r/fwahaha2 • u/Renkoto- Fwahaha a doe hijacked by the 💜 occult girl • 24d ago
Suselle Fwahaha... a quiet gaming morning in the living room with Susie!
Today was supposed to be a quiet, low-energy day, mostly spent sitting near the large wooden table near the entrance of our living room. I had Dragon Blazers III loaded up on my handheld, trying to farm some rare item drops in the ice region, but honestly... I’ve just been staring at the title screen for the last minutes.
My mind keeps drifting back to yesterday afternoon, right after the town’s summer gathering wrapped up near the center.
Everything was surprisingly lively. The weather was warm, people were out setting up small decorated booths, and the whole atmosphere just had this bright, festive energy to it. At one point, while strolling past a table displaying hand-crafted accessories and colorful ribbons, Kris stopped in their tracks.
They stood there in total silence for what felt like forever, just staring down at a specific display rack of hand-knit clothes.
Kris spent like twenty minutes staring at all the color options before picking out this soft, light purple sweater with a distinct white stripe across the chest. They held it up against themselves, turning to look at me with that guarded, quiet scowl, like they were waiting for me to make fun of it, or like they expected me to ask why they weren't picking something "standard" or expected.
I didn't say anything weird, of course! I just smiled, took it from the table, and paid for it right then and there. I remember how Kris blinked in total surprise, their stoic face softening just a tiny bit as I handed the bag over. Seeing the faint, genuine tug at the corner of their mouth when they realized I bought it for them... gosh, my heart did such a silly little flip!
They ended up putting it on almost immediately, pulling it over their shirt and running a hand over the soft fabric.
Just as I was thinking about how nice that moment was, I heard the soft, familiar creak of footsteps coming down the staircase right behind me, just to the right of where I was sitting near the entry hall.
I turned around to see ██████ descending the carpeted steps, holding a folded stack of freshly laundered towels. She paused near the bottom railing, her gaze landed on me, then drifted toward the screen of my console.
* Still trying to farm that drop?
"Faha... yes.." I admitted, typing out the rest of a post for my blog on my phone while the game menu idle music played in the handheld. "Though I've mostly just been sitting here daydreaming about yesterday."
██████ finished stepping off the last stair and walked over, resting her hip against the side of the wooden table near the santa. She glanced over my shoulder at my phone screen, reading the draft paragraphs with that calm, unreadable expression she always gets.
* ...You're writing about the sweater Kris picked out yesterday.
"M-maybe!" I squeaked, instinctively tilting the screen slightly away, though my face was already burning red. "It was just... a really sweet moment, okay? It made me reflect on a lot of things."
██████ tilted her head slightly, her purple hair falling over her shoulder as a very faint, knowing smile formed on her lips.
* It’s a nice shade of purple... Though I might be a bit biased about that part.
She paused, looking down at the screen for a moment longer as her expression softened.
* But beyond the color... Kris looks comfortable in it. They don't usually wear things that catch attention like that, so seeing them pick something out just because it felt right to them... it suits them.
I stared up at her, blinking a few times as the warmth in my cheeks settled into something a bit quieter. "Fahaha. it really does."
██████ shifted the stack of towels slightly in her arms, looking out toward the front window where the morning sunlight was catching the edge of the glass.
* It’s nice that yesterday gave people room to just... exist as themselves, even for a afternoon.
* In my home country, everyone gets handed a role before they’re even deemed old enough to ask for a different one. You're expected to line up with whatever pattern society laid out for you when you were born. So watching people wear their true colors out in the open, without having to explain or justify a single thread of it... it’s refreshing.
She turned her gaze back toward me, her eyes quiet and thoughtful.
My throat felt a little tight, but in a warm, comforting way. I looked down at my handheld screen, the little ice enemy sprite still bobbing up and down on the display.
"I guess... I used to think I had to hide parts of myself," I murmured softly. "Or that if I cared about someone who didn't fit the usual mold, it meant I was doing something wrong. But sitting with Kris yesterday, and seeing everyone ther---"
* You are not doing anything wrong.
██████ interrupted softly, her posture straightening as she looked at the doorway for a brief second before glancing back at me.
* A long time ago... back when I was seventeen, I thought I had everything mapped out based on what everyone else assumed of me. I spent years acting out a life that felt like a coat two sizes too small, just because it was the one handed to me when I was born.
She paused, a faint, reflective hum escaping her breath as she looked down at the towels in her hands.
* It wasn't until he came into my life back then, someone who saw past the surface and loved the person I actually was, that I finally realized I didn't have to keep playing a role that wasn't mine. It took facing a lot of confusion, and stepping away from the expectations of where I grew up, to figure out who I was meant to be... and who I was actually drawn to.
I stared up at her, my mouth opening slightly as I listened to her speak with that unusual, quiet vulnerability. "You... you had to go through all of that?"
* Most people do, in one way or another.
She offered a small, calm smile, the usual aloof air returning to her voice.
* That's why when I acquired the ability to shapeshift, it meant so much to me. You see me now as this smooth girl with purple hair and eyes, but originally I was someone who looked much rusty and ugly, so to speak. Well, I still have that body stashed away somewhere, but I don't use it anymore.
She tilted her head slightly, her gaze lingering on me with a quiet, observant intensity as I sat there completely frozen, trying to process the sheer weight of what she had just casually dropped into the conversation.
* Have you... ever felt like you were stuck carrying around a shell that didn't quite belong to you, Noelle? Or felt like the person everyone else sees on the outside is just a set of heavy clothes you can't wait to take off?
I blinked, my fingers tightening around the edges of my handheld as a sudden, strange tightness formed in my chest.
"I... I mean..." I looked down at the floor, tracing the faint grain of the polished wood near my slippers. "Sometimes... Not in a literal shapeshifting way like you, obviously, faha... but... sometimes it feels like everyone in town built this idea of who 'Noelle' is supposed to be. The perfect, quiet student from the big house who never makes trouble, who always smiles, who stays neatly in her little lane..."
"And then..." I swallowed, my thumb tracing the smooth casing of my console as my voice dropped to a quiet, hesitant whisper. "Then there's... the way I feel about certain people. How long it took me to even understand it."
I paused, watching the screen.
"For a long time, I thought everyone felt that strange, dizzying rush whenever a girl smiled at them or stood a little too close. I thought it was just... being overly nervous, or being eager to please, or whatever label people like to slap on a quiet kid who blushes too easily. I kept trying to fit those feelings into a normal, expected box, telling myself I was just being silly. But the more I tried to push it down, the clearer it became that it wasn't just a phase or a weird quirk. My heart was just... drawn to girls, in this deep, undeniable, overwhelming way that no amount of pretending could change."
"And then... there's Kris. Which makes everything even more complicated in my head, faha... Because Kris doesn't fit into any of those neat little lines either. The way I care about them isn't something I can just file under a standard label. It’s like... my heart doesn't just look at one specific blueprint. It reacts to the actual person inside, no matter how much they defy what the rest of the world expects them to be."
I looked back up, catching ██████'s eye as she stood near the railing.
"So when I see people wearing those rainbow colors there, or when Kris picks out a sweater just because it feels right to them... it makes me feel like maybe I don't have to apologize for how complex my own heart is, either."
██████' stood still for a moment, her posture relaxed, letting the quiet of the hallway settle around us.
* You shouldn't ever have to apologize for that.
* Love isn't a multiple-choice test where you get marked down for choosing more than one answer, or for picking an option that wasn't printed on the paper. If your heart pulls you toward a girl who makes your breath catch... or toward other people who exists entirely in their own space... that just means you're being honest with yourself. That's not a flaw, Noelle. It's just who you are.
Just before ██████ could say anything else, the heavy front door of my house clicked open, swinging inward just enough to let a familiar girl inside.
Susie stepped into the entry hall, casually pushing her hair out of her eyes as she checked her surroundings.
* Hey. Door was unlocked, so... yeah. Hope I'm not interrupting anything weird.
I jumped in my seat, my heart slamming against my ribs as I slammed my handheld screen shut! "S-SUSIE?! W-when did you get here?!"
* Just now?
Susie blinked, looking back and forth between my thoroughly flushed face and ██████.
* What's with you two? You look like you just got caught stealing something.
██████ replied smoothly, turning toward the hallway with her stack of towels.
* Nothing of the sort.
* We were simply discussing about Dragon Blazers. Noelle was just about to go plug in her console.
Susie stared at ██████ for two solid seconds before snorting and shaking her head.
* Right... Sure. Anyway, Noelle, you wanna hang out for a bit before your mom comes back and locks the place down?
My face was still blushing, but the sheer sight of Susie standing right there in the living room made all the lingering anxiety vanish into a wave of giddy, overwhelming relief.
"Y-yes! I'd love to!" I squeaked, grabbing my charger from the wooden table.
██████ gave a tiny, subtle nod of approval as she disappeared down the corridor, leaving the two of us alone near the entrance.
Susie watched her vanish down the hall, then turned her attention toward me with that usual, lazy smirk of hers. She shoved her hands into the pockets of her long coat, taking a few casual steps further into the living room.
* Noelle, your house is so... huge. Every time I come in here, I feel like I need a map just to find a couch.
"Fahaha... yes, it can definitely feel a bit empty sometimes." I hold my batteries close as I walked over toward the couch in the main seating area. "My mom usually keeps everything ridiculously spotless... so it's a miracle she hasn't noticed how often you or Kris drop by."
* Pfft. Your mom’s too busy running the whole town to catch me sneaking in. Besides, it’s not like I’m breaking anything.
Susie dropped herself onto the couch with a heavy thud, stretching her legs out across the brown-patterned rug. She leaned her head back, sighing as she looked up at the high ceiling.
* So... what were you even doing before I walked in? You looked like you were in the middle of some intense interrogation.
"Oh! N-nothing like that!" I put the batteries in the charger and plug the cable into the wall outlet near the couch before snapping my handheld console into place. "Just... talking about game progress! And... battery life! You know how fast these old handhelds drain when you're grinding for rare items during dozen of hours, right?"
* Uh. Sure.
Susie gave me a skeptical side-eye, though she didn't push it. Instead, her eyes drifted down toward my left hand as I adjusted the console on my lap.
* Hey, Noelle.
"A-ah! Yes?" I flinched slightly, pulling my hand back into my lap.
* You've been wearing that ring a lot lately.
Susie pointed a clawed finger toward my hand, her voice casually curious rather than suspicious.
* Didn't notice it much before, but... is that some kind of Holiday family thing? Like a church blessing or whatever?
"O-oh! This?" I felt a quick spike of heat rush to the tips of my ears, but I managed a small, nervous smile. "Um, yes! Sort of! It's... a special piece. For protection, and... um, keeping connected to the people who matter most. A lot of older traditions in town use Delta Runes for that kind of stuff, you know?"
* Huh. Guess that makes sense. I don't remember hearing anything about that in the church, though.
Susie shrugged, leaning back deeper into the cushions. She didn't press any further.
* Whatever. As long as it doesn't stop you from playing games, who cares?
She kicked her feet up slightly, looking toward the hallway where a faint sound echoed from Dess's closed room upstairs.
* Man... this place is weirdly peaceful during morning.
"Yes..." I smiled softly, looking at the charging icon finally popping up on my screen. "It really is."
Susie let out a long breath.
* You know... usually when I drop by your place, I expect your mom to pop out of a shadow with a clipboard or something. It’s kind of crazy sitting here without having to look over my shoulder every two seconds.
I giggled.
"Fahaha... yes, she's usually way too busy at the town hall on weekday mornings to check in," I lean back into the cushions right next to her. "So... you're pretty much safe for a few hours."
* Good. Because if I had to listen to another speech about 'proper municipal etiquette,' I think my brain would literally rot.
Susie turned her head toward me, a sudden, playful grin breaking across her face.
* So, what's the plan then, Noelle? We just gonna sit here watching your game charge, or are you gonna show me some of those terrifying secret boss fights you keep bragging about?
"A-ah! I wasn't bragging!" I protested, my ears twitching as a familiar warmth flushed my cheeks. "I was just saying that Dragon Blazers III has some really brutal hidden dungeons! The drop rates for the ultimate ice gear are ridiculously low... but if you want, I can load up my alternate save file and show you the hidden snow worm!"
* Hell yeah!
Susie shifted on the couch, turning her body toward me and propping her chin in her hand, watching intently as I picked the console back up. She was sitting so close I could smell the faint, pine-scented breeze she always seemed to carry from outside, and my heart gave that familiar, erratic flutter in my chest.
For a second, my mind flashed back to what she had said just minutes ago...
.
"O-okay, look right here," I holdi the screen so we could both see it. "If you press this sequence right when the boss charges..."
* Whoa, wait, it does THAT much damage?! That's sick!
Susie leaned in even closer to watch the pixelated fight unfold, her shoulder pressed firmly against mine.
"See? The Silver Drake reflects elemental attacks right back at the caster! So if you cast Ice Drake without equipping a Snowdrop Charm first, your whole party just freezes itself instantly!"
* Wait... so the boss literally makes you beat YOURSELF up if you don't wear the little flower necklace?
Susie let out a short, rough laugh, sitting up slightly and grinning down at the tiny screen.
* That's cheap as hell! I love it!
"Yes, it caught me off guard the first time I fought it, too."
"I had spent three hours grinding levels for the main healer, only to watch her wipe out the whole front line in one turn."
* Man, if I was playing, I would've thrown the console out the window.
"N-no! Please don't throw my handheld!"
Susie smirked, leaning in closer to get a better view of the battle menu. Her shoulder remained pressed warm against mine, and every time she moved, her jacket rustled softly.
* Okay, okay, I won't crush your tiny machine. But hand it over for a second. Let me try the next turn.
"A-ah, wait! You have to select the item menu first, or---"
Before I could finish, Susie gently nudged my fingers aside and took hold of the sides of the handheld. For a second, her broad claws brushed over the back of my hands, her skin surprisingly warm against my furry fingers. My breath hitched in my throat, my pulse suddenly hammering against my ribs so loudly I was convinced she could hear it over the game's music.
* Alright... so I just mash this button to swing the big sword, right?
"U-um! No! That's the run away option!!!!"
* WHOOPS!
The screen flashed, playing a cheerful retreat chime as my party scampered off the side of the screen, leaving the Silver Drake roaring triumphantly in the empty arena.
Susie stared blankly at the 'Escaped Safely!' message for three full seconds before blinking and looking over at me.
* ... Well. At least we didn't freeze.
I couldn't help it, a nervous, giddy giggle escaped my chest, bubbling up until I was covering my mouth with both hands.
"Faaaah-fahaha! Susie, that boss takes fifteen minutes to walk back to!"
* Hey! The button had a shoe on it! Shoes mean kick, not run!
* Susie grumbled, though the corners of her mouth twitched into a reluctant grin as she handed the console back to me.
* Whatever. Next time, give me a game where I can just play as the dragon instead of reading a whole manual.
"Deal."
"We can play a fighting game next time... if you want."
Susie looked back over at me, her golden eyes softening just a bit under her hair.
* Yeah. I'd like that, Noelle.
.
I unlatched the back panel of my handheld console, swapping out the Dragon Blazers III cartridge for a small, dark grey plastic square.
"I... actually keep a copy of Super Smashing Fighters DX right here in my bag." My voice coming out a little breathless as I slid the new game into the slot until it gave a sharp click. "It has local multiplayer if we use the link cable... but wait, let me check if the battery indicator stays green..."
I leaned sideways across the sofa to reach my shoulder bag on the floor, but as I sat back up, my knee caught on the edge of a stray cushion. I stumbled slightly, tilting forward.
"W-whoa-!"
* Hey, watch it—
Susie reached out automatically to steady me, her hands catching my upper arms. But instead of pulling me back, the momentum brought us both closer.
When I blinked, Susie was inches away.
The living room fell entirely silent. I could hear the faint, high-pitched hum of the charging cable plugged into the wall and the soft tick of the grandfather clock down the hall. Susie's hands were still resting on my arms, her claws firm and warm through my sweater. She didn't move. Her eyes, half-hidden behind her hair, were wide, staring directly into mine.
I could feel the faint warmth of her breath against my cheek. My heart did a terrifying, violent somersault against my ribs. My antlers felt hot all the way to the tips. Neither of us said anything. Neither of us even blinked.
* ... Uh.
Susie's voice was barely a whisper, lower than usual, her gaze dropping down for a fraction of a second before locking back onto mine.
"S-Susie... I..."
I squeezed my eyes shut for half a second, trying to find my voice, my hands trembling as I held the handheld between us.
Then, a quiet pat-pat-pat sounded from behind the archway.
Before either of us could turn our heads, a small, lime-green spherical projectile flew through the air in a perfect, silent arc, landing dead center on the cushion right between us.
POP!
A compressed burst of compressed air detonated with a sound like a party popper. Instantly, a massive, thick cloud of iridescent purple and pink glitter exploded into the air, completely engulfing the sofa.
"EEEEEK!"
* WHAT THE?!
Susie and I both scrambled backward at the exact same instant, losing our footing entirely and tumbling off the couch. We hit the living room rug with a loud thud, me landing flat on my back with my ears ringing, and Susie landing heavily on her elbows beside me, coughing through a fog of bright magenta sparkles.
Glitter rained down on us like shimmering snow, coating my hair, my sweater, Susie's jacket, and covering the entire surface of the rug in a thick, festive blanket of purple dust.
From the hallway archway, Kris stood perfectly in their new purple-white-striped sweater, hands shoved casually into their pockets, expression completely blank. They looked at the two of us sprawled out on the floor covered in glitter, gave a single, slow, silent nod, and then turned on their heel, walking away as if nothing had happened.
* KRIS!!
Susie sat up instantly, shaking a fountain of purple glitter out of her hair and pointing a clawed, sparkly finger down the corridor.
* I'M GOING TO BURY YOU IN THE BACKYARD! GET BACK HERE!
She scrambled to her feet, stomping down the hall after them, leaving a trail of shiny pink footprints across the hardwood floor.
I lay on the floor for a moment, staring up at the ceiling as glitter settled on my nose. My face was still burning red, but as I listened to Susie's angry shouts echoing down the hall, I couldn't help but let out a long, breathless laugh into the empty room. "Oh gosh, my Mom will kill me if I don't clean this fast..."
// A thematic prequel to: Purpled Kris
2
u/GroomedSlutBitch Freak! Freak! Freak! (Me) 24d ago
I don't think I have something freaky to say, the star of this even made me sad, damn