crescentview | ⛄️ winter catchall

[ She just smiles at him. Yes, a surprise. Another little laugh bubbles up out of her when he mentions the non-zero possibility of a blizzard, and she shakes her head. ]

Yes, that counts. Though it's too bad I didn't prepare a "control weather" spell for today...

[ Does she mean that? Can she actually control the weather with a spell? Another mystery. In any case, she draws in a deep breath and then exhales, her breath visible in the crisp, wintry mountain air. It feels nice - nicer because of him. ]

I'm really looking forward to this weekend. It's been busy, and it's just going to keep being busy, so... Thanks for taking me away for a little bit. But it really is incredible - so many people are getting married! Including us!

Your spells can do that?

[ M-21 is fully prepared to believe just about anything about her magic, but that seems... big? Very big. But then again, she could turn into a bear and open teleportation portals, so... maybe weather isn't a bigger deal than that.

(It feels like a bigger deal. He kind of wonders what the goddess thinks of that one.) ]

Guess it's not surprising there's so many, with how everyone is at parties. [ "Including us" applies here too, though M-21's smile is more for the first part and not from any real self-awareness. ] You need a hand at the shop? I don't think Lucia's as busy right now. I can... uh...

[ She's familiar with the very limited range of his flower-arranging techniques, so admittedly, he can't do a lot. But after a second he does rally with: ]

Carry things.

[ She simply nods; but it does feel like a big deal, which is why she hasn't tried to do anything that powerful yet. Judging from how her transformations were acting when she first arrived, she doesn't want to take a chance with big spells unless it's absolutely necessary... For all she knows, her trying to stop a blizzard could end up turning it into a literal deluge of rainbow cats and dogs or something.

In any case, they don't have to worry about the weather just yet. She's content to enjoy the hike with her husband-to-be, smiling like he is, and thoughtfully offering to help at her shop. ]

Aw, you're good for much more than just carrying things! Don't sell yourself short, honey.

[ She offers another smile of her own in turn, squeezing his hand. ]

Kaspar, Amber and Otegine have been helping, too, but of course I wouldn't say no to having you around at work more. There's not much to do around the farm these days, right? So... Ehe, I'll put you in a cute apron like Kaspar's.

[ There's that "honey" again. M-21 squeezes her hand back reflexively, his shoulders shaking with a tiny chortle. Should he be thinking of a pet name for her? Honestly... what sounds natural from her would make him sound like a creep trying to pick up girls to go drinking with, he's pretty sure.

"Sweetheart"? "Baby" sounds condescending... As the wheels churn in his head, he makes his way up the sloping path, glancing over at her to make sure her footing is steady. ]

Lot of hands already. But more should still make it go faster. Don't they have weddings to be working on too?

[ Maybe he can crib extra ideas from them. —Wait, Otegine? M-21 might have mostly made his peace with that one, but a tiny frown flickers across his face. Just one more reason to help out. Even if he doesn't think there's been any more crying since the last time. ]

Yeah. Farm's already taken care of, and your greenhouse doesn't need any help. The apron'll go with your hair ties anyway.

[ He'll wear whatever she wants him to in the name of looming helpfully nearby. ]

[ Okay, but she would probably melt at "sweetheart," actually. M-21's brain should put a pin in that one.

Ori catches his gaze as he glances at her, and there's a thoughtful look on her face. She's not lost in thought enough to slip up, at east, and manages to keep up as they make their way up the steeper incline. ]

You've got a point... And some of them are getting married to two people, too, so I'm sure there's some extra work involved... It'll probably be good to let them have some of their free time back as things get closer!

[ She's speaking most definitely of Amber, but maybe she also knows about Kaspar... ]

Ah, but Otegine isn't getting married, though. [ Is this helping or hurting whatever is going on in M-21's head... ] But you still have to come help! I need you for moral support!

[ Has M-21 managed not to receive any invites to some of the more colorful weddings just yet? Maybe. He blinks a few times as he processes the "married to two people" thing. ]

...I guess they need twice the feathers, too. Surprised the goddess didn't think that was cheating.

[ He supposes she's happy as long as people are getting married. It feels like there should be a catch there, but — maybe it's just that it's twice as hard to decide whose home to go back to. But one eyebrow lifts minutely at the mention of Otegine. Should he be sympathetic or concerned... ]

I'll definitely be there. [ A little too firm? He clears his throat and squeezes her hand a tiny bit. ] I mean. If you need me. Haven't really gotten to see you working your magic at the shop before.

[ He's not actually sure if he means that literally, come to think of it. ]

[ There's no reason for her to read into his sudden enthusiasm, or to take it as anything other than him being cute and eager to help... Which is probably all for the best. Absolution comes soon enough, anyway, when she answers: ]

Of course I need you! For moral support, and to carry things. Asking the animals to help out can only really go so far, too...

[ Yeah, she totally uses magic there, too. ]

Besides... I want to spend as much time with you as I can. That's... That's okay, right?

[ Is that being too clingy?? Maybe. But if M-21 has free time, then of course she wants to have him around more. ]

[ She can't just say something like that and not expand on it? Now he's arrested with the mental image of their alpaca carrying a bundle of flowers in its mouth. ]

You don't have a problem with them eating the goods?

[ Well. The really important part is the one after that. M-21 huffs softly and uses his hold on her hand to tug her a little more against his side. The path isn't slippery enough for that to be a problem, hopefully. ]

...Yeah. Feels like a long wait for you to get home. [ It is literally a few hours. But apparently refusing to be embarrassed by this, he continues smugly: ] You're not gonna be able to get rid of me soon enough.

[ Ori is about to tell M-21 about how her shop was swarmed with cats for a couple of days recently and that she put them all to work to varying degrees of success but, but then he pulls her closer towards him and she's more than happy to oblige, squeezing his hand in turn. What he says after that is more important to her, too, for how endearing it is.

It is literally a few hours. But of course she won't discourage him from his smugness, when she loves seeing him like that. ]

Aww... You could have come to see me at my shop even without offering to help out any time, you know. And besides, I wouldn't want to get rid of you at all. I'm marrying you so I can keep you around!

[ She meets his smugness with earnestness, naturally, while she lifts their joined hands together to press a kiss to his knuckles. ]

[ Wait, no, he still needs that cat story. What is it with her and cats?

Mikan-Avolyn could probably be (smugly) trained to carry his own weight in the shop, if it came to that. ]

Yeah? Maybe it wouldn't be bad to drop by more. If we end up staying a while after the wedding stuff, I mean. I'm gonna be helping for now anyway.

[ Granting that his last time dropping by her shop, the impression he was left with was Otegine making her cry. But that's more the opposite of a deterrent the more he thinks of it. Maybe he should do guard rounds more often, especially if someone isn't getting married and leaving...

He makes a little noise of surprise for the kiss and rubs his thumb over her hand, squeezing a little. ]

...You sure you're not the knight here?

[ That's a pretty gallant gesture. He's being outdone by his wife-to-be, isn't he? ]

[ He is absolutely being outdone by his wife-to-be, and they both know it. Still, she looks proud of herself, especially when she offers her cheeky little response. ]

I'm sure! I'm a very delicate flower.

[ In many respects, that is true of Ori. But in just as many respects, that is very much not true of Ori. ]

Once we're married, it'll be your flower shop, too, won't it? I think that means you can definitely drop by whenever you'd like. And... If Kaspar leaves, I won't have anyone else to help...

[ Except maybe for some cats. What is it with her and cats, truly? Or her and most any animal, for that matter? ]

And you know, I wasn't here for springtime... it's my favorite season. [ who could have predicted this? ] It would be nice to see it...

[ Would it be rude to give his fiancee a skeptical look? The "delicate flower" who smacked pirates over the head and teleported them? Who fought dragons?

M-21 fights a smile, badly. ]

I can take over for him. Plenty of time to start showing me the ropes now. Lucia won't need a dishwasher once things are quieter around here.

[ Maybe Lucia wants a little peace and quiet with her spouse too. This could work out for everyone... ]

...Should've guessed that, with all the flowers. [ And his expression brightens a little at the stray thought. What he remembers about spring is-- ] There was a dance last time. If we're still here and they do that again, I want to show you.

[ A skeptical look wouldn't have been rude - it would have been deserved, anticipated, even, although Ori can't complain about the barely-repressed smile that she finds on M-21, instead.

Each smile she draws out of him feels like such a precious little thing. And now, she's imagining him smiling while working at her flower shop, with the same kind of felt flower decorated apron she'd given Kaspar, and his hair tied back and similarly adorned. And then imagining him doing so in the springtime... Wait, a dance? ]

Is that so...? Who did you dance with last spring, hmm?

[ She's curious! ]

I was over at the food stalls with He Xuan for most of it. Not much for dancing...

[ Which probably won't surprise her, after she's seen him wallflowering at enough of the gatherings here. But he pauses a little and cocks her head as he thinks back. ]

Ellis made me dance, actually. It'll be quiet without him.

[ Ellis is quiet by definition, but she knows what he means. ]

[ She can't help but chuckle to herself at his first response; she can picture He Xuan and M-21 standing together, both so aloof, while silently munching on snacks together... None of what he says surprises her, including that Ellis had "made him" dance. She sort of doubts that it was quite that forceful? Unless... ]

...Mhm. It's going to be really different without everyone. But we'll still have each other, right?

[ And that, of course, is the most important thing to her. ]

It'll be alright, as long as we've got each other... And we're not the only ones staying, too.

Yeah. And who knows. That goddess might bring in more people before too long.

[ For himself, he doesn't really care. He's got Ori, and entirely too many animals, and — maybe he'll miss some of the people leaving, but he knows they're going off to good lives.

But Ori seems to like being around people, for whatever reason. ...It's cute. M-21 sneaks a little sidelong look at her as they make their way up the trail. ]

Ooh, that would be fun, wouldn't it? We could help the newcomers get settled in!

[ Imagine them being the Welcome Wagon... RIP to those newcomers. She squeezes his hand as they come up to a portion of the trail that requires a bit of careful maneuvering, and catches his gaze as she's glancing in turn at him before they proceed. ]

Hm? What is it?

We could?

[ M-21's eyes widen a little in something like understated alarm. That sounds like a lot of socializing he thought he'd fought past the need for now that he's settled...

Or good practice for meeting her friends, depending. He relaxes a little at the consideration. And if he doesn't help her with it, she'd just end up doing a lot of extra work herself. Yeah. He can be welcoming. ]

...Yeah. I can show them farming... stuff.

[ He'll think about that one. He gives her hand a little squeeze and glances away again, but not before a brief smile tugs at the scarred side of his mouth. ]

Just thinking. I'm not much for big groups. But I like the way you light up with people.

[ So he'll tolerate neighbors, for her. ]

[ Or worse... Otegine swoops in and helps her.

In any case, her own lips curl into a little smile when she sees his, before they part for a sweet little chuckle. She's definitely the more social of the two of them, but at the same time... Being that way sure does take a lot more out of her than she's either willing to admit or that she lets on. But she just needs everyone, all day long, to like her so much. ]

And I like when you smile a little bit like that.

[ Uno reverse card!! ]

I like being around people, but you know, it's even better to get to come home after all of that to someone who can be there for me...

[ Or worse...! The possibility has definitely been filed away in the werewolf peabrain. He's feeling more gracious about Otegine since he won the war, but. He's a guy who warrants watching.

Her uno reverse is super effective! He glances away to hide a tiny flush of embarrassment, but defeats the purpose by glancing back almost instantly.

Worth it to see that happy look on her face, though. ]

Yeah, well. That's how people get around you.

[ Even him. Especially him. He makes a quiet noise of satisfaction and leans closer until he bumps just a little against her side. ]

...And to have someone who can carry you home?

[ good boy..

Somewhere in her tiefling brain, there's a thought that she should feel at least a little guilty for flustering him on purpose - especially lately - but it's worth it to see the look on his face, too, and the way he leans into it and closer to her. She presses in closer in turn, winding her arm around his more fully as she chuckles. ]

Yes, and to have someone who can carry me home. Who always holds me close...

[ She does mean in more than just the princess-carrying sense, but she leaves it open-ended for now. There will be plenty of time and opportunities, she hopes, for being more direct when they get to the inn and hot springs for the weekend. ]

⛄️ winter catchall

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