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 Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2014 9:39 pm
There was a certain lethargy that came with illness that was productive to healing, luckily. If she hadn't been ill, it might have been harder to keep the smith in her bed, even with her sustained injuries from what had been, and was, a rather stupid action on her part. Should she have been smelting metal when she was sick? No, absolutely not! But what was done was done, and there was no taking back what had occurred. The moment she'd been shown the state of her apron, she blanched at the sight. Oh she'd been lucky to get away with only this, all right, though she'd need a new apron before she could even work again. Luckily, there was a certain person in her life who didn't much like letting her be, and certainly was the least thrilled about her accident. While the first few days had been very touch and go, Rosalie preferring to sleep and get her strength back, occasionally awake in a fever induced haze, there was no doubt she did enjoy having Last there to take care of her. She barely remembered the conversations they had, almost always something to do with his family, similar to how he had found her drunk off her a** just barely a week prior. But today, today had been better. She'd actually sat up in bed, let the doctors look her over, and had managed to stay awake for most of the day. It was now that they were finally able to spend a little bit more time talking, conversing over dinner. Simple as it was, it was nice to finally feel just the slightest bit hungry, though eating one handed was proving difficult. "So how is the family today?" She asks, trying to distract from the redness on her chest peeking out from under her nightgown, or from the bandages on her arm. "Business going well still?" There's the slightest pause, she had asked that yesterday hadn't she? As much as she wanted to, she hadn't yet asked about his twin, worried about what she'd hear. God, she missed him, but she got the impression she'd end up hearing something terrible.
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Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2014 6:55 pm
“Well enough,” he tells her, running a hand through well-mussed hair: though he does not tell her this, there had been some unexpected opposition to his coming to stand behind the counter in the shop downstairs. His Rosa was perfect, sure enough, but he hadn’t known how folk had relied on her, and that there were them as looked up to her, but now he surely did. More than one stony-eyed wench as wore an apron of her own for some trade or ‘nother had shown up and wanted to know, in no uncertain terms, why there were a man behind the counter, and what he thought he were doing there, when he din’t look like he knew how to use tongs or blow the fire beneath the forge. A few had thought he’d done some harm to his Rosa, and that were why he were there; one old battle-ax he’d actually had to sneak upstairs, briefly, so she might get a look at the sleeping smith herself, and know that Rosa were alive, if not entirely well, and hadn’t been brought to harm by his hand.
It’d been a humbling week, all told, the sort of times that certain guardsman and certain gypsy folk might’ve laughed themselves stupid over, if they’d seen any of it. He’s just grateful that Rosa don’t know much about this yet, though probably when she’s up and well the whole lot of them will tell her all about it, listing off his faults as a shop-keeper.
“Lot’ve little things gone out today, knives and nails and suchlike.” This is probably because he paid one of the street urchins to go off spreading tales about a poor lady smith as were laid up who made the best nails as were ever forged, who had ‘em blessed by her Guardian so that what were made with ‘em wouldn’t never fail. But he doesn’t explain that to Rosa, neither. No need to go into specifics. He does sound satisfied, so he must be making good headway on her stores.
“Tavern doin’ well,” he continues, the closest he comes to mentioning his brother, in whose sole care that building is. “Jay found some fellow as carves wood, had him do a new sign, to hang under the old, as has got a bird on it, with an X, ‘cause Wellie ain’t takin’ well to feathered visitors.” He shakes his head, with a sign of amused exasperation, because it is annoying, but it’s also kind of funny how taken the bird is with Jay. “Jay kips pretending he don’t think much of her, kips calling her a brat, but you should see him feed her treats when he thinks nobody be looking!”
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Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2014 8:25 pm
She offers a small smile, hand shaking as she tries to somehow manage more food into her mouth, instead of falling on the sheets or down her chest. She hadn't expected him to take over her shop in her absence, she never would have once thought to ask him, but the second he had told her what he had done she couldn't help but glow in joy. Even if it had been rough for him to find where she kept things at first, there's a certain method to her madness that surely he would be able to decipher. After all, he knows her so well, doesn't he? Some of her older, more dedicated customers might have reacted in shock at seeing him, commenting it had been close to nine years since there'd been a man behind the counter, some of the more bold and brazen of the people she served even having the gall to ask when wedding was. Despite whatever manner he reacted in, it was clear it was merely a joke, causing the various patrons to laugh and assure him it wasn't meant in such a manner. It was more than likely as well that when she was finally well enough to return to her own storefront, she'd hear a number of the women gossiping that she could do better, but at least poor Last already knew she wasn't going to try. Right? Right? "You're going to just end up emptying out my stock, aren't you?" She sighs, shaking her head a little. "I'm surprised you haven't had your brothers stopping by to look over the best. Though, I'd have to take your suggestion and charge them double." It's odd the things she's remembered, those little quips of their conversations over the past year, but perhaps it's all the more proof that she's his. "Doctor says I won't be able to actually for a while. Not with this." Her face just falls after that, glancing down at the damp bandages covering the burn. Oh it was bad, she knew it was bad, and it was for that reason that she didn't much like Last seeing it. It was ugly, leathery, and god did it hurt. But even then, she's glad for the change of conversation, even if it does change to something that makes her uneasy. It will be a while before she comments in regards to the tavern, mulling over this new information. Frankly she's not sure which she doesn't want to discuss more of his brothers, though at the mention of his older brother being quite taken with Unwelcome, she can't help but snort in laughter. "She has a way of stealing hearts, now doesn't she?" It's just a little bit sad, because it's so clear that comment isn't only about the rook in question. "She took perfectly well to Shuu though. I think he's getting lonely without her stopping by." There's a pause, one that is just so obviously filled with her thinking, wanting to say something so badly, but hesitant to do so. Finally, given a moment or two, she'll break the silence. "Is...is he doing better now?" It's the first she's asked of his twin since that night he'd found her drinking, and even then she doesn't remember much of what he'd said. But this, this in a way is progress, and surely she must be missing him given how quiet she gets.
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Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 6:14 am
“Doc’s right,” he mutters under his breath when she speaks of not working, though she will surely be able to hear him, and is meant to — he gives her a warning glare, as if to suggest he’d happily drug her or see her tied to the bed before he allowed her at her forge, still unwell. The idea of her causing herself worse harm, or even just lapsing back into fever-dreams, terrifies him more than he really wants to say out loud. It’s more than just being protective, the way he’d reacted when she’d told him about the fool she had to chase out of her shop with an iron bar: he doesn’t want her to be in pain, in any kind of pain, for any reason. The rest of it .. he watches her, quiet-like, and wonders if he ought to tell her that Unwelcome has been by, a few times, alighting on the windowsill and looking Rosa over, as if checking on her, before nodding politely to Last and departing. Always when Rosa slept, never staying long, but once when Rosa had been sleeping poorly, and tossing and turning, Last had stopped by the tavern that night to pick up dinner and First had given him dinner and a small bottle of something to help Rosa sleep, with a glare that said he’d best not comment on it. “ .. better,” he says, although the pause before he speaks and the slow way he says the word will tell her perhaps everything she needs to know. Better ain’t ‘well.’ “Gee’s been kipping an eye on him, teachin’ ‘im how to fight, takin’ him down to the practices as yer friend Siobhan runs.” But Last doesn’t look at her, and his answer is given in a quiet voice, quieter than he usually speaks. Getting up, he sets his bowl on the nightstand and gently takes hers away for a moment, to replace it with a mug of tea, thick with honey and tasting of herbs. He will help her lift the mug to her lips, without a word: doc had also said she were supposed to drink well, hadn’t he? “He don’t say much, not to nobody. Wellie does most’ve the talkin’ for him these days.”
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Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 9:20 am
"Don't worry, I don't even want to try." She knows that look, she's more than aware of what it means. She doubts she'd even be able to do half of her work currently, even though she's past the brunt of the fever. It's the arm that worries her, she's hesitant about moving or bending it much, preferring to let it be. Even if she was well enough, even if she managed to slip past Last's defenses and fire up to work, she doesn't have an apron to replace the one that has been utterly ruined. It wouldn't be safe to work without one. "Besides, I've got a nice backlog of stock that needs to be sold, and a good shopkeeper to keep things going while I'm....recovering." There's a certain reluctance to that word, probably because she feels partially terrible for having to let him take care of her. She just sits and listens for a while, completely unaware that she's been checked on several times over. It's probably for the best, seeing as she might have completely panicked otherwise, a whole barrage of questions coming in its wake. But at least now she's willing to sip at the honeyed tea and listen, thinking over what she should say next, if anything at all. It's a good long while until she can come up with something appropriate, something that's not too depressing without having something to counter it with, to distract them both from lingering on it. Hell, she's not even sure the two are talking. "...I miss him." It's just three words, and it's so clear she regrets what has happened. She'd give anything, anything, just to make up with him and be friends, just for that she'd be overjoyed! But indeed, it's not exactly what she wants, and she's unsure if it would even be possible to get back to where they were before. However, after giving it a while to just linger in the air, she's more than happy to brighten up just a touch, changing the subject. "Y'know, for all I hear about this brother of yours, I've never had the pleasure of meeting him. After all, I have to tell him off for hurting the both of you, right?" There are women who hold grudges, and then there is Rosalie.
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Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2014 7:56 pm
He sits back and chews his lip, and it’s plain that he’s troubled by the whole of it, though he don’t rightly know what to do about that trouble. Men just ain’t supposed to talk about broken hearts and being sad, they ain’t supposed to beg their lovers to help them understand why their brother’s gone all funny in the head. And they really ain’t supposed to encourage their lovers to be the one to heal their own brother’s aching heart ..
“I think —“ He pauses, flushed, and takes a deep draught from his own mug, shaking his head once he’s lowered it, just as ready as she is to avoid the painful topic of conversation and speak of easier things.
Relatively easier, anyway. “Gee, you mean? Aw, he didn’t mean nothin’ by it.” He seems embarrassed by her focus on this, as well he might be, he who is accustomed to such roughness from his siblings. “I were thinkin’ of havin’ him over,” he says, before she can bring up the subject of his brother’s transgressions again. “So’s we could be takin’ you downstairs for an evening, that your Aelius could see I were takin’ right care of you. I been tellin’ him how you’re doin’, but it ain’t enough, I can see it, and I cain’t help but think it’ll do you good to sit aside him, for a while.”
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Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2014 10:21 am
But at the same time, they've already crossed that line long ago. She's let him see her cry, he's cried with her, they've done things numerous times that aren't exactly proper by the standards of society, not to mention what she's done with him and his brother... She wouldn't hold it against him if he did, and it might be in their best interest to actually talk things out instead of avoiding the matter completely, but it certainly won't be Rosa to make the first move on, well, discussing First.
But in an instant the topic is avoided, left to fester some more under the floorboards, only to bring out another that still has her ire. Oh she hasn't forgotten running through the streets, still half covered in soot, with as many bandages as she could carry in her arms. Hell, the things they'd talked about that night, she never thought anything would have come of them.
"You were in bed for days." She frowns, voice firm. "You tell me he didn't mean anything by cutting your side open? I'm not about to just forgive him before assuring that this isn't going to happen again, you know. I'm strong, I can take him." So says the smith that is currently on bedrest, though she's quickly distracted, at least for now, by the talk of her being allowed downstairs. "Really? You'd let me downstairs? But you're not going to let me walk, are you?" It's a bit of a hint that she certainly wouldn't mind being carried, lavished with that much more affection and attention. "If having him over means I get to go downstairs, then fine, you'd best start making the arrangements. So long as I'm not stuck in my nightclothes, of course."
The talk of her constant companion, however, draws a sigh and she lays back a little more, frowning as she manages her mug up to her lips. "He knows m' fine. Probably just glad I'm not trying to do something stupid again...Y' should've seen the look he gave me when I wouldn't send Raj a note to reschedule! You'd think I had just killed someone with the way he was looking at me!" She can only laugh about it now, because really it had ended horribly, though this makes her think a little bit longer, pausing to sip again at the sweet liquid.
"Dearest? ...Do you think you could do me a favor when you have the time?"
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Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2014 10:49 am
"It weren't Gee as done that! He jest -- well, he sent us somewhere, kinda." He winces, seeming to be aware even as he makes the excuse that this will be translated by Rosa as his sibling still ultimately being responsible. He don't even wonder about whether or not Rosa could take Gee -- frankly he doesn't even want to think about that, 'cause he's got a feeling he knows how that would end. Most've the time, womenfolk either hate Gee with a furious intensity or find his rough ways endearing. He ain't ever really understood it, but somehow or another, it generally ends up being the latter, no matter how ready the woman is to look down on him.
"Jest for an evenin'," Last admonishes, a bit suspicious now that Rosa is going to take this as leave to start doing things that might resemble work. "After hours, once I've closed the shop, and jest so's you can sit and mebbe have a real dinner and so's Aelius kin watch you a while. We kin get you dressed aforehand." He's even gotten a bit better at brushing her hair, as days have gone on, though he still ain't managed braiding, but he figures that's well enough. He'll mention it, next time he stops at the tavern, and maybe a hair clip'll show up all on its own, like the concoction that helped Rosa sleep when she had a rough night.
Her question makes him frown a little, worried now that there was something he ought've been doing that he hadn't thought of. " 'Course! What is it?"
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Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2014 12:05 pm
"Mmhmm. Right." She believes it just about as much that she believes that the majority of his scars came from roughhousing with their brothers. Really, he should know better. They've known each other how long now? Been courting for how long now? He's known her long enough to know better than to try and pull the other one on her, he should really stop trying. After all, wasn't he trying to be more honest with her? Gods, she already knows what the both of them really do, she's already met their eldest brother, there's not really much more they can say to try and turn her away. "You mean so Aelius can demand he get brushed." She knows the reality of the situation a little better, and considering the weather has started to turn warmer, the poor buck could probably use it. "But sure, it sounds fine. Might as well meet more of your family, right? Can't be any worse than Jacob..." Or so she hopes. That day had been so horrible she doesn't want to think about it, but the night is far more fondly regarded. She doesn't want to have to see Jacob again, not for a while. "So that means....I'll be missing two now, right? Said there were seven in all, I've met Jacob, you and First, and Georgie...Going to meet Gee...." She's counting them off on her fingers, pausing at the last two. "There's Charles.....and then there's one other you've never talked about." She's curious, that's for sure, but the frown on his face only makes her huff. "Oh come on, it's not that bad. You know, you always seem to be able to get ahold of the absolute best of everything....And I'm in need of a new apron...." It's obvious where she's going with it.
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Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2014 12:31 pm
The wheedling way she’s coming around to her favor actually makes him laugh, just like he’s done in the past: warm and easy and just a little bit mischievous. Standing up, he leans in to kiss her, taking one finger to her chin to tip her head up so she can meet his lips. “Tch, you think I were gonna let you go without? Or with a lousy apron?” He shakes his head and kisses her again, with a little nibble on her lower lip before he pulls back.
“Already bin to the tanner, a few days gone. Had Shuu watch you while I were off, jest in case. Tanner says it’s gonna take a ways yet, and I tol’ him, I ain’t even pickin’ it up until I think yer ready to use it, so’s don’t be in no hurry to test it out, right? When you’re fit as a fiddle, I’ll fetch it for you, and not a day afore.” He is pleased with himself, pleased to have thought ahead of time of something she might want, and further pleased to have gotten it for her. True, Rosa’s a mite harder to please then the wenches he used to bed — he cain’t just pick up a wilted bunch of flowers, or ribbons or lace. But she’s different, and that’s what he likes about her.
“Took off one’ve your dresses, too, and had new made, so’s tomorrow you kin wear something nice, if you want.” Setting their dinner aside as a temporarily lost cause, he pushes to his feet and crosses the room, where he’s got some of her clothes lain out, on account of he can’t figure out exactly how to put any of them away, once he’d sent them off with Georgie to be washed and mended. Atop one stack (and thus disguised!) he takes up a wholly new dress, its smooth fabric a warm cream, with golden ribbons at the hems and sleeves. He holds it out to her, somewhere between pleased and suddenly worried that she might not like the gift.
“Ferdi — that’s one of them you ain’t met yet, but I bin writin’ him about you. He said these colors’d be good.”
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Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2014 12:57 pm
She absolutely glows at hearing him laugh, unable to keep from smiling herself, brightening up more than she's probably aware. It doesn't matter that she's been stuck up all gloomy in her room for days, not when he's here to bring her that little bit of sunshine she needs. He barely needs to even tilt her head up, she's more than willing to follow him like the sun, eyes so full of love and adoration before they flutter shut. She doesn't even have time to reply before he kisses her again, reaching a hand up to brush her fingertips along his cheek. The nibble only makes her laugh, and there's the slightest playful shove at it, though given the way she just can't stop smiling it means nothing at all.
"You're far too good to me. I'm going to have to spoil you rotten when I'm up and ready again, then. Have to make sure it's a good one, yeah?" Clearly she's thinking of making him something again, grinning. "You'll just have to tell me what you're needing this time, I have to pay you back somehow for taking care of me, don't I?" Of course, there's other options for that, and the mischievous glimmer in her eyes says enough for that matter. Of course, Last may not have a say in the matter at all by then.
The news of a new dress however, is met with a little more resistance. She isn't very fond of them, much preferring men's trousers and a shirt, but there's already been a number of occasions she's put forth the effort to dress up for him, and considering she's only had two of the damned things, it's probably for the best that he's treated her to a new one. Besides, getting on a dress will be much kinder to the wound under her bandages than the tighter sleeves of her work shirts. Besides, almost all of those are singed, especially the one she'd been wearing when it happened. About to begrudgingly accept her fate, and mutter how she isn't exactly fond of the clothing, she opens her mouth, but doesn't quite let any of the words fall out. It's nice. It's really nice. This is the type of thing she normally wouldn't treat herself to, and maybe she'd been too quick to judge. The colors are just right, and when she finally takes it, she's surprised at the quality of the fabric.
"...This is really--....I'm not worth spoiling this much!" She protests, glancing between him and her new dress. "This is something people who have a lot more money than some blacksmith can afford! Gods, how am I going to keep this from getting ruined, you don't need to spoil me like this." In other words, she likes it. A lot.
"What have you been telling him?"
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Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2014 1:18 pm
“Oh, I got something planned to ask you for, when you’re up and about again.” Relieved that he has made a correct choice in this gift, he settles back in his chair with a wide grin that he doesn’t seem to be able to get rid of. “It’ll take a mort’ve work, probably, so don’t you fret. Jest think’ve it as I’m buildin’ favors, so’s I won’t owe you none later on.”
Later on, he might catch on to her lack of work shirts — but a dress, for now, ain’t so bad a thought. This one’s cut so that it won’t sit tight to her chest, but covers her all the way up to her throat, with loose sleeves and ties in the back that are uncomplicated enough that he’ll be able to help her with them. It isn’t fancy, being a far cry from a society dress, but as she’s already noticed it’s a far cry from what a simple tradesman of her level ought to be able to wear.
“I gotta spoil you now’n’then! Leastways, you’re due sommat fancy, been a ways since I given you something like that. A man oughter be able to show off the woman he’s courtin’, right?” He shrugs, still grinning, still wildly pleased with himself. “Ferdi — Ferdinand — he’s good at stuff about clothes. He asked, so’s I told him kinda what you looked like, and he gave me the idea. So’s I took one’ve the other dresses, so the measurements’d be right, and had somebody make one off’ve it.”
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Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2014 1:42 pm
"I won't rush getting better, I promise that." She laughs, leaning back a little bit more as she runs her fingers over the fabric, so appreciative of it she can't seem to stop. "But sure, whatever you want. I'll make sure it's the best I've ever made, whatever it is." She's determined, far more determined than she's felt recently. But then again, that's a good thing.
She's absolutely thankful that it'll cover her a bit more, especially with how red her chest has been from the burns. Anything to hide what has happened, anything to just make her feel just a little bit more beautiful, though for a moment she's unsure which will be prettier, her or the dress. But for now, while she's healing, her work shirts won't matter, and she has the feeling she'll at least be kept away from her forge for another week or three. She's not going to force the issue, especially not if she gets to spend time with one of her favorite people in the world.
"You're spoiling me rotten again." She laughs, shaking her head, a few more of her locks falling loose from the bun they've been contained in. "If you really want to show me off though, you should take me out for another show sometime soon, or take me roof walking." She hadn't gotten to go before, though for the moment she's shoving that memory aside in favor of keeping to happier conversation. "So I take it you've been telling all your brothers about me, have you?" He'd certainly told Jacob, after all. "You're rather witty, you know that? Doing all this behind my back."
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Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2014 1:50 pm
He flushes, suddenly aware that being so open about her might not have been the wisest thing to do — after all, she hadn’t much gotten on with Jay (who did?) and she looks prepared to give Ghastly what for. But Georgie’d found out on her own, Ghastly had forced the issue, Jay had figured it out by himself, and he’s sure she’ll like Ferdinand. “I din’t mean to,” he tells her, looking a bit hang-dog, and hoping she isn’t upset with him. “Only, I writes to them sometimes, and I can’t help talking about you. Georgie found out on his ownsome, and Jay always knows everything, whether anybody tells him or not. And soon enough, you’ll meet everybody — mebbe tomorrow, you kin meet Gee, and then it won’t be long before Ferdi comes to visit.”
His voice is a touch pleading; after all, he can’t very well promise he won’t tell his brothers anything in the future. Even the brothers other than his twin are hard to keep things from: no matter how he’s tried in the past, somehow what one Grimm knows the others all figure out, sooner or later.
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Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2014 2:27 pm
"No, no, darling...!" She laughs, a little amused at how guilty he looks, trying her best to assure him he hasn't done any wrong. "It's just funny, knowing that you at the least like me enough to tell your family about me." Truth be told she's met a good number of them already, and knowing he'd at least told Jacob all about her, or so she'd gathered from that letter she'd gotten. "Though I think I'd be much the same if I had any to write to. Instead I just tell Raj, and she gets upset." It's funny now, at least, how horrified she'd been at all those knives. There's a little bit of excitement at his mention of tomorrow, and that his other brother will be coming sooner or later for a visit, but she can't help but remember there's one other. "And Charlie?" She asks, smiling brightly. "He's younger than you, and older than Georgie, right?"
She's so happy, happier than she's been in days, though some of that has come with feeling better. She can't help but laugh and smile, admiring the way he's trying to defend himself for something he didn't need to in the first place.
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