[ Reynir listens to Onni, heart beating hard, face flushed from the intensity of his emotions. After saying all that, he feels raw, like an exposed nerve, sensitive to the slightest shift. At first, Onni starts by talking about the world being terrible, and for just a few seconds, Reynir is afraid. But then Onni says he made the part of the world in which Onni feels safe much bigger, and Reynir's breath catches in his throat. His fingers tighten against Onni's, but he holds back any other audible reaction.
But he can't help the smile that stretches across his face, for the rest of Onni's vow. It just gets broader and brighter with every word, Reynir's own eyes welling up as Onni says you're a person I care about and says he will let himself trust Reynir. He is remembering their conversation about frivolous things, too. He is remembering how just earlier today, he'd been letting himself doubt that Onni cared very much about him at all.
He tries to fix this moment, every detail of it, into his memory. Because right here, right now, he has no doubts. They aren't bound, yet. But he knows it. Onni cares about him, deeply. Even without a ritual. He has to swallow back a little laugh of relief and joy that bubbles up in his throat.
It almost doesn't register to him, when the Witch steps forward and does something or other in his peripheral vision. Binding their souls together, or something like that. Reynir doesn't look away from Onni, but he can feel it, the moment that the ritual is complete. It's like a door opening inside him, a rush of something pouring in, a release of pressure as if something is pouring out of him, as well. It's nothing like anything he has felt before.
Reynir feels warmth spreading all through his body, to each fingertip and to the top of his head and the soles of his feet. It's like a tug, from just beneath his breastbone, and a sense of... presence. Not-aloneness. And he can't hold back the little shocked laugh, now. ]
Oh.
[ He turns his attention outward again, gaze focusing on Onni, checking in to see how he is reacting to, no doubt, the same exact feeling. Checking in that he is okay. ]
Can you feel that?
[ The Witch is stepping away, but seems content to give them some space in this moment, and Reynir has very little spare room to worry about her or whether they ought to stop holding hands and make way for the next ceremony. All his thoughts are occupied with Onni and how he is adjusting to this. ]
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But he can't help the smile that stretches across his face, for the rest of Onni's vow. It just gets broader and brighter with every word, Reynir's own eyes welling up as Onni says you're a person I care about and says he will let himself trust Reynir. He is remembering their conversation about frivolous things, too. He is remembering how just earlier today, he'd been letting himself doubt that Onni cared very much about him at all.
He tries to fix this moment, every detail of it, into his memory. Because right here, right now, he has no doubts. They aren't bound, yet. But he knows it. Onni cares about him, deeply. Even without a ritual. He has to swallow back a little laugh of relief and joy that bubbles up in his throat.
It almost doesn't register to him, when the Witch steps forward and does something or other in his peripheral vision. Binding their souls together, or something like that. Reynir doesn't look away from Onni, but he can feel it, the moment that the ritual is complete. It's like a door opening inside him, a rush of something pouring in, a release of pressure as if something is pouring out of him, as well. It's nothing like anything he has felt before.
Reynir feels warmth spreading all through his body, to each fingertip and to the top of his head and the soles of his feet. It's like a tug, from just beneath his breastbone, and a sense of... presence. Not-aloneness. And he can't hold back the little shocked laugh, now. ]
Oh.
[ He turns his attention outward again, gaze focusing on Onni, checking in to see how he is reacting to, no doubt, the same exact feeling. Checking in that he is okay. ]
Can you feel that?
[ The Witch is stepping away, but seems content to give them some space in this moment, and Reynir has very little spare room to worry about her or whether they ought to stop holding hands and make way for the next ceremony. All his thoughts are occupied with Onni and how he is adjusting to this. ]
Are you - okay?