Rex

"Alright girls, i'll be heading off to the market now, so be good for (Name) and Olruggio, alright?" Qifrey urged gently, giving them each a hug as they huddled closer to him like a group of ducklings surrounding their mother

"Yes, Master Qifrey!" they exclaimed simultaneously as they raced past him and headed outside, giggling and talking happily about a new spell they wanted to try out.

Sighing in silent defeat, he turned to you and Olruggio with a rueful smile, asking

"Would you two like me to get anything well i'm at the market?"

Though he asked both of you, his blue eyes never left yours.

You smiled warmly, simply handing him a small bag of food and replying

"I'm all right, but i've noticed that the hems of the girls cloaks have started to fray, i'll need some needle and thread, but that's about it"

Letting out a breath of air at yet another example of your quiet kindness, he took a step closer brushing a stray strand of hair away from your face and resting his hand on your cheek, leaning in he murmured

"Are you quite sure about that? It's almost Silvers Eve, don't you want a new dress?" though he scanned your eyes for any flashes of uncertainty, he was met with the all too familiar confidence that your gaze always seemed to hold.

Placing your hand on his you laughed softly,

"I'm certain, last years dress will do me just fine"

He frowned slightly, unsure if he should let this go or keep pushing, but before he could reply he was quickly interrupted by Olruggios muttering as he headed back to his room

"I also don't need anything, thank you for asking"

Calling over his shoulder he said

"(Name) if you need help with anything i'll be in my room"

You giggled, eyes sparkling with amusement as you thanked him

"Thank you Olly, i'll be sure to call you if i need anything"

"Feel free to also not take my up on my offer, i'm gonna be busy...damn that paperwork" he grumbled

"I'll have to make sure to check up on him a bit later" you mumbled to no one in particular

Then grinning up at Qifrey, you walked with him to the front door

Leaning against the doorway you went on your tip-toes and began readjusting the collar of his cloak, and then (because you could never help yourself) began gently raking your fingers through his snow coloured hair

"You really should take more care of yourself love, your collar hasn't been straightened, and your hair is beginning to tangle" you murmured, genuine concern flickering in your expression

Qifrey chuckled, wrapping his arms around your waist he held you close to his chest, only letting go once you began struggling out of his grip and stared up at him with quite the amusing pout (though he'd never say that aloud)

"What's so funny, hm?" you said with crossed arms, though the amusement shining in your eyes told him your were only teasing...or at least half teasing

"You never seem to worry about your own clothes or hair, but you always love worrying about everyone else's, well, everything"

Now it was your turn to chuckle, and as you continued readjusting his collar you replied with a small smile

"Well of course, i have to, it basically my job now"

"Oh?" Qifrey murmured, curiosity peaked as he forced your fidgeting hands to a stop

Gently cupping your cheek he had you meet his gaze once again

"And whatever could you mean by that?"

You looked at him as if it was something he should already know

"Well the girls are always busy with studying magic or running around outside, by the time their done they're covered in either ink or dirt, it's basically the same thing with you Olly."

You paused as Qifrey looked at you with a raised brow, expression clearly saying "are quite you certain of that"

"Ok, maybe you're a tad bit more organized than Olly is, but that's not saying much. That man is one sleepless night away from being a walking corpse, and his office is a mess, and don't get me started on all the conjuring ink spills that happen just on his side of the atelier-" you stilled, as the sound of Qifrey laughing invaded your senses and you ended up laughing with him

Playfully you pushed him out the door,

"Now out with you already, what're you still doing here?" you joked

Putting his hands up in false surrender, he allowed himself to be led out

"Alright, alright, i'm off!" he chuckled, almost ready to leave, but not before giving you a soft kiss on the tip of your nose, like he always did before leaving to Kahln, or anywhere else really.

Smiling as he watched your nose do the little scrunch it always did when he kissed you there,he began walking down the path leading eastward

As he headed off he waved one final time to the girls who were all sitting together at the bottom of the hill, papers spread across the grass, amicably discussing with one another about their new spell.

Smiling softly, he left his home and began walking the trek towards Kahln, the town of witches.

ꮽ౿

The market was filled with all kinds of shops that sold magical contraptions and baubles.

The streets were filled with all kinds of spells, ones that lit up in the form of dragons and scalewolves, well others provided magical pastries that lit up with every bite.

After buying said magical pastries, ones he was sure that the girls (and Olruggio) would like, and some needle and thread that you had requested, he began looking for a dress shop, because he still couldn't seem to get the conversation he'd had with you before he left out of his mind

"Last years dress will do me just fine"

Last years dress?

The one that was fraying at the edges, and held stains from both dirt and ink?

He could already hear your answer in his mind, clear as if you were standing right beside him

"After a good washing and needlework it'll be as good as new, so stop worrying about me and go buy something for the girls"

He chuckled,

"Even in my own mind i can't seem to convince you to get something for yourself"

Stretching, and shifting the bags so that they rested comfortably on his shoulder he continued in search of a dress shop.

Because even if you didn't want a new dress you deserved one.

You deserved to feel special, and loved.

And as he had observed with Tetia (who was sure to agree with him), beautiful new clothing was the best way to make someone feel special.

And he could find no one more deserving of that feeling than you.

Entering a cozy looking dress shop he began carefully looking through the different dresses that were put up on display.

As he meandered through the small shop he paused, noticing a dress that rested on the very back of the rack, the waning sunlight that managed to filter through the shops windows gave the dress an ethereal glow - the dresses bodice and skirt were a pastel blue, with white frills and laces decorating it in soft waves, the pearls that donned the middle of the neck bow and bodice made it seem like it had just stepped out of something akin to a fairytale.

Immediately he called for the shop owner,

"Madam, how much would it be to buy this dress?"

The seamstress smiled brightly, hands held together as she exclaimed passionately

"This dress was based of an old tale from a fairytale book, it's my most meticulous work, and my proudest achievement" she proclaimed, to which Qifrey merely smiled

It was the perfect dress for you, a fraction of what you deserved really, but it would do.

He could practically see you in the dress already, smiling brightly, and looking like a being from the very heavens themselves.

"If it's alright with you i think i'd like to buy this dress" he finally managed to murmur, still entranced by the idea of you in this dress

"Of course, come with me"

ꮽ౿

"Olly, i'm coming in" you called softly, head carefully peeking into his dark room

"Hah, did ya need something (Name)?" he called from above, head leaning over the edge to look down at you

"Just brought you some tea and cookies that the me and the girls made" you responded as you walked up the steps to where he was

"Tea again? Y'know a good cup of beer would do me just fine as well"

You merely gave him a look, one that told him he was on thin ice

"Ahem, thank you, i'm sure it tastes just as good" he said, taking a sip

"So, why are you really here?" he asked, taking a cookie he began eating it rather messily, and left you to place the teacup on his desk

"Huh? Did you want brushbuddy to drop it off for you?" you asked with a dry chuckle

He merely looked at you with a raised brow, finally he sighed and further explained

"I mean, you're really here to drop all your Qifrey derived worries on me, and felt bad enough to bring tea and cookies well you were at it"

"...can't believe i was that obvious" you muttered, deflating in front of his eyes, but then not a second later you began anxiously muttering

"It's been two days, it only takes a few hours to get to Kahln, at most maybe half a day. What if it somethings happened? What if it started raining and he's been stranded somewhere, or what if he was attacked by the Brimmed Caps, or the Knights Moralis, or what if-"

"Or what if he's perfectly fine, and is on his way right now?" he replied calmly, as he took a sip of his tea and began to eat yet another cookie

Before you could continue on your worried tirade, you were cut off by a familiar voice

"Big sis (Name), Master Olly! Master Qifreys just come back!" Coco called, peeking her head into the kitchen

You let out a breath, the tension leaving your body all at once as you began following Coco

"I told you so" Olruggio muttered as he stretched and followed you both out, but you ignored him in favour of running to Qifrey

"Qifrey, you're alright!" you exclaimed happily, hugging him tightly

He laughed, hugging you just as tightly

"Let's us join too!" Tetia demanded, with Richet and Coco seconding her demands as they all joined the hug

Everyone turned to the two dark-haired individuals that were edging away from the hug

Staring at everyones hopeful looks, Olruggio and Agott both looked at each other and seem to come to resigned agreement with a heavy sigh

"...fine"

"if i must"

The hug was warm, and filled with laughter.

A perfect one in your book.

After the hug split off, and Olruggio silently herded the girls towards the hearth to enjoy their sweets and give you some privacy, you and Qifrey headed upstairs, to your room, for a moment alone.

"I'm glad you came back home safely" you murmured softly, eyes glimmering with relief

"I'm glad to be home" he murmured, placing a kiss on the bridge of your nose

Stepping back he grabbed a large bag that seemingly appeared from nowhere

"I've brought something for you"

You gave him a suspicious look,

"Surely thread and needle don't need a bag quite that big?"

He smiled fondly, and you couldn't help but feel your face warm at his loving gaze

"Needle and thread do not, but a new dress just might"

Though the frown never left your face, he could tell by the way your eyes silently lit up that you were at least interested in seeing it

"Well, go on then"

Placing the bag on the ground, he carefully picked up the dress, and oh, the look on your expression was worth every coin

"This is...for me?" you asked, disbelief clear in your voice

Your hands reached for the dress, but stopped just before your fingers could brush against the dresses fabric

Gently grabbing ahold of your wrist, he forced the dress into your hands,

"Of course, who else would be deserving of such a dress?"

You opened your mouth as if to reply, but couldn't seem to find the right words to say, except a strangled (and rather watery)

"Thank you"

"Of course, my love. Now go try it on, i'll be downstairs with the girls and Olly - i'm sure the girls will especially love it"

You nodded, teary eyed as you took the dress in it's full splendor

"It looks like it came straight out of a fairytale" you murmured in silent awe

"Which is why it's perfect for one such as yourself, a true fairytale princess"

You laughed, wiping the tears with the sleeve of your blouse you gently shoved him out the door

"No peeking, you have to wait to see me in this dress just like the others!" you teasingly exclaimed as you shut the door

Laughing softly, he turned to head downstairs but was stilled by the soft warmth in your voice as you spoke through the door

"Thank you Qifrey, for everything you do for me, thank you"

To which he merely smiled,

"It's my job, after all you're always busy looking after everyone else, someone needs to make sure you're also taken care of"

"And...i hope you know you deserve more than just this simple dress, you deserve so much more than this world has to offer"

And with that he headed downstairs

ꮽ౿

"So, what did you get her?" Olruggio demanded, handing him a piece of the magic pastry

Nodding his thanks, he answered simply,

"A dress"

Olruggio choked on his food, waving off the girls concern, he whispered furiously

"A dress?! You only got her a dress?!"

Qifrey nodded,

"Yes, what's wrong with that?"

Olruggio looked at him in disbelief,

"It's almost Silvers Eve, you could've gotten her a ring and proposed, but noo! You just had to get a dress and-" he paused abruptly, eyes wide as he stared at something behind Qifreys shoulder

"So...how do i look?" you asked shyly, and he immediately turned around and froze

You were beautiful-

No, beautiful wasn't enough to describe the way you looked

It was if you had stepped out of the very heavens themselves, and nothing in all the earth could dare hold a candle to a beauty that wasn't it's own.

But it tried, oh how it tried.

The sunlight gently filtering through the window tried, giving you a soft glow that could challenge the sun and all its fire.

The light wind that came from the open door tried, brushing against the stray strands of your hair, giving you the look a noble princess straight from the fairytales.

That dress, he knew as soon as he looked at it that it was made for you, but he would never have guessed that it was to this extent

The pastel colouring, the white laces and pearls, all of it, it was made for you

Twirling, you smiled brightly as the girls cheered you on, their praises for you filling the room

But Qifreys mind had long since left the conversation

"Oi, say something already" Olruggio muttered, bumping his shoulder with his own

What would say? What could he say?

"You look...mesmerizing-, no more than that, beautiful?enthralling?enchanting?"

Laughing nervously, he rubbed the back of his neck, admitting

"There doesn't seem to be a word in my vocabulary to describe the way you look that will do you justice"

Getting up, and making his way towards you, he gently cupped your face in his hands, staring into your glistening eyes, he murmured reverently

"But i'd like to try nonetheless"

"Because you are worth every failed word, and every beautiful thing this world has to offer, and as long as i'm around i won't let you ever forget it"

taglist: @thestupidgirlakira

at first it's more blankets, less of going in and out of different parts of the ship to hopefully keep the frigid air out. then it's suggestions of cuddling. ryland is terrible at lying or feigning innocence, but he's really good at flashing his pretty puppy eyes. he's all "please? it's just for staying warm. nothing else." even when both of you are tensing when skin meets skin.

i feel like ryland is not a very patient man when it's freezing. like, don't get me wrong, he has crazy patience for being a teacher. however, when it's frigid in the hail mary and he's stressed out, he folds in record-breaking time.

the compromise is cock warming. it takes a bit of tension and huddling for "warmth" until he's admittedly hard and white-knuckling the table to avoid doing something stupid. so, to compensate for this oversight, he does something stupid in the name of science. that way, he doesn't feel like he's needy and rutting against you like an animal.

his hands are hovering over your sides - something that would usually be hilarious if he wasn't buried so snugly inside of you. ryland was unfortunately right, and you know he's going to be smug about it later when he's not trying to fight off the urge to fuck into you.

You smiled at him and explained that you’d come to the dungeon to observe the behaviors and habits of the monsters in it.

You told him that you were currently trying to observe the colony habits of Big Bats, if they were any different in the dungeon than they were on the surface.

My god this man has never warmed up to someone so quickly.

I imagine you two met a little bit before Falin was eaten 

To be completely honest, you were one of the first people to pop into his head when they were preparing to head back down into the dungeon

He begged the others to let you tag along— “They know so much about monsters! They’d be a big help!”

Chilchuck and Marcille were dubious. They weren’t sure they could handle two monster enthusiasts in one party. 

However, they eventually agreed because… Laios had a point. Maybe you’d be able to help them figure out how to defeat the Red Dragon. 

Friends to lovers? Sure why not. 

You fell first, he fell harder, but he didn’t realize it for forEVER. 

You guys could literally talk for HOURS about monsters but gods does he love listening to you talk. Half the time, he won’t even fully be paying attention, he’ll just watch the way your eyes light up and the way you gesticulate with your hands when you talk about the imitative patterns of species like dryads and mimics. 

Plus, you’re the only one who seems to genuinely care about his own tangents 

He doesn’t even seem to notice that he’s being romantic, he just thinks he’s being a good friend.

… if being a good friend meant sitting shoulder-to-shoulder in the late hours of the night, reading his monster guide together with your faces so close you were practically sharing breath. 

It is literally painful for the others to watch— and even Chilchuck, who has been especially vocal about in-party romance being a bad idea, can’t bear to watch you two being so OBVIOUSLY SMITTEN FOR EACH OTHER. 

It legitimately gets to the point where you two start stealing bits off food off each others’ plates and the other will just affectionately roll their eyes at the little mischievous smile the other gives them

This would eventually all come to a head when you— utterly smitten for this handsome nerd— sat Laios down while the others were off gathering ingredients for soup.

“Laios, I need to tell you something. It’s really important. I like you.”

He’d smile that charming, kind smile at you. “Oh, I like you too! You’re probably one of my best friends and I really enjoy how we can talk about monsters together an—…”

You place your hands on his shoulders. Or, rather, his Pauldrons. “Laios, no. I— I like you. Like—“

His brows tick in a furrow as he watches your cheeks begin to flush.

“Laios. I’m in love with you.”

Oh.

“I…”at first, he doesn’t know what to say, but as you begin to profusely apologize and pull away, he reaches out and grabs your hands before he can even think better of it.

“I like you too.” The words come out softer than they usually would have, but with you? He doesn’t mind it. “You… don’t think I’m weird when I start talking about monster stuff. You… gosh, you engage with it. You’re so smart about that kind of stuff and I love talking with you…”

He swallows hard and looks at you with those amber eyes that had you smitten whole. “I love you.”

You smile at him and lace your fingers with his own. “I’m glad.”