Bloom

46: The See You Again, Not Goodbye

Shortly after Mortelline's speech, Pepper and Dante both found them. Pepper ran towards Tulip, giddy tears streaming down their cheeks, and hugged them as if they hadn't seen each other in millions of years. The towering red rose that once dominated the empty landscape faded into nothingness, and the four made their way back to Mortelline's mansion.

It still hasn't fully hit Tulip yet. What did they agree on? To not leave Pepper's side? To become a part of their family? No, to let the bloom flourish. Hand in hand they walk beside Pepper, swaying their arms with the misty breeze. It's like an exhalation of "finally"; a realization that they are no longer a captive. Their "forever" was just beginning. Before entering the home, they look behind themself.

"Hm?" Dante stops.

"What is it?" Pepper looks between the two.

Tulip's eyes scan around the garden. They swear someone was just behind them, but not as a threat. As if someone is watching over them. They smile slightly, then look back at the two and shake their head.

"Are you three coming in?" Mortelline's voice hollers from in the hallway. "I haven't told you about my plan!"

"Plan?" Pepper says with a bit of worry.

Mortelline emerges with a champagne bottle. "Indeed. Though we already had a festivity earlier, this one will be much more grand!"

Dante crosses his arms over his chest. "Champagne is disgusting," he mutters.

"What was that?" Mortelline leans over to him.

"Uh, nothing!" Dante waves his arms about and bows. "I'm looking forward to it, your highness!"

"What in Heavens..." she raises a confused eyebrow at him. "Now why are you suddenly being so polite?"

Pepper and Tulip share a look at each other, then laugh. Mortelline's confusion grows when she sees the other two deities giggling, but not once does she appear mad about it.

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The party was downsized to just the four of them, but it didn't stop them from enjoying it. Mortelline popped a champagne bottle, and the cork almost ricocheted the wall and hit an expensive chandelier. Dante was nearly scolded for almost tipping over a wine glass. The clumsiness increased the more time went on. Regardless, Tulip could see anxiety reducing by the second. Pepper whispered to Tulip how they had never seen Mortelline beaming from ear to ear in a long time.

"Usually it's when she boasts about her winning streak in chess."

Tulip blinked. "Chess?"

"Oh, do you not know what that is?"

They shook their head, to which Pepper smiled.

"It's a fun little board game. Mortals play it, too! I'll teach you how to play sometime."

The worry that Mortelline would've eavesdropped was cut short when Dante remarked on a flute resting in a glass box.

"I know how to play those," he said.

"Really now?" Mortelline nudged him in a drunken state. "Why not play a tune for us, then? I haven't touched the thing in ages."

As soon as Dante held the instrument to his lips and played a song, everyone jumped out of their seats to dance. Mortelline did the equivalent of a bird trying to tap dance, while Tulip and Pepper twirled around, similarly when they danced in the garden. Of all the times Tulip had seen Pepper smile, their favourite was in that moment, the giggling deity holding both their hands and spinning round and round.