( psl ) watching you bloom

[hearthwarming]

( x / x )

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💭✨

[hearthwarming]

[ It is always a blessing, when one dreams pleasantly. So often are the dreams of those in Reverein fraught with painful memories or laden with one's fears - perhaps because these sorts of dreams tend to be the strongest, the most likely to pull others in - that when a peaceful dreamscape forms, it feels that much more lovely and precious.

It's exactly this sort of dream that finds Oriphi in her slumber one summer night. There's a sleepy little glade in the forest, bathed in a hazy, but warm and inviting light. The grass beneath one's feet is peppered, all over, by colorful wildflowers. The forest teems with life, and even in a dream the breeze feels fresh and the sounds of birds and other critters fill the air.

And in the midst of it all lays the young tiefling woman, surrounded by flowers as her chest rises and falls with slow breaths. She looks at peace as she gazes up into the bright blue sky above, clouds drifting slowly by. She has always been a bit of a daydreamer, and perhaps even in her own dream - unaware as she might be of it being what it is - she daydreams, too. ]

[pactmarshal]

[ Rarely does Trahearne dreamwalk, and the reasons are many--he doesn't like feeling as though he's intruded upon another's privacy, their deepest and darkest thoughts and secrets; he often feels out of place, out of control; he often awakens bewildered and more tired, especially when he is such a light sleeper to begin with. And perhaps that doesn't make him a very good neighbor, especially in a place that relies so heavily upon dreams as this one.

This night is different, though. Something in his sleep draws him here, to this glade. The sun is warm on his skin, the grass soft at his feet. He tilts his head, curious, and hears nothing but nature at peace.

He can only think of one who might dream of such a thing.

As he steps through the foliage, parting branches, he sees the one who he was very much expecting to see. And though she cannot see it, a bright smile spreads across his face at the sight.

The sylvari comes to sit in the grass beside the tiefling with naught but a quiet rustle, his own leaves dancing on the breeze. ]

Hello, Ori.

[hearthwarming]

[ Yet unaware that this is a dream, let alone hers, Ori doesn't realize the possibility that Trahearne is here because, perhaps, her subconscious has reached out for him, seeking his company. Those are considerations for Ori to have in the morning, when she's awoken.

As it is, the soft rustling of foliage bids her to look over and smile warmly at him as he greets her. The flowers around her and in her hair seem to unfurl just a little more; she is happy to see him. And more and more as of late, the sight of him makes something warm bloom in her chest and pulls the corners of her lips into a smile, no matter how hard she tries to seem as she always had before she realized there was something special about their... friendship, something special about Trahearne himself. ]

Hi, Trahearne. I had a feeling you would find me out here.

[pactmarshal]

[ As she speaks, Trahearne cants his head to cast a glance in her direction, but finds his eyes dart away as their gaze meets, despite the broadening smile on his face.

It has been much the same for him in the past several weeks. There has been a constant internal tug-of-war within him--part of him finds himself thinking of her more often, thinking of seeking her out simply to spend time with her, but another part of him is mortified at the thought, worried about being overbearing or overstaying his welcome or--

Never mind that. ]

And I had a feeling I would find you here.

[ This is true.

His eyes fall shut, basking in the warmth and the sounds and the scents of the comforting dream, things he considers so quintessentially Ori. When was the last time he felt so comfortable, so at peace in the presence of another? Not for a very long time, he concludes.

It is hard for someone like him to simply be, however. ]

Where are we?

[hearthwarming]

This is one of my favorite spots.

[ Which doesn't necessarily answer the question of where they are. In the haze of this dream, maybe she's not even quite sure, herself.

Try as he might to avoid eye contact, however, her gaze stays fervently fixed on him as she watches his eyes slip shut to take in their surroundings. He looks... Peaceful, she thinks, and that blooming warmth in her chest resurfaces at the thought, at the quiet hope that he feels at peace because of her.

Before too long, at least, she turns her gaze back up towards the sky. ]

It's nice to lay in the grass like this and just clear your mind, sometimes. I've never been good at things like meditating, but this is probably the closest I can get to that.

[ She huffs a light little laugh as she adds, ] Though most of the time I just fall asleep...

[pactmarshal]

[ He is at peace, as much as one like him can be. Though he is often content to sit in silence and let his thoughts roam, he finds that in this particular situation, he wishes to sit specifically because he's with Ori.

The thought causes a knot to form in his chest, one that threatens to spread up his throat, his stomach; one he quickly dismisses. It melts away. ]

I'm not terribly good at meditating or clearing my mind. My thoughts are much too loud.

[ The curse of being a scholar, he supposes.

An impulse overtakes him, and in this moment he is thankful that she can't see his face--or, at least, he thinks she can't. He feels the knot come back, accompanied by a slight tingle on his cheeks. And for some reason, he feels embarrassed at the thought of seeing him with a blush on his cheeks; he lifts a hand and lightly runs it down his face, bidding it leave.

The impulse stays, though. And he gives in.

He unfolds himself, rolling backwards to come lie in the grass besides Ori, his eyes fixed on the serene sky above. ]

Perhaps I can learn a thing or two from you.

[hearthwarming]

[ She lifts an arm to wave her hand dismissively, laughing all the more at what he says. ]

No, no, you wouldn't want to do that. I worry too much about everything.

[ The fact is, maybe tendency towards falling asleep happens less because of her being at peace and more because she's just plain tired. Right now, though, she doesn't feel tired. She feels... Happy in a way that she hasn't felt for quite some time, the kind where she wishes this could go on for as long as it possibly can - especially because of her present company.

But, ah... Now they're laying next to each other, talking about clearing their minds and feeling at peace, except that her heart has begun to race and she can feel warmth rising to her own cheeks as he settles in beside her. ]

Though I suppose we can pretend that I know what I'm doing for a moment... Just look up at the sky and take a deep breath, okay?

[ She says, although she can't help but let her own gaze fall sideways to catch a glimpse of him - just for a moment. ]

[pactmarshal]

[ She laughs, and he chuckles in turn. Her joy is infectious--to him, at least. Even if it isn't exactly joy.

He turns his head to look at her, a fond smile crossing his face unbeknownst to him. The way the sun illuminates her face, how the grasses frame her profile and the flowers decorate her being just suits her so perfectly. Time and time again Trahearne has found himself impressed simply by how warm her demeanor is, how big her heart is, how much she cares for the plants and animals and people around her. And how hard he's found it to look away when she carries herself in her element, the way her face lights up when around friends. And now, something warms him to see her so happy, so at peace--

And she looks at him.

For a second he holds her gaze, but it feels like an eternity. Something catches in his throat, and a golden hue creeps onto his cheeks. He forgets to breathe, to blink. She is so close. Why did he think coming to lie here was a good idea? Because now he is most certainly making a fool of himself--

He turns his head again, directing his gaze back up to the sky. He inhales audibly, dispelling the knot in his throat, calming the buzz in his stomach. ]

All right. [ He did what he was told, after all. ] Now what?

[hearthwarming]

[ Something passes between them in that moment as their eyes meet, and that instant seemingly unfolds into an eternity.

Ori is unsure of what to make of that forever-second— until she sees a golden warmth bloom on his cheeks, and she can’t help but blush and tear her gaze away in turn. She hadn’t meant for him to see her looking at him, but he had and spirits, does the way he look - similarly surrounded by wildflowers and bathing in the warm sunlight - make her feel so uneasy but in the best imaginable way.

Before she answers him, she has to clear her throat as she suddenly feels so very flustered by the idea that they are here, the two of them, laying in the grass together.

Is she in a dream? ]

Um…

[ She huffs another light laugh. If she were truly trying to coax him into some kind of meditative state, she would have to talk about being mindful or being present in the moment and such, but she’s really not a meditative person, as she’s said, so instead she says: ]

…How about we look at the clouds and say what the shape of each one reminds us of?

📚☀️

[pactmarshal]

[ Despite all the questions and insecurities, morning brings routine.

The immediate mortification gives way as Trahearne rises and goes about his normal activities. There is a question, an underlying buzz of what happened in the dream, but he cannot dwell too long on it. His plants need watering, he needs to feed himself, he needs to sort out his schedule for the day. Perhaps, in the dream he had promised, or even asked, to see Ori in the waking world of Songerein. But he will deal with that when he has worked his way through his list of things to do.

And a small, yet significant, part of him dreads the thought for reasons he does not understand. Had he really initiated? Had it truly been his own actions--his own fault--that was making him feel this way? The uncertainty, the second-guessing, the doubt, the butterflies, the light-headed glee?

As he always does, Trahearne starts his morning at the archives. He sorts out new entries, cleans up after any late night visitors, confers with his staff. The humid heat of the building is comforting, the smell of parchment and quiet murmuring of fellow scholars at work brings him a peace of mind that nothing else quite can. Yet despite the homey atmosphere, he can still feel the buzz of unease deep in the undercurrent of his mind. He's nervous. He's, quite frankly, scared. He knows he should seek out Ori. But...will things be different now? Had it been the right thing to do? Had he imagined her delight? Did he get all of this wrong?

Perhaps his work at the archives will go a little longer, a little slower than usual today. ]

[hearthwarming]

[ The mortification, too, appears to be mutual.

Had she really created that entire dreamscape just to see Trahearne in an effectively clandestine way - just to… kiss him? Were her feelings for him that strong that her dream energy manifested this? Or had they felt that strong, in that moment, because of dream energy?

What happens now…?

With Colin, even when they had acknowledged each other’s feelings, there was always a reason not to pursue anything further than friendship. They had their quest to stop Gran Karrefour and save the world. Then it was rebuilding Duskvale, rebuilding Ori’s relationship with her sister. What happens in this realm of dreams, where such things don’t exist?

The thoughts plague her as she does her best to go about her own daily routine, to varying degrees of success. Absent-mindedly, breakfast has been marked by a few mishaps in the kitchen, she has forgotten to adorn her hair with flowers as she normally does, and she has also neglected to bring a few gardening supplies with her as she makes her way to where she usually starts her mornings: the communal gardens.

It’s not until she’s halfway to the gardens that she realizes that she’s forgotten things, and she stops in her tracks— coincidentally, right outside of the archives. There, she stands for a few long moments, internally debating with herself as to whether she should turn back and return home to get her things, or if she should continue on and hope she can borrow things or otherwise improvise… Until she realizes just where it is that she’s standing.

Should she… stop by and say hello, too…? He had told her that he wanted to see her, but… What if that was all just the dreamscape, too? ]

[pactmarshal]

[ In the meanwhile, the buzz of uncertainty has fell to the wayside as Trahearne spends his morning helping a guest add to an entry. Concentrating on something, someone who needs their hand held so is an excellent way to keep his mind off the dream and what it all means.

Except that comes to an end eventually. As the guest moves to leave, Trahearne scoops up the books to return them to their rightful places. He stands and turns his gaze towards the entrance, watching the guest go, when his eyes drift...

And there's Ori.

It all comes rushing back to him. He freezes. He can't decide if the overwhelming delight to see her in his chest or the sinking dread that she's come to tell him off in the pit of his stomach is more powerful. He can't decide which one he should concentrate on. He simply looks at her in the distance, enamored. The way the morning sun illuminates her makes it seem as though she's standing in a spotlight just for her, that she is the center of the world. How brilliant she seems, the golden hue of the sunlight just the perfect contrast to the soft lilac of her skin, how her dark hair shines in the morning. The light suits someone like her so well. She belongs there, seen and loved by everyone. How could anyone like him, one who has spent his whole life in the dim, dusky corridors of libraries, who has spent nearly every waking moment in the company of death and undead, even entertain the idea of being with someone so--

"You are distracted, sylvari," comes a deep, booming voice from above him, interrupting his thought. Trahearne starts, whipping his head up to see one of his staff members--the kodan, the towering polar bear man--peering curiously down at him.

"I--"

"Do you need her?" the kodan nods outside at Ori--he's seen her, too. She is familiar to him, and perhaps that she's friends with Trahearne, but that's about as far as his knowledge goes. Trahearne opens his mouth to speak again, but the kodan interrupts him. "I shall fetch her for you."

In the kodan's mind, he's helping.

The great big bear comes to step outside, and reaches Ori in a few easy strides. His shadow casts over her as he looms over her.

"Hello. The curator asks for you," he says, motioning to the inside of the archives.

Trahearne, watching from the inside, is quietly dying on the inside as he scrambles to find something to busy himself with. If he can't physically hide, then he will create work to metaphorically hide behind. ]

[hearthwarming]

[ Oriphi, on the other hand, doesn’t get the luxury of a slow-motion, well-lit first glance of Trahearne for the first time since they kissed in her dream.

Instead, she is approached rather unceremoniously by the kodan - a fellow whom she recognizes as a regular helper at the archives - his shadow and form eclipsing her entire self. She looks up at him, lips parting to say something in greeting when his voice booms. The curator asks for you. ]

Hello— O-Oh. He’s asking for me?

[ What could it mean…? That he intends for them to meet up so soon? She— She’s not ready, or is she? She has no idea!

The kodan begins to usher her towards the entrance, and as they go, Ori quickly glances over at a window to see if she can catch a glimpse of her reflection, smoothing down a rebellious section of hair before she’s whisked into the archives.

Now, it seems, is her turn to freeze. Because for all of her worrying about seeing him again, now that she’s here, actually seeing him again, her anxieties are left by the wayside. Utterly oblivious to his dying inside, he simply looks to her like he’s in his element, hard at work as he focuses on the task at hand… And she really likes seeing him like this. Surrounded by books and his work and his passions, she finds him to be breathtaking. After all, his work ethic and intellect have always been aspects of him that she admires very much, even when the former often works to his detriment when he works and works and works.

Is it selfish of her to hope that she’ll be able to help him maintain a healthier work-life balance…? Could she deign to believe that she could?

The kodan all but shoves her towards where Trahearne is, and now she finds herself standing before him, trying but failing to not look quite so bashful. ]

G… Good morning, Trahearne…

[pactmarshal]

[ For a moment, Trahearne does get lost enough in his work to take his mind off his unease. But that doesn't last very long, because Ori's voice--sweet, comforting tones--almost cause him to jump, a brief clench in his chest and a smile he cannot help overcome him.

Get it together. He has done this once, he will do it again.

After a beat, he turns around, composing himself. His smile is his usual vague smile, a pleasantry. His only tell that something is off, which Ori would surely notice, is the way he hugs the books in his arms tighter to his chest. A way of trying to hide himself, keep himself normal.

Even though there is, quite frankly, nothing normal about this situation. ]

Good morning, Ori. [ His voice is pleasant as always. He can't help his smile taking on a gentler hue as he studies her. How does she always have this effect on him? He feels so...happy seeing her. Despite, well--

But his smile immediately drops as he realizes something: her flowers in her hair, twinkling stars in the curtain of night that is her hair, are gone.

His mind can only go to the worst place. Was that...his fault? ]

Ori, your flowers...

[ His brows raise and guilt immediately colors his countenance. Maybe...he shouldn't have... ]

[hearthwarming]

[ Statuesque as he is, it’s hard for her not to avoid looking at him, and it’s even harder still not to pay close attention to all the little ways and tells that he unwittingly offers as he hugs his books closer to his chest, as he stares down at her.

Perhaps… He’s feeling… uncertain? About her? About them?

Just like that, the worries that had been plaguing her since she’d woke up flood back into her thoughts, though they had been momentarily lost in her delight in simply seeing him. Goodness, how does he manage to scramble her thoughts so thoroughly? ]

My…

[ It takes her a moment to realize in full what it is he means. Her hand comes up to touch her own hair, finding - well, only hair as she runs her fingers through wavy locks. ]

Oh. I forgot them this morning…!

[pactmarshal]

O-oh.

[ Slowly, the corners of his mouth droop in a frown. She forgot them? This certainly can't be a coincidence. What he did must have caused her so much distress. The guilt claws at his throat, and he blinks a few times, unsure of what else to say.

In his attempts to feign ignorance, he wants to ask what happened to her that made her forget, but even he knows that would not work. He's not stupid. He should, at least...express his guilt somehow.

He swallows thick, trying to find his voice in the moments that follow. ]

...I'm sorry.

[hearthwarming]

S—Sorry?

[ She blinks up at him, eyes wide in confusion. Why is he apologizing...? Why is he frowning at her so? Is he saying sorry to ask her to forget about what happened...?

Her chest feels tight and uneasy as her hand lowers to clutch at it, her lips drawing into a thin, uncertain line. ]

It's... Nothing you have to apologize for, I think...

🌳🌼

[pactmarshal]

[ It was only meant to be a quick adventure into the wildlands.

Both, as always, were eager to explore lands yet charted by dreamwalkers. Trahearne by nature is curious of all things, driven by his need to learn more about this dream world they find themselves in. And he has always been happy to have Ori along, considering how good of a friend she has been to him.

Their outings now, though, have taken on a slightly different meaning. They can spend time alone together, away from the prying eyes of their friends. Trahearne can touch and look at Ori all he likes, and he scarcely has to worry about making others uncomfortable. He loves the feeling of her hand in his, and there's no one around to stop him.

But they ventured a little too close to the wastes, a little too close to the home of nightmare. The creature that came tearing through the trees was a vile, concentrated mass of hatred and rot, brief flashes of color that billow from its skin quickly absorbed back into the abyss of its body. Its eyes were two piercing beams of light that bore down on them, yet they had been too busy conversing, too lost in each other's eyes, too in love to notice the creature as it stalked them.

Needless to say, it had the drop on them quite easily, and Trahearne did not walk out of that fight unharmed. Though battered and lacerated as he was, he learned through the course of the battle that his affection for Ori was so powerful that it was through pure dreamotion that he managed to recreate his blade from home--Caladbolg. He hated the sight of her getting hurt, and his resolve and fierce protectiveness swirled together to make the sword. And just like the real one, it burned at the beast whenever it made contact with its nightmare flesh, and the way it roared in pain was music to his ears.

He did not beat it back alone--of course not. Ori is a powerful fighter in her own right, and he almost thinks she did better than him. And he's fine with that. She's the brightest star in his sky, as she should be.

With the beast subdued, Trahearne falls to his knees and clasps his abdomen, golden sap spilling from between his fingers. This isn't good, but he'll manage. Give him a moment, and he'll be back on his feet. ]

[hearthwarming]

[ Likewise, Ori always enjoys their outings into the Wildlands. There's a certain camaraderie and trust that's built with someone on an adventure, and that warmth is made all the sweeter when romance is folded in the way that it is with Trahearne and Oriphi. They have always gone on such outings, after all - but now they walk hand-in-hand, stealing precious glances at each other as they talk, and each excursion is followed by a cozy evening huddled together with tea in either of their homes.

It does have the unfortunate caveat, however, that when things go awry, the pain of seeing one's loved one hurt is much, much sharper. And that's what the two face when they encounter this nightmarish abomination in the wild, catching them unawares and proving to be a hardy opponent.

Still, not once through the whole fight does Ori truly fear that she would lose Trahearne. She has the utmost faith in him and his abilities, and she knows from all of the times that they have ventured into the Wilds together - especially these days - that there is nothing they cannot face when they are together.

But that does not mean that seeing him get hurt gets any easier.

Ori has spent much of the encounter supporting Trahearne in his efforts, bolstering his blade of dreamotion with her own affection and devotion to him, causing radiant flowers to sprout and bloom across the hilt of the blade and along Trahearne's arms, and slinging elemental spells of her own. In time, they manage to beat the creature, but they do not emerge unscathed.

When Trahearne falls to his knees, battered and bleeding, Ori is quick to close the distance between them, similarly coming down on her knees with a healing spell at her fingertips. ]

Trahearne—

[ She knows, by now, that she'll never be able to prevent injuries in these sorts of situations entirely. But she will always be ready to heal them, especially Trahearne's. Her hand comes to rest against his as he clutches at his injury, flooding a healing warmth into the gaping wound. Her other arm wraps around his shoulder as she pulls him down to press his forehead against hers. ]

Keep your eyes on me, my heart. I've got you...

[pactmarshal]

[ It's funny how trust so intense can work--Trahearne has unconditionally placed his own wellbeing into Ori's hands, and not once does he question it. There truly is nothing that can stand in their way when they work together, though perhaps he had gotten a little too eager this time. So confident had he been in their teamwork that he'd gone in recklessly, chasing up attacks he normally would not have, and he paid for it. Does he regret it, though? ...Perhaps a little. ]

I know you do.

[ His voice is low--from exertion or from relief, it's hard to tell. But as Ori's warmth, both from her spell and from herself, come over him, Trahearne physically eases. He melts into her touch and his eyes eventually peel open. At the sight of her so close something constricts in his chest, something he has recently learned to be affection, and he can't help the smile that blooms across his face.

Her eyes are beautiful. ]

You always do.

[ As the spell takes effect and heals his wound--he's lucky it's not worse than it was--he slowly removes his hand, wiping the excess sap on the grass beside him. He settles onto the ground, letting the tension of battle leave him. Though he's not bleeding anymore, he still feels sore. With his clean hand, he reaches out to gently lay his palm over her cheek, taking a moment to brush off a bit of dirt beneath her eye before speaking. ]

Are you hurt?

[hearthwarming]

[ Even as tired and worn they are from the battle, she has the strength to smile for him. She shall always have the will to do so. Even more so when she feels his touch against her cheek, gentle and caring and near-reverent in the way that it always is. He has always handled her with the utmost care, and each and every time it makes warmth bloom in her chest and across her face. ]

I'm alright, thanks to you. I promise.

[ She isn't downplaying her own condition; she knows better than to, with him. But whatever injuries she has are easily addressed with a quick healing word, or a potion. Better to focus what energy she has left on taking care of the worst of his hurt, and to get them back to town to continue patching themselves up.

In just a few short moments, the wound is healed; though it no longer bleeds, the worst of it is taken care of, and he would know by now that the injury may continue to feel a bit raw and tender until he's had a good night's rest...

But with that accomplished, she moves her hands to frame his face, pressing a soft kiss to the corner of his eye. ]

Do you feel well enough to head back?

[pactmarshal]

[ How eternally lucky Trahearne feels to have Ori by his side; the way she caresses and looks after him is so intensely loving. At first, he almost wasn't sure if he deserved any of what she had to offer, but that obstacle was quickly crossed. He has so much affection to give in return, and it would be absurd to insist it be one-sided. With a slight nod, he accepts her reassurance that she's all right.

His eyes flutter as she kisses the corner of his eye, and he can't help a silly, lovestruck smile that crosses his face. Despite his wounds. They hurt a lot less with her around, and that isn't simply due to her magic. Her presence alone soothes him in a way that few others have ever managed. The hand on her cheek drops to cradle one of hers that rests on his own cheek, and he squeezes--a slight gesture of his gratitude.

With a gentle shift, signaling his intention, he gets to his feet, paying attention to how his wound feels as his torso bends with movement. He winces slightly, and his hand instinctively reaches up to cover it. It is sore, and very fresh, even though it no longer bleeds. ]

...I think so. I will be slow. [ He looks up sheepishly at her, embarrassed for having gotten too eager in battle. ] I don't think I'll be able to make it back before nightfall.

[ In his quizzical expression, there's a question: Can we teleport back? But he knows Ori is limited in the magic she can cast in the day, and doesn't want to push her if she's already at her limit. ]

[hearthwarming]

[ She will never, ever tire of seeing that soft smile on his face, she thinks. Each and every time she has been given the chance to see it is a precious gift that she wants to keep and protect for as long as the whims of this realm will allow her to.

Trahearne begins to move to get back up to his feet, and Ori watches him with vigilance, wanting to make sure that he's truly healed up enough to be moving around. His apparent discomfort and the answer to her question is all she needs to know that they ought to teleport back (which she had been planning on doing, anyway) and continue healing at one of their homes... Likely hers, given how her spell functions, and given that it would allow her easy access to her tools and plants should she need to brew a potion or two for good measure. ]

I can bring us back. You're in no condition to make the trek back, my heart.

[ And so she gets up to her feet, too, and begins to go about the necessary motions and incantations to cast her teleportation circle. As the ring of arcane light encircles them, she reaches out and takes one of his hands in hers.

Then, in a flash, they are in her cozy little tree cottage. She sets her staff against the nearest wall and then duly returns to Trahearne's side with the intent to help him get to... Well, she's not sure. ]

I'm taking you to my room. It'll be easier to keep healing you there.

[ After all, she doesn't have any real seating apart from chairs at the kitchen table and a pile of cushions by a fireplace, neither of which are very conducive to the kind of healing and rest that Trahearne will need. ]

[pactmarshal]

[ With rapt attention he watches her cast her spell--her magic is so unlike anything he ever saw at home, and it always tickles him to watch her. Intellectually, as a magic user himself, and simply because he is always so enamored when she does her thing. She is, in fact, very good at what she does. He squeezes her hand in turn, not because he's afraid or unsure of the spell, but because he loves the feeling of their contact.

And in a blink, they're back in town. Trahearne heaves a short sigh of relief as he looks around at the familiar sights of Ori's house. They're far away from any nightmare now. They're safe.

It isn't the first time he's been in her room. It makes sense--it would be the most comfortable place for him to rest up for the time being, and it wouldn't be wise to try and make his way back to his own house instead. But as she leads him there, it slowly dawns on him that...he has never actually been in her bed.

An unusual lightheadedness overcomes him, butterflies uncomfortably forceful in his chest as he lowers himself onto the soft blankets. And as his head sinks into the pillow, he takes a deep breath to calm himself, but is only greeted by Ori's scent filling his mind. It surrounds him, embraces him, holds him in place--it's everywhere.

And so for a second after he's settled, he seems frozen in place. Eventually, he swallows hard, and slowly turns to look at her. His chest clenches; he's totally unaware of how bright and golden his face is, how there's almost a pleading look in his eyes. Never in his life has anyone else made him feel this way simply by looking at them. ]

[hearthwarming]

[ Once they've reached her bedroom, Ori leaves Trahearne to situate himself while she begins to divest herself of much of her adventuring gear. Leather gloves and bracers and boots come off and soon too does her cuirass, all to be deposited carefully atop her dresser; which leaves her in a blouse and skirt, all the better to settle down for the rest of the day and focus on healing then resting.

When she turns back to look at Trahearne, however, she finds him looking rigid and flushed and almost as if he's suffering, and her brows knit together in an immediate worry. Only but a moment passes before she's sitting at the edge of her bed, turning at her waist to lean over him and placing her hand on his forehead. ]

You look feverish, Trahearne. Are you alright? Is the bed uncomfortable for you?

[ She barely gives him a moment to answer before she pulls away, moving her hand over to where he had been injured so that she can begin to cast another healing spell over him. ]

Just hold on, okay? I've still got enough energy to keep healing you.