#lightfallsword ● 06

[fairyknight]

● Baobhan Sith had always been stubborn, but these days that stubbornness was expressed in a much healthier way. No longer was it used as a grounds to kill, and she definitely wouldn't treat Eula that way. In a way it was surprising just how much living in a "normal" setting had mellowed her out. "A prize, huh...?" She got a little distracted trying to think of just what Eula might be offering.

Once Eula went off to do her own thing, the Archer began to flip through the recipe book she'd been using quickly with the pages raised close to her face even though she was wearing reading glasses.

Her girlfriend's suggestions came at the right time, since she was being indecisive about what to make. "Aha! Chocolate chip cookies! I was just looking for those!" She lied through her fangs, but she did find the recipe second later. "I wouldn't use salt a second time! But I do need these chocolate chips!" She picked up a bag that looked kind of like chocolate chips.

They were raisins.

The fairy had certainly come a long way; Eula knew that by her reaction alone. While usually quick to give up and leave the task to the other, she was insistent on continuing on her own this time. And despite the brave face she was putting on, the knight could sense some frustration in her words and equal amounts of determination to do something on her own for once. She was proud of her. Little improvements such as these should be worth celebrating after all.

"I don't recall this being about winning or losing, but if that's how you feel about it…Then I have to give you a challenge, don't I?" Even as she says that, she doesn't plan on going too hard against her but just enough to give her something to compete with. "Who knows, you may just receive a prize at the end of it all," she says with a wink, going back to her side of the countertop.

While both of them make themselves busy with their respective baking endeavours, Eula looks over every so often and sees that though she's still struggling, Baobhan is indeed trying her best. "Why don't you start with something simple? Chocolate chip or sugar cookies ought to be best. So long as you don't reach for salt again, I see nothing going awry."

[fairyknight]

● Every second of this exchange had Baobhan's heart teetering on the edge. It was probably only natural that she'd feel anxious, but she'd long since lowered her guard with Eula. It must have been back when they had been stranded on that island when it had all started. She couldn't really do it with anyone else. She couldn't lower her guard act as vulnerable as she felt. With everyone else she continued to put up airs. She felt like she had to.

But she didn't feel that way with the Spindrift Knight at all. "I can support you too. Or at least try. I've never truly opened my heart to a human, you know."

Someone dafter might have wanted to hear the words "your past isn't important" but not Archer. She knew better than anyone the weight of her sins. No amount of reassurance could erase them from her history, and she'd already long decided that she wouldn't try. Baobhan's silver eyes stared into Eula's own gaze now that they were close. "Well, don't blame me if I'm bad at this whole dating thing. I don't have a lot of experience."

After all is said and done, and Baobhan makes it abundantly clear that what she wants is to be with Eula, the knight can't help but feel her heart skip a beat at the thought. Baobhan speaks of not being a good person, how she's done plenty of terrible things, and while that's certainly something that Eula has considered, she's willing to move past them so long as the other is willing to. She knows all too well that a person's past or origins shouldn't determine their future. As she feels Baobhan's hand gently cup her face, she leans into its warmth before speaking again, "I want to be with you, too. I won't say that your past isn't important, but it does not define who you are now."

"I'll stand by your side no matter what from now on." It's her own confirmation in so many words about how deeply she cares for her. No matter how many missteps Baobhan was going to make, all that mattered was that she genuinely tried. "And…" Eula trails off, followed by the smallest of smiles. "If you don't understand how I garnered feelings for you…I suppose I'll just have to spend time showing you from now on, won't I?"

[fairyknight]

● The last time that she had experienced any sort of closeness like this had been with Beryl, and even then her final moments had re-contextualized her feelings about not only him but about relationships in general. It had been one-sided and foolish, and he had only been using her feelings to his own ends. What if she fell for another person and they treated her the same way?

That wondering had remained a constant in the back of her mind whenever she considered getting close to someone. Much less a human.

Being pulled closer mid-kiss did prompt a squeak of surprise from the fairy. It was clear that she was out of her element if she was letting her partner make the moves, but it wasn't all that bad, was it? She didn't feel uncomfortable or anything of the like. Eula had already laid her insecurities bare to Baobhan, she had no reason to doubt her motives nor push her away.

But a kiss couldn't last forever, and Eula eventually broke it to pour on a number of embarrassing comments. The two of them both had their pride, and that pride led to this kind of thing being relatively awkward in its inception. Archer's heart was beating like crazy!

"I don't understand how I did, but..." Seeing a chance to express herself to match Eula's own, she reached out a hand to cup Eula's turned cheek and gently turned her head until their eyes met. "I... If you want... I want to be with you! But I'm still not a good person, you know? I've done terrible things... but you make me want to be better than I'm already trying to be. Even though it's... hard."

She expects rejection, of course. Impulsive acts do often have consequences, after all. But instead, she's met with…openness? A willingness to go further, even? It surprised her, of course, but she refused to let the moment pass her by lest her courage flee as soon as it had come in the first place. Baobhan doesn't give her a chance to be the one to initiate, however, as the fairy is quick to steal a kiss of her own.

This is the first time Eula's been kissed, the first time she's ever let anyone this close to her.

It felt…right. As if somehow, she had been waiting for this all along from the start. Perhaps, she thinks, that she had been infatuated with Baobhan from the very first moment that they met. Feelings, however, are fickle and the knight often found that they would butt heads over the most minuscule of things and yet they shared so many similarities as well. Eula allows herself to sink into the warmth of her lips, eyes half-lidded, mind empty, and heart full as she wraps an arm around Baobhan's waist to pull her closer.

What feels like a lifetime eventually comes to an end, and Eula is the one to pull away, not because she didn't enjoy it but because she needed to give herself some time to breathe and come to terms with what had just happened. She looks at Baobhan, face flushed, before looking off to the side and then back again. "You really do frustrate me, Baobhan Sith."

"...And yet you've captured my heart all the same."

[fairyknight]

● "You want to- HAH!?" Baobhan Sith hadn't really been dancing around the subject intentionally. Her feelings were complicated. The last time she had felt like this about anyone was with a man who had ultimately acted in his own best interests at the expense of her own life. It was hard to recover from that, to trust again. But time had passed. She had been with Chaldea for over two years and in the city just as long, she had grown as a person, maybe now it was okay to...

Regardless of what she wanted to do though, Eula's wants had taken her entirely off guard. For a woman who liked to act pompous and demanding, the knight's words had completely shattered that act. Baobhan was bright red, her eyes flickering about wildly, her lips quivering. While her eyes did dance around, they kept fixating on the hands that had just been kissed.

Because this meant facing her own feelings. And because she had absolutely no experience with kissing under these kinds of circumstances. The Archer exhaled, still shaking a little, but she slowly drew closer to Eula's face. "I... Fine! But I don't want to hear any complaints about it, got it!?"

She didn't give Eula a chance to reply. She turned her head slightly and stole the knight's lips, leaving one eye open to check for a reaction. She needed some indication if she was doing it wrong!

It was clear that either of them would keep dancing around the subject, only alluding to how they felt about the other without outright saying it. For most of her life, Eula had always thought that she was fine being alone. But Amber changed that, had showed her that it was okay to let people in, to want to let people in. And again when she found herself alone here, she felt herself questioning whether it was okay to trust anyone.

She trusted Albedo, she trusted the people she worked with at Lionheart, and slowly but surely, she had come to trust Baobhan as well. But for a while, another feeling had been circling her heart and mind. Day after day, she'd sit in the uncomfortable unknown of trying to discern how exactly she felt about the fairy. Only recently had she finally come to terms with it and yet still found herself to unable to properly express it.

At Baobhan's own admittance of caring for her, Eula figures that if she didn't do anything about it now, then she'd never act on it. With that thought in mind, and with her heart feeling like it was about to burst right out of her chest, she took hold of Baobhan's hands, gently, and slowly brought the both of them to her lips to offer a gentle kiss.

After, her eyes moved to focus on the other's expression before saying, finally, after some hesitance, "I...I want to kiss you." a simple want, but still nervewracking all the same.

[fairyknight]

● Baobhan Sith listened to what Eula said carefully because she didn't want to misinterpret anything. But even then she couldn't help but doubt what she was hearing. Weren't the implications here that Eula trusted and cared about her? It was more than just implications. It was exactly what she had said! "I... Aside from mother, no one has ever said that to me before and meant it. That you trust me, I mean."

The fairies she knew were deceptive. Even before being adopted, when they said things like that to her they had been lying.

She felt like she had to choose her words here carefully. For someone who liked to blurt out whatever she was thinking without consequence that was tough. Her feelings were plain on her face anyways. She was feeling bashful. "I want you to trust me, I think. I... trust you. I've told you things I wouldn't tell anyone else. Probably because I care about you too?" These kinds of feelings were difficult for her to navigate.

"I just...wanted to be somewhere more quiet." More personable, fewer people around. Though she had spent much of her earlier life in crowded places filled with people and worn enough ballgowns for a lifetime, Eula only ever felt as though she could be herself when she was in more secluded quarters. Her home had quickly become a source of comfort, one that could perhaps provide her with the time to choose her words carefully. Still, the distant look on her face may only serve to make the fairy feel worried and find her intentions questionable.

"I've made it a point to only allow people that I trust into my home, only people that I care about, you see." Eula takes care to consider her next words and just how she should follow up, to make the other understand. "I feel like I can trust you. Am I right in that assumption?"

[fairyknight]

● "You're... used to the cold?" It almost felt like an unusual way to respond to a question about having a jacket. Her understanding of humans was that they were typically very susceptible to the elements and were easily bothered by the heat and cold. Not that fairies were really all that different in that regard. No one liked being cold, not even a vampiric fairly like a Baobhan Sith!

Not that she received much of a reply in the end. She was ushered through the city streets, chatter abound here and there as they traversed the night. Baobhan, who was vampiric by nature, thrived in the dark. But it was more her nocturnal habits than anything, she could exist under the sunlight just fine.

"Make myself at home... you say." Once she was led inside, there was a pause where Archer seemed relatively composed. She wasn't, however. She was trying to hold it together, but to be brought to the home of the woman she liked so unexpectedly was kind of a big deal wasn't it!? "So what was it that compelled you to invite me here?" She was saying it in a playful manner, but she really did want to know.

Maybe inviting Baobhan back to her personal home had been much too forward, even for her standards. But the offer has been made and Baobhan doesn't seem completely averse to the idea and that's enough for Eula to keep the little courage she has left and go through with it. "I'm used to the cold, I've been in more frigid places than this city could ever hope to be."

As they step outside into the cool air and Baobhan keeps hold of Eula's hand, the knight suddenly feels much warmer than she ought to, even though it's fairly chilly outside of the castle. As they walk along the streets, occasionally breaking the silence with bits and pieces of conversation, it's not long before they're on the train and soon enough transported to the City of Glass, with just a little bit of a walk to Eula's own home now, which they stop in front of. She lets go of Baobhan's hand for but a moment, ushering her inside the warm coziness.

"...Make yourself at home. I usually have someone stay with me occasionally, but he doesn't appear to be here presently." And honestly? Thank goodness for that, if only for now.

[fairyknight]

● Opening herself up to another person and not being dismissed was something that was new to her. She had that sort of relationship with her adoptive mother, Morgan, but there had never been anyone else that was willing to hear her out. At least authentically, since Beryl had been a special case. In hindsight it had been a huge mistake to cast her lot with him.

"E-EH!?" Those dancing nearby the pair were unfortunately subjected to the sound of Baobhan's cries upon being invited back to Eula's home of all places. They had only just started dancing! But it was such a bold invitation! Nonetheless, Eula's points did make some sense. She was fine with being in a crowd, but being private was more preferable.

"I mean... if that's what you'd prefer." She wound the dance down so that they would be able to scoot off the dance floor, all the while stopping herself from letting go of Eula completely. If allowed she'd keep holding the knight's hand, even giving it a little squeeze. "But are you sure you want to do that? I-I mean it's cool outside! Did you bring a jacket?"

Hearing Baobhan speak so candidly of her past struggles is enough for Eula, a sign that she's certainly gained the other's trust. As Baobhan buries her face into her shoulder, Eula keeps her close and for the first time in quite a long time, she finds herself unsure of what she should do. Their dance slows to a halt as the knight wonders if what she's about to offer is the right thing.

Regardless of whether it is or not though, it's what she wants to do. What she feels is appropriate, for the two of them. "...Come back to my place." it's not so much of an offer as it is a command. The air suddenly feels a lot warmer than it did earlier as the implications hang heavy on Eula's mind about what it is she intends to do once they arrive there.

"...It's much quieter there and I believe I have grown tired of the crowds." That's not entirely a lie, but it's also only half of the truth. She can only hope that the other won't misinterpret her intentions. "Besides, such important matters shouldn't be discussed in front of others." This much is true, though, as Eula didn't think it was appropriate for a woman like Baobhan to look untoward in front of strangers.

[fairyknight]

● In a flit of gay panic, Baobhan fumbled one of her dance steps when Eula complimented her dancing. It wasn't even largely the compliment that had taken the Archer off guard as much as it had been Eula's expression. She'd never seen that look on the Knight of Favonius' face before.

Already in a position where she had wanted to say something, Eula speaking about her past only piled onto the intimacy being shared between the two on the dance floor. For her to reveal such vulnerable things about herself... had they established a bond of trust!?

"I-I can understand that feeling!" Baobhan Sith eventually blurted out the first response that came to mind. Something had compelled her to hold Eula a little more tightly as an act of reassurance as if to remind her she wasn't alone. "I spent most of my life forcing myself to be worse than I knew I was deep down. People loathed me, it hurt, but apparently it was supposed to be the best for me. Maybe it was, maybe it wasn't. But to be hated by everyone... including myself..."

But she also couldn't deny that had all become part of who she was now. Those sins could not be washed away. "No one knows the real me except my mother. I don't know if I even know who that is anymore." She found herself burying her face into Eula's shoulder. "But I want to be able to try and show you... If you show me in return."

Though Baobhan continues to push her buttons, Eula noticeably softens when she sees the tear roll down her cheek. Her once stern face loosens up in a bit of a sheepish smile now, as she continues to dance the fairy around the room. Their movements were graceful, earning a few stares from passersby and a few comments about how in sync they were as well. "Is that so? What a shame," she says, twirling her before bringing her back in.

There's some hesitation before she speaks again, but she knows she has to say it, no matter how embarrassed it makes her feel, honesty is important. "…you happen to be one of the best partners I've ever had the pleasure of dancing with." Though she tries to hide it, Eula's cheeks flush red.

"I've…never been able to properly express myself to others. Often people shied away as they found me much too cold and intimidating as well," they slow to a gentle waltz now, Eula still keeping her close. "but I feel as though I've managed to bring that wall down with a few people here…" eyes flit away to stare at the ground before she finally brings her gaze back up to Baobhan, "including you, Baobhan Sith."

[fairyknight]

● "Haaaah? You say my dancing isn't very good? Have you watched yourself in a mirror? How many left feet do you have? Three?" To say that Baobhan had gotten into an argument with a stranger was more or less on the money. She had been the one to start it by laughing at the guy's attempt to impress a girl that clearly wasn't interested in him. Honestly it had been a good chance to relieve some of her built up irritation after coming to the conclusion that she had been stood up.

Okay, so she hadn't formally asked. It was probably more her own fault than anything. But she'd prettied up in such a nice dress, not to mention curling her hair, picking out jewelry, and wearing a pair of heels she'd made herself!

Someone had come to cut in and before the Archer could lash out at them her hand was taken. She been too caught up in the argument to really parse who it was until the warmth of her hand took her by surprise. "Wha- You!?" The anger on her face melted away and a blush coloured her cheeks.

Funnily enough, the woman she'd stepped in for yelled "Thanks!" to Baobhan as she was pulled away.

"Y-You're stealing me!? So does that mean you...?" She'd been so caught up in the idea that Eula hadn't wanted to attend with her that she could hardly believe this new development. "A-And I wasn't starting a fight! He was being a creep! That worm was lucky the only lashing I gave him was verbal one!"

At first, when she received the curious text from Baobhan asking about whether or not she had any plans to attend the ball, Eula thought nothing of it. It's only at the fairy's very intense emphasis on the fact that she would be going and that she would hate to have hardly anyone there that she was familiar with that the knight finally understood what she had been getting at. After giving a 'perhaps I'll find the time' text in response, for a while it was put out of Eula's mind. It's only after she gets a reminder text from Baobhan that she sighs and gives in. Nothing could ever be easy and straightforward, it seemed.

So, here she stands at the entrance of the ballroom, being somewhat of a wallflower as she watches the couples dance around. While most were in costume, she opted to forego the occasion but still dressed appropriately so that she matched the mood. Some time passes, but soon enough she sees her, Baobhan fussing about one thing or another with someone who had assumingly no dancing skills at all. Eula approaches the both of them, cutting in to alleviate whatever disagreement or argument seemed to be happening. "I'll be stealing her for the night, you don't need to worry any longer." With that, she takes hold of Baobhan's hand and pulls her away and into a quiet corner before letting go of her.

"Starting fights this early into the night? Unsurprising. Typical, even." Though she sounds unamused, there's the smallest hint of a smile.

@fairyknight

[fairyknight]

● "Hmm? Are you forgetting that I was a princess? I know my way around the dance floor." Baobhan replied slyly as they walked arm in arm. Truthfully she didn't have many positive memories that were related to dancing over the past 100 years, aside perhaps the odd opportunity she'd had to dance with her mother. But on a stage where she wasn't loathed, on a stage where only Eula's eyes mattered, she didn't feel as wary.

Confident as she felt, she couldn't hold back a squeak of surprise when Eula pulled her closer. It wasn't like she was being handled roughly, but she wasn't used to people being so heavy handed with her. Most had been too afraid, even though at heart she was just a girl. Archer didn't push herself away but instead kept herself close.

"Oooh, consequences? Why don't you show me then?" Baobhan smiled. She was caught up in the moment, in the movements. She had almost forgotten how fun it was to dance. To the point that she hadn't even noticed a tear roll down her own cheek as a nostalgic feeling set in. Joy. "It's been a long time since anyone has danced with me. At least... willingly."

"That all depends on if you'll be able to keep up with me," Eula quips back as she's led to the dancefloor, arm in arm with her date. She doesn't bother to grace Baobhan with an answer and instead opts to show her, placing one hand on her lower back and pulling her closer, all the while keeping a rather stern, indifferent expression. It's clear who's in control.

"Really, I've tried my best to behave accordingly…but you continue to make it increasingly difficult for me not to act out of turn." Eula is usually able to keep her cool, but something about tonight felt…different. Or perhaps it's because she'd grown increasingly aware of her own potential feelings toward the fairy, ones that she found herself still not entirely sure about.

Still, they continue their dance, Eula keeping Baobhan close. "There are consequences for things like that, you know."

[fairyknight]

● "Erm..." How was she supposed to think nothing of it? Baobhan Sith's did had a habit of occasionally blurting out things that she hadn't intended on saying aloud, but this actually wasn't one of those cases. She had intended on saying what she had but was surprised to get the response she had. Eula typically brushed off everything she had to say in some way and this was the time she decided she wanted to think about it!?

She hadn't planned for this outcome! Even though she had been the one who had invited Eula in the first place, things were escalating faster than she had thought they would! Her cheeks burned red, and burned redder when a dance was asked of her.

Eventually she steeled herself and not only took the knight's hand, but weaved her arm with hers to lead her towards the dancefloor once more.

"At least one? Did you want more then? I suppose one is a good starting point then. Do you want to take the lead?"

Baobhan's stammer is enough for the knight to surmise the truth. Eula could only laugh at her flustered responses, it was clear that she wasn't used to being teased this much and it only served to goad Eula on further. Especially with the fairy's last bit to not think too much about it. Despite their rocky start, Eula found herself increasingly confused about just what her feelings were regarding the servant.

On one hand, she was haughty, insufferable, and sometimes unpleasant to be around. They were both horrible at showing their feelings, which led to explosive reactions on the other's part while Eula closed herself off whenever it happened. And yet she found herself drawn to the fairy all the same. It was confusing, to say the least, and not made much better by their current environment. "But I am thinking about it. How am I supposed to think nothing about it?" She huffs, twirling a stray strand of hair now.

"…Since you only wanted my company, then I believe you owe me at least one dance."

[fairyknight]

● It was true that Eula had never outright refused, because that was the entire reason Baobhan had chosen to attend in the first place. She had been hoping that this would happen, that it was Eula's roundabout way of saying yes. But a normal person would have just replied in the first place, wouldn't they!? Not that either of them were normal women personality wise.

"I-I wouldn't have moped around!", she stammered. She was clearly flustered by the knight's ribbing as she often was. Had this been the Baobhan Sith of old she probably would have bitten off Eula's head for speaking to her like this. Maybe literally. But she had no reason to be as performatively evil any longer. Instead, she muttered the truth under her breath. "...I probably would have just gone home."

"Because I invited you, didn't I? Not just to have someone to go with. Because I wanted to go with you and only you. But don't think too much of it!" Which was it then!? Being honest was far too hard for her with matters she wasn't accustomed.

"I never outright refused, now did I?" To Baobhan's credit, Eula had simply opted to leave her on read. In truth, she'd been in the middle about attending at all. She'd certainly had her fill of extravagant parties, but they were made better here just by the fact that she didn't have to put on any airs.

At Baobhan's explanation about her prior engagement, Eula raises an eyebrow but ultimately shrugs it off. She'd take her word for it, as she'd given her no reason to doubt her. "Then I suppose I'll excuse it just this once." It was whatever in the end, only a small footnote at the beginning of their night, something that'd be forgotten over the course of it surely.

"Were you going to mope around like a kicked puppy if I hadn't arrived in such a timely manner?" Eula smiled wryly, she was smug about this. Almost too smug, if asked by anyone else. "Or would you have just found some other company for the night?" She's teasing, only because it's too easy. She figures she may as well poke a little fun at her date tonight, seeing as she's here only because she's been invited.