@avaere asked :
his journey home and back had been long as it had carried the harbinger far away from the biting plains of the snowcovered mountains deep within snezhnaya, and up familiar roads to a camp which had been... empty.
days on his feet, tartaglia hadn't expected to be traveling behind mondstadt's walls, his travelling attire still wrapped around him. yet, he saw no other option. for while the campfire was there alongside the residue of their hideout, there was no traces of the swordswoman. where, oh where would a lawrence go when the stars came out and the campfire died down?
he had never quite embraced the bard at the bar's floor. there was something about the singing fellow that irked the harbinger, yet somehow managed to entertain him at the same time. perhaps it was the way the bard's eyes drew to the heavy boots that made their mark on the wooden floor, or how they seemed to ignite in a mischievous glimmer at the sight of his rather obvious attire. he was a harbinger, after all, who hadn't heard of him?
or maybe... it was how the bard changed the tune on his lyre, from playful to gentle (almost sweet and romantic) as tartaglia made his way over to the familiar, homely sight of a face his heart reached out to.
"my ... what are we drinking tonight?" lips turned into an adoring, smitten, smile as tartaglia sat down onto the bench across eula. with their distance finally having come to a closure (for now), he was quick to raise a gloved hand towards her, first removing the glass which had been sipped on prior to his arrival, then reaching out to cup her cheek. there, a thumb would grace her cheek, voice warm as he gazed into eyes; " i'm home, eula. "
unprompted. || always accepting
─「エウルア」─ it had always been cold close to new year.
she could see the look of concern glazing those AMBER HUES of her best friend when she turned down the invitation to join them in the celebration of lights that were only around the corner. the festive air had never been her thing, as she knew full well any JOYOUS OCCASION was better spent without her presence. after all, who would want someone who reminded them of the torturous time they had spent under the ruling of a tyrant ? the knight understood it well, and she also knew that her friend meant well.
for their sake, it's better that she spent the night alone.
the thought of trekking the snowy mountain of dragonspine came to mind. there, she would usually find peace and comfort in silence. yet, it was to no surprise that she hadn't been up there for many a night now. when was the last time she visited the peak of the snow-covered mountain ? she couldn't remember well.
the ABSENCE of someone had made that place much lonelier than she remembered.
the lawrence heir found herself escaping to the local tavern she had frequented, retreating from the eyes of public and occupied the INNERMOST CORNER TABLE so that her being here wouldn't disrupt anyone's time. the taste of alcohol and the effect it brought seemed to quiet her troubled mind. maybe, it'd be better if she had retreated from the city during those winter celebration. she didn't belong in such atmosphere. the laughter, the blessings, a damned soul like herself should know her place.
gloved digits came to caress over the crimson insignia she had worn over her left chest, and the organ inside ached dully. how long had it been since she had seen him ? the silence was deafening, that was why she couldn't bear seeing the empty campfire they used to share.
but it was a voice that snapped her out of her reverie.
a question, a greet, one that upon hearing that familiar voice alone was enough to have her heart skip a beat. the sight of a HARBINGER came into view, donned in thick traveling coat and snow-tainted boots. his attire alone spoke of the distance he had traveled, the miles he crossed from one nation to the other, the exhaustion presented in his very form, or even the SNOW clinging to his clothing was proof of where he had been, and that he had not stopped ever since —
" tar ... taglia ... ? " even her own voice sounded unsure, as though him appearing right before her was that of a dream she had conjured up in her own mind. and she had, so many times prior. so many times that she thought this was also her own yearn playing tricks on her once again. that is, until his gloved digits found their ways to her cheek. the warmth spreading from his heated glove a reminder and a PROOF that he was real. the realization of it all made her lose her own voice for a moment, only hearing her heart pounding against her ribcage as though it was recognizing how its owner had returned.
" i'm home, eula. "
home, he said. not simply i'm back. him, who had literally returned to his BIRTHPLACE and his rightful home away from here. yet, he said that he was home as their eyes connected.
they say home is where the heart is. was that why she felt like she never had a home ? not within the walls of mondstadt, not upon the freezing peak of dragonspine, not in her travels to borders and other nations. only ... only when he was here. only now that she ever felt like she belonged. in his warmth, in his touch, within his reach.
gently, her gloved hand came to clasp over his own, pressing it tighter to his cheek and she closed her eyes momentarily, as though to reaffirm to herself that he really was here. like a child having found the person she had been searching for. quietly, she pressed her lips to the middle of his palm. a tender, yearnful kiss lingered there for a long, long time. at that very moment, she felt nothing but him.
" welcome home, tartaglia. " and with you, i am too.
from the DRAGONSPINE'S PEAK, one would be able to see the fireworks in the distant, coming from the city of mondstadt as the year came to a close. for many years, the KNIGHT had watched those explosive lights from various locations; up close upon the secret spot near the church, the quiet area near brightcrown canyon overseeing the cider lake behind the city itself, or even this very same snowy atmosphere she was right at this moment. as the END OF THE YEAR drew near, one chapter was ending and a new beginning was to be formed. every year, she would remind herself who she was, who she strived to be despite the others' opinion, just so that she wouldn't lose sight of herself. year after year, without fail.
my name is eula lawrence. i am a knight of favonius.
this year, however, instead of a reminder, it was a confession.
a silent, wordless confession made as her lips were claimed by the same person who owned her very heart. the countless stars above them their only witness.
my name is eula lawrence.
and i am in love with a harbinger.
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