[PRP] Lost at Sea No More [Kiwi Kiss x Salty Breeze]

[Nym]

Kiwi Kiss didn't like mournful reminiscing. She liked staying in the present whenever she could-- focus on what was right in front of her and enjoy life as it slowly unfolded. It was simpler, anyway. Simpler and healthier, she found. Sometimes, though, when the days got particularly quiet and she didn't have a soul to speak to it was harder. Days like today, where the store remained empty and Kiwi leaned over the counter, idly drawing her hoof over her sales book with a sigh. She wasn't naive. She looked it, at times, and was treated like she was, but... she wasn't. She knew a store devoted to exclusively selling kiwi-themed things was going to sometimes face hard times, especially in December. Who wanted fruit then? Well, she did, but other than her... well, she just didn't have the customer base of fanatics like her. Things were slow around this time, even with her wintery-themed kiwi pastries. Slow and lonely. The cafe that hosted singles nights had been hosting more events than usual, hoping to give the desperate singles someone to bring home for the holidays, but Kiwi Kiss had stopped attending. She could hear her brother chastising her gently for the decision, but something about December felt melancholic in the love department, reminding her just how slow her love life actually was. At least she had friends this year! That was absolutely a plus. But, on days like these, when customers, family, and friends were busy, she found herself reminiscing. Remembering the cute girl that had made her heart hammer in her chest whenever she stopped by. Remembering the scent of the sea on her whenever she graced Kiwi Kiss with her company. Remembering how the day before she had vanished to the dreaded waters Kiwi had clutched her chest and readied her breath to ask her if their heart fluttered like Kiwi's. Ughhhh. Kiwi Kiss sighed wistfully and rubbed her face into the counter, hooves fussing with her hair. "Stopppp," she whined, wings fluttering in frustration. "The ships are docking soon, I gotta pep up!" She slapped at her face and nodded, pushing her chest out. Yes! Ship docking meant more customers usually since they were hungry for something sweet (or alcoholic, which she also had) and her store was right by the beach. She had no time to mope about! @Atmadja

[Atmadja]

And the ships were indeed docking. One specifically, the Flirty Mermaid, had not been in those docks in quite a while. Not on purpose, mind you. The crew has been quite certain that they would be back in a hurry—Salty Breeze, in any case, had wanted to be back in a hurry. She'd had good reason to want to return with all swiftness, to see a certain flutter girl that had captured her thoughts and fancy. But it had not happened quite that way.

Well. They were back now, in any case, Salty thought. Her chest was puffed, her cheeks cold, her mane flowing in the wind, but her heart was beating strong. Yes—they were back now, the ship's holds full of bounty and prosperity and luck. And she was not finished taking what she wanted, either.

No—her heart would not allow that that sweet green flutter might have moved on by now. There was no way! And if she had, well, Salty was a pirate, right? Well... No! She wasn't! But she'd act like one and steal Kiwi back if she needed to!

There was just the barest tinge of nerves as final preparations to dock completed and the helmswoman took her first steps on Phonyland soil.

"Get the gifts from the cargo hold!" She barked to a helper, and took in a deep, steadying breath. From here, she could see the little green kiwi-themed shop...

@Nym

[Nym]

The sounds of bustle and voices drifted towards the quaint little green shop, prompting Kiwi to hurry her preparations. The tarts were neatly placed out (and minutes fresh!), the fallen over kiwi keychain was placed nicely back onto the rack, and she herself had nestled behind the counter, pretending to flip through a book. Really she was eying the entrance with anticipation, but~!

Well, the book was interesting, at least.

She was antsy for someone to come in and interrupt the long and quiet day. Even if they didn't say anything to her it would be enough to lift her mood -- a reminder that phonies would visit her shop if she waited long enough. A sort of reassurance. Her wings buzzed and she flicked a page, juggling her growing interest in the subject matter (old recipes using kiwis as the centerpiece) and the view of the front door. The book was winning, but for how long?

@Atmadja

[Atmadja]

With any luck, not long.

Salty watched as the helpers successfully retrieved a barrel from the depths of the Flirty Mermaid, and then she herself quickly dashed to a nearby window. It was dark enough on the other side of that window that Salty could see herself; she righted her hat and patted her tousled hair with a quick hoof. It probably would have been nice, she thought, to see a hairdresser first. But what good would that do? Sure, her hair would look better—less sea-swept waves and more... chic... but who wanted to see a hairdresser after months at sea?

Especially when there was someone special to see instead...

"After me!" Yelled Salty to the helpers, who groaned and lugged the barrel with them.

She strode with a touch more confidence than she felt to the little green shop. Her heart began to pound. She should have rehearsed this! She should have made Jolly rehearse with her.

Gulping a last bit of air, she tossed open the door of the kiwi shop, then held it open as the helpers managed to squeeze the barrel through as well. (What... was that slightly sweet, strange smell...?)

There it was! The kiwi-themed cafe was just as she remembered it. The sweetness, the vivid green, the adorable, delectable flutter—er, kiwi-themed products—all there just as she'd seen a hundred times in her dreams.

And her. Kiwi Kiss. Right there, her nose in a book.

Salt's voice caught in her throat. Whatever speech she'd meant to launch into, she said instead a chipper (if a little squeaky): "well, hi!"

@Nym

[Nym]

The door was tossed open and Kiwi responded with a flutter of her wings and a straightened spine. A new cus-

Oh.
Oh?
Oh!

The small flutter felt her heart (or whatever semblance of one a phony had) jolt, hooves leaving their neat perch on the counter to find a home in front of her mouth; a poor attempt to hide the surprise. It wasn't like Salty Breeze and she had anything official, but- well, Kiwi had once thought it was nearing there. Hoped, in fact. Still, was it an odd reaction to be so surprised? So... what was the feeling in her belly? Elation? Frustration? A tango of the two?

'Get it together' she mentally chastised herself. Salty Breeze entering her store didn't mean anything other than she was here to purchase something -- it didn't mean she was here for Kiwi (oh, but she hoped). Her eyes drifted to the helpers rolling a barrel into her store, lowering her hooves to lean forward.

"Hello!" Any attempt to remain cool and indifferent was shattered by her own squeak of a greeting, which was louder than Salty's. She drifted from her counter and stopped midway between Salty and herself, wings still buzzing behind her.

"Salty Breeze! It's- it's been.... awhile. What's happening? Did you just dock? Do you need to sit? A drink? On the house, of course!"

@Atmadja