・❥ free pod four.

@♡ blinded_pandaᵐ bat paused in her pacing and placed a hand over her heart as a grin stretched itself across her features. "i've always wanted to travel with someone, i never - it feels almost crazy to say, but i've never felt so excited at the possibility of meeting someone and getting to know them so quickly, and what better way to do that then to travel to each other's favourite places in the world? and to then see the places i love from your lense...i don't know, maybe i'm being overly romantic, you can ignore me."

she tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and continued her pacing at a slower rate, crossing her arms over her chest and humming to herself. "i bet your photos are beautiful, panda. i - oh, you've done a lot before! well, i have some experience in front of a camera, i hope to be a good enough model that i come across well in your pictures." she playfully bowed to the shared wall before collapsing onto the couch in giggles, sprawling across it messily.

@♡ blinded_batᶠ panda chuckled softly at bat's words, imagining her pacing back and forth, judging by the light sounds of footsteps he could hear. the idea of exploring new cultures together made his heart race with excitement. "together it is, then. experiencing new places and cultures with you sounds like a dream." he listened as she shared her love for nature and photography, the two things he was passionate about most. he could hear the genuine interest and warmth in her voice. "sharing my photos with you would be amazing," he said, feeling a surge of excitement. "it's like giving you a piece of my world, my perspective. I can't wait to show you the beauty I've captured through my lens."

he shifted a bit in his seat, his fingers tracing patterns on his own palm. "I'll make sure to bring my best shots when we meet. gotta show you my talents, of course." he snapped his fingers together to make an emphasis on his point with a small chuckle. "you know, I'd love to take some photos of you too. I used to do portraits, and I even dabbled in editorials,” he hummed out at the memories of a past he sometimes misses, but does not regret leaving. “I promise I’ll make you great, not that it’ll be hard to, of course.”

@♡ blinded_pandaᵐ "yes baby, but you shouldn't have to." bat laughed at panda's flirtatious words and shook her head, getting off of the couch to start pacing very slowly back and forth. being unable to see her conversation partner had her getting bolder, but also she longed to see what panda looked like. "together sounds amazing. exploring a new culture is fun, but doing it with another person is...that's the dream right there."

bat ran a hand through her hair and sat down perched on the edge of the couch, deciding to start braiding it back so she had something to do with her hands. "laying in bed with my cat is fun too, that sounds fantastic right now actually. oh i would love to see your pictures. animals, nature, i love everything. you showing me your pictures would give me a glimpse of how you see the world, you know, and that's - sharing that kind of outlook with someone is so - how do i put this, it's just so amazing. i wanna see what you see when you go to new places."

@♡ blinded_batᶠ "it's okay, for you I would gladly strain my neck." as if the sentence was a romantic one, he announces almost proudly, a grin accompanying the pride he boasted. it wasn't usual for him to be straightforward or flirtatious, usually he had a more timid side to those he barely knows. however, the absence of being able to physically see each other has given him much more confidence in himself. "then I hope you get to do that one day, maybe we'll even go together." he remarks with a more thoughtful smile this time.

"that sounds relaxing. does performing make you have to unwind often?" he was genuinely curious, knowing how anxiety-filled performing can be. "heck, even presenting my photographs give me stress sometimes. that's when I would crawl into bed with my cat, and read a good book." he leaned back, closing his eyes for a moment as he imagined them sharing the quiet moments together. "I think I'd love to hear about your day while we unwind. I'll even show you all the pictures of my project of the day, if you're into continuous pictures of animals and landscapes of course." he laughs a little sheepishly.

@♡ blinded_pandaᵐ "i don't think i need an excuse to kiss you, maybe some heels on though so you don't have to lean down." bat flirted back before covering her face with both hands, giggling wildly at herself and shaking her head. usually she wasn't so confident but panda was so sweet. "there's so many places i want to see in my life, there is so much history and there's so much culture that i haven't gotten to learn about yet. it's a dream of mine to go everywhere i can. yes, cuddling in front of the fire and just enjoying the silence and peace of nature."

bat smiled as panda talked about greece, almost wanting to ramble about it but stopping herself—she felt like she had talked a lot, and she wanted to hear more from him. "hmm, i love to run myself a bath, light some candles, and listen to a podcast."

@♡ blinded_batᶠ "hey, that just sounds like an excuse to kiss me," he sing-songed back, a grin spreading across his face. he listened as she talked about her travels and how she missed it. her passion for exploring the world resonated with him deeply. "I get that. there's always so much more to see, no matter how much you travel," he mused out, feeling a kinship with her wanderlust. "snuggling under the stars sounds perfect," he said softly. "intimacy like that, being close and just enjoying each other's presence, is something really special." he could almost picture them lying under a blanket of stars, feeling the cool night air and the warmth of each other's company.

"I bet Greece is incredible. the history, the culture... it must be like stepping into another world. I've always wanted to go there, to see the ancient ruins and feel the magic of the place." he leans his back all the way, now staring right up at the ceiling as he lets his mind wander to all the places he has wanted to explore to. "so, ms bat, what's your favorite way to unwind after a long day?"

@♡ blinded_pandaᵐ "i don't mind my toes being stepped on, as long as you kiss me every time you do so in apology." bat teased with a grin, her cheeks burning hot as she thought about how romantic that would be - her teaching him how to dance maybe in her living room so he wouldn't feel watched by anybody else, pressed together and giggling in between slow kisses. she blinked herself out of it and hummed in thought. "i've travelled a lot before my drag career really took off, and i have enough money that i could go back to doing it part time because i've gotten enough noriety. but i feel like i haven't travelled enough, you know?"

she turned her head towards the wall where she thought their pods were touching, tangling her fingers together to rest her tattooed hands on her stomach. "snuggling sounds amazing right now, it's a part of intimacy that i've really missed in my life since i decided to stop sleeping around years ago to focus on myself. i bet you could see all the stars in the sky out camping too, that would be so beautiful. i've been before, but i want to go back to greece. it's so beautiful there, it lingers in my dreams. the history, the culture, the people."

@♡ blinded_batᶠ panda chuckled, gaze fixated on that one spot on the wall where he assumed she was sat behind. "a slow dance, huh? sounds perfect. but I have to warn you, I might just step on your toes a few times. or maybe we'll get so distracted by being close that we forget about dancing altogether." he felt a warm flush spread through him as bat talked about his career and their potential adventures. "traveling is a huge part of my life. there's something magical about seeing new places and experiencing them with someone special," he thought, feeling a surge of excitement.

"seeing pandas up close is incredible. they're just as cute as you'd imagine, maybe even more," he said, his fingers tracing patterns on the carpet. "and I'd love to take you camping for real. there's something about being out in nature." he paused, imagining the two of them around a campfire. "don't worry, I'd make sure you're warm. plenty of blankets, a cozy fire, and maybe even some snuggling to keep the cold at bay," he added with a little grin. "speaking of adventures, what's one place you've always dreamed of visiting?"

@♡ blinded_pandaᵐ "oh yes, i will. but i'll start with something easy, like maybe a slow dance." bat laughed at panda's words, imagining a faceless man doing the sprinkler with a bright smile and full of enthusiasm. she ran a hand through her hair again and sighed wistfully, a smile on her face. "but then who knows if you'll learn anything, maybe we'll get distracted since slow dancing means we'd be pressed up against each other."

as panda spoke about his career, bat could hear the way he loved travelling and seeing new places. it sounded like such a wonderful dream, getting to travel with him while they explored places she had never seen before. "i'd love to see some pandas in person, see if they're as cute as you." she laughed again and rubbed the back of her neck shyly, glad that he couldn't see her in that moment - she was so nervous, hoping to make a good impression on him so they could continue to speak to each other. "well, i've never been true camping. i've slept on a boat in the middle of the mediterranian sea, and i've napped on a beach in spain, but i've never been camping for real. but i'm not afraid to get dirty, so long as you keep me warm throughout the night - i tend to get cold easily."

@♡ blinded_batᶠ as she described her lifelong passion for performing, panda nodded, feeling genuinely impressed. he could almost see her dancing on stage, commanding the attention of everyone in the room. "you should teach me dancing one day then! I've only ever danced at parties, I think I do a pretty mean sprinkler, if I do say so myself." he said almost too proudly, before letting out a laugh. it was when she mentioned her interest in his work that he felt a spark of excitement. he tapped at his chin, thinking about the places he'd been and the experiences he'd had.

"traveling and photography are such a big part of my life. it gives me a lot of freedom to explore everywhere." he could almost taking bat to some of his favorite spots around the world. "pandas are amazing creatures, and I'd love to show you where they live," he mused, a smile tugging at his lips. "though I must ask you this, how do you feel about camping?"

@♡ blinded_pandaᵐ "you'll be mine and i'll be yours, that's how it goes." bat laughed quietly and stretched her arms up above her head, humming quietly. "the performance of a lifetime. i don't know, i've been dancing my entire life. it didn't ever occur to me to not be a performer, truthfully. maybe it's because i was used to all the recitals or just wanted something more, but that was my experience."

she ran a hand through her hair and closed her eyes for a moment, smiling widely as panda told her about his job. "oh no babe, we've talked enough about me. so you're a photographer and wildlife conversationist and travel a ton. i *love* to travel myself! pandas seem so lovely but i've never seen one in person, i bet they're so cute. nature is a lot of fun, but i don't have a lot of experience in it. maybe you could show me around some of your favourite spots around the world."

@♡ blinded_batᶠ panda grinned, feeling a warm flutter at bat's words. "keep talking like that, and I won't have to stress at all. I'll be your babe in no time," he slid himself off the couch and onto the floor, back now resting against the furniture with his legs stretched out in front of him. "you're a badass too, no? I kind of admire what you do, performing in front of an audience. must be nerve-racking." he hums at the thought of one day being able to see her perform. "sitting in the front row, getting a kiss from the stunning star of the show? now that's a performance I'd never forget," he quipped with a grin that was probably heard in his voice.

he tucked a cushion under his head, settling in more comfortably with his feet wiggling idly. "as for work, I'm a photographer and wildlife conservationist. I spend a lot of time in nature, so I'm travelling quite often, but it's mostly independent and freelance stuff so I'm not too tied to a strict schedule. it's incredibly rewarding, and it also grew my love for pandas!" he nodded a little too enthusiastically, as if she could actually see him. talking about his work always did make him happy. "what about you, besides being an incredible performer? anything else you love to do?"

@♡ blinded_pandaᵐ "keep buttering me up just the way you are right now and soon you will be babe, don't even stress about it." bat shifted so she was laying down on the couch again, biting her lip to try and keep the smile from spreading across her face. it didn't work—she couldn't help it. "oh yeah, i wanted to be badass like her, running everywhere and doing it all while still looking good."

*adorable*, bat wasn't sure if he'd say that if he saw her, but she wasn't going to worry too hard about it—it was fairly common knowledge at this point that she was covered in tattoos, and panda had still wanted to offer her a cookie that he had baked himself. "no ladders necessary, especially at my shows, i could just make you sit in a chair right at the front of the stage and then lean forward. that would be lovely." she could almost imagine it for a moment, kissing a man that she had never seen before. "what do you do for work?"

@♡ blinded_batᶠ feeling almost restless, panda began tossing the cushion up and catching it in a steady rhythm, each time giving it a little spin with his hands. he had always been the type who couldn't sit still while alone, always touching or inspecting things out of curiosity. this mirrored his curiosity towards bat, it was making him feel so fidgety, imagining how she looks like just by the sounds of her voice, it was almost making him go insane. "I think seeing you blush in person just might be my goal in life right now," there was a teasing tone clung to his words, glancing straight at the wall between them, as if his gaze could bore a hole right through. "catwoman hm? I was a spiderman kinda kid. I think you're running around in heels is ten times better than me flinging myself to the wall, thinking I could stick to it!"

he chuckled, hearing bat's playful pout in her voice. "not cute? well, then, you must redefine the word because you sound pretty adorable to me," he said earnestly, catching the cushion one last time and holding it close. "and hey, I'm all about making things easier for us. no neck injuries sounds like a win in my book," he added with a laugh. "see, it's perfect. you wouldn't even need a ladder to kiss me."

@♡ blinded_pandaᵐ as panda spoke, bat wondered if he was the fidgety type—always had to be moving, even if it was just a little. or maybe he sit still, getting comfortable and able to lay there for hours. she tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and laughed loudly at his words. "oh my, you think i'm incredible? i'm blushing, you're getting me all flustered." she brought her hand up to fan at her face, smiling widely at his words—even through the vocoder, she could tell panda was being genuine. "i wanted to be a real catwoman when i was a kid, so i would wear heels and then run around doing silly kid stuff. and then it just got better from there."

bat hid her face against her knees as he continued to talk, whining quietly and pouting to herself—she wasn't *cute*. "'m not cute. don't know what that word means. but i guess it's a good thing you aren't too tall. that just means you won't hurt your neck trying to kiss me or anything."

@♡ blinded_batᶠ panda leaned back against the couch, a warm smile spreading across his face as he listened to bat. He could almost picture her sitting there through the wall that separates them, all bundled up. he stretched his legs out in front of him, crossing them at the ankles, and let out a soft chuckle. he reached for one of the cushions beside him, absentmindedly fiddling with the corner of it. “well from what you've told me, I can already tell you're incredible." he shifted his position, pulling his legs up onto the couch and leaning against the armrest. "short? well, then those heels must make you even more impressive on stage," he mused, imagining bat towering confidently in her giant heels.

he let out a contented sigh, resting his head against the back of the couch. the idea of cooking for her brought a smile to his face. "feeding you forever? sounds like a deal to me," he thought, his fingers still playing with the cushion. "you know, messy or not, I bet you always look amazing," he thought, a fond smile spreading across his face as he opened his eyes and gazed at the ceiling. “also don’t worry about being small, small is cute. I’m not thattttt tall, so our backs won’t hurt as much when we do meet each other! a win-win really.”

@♡ blinded_pandaᵐ "you don't have to prove them to me, i believe you completely babe." bat sighed softly with a smile on her face, bringing her knees up to her chest. she wrapped her arms around them and rested her chin on her knees, resisting the urge to kick her feet like a little girl.

"you put a lot of faith in my abilities to do well." bat laughed quietly and ran a hand through her hair, glad that she hadn't put it up so she wasn't messing it up—either way, she was sure her appearance was messy as it always was when she was dressed normally, in torn baggy jeans and an oversized t shirt. "i'm pretty short, that's why i tend to wear giant heels or platform boots. but maybe you are my match. keep feeding me and i'm yours forever."

@♡ blinded_batᶠ panda chuckled softly, feeling a flutter in his chest at bat's words. "well, I'm honoured to be the cause of that blush," he said with a bit of a laugh, running a hand through his messy hair again, his eyes closing briefly in thought. "and a cookie delivery is the least I can do, gotta show off my domestic capabilities!"

he adjusted his position on the couch, sitting up a bit straighter as a grin spread across his face. "a drag queen who loves to eat and compete? sounds like I've met my match. I have no doubt you'd outshine anyone else on that stage. and those giant heels? wow, you must be unstoppable in them," he said, clearly impressed. he leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees and clasping his hands together. "i'd love to see one of your shows. whether you're a glamorous queen or a suave king, I know you'd be incredible." he smiled, imagining the scene. "who knows, maybe I’ll bring you a fresh batch of cookies after your show!”

@♡ blinded_pandaᵐ "it's because i *am* blushing, pan pan." bat grumbled just loud enough for panda to hear her, and she shook her head with an amused smile on her lips as she bit her lip. "cookie delivery for me? oh baby, you know the quickest way to my heart is with food, and i *love* to eat." she giggled quietly and covered her face again before lowering her hands, smiling widely - she was sure she looked like an idiot.

"oh, amazing girl you say? i don't know babe, i'm really good at competing - i'm a drag queen after all." bat laughed to herself and fiddled with the stones on her nails before blushing again, a common occurence with panda it seemed, and she ran a hand through her long hair. "that's the goal, to be the one person that everybody can't stop looking at. i have giant heels i've been stoning too, so everything matches, and i worked really hard on the wig that goes along with it. i - oh, i'd love to have you at one of my shows. maybe one where i'm a drag king instead, being a suave man."

@♡ blinded_batᶠ panda smiled, imagining bat's adorable reaction to his compliment. "aww, don't hide that pretty face, bat. I can almost feel you blushing over here," he said teasingly, leaning back and running a hand through his hair. "the cookies? absolutely, I'm saving the best one for you. they might not look pretty, but I promise they taste amazing." he turned toward the camera, raising his eyebrows in a hopeful plea. "hey, camera, can we arrange a cookie delivery for bat? she deserves only the finest."

he fixes his glasses as he settles back against the cushions, letting out a contented sigh. "oh, the amazing girl? yeah, she's pretty special. really fun to talk to too," he said, in almost a singsong tone. "should you be jealous? well, only if you think you can't compete?!" he rolled onto his side, propping his head up with one hand and imagining the outfit she described. "that bodysuit sounds incredible. soft, thin, and covered in stones? definitely bougee. I bet you'll shine brighter than a disco ball in it," he said, his eyes closing as he pictured it. "just imagining it, I can tell it's going to be amazing. you've got some serious talent, bat. I'm really impressed. invite me to one of your shows one day?”

@♡ blinded_pandaᵐ bat whined at the compliment and covered her face with both hands, shaking her head - he couldn't see her, but she was still unable to show her face from how flustered she got so quickly. "i don't know about superhero business, that's for sure." she lowered her hands and placed them clasped together atop her stomach, biting her lip with a smile. "cookies? i hope you're saving one for me, you know. i'd like to try them, see if they do taste as good as you say."

she stretched her arms up above her dramatically and turned her head towards the wall where their pods were touching, and bat sighed quietly before her lips spread in a wide smile. "oh, there's this amazing girl who makes you smile? do i need to be jealous of her?" giggling quietly, bat eventually sat up and faced the wall, leaning back on the couch cushions and staring at the wall as though she was trying to look at panda's face - she really wanted to see him, wanted to know if his smile was as beautiful as it sounded. "I don't know about that, it's a simple bodysuit, but i made it with mesh fabric so it's soft and thin and the past few days i've been spending drawing all these designs on it in marker so i can go back over it with stones. it's very...bougee."

@♡ blinded_batᶠ panda chuckled, feeling a warm flutter at hearing bat's laughter. "well, i think the vocorder must be working overtime because i can definitely hear how adorable that laugh is," he said, a grin spreading across his face. "sewing a new outfit, huh? sounds like superhero work to me." he teased. "as for me, i've been attempting to bake cookies. the kitchen looks like a flour bomb went off, but hey, they taste pretty good! and falling in love? hmm, well, there's this amazing girl who's got me smiling a lot lately. does that count?" he sprawled out even more, his arm flopping dramatically over his forehead. "tell me more about this outfit, though. i bet it's going to look incredible."

@♡ blinded_pandaᵐ bat laughed brightly, knowing that the vocorder would change the tone of her voice, but she hoped that panda could hear the amusement clear in it anyway. "superhero? you think too well of me, darling." she couldn't help the way her nose scrunched up as she covered with a tattooed hand, sighing softly before rolling onto her back on the comfortable couch. "spent the bulk of my day sewing a new outfit for a performance i have coming up this weekend, but nothing too fancy. what about you, did you fall in love today?"

@♡ blinded_batᶠ panda was already in his pod, nervously fidgeting with a cushion when he heard bat's voice. leaning back against the couch, he accidentally knocked over a small table next to him, wincing at the clatter. "hey bat! i'm here, just trying not to make a mess of things," he said with a laugh, quickly picking up the fallen table. "how's my favourite superhero doing today? did you save any kittens from trees or maybe just steal a few hearts?" he sprawled out on the couch, his legs dangling off the side, and settled in to listen.

@♡ blinded_pandaᵐ bat tucked a lock of her long hair behind her ear as she entered the pod, quickly sprawling herself across the couch and humming quietly. she smiled to herself and stretched her arms up, groaning softly before turning onto her side to face the wall where the pods would touch so they could chat. "pan pan, you here baby?"

@♡ blinded_quokkaᵐ had this been a pure simulation, the woman would bet on everything she has to have someone pull her feet back to the ground.

the moment his voice resonates through the room, the vast expanse of her pale skin drowns in his warmth, gently caressing all that she was as though casting an irrevocable spell to plunge herself in his intoxicating damnation further. a single breath turns into two, and in a matter of seconds, the enraptured dove had her hand over her trembling chest—a recurring behavior whenever she was in the presence of the gentleman. "well, i need to keep it professional for extra brownie points, you know?" she casually replies, attempting to mask her quivery voice with a of confidence in this whole play that she started—one that ironically placed her on the losing end for helplessly falling for the man's spontaneity. "oh," she faintly responds, her heart threatening to leap out of her chest at his declaration. with a nervous chuckle that stretched for a few seconds, warm palms pressed themselves on her burning cheeks once more before she hesitantly cleared to ease the bubbling excitement within. "forget i said anything about... professionalism. i missed you more. every passing day without talking to you was agonizing." dove wondered when her heart conquered her mind as she eagerly spilled the thoughts that held her captive. "happy is an understatement to describe my state with you right now."

a suppressed laugh could only be heard from the frantic female, feeling her back shudder at his unexpected remark. he was out for her, and she stood like a deer in headlights. dove knew very well what contract he was talking about and with a string of mental curses, she buried her face in a pillow to muffle an already silent scream. "wait, before that!" the urgency in her voice was apparent as she attempted to take control of the conversation. cheeks blooming with newly bloomed roses. "won't you want a taste of bolognese a la dove first? i got up early to cook for you today. your garlic bread's freshly made, too!" restless hands link themselves together to rest on her lap, the buzzing anticipation and all-consuming nervousness trickling down her feet as they softly tap on the floor. after all, it was the first time she prepared a meal for someone she had budding romantic feelings for.

releasing her hold on her breath before he catches her off-guard once again, dove's tender yet definite voice pierces through the silence hanging in the air. "i missed saying that it's not only bolognese a la dove that's on the table today," a brief pause, gathering the courage within her to return the favor of being breathless, "i hope this glimpse of wife a la dove is to your liking, too." her gaze remains glued to the barrier as she attempts to paint a vivid picture of him possibly smiling to himself at her implied remark about the contract. like a dove, the slightest disturbance within her perimeter may cause her to flee—yet he was the only person capable of making her stay. his presence and influence were inscribed in the bravest and boldest waves that surpassed their limits. no matter how little or how grand his actions were, they all shared one goal: an invitation. always nearing, always threatening, always persuading. the deeper her limbs soak themselves in his essence, light follows in renewing a newfound sense of confidence in her heart. "a penny for your thoughts, handsome?"

@♡ blinded_doveᶠ when missing someone, three days could feel like an eternity. opportunities to explore growth in confidants are stunted, associating their characteristic traits with miscellaneous objects becomes apparent, and reprimanding yourself that you’d never act a particular way because of their effect happens unfortunately anyway. quokka felt all of that in three long days. of course, he interacted with dove in a more public setting but one-on-one time was different. the thought of meeting again made him restless, so when the little bird inquired for a second date, he was over the moon about the impending event.

they talked about her cooking and if he had to make an educated guess, making food was one of her ways of expressing a love language. perhaps quality time and gift-giving, but he’d have to ask about that later. the male arrives at their designated pod on time well aware that she’d be on the other side without a doubt. he enters the room with a journal filled with notes that he jotted down from the preordained days of instant messaging. the squeaky announcement of her voice brings a delighted simper to his face before he sits on the couch. “you sound more formal than usual, miss dovey. i’m here at your service.” the quokka exhales sharply trying to calm down the excitement surging through his veins at how content he felt to be conversating with her once again. “before discussing your raise, i missed you.”

he opens his journal, taking a look at the neatly drawn scribbles about her coy tendencies to stall at how rapidly his heart was beating in his chest. he did not fear being honest, he enjoyed being impulsive once realizing how reactive the woman was. “jog my memory a bit. i remember we talked about a contract but i think i got a bit distracted by how adorable you are when you’re flustered. in a perfect world that the daydreamer curated in his mind, they were alone without cameras, microphones, and heavy lighting to make their unseen visuals stand out. in reality, he’d wait a bit longer to pop the foreseen question everyone is waiting for. the suspense qualms his head, gnawing at his lower brim as he settles for the anonymous figure waiting for him as much as he’s waiting for her.

love was meant to be serious and shouldn’t be taken for granted after all.

@♡ blinded_quokkaᵐ 〘  # ♡ ﹐ ǫᴜᴏᴋᴋᴀ & ᴅᴏᴠᴇ's sᴇᴄᴏɴᴅ ᴅᴀᴛᴇ ── 3 ᴅᴀʏs ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ғɪʀsᴛ 〙

all is fair in pursuing love, except when it intentionally disrupts the life you got used to.

three days had passed since that day she felt her soul soared towards cloud nine, and at present, she still could not believe that a second date was in sight. a man who she had not seen her whole life was able to make her say yes to seeing her again—another one of her firsts was claimed so unapologetically. satin sheets and throw pillows bore witness to her endless tossing and turning in bed. her apartment's kitchen which carried a world record for its spotless composition evolved into a battlefield of tried and tested ingredients and scattered recipe books. the woman who once possessed emotions she could count on her fingers was left in a frenzy of desiring more than what she believed she deserved and drowning in a sea of passionate thoughts—all of which point to the only cause: quokka.

arriving an hour and a half early before the agreed shoot schedule, dove pranced around the set as though possessing a restless pair of wings, unable to identify where her limbs should land. it was only after a couple of minutes that she was forced to pull the brakes when one of the staff members presented the plate of her date's favorite dish. her gaze softened at the sight of her morning's hard work, sensing the knots in her chest unfurl at the passing thought of him possibly liking her cooking. how wondrous it was for something so simple to mean something more. with a gesture of approval, dove bows her head to express her gratitude and hands over another gift to the staff for safekeeping, "please give this to him after he exits the pod. i owe you one."

shortly after, she heard the cue and admittedly, her heart listened too. skillful hands prepare her for what seems to be a mere execution of their job for the day—but for dove, she was about to enter a portal to another world: theirs. her pale palm presses against the pod's door, and the familiar interior greets her with notable warmth that radiates from her body. "pardon the intrusion," her squeaky voice resonates through the room, "i am here to claim my pay raise from the wonderful mister quokka." making her way to the center, she comfortably settles on the couch and cradles a pillow to her chest, the ends of her rosy lips stretching from ear to ear. "is he around?"

@♡ blinded_quokkaᵐ no precaution could have prepared her heart for the declaration that spilled from the bachelor’s side.

every tender utterance nestled themselves within her core like uninvited guests in a singular pursuit to make themselves at home. one never imagined they would forget how to breathe, and with a hand over her heart, she draws in a deep breath in hopes of fanning the flames that dared to rise from the depths of within. yet there was no stopping its branches from piercing her, leaving her breathless as it leads her towards the light at the end of the tunnel: the sun. his soul. perhaps she was born from icarus—spreading her wings and soaring higher and higher, closer to her desires until it consumes every fiber of her being. oh how wonderful it was to meet a man who had the sun for a soul. for once in her life, words fell weak to engrave themselves on the pages of her mind—overshadowed by the gushing ink of him and him alone. where dusk meets dawn blooms a blanket of peonies on the plains of her skin, shaken by the breeze of his thoughts that bend their bodies in total surrender. she could only muster saying, “you have my permission, too,” burying her face on one of the pillows, her heartbeat in a frenzy and an unmatched state of high.

her wishful thinking does not hush at the possibility of them reuniting from another lifetime. in an unfamiliar space, she would search for his echoing voice, braving the uncertain days to seek what matters most: the familiar. a soul recognizing its equal. with fond amusement, she laughs at his response, “getting us matching robes already, quokka? you’re really determined to take us both out of here.” a soft hum was heard from her, and she tucks her locks behind her ear as she holds a bait for him, “we’ll see.”

she did believe in love; she was raised in love. it was more than a concept. it was her spirit that kept her alive, trusting in the ways the universe showed her the many forms it manifests itself in. love is choosing to wake up when you are certain the waves will come crashing down. love is finding solace in your own company. love is reading your favorite book over and over and losing yourself in its pages. love is…. trusting that whatever is meant for you will find you. unable to resist the tides from knocking in the depths of her heart, the woman’s tears grace the apples of her cheeks in a silent cry. he was not lying—there was joy in the stream born from her soul. “thank you, quokka. i’m sure it is beautiful,” because i may have met love today, she keeps to herself.

the sudden ringing within the pod brought her back to reality—this was all temporary. when she steps out of the room, her dreams tonight would be riddled with his voice, his words, and his soul. another gaze to her hand was the only proof she needed to know that she has never felt this empty, as though she wanted more. when will she get to talk to him again? will she ever get another chance? her swarm of thoughts thicken to form a hurricane, and his unexpected confession cuts right through the budding uncertainty in her mind. “you’re not leaving me, i live in your pocket now, remember?” she gently replies, departing from the couch with her journal clutched to her chest. embraced by the words she longed to hear, dove smiles to herself as she took careful steps towards what separates them, and she lifts a finger to draw a single line—every curve intentionally etched to form a dove’s feather. “you’re in luck,” she whispers enough for him to hear, “i would love to see you again, quokka.”

@♡ blinded_doveᶠ in terms of romance, the bachelor would like to think he was calm and collected. a gentle breeze that conditioned itself to flow through hair during a mild spring day, a small wave that caressed ankles once stepping foot inside cool tides. however, a flame of temptation down his spine at the enunciation of her challenge. the little bird was provoking him, nudging him to utter words of declaration of what he wishes he could do to her. a vow - to announce here and now, for the public to marvel in. “i’m going to trace my fingertips around the fabric of your blouse, lay a palm on your chest to feel the light patter of your heartbeat and kiss you gently.” his confidence didn’t waver, possessed by the inclination of emotions they continued to feed off each other by enabling. he could only imagine how pink her cheeks flushes from such a bold statement, how the hue would compliment the pigment of her skin, and lastly, how empty the pod would feel without his warmth there. “only if you let me.” the gentleman was spiraling into an abyss that he couldn’t claw out of without her help and yes, he liked that sensation very much. “you have my permission to.”

known to typically initiate feelings of adoration and banter, she knew how to keep up at his pace. in much simpler terms, she kept him on his toes with recurring instances of giving him whiplash all in the same manner. “a woman with expensive taste, duly noted. i’m sure i could prepare a robe or two for you.” aloof behavior kept their pod time balanced; not too erratic to make him overwhelmed and dash of yearning to crave that their session together never ended. “haven’t you heard of gambling? i like testing my fate in a completely legal manner. maybe i need some luck right now, dovey.”

he was dreadfully parched. his throat felt dry as he took a swig of the prepared beverage sitting on top of the small decorative table. “i have a strong grip. i won’t let go of you, promise.” the dove wore her heart on her sleeve while transitioning through topics. admittedly choosing to stay quiet to let her get everything off of her chest. she respected his flawed past, giving feedback with the gentlest intentions of showing him that there is hope in finding a significant other that he would appreciate with all of his might. so, he follows in her great example by lending an ear to listen to her past as she unravels herself meekly bare for the viewers to see. as she explains herself, he imagines this kind spirit progressing through the stages of her life; the sad, the bad and beautiful moments. the damaging sequences built her character, but didn’t regress it. “dovey, being here with me now proves that you believe love isn’t dead. you still have space for it in that big heart of yours even with all of those terrible things that have happened to you.” frustrated by not being able to sooth her with a gentle to her cheek, nor a pleasant embrace, the male balls his fist and inhales sharply to exhale deeply after. “thank you for opening yourself up to me like that. love isn’t guaranteed but it is a beautiful thing, believe me.”

a notification alarm echos through the small room, warning them of their time coming to an end soon as he’s still conflicted on how she exposed herself to him without truly being in a one on one setting. “call me selfish, but I don’t want to leave you just yet.” some people might call it a freudian slip, others may call it a slip of the tongue and he - quokka was the latter. heat crept up the slope of his neck, forcing himself to laugh to cover up his sheepishness. “...and i can’t believe i said that out loud.” the male rubs his jaw while attempting to clear his throat as if it would serve any justice as in distracting the woman from what he said a couple of seconds previously. another subtle beep tells the two to wrap it up before furrowing his brows in slight annoyance. “dovey, i’d like to see you again for a second date,” standing up to neatly place everything back accordingly, he still has his drink in his hand before approaching the barrier with the faintest voice to notify the woman of how close he was standing by it. “would you like to see me again, too?”