[ Saya is sleeping wherever he left her, probably the couch. She stirs when Red Son approaches and rubs her eyes, then smiles at him sweetly. She has only a few days left and values any time she can get with those she cares for. ]
[His face is getting red, but he pulls back his hand to hold out the box to her. Just a simple white box because he didn't want to get too nervous while wrapping.]
[Inside is a bracelet. The beads are garnet and gold, with a closer examination showing detailing of stylized bats and bulls moving amongst fire and wind lightly etched into the beads. With the main charm of the bracelet being a garnet with a symbol of the Demon Bull Family carved into it and filled with gold. Saya would have seen the symbol whenever Red Son has done ritual spells around her, it's a base symbol of sorts for him.]
[He blushes at the kiss, but there is a little less nervous and more relief in the smile.]
[He reaches out for her hand with the bracelet. Still wearing the mermaid bracelet she gave him.]
We...lost a lot, after father was imprisoned. Mother and I were always moving around, looking for solutions. We could only bring so much with us. Things would often get lost along the way.
Since we got him back, we have been trying to see what we could locate again. You know how mortals are. They love collecting things, putting them in museums. [He runs his thumb over the back of her hand, looking down at the bracelet on her.]
Mother and I were able to find her old jewelry box. Most of the pieces were from after father started courting her. She had missed it when she realized it had gotten lost, it was nice to find again.
It wasn't in the best state, a number of pieces were broken. I offered to fix what I could and she...
She said I could keep them for the future. I know, it may not sound the best, but mother knows me.
An heirloom that needed to be fixed. Something that was my family's, and something where I could make part of the gift.
[ The bracelet is stunning enough on its own, and then there's this story which is. Enough to amaze her. Is he saying that part of this gift belonged to his mother? To his family? Family being the most important thing to him... ]
[ She shouldn't be surprised. He's such a romantic. ]
[ Saya might have had something to say here, but she knows how he likes to meander around to the point. So she squeezes his hand and smiles up and him and hums softly to let him know she's listening. ]
[Something that belonged to his mother and something he created. Bats certainly weren't relevant to his parents.]
This piece was one of the earlier courting gifts mother accepted properly. It has his family's crest so when she wore it, it told him she accepted him as her suitor. It apparently caused quite the uproar amongst her family. [There is a small huff of amusement at the memory.]
It's not a courting gift. I'm not going to step into Kantera's place.
[But he looks up to her, face red, but the smile is fond.]
[ Yet again, Saya thinks she and Princess Iron Fan would get along famously... ]
[ That's not the point here. Admittedly it does take Saya a second to grasp the point because he's coming at this rather obliquely and her mind is preparing for stasis, and she tends never to take good news at face value. But even she can't mistake what he's saying, and she has neither the time nor the desire to thrash about in denial. ]
[ He really did cut this awfully close, which somehow makes her smile. ]
[ There's been a bit of a pause while she processes all that. She reaches up to brush the fingertips of her free hand over his cheek, then stretches to kiss him properly, slow and sweet, which expresses what she feels better than words ever could. ]
[ She has some questions. They can wait a moment. ]
[ He did manage eventually, and at least he didn't get there after she was under. She won't remember this moment, but he will. And she'll have this bracelet to see and touch and she'll know it means something important. ]
[ This also probably means he'll never be able to let up on trying to fix her hibernation cycle. She shoves that thought aside to feel guilty about later. ]
[ There's no hurrying through kissing him. She wants this moment to sink into her mind and heart so there's a chance her blank memory will still somehow feel it. ]
[ Eventually though she pulls slightly back, resting her forehead against his. Her eyes open enough to show that they're glowing mostly gold. ]
Will you say it plainly, please? Or else I'll convince myself that I somehow mistook your meaning.
[ Kantera had to admit his feelings for her when she had an effect where she was forced to believe anything someone told her, Venti had to do it in a mindshare, Haji when he had no other option to save her life, this is a Known Problem. ]
[To be fair, he was never going to let up anyway. He isn't one to break his word. One of the few things of his morals that is always present.]
[There is a bit of an amused huff.] Well, now I have wonder at my ability to be properly poetic. [The tone is teasing, though his face is also growing red. A soft crackle in the air that is almost assuredly his hair starting to light up.]
[He squeezes her hand on his cheek, his other hand moving to her side as he matched her gaze.]
I love you, Saya. [Tone soft, gentle, but it doesn't waver.]
[ Unfortunately seeing firsthand how much time he lost with his father makes her very hesitant to take up any more of it -- won't turn out to be an issue, shockingly. ]
[ She laughs softly at his light teasing. ] It's not your poetry that's at issue. I have a history of not believing good news the first time. [ SUCH a history. ]
[ The thing is though, that with Red Son she can't entirely disbelieve him. He was so deliberate and cautious with how he did this that he wouldn't say this casually. Even her looming hibernation isn't enough to make her run from it. ]
Besides, this way I get to say: I love you, too. [ Her smile turns a bit wry, ] Not that I expect you had any doubts. [ She's as subtle as a freight train. ]
I do have a few questions... [ Her tone indicates that this is nothing to be jumpy about ]
[At least this time he had friends before hand. Samadhi Fire was not conductive for friendships and those years between that and the imprisonment wasn't enough time for the fear of the fire to fade.]
[He hums. He does understand why she asked. He's not surprised she struggles with good news. It makes sense with her...everything.]
[The soft crackle definitely was more of that fwoosh sound, the blush getting worst, eyes flicking to the side, before meeting hers again with a shy smile.] I suppose that is a pretty good reason. Not that I had doubts.
[She is too much of a freight train to really doubt. As long as he wasn't deep in the insecurity.]
[ Much as she'd rather he be comfortable, the shyness is pretty cute. Her golden eyes aren't teasing in the way they look at him, though. ]
No, nothing unclear. It's more that "Kantera's place" thing. You could never step into his place... but he could never step into yours, either. I don't want us defining what we are based on what I have with him. Nor the other way around. What we have is only ours. [ She doesn't and will never rank the people she loves. She's not wired to think in that way. ]
So my question is... would you want this to be a courting gift? Because if you would, then I'll happily accept it as such. [ It's that simple, as far as she's concerned. ]
He's your husband. I didn't want to seem like I was disrespecting that. [The blush deepens at the question. Taking her hand, looking down at the bracelet, thumb tracing over her hand. Silent for several beats because he had already thought that it couldn't be a courting gift, so this was unexpected.]
I'd never think you were disrespecting my marriage to him. You value both of us too much for that. [ She has something of a different definition of "disrespect" than humans, is all. When you're from a truly polyamorous species this is how it goes. Kantera doesn't limit her and she can't imagine he'd have a problem with this. They might have to fiddle around with how much of their time they spend on Teyvat as a result, but again, she can't see a problem there. ]
[ The radiant smile on her face when he agrees was probably well worth the extra blushing. ]
Then a courting gift it is.
Which leads me to: I think we're at the point where I'll need an answer when I'm asked what we are to each other. [ The "no labels" thing doesn't work when you're wearing someone's family crest. And she doesn't think that's where he is anymore either. ]
[The room is definitely getting warmer with how much he's blushing and getting flustered, but he doesn't want to pull away either. Its]
[Its nice. There is a feeling of certainty now that helps his nerves. Knowing where he's at, and having those feelings returned. There are complicated emotions about a lot of other things, but having that much soothes something in him that he hadn't realized had been wound up.]
Ah...
I didn't think that far.
[A pause.] One who gives a courting gift is a suitor, and usually when courting progresses, its to fiance. Girlfriend and boyfriend is a term mortals have been using that is in that quasi point.
[ The warmth is pleasant actually, Saya's body temperature is cooling by the day. Even if she were uncomfortably warm she wouldn't want him to pull away, however. (She does feel herself getting tired again, but she shrugs it off. Her sleep won't take this moment from her.) ]
[ She wrinkles her nose in mild distaste. ] I never cared much for the mortal words. [ She spent so long letting humans define her. And anyway the words are so gendered. ] Chiropterans don't so much have a word for it, unfortunately. [ It's Chevalier or bust and she can't use that. ]
Suitor I like better. Or partner or paramour...
...It's not so important, I suppose. My resistance to being defined in human terms any further might be stretched too far in this instance, it's only semantics.
[He nods.] Labels can be difficult when the streamline between confirmed mutual interest to something like a marriage, or consort, or concubine was always so prevalent.
I would be fine with suitor. Or partner or paramour. [He kisses her hand again.] Since....well, you have more experience in regards to these things. I would be fine with a word that feels good to you.
Part of me belongs to you and part of you belongs to me and that's what mattes.
[ This discussion might be moot given that she has all of a handful of days to throw any such word around. But still... it feels nice to discuss little things as if that's not the case. ] A shame about consort, I like that one. [ She's teasing, clearly. Queens and consorts go together is all. ]
I do tend to use partner for even casual situations, just habit really. [ And so she doesn't call them hookups or something equally disrespectful, by and large these are people she cares for greatly. A whole slew of them. ]
[ Her smile softens when he kisses her hand. ] We can try some of them out. You're right, the sentiment is what matters.
I'm glad this could happen... before... [ well. The elephant in the room. ]
[Red Son hums and grins a bit despite the blush.] Consort might be a little too close to married and while I would not say that thought isn't appealing, I am pretty sure my mother would never forgive me if I ever had anything like a wedding without her present. She loves arranging an extravagant party.
We can start with partners as something solid, and try out the others to see what feels right.
Far be it for me to land outside your mother's good graces before we even have a chance to meet. [ Gotta stay in the parents' theoretical good books! ]
It's a little funny, assuming we get that far that would be my first wedding. My husband and I never really bothered. We did something together, made all the promises one makes, but not in front of anyone. [ They might also have had wedding trauma from D.Va's disappearing act. ]
[ Saya leans closer again to rest against him. Equally as a comfort as because she's tired. ] I know it will. I'll still know you. You called me back before, it won't be so hard to do again. [ Just a longer process. ]
It is best to air on the side of caution. Mother is extremely unforgiving.
To be fair, a demon wedding isn't quite the same of what humans do either. We do have our politics and proper etiquette, but that's usually only the start. Well, if you don't count the courtnapping as part of it, that is always debatable. It can get rather rowdy. There have been weddings that have wrecked villages before. [Demons go hard.]
[His smile gets a little more sad, but he pulls her close, moving to bury his face against her neck.] I did. I'll call you back again. If our next test fails. [Which it almost surely will, but he doesn't want her to think he lacks hope. He's just realistic of his own abilities.] It all just takes time.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: Sep. 15th, 2023 01:32 pm (UTC)[But he is going to check on Saya, holding a small box.]
(no subject)
Date: Sep. 15th, 2023 01:41 pm (UTC)Done working early? What's the occasion?
(no subject)
Date: Sep. 15th, 2023 01:47 pm (UTC)[He sits on the arm of the couch, reaching down to gently stroke her hair as he looks down at her with a small smile.]
[If perhaps a touch nervous.]
There was something I wanted to give you. I just needed to finish a few adjustments on it.
(no subject)
Date: Sep. 15th, 2023 01:50 pm (UTC)Oh? Don't keep me on tenterhooks.
(no subject)
Date: Sep. 15th, 2023 02:02 pm (UTC)[Inside is a bracelet. The beads are garnet and gold, with a closer examination showing detailing of stylized bats and bulls moving amongst fire and wind lightly etched into the beads. With the main charm of the bracelet being a garnet with a symbol of the Demon Bull Family carved into it and filled with gold. Saya would have seen the symbol whenever Red Son has done ritual spells around her, it's a base symbol of sorts for him.]
(no subject)
Date: Sep. 15th, 2023 02:23 pm (UTC)... It's beautiful. Thank you.
[ She stretches up to kiss his cheek, and then the bracelet comes out of the box and she immediately puts it on. ]
(no subject)
Date: Sep. 15th, 2023 02:37 pm (UTC)[He reaches out for her hand with the bracelet. Still wearing the mermaid bracelet she gave him.]
We...lost a lot, after father was imprisoned. Mother and I were always moving around, looking for solutions. We could only bring so much with us. Things would often get lost along the way.
Since we got him back, we have been trying to see what we could locate again. You know how mortals are. They love collecting things, putting them in museums. [He runs his thumb over the back of her hand, looking down at the bracelet on her.]
Mother and I were able to find her old jewelry box. Most of the pieces were from after father started courting her. She had missed it when she realized it had gotten lost, it was nice to find again.
It wasn't in the best state, a number of pieces were broken. I offered to fix what I could and she...
She said I could keep them for the future. I know, it may not sound the best, but mother knows me.
An heirloom that needed to be fixed. Something that was my family's, and something where I could make part of the gift.
(no subject)
Date: Sep. 15th, 2023 03:02 pm (UTC)[ She shouldn't be surprised. He's such a romantic. ]
[ Saya might have had something to say here, but she knows how he likes to meander around to the point. So she squeezes his hand and smiles up and him and hums softly to let him know she's listening. ]
(no subject)
Date: Sep. 15th, 2023 03:21 pm (UTC)This piece was one of the earlier courting gifts mother accepted properly. It has his family's crest so when she wore it, it told him she accepted him as her suitor. It apparently caused quite the uproar amongst her family. [There is a small huff of amusement at the memory.]
It's not a courting gift. I'm not going to step into Kantera's place.
[But he looks up to her, face red, but the smile is fond.]
But the feelings are the same.
(no subject)
Date: Sep. 15th, 2023 03:51 pm (UTC)[ That's not the point here. Admittedly it does take Saya a second to grasp the point because he's coming at this rather obliquely and her mind is preparing for stasis, and she tends never to take good news at face value. But even she can't mistake what he's saying, and she has neither the time nor the desire to thrash about in denial. ]
[ He really did cut this awfully close, which somehow makes her smile. ]
[ There's been a bit of a pause while she processes all that. She reaches up to brush the fingertips of her free hand over his cheek, then stretches to kiss him properly, slow and sweet, which expresses what she feels better than words ever could. ]
[ She has some questions. They can wait a moment. ]
(no subject)
Date: Sep. 15th, 2023 04:10 pm (UTC)[He knows it's close, but between everything, untangling his feelings took time to understand. But at least he got there.]
[His hand moves over her's, leaning into the touch. Kissing her back, just as sweet and gentle.]
(no subject)
Date: Sep. 15th, 2023 04:32 pm (UTC)[ This also probably means he'll never be able to let up on trying to fix her hibernation cycle. She shoves that thought aside to feel guilty about later. ]
[ There's no hurrying through kissing him. She wants this moment to sink into her mind and heart so there's a chance her blank memory will still somehow feel it. ]
[ Eventually though she pulls slightly back, resting her forehead against his. Her eyes open enough to show that they're glowing mostly gold. ]
Will you say it plainly, please? Or else I'll convince myself that I somehow mistook your meaning.
[ Kantera had to admit his feelings for her when she had an effect where she was forced to believe anything someone told her, Venti had to do it in a mindshare, Haji when he had no other option to save her life, this is a Known Problem. ]
(no subject)
Date: Sep. 15th, 2023 11:46 pm (UTC)[There is a bit of an amused huff.] Well, now I have wonder at my ability to be properly poetic. [The tone is teasing, though his face is also growing red. A soft crackle in the air that is almost assuredly his hair starting to light up.]
[He squeezes her hand on his cheek, his other hand moving to her side as he matched her gaze.]
I love you, Saya. [Tone soft, gentle, but it doesn't waver.]
(no subject)
Date: Sep. 15th, 2023 11:59 pm (UTC)[ She laughs softly at his light teasing. ] It's not your poetry that's at issue. I have a history of not believing good news the first time. [ SUCH a history. ]
[ The thing is though, that with Red Son she can't entirely disbelieve him. He was so deliberate and cautious with how he did this that he wouldn't say this casually. Even her looming hibernation isn't enough to make her run from it. ]
Besides, this way I get to say: I love you, too. [ Her smile turns a bit wry, ] Not that I expect you had any doubts. [ She's as subtle as a freight train. ]
I do have a few questions... [ Her tone indicates that this is nothing to be jumpy about ]
(no subject)
Date: Sep. 16th, 2023 12:14 am (UTC)[He hums. He does understand why she asked. He's not surprised she struggles with good news. It makes sense with her...everything.]
[The soft crackle definitely was more of that fwoosh sound, the blush getting worst, eyes flicking to the side, before meeting hers again with a shy smile.] I suppose that is a pretty good reason. Not that I had doubts.
[She is too much of a freight train to really doubt. As long as he wasn't deep in the insecurity.]
...what is it? Was I unclear about something?
(no subject)
Date: Sep. 16th, 2023 12:23 am (UTC)No, nothing unclear. It's more that "Kantera's place" thing. You could never step into his place... but he could never step into yours, either. I don't want us defining what we are based on what I have with him. Nor the other way around. What we have is only ours. [ She doesn't and will never rank the people she loves. She's not wired to think in that way. ]
So my question is... would you want this to be a courting gift? Because if you would, then I'll happily accept it as such. [ It's that simple, as far as she's concerned. ]
(no subject)
Date: Sep. 16th, 2023 12:38 am (UTC)[An unexpected turn.]
He's your husband. I didn't want to seem like I was disrespecting that. [The blush deepens at the question. Taking her hand, looking down at the bracelet, thumb tracing over her hand. Silent for several beats because he had already thought that it couldn't be a courting gift, so this was unexpected.]
I...
I think I would like that.
(no subject)
Date: Sep. 16th, 2023 12:45 am (UTC)[ The radiant smile on her face when he agrees was probably well worth the extra blushing. ]
Then a courting gift it is.
Which leads me to: I think we're at the point where I'll need an answer when I'm asked what we are to each other. [ The "no labels" thing doesn't work when you're wearing someone's family crest. And she doesn't think that's where he is anymore either. ]
(no subject)
Date: Sep. 16th, 2023 12:56 am (UTC)[Its nice. There is a feeling of certainty now that helps his nerves. Knowing where he's at, and having those feelings returned. There are complicated emotions about a lot of other things, but having that much soothes something in him that he hadn't realized had been wound up.]
Ah...
I didn't think that far.
[A pause.] One who gives a courting gift is a suitor, and usually when courting progresses, its to fiance. Girlfriend and boyfriend is a term mortals have been using that is in that quasi point.
(no subject)
Date: Sep. 16th, 2023 01:15 am (UTC)[ She wrinkles her nose in mild distaste. ] I never cared much for the mortal words. [ She spent so long letting humans define her. And anyway the words are so gendered. ] Chiropterans don't so much have a word for it, unfortunately. [ It's Chevalier or bust and she can't use that. ]
Suitor I like better. Or partner or paramour...
...It's not so important, I suppose. My resistance to being defined in human terms any further might be stretched too far in this instance, it's only semantics.
(no subject)
Date: Sep. 16th, 2023 01:25 am (UTC)I would be fine with suitor. Or partner or paramour. [He kisses her hand again.] Since....well, you have more experience in regards to these things. I would be fine with a word that feels good to you.
Part of me belongs to you and part of you belongs to me and that's what mattes.
(no subject)
Date: Sep. 16th, 2023 01:46 am (UTC)I do tend to use partner for even casual situations, just habit really. [ And so she doesn't call them hookups or something equally disrespectful, by and large these are people she cares for greatly.
A whole slew of them.][ Her smile softens when he kisses her hand. ] We can try some of them out. You're right, the sentiment is what matters.
I'm glad this could happen... before... [ well. The elephant in the room. ]
(no subject)
Date: Sep. 16th, 2023 01:57 am (UTC)We can start with partners as something solid, and try out the others to see what feels right.
[Ah. The elephant.] It'll still be happening.
(no subject)
Date: Sep. 16th, 2023 02:08 am (UTC)It's a little funny, assuming we get that far that would be my first wedding. My husband and I never really bothered. We did something together, made all the promises one makes, but not in front of anyone. [ They might also have had wedding trauma from D.Va's disappearing act. ]
[ Saya leans closer again to rest against him. Equally as a comfort as because she's tired. ] I know it will. I'll still know you. You called me back before, it won't be so hard to do again. [ Just a longer process. ]
(no subject)
Date: Sep. 16th, 2023 02:34 am (UTC)To be fair, a demon wedding isn't quite the same of what humans do either. We do have our politics and proper etiquette, but that's usually only the start. Well, if you don't count the courtnapping as part of it, that is always debatable. It can get rather rowdy. There have been weddings that have wrecked villages before. [Demons go hard.]
[His smile gets a little more sad, but he pulls her close, moving to bury his face against her neck.] I did. I'll call you back again. If our next test fails. [Which it almost surely will, but he doesn't want her to think he lacks hope. He's just realistic of his own abilities.] It all just takes time.
(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From: