#djelvar

     no smile has ever slid from jesper’s face as quickly as this one:  he had opened his mouth to say something in relief at the sight of everyone back together, but one look at matthias cracked that relief into a million pieces.  something clenches over his lungs, iron - strong and unrelenting, holding his breath until he hears matthias choke something out.  how do i look?  

     jesper is starting to regret the times he told matthias it wouldn’t kill him to make a joke now and again.  fate had a terrible, terrible sense of humour.  he tries to smile.  for his friend’s sake, he tries very hard.  tries, and fails, and his whole expression crumbles with it.  even if he tried to fake a laugh, it would come out sounding strangled, and would fade to something fearful.

     “ like shit, ”  he can sense . . . something — metal, and unwelcome.  his thoughts are pinging through his head too fast for him to focus; was it a bullet, a knife, something matthias was carrying on his person?  he couldn’t tell.  he reaches a hand out to see, but it trembles so badly he cannot bring himself to use his powers for fear it would make it worse — for fear matthias would pull back in revulsion.  “ hey, eyes open — you’ll be fine, we’ll get you back to your usual grumpy self, just — stay awake!  stay awake, helvar, you’re alright — ”

     if nina couldn’t help him, who was jesper fooling, pretending that he could?  

If you say one more word, I swear…

❄️ A snowstorm locking everyone in their homes, with electricity flickering

Snowstorms aren’t rare in Djerholm. Ylva stands at the window, watching the snow  and worrying silently about her husband, her daughter. She’d hoped Jarl would be back already, hopes still that the convent is doing Hanne good. The lights flicker, and she jumps, turning from the window. She calls for a servant, makes sure the fires are lit, then checks in on Jarl’s ward. She’s raised the girl since she was an infant, was probably the only mother Maisy remembered, and Ylva loved her as she loved Hanne. Still, looking at the pale, sickly girl, it’s obvious she is Jarl’s and not hers.

“Are you doing well, min hjerte?”

Maisy nods, smiles faintly at Ylva. Her own anxiety of the snow and Jarl’s delayed return is twofold; her beloved is on an assignment under Jarl, and she’s confided to Ylva that he intends to court her properly when he returns. “The lights startled me, but the fire is enough. I should not strain my eyes further trying to stitch tonight, I think.”

@djelvar​ sent a kiss ;; { kiss maisy }

She’s loved him nearly from the moment Jarl brought him into their home. She knows if he wanted to court her, Jarl would allow it, might even encourage it. If she has to be married, she would rather be with someone like him, someone who would be patient and gentle with her as he has been. She’d hoped once he’d gone through Hringkälla and earned his colors, he would ask Jarl’s permission, and had to stifle her disappointment and heartbreak when he didn’t.

She already knows he’s leaving before he comes to say goodbye; Jarl had been talking about this expedition for weeks, taking his newest drüskelle out to earn their stripes. They’re left as alone as they ever are, but Solvie has long since turned a blind eye to how familiar they’ve become. (She is ever thankful for her maid, her confidante, for many multiple reasons.) Familiar, but he has been ever the gentleman, and has done nothing to be construed as an overture. Solvie has assured her the way he looks at her sometimes is decidedly not platonic, but he has not expressed any such leanings.

Until today. He tells her he wants to be an established drüskelle before he courts her, so that no one can protest an orphan with the commander’s niece. His fingers on her chin are terribly gentle, the brush of his lips against hers more a promise than a kiss, but it leaves her breathless all the same. She takes his hand before he leaves, presses a kiss to his palm and curls his fingers over it before releasing him. “I will be here for you when you return,” she promises softly.

@djelvar​ sent : “  why don’t you trust me enough to let me in?  ”  ;; { confrontations }

Because you are training to become a witchhunter, and I am a witch. She’s not certain if it really matters that she’s kept her abilities suppressed her entire life; she still feels the call to it, the siren song to reach out and change things. If she succumbs, if she starts using her abilities, will love for her be enough to save her? If she can’t answer that question for Jarl, she certainly can’t answer it for Matthias. It doesn’t make her love him less; it just makes loving him hurt.

@djelvar​ sent :  🤍 ;; { send a ship }

Who cooks meals for the other? - Matthias. Maisy ultimately prefers baking anyway, even though he regularly gets roped into helping with that, too.

Who spams the other with memes? - Maisy. A side effect of growing up sick means she’s chronically online. Matthias doesn’t always often understand them, but at least she’s entertained.

Who likes to tidy around the house? Matthias. Not that the house ever gets messy, unless certain someones come to visit, but if Matthias doesn’t keep things tidy, Maisy will, and then he’ll come home to find she’s spent the last four hours lying on her back in the kitchen because that’s where her stamina ran out and she hasn’t been able to get to the couch yet.

Who likes to play pranks on the other? - Neither, pranks are a waste of time and energy. Maisy would rather spend that on doing something sweet, and Matthias doesn’t want her to brace or wonder what’s coming.

Who asked the other to move in with them? - Maisy. Her place is already all set up for her assorted accommodations; it’s be easier for him to move in with her than for her to adjust his place to her needs.

Who is in charge of the music during a car ride? - Maisy, since Matthias is driving. She doesn’t play all Taylor then.

Who is more likely to tickle the other mercilessly? - Neither. Matthias isn’t ticklish, anyway. Mostly.

Who needs to hold the other during scary movies? Matthias absolutely has to hold Maisy during honestly scary movies, but like B-horror she eats up.

Who has to help the other when it comes to technology? - Maisy. Side effect of regular hospital stays and long bedrest periods, she’s gotten very familiar with technology.

Who likes to get a bit frisky in public / an inappropriate setting? - Frisky? These two? Matthias is an absolute gentleman and Maisy’s not inclined toward friskiness. That said, Maisy will unhesitatingly curl up in his lap, regardless of the setting.

Who wakes up first, and do they wake up the other or let them rest? - Matthias, and he always tries to let Maisy rest but she usually ends up waking up and is still awake when he gets back from his morning run.

Who is always taking pictures of the other when they aren’t looking? - Maisy. Matthias always looks so stern in pictures, she knows candids are the only way to get a proper representation of him.

Who always forgets their wallet and never ends up paying for anything? - Maisy doesn’t forget her wallet but Matthias usually insists on paying anyway.

Who can’t sleep because the other snores or moves too much at night? - Maisy’s just a light sleeper. She does get used to him pretty quickly, though.

Who is better at video games, and do they let the other win or show no mercy? - Maisy better, and she absolutely shows no mercy.

@djelvar​ sent :  ❣️ ;; { send a ship }

Who is the little spoon? - Maisy. It makes her feel safe, and he likes knowing that if anything happens, he’ll know immediately.

Who sings in the shower? - Maisy; partially to keep track of time, partially to give herself something to think about that’s not the cost of energy.

Who is the one who listens to pop music? - Maisy. She likes upbeat music, it makes her feel like she has more energy than she does, which is the only reason Matthias doesn’t complain when she plays Taylor almost non-stop.

Who brings the other a random cup of joe? - Fairly even, pretty much whenever one of them gets coffee for themselves, they get it for the other too.

Who picks the cheesy movies for date night? - Maisy’s choices are always cheesy, but they switch off who chooses.

Who is more likely to feed the other in public? - Maisy, much to his chagrin. She’s the one who needs to eat more, after all.

Who gives the other random little compliments? - Matthias, and he’s always so sincere. And it always makes her blush.

Who is always stealing food from the other’s plate? - Neither, but Matthias does put extra of things he knows Maisy likes on hers every chance he gets.

Who is more likely to let the other borrow their car? - Maisy is perfectly happy letting Matthias drive.

Who makes the list before they go grocery shopping? - Matthias. He’s the one going shopping, too. He knows what she likes.

Who makes sure the other takes their meds when sick? - Matthias, but that’s a daily thing.

Who watches sports and has to teach the other the rules? - Matthias. Maisy doesn’t understand most of it, no matter how he explains it, but she likes how enthusiastic he gets.

Who pulls the other to their feet for a dance in the living room? - Maisy. He’ll never say no.

Who has to keep reminding the other to hurry or they’ll be late? - Neither. Maisy’s ready a couple hours early because she had to budget her energy and needs time to recharge before actually going somewhere. Matthias is perfectly punctual.

@djelvar​ sent :  ♡ ;; { send a ship }

Who is the most affectionate? - Maisy. Matthias has to struggle through his upbringing.

Who initiates the handholding? - Fairly even, probably Matthias by a slim margin. He claims it’s to make sure he doesn’t lose track of her.

Who worries more for the other? - Matthias. Maisy has always been so sick, he assures himself it’s absolutely normal and platonic to worry about her. That doesn’t last long.

Who is more likely to ask for help? - Maisy. She’s always been sick, so she’s used to asking others to do things for her.

Who is the one always losing the keys? - Maisy. It’s easy to forget things in her exhaustion.

Who leaves little love notes for the other? - Maisy. sweet little things, thanks and appreciation, but not overtly romantic.

Who can’t sleep unless the other is there? - Maisy. Matthias struggles as well, but mostly because he worries about her if he can’t keep an eye on her.

Who is more likely to propose to the other? - Matthias, with some coaching from his friends, and after several long discussions weighing pros and cons. It’s a long engagement, and fairly secret at first.

Who introduced the other to their family first? - Well.....

Who is more likely to play with the other’s hair? - Is it really playing if he’s helping her brush and braid her hair bc she exhausts easily?

Who makes sure the other has meals/stays hydrated? - Both; Matthias makes sure she’s eating and drinking properly, Maisy makes him eat with her.

Who is more likely to stand up to anyone for the other? - Definitely Matthias, and most people don’t make that mistake twice.

Who is the most likely to prepare a surprise for the other? - Maisy. She’s always loved doing things for him.

Who makes the other pinky promise not to do certain things? - Maisy. Matthias usually has her promise something in return.