[For once, Varka is actually, legitimately taken by surprise. He looks to Nicole for a sign of a joke but, finding nothing, actually settles down to give it some thought.]
[ Nicole leans into the touch and does not shy away from the eye contact. This is something she wants. Even knowing he was near would put her mind at ease. He would be far less likely to wander too far out of her sight that way.
…And there were many other benefits, besides. ]
…I’ll be sure to request it be large enough to accommodate two people, then.
[Almost instinctively, Varka leans forward, brushing both their foreheads and noises together. His eyes drift closed once more, though he's nowhere near sleep at the moment.]
Might be a little weird, you know. Think it's been a few decades since I actually had a place for myself — shared or otherwise.
[The thought sits strangely, but not at all unpleasantly, within his chest.]
No, no. Nothing like that. Just something to get used to.
[A slow breath leaves him, one that's clearly contented with the situation. He's not so bothered by the proposition that he's worked up, at least. If anything, the fantasy of it makes him all the more drowsy.]
[ Nicole pulls her head back so that she can carefully tuck a piece of Varka's hair behind his ear. She cradles his face with the same care, thumbing just underneath his lower eyelid. ]
Though it might surprise you to hear it, I am fond of you. It will not be as if I'm enduring anything other than not being able to be like this the majority of the time.
[Such gentle touches do little to help the sleepy note that he's taken on. Nor do they keep from sweetening the idea of sharing a home with her. The chance to share even more quiet moments tangled up in Nicole's arms is a pleasant one
Really, having a home is far from an unpleasant venture. He might have even wanted one in Mondstadt. Duty, however, came first. And being away from the city as frequently as he tended to be didn't lend itself well to the general upkeep required of owning a place.
In the Grove, though, that didn't matter. There was only so far he could go. More than that, any form of duty, whether to Nicole or the people of the Grove itself, required him to stay where he was.
He hums to himself as he further considers the idea.]
Good news is that I'm pretty fond of you, too. [said through a crooked, half-asleep smile.] You really want to put down roots that quick though?
[ Perhaps petting him like this was not conductive to them having a conversation, but she finds herself loathe to stop. He seems to enjoy it enough that he is nearly visibly flagging, face slack with drowsiness in a manner that softens his features very particularly. Nicole tilts her head as she allows herself a moment of simply looking at Varka. There was rather much to look at, after all, and she doesn't think he'll mind.
Eventually, though, his question does need answering. She doesn't quite shrug, but the expression on her face will likely say enough before she even begins speaking. She is side-eyeing their current environment heavily. ]
Not that the accommodations here have been lackluster, but I have very exacting taste. And, besides: any mage worth her snuff has multiple homes, and thus multiple gardens. Scattering them across the realms is not out of the ordinary. And I'm rather used to drifting between them as was necessary. I have hardly ever felt a need to be tethered to only one location.
[ She does, however, recall what Varka had said about when she'd suggested constructing a home in Nod-Krai. Her brows furrow. ]
Though, we have differing opinions on the matter. If you would prefer to continue to stay in temporary lodgings, I would understand. It might have been presumptuous of me to ask.
[He doesn't mind at all. Sleepy though he is, he does manage to lift his eyes to meet her, offering an almost syrupy smile. There's an almost unguarded nature to the way he presents himself, a side that only a few of his allies have come across, and certainly no one here in the Grove.]
Mm. You like to Garden, then?
[Leave it to him to make that his only take away. There's genuine curiosity in his voice, though — no indication that it's just a prologue to some teasing.
Still, her concern does put a damper on that. He's quick to shake his head. A thoughtful look crosses his face.]
It's a morale thing right. It's one thing to send that message to my troops. Better to keep hope alive. But you and I... [He glances off to the side for a moment, then back to her.] We both know we're not getting out of here any time soon. So! No one to fool means no reason to do the fooling, right?
[ In many ways, how smooth their transition has been from polite, cordial allies to this should be jarring. In many more ways, she does not mind how quick it has been. She feels almost entirely comfortable here, wrapped up in this moment and Varka's body.
And he is very cute. That is also important. ]
I like to garden, yes. And I enjoy sculpting statues, as well, which I believe go hand in hand quite well. Though, admittedly, my normal method of gardening is likely not the same as most…
[ Just as her sculpting seemed to surprise the Traveler. When she thinks back on it, it hadn't seemed that strange a method to her… her magic was just as honed as any physical tool, and just as adept at removing excess material.
She lightly pinches Varka's cheek. ]
So long as staying in a home here does not dampen your morale. I could scarcely do that to a knight.
[In some ways, it is surprising indeed. Yet Varka wouldn't deny having danced around his feelings for Nicole for some time while back home. As for their fast momentum from there, he's learned full well what taking his time could mean. Having loved and lost once before, he isn't one for taking his time.
And, well, when you threaten the very wrath of the heavens for someone, it means getting close fast.]
Yeah? What's it like? Singing to the tools to make them do your bidding? That sort of thing?
[That's sufficiently witchy, right? He's pretty sure it is? In fact -
His wandering thoughts are dragged back in by the pinch to his cheek.]
I doubt my morale could get very low around you. You have a way of keeping me in good spirits, you know.
Singing? To my tools? I have to imagine that would be fairly difficult to do unless they were granted sentience and thus accessible minds… and at that point, wouldn’t that become unpaid labor…?
[ In classic Nicole fashion, she takes a statement and completely goes off on a vaguely related tangent. Luckily for the both of them, she is at least capable enough to realize that she is effectively going off the beaten path of the conversation. ]
…No, no, that’s not what I do. I don’t even necessarily use tools. There’s little need for them when you can simply chip away excess material with magic, after all.
[ His comment about good spirits has her feeling cheeky. When he kisses her chin, she shifts to nudge his leg with her knee. A beatific smile curls up her lips. ]
Oh, truly? What a relief. I was beginning to think I might have to get… creative, coming up with methods to ensure your morale remained high! One of my budding ideas did involve a bed and two carefully posed bottles of wine to cover anything sensitive, but it appears that won’t be necessary!
[He sighs, abandoning the attempt to dissuade her rather quickly. Unfortunately, Nicole is rather adorable like this, and he's defanged enough by his persistent drowsiness to not feel the need to actually quiet her. That doesn't keep him from exhaling a rather amused breath though.]
Not sure I get it, honestly. You still plant things, right? That's all part of gardening, isn't it?
[Of course, his sleepy demeanor promptly fades as he sits up almost immediately. He twists at the waist, studying her with wide eyes.]
No, no. Tell me more. It might keep me motivated! You never know.
[ Unfortunately for Varka, Nicole is rarely dissuaded on most accounts, especially when it came to getting to the root of a misunderstanding. Had she taken it too literally…? Was Varka joking, and she had taken what he said as an actual question? It had happened before, after all… the consternation is likely obvious on her face as she stares at him. ]
Well, yes, but I rarely do so directly by hand. Often, I wouldn't even wait the appropriate amount of time for them to grow. Why wait, after all, when you could simply hasten the entire process along? I'm not certain gardening enthusiasts would label it the same…
[ She's nearly startled by how quickly Varka straightens up, but only just. She makes a show of blinking, wide-eyed and confused. ]
Hm? I don't see the point. You already stated you'd be kept in good spirits by my presence alone.
[He waves his hand loosely. Despite any voiced "complaints," he doesn't seem particuarly bothered by the turn. And really, some part of him did expect that answer. Alice was always doing things strangely, after all, and Nicole had proven to be just as (if not more) eccentric than her.]
So no getting your hands dirty planting things and all that? Doesn't seem like it'd be quite as fun?
[Because of course Varka thought rolling around in the dirt was "fun." Still, he isn't about to say that what Nicole has been doing isn't Gardening. He's not qualified enough for that sort of judgement, for starters.]
I-I mean, sure. But I could always be better, right?
Fun…? I suppose not, if the fun is in the… gardening. [ Why is she saying this like she's struggling to conceptualize gardening being fun, and also like it is her first day being alive. ]
Truthfully, my specific motivation behind having a garden was always in simply having it. It was something that always felt right for a mage to have in her home, especially one that was flourishing. Given I am uncertain about how adept my "green thumb" is, as it were, I never bothered to attempt to garden by hand.
[ Truly, talk about eccentricity. To most, the involvement and the success behind the garden would be the drive. To Nicole, the presence of a well-grown garden was more than enough for her. Now that she thinks about it, though, she would likely be unable to perform the same feats here in the Grove…
It's a little difficult not to be distracted by the shift in Varka's behavior, though. Her blinking grows innocent, even if it's probably a little obviously put-upon. ]
I suppose! Does that mean you would find the idea motivating?
[Varka tilts his head, a small furrow forming between his brows in thought. Nicole's outlook isn't necessarily a bad one, but it is curious. He can't help but wonder if she'd ever tried it the "normal" way, and if it might brook any level of enjoyment.]
Maybe we should give it a shot, once the new place is in order. You might find something worth spending your time on — when we have some to spare, that is.
[Not that he has any experience in such matters but... he could learn, he thinks. Especially if it meant Nicole had a good time.
Ah, but for now, he squints at her, expression somewhere between exasperated and wounded. Similarly, it's all part of the ruse — a little game between the two of them.]
I would be, ah. Very motivated. By something like that.
I was just thinking about the fact that I'd unlikely be able to utilize the normal magic I would normally employ to speed everything along… that will have to be the way of things, I suppose! Perhaps I should get some different clothing tailored… this dress would be terrible for kneeling in the dirt all day.
[ Varka squints and Nicole smiles, only a hint too wide to be entirely, believably innocent. She taps her chin thoughtfully, theatrical about the way she considers it. This was, in truth, a significant part of the fun. She wondered how much she could reasonably convince Varka that she had very little idea of how evocative her suggestions could be.
Not likely, since he seemed to have caught on to this ruse relatively quickly. Perhaps changing the approach… ]
Hm, I see! I'll have to make a note of that. Do you have any other suggestions on how to maintain your morale?
Seems like they have a bit of basic clothing at the general store, if you're in the market. Or uh... The actual tailor, if you're really feeling fancy.
[He isn't sure what would strike Nicole's fancy, when it came to moving about in the dirt. She managed well enough in combat given her current attire, so he doubted it would be any less ornate. That thought only served to kindle his interest all the more, though.
Which... speaking of said interest.]
Ah, well. That would imply that I spent time thinking about you in... motivating situations. That'd be pretty untoward, wouldn't you say?
Having met the tailor at least in some capacity, my first instinct would be to commission him. I can’t imagine myself wearing basic clothing with none of my personal touch…
[ Nicole's eyebrow raise so emphatically that it more than makes up for her usual level tone. She leans back and away from Varka, examining his face with a reasonable amount of incredulity for such a baffling statement, in her mind. ]
Are you implying you haven’t? You sung a very different tune the other night.
Mm, and we certainly can't have you looking... impersonal.
[He reaches over, tugging at one of her sleeves with a little laugh.
One that naturally chokes at the edges, given Nicole's follow-up question. He huffs once, looking anywhere but at her. The tips of his ears warm faintly. He isn't the type of guy to feel ashamed under normal circumstances but... pressed by someone who may or may not be his significant other and, well...]
I wouldn't say that I haven't but... A knight's gotta be respectful, don't you think!
[ Such a ridiculous joke earns Varka a levelheaded stare and a twitch of a sympathetic smile. He is very endearing. Sometimes he makes comments that make her want to grab him by the chin and give him a firm shake.
Or he reacts in ways that urge her just the same. Looking away bashfully and flushing up to his ears when they’ve already spent time wrapped up in one another… Nicole heaves a dramatic sigh into their connection and rolls over, turning her back to him. ]
Oh, I see. Your sense of duty takes precedence over my beauty and attractiveness. I understand.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2026-03-20 04:38 am (UTC)[ Breathe, Nicole. Do not let your rampaging thoughts stampede straight into Varka's subconscious. Do not, do not, do not. ]
...I was actually wondering if you would, potentially, perhaps, want to join me! Or, live there. In this potential house, here. Potentially.
no subject
Date: 2026-03-20 04:53 am (UTC)[For once, Varka is actually, legitimately taken by surprise. He looks to Nicole for a sign of a joke but, finding nothing, actually settles down to give it some thought.]
You'd really want that?
no subject
Date: 2026-03-20 05:02 am (UTC)Is it something you might want?
[ A non-answer! Her favorite. ]
no subject
Date: 2026-03-20 05:08 am (UTC)Huh.
He lays a hand on her face, thumb settling beneath her chin. He nudges her upward, just to make sure they lock eyes.]
I wouldn't mind it. Might be nice to have a place to lay my head and call my own. Can't say I've had that in some time.
no subject
Date: 2026-03-20 05:15 am (UTC)…And there were many other benefits, besides. ]
…I’ll be sure to request it be large enough to accommodate two people, then.
no subject
Date: 2026-03-20 05:17 am (UTC)Might be a little weird, you know. Think it's been a few decades since I actually had a place for myself — shared or otherwise.
[The thought sits strangely, but not at all unpleasantly, within his chest.]
no subject
Date: 2026-03-20 05:31 am (UTC)[ She relaxes into the contact with a faint exhale. She relishes in these moments of closeness more than she ever thought she would. ]
no subject
Date: 2026-03-20 05:35 am (UTC)[A slow breath leaves him, one that's clearly contented with the situation. He's not so bothered by the proposition that he's worked up, at least. If anything, the fantasy of it makes him all the more drowsy.]
You really want to put up with me like that?
no subject
Date: 2026-03-20 07:08 pm (UTC)Though it might surprise you to hear it, I am fond of you. It will not be as if I'm enduring anything other than not being able to be like this the majority of the time.
no subject
Date: 2026-03-22 01:07 am (UTC)Really, having a home is far from an unpleasant venture. He might have even wanted one in Mondstadt. Duty, however, came first. And being away from the city as frequently as he tended to be didn't lend itself well to the general upkeep required of owning a place.
In the Grove, though, that didn't matter. There was only so far he could go. More than that, any form of duty, whether to Nicole or the people of the Grove itself, required him to stay where he was.
He hums to himself as he further considers the idea.]
Good news is that I'm pretty fond of you, too. [said through a crooked, half-asleep smile.] You really want to put down roots that quick though?
no subject
Date: 2026-03-22 04:37 am (UTC)Eventually, though, his question does need answering. She doesn't quite shrug, but the expression on her face will likely say enough before she even begins speaking. She is side-eyeing their current environment heavily. ]
Not that the accommodations here have been lackluster, but I have very exacting taste. And, besides: any mage worth her snuff has multiple homes, and thus multiple gardens. Scattering them across the realms is not out of the ordinary. And I'm rather used to drifting between them as was necessary. I have hardly ever felt a need to be tethered to only one location.
[ She does, however, recall what Varka had said about when she'd suggested constructing a home in Nod-Krai. Her brows furrow. ]
Though, we have differing opinions on the matter. If you would prefer to continue to stay in temporary lodgings, I would understand. It might have been presumptuous of me to ask.
no subject
Date: 2026-03-22 04:55 am (UTC)Mm. You like to Garden, then?
[Leave it to him to make that his only take away. There's genuine curiosity in his voice, though — no indication that it's just a prologue to some teasing.
Still, her concern does put a damper on that. He's quick to shake his head. A thoughtful look crosses his face.]
It's a morale thing right. It's one thing to send that message to my troops. Better to keep hope alive. But you and I... [He glances off to the side for a moment, then back to her.] We both know we're not getting out of here any time soon. So! No one to fool means no reason to do the fooling, right?
no subject
Date: 2026-03-22 05:04 am (UTC)And he is very cute. That is also important. ]
I like to garden, yes. And I enjoy sculpting statues, as well, which I believe go hand in hand quite well. Though, admittedly, my normal method of gardening is likely not the same as most…
[ Just as her sculpting seemed to surprise the Traveler. When she thinks back on it, it hadn't seemed that strange a method to her… her magic was just as honed as any physical tool, and just as adept at removing excess material.
She lightly pinches Varka's cheek. ]
So long as staying in a home here does not dampen your morale. I could scarcely do that to a knight.
no subject
Date: 2026-03-22 05:37 am (UTC)And, well, when you threaten the very wrath of the heavens for someone, it means getting close fast.]
Yeah? What's it like? Singing to the tools to make them do your bidding? That sort of thing?
[That's sufficiently witchy, right? He's pretty sure it is? In fact -
His wandering thoughts are dragged back in by the pinch to his cheek.]
I doubt my morale could get very low around you. You have a way of keeping me in good spirits, you know.
[He cranes his head up to kiss her chin.]
no subject
Date: 2026-03-22 06:21 am (UTC)[ In classic Nicole fashion, she takes a statement and completely goes off on a vaguely related tangent. Luckily for the both of them, she is at least capable enough to realize that she is effectively going off the beaten path of the conversation. ]
…No, no, that’s not what I do. I don’t even necessarily use tools. There’s little need for them when you can simply chip away excess material with magic, after all.
[ His comment about good spirits has her feeling cheeky. When he kisses her chin, she shifts to nudge his leg with her knee. A beatific smile curls up her lips. ]
Oh, truly? What a relief. I was beginning to think I might have to get… creative, coming up with methods to ensure your morale remained high! One of my budding ideas did involve a bed and two carefully posed bottles of wine to cover anything sensitive, but it appears that won’t be necessary!
no subject
Date: 2026-03-22 08:14 pm (UTC)[He sighs, abandoning the attempt to dissuade her rather quickly. Unfortunately, Nicole is rather adorable like this, and he's defanged enough by his persistent drowsiness to not feel the need to actually quiet her. That doesn't keep him from exhaling a rather amused breath though.]
Not sure I get it, honestly. You still plant things, right? That's all part of gardening, isn't it?
[Of course, his sleepy demeanor promptly fades as he sits up almost immediately. He twists at the waist, studying her with wide eyes.]
No, no. Tell me more. It might keep me motivated! You never know.
no subject
Date: 2026-03-23 12:30 am (UTC)[ Unfortunately for Varka, Nicole is rarely dissuaded on most accounts, especially when it came to getting to the root of a misunderstanding. Had she taken it too literally…? Was Varka joking, and she had taken what he said as an actual question? It had happened before, after all… the consternation is likely obvious on her face as she stares at him. ]
Well, yes, but I rarely do so directly by hand. Often, I wouldn't even wait the appropriate amount of time for them to grow. Why wait, after all, when you could simply hasten the entire process along? I'm not certain gardening enthusiasts would label it the same…
[ She's nearly startled by how quickly Varka straightens up, but only just. She makes a show of blinking, wide-eyed and confused. ]
Hm? I don't see the point. You already stated you'd be kept in good spirits by my presence alone.
no subject
Date: 2026-03-23 01:01 am (UTC)[He waves his hand loosely. Despite any voiced "complaints," he doesn't seem particuarly bothered by the turn. And really, some part of him did expect that answer. Alice was always doing things strangely, after all, and Nicole had proven to be just as (if not more) eccentric than her.]
So no getting your hands dirty planting things and all that? Doesn't seem like it'd be quite as fun?
[Because of course Varka thought rolling around in the dirt was "fun." Still, he isn't about to say that what Nicole has been doing isn't Gardening. He's not qualified enough for that sort of judgement, for starters.]
I-I mean, sure. But I could always be better, right?
no subject
Date: 2026-03-23 02:04 am (UTC)Truthfully, my specific motivation behind having a garden was always in simply having it. It was something that always felt right for a mage to have in her home, especially one that was flourishing. Given I am uncertain about how adept my "green thumb" is, as it were, I never bothered to attempt to garden by hand.
[ Truly, talk about eccentricity. To most, the involvement and the success behind the garden would be the drive. To Nicole, the presence of a well-grown garden was more than enough for her. Now that she thinks about it, though, she would likely be unable to perform the same feats here in the Grove…
It's a little difficult not to be distracted by the shift in Varka's behavior, though. Her blinking grows innocent, even if it's probably a little obviously put-upon. ]
I suppose! Does that mean you would find the idea motivating?
no subject
Date: 2026-03-23 03:30 am (UTC)Maybe we should give it a shot, once the new place is in order. You might find something worth spending your time on — when we have some to spare, that is.
[Not that he has any experience in such matters but... he could learn, he thinks. Especially if it meant Nicole had a good time.
Ah, but for now, he squints at her, expression somewhere between exasperated and wounded. Similarly, it's all part of the ruse — a little game between the two of them.]
I would be, ah. Very motivated. By something like that.
no subject
Date: 2026-03-23 03:57 am (UTC)[ Varka squints and Nicole smiles, only a hint too wide to be entirely, believably innocent. She taps her chin thoughtfully, theatrical about the way she considers it. This was, in truth, a significant part of the fun. She wondered how much she could reasonably convince Varka that she had very little idea of how evocative her suggestions could be.
Not likely, since he seemed to have caught on to this ruse relatively quickly. Perhaps changing the approach… ]
Hm, I see! I'll have to make a note of that. Do you have any other suggestions on how to maintain your morale?
no subject
Date: 2026-03-23 04:21 am (UTC)[He isn't sure what would strike Nicole's fancy, when it came to moving about in the dirt. She managed well enough in combat given her current attire, so he doubted it would be any less ornate. That thought only served to kindle his interest all the more, though.
Which... speaking of said interest.]
Ah, well. That would imply that I spent time thinking about you in... motivating situations. That'd be pretty untoward, wouldn't you say?
no subject
Date: 2026-03-23 04:41 am (UTC)[ Nicole's eyebrow raise so emphatically that it more than makes up for her usual level tone. She leans back and away from Varka, examining his face with a reasonable amount of incredulity for such a baffling statement, in her mind. ]
Are you implying you haven’t? You sung a very different tune the other night.
no subject
Date: 2026-03-23 05:16 am (UTC)[He reaches over, tugging at one of her sleeves with a little laugh.
One that naturally chokes at the edges, given Nicole's follow-up question. He huffs once, looking anywhere but at her. The tips of his ears warm faintly. He isn't the type of guy to feel ashamed under normal circumstances but... pressed by someone who may or may not be his significant other and, well...]
I wouldn't say that I haven't but... A knight's gotta be respectful, don't you think!
no subject
Date: 2026-03-23 05:27 am (UTC)Or he reacts in ways that urge her just the same. Looking away bashfully and flushing up to his ears when they’ve already spent time wrapped up in one another… Nicole heaves a dramatic sigh into their connection and rolls over, turning her back to him. ]
Oh, I see. Your sense of duty takes precedence over my beauty and attractiveness. I understand.
sighs and puts a nsfw warning on this just in case.
From:They're kind of like rabbits.
From:wow aspen and lina have horny characters? color us surprised.
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From: