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"I hate trees," the Cat King said for what had to be at least the tenth time.
Edwin looked up to the sky. He knew very well that there were no powers that he could beg for strength and patience, so he had to count on himself.
He sighed and then stopped their trudge through the woods.
Edwin looked at the Cat King. "Thomas. My love."
The trickster preened briefly at the pet name, and Edwin couldn't deny the warmth that bloomed in his chest at the sight.
It made his partner's complaints a bit easier to bear. Nevertheless…
"You communicated your attitude towards the local flora clearly enough. I assure you, there is no need to remind me about it over and over again."
Before Thomas replied, the ghost stiffened, alarmed by sounds he registered only now that they weren't making any noise by walking through the bushes. "What's that?"
Music, laughter and chatter were coming from the clearing nearby. Only when Edwin focused his attention there he noticed the flicker of the bonfire between the trees, and the group of people.
Young men and women were enjoying each other's company, dancing and laughing; some of the girls wore flower crowns on their heads. Among the chatter and music there was clinking of bottles, and occasional exclamations when the boys who were trying to jump over the bonfire succeeded… or not.
"Well they look like they're having fun," the Cat King noticed curiously, drawn by the light of the fire and the lively atmosphere. He frowned after realising that most of the girls were wearing white dresses, and some of them were making flower wreaths. "Huh. Do you think there will be some sacrificial murder happening-" he cringed when he remembered whom he was talking to. "Uh. Sorry."
Edwin brushed off the murder comment - the fact that he died as a joke to his peers was just that, a fact. There was no need to be sensitive about it at this point. Instead, he cleared his throat. "I reckon it must be a celebration of some kind. Our client insisted on working the case specifically tonight and well, the summer solstice was just two days ago."
"Oh, fair point." Thomas tilted his head as he considered something. "Although… Dancing around the bonfire feels rather pagan. I thought the folks here are like, massive Christianity freaks, aren't they?"
Edwin looked at his partner appalled. "That is very judgemental and factually incorrect." Then he moved his eyes to the party in front of them. "But it's also true that Christianity tried to adapt pagan rituals and practices for their own benefit for ages. I'm convinced it's not the first time the Church re-named a certain tradition just to make it fit their agenda."
Thomas quirked his eyebrow. "Re-named a tradition? So you know what's that," he gestured at the bonfire party, "all about?"
"I'm not certain. I'm afraid I haven't read up enough lore in preparation for this case, it was all rather sudden," Edwin complained. "But like I said, I'm assuming it's the summer solstice celebration. After all, it's a special night in many cultures, and our client insisted that we wouldn't be able to find the fern flower at any other time."
"Fern flower?" Thomas frowned. "But ferns don't bloom."
"Yes, I am aware. That is why I suspect the fern flower is a name for something else - maybe an amulet of some kind, or a different magical object?" the ghost mused. "The fern flower is rumoured to bring all sorts of good fortune and fantastical abilities to the lucky finder… It is very rare, and it is supposed to bloom for one night only." Edwin pursed his lips. "If it exists at all and isn't just a legend, that is."
"Why would you want to look for it if it's just a myth?"
"Well, during my years as a detective I've seen for myself that not all stories are just stories," the ghost explained smoothly. "According to what our client said, the tradition has it that young people would venture into the forest in search of the fern flower and look for it for the better part of the night-"
"…For my money, it sounds like an excuse to hook up."
"Excuse me?" Edwin looked at his partner slightly aghast, but the Cat King just grinned.
"Come on, Edwin. A magical fern flower? Something that's supposed to bring you wealth and prosperity but is impossible to find? Maybe you're going to tell me that 'according to tradition' it was a boy and a girl," he rolled his eyes, "who had to go looking for it together?"
"I mean…" Edwin hesitated, recalling what the client had told him about it. "Possibly."
The Cat King snorted. "Told you. I bet it's just a story made up so the young lovers had an excuse to go fool around in the woods. Good fortune and riches sound like a reason to stay up all night, right? And anyway…" Thomas gave the ghost a pointed look. "Summer solstice celebrations are usually about fun, fertility and fucking."
"Oh, really now-"
"I'm right and you know it."
Edwin glared at his lover, but eventually sighed and cleared his throat. "Well. I suppose I see your point, although I could argue that it's not good for our case. It would render our exploration of this forest moot…" The ghost furrowed his brows. "Although to be fair, the lady who hired us and told me the story seemed weirdly interested in the kind of bond I have with you, but since it was intrusive and not related to the case, I didn't indulge her."
"You know what I'd say, sweetheart?" Thomas leant in and wrapped his arm around Edwin's midriff. "I think," he said slowly, his words whispered close to the ghost's ear, "we could give looking for the fern flower a try. After all, it's only decent to celebrate local customs and traditions, huh?" He pressed a kiss to the ghost's cheek, then jaw, before landing on Edwin's lips.
At the same time, Edwin could feel a burst of purple flame - his lover's magic at work - right on top of his head.
Although alarmed at first by the unexpected accessory, Edwin had a strong suspicion that he knew what he'd just been adorned with.
The ghost huffed, but there was mostly fondness behind it. He took the flower wreath off his head and inspected it in his hands.
Yarrow, red clover, wood cow-wheat and a single foxglove.
"Do these flowers hold any meaning I should know about?"
"I mean… Honestly, I just like the way they look together," Thomas said lightly, and the corner of his mouth twitched with a smile. "Although when you think about Achillea, I guess I could say that I'm keeping up with the f-words and calling you a fa-"
"Think twice before you finish this sentence."
The words made Thomas close his mouth immediately.
Edwin smiled smugly and rewarded his lover's obedience with a kiss.
One small kiss turned into something more, but eventually, Thomas pulled away slightly. "So, about that fern flower business…"
Edwin's brows went up, but his gaze stayed heated.
"I think it'll be easier to look for it from the ground," the Cat King offered with a teasing smile on his lips, and with a flare of purple flame, a tartan blanket appeared under their feet.
Thomas pulled his lover down, lowering them both to the ground. "Maybe if you get on your back, it'll be easier for you to notice the bloom, yeah?" He smirked before lightly pushing on the ghost's shoulders, making him lie down. Then Thomas hovered over him, one hand propped next to the ghost while with the other he caressed Edwin's cheek.
They exchanged small smiles before the Cat King tilted the ghost's chin up. Thomas pressed his lips to Edwin's, lightly at first, before he nipped on the bottom lip. Then his lover's mouth opened, inviting him in, and they shared a deep, indulgent kiss.
The caress made the detective slightly breathless. "Oh well, when you put it like that," Edwin conceded when the Cat King pulled away. Edwin's hands slid up Thomas' arms to wrap around the trickster's neck and keep him as close as possible. "I suppose you might have a point."