Title: played
Rating: T
Fandom: Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones
Relationship: Marisa/Tethys
Wordcount: 513
Short summary: Tethys takes Marisa to a certain place to "relax" Marisa's mind. It's not what Marisa expects, (but probably exactly what Tethys expects).
“This way!”
Tethys tugs and Marisa follows. It’s been their dynamic ever since they started this romantic relationship, though Marisa is still confused as to how this all works. For example, today is supposed to be their rest day, but Marisa doesn’t understand how running around the marketplaces of the city they are visiting is restful. She had lost their contest earlier this morning, so she is obligated to follow Tethys’ whims, and she does understand that Tethys is trying to get her out of her shell and expose her to more of the wider world outside of the mercenary camp and the battlefield, but…
Wait, isn’t this some sort of back alley? Marisa is about to ask what this detour is all about but then a smell hits her. It’s something burning, a bit sweet, a bit pungent.
“Good, this is the right place. You never know with secondhand information,” Tethys mutters as she leads Marisa down the stairs to the entrance of this obscure, dimly-lit…room for of incense.
“Is this…”
“Yes.” Tethys squeezes Marisa’s hand. “It’ll relax your mind. Just let the…smells…and the atmosphere take you to another place, temporarily.”
Marisa frowns a little. She’s not really fond of…mind-altering tricks like this. But she supposes she hasn’t tried it before, and Tethys is with her…
“Don’t worry. I’ll be by your side the whole time.”
And Tethys has probably done this before, safely? Marisa exhales deeply and decides…she’ll trust Tethys on this.
The two of them are instructed by a “guide” to sit on plush cushions, to lean slightly forward, close their eyes, and inhale. The smell really is sweet, and Tethys’ hand really is warm. Marisa imagines endless blankets and pillows, a world that is soft and plush and… Oh, those are not exactly pillows, are they…
Marisa is probably blushing but she’s not going to open her eyes until she’s told to do so. She hopes Tethys is fully immersed in her own experience and enjoying herself, and not looking…at whatever expressions are crossing Marisa’s face as she experiences this…adventure…
“Ding. Dong. Ding. Dong.”
Bells ring after some time, weighty and slow. Everything around Marisa now looks white except for the hair on Tethys’ head, still as beautifully red as ever. White…wearing white…like a wedding…
“Did you have a good session? Please come again.”
Marisa is jerked away from that vision and suddenly it’s just the dimly-lit room with the “guide” and Tethys. Huh? At the end, then, Marisa had been imagining…
“Thank you,” Tethys says to the “guide”. Marisa just watches, still readjusting to reality, as Tethys pays the “guide” and concludes the session.
“So, did you have a good time?” Tethys asks once they are some distance away, lost among the crowds once more. When Marisa blushes, Tethys giggles. “Oh, so you had a real good time,” she says with a sly smile. She leans in close to whisper into Marisa’s ear.
“Tell me all about it later,” she whispers before blowing lightly. “Or…show me.”
Then Tethys dances away, laughing, while Marisa just…exhales. Oh, she got played…