#mageforged

"i have an excellent sense of dramatic timing. and good hair."

initially,  bethany’s soft query is met with unsure silence.  and then,  a lift of his head,  and the peek of olive green from over the edge of the book propped high on his stomach.

a question from seemingly nowhere,  but he's noted bethany's quiet reflection as of late. he just never thought it appropriate to press. 

now,  he understands. 

If years ago someone asked Simon if he ever thought he'd feel true happiness again he would have responded with a simple shrug, deep in his heart knowing that he was just living his life, making do with what he had and existing. After Highever, after the blight, after resigning himself to being Warden Commander, protecting his fellow wardens and finding purpose, but not happiness, he was content with a life of mere ordinance. Happiness wasn't afforded to the wardens usually, why should he be any different?

And yet he lay atop of her, mindful of his bulk and he's never felt so light, his heart full, a warmth of home, of love filling him every time they were together. Bethany had been his rookie, then later his friend, and now his lover, it took years of natural development for what they had to bloom and he couldn't be more thankful that it did. She was everything to him.

Her gifted fingers ran through his hair, and he kisses her chest softly, stubble tickling her skin. He stretches, making a show of it, nude form hidden beneath the many blankets the couple had acquired on their many journeys together. Once his stretching was over, he climbs further up the bed, pressing back down atop of her with a small smile and leaning in to capture her lips with his own, humming lightly before he pulls away.

"You're as cozy as always." He muses teasingly, body weight lifted up on either of his forearms on either side of her. "The kids are going to wonder where we are, as much as I love our home within these four walls, we do have to make an appearance today. In a week's time we're taking our newest rookies to Denerim and unlike a certain mage I know was, these new wardens are a rambunctious sort. We'll be busy reigning them in, love." The term of endearment drips from his tongue like honey, followed by another kiss, this time to her collarbone.

"I want to stay here." Simon grumbles, but eventually with a huff, he rolls off of her, throwing the blankets back over her body before his nude form proudly stands and walks the short distance to where he had tossed his clothing the night prior before yet another heated night spent with one another. "Hopefully our fellow veterans have told the rookies to pipe down on what noises they may or may not have heard last night, but I'll make an appearance first. Better their comments and jokes are directed at me so I can just glare and command them to stop."

Despite their relationship being seasoned at this point, he still wears a flirty smile for her, still stares at her with adoration as he pulls his clothing on, giving her a show as inch after inch of muscle and body hair disappear from her vision. There was no spark that needed to be ignited for them, they were always on fire, he always burned for her. Leaning back over the bed, he kisses her again, lips meeting in a quick peck, the pad of his thumb running across her cheek.

"honestly, bethany..." words mumbled as hands reached for two mugs offered by their most beloved bar maiden, all smiles and polite thanks as she placed one of the the (ales? wines? something dark, rich, and cheap) beverages in front of the younger girl. "the fact that you would try to get me to promise to something such as THAT... it's as though you don't know me at all!"

　　𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐀𝐆𝐄'𝐒 𝐄𝐘𝐄𝐒 𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐃 𝐅𝐈𝐗𝐄𝐃 𝐎𝐍 𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑, flickering dully between her face, not too much unlike her own, and the hand she was in the middle of bandaging. surely there were some mages who could master sword fighting, but fate had shown time and time again that there would be no wielding of blades in her future. guiltily, she glanced towards her own staff-- one she had mastered so well that she'd never accidentally crush herself ( as she had when she attempted to use a shield ) or slice her hand open ( as she had just moments earlier ) -- leaning against the wall.