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"I don't mind if you look." The bottle's occupant remained quiet with their back to the fae as he splashed himself with water. "It's only a bath. " He glanced at the shore. "Or is it that you wish to join me?"
The quieter of the pair turned before their face reddened at the sight of the naked man crouched beside them. "Put some clothes on, would you?!"
"Well, I would if I knew where they had gone..." He rubbed the back of his neck as he looked around before looking at the foggy glass amused. "Can you see like that?"
"Obviously not," came the reply as a small hand wiped away the fog. "Go find your clothes. I don't want to see you naked!"
Tattered wings thrummed as Laelai placed the bottle on a rock. "Yes, yes. I shall be back but please keep to yourself in the meantime."
The strange man was gone by the time the bottle's occupant cleared the glass. Annoyed that they had been left alone, the captive huffed before looking at the greenery. They soon spotted purple bloom swaying nearby though there was no breeze.
A shiver ran down their back as it bent towards the bottle and opened to reveal an eye. It blinked once before the flower eased forward.
"You." The stem swiveled around the glass before the eye pressed against it. "Freedom?"
The occupant glanced at the cork sealing the bottle before looking at the flower.
" ...keep to yourself in the meantime."
Their mouth pressed into a thin line.
"Yes or no?" The eye blinked as it circled the glass before thin vines encircled the top. "Speak."
This was probably the only chance at freedom. "Yes."
"Yes?" The vines pulled the bottle off the rock and into the high grass nearby. "Want out?"
"Yes! Yes! Yes!" Hands pounded on the glass. "I want out of this prison that demented fae, Laelai, has put me in! Set me free, please?!"
"Laelai?" The bloom stopped its swaying as did its vines. "You know Laelai...?!"
"Unfortun-" The bottle jolted as a thorny vine stabbed at the glass. "What-?!"
"Laelai...!"
"Wait!" The vine continued its assault until a small fracture appeared. "I change my mind!" An audible crack had the occupant covering their head. "Stop!" The fracture lengthened. "Laelai!"361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SOjJfFV8P
Jagged wings fluttered agitatedly as Laelai peered at the split running down his arm. Whispering sounds emanating from the tall grass behind him had him looking over his shoulder as the fracture splintered. A hand wave had grass bowing to allow him to find the hidden bottle and its attacker. He stomped onto the purple blossom as it went to drive the vine into the glass once more.
"L-Laelai."
The fae picked up the container before peeling off the writhing vines wrapped along the cork as he sat down.
"Why, hello, Love," he greeted with a gentle smile before looking at the damaged bottle. "To be far, I did give you a warning."
"W-what was that?"
Laelai glanced at the shriveled plant. "It looks like one of Amphiris's familiars."
"A...Amphiris?"
"Yes.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzNmAhHRHM
"What or who is that?"
"Ah, " he mused almost reminiscently," we were in a relationship of sorts at one point."
"A relationship?"
"Ah, yes, but now they're.... how do you say... my ex?"
"Your ex?! You've dated someone before?"
The man slowly cocked his head to the side. "Love, you seem rather surprised?" His bafflement turned to amusement as he peered into the bottle. "My... we're not jealous, are we?"
His then attention drifted back to the cracks before focusing on the greenery that swayed about.
"L-Lae-"
"Silence, Love," he tutted before snapping his fingers. A small purple cupcake appeared in the bottle. "Why not have a snack after what happened? Go on... it'll take your mind off things."
He watched as they ate it slowly, cautious of the thing, before they slumped forward in a deep sleep. Fastening the bottle to his waist, Laelai eyed the crack on his arm before lowering it as the bushes parted.
"Laelai..."
The spite in his name alone made him smile in anticipation. "Hello, Amphiris."
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