#rinnessa

Days at the cafe were getting more exhausting the further Rinnessa got into her pregnancy. Running around the kitchen and getting facetime with her clientele were all part of her daily routine, but she was spending more time sitting when she could manage it. The girls at the cafe were putting in the work to make up for their boss's need for more rest, which was good. Soon, they would have to handle things on their own while Rin learned to parent two little half-elves.

That was not the only thing Rin's energy was being spent handling, of course.

The weather was finally taking a turn for the better, but Rin still bundled up on her walk home from work. Even the March chill was enough to make her shiver these days. She longed for the warmth of her apartment and her girlfriend, but when she opened the door, her shiver came from an ominous hunch rather than the weather. Taking a deep breath to steel herself, the witch cautiously walked toward her bedroom.

Rin had been throughout with warding the apartment. She had crystal arrangements all over the space in strategic locations, but the most protected area was still the bedroom. More and more, that was where Rin expected to find her lover. Sure enough, when she knocked and slowly opened the door, Lark was in the corner of the room, rocking back and forth with her hands against her ears. Rin's smile faltered briefly; they both knew she could not shut out the whispers like that.

Ever since the whispers had grown worse, after the declaration of the ceasefire, Lark rarely left the apartment. This was best; Rin just wanted her safe and did not want to know what the whispers would lead her to do. They were doing everything they could, and Rin was pushing the limits of her magical knowledge. Herb baths, draughts mixed with Lark's tea, and every spell, ritual, and charm Rin could get her hands on. Even sitting there, Lark had more than one crystal item she wore to help ward away the voices.

Rin hoped something would change soon, because she hated seeing the woman she loved like this. Until something changed, she just had to be supportive, putting on her warmest smile. "Gods, have I missed ye, Lark. All I could think about for the last hour of work was your beautiful face. Well, and yer tummy."

The voice she spoke in was clear, with a slight melody to it. Rin noticed that helped in reaching out through the whispers. In this case, it worked enough to have those light blue eyes lift from Lark's knees. She did not say anything, but she was looking at Rin rather than closing herself down completely. That happened sometimes on the worst days.

Rin pressed forward, knowing Lark was not going to be able to talk much right now. "Of course, I'm assumin' ye and th' wee one are starvin' so I picked up a quail t' whip up wi' biscuits and gravy. Keep your strength up." It was a legitimate concern and Rin was not going to let her girlfriend or their baby wither away because of the void. In th' meantime, though, I baked us up some lemon bars as a treat."

Lark did not look away, but her weak voice trembled its reply. "I-i-it's really bad tod-day, Rin... I... I..."

Stepping closer, Rin got to her knees and carefully placed her hands on Lark's shoulders. When the elf did not lash out, she leaned in and pressed her forehead to Lark's. "I know, love. So let's just talk over them." She pulled away, kissing the spot on Lark’s forehead. She smiled as broadly as she could as she brought one thumb to her own mouth, biting it enough to draw her own blood. "We'll have a night in eatin' lemon bars and talkin' about things. We've got plenty t' talk about."

Rin placed her thumb against Lark's forehead and drew a sigil. Ever since their "conception ritual," their blood shared a connection. It was, after all, blood magic. "How about baby names? I think it's time we talk about them. We're havin' two children, and we don't exactly know what we're gettin' so we'll want two boy names and two girl names, at least." Maybe even something more neutral? "Plus we can choose human or elven names. So much to think about right?"

For the first time since Rin returned, she noticed Lark smile, however weak the expression was. "I... that sounds nice, Rin."

Pleased with the progress, Rin reached into her paper bag and pulled out two treats, handing Lark one unless she was not ready to feed herself yet. If not, Rin could do that too, because they were a team. "That's th' smile I fell in love with. Alright then." She took a seat on the floor next to Lark, keeping an arm around the elf. "Let's name some wee half-elves."

In Character, Bewitched Belongings is open from Monday-Friday, 10am-8pm and otherwise by appointment.

<3 Please look at this amazing commission from @rooku who is insanely talented and incredibly easy to work with.

Here, have a Picrew Rin!

She would have had a demisexuality pin but sadly that was not an option, so she’ll just stand proudly in front of her Lesbian flag.

Rin quirked an eyebrow, examining the piece of paper Dithaya was holding just out of her sight. Yes, they would be at the artist’s shop in a few minutes, but Dithaya was keeping information so tantalizingly close. Rin could not help but be curious.

“I s’pose that’s fair ‘nuff,” she said cautiously. “I’ve been givin’ it some thought for myself. I think I’m good on crystals, plants, and vials.” She examined the collage of witchy art on her arms. Yes, those three things were more than well-represented.

“Hmm. Maybe an owl.” Lyric was her loyal familiar, after all. “But where, though? Maybe the inside of my hip.” That was where she was planning on initially anyway, but why not speculate some dark horses Dithaya might not expect? “Or my thigh? Maybe lower back? Oh, or it could be in th’ center of my chest. Can ye imagine?”

They were all spots she could not imagine getting a tattoo, but she hoped it was enough to distract Dithaya as she made an attempt to snag the mystery drawing.

(From I)

Rin was glad Lark let the conversation move past what was still an awkward, unspoken topic because she had no clue what she would say in the event she had to speak it. Rin already said what she said, and she would not push Larksapur. She knew all too well how necessary it was to come to things at one’s own pace. Rin just hoped if Lark ever figured something out, she wouldn’t just forget to mention it. The girl was wonderful, but... well, oblivious.

Rin was glad to have Lark back on the roof, and even happier to know Lark wanted to let her further into her life.Traveling so far during wartime had its dangers, but she genuinely wanted to take trips like that with Lark. “I think I’d like that. Meeting yer sister. I’m sure she can give me plenty of cute, embarrassing stories about ye. Count me in.”

Absentmindedly, Rin’s finger started tracing circles on Lark’s knee. Resting next to Lark had a way of putting her at ease. “It really could be a nice trip. We should take it before it gets harder fer me t’ leave th’ city. Things are getin’ more real with th’ cafe, Lark. I think I’m really doin’ it. And I have one wonderful elf t’ thank fer that.” She smiled and planted a kiss on Lark’s cheek.

As Dithaya looked at her own arms, Rinnessa leaned in closer to do the same. She considered Dithaya’s point, holding up her own arms as if she was handling a bow and nocking an arrow. Her form was clearly wrong, as Rin’s limited experience with weapons never placed an actual bow in her hands.

Still, she got the idea and smiled. “Mmm, aye. Th’ left arm; th’ one ye hold th’ bow with—assuming ye do hold it with th’ left, which I should not assume,” she rambled off. “But yes, that one. That way th’ arrow is always aimed at whatever ye’re targetin. Like a compass arrow. But, y’know, fer… other arrows.” Alright, so maybe that line of thought got away from her near the end.