Mr_DC
Been a while
The twin suns of Epsilon dipped low on the horizon, painting the sky in a breathtaking canvas of orange and purple as Crimson and Rose approached the outskirts of a small frontier town. The air hummed with an unusual energy, and the distant sound of music and laughter drifted towards them.
"What's that noise?" Crimson asked, her hands moving to her hips, one finger resting on her holstered sidearm.
Rose's large ears twitched as she focused on the sounds. "It sounds like... fun!" she exclaimed, her amber eyes widening with excitement.
As they crested a small hill, the source of the commotion became clear. The town square was alive with color and movement. Strings of lights crisscrossed overhead, illuminating makeshift stalls and attractions. People of all ages milled about, their faces alight with joy.
"It's a festival!" Rose squealed, practically bouncing on her toes.
Crimson's eyes narrowed as she scanned the desert surroundings. "Seems like a security nightmare here," she muttered.
Rose tugged at Crimson's worn leather duster, her small hand just reaching the human's waist. "Come on, let's check it out!"
Crimson hesitated, but Rose was already bounding down the hill toward the festivities. With a sigh, Crimson followed, her eyes constantly moving, assessing potential threats.
As they entered the town proper, the sights and smells overwhelmed their senses. Food stalls lined one side of the square, offering everything from grilled meats to sweet pastries. On the other side, carnival games beckoned with bright colors and the promise of prizes.
Rose darted from stall to stall, her enthusiasm infectious. Even Crimson found the corners of her mouth twitching upward as she watched her excitement.
"Crimson, look!" Rose called, pointing to a ring toss game. "Want to try?"
Crimson shook her head. "Those games are rigged, Rose. It's a waste of-"
But Rose was already handing over some credits to the stall operator, a grizzled old man with a friendly smile. He handed Rose three rings.
"Just get one ring on a bottle neck, and you win a prize," he explained.
Rose's first two throws went wide, but on her third attempt, the ring caught the neck of a bottle and spun around it before settling.
"We have a winner!" the old man announced, handing Rose a small stuffed animal - a very cute version of a beast they saw in the wild a week ago.
Rose beamed, holding up her prize to Crimson. "See? Not impossible!"
Crimson allowed herself a small smile. "Nice throw."
As they continued through the festival, Rose insisted on trying every food she could get her hands on. Crimson found herself holding an assortment of half-eaten snacks as Rose flitted from one stall to the next.
"You should try this!" Rose said, offering Crimson a stick of some kind of grilled meat.
Crimson hesitated, then took a small bite. The flavors exploded in her mouth - spicy, sweet, and savory all at once. "That's... not bad," she admitted.
Rose grinned. "See? Sometimes it's good to try new things!"
As the night wore on, the crowd began to thin. Families with young children headed home, leaving mostly adults enjoying the cooler evening air.
"Look, Crimson!" Rose pointed to a cleared area where couples were dancing to the sound of a small band. "Let's dance!"
Crimson shook her head firmly, her body tensing at the mere suggestion. "I don't dance."
"Come on, it'll be fun!" Rose pleaded, her large eyes wide and imploring, a look that had worn down Crimson's defenses more than once.
But this time, Crimson stood firm, crossing her arms. "No, Rose. I'll watch from here."
Rose's ears drooped slightly, but she nodded. "Okay. I'm going to go try, though!"
Crimson watched as Rose made her way to the dance area. The Ciri's small stature made it difficult for her to find a partner at first, but soon a kind-looking older woman took Rose's hands and began to show her the steps.
From a nearby bench, Crimson kept a watchful eye on Rose and the surroundings. She noticed a group of young men eyeing Rose and whispering among themselves. Crimson straightened in attention, but she held back, waiting to see what would unfold.
One of the men approached Rose, tapping her on the shoulder. Crimson stood up, ready to intervene. But instead of trouble, the man simply offered his hand, inviting Rose to dance. Rose's face lit up as she accepted, and soon she was twirling and laughing with her new partner.
Sitting back down, Crimson felt a strange tightness in her chest as she watched. It took her a moment to recognize the feeling as a mix of pride and something else - a twinge of loneliness, perhaps?
As the night grew later, the band announced the last dance. Rose made her way back to Crimson, her face flushed with exertion and joy.
"That was amazing!" she exclaimed. "Are you sure you don't want to try? Last chance!"
Crimson opened her mouth to refuse again, but something in Rose's expression made her pause. With a deep breath, she nodded. "Alright. One dance."
Rose's eyes widened in surprise, then she grabbed Crimson's hand and pulled her towards the dance area. The band struck up a slow, melodic tune.
Crimson stood stiffly, unsure of what to do with herself. Rose giggled and patiently guided Crimson's hands. Despite the significant difference in their heights, they managed to find a comfortable position.
"Just move with the music," Rose encouraged, her voice soft and reassuring.
Crimson's movements were awkward at first, her eyes fixed on her feet to avoid stepping on Rose. But gradually, she began to relax, letting the rhythm guide her.
As they swayed to the music, Crimson found herself looking down at Rose. The Ciri's eyes were closed, a content smile on her face as she leaned against Crimson. In that moment, Crimson felt a wave of protectiveness wash over her.
The song ended too soon, and as the last notes faded away, Rose looked up at Crimson. "Thank you," she said softly.
Crimson nodded, not trusting herself to speak.
As they made their way out of town, Rose chattering excitedly about everything they'd seen and done, Crimson felt a warmth in her chest that had nothing to do with the warm night.
They set up camp a short distance from the town, the sounds of the festival still faintly audible in the distance. As Rose curled up in her bedroll, clutching her stuffed animal prize, she yawned widely.
"That was the best night ever," she murmured sleepily.
Crimson, sitting by the small campfire, allowed herself a small smile. "It wasn't bad," she admitted.
As Rose's breathing evened out in sleep, Crimson gazed at the stars overhead. The night had been full of surprises, not least of which was how much she had enjoyed herself. She glanced at Rose's sleeping form and felt that unfamiliar warmth again.
Maybe, she thought, there was something to be said for trying new things after all.
"What's that noise?" Crimson asked, her hands moving to her hips, one finger resting on her holstered sidearm.
Rose's large ears twitched as she focused on the sounds. "It sounds like... fun!" she exclaimed, her amber eyes widening with excitement.
As they crested a small hill, the source of the commotion became clear. The town square was alive with color and movement. Strings of lights crisscrossed overhead, illuminating makeshift stalls and attractions. People of all ages milled about, their faces alight with joy.
"It's a festival!" Rose squealed, practically bouncing on her toes.
Crimson's eyes narrowed as she scanned the desert surroundings. "Seems like a security nightmare here," she muttered.
Rose tugged at Crimson's worn leather duster, her small hand just reaching the human's waist. "Come on, let's check it out!"
Crimson hesitated, but Rose was already bounding down the hill toward the festivities. With a sigh, Crimson followed, her eyes constantly moving, assessing potential threats.
As they entered the town proper, the sights and smells overwhelmed their senses. Food stalls lined one side of the square, offering everything from grilled meats to sweet pastries. On the other side, carnival games beckoned with bright colors and the promise of prizes.
Rose darted from stall to stall, her enthusiasm infectious. Even Crimson found the corners of her mouth twitching upward as she watched her excitement.
"Crimson, look!" Rose called, pointing to a ring toss game. "Want to try?"
Crimson shook her head. "Those games are rigged, Rose. It's a waste of-"
But Rose was already handing over some credits to the stall operator, a grizzled old man with a friendly smile. He handed Rose three rings.
"Just get one ring on a bottle neck, and you win a prize," he explained.
Rose's first two throws went wide, but on her third attempt, the ring caught the neck of a bottle and spun around it before settling.
"We have a winner!" the old man announced, handing Rose a small stuffed animal - a very cute version of a beast they saw in the wild a week ago.
Rose beamed, holding up her prize to Crimson. "See? Not impossible!"
Crimson allowed herself a small smile. "Nice throw."
As they continued through the festival, Rose insisted on trying every food she could get her hands on. Crimson found herself holding an assortment of half-eaten snacks as Rose flitted from one stall to the next.
"You should try this!" Rose said, offering Crimson a stick of some kind of grilled meat.
Crimson hesitated, then took a small bite. The flavors exploded in her mouth - spicy, sweet, and savory all at once. "That's... not bad," she admitted.
Rose grinned. "See? Sometimes it's good to try new things!"
As the night wore on, the crowd began to thin. Families with young children headed home, leaving mostly adults enjoying the cooler evening air.
"Look, Crimson!" Rose pointed to a cleared area where couples were dancing to the sound of a small band. "Let's dance!"
Crimson shook her head firmly, her body tensing at the mere suggestion. "I don't dance."
"Come on, it'll be fun!" Rose pleaded, her large eyes wide and imploring, a look that had worn down Crimson's defenses more than once.
But this time, Crimson stood firm, crossing her arms. "No, Rose. I'll watch from here."
Rose's ears drooped slightly, but she nodded. "Okay. I'm going to go try, though!"
Crimson watched as Rose made her way to the dance area. The Ciri's small stature made it difficult for her to find a partner at first, but soon a kind-looking older woman took Rose's hands and began to show her the steps.
From a nearby bench, Crimson kept a watchful eye on Rose and the surroundings. She noticed a group of young men eyeing Rose and whispering among themselves. Crimson straightened in attention, but she held back, waiting to see what would unfold.
One of the men approached Rose, tapping her on the shoulder. Crimson stood up, ready to intervene. But instead of trouble, the man simply offered his hand, inviting Rose to dance. Rose's face lit up as she accepted, and soon she was twirling and laughing with her new partner.
Sitting back down, Crimson felt a strange tightness in her chest as she watched. It took her a moment to recognize the feeling as a mix of pride and something else - a twinge of loneliness, perhaps?
As the night grew later, the band announced the last dance. Rose made her way back to Crimson, her face flushed with exertion and joy.
"That was amazing!" she exclaimed. "Are you sure you don't want to try? Last chance!"
Crimson opened her mouth to refuse again, but something in Rose's expression made her pause. With a deep breath, she nodded. "Alright. One dance."
Rose's eyes widened in surprise, then she grabbed Crimson's hand and pulled her towards the dance area. The band struck up a slow, melodic tune.
Crimson stood stiffly, unsure of what to do with herself. Rose giggled and patiently guided Crimson's hands. Despite the significant difference in their heights, they managed to find a comfortable position.
"Just move with the music," Rose encouraged, her voice soft and reassuring.
Crimson's movements were awkward at first, her eyes fixed on her feet to avoid stepping on Rose. But gradually, she began to relax, letting the rhythm guide her.
As they swayed to the music, Crimson found herself looking down at Rose. The Ciri's eyes were closed, a content smile on her face as she leaned against Crimson. In that moment, Crimson felt a wave of protectiveness wash over her.
The song ended too soon, and as the last notes faded away, Rose looked up at Crimson. "Thank you," she said softly.
Crimson nodded, not trusting herself to speak.
As they made their way out of town, Rose chattering excitedly about everything they'd seen and done, Crimson felt a warmth in her chest that had nothing to do with the warm night.
They set up camp a short distance from the town, the sounds of the festival still faintly audible in the distance. As Rose curled up in her bedroll, clutching her stuffed animal prize, she yawned widely.
"That was the best night ever," she murmured sleepily.
Crimson, sitting by the small campfire, allowed herself a small smile. "It wasn't bad," she admitted.
As Rose's breathing evened out in sleep, Crimson gazed at the stars overhead. The night had been full of surprises, not least of which was how much she had enjoyed herself. She glanced at Rose's sleeping form and felt that unfamiliar warmth again.
Maybe, she thought, there was something to be said for trying new things after all.
