[closed] fall and turn the white snow red

[morbide]

Who: Henry morbide & Tataru Taru seemstressed
When: 3/1
Where: Tataru's residence
What: A gift from the outpost, a check-in, and a burden from Henry.
Warnings: N/A

[Fortunately, Henry has a reason to be visiting her that isn't as selfish of him. He'd feel odd if he were to arrange a visit purely for himself, on his own accord, for something like... this. Which still fills him with — something, he can't place it, but it's uncomfortable. Beyond any desire to catalogue it, as someone who'd much rather ignore potent emotions than process them. He's uneasy enough to make him wonder if he should fake ill to get out of the engagement, because he's sure that this discomfort is akin to illness.

(But he walked past a man trimming hedges earlier and ended up stuck for minutes, trying to be good and unseen, in case the trimmers were for him. What part of him, he could never guess: his skin, numb to sensation, prickled in dreadful anticipation... until a crow pecked at his toe. How silly! he realized in retrospect. That kind of thing hasn't happened in some time, but this is the kind of thing he's been dealing with.)

But he has a pack of the things he collected for the Lalafell out in the distant Wilde, bound not by boxes or bags, but individual spells created with Abjuration to keep them sealed and away from each other. He compares the address to what she sent him about five times, doubting his own comprehension, before he knocks on the door.

The moment she opens it, he waves with one hand first, then both.]

Heya, Tataru! Lookie here, as promised: the goods, AND I've still got all ten fingers, no more and no less!

[Be proud! All fingers are there, and he didn't try to... grow any new ones??]

Comments

[seemstressed]

_{[She's going to realize eventually how great physical contact is but for now the connection hasn't been made. Instead she's just enjoying the feeling of his hands clasping her smaller ones. His giggle has her relaxing, glad that the whole thing is done and over with. They're Bonded and that's all there is too it. Henry might have a point that he's the one that asked her but that doesn't mean she hadn't been in need of a Bond herself. He'd done her a favour without realizing it.]}

I won't say no if you decide to help me tidy up a bit back at the house. We'll have to get it ready for you to move in, after all.

[morbide]

[Gods, that's right, she wants him to move in... It's not as though he forgot. It's been weighing heavily upon his mind ever since she offered, and diligently, he even consolidated his things back in the barracks.

It'll be nice, to live somewhere and be expected to contribute. He doesn't know what that's like, really. Kind of like being with the Shepherds again, where duties existed and everyone was expected to contribute. It's exciting to him, to have that sense of belonging and expectation. Even when he pretends to groan, a poor display of acting since he's still smiling.]

Yeah yeahhhh, I'll help tidy up straightaway... Twist my arm, why don't you! Nya ha!

[Yeah, he seems so put out by it. Henry continues with his grip on Tataru's hand, even as he's gently reminded to take his lovey-dovey affair elsewhere, this is a place of Bonding, good fortune to them, but please the man has a wedding to conduct in like fifteen minutes.]

What'd you think of the process, Tataru? Did ya like it enough to do it a second time?

[seemstressed]

<sub>[It's Tataru who takes the initiative to tug Henry along while he keeps her hand in his, giving the Witch who conducted the ceremony a quiet thank you as they begin to leave the building. While Henry may be transfixed she at least gets the cue that they better leave.

That doesn't mean he has to let go just yet.]</sub>

Three months and we'll repeat it!

_{[She sounds confident enough that that's how things will play out. Three months and they'll renew their freshly made vows. She gives their hands a little swing.]}

What did you think of it?

[morbide]

[He actually has to consider his feelings on their ceremony. What did he think of it? What could he translate into words? It wasn't as though he could discern how he felt about it, especially now that it was over and done with... But he could try.]

It was a lot less freaky than I thought it would be. Painless, that's for sure. I kinda feel good, now! Wonder if that's the loosening of nerves, the Bond, or the fact that I'm lightheaded... Maybe it's all three.

[Lightheaded apparently feels good to Henry... Anyway, gloss over that, it's unimportant.]

We'll be ready for it next time, huh? That is, if you reeeally wanna, in 90 days time... Maybe I'll really make you fly the coop! Or, more likely, you'll chase me and my collection of dead birds out the door with a broom. [A thought.] Say, Tataru, do they make brooms your size? Or do you want me to do all the sweeping, too?

[Henry is very chatty.]

[seemstressed]

<sub>[Who thinks being lightheaded feels good...Henry you're something else.

He's right though, now that it's done and over with, she's feeling much better herself as well. Is it a placebo effect? Maybe, maybe not. Either way, she won't think too deeply on it.]</sub>

Well...yes, there are Lalafell sized brooms. _{[Or rather child-sized brooms for other races.]} But, since you offered so sweetly, you're welcome to help me sweep as well.

_{[Yeah you walked right into that one buddy.]}

[morbide]

Ack... Guess so! Sweeping duty's on me. You can count on me...

[So many chores that he'll have to do, instead of just... letting things sit around the room, and not having much to deal with other than magical implements to begin with...]