heavensnight | somnia inbox

[Maria was wary to worship Sleep. worshipping a great, dark power had been how she'd found her recent ending at James's hands. but there had to be other ways. something about simply hating Sleep, only looking at her as a great evil or as a great power felt like simplifying something that wasn't easy. it made her uncomfortable. Maria saw too much of herself in Sleep.

lost in her thoughts, Vander's feelings through the tether caught her attention again and she smiled at him. he cared about her. greatly. she made him happy as much as he made her happy and it made Maria feel good. how couldn't she be grateful to Sleep? it was thanks to her that she had met Vander.]

She might only care about One. But that doesn't mean anything, I think. You can seek the attention of only one person but still want to be acknowledged by more than only them. [Maria finally rested her head on her arm again.] Gonna ask her out on a date?

[Vander had believed in Janna as many of the fissurefolk did, but he never put that much stock that she would sweep in and make things better. She was a point of their culture, but worship was not something that he did for otherworldly beings. Sleep was included in that sentiment; if anything, his feelings towards Sleep were more expecting a young adult expressing themselves in a not particularly healthy way.

Their eyes met, but it was her smile that lit up the room. The corner of his lips quirked in a return smile, slightly boyish and definitely charming. The warmth within the tether seemed to increase now that they were dwelling on the security and companionship they brought each other.]

Hmm, true. Obviously she is craving attention from more than One; it feels performative with the rest of us. I can't blame her though; I feel bad for her. [He laughed at her question, deep from the chest. He flipped one end of the feather boa at her.] I'd have to ask my wife for permission for an open relationship, wouldn't I? Though, maybe you want to ask Sleep on a hot date? Soft music, bubbles in a bath, paint each other's nails, whisper secrets to each other and eat some fun snacks?

[it was hard to think when Vander smiled at her like that. he had to know how happy he made her and how much she cared about him. it felt impossible to hide from him. for a moment she couldn't even think much about Sleep and the theological implications of what they should feel or do about her. there was only Vander on her mind.

and then he makes that comment and she has to stop from reacting. wife? that had to be a joke. open relationship? implying they had one? did they? there's a lot to consider as she feels her heart speed up as she now has to wonder how he feels. how she feels. if this is serious and it truly may not be. they joke a lot and they haven't discussed what this is. what they are. did he feel like that about her? did he want her?

but then the moment is over and he jokes. and maybe that's all that was. just a joke. exaggerating how close they'd gotten.]

Hey, maybe it's what she needs. Get her mind off of whatever has her lashing out like this. I've been a big fan of this distraction of ours.

[The tether meant the awkward will-they-, won't-they conversations obsolete in his mind because he knew many times what she was thinking and feeling. He felt so comfortable with her, safe even as if he knew that she would support him no matter was darkness happened to be lurking through his thoughts and feelings. Right now? It was all warm, happy and teasing from him.

Yet, he sensed her shock, which had been the entire point of the comment in the first place. She basically ran the roost here, and he didn't mind in the least. They had begun living together and sleeping together around the same time; even if it was friendship, he would still jokingly call her 'the wife' unless she told him not to.

Her side of the tether was a mix of shock, disbelief, hope?, and confusion. He was still smiling at her, flipping around one end of the boa.]

Oh, I'm your distraction? How romantic. You do such a good job with me that I have no doubt that you'll be successful with our eldritch horror overlady. [He chuffed a laugh.] Bet a good orgasm would do her a world of benefit.

[there were times when Maria wondered if she asked too much from Vander. Maria didn't think she ever made Vander do something he didn't want to. Vander always gave off the feeling that he was happy to go where she took him and most often, she was taking him to the nearest surface for another round. or cuddling up to him and talking about whatever entered their minds. they got along well, almost instantaneously. and that had been without the tether.

but the term wife held so much weight to it. there were other words to use, weren't there? like boss or something. could have called her ma'am. he chose wife. to tease her? she didn't know. she had a feeling it was going to keep replaying in her mind, though.

there's a smirk.] What, my term for you not good enough? [there was a flirty undertone there, almost wondering what his response to that would be.] Okay, so from the sounds of it, you're hoping I'll have sex with Sleep? Not entirely a bad idea. You wanna watch or you joining in?

[He was working on sorting out a life in this place, aware that it would be difficult to pull a community together. He had already been warning, but he still had intentions of doing so, since connections were so important. He did spend a lot of time with Maria, but that was also his choice because he enjoyed how well they meshed together. He put his mind at ease, allowed him to push down the disquiet in his mind and with his emotions.

It seemed that he had truly sent her for a loop with his comment, and he found it amusing. Of course, people bonded as husband and wife in the undercity but it was a casual affair with no particular glitz or glamour. It just was. He had once seen that for himself but no longer. He wanted to see her happy though, and this was play, right? Maybe? Probably?]

Oh no, no, I never said that. I am perfectly content being your distraction. [His smile grew genuine even further.] Hoping? Hardly, but I don't doubt that you could succeed if you set your mind to it and be excellent at it. [He tapped a finger against his chin.] Wow, I have options? I'd be fine with either.

[it seemed he was amused by her. something about even that was enough to make her feel flustered and so she decided to put it out of her mind. if she was taking a simple joke too far then she'd feel childish and dumb. that was just embarrassing.]

Hardly seems fair you start this conversation and I only make you watch. Unless that's your thing. [they hadn't ever gotten too far into discussing kinks and fetishes. only small discussion about asking if they could do something and that was about it.] We can wine and dine her. Or whatever the closest equivalent to that is here.

[He finally rolled onto his side so he would watch her, noting the flustered feeling that she unwittedly sent him through the tether. It caused his smile to widen until he was rolling off the couch and approaching where she lounged on the stage.]

I'm into a lot of things, and I don't mind watching. [He leaned down to kiss the back of her neck, flipping his feathered boa along the small of her back.] However, I do agree that a united effort may earn us a better in if we decide to take this opportunity.

[people grew tired of things and Maria had thought they would get this out of their system. they wouldn't be turned on just by a simple kiss, one look wouldn't get their hearts beating, and they wouldn't always have their hands on each other. here they were, though. his lips on her made her feel that flush of arousal, something never ignored in the tether, and she leaned into him. his touch.]

Then we're going to try to take Sleep out for a good time? [it sounds comical and she does laugh a little.] If we can appeal to her. Big ask from us.

Edited 2026-02-28 16:53 (UTC)

[He never grew tired of showering affection to Maria, nor the taste of her skin or the way her hair fell against the back of her neck or the curves of her body or the way she reacted to simple touch. The tether warmed with her arousal, and he made a point to set a hand on the stage that she was lounging on to balance himself as he leaned over further and remained close.

He hummed in consideration. It was dangerous no doubt.] Not sure she's looking for a good time with two flirts like us, but why not? We have to skills, but it relies on her being interested, no? [He kissed a line from the back of her neck to between her shoulder blades.] As long as we're clear that you remain my leading lady. If this doesn't fly for you, we don't attempt.

[here they were, discussing trying to seduce Sleep and he still makes comments like that. what did he want, she wondered. what did she want? but it was hardly the time to concern themselves with this. whatever this was. Maria didn't need a word for them, a label. she was happy with just this.

and she's practically grinning.] Mm, so I'm the boss. Smart move and I bet Sleep would be a fan. She seems like the type of woman who wants to be in charge. [she turns her head so she can try to face him with that grin on her face.] I say we try. And maybe it'll work out better for us and everybody if we can help her out.

[No matter how much he thought himself willing to take risks, it wouldn't come at the expense of ostracizing or fracturing what he currently had with Maria. She was consistently good and his rock here, and he wanted to protect that.]

Mmmm, yeah, I suppose that does make you the boss. It's true that a woman's touch might peak her interest more than if a man approached to seduce her. [He kissed to one shoulder on the side that she turned her head to, all so he could eye her while still kissing her skin.] Maybe. Or she'll melt our brains and we'll become comatose shells of ourselves. It sounds like it could go either way.

Hardly a concern at all. [Sleep did hold all the cards here and she could destroy them both so easily. but Maria did feel sorry for her and was grateful just as much. it was thanks to Sleep that she was having this moment right now. that she could be this happy with someone she cared about.

she stole the boa from around his neck so she could turn and trap him with it around the back of his neck, using it to pull him close.]

I'll use my womanly ways to try to stop it, though. Safe with me, baby girl.

Worth the risk, I'd say. Even if we give her little more than a small reprieve from her loneliness. [He did feel bad for her, aware of that aching abyss of isolation and the snapping, untethered instinct to just lash out. Perhaps two people that understood on a primordial level could reach a connection. Perhaps not. They had the option to try.

He made a sound like she had stolen away his most prized possession, even if it didn't go all that far. He shifted at the pull of it around the back of his neck so both hands moved to cage her head in as he leaned down to whisper his lips against hers. He smiled affectionately.]

Wait... baby girl? [He laughed airily, distracted from the risk they may undertake.] I can't say I've ever had anyone call me something like that, my leading lady.

[Maria found it hard not to feel sympathy for Sleep. Maria understood very well the depths loneliness could make you go to. was she sure that Sleep would like the attempt? no. but it didn't seem like anything would change if everybody only kept getting angry and blaming Sleep. the problem had to be addressed.

for a moment, Maria wonders if maybe he didn't like the nickname. it'd just come from her without much thought and she laughs.]

Well, nobody's treated you right, then. Guess it's up to me. [she kissed Vander, letting go of the boa and wrapping her arms around him. happiness rising in the tether.

the least Maria could do was thank Sleep for being able to experience a moment like this.]

[He couldn't help the snort of laughter that followed her seemingly doubling down on the nickname that she provided to him. It was well out in a left tunnel from what he was used to, and yet, he couldn't help but find himself charmed by it. Who would think of a massive guy like him being called 'baby girl' of all things?]

Oh, it's up to you, is it? You're setting the bar high compared to all my previous relationships. [He teased her and after he kissed her, he moved to blow a raspberry on her neck above the choker she wore to punctuate her laugh.] I want to treat you right too, you know.

[He too felt thankful to Sleep for opportunities like this. That in and of itself was worth the risk of a fun night with their captor or overlord or whatever she was.]

[ah, there he went again. implying they were in a relationship. were they? Maria still didn't want to think about that just yet but she couldn't deny that it was what she wanted deep down. that conversation didn't feel like a good idea at this time and she laughed all the more when he teased her.

what wouldn't she do for him? to keep this going forever, whatever it was?]

You do. [she said before pulling him for a deeper kiss and deciding that thoughts about Sleep would come later.]

Good. [They had already been through a lot together from the very first meeting up to this point. There were plenty of dangers that they would still yet face, but he knew that Maria would navigate them in her own way the same as he did. They would likely face a few together as they had before.

He kissed her sweetly, parting his lips to allow her control of the gesture. He balanced his upper body on one hand so he could free the other up to stroke her cheek with the back of a finger. Parting their lips, he smiled and nuzzled her.]

How about I cuddle you on that big lounger, hmm?

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