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marlynnofmany · 1 year

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The Ability to Smell Beauty

“Do you smell that?” Paint asked, flicking her tongue out to taste the air, just like the orange-scaled lizard she resembled. “That is LOVELY. Where is it?”

I looked around the forest-lined landing pad. All sorts of plants that I’d never seen before waved on the breeze: tree-things shaped like willows that someone had coated in enough hairspray to make them stand on end, bush-things with leaves that snapped at flies, moss and mushrooms and lumps that could have been frogs or seedpods, or maybe oddly-shaped rocks.

“I have no idea,” I told Paint honestly.

“Help me find it,” she said, striding away from the ship with her shoulder bag held tight and determination on her scaly face.

I glanced back at the captain and several others, who were passing time with an alien card game. The person who was supposed to have delivered our next shipment was late. Nothing else to do but hang around and try not to be bored.

“We’re going to look around a little,” I called, walking after Paint. “We won’t go far.”

Captain Sunlight nodded, her own scaly yellow face focused on the cards. “Scream if you need anything.” Then she triumphantly played a card that made Mur flail his tentacles in aggravation.

I said that I would, and followed my shorter crewmate as she waded into the undergrowth with her tongue flicking madly.

“So what exact smell are we looking for?” I asked, wondering if that was the right word. “Smelling for?”

“It’s kind of sharp, but in a good way,” Paint told me distractedly. “Sharp like a good kitchen knife, like string music, like a poignant memory.”

“Right,” I said, taking an experimental sniff. Everything smelled like alien plants, and not like violins or whatever. “Hm.”

“I think it’s this way. Low to the ground.” Paint scrambled under bushes, getting her bag caught on one of the flytrap mouths.

“Do you want me to carry that?” I asked.

“Yes please.” She held it up, still under the bush. Flytraps slapped at both of us, but weren’t strong enough to do any damage, even to my soft human skin. Paint probably didn’t even notice through her scales.

I shouldered the bag that held Paint’s sketchbook or novel or entertainment screen; whatever she’d brought out for waiting in the sun. I’d been about to go back in for something similar when she’d hared off on this quest.

“Over here!” Paint said, sounding more sure. She rustled out the other side of the bush and made delighted noises. When I made my way around the shrubbery, I found her at the base of a large boulder, gathering walnut-looking things into a greedy pile.

“Is that it?” I asked.

“Yes! Smell one!” Paint thrust one toward me.

I took it and sniffed. Not bad. Kind of like cloves, that sort of spicy sharpness that just felt festive. “Huh. Pretty good.”

“Isn’t it amazing?” Paint asked, holding up a double handful and taking an open-mouthed whiff. “Gimme the bag back; I’m taking these with me.”

“Are you sure they’re safe?” I asked as I handed it over. “Do you know what kind of plant they are?”

“Yeah, it’s that one from the store on the beach back home,” Paint said, shoveling eagerly. “The good one I could never find again. I forget the name. Sunlight will know.”

“All right,” I agreed. They really didn’t smell that special to me. It would be interesting to see if Captain Sunlight also treated the things like lizard-alien catnip, or if this was just something that Paint liked. A lot.

When she’d gathered everything on the ground — a few good handfuls — she looked around for more. I spotted one growing from the spindly sapling that poked out of a crack in the boulder, and Paint happily added it to the rest.

“I wonder if there are any other bushes like that,” she said, standing with the bag and studying the trees.

“We shouldn��t go far,” I reminded her. “Gotta stay in screaming range.”

“Sure, sure,” Paint said. “Just a quick look over this way. I think those plants grow near the beach, and I hear waves.”

Remembering Kavlae’s description of the landing pad as being “within dancing distance of the sea,” I put more attention toward the ambient sounds. That wasn’t all windblown foliage after all.

Paint was already disappearing into more bushes, so I hurried after, not wanting to lose track of her. “Slow down! I’m sure they’re not going anywhere.”

“Yes, but they’re so beautiful!” she said from somewhere ahead. “There are whole worlds in that smell. Don’t you think so?”

“It’s okay, I guess.”

“Okay?? It’s gorgeous! I want to decorate my room with them, and smell these every day! You really don’t think it’s that big a deal?” Paint sounded insulted.

“I think my nose just works a little differently from yours,” I said gently. “I’m sure they’re very nice.”

Paint huffed, pushing through the leaves harder and muttering something uncomplimentary about a nose that couldn’t smell beauty.

I had to laugh. “There are plenty of good smells out there,” I said. “And I don’t need my nose for beauty; I have my eyes for that.”

“Really,” Paint grumbled. “If you can’t appreciate this, then forgive my doubts.” She was still grumping about loveliness and the ability to sense it when she shoved through the last of the bushes. “Well, there’s the beach,” she said. “No trees, crackle it. Let’s go back.”

I ducked under a leafy branch to join her just as she turned to go. The view stopped me in my tracks.

Blue waves crashed against a beach made of glittering gemstones, sprawling as far as the eye could see in either direction. Every color under the sun, fist-sized and head-sized and a fine shimmering sand, washed bright by the waves. I could swear that native birds somewhere were singing a dramatic crescendo of a symphony, though maybe that was just in my head.

“Paint,” I said, not moving. “Can I borrow your bag? I’ll carry it back for you.”

~~~

Further adventures in backstory for this book. More to come!

#humans are weird #humans are space orcs #haso #hfy #my writing #the Token Human #the sense of smell #beautiful things

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des111ree · 1 year

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·˚ ༘ “Beautiful things” // SEBASTIAN SALLOW

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first post💋!

pairings: sebastian sallow x (f!mc) f!reader

warnings !: none. js a lil fluff🤭

summary: y/n (mc) goes into the undercroft to clear her mind away from all the recent attention she’s been getting, both negative and positive, where sebastian sallow’s found practicing wand casts at crates. a simple 6 word sentence from him w ‘friendly’ cuddling is enough to clear her mind completely.

✩

I walk into the undercroft, nearly stomping my way in. Possibly dramatic, but my frustration averts me from caring.

This gains me a concerned glare from Sebastian, but I ignore it to seat myself down next to him. He was wand at the ready before I stormed in, practicing wand casting on old crates with merlin knows what spell.

I slide down the cold pilar and unbend my knees, separating my legs from each other. Finally, I look up and create eye contact, my breath immediately hitching in my throat due to the way he was looking down at me. I clear my throat and look away, feeling my cheeks begin to burn already.

That happened a lot. I tend to ignore it but I can’t help and get confused with why mere eye contact with him would create such odd feelings in my gut.

“What?” I ask shakily, the burning sensation of his eyes carving into my skin, painting me nervous.

“You what.” He replies back sharply, casting ‘confringo ’ and loudly exploding crates in front of him that cause me to flinch.

I notice him look back at me, his face softening as he puts his wand away. He knows I’m not good with loud noises and haven’t been since everything.

“Seriously why’d you storm in like that, all dramatic” He leans against the pilar behind him, crossing his leg over the other, along with his arms. His eyes pierce into mine sharply, a look of concern shadowing his expression.

My heart began to thump more rapidly out of my chest at his concern & eye contact, losing train of thought. My worries disappeared for a moment before I realized I had to answer his question.

Frustration grew in me again like a ball of fire, as I remember why I ‘stormed in like that, all dramatic’.

“People just really have the nerve, is all.” I scrunch my nose up before smiling weakly, looking at the ground as the situation replays in my head. Nothing serious, just a stupid group of friends sending nasty remarks my way.

Sebastians' mouth gapes open to respond, but I start before him. “I’m tired of this, Seb.” My face goes softer as I don’t allow my frustration the best of me. I just sink in my exhaustion with all the recent attention lately. It was always there but recently, It’s been too much.

“As I”. he responds instantly after me, nearly cutting me off. I finally look back up at him and just shake my head with pierced lips. I tap the toe of my shoes together, my hands resting between my legs in the nest of my skirt.

“No, I mean all the attention. Wholly.” I shrug, looking back down to fiddle with my fingers.

“Merlin, I sound li-“ I sigh as I begin, feeling embarrassed I’m complaining for such a weak reason. But he cut me off before I could finish, shaking his head whilst proceeding.

“Don’t. You don’t sound like anything. Attention of such can get exhausting, especially when it turns negative.” He pauses, his tone indicating I look at him, which I do.

“I understand.” he finishes once our eyes meet, walking over to sit next to me. One of his knees are up to his chest, the other flat out in front of him. He plays with my robe pocket silently, allowing me to continue my rant.

He was always so understanding when it came to my feelings, and if he wasn’t in the moment he always was later.

I give myself a relieving breath of air, taking in his scent. This always caused my heart to sink into my stomach, in the best way possible. I don’t know what it is. He just smells so good?? Maybe that’s what his scent just does??

“That it does. I just don’t get it. I came to Hogwarts for a normal life but on my first day I already gain a reputation. The rest of the year hasn’t gone as great either.” I scoff with a smile which is painted with unbelief.

Sebastian continues fiddling with my robe pocket, keeping quiet for me to continue. “And so much for playing hero, I have people voicing the nastiest things toward me it’s incomprehensible.” I nearly laugh breathlessly, still so stunned by the situation.

I let people’s words get the best of me and Sebastian certainly knows that. You’d think I’m used to all this attention and all these remarks, but it never gets better, or- less worse. It scars me all the same.

“You know what they say.” Sebastian shrugs beside me, his eyes still fixated on my robe pouch. He was fiddling with an open piece of fabric carelessly. He always had to be doing something with his hands whilst paying attention to anything. It's how I know he truly listens to me and does his best to connect with my emotions. His mind goes blank merely fixating on the words flowing out of my mouth, taking them in as his own.

“Is that a question or..” I ask as he lifts his chin up slightly to meet my eyes, reading the genuine confusion plastered on my face.

“I- Well.. I dunno. Just thinking to myself.” He stammers lightly, scratching the side of his nose as he breaks the short eye contact.

Of course, my mind goes to the worst, so I begin to panic inside a bit. "What do they say.." I ask, doing my best to come off nonchalant, but my concern peers through.

"No need for fret. I mean the saying." He reassures, me just nodding in understatement as I scooch over. Our hips meet, causing him to instantly turn his head toward me, but I don't return my gaze. I scooch down a bit before resting my head on the side of his broad shoulder, slipping my arm through his.

His comfort was my favorite. His mere touch sent vibrations through my chest, nesting in my stomach as flying fireflies endeavor to escape. As same with hearing his voice or, watching him do anything with focus. I don't know what it is.

Or I do, but the thought frightens me so much I avoid it.

"What's the saying?" I ask softly, barely coming off as a question.

I catch myself frequently doing what I can in order to get him to talk as much as possible. It's deeply soothing for me to hear him just speak of things he shares passion toward. Especially with the way he articulates his words when doing so. His passions run deeply in him, and I love to hear about it. But, his caring and passionate nature can turn into something overly serious... So it's good to really listen to him and be sure he doesn't do anything harmful to himself or anything in such; for anyone or anything.

But he's been better since after Anne.

Sebastian doesn't answer me, I just feel him bend his wrist to reach my arm which was lingering onto his, and rub it. His cheek meets the side of my head, resting on it. We stay in this position silently for a moment.

He brings his chin to rest on the top of my head after a minute, slipping his arm out of its entanglement with mine, to rest it over my shoulder. My heart feels as if gonna beat out of my chest, my breathing way heavier. My body's now tilted completely beside his as I begin to close my eyes.

It’s obvious we’re both in clear deep thought, but I can only hope it’s of the same thing. The most-likely made up tension floating in the air gives me an answer, but who knows if i can trust it.

I make myself come to the awareness of every half inch his fingers may brush across my shoulder, or if he clenches his jaw which I feel on the top of my head, becoming more and more nervous by any minuscule movement he may make. His body warmth practically consumes the whole left side of my body, happily melting in his touch.

My worries entirely disappear from all week. I didn't have a care in the world except for wishing to stay here like this with him forever.

I feel his finger reach for my hair, brushing it out of my face slowly as he finally speaks up. “Beautiful things don’t ask for attention.” His voice is in a steady whisper, making his words clear enough so i understand them to my full extent, yet quiet enough to hopefully not hear at all.

But I didn’t just hear his words. I felt them throughout my whole body. And I probably will for the rest of merlin knows how long...

He’ll never realize how his little words like so have such a huge impact on me.

"Beautiful things with ancient magic abilities?" Jokingly is all I know how to respond without freaking myself out any further. I look up at him and see him smiling at my response, shaking his head lightly.

"Beautiful things." he repeats, and I hum in response, huddling up beside him, feeling his grip around me tighten a bit. I take a deep, shaky breath, and close my eyes once again just to be there in his presence.

I think I understand this feeling now. It’s been there

all along.

✩

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A/N :

I just wanted to say i’m mostly doing this for fun and to have somewhere I can hold my scenarios and excessive/obsessive daydreams in, whilst keeping my mind busy at the same time. So please, if you’re going to say something negative about my work, i’d appreciate it if you atleast help me figure out my issue and how to resolve it, for i’m trying to improve my writing as well.

But help i’d appreciate a lot, if anyone even sees this, is how I can keep my writing interesting and have something happening all the time without it being overwhelming, because I tend to struggle with keeping my writing interesting.

ty <3

#sebastian sallow #hogwarts legacy #hogwarts #harrypotter #sebastian sallow fluff #sebastian sallow scenario #hogwarts legacy sebastian #hogwarts legacy sebastian sallow #ominis guant #sebastian sallow smut #fluff #hogwarts fluff #HL #hogwarts legacy game #harmless crush #beautiful things #beautiful #beautiful things don’t ask for attention

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