Violet made her way slowly up the steps, a mischievous grin on her lips. She could hear the vampire talking upstairs, pacing back and forth.

“No no, dumb. Maybe? But what about the gossamer? Ugh, why didn’t I write that down? Stupid, stupid, wait, no, that’s right, maybe? I could, oh, what if, but then…”

Violet paused for a moment and wondered if all writers sounded that insane. Nah, probably not. She was sure at least some of them finished their thoughts. Or maybe they just didn’t talk to themselves and kept it all inside. Either way, she paused outside the door.

“Eeeee! Oh my gosh, duh! It’s so obvious! Oh, why didn’t I think of that?” Scarlet said before Violet could hear the sound of rapid key typing. She reached for the doorknob, but stopped again. Should she wait until the girl was done with this part, then torment her? Or do it now? She’d wait. Just a few seconds. If Scarlet was struggling this much, she didn’t want to ruin it right as she finally got her muse back.

She waited.

And waited.

Violet crossed her arms and barely resisted the urge to tap her foot. The girl could really go when she was dedicated, it seemed. Finally, the typing stopped. She waited a few moments to be sure it wouldn’t start again before she, very gently, knocked on the door.

She received no response. Violet rolled her eyes, of course. Did the girl fly out again? Gently she turned the knob and pushed the door open. A shame she’d left her net in her room.

However, to her surprise, Scarlet was sitting at the desk still. She didn’t seem to be looking at the screen anymore, instead she had a small stack of her books next to her and seemed to be rapidly rifling through them.

Violet inched over to her, before coughing.

Scarlet didn’t react, just continuing to go through her books, mumbling to herself. “No, I know I said it. Didn’t I? I didn’t leave out something so obvious, did I? Ugh. Here? No. Stupid stupid stupid! I didn’t, did I?”

Violet cocked an eye. “Hello?” she asked softly.

Scarlet didn’t react, grabbing another book and flipping through it. “Oh please, please tell me I didn’t. I didn’t. I couldn’t be that stupid. I have to have mentioned it at LEAST once, didn’t I? No no no. I can’t just use it NOW. That’s, oh no. I didn’t. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Why are you so stupid, Scarlet? How could you cut it? What is wrong with you?”

Violet frowned, inching a little closer behind the girl. Was it okay to bother her when she was like this? What if the girl lashed out at her? On the other hand, Scarlet looked like she might start crying at any moment. She couldn’t just leave her like this, could she? “Scarlet!” Violet all but yelled, making the girl shriek and finally notice her, whipping around.

Wait, scratch that. The girl WAS crying. Or at least about to. There were little tears on the corner of her eyes and it took all Violet had to not reach out and start wiping them away. “Violet? When did you get here? How long have you been there? Don’t look! Don’t look!” Scarlet yelled, her hands covering the screen quickly. “It’s not as bad as it looks, I swear, I was--” She was silenced when Violet put a finger to her lips.

“Shhhhh,” Violet said in a soothing tone. “You’re panicking. I didn’t see anything, I just wanted you to know I’m home. Are you okay?”

“Yes,” Scarlet said softly.

“You don’t look okay,” Violet said in a gentle tone. “You look like you’re going to start crying.”

“I’m not,” Scarlet said quickly before reaching up to wipe her eyes. “It’s stupid. I wouldn’t cry over it. I’m sorry. Have you been home long? I’m sorry.”

Violet smiled despite herself. She’d read books before and cried during them, she supposed it made sense that sometimes the author writing them would do the same. “It’s fine if you are. You want to take a break?”

“I shouldn’t,” Scarlet said before glancing back towards the screen.

“Why not?” Violet asked.

“I’ve already taken off so much time,” Scarlet said. “Besides, the story has already been at this point for so long, it doesn’t feel right to just leave them there.”

“Are you behind schedule?” Violet asked.

“Well, not really,” Scarlet said. “I’m actually ahead of it. But if I stop, I might fall behind and--” She was silenced by another finger against her lips.

“Have you been writing the entire time I was gone?” Violet asked.

“Yes,” Scarlet said.

“Then how about we take a little break,” Violet said.

“I’m not sure,” Scarlet said in a tone that almost screamed she wanted to, but she felt guilty about it.

Violet couldn’t resist it any more. She reached up and, very gently, flicked her thumb against the remnants of the tears in the vampire’s eyes, wiping them away. “You’re so cute when you’re writing. Are you going to turn into a bat and fly off again?”

“What?” Scarlet asked. “I-I only do that when I get excited. This is a sad part. Lily is– wait, no. Sorry.”

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

“Oh? Why?” Violet asked.

“I mean, you’re reading it, right?” Scarlet asked. “I don’t want to spoil things.”

“So?” Violet asked. “If it helps, I don’t mind getting a little spoiled.”

“I-I couldn’t,” Scarlet said softly. “I mean, it’s stupid.”

“I’m sure no matter what you do, it’s fine,” Violet said. “Come on, tell me.”

“It’s about Lily’s familiar,” Scarlet finally said. “She dies, albeit temporarily.”

That made Violet go entirely still, her mouth falling open. “What?”

“I-I know,” Scarlet said. “I mean, I’ve been hinting at it for a while, phoenix, but when the Duke, he, well… but Lily. I’m not sure how she’d react to it.”

“The Duke kills Lily’s familiar?” Violet asked.

“No, phoenix, remember? It comes back,” Scarlet said. “But the damage it does to her mental state is what’s important here. It’d obviously throw her off and just, how is she going to deal with the rest of the Nightmare Court if she’s already got that crack? I’d originally intended for her to have an amulet, a gift from the feathers that was supposed to help keep her calm during the phoenix’s rebirth. But I’d forgotten to have her get it by now. I can’t just have it there now. I’ve been hinting at this rebirth for so long, it’s important that it happens now. But with the Duke’s mother there and Arin’s quest to--”

Violet covered the vampire’s mouth with her own. She didn’t know why she did it. Maybe to calm her down? Maybe because seeing her panicked and worrying over something she created was just too much to bear? Or maybe it was because she wanted to just reset the vampire’s mind in that moment.

Either way, it worked. Scarlet’s eyes went wide, but she didn’t pull away. When Violet pulled back, she gave a small little smile down at her. “Better?”

“A little,” Scarlet said sheepishly. “Sorry.”

“It’s fine,” Violet said. “It’s cute. But I think you really need a break. You said you can eat, right?”

“Err, a bit,” Scarlet said. “But I don’t like solids.”

“Do you like ice cream?” Violet asked.

“I guess,” Scarlet said.

“Ah, good,” Violet said before tugging on her hand. “I’m going to introduce you to neapolitan.”

“What?” Scarlet asked, though she got to her feet and let the other girl tug her along. “I don’t have any ice cream.”

“I’ve been here like a week now, do you really think I haven’t added ice cream to your freezer?” Violet asked.

“I have a freezer?” Scarlet asked.

Violet paused for a moment before sighing. “That explains that green slimy thing in the back of the fridge I had to throw out.”

Scarlet just stared at her in bewilderment, but didn’t object as she was dragged down the stairs. If nothing else, a bit of a distraction seemed to be helping her. Violet supposed she should give her something else to be distracted by, help her fully reset. She knew just the thing.

“Oh, and we’re dating now,” Violet said.

“Wait, what?” Scarlet asked, tripping and nearly falling down the stairs, Violet only barely managing to catch her in time, though she had to lean against the railing to keep herself up. It creaked ominously, but didn’t give.

“Dating,” Violet said. “You do know what dating is, don’t you? You have done it before, haven’t you?”

“O-of course I know what dating is!” Scarlet said quickly, her cheeks bright red. “I write romance! I keep up with things all the time! I can use a computer!”

Violet barely contained a laugh at that. “I don’t think being able to use a computer necessarily makes you up to the times. I’ll give you some credit for it, though. Some. Oh, wait. Have you never dated before? I guess you do pre-date the concept a bit, don’t you? What did they call it in your time? Courting? I guess I’m courting you now?”

Scarlet pulled back quickly, taking a step up the stairs and crossing her arms. “Oh? First of all, if one of us was going to ‘court’ the other, I would be courting you.”

“Oh? And why is that?” Violet asked.

“You’re shorter and I’m buying you dresses,” Scarlet said.

“Ah, but I’m feeding you and taking care of you,” Violet said.

“It’s my house,” Scarlet said.

“That’s falling apart,” Violet said. “And now I’m tasked with organizing and maintaining it.”

“I’ve met your grandmother,” Scarlet said. “Extended family means– wait, wouldn’t she kill me?”

“My grandmother has given me her blessing,” Violet said. “And I’d be courting you as I kissed you first. That’s the first move, ergo, I made it and am doing the courting.”

Scarlet stared at her, her eyes narrowed. “Well, I– wait. She did?”

“Yes,” Violet said before starting down the steps. “So you better not mess this up or my grandmother will beat you up.”

“The Ash Bringer says I can date her granddaughter?” Scarlet asked, her tone absolutely elated.

“Okay, knock that off,” Violet said. “If we’re going to date, I am not going to listen to you go into fangirl mode about my grandmother.”

“Sorry,” Scarlet said sheepishly. “But um, why now?”

“I kissed you,” Violet said. “I’m not just going to kiss someone and not be dating them, right? Or letting them dress me up in pretty outfits or anything like that. That’d just be weird. Unless you have some objection?”

Scarlet started rapidly running down the steps after her. “No! None!”

“Good,” Violet said before she made it to the bottom of the steps and turned towards the vampire. She then held out her hand to the girl, palm up. “Very well. Miss Scarlet, as this is our official first date, may I escort you to the kitchen where we may partake of the ceremonial first ice creaming?” Violet said with as haughty and pompous a tone she could muster.

Scarlet just stared at her in confused, albeit amused, bewilderment. Then, slowly, that predatorial grin formed on her lips. “Oh… is that how they do it in the modern era?” she asked. “Allow me to show you how we did it when I’m from.”

Violet felt a shiver go down her spine. What in the world did the girl think she was--

A moment later she was up in the air, the other girl sweeping her off her feet and carrying her bridal style towards the kitchen. It was a little too much in the end and, within a few moments, the two were breaking down into small fits of giggles.

As first dates went, Violet had to admit it wasn’t what she expected. Her date in sweatpants and an oversized sweater, her in a pair of jeans and an old t-shirt. Eating ice cream in her date’s old, rundown manor. All the while trying to one up the other to decide who was ‘courting’ who. It was unplanned silly nonsense.

But it was fun unplanned silly nonsense. Maybe she could use a bit more of that in her life.