Towers Are So Overrated
The orb glistened as the acrid, purple liquid flowed within the confines of the shape in which Abigail willed, midair. It was as if the acid were trapped in an invisible glass ball, but it was she who molded its shape and kept it airborne. Though it was only about the size of a coin, the new witch knew this was a sign of her progress.
Abigail felt the sweat forming on her brow, but she gritted her teeth as she raised and lowered the ball of acid in the pattern that her father dictated for their morning lesson. The sweeping motions were also the shape of a rune that would add to the volume of her hovering ball of acid, making the exercise more difficult each time the spell was completed. Keeping her breaths deep and even, the amethyst-haired woman balled her fists at her side as she tried to ignore the muttering from the far corner of the room.
As she finished the flight pattern of the orb for the dozenth time, the symbol glowed faintly, and the ball of unnatural purple liquid swelled in size. Abigail struggled to keep it steady, but she persevered. I can do this! I'll show that smug, cocky, sexist that I can do everything just as well as he can someday!
Even if Rasmodius was her father, the witch knew that she would have to prove herself by learning twice as quickly than his expectations to earn his respect. It was maddening. The bearded bastard was raised by parents who gave him daily lessons on subjects like these as a child while Abigail had only just learned of her powers a few weeks ago. But her old man would not cut her any slack, knowing fully well that he had a huge advantage in his upbringing.
It was a shame Rasmodius was getting better at dodging her attacks when she could not hold it in anymore. Not to mention he was careful not to leave any of his tomes laying out when she arrived for her lessons after the acid splash incident last week. Abigail got a bit of sadistic pleasure anytime she saw a lump form on her father's enormous head. She would have to find more creative ways to get back at him for his snarky commentary.
If Abigail did not know any better, she could have sworn the orb of acid ballooned as the level of her annoyance became too much to bear. "Would it kill you two to be quiet for five minutes?" the woman roared as the acid sphere burst and fell to the floor with a violent sizzle. Abigail spun around to face the chatty men. "I can't concentrate with you talking about me behind my back!"
Her father immediately dug in his heels. "You must learn to compose yourself even among a boisterous crowd!" Rasmodius declared, gesturing to the length of the room as his cape billowed out behind him dramatically. "One cannot allow for idle gossip to distract oneself from the task at hand."
"Oh, fucking save it for someone who cares, Razzle Dad," Abigail snapped back with a purposefully insulting nickname. He was a stickler for formalities, and she learned it really got under his skin when she actively demonstrated her disdain for Rasmodius and his "authority."
"Besides, it wasn't 'idle gossip!' You were shit talking about me," the woman shot back in a huff of irritation. Abigail's bright blue eyes went to her boyfriend. "What the hell, Sam? You're supposed to be on my side!"
The blond let out a nervous laugh. "All I said was that you've got a fiery personality, babe," Sam admitted with a sheepish grin. The musician attempted to smooth talk his way out of the doghouse. "It's just another outlet for all that passion you've got packed in that fun sized body of yours," the spiky-haired man reasoned. "I admire and respect that about you!"
"Whatever, Sam!" Abigail gagged as she grabbed her things to leave. "I'm done for today."
Rasmodius stroked his beard and shook his head. "A lack of discipline will only hinder you on your journey toward greatness, Abigail."
Why that! Abigail's fist twitched at her side. She had to leave, or her father was going to have a broken nose. "Fine!" the fledgling witch conceded, "I'll go on a quest or whatever! You always need ingredients for a spell or a potion, right?"
The purple-clad sorcerer considered the proposition for a moment. "Yes, I suppose I could use more void essence from the mines. The project I've been working o-"
"Done!" Abigail cut in, interrupting her biological father as she snatched her boyfriend by his shirt collar. The woman stomped toward the door with the blond in tow. "We'll get right on that, won't we, Sam?"
Sam fumbled his agreement but followed her to avoid tripping as Abigail dragged him outside. "See ya, Mister Razzle Dad!"
Abigail let go of her boyfriend's clothing immediately. The woman plunged her hands into her pockets as she began to descend the icy stairs. She did not bother to wait for Sam, so was too mad at him.
But Sam fell into step beside her as they entered the Cindersap Forest and slithered his hand into her pocket to hold Abigail's hand. Her anger lessened slightly at the touch. Sam's hand was warm and comforting.
Abigail finally forgave him enough to speak. "Since when are you and my new dad all buddy-buddy?" the amethyst-haired woman inquired.
Sam shrugged. "Eh, I just got him talking about magic and if there was anything I could master since I don't have a wizard like him for a dad."
Abigail figured that Sam was feeling left out now that she, Violet, and Sebastian were all confirmed to have some sort of mysterious power. Among the Part-Time Pantheon members, her boyfriend was the only normal band member. Sam had his charisma going for him, but Abigail supposed even Sam might be a bit insecure every once and a while.
"So, what did he say?" If there were any options for Sam, maybe that would help him feel more included.
"Oh, Ras mentioned magical items, which sounded pretty dope," Sam mentioned casually. "But he also recommended beast taming and I told him I have a bit of experience on that front."
Abigail eyed him curiously. "Beast taming? Where did you-" Her face went flush when she realized Sam's meaning from the mischievous smirk on his face. Her boyfriend had been referring to her as the beast he had tamed.
"You didn't!" she gasped, scandalized by Sam's audacity. She pulled her hands from her pockets and swatted at the blond. "You were swapping sex jokes with my dad?!"
Sam dodged the blow in one fluid motion, letting out a cackle. "No way, it went completely over his head!" the spiky-haired man proclaimed his innocence. "Ras started asking me about what kind of beast it was, and I started making shit up about some imaginary creature to mess with him."
The blond wrapped himself around Abigail's small frame. "Besides, you seem to like it when I tame you…" Sam breathed into her ear. "Like the other day in the igloo?" Abigail's blush only worsened as she recalled their romantic rendezvous at the Festival of Ice. Her heart fluttered at the memory of getting away with it all just a few dozen feet away from the other villagers, concealed only by blocks of snow and ice.
Despite the logical part of her brain, the purple-haired witch was getting aroused just thinking about their romp in the igloo. The grin on Sam's face suggested he was right there with her.
Her blue eyes scanned the forest. It was still relatively early in the day, and no one ventured out this deep into the woods normally. Her mind reeled with erotic possibility combined with the likelihood that they could get away with it again. No! The amethyst-haired woman had to slap herself to get her mind out of the gutter.
"Not now, Sam!" Abigail shoved the source of her temptation away. "We have to stop at the clinic again. We're out of condoms now, remember?"
Her boyfriend blinked. "Oh yeah." Sam frowned and pondered a moment. "Hey, why don't we stop by on our way to the mines? That way we can grab our gear at your place, too."
Abigail shook her head. It was a good idea to make a pit stop, but that was not the only thing they required for a raid on the deeper levels of the mines. "I'd rather have a larger group, so we have a dedicated miner," she articulated. "We still need a fire quartz for the Junimos, if we want to get those mine carts up and running."
"Maybe we should wait for Violet and Sebastian?" Sam suggested.
That answer did not satisfy Abigail, either. Waiting until the other couple got back from ZuZu City would not help her blow off steam now. Besides, she still wanted to hang out at The Stardrop Saloon this evening, per their Friday tradition. Besides, Violet's Winter Feast party, so all the people their age would be there tomorrow night and the pastel-haired woman already warned the gang that it would take all day to prepare for the party at the farmhouse. Not to mention everyone might be hung over or in a food coma on Sunday.
No, they could not wait for Sebastian and Violet. It was necessary to find someone else to replace their usual party members. But who?
Penny flipped through her book as the children read quietly beside her at their usual table in the library. Vincent was unusually attentive to his studies lately, as if something had inspired him to strive for academic excellence. Penny wished she could take credit for the burst of enthusiasm, but she could not recall anything of note that would have changed the boy's behavior.
Should I ask? Penny wondered. Or would that make Vincent self-conscious? The strawberry blond clearly relished praise, though. Perhaps it would be good to tell Vincent that she recognized how hard he was working lately. As she pondered whether to speak up, the teacher noticed movement in her peripheral vision. Penny turned as saw a long lock of tawny hair disappear behind a nearby bookshelf. A red paper rose adorned the empty space on the top of the shelf.
Penny smiled to herself. It was a silent signal from Elliott, who undoubtedly awaited her to slip away and join him in their usual meeting spot. Penny felt a bit guilty, as she did not want the children's education to suffer from her lack of attentiveness. But surely the two would be alright for a few moments.
Penny pretended to finish the book in front of her and excused herself to find another off the shelf. As she rounded the corner, Elliott's strong arms swept her into his embrace. "My beloved Miss Penelope," he whispered in her ear. "How I have missed you!"
The woman pulled away so that she could look up at her lover's face. "We saw each other yesterday, Elliott," Penny reminded him gently. "You helped me tend to the animals on Violet's farm while she was away. You even escorted me to Emily's house so I could drop off my Flower Dance dress, remember?"
"How could I forget a single moment spent in your presence, my love?" Elliott declared, his honey-hued eyes staring at her so unyieldingly that it made her blush. The poet sank back on his heels when he recognized how improperly close to her he stood. Penny could not help but feel disappointed as he established a more modest distance between them. "I simply regret that I cannot spend every waking moment with you, Miss Penelope."
"We all have our own responsibilities," Penny acknowledged, still slightly hurt that Elliott kept her at arm's length. "Jas and Vincent entrust me with their education, and I don't want to let them down." Her emerald-green eyes gazed up toward Elliott. "Is your next book coming along well?"
Elliott's lower lip protruded in a handsome pout. "I am afraid not," the man sighed wistfully. "My mind is thoroughly occupied with more interesting subjects." Penny could not help but find his sulking adorable.
The brunette beamed, encouraging her boyfriend. "I'm sure you'll be writing again in no time, Elliott." Penny's words did not seem to sway his gloomy mood, however. He was so much taller than her, it was difficult to reach his face when he did not lean down to her level. Luckily, there was a small step stool next to Elliott. The schoolteacher quickly used it to her advantage.
Hopping up onto the stool, Penny graced Elliott's cheek with a kiss and uttered another affirmation. "I believe in you."
Penny enjoyed seeing Elliott from this angle. He was still just as handsome, but she reveled in the closeness that the extra height the small platform provided. Elliott's eyelids fell, so that he appeared almost drowsy. "I am afraid you have put yourself in danger, with your lovely lips being so close to mine, Miss Penelope…" he informed her in a low voice that made Penny's heart race.
Elliott raised his hand to caress her cheek. The brunette tilted her head to rest in the warmth of the author's palm. His skin was hot, almost feverish. Penny opened her mouth to ask Elliott if he was unwell, but before she could speak, his lips claimed hers in a kiss.
The brunette was pressed against the spines of the books on the shelf behind her as partner closed the gap between them, running his hands along her body roughly. Penny was swept up in the passion of Elliott's kisses and explored his chest with her hands. He was solid, safe, and yet the woman could not help but feel slightly afraid of this sudden wave of emotion. Penny sighed softly as Elliott's hand grasped her hip, as the other glided along her body to rest on the nape of her neck.
He was gentle yet held her firm. Elliott's hands were hot, but his touch made her body shiver. Penny could not make sense of the contradictions, though instinctually she craved for more. She closed her eyes, allowing herself to be carried away by the sensation of it all. It was as if her love believed that she was his lifeline in a storm at sea, desperately clinging to her so that he might live.
But then, everything ended abruptly.
Penny's eyes fluttered open to find Elliott with his back against the shelf opposite her, several feet away. His honey-colored orbs were wide with panic. "My sincerest apologies, Miss Penelope," Elliott panted. His normally perfectly groomed hair was disheveled, and his countenance beheld a bewildered expression. "I acted ungentlemanly," the poet asserted guiltily, his face painted with the color of his shame. "I took far too many liberties…"
The schoolteacher was too flustered to speak at first, but when she finally composed herself, it was too late. "Please forgive my transgressions, my darling," Elliott requested in a piteous tone, still unable to look at her directly. "I must retreat this instant!"
Penny watched her boyfriend dart down the corridor and around the bend, leaving the library altogether. Jas, who must have heard the commotion once the couple parted ways, peered out from behind the opposite end from which Elliott disappeared. "Are you alright, Miss Penny?" the little girl questioned innocently. "You're all red!"
"I-I'm fine, Jas! I just almost fell off the stool reaching for my book," the brunette lied. Jas' lips pursed as she studied the woman's face, but she shrugged and went back to her studies.
Despite herself, Penny could not help but feel wanting. While she was flattered that her lover had been so passionate in his affections, he ran away and left her breathless, frustrated, and aching for more, Penny could understand why he stopped. They were in a public place, after all. It would have been indecent to continue. But the butterflies in her stomach took flight when Penny imagined what might happen if she and Elliott found themselves truly alone.
Maru hummed an aimless tune as she counted the small, miscellaneous bottles of pills from the back inventory. Some of them would expire by year's end, the nurse observed. I should send them back for proper disposal and order a new batch of these… The young woman took note and separated out the medicines in question to box up later.
While inventory work was important, Maru was running out of tasks to complete to keep busy. Winter was usually a time for people to fall ill to an assortment of minor ailments, but the villagers of Pelican Town were a relatively healthy bunch. There was of course George and Evelyn, who were the eldest and therefore most vulnerable to disease, but they were the exceptions. Most people were active either running a business or spending plenty of time outdoors. However, with Joja Mart in town, Maru would argue that their diets could be improved. Luckily, Violet's crops would continue to add much-needed fresh produce to the local market for the townsfolk.
Maru was thankful that her neighbors were in good health, but it meant that her days went by at a snail's pace. She sighed heavily, boxing up the bottles to return and replacing the stock back in their cabinets. The researcher was nearly finished when she heard the door open at the front and turned to welcome her visitor.
It was Abigail and Sam, looking a bit pink from the healthy glow of cold-weather exercise often displayed on lighter skinned individuals, but otherwise cheerful. Sam pulled off his hat and ran his fingers through his hair to reshape it the way he liked. The blond smiled when he spied her.
"Hey, Maru! How's it going?" Sam addressed her, leaning casually against the service side of the front counter. "Keeping busy?"
Maru did not have much interaction with Sam other than his annual appointments. Sam was her brother's best friend and they shared Penny as a mutual friend, so she had undoubtedly seen the man around many times, but Maru did not know him much on a personal level. Lewis had it in for the blond ever since he dumped a pound of anchovies into the communal soup at the Luau years back, but otherwise he was well-liked throughout the town.
"Honestly, it's been boring lately," Maru answered with a frown. "I'm struggling to find things to occupy myself at work all day." It was not her intention to criticize Harvey, so she did not mention the terrible state of records to which she had not been granted access until she officially took over as her boss' replacement. But Maru could not help but wonder how things had gotten so out of hand even after Harvey hired her as an assistant.
Still, she was not about to list out grievances when the bespectacled man was not there to defend himself. So, Maru decided to add, "What brings the two of you in today?" to shift the topic of conversation.
Abigail nudged Sam with her elbow, and she abruptly decided to check out one of the new medical posters on the far wall. The spiky-haired man chuckled quietly before he disclosed the reason for their visit. "I, uh, we," he corrected himself glancing back toward his partner, "actually need another pack of condoms."
Maru could tell that while Sam was playing it cool, he was a bit embarrassed. And poor Abigail was putting as much distance between herself and Maru as possible. It was one thing to request something so private while in a room alone with a medical professional but ordering protection at the business counter where anyone could walk in was a different situation entirely. Especially in a small town like this where everyone knew everyone, and gossip traveled as quickly as a Summer storm.
How can I make them more comfortable? Maru pondered silently. They shouldn't be ashamed of practicing safe sex. They're being responsible and taking care of their health. "Of course!" the young woman assured her customers, "I'll go get some options for you and you both can decide what best suits your needs."
When she returned from the stock room, Maru found that Abigail had taken her hint and stood awkwardly beside Sam at the counter. The auburn-haired woman set out a few packages to display the options available. "We only have lubricated condoms because Doctor Harvey decided only sadists and clueless virgins go for the unlubricated ones, but otherwise we have a bit of variety here."
The stifled snort of amusement from Abigail signaled that Maru's little joke had lightened the mood somewhat. Maru decided to take it a step further, "I'm letting you both know that the 'extra-large' packs are exactly the same size as the others, only marketed to capitalize upon male insecurity." Another smirk from Abigail.
"Otherwise, it's up to personal preference," Maru explained in a friendly tone, lining the small boxes in front of the couple. "Though I recommend that variety packs are an excellent way to experiment and find out what you like best if you're not sure."
"W-we'll take this one," Abigail announced, deciding on a package, and holding it out toward Maru to check them out. Sam and Abigail exchanged a look and the blond nodded approvingly. They seemed happy, even if they were still a little embarrassed. It was nice.
As they checked out, Maru gave them a quick reminder. "Don't keep those outside too long, even in a bag or coat pocket," the nurse warned. "They tend to degrade pretty rapidly after about an hour and become too brittle to be of any use in temperatures this low."
Though it was hard to tell with Abigail's fair complexion, Maru could not help but notice Sam became visibly pale. The couple exchanged a look that was completely different than the silent, trusting communication they shared moments ago. Was it something I said?
Perhaps she had ruined - or in fact saved them - from something with her warning, but she did not want to rain on their parade entirely. "So long as they don't get too hot or too cold, they should be fine!" Maru added, trying to assuage whatever worries they might have. "Room temperature should be just fine, even in Winter."
Sam, who was the first of the two to recover, immediately changed the subject. "Hey, Maru. Quick question: Have you ever been in the mines?"
Maru nodded. "Of course! I go there occasionally to find components for my inventions," she explained. "I have a whole notebook filled with notes on where to find certain items. Are you looking for something in particular?"
Abigail chimed in. "We're looking for fire quartz," she informed the younger woman.
"Ah, I recently found a few of those on my last expedition with Alex." That felt so long ago now, Maru realized sadly. She missed hanging out with people socially. It was hard to maintain friendships when you were responsible for running a business and keeping your neighbors healthy. No wonder Doctor Harvey had troubles, Maru thought. She had even neglected proper friendship conservation with Penny since taking over the clinic.
Sam must have caught on to some visual cue to her dampened mood and extended an invitation. "Do you want to join us? We're about to head there now to do some exploring. Abigail and I are hunting for some 'void essence,' too."
Maru was touched by the gesture, but she declined. "I have to keep the clinic open."
Abigail scoffed. "Have you seen anyone other than us in the last week?"
"A few people had their annual physicals. I always do those on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the week…"
Sam hopped up onto the counter. "It sounds like you're free then!" he proclaimed, swinging his legs over the smooth surface, and sliding down to stand beside her. "C'mon, we have to stop by Abigail's to get some supplies first, but then we can all head out!"
"I can't leave the clinic unattended!" Maru objected, despite her desire to go with them and explore the caves. She had responsibilities.
Abigail rolled her eyes. "C'mon, Maru. Live a little!" she urged the nurse. "You've been running this place all by yourself every single day. Even my dad takes a day off once a week!"
Pierre is a known workaholic, Maru acknowledged to herself. The clinic hours were shortened on Saturdays and Sundays, but Abigail was right. She did not want to be like that. Maru wanted a social life. Hesitantly, the researcher agreed. "Okay, I'll close up early today and leave a note on the door in case of an emergency."
"Awesome!" Sam yelled triumphantly, hoisting Maru up over his shoulder like a sack of flour. He was surprisingly strong. "Let's go!"
"At least let me change out of my uniform first!"
The blond chuckled and put Maru down. "Alright, but meet us outside of Abigail's place in ten minutes, okay?"
Maru had felt like a social pariah lately. So much so, that the young woman was on the verge of happy tears now that she was being included with other people. "Sure thing!" the nurse replied eagerly. "Thank you both for inviting me." It felt good that other people wanted her company again.
Samantha was a bit put out that her brother had been so busy since the wedding. While she understood on some level that Shane had inherited a ton of problems from the old geezer he replaced as mayor of this tiny town, it was low-key rude her estranged sibling did not carve out more time for her.
The worst part was that Haley told her Aunt Marnie used to date Lewis until she finally gained an ounce of self-respect and dumped his ass. He's lucky he skipped town, otherwise he'd have to catch these hands… Samantha grumbled to herself. No one disrespected her favorite Aunt Marnie, especially not some creep.
So, without Shane to entertain her, Samantha once again found herself lingering in the living room. It felt weird to have the biggest room in Haley's house since Emily moved out to live with Shane in the Mayoral Manor, but the blonde did not want to put forth the effort to move her room. Besides, Haley assumed that her parents would want their room back when they returned from their world travels, and she was happy with her bedroom the way it was.
Samantha could not really argue that, but she preferred to spend her free time lounging on the sofa in the living room instead of sleeping the day away. While it was tempting to catch up on lost sleep during the Winter break before the Spring terms started up again, Samantha did not want to waste half her vacation.
The soft click of Haley's bedroom door signaled that her sister-in-law was awake now. Samantha sat up and draped herself over the back of the couch to greet the curly-haired woman. Haley, who had come out of her room in full make-up, pulled her lips back in a grin. It showed off the subtle shimmer of her lip gloss.
"Have you eaten breakfast yet?" the older woman solicited her guest, heading toward the kitchen.
Samantha hopped off the couch and followed Haley past the fireplace to check the refrigerator for ingredients. "No, I wanted to eat together," the dark-haired woman responded, pulling out a carton of eggs. "I hate eating alone. It takes half the fun out of it, you know?"
"Aw!" Haley laughed. "You're so cute, Sammy," the blonde teased, giving her a quick squeeze before browsing through the pantry.
Samantha spied a muffin tin in one of the cabinets and suddenly she had to have one. "Do you know how to make muffins?" the younger woman questioned hopefully. She could really go for a chocolate cheesecake muffin from her dorm cafeteria right now, but Samantha knew it would take a miracle to find one here in this tiny coastal town.
"The best I can do is a mix," Haley offered apologetically, pulling out a box with picture-perfect lemon poppy seed muffins on the front. "Is that okay?"
The younger woman jumped on the chance for warm baked goods. "Bet! But you can't let me eat them all, I have zero self-control when it comes to these things." Samantha pulled down the rest of the ingredients from the cupboard overhead as Haley got a bowl ready.
"So, what does everyone around here do for fun on the weekends?" Samantha asked, hoping to get ideas on what to do for the next several days. She fished out a hair tie from the pocket of her loose pajama pants and pulled back her hair in a lazy bun. "You guys don't seem to have a lot in terms of entertainment around here."
Haley sighed a bit too heavily for comfort. "A lot of locals go to the saloon on Friday nights, but it's never really been my thing," she explained.
"Uh, why not?" the dark-haired woman inquired, pouring the contents of the pre-packaged mix into Haley's bowl. "The bar is like the only place to hang out in town."
Haley's blue eyes fixated on the rim of the bowl as she cracked an egg as she continued to mix with the wooden spoon in her opposite hand. "Alex always goes to bed super early because he doesn't want to get into 'bad habits' that will be hard to break when he finally makes it as a pro-gridball player, and I didn't want to go by myself like some total freak."
Samantha rolled her eyes at the blonde's answer. "Well, no wonder Leah hasn't snatched you up yet!" the woman complained indignantly. "You can't sit here in your ivory tower and expect Leah to come to you." She could not let an opportunity like this go to waste.
"Let's go tonight!" the younger woman proposed with a giddy smirk, "It'll be fun."
For once, Haley looked unsure of herself. It was weird to see her stunning sister-in-law appear so apprehensive. "I don't know…"
"Haley!" Samantha took the blonde's hand, causing a bit of muffin batter to splatter onto the countertop and onto her face. "You've got to put yourself out there! Take some initiative," she shouted in support. "Leah is already super salty we're spending so much time together, I heard it from reliable sources."
"Really?"
Samantha beamed at her new relative. "You've got this, Haley, no cap!" The young woman bobbed up and down excitedly, almost missing the muffin tin liners as she poured the batter in the tiny cups. Finally! she thought excitedly. Her enthusiasm overflowed from her in a singsong voice. "We're so going to get you boo'd up by the end of the weekend, sis."