Date night.
Marlene is dreaming. She doesn’t believe in god but she would pray to the woman in front of her for years without end. It’s almost sunset. Marlene told Dorcas to trust her and just wear something nice- and wow. She did. The woman in front of her is wearing a flowy green dress and matching green eye shadows with dark red lipstick. It all goes together perfectly but so does she. Her hair is in space buns and she’s wearing a star necklace. Marlene suddenly feels out of place, her hair is the same as always, she has it brushed of course and the ends of her shaggy grown out mullet are dyed pink. She’s wearing a red suit as she looks Dorcas up and down. “You’re- you look gorgeous.” It’s breathy and she can’t thing of how else to describe the goddess in front of her.
Dorcas’ eyes have the audacity to widen when she’s complimented before she looks down and clears her throat. “Um- you clean up well yourself.” Marlene smiles holding her arm out for Dorcas to take.
“Shall we?” Dorcas smiles, it’s small but there, and links her arm with Marlene’s their elbows locked around eachother.
“So where exactly are you taking me Mckinnon?” Dorcas’ eyebrows furrow as she asks it.
“Do you trust me?” Marlene grins and Dorcas just rolls her eyes and continues walking with Marlene.
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Marlene took them to a restaurant far too fancy for some college kids. Everything was very expensive. “Marlene.” The girl hums in acknowledgment at that and looks at her. Whenever she does that Dorcas freezes because her eyes are perfect. They’re a- not exactly sky, deeper than that, but not ocean that’s too dark. They’re the perfect blue like blue sea glass. They shine with the mischief that Dorcas knows she’ll see eventually. “Where are you going to get the money to pay for this?” The mischievous glow gets brighter.
“Well my dear goddess,” Dorcas’ heart stutters. “when I told Mrs. Potter about my date- she just so happened to offer. She recommended this place too! So I’m not just spending money she didn’t exactly let me use.”
Dorcas nods, “I believe you don’t worry.” Marlene smiles at her and god- it’s so bright. Dorcas loves it. She doesn’t understand what’s so different about this girl maybe Dorcas just likes a challenge. A love she know is doomed to fail because eventually Marlene will figure her out.
Eventually a waiter comes up to them and they order, Marlene got sweet tea to drink and Dorcas got diet Coke. She’s not sure why she likes it, she just thinks it tastes better than the original. “You’re insane.”
“Sweet tea is delicious!” Marlene defends smiling playfully.
“I heavily disagree.”
“Yeah well- you better love being wrong.” Marlene leans forward and Dorcas’ heart start beating wildly. She wants her so badly. She wants someone so out of her league it hurts, she asked her out- that’s what she was going to do that day right? She’s never been the best at reading the room. She’s too much like Icarus right now. Marlene is the sun personified, anyway who’s been anywhere close to her would agree.
She’s bright and her smile is brighter than even the sun. Dorcas is Icarus and she is already far too close, she’s going to get burnt. That’s how it always goes, the sun shines and the cloud covers it. Dorcas won’t let that happen, even if her not going out with Marlene is what it costs.
“Have you ever gone by Cassie?” Marlene’s forerarms are on the table as she leans towards Dorcas, and her words break Dorcas out of her thoughts.
“No- Usually just Dorcas, sometimes Cas.” Marlene smiles.
“Can-“ She looks down at her arms on the table. “Can I call you Cas?”
Dorcas smiles slightly, “Yeah- yeah you can call me Cas.” Marlene fist bumps before resting her arm back on the table. “You’re far too happy about that.”
“I’m proud of myself. What can I say? It’s not everyday a girl thats- well you. Goes out with little old me.”
“Little old you? You’re joking right? Have you seen yourself? You’re perfect, you’re funny, bright, and-“ Dorcas clears her throat. “you know the rest of the sappy stuff.”
Marlene’s eyes are wide and her mouth forms a surprised but pleased smile, “Oh.” Dorcas looks down.
“Nevermind that.” She’s a shade of bright pink that’s from more than just her blush.
Their food gets there at the perfect time. They thank the waitress. “So- go back to what you were saying- about how perfect and amazing I am.” Marlene says it while leaning on her hands that’s are laced together he chin set on the back of them with her elbows on the table.
Dorcas can’t help it, she laughs and says, “I don’t think I need to feed your ego anymore.”
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Dorcas laughs and it’s perfect. Light and soft but still there. Marlene’s heart speeds up. She can tell Dorcas is making a joke about her but all she can focus on is the feeling of butterflies in her stomach. She looks at Dorcas and all she can feel is admiration. She knows she’ll marry her someday, no matter how long it takes. She loves her- it’s quick but she can tell this will last.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Dorcas has a pretty shade of pink blossoming across her cheeks.
“I love your laugh.”
“Oh.” She bites her bottom lip looking downwards picking at the sides of her nails. Marlene grabs her hands and Dorcas looks up at her. Marlene plants a kiss on the back of each of them leaving a slight black mark from her lipstick on each hand. When she looks up the blush on Dorcas’ cheeks has only grown and she’s staring at her hands. “𝘖𝘩”
Marlene smiles, “You are beautiful when you look like that.” She sets Dorcas’ hands on the table gently. “Shall we eat then?” Dorcas clears her throat.
“Yes! Yes- we shall.” Marlene laughs.
They both start eating sometimes talking and cracking jokes. Marlene usually is the one who starts conversation.
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Dorcas usually listens and she loves it. She would swim in Marlene’s voice for days if she could. It’s like how do people find rain calming. It’s her voice that represents safety, Dorcas has never felt particularly unsafe but when she’s with Marlene- there’s a feeling that they’d be tied together in every universe. No matter what they would end up Marlene and Dorcas, Dorcas and Marlene, Dorlene.
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After dinner they walk to the beach, and they’re holding hands. Dorcas loves the feeling of warmth running through her because of the small amount of contact, she notices the second it’s gone. Marlene’s hand slipped out of hers and when she looked around she took notice of a blanket set out on the beach and some pillows set on it. “A blanket on the sand?” Marlene smiles.
“Me and sirius set it up a bunch, I sent him out to set it up while we were eating. He always pointed out Regulus even when he was still with there- monster.” Marlene says the last words through gritted teeth and Dorcas takes her hand again.
“You and Sirius are close then?” Dorcas bites her bottom lip waiting for the answer.
“Not as close as people who speed rumors in high school thought. He’s-“ She looks Dorcas up and down, “not really my type.” Then Marlene grins and bends down to pick up a bouquet of flowers Dorcas didn’t even notice was on the blanket. She holds out the lilies to Dorcas, “Sirius said that Regulus said you liked them.”
Dorcas laughs, she sees the moment Marlene’s face lights up more. “I love when you do that.”
“When I laugh?” Marlene nods, “Well- if you keep saying stuff like that you’ll be hearing it very often.”
“I hope so.” Marlene then moves to lay on the blanket, her head resting on one of the pillows. Dorcas takes this as an invitation to lay by her, her hand immediately slots into Dorcas’s. She looks at the stars, Dorcas looks at her. Noting the way her highlighter glows because of any light. The pink on her lips is a neutral shade but Dorcas can tell it’s not the natural color. Her outfits is a red suit, the undershirt being white, she doesn’t have a tie but she does have a chain around her neck. “I’ve always loved the stars.”
Dorcas replies absentmindedly mesmerized by Marlene. “Me too.” She just keeps studying Marlene her eyes tracing her up and down until she meets the perfect blue eyes.
“Funny, because you don’t seem to be looking at them.” Marlene turns on her side to face Dorcas better. Marlene looks at Dorcas adoration obvious, “Can I kiss you?”
“Yes.” Marlene leans forward her hand on Dorcas’ cheek and meets her lips and Dorcas melts into it. It’s perfect, they’re the only ones in the world right now. She loves this. Marlene moves her knees on either side of Dorcas’ hips as she deepens the kiss. Dorcas pulls on her chain pulling her closer.
Eventually they have to separate, both breathing heavily Marlene resting her forehead against Dorcas’s. “You’re perfect.” Marlene says and Dorcas can’t help that she laughs, it’s so happy, happier than she’s ever been. Marlene eventually laughs too and Dorcas thrives in it.
She may eventually burn and die but right now she’ll be okay with being as close to the sun as possible. Who knows maybe they can have a happy ending, Dorcas has never been obsessed with greek mythology.