|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2025 4:23 pm
 xaawopost oneThe ring wasn't more spectacular than she could imagine, as Zill had claimed it would be, but that was only because she could imagine some truly spectacular things. It was still a beautiful piece, a wide band of engraved silver that struggled to shimmer in the dim light of their rented room. This was one of the nicest places they had stayed in the month since they'd arrived in Belrea, and as cozy and luxurious as these accommodations had been, Xaawo still felt her welcome wearing thin. She had adored all that she had been introduced to here—the museums, the shows, even one or two of the fancy outfits—but lately what Xaawo wanted most was to return home, and she wanted Howth to come with her.
A sudden shuffling near the door had her sitting up straighter than a sapling's trunk as she scrambled to hide the ring in her shirt, and a started smile brightened her face as the door swung open.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2025 4:25 pm
 howthpost oneIt felt good to be flush again.
They were theoretically never really out of money, considering how many relics they unearthed that others were willing to buy, but it was always nice to trade for a bit of currency when they stopped in one place for a while. It also lightened their packs considerably. But the benefits of offloading some of their treasures were always countered by the reality that one of them would have to do the selling. Being personable and sociable for the better part of a day was a lot, and Howth was looking forward to a comfortable night in.
He entered their room with a stupendous yawn, not quite exhausted enough to miss Xaawo's tense posture and frozen smile.
"Am I interrupting something?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2025 4:25 pm
xaawopost twoHer immediate impulse was to deflect and change the subject, so afraid was she of what she wanted to say. Xaawo took a deep breath, exhaling so quietly that it didn't even sound like a sigh. This was the fear of something new, and she wasn't going to let it keep her from her future.
"I have something I want to give you."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2025 4:25 pm
howthpost twoClosing the door behind him, Howth left his bag nearby and crossed to the bed, taking a seat at her side. While they had been sharing a room for convenience for the better part of several months, one of them had always taken up residence on the sofa or floor. Now, he took her hand in his and rested them in the narrow space between them, smiling to himself as she rested her head on his shoulder. To his pleasant surprise, this new habit felt comfortable.
"Is today a special occasion? I'll admit I'm a little worried I've missed something."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2025 4:26 pm
xaawopost three"I suppose it might be special in the future, but right now it's just a day."
She reached back into her shirt with the hand he hadn't claimed and brought out the ring, warm from her skin. Unlike when her legs had shaken during their first kiss from an attempt to maintain an uncomfortable crouch, she shook due to nerves now. Xaawo held out the ring, its form clear even though her fingers obstructed its detail.
"I would like to offer this to you as a symbol of..." She lifted her head again to look at him, expression going from worried to faintly disgusted to hopeful in the span of a heartbeat. "Not marriage. Commitment."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2025 4:26 pm
howthpost threeHowth didn't really know why this filled him with such glee. Maybe it was her rare case of nervous discomfort, having so often felt it himself while she remained calm and collected. Maybe it was the prospect of receiving a new piece of jewelry that he hadn't picked out on his own. Or he could have just been exhausted. Whatever the cause, he was giddy, unable to contain the smile on his face or in his voice when he replied.
"Not marriage. Got it." It wouldn't ever be with them, and they both knew it.
He wasn't intimidated just yet, Howth simply regretted not having beaten her to this grand of a gesture. He held out his hand, still smiling as she dropped the ring into it.
And just like that, it was his time to be overwhelmed.
"Oh."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2025 4:26 pm
xaawopost fourShe jabbed him lightly with her elbow.
"Howth. That was the worst possible reaction you could have had. What kind of 'oh' was that? Good? Bad?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2025 4:26 pm
howthpost fourHe stared at the ring for so long that his eyes grew dry and his vision blurred. It looked quite different than it had the last time he'd seen it, but any ring would have little in common with the hunk of pure silver from which it had been shaped. A hundred tiny leaves had been carved into its surface and two green stones peered out from between them like the eyes of a secret creature.
"This isn't just any ring. You kept this. You've had it the whole time."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2025 4:26 pm
xaawopost fiveA good 'oh' then. She had been fairly sure it was, but it was nice to have confirmation.
"It couldn't be just any ring," she said, watching him as he continued examining his gift. "Not for this." It had needed to be the most important ring that had ever been forged.
"Try it on. I did have to go back and have it resized."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2025 4:27 pm
howthpost fiveHe nodded, grasping the band and sliding it onto the ring finger of his left hand. It was far too large, but Howth curled his hand into a loose fist, trying to make it look like it fit.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2025 4:27 pm
xaawopost six"I said it wasn't a marriage proposal!" Xaawo shook her head in fond exasperation as she grabbed his hand and pulled off the ring. She slid it onto the middle finger of his right hand instead. It looked like a pretty good fit, but she couldn't tell with complete certainty since she wasn't the one wearing it.
"How does it feel?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2025 4:27 pm
howthpost six"It's perfect."
Howth flexed his hand again and shook it a little, trying to determine whether or not the ring would fall off while climbing or digging. Pretty stable. He wondered how she had measured his finger so accurately. Did she have some sort of innate ability because she was artistic? Turning toward her, he kissed Xaawo on the cheek.
"Thank you."
A pause.
"So... what does this mean?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2025 4:27 pm
xaawopost sevenShe was relieved to see that her weeks of covert sizing hadn't gone to waste. It had been a challenge to find reasons to get a good look at his fingers, but it had paid off in this moment. Xaawo took in a cleansing breath.
"I hope..."
She let it out.
"I hope it means that you will consider visiting Azehra with me to ask for a bloom."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2025 4:27 pm
howthpost sevenEver since the pair of them had interacted with Phei during that storm, he had considered the possibility daily. But actually admitting as much... actually going to Isle Chiume... actually raising a child...
His parents had been the most loving, understanding, and encouraging role models he could have ever had and he had still turned out... lacking, in his opinion. What sort of horrible child would he churn out?
"We have no idea what we're doing." He didn't have an excuse beyond fear, but some contrary part of him still wished to protest.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2025 4:28 pm
xaawopost eight"Neither did my mothers. They never even told me who they were." She was pretty sure she had figured it out, but that wasn't the point. "Surely we'll do better than they did. And anyway, each child is different. You couldn't prepare for them all, even if you were the most conscientious parent to ever live." She nodded, convincing herself as much as she tried to convince him. There was no convincing. They wanted this. "We're here and the time is now."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
