Style Quest: Gilded Sparkle Berries

“Did you ever find out what war crimes Kriv committed,” Raine asked as he walked Varick to his guild room. The blue and green spotted snow leopard’s fluffy body stood slightly taller than the mahogany Clydesdale. This date was the second official one the two had been on, but Varick was still holding himself back. His recent tragedies had made the horse a little afraid to be in an actual relationship.

 

“No, and it looks like we’ve arrived at my room,” Varick answered as he unlocked his door. “So, same time next week, or do you want to meet sooner so I can show you how to take measurements?” Raine smirked as he pushed the door open and darted into the Clydesdale’s room. Varick tried to stop the snow leopard but wasn’t fast enough. “I didn’t invite you in.”

 

“I’m not a vampire, and I want to see how a famous tailor lives,” Raine called as he looked around the room. Layla, Varick’s volai companion, was lying in her corner in her little pet bed. All around the rest of the room, aside from sewing supplies and materials, were different trophies and trinkets from Varick’s various adventures. A small box that glistened with light from the inside caught Raine’s attention. “What’s this?”

 

“I accidentally got caught up in an investigation on an airship,” Varick explained as he took the box and opened it. Inside were three golden berries that shined with brilliant light. “These are Gilded Sparkle Berries. I was supposed to return these to the authorities, but I snuck these out.”

 

“Didn’t realize I was dating a bad boy,” Raine laughed as he sat on Varick’s bed. The horse winced a little about having the leopard on his bed. Right now, the last thing he wanted was this to go any further, but at the same time, it felt right.

 

“If you eat them, you glow with rainbow light for a bit,” the horse explained as he nervously sat on the bed beside Raine. “You want to try one?” The snow leopard looked momentarily touched that Varick would share one of his precious berries with him. Raine one of the berries and pooped it into his mouth.

 

“Oh, that’s super delicious,” the blue and green spotted feline purred as he started to glow. Rainbow light lit up the room as Varick switched off the light. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were trying to seduce me.”

 

“No… uh… It’s just the light looks better in the dark,” Varick managed to stammer out as cold sweat formed on his neck nervously. Raine smiled as he stood and pulled the Clydesdale into a long kiss. Varick was too stunned to resist but leaned into it after a moment.

 

“Why don’t we pause it at that for now,” Raine suggests as he breaks the kiss. “If me teasing you is too much, you can tell me. I want to be with you no matter how long it takes, as long as you want the same thing. However, I’m not going to violate your boundaries.”

 

“That kiss was across the line, but I’m willing to forgive you because I enjoyed it,” Varick smiled, happy to be reminded that his partner was still good with taking things slow. “So, do you want me to show you how to measure Shyne now? Or can you convince her to let me do it?”

 

“Shyne is too nervous to let someone measure her,” the snow leopard lied about his sister as he stood still shining. Varick went over in detail while demonstrating how to take each measurement. They called it a night when Raine stopped glowing with a smaller kiss. For now, a kiss was a lot for Varick, but he was happy about who it was with.