Silverah
Christmas Eve didn’t really mean anything to Finn and Arkady. He’d given the holiday up after breaking with his paternal grandparents, who were the only reason he’d ever celebrated it in the first place… and Arkady didn’t really have a concept of Christianity. Spirituality, yes. Religion even - but they didn’t really have any reason to put up a tree or make the day markedly special. (They’d gone to see Star Wars, but that was more because he’d had the day off.)
However, December 24th was also special because it was Arkady’s birthday. She might insist on it being in February, but Finn knew better - he’d known Tate. Any maybe it was cruel of him to tie Arkady to the joyeux anniversaire of a dead girl, but from what he’d gathered, the February date - the one Vanya had been celebrating - was the day she’d been corrupted into the Negaverse, and he didn’t exactly want to celebrate that, either.
Upon returning home from the movie theater, he’d ushered Arkady into a bubble bath and given her a new guide to The Wild Birds of Northern Europe, which had kept her occupied long enough for him to get dinner put together. Arkady wasn’t much for sit-down meals or large portions, but presenting her with a bunch of different appetizers always worked nicely. Add to it a bottle of her favorite prosecco and he thought he’d done pretty well for himself.
He hoped she liked it.
He got the coffee table all set and waited anxiously for Arkady to finish getting dressed after her bath, thumb anxiously circling the ring box in his pocket.
However, December 24th was also special because it was Arkady’s birthday. She might insist on it being in February, but Finn knew better - he’d known Tate. Any maybe it was cruel of him to tie Arkady to the joyeux anniversaire of a dead girl, but from what he’d gathered, the February date - the one Vanya had been celebrating - was the day she’d been corrupted into the Negaverse, and he didn’t exactly want to celebrate that, either.
Upon returning home from the movie theater, he’d ushered Arkady into a bubble bath and given her a new guide to The Wild Birds of Northern Europe, which had kept her occupied long enough for him to get dinner put together. Arkady wasn’t much for sit-down meals or large portions, but presenting her with a bunch of different appetizers always worked nicely. Add to it a bottle of her favorite prosecco and he thought he’d done pretty well for himself.
He hoped she liked it.
He got the coffee table all set and waited anxiously for Arkady to finish getting dressed after her bath, thumb anxiously circling the ring box in his pocket.
Shibrogane
Arkady had a head full of Star Wars. Mostly that she was pretty sure that she’d rather be part of the First Order than the Rebellion, but that was largely predicated on the fact that the First Order was much better dressed. Was that really the best way to decide what side to be on in a galaxy-wide war? Nope. Arkady didn’t care, either.
She was still combing her hair when she joined Finn in the living room, an oversized fisherman’s sweater and green plaid pants her outfit of choice for the evening. The wolf pelt displayed over the back of the couch drew a satisfied look; she was still proud of that feat, and saw no point in hiding it. “Thank you for the book,” she said, settling down next to Finn. She leaned in to press a kiss to the pulse point of his throat before looking at the spread on the coffee table. There were the little phyllo feta-cheese tarts she liked, and her expression brightened further at the sight of pirozkhi. “I didn’t get you anything,” she said, dipping her head shyly. “Is this an important day? I didn’t remember. I’m sorry.” Her purification had come in September, hadn’t it? And her birthday was in February…
Arkady carefully served Finn a plate of food, avoiding those which she knew he didn’t like. This she put in his lap before filling her own plate. “I thought Hanukkah was over,” she added. “Like, a week ago?”
She was still combing her hair when she joined Finn in the living room, an oversized fisherman’s sweater and green plaid pants her outfit of choice for the evening. The wolf pelt displayed over the back of the couch drew a satisfied look; she was still proud of that feat, and saw no point in hiding it. “Thank you for the book,” she said, settling down next to Finn. She leaned in to press a kiss to the pulse point of his throat before looking at the spread on the coffee table. There were the little phyllo feta-cheese tarts she liked, and her expression brightened further at the sight of pirozkhi. “I didn’t get you anything,” she said, dipping her head shyly. “Is this an important day? I didn’t remember. I’m sorry.” Her purification had come in September, hadn’t it? And her birthday was in February…
Arkady carefully served Finn a plate of food, avoiding those which she knew he didn’t like. This she put in his lap before filling her own plate. “I thought Hanukkah was over,” she added. “Like, a week ago?”
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Finn laughed nervously, withdrawing his empty hand from his pocket as he accepted the plate. “Well, for some people it’s Christmas eve,” he said, thinking that maybe he should just drop the whole trying to get her to celebrate Tate’s birthday thing and hold off on this until New Year’s Eve. “I mean. Not that that means anything to us, but I - I wanted to do something nice. Make a nice day of it.”
If he looked sad, it was only for a moment. “For, uh, you know,” he said, sighing whistfuly. “Your birthday.”
He looked expectantly up at her, expecting that she might react with confusion. Arkady insisted her birthday was in February. It was probably time to get with the program and go with that.
If he looked sad, it was only for a moment. “For, uh, you know,” he said, sighing whistfuly. “Your birthday.”
He looked expectantly up at her, expecting that she might react with confusion. Arkady insisted her birthday was in February. It was probably time to get with the program and go with that.
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“For Tate’s birthday,” said Arkady, with a great deal of understanding. She leaned sideways, her head on his shoulder. “It’s okay. I know what you mean.” For a moment, she paused. Was it really okay? Maybe not. Anyway, she reached out to link a pinky finger with his, and sorted through her dinner options. The feta tarts were the best to start with, she decided, and she plucked one up.
He sounded lonely. It made sense, though, that he might miss who she had been before. “We can celebrate today, if you want,” she allowed. “I don’t mind it. And I really like the book.”
He sounded lonely. It made sense, though, that he might miss who she had been before. “We can celebrate today, if you want,” she allowed. “I don’t mind it. And I really like the book.”
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Finn breathed a sigh of relief. He’d wanted her to go with it, let this be her birthday… but he spent a lot of time hoping Arkady could be Tate and that was unhealthy. Unhealthy enough to make him question what he was about to do, make him question the ring in his pocket. Could he really ask her, when he was still partially hung up on who she used to be? He was trying every day, he was a little better every day, but…
He’d wait a bit, let her eat and have some wine and try to smooth the over before he got down on one knee.
“I got a cake,” he admitted, handing her a glass of wine, “but we don’t have to sing if you’d feel weird about it. I’m really glad you liked the book.”
He’d wait a bit, let her eat and have some wine and try to smooth the over before he got down on one knee.
“I got a cake,” he admitted, handing her a glass of wine, “but we don’t have to sing if you’d feel weird about it. I’m really glad you liked the book.”
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“I will never not sing,” said Arkady firmly. “Singing is the best.” Second only to Finn… and birds… and taking pictures of birds… Okay, so singing was actually quite a ways down on the list, but that wasn’t her fault. She didn’t make these decisions.
She set the glass of wine aside and picked one of the little cheese buns off Finn’s plate. This she applied directly to his dumb face, patiently holding the bread against his mouth until he took it. Too many dark, sad thoughts happening, not enough celebration and eating of delicious canapes.
She set the glass of wine aside and picked one of the little cheese buns off Finn’s plate. This she applied directly to his dumb face, patiently holding the bread against his mouth until he took it. Too many dark, sad thoughts happening, not enough celebration and eating of delicious canapes.
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At least she didn’t seem too upset over his insistence. “Okay,” said Finn, around a mouthful of hot cheese. He forced himself to swallow before continuing. “Thank you for indulging me in commemorating the day that your physical form became an independent living creature, regardless of whether you accept that as canon. Anyway.”
He fell silent, thoughts drawn back to the ring box. Finn hadn’t really thought this through, just figured he’d know the right moment when he got to it… and that apparently meant he’d be doing a lot of second-guessing. Not yet, he thought.
“Anyway,” repeated Finn. “Would you agree with me that it’s been a pretty good year?”
He fell silent, thoughts drawn back to the ring box. Finn hadn’t really thought this through, just figured he’d know the right moment when he got to it… and that apparently meant he’d be doing a lot of second-guessing. Not yet, he thought.
“Anyway,” repeated Finn. “Would you agree with me that it’s been a pretty good year?”
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She nodded, turning to her own plate. “It’s been alright,” she agreed, “I’ve had fun.” Arkady slid the wolf pelt another look, smug as a cat who’d gotten the canary. Or a canary who was having a particularly good time taunting a cat. “Looking forward to a new one.” She waggled her eyebrows at Finn, still smiling. “Got any big plans this year, lover?”
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Finn’s eyes flickered to the wolf pelt slung over the back of the couch. Of course she’d beaten him to the punch - by Avalonian standards, they’d been more or less married for months - but Arkady deserved some grand romantic gesture on his part. He wasn’t content to leave it at I was hospitalized and she gave me an animal skin to propose to me.
Even if that was probably the story Arkady would be telling for the rest of their lives.
“Well,” he said, “I’m quitting White River after all the holiday sales are over.” Hopefully that would make her happy - he’d have more time on weekends to spend with her. “It’ll suck losing that discount, but I just don’t have time for it anymore. Too many shifts doing my actual job.”
Not that he saw Arkady complaining about that - she liked it when he came home smelling like a campfire.
Even if that was probably the story Arkady would be telling for the rest of their lives.
“Well,” he said, “I’m quitting White River after all the holiday sales are over.” Hopefully that would make her happy - he’d have more time on weekends to spend with her. “It’ll suck losing that discount, but I just don’t have time for it anymore. Too many shifts doing my actual job.”
Not that he saw Arkady complaining about that - she liked it when he came home smelling like a campfire.
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Having dispelled that awkward moment around the birthday ordeal, Arkady was feeling pretty good about herself. She had canapes or hors d'oeuvres or whatever they were called, and she had wine, and a book full of bird pictures that she could absolutely take to Avalon and use to identify her tenants. Also, her toes were cold, and she had Finn to use as a space heater. Today was going quite swimmingly!
“I’ll like having you home more often,” she said, because even if she could go to Avalon every two weeks now she still had a very lonely two weeks between visits. Finn spent so much time chasing bears, or whatever park rangers did, she kind of got something about animal surveys? And education? Which made sense. She just preferred to imagine he chased bears. “Maybe I’ll learn to cook!”
(She said this every few days, and only ever accomplished bothering Finn and showing off her knife skills.)
She sighed. “Would you love me even if I never learned to cook?”
“I’ll like having you home more often,” she said, because even if she could go to Avalon every two weeks now she still had a very lonely two weeks between visits. Finn spent so much time chasing bears, or whatever park rangers did, she kind of got something about animal surveys? And education? Which made sense. She just preferred to imagine he chased bears. “Maybe I’ll learn to cook!”
(She said this every few days, and only ever accomplished bothering Finn and showing off her knife skills.)
She sighed. “Would you love me even if I never learned to cook?”
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“I would love you even if you somehow managed to burn water,” replied Finn, leaning forward to give her a quick peck on the cheek. Honestly, it was almost an inside joke at this point… but Arkady did have scarily good knife skills.
If she were to redo his scar tomorrow, he was confident she’d somehow make it an even straighter line than it already was.
“I’m looking forward to being home more often, too,” he said, picking up his last little cheese thing and popping it into his mouth. As he chewed, he leaned forward and set his plate onto the coffee table. Was this the right moment? No. Arkady was still eating.
He swallowed and reached for his wine. “Maybe I’ll do some more of those building renovations I’ve been meaning to do. Figure out the landscaping for the front curb. Paint the mailboxes.”
If she were to redo his scar tomorrow, he was confident she’d somehow make it an even straighter line than it already was.
“I’m looking forward to being home more often, too,” he said, picking up his last little cheese thing and popping it into his mouth. As he chewed, he leaned forward and set his plate onto the coffee table. Was this the right moment? No. Arkady was still eating.
He swallowed and reached for his wine. “Maybe I’ll do some more of those building renovations I’ve been meaning to do. Figure out the landscaping for the front curb. Paint the mailboxes.”
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Arkady didn’t doubt that she would be able to burn water. It was hard to keep one’s eye on all the different things required at once to cook. Maybe if she could make everything in one pot all the time… or cook something that mostly required cutting and chopping… It wasn’t worth frowning about. “Trees’ll need to be trimmed back soon,” she contributed. “I can climb them but Nick said I can only use a chainsaw if he gets to watch me.”
She wrinkled her nose at the mention of mailbox-painting. “Aren’t they metal? We could polish them!” That seemed easy enough. Certainly not enough of a job to occupy a whole weekend. “Maybe you could come to Avalon. Everything’s sleeping except the plants, but I’ve got a lot of the weeds cleared out of the cloisters.”
She wrinkled her nose at the mention of mailbox-painting. “Aren’t they metal? We could polish them!” That seemed easy enough. Certainly not enough of a job to occupy a whole weekend. “Maybe you could come to Avalon. Everything’s sleeping except the plants, but I’ve got a lot of the weeds cleared out of the cloisters.”
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It had been ages since Finn had been to Avalon, and he nodded vigorously at the suggestion. “I would love to! I - I know how hard you’ve been working. I’m sure you’ve made a lot of progress since last time I saw it.” Granted, it had basically looked like a bomb went off last time he went - but if getting blasted halfway to oblivion was what it took to make Avalon feel a connection to her Wonder, then that was a price he was willing to accept.
“Iiiii…. might have to talk to Nick,” he added, cringing. Arkady with a chainsaw sounded like a really dangerous prospect. Actually, anyone with a chainsaw who hadn’t been specifically trained in their use sounded like a really, really bad idea. “Let’s just… plan to go camping at Avalon. That sounds good.”
Maybe he could put off this whole proposal stress until then.
No, he couldn’t. He was going to get the right moment tonight. Any time now. Right? Right.
“Iiiii…. might have to talk to Nick,” he added, cringing. Arkady with a chainsaw sounded like a really dangerous prospect. Actually, anyone with a chainsaw who hadn’t been specifically trained in their use sounded like a really, really bad idea. “Let’s just… plan to go camping at Avalon. That sounds good.”
Maybe he could put off this whole proposal stress until then.
No, he couldn’t. He was going to get the right moment tonight. Any time now. Right? Right.
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“It made most of the progress itself,” said Arkady, a little glumly. “It likes having me there, though. I can feel it.”
She put her plate down and leaned against Finn’s reassuringly steady shoulder. Her damp hair scraggled across his shirt, leaving a sizeable dark patch. “I couldn’t have done it without you,” she said. “I think I’d still be on that park bench alone if you hadn’t come for me.”
She put her plate down and leaned against Finn’s reassuringly steady shoulder. Her damp hair scraggled across his shirt, leaving a sizeable dark patch. “I couldn’t have done it without you,” she said. “I think I’d still be on that park bench alone if you hadn’t come for me.”
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Finn slipped an arm around her shoulders. He remembered the night she’d come back to him clearly, like a photograph framed and hung in a place of honor in his mind. If he’d never come, he was sure that Hvergelmir would have taken care of her… but it wouldn’t have been the same. If he’d never found her, he’d still be pining after Vanya Morganstern, his letters caught in a cosmic return-to-sender loop.
This right here felt comfortable. Finn didn’t want to make her move - but she’d finished eating, and it seemed like as good a chance as he was going to get. Carpe diem, Derouen.
He dug the ring box out of his pocket. “Hey, um, Arkady,” said Finn, already off to a stammering start. He’d practiced this, but it wasn’t like that seemed to matter right now. This case of nerves didn’t care that he’d proposed to his bathroom mirror twenty times. “I know we’ve been engaged for like, months,” he said, glancing at the wolf pelt as he got down on one knee, “but I - I thought you might like a ring.”
He flicked the box open.
“It’s an old family thing,” he said, holding it out so the stones caught the light - a diamond flanked by two aquamarines. “My great-grandmother’s on my mom’s side, at least.” Something from the Babylon side of things. The stone color was meaningful, even if nothing else about the ring suggested a connection. “So what do you think? Let’s set a date. 2016’s gonna be our year.”
This right here felt comfortable. Finn didn’t want to make her move - but she’d finished eating, and it seemed like as good a chance as he was going to get. Carpe diem, Derouen.
He dug the ring box out of his pocket. “Hey, um, Arkady,” said Finn, already off to a stammering start. He’d practiced this, but it wasn’t like that seemed to matter right now. This case of nerves didn’t care that he’d proposed to his bathroom mirror twenty times. “I know we’ve been engaged for like, months,” he said, glancing at the wolf pelt as he got down on one knee, “but I - I thought you might like a ring.”
He flicked the box open.
“It’s an old family thing,” he said, holding it out so the stones caught the light - a diamond flanked by two aquamarines. “My great-grandmother’s on my mom’s side, at least.” Something from the Babylon side of things. The stone color was meaningful, even if nothing else about the ring suggested a connection. “So what do you think? Let’s set a date. 2016’s gonna be our year.”
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Arkady knew how this went. She extended her left hand regally, waiting for him to slip the ring on her finger. “Okay,” she said. Finn had this thing about recognition, and doing things the way he’d been raised to expect them, and that was alright. She’d wear a ring (even if he wouldn’t wear her pelt) and she’d smile all prettily in a wedding if it made him happy. If a ring really mattered to him, well, she liked shiny things anyway. “This coming year? When do you want to get married?”
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Finn slipped the ring onto her finger, and was pleased to see that it fit her perfectly. “How about in the spring?” he suggested, leaning forward to kiss her. “Nothing too fancy.” They weren’t the fancy type, and they didn’t have huge families to coordinate. They could get their s**t together in time.
She’d look beautiful with flowers in her hair.
“Yeah?” he asked. “We’re gonna do this?”
She’d look beautiful with flowers in her hair.
“Yeah?” he asked. “We’re gonna do this?”
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“We’re gonna do this,” she confirmed. “In the spring! We should invite Hvergelmir.” She settled her pointy chin on his shoulder, arms around his neck. “It’ll be good,” she said.
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“Duh,” said Finn, slipping his arms around her. “It’s us. Of course it’ll be good.”
