|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2023 11:28 am
On this most auspicious day a lone physician navigated the cobblestone streets of a small Belrean city. The heels of his boots would have conducted a time worn symphony on any other day, but this one was special. Instead of rhythmic clicking there was a tell tale crunch as he maneuvered through the first substantial snow of the season.
Whereas the healer’s preferred garb was softer robes, todays attired called for a more professional approach. He’d been asked to attend a patient in their home and since Asa was a family man he couldn’t afford to turn down extra work. Besides the point, his son’s were attending classes and his wife was out of the home at the moment. So long as he returned before they did then all should be well, and yet the Zenan native found himself transfixed by the sight before him.
He found himself subconsciously navigating his way away from familial streets toward a garden in the center of the city. Asa knew from prior experiences that the garden itself curved upward, lending itself to as high a peak as one could get without climbing a balcony or an airship dock. With his supply case in hand, he walked, languidly reaching his hand out to catch snowflakes as he passed. His coat, which was tailor made to fit his lean frame, did well to keep him warm. Still, there was enough of a n** to turn the tip of Asa’s nose a warm indigo and the metal in his ears had a certain sting.
Climbing the hill was a slow walk, but one he managed with a practiced gait. It left him winded, though not terribly so, and still he found an empty bench to sit atop for a while. If asked he was catching his breath, but in all reality he simply wanted to bask in the winter spectacle.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2023 11:29 am
[Scar via Discord]
Ygraine really should have been working. Ever since the couple discussed another child, she'd been picking up as many jobs as she could, just to bolster their savings in anticipation of it. However, things had shifted somewhat when they decided to actually try for a baby. No more could she fathom doing her normal laborous work, and instead she'd taken to picking up jobs that were less physically strenuous, just on the off chance. She didn't want to harm any potential life that might be trying to take, after all. Actually, she'd been overly careful with herself from that first morning when Asa didn't prepare her normal tea, and instead they'd just exchanged long, goofy smiles over their breakfasts.
Today, she'd gone out with the prospect of a job, but certain events had stalled her. Events that sent her back home in search of her husband, only to find an empty home, and his winter coat missing from the closet.
Now, she was bundled up in her own winter wear, albeit lighter than Asa's as the cold didn't come close to the biting chill of Zena.
Normally, she would have waited at home, but today she felt impatient, and the room was still warm - surely he'd only just recently left, and if she went along the main road she could find him, right?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2023 11:30 am
[2/10]
It wasn’t until a group of children passed by that Asa was pulled from his musings. Three little ones, no more than seven by his guess, and each a different variant of hybridity ran squealing through the snow. One paused long enough to bend down to form a snowball before lobbing it at the closest victim. The last child, whose hair as bright as a flame, threw her arms into the air with a mighty roar and chased the others down the hillside. He couldn’t help, but to laugh at the scene. They were soaked from rolling around in the snow all day, but those kids couldn’t have cared less. As a parent he would have been worried about their health, though as a spectator a part of him wondered what that must have been like. To have no other worries than who could make the best winter weaponry.
After a time he decided to stand and make his way back home. Asa’s walk was a slower, lackadaisical pace than what he normally would have pursued and maybe it was because of where his mind wandered. He’d been thinking about a lot of things as of late, most of which involved children, but the snow had a calming effect on him. It reminded him of home and in a strange way it was soothing.
As he turned a corner he caught sight of a familiar shock of white hair and very nearly called out to his wife when he halted. Instead, Asa quickly ducked back around the corner and slipped down toward the ground. With nimble hands he did his best to form a snowball and waited for her to get close enough so that when he sprung out he could hit her with it. Even his terrible aim couldn’t fail him at this distance!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2023 11:32 am
[Scar via Discord]
Ygraine huffed, her breath forming a cloud even as it blew a lock of hair from her face. At this point, she hadn't spotted her husband yet, and was having to come to terms with the fact that she'd likely need to return home and wait for him - a prospect that left her grumpy and impatient. 'Just a little further,' She told herself, continuing along her way - when a tiny shape jumped out ahead of her, and a snowball exploded against her shoulder. She yelped at the shock of cold that sprayed along her cheek, whirling towards the shape, expecting it to be some wayward, unruly child -
Instead, she saw the glittering eyes of her husband. The tip of his nose was ruddy and purple, his clothes just as pristine and well fitting as normal, and ohhh she wanted to ruin him.
Her eyes, which had gone round and wide in surprise, narrowed now as she stooped down, smirking as she began scooping up what looked to be a massive snowball.
"Any last words, dear husband, before I destroy you?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2023 11:43 am
[3/10]
His eyes bore a little too much mirth for grown man. There was something about snow that held sway over the vestiges of Asa’s youth like nothing else could. For all the trouble it gave him the man adored winter, which could prove troublesome to those that knew him best. His medicinal case remained at his feet, which had temporarily spread on the snow covered street to give him balance and Asa was already lowering his hand for more snow. This time, instead of forming the ball himself, he was allowing magic to do the work and soon enough another snowball was held in his hand.
It wasn’t nearly the same size as his wife’s and her arm was much better than his own, but Asa wasn’t keen to go down easily! “May your aim be as confident as your words, my dear wife!” And with that he hurled another snowball toward Ygraine.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2023 11:50 am
[Scar via Discord]
This was so ridiculous - but Ygraine felt a flash of amusement go through her, her head canting to take in her husband's confident use of magic. She stuck out her tongue at him, quite maturely, then chucked her snowball - which, due to its size, fell apart mid air. It may not have hit Asa, but the chunks of snow continued on their path and spattered over him, marring his perfectly put together clothes.
His snowball, meanwhile, was perfectly compacted thanks to his magic, and held its form as it sailed - hitting her, this time, on the arm she held up to try and block it.
She meant to stay serious, but instead she erupted into giggles quite unbefitting a woman her age and size, covering her face with a gloved hand, wet from snow.
The exchange went on - with her sizing down to smaller balls as she remembered the precise science of making snowballs. She was careful not to hit him on any exposed skin, unwilling to chill him, but she wasn't going to deny him a fair fight either, and soon he'd had a number of snowballs pelted at him, sticking to bits of his clothes.
She was similarly affected, her cheeks gone pink at their game, but she gauged that her husband would be tiring out soon so she moved to de-escalate - and instead moved to squat down and pick up his case, still giggling at their game.
"Okay, you win you win! Your aim is more true. Cheater." She stood up again, holding his case by its handle with both hands. "Ready to head home, or do you intend to explore the streets like a wandering spirit all day?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2023 12:03 pm
[4/10]
Asa may not have been hit with the full force of her snowball, but he braced for it all the same. Shortly after flinging his own the iceling had closed his eyes and flinched, only to crack his eyes open one at a time when he felt the splatter. He couldn’t help it; seeing her giggling like that brought out a round of chuckles from him as well.
Try as he may the snowballs Asa formed without the help of his magic failed to hit their target. They would come close to Ygraine, but without a little guidance they ended up sailing just shy of the target. At one point he’d been afraid he was going to hit her in the face, then could only watch in embarrassment as his snowball fell apart seconds after his warning.
As she bent over to pick up his case Asa couldn’t help leaning forward and brushing the hair away from her forehead. Before she could fully stand he placed a kiss to the crystals there, then gave a breathless, wheezy sort of smile. “Your cheeks are the same color as your crystals. It’s cute.” He brought his hands back then and used them to straighten his attire. There was no removing some of the chunkier bits of snow, but at the very least he could put his scarf to rights.
Asa pursed his lips in thought. “Well…perhaps if it’s not too much trouble we could walk to the school and wait for the boys? Then we could walk home together. We’re already out and I think it might be nice to pick up a warm drink while we wait.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2023 12:19 pm
[Scar via Discord]
They were married, and yet even now Ygraine felt overwhelmed when her husband showed his affection. It wasn't a rare thing, he was an extremely loving man, but he was just so put together and polite that he tended to keep his affections private, at home, or hidden in smaller signals when they were outside and in public. Sometimes she still felt like that young girl, startled that this boy thought she was cute.
'You have two children together, you silly woman.' She reminded herself, watching as he primped and polished himself back into shape.
She was tempted to ask if he was up for that, but years of marriage meant she knew this man well - he knew his limits, and while sometimes he stubbornly overstepped them and bore the consequences of it, he preferred it be his decision, not anyone elses. "I think a warm drink sounds amazing." She agreed, bumping her arm against him as they began to walk.
The neighborhood where their boys studied had a number of tiny shops, one of which was a comfortable cafe that served warm, sugared pastries and a delicious cider. Once they were bundled inside and close to the fire, Ygraine melted into her seat, extending a leg under the table to nudge against her husband's ankle. "I was looking for you today. I ran into Uquin this morning."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2023 1:08 pm
[5/10]
Now that their walk was underway, Asa was aware of just how much attention their little ‘brawl’ likely drew. He’d been made aware of an elderly couple that had stopped in their walk across the way just to watch and a few other passerbys’ who leaned in to whisper as they passed. A mild brush of mortification might have colored his cheeks if they weren’t already flushed with exertion and chill. It shouldn’t matter what others saw when they looked at him, but Asa could never seem to lock away those bits of his mind. Even as ‘lax’ as he tried to be there were standards that he held not only himself, but his family up to; though, he would concede that the fun he’d just had was well worth the embarrassment.
“Hopefully you weren’t out for long.” Asa murmured, hands cupping a mug of warm cider. He didn’t have much of an appetite, but the feeling of warmth that spread down to his toes from the drink was welcomed. “How fares Mr. Uquin? Is he and his family well?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2023 1:20 pm
[Scar via Discord]
Ygraine, like always, shrugged off any supposed staring. She was a hybrid, and the stares would come regardless, better it be for her silly behavior than her eyes. Her husband, though, seemed to shrink in on himself just a bit.
"No, not too long." She reassured with a smile and another nudge of her booted foot against his ankle. "Their littlest is getting big. She's obnoxious, I think I love her." Ygraine said brightly, with a laugh. Then she hummed to herself, warming her hands on the cup. It wasn't alcoholic, so she had no issues drinking it. Which brought her to--
"I weaseled him into a quick appointment, so he might complain to you about it next time you see him. He's an old curmudgeon, even seeing I'm pregnant he still had a huge scowl on his face."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2023 1:26 pm
[6/10]
A rueful chuff slipped out before Asa could take another draw from his cider. Of course she loved Marcella; she could be just as cheeky as Ygraine is she had a mind to.
A quick appointment? Asa’s brows furrowed and he sat up straighter in his seat. He’d assumed at first that she’d come across Uquin in a shop or on the street, but what if she- Oh. OH. Asa’s honeyed gaze widened considerably and the iceling slowly lowered his cup to rest against his thigh. “And you didn’t tell me before I assaulted you with snowballs?!” His voice had risen just enough to get a curious look from those seated closest to them, and Asa was quick to clear his throat. He scooted his chair closer to the table, inching his way closer to his wife before setting his cup atop the surface.
“Was he sure? It’s not been long since we’ve stopped taking the tea.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2023 1:46 pm
[Scar via Discord]
Ygraine saw the moment her words hit Asa, and the way he snapped upright in his seat made her want to laugh all over again. His horrified words, raised as they were, finally broke through, and she covered her mouth with her hand, shoulders shaking in silent laughter. "It's just snowballs, Asa! It wasn't like you were hurling fireballs." She returned with a shake of her head. Times like this she wished she could roll her eyes, like her boys could, it seemed an appropriate gesture to convey her amusement at her husband's worry.
"I've been feeling a certain way the past few mornings, and asked him to make sure. I believe his words were 'Yes, you're carrying, now get out I have things to do.'"
Maybe not quite so abrupt, as Ygraine had loitered to exchange pleasantries. By now, Ygraine knew that the surly old man and his wife simply had a certain amount of healthy anxiety when it came to pregnancies.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2023 1:56 pm
[7/10]
“There could have been ice in the snowballs.” He huffed. Of course, there weren’t, but what if there were?! He could have injured her! It was only a temporary worry, however; the bigger concern was the recent announcement! A pregnancy! Asa wanted to ask yet again if Uquin was sure, but there were two major things weighing against him. The first being this wasn’t Ygraine’s first pregnancy, nor her second, so she would know more than he what the symptoms were and Uquin wasn’t wrong in such matters. The man most likely could tell at a glance by this stage in his life so this was…this was really happening.
“Would you mind if I…” He held his hand out hesitantly, before semi-retracting the appendage and holding it aloft. “I’ve been learning so I’d like to check, if it’s alright? Nothing invasive,” He was quick to add, “Just over your clothes.” While Asa’s skills as a healer were growing, matters of pregnancy and the like had always been placed on the backburner. He’d focused more on matters of illness and the lungs, but ever since they’d decided to go on this next journey….Well, he thought a little extra knowledge might be in order.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2023 2:26 pm
(7/10)
Ygraine put on her best unimpressed mom face at that one, and even Asa had to concede how unlikely THAT was. Thankfully, he let the matter drop soon enough, and instead reached for her. She immediately scooted her chair a bit closer, so they could sit more side by side than across from one another - a move that facilitated a loud scraping of her chair that earned them a number of disapproving looks.
"Of course it's fine." Ygraine reassured immediately, reaching to take his hand, guiding it to just above her stomach. It wasn't quite flat anymore - she'd been told it likely never would be again, after her second baby, and so motherhood had given her a bit more pudge to her belly and thighs than she'd had as a girl. Not that her husband ever complained, of course. "So, sir healer? Do I get to tell my handsome husband he'll be a papa again in a few months?" She bat her eyelashes at him, smiling as sweetly as she could while he did whatever magic he needed to check.
|
|
|
|
|
|
scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2023 3:59 pm
[8/10]
Whatever suggestion he might have had about raising, then lifting their chairs closer together, died before it’s conception. Now that they were this close and he could feel the warm of her hand on his the physician was almost afraid to try. He bit his lower lip for a moment, giving the dry skin a n** before taking a steadying breath and allowing his magic to take over. It started out as little more than a light blue glow – like moonlight on a snowbank – and may have held a bit of a n** as well. He’d been told that magic’s ‘warmth’ was akin to the feel of it’s users skin. If they were naturally cold natured them it would have a chill and unfortunately for his dear wife her husband ran cold.
The feeling of a life’s energy bouncing back to him caused Asa to suck in a breath. He looked up into Ygraine’s eyes with a spark of excitement before turning back to her womb. And then – He stalled. “Ygraine?” The glow from his magic brightened a bit because what he was feeling was something he wanted to be sure of before bringing it to her attention. When the results remained the same Asa turned his gaze back to hers. “Did Uquin mention anything about twins?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
