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CARRIAGE HEADING EAST OF RESPITE - MID-AFTERNOON
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Calgwen sits opposite Rondelethia within the carriage. He's dressed in a sharp looking light brown blazer, his wardrobe having finally arrived in town just in time for him to begin delving into autumnal colors (even if Respite doesn't really have fall colors in the way Sarn does), with his wings folded around his shoulders. Today, he's made some plans for a picnic and a walk outside town, and nudged Rondelethia away from her duties to accompany him on this unplanned (by her) date away from the manor.
Rondelethia hadn't needed much coaxing. Once she had seen that Calgwen was a decent person, she was comfortable with being drawn away from her duties, and..in truth, relished being free of responsibilities and, in general..not knowing what was going to happen. She had some decent guesses, but it wasn't the same as having spent a week planning it herself...and while she was still protective of her control over the 'business', she was happy to let personal details to be managed by Calgwen. She was presently reading a book. Some romance novel of some sort. Very mushy. Rondelethia was trying to get herself used to being in a relationship, and while was being a bit distant, was rather clumsily trying to indicate that she may wish to close it.
Calgwen for his part, has been slowly getting caught up on Rondelethia's business and making himself useful wherever she sees fit. His easygoing manner has made him rather popular with most of the household staff. Towards Rondelethia, he has begun to reciprocate those wishes. As he watches out the windowside, he gently clears his throat to get the rabbit's attention, "I believe we are arriving, dear." Sure enough, the carriage begins to come to a stop.
Rondelethia: "Oh!" She puts down the book "That's great!" She's making an effort to be enthusiastic too. It's not that she's faking her feelings, more that..she's used to being reserved, so doing the opposite comes out a touch unnatural "So then..Where did you bring us out to?" She looks over to the dragon, before checking out the window.
Rondelethia pauses, and then seems to remember something, before sticking herself out a bit more to give Calgwen a 'Better view'. It's the intent though it doesn't work as well in her long dress...
Calgwen does turn to watch Rondelethia, admittedly admiring what view her long dress does manage to provide, in addition to just appreciating the gesture, "It's just one of the farms a ways out from the town. 'Purity Fields', according to the farm staff. They grow quite a bit of things, potatoes, carrots, turnips. They've even got a small apple orchard. I've arranged a picnic, and they've offered some fresh cider. It's nothing terribly fancy, I'm afraid, but I think the experience itself is quite worthwhile. I do hope you don't mind a bit of a walk through the orchard, though." Never one to wait when he could do things himself, he opens the carriage door and steps down, turning back to offer his hand to aid Rondelethia down the step.
Rondelethia takes the hand gracefully and steps down, and keeps close to him, tucking herself under a wing as she does so. "I don't mind at all. It's rather lovely scenery out here, so taking some time to appreciate it would be nice!" She stumbles over the words a bit, and giggles at her own awkwardness, it's a bit forced, but..she's trying to relax, and loosen up! "Is there anything there for the big scary dragon? I know you're not the greatest lover of carrots~"
Calgwen chuckles, holding her hand and unfurling a wing a bit to better wrap around her cozily, though not quite a full hug. "Why- I have absolutely nothing against carrots! I could eat them all day!" He scratches his chin with a claw, humming, "Though, I may have sent ahead to arrange food for us both, and it's not all produce. I may have asked for a few things for myself, even. Everything should already be set up for us when we arrive."
Rondelethia: "That's good. I know this is for me..but I want you looked after too" She relaxes into that wing, leaning into it even while she continues walking "So..I've never really gotten around to asking. How are you settling into the smaller town life? I hope it's still interesting enough for you..."
Calgwen walks at Rondelethia's pace, letting his wing drape around her. "Hmm. I am doing well enough, I suppose. I miss the busy nature to some extent, navigating the social chaos. But I rather like this sense of adventure. The people here all seem so wonderful, and have such amazing stories of how they came to live here. I still wish to find a project, of course. Something I can invest in and watch grow."
Rondelethia: "Well. The business usually has a lot of contacts, chances to invest in stuff. I'm confident something will show up at some point" She hums gently "I think I'm meant to say something romantic, but saying 'You can invest in our relationship' seems a bit weird" She laughs softly "We both can though. I don't think that should take anything away" She leans her head against his side, ears goes up to tickle him gently "Ah..I don't really know how the touchy feely stuff works though. I might need some help there"
Calgwen squeezes Rondelethia's hand gently, "Hah, ah, you are doing fine, dear. I would be remiss if I didn't tell you I am already invested in this relationship. In most things, I prefer a hands-off approach in most things, but I would be quite happy to help you through this 'touchy-feely' stuff." He is completely oblivious to the insinuations there.
Rondelethia isn't exactly aware of the insinuations either! She's learning from proper books of courting, who are cloaked in innuendo. "So..um" She squeezes his hand back, fingers between his "What..what would the first step be in all of that sort of thing?"
Calgwen tilts his head to look at her as they walk. "Well uh, I suppose we're doing it. Spending more time together, growing closer, as friends and... well, physically as well. It is... different when it is so pre-determined, and yet... I do admit that I am falling for you as much as I believed I would when I first came here."
Rondelethia blushes a little bit "Yeah..I..like being around you too. You're so big, and your wings feel so cosy. It's..safe. I suppose" She gives a little smile "The physical stuff..uh..well, I'm sure we'll work that out..but..if we like each other, it should be fine..even if it feels weird that we have to..even though..I suppose we want to?"
Calgwen nods, slowly, smiling back. "It is, just a little weird. Or a lot? I can't say. Your hand is very soft though..." He clears his throat a little awkwardly, "Ah, dear. But yes... if we like each other, the rest should be easy? Right?"
Rondelethia: "That's the idea, I suppose..Just" She leans in "I want to try and push back, and have my own relationships happen at my own pace, because..well, I really do like you..but everything is still part of the plan?" She ponders,a bit conflicted "You're the romantic~ I don't suppose you can make sense of it?"
Calgwen sighs, "I do hope I'm not forcing the romance too hard? Even just the idea of this... two people in an arranged marriage growing closer despite..." He stops, "Ah, perhaps it is all still the despite. I almost wish I could start over with you, with no letters and formal introdution, and just try to get to know you naturally. I wonder how we would both feel then?"
Rondelethia: "Well...I think I'd feel the same" She chuckles "I'd like to think so..though maybe I'd have been too stand offish, and pushed you away" She tilts her head "Would you have been able to see through that, and pushed on, and made it work?" She giggles "Or maybe if this is all fantasy, I'd just be a simple bun, working the apple trees. Would you be the sort to seduce an innocent commoner?"
Calgwen chuckles, "Oh my, the scandal!" He glances towards the apple trees up ahead, "Why yes, I suppose if I were still me, and you were in all other things still you, I believe I would find a way to sneak onto the farm to woo you. Hmm, would your farmer parents approve of a dragon coming to their humble farm to steal you away, like the old stories?"
Rondelethia: "Oh, I don't think they would at first..so you'd have to have properly stolen my heart before they found out!" She tickles his side "How would you do that then?"
Calgwen laughs aloud as she tickles him, "Oh! Oh, it would be difficult! You're not the kind of woman to be swayed by simple gifts or trinkets, no. But I would place a note on the windowsill of your bedroom, to meet me out in the orchard one moonlit night. I would soar down, and extend my hand to you, and offer you a chance to fly wherever you wish, to see all the beauty of this world. But I would tell you that none of it is as beautiful as you are."
Rondelethia: "Oh, so you would gamble on my own adventurous nature, and my own yearning for freedom?" She chuckles and leans into him "A bold gambit, but..I think that I would be intrigued. I've always wanted more in my life..tried to work towards what I don't have, and the flattery is very nice" She rubs the wing closest to her "The offerings of flight..well, that could be great too" She nods "Okay! Consider me duly seduced~ What comes next? How do you ensure that I'm committed, and not harbouring any second thoughts?"
Calgwen hums, considering, his wing does flap idly as Rondelethia runs her hand across the feathers. "I never liked the stories where a rich prince fakes being poor to ensure that his beloved only loves him for him, and not his riches. Deception is admittedly not my style. Of course, if we are crafting this story it could be anything..." He struggles for a moment to think, "Ah, All I can consider is grand gestures... but ultimately it couldn't be such a thing. It would have to be simple, accepting, coming to you and promising to honor you, your home, your life, and even offering to forsake my wealth and status to be with you."
Rondelethia: "Oh, but the willingness would be enough" She chuckles "So romantic to prefer the love for the wealth..but for all the simplicity of the farmbun life...I rather like the wealth part of the noble life style" She gets up on her tippy toes to give him a kiss "But, it's still a nice idea, living on a little cottage farm, just the two of us to keep each other warm.." It seems speaking in the theoretical has let her loosen up a bit!
Calgwen nods, smiling warmly at the sudden kiss. He lets his wing gently pull her in closer. "Some day, maybe we'd take over your parents farm, after they'd accepted our love. We'd make it our own, a simple life together, it could be quite nice, couldn't it?" He pauses to consider it, then grins, "Or, perhaps it is me who is the poor one, a dragon who has lost his wealth, who falls in love with someone above his station, and must work his way up just to get your attention? I feel we could play this game quite a bit if we wished."
Rondelethia: "Oh, does that mean I need to relinquish all my wealth, to go and leave in your wardrobe?" She snuggles in happily "The coats are rather soft...I think I'd manage...."
Calgwen chuckles, "Perhaps! Or maybe that story ends completely differently..." The two enter into the orchard, where Calgwen's picnic has been set-up just up ahead, the two settling down together to share their meal and more hypothetical stories of how they might have met in some other multiverse...