flewfromthecage | Isle of Avalon IC Inbox

Dagger! You wanna get a pet?

[Attached a second later is a picture of some brown furry animal sitting on top of what might be a very angry blonde young man.]

What... is it, exactly?

[Presumably, there are no capybaras on Gaia. Or she would've seen one in a textbook. Right?]

It's called a capybara! They said it's a rodent? It likes cuddling up to people.

[If the blonde wanting them off is any indication.]

Or maybe they like nibbling on Bakugou a lot. Could be that!

A rodent? But it's enormous!

Zidane, do you even know how to take care of a rodent?

Right? It's crazy!

I mean, there were the mice that would come around the hideout, but nothing like an actual pet. But I'm sure they got books, or I could ask the people helping with the adoptions.

Rats in a building aren't even remotely the same thing, Zidane.

[Sigh.

But also...]

I've never had a pet before... Mother wouldn't allow it, and Father held fast on her decision. I do want to, but... I want to be sure it'd be well taken care of.

I know, I know.

[But hey, that's his experience.]

Don't know how well we can take care of one until we try, but if you want to see about getting something else, I know Eustace works at an animal shelter so we could always start with a dog or cat.

I guess you have a point.

All right, let's try it. If you really want a capybara, we'll start with that.

Hold on, this'll be both of us. Do you want a capybara too?

Mayhap it would be easier to decide if I met it in person?

Sure! Do you wanna come down to the pet adoption going on, or should I bring it to the room?

I'll go to you. Give me a few minutes, please?

[Then when she arrives, upon laying eyes on Zidane, Garnet just... kind of stares at the creature.]

Oh! It's... much bigger here than it looked on the screen.

[She doesn't appear to be apprehensive, though, just surprised and a little curious. It doesn't look very threatening, so she walks up and reaches out to touch its fur.]

Of course!

[Like he'd go anywhere when she's coming. He's even waving when he spots her, and brings his hands to his waist while she looks at the capybara.]

I know, right? It's pretty much dog-size.

[And also chill. But maybe that attitude is why Bakugou didn't like them so much. It doesn't even move when Garnet reaches out to pet it, choosing inside to just flop on its side for more.]

[It is very mellow, isn't it? It may not be appealing to some, but Garnet can appreciate the less enthusiastic response, one totally unlike an excited dog attempting to bowl someone over in its happiness. The petting continues as she warms to the idea.]

What does it eat, anyway?

[Yup, the capybara is very mellow and almost seems to be falling asleep, content with the attention and... it's just a nice day out. Why not take a nap? Meanwhile, Zidane's tail waves just from watching Garnet enjoy herself.]

Plants, vegetables, fruit, tree bark... those sorts of things. I asked a guy while I was waiting.

Ah, an hervibore then. That is good... I don't know what I'd do if I had to feed it other creatures.

[She gets a little more adventurous with her pets, reaching for the capybara's head and sneaking quick strokes at its belly.]

Is it a boy or a girl? Do you have a name picked out yet?

Yeah. Might not be hard if it had to eat bugs, but it'd be harder if it had to be something alive.

[If it was like a falcon or hawk, but those were... particular pets. The capybara grunts a bit and nudges its head against Garnet's hand on its head, blinking a bit.]

Huh, I didn't ask about that. As for a name, Copper came to mind.

[Like the color, but did she have any suggestions?]

[She smiles. It fits no matter what, doesn't it? She lets it roll off her tongue once before nodding.]

Then Copper it shall be!

[Simple, yet an easy name to bear. In a way, it's an admittance that he's got a leg up on her when it comes to naming things. Or perhaps the things he names are just especially important?]

What a strange pet... but I like it. The more I learn, the more fitting it seems.

Alright! Welcome to the family, Copper!

[As weird as this family gets, but hey, normal's not much fun anyway. As for Copper? He's still relaxing and doesn't really comprehend - probably wouldn't care if they did anyway.]

We should look up more information online or at the library to make sure we take care of them right.

[It's probably been an overall good day. Spirits around Camelot seems a little better, but that weather these days... Oh well, the front door of the Inn room opens and closes.]

Dagger, I'm home! Hey there, Copper... [He gives the lazy capybara a pat along the side which just earns a slight snort back - 'Oh, you're back. Good night.' His tail's waving a bit behind him, his phone pretty much burning in his pocket. He wants to show her, but in a moment.]

Zidane!

[It seems like Garnet and Copper were just lounging on the bed together as she scrolled through her phone. It's still endlessly fascinating to her, of course. But when Zidane enters, she looks up, smiling brightly.]

Welcome back! What did you get up to today?

[She would like the phone more than him, but he does like the ability to read pretty much anything when he can.]

Oh, you know, the usual, and still dealing with that one guy, but I think he's finally realized no one's paying that 'protection fee'. [Sitting down on the bed nearest to her, he grins.]

By the way, I got told something today.

Oh? What was it?

[She turns at the waist to look at him intently.]

This might sound a little weird, but I may have put in a request to receive a title for all the quests I’ve done since they offered. Anyway, I found out it was accepted!

[And that means…]

A title...

[A beat, then her eyes widen.]

As in, lordship?

Yeah! Lord Zidane Tribal!

… it still sounds weird.

[He tilts his head, wondering how to make it sounds better. Even Mister and Master always sounded weird with his name. Maybe it’s the lettering?]

[Despite herself, she giggles.]

A little bit. I don't think I ever considered...

[She stops herself there, though, because now she is considering it... and the most logical way he'd acquire a title like that, at least on Gaia, would be...

Oh.

Garnet doesn't finish the sentence.]

[He grins at her giggle...]

[And then, he's smiling, leaning a little closer, his tail waving behind him. She must've realized why he really wanted to try out the title.]

I don't think the title'll be the same back home, but it's a start to get used to it, right?

[She twines her hands in front of her, looking a little flustered, though she doesn't lean away from him.]

O-Of course! You deserve the recognition, Zidane. Truly! It just sounds strange on you for right now. I don't know what I would do if Steiner started calling you "Master Zidane"...

[An awkward laugh. It's true, but also conveniently avoiding the elephant in the room.]

[He laughs a bit himself, but it's just a little less awkward. They really did need to eventually talk about what might happen once they returned to Alexandria. Like, he knows that he wanted to... well, at this point, but there were sometimes those annoying things called 'rules'.]

We might be friends now, but I can't see him saying it without grimacing. Y'know, I'll spare him. He can keep calling me out if that helps. Besides, 'Master Monkey' sounds better somehow... might the double m's.

But he might protest that Master Monkey sounds too villainous now...

[Steiner is stubborn, yes, but also the first to defend someone's honor if he deems it a worthy battle to fight. "You scoundrel" seems almost out of the question at this point.]

While you were gone, he would sometimes bring you up as a point of comparison to others in conversation without even realizing he was doing it. I almost didn't have the heart to point it out... but it was nice to know that perhaps absence really did make him grow fonder of you.

Considering that I may whisk a Queen away from her castle some times in the future, it wouldn't be too far off.

[He grins, eyebrows wiggling a bit. No matter what, he would definitely try stealing her away for a bit just to get out for a while.]

Oh really? That's actually is nice to know... He really chewed me out when we talked again, but it's not like I can blame him.

So did I, you recall.

[She tilts her head in that very royal way, eying him at an angle.]

Well... I know that I can leave matters to Beatrix and Steiner when necessary, but I would hate to leave them to my duties for too long. But where would you take me, I wonder?

Yes, you did. Really, everyone did.

[But where he'd been able to mostly get bear it with the others, he cracked a bit when it was her. Even now, he wilts a bit under that royal eye - ouch!]

The local theater for one, just an evening. But you know we'd have to visit Freya and Fratley in Burmecia as rebuilding's coming along. And obviously the Regent, Hilda, and Eiko; the Black Mages and Genomes; and I would add Amarant, but he can be hard to find when he wants to be. Not everywhere in one day obviously...

[It sounds like Zidane's saying they should visit their friends overall.]

[Garnet doesn't hold onto the disdainful look for long, though, changing back to a smile as she nods to what he says.]

Those sound like lovely ideas. It's not often I get to visit them; more often, it's the other way around. Being a ruler is a job without end, after all. But if it's just a little at a time, I'm sure we can manage it.

[She looks down, thoughtful, then draws her gaze back up a moment later.]

I am more confident in my role than I've ever been. I don't think I've ever felt so secure about myself before, either. But I suppose there is still much I have left to sort through...

[Namely, her feelings for Zidane, and what to make of them in the future.]

[Now that he's not under the strict Queen stare, he perks back up. Even his tail resumes its waving.]

Great! Even if there's some disagreement, what's wrong with you visiting allies in other Kingdoms? Sounds important to me.

[He nods his head because it's sooo obvious, right? Can't argue, not even the strictest of rules so take that loopholes.]

Never a moment as a leader, but there was never a doubt you'd become one...

[He trails, but then leans forward a bit to rest his elbows on his knees. His tail's movements shift. Yeah, maybe they should... stop avoiding that so much.]

... What kind of future do you want, Dagger?

[She can't bring herself to act blind to the fact he seems to know what she's dodging.]

I want... I want a future with you in it.

[She doesn't look fully convinced of herself, though, an uncertain expression on her face. It's... not quite enough, is it? How is it she always gets tongue-tied over this?]

I just... I don't know what form that will take yet...

[That's a lie, sort of. She does, somewhere deep down. She's been thinking the same thing he probably has, but she can't bring herself to put words to it. Not when they haven't even technically said "I love you" yet... Isn't that how this is supposed to go when the marriage is not arranged?]

[Looking over her way, he catches her eyes, ignoring the faint red that might be on his face as he nods and hopes his smile has her attention more than that little embarrassment. It's just... it always feels nice to know the sentiments are shared.]

... I'd like it to be something like this. Not sure about the capybara since we don't have those, but being able to come back and say 'I'm home' and hearing you say 'Welcome back', I like hearing that. Or maybe since I wouldn't head off as much, saying things like 'Good morning' and 'good night', having meals together...

[And then he looks elsewhere, scratching his cheek.]

We're still only counting that wedding in Conde Petie to there, huh?

...I'd like that, too.

[Though she's been adamant the Conde Petie wedding was just a convenience up until now, it's hard to continue to maintain it in these circumstances.]

But, Zidane... [she pauses, her expression turning serious,] you have to know that any royal wedding... it would change a lot of things. For you especially.

[A royal wedding... that's what it would be. He hadn't seen one in person himself, but he's heard things. And they were written in books, but he also didn't want to trust some novels to how the actual ceremony would happen - if one could happen.]

Yeah... yeah, it would, but... I don't mind. What's taking on one more change?

...You're certain?

[Her eyes search his for any trace of doubt.]

Would you really do that for me, knowing you can't go back?

[Sitting up properly, he nods once, keeping his eyes locked with hers.]

Yeah... If I'm honest, I don't think I could go back to my old life anyway. It'd be missing something too important.

[She's quiet for a moment, eventually scooting herself forward.]

...I love you.

[It's in a quiet voice, but unmistakable this close up as she leans to press her cheek against his shoulder. Neither of them have said it yet, have they? And yet, she's just gone and let it slip. Not that it was a secret, but perhaps it didn't need to be some grand gesture or anything... just like this is fine.]

[The distance shrinking between them is welcome, and Zidane never takes his eyes off her. He feels his heart thumping madly at her confession - one neither of them had said yet - and he carefully moves to wrap his arm around her, trying not to move her from his shoulder.]

I love you, too...

[Geez, she can be so forward sometimes. But hey, he loved her for that and plenty of other reasons. If he could be so boldest back... and he might, turning his head for a brief brush of his lips against her head.]

[She makes a noise when she feels his lips against her hair, though whether it is approving or disapproving is hard to determine. The answer only comes when she draws back and smiles at him, a little mischievous.]

Isn't this the part where you're supposed to kiss me? Or shall I go first?

[Whether approving or disapproving, it's cute either way to him. Chuckling, he's beaming when she pulls back and he sees her smile. Approval then - high approval if she's wondering if this is the part where they kiss. He leans in close, letting this noses touch.]

If you ever desire to go first, don't let me stop you~

[They're not that far apart now and he's very open to the idea of her closing the distance.]

[Her lips thin for a brief moment. Garnet takes a breath as if to respond verbally, lets it out, and then...

Well, it might be a good thing they're both sitting right now, because despite obvious inexperience, she goes in with a lot more strength than she had the time previous, more confident in what she wants. Every time will be a little easier, she thinks, so she may as well do it to get her nerves under control. It isn't the only thing she'll have to tackle nervousness to approach with him... but it's a start.]

[It's a clumsy approach sure - too much strength, too much enthusiasm - that almost knocks him back even on the bed and makes his tail stand, but that's fine. Where he's had acting to have reason to practice, she had drama studies, but he figures not the same practices occurred. Still, this was the second between them and he wouldn't forget it - not with her taking the initiative; nor with how they're seated or how it felt to again bring his arms around her. They'll get better, and however many times she wants to do this, Gods is he open to it.]

[One could say Zidane had easily done a lot of crazy things in his life already that this really shouldn't be a big deal, but like... it was one thing to perform any relationship on stage, another thing to provide a pretty girl a compliment, but then it's a whole other thing when thinking about an actual real long-term relationship. Should he have asked Jean? He probably should've asked Jean; he was pretty much the only guy he knew right now that had proposed to his soon-to-be wife.]

[Tail swaying as he thought about what to say again, he was trying not to overthink it again. He'd practiced at the theater! In private! He could do this...! He just had to go face Garnet and say it dammit!]

[... But what if she didn't like the ring? He really needed his brain to shut up.]

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