NOVEL NEXT Chapter 16: Getting "Along"
Shimmer's POV.
As I drink the glass of water I got, I could only think about how I could possibly get along with Gloom, "Why doe this have to be so difficult..." I mutter, seeing as when I think about Gloom when she's not in my presence, I don't hate her at all.
"The best method to overcome Clashing Mantras is to get used to the effects." Seraphim suddenly told me, effectively throwing me off my game, that was not a solution I wanted, at all.
"You don't seem happy about that." I heard Lynette say behind me, making me jump in surprise, "...And to think youjust started fighting Gloom as if it wasn't a big deal..." She commented, clearly not expecting that reaction from me.
Gaining back my composure, I look a ther with an idea in mind, "Say, everything considered, you should probably have wind Mantra and Lyney fire Mantra, is that correct?" I asked, to which Lynette gave a confused nod, "Okay, that means you two should have experienced at least a minor Clashing, how did you deal with it?" I asked, hoping to get an answer.
Lynette thought about it for a moment, "I remember that it wasn't as bad as yours, but as time went on it just subsided on it's own, I think it has something to do with how in sync you are." She recalled.
I cross my arms, "So that's actually the only solution, great..." I say in fake joy, "Thank you anyways." I say, walking away so I can find Gloom.
Gloom's POV.
"Get along with Shimmer. Get along with Shimmer. Get along with Shimmer." I've been repeating that for ten minutes already, the problem only being that without the Clashing I'm not against the idea, and I know that the only way to get rid of it, is to learn to ignore the feelings it brings.
"I didn't think I'd see this a second time, especially in the family..." Lyney commented, noting how stressed I am.
At that I just let out a slight yell to vent my frustrations, "I never felt this conflicted!" I lament, "How the hell is it even possible!? I literally got rid of two bodies!!" I point out, prompting Lyney to patme on the shoulder.
We stayed quiet for a bit before Lyney broke the silence, "Think of this as a... Learning experience." He suggested, "It could be- Wait, why don't you get flustered when you talk to Shimmer? She seems like your type." He questioned, making me look at him weirdly.
"That's something i would have expected Lynette to say without flinching, not you." I commented, "Especially since when Lynette got a boyfriend you threatened to burn all of his nerve ends." I remind.
"Hey he was clearly a creep and you agreed on it." Lyney pointed out, to which I shrugged as if to say fair enough, "Anywho, how do you plan on going on about it?" He asked, but I didn't answer as I just left.
Third Person POV.
Shimmer and Gloom ended up meeting just outside the House of Hearts, "So... Are you willing to try?" Gloom asked.
"...Yes." Shimmer confirmed, trying to ignore the feelings of aggressiveness already coming up, "Stay calm, stay calm..." She thought to herself.
At this point, Gloom and Shimmer stayed in silence for a bit, "So... Do you want to try my mead? There's a supply here to use in the occasional party." Gloom offered.
The suggestion got Shimmer curious, "If you're offering..." She accepted, hearing the slight edge in Gloom's voice.
Arlecchino's POV.
Looking at the two from my room's window I giggle slightly, "Father, are you sure this is a good idea?" Freminet asked me, having wanted to see this too.
"Gloom needed to open up a bit, and talking to her customers doesn't count." I explain, "And Shimmer is honestly the only one that fits the bill of getting along with her." I continued.
"The only problem is that they have contrasting Mantras." Freminet easily deduced.
I sighed at that point being brought up, "As perceptive as ever." I compliment, "But yeah, of all the things that had to be one of the problems." I lament.
Freminet coughed in his fist a bit, "Also there's thefact that Gloom is a lesbian." He pointed out, confusing me a bit, "Would it be okay for them to date I mean." He clarified.
"...That's not something I did not take into account..." I admit, the issue not having come up earlier, "Honestly, as long as Gloom is happy I don't care, I'd worry more for Shimmer if she even thought of hurting her." I explain, noticing how Freminet seemed to step back a bit.
Gloom's POV.
Having lead Shimmer to the place where the House's mead is kept, I somehow managed to keep the desire to kill her at bay, "At the moment there's sour mead, fruit mead and- no that's it." I stop, seeing that they don't have any other kind.
"Well... I guess I'll try the sour kind." Shimmer said, to which I grabbed one of the bottles, "How did you end up making mead by the way?" She asked.
I look at her, "I discovered how Electro can trun pollen into honey, and after I accidentally left a jar of it out in the open, I discovered how Snezhnaya had the perfect humidity to make mead." I explain.
Shimmer let out a chuckle at that, "Completely by chance then." She summarized, "Although I guess that's how I also got to this point..." She thought outloud.
"Heh..." I let out in amusement Would you mind telling me how our old world is?" I asked, "With how relaxed you are outside of any clashes we have, Teyvat must be heaven compared to it." I point out.
"Oh do I have some stories..." Shimmer let out in shock at my request. "Do you want the whole history or just recent times?" She listed.
"...Surprise me." I decide, waiting to hear what that would bring.