Memory Blooms

Tacenda

Snatcher floated out from the shadows, now in front of the entrance to his "study". Casually whistling as he approached your workspace.

He wondered how you were faring at his little "test", as he had said before, he didn't expect you to figure it out. It's a very, very special recipe after all, he'd figured out how to make it with his magic, but to create it from scratch...you'd actually need something from him to do it. As a matter of fact; he'd be more concerned if you did know what to do, you'd essentially fail the test if you did.

But that was super unlikely to begin with. Hey! Maybe they could tease you with consequences for "failing" the contract.

"Watch out!"

Their eyes popped open at your call of alarm, just in time to see you bolting in his direction.

"What on earth is—?"

"Get down!"

Now, if he could breath, your sudden collision directly with his torso would've surely knocked all the air out of him. Luckily for him, he doesn't, so he didn't have to worry about that. No, all he had to worry about was his head bouncing off the ground when he made contact with it.

He shook off the vertigo and attempted to get back up, but you had a fierce hold on him. Holding both of you behind the short stone walls of the arena/study.

"(Y/N)! What did you—!"

He was cut off by an ear-shattering explosion, far too close for comfort. The ground itself shook with a violent tremor from the force of the blast alone. He had instinctually assumed a fetal position when the sound hit his senses and what little parts of his enormous form that weren't shielded by the stone wall could feel even the sheer force of wind that had resulted.

The silence that followed the blast was eerie in deafening kind of way, a stark contrast from the sensory assault just seconds ago. After what felt like forever, they peeked open an eye.

His first instinct, of course, was to ask what the hell that was, and he would've, if his stomach had not dropped at what he saw.

He was over you, apparently he had, reflexively, covered you in a protective hold. You were curled up onto the ground as well, and hadn't even seemed to notice what he did. They shot up and away from you like you were a ball of hot lava, their face flushing and practically turned them into a glowing lemon in the process.

It took you a little longer to lift your head, and he noted just how much more cautious you were about it.

"SNATCH?"

He flinched at your sudden yell, the explosion must've messed up your ears.

"Cool it! I'm right here!"

You looked up at him, and shrieked with delight, once again causing the poor ghost to flinch at the high volume.

"AHAHAHAHAAA!! DID YOU SEE THAT?!" You yelled pretty much straight in his face, and he wondered which was louder; the explosion, or you.

"Yes. I very much did! But what—"

"MAN those cherry bombs really pack a punch! The seeds even more so!

"(Y/N)—"

Too bad that dweller got too close to them, I really thought grinding up the seeds would work. Though, from what Hattie told me, they're more acidic rather than explodey, right?

"(Y/N)—

"And that was just from grinding up a few! Imagine the kind of result we'd get from—!"