#rook Belisma ingellvar

[rom-e-o]

“Stole my shirt, did you?” 💕

[rom-e-o]

The perfect night in. 💕

[rom-e-o]

Since we've already kind of mentioned it: Imagine Emmrich dealing with [probable] Wifey getting outside attention. And, likely, unwanted attention. At least for Guinevere's case, apart from the Lecher, I can definitely see some of Em's students trying to flirt with her, both in terms of grades and genuine interest. And some of the bolder ones (*cough* Van Markham! *cough*) taking it so far as to actually harass her. Stupid college frat boys, ya know. Also, stupid college frat boys who, on top of that, are entitled elites, because, with a name like "Van Markam" you know he's likely and blue blood.

Ooooh, this is delish. Okay, so, I can absolutely see Wifey getting attention. It's inevitable, like you said. Unfortunately, I can also see her getting unwanted attention as well.

The unfortunate thing about working around lots of students, especially university-age students and older, is that you're going to catch a lot of flirtatious remarks, and a lot of clumsy attempts to sway attention. Guinevere is going to have to suffer through some VERY awkward remarks from some very inexperienced students, AND some more lecherous ones from the more insistent crowd. Like, of course, Van Markham.

I can see him stopping G'iney in the hall by throwing his arm up, causing her to scatter her armful of papers. A little Gaston-esque in his audacity.

Of course, he swiftly offers his assistance (all while trying to peek down her blouse). "So, Guinevere - can I call you that? Ms. Vynhalsyne sounds so sterile. And ... I do notice the 'Ms.' part. Can't help it."

If she tries to escape, he's not above grabbing her wrist. "Listen, I've got a joust this weekend, and I have a seat in my pulpit. I think a jewel of a woman like you is worthy of such a setting." He's got ties to royal families, does she know that? He's got connections to King Markus too, does she know that? He's VERY handsome, and way more muscular than that professor she hangs onto, does she know that? Did she catch the part about him jousting? He's also got great endurance, he points out, over and over. More Guinevere is about to be EXHAUSTED of this man.

And he follows her around, not taking no for an answer. I imagine it gets back enough that Emmrich eventually starts walking with her after each class.

"You don't have to--"

"Yes, I do."

If Van Markham gets too close, Emmrich will pivot around in a heartbeat. "Excuse me, young man. Is there something I can assist you with? You're rather close on our heels. It must be a matter of the utmost importance."

He talks down to this boy with more pose and grace than most royalty in the kingdom, and he does so as a former peasant. You know that gets under this glory-boy's skin, for this moldering professor of common birth to be schooling him.

"I wish to speak to Guinevere, professor," he says, "This is a matter for those among noble birth to discuss."

"So a tactless assassination ploy, garish accounts of horse-breeding, or waxing poetic about a summerhome?" he asks in amusement, which earns a blush from the other man. How DARE he parse his existance down like that?!

"Regardless," Emmrich continues, "Since Ms. Vynhalsyne has been rushing to ignore you, I believe she has other ways of occupying her time in mind. I suppose I'm not surprised her disinterest has gone over your head. I've suffered through your latest thesis - most things do."

As for Belisma, she does have admirers from her days in the ballet. People who would try to ask for her hand - lots of nobles who would love her fine dancer blood for an illegitimate child or two. That interest went away after her exile - now she's untouchable filth to nobles, haha. But as she slowly gets back into dancing outside the royal ballet, civilians start to enjoy her works, and there are many love letters that end up in her possession.

I don't think any are as creepy as the Lecher or Van Markham, but she does get some concerning notes.

"'I dream of your body moving with swan-feather grace as a take you from my balcony and to my bed' - oh, no thank you," Belisma says as she puts it into a nearby waste basket. She's perched upon Emmrich's desk, making a show of refusing their letters. He watches, smirking and captivated.

"Manfred, would you like these as kindling for your fire magic practice?" she finally asks once the basket is full.

"Yeeesss!"

"Wonderful! Just don't read them, okay? Just set them on fire."

"Okay!"

Emmrich chuckles and pulls her from the surface of the desk and into his lap as Manfred saunters out. "Well, that will keep him occupied for a few hours. You have made his night, dear."

"And ours," she purrs, hooking a finger in the front of his waistcoat. "If the mood moves you."

With her, it always does.

[rom-e-o]

Sssooooo... do you keep it canon that Belisma can't swim? Because, even if she's not technically in the universe... Guinevere absolutely cannot.😂 She's terrified of any body of water she can't see the bottom of and wade in. Anything bigger and deeper than a shallow swimming pool gives her a panic attack.

And, no, I didn't really base this on the meme. I kinda decided it before all the memes started crossing my fyp.😅

OH YES. Belisma absolutely cannot swim, haha.

You would think she could with her dancer athleticism, but Nevarra isn't exactly filled with pools, fountains, rivers, or oceans to practice in. There's really nowhere TO swim, unlike places like Rivain (mostly oceanside beaches) or southern territories in Ferelden like the Hinterlands/Redcliffe (where Harding grew up).

So, as a result, she never learned. Put Isma on land, and she's as graceful as a swan. In water, she's like a concrete weight. She keeps this a secret, of course. Why bring it up?

However, this DOES mean that there is absolutely a point where Belisma falls into a lake after missing a jump. The team expresses sympathy ("Ough, that's gonna be uncomfortable for the rest of our trip back to camp..."), but when she doesn't resurface, Emmrich is the first to go in after him.

He, a former country boy, DID learn how to swim. And does it well.

Cue the others watching in peril as Emmrich shucks off his coat and dives in after her. Moments later, he pops up with a limp Isma in his arms, and effortlessly swims to shore.

Once she's on land, he's quick to roll her on her back and provide mouth-to-mouth. It's not long before she sputters up water and is wheezing, color slowly returning to her as Emmrich her back and coaxes her through the heaving. He's soaked to the bone, hair and clothes a mess, but he doesn't care.

That night, after they've made camp, I definitely see her calling to him from outside his tent. He opens the flap, and sees her dressed in his extra shirt, and extra pair of pants from Bellara, and wearing Manfred's boots (which also used to be Emmrich's, he notes with amusement) with her hair down and unbraided.

"I never thanked you," she said timidly as she stood awkwardly on the other side of his tent's threshold. "I'm so, so sorry for before. I should have been more careful."

Emmrich, who had only poked his head out at first, emerged fully from the tent to better speak to her. "Rook, dear, you have nothing to apologize for!"

"I put you in danger," she said. "The currents were strong, Emmrich."

"Only marginally."

"Still, if you hadn't dove in after me ..."

"Well, I certainly wasn't going to let you drown! I only apologize I didn't dive in sooner. I thought you would have known ... that is ... em ..."

She nodded shamefully. The woman had no real excuse for not knowing how to swim, especially at her 35 years of age.

"W-Well," Emmrich floundered, searching his mind for a way to make her feel better. He finally landed on, "It was a lovely excuse to settle down and make camp. Perfect for making tea and winding down."

Accentuating his point, he was donned only in his dressing gown, undershirt and spare trousers. The rest of his clothes were drying by the fire. Unlike some of his more rugged companions, he always brought a few extra sets of clothes. A gentleman had to always look his best, and one never knew when a teammate might need an extra top (or silk scarf, or two). His only other clean shirt was on her, though he couldn't help but notice that she wore it very well. The collar was open at the neck, and he could just barely make out the swell of her breasts beneath the fabric. It was also quite large on her petite frame. She practically swam in the sea of bone-yellow fabric, and the tails went to her mid-thigh. Something red-blooded and primal in him appreciated the vision she made in that moment.

"Emmrich?"

He cleared his throat thickly, and glanced back upward. "Ah, apologies. Like I was saying, Isma, please don't worry. Could you just promise me that you'll be a bit more careful around water? Perhaps we look for more direct paths instead of trying for shortcuts?"

"Okay," she said, her tone disbelieving. Was she ... relieved that he wasn't angry at her? "Y-Yes, that sounds perfect. I was trying to save time, but it's not worth getting hurt for. I'll remember to take things slower next time."

"Wonderful."

"And thank you! Um, again."

With a playful sigh, he accepted her thanks with a gracious nod. "Well, you are more than welcome. Perhaps swimming lessons are in order?"

The idea was acknowledged with a promising hum. "If we keep ending up in places like this ... maybe. Taash could teach me, I bet. Or ... "

"I'd be delighted!" Emmrich said, picking up the thread of conversation right where she'd dropped it. "I've been teaching Manfred as well! You can join our classes."

"Really? I-I ... would love that! If you don't mind the company, that is."

"Yours? Never."

Ah, so Guinevere is in the same boat? Our poor girls, haha. BUUUT, honestly, not being able to swim allows for so many good scenarios.

Imagine Emmrich diving in to save Guinevere if she falls? Like, if her and her ritzy family are taking a boat ride and she falls in during some chaos after two boat captains decided it would be good to race each other. Emmrich dives in afterward to rescue her, knowing she can't swim. That would be difficult, since they'd likely also be in more formal attire, and he'd need to catch up to a boat. But he would do it, and look positively dashing as he climbed the boat ladder with her in his arm, holding her to his chest.

Once they're back, he commands the whole crowd with a calm but authoritative urgency.

"I need blankets and a kettle of warm water! Someone please get her some dry clothes as well! Come on, Guinevere. I'll get you to your room."

He's a paragon of a man, through and through.

[rom-e-o]

Some scribbly Belisma & Emmrich ✨

[quill-pen-and-the-fictional-men]

I think he's thinking about where those lips have been.😏

The perfect night in. 💕

[quill-pen-and-the-fictional-men]

I love these two so much.💕

“Stole my shirt, did you?” 💕

[quill-pen-and-the-fictional-men]

He will end anyone who dares to harm her.

Some scribbly Belisma & Emmrich ✨