songerein | [Closed] I'd Even Sing You Poetry

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[Closed] I'd Even Sing You Poetry

Who: G'raha Tia & Madhuri Qalli
Which: Closed log
Where: Wandering around Reverein
What: G'raha is finally proposing to Madhuri, but will definitely not nail it. Forward dated to mid-month.
Warnings: The normal spoiler blanket for Shadowbringers & Endwalker. Gross feels.

Ever since Thancred teased G'raha about Madhuri and him being married upon learning she was living with him, he had been giving the idea some serious thought. Of course, Thancred only meant to poke fun at him, but there was something inside that welcomed the idea.

The problem -- as it was with anything related to relationships -- was that G'raha didn't know the first thing about what he should be doing. Following his gut seemed to be working just fine, but it didn't calm his nerves. The past few months he had been contemplating how to pop the question and the best setting to do so. During this time, he had conveniently used the revenyte project as his purpose for being so busy.

A few months passed by, and he still had no idea how to best approach the subject. While out walking around with Madhuri, he found something to otherwise distract his uncertain mind. Pausing to kneel down in the snow and ball it up in his gloved hands, he threw the snowball at her back while she was otherwise distracted.

If you can't think properly, clearly that meant a snowball rematch was in order. He lost the war last time, but came out with a much greater prize. This year, he would come out the champion! Maybe.

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The pounding in his chest was so loud. There were many difficult things that he's had to deal with in his life, but this was by far the most terrifying and challenging thing he's ever had to do. Not once did he think he'd end up falling in love with someone during his time here, much less have to propose to them. He felt blessed to have met her and made so many good memories with her.

'What if she didn't want to get married? What if he was making a fool of himself for no good reason in the end? What if he messed it all up?' These were various thoughts running through his brain up until Madhuri started to literally float away. Panicking, he shoved the ring into his pocket to reach for her. Cursing under his breath as she floated further away, he brought out his staff to bring her back down, reaching for her hand once close enough to ground her.

"Madhuri! Are you okay?!" It wasn't like she was hurt... otherwise distracted from his burning face, "O-of course! I wouldn't have asked if I didn't mean it!" Crystals were starting to form all around them as his emotions got the better of him, "I-I wouldn't want it any other way!"

Her mind restarted at a scramble. This is bad. Body, this is the worst time for you to be doing this! I COMMAND YOU TO STOP FLOATING! Please, not here, not now, he looks so distraught-

A tap of the staff, so distinct, shattered the light and dizzying feeling. She grabbed his hand and held tight as her shoes gradually touched back down to earth. For a moment her eyes had shut tight as she drew her will inward. This was new. This was unexpected. Unexpected was fine. Gods, exciting!

This was something she'd always wanted. She just never expected it to actually happen.

"I-I'm fine! I... still have work to do on that spell and have been slacking in my practice. I'm sorry." She used the back of her free hand to wipe at her eyes before she opened them again. Who was she to be shy all of a sudden? Time to be a big girl. Look him dead-on.

He was crystaling everywhere now, too. This poor man. She released his hand and closed the gap between them, arms winding around his neck. The blossoms in her hair shuddered, seemed to grow pale, but then gained another color. Then another. Another. After spending months fighting to replicate them on her own, she'd made herself a few flowers of Elpis without much of a thought.

Because her answer took no thought at all. She pulled in and nuzzled him. To answer his radiating nerves, she offered a wordless, soothing warmth. Her lantern softly gleamed.

"Then... yes. Of course I will."

Don't float. Don't float. ...Oh, thank the Twelve.

Well, at the very least, she was able to joke at a time like this. It was much appreciated to help ease his nerves. He would have immediately wrapped his arms around her waist if he wasn't in shock. Was this really happening? Was he dreaming? (heh)

Did she...

Did she just say yes?

His heart felt like it would hop out of his chest at any moment as he registered her answer. He had almost forgotten to breathe, holding his breath unconsciously.

She said yes. SHE SAID YES?!

All of the crystals formed around them started to shine, creating miniature rainbows and sparkle particle effects. It was then he finally realized he could move. He quickly wrapped his arms around her as all of his worries melted away like he wanted to moments ago. He twirled her around for a moment before finally looking back at her, face still very bright but expression otherwise relieved.

"Thank you," it was such a silly thing to say, but it was the only thing he managed to get out. The corners of his eyes began to tear up in joy as he pressed a passionate kiss against her lips. The gumdrops around them cheered for them, just as excited for them, if not more, but he had long since toned them out since the time he started to fumble for words in the first place.

She held on tight and savored the twirl with a laugh. He seemed to be feeling better! He did it, he really did it! It truly was such an intimate and romantic gesture, and she felt the fool for never learning of it sooner.

His kiss was shared with one of her own, thoughts of the gumdrops and Starlight the furthest things from her mind. But one wasn't enough: When they parted, she drew in for another. ...A third. Who cared if they were standing in the square? This was a special occasion...!

Yet she couldn't help herself, reaching out to brush his hair back from his face.

"Oh, you poor, sweet thing... it's no wonder you seemed so on edge of late! H-how long had you...? I mean, when... when did you decide you...?"

Edited (words) 2022-12-04 05:12 (UTC)

G'raha didn't care if they were in the middle of the square or not. He didn't care if anyone could see them or that they may be watching at the moment. He was just so happy that his terrible proposal wasn't for naught. He was over the moon. Each and every kiss was enthusiastically welcomed.

He gave her an sheepish smile as if he'd been caught doing something he shouldn't. "Uh, well..." he paused for a moment, "A... few months...?" You remember all those times that he was out late. Well, there's your answer for all that time, Madhuri. "I uh... admittedly had no idea what to do or how I should do it. Even now I... I wish I had looked up the customs while we were still back home. Maybe this would have gone smoother?" he let out a small sigh. But that didn't matter. In the end, she said yes without any hesitation. That's what was important. If nothing else, they could laugh about this later on.

She gaped at him. "Months!"

Ooooh, that explains those nights. G'raha 'I'll be home late' Tia...!! How on earth had she not figured out something was up? Oh. Right. He's kind of a night yol. Night paissa? What was the word for it?

But she shook her head in wonder. "You did just fine! I loved it! The only way I knew was sending milk and spirits to the family and the interested party hoped they would accept the gifts three times. How stressful is that?"

She kissed his cheek. "I like this way much better. 'Tis just you and I, which makes it more special!"

"Gods, I hope the interested party doesn't refuse then. That's a waste of perfectly good milk and spirits," he joked, letting out a small chuckle, "Thank the Twelve." He was content to just hold her close like this for a bit longer until he realized.

OH, RIGHT! The ring. He kind of forgot about that detail while he was trying to keep Madhuri in the atmosphere. His ears perked up as he pulled away to dig into his pocket to find the ring once again, fallen out of the box into his pocket itself. Once he had it, he reached for her hand to slide it on her ring finger.

"I had to have some help, but I hope it's to your liking," he said with a happy little ear wiggle, tail following suit.

"I've seen some refusals, and a number of them out of spite I'm afraid. But I know my parents would have loved you..."

Oh, she had a few things to talk about now this next Naadam. She just hoped it wouldn't be too weird for him to sit and talk to a couple of makeshift headstones.

Madhuri offered her hand as he reached for it. The ring was a perfect fit, and she had to admire it for a moment.

"It's gorgeous, Raha! You've really outdone yourself." The surprise flit briefly across her eyes.

"...This is what you meant by 'best Starlight yet!' You-! You're absolutely correct, but... you sneak! It was right there in front of my face!"

"That's a pity...," he said, thinking of the poor men who got refused it if spite, "It would have been an honor to meet them."

He would gladly do it with her, even if he didn't 100% understand it. If it was important to her, than it was important to him. It was also a way to meet her parents, one way or another. He was relieved to see she liked it. He had been worried that it wouldn't be to her liking... Or perhaps not enough.

He may have fumbled with the proposal and how to do it, but he absolutely did not fumble on the timing. He knew for sure that it had to be this month. That added a little extra stress to put that deadline on himself, but it was well worth it to see how much she appreciated it.

"Well, what better time than this time of year?“ he chuckled, kissing the back of her hand.

Her features softened with the kiss. Ever the gallant one. Seemed a lot of people in her life were right on the gil that she'd happily spend the rest of her days with someone that had a theatrical flair themselves.

"The timing was perfect. It simply kicks the pants off my gift idea, even if it isn't a competition." She'd seen the festivities surrounding Tifa and Eustace. It was an atmosphere of celebration and companionship. It warmed her heart thinking theirs had to be somewhat like that, too.

She just... wished... she knew where to even start, but she could learn. That would be an adventure in itself!

"I'm sorry you felt so nervous leading up to tonight, Raha. To be honest, seeing the wedding that took place here but half a moon ago... rather..." She turned a bit pink and brought her free hand to her cheek.

"Had me thinking that I'd like to do something like that someday too. So... thank you."

"Oh good. That means I don't need to prepare a gift for you this year then," he teased. Of course, she'd still get some kind of gift. The bad thing is that he hadn't even thought about it until now because he was so busy trying to psych himself up for this moment right now. Whoops...?

The recent wedding did help with ideas, but he wished he knew more about what exactly they should do for their own. Maybe he'd have to ask Eustace later for ideas?

"Honestly? I never thought I'd get the chance to propose to someone I loved. So I was at a loss for words." he paused, searching for the right words as his warm cheeks became apparent to him once more. "I don't know what to do in a lot of situations. Sometimes I feel like maybe I'm holding you down with my lack of experience but I...," carrassing her cheek gently with his free hand, "you are the best thing to happen to me."

He has no idea when it started. When he started to wake up and the only thing he wanted was to see her happy or make her smile. Soon enough, his entire life revolved around her. And he was okay with that.

"There is one thing I know for sure. We'll figure it out together, just as we have always done." The gumdrops were eating good, now a much bigger crowd than before huddled together as they watched it all unfold. To be honest, he kind of forgot they were there.

Talk of being nowhere in anyone's story, never getting the chance to have what other people could... they were alike in that regard. Still, even if she still battled with that feeling sometimes, she was a happy hypocrite in proving G'raha wrong in that regard. He could have anything he wanted. He could have what everyone else could.

She framed his hand with hers and felt misty-eyed again. Perhaps she'll never fully take in precisely what she'd done to earn any of this or such lofty titles as 'the best thing' to happen to someone, but it still felt so good to hear.

"Yes... another puzzle for us. I accept that challenge. I know that, no matter what we do, I'll love every moment of it as I get to spend it with you."

But she laughed quietly. "You need not prepare anything for me! Did you not just offer me a lifetime with my heart so full? So in turn, I give my all: My love, my companionship, and the occasional reminder to please get some sleep."

They had plenty of differences, but in that regard, they were perfect for each other. Two people who thought that they would have to sit in the sidelines while everyone else got their happily ever after. Now it was their turn to have a chance.

'As long as I get to spend it with you.' That statement gave him butterflies, but he shared in that sentiment. He was happy to do anything as long as she was by his side. It could be something boring, and he'd be more than happy to be there. Her words pleased him, letting out a slight chuckle to her last comment.

"I sleep enough, thank you very much," G'rahaplz..., "but I suppose this means we're going to be busy for a while. I'm... not entirely sure what goes into planning a wedding." Eustace and Tifa's wedding gave him ideas, but how to personalize it for their own was another question.

The quirk-browed look she gave him. G'raha. Please.

Yet he brought up a good point for reference. Eustace and Tifa's wedding was beautiful, but it wouldn't be right to go through the same thing. That was their day, and the two of them needed to come up with something uniquely theirs.

"Thinking on it, they seemed to have a number of personal rituals from their respective worlds. Other than that, there's a ceremony itself and a whole lot of music, dancing and food. That last one's so easy, you could practically call it done already. But I wonder if there are any miqo'te rituals you'd like to impart...? Or something from the First! Xaela focus so much on family matters and exchange of dowries that I couldn't really go with any of mine." She brought a hand to her chin and was lost in thought.

He had to think about that for a moment. Sure there was his culture from a tribal stand point, but that was a little more difficult when it was nothing that would really matter for a wedding. And even if they did, it wasn't like he followed traditional when he had been whisked away to Sharlayan while he was young. About the only things of importance were the Allag eye and the whole... patriarch thing. He couldn't say he was particularly interested in becoming a nuhn any time soon.

"It seems we're both in bind then... The only thing that comes to mind wouldn't really effect the wedding all that much," nor would it really be original because the wedding before also had something of the same thing.

"Miqo'te, by nature, are hunters. But I don't exactly fit that mold. The only thing that comes to mind is hunting for ingredients for food," was that helpful at all? He wasn't sure.

"We can put a pin in it. You may be on to something!" Maybe a spot of archery? They would always workshop.

"We both had to be odd ducks among our own kind, huh? I'm sure if we put our heads together on things we like, we can make something truly extraordinary!"

She brought her hands to his cheeks and nuzzled him. "We're adventurers with gobs of experience in improvisation in the face of daunting odds! We could practically just have a private ceremony and then run off to go slay a dragon in the woods after; that would be the best day of my life!"

Madhuri has clearly only attended one wedding. Two weeks ago.

That was an idea to keep in mind, but they had plenty of time to decide. "Another similarity that we share, it seems," he chuckled lightly. Her suggestion was so silly. It was an option, but he wasn't so sure that was the way to go. But she brought up an excellent point.

"What if we take inspiration from the places we've been? Surely, they must have moments to use for ideas," he asked, piggybacking off of her suggestion.

Places they've been is good. Their world was chock full of amazing places, and she couldn't help but think of all the places that just reminded her of him, from the vastness of the Silvertear Lake, but-

She clasped her hands together and all but sparkled. "...Lakeland."

Madhuri bounced a little.

"You showed me so many wonderful places from the First...!"

Lakeland. What a good suggestion. He was rather fond of Lakeland, but that was hardly a surprise, given how long he spent there.

"That's a wonderful idea. How about you? Are there any places that you're fond of?“ he asked her. May as well get both of their preferences.

Hmm, let's see. She folded her arms and put some thought into it. "The Steppe is... harsh, but a harshness I'm accustomed to. Being married up in those mountains would be more my speed as a xaela, but I'm not the most xaela of auri. Only somewhat."

Then it hit her.

"Oh, but I love Thavnair! I learned of so many customs during my training in the kreigstanz! The colors are so beautiful, so regal...! You don't fully know just how thrilled I was to finally go there, even with everything that was happening. Helping you fine folks in the Scions' inner circle as a healer after the Tower of Zot fell was plenty motivation to go, but... how could I pass up seeing a place I'd only read and dreamed of up until then?"

There may yet be a way to implement Steppe influences into their plans yet somehow.

"Then perhaps we can somehow incorporate the colors into the scenery and decorations, as well as some of these customs if they're applicable here?" he suggested, "what are some of the ones that stuck out to you the most?"

"Are you ready to be shocked? Are you truly prepared? Sitting down?" She smirked.

"The food. But I like the use of banners and anything to catch the wind so the place truly feels alive, always dancing. But you know, I think we have some time to sit and brainstorm without standing out in the cold, too." She stepped in to wrap her arms around him.

"...This calls for celebratory mulled wine, doubly so to help us thaw after our frosty war, too! You throw a mean snowball." She kissed both of his cheeks.

"You do a Saint's Little Helper proud."

"Madhuri, you told me I'd be shocked. I feel very underwhelmed by this revolation," he teased back with a grin.

"I agree. We can think of the finer details later as we go. For now, I say your proposal is sound," it was a little cold yet. He held her close, taking notice of how close the gumdrops have gotten. There was a decent amount of them now.

"You got a feast in sure. But now we're going to go," he addressed them before turning back to her, "At your service. Shall we then?“

"Greedy!" She jabbed a finger at them briefly, but was too far into enjoying the warmth of her company to be too cross at them for watching like vultures.

"Yes, let's be off. But first, Ser... I am slain from your victory. My legs may not work properly in getting us home. Whatever shall we do...?"

"Oh my, that will not do at all. Worry not, fair maiden, for I shall see you to safety," he said, overly dramatic than necessary. He was something of a theater kid, after all; even a hundred mental years later. So on that cue, he let go of her to then swoop her into his arms, securely holding on to her.

"What a shame. I don't think I'll be able to use the revenyte like this. I guess I'll just have to walk us all the way back home," he said with a cheeky grin. In truth, he probably could have managed, but where's the fun in that?

It had happened before, yet the swiftness in which he picked her up had little daisies pop in her hair. She curled inward and nuzzled his neck.

"And be lulled into deeper safety and security by your dulcet tones all the while? Whatever did I do to be defeated by such a kind lord of the ice?"

"It was inevitable," G'raha said with the slightest shrug, cheeky grin melting to something softer. He kissed her forehead lightly before starting to walk the way home. There may or may not have been tiny crystals following him here and there, sparkling with dazzling colors.

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[Closed] I'd Even Sing You Poetry

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