daemonized | RECOLLE IC CONTACT.

[Her touch anchors him in the moment, his mind swirling with the overexposure of paying attention to every little feature of her expression, every inflection in every syllable. But there’s not much interpretation that needs to be done — she tells him simply, without fanfare, that yes. She would like to marry him, and there’s no way to misinterpret anything so straightforward. She’ll marry him, and though this is not at all how he thought his evening would go, he finds himself cracking a smile, breaking through the nervous apprehension that he wore just moments prior.]

I…

[It’s dizzying. Absolutely dizzying and exhilarating and like wading through a dream. But her hand holding onto his reminds him that she is quite solid before him, and this is their reality. To think that their years of friendship would’ve eventually blossomed into this — that Grell would want to marry him.

My god. He doesn’t think he’s ever felt so happy, so unexpectedly.

Ardyn wants to say too many things, but nothing comes out. Instead, he settles on drawing closer, both of his arms around her, bringing her into a kiss. That should say enough, surely it does, in the way that it lingers and makes his heart rate quicken. When he finally does pull away, there’s almost something reminiscent of a laugh in his words.]

I don’t… even have a ring to give you, Grell.

[he kisses her, and she feels like her chest might combust, because is it fair for someone to suddenly be overwhelmed with joy? is it fair that though this certainly didn't go the way they might have wanted, that unexpected surprises just happen to both of them more often than not, that she's so glad it did?

god, she can hardly even think the words. she'll need time to process this fully, to not be so overcome her speech feels like it's failing. a promise of the sort she had never known when she would make.]

It's all right. Your word is enough.

[this wasn't exactly planned, after all.]

Edited 2017-09-22 19:54 (UTC)

[He shakes his head, despite his smile not leaving his face.]

It isn't all right. You deserve one -- you deserve something more than just... this.

[He steps back just enough to gesture around him. Here, in the entrance hallway to his house, with his cat in the background playing with a brush on the floor, was hardly the epitome of a romantic setting, suited for a proposal. Not at all what either of them envisioned, given their hopeless romantic hearts.]

I'll try it again sometime later. Sometime when I'm more prepared.

[But she's right in one thing -- she did have his word on the matter, and that was still more than enough to consider it official in its own right. He glances at her again, still feeling light in his chest. Still impossibly happy.]

But until then... I suppose it's still official. We're not really dating any longer.

[An engagement instead! One missing its initial flourish, but that would happen soon enough.]

[trying it again. the thought makes her laugh a little, she can't help it - but she's pleased all the same. it would be disheartening to lose out on a proper moment, even if they knew exactly what the words would be ahead of time. they could cater to their romantic ideals without the fretting. and internally, they'd have the most critical part answered privately, with the world narrowed to simply them.]

No. And not just supposing. It is.

[the gentlest of poking at his words, and she laughs again, unable to help herself. god, she's delighted, even though she could have never predicted today. his cats served as proper witnesses - and slowly, she makes her way into the house, more towards the cats and living room.]

I think I have to sit down before I fall down.

[Poking at his words? It sounds as if she's picked up one of his habits, but Ardyn is in too good of a mood to find it anything other than amusing. He trails after her into the living room, and Erebus chirps after the both of them as they pass.]

I still have difficulties believing any of this just happened.

[And this is true. It'll take a day or two for the reality of it to sink in, for him to think back on this moment and not still wonder how it could've been real.

He'll settle next to wherever she decides to sit, and seems to realize something belatedly.]

How long have you been wanting to talk to me about this? [Maybe not about marriage specifically, but about the overall implications of the word "forever".] Is it the reason I haven't heard from you as often lately?

[she sits down heavily, turning towards him once he does as well, and has the decency to look ever so slightly abashed by his perception.]

I truly have been busy. Some things had to get finished up and checked before we start the new quarter. But...it contributed, a little. Me weighing how much time I had and whether I'd be able to restrain myself from talking to you about it, and deciding to save it for a later date. I wanted to say something for a while, all told, but I only really figured out how I wanted to say it since Monday.

[she does move to hold his hand again, though. it comforts her, and keeps reminding her that all of this, everything that happened, wasn't her imagination tricking her. she wants to curl up against him and not let go, and let this extraordinary happiness simply exist, barely managing to be contained in her body.]

[He gladly takes her hand in his, and of course she's more than welcome to sit as close as she likes next to him. He's certainly sitting close enough to allow for it, and already he's thinking of drawing her into an embrace, though he does tend to her words first.]

You know you can tell me what's on your mind any time you want. Even if you don't know just how to phrase it just yet.

[But it's not so much a reprimand (not even close) than it is a stated fact. He wonders how things may have been if she didn't say anything -- how oblivious he would have continued onward through the days, unknowing. He's... immeasurably glad she did bring it up to him, as unprepared as he was, though part of that is him still trying to register what's just happened.]

And, I think eventually, we'll need to tell a few others of what's just happened.

[eventually, it would have burst over into some unrefined mess. it wasn't the sort of thing she could just sit on for days. today had been the last day she'd thought she might be able to keep some measure of control over it - and she can only smile at his reminder that she could tell him. always a battle between wanting to get things right and the desire to simply say.

telling others? now that he brings it up, yes, it'd be important - those closest to them might want to know about this.]

How long is eventually? Long enough for us to feel a little less dazed, I hope.

It would be cruel to stay silent on it for too long. I can think of a few who would probably wish to know right this moment.

[Namely Prompto. (He'd probably yell in excitement so much.) Probably also Dante and Rosalind. Even so, he's sure they'd understand, that they would need to be afforded a day or two at the least to allow all of this to settle in their own minds first.]

A few days, maybe. Perhaps a week. Whenever we're both ready to face their reactions.

[That being said, he makes the executive decision to draw her close, smiling and breathing into her hair.]

I'm going to say something cliche, but it's true -- you've made me the happiest man alive, this day.

Then your happiness matches my own.

[the days would also give them time to figure out who they would want to tell. there's a few people she can already think of, but all of that can wait until later. instead she just lets herself relax, smiling, knowing that everything around this moment might not have been perfect, but it didn't detract from being perfectly happy.]

I thought I'd have something fitting to say, some way of summarizing it, but...how I feel, right now, is indescribable. Except that right now, forever doesn't feel like something to fear.

[He leans back enough to look at her again, eyes bright with contentedness.]

Something more like excitement than fear. An immeasurable anticipation; an adventure to embark on together, for as far as it'll take us.

[What a thought, that she'll truly be at his side from here on out. A partner, through and through.]

An adventure. I like the sound of that.

[and after a second of looking back, she has to shift and kiss him. all their promises about being there for each other - wasn't this a natural extension? there's so much she wants to say, could say, so many things she could thank him for or point out that fit, but words seemed to be superfluous.

a curious mew will probably drift over, though, because perceptive creatures they are, cats always know when something is up.]

[An adventure truly is a proper sort of word for it, in every discernible way. It meant that each hurdle, every moment of happiness or sorrow, would be theirs to share in together. He had said as much to her before, but now there's a sense of it being more... binding. Official, legal. How little that meant in the face of their emotional connection, already strong between them, but it was an exciting thought nonetheless. That they would be looked at by others and be seen as they had felt for a while now -- partners, in every sense of the word.

He kisses her, but it's not fated to last long. The "mew" heralds the jingle of a collar as Erebus hops up on Grell's lap, tail in the air, vying for attention. He knows something is definitely happening. He wants to be a part of it. Pay attention to him!

Ardyn laughs a little.]

Someone's jealous.

Jealous? Maybe he wants to express his approval and give us his blessing.

[she grins as she pulls back, moving to pet the intruder and quickly kiss him on the head. of course he'd show up at the most inopportune moment. that's just how cats tended to be - and perhaps why she liked them.]

Are you glad for us, or jealous of us? Do tell.

[Of course all Erebus will do is purr loudly, and try to move around in her lap so that he can rub his flank against her. If his tail gets in Grell or Ardyn's face, that's not his problem.]

I hope you know what you're getting into. You'll have three furry children to help take care of soon.

[she'll chalk that down to him approving of her and leave it at that. as long as they could get along, all five of them, there was nothing to worry about.]

Meaning you won't have to care for them alone. And I always did want a pet, growing up. One never chooses when three of them come into their life at once.

[Ardyn has to wait until Erebus' tail is out of his face for him to speak. Meanwhile, the feline seems to find Grell's lap very comfy, and therefore decides to curl up in a nice little black ball on the spot. He continues to purr the entire time.]

You'll be woken up by them in the middle of the night. They'll all meow in a cacophony of hungry calls at the least opportune moment. And later, when you do call for them -- expecting them to show gratitude for all your love and care -- what will they do? Ignore you thoroughly.

Knowing this, you still wish to commit?

[darling. she pets the cat ball, smiling at it and the nonstop purring. there's something hard to resist about an animal trusting you enough to come lay on you completely - easygoing as Erebus is, it's still a triumph.]

Contradictory and with minds of their own, just like their father. Of course I'll commit to them, are you joking?

[Somehow he's not surprised that his cat has taken this level of liking with Grell. In fact, he'd not be surprised if they all come to favor her -- they'd be silly not to. Or perhaps that's just his bias speaking.]

I'm not at all contradictory. [Yes you are, Ardyn.] Are you comparing me to a cat?

[He knows that's not at all her meaning, but he's having fun twisting her words around. The usual.]

Maybe. Are you saying you aren't possessed of an innate elegance and a strong will to do whatever you please? Somewhat mischievous but smart and a steadfast companion?

[really, Ardyn.]

But I suppose if you disagree with those assertions...

I don't disagree with them at all. But saying, "yes, I'm like a cat" leaves me open to further scrutiny that's less than flattering, should you choose to take advantage of it.

[Erebus should be offended, really, but as expected, he just keeps his eyes closed and purrs.]

Such as you saying that I also have a tendency to get distracted by fast objects, occasionally cough up my own hair, and sometimes dart around the house for no reason other than I'm very excitable. Oh, and that I lick myself when I'm feeling unclean.

Nothing's perfect. Not even a cat comparison.

[why should Erebus be offended when it's the simple truth? he's reached a place of peace no human can hope to reach.]>

Do you dart around the house when you're excitable? Or should I be searching for something else to compare you to in order to avoid such pitfalls?

[at this point she's just being ridiculous and knows it, but when are they not such? and besides, she's so happy that she could play along with anything at the moment if it came up.]

Well, Grell, what can I say? I strive for perfection, or at least something quite close to it. Which is why I’m delighted to be marrying you.

[Look how easily he can slip in some shameless flirting! His grin tilts.]

If I dart around the house like a fool when no one’s looking, that’ll be my secret to keep.

[Look if they’re going to both be ridiculous, Ardyn will not be the one to stop.]

[ridiculously charming instead of just ridiculous. she focuses her gaze on the cat to steady herself after hearing that - it's too soon to not be too much.]

Wouldn't my living with you expose that secret? Or shall you dart only when I'm not around, preserving your image and reputation to all eyes but the three in this house who see all?

[Is he being too much? More than likely. Is he able to tell if it has some type of effect on her? Absolutely.

He wavers between continuing on with the ridiculousness or having even more of an effect. Ardyn manages to settle on something in-between.]

Maybe there will be no hiding it from you, if you're going to be a permanent fixture here sooner rather than later. [He leans in a bit conspiratorially, albeit still playful.]

You'd still love me, endlessly and unwaveringly, if I did, wouldn't you? Cat-like tendencies and all? Just as I love you?

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