[ navia laughs, shaking her head. she was hoping that in these next few months things would be different for her - getting out and doing more things, finding out more information, helping more people. she's had this idea of trying to do here what she does back home - help those less fortunate than her, whether it were the locals or the other augmented. ] Keep up with the jokes and you'll end up using all of your good material too soon.
I haven't played with it too much as of yet - only with the roses. [ unconsciously, she reaches up and fiddles with one near her ear, whereas some of the blooms are closed as they were newer, this one was in full bloom. it was her first one, the one that showed up after her first month here. she remembers when she got her vision, at her coming of age party, and how in the days after all she did was fiddle around with it and tried to see what she could do. ] Thorns are a plant's way of protecting itself... I think I'll leave a few, at least for now.
[ a brief pause and then she continues. ] I've already cut a few of them off. It doesn't hurt - it's like when you cut your hair. I think it would hurt more if I cut them off closer to the root.
[ her tone sounds like she might experiment a little, mainly to see how far she can push herself before something actually hurts. it then changes as she changes the subject from her. ] You said you were needing my help?
So long as you can spare me a laugh every now and then, I think I can get by on whatever I haven’t already spent. Hm, but if your thorns normally show when you’re under threat, then I can’t help but wonder—what kind of feeling calls the roses out? [ there’s a beat as he considers it, a flicker of something more thoughtful beneath the easy tone. ] My guess? Perhaps something soft. A sentiment you've carried with care—and like all your flowers, have slowly brought to bloom once you decided it was worth showing.
[ he lets out a chuckle to keep his words from sinking too deep, though the intent behind them is sincere. he’s no expert in the workings of natural souls or the mess patho-gen has made of them all, but if inevitable change is the price, then softening it with some honest conversation isn’t entirely a bad trade.
and the segue into the reason he's come to lean on navia feels natural. despite the urgency behind reaching out, navia hadn’t pressed him—had let him find his footing again, by offering a quiet sense of normalcy instead of fuss. so he sets his half-finished cup aside, posture straightening slightly before he finally speaks. ]
And… yeah. [ his usual finesse slips for a breath before returning in pieces, steadied by intent. ] So far, you’re the only one I trust when it comes to touch. At least enough that I would go so far as to call it an imprint, and I can only hope that the feeling is mutual.
[ the ask isn't as graceful as he usually is, but being a little vulnerable often isn't the smoothest when it comes to the approach. nevertheless, wriothesley still tries. ]
I think I can spare a laugh now and then for some ridiculous jokes. [ his thoughtfulness makes her think. if her thorns do come out when she's fearful or being threatened, what would bring out more roses? ] I'd like to think that my friends would bring them out as well. There's nothing I'd want to share more, you know?
[ his vulnerability catches her slight off guard. her posture straightens as she brings the teacup to take a drink, taking one longer than she'd like as she thought on his words quickly. she doesn't want her silence to mean something she doesn't mean. ]
There's no one here that I've known longer than you. [ she admits. ] You and I might not have always seen eye to eye on things, but I think we've come to a point that but there's no one I'd trust more. I think I see what you're saying, Wriothesley.
[ speaking of ridiculous, the knee-jerk reaction—faint as it is—doesn’t escape his notice. still, wriothesley makes a point of setting any doubts or anxieties aside, especially since he’d been the one who reached out to begin with. ]
Now, I know better than to ask something untoward of a lady, especially while she’s in her own quarters.
[ a flicker of an easy-going smile plays at his mouth as he steps forward and lowers himself onto one knee in front of navia. his expression remains warm as he places a hand over the square of his chest, posture precise and deliberate. ]
So, if you’ll allow me your hand once more? It may be a lot of ceremony for your touch, but your faith in me isn’t something I take lightly, Navia.
[ meanwhile his other hand lifts and gestures for her right—the one with thorns—to be held steady in an open palm. all the while, his wolf ears perk up, subtly angling toward her with quiet attention. ]
[ all her hesitations gone now, her smile is accompanied by light laughter. she's not making light of this - imprinting is something they need to do here, and it's a way to survive. ] If you keep doing this, I'm going to expect it again should this keep happening.
[ nevertheless, she places her right hand in his. she's careful about it, not wanting to accidentally hurt him. if he's paying more attention, a few of the flowers in her hair bloom more, going from buds to near open. they might have just found out that a happier disposition helps bring her flowers out more; one of many things she's discovering. ]
[ his smile widens a touch at the softness of her laugh, and while it's hard not to notice the slow bloom of the roses in her hair, wriothesley lets the weight of the moment sit between them for now. besides, if a few more buds are coaxed open by the end of this, then it's all the more of a spectacle he can mention. ]
Should the next time be at a more manageable hour, then? Brunch, maybe?
[ it’s a smooth little deflection, just to keep their spirits high as wriothesley glances down at navia’s hand, quietly taking in the signs of her corruption. the patches of green and waxy skin, the way both of his hands hold hers—fingertips gently circling the blunted thorns. large, rough palms familiarizing themselves with hers, smaller and softer in comparison. although he doesn’t overlook the light callouses from gripping her weapon, and it doesn’t faze him when he raises her hand to rest her palm against his cheek.
soon enough, lashes flutter shut as the contact grounds him. he breathes out slowly, shoulders loosening, expression softening with something quietly reverent. his ears twitch once before flattening, almost as if wordlessly inviting her to reach up and soothe—but he says nothing. he’s too preoccupied with the calm that builds slow and steady, with the way he leans into her warmth. he presses the corner of his mouth lightly to her wrist, as if something there is anchoring him. ]
You smell wonderful.
[ it slips out, a little lost sounding, like he hadn’t meant to say it aloud. still, he lingers, quietly committing the scent of her to memory. ]
I wouldn't say no to a nice dinner, though brunch would suffice. As long as we can get dessert after.
[ she can't help but notice how surprisingly gentle he is with her. she's heard stories of him, some from her father, others just from rumors around the court of fontaine that tell a different side of him, one that she doesn't see now. this feels like a more special side of him, one he doesn't show often.
her eyes close momentarily as the calm fills her, that steady warmth that she felt the first time with him filling her once again. she relishes in that moment before she opens her eyes and reaches up into her hair with her free hand to pull one of the bloomed roses free. reaching up, her fingers glide across his ears gently, smoothing his hair down before nestling the rose near his ear. she wills it to attach to him, a permanent way of giving a little bit of herself to him. ]
[ meanwhile, wriothesley is in no rush to cut the bond or separate anytime soon. from navia’s scent, her touch, to the soft lilt of her voice; everything about her presence cuts cleanly through the unease he’s been carrying. he threads his fingers lightly between hers at his cheek and, almost instinctively, dips his head when her other hand comes to rest atop it. more than anything, he’s caught in the very real and unfamiliar grounding sensation of trust. and when she finally pulls away—leaving only the ghost of her presence in the curl of a flower nestled behind his ear—he lets out a quiet sigh. its roots aren’t intrusive, just a gentle cling to his hair near the base of one ear. but even as a whisper, the fondness is clear. ]
You’ve no idea how much this helped, Navia.
[ and that’s putting it lightly, considering the ordeal of his first shift and how close he came to losing himself to his natural soul entirely. truth be told, both himself and childe both might’ve ended the night far worse off if not for the harbinger’s abilities. afterwards, they'd spent the late hours quietly searching for solutions—ways to anchor himself better next time—but every path had eventually pointed back to one thing: an imprint.
it’s strange, how much steadier he feels now. comforting, even. a sign of how out of sync he’s been since arriving. and if he’s holding on to something as fleeting as navia’s touch or the calm it leaves behind, then he must not have properly breathed in a long while. still, even as wriothesley leans into the quiet selfishness of seeking comfort—he hasn’t forgotten about navia and her current need with the cold season. so he shifts forward, gently lowering his head into her lap with an almost reverent care. ]
It’s a shame the best I can offer in return is a bit of warmth and maybe a nice evening out, but rest assured, if you ever need this back from me, you’ll have it.
[ true enough, the corruption has left him running warmer than usual. she’ll feel it firsthand when he guides their joined hands at his cheek to rest at the nape of his neck, settling her palm against him for a little more heat. after that, his arms fall to rest on either side of her waist, loosely bracketing her where she sits. and there, head in her lap, lies a former duke wholly at ease—marked by the occasional thump of his tail tapping lightly at her feet under his coat. every now and then, it lifts and drops again in lazy arcs.
[ she leaves her hand at his neck and guides her free hand back to his hair. she can already feel the heat radiating off of him - something she already appreciates. while it's a comfortable temperature in her room for most, navia still thinks it's a bit cold for her liking. he's like a warm blanket on her legs, and she fully relaxes under him. ]
Trust me, the warmth is already appreciated.
[ her hand idly plays with his hair for a moment, thumb softly caressing the back of his ear. him there, in her lap, really is a sight to behold. she hasn't thought of titles too much after their initial talk, and she's glad for it. here, they're just normal people trying to get by in a world out to get them. they're not better for having visions or powers or fancy titles. that makes her just a bit more happy.]
I do have one small request - if you don't mind. I'd like you to be there when I shift the first time. Just in case.
[ wriothesley is still basking in the hard-earned peace of their connection when navia raises her request. and thanks to the imprint, he can turn over the events of the previous day with more clarity than even his quietest nights in the fortress. funny, how allowing himself to feel true certainty, and to rely openly on others, does him more good than he’d expected. enough that his usual hesitation in letting others even stand so close isn’t even on his mind.
even so, her request leaves him thoughtful for a beat before he lifts his head to respond. ]
Sure. [ the word comes quietly, almost offhand, as he straightens to meet her gaze. the sound is still soft around the edges as he regains his poise. he stops short of clearing his throat, choosing instead to pause—especially with her hand still resting on him. and while he no longer has human ears to give him away, the light flush on his cheeks and the shy flattening of his wolf ears do more than enough. he's enjoying her touch more than he cares to admit. ] Thank you, for trusting me to be the one to look after you. My own shift wasn’t the calmest, nor the most pleasant by any means, but it taught me enough to know what to do—just in case.
[ he flashes her a small, wry grin and echoes her words and cadence at the end for some humor. shifting is never easy. and since navia’s corruption had bled into her form long before his own, she’s at least familiar with that other presence simmering beneath the surface—like a masked guest waiting to be entertained.
his, on the other hand, had lingered in the shadows, silent and watchful, until it caught him off guard. so wriothesley does what he can now to ease her concerns, while there's still time and quiet between them. ]
Although I will say, going into yours with feelings like these does make a difference. I’d even argue you’re already steps ahead of me, and more prepared than you think. Nevertheless, I will certainly help you through it should you run into any trouble.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
I haven't played with it too much as of yet - only with the roses. [ unconsciously, she reaches up and fiddles with one near her ear, whereas some of the blooms are closed as they were newer, this one was in full bloom. it was her first one, the one that showed up after her first month here. she remembers when she got her vision, at her coming of age party, and how in the days after all she did was fiddle around with it and tried to see what she could do. ] Thorns are a plant's way of protecting itself... I think I'll leave a few, at least for now.
[ a brief pause and then she continues. ] I've already cut a few of them off. It doesn't hurt - it's like when you cut your hair. I think it would hurt more if I cut them off closer to the root.
[ her tone sounds like she might experiment a little, mainly to see how far she can push herself before something actually hurts. it then changes as she changes the subject from her. ] You said you were needing my help?
no subject
[ he lets out a chuckle to keep his words from sinking too deep, though the intent behind them is sincere. he’s no expert in the workings of natural souls or the mess patho-gen has made of them all, but if inevitable change is the price, then softening it with some honest conversation isn’t entirely a bad trade.
and the segue into the reason he's come to lean on navia feels natural. despite the urgency behind reaching out, navia hadn’t pressed him—had let him find his footing again, by offering a quiet sense of normalcy instead of fuss. so he sets his half-finished cup aside, posture straightening slightly before he finally speaks. ]
And… yeah. [ his usual finesse slips for a breath before returning in pieces, steadied by intent. ] So far, you’re the only one I trust when it comes to touch. At least enough that I would go so far as to call it an imprint, and I can only hope that the feeling is mutual.
[ the ask isn't as graceful as he usually is, but being a little vulnerable often isn't the smoothest when it comes to the approach. nevertheless, wriothesley still tries. ]
no subject
[ his vulnerability catches her slight off guard. her posture straightens as she brings the teacup to take a drink, taking one longer than she'd like as she thought on his words quickly. she doesn't want her silence to mean something she doesn't mean. ]
There's no one here that I've known longer than you. [ she admits. ] You and I might not have always seen eye to eye on things, but I think we've come to a point that but there's no one I'd trust more. I think I see what you're saying, Wriothesley.
no subject
Now, I know better than to ask something untoward of a lady, especially while she’s in her own quarters.
[ a flicker of an easy-going smile plays at his mouth as he steps forward and lowers himself onto one knee in front of navia. his expression remains warm as he places a hand over the square of his chest, posture precise and deliberate. ]
So, if you’ll allow me your hand once more? It may be a lot of ceremony for your touch, but your faith in me isn’t something I take lightly, Navia.
[ meanwhile his other hand lifts and gestures for her right—the one with thorns—to be held steady in an open palm. all the while, his wolf ears perk up, subtly angling toward her with quiet attention. ]
no subject
[ all her hesitations gone now, her smile is accompanied by light laughter. she's not making light of this - imprinting is something they need to do here, and it's a way to survive. ] If you keep doing this, I'm going to expect it again should this keep happening.
[ nevertheless, she places her right hand in his. she's careful about it, not wanting to accidentally hurt him. if he's paying more attention, a few of the flowers in her hair bloom more, going from buds to near open. they might have just found out that a happier disposition helps bring her flowers out more; one of many things she's discovering. ]
no subject
Should the next time be at a more manageable hour, then? Brunch, maybe?
[ it’s a smooth little deflection, just to keep their spirits high as wriothesley glances down at navia’s hand, quietly taking in the signs of her corruption. the patches of green and waxy skin, the way both of his hands hold hers—fingertips gently circling the blunted thorns. large, rough palms familiarizing themselves with hers, smaller and softer in comparison. although he doesn’t overlook the light callouses from gripping her weapon, and it doesn’t faze him when he raises her hand to rest her palm against his cheek.
soon enough, lashes flutter shut as the contact grounds him. he breathes out slowly, shoulders loosening, expression softening with something quietly reverent. his ears twitch once before flattening, almost as if wordlessly inviting her to reach up and soothe—but he says nothing. he’s too preoccupied with the calm that builds slow and steady, with the way he leans into her warmth. he presses the corner of his mouth lightly to her wrist, as if something there is anchoring him. ]
You smell wonderful.
[ it slips out, a little lost sounding, like he hadn’t meant to say it aloud. still, he lingers, quietly committing the scent of her to memory. ]
no subject
[ she can't help but notice how surprisingly gentle he is with her. she's heard stories of him, some from her father, others just from rumors around the court of fontaine that tell a different side of him, one that she doesn't see now. this feels like a more special side of him, one he doesn't show often.
her eyes close momentarily as the calm fills her, that steady warmth that she felt the first time with him filling her once again. she relishes in that moment before she opens her eyes and reaches up into her hair with her free hand to pull one of the bloomed roses free. reaching up, her fingers glide across his ears gently, smoothing his hair down before nestling the rose near his ear. she wills it to attach to him, a permanent way of giving a little bit of herself to him. ]
There. That way you can have it with you.
no subject
You’ve no idea how much this helped, Navia.
[ and that’s putting it lightly, considering the ordeal of his first shift and how close he came to losing himself to his natural soul entirely. truth be told, both himself and childe both might’ve ended the night far worse off if not for the harbinger’s abilities. afterwards, they'd spent the late hours quietly searching for solutions—ways to anchor himself better next time—but every path had eventually pointed back to one thing: an imprint.
it’s strange, how much steadier he feels now. comforting, even. a sign of how out of sync he’s been since arriving. and if he’s holding on to something as fleeting as navia’s touch or the calm it leaves behind, then he must not have properly breathed in a long while. still, even as wriothesley leans into the quiet selfishness of seeking comfort—he hasn’t forgotten about navia and her current need with the cold season. so he shifts forward, gently lowering his head into her lap with an almost reverent care. ]
It’s a shame the best I can offer in return is a bit of warmth and maybe a nice evening out, but rest assured, if you ever need this back from me, you’ll have it.
[ true enough, the corruption has left him running warmer than usual. she’ll feel it firsthand when he guides their joined hands at his cheek to rest at the nape of his neck, settling her palm against him for a little more heat. after that, his arms fall to rest on either side of her waist, loosely bracketing her where she sits. and there, head in her lap, lies a former duke wholly at ease—marked by the occasional thump of his tail tapping lightly at her feet under his coat. every now and then, it lifts and drops again in lazy arcs.
what a sight. ]
no subject
Trust me, the warmth is already appreciated.
[ her hand idly plays with his hair for a moment, thumb softly caressing the back of his ear. him there, in her lap, really is a sight to behold. she hasn't thought of titles too much after their initial talk, and she's glad for it. here, they're just normal people trying to get by in a world out to get them. they're not better for having visions or powers or fancy titles. that makes her just a bit more happy.]
I do have one small request - if you don't mind. I'd like you to be there when I shift the first time. Just in case.
no subject
even so, her request leaves him thoughtful for a beat before he lifts his head to respond. ]
Sure. [ the word comes quietly, almost offhand, as he straightens to meet her gaze. the sound is still soft around the edges as he regains his poise. he stops short of clearing his throat, choosing instead to pause—especially with her hand still resting on him. and while he no longer has human ears to give him away, the light flush on his cheeks and the shy flattening of his wolf ears do more than enough. he's enjoying her touch more than he cares to admit. ] Thank you, for trusting me to be the one to look after you. My own shift wasn’t the calmest, nor the most pleasant by any means, but it taught me enough to know what to do—just in case.
[ he flashes her a small, wry grin and echoes her words and cadence at the end for some humor. shifting is never easy. and since navia’s corruption had bled into her form long before his own, she’s at least familiar with that other presence simmering beneath the surface—like a masked guest waiting to be entertained.
his, on the other hand, had lingered in the shadows, silent and watchful, until it caught him off guard. so wriothesley does what he can now to ease her concerns, while there's still time and quiet between them. ]
Although I will say, going into yours with feelings like these does make a difference. I’d even argue you’re already steps ahead of me, and more prepared than you think. Nevertheless, I will certainly help you through it should you run into any trouble.