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If there was anything that everyone knew about Suletta Mercury, it was that she did nothing in half-measures. After all, nothing was worth doing if you didn't give it your best.
From piloting Aerial in a duel for Miorine's sake to studying for important school exams, from taking the utmost care of Miorine's garden to hanging out with her friends, she always gave it her all. In fact, an easy way to tell when she wasn't feeling right, physically or emotionally, was that her drive to go all out took a nosedive. A sick or sad Suletta was a Suletta that moped, that lost all exuberance, that was easily distracted or deep in thoughts.
That kind of Suletta was usually seen when Miorine wasn't around for some time, such as on a business trip. Her friends had gotten used to her forlorn behavior on these days and knew to give her space if she refused to hang out. After all, she would instantly go back to her old self the moment the deep oceans in her eyes met with the shining platinum in her bride's.
Suletta did nothing in half-measures, and that extended to her couple life. After all, she was utterly devoted to Miorine.
When she was with Miorine, her heart burst with excitement and love and every moment was spent enjoying their time together to the fullest. Whether it was talking, relaxing, gardening, cuddling or sleeping, Suletta made sure that her every attention was on Miorine. That her every action conveyed how deeply she adored her bride. That's why she loved hugging her.
Suletta did nothing in half-measures, and that certainly included hugging. After all, why would she hug with anything less than her heart?
Miorine hadn't been a touchy person at first. A near-lifetime of unloving parenthood had left her unwelcoming of physical closeness, especially in public. She showed it by pushing Suletta away and repelling her physical advances. Over time, as she began to be more attached to her groom, as she began to grow more fond of her, as she swore to protect her in front of a crown and created an entire company for the sole purpose of doing so, she became more welcoming of her affection. Leaning on each other was the first physical show of their deepening relationship. Miorine didn't even realize she was doing it, she just started unconsciously seeking the warmth that Suletta provided when they sat next to each other.
It took until Plant Quetta for Miorine to realize just how touch-starved she was. When she first bared her heart to Suletta in that empty corridor of the station with none but the stars outside the viewing bay as their witnesses and wrapped her arms around her waist in zero gravity. When she felt Suletta wrap her arms around her shoulders and squeeze her into her chest, letting her cry (not that she would admit she did so) in her white uniform (she insisted the wet stains were from Suletta's juice box, a claim no one believed) for the first time in years.
After that moment, she immediately became much more open to Suletta's physical affection. Hugs, hand-holding, carrying her bridal style, even kissing, she became used to it happening any time in public. And sure, Miorine would never complain about Suletta's kisses, but it was her hugs that she really couldn't get enough of.
Suletta embraced her as would a child their mother. Not surprising, she had probably not been hugged by anyone else on Mercury, so all her experiences clearly came from being in Prospera's arms (not that Miorine could picture that masked woman showing that kind of affection to her daughter). It was not enough for Suletta to simply wrap her arms around Miorine, it did not go far enough to display the depth of her affection.
Suletta hugged with her entire body. She wrapped her arms around Miorine and pulled her deep into her chest. She pressed her shoulders forward and inwards as well to make sure that she had her bride wrapped in as much Mercurian limbs as possible. If she was standing, she also leaned in, cocooning Miorine with her head as well, fully making use of her height. If they were sitting or laying down, she also loved to wrap her legs around Miorine's, making sure that as much of their bodies were in contact with each other as possible. It was like she was making herself into a living shield for Miorine, leaving as little as she could of the outside world to be in contact with her. She clung to her as if to do anything less would risk Miorine disappearing from her grasp.
Suletta hugged tight. Miorine did not leave her arms until Suletta wanted her to. Well, okay, if she ever seriously asked Suletta to let her go, she would let her go (and give her those sad puppy eyes that were so effective at getting her right back into her hugs), but anything less would be met with stern refusal and a tightening of her embrace. Miorine was otherwise always at the mercy of those strong pilot arms, to be smothered in Suletta's chest, where she would get to listen to her heartbeat. And she... Really didn't mind. She never felt more relaxed than when she closed her eyes and allowed herself to be held tight by her groom.
And then there was the warmth, Suletta was like a furnace. She radiated with heat, as if she brought the unrelenting sunlight that baked Mercury into its inhospitable state with her. But instead of scorching everyone around her, she turned this light into something welcoming, something wonderful. When she was in Suletta's arms, Miorine felt like every trouble she had ever had melted away without a trace. She felt like a marshmallow floating in a steaming cup of hot cocoa (if the cocoa was red), slowly melting down and becoming part of her surroundings. She truly felt safe there, where nothing could touch her. She truly felt loved.
Suletta did nothing in half-measures. That included loving Miorine. After all, how could she love her with anything less than every fiber of her being?
