erebonia | 🗱 Sara/Barnham

... W-well...!!

[DON'T... LOOK AT HIM LIKE THAT....]

I suppose I have...more to say as well.

[But he started with that... it must be Big.]

... More? Got it, then let's report this quickly.

[ It shouldn't take long, and they have a room at the inn, which honestly isn't far from the guild branch... but apparently whatever else he has to say is pretty darn important, so Sara's more than a little curious.

... And flustered, but she's not ready to admit to it. ]

[... Yeah.

More.

It's fine.

Barnham is pretty quiet at that, remaining stoically, thoughtfully silent for the most part as they give their report and then return to the inn.............

And once they're settled in their room, Barnham still looks more thoughtful than anything, arms crossed and brow furrowed.

Speak, Barnham. Speak.]

[ Sara remains perched on the edge of the bed, fingers curled by her thighs, head tilted.

Okay, she knows Barnham likes to think things through (hence the surprise of him blurting out marriage talk), but-- ]

I'm all ears, you know.

[.. R-right.

A-ahem. He...startles a little, before he straightens. RIGHT.]

I...wish to speak with you about this as properly as we can.

[AHEM...]

Sara, would you consider marrying me? [WELL... that's romantic. Ish. Uh. Awkwardly--]

I... also did not anticipate speaking of this while we were on this trip, so I'm afraid I do not have the ring with me. [Oh.]

... Before I answer that, was killing monsters that much of a turn-on for you that you just had to say it?

[ give her a minute, this is how she copes. ]

That... that is not even remotely--!

[AGHHH]

It... it was simply on my mind the entire trek to said monsters and...

[He...couldn't hold back anymore.]

... I got it.

Honestly, that was my second question. You're really sure about this? You won't be able to regret it afterwards.

Of course I am sure.

[Barnham just quirks an eyebrow at that, settling.]

I'm very certain of this--but I will not push it on you, either, if you are not interested.

It's more like... [ her shoulders rise and fall in a helpless shrug. ] The Vice-Principal's been getting on my case for so long that I kept saying I wasn't going to get married out of spite. And it's true that I wasn't really ready to settle down....

But you're here. And if I had to tie myself to anybody, I'd want it to be you.

[... That's incredibly endearing, in Sara's own way. Barnham is quiet for a long moment, as if processing that--and then he smiles, a soft and somewhat tentative expression.]

I will not demand it now. If you are still not ready, if you would still like time.

But that... does make me incredibly happy to hear. [That eventually, at some point--she would want to be tied to him, in that manner, for life.]

I could not possibly ask for more than that. [But he's gonna.]

I mean, I still want a dramatic proposal to tease you about for years to come.

... But I think you're more than welcome to demand it now, if you're ready.

[ It's kind of funny to imagine the look on Neithardt's face, when he'll learn. ]

[Wow.

Barnham blinks at that--and then scoffs lightly under his breath.]

I shall grant you the most dramatic proposal you could wish for, should you truly wish it.

[Without hesitation!!]

But I can assure you--I am ready.

...

[ You know, thinking about it, Barnham has no qualms with being stupidly dramatic, so-- ]

Actually, this is plenty dramatic enough for me.

[ MIGHT AS WELL SPARE HERSELF THE EMBARRASSMENT. ]

[That's wise, honestly. Very, very wise.]

Very well then.

I will repeat myself once, simply and less dramatically than you are clearly concerned about:

[He lifts her hand in his own, gently brushing his lips against her knuckles.]

Lady Instructor and Bracer Sara Valestein, will you do me the honor of remaining by my side for the remainder of our lives?

[ ... Well. Slightly less embarrassing, still plenty dramatic by anyone else's standards. But Sara's always been at least a little endeared by it, and it makes her smile now. ]

I'm no longer an instructor, you know. But yes, Zacharias Barnham, I do believe you're officially stuck with me now.

Excellent.

[Honestly!! He's delighted by this, and it's plain on his face; his smile is broad and not at all subtle as he shifts to cup her cheek, leaning in for a kiss instead.

He's....

He's not done with dropping drama bombs yet, but first, a kiss.]

[ Probably just as well, let this woman recover from being proposed to--

And kisses are an excellent distraction, if her enthusiastic response is any indication. It feels like it's been too long since they've had a chance to have a proper kiss. ]

[This is a good chance for a recovery--don't mind him, he's going to continue to do so, enjoying the way that they slot together so perfectly, her cheek warm under his hand, just as it had been every single time in their struggles in that horrible town.

Then, it was a comfort. Now? It's perfectly familiar.

He's going to enjoy it.]

Who knew...

[ And she does draw back enough to speak, lips quirked in an amused smile. ]

I'd have a short vacation in a crazy murder town and come out of it with a future husband.

[Sara....]

Indeed, I cannot say I could have ever expected my path to lead me here.

But... I am happier than I would have ever been able to be, in Labyrinthia.

Do you ever miss it? What you left behind.

[ She doesn't know how long he'd lived there. She doesn't know who he'd made connections with. And Sara had cut ties with her own country long ago-- it doesn't mean she thinks anyone else could move away from home quite as cleanly. ]

Occasionally, I find myself missing my duty.

[Barnham can acknowledge that much, running his thumb gently over her cheekbone.]

The other knights, too, were good men. But... even so, I do not regret leaving it behind by any means. What I miss has been replaced but something I could never replace.

Flatterer.

[ with her best poker face, even. Which does nothing to hide the fact that Sara's actually touched. ]

I can see why you were a hit with the ladies.

[Wow.]

That had nothing to do with me.

[But he can't deny he was a hit with the ladies.]

But rather what I represented, which was quite tedious.

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