#tpd rayla

July 7th – Flowers

“How did you know Amaya and Janai were getting married?”

“Huh?” Rayla blinks, looking up from her book as she frowns, mind a little behind this random tangent.

“The flowers or something,” Callum shuffles a little closer to her, pushing his book aside.

The library is quiet this late in the evening, but he speaks softly anyway, head close to hers.

“Oh,” her own book becomes forgotten as she looks to him. “Those were traditional Sunfire wedding flowers, and they were in a bouquet. I suppose I just guessed.”

“Good guess.” Callum smirks, resting his head in his hand. “Could have been embarrassing if they were just making a flower arrangement or something.”

“That would have been a pretty fancy arrangement, don’t you think?” She rolls her eyes, snorting. “And they’ve been together for two years, it wasn’t that big a leap.”

“I guess.” Callum sighs, his smile falling just a fraction as his eyes wander. A moment later he shakes himself though, looking back at her. “So, eh, what are traditional Moonshadow wedding flowers?”

“We don’t have flowers.” She answers automatically, even though she’s surprised by the slight change in subject. “Or, well, cut ones. Weddings are usually held in the grove, I suppose, so there’s already flowers and plants there, but, we don’t really have bunches of flowers like Sunfires.”

“Huh,” Callum frowns as he ponders her answer.

“What?”

“I dunno.” Shrugging, he sits up a little straighter. “I guess I just assumed all cultures do wedding flowers. Katolis does. And Duren.”

Rayla thinks about this. Perhaps it makes sense in a place like Katolis or Lux Aurea, that bit more removed from nature. Or in her experience anyway. Growing up like she did, nature always felt part of her life. “Flowers are pretty, I suppose.”

It feels… charged discussing weddings and flowers with Callum and she struggles to think straight.

“Why don’t Moonshadows have flowers?” He asks, then seems to second guess himself. “Or, em, is that-”

“No, that’s- It’s not-” Insensitive? Over stepping? Early on in their acquaintance they’d both inadvertently insulted each other with long held prejudices or silly assumptions. It feels like they are so far beyond that though. Having flowers or not at a wedding is a simple discussion. Or it should be. “Flowers don’t really last, do they? Ones you’ve cut, I mean.” It’s not like she’s really thought about these things. They are simply part of her life, her culture. She likes how he makes her think about them though. Examine old ways and decide if they still fit who she is now. “If you’re making that commitment, well, we believe it’s supposed to be forever. Not just in this life, but you know, beyond. On the other side too.” She shrugs, maybe it is silly and old fashioned. “Flowers wilting and dying... I guess it’s seen as a sort of bad omen for Moonshadows.”

Callum watches her without comment, clearly pondering her words. “You know what? That makes a lot of sense.”

“You think?” She feels herself blush and hopes it’s not that obvious in the soft evening light.

Maybe she’s mistaken, but she thinks he might be blushing too. “Yeah, from the Moonshadow philosophy, I think I do.”

She can’t help but smile at him, rolling her eyes in amusement. “What, learning the moon arcanum now, mister mage?” That clever mind of his, always working, pondering, thinking.

He shrugs, smiling softly. “I’d like to.”

“Well, dont expect me to be of any help.” Rayla feels her stomach flip and her mouth go dry for reasons she can’t really explain.

He laughs softly, eyes crinkling in the corners. “You’re the most helpful with magic stuff.”

She snorts loudly and rolls her eyes, pulling her book back closer. He can tease her, if he likes.

It’s not as if she doesn’t like it too.

Callum doesn’t go back to his book though, clearly still interested in the topic. “So, if you don’t actually have flowers, what do you do for decorations?

Rayla looks up from her book, pondering how best to explain. “We craft flowers.”

“Craft them?” Callum’s interest is most certainly piqued as he pulls his chair closer.

“Yeah. Out of paper or cloth. Or wool, weaving them.” She thinks back to the various celebrations she’s attended over the years, smiling fondly. The home she can no longer call home. “Ethari would make them out if metal… But they last, you know? Forever. If you care for them.”

He smiles at her, eyes soft and cheeks most certainly flushed.

“What?” She desperately wants to know what he’s thinking when he looks at her like that, and though they’re growing closer again, she doesn’t quite feel like she can ask directly. “Sounds dumb and backwards to you cultured Katolians?”

“No, not at all. I- I really like it.” He reaches for her hand, squeezing her fingers gently. “It sounds lovely.”

Week 10

Edits, Graphics, etc.

What would you do? By @raayllum

New Fanfic

The Couch by @parsbooks

Dear Rayla by @amys-books27

Song Of Past Romance by @winterstorm032802

Up-dated Fanfic

Crawl home to her:Chapter 2 by @blutopaz15

All This Time I Could've Been Loving You: Chapter 16 by @thatartiststudios

A Dark Alternative: Chapter 32 by @zuppizup

The Marks You Leave: Chapter 2 by @pavatopia

Sun Fueled Rage - Chapter 12: "Burn" by @photoniccyclone

Callum: I want to marry you, and I get that you saying yes means I get a wife but you get a husband AND a title and that's a lot to ask of you. I completely understand if you don't want that responsibility... But I want you to be my wife... And my princess..."

Rayla: you want me to wear a crown for you."

Callum: only a very little one. And besides, you'll be overshadowed by whomever Ezran chooses to bring into his life.

Rayla *with mock drama* but I am the elven princess of Katolis and I will not be overshadowed! I will outlive you all!

Callum *excitedly starts running away*

Rayla: are you running off to tell your brother?!

Callum: of course I'm going to tell my brother! I'M GETTING MARRIED! *He yells for the whole ass courtyard*

Callum: Straight. Is pretty versatile in his preferences, as long as they're not too butch.

Ezran: Asexual. Closest thing he'll ever have to romance is his love for jelly tarts, lol.

Rayla: Straight demisexual. Fell in love with Callum because she adores him.

Soren: Gay. Likes men as beefy as he is.

Claudia: Straight. Though she's fine with pre-transition trans guys.

Viren: Bisexual. Totally had a thing for Harrow - and Aaravos, too, but he keeps it to himself.