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 Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 7:32 pm
Grimhold would be on his way. They were all tired and Siddie would doubtless be recuperating, or at least helping Sammy. Sammy had been worse for the wear. The rainbows hadn't been flattering on anybody.
He didn't remember much from the last fight, but he did know there were some...items Siddie and he needed to discuss. Especially if he ran into his mother.
Arriving via skateboard, he found himself hopefully knocking on Siddie's door.
"Siddie?" He asked quietly. He was injured, and worn out, and not sure if they should expect another wave, "It's Barth. I...needed to speak with you. If you're not busy."
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Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 9:26 pm
Siddie opened the door a moment later, mustering up a tired smile. Barth had recently joined the small group of creature for whom she'd open the door anytime, no matter how tired she was or what was going on. She had a drutten cuddled in the crook of her arm and one draped over her shoulder. "You caught me just in time," she said. "I was going over to Sammy's room. Do you want to come in?"
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Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 9:34 pm
"Please," Barth said, leaning the skateboard against the outside wall.
"I'm err, I'm planning on going to my Father's House for a few days. There's no real guarantee my mom is even there, or that- well, I'm not especially planning on seeing him, but I thought in case. We never err. We never got around to some of the more," he cleared his throat, flushing, "official parts."
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Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 9:49 pm
"Ooh. Yeah. We'd better - yeah." Siddie cleared off a spot on the chaise for Barth to sit on, and went across to her desk, setting Chili down and shooing Clove gently off her shoulder while she rummaged around in the drawer, looking for something.
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Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 9:55 pm
Barth sank into the cleared spot, wincing as his back touched the chair and trying not to lean too heavily to any one side.
"In case they ask, you know," Barth said. "And mom will want to meet you, at some point. I'll...well, my father can be- I'll talk you through that if we come to it."
He sighed, looking her over.
"You're alright, though? No major injuries? I'm sorry if I- I don't remember. Part of the battle. But I think I might have- I don't know. Hurt. Some people I wouldn't have, if I- I think I was sleeping..."
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Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 10:01 pm
"I'm sure my parents are going to want to meet you, too." Siddie winced a little. She wasn't looking forward to that particular dinner in the least. After the last couple of letters she'd exchanged with Mama ... well, best not to think about it right now.
"I'm okay," she answered. "I didn't - I wasn't there for the fighting. I was looking for pumpkin pills, and by the time I got outside, it was over." She smoothed her skirt down in an automatic, embarrassed gesture. "I wasn't much use." She sighed.
"You were asleep during the battle?" That she hadn't expected - well, he was a sloth demon, but she hadn't known he could fight while asleep.
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Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 10:12 pm
"I know. In spite of appearances, I am usually a light sleeper. Lately-" Barth trailed off. "I don't know."
"It's good you weren't hurt," he finished lamely.
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Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 10:24 pm
"Should I worry?" Siddie asked quietly. Though the engagement was for appearances only, Barth was her friend; they might not be involved, but she still cared. She turned the seal ring she used for letters over in her fingers, looking down at it; it bore her family's crest. She wondered, for the first time, where the crest had come from. It wasn't as though they were an old family, with tradition and symbolism passed down through the generations.
"Thank you," she said. "I'm glad you're okay."
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Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 10:30 pm
"I'm- managing. Through it. It's alright. I haven't...there was something else, I think..."
He had fallen asleep and woken up in dangerous situations before. But always to himself. Even in his dreams, his subconscious leaned towards the role of victim. He couldn't remember the battle very well, but he remembered the feeling of easily reaching out, of taking what he wanted, of crushing anyone in his path.
"I need a few days to myself. I'll get it sorted."
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Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 10:33 pm
"If - if there's anything I can do." Siddie pushed a lock of hair out of her face; her hair comb had come out and gotten lost at some point during the chaos in the theater and outside, and her hair now curled forward over her shoulders, more in her way than she liked. It was stupid to be worrying about hair now. Such a trivial thing. She tried for a smile.
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Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 10:38 pm
"I'll let you know," Barth said, not particularly meaning it. He took a breath, looking at the object Siddie had been turning over in her palm.
"That's your, err?"
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Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 11:14 pm
"Signet ring," Siddie said, and sighed. "I never wear it, but it should do as a proper token." She held the ring out; it was a simple rose gold band with a seal imprinted into the top, a stylized raven and dagger.
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Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 11:42 pm
"Ah, yes," Barth said, taking the ring delicately from her hand and examining the seal. He was suddenly more composed. "Your sssignet." It was funny, really. He knew that some of the more prominent families adopted crests. And with Siddie's bloodline, wealth and status were no strangers. Still.
He curled the claws of his opposite hand, concentrating, like he would for a pin.
When they uncurled, there was a similar ring.
Like his pin and thorns, it was a shadowy black, and engraved in the top was the strange and wriggly shape of his Sigil, made from the letters of his True Name. He held it out, as Siddie had, for her to take.
"Now then. Terms of the Exchange. By the transfer of these Items, we show future intent of joining houses via matrimony. If, for any reason, the Engagement is dissolved, both Items will be returned to their previous owners. Do you Accept?"
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Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 11:47 pm
"I accept these Terms, and I formally agree," Siddie answered, nodding. She hadn't missed the careful wording Barth had used, and she was grateful for it; it would allow a graceful dissolution of contract later.
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Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 11:57 pm
"I, too, Accept and formally agree." He waited for Siddie to take the ring.
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