(Reposting xD) First : https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1129146201/ Next : https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1129147802/ Previous : N/A Him. Again, the way he gently held her hand as she ranted about her new favorite drama, catching him up on literally everything he needed to know. The way he gently fiddled with the scarf he was wearing, messing with the frayed ends interlocking with his fingers. The white turtleneck was soft against her skin as she leaned on his shoulder. “Well,” He whispered, as if not wanting to interrupt her, “I’ll be sure to watch it with you.” His deep bass voice was everything to her, along with the way he gently rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand. “Penny! It’s so good! Like you have no idea!” Orchid giggled, giving Penn a small peck on the cheek. “It’s totally your cup of tea! I can see you enjoying it!” He just smiled as he moved a bit of hair from her face. As if he were wanting to get a better look at her. “I’m sure I would.” She then continued to rant, mainly about the main characters, and how one acts a lot like Cupid, the show being about a matchmaker, matching people together and making them fall in love, but he himself could never fall in love. His gaze softened as he saw how enticed Orchid was in this show, her excitement, as if it were contagious, started tracing his face. The steadfast passage of time seemed to have disappeared from his face. He started to give a slow, small chuckle. Orchid tilted her head, quickly before bursting into giggles herself. “Please! Stop! Why are you even laughing?” “I just think it’s adorable!” Penn exclaimed, throwing his hands in surrender. “You think anything I do is adorable at this point.” Orchid laughed, nudging her boyfriend in the ribs, leaving him to give a small recoil and a couple of chirps. She had always found that adorable. The small bird noises he made, especially since they had gotten together, the dove noises he would often make around her. She had to get used to such a thing, the gentle bird calls as he did various things with her, like chat or just in her general vicinity. “I would physically overthrow a small to medium sized nation for you.” He cooed, running his hand through her hair, his fingers soft and gentle to the touch. “Simple as that. I would literally kill another sin for you.” “Stop!” Orchid couldn’t stop giggling at this point, She made the right choice, is what she thought. He was such an amazing man, a real cosmopolite. He was a gentle, caring man, who, although, still filled with self-loathing, he was getting better. At least much better than the time he punched a mirror almost 2 years ago. “Really! Genuinely! I get it! I get it! Just stop!” “Alright! Alright!” The man gave her another peck on the forehead as he held her face, tilting his head. The small smile was a vast improvement from his normal expressions. Even his eyebags seem to have decreased in size since the events of the previous year. His hair had gotten slightly longer, barely passing his shoulders and about a 4th of the way down his forearms. All tied into a neat ponytail under his newsboy’s cap. “Also, you think I could have my trench back when you’re done?” So? She stole his trench coat- it’s not like he was going to be using it, it was a crisp, cool autumn evening, think late September. The type of evening that they would take a slow walk in, the type of evening that even the glorious days of summer and spring would be jealous of. The type of evening that beats a cozy winter day inside, huddling by the fire. The type of evening they had just came inside from, although, autumn was objectively, one of her least favorite seasons, she understood why it was Penn’s. It was a vast moment for inspiration and just gentle walks and weather. Such a thing had to have been perfect, just like him. Penn laughed as he pulled Orchid closer, having a sensitive nose was a blessing and a curse. Although, she couldn’t tell in this situation. His coffee-like aroma filled her senses, leaving her efforts to be futile to keep her current thoughts. She giggled as she pushed him away. “Oh, my heavens! Stop! You’re getting too comfortable doing this.” This, however, caused more of a light-hearted reaction from him. Such a thing wouldn’t have happened a year ago. Why does she keep on back tracking there? It was before she confessed her feelings. Back in February of 2023, she had confessed her feelings right after this man had fought to keep the lives of this group he called his family. This family he held dear, this family that she had cared for like a mother. This family that he felt like he had to be a father to. This man had risked his life to save a couple of people that were strangers. The man that welcomed them all with open arms. The man that finally made her smile to others again since her death. The man that helped her overcome her fears, and truly get out of her shell.
Long ago, in her life, sure, she was raised decently. In a polite household, with genuinely stellar parents and siblings. When did she mess up then? She messed up in choosing her partner. The one that would be “her forever.” This man, this may be hard to get through, because it brings back such horrible memories, didn’t care for her well-being like she did for him. She poured her soul into her garden, might as well, nothing else brought her much joy, until the day that “her lover” destroyed it all. The memory still photo clear in her head, the blonde hair and his sharp eyes pierced into her very soul, yelling at her for not upholding his wishes. That very same day, she held a common poison in her hand, commonly found in many plants, and ingested a large portion, she died in that very same hour. She was then, shut off in death, straying away from men, that was until Penn had taken a walk with her, as she begrudgingly trudged through the path, seeing the wide grin on his face as she consented to him grasping her hand. She originally thought he was going to hurt her, but such accusation was proved wrong when he gently pulled her along, starting a small conversation. His laughs sounded genuine, and every ounce of her felt loved, at least in a platonic way. The day ended with the 2 accidentally fusing, but immediately separating with Penn profusely apologizing. She didn’t mind. Not in the slightest. She felt like she had lived a life that she hadn’t before in those moments. A life where she could do whatever she wanted, it was liberating. Now, where is she? She’s with him, laughing and loving him. He was perfect, rather pessimistic, sure, but he was an extremely considerate person. She doesn’t deserve someone like him. Someone so wholesome, and good looking at that. Gentle, caring eyes with soft, grey, feather-like hair. That smile, albeit a small one, carried a vast amount of weight off her shoulders. “Are you okay?” He grinned, stifling a laugh as his gaze fixated on her eyes. “You’ve been speechless for about a minute.” Oh, she must have zoned out, of course she zoned out. Why wouldn’t she zone out? Count how many times the phrase “zoned out” was mentioned, you’d get way too many. She could not believe he was close, could not believe that he was holding her, gently messing with her hair again. “Well, are you?” His voice teased, it looked like he was having more and more trouble stifling the laugh. “Yes, yes! I’m fine! Don’t worry!” Orchid giggled, trying to keep her composure, “I- uh…” If looks could kill, his would revive. Her heart almost skipped a beat every time she heard his laugh. A booming voice against his usual soft expression. “Stop looking at me like that!” Penn just looked at her with a slightly puzzled expression, he furrowed an eyebrow quickly before bursting into laughter. “Like what?” “That!” Orchid exclaimed; a smile quickly plastered onto her face following Penn’s. Happy she found someone like him. “Right, right!” Penn exclaimed, quickly letting her go to put some space between them. “The hell were you two doin’?” Jackie laughed, putting on her leather jacket and layering a punk armband over. Her voice sounded slightly sore, as if she had just gotten back from a performance and was on her way to another. “Don’t knock ‘em, Jax.” Atlas laughed, nudging her. “We were like that once.” His smile had sharp, jagged teeth, just like Jackie’s. He fiddled with her ginger hair as she playfully pushed him away. “Psh, shut up.” Jackie rolled her eyes. “You married me for a reason, doll!” Atlas teased, flicking her nose, which led her to pull one of his antlers. “Jokes on you, I don’t have giant moose antlers you can grab.” Jackie gave him a quick kiss before letting go. “Remind yourself of that next time you doubt my power.” “What power?” Atlas snickered as Jackie pulled one of his antlers again. “Ow- Ow- ALRIGHT!” Orchid giggled at the cute interaction, she felt like this was at least somewhat entertaining. Craziest thing was that they apparently had known each other in life, which is difficult to believe. The odds of that happening are next to impossible. Most of this stuff is improbable. How did she fall in love with this man? How are they meant for each other? She shouldn’t be with anyone, let alone him. There Penn was, rubbing his thumb over the back of her hand again, tracing small shapes like he was making a masterpiece, which he really wasn’t. His gaze was just fixated on their hands, as if not wanting to harm the one thing he held closest.
