π¨π«π’π©π‘π’ πΌ (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
hearthwarming) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
crescentview2023-03-04 02:45 pm
hearthwarming) wrote in crescentview2023-03-04 02:45 pm
βοΈ winter catchall
βοΈ who: oriphi & others
βοΈ what: closed starters
βοΈ when: winter
βοΈ where: various
βοΈ warnings: will add as needed
βοΈ what: closed starters
βοΈ when: winter
βοΈ where: various
βοΈ warnings: will add as needed
no subject
So his tiny smile is met with an appreciative one of her own, at least until she hears that question. ]
I...
[ She's been thinking about it, even without knowing whether or not she and M-21 would end up getting married. Trahearne had told her that he and Syrlya are planning to go back to their world. An easy choice, when they both came from the same place. But she and M-21 don't - their worlds must be quite different if he has things like... phones, appliances, technology... But more than that... While she has less qualms about leaving her old lifestyle behind, she has people depending on her at home, like her friends and her sister. And M-21 has his memories to recover, doesn't he? And not to mention his own team, too... ]
...I don't know. To be honest, I actually really like living here... Especially with you. We have a nice little home, and our farm, and our animals. [ yes, including Mikan-Avolyn ] But my friends need me. And my sister, too...
no subject
[ Which is maybe a strange word to use for it, all told. There's been weird interference from the goddess, death by cow, pirates, the chaos of the auction, being kidnapped in the first place. But even with all of that, he's never really felt like he was in danger here. Or like she was.
He lets out a little huff and leans into her a tiny bit more. ]
I've been thinking about it, too. Back when I first got here, I figured if I was gonna get married, it'd be to get home.
[ Well. So much for his plans there, on a number of fronts. He'd thought about asking the goddess if they could choose different worlds, things like that. He hadn't factored in meeting someone that he actually wanted to stay with. Or making friends here that he'd like to be able to see again if he can. ]
I've got people back home that I still owe things to. But no one there that needs me. If I can get word back to them... that'd be enough.
no subject
[ Marrying simply for the convenience of going home was never an option for her. She would have rather resigned her fate to this place. She knew she would make friends, and even thought she would probably end up with unrequited feelings for someone, but she never could have guessed that someone would fall in love with her back.
Despite all that, somewhere in the back of Ori's mind, she had thought this conversation, if it happened at all, would play out differently. She would say what she'd said, and M-21 would say that he needs to go home, too. And then somehow, they would get married, and then... Go their separate ways, like a pair of star-crossed lovers.
But... That's not what he's just said, isn't it? Not quite. She presses in close, too, and remains quiet for a long, contemplative while. ]
I'm sure your team needs you more than you're saying. Rai, and Frankenstein, and Tao... [ Of course she remembers every name he's told her from his home. ] Would you really be alright with that, M-21? Whether it's to stay here, or... or to go back with me?
no subject
A tiny moment of panic follows on the heels of that thought. What if he scrambles the unfamiliar names from her home? "Valphi" was enough like hers, he can manage that one. What about the paladin guy? Is he going to need a crash course from her before they go anywhere? How does he admit if he forgot something? ]
...I don't want to leave them hanging and not knowing what happened to me. But...
[ He starts to shrug before he pauses, not wanting to dislodge her. After a moment's thought he covers her hand with his instead. ]
I don't know. Rai, Frankenstein β the difference between their strength and mine is like between me and the goddess. They took care of me. But there's not a lot I can do for them. ...Besides dishes.
[ He thinks Rai would tell him to go, honestly. Well... Rai would give him an opaque and serene look until he stumbled his way to what he wanted to do anyway. And the rest of the M-series? There's a weight of guilt there, but he can just picture the goofy smiles on their faces if he told them he'd met someone. Damn but he wishes they could have met Ori. ]
no subject
But, selfishly, what he says gives her a bit of hope. Hope that she can't help but cling onto. Maybe... They'll get married, and actually get to have the kind of married life she'd always dreamed of, but never thought was in the cards for her. She turns her body slightly so that she can properly gaze into his eyes. ]
We won't leave them hanging. I promise we won't. If the magic here, that the goddess has... If it's powerful enough to be able to bring us all here in the first place, then I'm sure we can find a way to let people at home know. We... We can stay until we know for sure that we can do that.
[ She's assuming that the goddess won't just, like, kick them all out at the end of the month if they're married. But she also doesn't know that they'll eventually be able to just visit other worlds like it's nothing, so. ]
no subject
[ She might tell Ori, at least. He knows full well that the goddess doesn't like him. But in the end, she did give him the feather. And Ori... it's not surprising that Ori is patient enough to wait.
The swell of affection that overtakes him when he looks down to see her looking up at him can still catch him by surprise. He's not sure he'll ever be able to say that "I love you" as easily as she seems to. But as he leans in to press a brief kiss to her forehead, he thinks he'll at least find ways to make sure that she never doubts it. ]
That'll be enough. Might have to keep your friends waiting for just a little bit. And then we can figure out what to do with this place. Pretty sure Mikan-Avolyn is going with you no matter what.
[ Which M-21 is prepared to be gracious about, considering he won that contest for Ori's affection in the end. What are they going to do with the animals if they leave their home here behind? Well, one thing at a time. ]
no subject
Now, though? Maybe once the other farmers have departed to return to their homes... the Goddess will have no choice but to be paid regular visits by this tiny, tiefling druid. But that's all for later - right now, as M-21 leans and kisses her forehead, he really is her entire world. Maybe it's not the same as hearing him say "I love you," but every gaze and gesture of affection fills her heart just as well. ]
I don't think they'll mind waiting a bit.
[ ...Okay, they might a little bit actually, but would any of them hate her for it when they see how happy M-21 makes her? She hopes not. ]
Mikan-Avolyn might like Philostenes. He's a cat wizard. [ Is she going to elaborate? Nope. ] And if we're staying here for a bit, you'll have some time to prepare for, um... Well. Val might try to test you, somehow. And some of the others... But they're all really nice, I promise! They're going to love you!
no subject
[ That seems kind of like a narrow specialty to him, but what does he know? It's really sinking in just how much he needs to learn about her world. This isn't just going to be like a little trip to Lukedonia, is it? They won't have phones, or convenience stores, and there are real dragons that like to eat people.
It's not exactly intimidating. It's just a lot to take in. ]
Wait. What do you mean by "test"? ...Combat?
[ Oh no. He has more questions by the minute, and it's threatening to become a barrage if he thinks too hard about it at all. Maybe he can take her friends in single combat. What about as a group... ]
finally these regains come in handy
But he did just propose to her, and they're talking about their future. She realizes from his response, too, that this is certainly a lot to take in - a fact that is only highlighted all the more when she looks at his face again and sees the way a million questions are cropping up in his werewolf brain. ]
Um... Maybe? My younger sister can be a bit... intimidating. Here— I'll be right back.
[ It is with a great deal of reluctance that Ori pulls away from M-21 to get back up to her feet and retrieve something from their bedroom. When she returns after a short moment, she has a small keepsake box with her, which she carefully sets down on the floor next to her as she settles back in beside him again. From inside the box she pulls out a magically-produced portrait of herself and her younger sister, and then another of Ori and her friends. ]
That's Valphi. I know, I know, we don't really look alike... And these are my friends - the Alchemighty! The tallest one is Cibark. This one in the red coat is Dae, then next to him is Aerie, then Mellon, Sian, and... Colin. [ Was that a meaningful pause as she points out the handsome half-even man next to her in the portrait? Maybe. ] And then me. And the cat is Philostenes. See? Everyone looks friendly!
YESSSS HE GETS THE LORE
Maybe it should have occurred to him to try to get something like that of his friends back home. Part of him might be more accustomed than he wants to admit to the idea that some memories inherently were fleeting. ]
...Huh. She doesn't look that tough.
[ She does kind of look that tough, but he's plenty prepared to bluster. The contrast to Ori β well, she already said, she knows. He flicks a glance sidelong at her, visibly comparing the two, and reaches over to tuck a strand of her hair back behind her ear again. ]
You said your wizard friend named the group. That's the cat? [ Or more of them were wizards. But mostly the question is a camouflage for what he's really wondering, his interest snagged on that tiny pause. ] Who's Colin?
[ Is it his imagination that she looks happy to be standing next to him there? Hm. ]
the deep wife lore...
Well, as long as he doesn't say anything like that where Valphi can hear him... He'll probably be fine(?). She'll just have to make sure he understands that her younger sister is incredibly clever and talented and has no problems stepping on people.
To his question, she shakes her head, and moves her fingers across the group portrait to point at Dae. ]
That was Dae. He's a wizard, too. He and his family used to make up the Alchemighty, but everyone else retired, so he sort of... Recruited the rest of us in, when we crossed paths.
[ And as for the next question... The tiny pause from earlier pales in comparison to the longer, thoughtful pause she now gives. Where does she start? How much should she say, to the man she's just agreed to marry? It was never her intent to keep M-21 from knowing about Colin, but she could never find a proper way to bring it up. It would be better for her to just say it all now. Especially if she's hoping for him to come back home with her, after some time. He deserves to know. ]
Colin is my oldest friend. Val and I met him while I was still a mercenary, so we've known each other for a long time. A traveling bard... Then we ran into each other again and ended up in this adventuring group together, when I was trying to find Val.
[ That about covers the half of it. The other half... ]
He told us he was from a noble family, but then we found out he's, um. A prince. [ A whole prince. ] And we, um... We were together for a while, but it didn't work out in the end. But it's okay - we ended things mutually! We're still friends, and everything's fine. [ Ahem. ] And now I'm here. With you!