crescentview | spring catch-all for the bug eater farm

--Excuse me?

[ Whatever train of thought he had, it comes to a sudden halt. No, it vanishes all together. He was just happy talking about Syrlya. Where did asking him out come into play? What does his bingo have to do with anything?! ]

[ Peace does not erase the pain. Sometimes, it makes it louder.

The nightmares come with relative frequency, in spite of the gentle rays of spring and the calm winds of Crescentview, always a stark reminder of what came before. The screams of his brothers and sisters as the succumb to the dragon, of his soldiers as they fall, of the voice haunts him in a way he finds hard to put into words.

It is always the morning sun that eases the wounds, praise the Pale Tree and the goddess, but at times, the timing is not so kind to him.

Trahearne's start comes in the dead of night this time. He feels the sting on his chest, his wound still healing, and screams of the dying and the turned linger in his ears. It takes a moment for him to remember that reality is no longer his, and that he is okay now. Some nights, he doubts if he truly is, but the daytime always eases those doubts.

It is quiet. If Kaspar is still sleeping or out elsewhere, Trahearne does not bother to check. He gets from his bed and quietly leaves the room, exits the house, and wanders to a stump at the far end of their clearing. Here, the rays of the moon are the strongest. It is the best place for him to calm himself, to remind himself what life is, before he attempts sleep again. ]

[ It's a few days after the dance--the conclusion of which Trahearne did not stick around to see--that Trahearne recalls the wager he made with Syrlya. If he dances with six people, he gets to choose anything on their bingo card to do together. If he fails to meet that number, then Syrlya gets to choose.

Unfortunately, for one reason in particular, Trahearne did not meet that number.

And so, acknowledging his fate (and a bit embarrassed knowing Syrlya will find out why this happened), Trahearne ventures out into the rural fields to his commander's farm, ready to lend himself to whatever task is asked of him.

Mostly.

He knocks on the door, hoping he's in. ]

[As it turns out, Syrlya is in. He was just putting a couple of their daffodils, the ones that didn't sell, into a vase on the table. They were already cut, after all. At the sound of the knock he hurries to the door, having a sense of who it is before he even opens it.]

Trahearne! Good afternoon. What brings you by?

[ His smile widens as he feels Syrlya come to the door.

And when it swings open, he greets his commander with a lopsided grin. ]

Hello, Commander. Do you remember our wager?

[Oh. So that's what this is.

Syrlya crosses his arms and leans against the doorframe, raising a brow.] I do. So? Can you name five other dance partners?

[ Syrlya can probably already tell by the smile what the answer will be. ]

No, unfortunately. I'm here to tell you that I've lost and that I'm yours for whatever square you like.

[ He has his own card, too, but he's not sharing that just yet. ]

Is that so? [Syrlya's smile grows, though it's not out of kindness. He bows out of the doorway and gestures for Trahearne to come in.] All right, come in. We haven't done much repair work yet but... make yourself at home and we'll take a look at those cards.

Well, now you don't need an excuse to spend more time with him.

[ He rephrases but in a more PG way :) ]

[ cheeky little sapling

With a dip of his head Trahearne makes his way inside and towards the dining table. ]

Thank you. I hope I'm not interrupting anything particularly important.

[ Without waiting for any invitation, he sits and leans forward on the table, eyeing Syrlya. ]

Let's see what you've got.

[ No motion to take out his own. ]

[ There is a lengthy pause as Trahearne registers all that, punctuated by him finishing off his second glass of wine. Hmm, that was quick. Is the gold flush on his face from the alcohol, or the thought of "spending time" with the commander? Hard to tell. ]

I hardly needed an excuse to begin with, but yes--the cards offer some good suggestions for activities.

[ He turns to look at Kaeya again, his glass reachable. He won't turn down a refill. ]

How has your card been coming along, by the way?

[He's ten.

Syrlya diverts to the bedroom to quickly collect his bingo card, and then hurries back. He holds it between his hands as he approaches but doesn't set it down just yet.] Let me see yours, I may as well choose something we both have.

[ he's baby.

Trahearne watches Syrlya's movements intently, looks at him with him card in his hands. ]

...All right.

[ With deliberately delayed and slowed movements, he produces his bingo card and slides it towards Syrlya. ]

[Syrlya sets his down next to it, Glancing back and forth between each card to find matching squares.

But his attention stops on the upper right hand corner of Trahearne's. And the longer he looks at it, the wider his eyes get. Oh. Oh.

Slowly, he taps the marked smut square.] Was that with Kaeya?

[He saw the Kiss. He'd be amazed if Trahearne was kissing and making love to different people without his will being meddled.]

[ Trahearne's eyes drift side, a tell of his embarrassment.

There is, in fact, a faint flush on his cheeks, but nothing the does draws particular attention to it. ]

...Yes.

Edited (why) 2022-12-23 20:54 (UTC)

[Aha. Syrlya draws his hand back awkwardly.] Things are quite serious between you two, aren't they?

He is a friend, but I would not call it serious.

[ His answer comes quickly and his voice is firm--he's telling the truth. ]

He was upset and wanted me to--

[ Wait, why is he blabbing about this? Kaeya's personal problems are not his to go around spreading ~~(only his legs)~~, so he shakes his head, interrupting himself. ]

Never mind that. I'm here to talk about you. [ He gives a little smile. ] Have you found anything that strikes your fancy?

[Syrlya raises a brow, but he isn't going to ask further about what Kaeya was upset about. That's not Trahearne's story to tell, but Trahearne's feelings are.

He tilts his head, searching Trahearne's face.] Is it serious to you? Do you fancy him?

[ Syrlya is not letting them move on, of course. Trahearne's lips purse into a thin line as his gaze settles on him. There's a pang of...something he does not quite recognize in his chest, and he gives a quiet sigh.

There are a lot of feelings in his chest, and it takes a moment for him to extract and identify those he has for Kaeya. ]

I am...fond of him, perhaps more so than any of the other strangers I've met thus far, and I care for him as a friend. [ He studies Syrlya for a moment as he considers his words. ] But I would be hard pressed to consider it serious.

[ He realizes, right after he says it, that he sounds dismissive. That isn't actually the case--it certainly isn't a game to him. But he thinks there's a part of him that's scared Syrlya might think it is serious. ]

[Syrlya is thinking it's serious. Or was, but Trahearne's feelings seem honest--it doesn't mean it could not become serious but at least, right now, he doesn't have to worry if Kaeya is affectionate with other people like... himself.]

Hm, all right. [He looks back to the cards, giving them another look before he points at weekend getaway.] This is the one I want to do.

Weekend getaway?

[ Trahearne looks between the cards, a smile growing on his face. An entire weekend with Syrlya? Lucky him.

He looks up at him, thought of anyone else quickly falling by the wayside at the prospect. ]

All right, done. Where would you like to go?

That--I have yet to decide. [He glances aside to Trahearne.] But I'll let you know before it comes, so don't fill your schedule with anything else.

[Don't tell me what to do you're not my dad!! Anyway yeah he is also grateful for the diversion of Work.]

I can't imagine she'd be terribly willing to listen to us. Unless you have a suggestion as to how we would convince her?

Very well. I'll leave that to you, and I'll keep my schedule free for you in the meanwhile.

[ Trahearne takes his card and neatly puts it away. His smile remains on Syrlya the entire time, not noticing the "kiss" square on his bingo has been filled in. ]

I'm looking forward to this, Commander. You know where to find me.

[ He doesn't linger very long afterwards before he goes back to his farm, where he mostly stays put. He's abuzz with excitement for the rest of the week, wondering where Syrlya will be taking him, picturing them finally being able to have some moments of peace together. Syrlya, at least, he thinks, deserves it.

Maybe he can hear his story, too... ]

[ From the forest past the clearing, drifts a soft and familiar voice carrying a lilting and meandering lullaby. Spoken in a language not of the island, his voice flows naturally from note to note. Long ones, varied, a soothing melody that is quiet enough the song of birds would drown it out during the light of day. It trails off, pauses, then picks up again as if piecing it together. The gentle sound announces his approach only over the quieter sounds of the forest at night. It is still a wonder to him, how much life surrounds them at all times.

A melodic vowel tapers off, shriveling up once he spies Trahearne on his stump. Silent now, he leaves the shadows of the treeline behind wearing a predictably calm smile. His glow is soft tonight, steady in the spring air and dimmed once stepping into the brighter light of the moon.

Once again, it is hard to tell if he has been to sleep at all. His bed is always made, overly neat to a clear standard. And he has become more adept at stepping quietly when his roommate is sleeping. Easier yet, as floorboards get replaced. Flannel shirt and leather boots obscure whether his sleeping attire hides beneath them. After all the socializing at the dance, his subsequent missing the night of, Kaspar has been a touch reclusive, besides meals, before appearing now. A recharge. A strangely peaceful one as he daydreamed more frequently about the farm.

Hands behind his back as he approaches, Kaspar does not mention the singing. There is no sign of embarrassment either. It is Trahearne, after all. Which is why he steps close, looking down and offering a hand that he frees from his glove. ]

... did I, wake you?

Edited (Wrong word, look--) 2022-12-26 12:25 (UTC)

spring catch-all for the bug eater farm

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🌸 for kaspar

🌸 for syrlya

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now remembering to hit post