Open To Anyone For Anything RP Post

[questionablewit]

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[takesnoshit]

Haleth looks more open than she usually does, warmed by singing and celebration and success, her doubts of earlier banished for the moment. And her new clothing suits her very well, the rich color teasing warmer tints from her brown hair and eyes in the firelight.

"I am glad you and your kin were here to share it," she says simply. She has noticed that some of his companions have been moved to the point of tears, and is both touched and honored by it. "Things vary more, from this point. Some choose to celebrate with their families or groups of friends, and feast and drink, while others prefer to keep a more quiet vigil until dawn."

There are whooping noises to the side as a group seperate themselves, already dancing each other in circles as they wander off. Haleth smiles a little at their joy. "That last is my preference, most years. To wait and see the first sun of the new year rise." She looks up at him, and her smile changes, for once looking...not shy, not Haleth. Self-conscious, perhaps. "If you are not overtired from your journey, I would welcome your company."

[grumpycatanthir]

Haleth looks beautiful, and Caranthir is pleased to see that the dress suits her, as he had hoped it did, pressing wishes and dreams into the cloth as he sewed.

"As we are to be here." He nods.

That brings a smile of his own, a quiet little quirk of his mouth.

"I cam to see you, Haleth. I would be honored."

[takesnoshit]

She flushes a little, but before she can speak some of the Haladin come to speak with her. Not of anything serious, to judge by their expressions. Meanwhile the young healer Linneth takes a few moments to speak to Caranthir, using slow, careful, new-taught Sindarin to thank him for his tutelage months ago. Someone has been passing on her own lessons in Sindarin, clearly.

They are both of them engaged in small talk for some time, as the bonfire burns bright and hot and merry. Now and then someone will approach and toss a thing into the fire. It is a varied assortment: dried oak leaves, a splash of mead, a bird's skeleton, a ribbon.

Haldan approaches Caranthir, while Haleth is still occupied. "I gave a rock," he says, in simple but understandable Sindarin. "For strength, so I will be strong. Did you bring anything?"

[grumpycatanthir]

Caranthir corrects Linneth on her pronounciation, but accepts the thanks graciously. He listens more than he speaks as the bonfire burns, watching Haleth more than the fire.

He looks at Haldan and considers. "I did not." But...

He reaches into his pouch and searches, and retrieves paper.

"Have you something to lean against?"

[takesnoshit]

Haldan considers. "You could lean against me if you wish," he says, offering his back. "Or there is a copse of trees over there, or chairs in some of the tents."

He is not sure if Caranthir means something for Caranthir to lean against, or to write on.

[grumpycatanthir]

Caranthir eyes him.

"Trees would be easier to write on." He decides. "You go, I'll manage."

[takesnoshit]

Haldan looks a little disappointed, and opens his mouth to say something more, but his mother pulls him away, smiling apologetically at Caranthir.

It is some time before Haleth is free once more to seek him out, and by that point things have quieted. Some stand or sit watching the bonfire, and others have retreated to other celebrations elsewhere.

[grumpycatanthir]

Caranthir tips his head in acknowledgement back at her, and then wanders over to the trees, to scribble something on the paper that he returns to cast into the fire, watching it thoughtfully until it is consumed.

He turns to look at Haleth when she comes over.

"Have your people released you, then?"

[takesnoshit]

She rejoins him in time to see him cast something into the fire, though she cannot tell what it was. There are so many small things burning in the fire that it is impossible to tell which was whose.

"For the moment," she answers, still smiling a little. It is a good night, one of the best she can remember since before the orc raid that changed all things. "For the night, I hope. Even a Chieftain--or a Prince--needs some time alone." She nods her head towards the fire. "You thought of an offering for the fire, I see."

[grumpycatanthir]

"Mm." He nods. "Your nephew gave me the idea."

He eyes the level of the moon.

"Although I think there is not much left of the night, at this point."

[takesnoshit]

There is open curiosity in her gaze, but she does not ask, instead reaching into one of her pockets and pulling out something: a small, flat piece of glass, broken but still transparent.

"There is not," she agrees, looking at the fire and throwing the uneven glass circle in, aiming at the high point of the bonfire. She watches it glow in the fire for a moment, then looks up at Caranthir once more. "Come. There is a bit of hillside this way that I have found is best for watching the sun rise. Though that may not be for an hour or so yet."

[grumpycatanthir]

He follows the gleam of glass thoughtfully, but like her, he does not press, only nodding and turning to follow.

"Lead on. You will not be cold?" He checks - the Eldar can withstand greater ranges of temperature, but it is cold, and he has on his winter cloak.

[takesnoshit]

"I will not be cold enough to signify," she says. She too is warmly layered, not only in the clothes he gifted but her own fur-lined cloak. "And it is not far. Some ten minutes' walk, at my pace."

She has already turned to walk next to him, and it is a good thing she always moves briskly, or it would be difficult to keep up with his longer strides. She is glad at least it has not snowed in the past few days.

"Tell me more of courting among your people," she asks as they walk. "If there is more to tell."

/bullshits

[grumpycatanthir]

He nods, following in her footsteps.

"Ah... well. The fine details vary. We are not all one people, after all. The Noldor, as I said, court with gems. Usually something you've made yourself, is considered appropriate. The Vanyar preferred poetry and flowers, and if jewellry, gold only. Amongst the Teleri, giving the one you are courting fish caught by your own hand. The Sindar, I'm sure, have different traditions to. But the common denominator appears to be - the gift must come from your own hand, if at all possible, and from the hand of kin, if not."

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

[takesnoshit]

Haleth nods approvingly. "That seems appropriate. Far better than purchasing something impersonal from a trader, something that might have come from any hand and which says nothing about the giver, or the recipient. If the one courted wishes to accept or refuse, is there any ritual to that, beyond giving an answer?"

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

[grumpycatanthir]

"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."

[takesnoshit]

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."

[grumpycatanthir]

"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."

[takesnoshit]

"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.

[grumpycatanthir]

"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."

[takesnoshit]

"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?"

[grumpycatanthir]

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

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

[takesnoshit]

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?"

[grumpycatanthir]

"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."

[takesnoshit]

"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?"