" He was a lovely boy, clad in skeleton leaves and the juices that ooze out of trees; but the most entrancing thing about him was that he had all his first teeth. when he saw she was a grown-up, he gnashed the little pearls at her."
Branch places his finger on the next page and closed the book, the sound of Poppy's slow, soft breaths filling the now otherwise silent room. The teal troll smiles down at where she lays perpendicular to him, her head resting in his lap. Branch uses his free hand to gently run his fingers through her pink curls. The touch causes Poppy to stir slightly.
"Mmm, one more chapter," The Pop Queen says, though her eyes are still shut and she makes no effort to move. Branch laughs.
"I'm afraid i can't, love," Branch says. "you've already fallen asleep on me." The Pop Queen turns over onto her back and frowns up at him.
"Fine," The Pop Queen says. "i guess we'll call it a night, then. turn off the lights for me?" Branch nods. Poppy sits up as he slides out of bed, walking across the room to turn the light switch down. When he turns back around, Poppy is already under the covers and lying back against her pillow. The teal troll walks back towards the bed and gets under the covers as well. Once he does, Poppy slides towards him, resting her head against his chest. The Pop Queen dozes back off so quickly, she forgets to wish Branch goodnight. The teal troll only smiles and shakes his head at the realization, kissing her on the forehead. her nose scrunches as his lips tickles her skin, and Branch almost wishes he had a camera to capture the adorable expression.
"Sweet Dreams, Poppy," Branch whispers in her ear. Poppy, of course, says nothing back, but the way she seems to side in closer, lazily throwing an arm across Branch's torso, is answer enough.