Let's Play!

Marina giggled at him, reaching up towards him.

"Up? "

She asked sweetly, kissing him before she'd hold to his back and start explaining the things she needed help with.

/ Only disappointed for now. Wait until you see the power washers. /

Cause those guys would probably hit closer to what he wanted. Rugged and a bit less all kept than dream lumberjack, but just as built and hefty.

"You invited me to visit for manual labor? "

Bran was somehow both offended and amused at the same time

"I invited you for snuggles.... and help. "

She clarified cutely. She had been direct about the physical help.

"Besides. I missed you. "

She pouted, snuggling tight to his back.

"I am not a servant, though. I thought I'd be moving one thing, not be pretending to be construction equipment. "

He was still moving it, though.

"Of course you aren't. We can lift this stuff. That's what I need you for, love."

The last storm had destroyed the stone in the garden, the entire structure snapped like busted child's blocks. The entire ornate roof was whole and smashing into all the greenery below.

"We have the strength. But I was hopeful you have the arm span to move it without breaking it further? "

She asked with such a wilting hopeful look up at him.

"That is a nice boulder. "

He walked over and studied it.

"Yes. Where do you want it to go?"

(I totally heard that in donkeys voice. )

"So we've taped off a spot over there? The mason should come by tomorrow morning to get it restored if we can keep this in one piece and have it so they can work on it unobstructed."

She shared with a sweet smile and snuggles to his back.

/ Did you miss me?

She asked him sweetly, seeming to have a deeper bouy up from being around more of those that loved her.

Bran sheugged as he started to move the thing.

/I am used to you going stretches of time without visiting./

Marina nuzzled into him.

/I wore the cuff, is that why you didn't miss me? /

She asked, eyes turning to her wrist. She was considering not wearing it. That didn't feel good to not be missed.

/no. I just told you. I have a reasonable tolerance./

Marina relaxed. Ah, patience was different than indifference. Time seemed to mean something a bit different to him, kind of like Ephriam. It was refreshing to her in a kinda "damn it I miss him" sorta way.

/I misunderstood you the first time, I was trying to better grasp it. ... the way you think is different than how I think at times. /

Marina acknowledged with warm affection.

/ of course it is. I am a draconid and you are not. /

He put the rock down.

Marina shifted to crawl around to his front and get affection.

/ So? That feels like it's less important than you're making it sometimes. Certainly it's possible it's just us being different people?/

She posed, having squrrieled away one of his hands to hold with both of her own, looking very pleased with herself as she nuzzled into his palm.

"Mine. "

She reminded him with pleased delight.

"Maybe it's not important to you, but it's important to me."

He grinned and the hand wandered to pat her head with obvious pleasure.

Marina arched an eyebrow, eyes meeting his.

/ Maybe it's just my affection for you crossing the distance, then. I'm not disregarding your significance in the slightest. Just...I have feelings for you. So I don't think something like that should keep me from loving you. Even if it does occasionally cause some ripples in the water between us. I want to communicate effectively with you, and understand you better. Certainly it's not a bad thing? /

She ventured, hope and timid shyness clear on her face.

A slow smile split his face.

/ aren't you the most precious little thing! /

He patted her a couple times more.

/ maybe I'll give you a gift next time you visit. /

Marina smiled, inching up to steal a hot kiss from him in happiness.

/Just coming over when I ask is plenty. Caring about me in return? Bonus. I like you, like you, so if course I wanna know you. /

And get his thinking. She shifted to hug him, unable to help her grin when she saw Ryder shamelessly eyeing Bran.

/ You legit have a boner right now, my love. /

"Yes, well, you are being cute. "


/ so? You totally have a lady boner./ Ryder defended.

Marina nuzzled down into Bran, inhaling deep.

/Well, that sort of implies you like me, like me too./

She reasoned with a giggle and a delighted brightness to her general being, eyes turning upward.

/ You're pretty amazing, you know./


/Do not.. if you were closer I'd even let you check.... though that might actually cause one./

Bran squinted at her.

"I like you coming to visit. Don't make it weird."


/psh. Leave me to my fantasies./

Marina looked at him with a tiny pout forming.

/ What's weird?/

"Too much of anything is weird. "

Marina considered this, inching close enough for her eyes to meet his.

/ Are you sure? /

She asked him skeptically, looking about.

/I think there's no such thing as too much love. /

"There can most definitely be too much of anything. "

Marina looked at him, a little look on her face as she processed this.

/ Ok. /

If he said so.... maybe it was so?

"Think about stalkers. I'm sure most of them would say they loved their victims. If so, it's clearly too much. "

Marina glanced down to Ryder, unable to help how she smiled.

"I have discovered I'm kinda fond of some of my stalkers..... but not all...."

Then she snuggled down into him, something in her felt unsure and unsafe, looking up to him.

/I don't want new stalkers..../

"Most people don't? "

He raised a brow, not sure what she was having and issue with.

Marina slowly inched up to nuzzle him.

"I love you. "

She whispered tenderly to him, hoping he didn't get upset at her admission while she cuddle loved on him.

" I don't think stalkers actually love. I think it's infatuation. "

Bran pushed her down a little after a second to give herself breathing room.

"They'd disagree. But it's neither here nor there "

Marina nodded slightly, letting him scoot her down a bit, snuggling and loving on him.

" Alright. Alright. "

She let it be, perking up and grinning as the power washers arrived.

/Look! Eye candy for my bi boy!/

She called with a great big grin at Ryder.

/ mmmhmm. they aren't half bad. Did you ask for head shots when recruiting? / he teased

Marina giggled.

/ They have a calender from last year's fundraiser. I found it when looking for someone to power wash and other odd jobs.. they were highly recommended. /

She shared with a wink at him.

/I figured the scenery could be enjoyable for you, if you're gonna be helping me. /

/ a calendar? Are they still selling? Cuz I'd happily raise their funds any time. /

Marina snorted to herself, nipping at Bran's ear playfully.

/ Yes. Well, they will be? Every spring? I'll send you the link, love. It's children's cancer research, too. Like, prefect excuse to buy one for a friend. /

/ that's actually pretty wholesome. I can't bring myself to make even a mildly lewd retort. /

/ They're really sincerely not bad dudes from my interactions..... humans just aren't my jam. /

She shrugged a tiny bit with a shift to sit on Bran's shoulders.

"I'm so taaaaaallll!"

She giggled, considering standing on his shoulders.

Bran laughed heartily, holding her calves so she wouldn't careen to her death.

"It must be an entirely different world for you like this, huh?"



/fine by me. I'm as equal-opportunity as they come./

Marina glanced down at Bran, eyes twinkling.

"I love it! Is this what it feels like to all of you looking down at me? "

She asked, grin growing wider on her face.

"Look how tall I can be! "

She shared, standing tall now, even more delighted by Bran's large hands holding her feet in place.

/Look at him.... he treats me so delicate..../

She couldn't help how warm it made her feel, looking to Ryder.

/ Like you. Like I'm precious. /

She couldn't help it, it summoned her most tender pieces to the surfaces.

/ you ARE precious. /

Ryder smiled up at her warmly



"The tallest here, for sure. "

He chuckled.

"Maybe not exactly the same, though. I don't think most people are two bodies taller than you on the day to day. "