towerofanimus | (no subject)

[Fortunately, nothing awful happens this time. The meadow is easily her favorite place in the tower, and she'd been thrilled when she hesitantly discovered that it was, in fact, safe-- Willow wondered if he'd known that, and asked her here intentionally.

Either way, she was happy to be there. She was a bit shy and uncertain now that they were out of a crisis situation, and her role wasn't so clearly defined... but she also found her heart beating fast, excited. Were they having a picnic? Was this their first real date??

Gosh, a date, her. That part was starting to get way more novel than the male alien thing. In fact, by now that other thing was almost an afterthought.

So her thoughts were entirely focused on curiosity, and wistfulness, and anticipation as she crests the hill. When she sees him, she breaks into a wide smile.] Hi! [she says perkily, bursting with energy and thumping onto her knees beside him.] How are you? What are we doing?

[Oh god, she is more wonderful than he remembered. He smiles softly at her as she thumps down beside him with so much energy she reminds him of Feferi on one of her good days, and he could almost cry.]

I'm real good, really good, Wwill. Especially noww that you're here.

[Okay, that's a bit sappy, even for him. He sticks his hand in his pocket, aquatic bladder-based vascular system thumping in his chest. Is it too soon to just give it to her?]

I, uh, wwanted to givve you somethin'. An after that, wwhat wwe do is up to you, I guess. I hadn't planned any further ahead than that.

[It might be a bit sappy, but Willow's put herself into this, now. She's not about to flinch from sappy; her smile doesn't waver at all, just softens, focusing on him.]

You didn't have to get me anything, [she says sincerely, but not like she's going to turn it down.] I'm happy just to be spending time with you. But I won't say no if that's what you want.

No, I did. I mean, I made it, I didn't buy it or get it from somewwhere. But I had to.

[His tone is earnest and hopeful and he fumbles the ring out of his pocket, all but pushing it at her in his nervous excitement. The band is hammered out of some steel he found, polished to a shine even if not so perfectly round as a machine could make it. On top is a heart-shaped piece of shell, also polished until it resembled gemstone. It isn't as large as the spade-shaped rock Eridan wears on his left hand, but a good size, and deep, vibrant purple]

People said that humans havve somethin called promise rings an you can think of it like that if you wwant. [he babbles] Only they also said it wwas too soon for marriage, wwhich is self-evvident, obvviously, so I don't wwant you thinkin' that's wwhat I'm after. It's just trolls, you see, wwe havve rings for our quadrants, an if you don't wwant to get me one, that's okay maybe I can make myself a little somethin' just to wwear, but I'd be real happy if you'd wwear this one for me. And it goes on the right hand, so it wwon't evven confuse humans because the marriage ring goes on the other hand, an I hope you like it...

[She takes it from him carefully despite his excitement, and holds it in her palm, looking down at it as he speaks. It's obvious how important this is to him, how nervous he is that she'll say no with all of his preemptive explanations.

It makes her heart wrench to think that he'd agree to just make himself something small so she wouldn't have to get him one. It was clearer to her than ever that he was new at this, if he thought Willow would be so dismissive of the things that were important to him.

Her fingers close gently around the ring, not putting it on yet but keeping it safe. She leans forward, just close enough to place a light kiss on his cheek, trying to halt his babbling.] I love it, [she says honestly, holding his gaze with hers, eyes clear.] It means that we're matesprits, right? And I'm supposed to make you one?

[Intentionally ignoring his suggestion that he could make it for himself. She's been working on it just in case, so she's relieved the forethought will pay off. Not that she has anything ready or actually made yet, but she could fairly quickly once she knows what she's trying to do.]

[His babbling trails off as she takes the ring and kisses him, and he just looks at her with nervous hope and worry. He doesn't mean to do everything wrong, but he has no idea how to make people like him. Feferi is his moirail almost by default, and he really has no clue what he ever did to make Sollux decide he wanted him. Pretty much everyone else he's ever met in his life took a swift kick at him, at the very minimum.]

You...you don't havve to make it. [His tone is far less frightened now, but somewhat small and shy] You can buy it, though I don't knoww wwhere you could do that here. I just mean, most trolls wwould buy a ring, but I made the ones for Fef and I, because wwe didn't havve the money to buy somethin' at a real store. [He rubs the little oystershell diamond-shape he wears on his right pinkie, fondly.]

You really like it?

Of course I like it. [She budges over so that they're close enough for their knees to touch. Her free hand, the one not holding the ring, lifts to gently run her fingertips along the edge of his jaw and then his fin, a light, fluttering motion.]

Since I can't buy it, I'll make yours myself, [she promises in a quiet murmur, trying to teach him that he can trust her not to leave him.] I noticed that you had your other rings, so I've been practicing, just in case.

Just give me some time.

[He holds still at her touch, keeping his fin where it is rather than withdrawing it like a the nervous sea creature it wants to act like. When her fingers run across the fin, he shivers visibly, his eyelids dropping to half mast. That feels good.

He opens his eyes again when her hand drops away, nodding and smiling as his fins prick up and fan out again with pleasure. He reaches out and slips his arms around her neck, giving her cheek a nuzzle and a kiss and squeezing with nearly all his might]

You havve all the time you need, a course. You're the best, I keep sayin' that, but you really are.

[She notes the reaction with interest, for some time in the future to explore further when the mood was right. At the moment she snuggles into him, shifting off her knees so that she's sitting on the grass and better able to lean into him, and reach him.]

Don't think you can distract me with sweet talk, mister, [she says slyly, drawing her hand up between them and opening it, finally, revealing the ring. The deep purple of the coral is stark against her pale skin.

She loses her slyness, turns shy again as she swallows, a little nervous as she meets his eyes. The ring is there between them, and maybe it's silly to be so dramatic about something that's only a symbol, but Willow can't discredit the importance of symbols. She's too romantic to, too genuine. Since it means so much to him, she has to treat it the same way.]

I know that putting this on means I'm yours. So... you, you should do it for me.

[Oh. Oh wow. She knows.

Or maybe it's just that in this thing, it's the same with humans. Eridan has his arms around her, holding her close against him, but at her offer, he beams honestly and cheerfully, and takes the ring from her palm]

I'd lovve to...

[He takes her right hand oh-so-carefully and gently slides the ring onto the fourth finger until its snug]

A course I'm yours anywway... but wwhen you get a ring for me, evveryone wwill knoww it.

[It wasn't too hard to put together, really, and although this is a bit fast for her, she's not about to bring that up. Everything's going so well, and she's tired of being cautious.

She interlaces their fingers, feeling more at peace to be sitting there with him, in the grass and the sunshine, than she had been while doing anything else since she'd arrived. Willow is calm, content. For once she isn't worrying about what she should be doing.]

I think everyone knows already. Or if anyone doesn't, it's because I haven't met them. [Her smile turns sheepish, but she's rather shamelessly trying to perpetuate his happiness as long as she can. Like she'd said to the other Eridan just the other day, you had to grab it for yourself, and hold onto it, whenever you could.]

[He can't remember ever being this happy in his life, and he just wishes Feferi were here so he could tell her everything and she could glub and hug him and be happy for him, too.

He squeezes her fingers and drops back in the grass, giving a big, contented sigh]

Wwoww. I just feel like... you can't be real.

[Willow has similar thoughts about wishing her friends were here, and even that she could meet Feferi in particular, too. She knows without having to discuss it that they still both miss the people they'd left at home, and tries not to bring it up too much, or focus on it.

She settles into the grass beside him, the warmth of the sun and the oddly metallic sensation of the tower's life force a vague footnote in her mind.] I'm just happy that I make you happy, [she admits, her persistent, if faint nervousness showing as she plays with the grass blades with her free hand.] I still feel kinda... um. Overwhelmed? Everything's so different here, a-and you deserve something on the level of "can't be real" happy.

[Willow wants to be honest with him, but it's hard when she's so scared it'll make him upset, or ruin everything.]

[He looks up at her, a gentle smile on his face and his fins relaxed and fanning out a little to catch the breeze]

I don't knoww that I deservve it, but I knoww you deservve to be happy. An I just hope that I can make you the happiest human in the towwer - or anywwhere else, for that matter.

[He props himself up on his elbows. He's feeling so much more secure now, seeing his ring on her finger and knowing that things are still working out well.]

I feel a little ovverwwhelmed, too. I guess that's wwhy I'vve been such a wwiggler about things.

I'm pretty happy already, [she admits, reflecting on her earlier thoughts.] It's... a big difference. [Willow's not so sure that she deserves to be happy, but she wants to be. And starting a conversation about who deserves what would probably lead nowhere useful, so she lets that topic go.

In any case, it sounds like he's willing to be open with her, and she's not about to pass that opportunity up. She lays where she is and looks up at him attentively, comfortable with the height difference, her hand still resting in his.]

How have you been a, a wiggler about this? [she asks, a genuine question.] Everything's been so crazy, it's natural for it to be kind of a mess on the inside, too.

[At least, that's what she tells herself.]

Edited 2012-02-04 21:50 (UTC)

Just bein' all nervvous and... wwell, convvinced that this is gonna go awwry real quick if I do anything wwrong. [He's not looking at her, his head turned away a bit and gazing at some point in the middle distance. He's holding her hand, though] I knoww it's silly, because you're not a cruel person. Wwith some time to get used to things, probably I'll get ovver it.

It is silly, but everyone thinks silly things sometimes.

[She squeezes his hand, wanting his attention back.] You've been so patient with me; I can be patient, too. That's the whole idea.

I don't knoww if I'vve been that patient. [He squeezes her hand back and gives her shoulder a nuzzle] But I can be, about, you knoww...most things. An I just wwant you to be happy, that's all.

You're too down on yourself, [she scolds.] You are patient, and considerate, and you lavish me with compliments, and look, you even give me jewelry.

Am I supposed to want something else from my boyfriend?

[He smiles, pleased at the praise, even if it came with a tiny criticism. It's probably one he deserves]

Wwell, I guess not. Wwhen you say it, it sounds pretty good. [He grins and gives her a light kiss, a little affectionate peck on the lips] And you're patient and kind and lavvish me wwith evven more compliments. I couldn't wwant anythin' more from a matesprit.

Are you sure? [He had coincidentally hit on the insecurity at the forefront of Willow's mind, and she bites the inside of her lip even as she reaches up to tug him down beside her again. Somehow it's easier to be self-conscious when he's right there next to her.]

I've just been doing what I'd do if-- if you were a human I were dating. Don't you want something, uh... pitiful?

[It's clear that she's not entirely sure how pity factors into this, but that it does, somehow.]

[Blinks in surprise, then he smiles again, cuddling in close] If you're doing wwhat a normal human wwould do wwith another human, maybe things aren't so different, after all. I'm just treatin' you like I wwould any troll, uh, other than explainin' things a bit more.

[Willow hadn't been kidding that seeing him smile made her want to kiss him, and since he'd kissed her himself earlier it was on her mind.

But she had one thing she did want to get out of the way, first, that had been on her mind for a lot longer.] Speaking of explaining things, [she says, compromising with herself by drawing his hand up and placing a light kiss across his knuckles in between her words,] can you tell me why pity is supposed to be a good thing?

[Once she understood this part, she thought she might be able to stop second-guessing herself about this. Well, maybe a little. She could at least keep her second-guessing to herself better.]

[Eridan cocks his head thoughtfully, trying to figure out why she would feel that pity wasn't a good thing. But after a few seconds, he begins to speak]

Wwell, there's a difference betwween contempt an pity, for one. Trolls are a vviolent species. Anyone you don't pity, you might use or hurt wwithout wworryin too much about it. But if you pity someone...

[He reaches out, cupping her cheek and pressing his forehead against hers, his voice dropping affectionately]

If you pity someone, then you couldn't bear to hurt them in any wway, because they're already so pitiable that you don't wwant to make it wworse.

[Oh that's a very good explanation, and charms the romantic in her completely. She giggles faintly at how obviously he's talking about her, and nuzzles against him, unreserved.]

Then if it's not entirely obvious, you are completely pitiable, [she says affectionately.] Eminently pitiable, even. If I ever hurt you I'd turn into a big wreck, it'd be completely embarrassing.