Can I have some salamanders, please?

Normally they kick you out if you sleep in a bed that isn’t yours, so I just wanted to see what Hans would do for fun. But he did nothing—he simply used the other bed.

Can't stop playing

Tempted to actually put this on spotify so I can secretly stream it at work...

"Here," Hans presses his free hand against Henry's upper back, gently adjusting his posture. "Practice for the next wedding you attend. Keep your back straight. That is, if you want to impress a lady." "If I want to impress a lady," Henry parrots him. They're nearly nose to nose; if his squire were a few hairs taller, they'd be perfectly at eye level. Hans can feel his breathing. His rapid heartbeat, too, thrumming just beneath his thumb. "Alright, Sir Hans. How do I impress a lady?" Kissing Henry is an instinct he's had, unknown and unnamed, for some time. The actual feeling—the way Henry's mouth opens a little to the side, the warmth of his tongue, the rough patches on both of their faces—is still quite new. The first time they fought, Henry had punched him square in the mouth. Hans's lip bled for hours after, and he couldn't escape the taste of iron for the next two days. It's a similar kind of warmth.

"My, that's a fine jewel," the customer said with a hint of disappointment in their tone, indicating the ring on Henry's finger, "I did not know you were married."

Henry nodded politely, focusing intently on the sword rather than the woman clearly fishing for information, "aye. Rather newly married. It's a guild rule, after all. And I'm not one to break rules."

"Of course, you're a respectable blacksmith," she smiled back, not so discreetly looking around the forge, "so, where is your good lady wife?"

"At the market," Henry replied firmly, pleased the commission was almost over so she would leave and he could close up for the day, "she is a woman of fine taste, no doubt she'll return with exquisite luxuries," he finished the sword and handed it over to the customer, wiping his hands on an old cloth as he continued fondly, "but I live to make her happy. She is fond of the outdoors, hence the spacious gardens," he chuckled, shaking his head, "we spend many an evening enjoying the night air, sharing wine, playing dice. She's very strong and stunningly beautiful," he stopped, then, staring at the customer who was hanging onto his every word. Henry folded his arms, "is that enough information for you or would you like me to drag her in front of the guild for your 'proof'?"

"Thank you for the sword, master," the woman said firmly, handing over the groschen before leaving in a huff. Henry just smirked, feeling especially pleased with himself.

-

"I'd have loved to have to seen that," Hans said through his laughter, leaning against the edge of the bathtub Henry kept under his forge, "I told you it would work."

"Aye," Henry gazed fondly at the ring on his finger, letting out a fond sigh, "I almost don't want to take it off. I was getting quite used to being married."

"Well, don't" Hans said cheerily, pouring himself another wine, "it was a gift. And I'm honoured you like it so much."

"I do," Henry nodded happily, looking up at Hans. He cleared his throat nervously, continuing cautiously, "I was...it was you...I was thinking about. Being married to."

Hans leaned forwards, still smirking, "is that right? I don't think the guild would like that very much."

"Fuck the guild," Henry said impatiently, taking one of Hans' hands in his and stroking his ringless finger, "will...you wear the other one?"

Hans was so happy he was sure he was going to burst but he kept it together long enough to nod slowly, "I'd like to wear one."

"I'd like that, too," Henry reached behind him and retrieved the ring from the pocket of his tunic. He faced Hans again and delicately slid the ring onto his finger, admiring where it sat for a moment, "there, I knew it would-"

That feeling is usually a lie.

Most things that we spend enough time looking at and thinking about in a short enough period of time begin to feel dull and ordinary, no matter what they are.

If you found your ideas exciting when you came up with them, however, if your word choice felt fun and your sentences painted the picture you saw in your head when you first wrote them down? They'll probably still feel fresh and vivid and exciting to an outside audience, too, who reads them for the first time with fresh eyes, no matter how frustratingly ordinary they begin to feel to the writer who has stared at them so long they've lost their lustre.

Don't give up on your ideas when editing drags on.

If you need to, put the document aside and give yourself some space from the story, too.