//------------------------------// // Chapter 14: Thinking of you // Story: Veins and Arteries // by Rhino //------------------------------// Several days pass as the couples return to their regular lives, eventually resulting in more current and calm events. Such as today. Climbing the last few steps to Asylum’s home’s floor, Rhino mutters to himself. “Bet those are a pain in the ass to move with…” Such thoughts quickly exit his mind as he starts scanning the door for the numbers he seeks. Even while walking, he self-consciously checks his mane, tail, and straightens the collar of his shirt, having decided to go with something nice but casual. After locating the apartment he was told about, he knocks. After a moment, the door opens and he is greeted with the sight of a comfortably-dressed Asylum; having begun to wind down at the end of the day, she has on a large sweater and loose sweatpants, both a dark blue. She smiles at him and steps back to let him in. “Glad you could make it.” Feeling slightly overdressed, Rhino smiles and walks in. “Well, I wouldn’t ever turn down time with my favorite mare.” She giggles, closing the door behind him. “I see you felt like dressing up a bit.” Chuckling sheepishly, he rubs the back of his head. “It’s just a collared shirt… I thought I’d look nice for you…” “And I do appreciate that.” She kisses him on the cheek. “I just don’t want you feeling awkward next to me. Do you want me to change into something else?” “Only if you want to.” He smiles, giving her a nuzzle. “I think you look great in anything.” Blushing a bit, she nuzzles back as she leads them to the living room part of the apartment. “W-Well, you just got here… I wouldn’t want to suddenly leave you alone just to go change.” She giggles a bit. “Let’s wait and see, I think.” He nods, looking around. “So this is your place, huh? Cozy.” “Thanks… I prefer yours, though.” She sits down on the couch. “Much bigger.” “True… doesn’t mean your place isn’t nice.” He sits down as well, though a bit more carefully for his own reasons. “The company’s exquisite.” She leans her head on his shoulders with a content sigh. “I enjoy it too… whether at your place, or mine, or anywhere else.” “I feel the same way…” He wraps one arm around her as he nuzzles her softly. “Which is why, among many other reasons, I have a little something for you.” His other hand reaches into his pocket, trying to pull something out. She blinks, blushing a bit. “D-Did you? You don’t have to get me things, you know...” “I still want to.” He leans off her slightly, holding his hand between them. A small black box rests in his hand, the kind often used for jewelry. “I hope you like it.” He smiles softly. She covers her mouth, blush increasing immensely. “R-Rhino...” He blinks, not quite expecting that kind of reaction before she even opens the box. Licking his lips once, he still holds it in front of her. “I actually added a little touch of my own to it as well, to make it special.” Asylum starts to tear up before she suddenly hugs him with a squeal. “Yes! Yes! Yes!” His arms reflexively hug her back even as his eyes widen in surprise. He holds onto the box tightly as he is pushed back by the force of her hug, letting out a laugh at her suddenness. “Yes?” “Yes!” she repeats, kissing him on the lips. “It… it seems a little early, but I don’t really mind...” Fighting back the slight mental fog from her kiss and the part of him that just wants to continue that line of actions, the stallion restrains himself to a soft return kiss on her lips. “Early?” She nods, a little sheepishly. “Well… we are both still in college, but… I mean, I guess this sort of thing isn’t unheard of...” Something clicking in his head, he nods. “True, I guess students don’t exactly have the biggest budgets in the world, but I think this is a wise investment.” “I agree.” She nuzzles him, giggling. “I… I’d love to marry you, Rhino.” He practically hears a pane of glass shattering in his head at that word. “Wait… what?” “Marry...” She pauses, looking at him curiously. “...erm… that is what you were asking me… right?” “Umm… well… no, I was just giving you a present…” He moves the hand still clutching the box, looking at it himself. “Although it occurs to me what the box could have implied…” Asylum pauses again before giggling, looking sheepish. “Oh… um… m-my bad… sorry...” He chuckles with her, rubbing the back of his head. “It’s fine. Honestly though, it would probably still be a couple years before I proposed-” He cuts himself off. “Umm… sorry, that was probably a little weird to say this early in the relationship…” She smiles and nuzzles him. “It’s fine… should we just, um, move on?” He nods, making no move to change their positions of him laying on the couch and her partially on top of him. “I think so. Want to open it now?” He offers the box once more. The pegasus takes it with a shy giggle. “Yes please.” This time, she actually opens it up. Inside is a pendant, a simple silvery heart outline of entwined metal with the faintest tinge of blue where the light reflects off it. A few runes can be seen on the inside, etched smoothly. The pendant sits threaded on a simple sturdy looking chain with a clasp at the back. She smiles widely before hugging him again. “Thank you… I love it!” He laughs and hugs back, giving her a squeeze and a kiss on the cheek. “I haven’t even told you the changes I made yet. Still, I’m glad you like it.” “Oh? What changes might those be?” Already she unclasps the chain and starts working it around her neck. “Well, first off...” He pulls his collar down a little, revealing a small silver chain around his neck. “I paired it with this. They each do the same thing, but only to the other of the set.” She giggles. “And what is it they do?” He blushes a bit, looking away. “It’s nothing too fancy, just something I was experimenting with, but…” He raises a finger. “Whenever you press on your heart, or I press on my chain, the other’s part warms up a bit. Just a little thing so we can show when we’re thinking about the other.” He presses his finger lightly on the chain of his necklace for a few moments to demonstrate. “Awww...” She smiles and presses on her own. “I love it.” He looks back at her as his feels the metal on his neck warm. “I thought it might just be a little something you’d appreciate. Maybe a little happy surprise comfort when we’re apart or something.” “Which, hopefully, won’t be often.” She kisses him on the cheek before snuggling closer. He hums, feeling the contours of her body on his and loving how well she fits. A stray thought crosses his mind as he hugs her to himself, nuzzling her, but he dismisses it for the moment. “Heh, even after a week straight of just us, we still can’t get enough of each other being around… I love it.” “Same here.” She relaxes into his embrace. He does much the same, the two simply spending time with one another, as is their wish. *** Days later, Silk hums as she darts around the house. She double checks her preparations; snacks and drinks are plentiful, the furniture in the living room has been moved to the edges to leave plenty of room in the center, blankets and pillows abound, things she might need up in her room are easily accessible, deviant mind prepared, scheming best friend clued in, and boyfriends nonethewiser. She giggles to herself, adjusting her soft loose shirt. “Seems everything is set.” Not even ten seconds after she says that, the knock on the front door she had been waiting for can finally be heard. Smiling widely, she practically skips to the door, checking her mane one more time before opening it. Standing there are two familiar ponies. Asylum, in a comfy-looking pink blouse and skirt, has a knowing grin on her face as she hugs her friend. “Hey there! Hope we’re not too late.” Silk hugs back. “We can’t exactly start without you two, can we?” Looking over the pegasus’s shoulder, she addresses her companion. “Good to see you, Rhino. Treating her well?” “Like the princess she is.” The green stallion replies with a smile. He wears a blue short sleeve shirt and light plaid shorts, his usual casual wear for outside the house. “Good stallion.” She smiles back at him. “Speaking of good stallions, where’s yours?” Asylum steps inside, smirking as she looks around. As Rhino follows, Silk shuts the door. “Oh, he’s around. I think he’s down in the basement again.” She giggles mischievously. “At least I can always tempt him out nowadays.” “Well, that’s good.” The pegasus giggles as well. “Should you get him now?” “I think so. Why don’t you two get comfy?” She gestures to the living room before heading down into the basement, calling out ahead of her. “Oh, Winter~! We have guests~!” After a moment she adds, “Also, I need some snuggling~!” There’s a thudding noise, and not even two seconds later, the door opens and he pokes his head out. “Who’s here?” Grinning, she leans forward and gives him a kiss. “What? Am I not enough of a reason to come out?” He chuckles. “I just want to make sure we don’t start cuddling in front of random strangers.” He steps out, actually wearing a shirt this time, and closes the door behind himself. “Believe me, if it was just you, I wouldn’t be asking any questions.” “Well, our guests are the ones we were expecting: our similarly romantic friends of Rhino and Asylum.” She links arms with him, leaning her head on his shoulder. “...oh, right.” He sighs, nuzzling her as they start heading up the stairs. “Guess I lost track of time.” Shrugging, she nuzzles him back. “Just remember to relax and have fun, hun.” “I’ll try.” They reach the first floor again, and he waves at the other couple. “Guess we’re all here, then. What do we do now?” Giggling as she looks at the other couple that had started cuddling on the couch when they weren’t looking, Silk replies. “Well, I’m not sure we can snuggle with these two hogging the couch.” “She tempted me,” Rhino defends. “You agreed,” the pegasus retorts. Winter chuckles. “We could always use the floor. It’s carpeted for a reason.” “And…” Silk waves to one side. “...I brought out the blankets and pillows for that very reason, among others.” “I guess that could work.” Rhino squeezes Asylum lightly as he gives her a kiss on the cheek. She giggles and nuzzles against him some more. “Well then, let’s set up a little snuggle circle,” Winter says as he starts levitating everything over. Silk blinks, staying silent a moment before she speaks. “Oh! For a moment there I thought you meant a snuggle pile for all four of us… silly me.” The cobalt unicorn blinks. “Erm… well, no, that isn’t what I meant.” He chuckles, rubbing the back of his neck as he sets up the blankets and pillows. “So, how have you two been?” The other stallion grins. “Things have been going great for us. Just spending time together and stuff. You two?” “Same thing, more or less.” He chuckles, sitting down and patting the spot beside him for Silk. “Life’s been treating us well.” The thestral quickly walks over, sitting herself in his lap and leaning back against him. “Excellent starts to the school year for all of us. Which is part of the reason Asylum and I had the idea for this little get together.” Asylum giggles. “That, and a little fun.” Winter blinks as he cuddles his marefriend. “...why do I feel worried?” Silk taps his nose. “Because both of you are seeing intelligent mares who are prone to planning when they get together.” Rhino sighs and shakes his head. “...I feel like I always have reasons to be simultaneously curious and nervous around you, Silk.” “I am prone to springing things on ponies… but Sy is learning well.” She titters mischievously. Winter sighs. “So what’s the plan, then?” The thestral smirks as she squirms in his lap. “Oh, you know… food, drinks, games, chatting, awkwardness, embarrassment… normal sleepover things.” “I don’t really remember those last two being a part of sleepovers...” “Then you are in for a treat.” Her eyes are half-lidded as she purrs against him. He sighs and nuzzles her. “Okay then, which of the things on that list are we getting to first? I’m not particularly hungry or thirsty, and we’ve been chatting for a bit already.” “Then that just leaves three things,” Asylum says with a smirk. “Games?” Rhino offers. Silk nods. “Games!”