deep

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This day, she found herself upon the shores, soft white sand still warm beneath her paws and belly. Despite the clouds overhead, there had been enough sun to keep the beaches warm and a fantastic place to bathe in such warm light. this place, despite her run in with the little fox, gave her such like, such energy. Esmerelda could feel it filling her, healing her, giving her life in a way many things could not.

She stretched those grey paws out, all the way down to her toes, spreading them as best she could before rolling onto her side, continuing to laze about. Those stormy eyes closed, Esmerelda had no notion of her sailor, so upset, heading her way.

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I should be asleep bc I have work in 5 hours. And yet…



There was some stir in the air, some force that pushed against the tranquility of the beach and it’s tide that rushed in, then out. In. Out. Her breathing matched it. In when the ocean pulled back, out when the water pushed in. It was so easy to be at peace here and yet…

Another breath in and she new that her salt soaked sailor was near, putting a lazy, sleepy smile on that face. “Come closer, amante. Tell me what bothers you so.” Had she glanced her way, to see the emotions strewn across Wake’s face? No one could be too sure, not even Esmeralda. Sometimes, she just knew things. Felt things. There wasn’t always an explanation.
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The fox. Her smile faded a touch, an ear flickering in irritation as she thought of the creature. Stretching once more, briefly, Esmerelda shifted so that she could better eye the Captain of the island, not immediately giving an answer. The knee jerk response, purely of spite, was yes, but she assumed Wake sought honesty in this moment, and not the cruel and vindictive woman that Esme could sometimes be.

“It depends.” She would say finally, light eyes watching the other's face for a reaction. “It depends on many things, as the weather depends on many things. There is no simple answer, though.” She would let those words sit for a minute before she continued speaking, sincerity present in all its forms. “Do I like her? Not particularly, but I don't favor those that aren't of our own kind.” Another truth, one it was likely important to let Wake know. “I also think she runs her mouth when she is scared. But I could see how a cunning creature could be useful.”

“Above all, I trust your judgement, and if you wish her to be around, or any others, then I trust you. And if they bring harm to anyone else, I will simply toss them out to sea.” A small jest, followed by a little wiggle to move closer, resting her muzzle upon Wake's foreleg. “What happened?”

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Such revelations of the fox's tactics and dishonesty drew Esme's mouth into a deeper frown. She knew that, eventually, they would have found such places themselves, but to have the creature discover them and withhold them was... rather despicable in her eyes. If she wanted to belong, she needed to put forward the same effort as they did. If she did not want to do such things, then Esmerelda would waste no time in simply running her out. Or killing her, for her fur would serve to warm their den, and her meat would fill their bellies; more use than she'd been so far.

“Then it is not you making the mistake, amante. You have told her how you expected your relationship to be and she withheld her knowledge. She did not uphold her end of the bargain. She is the one making the mistake. To be a bitch and then ask forgiveness is manipulative and abusive in its own way.” She sought to wound her lover, and then ask for Wake's favor after inflicting such hurt? It was a despicable tactic, for although Esme could be manipulative, hurting one's soul, one's selfworth was a different sort of cruel.

“She told me you claimed her. I threatened her life for it. She withheld information from you, and you threatened her. Do you wish to give the little creature another chance or do you want to withdraw your protection from her?” It would be a complex answer, of that she was sure, but she was curious to know what Wake thought anyway.

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Esme nodded, accepting the Captain's firm decision. If it happened again, the sea-witch would have no problem carrying out such orders, especially as the fox was already on thin ice in with her. “Meu amante — My lover, you were thinking of us, of what we seek to build together.” Her head lifted, running her tongue along the woman's chin before nuzzling the thick, salty fur of her neck, putting herself in a position that was practically half curled across Wake's forelegs.

“There will always be good choices and those that are... not so good. But we do not find out what kind of choices we make until we make them. It is a necessary thing, hm?” Deep down, in a part of herself that Esmerelda did not give much attention to, she was thoroughly pleased and flattered that Wake had come to her for such advice, such solace. While their coupling had been because of a chemistry, a spark that burned between them, she was happy -- more than -- to add all this deeper fuel to it. Another drop in the cup that was slowly filling with an emotion she did not yet name.

“This is why you have your Mystic, hm? So that she can advise you and reassure you and strengthen you, no?” A pretty smile then, nipping that lovely neck.

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oof so so soooo sorry for the wait dear <3 also I never knew the actual terms for a heartbeat were "lub dub"

---

Even as Wake groomed her fur, the merle-coated witch laughed, bright and brilliant, head tossed back as she let the emotion take her for a moment. A paw hooked over her shoulder, managing to pull the thundercloud female closer, bring her in tighter. “Meu amor — My love, I highly doubt you could ever be stupid. Blind, perhaps, though I love those beautiful eyes of yours, hm? Let's keep them right where they are.” With her guard down, the word slipped out; not quite as poignant as I love you, no, but no less meaningful or heartfelt.

With a roll, Esme reversed their positions, putting that bold, crass, wonderful woman of hers beneath her. Periwinkle eyes colored with all the shades of a lilac storm stared down at her, suddenly deeply serious as she met the steely gaze that looked back up at her. She could feel her a deep pounding in her chest, blood flooding and rushing in her ears as the words began to travel upwards from her very heart.

lub dub

lub dub

lub dub

A beat of silence stretched so far that Esmerelda felt like some god had stopped time and frozen everything around them for millenia. And that wouldn't have been anything she opposed, for the thought of spending those years with her sailor, her captain, her Wake, only finalized the spell and brought the words out of that delicate mouth.

“I love you, Wake.”

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i love them i love them so so so much.

---

The question captured her breath in a way that none before had. Every moment of every life collapsed until all that remained in her mind was this moment, this woman, this life. Nothing else mattered, not a damn thing. She wouldn't have cared if any Mystic before them hadn't wed, hadn't tied themselves to another. Esmerelda could have been the first of them who did and it wouldn't have mattered one way or another. She would readily leap for that offering that shone like a star before her.

“Yes,” she breathed almost instantly, the word whispering over her lips. “Yes yes yes.” The answer was fervent, as passionate as the kisses blessed upon Wake's face and throat, looping the spindling red threads of fate 'round and 'round the two of them.

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“I will take any name you have, my love. Any. We can create one together, even.” For Wake, the witch would drag the moon down to them if only so that she could gift it to the woman that she have done anything and everything for.

Here, on this island, on this beach, under this sky and these stars, Esmerelda would whisper those words again, her heart, her soul overflowing with such emotion.

“I love you. We will create our own name, as we have created this place and this pack.” She gave her one last kiss before she would settle in at her loves side, curled so that her ear lay against the chest that caged the heart that she had stolen, only so that she could cherish and love it forever. “I will stay by your side for all eternity, if you would have me.”

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It was a fair point, and it served to make the Mystic smile all the more. “And I, your sass, my sailor. Among a great many other things. Your heart” a kiss to her cheek “your wit” another kiss to her ear “your fire” her jaw now, then her neck. “I love all of you, every inch, every piece, every spark.” For Wake had burned brightly in her eyes ever since they had met, and Esmerelda would tend to and stoke that fire for as long as she was welcome, as long as she was wanted.

“Hmm. A name...” It was not an easy thing to settle on, and if a name hadn't so easily slipped into her mind just then, she might have asked Wake to allow her to think on it. But as if magic, as their whole relationship had managed up to now and would continue to, a seemingly perfect thing spun itself into existence. “Nerei, like the Nereids — creatures of the sea, as we are.” She tasted the name again, only in a different, better way this time.

“Esmerelda and and Wake Nerei, of the Saltwoods.”

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It was a fair point, and it served to make the Mystic smile all the more. “And I, your sass, my sailor. Among a great many other things. Your heart” a kiss to her cheek “your wit” another kiss to her ear “your fire” her jaw now, then her neck. “I love all of you, every inch, every piece, every spark.” For Wake had burned brightly in her eyes ever since they had met, and Esmerelda would tend to and stoke that fire for as long as she was welcome, as long as she was wanted.

“Hmm. A name...” It was not an easy thing to settle on, and if a name hadn't so easily slipped into her mind just then, she might have asked Wake to allow her to think on it. But as if magic, as their whole relationship had managed up to now and would continue to, a seemingly perfect thing spun itself into existence. “Nerei, like the Nereids — creatures of the sea, as we are.” She tasted the name again, only in a different, better way this time.

“Esmerelda and and Wake Nerei, of the Saltwoods.”

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