Open To Anyone For Anything RP Post

[questionablewit]

Want to tag someone? Tag someone. Put the character you want in the subject line.
Leave a starter, or leave a prompt and I'll start.
Brilliant ideas and clueless flailing all welcome.
AUs and cross-canon, drama and comedy and shipping.
Just throw stuff at me. It's all good.

Comments

[takesnoshit]

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."

[grumpycatanthir]

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.

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

[takesnoshit]

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."

I had nothign suitable! XD

[grumpycatanthir]

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."

Such as literally any other icon? ;)

[takesnoshit]

"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.

/LE SHRUG >p

[grumpycatanthir]

"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."

[takesnoshit]

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.

[grumpycatanthir]

"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."

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

[takesnoshit]

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

heeeeee

[grumpycatanthir]

"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."

[takesnoshit]

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.

[grumpycatanthir]

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."

[takesnoshit]

What can she say to any of that? The Gift of Men is Death, and it is feared by most. But Haleth can see how even that uncertain Gift would seem a boon in comparison to Everlasting Dark. She considers the Oath to have been a foolish choice in every respect, but it is done and cannot be undone.

There is no advice Haleth can give, no comfort she can offer. Only such understanding as she is capable of, and whatever might be given here and now. She is silent for a long time as she considers his words. "I like your blushes," she says finally. She is still holding his hand, and her thumb brushes lightly along his skin. "And your embroidery is beautiful."

[grumpycatanthir]

It was foolish, but Caranthir does not regret it - he cannot, for he swore it for love of his brothers and his father, and he loves them still, even when he wants to bash their heads in.

"Thank you." He murmurs, blushing in response. "You are the first to say so. About my blushing, I mean. My brothers prefer to tease."

[takesnoshit]

"That is the way of brothers." She looks up at the sky, thinking about the Gift of Men. "My twin often teased me, saying I was too serious or too blunt, or else so sharp I would cut myself on my own tongue." Her voice is much quieter when she adds, "I would give all I have to hear him tease me thus again, even if it irked me at times."

Haleth understands why Caranthir swore the Oath, foolish as it was.

[grumpycatanthir]

"I wish I had come in time to save yours." He says quietly. "This war takes too much from all of us."

[takesnoshit]

She sighs and shakes her head. Although her first reaction to Caranthir's arrival in the heat of battle was anger, that was but the desperation of the moment. The Enemy is to blame, not Caranthir, and she will not accept his guilt or regret on account of her dead. He knows it.

She leans back against the wall of the enclosure in which they sit, looking gravely out at the scenery. "My people travelled over the mountains out of the dark country, in search of gods. But we found only more questions, more searching. Perhaps peace is not meant for any of us who live on Arda, little though I like the thought." She sounds younger than she usually does, though also more tired, her usual iron determination set aside for the moment to allow for more quiet musings.

[grumpycatanthir]

He barks a short sound that is too bitter to be a laugh.

"Having lived amongst the 'gods' you hoped to find, I have to say they are rather less amazing than advertised. I suppose most of them mean well enough, in their own ways, but they were fools to try and hold us, and we were fools to allow them to try." He shrugs, a little bitter.

"But you have the right of it, I think. This is Arda Marred - there is no safety to be truly found anywhere, and what happiness can be found we must make for ourselves."

[takesnoshit]

She shoots him a faintly ironic look, for that last remark seems a little too pointed in her direction, and they have agreed not to discuss it for what remains of the night.

[grumpycatanthir]

"Sorry." He shrugs. "But the topic is not easy to avoid."

[takesnoshit]

She grimaces a little, but the subject has not left her mind either, for all that it was she who suggested setting it aside. The sky is definitely brightening now, and she watches as the mountains begin to turn from black to a deep blue in the light of the sun rising behind them. "What then would you have, to make your happiness in this imperfect world?" she asks finally. "If I do accept your suit, would you have I and my people join you and yours, where you live? What would you most wish?"

[grumpycatanthir]

He considers this quietly for a time.

"Not with me." He says finally. "I am too close to the Enemy and I do not wish your people in harms way. And nothing that would compromise your status as Chief. But to be with you, for as long as you will have me, e'en if I must come and go with the seasons. That is my desire."

[takesnoshit]

Even with the question of what he might wish most, he considers her people's safety and her own autonomy. Haleth cannot but be moved by that, and turns her head to kiss him again, lifting her hand to his cheek.

[grumpycatanthir]

His cheeks heat under her lips, grey eyes shy and fond.

"Haleth?" He asks quietly. "Please do think about it. I would never chain you, but I do love you."

[takesnoshit]

She makes a small noise, a snort of laughter. "You misunderstand. I am wary because I can see how easy it would be to think of nothing else."

This time her kiss is neither brief nor tentative, and her hands tangle in his hair as her mouth catches at his.