Who: Meg and Tess What: Tess searches for Meg and a new chapter begins When: July 20th, 2019 [backdated] Where: Near the area where a few of the residents fought back the hurricane Rating: Low Status: Complete
Only able to calm the worries of her friends and kids seeking shelter in the Facility, Tess was a mess herself. But she kept her own worry behind her strong exterior and constant pacing. The blonde had gotten a few hours sleep and peeked out the next morning to see the calm skies and wreckage scattered across the area.
Venturing out, Tess listened and looked for Meg. Her pink-haired friend had been out during the height of the storm. Was she okay?
Dirt was her friend.
If anything there was solid, reliable foundation it was the dirt and the sand, the Earth. It was as if she and Mother Nature had some sort of odd understanding which allowed Meg the comfort of always being able to take care of herself.
When the exhaustion had finally come upon her Meg had collapsed into the muddy earth. Those last few moments of consciousness had been spent burrowing into the grime as much as she was able.
As morning came Meg was nestled partway into the ground as if she had been buried in a landslide, pink hair brown, matted and tangled with now dried earth. But her skin was vibrant. Encased in her shell of nature she slept onward undisturbed.
Carrying a satchel of bottled water, her phone, and a bartender’s best friend - church key, Tess walked briskly about the areas where the storm damage was the worst - looking out for her pink-haired friend.
“Meg?” she called, in case the other woman was further out than she thought. Tess continued looking about and going towards the areas she thought she saw where the residents who could help fend off the worst of the hurricane were.
Then she saw the beginnings of muddy, caked earth where it looked like the flood waters had gathered. Then there was Meg’s now-brown hair.
“Meg!” Tess yelled as she ran, nearly tripping in the still-settling ripples of mud on the outer edge of the area. She soon knelt down beside Meg and breathed sharply through her nose as she saw her face. “Meg,” she said a little quieter as she reached over to brush her friend’s cheek.
That voice — it was sweet like nectar and Meg’s eyes flickered beneath the lids. The fingers against her cheek prompted her eyes to open and hazy at first then her vision cleared. She saw Tess and smiled.
The mud and dirt melted away. Every speck of grime was cast aside and soon she was able to lift up, winding her arms around the other woman with ease. Pink hair was vibrant and free of debris. “Hey!”
Kisses would be pressed upon cheeks, the corner of Tess’ mouth. “I’m so glad you’re safe.”
Tess smiled brightly as Meg opened her eyes and met hers. Thank goodness!
Leaning down, her arms followed - curling around her friend with one cradling the back of Meg’s head. It was a relief she was okay!
Her lips pressed against Meg’s left cheek and she smiled. “And you’re safe. Went and planted yourself, didn’t you?”
A laugh left her lips as she clung to the other woman. “Like a plant but not really.” She gained energy from the earth without knowing why. She had since she’d gained this power.
Fingers gripped Tess’ shirt but she smiled regardless. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”
Tess softly laughed in return. “Silly…” she breathed. In the back of her mind, she scolded herself for not reaching out telepathically to stay in touch with Meg during the storm.
Her fingers gently slipped into her friend’s hair. “I’m glad you’re okay. I just paced like a tiger up and down the hallways. I’m sorry I didn’t reach out to you.” Tess frowned as she held Meg.
“I bet it was sexy,” she laughed, the end of her nose crinkling with amusement. She leaned into those fingers and grinned. “Pacing? For me?”
Fingers would come to end at Tess’ hip. “I won’t hold it against you. I was a little busy trying to fight an entire hurricane.”
“Pfft,” Tess blew a tiny raspberry. “Oh yeah.. Yup, pacing for you...wishing I had super strength or something so I could go out there and be with you.”
Breathing deeply, the blonde woman smiled. “I know. I just...wish I could be out here with you then.” She leaned in and pressed a kiss to Meg’s forehead.
Meg couldn’t help but laugh. “Uh huh, sure.” She winked and then giggled, pressing her mouth against Tess’ neck. Lifting her head she smiled at her friend.
Eyes would lift to the warmth left upon her forehead before her gaze met Tess’ again. “Me too. But I’m glad you were safe.”
Earth would lift into the air and gently, in the shape of a figure eight both women would be orbited by granules of dirt.
Tess winked back, loving the sound of Meg’s laughter and giggling. Then her jaw loosened at the kiss pressed against her neck. Her free hand gently stroked Meg’s side as their eyes met.
“I was. Now you are.” She smiled and sighed as she held Meg close to her.
Then she heard the sound of the earth lifting and pulled back to look out of the corner of her eye up at the granules.
A smile graced her features. She couldn’t help herself.
Maybe she was showing off a little bit who could blame her? The granules continued to orbit slowly, moving around the both of them as if they were the center of an atom.
“We both are. I’ll always keep you safe.”
Tess grinned. It was an awesome trick, beautiful. Looking into Meg’s eyes once again, she smiled.
“Yes, we are. And I will keep you safe.” She pressed her lips against Meg’s, kissing her softly but with a strength and caring that had slowly developed over the years here on the island for the pink-haired woman.
Meg grinned like a fool.
She was glad that the other woman shared the same ideals. It was refreshing to be on the same page as someone else.
As their mouths collided a soft sound was emitted. Eyes would fall closed as she savored the connection.
It had been a long time since Tess had felt this way about anyone. What she had in the past was brief. But this slow development of acquaintance to friend to best friend to what threshold they had found herself upon now was amazing. They felt the same. And this felt great, natural to her.
Tess hummed a little at the soft sound Meg made, her eyes closing as well as she continued the kiss as she protectively held her. But soon she needed to break for air as her almost healed ribs ached a little.
Releasing the kiss, she breathed and rested her forehead against Meg’s.
A breath was captured once the connection severed. Her fingers grasped hold of Tess’ shirt, drawing the woman in close and holding on. Mindful of the other’s still healing ribs she did her best not to hurt her. But she was on cloud nine regardless.
A hand would lift. She cupped Tess’ cheek and smiled, “Let’s get out of here, yeah? I feel like I’ve been outside forever.”
The pain in Tess’s ribs were a faint echo compared to a month ago. She’d be fine. Her fingers stayed in Meg’s hair as they held onto each other.
Then the blonde woman sighed as she felt Meg cup her cheek. Easing back to look at her, she smiled. “Yeah. Let me help you up,” Tess grinned. “A bet a shower and some food would be nice.”
With a grin she nodded. Moving with Tess’ guidance she moved to stand up and brushed off any remaining sand. The orbiting granules fell gently away from them.
“That sounds like heaven. You coming with?” A playful wink would be offered. “Your place or mine?”
Carefully, Tess helped Meg to stand. Her arm around the other woman’s waist remained as the other hand carefully eased strands of pink hair away from her face.
A sly smirk crossed Tess’s face. “Perhaps,” she winked back and gently ran her fingers along Meg’s shirt-covered side. “My place.”
Giggling, a small snort escaped her at the answer. She clung gently to the other woman. “I was hoping you’d say that.” But then she thought about where this was going and how the burn of last time felt. Eyes doe-like, Meg paused and looked at Tess.
“Hey, before we get into anything I just — I don’t want to…” hurt you, or for you to hurt me “...do anything you don’t want.” Chewing at her lip, she assessed what she wanted. “I really like you. I got burned recently. I want to make sure this is what you want.” A hand would wave between them both.
She hoped Tess would understand.
Tess was open to whatever speed they took as long as Meg was okay with it. Yet a part of her was wished for a relationship, physical contact where everything was equal and lovely. As she saw Meg look at her, Tess paused as well.
“Yeah. I really like you too. I think I have for years,” Tess frowned at herself for that bit of a confession on her part. “I know,” Tess nodded softly. “I don’t want to move any faster than you are comfortable. I never want to hurt you. At all.” She understood.
“You won’t as long as you’re honest with me,” Meg confesses. “I think we should go as fast as we feel comfortable with. I want to make sure I know you and that you know me,” she breathed. The last thing she wanted was another random note shoved underneath her door.
Hand would find Tess’ and she squeezed. “I wanna be your girlfriend. But I want to take things slow. Is that okay?”
“Okay. I agree,” Tess nodded. She swore she never wanted to hurt Meg and was willing to take this slow. Their friendship grew slowly and she could take this next chapter just as gradually if needed.
Her fingers curled around Meg’s hand as she squeezed. “That’s okay.” Tess smiled softly.
Lifting her hand, Meg pressed kisses over the backs of Tess’ fingers. “I’m honored.” She giggled like a school girl and then lowered their hands.
“We should go then, yeah?”
Tess smiled brightly, her brown eyes squinting a little with that smile. “No, I’m honored.” She snickered and leaned over to press a kiss to Meg’s cheek.
“Yes, we should.”
A wink and Meg nodded, shaking her hips for Tess in a playful manner. “Alright, let's go then!”