#i will do everything i can; i will be that person for you :: beatrice & raguna

[rcguna-archived]

@onlyhorn​ sent: " Father. " Betty pipes up, somewhat bashfully, as she stomps up to Raguna and faces him with all her tiny might. Beatrice looks determined, but there is a very evident flush over her cheeks that indicate embarrassment she's trying to desperately hide. " I... suppose I will call you Father, starting now. It feels too.... odd. To refer to you as anyone else. " She pauses, then casts her gaze down to the floor. " ... if... it's alright with you, I suppose. "

There’s no telling what Raguna may be in for when it came to Beatrice and her episodes. Well, episodes isn’t the right way of putting it. Maybe it’d be better to phrase it as uh, whenever the spirit had need of something. She was forceful about such things and yet it wasn’t as if she was spoiled, Raguna saw it as being direct. Raguna, I need a place to keep my books. Raguna, I would prefer a more sequestered room, I suppose. Raguna, the chickens.... ahem. I suppose they could be warmer. The list went on a bit more than that, but perhaps the idea is properly conveyed.

And yet this never bothered him. Working to help others had been one of his most important pursuits ever since he woke up in the countryside. Paying back the kindnesses that people had given to him. Certainly there were some folks out in the world who saw his generosity as a farce to ‘buy’ the assistance or kindness of others, but convincing those individuals that some people just like to see others being happy is a difficulty.

Even Beatrice fell into this category, through the months and months that he spent coming around the manor and associating with the Roswaal estate he had always tried to find points where he was able to see Beatrice and do things for her in spite of her protests. Bringing her books. Making her treats. Talking about anything they may be able to relate on (which, at first, was very little). And yet he had no goal in this other than spending time with her. It had taken until she confessed her situation to him, and made the contract with him, for the spirit to realize this. To realize that this wasn’t some trick or deception. Raguna just wanted her to be happy and wouldn’t hesitate to go beyond what was normal for a person to do so.

Because he cared about her.

Maybe some people would expect this turn of events as the next order of business. Like taking another step around a well lit pathway in the woods. Of course this kind of thing should come naturally, right? When you hear the babbling of the brook is it really so surprising to find the water and a little waterfall off to the side? For Raguna, it would seem..... yes it is. Her declaration throws his eyes open from the content lidding they’d been indulging in. Something different stirs in his chest. His heart was an organ that had already been through so much. With finding who he was, with falling for Rem, with dying and returning, with the revelation of Zeyrfial...

…there was so much for him to protect. And it was almost an entirely thankless job. Protecting everyone he could- had he forgotten that he wasn’t the only one who wished to reciprocate that love? Rem notwithstanding. Of course. Maybe this was his own naivete plaguing him. Letting his eyes remain closed to ignore the fear and pain was unintentionally blocking out everything that his efforts were creating and preserving. This was one of those things. One of the most important of them. Beatrice.

And now with those eyes opened he could see that in a way his spirit was paying him back for some of his kindness to her. It was so easy for him to forget that he had a contract with the spirit and she was obligated to stay around him. His resources of mana are so plentiful he rarely feels it when she needs the energy, even on top of what energy also cycled because of his contract with Leif. Raguna sniffs after a light chuckle at her request, wipes a tear from his eye and smiles brightly before ushering her into a hug, one he doesn’t release for some time. 

Father... Father... Gods, Raguna had always wanted a family, it was the first wish that came to him after he found his bearings and started building a life around helping others. One towards a future, one that he knew that he wished to have with Rem. But he never thought the first person to be a part of their family would be someone adopted like this. Someone saved.

“Of course, Betty, I... I think I’d really like that, actually. Thank you.” Even if it felt weird. Even if it was a surprise. This felt right. Just like holding the spirit in his arms did.

[onlyhorn]

“ Rem.. you know what I’m here to talk with you about. “

Rem had been brought into a room shortly after being subdued by Betty. She had no injuries, but she was placed in a bed for her own safety, her own comfort. The outburst she expressed earlier had literally shaken the foundation of the mansion. She is lucky that Roswaal wasn’t here, else he would have thought the mansion was under attack, and things could have gotten much worse.

Rem was... unresponsive, at first. She couldn’t meet her sister’s gaze, no matter how hard she tried to meet it herself. She’d always look away. She was ashamed. Ram knew why. She knew that she lost control of herself. And in that moment, she almost killed the person she had sworn she’d take care of.

“ I’m your sister, Rem. I could feed you the same bullshit of ‘I don’t understand how you feel’ because I DO understand. Your anger, your hatred, your regret.. I can feel pretty much all of it. “

“ I... I don’t... I don’t understand, Nee-sama... “

She couldn’t understand. How had the one she’d come to love fallen so deep into the witch’s claws? She wanted to be mad at him but she couldn’t. She couldn’t. She put blame on him but it was fake. It wasn’t deserved. She presses her hands against her eyes, to try to stop the formation of tears before they start waterfalling down her face.

“ How did this happen? Why did this happen...? Raguna.. He wasn’t supposed to be like that... “

Ram frowned. She knew that she was confused, pleading with whatever deity she believed in to confirm to her why the love of her life had suddenly turned dark in her eyes. Ram clenches her hands into fists at her knees, grinding her teeth together in thought... Then, eventually, she leans forward, reaches out, and takes her sister’s hand in her own. An act of comfort. One she’s always done with Rem was upset.

“ It’s not his fault, Rem. I spoke with Beatrice about it shortly after she subdued you. “

Rem flinches, eyes going wide. She looks at her sister in confusion. She wants clarification.

“ There was something afflicting him. Something he had no control over. According to Beatrice-sama, she confirmed that there was an outside force attempting to influence him. “

“ A-- Attempting...? “

Ram frowns. If Beatrice had time to explain this to Rem before he ran into her in the hallway, most of what just happened could have been prevented. Even if Rem didn’t understand it fully now, she would have been less likely to have an outburst like that, maybe even given him a chance...

“ When he left, he mentioned he was going to try to find a way to solve it. To get rid of it. For you. “

Her sister’s hand clutches Ram’s tightly. It feels almost like she might end up breaking her hand - but she knows she won’t. Rem was just trying to process it all.

“ Wh-- what if he was lying? What if none of what he said was true? All the things he told me before.. what if none of them meant anything...? “

“ You’re STILL doubting him? “

Beatrice’s voice comes as a surprise to the two maidens. They each look over at her, confused and puzzled. How long had she been at the doorway? Had she merely appeared there? The little librarian approaches the bed and turns to look at Rem pointedly, ready to crush any further doubts she may have.

“ I may not be very fond of seeing you two act all gross in the courtyard or in the hallways... Hell, I try to give you some privacy but even then, you two made it hard to ignore you. “

“ Just get to the point, Beatrice-sama. “

“ I was getting there! Ugh... Look - my point is, I’ve seen the way you two talked and interacted. I can tell when people are being honest with themselves. And from what I’ve witnessed from you two, everything that transpired between you was honest. Not a lick of it was said with malicious intent. “

“ I know you likely have a hard time believing that, Rem, but it surprises me how quickly you painted him in black and white the moment he started to show that aura. Why didn’t you seek to help him? “

“ I.... I thought.. “

I thought I couldn’t save him. I thought he was beyond saving. I thought if I let him stay any more, he’d hurt Ram, he’d hurt Roswaal, he’d hurt me.

... They were thoughts she didn’t want to accept. But they were thoughts she had no choice but to admit were the ones that went through her head at the time.

“ Raguna still loves you, Rem. He always has. “

“ You don’t need your elder sister’s bias to influence what you think here. You know it, too.

“ ... It’s because of me that Raguna had no choice but to run away. “

Rem slowly starts to move out of her bed. She takes a slow, deep breath, trying to collect herself. Her sister looks worried, staring at her as if she were uncertain if she was truly believing her own words.

“ He would have given me a chance, if I were in that same situation... and -- because of my selfishness, because I was scared, I didn’t give him that chance. “

“ But that doesn’t mean I’m too late. “

“ Beatrice-sama.. where is he? “

She turns to Betty. She almost seems somewhat surprised - she knows that deeper down, Rem was aching and hurting and just wanted to cry - but she knows the type of danger that Raguna’s in right now. If she doesn’t do something, she’ll lose him for good.

“ ... He said he was going to go confer with the spirits in the woods. You might still have some time to catch up with him, if you take Roswaal’s fastest-- “

Rem doesn’t even give her time to finish her sentence. Before she could finish, Rem had already moved to bolt out the door. Ram had gotten up, with the intent of pursuing her, but Betty held out a hand to her, halting her approach. Ram turns to her, a visible look of fire hidden in those pink irises of hers.

“ You can’t seriously tell me I shouldn’t go with my own sister, Beatrice..? “

“ I can. As much as I hate to admit it, you would only slow her down, I suppose.. “

“ ... “

_________________________________________________

The Sun was already beginning to set. If Rem wasn’t quick enough, she wouldn’t be able to make it to Raguna’s home in time. The forest is dangerous after dark, she’s been told plenty of times. If Raguna is out there when it gets dark, he might die. 

So, she took the fastest, strongest land dragon that Roswaal had, and rode it without a carriage to avoid as much weight as possible. Unfortunately, the sight she’d soon be graced with would be anything except what she WANTED to see.

This-- This was the sign of a battle. A ruined carriage, out in the open, destroyed, broken beyond repair. She found bodies... cultist bodies. Dead on the ground, slain by a sword. Her breath was picking up... did they get him? Did they take Raguna? She tries to look around for any sign of him around, EVEN A BODY, but... there is nothing. No clues. NOTHING.

... Except, a scent.

She picks it up almost immediately. She can smell it - it’s repulsive, disgusting, and it goes deeper into the forest. She didn’t care if the forest was going to be dangerous.

She wasn’t going to let them take away her reason to LIVE.

[rcguna-archived]

@onlyhorn​ sent: Betty holds his hand. She's not looking at him. She's flushed a bit-- clearly unused to this, but- she wants it just as much as he does. That much is obvious. " Don't say anything, I suppose. "

The days leading up to the festival had a way of taking a toll on the farmer. He took several of the preparations on himself despite many insisting he doesn’t. Even now, with the fall festival happening in Arlam, a place that wasn’t even his home, he had felt the need to contribute. Pies. Decorations. Setting up tables and tents. Fortunately this year for this festival he had Rem with him. Not only to contribute herself but to reign Raguna in were he to try too hard or push himself more than he should. This year’s tally? Three times.

Even before the new part of his ‘family’ had been added, spending the time working with her made everything go so much more... pleasantly? Smoothly? There were a number of adjectives to describe it, the same ones he’d use to describe living with Rem in general for that matter. Cooking together. Pie tasting together. Carving pumpkins together. Marveling at Rem’s ability to carry an entire tent by herself... marveling at Rem...

Oh, he’d been doing that now too during the festival, hadn’t he? To be so easily distracted by his fiancée, that was in part how Wylan had been able to wrest a certain spirit away from her contractor for an impromptu dance during the closing festivities lit by the grand bonfire. Both he and Rem were equal witnesses as Ram in seeing the swordsman pull her to the dance floor, dancing her about, spinning her like a child. Granted, she was not allowing herself to show that similar glee as a normal girl would being turned about by a man such as him. She was still quite herself, and quite the... oh what was the word. Wylan had said it once.

A few times, catching fragments of her complaints and (hopefully) empty threats, Raguna can’t help himself from laughing, smiling in a way that felt unfamiliar to him thus far, yet it gave him a sense of warmth that complimented the way it felt to be next to Rem. Like another piece of his soul had found its way back to his body, another piece to the puzzle of who he was. Who he wanted to be.

When the ‘dance’ was said and done, with Wylan striding over to take Ram into his hand to dance with her, Beatrice quickly found her way back to Raguna’s side. She mutters and casts a glance back towards the swordsman who was now fussing with Ram. Fixing hand positions or something of the sort. Ram had a ways to go to be a dancer like Wylan, but both of them could probably go circles around the farmer. 

Beatrice says something else unsuitable of a girl with her appearance before she was back at his side. Her face was flushed. And Raguna found his hand taken in hers. So small. Having never physically interacted with Beatrice in any way, it was always so strange being closer to her now. Her personality and sharp tongue had always compensated for her short stature, being with her now when she was, well, softer, made it all the more obvious.

“Don’t say anything, I suppose.”

Don’t say anything about what? He wonders. How he could tell she had enjoyed herself with Wylan? How she had come back and so quickly taken his hand? How he presumed she was happy to have come to the festival? All were things that actually made him quite happy as well, after all. Was she worried he’d tease her? The irony of the situation was enough to get Raguna to chuckle a bit himself, earning him a scrutinizing stare from the spirit as she flashed him the look. And yet her hand remained in his, and his hold on her stayed as the dance continued.

The two of them stand there for another moment before he feels a weight leaning on him. The day had been long, and even before Beatrice speaks up Raguna wonders if she’s getting tired. Between the pies, contest, food, dancing, everything else, it was undeniably more of an exertion than she was probably used to. 

“...I’m getting tired, I suppose.” She speaks the words with an attempt at an edge, but Raguna can’t help but detect some frustration in her tone. As if this realization was not what she wanted, and he further surmises, she wasn’t yet wanting to turn in.

“You know, Beatrice, if you don’t want to head back yet, I can carry you. It wouldn’t be a problem at all for me. We can watch more of the dance or see if there’s any other desserts we’d like to try. I don’t think they’ve taken the food away yet. There may be more of those cookies you liked.” Ah, not only is he speaking when asked to stay silent but he’s just going to call her out a bit, isn’t he? Yielding to a half hearted request to leave wasn’t in either of their best interests. Beatrice looks confused, flustered, and yet does nothing to tell him no. In fact, instead, she holds both her arms up in invitation all the while avoiding eye contact. 

Raguna follows through with the opening to lift her up, setting her in the crook of an arm. Difficult? Not at all as he had mentioned. His appearance was deceptive, hiding a great amount of strength in his own right even if he still couldn’t match Rem. Added bonus? Now Beatrice could see the rest of the dancers as well as the brilliant bonfire at the center of it all.

Also visible were Ram and Wylan who had taken center stage (to the surprise of none of Roswaal’s group). Arm in arm. Hand in hand. They turn and spun and smiled and laughed together all the while beaming with a love that... well, Raguna is far from jealous. He just never would have expected someone like Wylan to look so naturally happy without a twisted grin or glint of a scheme in his eyes. In this moment, the swordsman was there with the woman he loved.

And also in this moment, with Beatrice in one arm and Rem taking his other, Raguna realizes that now he too was quite happy as well. Wasn’t he? This was the culmination of his efforts from weeks prior. Defeat of the basilisk. Making the contract with Beatrice. Saving Arlam. None of this would have happened had he given in. Gods is he glad he ignored Lumina’s instruction, that he took the safety of others over his own. There’s the sensation of a tear rolling down his cheek, hopefully unnoticed in the dark flickering firelight, as he holds both Beatrice and Rem closer to him. He would never run away.

“Lets go find that dessert table. I’m actually in the mood for another slice of pie, I think. How about you two?”

[rcguna-archived]

Ship tag masterpost, for my reference in case something gets eaten. This is tumblr after all.

though the past is painful our future will bloom like a garden :: rem x raguna in sickness and in health and in my arms :: felicity x raguna tbt :: zelda x raguna tbt :: anette x raguna

i will do everything i can; i will be that person for you :: beatrice & raguna

[rcguna-archived]

@onlyhorn​ sent: Raguna had been out all day, his usual business dragging on longer than it usually does, meaning that he wouldn't be home until later on in the evening. This was atypical, but a good opportunity for one Spirit with nothing better to do (aside from continuing to train her chickens). When Raguna is home, he'd find a basket (one that he likely made with Rem, during one of their gushy at-home project incursions) filled with his freshly washed, dried, and folded laundry. And a little chicken feather.

He wishes there was a way to send a message back to the homestead, things like this were never a problem after all when it was just him living there. The animals waited as they may if Raguna needed to do things with them, but it was another thing when he was unable to get in touch with Beatrice. As far as he knew their contract didn’t allow that kind of long distance communication. But then, what had Raguna tried to learn about their bond? He didn’t care about the powers or abilities that the artificial spirit granted him, this had all been for her happiness and well-being and nothing more.

Beatrice could tell him that he now had the magic power to teleport and his response would be ‘Oh, really? But that doesn’t hurt you, does it?’. Replace this sentiment with any other spell or thing and the result would be much the same. His attention (when it wasn’t on his lovely beautiful enchanting fiancee, Rem) was on making sure she and the farm had what it needed while trying to keep the world at bay. There were after all still threats to be contented with, hence his visit to the blacksmith in the city today. For all the capability he had with his own forge and anvil, it was still necessary to get tools and materials and learn tips from the masters of the craft.

...and yet, getting into conversation with Amber somehow ended up going later than intended. If he hadn’t learned so much from the woman Raguna would regret the endeavor, but with some of the new tricks he was hoping to try out he was beyond excited. That, and the fine ingot of truesteel he’d use to fortify some of his tools at home.

He’s once again reviewing the list of tasks that would need to be done at double pace in order for him to get into bed at a proper time when the cart pulls up at the homestead. A sluggish hop from the driver’s bench and distracted leading of his land dragon to its pen where it would probably fall asleep quite promptly itself. Ah to be so lucky. Raguna chuckles, giving them a gentle pat before he finally opens the front door.

“I’m home...!” A yawn nearly interrupts the exclamation of return, and Raguna cuts off the exasperation with the back of his hand to his face. “Phew. That was quite a... day...?” He doesn’t see Beatrice (nor was she out with the chickens, who had already been put to the coop he imagined) (by his estimations then she was reading in her library) but he does see a basket by the steps that lead up to the loft where the master bedroom was. Full of freshly washed clothes... and... hm?

“What’s this?” Raguna steps up to the handwoven item, his hand immediately brushing up against the spot where a certain distraction during its construction resulted in a break, and so he and Rem had tied a knot together to fix it up again. There’s an instinctive smile, a fond recollection before he returns his attention to what had initially caught his eye aside from the laundry. The feather. “....did Beatrice? Ha.” The smile grows fonder, his attention going off towards the hall that lead back to the spirit’s ‘wing’ of the house. Where her sleeping quarters, library, and of course a door that opened directly to a path leading to the chicken coop were located. He can’t see her from here, it would require a small bit of navigation, but he wonders...

“I’ll have to thank her for this later. That’s one less thing for me to worry about.” He hefts the basket into his arms, passing another look (was that a dash of blond drill hair that disappeared behind the door frame...?) in that direction before he ascends the stairs. And-- ah, there’s the fatigue waiting for him. But at least thanks to the spirit he earned a brief respite of the day.

[rcguna-archived]

nonverbal starters/prompts || [ open ]

@onlyhorn​ sent: 👩‍⚕️ Put pressure on my muse’s wound -- except it's not that serious, betty's just tending to a cut he ended up getting during his usual routine on the farm. yes, she's scolding him. yes, she's using rem as a weapon in all this. you're gonna worry her, raguna.

It really isn’t that serious! In the scheme of things, particularly some of the other injuries Raguna has weathered over the years this was barely more than a scratch despite how bad it looked. And yet he’d been the one to exclaim in pain when the improperly sharpened scythe fell across his arm and gave it a nice good nick. Beatrice hadn’t even been close nearby and yet within moments the spirit was at his side, gripping him and clicking her tongue in obvious frustration.

“You were being reckless, I suppose. A farmer of your caliber shouldn’t be making ridiculous mistakes like this.” The words are scathing, stinging almost as much as the wound as she takes a cloth and applies pressure onto it. She holds her hands there, a look in her eye that Raguna can’t properly discern from this angle. Her furrowed brow was casting a shadow over her face.

“Ow! That’s-- Beatrice, you know I can use healing magic as well, it wouldn’t be difficult to take care of this after I wash it out. Which... I was planning on doing, honest. It’s not the kind of wound I want to get infected.” Either Beatrice doesn’t believe him or she’s truly frustrated about something else. For being so small in stature she’s able to exert quite the force on the injury. Raguna’s squeak of surprise is lost in mingling with the chicks and chickens that had followed the spirit over to the farmer.

And now she was pulling him away towards the house, still muttering and frustrated. Still being trailed by her entourage.

“What would Rem say if she saw, I suppose.”

“Huh? Why are you bringing Rem into this? She doesn’t need to know about every little scrape I get myself into! She’s busy enough at the manor with her other duties. I don’t want her worrying about me... or you for that matter! I’m fine, Really.”

[rcguna-archived]

After what's felt like a half-hour of working at that damn pumpkin, Betty almost seems hesitant to show Raguna what she did. Despite him insisting that he show, she still appeared hesitant, before finally caving in and turning her pumpkin around. It... was supposed to be a butterfly, but the carved image is so jagged and crooked that it barely resembles what it's supposed to. " You must have given me a dull blade, " She'd say with a huff. " Next time, show me how YOU do it. "

@onlyhorn

Raguna had been helping Rem prepare some of the other pumpkins while he left Beatrice to her own devices with her first. Crowding her off the bat was an easy way to get the spirit fussing. Besides, the rest of these pumpkins donated from Arlam weren’t going to be carving themselves! As much as he would have liked to bring some of his own they had already been called for in use for the festivities in Kardia, where he and Rem would probably be participating in the coming weeks. His presence here was out of his own generosity even if he seemed to have surreptitiously become the ‘project lead’. Good thing he had help with it, well, some... he wasn’t going to take another look at what Ram and Wylan were doing with theirs. Let them get out whatever was in their system...

Raguna takes a seat next to Beatrice once she calls him over, a pronounced huff as she shows the attempted butterfly carving on the pumpkin. She seemed to know what she wanted, but frustrations and hastiness lead to a few issues with space, cut, and angle. He hums, tracing the lines and inspecting her handiwork. If this was her first pumpkin, it wasn’t bad!

“I think you should give yourself some more credit, Beatrice, this isn’t bad for your first attempt. I’ll give you some tips, though... if you want to watch me work on this next one. Sure! Hm. Lets see.”

The farmer grabs another pumpkin, similar in size to the last with some little bumps and growths on it. It’s not pretty, but it had a good shape. Raguna doesn’t seem bothered by the scuffed patch. He confidently takes the knife she had been using and cuts off the bottom of the pumpkin, a quick circle and an equally quick cleaning of the entrails using a curved spoon. With the gourd prepared he sets it down between his legs. The face is turned this way and that until he has the scuffed patch just where he wants it.

“First thing to do after the pumpkin is cleaned and prepped is to have an idea, the start of a goal. Don’t just start and work wherever... do a little bit of a sketching. Like you can take the knife and..” He gently plays the blade against the surface, lightly cutting a line where an eye would be, then turning the vegetable and marking the other. The nose. The mouth. It was a silly pumpkin, from the looks of it. It had the kind of goofy smile that has big blocky teeth and a winked eye. He marks the teeth, double checks that the eyes look as if they’ll be properly placed. Then. Roughly stabs the knife in at the corner of where the mouth had been marked.

“Pumpkins like this are surprisingly sturdy, as long as you keep a good hold on it you can be pretty rough with the knife. Cut straight with the blade into the flesh, and make sure you pay attention to how you’re turning your wrist for the curves as you pull it in and out. Start with the big pieces you can cut out without too much fuss. Then go back for the details by cutting out the smaller pieces and chipping it out. You don’t have to follow the final design perfectly with your first cut.. it’s better to carve out too little than too much. Work your way towards what it is you want it to look like. And sometimes, you’ll realize little changes you want as it goes on. Maybe not everything goes according to plan, but you work around it. And keep going. Once you’re at the end, it doesn’t really matter what you started with so long as you’re happy with what it became.”

Raguna continues sawing and cutting at the shell, popping out the chunks one piece at a time and then using the edge of the knife to clean the cuts of strands and other pieces left behind. Eventually the dorky smiling face is complete on the pumpkin.

“And this is a little secret, one that I haven’t told Rem, yet, actually...” He smiles, making sure that the aforementioned maiden wasn’t close enough to hear it. He reaches into his pocket, pulling out a small bottle filled with a brown powder. He lifts the pumpkin from its base, sprinkling some around the bottom where the candle would later be set. “If you add some cinnamon, it’ll smell like pumpkin pie when you light it up. Here, Beatrice, you can take this one to the library with you. It should keep for a good while with my magic.”

[rcguna-archived]

winter shippy starters || [ open ]

@onlyhorn​ sent:  Catching snowflakes on their tongues -- with Betty, because Raguna probably knows by now that Betty never got out much and probably has never tried to catch snow in her mouth *plead*

Snow had started to fall just as they were departing the market in Kardia, which to Raguna meant they were still on schedule and by the time they were back at the homestead there’d be little to worry about getting caught in the coming blizzard. Even if the flakes were already coming down in large pieces he was confident they’d be back before anything collecting on the ground was concern for either the ground dragon or the cart itself. The new one he’d gotten since working with the Roswaal estate had been holding up quite well, which was saying something with some of the weather it had gone through.

His line of stuffy business thinking is interrupted when a stray glance over at his contracted spirit, Beatrice, shows her marveling at the precipitation, gazing at it like an alien substance as it drifts past them, making a mental note of her interest for later. If he called it out now she’d make her usual denials and dismiss the topic entirely, he supposes. But the thought occurs nonetheless, and he can’t hide the smile on his features as he watches her nestled in her new wool sweater out of the corner of his eye.

When they do pull up to the homestead, she huddles on the porch with the book she had picked up, eager to start reading it.... but not in the usual place in the warm library inside. She’s taken a seat in the swinging bench on the porch, and-- he isn’t 100% sure but maybe she’s watching him as he unloads the bolts of linen he’d picked up. There were a few more things he wanted crafted after all, and he wanted a better outfit for Beatrice to wear when the weather turned warmer in case she wanted to be outside in the grass and gardens. In case... not that he expected anything less. The more she got over the dirt and smell the more she was coming to enjoy being here, he presumed.

Raguna stops in the snow, looking up to watch and then, just to see how she may react, sticks out his tongue and catches a large flake on the end. First try! He’s feeling pretty accomplished about that. He hears Beatrice’s reaction before he sees it, a sputter of confusion before she pipes up.

“W-what are you doing that for?! Eating it like that is ridiculous, I suppose.”

“I’m not eating it or anything like that, at least- not intentionally. It’s just something fun to try and do when the snow is heavy like this. You just tilt your head back and see if you can catch one on your tongue, like this--” He holds out the tongue again, and... it takes a couple tries this time... but he does catch another with a bit of wavering of his form. Aim is not his forte, clearly. When he turns back down to make another comment the only thing left on the bench is the book, and Beatrice is now sanding with him in the snow. Slightly unsure of herself, but apparently eager to try.

“I’ll just try it once, I suppose, before you make it out to be something ridiculous.”

“I was going to make it something ridiculous?” ....possibly.

[rcguna-archived]

@onlyhorn​ sent:  This is perhaps the stuffiest she's ever looked around him before. Beatrice can't even fathom looking at Raguna, just the floor past the wrapped box that she was holding. It's held out full arms-length for him to take, followed by a very prompt " It was Rem's idea, I suppose. " She refuses to admit any direct involvement with it, evident by the present flush on her face. Inside the box is a pair of hand-made mittens that were just large enough for Raguna's hands. Little butterfly imprints. Cute.

It really is quite the look to see on the spirit, isn’t it? Was this because of the gift he’d given her the other day? It wasn’t as if he expected her to reciprocate or feel indebted to him! All that he was doing right now were things that would make her feel more comfortable. Adding the extra bedroom to the homestead, expanding the area and adding more bookcases for his personal library so she could bring some of her favored books from the manor to where he lived. None of that was an issue to him. Seeing her smile and able to live more often were rewards and gifts all their own that made the season. Once or twice he’s witnessed Beatrice not only speaking kindly to the chickens, but petting them!

The warmth he feels from small things such as that outweighs the warmth of any gift she felt the need to give. But-- he wasn’t about to turn it down, absolutely not. Raguna opens the gift with careful precision using the knife he keeps in his belt, careful removal of each bit of wrapping so the lid could be cleanly lifted.

Mittens.

“Oh! Mittens!” Excitement was immediate, eyes lighting up at the warm looking accessories. “Haha, well, even if it was Rem’s idea, it means a lot for you to give them to me, Beatrice.” He tests the fit, appreciates the immediate warmth they offer his fingers and flexibility afforded. They were well made... but certainly dubious on who was more involved in their making- Rem or Beatrice. Regardless, there was a personal touch to be appreciated in the butterfly imprint on each of them, much like the stunning eyes of the spirit herself. “Are these so you can keep your eyes on me when I’m working?” He asks playfully, patting the outline after pulling them back off.

Without giving her much of an opportunity to refute or disappear, Raguna pulls the girl into his arms, squeezing her in an affectionate embrace. Despite knowing she was many times over his senior, he couldn’t help but feel... protective of her. If this was the start of the feelings he would get when he and Rem became parents down the line, then it was an excitement all its own. Something he would be more than ready for.

“Thank you for these, they were just what I needed. The last pair of mittens I had got a hole in them. And my work gloves aren’t nearly as warm.” He still hadn’t told Rem how that happened... for a reason. ”Have you gotten a chance to enjoy your gift yet? There’s probably another snow coming.. I feel it in my elbow.” He taps the join in question, nodding in that sort of way where... well, you think he’s being serious, but could he be playing a joke? Leave it to a farmer to have weird ways to anticipate the weather.

[rcguna-archived]

Examine! A book that had been 'gifted' to him by Beatrice -- strange, considering she never gives gifts to anyone.

Examine! || [ open ] || @onlyhorn

The book looks out of place on your nightstand back home in Kardia. Compared to most of the other entries in your collection there was a clear value, and a distinct rarity to it from the quality of the cover alone. Despite it being much older than anything else that was to be considered a part of your small library, it’s in near pristine condition. You were almost hesitant to accept the gift when it was presented to you! But, knowing Beatrice as you do, not accepting it would have offended her far more than showing an eagerness. Which you certainly did.

After all, this wasn’t something she was just letting you read, you already had almost free reign of the library with a few noted caveats, able to read books within there and the manor at your leisure. This was different. Beatrice had given this book to you to keep.

You may take this one back to your home. It is not needed here any longer, I suppose.

How nice it had been to hear those words from her. You couldn’t begin to contain your smile then, and thinking back on it now you find yourself in the same predicament. It did occur to you that this was the first time she’d ever actually given anyone anything to your knowledge, typical staff around the manor included. Fortunately you’re not foolish enough to call that to her attention. Oh Gods no.

But for as prickly and difficult as the spirit may be you still wouldn’t hesitate to consider her your best friend at the mansion, if you were to leave your lovely fiancee out of the equation of course. Which you are never want to do. Beatrice saved your life and had always been the one to be there for you. All the treats and gifts and warm company you can give are just your attempts to show that you appreciate her. Even if she doesn’t interpret that to be the case. You still try in your way.

Looking to the book itself, it’s the first one she had shown you when you had encountered the library and first met her. A lengthy and bulky text about agricultural history in Lugunica regaling now extinct plants and forgotten farming methods. You’d flipped through some of it previously of course, but now that it was yours to read at your leisure you fully planned on digesting the material fully.

You wonder if you did something to thank her for this, if she would get upset? Well. Probably. But you would do so anyway.

[rcguna-archived]

A night passes by with Raguna feeling rather ill. Perhaps the coming of the cooler weather has ended up making him feel quite ill -- a minor headcold which, Rem insisted, was likely much more sick than he expects. So she made him sit in her bed all day, in an attempt to help him catch some rest and feel better. However, in the middle of a long rest -- and this might be mistaken for a dream--- but he could swear that there are a pair of small hands, holding his. Through that effort- he heals. --

Then, much like a dream-- the feeling fades away. And when he awakens, he'd find that he's feeling like he's back in tip-top shape. Yet... those pair of hands... had he held them or felt them before?

@onlyhorn

In six days the Obsidian Basilisk will break through the barrier of Arlam.

Raguna felt awful telling a white lie like this to Rem, but telling her the truth was impossible. The words unable to leave his mouth, stolen from his tongue before they could even dare to reach her ears. He couldn’t tell her this was the third time they had investigated the great mabeast that was lurking in the mountains above Kremaldy. He couldn’t tell her that he’d seen her die, bitten to pieces after being turned to stone. And he couldn’t tell her that he himself had died twice now, once by his own hands at that much to the distaste of his otherworldly patron. It was her desire after all that he survived, the lives of those village folk meaning little in the game that was being played by entities he could barely fathom himself.

For all he knew, and all he had ever known, Raguna was just a farmer. He was just a young man hopelessly in love with a girl who he wanted a future and a family with. A future that was now in jeopardy by otherworldly forces with dubious goals. This wasn’t what he had seen for himself, nor what he had wanted for himself. The contract with the great forest spirit Leif, his second life and the authority claimed from Gelwein, the ability to return by death from Lumina. All of these things and people in his life, and yet, now-

He felt alone.

All of these boons, all of these powers he now had at his disposal he didn’t know well enough to fight a creature like this. But he had to learn. The authority that was reclaimed thanks to Leif’s influence needed to be mastered. His weapons needed to be stronger. His will had to be firmer. Even if he did have to do so much of this himself, there was one thing he knew for sure-

He wouldn’t let anyone die.

There’s an irony in those two statements, isn’t there? Feeling alone and yet desiring to do everything he could to keep the people around him safe. And it leads him into the predicament he more or less found himself in. Straining as much as he could to master his powers so that they could be used properly in battle. So that he could do everything he could to keep Rem from being killed again. That was the white lie, telling Rem that he was ill. That was only half true. Thanks to the blessing given unto him by Leif, Raguna could shrug off illness and plagues, but magic was something that he wasn’t protected from. It was something he had learned when his leg had been cursed by the mabeast, and another reminder came when he overexerted himself trying to summon an army of golems. 

It was his first time trying to use his authority beyond a single wolf or a few sentries, and it was something he regret... being bedridden would be wasting the coming day, but he had no other choice. Rem wouldn’t let him leave and pushing himself more would just invite more danger unto himself. Sleep is welcome at this point, wishing for the comfort of dreams of what will come once this is over, once they’ve made it over this hurdle. He’d face all of that as well. The basilisk may be just a test but it wasn’t one he would run away from.

The mana sickness doesn’t grant him what he desires, leaving his head spinning and his thoughts revolving like spinning doors and flapping windows. It isn’t until a sensation reaches him that this stops, when it feels like something is holding him. It’s... it’s not the kind of touch or warmth he’s used to feeling from Rem. He knows that she’s sleeping beside him, yes, but this is- he’s not sure what. His mind tries to piece the puzzle together but before a solution feels like it may be in sight it’s over. The feeling disappears. 

Dark blue eyes slip open and he stares at the ceiling. The ache in his head was gone, the churning in his gut like an empty stomach he couldn’t sate, that was gone too. In fact he felt incredible. Revitalized. He knows that fast of a recovery shouldn’t be possible by himself, so what did he suppose-- that’s when he recalls the feeling and that touch. He recalls another time he’d felt small hands in his much like the ones in his sleep. Beatrice... she’d helped him once again, hadn’t she? It hadn’t even occurred to him to talk with her about his powers before. So focused had he been on doing what he could to come to grips with himself and his abilities it’s like he had forgotten.

He feels a bit silly coming to that realization, the memory of those hands holding his and the comfort they brought, and now seeing his fiancee reach out and take his other hand upon seeing that he was awake. The smile on her features brings a smile to his own. So unlike him. How could he have forgotten? The things that the storm clouds in his mind that were brought on by fear and anxiety had been hiding away-

You’re not alone at all.