Chapter Text
The road to Winterbloom was not the toughest, the longest, or plagued by the most monsters, but it was certainly the coldest that the travelers, sans Osvald, had traversed.
Castti shivers. Even with her new cloak, the cold is unrelenting. With the part of her that can still think about such things, she finds it ironic that she misses the warmth of the Cape Cold Inn, where her day began more hours ago than she cares to count. Joined by three of her new friends, she’s accomplished more than intended today; what should’ve been a simple travel day turned into chasing some thieves out of the snowy woods, finding a hidden retreat of scholars, and learning some new combat magic with Osvald’s help.
Still, it’s difficult for Castti to think about anything other than the cold right now. Aside from the brief reprieve of that oddly located scholars’ mansion, Castti has spent all day facing the elements, and their extracurricular activities along the way have extended their journey far beyond its expected time. She wonders how her companions all seem to be faring so much better than her; Osvald makes sense, what with the whole ice prison thing and all that, but isn’t Partitio from the desert? Is Throné even wearing pants?
Thankfully, the group has covered a lot of ground while Castti has been struggling. She would never admit the extent of her misery due to the cold as that would just get in everyone’s way and she can’t have that, but it’s not hard for the rest of the group to tell who’s having the worst time with the weather. As Partitio is about to offer the apothecary his jacket, Throné points up ahead and breaks what has become a long silence.
“There it is, Winterbloom,” she begins, “Castti, we both have business here, don’t we?”
“Y-yes, I suppose,” Castti squeaks out, intelligible but shaky. “Although yours surely seems more important. I am simply looking for clues, and I wouldn’t want to get in your way.”
“It’s alright Castti, we don’t have to make any decisions tonight. Let’s just get to the inn and we can worry about everything else tomorrow.”
Castti quietly agrees, fidgeting with her scarf to cover as much of herself as she can. Seconds later, Throné steps over a large branch, but Castti, her vision obscured by the scarf she clings to so desperately, trips over it, just getting a hand down in time to avoid falling face first into the snow.
“Castti! Are you hurt?” Throné yells as she and Partitio rush to help Castti back to her feet. Castti just groans softly in response, unable to form any real verbal answer but nodding once she finally stands back up all the way. Throné grabs both of her hands for a moment, before pulling her into a tight embrace without a second thought. Castti melts into Throné’s arms, the thief’s inexplicable warmth a welcome reprieve from the bitter cold. A familiar yet forgotten feeling works its way into Castti’s mind - not fully formed enough to count as a memory yet, but something she mentally bookmarks for later before looking up at Throné.
“Thank you, Throné,” Castti says slowly, just above a whisper. “ I’m… sorry”
“Don’t be sorry Castti, I’m glad you’re ok.” Throné answers calmly.
“Now Castti, you gonna need some help to get there?” Partitio interjects, joining the conversation. Throné pulls back just a bit, but keeps her hands on Castti’s upper arm. Castti turns to answer Partitio, but places one hand over Throné’s to maintain as much contact as possible.
“I’ll be ok,” Castti replies, her voice regaining just a little of its usual strength. “Thank you though, Partitio.”
“You sure?” Throné whispers, causing Castti to turn back in her direction.
“Yes”
“Why don’t you at least hold on to me the rest of the way, ok?”
If there was any warmth left in her body, Castti knows she would feel it all rushing to her head. She reaches out to grab Throné’s right hand, first just with her left hand, but quickly reaching across her body to hold on with both hands as Throné guides her the rest of the way.
Thankfully for Castti, the last few minutes of the journey go on without issue. The wind slows down as they approach the village of Winterbloom, finally enabling Castti to look up at the world around her. Something about this place feels familiar, but that’s a train of thought she plans to pursue tomorrow.
Partitio quickly asks the first resident they see for directions to the inn, and within minutes the four are at the desk, inquiring about rooms for the night. Throné takes over speaking for the party as their usual spokesman Partitio has wandered off, presumably to make a deal with the local business man in a red suit by the door.
“There are four of us, but we can share if we need,” Throné begins, “As long as we can get a warm bath for her pronto.” Throné gestures towards Castti, who’s too tired to be embarrassed at this point.
“You’re in luck, my friends,” the innkeeper responds jovially, “we’re a bit more crowded here than usual, but we’ve got two rooms left, a single and a double. Both have their own private baths, and the single has a beautiful fireplace.”
“Castti and I will take the single. Osvald, will you and Partitio get along tonight without us?”
The innkeeper’s face lights up at the mention of Castti’s name, but he doesn’t want to draw a crowd with Castti in her current state.
“Of course,” Osvald answers casually, “I bear no ill will towards our mercantile companion, even if I am often… perplexed, by his personality.”
“Well said,” Throné giggles before turning back to the innkeeper. “Sir, could you help us with some of our things? My friend’s had a rough day with the cold. Partitio has most of our money, he’ll pay for both rooms.” Partitio glances over at the mention of his name and gives a thumbs up alongside a toothy smile.
“Certainly, right this way,” the innkeeper says while coming around from behind the desk.
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The innkeeper gets the fire started magically, immediately warming the room to a pleasant temperature. Castti attempts to help set up the room, but Throné and the innkeeper quickly usher her to a spot in front of the fire for her to warm up. Feeling marginally more human, Castti registers only the end of the conversation between the other two in the room.
“There should be plenty of warm water for the bath,” the innkeeper begins, “is there any other way I can be of service?”
“I think we’re all set, you’ve been a great help,” Throné answers.
The innkeeper gives a small bow before heading back out to show the other two travelers to their room. As the door is closing, Throné quickly rushes over to Castti, kneeling behind her and gently placing her hands on the doctor’s shoulders.
“You feeling any better?” Throné asks quietly.
“A bit,” Castti replies a bit stronger than before, “this fire is quite nice. I shouldn’t be frostbitten at least.” Castti initially tries to will herself to look back at Throné, but instead just relaxes into her touch before she continues. “But all of my clothing is so wet and cold. It is most unpleasant still.”
Throné moves her hands down around the upper part of Castti’s chest. “Won’t it help to take them off then?” she asks calmly.
Castti lets out a small gasp, barely audible over the crackle of the fire. The warmth of Throné’s hands maintains her undivided attention for a bit longer before she can respond. “I… I think that would be most helpful, but I wouldn’t want you to be uncomfortable. I can go into-”
“Castti,” Throné cuts her off, “Nothing you could do would make me uncomfortable. Especially if it’s just taking your clothes off.” She crawls around and begins to unbutton Castti’s outermost layer, a sweet smile on her face.
Castti hesitates, her mind racing now that she feels she’s reclaimed control of her body back from the elements. Throné’s hands start to evoke a memory, a flashback hitting Castti like the ones she experienced in Canalbrine.
A hand reaches around my neck before migrating down my chest; I reach to hold onto it, guiding her hand inside my blouse. Her face is blurry, but her voice rings clear. “Castti, darling, would you like some help with these?” She grabs at my clothing - my robe, my blouse, my bra. I shudder at the touch of her hand, feeling like the luckiest girl in the world.
Next thing I know, her hands are working overtime while her eyes stare into mine. Most of my clothes are off before I know it; I remain in a bra and leggings with the mystery woman beginning to crawl on top of me. Goddess, if only I could remember her face. She presses her body into mine, pinning me down. Such a clear memory of the situation, and yet…
Her name still eludes me, and her face remains unclear. If my mind could only recall the slightest bit more…
“Castti? Still with me?” Throné’s voice jolts Castti out of her trance. Castti sees Throné now inches away from her, and leans forward against her shoulder while taking a couple of deep breaths. Once she recovers a bit, Castti sits back up and smiles.
“Yes, sorry, I-” Castti stops herself from continuing, debating for just a moment how much she should tell Throné.
It is, of course, far too late for her to hide anything from someone so observant. “Another flashback?” Throné asks casually.
“Yes.”
“From me putting my hands on you?”
“Correct.”
“Must’ve been a fun one then.”
“I… suppose you could say that.”
Throné giggles, hoping for more information but not wanting to pry too much. She resumes unbuttoning Castti’s coat, now on her knees diagonally in front of Castti, straddling the apothecary’s left thigh.
“Was it an old friend?” Throné decides to push just a little.
“I don’t know who it was,” Castti says bewildered, “I presume so, but I couldn’t see her face in the memory.”
Her. Good. Not that there was much question. Throné gives a knowing smile before getting back to the task at hand. “Arms out, I can’t get this off if you keep your hands together.” Castti obliges and Throné quickly removes her coat, standing to go hang it up to dry. She returns to find Castti struggling with her dress, hands shaking as she fails to pull it over her head, and Throné rushes over to help. “Here, let me help. Gods, this really is soaked, you poor thing. Let me just- good girl, there we go.”
Castti’s blush is obscured as Throné lifts the dress over her head, stuck for a moment on icy wet blonde hair. Castti then sits back down, now in just a white button down shirt and black leggings. The wet shirt is translucent enough to make her light blue bra visible as well, catching Throné’s eye briefly as she crouches back down in front of Castti.
“Should I get the bath ready for you?” Throné asks while taking hold of Castti’s hand.
“I don’t believe I’ll need to burden you to help me with every little thing tonight, I’m already feeling so much-
“Castti,” Throné cuts her off, “Helping you is certainly no burden.” Throné smiles as Castti stumbles over her words attempting to respond. “In fact, I’m quite enjoying it.”
Castti finally smiles, a mix of wonder and a bit of embarrassment on her face as she finally speaks up and asks, “In that case, could you perhaps assist me with… with removing the rest of my clothes?”
Throné’s slight smile instantly grows to a massive grin, as she puts her hands on Castti’s shoulders while maintaining eye contact. “Of course, my dear,” she responds, “I would love to.”
Throné moves as fluidly as ever, contorting her body to hover over Castti’s leg as she begins to unbutton the thoroughly soaked shirt. After smiling at Throné for a moment longer, Castti leans her head back and closes her eyes, a blissful look on her face as Throné’s skilled hands make quick work of her buttons. Throné slips behind Castti again to pull the shirt off, hanging it up next to her other clothes before quickly returning to Castti’s side. She finds Castti struggling to unhook her bra, her hands still shaky and red, and Throné takes hold of one of her hands to stop her while swiftly moving back to her side. Castti opens her eyes again and finds Throné’s face inches away from hers as the thief guides her hands back to rest in her lap.
“Shhh, don’t worry Castti, I’ll take care of you,” Throné implores, leaning in closer and closer as she reaches around Castti and deftly unhooks her bra, shuffling to hang it up with the rest of her wet clothes again. Now topless, Castti slowly stands, watching Throné look up and down her body quickly before she comes back over to Castti’s side. Castti moans softly as she lets her hair down, keeping her eyes on Throné as much as she can. “You really are beautiful, Castti, you know that?”
Castti smiles again, giggling a bit without saying anything directly in response. Throné removes her belt with (most of) her weapons, setting it to the side before stepping back to Castti, taking her hands and looking straight into her eyes. The lust in Throné’s voice is palpable when she whispers, “Should we see if the bath is big enough for two?”
Castti lets out a gasp as she nods excitedly, allowing Throné to close the rest of the distance between them. Throné leans in to break the final unspoken barrier between the two, Castti happily accepting and closing her eyes as she leans into the first kiss she can remember. Everything else fades away as Castti forgets about the rest of the world, the hint of raspberry flavor from Throné’s lips overwhelming her senses. Castti keeps her eyes closed for a moment after Throné pulls away, savoring the moment as she takes a deep breath in and out. By the time she’s opened her eyes, Throné’s dress is gone, and the thief stands before Castti in only a black lace bra and sheer tights. Castti’s eyes open wide as Throné removes her tights, leaving just thin lace panties that match her top half. Castti stands frozen in time, completely motionless as she takes in the thief’s beauty. Throné laughs for a moment, pausing her undressing to walk back over to Castti, who only snaps out of her trance-like state when Throné is inches away.
“Another flashback?” Throné teases, “or am I just that stunning?”
“No, I was… that was just-”
Castti can’t quite put a full answer together, but Throné gets enough of what she was looking for, and reaches back to unhook her own bra, letting it fall and leaving herself on display. This time it’s Castti who finally moves, stepping back up to Throné and pressing herself into Throné’s breasts as she initiates another kiss. Castti finds a second wind, newly energized by the feel, the taste, the heat of Throné’s body. Her hands begin to wander, her right hand locking itself around Throné’s back while her left works its way up Throné’s stomach before beginning to play with her tits.
Eventually, Throné pulls back for a moment, both girls opening their eyes inches apart. Castti breathes in deeply, realizing she’s been holding her breath for a bit too long and making a mental note to remember to breathe should she be lucky enough to do all of that again. Her left hand remains on Throné’s right breast, gently messaging still as her right hand slides down to the hip. Throné laughs for a moment, then puts her hands over Castti’s on her chest before breaking the silence.
“Having fun there?” Throné offers with a wink.
“Y- yes”
“Aww, you’re adorable Castti. Why don’t we get that bath running now?”
Castti nods, not so gently taking hold of Throné’s hand to follow her closely into the other room. Throné gets the water running, holding her free hand under it for a moment before turning back to Castti. “Nice and warm. Might be a little tight with both of us in there, I’m sure you won’t mind?”
“Not at all!” Castti responds, almost too quickly. Throné can feel the anxiety radiating from Castti, a stark contrast to her usual demeanor, and decides to turn down the sexiness for a moment.
“Castti, are you feeling alright?” Throné inquires. Castti nods her head, but tightens her grip on Throné’s hand. “You’re shaking. Are you still cold?”
“A little, I suppose,” Castti squeaks out.
“But the shaking is mostly nerves?”
“Y- yes.”
“It’s alright, Castti, I just want you to feel good, if you want to stop-
“Please don’t stop!” Castti cuts her off. “Sorry. I am certainly nervous, but I desperately want to continue. I would love-” Castti trails off, the end of her sentence becoming unintelligible with the sound of the running water.
“What was that?” Throné asks as calmly as she can.
“I don’t know how to say it in a way that’s not… embarrassing.”
“Castti,” Throné drops her hand to put both hands on Castti’s shoulders, “You’ve fought through hell to come all the way here with me. I will do as much or as little as you want, no judgment, no embarrassment. Just don’t forget to breathe, alright?”
Castti realizes she’s forgotten to breathe again. She closes her eyes and inhales sharply, letting out a long sigh before she answers. “Thank you, Throné. I truly appreciate your kindness. I just… I feel a bit lost, knowing it is not truly my first time in a situation like this, but being unable to remember the past, I- I don’t know precisely what I want.”
“Do you know where you’d like to start at least?”
“In there,” Castti gestures to the bath, “together.”
Throné smiles as she sees and feels the tension visibly release from Castti’s shoulders. Eventually, Castti smiles at her again as well. “We’ll need to do something about the last of these clothes then, won’t we,” Throné says eventually.
“I suppose we must, yes,” Castti answers without any of the shakiness.
“Would you like some help,” Throné says with a slight tease in her voice again, “you seemed to quite enjoy that before.”
“Please! Yes, I mean-” Castti cuts herself off as Throné laughs, and she gives an inquisitive look to the thief.
“Castti, you can’t be this adorable and expect me not to laugh once in a while.” Castti loses the trepidation and giggles back. “Gods, and you have the sweetest laugh as well? This is simply not fair. Here, let me help.”
Throné gets down on her knees, slowly peeling Castti’s snow-soaked leggings down and revealing cute purple panties, with a decently large wet spot. “S- sorry, I may, when I fell I may have had -” Castti trails off, but Throné quickly shuts down her worries.
“Shh, it’s ok Castti. May I take these off as well?”
“Please do,” Castti’s smile returns as she answers.
As much fun as she would have teasing Castti for longer, Throné decides to let her impatient side win out for once, quickly tearing down Castti’s underwear and leaving the doctor fully nude. Tossing the panties over to the leggings, Throné glances up from her perspective on her knees, first to Castti’s face before her eyes wander back down. She looks to Castti’s vagina, soaking wet with a little bit of blonde hair above it, and kisses just above it, eliciting a gasp from Castti. Throné grins as she stands back up, inches from Castti’s face as the chief’s eyes reopen.
“We need to get in now,” Castti states quietly but with a newfound conviction.
“Anything you say Castti, I mean it.”
Throné maintains eye contact as she reaches down to finally remove her panties. Now both fully nude, Castti looks all around Throné’s body before Throné grabs her and leads her to the bath. Throné gets in first, reaching out a hand for Castti to follow. The bath is spacious for a single person of either of their sizes, but very crowded with both of them in together. The combination of the warm water and the feel of Throné’s body beneath her is completely rejuvenating for Castti, as she takes a moment to savor every point of contact between her and the beautiful thief. With an unmistakable lust in her eyes, Castti whispers, “Promise me you’ll stop me if I go too far, alright?”
“I will,” Throné answers, “but Castti, there’s no way you’ll go too far for me.”
Castti shifts herself to lie directly on top of Throné, feeling her thin body relax onto the soft curves of Throné’s breasts. She makes eye contact once again, waiting a beat before quickly leaning in to make out with the thief. That hint of raspberry returns for Castti as her tongue glides over Throné’s lips, this time remembering to breathe and relishing in Throné’s scent. It’s minutes later by the time Castti finally pulls away, pushing herself up as she looks at Throné from a few inches above.
“You taste so sweet,” Castti stammers. “I would nearly say it’s intoxicating.”
“I’m glad you’re enjoying. It’s fun to have someone on top of me for once.”
Castti is too distracted to process most of Throné’s words at this point, looking around Throné’s body and sliding down in the water. Leaning her face right near the surface, Castti licks one of Throné’s nipples, hearing a small moan as she looks back up towards the thief’s face.
“This is ok, yes?” Castti asks timidly.
“OK?” Throné answers, “Castti, this is a dream come true.”
“Me? A dream? Surely you’ve experienced better in the past.”
“Castti, I am far from inexperienced, but it is rare for me to have times like these with people I truly care about,” Throné explains quietly. “I seduce people as part of my job here and there, but there’s no affection in that. No emotion, no real connection, just sex and pretending to care until I get what I need. I won’t pretend I’ve never enjoyed it, but it’s certainly not the same. And it’s mostly men, that doesn’t help either.”
Castti crawls back up to kiss Throné’s lips again, nearly in tears as her shaky voice whispers, “You really care about me that much?”
“Of course I do,” Throné whispers back, her voice getting louder as she goes on. “Obviously we haven’t known each other that long yet, but we’ve already been fighting for our lives together, doing everything we can for one another’s safety. I know I can be hard to read sometimes, but I really care about everyone in our little group.” Throné runs her hands down Castti’s body, pulling the doctor in tighter and lowering her voice again. “But I care about you the most. I’ve felt a need to protect you from the first day we met. The way you care so deeply for everyone, the way you’ll put your body and your life on the line for anyone in need, even if you’ve only just met. It truly warms my cold heart. You’re an amazing woman, Castti. You deserve the world.”
Castti can no longer hold back the tears, breaking down as she leans her head into Throné and cries into her shoulder. Throné holds her as tightly as she can, the two of them rocking back and forth together as one in the water. Throné doesn’t rush the moment, content to hold onto Castti until she chooses to break the silence. As Castti closes her eyes, a brief memory surfaces.
Caring hands run over me, cleaning out the cuts on my right side. My eyes are closed tight, but I know it’s the same woman from before. The air is cold. I feel her body press against mine from behind, her right hand still focused on healing while her left massages my body, weaving its way down until-
Castti jolts, almost sitting on Throné’s legs as her upper body comes fully out of the water. Throné seems unfazed, looking deep into Castti’s eyes. “More memories?” She asks eventually.
“Yes, a short one, but-” Castti cuts herself off, taking a deep breath before a smile returns to her face. She relaxes herself back down onto Throné’s body before she continues, “There must be someone out there who cared about me. It’s… reassuring, in a way. Whoever she was, I hope she’s doing alright. I like to think she’d be proud of me, seeing me here with such a beautiful woman.”
“You flatter me, Castti,” Throné chuckles, “I know it must be hard without your memories, but trust me when I say this. I promise that people have cared about you in the past. If you were even half the person you are now, you surely changed innumerable lives for the better”
“Thank you, Throné, truly. I don’t know where I would be now had I not met you.”
Throné leans up to kiss Castti’s forehead, and Castti seems to melt. Throné leans back down and holds Castti as she sinks into the water, surfacing a few seconds later with wet hair covering part of her smiling face. Throné reaches down into the water as she smiles back, running her hands down Castti’s sides. Castti’s breaths come faster and faster as Throné’s right hand creeps down, grazing her thighs and approaching her most sensitive spot.
“Is this alright with you?” Throné asks as a formality. Castti’s moans as she nods yes fill the air, intensifying as Throné’s fingers make contact with her entrance for the first time. Throné teases just a bit by running her fingers around the edge for a few seconds, but it’s not long before Castti speaks up.
“Please, inside,” she begs between breaths, “I need you to-” her words cut off as she shouts out in pleasure.
Throné giggles just a bit as she goes to work on Castti, two fingers making their way in and out of her. Throné can feel the tension draining from Castti, the last bit of reservation finally leaving the apothecary’s body. Castti’s moans become louder and more frequent, her eyes closed tight as she gets closer to her climax. Castti forces her eyes open just long enough to move one hand to Throné’s chest, her left arm holding the edge of the tub to keep her roughly in place while her right hand gropes at Throné’s tits. Throné can’t help but let out some small moans as well while Castti’s hands play with her, but nothing stops her from continuing to work hard and fast on pleasuring the girl who deserves a break more than anyone Throné has ever met.
It’s not too long before Castti reaches the point of no return, pleasure radiating through her body as Throné brings her to her breaking point. Castti’s moans go higher and higher, elongated and shrill as Throné’s magic hands continue their work. With one final shout, Castti peaks, and even underwater Throné can feel Castti’s fluids releasing onto her hand. After a big sigh, Castti finally comes back to reality, melting back into Throné’s body as the thief puts her arms around Castti. “There, Castti, good girl,” she whispers.
Castti takes a long time to respond, remaining motionless for a few seconds, then slowly lifting her head to look at Throné eye to eye again. After leaning in for another quick kiss, Castti finds her voice again. “You’re truly magical, Throné,” she sighs, “I needed that quite badly.”
“It’s your mission to extend a helping hand to those in need, right?” Throné says with a grin, “I just had to return the favor.”
Castti’s breathing remains heavy, but her expression is now closer to her usual calm demeanor despite the situation. “It’s strange,” she begins, “knowing this must not truly be my first time, but without most of my memories…”
“I’m glad we could make some new memories for you, Castti. This one is particularly special for me as well.”
Castti sinks down on top of Throné again, putting her arms fully around the thief’s body and pulling her in tight. Castti rests her head near Throné’s neck as she continues, her voice likely inaudible to someone without Throné’s highly trained senses. “Certainly you must be stressed as well with everything going on,” she says, muffled by Throné’s body, “would you allow me to… help you in the same way?”
“I appreciate it, Castti, but let’s wait til we get to the bed, alright? It’ll be more pleasant that way.” Throné kisses Castti once more before she continues, “ I’d be happy to help you get cleaned up first if you would like though.”
“I… would love that, Throné.”
“Good, let me take care of you, alright?”
Thanks to Throné’s tender help, Castti finally begins to feel clean and warm again. At a couple of points in time, the thief’s deft hands working their way around her body send Castti’s mind to a place she recognizes as the start of a memory, but for the first time since waking up on the ship, she willingly ignores it, choosing to live only in the glorious present moment. While only a few minutes pass in the real world, time seems to stand still for Castti; she savors every moment of this intimate bath, fully relaxing her body and relishing every instance of contact with Throné. It takes some convincing for Castti to get out in the end, but as she turns to look at Throné’s body once again, the promise of sharing a bed with the beautiful nude thief is enough motivation for her to leave the comfort of the water. As Castti rises from the bath, Throné fetches a towel, and is waiting for Castti by the time she fully stands up.
“Would you like some help drying off?” Throné asks innocently.
“I’m feeling much better now, I should be able-”
“Castti.”
Castti stops and smiles. Her name feels so safe in Throné’s voice. “I’m sure you could manage to take care of yourself at this point, but that wasn’t the question.”
“Yes Throné, I would love your assistance once again.”
Throné begins without another word, dutifully drying Castti’s hair a little before moving to her upper body. She takes great care drying Castti’s chest, caressing her breasts through the towel and lingering for an extended time before moving on. She leans down to kiss Castti’s left breast, hearing another moan from the apothecary while softly drying her stomach and her back. Throné takes her time, savoring each of Castti’s reactions to her touch before finally standing up, facing Castti directly from inches away. Blue eyes meet deep brown ones, prompting Castti to lean in and kiss Throné one more time.
“Should we go get more comfortable?” Throné says just above a whisper.
“That’s a wonderful idea,” Castti answers.
Throné takes Castti by the hand once again, leading her back to the large bed in the other room. Throné pulls back the covers and jumps in first, leaving Castti to hesitate for a moment to appreciate Throné’s body before joining her. While they cuddle and kiss for a brief time, it’s not long before the second wind dies down for both of them, and they drift off to sleep in each other’s arms within minutes.
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Soft. Warm. I’ve been here before, haven’t I. Someone is holding me, but is this… a dream? Or a memory? Or…
Thoughts swirl around Castti’s head as she wakes up, a few seconds going by where timelines cross in her mind. Once she anchors herself back into the present, she’s greeted with a beautiful sight. The thief has a sleepy smile on her face, looking like she’s woken up just minutes before the apothecary. Throné notices the confusion in Castti’s eyes at first, but it only takes a few more moments before Castti’s smile matches that of her dangerous companion.
“That was not a dream last night, was it?” Castti asks with a hint of confusion in her voice.
“Completely real, my dear, I promise,” Throné answers, caressing Castti’s cheek with her hand before she goes on. “Were you woken up by a dream though? You looked a bit startled for a moment.”
“I am… unsure,” Castti says, “It was more a moment of deja vu than anything specific, and I was not yet fully awake when I-”
Seeing Castti’s expression harden again, Throné decides to stop her train of thought before it goes on too long. She closes the minuscule distance between them, and kisses Castti to cut off her sentence. “Now’s not the time to worry,” Throné says after pulling away. “We’re here, together. You’ll figure everything out, and I’ll be here the whole time.”
Castti smiles, cuddling into Throné with tears forming once again in her eyes. There will be time for stress about the past and future, but today she’s happy to focus only on the present.