[The guilt in her expression wasn't his goal, of course - not ever - but perhaps it's unavoidable to have a conversation like this without some guilt. He's felt it himself plenty of times when the subject comes up, because of Luna and his inability to save her. Engagements, weddings, marriage- all very sensitive subjects, and Pyra is well aware of this. It would be foolish to expect her to be unaffected when she's been so historically sensitive to his anxiety or trauma. He's come a long way from where he started out, pitiful and self-hating and so very flawed after Altissia, after Zegnautus, after all of it, but that doesn't mean he can sweep it all under the rug. She understands, when even he often doesn't.
He takes a beat or two as they slow and halt the dance, fingers curling in her grasp as she kisses them, torn on what to say next, how to respond to her. She's so careful with his heart, and he appreciates that always, though he wishes she could be more free with her wants and her questions, without having his hang-ups get in the way. But for him to do this properly, he has to take care of his own heart with as much kindness as she does- and in turn, he needs to take care of hers, lest he build a foundation of what they have here on a grave of his old issues. That's not right, either.
"You know my answer already."
They... have some time. He hopes. He closes his eyes again, taking a deep breath, and leans in to kiss her properly, soft and lingering. This feels right to him, the way it has so many times before, and whatever doubts he might have about weddings or marriage or whatever, they have nothing to do with any failings in her.]
There's no 'if', [he murmurs, as they part. Maybe if they ever are taken from here, or if something comes between them that they can't help, or if the world is shattered in a way that makes a wedding impossible to pull off. But... if.
There is no if, not when it comes to her. The rest, he has to think about.]
[ In the end, it's not a subject she should dwell upon, either, and one she can only be more careful about in the future. When his lips take hers, the kiss is reassuring of all of his love, and when he pulls back, no guilt lingers within her expression. She can wait. If it's for him, she can wait forever.
So she answers softly, her hand squeezing his affectionately, ] I'll wait for you, whenever you're ready.
[ And-- this dance doesn't need to be for a wedding. It's said to predict the fortune of the future, isn't it? In which case...
As they've both told each other, they've danced it perfectly. Pyra is not so superstitious that it has a literal predictive value, but it does make her more mindful of the hope she holds in her heart and of the inspiration the dance gives to want to make it a wonderful year, if it is within her ability. ]
So... Here's to another year together, then. Of knowing you and loving you.
I'll say yes to that. [His smile broadens, and while her comment hadn't stressed him out, he does relax noticeably against her, grateful for the time and the answer she's granted him.] Hell yes.
[Another year of this, with her? Helping one another, supporting and loving and being there? With how far the both of them have managed to come from where they began? There's no doubt in his mind that she's made him better, made his life better. They've had their ups and downs, and they've weathered them so well, and all it did was make them stronger. They can face whatever comes next, and he won't balk. He knows how fortunate he is, and how happy she makes him. That's worth anything.]
[ She brings him into a hug, resting her head against his shoulder and smiling against his shirt. ]
I look forward to it.
[ She's grateful to know him, and she wouldn't be the person she is today without him. She doesn't need more than this: him alongside her, her alongside him. ]
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He takes a beat or two as they slow and halt the dance, fingers curling in her grasp as she kisses them, torn on what to say next, how to respond to her. She's so careful with his heart, and he appreciates that always, though he wishes she could be more free with her wants and her questions, without having his hang-ups get in the way. But for him to do this properly, he has to take care of his own heart with as much kindness as she does- and in turn, he needs to take care of hers, lest he build a foundation of what they have here on a grave of his old issues. That's not right, either.
"You know my answer already."
They... have some time. He hopes. He closes his eyes again, taking a deep breath, and leans in to kiss her properly, soft and lingering. This feels right to him, the way it has so many times before, and whatever doubts he might have about weddings or marriage or whatever, they have nothing to do with any failings in her.]
There's no 'if', [he murmurs, as they part. Maybe if they ever are taken from here, or if something comes between them that they can't help, or if the world is shattered in a way that makes a wedding impossible to pull off. But... if.
There is no if, not when it comes to her. The rest, he has to think about.]
no subject
So she answers softly, her hand squeezing his affectionately, ] I'll wait for you, whenever you're ready.
[ And-- this dance doesn't need to be for a wedding. It's said to predict the fortune of the future, isn't it? In which case...
As they've both told each other, they've danced it perfectly. Pyra is not so superstitious that it has a literal predictive value, but it does make her more mindful of the hope she holds in her heart and of the inspiration the dance gives to want to make it a wonderful year, if it is within her ability. ]
So... Here's to another year together, then. Of knowing you and loving you.
no subject
[Another year of this, with her? Helping one another, supporting and loving and being there? With how far the both of them have managed to come from where they began? There's no doubt in his mind that she's made him better, made his life better. They've had their ups and downs, and they've weathered them so well, and all it did was make them stronger. They can face whatever comes next, and he won't balk. He knows how fortunate he is, and how happy she makes him. That's worth anything.]
no subject
I look forward to it.
[ She's grateful to know him, and she wouldn't be the person she is today without him. She doesn't need more than this: him alongside her, her alongside him. ]