This is a work of fanfiction. All characters (except Emerald) belong to Aphmau / Jessica Bravura.
Cover Art belongs to Aphmau / Jessica Bravura.
Please don't sue me.
Ava, Emerald, and Lorelai stood in front of the posters, studying the movies currently playing. The Daemos were all gathered in a group off to the right, staring at more of the posters themselves.
"Hmm... decisions, decisions... " Lorelai kept looking over the choices, thinking aloud.
"Too many to make... it's almost like we shouldn't make any!" Ava was all too ready to give up on the entire endeavor. "Oh well, we tried. Time to go home now, and - "
Emerald grabbed the shortest woman by the arm. "You wouldn't be thinking of leaving, would you? I seem to recall you promising to do something nice for me today." She grinned. "Well, I'm calling in that favor now. I want to watch a movie with our... friends. I think it's something all of us would enjoy. Plus, it gets you and me out of the apartment for a while, which is something I feel we don't do nearly often enough."
"I mean, just look at them." Lorelai nodded towards the Daemos. "Look at that gleam in their eyes."
"They just look stupid," Ava scoffed.
Emerald frowned at her. "Okay, two things: one, they look stupidly excited. Two... " Here, she leaned in close to whisper. "They are literally learning about an entirely new world. I think we should both have a little more patience towards them. Imagine if we ended up in wherever they're from. We'd be hopelessly lost and lucky to even last half an hour."
Before Ava could respond, Lorelai came closer to the two women. "Oh c'mon, put some pep in your step! What do you have against going to the movies anyway, Ava? We went to the movies when we were in high school."
"We went once, and I told you: it was uncomfortable." Ava looked unimpressed at the interruption.
"I told you, they have new seats now, and - "
"No! That's not it!" She blushed furiously.
"Huh?"
"Lorelai, do you remember what happened during the movies?"
"Ummmmm... "
"Of course you don't remember," Ava sighed in frustration. "You were too busy making out with your then-boyfriend."
"Wha?! Hey, you didn't have to pay attention to that! There were other people there too, ya know!"
"Yeah! I know there were other people there, and guess what they were doing? Making out! Everyone was a couple, and I was the only one who didn't have a date!"
"Ohhhhhh, I get what you're looking for now!" She gave the shorter woman a knowing look. "You want to relive that moment, don't you?"
"No. No I don't."
"I... have to agree," Emerald cut in, looking between the two women. "I wasn't there, but I can sympathize with being the only one not with someone at a place where everyone else is just focused on hooking up. It gets really awkward really quickly."
"No, I don't mean in the same way. I mean you two want to be the center of attention! You both want to make out with someone here!" Lorelai gave them both a sly look. "And I don't blame you. You both got some pickins."
"Lorelai... " Ava took a deep breath, bringing her hands together in front of her face. "How about... we just drop that subject and I just go to the movies without whining anymore?"
"Works for me," Emerald cut in, glancing between the two. "That's all I'm looking for out of today anyway: a nice, calm time at the movies, enjoying over-buttered popcorn and absorbing cheesy entertainment." She tapped the shorter woman on the shoulder, carefully guiding her away. "Come on, let's see if there's anything the guys are interested in watching."
Lorelai watched them both go, a mischievous look on her face. "Oh, you two, I heard you loud and clear," she murmured to herself, mind going into full-fantasy mode...
"Oh Lorelai, I'm so desperate for a boyfriend! Someone I can kiss and smooch, but I don't how to look for boys, even though there's a whole hot flock in front of me. Oh, what am I going to do?! Boo-hoo-hoo... "
"Don't worry, Ava: I, your friend Lorelai, am going to get you the hottest hunk to ever hunk."
"Oh my God Lorelai, you're the bravest and the coolest! I want to be your friend! I swear, I'll be your friend forever if I get a boyfriend!"
"I'm on it, Ava! You can count on me!"
"Oh my God Lorelai, you're the greatest!"
"Can you help me, too?" Emerald stared at her in desperation. "I'm so busy all the time being a responsible adult, I never leave myself any time to have fun or find romance! Oh, if only I had a strong, handsome guy to hold me and make me feel appreciated!"
"Of course! I can help anyone!"
Suddenly, a helicopter touched down in the parking lot of the movie theater. A uniformed officer came running in, looking around before rushing straight over to where the women were standing. "Lorelai, I am the government."
Lorelai gasped in shock. "Mister Government?!"
"That's right! And after seeing how kind and caring you are to get Ava and Emerald a kiss, I'm going to make you the President!"
"M-me?!"
"Yes! Congratulations, Mrs. President!" That said, he turned and walked back to the helicopter as Ava and Emerald stared at her in speechless awe.
"Oh. My. God!"
"So, what movie do you guys wanna see?" Emerald asked as she came up behind the Daemos, dragging Ava along close behind. The shorter woman seemed completely uninterested in anything going on around her.
"I'm still conflicted on what we're doing," Rhys confessed, turning to face them.
The veteran let out a sigh. "Okay. So, we're watching a movie. It's... kind of like those books I gave to Noi the day you discovered what ice cream was. But instead of reading, you're just watching. With your eyes."
"R-really?!" The spectacled Daemos was positively glowing with excitement at the idea.
"I mean, that's the best way I can think of to describe it. You'll just be watching people act out a story on-screen."
"A real story?" Asch asked.
"No! No... " Emerald struggled to calm herself so she could find the proper words to explain the concept of a movie to them. "Just so you guys understand, nothing you see on the screen is actually happening. It's safe, and not real. It can't hurt you."
Noi laughed happily. "Wow! That sounds so cool!"
"So what moo-vie are we going to see?' Rhys interrupted gently, still looking overly-excited.
"Well, I mean... it's up to you guys." The taller woman shrugged her shoulders. "I've seen just about everything they're showing today, so I'm fine with whatever you guys would like."
The Daemos prince cocked one eyebrow. "We... can choose?"
"Umm, you know what? Maybe it's better after all if I choose. I mean, it is my birthday. 'Sacred day' and all that jazz." Emerald sighed, holding one hand to her forehead. 'That was too close,' she thought, sighing internally.'The last thing I need for them to do is fight, which they'll surely do if I let them pick anything. Which means... I need to make all the decisions on what we're doing.' A small, wry grin appeared on her lips. 'So really, not that different from what I've already been doing every day since they first showed up.'
"Princess Ava?" Leif broke in, tapping the shorter woman on the shoulder. She'd been absorbed in studying the posters, not really paying attention to what was happening around her. He pointed at Lorelai. "Your friend stopped moving."
All of them looked over. The young woman was blushing, eyes closed and expression akin to someone thinking about eating a perfectly-cooked steak rather than about which movie she might want to see. Or... anything, really.
Noi cocked his head in confusion. "Uh... what is she doing?"
"Uh, Lorelai?" Ava called out, trying to get her to focus. "Hey! Lorelai!" When she didn't respond, the shorter woman sighed and walked over. "What are you doing?"
The brunette shook herself out of her daydream. "Oh, ah... nothing! Nothing."
Emerald came over to join them. "Okay. Well, I've picked out a movie. We should get going to - "
"Hey, I think we should go to the bathroom."
Ava's eyes widened. "W-what?!"
"You know... bathroom! You know, how girls always go to the bathroom together. That kind of stuff." She gestured to the veteran. "Em knows what I'm talking about!"
"I have literally never done that once in my entire life."
"Welp, first time for everything!" With a surprising show of strength, Lorelai pushed both women towards the restroom.
The Daemos watched them go, before turning to one another in concern.
"Lorelai, stop!" Ava finally managed to step away from the brunette.
Lorelai raised one eyebrow questioningly. "Don't you have to go to the bathroom?"
"I do." At a look from Ava, Emerald shrugged her shoulders. "What? I was gonna stop in here before the movie anyway. Don't want to have to get up in the middle of it." She turned on her heel and headed into an empty stall.
"Well, I don't!"
Lorelai scooted sideways towards the sink, turning on the faucet before facing the shorter woman again. "How about now?"
She tried to maintain the glare, but after a few seconds Ava's expression softened in annoyance. "Yeah, now I have to go." As she went into another stall, she muttered "dang it" under her breath.
"Don't worry, you two: I'll wait right here for you." Lorelai barely finished the sentence before sliding stealthily out of the restroom. She was a bit surprised to see all five guys waiting in a semi-circle in front.
"Where are Princess Ava and Dame Emerald?" Pierce's voice was deadly calm.
"Aww! Princess?" Lorelai seemed oblivious to the danger she was in.
Asch glared. "What have you done with her?"
"They're both just using the bathroom." A mischievous smile spread over her face. "Now: I have to talk to you guys about Ava, Em, and kissing."
Noi cocked his head. "Kissing?"
"What's that?" Leif scoffed.
"W-wait wait wait." Her eyes sparkled. "Have you guys ever kissed a girl before?"
Pierce shook his head. "No."
"Unfortunately, we don't even know where that is," Rhys explained, glancing around at his fellow Daemos.
Lorelai literally fell to the floor in shock, but recovered quickly. She stared as she stood back up, her eyes wide. "Okay, where are you guys from? Hot hunks who haven't had their first kiss and call a girl their princess?! You guys sound like you're from a magical land!"
"We're actually from - " Noi was cut off as Rhys ran over and punched him in the arm. " - ow! Oh, uh, heh... sorry. I forgot."
"Okay, look: it doesn't matter, alright? Just listen to me." She took a deep breath. "For as long as I've known Ava, she's never had a date or a kiss."
"Wait... a date?" Asch was instantly attentive.
"Don't tell me you guys don't know what that is, either... "
Rhys cleared his throat nervously. "Well, we... um... "
"We know what it is," Leif interrupted confidently. "But, just so we know that you know what it is, explain it to us."
"That isn't going to work," the spectacled Daemos murmured, glaring at the former assassin.
Lorelai hummed in thought, hand under her chin. "Fair point."
"Huh?!"
"A date is like... something you do with someone you're interested in." She grinned slyly. "Or wanna get with, if you know what I mean."
"What do you mean?" Noi blurted out innocently.
"You know, like... smash!"
" ... their head in?" Leif seemed thoroughly lost.
At the concerned look from Lorelai, Rhys cut in quickly. "H-he means figuratively, of course!"
"Oh! You mean, like, blow their mind?"
Now Pierce seemed lost. "With magic?"
"Enough of the words! Just tell me if this gets me closer to marrying Ava." The Daemos prince glared at her.
Lorelai gasped in delight. "You wanna marry Ava?!"
"Not if I do first!" Leif screeched defiantly.
The Daemos general piped up. "I want to as well."
"Uh, same!" Noi quickly added.
"Oh my God. This is amazing!" The brunette felt herself blushing. 'I can definitely get Ava a kiss. There's no way I can't with this many guys interested in her. Wait... why haven't any of them said anything about Em?'
"Do you think you can help us?" Rhys broke in gently.
"Huh?"
"Princess Ava has been withholding information on how to win her affections. If you can help us, surely one of us can win her over."
"You know, you guys talk super weird. No offense. But... oh my God. I am like the Love Master. Of course I can help!" Lorelai looked around at each of them. "But, I have to ask... are all you guys seriously only trying to get with Ava? What's wrong with Em?"
"Oh, uh, nothing's... wrong with Dame Emerald," Rhys stuttered, trying to think of a way out of this line of questioning. "She's just - "
" - Princess Ava suits our purpose more," Leif interrupted.
"Both Princess Ava and Dame Emerald would make desirable mates." Pierce glanced sideways at Asch. "They each have their strengths."
"Okay... " Lorelai furrowed her eyebrows. "Well, I'll still help you guys out. Just promise me you'll all at least consider Em as a first choice and not just a back-up in case things don't work out with Ava. Because that's a really shitty thing to do to someone."
"But which will you set your alliance with?" Asch demanded.
"Huh?"
"Set it with me," Leif purred, even as he glared at her.
"No, with me!" Noi pleaded.
"Hold up, misters. I'm not setting up favorites here: you're all too hot for me to pick. So, I'm just gonna tell you how to woo a girl. It's up to you to decide who to use these tips on. Alright?"
"You insolent - !" Asch began, but was cut off by Rhys.
"We accept your humble offer."
Pierce placed a warning hand on the prince's shoulder. "Remember what Ava and Emerald said," he gently reminded, earning a groan from the leather-clad Daemos.
"Now, kissing Ava is a big deal, but you can never force a kiss. That's a big no-no for anyone. From what I know, Em's kissed at least a couple of guys, but it's been a while since she's been in a relationship. A kiss has to be... natural! It has to feel meaningful."
"Can you show us what a kiss is?" Noi cut in.
"Oh my!" Lorelai blushed at the thought, giggling. "Well, I'm rusty, but... " At their confused expressions, she giggled again as she pulled out her phone. "I'm just kidding. Here, I'll show you a video on YouTube instead."
The Daemos studied the video carefully, Rhys's eyes widening. "Oh, you're talking about caress!"
"Huh." Leif seemed interested for once. "So humans call it something different."
The brunette furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. "Huh?"
"Is that something so casually done on Earth?" Asch seemed concerned.
She laughed. "Lots of people kiss. It's totally normal."
"Oh yeah, I can totally see Ava doing that with me," Leif bragged confidently.
Asch looked positively murderous. "Why you - !"
"Now, you guys have to win their affection. And the movies is a great place to do that! First, you need to ask Ava and Em about themselves. But, since you're their friends, I'm sure you guys know about that already. Now, listen to my advice... "
Ava and Emerald emerged from their respective stalls at the same time. After washing their hands, the latter looked around the restroom. "Huh? Where did Lorelai go?"
The shorter woman gasped in shock. "Oh no!" She grabbed the veteran by the arm, dragging her out before either of them could dry their hands properly. To her relief, all of them were standing nearby, no one missing and nothing on fire.
"H-Hey! Sorry it took so long," Ava apologized, screeching to a halt. Emerald barely managed to catch herself from barreling into her from behind.
"Yeah, that was my fault." The taller woman rubbed the back of her head. "I had to - " She cut herself off as she caught the expressions on each Daemos's face. "What's going on?"
"Oh! Nothing, nothing," Lorelai soothed, looking suspiciously pleased with herself. "Hey, I'm gonna go buy the tickets now. My treat. 'Kay?"
"Uh... okay." Ava seemed just as confused by the sudden shift.
"You guys go buy the refreshments!" Without waiting for an answer, the brunette took off towards the ticket booth.
"Did... something happen?" Emerald looked between each of the Daemos. "Why are you guys all smiling at us like that?"
"No reason!" Rhys was quick to speak up. "Just basking in your beauty." He let out an easy laugh.
Ava blinked hard, taken aback. "O-kay... "
"Oh, shit," Emerald murmured suddenly. "Lorelai never asked me what movie I wanted to see. I'd better get over there before she picks something weird." She patted the shorter woman on the shoulder. "Go ahead and pick out some food. I'm good with anything."
Once the veteran had left, Ava turned to the Daemos. "Well, let's go buy snacks and stuff. Since Lorelai is getting the movie, I wanna at least get some stuff for her." She glanced over at the ticket booth. "I hope Em gets to her in time so we don't get stuck watching something bad."
"Ooo! Shall we get ice cream?" The spectacled Daemos gave her a warm grin. "I'll share it with you... "
"Uh, sure." Ava found herself blushing. "I guess I'll show you guys how to do that stuff."
In what seemed like the blink of an eye, Ava successfully navigated the five Daemos through the process of ordering food from the concessions counter. All of them except Rhys had a bucket of popcorn, in addition to four drinks held by Ava, Leif, Noi, and Pierce. Rhys, of course, held his Derpy-Eyed Munchie Bear Pop like a sacred talisman.
Asch was already plowing through his popcorn like a starving man. "Th-this 'popping corn'... it's fantastic!"
"I've... never had anything like this before," Leif confessed, eyeing his own bucket hungrily.
"Yeah, well, don't eat it all before the movie, or else... " Ava trailed off as she watched Asch, Leif, and Noi all finish their buckets at the same time. 'Where do they even put all that food so quickly?!' she thought to herself. "Seriously guys?"
"It's just... Ee-urth food is so easy to eat fast!" Noi exclaimed, mouth full of popcorn.
"That's why you need to savor it, as I do with my ice cream." Rhys took a controlled bit of his treat.
"We're back!" Lorelai called happily, coming over with Emerald to stand near Ava. "Oh, you guys got snacks. Awesome!"
"Here, I got some for you two," Ava said, placing the popcorn and drinks she'd been holding into Emerald and Lorelai's hands.
"A-are you sure you don't want any?" the former asked, giving her a confused look. "I know how much you like popcorn and all."
"Nah, I'm good. I - "
"I'll... share mine with you," Pierce spoke up softly.
"Huh? Oh, awesome! Thanks Pierce!"
"Here." Lorelai held out the tickets in her hand. "We're gonna see 'Horror Lovey-Dovey-Kissy Romance Movie'!"
"Oh God I knew it," Ava murmured under her breath.
"Hey, don't blame me," Emerald muttered back. "She was already paying by the time I got over to her."
"Theater A. Let's go!" Lorelai called out happily as the other two women walked by her. Once they were out of earshot, she turned to the Daemos. "Remember what I told you," she confided, giving them all a conspiring grin before heading towards the theater herself.
Each Daemos nodded to the others before moving on.
Ava lead the way to their row, choosing the seat in the very middle. Before she could sit, Asch and Leif rushed up on either side.
"I'm sitting next to her," the Daemos prince declared.
Not one to be outdone, the former assassin shot back "No, I am!"
Ava plopped into her seat, raising an eyebrow as she looked between them. "There's two seats next to me, you know."
Both Daemos gave dramatic sighs, but quickly sat down anyway. "Like I'd ever breathe the same air as you," Asch murmured under his breath, glaring at Leif.
Emerald came through next, taking in the seating situation. "Hmm... looks like Pierce won't be able to share his popcorn with you, Ava." She looked down at her own snacks, before nodding and giving them to the shorter woman. "Why don't you take mine? I'll sit on the end near Pierce, so I can share his."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, it'll be fine." She looked around at the rest of the group. "Okay, Pierce: why don't you sit next to Asch. And... Lorelai, you can sit next to Leif. Then Noi can sit next to you, and I'll sit on the other end between Pierce and Rhys. Does that work for everybody?"
Whether it was because they actually agreed with her plan or were determined not to risk losing their chance at discussing marriage with Ava later, none of the Daemos raised any objections. Lorelai did have a curious gleam in her eye as she passed by, but didn't say anything and settled in as well.
Emerald took her seat between the two blue-eyes Daemos, taking a small handful of popcorn from Pierce's bucket. "Thanks for sharing with me," she said, giving him a smile. "I know I'm not who you were hoping to sit by, but I hope you're not too disappointed."
"Uh, no. Of course not." He looked away guiltily, thinking back to what Lorelai had said earlier.
Rhys gave her a friendly grin from her other side. "I'm glad to be sitting next to you, Dame Emerald. Perhaps you'll be able to help me understand the nuances of this 'moo-vie'."
She returned the grin. "Of course. Just let me know quietly if you don't understand something, and I'll do my best to explain."
Any further discussion would have to wait, as the lights dimmed and the movie began.
It went about as well as could be expected.
From Asch yelling at Leif for trying to put his arm around Ava to Noi's outburst at the "monster" in one scene, it was becoming fairly obvious the other movie-goers were getting annoyed at the group. However, it was the vague, wet sounds of couples making out behind them that was really getting on Emerald's nerves.
She sighed, leaning her right elbow on the armrest as she stared at the screen. The movie itself was painfully stupid (some sort of Twilight ripoff, which really wasn't saying much about the quality of the film), but Pierce and Rhys seemed to be enjoying themselves. If nothing else, both were calm and hadn't attracted any negative attention like the others.
Suddenly, Rhys gave a surprised yelp next to her. The veteran looked from him to the screen, noticing it involved a car crash. 'I wonder if it reminds him of the little accident we had at the grocery store,' she thought.
Even as the other patrons shushed him (one even calling out for him to "Shut up"), Emerald reached over and took his left hand in hers. "It's okay, Rhys," she whispered softly, leaning close so he could hear her. "Remember, it's not real." Absentmindedly, she rubbed the back of his hand with her thumb, hoping the comforting gesture translated across cultures. "I'm right here."
In the dark, she didn't notice the spectacled Daemos's face flushing bright with a blush as he stared at her hand in his. He was also aware of how close she was to him: she'd never leaned back after she'd whispered to him, instead resting her shoulder against his.
Before he could even think of any sort of response, a movie usher came strolling up in front of the group. "Excuse me, but I'm gonna have to ask you guys to leave. You've caused quite a disturbance to the Force." He let out a snorting laugh at his own terrible joke. "That's a Star Wars."
"Yeah, I get it nerd," Ava popped up, grumpy at the interruption. "And don't worry: we were just leaving, anyway."
"But I want to know where the story goes." Rhys sounded disappointed, keenly aware Emerald was still holding his hand.
"I'll explain it to you later," the veteran replied, getting a mischievous look in her eye as she turned to face the usher. "Hey, how familiar are you with indecent exposure law?"
"Uh... what are you talking about?"
"I'm just curious why you're throwing us out and not the three half-naked couples making out in Row K. Not to mention the dude getting a blow job in the top row right under the projector... " Before anyone could say anything, Emerald grabbed the drink cup from Lorelai's hand just as she was passing by, lobbing it straight at the projection booth.
A loud string of cursing met their ears as a shadowy silhouette of a guy with his pants halfway down suddenly splashed across the screen, letting her know she'd scored a direct hit.
"RUN!" She called to the others, grabbing Pierce's hand as she dragged him and Rhys along after her. Luckily the others caught on quickly, hot on her heels as she led the way out of the theater and into the parking lot.
"W-what are you doing?!" Ava shouted, barely keeping up with her.
"Don't stop!" Emerald called back, ducking down a side alley. "We have to get back to the apartment block first!"
Leif laughed maniacally, pushing Noi and Ava along in front of him. This was an adventure he definitely hadn't been expecting, but was more than happy to go along with. Noi and Ava, on the other hand, both seemed to be panicking. But with the former assassin forcing them forward, they had no choice but to keep moving.
Even Asch seemed to be enjoying himself, keeping pace with the group easily as he grinned. Lorelai brought up the rear, unsure how everything had gotten so... weird.
The ride up to the apartment in the elevator was eerily somber. Emerald had finally noticed she was still holding Rhys's hand, dropping it in embarrassment and hoping she hadn't broken some sort of Daemos law about touching or other such nonsense. She did give him a quick explanation of the rest of the movie, as promised.
As soon as the elevator doors opened on their floor, the veteran herded the Daemos into the apartment, staying behind at the door with Ava, who was apologizing profusely.
"Sorry about the guys acting like that. I'm not really sure what came over them."
"I'm sorry, too," Emerald added, rubbing the back of her head sheepishly. "I didn't mean to get us in trouble like that near the end. I was just sick of hearing all that... 'extra' noise behind us, but we were the ones getting kicked out."
"Heh, I'm not sure either." Lorelai let out an odd little giggle. "Either way, is was nice of you two to go out, even though it was only for an hour."
"Yeah. Thanks for inviting us, Lorelai. I had a lot of fun, and I'm sure Ava did too."
"How about we try next week?"
"Next year? Perfect! Bye!" Ava nudged Emerald out of the way, slamming the door closed before anyone could say a word.
Lorelai turned to leave, but paused and turned around after only a few steps. "Hey Ava!" she called out. "For what it's worth, you're fun to hang out with!"
On the other side of the door, the shorter woman sighed. "You too," she muttered in defeat.
The brunette laughed happily. "I win!" Satisfied with her victory, she turned and headed towards the elevator.
"You've all surely done it now!" Rhys scolded, the other Daemos gathered around him in a circle. "Ava and Emerald are not going to forgive us for this."
"Asch's fault," Leif accused flatly.
Naturally, that set off the Daemos prince. "My fault?!"
"And none of us got the kiss," Noi sobbed.
"Disappointed!" Pierce roared, oddly animated in his reaction.
Rhys seemed oddly conflicted. "Princess Ava is sure to have Dame Emerald kill us now, especially since we ruined the 'sacred birthday'." Even as he said those words, the spectacled Daemos was still thinking about how the veteran had held his hand for so long, remembering the feeling of her skin against his -
"Thank you guys so much!" Ava called out, interrupting his thoughts and drawing the attention of all the Daemos. She and Emerald were standing near the kitchen counter, smiling at the guys.
"Huh?!" They all turned simultaneously in shock, hardly believing they were going to survive the day.
"I didn't want to go out at all today, and I was afraid she would ask us to dinner, and then she'd ask me about my life, and... I'm just glad it's over and now I can go back to sleep."
"But what about the kiss?" Noi stared at her like a kicked puppy.
Emerald seemed confused. "Whoa, who said anything about a kiss?"
"Lorelai had spoken to us about a kiss at the movies and how it meant a date." Rhys gave the veteran a meaningful look. "She led us to believe we would receive one if we succeeded in courting you two."
"Oh, that." Ava stepped in quickly. "Yeah, Lorelai likes to make that stuff up, but - "
"Ignore the kiss!" Asch bellowed, determined to gain control of the situation. "Let's talk about the marriage!"
"Uh... "
"I demand that - "
"Follow my lead!" Ava shouted, grabbing Emerald by the wrist and dragging her along as she rushed over to plant a quick kiss on Asch's cheek. The veteran had no choice but to follow suit, working with the shorter woman to simultaneously kiss each Daemos on the cheek one by one.
Ava quickly retreated to her room, turning around once she was standing in the doorway. "That should hold you guys until later, right? No marriage talk after that kiss! We're even! Now, good night." She immediately slammed her door shut.
Emerald stood facing them for a bit, smiling awkwardly. "Seriously though, thanks for coming out with us today. You guys made it a special birthday, which is something I haven't had in quite a while." She gave them all a little wave as she retreated towards her own room. "Good night."
As soon as they heard the veteran's door close, the Daemos turned to one another in shock. "That was... " Leif was blushing furiously.
Asch seemed gobsmacked. "We all got the kiss... from both of them."
"What does that mean?" Rhys looked pointedly down the hallway towards Emerald's room.
"Yahoo!" Noi cried out, jumping excitedly around the living room furniture, more happy noises escaping from him.
The former assassin was still strangely docile. "For once... I have nothing to say."
"Y-y-yes," Pierce stuttered out, even less eloquent than usual.
Safely tucked away inside her room, Ava finally let herself freak out to Johnny. "What was I thinking," she muttered. "I can't believe I did that, I'm an idiot!"
As usual, the feline ignored her, blissfully napping away on her bed.
She curled up in a miserable little ball, holding the cat close. "But, Em was right there with me, kissing away. Do you think... you think, maybe, she really does like some of them? I mean, she could've just told me no, or just stood there."
Ava gave a little huff. "I wish she'd just go after some of them. It'd definitely put less pressure on me." She paused, thinking. 'That might not be such a bad idea after all. Maybe I can get her alone tomorrow and we can have a proper discussion about it... '
Emerald wasn't faring much better in her own room.
She sat on the edge of her bed, head in her hands as she stared at the floor. 'Well, that was a mistake,' she sighed tiredly. 'If they weren't getting mixed signals before, they definitely are now.' Despite herself, the veteran soon found herself smiling softly. 'If I'm being honest though, it was kind of nice. It's been a while since I got to do something like that.'
The more she sat and thought, the more her expression fell. While it had been nice to get out of the apartment for the day, there was still the matter of that latest email she'd received from her employers. 'I'm gonna have to tell Ava eventually. I can't keep lying to her about what's going on at work. If nothing else, she needs to know by the end of the month so we can figure something out with the rent.'
Emerald was so wrapped up in her own thoughts, she almost missed the soft knock on her door. She jumped slightly, caught off guard by the sudden possibility of a visitor. "Wh-who's there?"
"May I come in, Dame Emerald?"
She froze, hardly believing who had come to visit her. "S-sure, Rhys. Door's unlocked."
