psl

[start_again]

[It's all over. And yet not, because they're going to continue traveling together. One thing ends and another begins and the world hasn't ended.

But however final that conversation with the Head Housemaiden had felt, it turns out that beginning and end are a lot less distinct than anticipated. It's not like they were gonna immediately take off on a new journey, after all. Especially not when the whole of Dormont is eager to celebrate with their heroes.

The End Of The World party has become a The World Didn't End party, as promised, and the shift in theme only seems to have amped up the energy of the festivities. Which is fair enough. Mirabelle, the Chosen One, has been mobbed nonstop by both grateful townsfolk and friends from the House, and she looks happy enough to see everyone safe and movie that a rescue isn't even warranted. Odile looks genuinely happy, deep in conversation with the librarian from the House. And it looks like Bonnie is making friends with some of the local kids, or at least enjoying the awe as they regale them with stories of their adventure.

It's good. Everyone is happy and full of life. It's just kind of...overwhelming? Siffrin wasn't exactly big on crowds even before the timelooping business, and it's been so long with just the same few faces repeating the same lines that this is all A Lot. Their general air of quiet mystery and exhaustion has kept most people from doing more than offering their thanks in passing, but Siffrin still feels drained regardless. It's so loud.

But he couldn't spoil the fun for everyone else. They deserve it after saving the whole country, and especially after dealing with all his nonsense. So he quietly slips away while they're all otherwise occupied. He doesn't intend to go far – the idea of not having his family nearby spikes anxious tightness in his chest, and he doubts that's gonna go away anytime soon – but just...around back of one of the buildings should be fine, right? He can peek around the side periodically to reassure himself with a glimpse of everyone. He just needs a wall to muffle the festivities somewhat.]

Comments

[changecraft]

[He has a rebuttal ready for that comment about eggshells. He's so ready to say it, his lips are parting, but!! Siffrin beats him to the... punch, as it were. They make that face. The one that says they're about to serve him a plate of wordplay more filling than a triple decker breakfast combo at his favorite diner, and he is super going to shut up right now he promises.

He's rewarded with an utterly deadly combination. Barely has time to process being called cute when the pun that follows absolutely devastates him. Laughter bounces off the stone walls and up the corridor- it's actually pretty cacophonous in here. Isabeau does Not Notice.]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! SIF!!

[It's true! He was super egg-cited for the chance to finally get all his feelings out! Oh, oh give him a moment, he's just gonna put his hand on the wall and catch his breath here. Crab, that was a good one. Deep breath, phewwwwwwww...]

Hahah, whew, I mean... [no, a few more giggles, hold on,] I mean, if egg-cited is really what you want, I can take a crack at it. Hehe.

[He wipes a very real tear that almost fell from his eye, still grinning. All that aside!! It's not about eggshells and the stepping thereof. Though after the days Siffrin has had, he thinks he gets why they're worried he might. Isabeau is still being a little cautious around Siffrin, and they probably hate it, but they've also earned a bit of trepidation. Said trepidation just doesn't have anything to do with the budding romance at hand.]

I'm not trying to coddle you, really. [He... thinks over that sentence, like really puts his mind to it, and walks it back a bit for the sake of honesty.] Well, no more than I usually do.

[It's here that his smile grows a little more fond, a bit more candid. He squeezes Siffrin's hand in his, rubbing his thumb over their knuckles.]

But you're the most important person in my life, so your comfort is pretty high up on my priority list? And I just think it'd probably be nice if my boundless love was less of a deluge and more of a summer rain.

[Refreshing! Nice and cool when it's gotten too hot out. Something that breaks the humidity and makes the world more comfortable.]

You'll still get the deluge on occasion, though. You're just gonna have to get used to that.

[start_again]

[That boisterous laughter at close range leaves Siffrin's ears ringing, but he feels so warm regardless. He can't help the satisfied smile that slips onto his face. He knows his jokes are incredibly stupid, but that just makes Isabeau's delight in them more endearing, somehow. Every successful pun makes him want to double down on the stupidity. Making Isa laugh feels better than anything.

And yet in spite of their determination to keep it up, that Isa might keep them around forever, they're still a little stunned by that casual admission in return.

It's insane how casually Isabeau slides that in there and carries right on like it's nothing. They're the most important person in his life? Really? How? It's easy enough for Siffrin to say their little group is the most important thing to him because they're literally all he has, but everyone else has actual lives. Doesn't Isabeau have family or anything like that that'd rank higher?

Siffrin don't actually know. Realizing it feels immensely shitty, honestly. Isabeau's out here saying they're the most important person to him and they don't even know if he has siblings or parents or anything? Hadn't they been so happy to know so much about their friends? They're such scum.

But they can't let that realization show on their face right now. Isabeau would surely take it the wrong way and it'd spoil everything. So Siffrin just nods, ducking his head in to lean against Isabeau's chest where he doesn't have to worry as much about what expression he's making.]

I'm getting wet either way, so it's fine.

[He keeps his tone light. It's fine. He's scum, but he can at least circle back to this later. He makes a mental note to ask about Isa's family and whatnot later, at a time when it wouldn't so obvious what prompted it.]

[changecraft]

[Siffrin leans on him, seemingly apropos of nothing, and it sends a little thrill through him. A spark of giddiness that shortens his breath and one moment and lengthens it the next, instilling a particular feeling of safety that only Siffrin can inspire in him. He's still not used to it! And it just makes him so... so happy. He's relied on. Easily. Seen as someone they can just reach out to without even asking, and it's barely been twelve hours. That means so much to him.

He could say as much, and later he probably will, but for now he ought to make good on that "summer rain" vs "deluge" thing he just promised them. Still holding one hand, he wraps his other arm around their back and squeezes them in a hug, letting out a little hum of satisfaction.]

Heh! Guess that's true.

[His squeeze relents to a gentle hold, fingers trailing on his back in a bid to not let go quite so quickly.]

Hmm... much as I personally could stand here and hold you all day, if you let me keep this up, we'll be in Dormont for another week. [He pats his back, takes a second to apply one last fluffing to that bright hair of his.] Ready to go lay ourselves at the Madame's mercy?

[start_again]

[Siffrin certainly isn't rushing out of the hug now that he's situated, but it's true that they can't linger like this all day. Especially when he's the one most eager to get out of town. But when it always takes him a bit to relax into any instance of contact, it feels so unfair that he can't just settle into it once and than enjoy it for at least like...a few hours?

Yeesh. He really needs to dial back the clinginess.

Or...maybe not, if Isabeau is considering the same thing? Or at least joking about it. It's still crazy that he can just say these things out loud when just thinking them makes Siffrin feel like they might spontaneously combust. They fight back the blush and the urge to hide their face, powering through the embarrassment with a faux thoughtful expression.]

Hmm. Well, I am.

[And then they raise their voice just a little – not shouting or anything, but clearly not addressing Isabeau.]

What about you, Bonbon?

[There's a creaking of floorboards, and then Bonnie's face peeks around the corner of the stairwell, squinting.]

Depends. Are you guys done being gross?

[changecraft]

[Oh! He leans back as Siffrin does what he'd intended to do next, calling up to make sure their youngest companion was also ready to leave.

(Not that Bonnie always needs supervision or anything, but Isabeau isn't feeling especially inclined toward leaving any of his friends alone, right now.)

They answer in a very expected way, and Isabeau does not hold back his laugther. So harsh! Even after he made sure he and Sif went to another floor and everything! He looks back down at his partner, still comfortably wrapped up in his arms, and tilts his head.]

I dunno! Hey, Sif, are we done being gross?

[Sorry, preteen. The truth is, he and Siffrin have only just begun to be gross. They might even h*ld h*nds on the way into town, though he suspects that one wouldn't actually bother Bonnie all that much.]

[start_again]

[With a sly grin, Siffrin leans into the huh, head resting on Isabeau's ample chest.]

I dunno, I think I could go a bit longer.

[Turns out, PDA is way less embarrassing when it's being used to tease a preteen. Thanks, Bonnie.

The preteen in question makes a gagging sounds as they give up on hiding and come the rest of the way down the stairs, their own bag already packed. Siffrin can't really tell how much any of that "grossness" actually bothers them and how much is just for show, but Bonnie at least seems to get over it quickly, dropping their bag on a chair and rifling through it.

Siffrin exhales softly, content, before leaning back again, their good eye flicking back up to Isabeau. As comfy as they are right now, they still have some shame over being shown up by a kid.]

We should probably finish packing up too, huh?