🍼

"I get that, trust me." Lily reassured, shaking her head with a chuckle. "I can't count the number of times I've defaulted to neutrals for others, but it hasnt failed me yet!" She snickered.

With the questions, she nodded with a sheepish laugh, putting her hands of the white jacket. "Mmhm! It's really comfy and not too heavy, but it's not trapping heat as well as it used to, and the pockets are hanging on with a prayer." She admitted, even showing her.

Kaia's offer for company earned another nod of agreement "Sure, I don't mind!" She answered easily. "Plus then we can both tease the person who oh-so-cruelly abandoned you in the middle of the store." She teased lightheartedly.

"Oh, wait! Before you leave, what color do you think the jacket should b—" Not looking away from the clothing rack in front of her, she grabs the sleeve of the person nearest to her without thinking, and realizes a little too late that it felt... Different. She turns, blinking; the person she'd been talking to had left, and beside her instead was...

"Wait, you're—! Lily?! You're Lily, right?! Oh, my god, I am so sorry, I totally thought you were someone else! Gosh, and this is the first time I'm actually talking to you, too..."

—&&. @kaiakaya 🤍

Lily was more than a little startled to suddenly feel her sleeve grabbed while she was looking for a new jacket to replace her favorite one that has... been through it. It's getting a few small holes in it but she's already mended it so many times it's time to retire it.

She blinked in surprise at Kaia for a moment before she started laughing, keeping it relatively quiet for the moment so they don't draw too much attention.

"Yes, I'm Lily. You're Kaia, right?" She asked, hoping she doesn't make a fool of herself.

At Kaia's concerns about how this is the first time they're speaking, she shook her head with a smile and waved a hand dismissively. "It's alright, don't worry!" She reassured easily "Do you need help finding the person you're here with?" She offered, tilting her head slightly.

Lillly ugh I'm so tired from my mission. I don't think I'm hydrated enough. Wait, ohmigod I forgot didn't you have a doctor appointment? How did it go? Did Xavier go with you??

Do you need me to bring you some water?? Please take it easy...

Yes, yes I did have a doctor's appointment, and it went about like they always do, honestly. Xav did go with me, he tries to tag along whenever he can. I'm pretty sure he ended up asking more questions than I did, honestly!

The question prompted her to laugh, glancing over her shoulder at him. "Right, we want to avoid them being blackened anywhere. Make sure that they aren't shiny at all, paying close attention to the center. Use an oven mitt and give the tray a tiny shake. If they jiggle, they need a bit longer. If they don't jiggle, they should be good."

She wanted to give him the chance to check them over himself first and try to make a call before she went to give her own verdict. Low stakes practice!

As she placed the last cookie from the first batch on the plate, she debated grabbing one to try herself since it had already cooled off. Plus then they could see if they should make an icing for it...

[Phone call, Xavier's voice sounds urgent] "I'm in great danger I need you to come downstairs right now. Please! You're the only one that can help. In fact, the entire complex may be in danger if you don't help me stop this right now."

As soon as she registered the urgency and he mentioned 'upstairs', Lily was rushing out of her apartment, only sparing enough time to grab her guns as a precaution.

"I'm on my way!" She reassured as she hurried upthe flight of stairs between them. Her thoughts were already racing a mile a minute, wondering what could possibly be causing Xavier of all people to struggle and call for help, especially without causing much of a ruckus.

By the time she reached his door her heart was pounding and she was braced for a fight.

Lily shut her eyes halfway as Xavier reached out to take the hair clip, still wanting to watch his expression as he tried to decide where to place it. It was so cute, watching him focus so hard on something so mundane.

His touch was so gentle, and he was so close, that it took a lot of focus for Lily to not shiver. She didn't want to risk spooking him into thinking he was making her uncomfortable or anything! Far from it, in fact.

When he finally seemed satisfied with the placement, she opens her eyes properly with a few blinks to re-adjust. She leaned down for a moment to grab the mirror again, beaming proudly as she took in it's placement.

"I think it looks wonderful." She reassured, finding herself overwhelmed with the urge to kiss his cheek, which had her own cheeks turning deep red.

“I trust you” - @lily-of-the-linkon

"Huh? What are you up to?" He closes his eyes.

--

Ask meme

Lily waited patiently for Xavier to finish his food enough to get his thoughts out, laughing a little as she leaned against the table instead of sitting properly just yet. "I thought that today it was my turn to spoil you?" She asked playfully, but did sit down when he insisted he was okay.

At the offer, she shook her head and grabbed a slice of pizza to start eating. "I've still got some, so I'll be fine for now." She reassured before finally taking a bite

After spending the morning doing research on places in Linkon City that offer milk tea, Lily finally found a place that seemed like it would be a nice place to visit and had the coffee milk tea that Xavier mentioned. Plus it wasn't far from a few good places to eat so they'd have options based on what they were feeling up to without having to go all the way across town. Perfect.

Lily finally sent Xavier a text in the late morning.

'I found a place that has that coffee milk tea you mentioned! And it has really good reviews.'

After a moment of thought, she sent another text as well.

'And thank you for walking me home last night. I really appreciated it. It was nice, looking at the stars with you.'

If not for the sporadic texts, Xavier would still be asleep. Outside the birds that often bickered over his balcony were squawking at a volume loudly. The combination of factors is enough to stir him, just barely. He knows its her before having to unlock his phone.

↪[ Audio: I'm awake. I'm up. I'm coming. ]

↪[ It was nice. Let's do it again sometime ]

In a flash he rinses off, takes care of basic hygiene, and is donning a favored hoodie in spite of the weather.

By the time he gets downstairs, he's already rubbing his eyes again as he knocks on the door.

Lily couldn't not notice the slip up, though she couldn't put her finger on what he almost said. She couldn't even decide on how to bring it up, so she at least tried to leave it there for the moment, instead focusing on teasing their absent friend. 

"He did." She confirmed with a small laugh and shake of her head. "I went rushing up because I thought he was getting attacked or something, and nope! It was just him trying to cook. Then the brat basically tricked me into helping him make waffles the next day." She snorted, rolling her eyes.

The insistence they try to ensure Xavier only bring drinks earned some eager nods of agreement. "Oh absolutely. Either drinks, or he just brings himself." She agreed, since that's a safe enough bet. 

She did check her phone when it buzzed with the notification of the group chat, humming happily and nodding. "Perfect! Once I get home I can figure out what days would be best and send them in the chat."

( Jump - sender jumps on receivers back - @lily-of-the-linkon )

Lily grinned when seeing Jeremiah wasn't paying attention to her, a mischievous little plan forming in her head.

Putting her training to the test, she carefully approached him from behind. She kept her movements as silent as possible, slowly lifting her arms to brace herself for step two.

When she was finally within reach of the (unsuspecting?) man, she lunged to jump on his back. While she was careful not to knock him over if she could help it, she was still dramatic.

Almost immediately after 'impact', she couldn't help but break into giggles, shifting to at least attempt to look at his face. "Hi Jer~" she greeted with playfully exaggerated casualness.

"What the- ah!"

The sudden surprise and sensation of warmth pressed against his back shocked him enough to let out a yelp in surprise, but the familiarity of the voice immediately calmed his instincts.

He adjusts his grip to ensure her safety but doesn't put her down.

"Stars, Lilyyyy! Where did you come from!? How did you manage to be so quiet!?"

As soon as his hand was within reach, she was moving to try and smack at him with her fork. She was ever careful not to risk actually stabbing him, since she doesn't want to have to take him to the hospital and explain that she stabbed him with a fork because he was trying to eat her food.

Despite her supposed frustration with him taking her food, she couldn't help but laugh and lightly elbow him, ever careful not to risk dropping her food either. "You are such a brat!" She teased, despite knowing full well that he has a voracious appetite to go with his constant fatigue to continue being such an awesome badass on the field.

🔪

"Xavier, dear, darling, I swear if you try to steal another bite of this before I'm done, we're gonna see what's faster. You, or the nearest throw-able object."

@lily-of-the-linkon

It was a small game. How much could he steal before she reached this point? With a sly, wicked grin plastered on his face, he reaches forward at a sloth-like pace, and in the same vein turns his grin into a pout.

"But I thought we were sharing..."

And then with lightning speed only possible enhanced by his evol, there's another small piece in his mouth again, and the sly smile returns. "I'll brace for impact, but don't worry. Here's my card, you have my PIN. Order more if you'd like. More than you need is ok, starlight, we can take leftovers for tomorrow."

---

Threaten my muse

Hi pretty Lily 🥹 can I have a kiss please?

"Oh! I'm surprised that you want one from me, but of course!" She answered easily, her cheeks flushed pink. After a moment of consideration, she shifted to give you a very gentle kiss to the cheek.

"How is that? Or would you like something else?"

Pumpkin space latte, anyone? ☕

Hubble captured this festive array of stars, Terzan 12, found in the Milky Way about 15,000 light-years from Earth. The stars in this cluster are bound together by gravity in a sphere-like shape and are shrouded in gas and dust. As the starlight travels through that gas and dust to Earth, blue light scatters, leaving the redder wavelengths to come through.

Download the full-resolution image here.

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Lily didn't mind him holding her wrist to keep it stable, waiting patiently as he takes a sip. Something about the way he phrased his thoughts made her cheeks warm up, but she refused to linger on it for now. "Maybe?" She hummed thoughtfully.

When he held his own drink out for her she took a small sip, her head tilted slightly as she considered the flavor. It was a bit strange, having just been drinking her fruit tea. But it wasn't bad.

So she gave an appreciative hum and nod. "That's actually pretty good, even with the residual fruitiness from my drink!" She beamed. "Thank you, for letting me try it."

After a moment of consideration, she started down the street again, figuring she can head towards more food places while they decide.

After spending the morning doing research on places in Linkon City that offer milk tea, Lily finally found a place that seemed like it would be a nice place to visit and had the coffee milk tea that Xavier mentioned. Plus it wasn't far from a few good places to eat so they'd have options based on what they were feeling up to without having to go all the way across town. Perfect.

Lily finally sent Xavier a text in the late morning.

'I found a place that has that coffee milk tea you mentioned! And it has really good reviews.'

After a moment of thought, she sent another text as well.

'And thank you for walking me home last night. I really appreciated it. It was nice, looking at the stars with you.'

If not for the sporadic texts, Xavier would still be asleep. Outside the birds that often bickered over his balcony were squawking at a volume loudly. The combination of factors is enough to stir him, just barely. He knows its her before having to unlock his phone.

↪[ Audio: I'm awake. I'm up. I'm coming. ]

↪[ It was nice. Let's do it again sometime ]

In a flash he rinses off, takes care of basic hygiene, and is donning a favored hoodie in spite of the weather.

By the time he gets downstairs, he's already rubbing his eyes again as he knocks on the door.