Who: Amberle, Wil, Eretria Where: The Park What: Post-Crazy hanging out When: Afternoon ish Rating: TBD Status: Complete upon posting.
Eretria had packed everyone a picnic lunch and carted them all off to the park. They needed time to get back to nature a little - they’d been in this town long enough that Ere was feeling cabin fever. Then the place threw them upside down and backwards with the latest mishap. They hadn’t really made a move to make them more than close, really close, friends yet. But now they had a bit of a sneak peek as to what would happen as a trio.
And Ere couldn’t lie, she liked the idea. Even as she found her eyes wandering to some of the other women in town, she knew that deep down no one could measure up to Wil and Amberle. It was hard to live up to what they meant to her, unless you were thrust into a huge, trouble filled adventure, you couldn’t hope to feel the same way.
She’d set up a nice little campfire and spread a thick blanket down so they didn’t get snowy or too cold, but she needed to feel a little more free than the loft gave her. They’d traveled through so much, a few hours in the snow by a fire was easy enough to handle. “This place is exhausting but interesting.” she mused as she unpacked the lunches she’d prepared for them.
***
Ever since the town decided to catapult them into the future, Wil had been anxious around the girls. Getting out of the tiny loft was a great idea and he was pleased by Eretria’s preparations. She had changed so much in the short time they’d known each other.
“Interesting is one word for it,” he agreed. The idea that not one, but two, amazing young women were actually interested in being with him still shocked him. Back in Shady Vale, the girls hardly looked at him twice because he was a halfling. The glimpse of the potential future they received, one where the three of them were together and he didn’t have choose between them, was a dream come true. He just wasn’t sure how the girls felt about it.
***
Amberle spent a lot of time at work for the most part, picking up as many extra hours as she could. She played it off as just trying to save up more money for the three of them to find a place for themselves. Not living in the apartments set a particular bar for themselves, so it was going to take a little time for them to put it together. That seemed a lot easier to face than trying to figure out what was going on between her, Eretria and Wil. After the confusion about their relationship, she wasn't sure where they all stood.
She'd balked a little at lunch at first, but it hadn't taken much to convince her. There was no denying that she loved Wil, that she wanted to be with him, but there was also her attraction to Eretria that she couldn't deny either. Amberle hadn't thought it would amount to anything though, but what had happened the other week had proved her wrong.
"Unexpected," she added, tossing in her two cents. After a beat, Amberle added, "but not wholly unwelcome." Because if anyone of them was going to throw it out there, it might as well be her. She'd avoided it for too long already.
***
Ere could taste the tension in the air. It wasn’t going to go away until they all faced down their various levels of attraction and dealt with it. Though she wasn’t going to go out on a limb just yet either. Eretria had no desire to drive a wedge between them all when they were in such confined spaces. Nor did she have any desire to live in the apartment. It was not for her. The loft was hard enough - it wasn’t quite right. She couldn’t put a finger on it. Home was great, the treehouse was just perfect, but while the two had similarities they were too different for her to be exactly comfortable.
She had prodded everyone until they’d agreed for lunch. They needed to sit down together when they had time, and not when everyone had a reason to avoid hard topics. “No, you are right, Amberle, it was not unwelcome. I was rather pleased by it all.” a sly little smirk curled the edge of her lip upwards.
She glanced between them as she finished laying out their food.
***
It wasn’t really that surprising that Amberle was the one to address the issue they were all avoiding. Wil flashed her a grateful smile and then shifted to look at Eretria when she spoke and agreed. Part of the reason he cared so much for each of them was how strong-willed and bold they were.
“I wouldn’t have thought it was an option,” Wil said, wanting to be honest. “But I cannot deny that it would be nice.” The last thing he wanted to do was be forced to choose between them.
***
Amberle was glad that she wasn't the only one who felt that way and her small smile grew just a little bit more after both Eretria and Wil confirmed it. She murmured her thanks to the other woman as she continued to get everything together..
"I did not think it was, either," she replied, because how would a threesome even work? How could they be sure they wouldn't get jealous of one another, or that they wouldn't tire of having to share. "It would take time to get there, if that was what we wanted." Amberle wasn't even sure if it was what she wanted, but it was comforting to know that she could have her cake and eat it too, as they saying went.
"What if it was but one possible outcome?" she added, after a beat. "Others saw glimpses into their future relationships, but what if ours was just...wishful thinking?" Would their friendship be ruined then, by even trying?
***
Eretria listed to the pair with interest as she opened all the food containers and nodded along. Then she looked up and smiled a bit. “It would take time - and it’s something we need to be sure we’d really want. I refuse to ruin our friendship.” she said firmly as she sat back on her heels.
“But it’s not an unwelcome idea. I would enjoy it.” she spoke plainly, a smile curling her lips. “It could be wishful thinking but how do we know unless we try?” she asked a bit. “I’m good at sharing - it’s not like I have any worries there.” She shrugged a bit. She’d learned how to manage emotions like that. Being a Rover wasn’t exactly an easy job.
“What do you think?” she laid the plates out for everyone.
***
“I can’t deny that I would enjoy it,” Wil said. He’d spent the night with each of them separately and quite enjoyed that. And he certainly had strong feelings for each of them. After thinking he’d lost Amberle when she became the Ellcrys, his first thought was to save Eretria because he couldn’t bear the idea of losing them both.
He’d also be lying if he said that he hadn’t been worried that he might be forced to choose between them since arriving here. If there was a chance that he didn’t have to choose, that he could be with both of them, well, that would be a perfect solution.
***
Well, at least they were all in agreement that they didn't want to risk their friendship on what if's and maybes. They had the framework in their minds already, but it felt very far away sometimes in her mind. Amberle didn't let herself get too focused on what had happened in their bout of weirdness because otherwise it would just give her a headache.
"That week is proof enough we'd all enjoy it," she countered, maintaining some semblance of level-headedness in this. She turned the idea over in her mind for what felt like the thousandth time. "However, I too would like to try." Amberle was still hesitant, but it wasn't as if they were going to rush into things right then and there.
"Perhaps we should wait on anything until we are settled in a new home," she suggested. It would give them all time to really think it through while they searched for a new place to live. Already she was thinking of a few places they might be able to afford if they managed their money correctly. Ideally, it would have enough room for each of them to have their own separate spaces, should they ever need a break from one another.
*** Ere leaned back on her hands and nodded. “I think that might be a prudent idea. I’m not one for prudent ideas, but I think that might be a good idea.” she smiled a bit more. “Getting settled might make things easier to figure out anyways.” she waved a hand lightly.
“Alright enough talk that’s making us all a little melancholy and distant, time to eat and just enjoy each other’s company.” she said with a firm voice and a smirk. She tucked into the food, letting them decide how they wanted to proceed. She? Was hungry.
***
Wil nodded his agreement. Amberle’s suggestion that they wait until they were settled in their own space to attempt to develop their relationship was a reasonable one. Right now, they were so crowded together that if things went sideways, it would be very awkward and uncomfortable.
“Yes, we should definitely eat,” he agreed. “Thank you for this, Ere.”
***
Her friends truly were wonderful people. It was easy enough to turn the conversation to what they wanted in their new home and how things were going for turn with each of their jobs. Amberle was quite pleased by the whole turn of events and felt things settle between them now that they'd discussed what they'd been avoiding.
As she ate her sandwich, Amberle realized that no matter what happened, they would always be connected to each other in some way. She'd make the most of the time she had with them, knowing that she could be returned home at a moment's notice. The same was true for them, so it felt a little more as if they were on even footing.