crescentview | ⛄️ winter catchall

[ Unfortunately, it's rather early in the morning of the 16th when Ori arrives to Bug Eater farm as previously agreed-upon. Though she had wanted to keep her and M-21's elopement to themselves, well.. Sometimes she talks. And the two who live on this farm are close confidants and neighbors whom she trusts deeply, besides.

She takes her dress out of its garment bag and hangs it somewhere once she's let in, and takes a deep breath as she lifts a hand to her chin contemplatively. ]

Is... Is this too much? Should I take out some of the flowers...? A-And what should I do with my hair? I thought to wear it like I always do, but maybe I need to do something special?

[ Kaspar returns with her hot drink of choice in hand. It is offered to her, but his eyes are drawn to the dress almost as soon as he's sure he isn't about to spill any drink when he leans over. He turns as soon as he can, accidentally highlighting one of the hair ties she gifted him. He's only just passed his threshold for his hair to be long enough to look nice loosely pulled back. They both know how much idle time gets dedicated to styling it.

Should his hands be freed of her cup and small plate, mismatched in color but not spirit, he will approach the dress to carefully adjust the way it drapes. Notably, he's made sure his hands are clean. His veil is also in his room somewhere behind them, innocently minding its own business.

Her dress is pinker than the decor behind it, but the flowers are not out of place with the plants in the room. They've put a lot of care into the place. He hums before he answers, having taken it in at his own pace. But by then, he turns to face her and reach for her hair to fuss over it briefly. Then, eyes back to the dress. His tone is warm, content expression saying more than his words. ]

It's perfect.

[ He can already imagine a few options, eyes following the length of her hair. Kaspar decides on a braid as he moves to gently sweep her hair to one side if she lets him. He's patient enough to not interrupt a drink. Her hair has always been a joy. With a smile and slight tilt of his head, Kaspar drops his hand.

It is a good thing it's only gotten easier to get the words out, after so much time spent in the shop. ]

Though, I believe, what matters most are your feelings for one another. You possess beauty within and without, whatever you choose. Effort would be required for you not to look lovely..

[ The sentiment is genuine, but all the same she probably knows his subtle look of well intentioned desire to make something look nicer by his own hand. Less obvious by nature than the first time they met, since he is sober. Still, the quiet anguish of an aesthetically motivated eye lingers on her hair-- ]

... May I?

[ Even as small as the gifts are, seeing her cherished friends here using them always fills her heart warmly, and this time is no different even in the midst of her pre-elopement jitters. In fact, the sight of Kaspar with the felt flowers in his just-long-enough hair does wonders to calm her thoughts, to disrupt what otherwise would have been an anxious spiral with a precious little feeling. And it's with that feeling that she takes that proffered hot drink of choice - a cup of tea, for this morning - and watches as Kaspar examines her dress.

Ori truly went back and forth on her selection of dress; her first instinct, of course, was to go with something incredibly plain or to not dress up at all, but... Maybe after seeing some of her other friends preparing with their dresses, she thought that she ought to do something a little different, too. M-21 deserves that much and, miraculously, Ori has recognized that she deserves to feel special on this important day, too. Kaspar's words only solidifies that belief further.

So of course she lets him sweep her hair to the side. After their time working together, she's come to trust him deeply. Though she tends to trust easily regardless, there's a different, special sort that comes from cooperating to achieve things together, the same kind of trust she's built with M-21 while they worked on their farm, with Trahearne as they worked on gifts together, and with Otegine and Amber and Kaspar who have been helping at her shop, whether as one-offs or as a part-timer. With it comes the inescapable, wonderful feeling of watching each other grow - and this holds true for Kaspar, especially. She listens, as always, to every word he voices and offers, and treasures it in her heart.

Her lips curl against the rim of the mug, and she hums appreciatively in response. ]

Of course, Kaspar. And... Thank you. You've always voiced your feelings in such a beautiful way, but... I really needed to hear that, I think. It's so easy for me to worry about everything else that I can forget about what's the most important...

[ In this case, that being her and M-21's feelings for each other, the pledge they are about to make. ]

To be honest, I think M-21 would have been fine even if we'd gotten married at home in our pajamas or something. [ A chuckle. That would have been sweet in its own way... ] But I want this morning to be memorable in its own little way, too... [ And she goes on, albeit more quietly because she's not sure how much Kaspar knows about her husband-to-be: ] He doesn't have a lot of memories, so I want this one to be one that really stays with us...

[ After Kaspar has finished with her hair and she has her dress on, she finds Trahearne, already wringing her hands and pacing around nervously. She's so relieved that he and Kaspar were gracious enough to let her come over to prepare, at least. She doesn't know how she could have done any of this on her own, as much as she might have wanted to in theory... Hopefully M-21 is managing fine on his end, too. But... What if she shows up to the spot they'd agreed upon, and he's not there? What if he changes his mind?

What if, what if, what if? ]

T—Trahearne...?

[ Trahearne is sitting on standby in the dining room, slowly sipping his coffee as he reads a book. He has very little input in the way of appearances, as evidenced by how he is...not. going to dress up for his own wedding. Or anyone else's. Someone will have to pry his leaves off his cold, dead body--

When he hears Ori's voice, he looks up, and he brightens. He sets his book and coffee down and strides over to her, beaming, and puts his hands on her shoulders to steady her, get a better look at the finished, well, look. ]

You look wonderful. [ She does!! Kaspar did a wonderful job--of course he did. ]

How do you feel?

[ Like, in the dress. But he doesn't realize it could be taken a different way--the more emotional way. ]

[ And you had best bet that if there is an emotional way to be taken, Ori will sure as all nine hells take it.

As soon as he asks, her lips draw into a thin line, hands balling into fists in the delicate fabrics of her dress. ]

Thanks, but I feel— Oh, spirits. I'm so nervous, Trahearne. I feel like I've rushed headfirst into anything without a care and now everything's catching up to me and I'm— haaah... What if M-21 changes his mind? A-And what if we're under some kind of spell and when it wears off everything is different? And— What if end up being a horrible wife?

[ Please stop her before she keeps going... ]

Calm down, Ori.

[ Trahearne squeezes her shoulders, trying to ground her and to get her to stop fiddling with her dress. Whether she looks up at him or not, he offers a reassuring smile.

He understands her worry, and he feels a bit guilty. That one day they had together must have had a big impact on her, didn't it? Even though he knows it was not specifically his fault, still... ]

When did you start feeling this way about M-21?

[ SHE WILL NOT - though people telling her to calm down usually does at least give her pause. She stills in her tracks, although the pounding in her chest certainly has not ceased.

Trahearne is right to think back on what passed between them back in the summer - it feels like so long ago, now, but the fact that it had been Ori's first romantic (?) experience on this island really did shape how she approached her interactions with others going forward... Though it clearly didn't stop her from falling in love with someone, anyway. Maybe because a small part of her had held M-21 in a different regard since... Well, since she woke up here and saw his face. ]

Huh...? When did I... Fall for him, you mean?

[ Trahearne offers a slow nod, his gaze never leaving her. It studies her, in that way he's good at, as he tries read behind her thoughts and her panic.

And since he feels partially responsible (even though he knows it was the goddess, truly, who was behind it), he feels as though he needs to prove to her that it is not a fluke. For the sake of her own happiness. ]

It doesn't have to be a specific time, or event. [ Because the mother knows he certainly cannot pin down the specific second he fell in love with Syrlya (though many might think he has that written down somewhere (he doesn't)). ] When did you start thinking about him in a way that was different from everyone else?

In a way that was different...?

[ ... ]

I mean... Everyone here is my friend. But I've always thought of him more like a teammate, because we've had to work on our farm together. He's... He's always been different from everyone else, to me.

[ And from how much Ori has talked to Trahearne about her friends from home, and about Colin... He'd know that regarding someone as a Teammate(TM) is something special, for someone like her. Perhaps it hadn't been romantic to start, but he'd certainly started out on a different track from everyone else. ]

But then at the auction, when he was really serious about being the one to take me on that date...

[ Trahearne understands that, in a way. One's housemate here is special--having to work together to improve living conditions for both yourselves and the animals creates a certain kind of bond, though it seems to vary from household to household the level of familiarity or intimacy the pairs hold...

Taking one on a date seems to cross a clear threshold.

A little smile crosses his face. That's sweet... ]

Would you say things were different between you two after that?

I... I suppose so. His friends had told me at the auction that he hadn't really shown an interest in someone up until then, and it made me feel... good. Then we started talking about dates, and he'd told me that whatever would make me smile would be his ideal date. I— I couldn't not see him differently after that.

[ She inhales and exhales in a quivering breath. ]

He makes me feel really... Special, you know?

[ As Ori speaks, Trahearne's hands grip a little tighter.

M-21 always seemed quiet, in the few impressions he's gotten in their interactions, and though Trahearne hadn't stuck around at the auction to witness it for himself, knowing that makes him happy.

Ori is so precious, watching her talk about him like this. ]

I do know. [ The special feeling, that is. ] I'm assuming he has made you feel that special every day, without fail, since the auction?

[ With a slow nod, she closes her eyes. ]

He... He has. He probably doesn't think that he has, but... Even just the way he looks at me is enough. More than enough. He's... Special, too, and I hope I can make him feel that way.

[ Her hands come up to her face. Her cheeks feel so warm, but spirits - she can't lose it here. ]

I've only known him for a little bit, but... You know, it didn't take long for me to come to care deeply about the others in the Alchemighty, too. I suppose it's just the way I am...

[ Trahearne lets her speak. As she brings her hands up to her face, he lets his own slip down and away from her.

There's a fond little smile on his face. If she's comparing her affection for him to her closest relationships at home, then— ]

Then I believe it's safe to say that your love for him is not a product of a spell, or a curse. The way you speak of him, the way the joy colours your face when you do...suggests to me that what you have is genuine.

[ His smile widens, and he chuckles. ]

I think you'll be fine.

[ She lowers her hands a touch, just enough to be able to look at Trahearne as he offers his reassurances. That fond little look does wonders to ease Ori's worries. Although the start of Ori's relationship with Trahearne here had certainly been peculiar, and had shaped her outlook on romances here to the point that it has culminated in this very conversation... In the end, and in many respects, Trahearne really has been her closest confidant. And though they've only known each other for scarcely a few months, when she sees that look in his eyes, it truly feels as if they've known each other for much, much longer.

With her hands finally dropping back down to her sides, she draws in a deep breath, and then exhales. And then again, to steel her nerves and slow the thundering of her heart in her chest. ]

I... You're right. C-Consistent... Gaku told me to look out for when my feelings would feel consistent. And they have. It's just as you've said.

[ She steps forward to wind her arms around him in a hug. ]

Thank you, Trahearne.

[ slaps that day this bad boy can fit so much cr development

Ori comes forward for a hug, and Trahearne immediately knows what's coming. As her arms come around him, he wraps his around her tightly, a sign of his affection and all the well-wishes he has for her.

It's a little weird to think that, in the beginning, he had entertained the idea of asking her out on a date, but things had changed so drastically and so quickly. Trahearne would not hesitate to count her among his best friends now--he has never met anyone like her before, and he has never had a friend like her, either. And he thinks, in a way, he is better for it. ]

You are welcome, Ori. I'm so happy for you. You truly deserve all the joy in the world. Don't ever forget that.

[ bestie arrow intensifies

Ori squeezes with a surprising amount of strength for someone of her stature, but after that she's pulling away and looking up at Trahearne with a renewed determination and confidence. Were she ~~Songerein Ori~~ her younger self, this conversation might have gone on with an unconvinced Ori. One that would have questioned his words, who would have said, "I don't know if I deserve this," most certainly.

But, for better or for worse, the Ori that Trahearne calls his friend has had a few more years to come into her own. These days, it's a bit easier for her to hear these words and believe them for herself. Though now it's her turn, to rest her hands on Trahearne's shoulders. ]

I can say the same for you. I'm really looking forward to you and Syrlya's wedding, you know.

[ She takes another deep breath. ]

But... Ah, I should probably get going. I don't want to keep M waiting. [ And then a smile. ] Thanks again for letting me prepare here... I suppose this means the next time you'll see me, I'll be a married woman.

[ And... Spirits, that makes her so happy. She can hardly wait, now. ]

⛄️ winter catchall

🐛 before— bug eater farm

🌷 kaspar

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🌿 trahearne

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🎀