repeated, warily. "With...you two?"
"Hah, no silly." Bubblegum chuckled. "Well. Kinda. But..."
That's when Finn saw it. A sudden appearance of bright reds, oranges, and yellows appearing between Marceline and Bubblegum. Finn couldn't mistake that sort of bright hue. To his surprise, Flame Princess would emerge from behind Bubblegum's shoulder, poking her shorter self out from behind them.
"Hi Finn!" She enthusiastically greeted aloud.
"AAAAA- agh! Agh?"
"Jake, you didn't tell me!?" Finn expressed his outrage to his friend while the girls chilled at the table, watching the boys go at it.
Jake closed his eyes and raised his hands in a calm, reasonable manner.
"Marceline asked me if you would want to join in on her and Bubblegum's date, so she decided to make it a double date." He explained. "I knew you'd say yes. I also decided not to tell you so you couldn't say no."
"That makes no sense, man." Finn muttered.
"It was Bonnie's idea." Marceline quietly added, with her arms crossed and looking away from Bubblegum with a slightly disappointed face. "I wanted this night all for ourselves."
"Now, now." Bubblegum spoke with closed eyes and a delicate look on her face. "This is a chance for us all to become intermingled on this lovely night."
Finn turned to look at Flame Princess, who was sat on the edge of the couch and looking at him in return.
"Phoebe, they didn't pressure you into this, did they?" He asked compassionately.
"No, it's fine really." She was quick to assure him. "Bubblegum asked me, and I said yes. I figured it'd be fun. I...haven't forgotten the last time we went to the Carnival Kingdom together."
They both remembered that experience all too well.
"See? Everything is gonna work out!" Jake expressed his delight, his hand stretching out to grab a big sandwich from the kitchen. "Okay I'm goin' to bed. Have fun, Finn!"
Finn was flabbergasted and, deep inside, outraged as Jake The Dog left the room so casually for his bed and leaving him to deal with all of this. He probably felt like he was doing Finn a big service. Finn just wanted to slap him. But he turned his attention back to the girls, who all looked quite eager to hear his thoughts. Marceline less so, she looked absorbed in thoughts of her own.
"Guys, I knew nothing about this." He explained, his arm extending out from his side. "I'm completely unprepared here, man."
"With your daily routine, when are you prepared for anything?" Bubblegum asked. "Remember the big wailing slug that crashed through your last treehouse? You weren't prepared for that. You could look at this the same way."
Finn sighed. Clearly, they all put effort into organising it. All three of them looked lovely for tonight. Marceline with the leather, Bubblegum with her...pinkness, and Flame Princess with her cute overalls. What did he have other than the same clothes he'd been wearing for years?
"Well...if you all really want me to..." He supposed, rubbing the back of his head through his hat.
Bubblegum and Flame Princess both nodded. Marceline would look at them both before turning her head to nod also...half-heartedly.
"Hm. Okay then."
Finn's decision certainly delighted Bubblegum, who stood up and brought her hands together.
"Great! The Carnival Kingdom looks lovely this time of year and night. I'm sure we'll all have fun."
"Unless one of Finn's many enemies comes looking to settle scores and ruins the whole thing..." A moody voice mumbled into their hand.
"I'm sure we'll all have fun." Bubblegum repeated assertively.
The night sky was illuminated by a beautiful bright moon and the air was a comfortable chilling breeze. For the others this would have been a sign of bed time, but for Marceline this was her prime time. She insisted that they had done this at night, and of course Bubblegum was happy to mess up her sleep schedule to make it happen. Marceline seemed to be much more paranoid about how perfect this had to be compared to the rest. She wanted this to be just right.
She had plenty of time to ponder that as she floated alongside them while they made their relatively quiet walk to the Carnival Kingdom.
"It's been years since I last came here." Flame Princess spoke up as they all strolled together. "I really wanna see how much better I am at those stupid games."
As Finn recollected, she sucked.
"Aren't you always busy? Being The Flame King and all. Lots of...fiery things to do." Finn wondered.
"I left Cinnamon Bun in charge for a while." She told him. "He's got this."
"Hmmm..." Bubblegum couldn't help but express her concern.
Bubblegum never knew Cinnamon Bun for being competent but...becoming fully baked seemed to awaken something in him. A rarity within her people. They all seemed so dimwitted.
"I hope he's serving you well." She said, turning her head to speak to Flame Princess. "I take pride in the fact that one of my own has gotten so close to the leadership of the Fire Kindgom. I believe it sets a good example of the peace we share."
"Well, we are going out on a double date together..." Flame Princess reminded her. "I think that sets as good an example as anything."
"Hahah, that is true!"
Marceline couldn't help but roll her eyes. She had conversations of her own that she wanted to bring up with Bubblegum for the walk there, but wasn't finding the opportunity to do so. With Flame Princess and Finn here, she didn't even possess the desire anymore.
"Urgh, you're both talking about work on this kind of night?" Marceline complained. "Hey Finn, you wanna be my date instead? You're always fun."
Marceline giggled to herself, and even got an awkward laugh out of Finn.
"Hm. We never really talked, have we?" Flame Princess brought up to the vampire. "Finn used to tell me a bunch about you."
"Oh? What kinda things?" Marceline asked with a great amount of curiosity, turning her head to wink her eyebrows at Finn. "That I'm a cool, sexy vampire chick?"
"Hmm." Flame Princess narrowed her eyes and couldn't help but smile a bit. "Not quite that. But you seem pretty cool."
There was some more quiet time between them all. Which gave them all time to ponder and think about what they were doing. It was odd for Finn especially. He wasn't new to dating but...double dating?
Well, they were all friends. Finn was sure this would be a nice, even if a bit awkward, time.
"Is this a thing princesses normally do?" He couldn't help but wonder.
"I think this is a peculiar case." Bubblegum replied.
Marceline chuckled.
"You should hang out with the other princesses, Peebs." She suggested to her gummy companion. "You will not believe the romance drama LSP is capable of."
The Vampire Queen had heard enough stories from the floating lump over the phone.
"Soooooo what exactly are we all gonna do here?" Finn asked. "Eat cotton candy together?"
"I still love cotton candy." Flame Princess added.
"Hmm, I'm sure it'll become clear when we get there." Bubblegum said assuringly.
The wonders of how all this could go filled their minds as they continued on their walk.
A short enough while later, they had nearly arrived. Bubblegum wasn't kidding when she said the Carnival Kingdom would look great. It was something quite special to see the illuminating aura the place emitted from a distance. Even from here, they could tell the place was a fair bit busy. Seemed they weren't the only ones who thought it was a good time to go.
"I think I'll pass on the fortune telling, this time." Flame Princess leaned and spoke into Finn's ear, her eyes still looking ahead.
They both shared a little laugh. They were both unlikely to forget that wild day. But reminiscing it only reminded Finn of what he and Flame Princess had together. It made all this a bit...awkward for him.
"So...you just came here for fun?" Finn asked her warily, his hand rubbing the back of his head once again.
"Being the flame king isn't fun work." Flame Princess told him. "And I wanted to take a bit of a break from rapping."
"Hmm, I heard you're doing concerts now."
"Hah, I got fools to roast and fire to spit." She giggled. "In more ways than one."
Marceline was subtly looking at Bubblegum out of the corners of her eyes. She had a troubled yet thoughtful look on her face, watching the gummy Princess spend most of her attention either looking forward, or glancing at Finn and Flame Princess.
Not once, did she look at her.
"So...what do you wanna do tonight, Bon-Bon?" Marceline spoke softly. "Lotsa fun stuff to do. Plenty...mischief we could get up to."
Marceline was just kidding, but the idea made her giggle slightly.
"Hm? Oh, well...I reckon we should all stick together, and enjoy one another's company." Bubblegum spoke out to them all. "We should see this as an opportunity to all become closer."
Marceline's eyes trailed to the floor in disappointment when Bubblegum said that. She breathed out glumly through her nose. This night is definitely not going to be what she had hoped.
She could only hope that she'd still have fun.
The four of them would spend the next few hours seeing what the Carnival had to offer. From fun rides, games and tasty treats. Many memories and sights were created. Flame Princess conquering all the games with Finn's helpful advice and having a larger and larger stack of stuffed animals in her arms. Marceline and Bubblegum pulling funny, stupid faces in the photo booth. The four of them eating, or sucking in the case of one, the raspberry candied apples. Then, of course, the whole lot of them yelling and screaming over the rides.
Throughout all of it however, Marceline and Finn both still looked a bit...bothered. They were having some fun, sure, but there was something within them both that was eating at them. Something that both Bubblegum and Flame Princess hadn't yet noticed.
Soon enough, Bubblegum would leave for a moment to get the photos she and Marceline took together. It gave Marceline a chance to approach Finn without her listening.
"Having fun, Finn?" She asked, floating over to him as he watched Flame Princess conquer another game. "Don't regret coming over?"
"Heh, it's been pretty fun." He admitted, turning and smiling at her. "Phoebe is definitely killing tonight."
Marceline could certainly see that. She's gonna have more stuffed animals than she knows what to do with soon. But checking on Finn wasn't truly why she came to talk to him. She scratched her neck lightly while briefly looking over her shoulder, a little nervous.
"Hey, so..." She began to speak softly, eyes trailing away. "Could you...take her on that ride there? The big one."
Finn looked up. Up to the biggest roller-coaster in all of Ooo. They had yet to go on that beast. He was figuring they'd all go on it together for the finale of the night.
"You and PB coming on?"
"Uhh...hmmm..." Marceline scratched her neck some more. "I kinda wanna...take Bonnie away from here for a bit."
The implication was unintentional. She knew that was gonna sound embarrassing to say, and judging by the look in Finn's eyes, she was right to assume that. She flushed a little, and tried to awkwardly chuckle it off.
"Hah, alright. We'll be cool on our own." Finn assured her. "Have fun, Marcy!"
Marceline stopped rubbing her neck. Finn was always so chill and cool.
"Thanks, Finn."
The vampire floated off from Finn. In perfect timing, Bubblegum was just coming back with the photos. She was looking down at them with some cherishing eyes. She raised up her eyes when Marceline approached her, who was looking back at her with an affectionate expression.
"Hey, Peebs..." She began quietly, biting her cheek some. "Wanna...take a timeout? There's this lovely spot in the woods I wanna show you."
Marceline blushed a little once again when Bubblegum giggled. She really wanted to word it more...accurately but...
"Oh, Marcy." Bubblegum sighed, before looking over Marceline's shoulder to see Finn and Flame Princess queuing for the ride. "We should all stick together."
Bubblegum was about to walk past Marceline, but the vampire floated in front of her, crossing her arms and giving a sour look. It was getting really difficult to keep in her frustrations.
"You've been more concerned with them tonight than you have with me." Marceline told her sternly. "First you turned this into a double date, then you barely give me acknowledgement. Can we just...talk for a moment?"
It was upsetting. This night clearly meant a lot to Marceline, and it wasn't living up to her hopes at all.
"Marceline, I-"
"Just tell me why." She interrupted.
Marceline was firm but...she wanted to be careful. She didn't want to say the wrong things, especially since they had broken apart once before. So she eased up her stance, uncrossed her arms and relaxed her face.
"Look, I don't wanna stress you out but...I was looking forward to this for weeks. I was hoping for a lot more...Marcy and PB time, you know?"
Marceline thought back on everything she was saying. Considering every way her words could be interpreted.
"I know I'm sounding selfish but...it's not like I see you every day. You're a busy gum, and I respect that." She continued. "I was just hoping that tonight of all nights we'd really make it count. So...why are we sharing this special time with others?"
Bubblegum looked like she wanted to interject a few times. But as Marceline calmly went on, the more she found herself comfortable to simply listen. There was no need for them to argue. They were past that.
"Okay...I understand what you're getting at." Bubblegum nodded. "And I appreciate that you're being open with me."
Marceline gave her a small smile, her hand reaching out to briefly brush Bubblegum's hair slightly with her fingers.
"Always."
Her calmer approach seemed to be paying off, because after giving a thoughtful look, Bubblegum began to explain.
"Okay so...years ago, I..." She briefly struggled to find the correct words to use. "...I tried to stop Finn and Flame Princess from seeing each other."
Marceline blinked blankly.
"I was afraid of the consequences of what would happen if they did, and things almost did get bad." Bubblegum's eyes trailed off momentarily as she remembered how events went down. "But I underestimated them. I was wrong to try to stop Finn. Especially since..."
She let out a long sigh, rubbed her arm. But she knew she could be honest with Marceline.
"Finn was in love with me." Bubblegum continued glumly. "Truly in love with me. I never returned his feelings. Instead I tried to take away the one person he could've found happiness with."
Bubblegum closed her eyes and sighed once again. She had many regrets, things she wished she could have done differently. But this particular case? It felt horrible. Because Finn was her friend...and in that moment, she wasn't a friend to him.
"You and I are together." She continued, taking Marceline's hands in her own. "And I'm very happy with you. But I also want Finn to be happy...he deserves to be. That's why I've had this go the way it has."
Marceline looked down, processed everything she said. Her motivation to be angry with her was lessened a great deal. She supposed context really was important.
"But...this was our night." Marceline spoke softly, glumly. "Ours, Bonnie."
Marceline had been constantly pondering how she wanted this day to go for weeks. And at the last second, everything was warped.
"I want this...to work better than it did the first time." She spoke with heavy heart, her hands still joined with Bubblegum's as her feet planting onto the ground. "I need to know you'll be as committed as I am."
Bubblegum gave Marceline an equally glum and affectionate look. She really loved Marceline like this. Honest. Gentle. Grown up. She really had changed. It was the change that won her heart.
"Marcy...of course I am." She assured softly, her voice full of tender affection.
They both enjoyed the feeling of their touching hands, their eyes looking at their conjoining before trailing up to look into each other's pupils.
"Alright. I think we can leave Finn and Flame Princess on their own for a little while." Bubblegum decided sweetly. "Lead the way, Marcy."
The vampire was very pleased to hear her say that. She led her by a hand as the two went off into the woods, to this special spot Marceline had mentioned. A smile on each of their faces.
Perhaps this night was salvageable after all.
Finn and Flame Princess were silent as they were slowly carried upwards on the large rollercoaster, their hands clutching at the metal bar in front of them. This was being surprisingly slow, and therefore awkward when the two can almost hear each other's hearts beating in their chest.
Finn supposed he may as well break the silence.
"This ride sure is slow, huh?" He asked aloud, eyes still looking forward.
"I was expecting a bit more...speed." Flame Princess agreed, eyes also looking forward.
This awkwardness was getting downright unbearable. So soon enough, Flame Princess relaxes her posture, removed one of her hands from the metal bars, and turned her head to him.
"Things don't need to be awkward between us, Finn." She told him helpfully. "I thought we could put that sorta stuff behind us."
Finn's ear pricked at the sound of her voice.
"Yeah, I know. It's just..." He cleared his throat. "This place just brings back memories, you know?"
Memories that he cherished about their former relationship. Back when she was smaller and more naive. Like him, he supposed. Being here with her again was so strange.
"Well...I guess I should confess that I didn't just come here for fun, Finn." Flame Princess said, her eyes trailing up a bit as if to avoid eye contact. "I came here for you. Even after our break-up, I never stopped caring for you. And how close we all were to biting it against Golb? I kinda…value these sorta moments all the more."
Finn's heroism and kindness was what attracted her to him in the first place. Qualities that she had never seen in anyone for so long in her life...until she met him.
And those qualities had not been lost in him. Therefore, it was hard to deny the affection she still carried.
"Hah, well...that's definitely...nice to hear." He spoke with a slightly nervous tone. "Yeah I...still care about you too, Phoebe."
Flame Princess looked ahead once more. She couldn't help but notice the carriage in front of them. The passengers were two turtles getting very intimate, their lips loudly smooching each other.
It inspired Flame Princess.
"The feelings mutual." She said sweetly and affectionately, her head turning slowly again. "And I'd love to create more memories with you, Finn."
Finn was fairly certain he felt his heart stop beating. To his right out of the corner of his eye he could see Flame Princess leaning towards him slightly, her bright pretty face getting closer.
"Uh- uhh..." His mouth could only emit confused quiet noises.
It shocked him. Flame Princess had so boldly just made a move on him, and at this very moment she had her lips ready for a kiss. Time had slowed down for him. He saw seconds in minutes, and minutes in hours.
He had his second chance to start his relationship with Flame Princess once more. Something he was sure he'd desire. And yet...
"I, uh..." He swallowed, his face now close to hers.
The potential was there...so close...
"I...I can't."
Finn turned his head away, closing his eyes. It was a simple motion, yet it felt like it took everything for him to do it. Flame Princess opened up her eyes, surprised.
"Oh." She was relatively stunned. "Okay."
Now things really were awkward. She felt so embarrassed. She straightened her posture again, eyes looking forward and face blushed.
She tried to take initiative for once and it blew up in her face.
So this is what rejection feels like.
Finn wanted to just close up into a ball and never open again. But knowing how Flame Princess must've been feeling, he knew he had to explain things.
"Flame- Phoebe. I don't want you to feel..." Inside he was rattling his brain in his skull to even come up with the words. "I just...hm..."
He took a pause to think. All the while, Flame Princess was watching him with full attention.
"I do care about you, Phoebe." He assured her. "Every day I think about you. You're beautiful, kind...a hero."
All qualities that he was very proud to now see in her today, compared to the naive title Princess that had so many doubts about herself years ago.
"And I was so wrong to manipulate you the way I did."
Flame Princess opened her mouth to protest. To tell him to stop feeling guilty over that. That she had forgiven him already. But she instead stopped herself, she let him go on.
"But that's not what's bothering me." He went on. "I just...my life has been such a rollercoaster."
Finn would look around himself, down at the carriage they were on.
"Eheh, no pun intended."
She chuckled. Finn was always funny. He could always make her smile, more than anyone else could.
"Seriously though, I just...I wanted a relationship for so long. Desperately. I just had to have one. But now I feel like...like I don't even know what I want."
His heart and mind was like static. And everything that had happened, everything he had learned...all he wanted was time to see through the static.
Maybe then he discover what he wanted.
"So I'm just kinda..." He looked up, his brain putting more words together. "...waiting. Waiting to discover myself, I guess. Maybe when I do, I'll know what I want."
He figured that was a whole lot of confusion he just dumped on her. But surprisingly, she had a very understanding look on her face.
"Wow." She expressed her surprise. "You really have matured...man, that was deep."
She had grown. But there was no denying that he had too.
"I respect that, Finn." She told him with a smile. "I really do."
Her respect for him had certainly gone up all the more.
"Thanks, Phoebe." He smiled and exchanged her pleasant expression with one of his own. "Say, do you think- whoa! WHOAAAAAAAAAAA!"
Finn and Flame Princess both felt the carriage reach the top of the rollercoaster. When the nose of the carriage began to rip down, and the forward momentum rapidly increasing, the two held into the metal bar tightly before they zoomed down the ride.
Screaming all the while.
"ARGHHHHHHHHH!" "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
The loud noises that the Carnival Kingdom emitted was steadily drowned out the further Marceline and Bubblegum got into the woods. Both stepping over and ducking tree branches. Their holding hands not parting from each other the whole while. It a decent five minute walk into the wilderness, and Bubblegum didn't find it necessary to ask where they were going or what they were even doing. She simply trusted Marceline.
Eventually, they reached a nice bit of open space. With a couple logs across the ground, and a stump. It looked like a typical gathering place for those venturing the woods.
"Ooh la la!" Bubblegum exclaimed in a fancy tone of voice, looking at her companion. "I think we have yet to try this sorta place for our enkindling."
"Please stop using that word, it's so nerdy." Marceline told her half-heartedly. "Anyways, I brought us here for more than just smooching."
The vampire let go of Bubblegum's hand, and walked over to the logs and stump. She leaned over and stuck her hand out to rummage around in one of the hallow logs. Meanwhile, Bubblegum remained where she was and simply...watched.
"Hmm. I don't know..." Bubblegum reluctantly spoke, rubbing the side of her face. "I'm not sure I'm ready for tier fifteen quite yet."
"Wha? You think...? No! Just hold on a second..."
Marceline soon got what she was looking for, and would straighten up with none other than her fancy red guitar. She looked down at her prized possession, then up at Bubblegum who had a look of curiosity upon her pink face.
"This...is why I brought us here."
Bubblegum stared at Marceline as she stood there a little stiff, drumming her fingers on her guitar, her face looking a bit uncertain. She seemed shy. Embarrassed to simply be standing there, aching to know what she'd say.
"You've been doing some planning." Bubblegum noted, rather impressed.
Marceline could only merely shrug, and give an awkward smile. It became all the more clear to Bubblegum as to why she was stressing over making this night perfect. She'd been planning it out well in advance.
So when Bubblegum decided to make things a double date...she must've felt like her plans were being spoiled.
"You're gonna play for me...?" Bubblegum wondered as she walked forward near the logs, now finding things to be very interesting. "I'm not sure your loud rock will put me in a romantic mood."
Marceline let out a weak chuckle. Her heart was beginning to pound in her chest, her fingers quivering.
"N-no. I've been cooking up something. Something different." She explained. "I've played it at a ghost concert before but you haven't heard it yet...I've been meaning to play it for you."
And for when that time finally came...she wanted everything to be perfect. This wasn't the ideal night in her eyes but she supposed she wouldn't get another chance anytime soon. So she had to make the best with what she had.
"Hmm...okay, Marcy..." Bubblegum excitedly sat down on a log in front of where Marceline stood. "You have my full attention."
The vampire breathed in then out, calming her nerves. She had one shot to make this perfect. So she was going to spend as long as she needed to make sure she herself was even prepared to play this song that she had spent countless hours perfecting...perfecting for an audience of one. Who knew that a single person would induce far more anxiety in her than a full audience of ghosts, her friends and her own dad.
Marceline cleared her throat and placed her fingers into position before looking down at herself, then up at Bubblegum who was still watching with wide, interested eyes.
Supposing there was no use in further delay, and one last brief breathing exercise to calm her quivers, Marceline closed her eyes.
And begun.
"Slow dance with you...I just wanna slow dance with you..." Her fingers started playing her instrument in a relaxed manner. "I know all the others boy are tough and smooth and I got the blues, I wanna..."
Bubblegum's eyes lit up. This song...its raw emotional power was already hitting her like a brick. Marceline was singing to her from the depth of her own undead heart.
"...Slow dance with you."
Marceline's fingers upped their effort on the instrument. Her face became increasingly flushed. But she ignored everything, and focussed entirely on delivering this song.
"...why don't you take the chance, I've got the moves I'd like to prove, I wanna...slow dance with you."
Bubblegum was also flushed, a bit. She had heard many of Marceline's songs, and she always thought they were filled with powerful emotions whether it be angst or sadness or a mix. But this one...it was so personal...so longing.
It was something different. She didn't think she could just simply sit here and let Marceline torture herself getting it out.
She needed to help.
There was a little guitar instrumental, Marceline keeping her eyes closed throughout the entirety. Her tongue and mouth prepping themselves for the second half of her song.
"I wanna slow dance with you..."
"Slow dance..."
"I just wanna slow dance with you..."
"Slow dance..."
Marceline thought she was imagining it. But she couldn't mistake the sound of Bubblegum's voice between her lines. She opened her eyes, caught the sight of Bubblegum slinking behind her from the corner of her left eye. She would feel her arms go around her stomach, and her pink chin above her shoulder.
It put an irresistible smile on the vampire's face, her fangs poking out slightly from her lips. They both would close their eyes, Bubblegum closely embracing her as Marceline continued...joining in when she could.
"Why don't you take the chance, I've got the moves I'd like to prove, I wanna..."
"...slow dance with you." They both finished the song together, voices blended.
It was finished. The guitar stopped its notes, and Marceline opened her eyes. Bubblegum was happily and peacefully embracing her from behind with her head softly leaning against her. The vampire couldn't help but feel her eyes water, before sucking it all in with a deep breath through her nose. Getting that song out to her, it going so well that Bubblegum even joined in...she had pictured how this could've went so many times but this was just...perfect.
It was hard to not get emotional about it.
"So...what did you think?" Marceline asked quietly, wiping her eyes swiftly and looking at her from their corners.
Bubblegum didn't give her a verbal response. Instead the Princess remained in her embracing hug, her hand going up to hold Marceline's cheek, turn her head some towards hers. She was sure that the long romantic smooch their lips shared would be all the feedback Marceline needed.
Outside the gateway entrance to the Carnival Kingdom, Finn and Flame Princess were hanging out and waiting for their older companions to return. They were playing another silly game of Guess Who.
"Hmm..." Flame Princess cupped her chin and studied Finn, who placed his finger on his nose as though to present a big hooter. "Uhhh...Ice King? The old one."
Finn shook his head. To give her a clue, he started humming and mumbling in a very odd manner.
"Oh! Lemongrab!" She proudly spoke, feeling very confident about that one.
"Acceptable." Finn said, nodding.
Flame Princess giggled, then sighed. They would have a little while of waiting, during that time she found it was difficult to not be distracted by Finn's missing arm. It was saddening to see...though she was aware of him having lost a limb for some time now, she never brought it up. Never gave him her sympathy for what happened.
But she didn't want to dig up old wounds.
"It's definitely starting to get late..." She noted, looking up at the black sky. "I should probably start heading back to the Fire Kingdom."
"Oh. Okay." Finn replied. "Well...it was nice seeing you again."
Flame Princess had a considerate look on her face. She didn't wanna leave quite yet until she got something off her chest.
"You really surprised me today, Finn." She said. "Really. It's kinda amazing how far you've come in only a few years."
Her eyes scanned him. Visually he was mostly the same old Finn but...mentally...
"You've come a long way too, Phoebe." He reminded her.
She supposed he was right.
"I want you to know, Finn..." She began. "I really respect what you've told me today. But you need to know...I'm very open to the idea of us. Of you and me."
Her hand reached down to take his flesh one, holding it up and placing it between both of her own. For a moment he feared being burnt but...she was just warm.
She had far better control now.
"I would like to be there for you."
Finn looked at their embracing hands. Then back up at her. He nodded.
"Thanks, Phoebe."
With a pleasant smile, her body became inflamed. Her physical touch faded as she became pure fire, before travelling across the ground away from him, swiftly going off in an illuminating path in the distance.
"Anytime, Finn." Her voice carried through the air.
Finn was left feeling in pretty high spirits. His hand was still positioned where she left it, his skin very warm. He was pretty sure he didn't move it a muscle until the warm sensation passed.
It wouldn't be long before he spotted Bubblegum and Marceline emerging from the trees. The two were walking with their hands joined, looking at each other with loving, happy faces. Judging by the guitar in Marceline's other hand, Finn supposed something very romantic went on in those woods. When they approached Finn, they turned to both look at him.
"Finn. Where's Flame Princess?" Bubblegum asked, turning her head around some.
"She had to go back. It's probably way past her bedtime." He said, before yawning himself. "Mine too..."
And Bubblegum's. But Marceline often had to stay up past her bed time in order to hang out with them. Doing the same themselves was no biggie.
"I hope you two had fun, then." Marceline said, looking to be in a very good mood. "Did you...get to tier one at least?"
Finn awkwardly shrugged. He believed he got something much better than any tier. He didn't need a hug to know Flame Princess cared deeply for him.
And that she'd be there for him. Whenever he was ready.
"That's his biz, Marcy." Bubblegum told her, chuckling.
The three of them conversed for a little while more. Then they would all leave together, going back the way which they had came. They all had a good feeling that they'd be doing more double dates in the future.