Gennesy Crestwell

“Speakin’ of surprises, I have another for ya… Yer goin’ to have to stand fer this one, darlin’.”

“Why does it require me to stand?”

Joe cleared his throat, looking out at the small lake in Stormwind Genny and him had sat by for their picnic. Little pink candles floated on the water, their warm glow lighting up the evening. Perhaps this was the perfect place. Perhaps he had been over-thinking it all along. He took a big breath.

“Because I gotta kneel,” he continued. With that, he reached behind him into a pocket and plucked out a tiny box before he knelt down before her and flipped it open. It revealed a ring formed with a band of white and rose gold with a sapphire and tiger’s eye jewels forming a sunset. “Because I love you… more than anythin’ in the world and I want to spend the rest of my life with you… Will you marry me Genny?”

Even now, in his old workshop in Elwynn, he kept replaying that evening in his head as he sat on the floor against the rocking cradle he had been building for their soon to be born twins. He had made her cry tears of joy before she had wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. She didn’t have to say it for him to know, but he asked if it had been a yes anyway. He had wanted to hear her say that short, but sweet word. He couldn’t stop smiling as he clasped his hands together on the back of his neck, as if she were here now and still holding him, although his rough and calloused hands made a poor substitute.

He sighed as he turned back to look over his work nearly finished, gripping it on the side and giving the cradle a little rock back and forth. It was a simple enough project for him but he wanted for it to be perfect, and so he took his time over every little detail. It would have been finished by now if it weren’t for him stopping every few minutes with the urge to want to either laugh, dance, or cry with joy. You’d think he had lost his mind. He was living his dream now, and had to keep pinching himself to make sure that it was indeed real.

Joe took a deep breath and let it go with a huff. “C’mon man… almost done.” He pushed himself to stand before he heard a clink and the shatter of glass. It appeared he knocked over his glass of milk and had spilt it on himself. Until now, he hadn’t even noticed that his hands were as still as a pond all throughout working on the cradle, even without one drop of alcohol. The man couldn’t help but sit and laugh till tears came out for another five whole minutes. 

“Oh by the spirits… I could die of happiness right ‘bout now…”

It was a quiet evening when Joe walked into the Boralus jewelry shop. It was a humble shop, tucked away from the busier parts of Upton Borough. Inside, Joe was met with a feeling of warmth now that he was out of the November breeze.  It was certainly cozy. Not very large, and felt even smaller due to Joe’s size.

He warmed his hands with a hot breath and rubbed them together as his gaze slowly glanced over the whole shop. The largest display was right in front of him, at the counter. A whole array of rings sat under the warm glow of candlelight, glimmering safely behind the glass. A few smaller displays were to his left and right, containing necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. He noticed the red curtains closed over the windows, too thick to let any real light through from the outside, and there were no displays at the sills. It was just him inside. He wondered if the shop even got enough business being so concealed. Joe stepped up closer to the front counter, his eye drawn to the wide shelf storing tiny boxes behind it and a doorway draped with the same red curtains leading to the backroom. He tried to peek through the small crack between them but couldn’t see much and finally settled his eye down over the display of rings.

Immediately, the simple man was overwhelmed by their combined beauty. He felt blind. There were so many to look at, too many calling his attention, that he couldn’t see any of them at all. He had to step back and look away for a moment, back at the plain red curtains, blinking dumbly. It felt as if his mere presence in his earthy work clothes was degrading the rings by the minute.

Just then, the flap of curtains being thrown open and some hurried footsteps coming towards the counter caused Joe to quickly turn around to see an equally surprised man steady himself on a shelf after almost dropping the stack of tiny boxes he carried. The man was older, short, plump, balding, and wore a tatty vest far too small for his girth.

“Oh! I didn’t see you there sir,” said the plump man, catching his breath and setting the boxes down. “Sorry, I hope you weren’t waiting there for too long. What can I help ya with?”

“Oh, well uh… I-I was wonderin’… I was lookin’… D-Do you have rings?” Joe shut his eye a moment after spewing out whatever that was. If there ever was a moment for a facepalm, this was it. Gods, he sounded stupid.

The shopkeeper simply smiled, taking the time while Joe was internally facepalming to look over him, from the way he dressed to how he held himself, to how he couldn’t seem to dare look at the display. He sighed, still smiling, though it was genuine and warm. He spread his arms across the display. “I’ve got many rings, my friend. Now you…” He took another moment to look Joe over before settling with a big grin. “I see it… You’re a man plum in love with a woman. So, engagement ring?”

Joe blinked. “Y-Yes! E-Engagement ring. That’s what I need. She’s… she’s everythin’ to me.”

The shopkeeper beamed, “Really? Tell me about her.”

Joe blinked again. He didn’t feel so out of place anymore. He felt like he was talking to one of his own, an old friend. A small smile found its way onto his face. “Her name’s Genny. She’s a tidesage. She’s… gosh she’s real shy sometimes but she can be real fiery. I-I jus’ love that ‘bout her, y’know? Even when she’s mad at me. She’s kind an’ carin’ an’ her laugh… Gosh… her laugh!” Joe felt like he was running out of words to explain it all. “S-She’s the light in my life an’ I know I’d get lost without her. That’s everythin’ to me… A-An’ her favorite color’s orange.”

The shopkeeper listened patiently and smiled when Joe finished, nodding. “I see… Well it sounds like you’ve already got yerself a gem there, lad. What do ya need me for?” He laughed at his own joke, and so did Joe. “Jokes aside, I think I’ve got just the one for her.” He reached down into the display, and after some searching, plucked a ring from it. He brought it back up to place in front of Joe in its box.

Joe’s eye widened in wonder as he marveled at the ring, too afraid to touch it. It looked like a tiny sun. Smaller gems surrounded the orange one in the center. Above it were more orange ones, and below were blue. It was gorgeous. Joe pictured how perfect it would look on Genny’s finger before wondering how he hadn’t noticed it before.

“I call it the sunset ring. Orange ‘n blue sapphires on a rose ‘n white gold band. One of the biggest prides of my shop. By the tides, it was romantic to even work on. Absolutely enchanting! I don’t make many of those. I think she’ll love it.”

Finally, Joe built up the courage to pick up the box for a closer look at it. He slowly lifted it, his hands shaking slightly as he held the delicate thing. “I-It’s perfect… She loves sunsets…” Joe carefully set the ring back down. “H-How much?”

When the shopkeeper told him the price of the ring, his jaw nearly dropped through the floor. He could just afford it, though he had to bite the bullet. Maybe if he didn’t spend so much on drinks. He would have to somehow lay off them for a while. It was worth it though. The ring was perfect. He finally stuck his paw into his coin purse and started counting out the gold. The shopkeeper boxed it up neat and tied a small ribbon around it before handing it to Joe with a big smile.

“Thank ya kindly! I’ll be wishin’ ya the best of luck lad. Come back ‘n let me know how it goes, eh? An’ tell your friends to come to Edmund’s!”

It can be a lot of fun!

"Genny?" He raised a brow, chuckling as she lay there and he hummed. "Well hello to you. How's your day?" He grinned a bit, of all the people and it ended up being her! He could hear Joe's frown a mile away.

Red - What makes you angry?

Crimson - Have you ever been in war? If so, describe how it impacted you

Maroon - What are you most passionate about?

Imperial - Are you in any position of power or authority? 

Ruby - Would you consider yourself impulsive or reckless?

Chili - Do you like spicy foods?

Brick - What are some things you dislike?

Rose - Would you consider yourself a romantic person?

Redwood - How tall are you? 

Wine - What is your opinion on alcohol? (and does it exist in your world?) 

Orange - What are some of your comfort foods?

Spice - Do you like to cook? Do you cook often?

Tangerine - What is your favorite fruit?

Peach - Are you generally a more gentle and soft spoken person or a louder and rougher person? 

Squash - Do you live in an agricultural setting?  If so, are you a farmer or something of the sort? What kind of crops do you grow?

Amber - Do you wield any sort of superpower? If so, what is it?  

Honey - Have you ever considered marrying someone? What is your opinion on marriage in general? 

Sandstone - Who in your life has been the most healing for you?

Rust - Have you thought about becoming old? Can you become old? Are you scared of being old? What do you think about elders? 

Pumpkin - What is your favorite part of Autumn? (If that exists in your world)

Jumpsuit - Have you ever been arrested/ in trouble with authority?

Bronze - What is your favorite way to warm up when it’s cold 

Yellow - Are you an optimist or a pessimist? 

Dandelion - Would you consider yourself stubborn? 

Marigold - What types of flowers are in your setting? Do you have a favorite?

Blonde - What is your hair color? do you like it?

Lemon - Are you more of a clean or dirty person?

Safety - What is the most traumatic experience in your life?

Gold - Would you consider yourself more rich or poor, in comparison to the world you live in?

Butterscotch - Is there candy in the world you live in? If so, do you have a favorite one? 

Daffodil - Do you like trying new things? What is something new you’d like to try?

Sunshine - Are you a more active or lazy person? 

Green - Was there ever a time in your life that you went through a period of growth? describe it. 

Juniper - What is the nature like in your setting? 

Shamrock - Do you believe in luck? If so, are you a generally lucky person?

Pine- If camping exists in your wold, have you gone camping? did you like it? do you go often?

Green tea - Does Tea it exist in your world?  If so do you like it, and which kind is your favorite? 

Fern - Would you enjoy running a flower shop? 

Seafoam - Are there bodies of water in your setting? Describe them if you can

Mint - Does Ice cream exist in your world? If so, what is your favorite Ice cream flavor? 

Laurel - Is there a major victory you’ve achieved in your life? if so, what is it? 

Emerald - If you could be immortal, would you want to be? 

Brunswick - Are you a person who is often jealous? what makes you jealous most often? 

Avocado - Are you a health nut or a fan of junkfood? 

Army - Do you have a fighting style? If so, what is it?

Olive - What is your Greek personality type? (sanguine, phlegmatic, choleric, or melancholic)

Blue - Are you a creative person? How do you like to be creative? 

Peacock - Are you a more flashy person, or do you like to blend in?

Sky - What is your favorite time of the day?

Arctic - Do you prefer warm or cool weather? 

Cerulean- What is your favorite way to cool down in hot weather?

Baby (blue) - Would you consider having children? If so, how many?

Periwinkle -  Would you consider yourself to be a good parent? what do you think a good parent should be?

Denim - What is your fashion style?

Navy - have you ever been on a boat/sailing? does it exist in your world? did you enjoy it? 

Ultramarine - What is your favorite aquatic creature? (if they exist) 

Cobalt - Do you live in a world with freedom? Describe your opinion on the subject

Teal - What makes you feel most at peace? 

Turquoise - Are you good at communicating your feelings?   

Lapis - What is your opinion on religion and the afterlife? 

Aegean - Would you consider yourself a wise person? who do you look to for wisdom? 

Purple - Is there magic in your world? if so, describe how it works

Violet - What is your ideal date?

Lilac - How would someone win you over?

Lavender - what is a smell you really like? 

Royal - How do politics work in your world?

Eggplant - What’s the weirdest thing you’ve eaten?

Amethyst- What is your aesthetic?

Mauve - What makes you feel nostalgic? 

Magenta - What is your Zodiac sign? 

Pink - Are you currently in a relationship? if so, who is your partner? 

Watermelon - what are your favorite summer activities?  

Bubblegum - Are you a sassy or sarcastic person? 

Salmon - Do you have any health issues or physical disabilities? 

Blush - Do you have a crush on anyone? If so, who is it?

Cotten candy - Would you say you have a sweet tooth?

Carnation - Are you comfortable with PDA? 

Rouge- Do you have an unpopular opinion? 

Pastel - Do you prefer pastel, bright, neon, or dark colors?

Coral - Do you have a strong moral code? What are some moral things that you feel strongly about?

Fuchsia - Are you a generally playful or goofy person? Who or what makes you feel playful or goofy? 

White - Do you consider yourself a good person? What’s the best thing you’ve ever done for somebody?

Snow - Have you ever seen snow? Do you like it? What do you like to do in the snow? 

Frost - What do you like to wear in cold weather?

Bone - When was the first time you ever witnessed death? How did it impact you?

Cotton - What do you like to wear for pajamas? 

Cream - Do you prefer Tea, Coffee, or Cocoa? (If your world has those things. If not, what sort of hot drinks do you have?)

Coconut - What would be your ideal vacation? 

Pearl - What do you look for in a romantic partner?

Parchment - Do you like to read or write? 

Lace - What would you name your child if you were to have one?

Porcelain - Do you consider yourself a delicate person? Do you fall apart easily? 

Salt - Would you consider yourself a mean person? What is it like to fight with you? 

Ghost- Are you easily scared? What scares you the most? 

Ivory - Do you play any musical instruments? If so, which ones and how well? 

Chiffon - Do you prefer a larger and cleaner environment, or a smaller and cozier one?

Alabaster - What is the most recognizable thing about you? What are people most likely to notice about you when they first meet you?

Egg-nog - Do you celebrate Christmas? If so, what traditions do you have? Which are your favorite?

Ecru - Do you have curly, wavy, or straight hair? 

Beige - What kind of foods do you eat when you’re bored?

Tan - What is your skin color? Do you like it, or do you wish you looked different?

Buttermilk - Do you prefer pancakes or waffles? (if those exist in your world)

Oatmeal - What is your usual breakfast?

Linen - What clothes do you wear to work?

Sugar cookie - What reminds you of your childhood? 

Sand - Have you ever been to a beach? If so, what’s your favorite thing to do at the beach? 

Hazel - What kind of folklore/myths/stories are told in your family/community?

Sepia - Do you have any hobbies? If so, what are they?

Buff - Would you consider yourself to be fit, fat, or skinny?

Latte - Do you like milk in your hot drinks? 

Brown- Where do you call home? 

Mocha - How do you like your coffee? (If you like coffee) 

Cinnamon - Which of the “Cinnamon Roll” memes fits you best? (looks like they could kill but is actually a cinnamon roll, looks like a cinnamon roll but could actually kill you, looks like a cinnamon roll and is actually a cinnamon roll, looks like they could kill you and could actually kill you, or sinnamon roll)

Tawny - Cats or Dogs? (or any animal for that matter)

Hickory - How smart are you? Would you consider yourself more book smart or street smart?

Leather - How “basass” would you say you are?

Brunette - If you could change your hair color, what would you change it to? 

Gingerbread - What is your favorite holiday? 

Penny - If you could make a substantial living doing anything, what would you do?

Chocolate - Do you like chocolate? If so, what is your favorite way to eat it? 

Chestnut - Have you ever ridden an animal? If so, which one? 

Umber - Who do you call your friend? How many Friends do you have?

Carob - What do you look for in a friend? 

Cedar - How old are you? 

Caramel - How much does sugar affect you? 

Mahogany- What is your moral alignment? (Lawful good, Neutral good, Chaotic good, Lawful neutral, True neutral, Chaotic Neutral, Lawful evil, Neutral evil, Chaotic Evil)   

Peanut - Do you have any allergies? 

Grey/Gray - Introvert, Extrovert, or Ambivert? 

Shadow - What is your biggest regret? 

Silver - What do you imagine the future to be like? 

Graphite - Do you like to draw? If so, do you draw often? What do you like to draw?

Smoke - Have you ever taken any drugs? 

Fog - Was there ever a period in your life when you were confused and lost? how did you get out of it? 

Fossil - Do you have any older relatives other than your parents? If so, how many? Do you like them? 

Slate - If you could erase any memory from your life, would you do it? If so, which memory would you chose? 

Cloud - What do you spend the majority of your time thinking about? 

Ash - Is there something or someone from your past that you miss? 

Iron - Have you ever used a weapon? Do you own one? If so what is it?

Black - What is the darkest thing you’ve ever done? 

Ebony - Describe your family

Onyx - What are your nightmares most often about? 

Obsidian - Do you suffer from any mental disabilities? 

Spider - What irrational fears do you have? 

Charcoal - on a scale of one to ten how would you rate your survival skills? 

Soot - How hard do you work to achieve your goals? 

Midnight - Are you a night or morning person?

Raven - Can you fly? If not, do you ever dream about flying? 

“You might be becoming a father in a couple months.”

Those breathtaking words kept repeating in his head after hearing them that night from Genny. And despite Harris hinting to the fact that it might be what was making her ill, those words still caught him off guard. Those words that carried a whole mixture of emotions with them, left Joe feeling happy, excited, and anxious all at the same time. Genny had said that the doctors were sure. He was going to be a father. Him. Was he dreaming? He couldn’t believe it, but if this was a dream, he hoped he’d never wake from it.

It was sooner than he expected, he would admit. He also admitted he had been somewhat of a fool. Perhaps a total fool. A total reckless fool. He wanted to propose to her, he knew that, and was fairly convinced she’d say yes. The two lovebirds had been fairly open about where they saw their relationship going. Dreams of a home together… Tiny feet racing across the room… It was a paradise they both imagined for themselves. It still didn’t change the fact that he had expected all of this to happen after they were well and married. There was an order to these sort of things! A few nights saw that no such order was followed, though it only took one… when their passions were at their peak and they became too lost in each other to think about anything else. She was happy though, scared but happy, as was he. That was all he needed to hear.

Marriage. It was a simple concept that he kept mulling over. Two people in love, vowing to love each other as partners through all of life’s joys and sorrows. Till death do they part.

What was he waiting for? By all the spirits, what was he waiting for? This was soon to be the mother of his child. This was the woman he was in love with, who he worshipped with all his heart. Why hadn’t he asked her already? What was keeping him? Was he simply scared? He couldn’t think of a good reason to be afraid of such a thing. He had said before he wanted to take things slow with Genny, but that has clearly been thrown out the window now. Things have accelerated with such a sudden burst of speed, he felt his heart racing just thinking about it all. He swore that at any moment it would burst out of his chest and kill him, leaving Genny alone with the child to curse his name forever.

Now was a good a time as any. It would have to be soon. The more time passed thinking about all this, the more he felt sick to his stomach with anxiety. He pleaded with his pounding heart, demanding to be let free… 

Stay with me.

“ I’ll humor you.”

*draws and aims the gun*