faemused | Open To Anyone For Anything RP Post

"That depends as well." He pauses a little, understanding why she is asking, and at once grateful and angry that she needs to ask.

"Amongst my people... the language of gems meant that the one being courted could repay a gift in such a way as to signify rejection, or simply... return the gift. I don't know how the others did it."

She hears the note of frustration in his voice, and looks up at him, eyebrow raised. Her voice is quiet as the says, "The custom is similar among my people. And I am wearing your gift."

"Yes."

He hesitates and then adds. "But I did not wish to read to much into it. You do not know my culture, and have no reason to, after all. Normally, to wear the gift is to accept the suite, but obviously that is not the case, in this scenario."

"Ah." She grimaces a little, aware that she may have hurt him. "With us, to accept and use or display the gift signifies...not full acceptance, but that the giver is at least favored. Or else the gift is returned." Haleth sighs, looking ahead once more. "We have much scope for misunderstanding. I appreciate that you do not make assumptions."

Neither does she, it is clear, or else she would not ask so many questions.

But they have come to the edge of the hill, which slopes steeply downwards towards the plain that leads to the mountains in the east. Haleth walks with sure steps down towards a particular place, an indent in the slope. It is an excellent place to sit, protected from the wind on several sides, and providing a clear, unobstructed view of the landscape ahead and below. She settles herself at once, and gestures for him to sit beside her.

"I am not angry." He assures her. "You did not know, and I do not expect you to, nor to conform to our ideas."

He comes to sit beside her.

"The men of my family are all stubborn." He says quietly. "Until you tell me no... I will keep trying."

"Stubborn and precipitous both, you warned me." Haleth looks over at him and smiles a little, not without affection. "If I did tell you no, would you accept it?"

"I would not be happy, but..." He looks away.

"If that is... would be, what you wanted. I would abide."

Haleth looks back out at the mountains. The horizon is hidden behind them, and the stars are still bright. "What life could we have?" she asks quietly, after a few moments. "Would you have me bring my people to dwell with you in your city? Or would you and I live apart, instead of working side by side as husband and wife should, and see each other but once or twice a season?"

"I would not ask you to leave your people." He says honestly.

"And you would not believe me, if I said I would leave mine. To you it might seem strange, to live apart and meet only for a season, but it is not unheard of, amongst my folk, to part only to return. It would be unusual, yes - but my folk have long understood that one's work or passion might take partners apart for a season."

"Your people are long-lived, however, far more so than we. What is a season in a lifespan of centuries?" She sighs a little. "You wrong me when you say I would not believe you, for I know you are truthful. But I would not ask you to leave your people for my sake any more than you would require it of me."

She blinks, as though what they both have said has only just sunk in, and turns to him astonished. "Do you mean that you would, if there were no other way to be with me?"

"I would." He says quietly.

"You speak truly that a season is little in a long life. And I would spend as much time as I could with you before you are gone."

She spoke truth; she does believe him, astonished as she is, and her eyes show that she is much shaken by his certitude.

Haleth's eyes flit from his eyes to his mouth, and she licks her own lips unconsciously. Taking a deep breath, she reaches up and places a hand on the back of his head, pulling it down to her level so she may kiss him.

He blinks at her, startled, and she can feel the flush.

"Haleth?" he asks, unsure.

She halts at once, remembering abruptly that there is much opportunity for misunderstanding here. "May I kiss you?" she asks, and she is blushing a little herself, her voice hushed. "I should have asked first, and ask pardon that I did not."

He breathes out, a shaky noise, and nods, shyly.

"If... if you want."

He closes the distance between them slowly, shyly, for all his normal poise.

She nods also, a slight movement, just before their mouths meet and her eyes close.

At first it is only a meeting of lips, cool and chapped by winter air. Then Haleth takes another breath and leans against him, opening her mouth a little so their breath mingles and they may taste each other's warmth. Her hand is still resting on the back of his head, and her fingers twine themselves in the night-dark hair.

She pulls away after a moment, looking more calm than she did before, and licks her lips again. "It is Yuletide," she says softly. "A night for reflection and gratitude. I propose that for what is left of it we talk no more of choices, but simply enjoy each other's company."

As she parts her lips he does also, softly tasting her and reaching to draw her close. He parts reluctantly from her, and his cheeks are stained as red as his mothername, but the light in his eyes is very bright.

"That I can do." He agrees. "Thank you, Haleth."

"For the kiss, or the suggestion?" she asks. He has an arm around her still, and she does not pull further back; on the contrary she leans against him. They will both be warmer that way, after all. And besides, his arm fits well over her shoulder.

"Both."

He shifts a little to accomodate her better.

"I confess, after the quarrelling of my family, being able to simply sit quietly is a boon. But the kiss was nice too."

She nods; it was nice. Some might press further, take offense at the lukewarm description or try to tease out a further compliment, but Haleth simply agrees. It is surprisingly easy to relax into this position, as they look out at the mountains. The sky is just hinting at a lightness. The sun will rise behind the mountains before they can see it, but not yet. They have time.

"Do you see your family often, that you quarrel with them so much?" She knows they all have claimed separate lands for their own; she studied them enough.

"Not so often as that." She is warm against his side, and whatever the morning will bring, he will have this memory to hold against the dark.

"But of late we grow increasingly quarrlesome, it seems. The uncertainty and the Oath itself, I suppose, bites at us. The memory of our failures, and the fear of the future. It is worst for Curufin, I think, but he is almost unberable, now."

"You do not seem to fear it," she says thoughtfully. "More to defy it. Why is it worse for Curufin?"

"Do I seem so?" He says ruefully. "I'm terrified, Haleth. But unlike Curufin, I'm pretty resigned to it, too. I suppose ... I've always been something of the odd one out. I'm used to not getting what I want. Curufin... he was father's favourite. The baby for the longest time, until the Ambarussa were born. He's used to getting his own way, but he's smart enough to know there's no way this can end well."

For the first time, Haleth feels a stab of sympathy for Caranthir. She is used to thinking of the Firstborn as gifted beyond all others; compassion is not something they have seemed to need, much less merited. Except, in Caranthir's case, on a more personal level, regarding his wishes towards her--but that is a separate matter entirely.

They are already sitting side by side, with his arm around her shoulders; it is not hard for her to reach for his free hand and hold it in hers. His fingers are not so cold as she expected. "What do you fear, and what have you sought that was not given?" she asks. "Tell me of it, if you will.

He is silent a long time, and when he speaks, his voice is quieter than his wont.

"I fear the Dark. The Void, I suppose. I know we are going to fail. We are setting ourselves against one of the Powers themselves, even fallen - how exactly are we supposed to win? Alqualonde demonstrated that the Oath was ill wrought, and will become only more so with time, and yet we cannot break it. Even now, I can feel it gnaw at me, although all of us have become practised at ignoring it - we are none of us keen to replace Maedhros in Thangorodrim! But if we fulfil it not, tis the Everlasting Dark for us, and that... that, I fear. I have known Unlight, Haleth, and the Void must be infinitely worse."

He shrugs awkwardly. "As to things that I have sought... I was always... the odd one. It's in my mothername, even - imagine, if you will, having brothers named for their beauty, for their skill... and yours is no more than a reference to your tendency to blush. I have a temper. I dislike crowds, and yet as a prince I was required to be in them, frequently. Amongst my brothers I do not stand out, and so was often passed over. Only in embroidery was I ever able to find some peace."

Re: /looks bake at Yule celebrations and snorts (this is good bullshit though)

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you just had to use the cat icon for the kiss, didn't you.

I had nothign suitable! XD

Such as literally any other icon? ;)

/LE SHRUG >p

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and again, the fact that she's making small talk means she *really* likes him

heeeeee

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and again, the fact that she's making small talk means she really likes him