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[deniles]

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too late

[deniles]

[Niles wanted this more than anything, and he couldn't hide his honest need for this. Ryoma could see it. Niles didn't talk about marriage or the need for it. But he did right now. In front of Ryoma.]

I've... discussed with Leo the possibility of me marrying someone and needing to leave his service. He'd just want to talk with you first.

[And threaten you with trees.

But he couldn't do the second one.]

...I know royals like you have concubines, often. Garon did too and I'm sure Xander will as well.

[Taking the seat beside him, he looks at Ryoma with a patient look. Just trying to get him to say yes. He swallowed the lump in his throat.]

...We'll figure it out, Ryoma. But... I don't want you to go back without me this time.

i don't want to buy a train to brotherfucker junction

[lightninglobster]

[Ryoma was going to be picking splinters out of his tender pieces for months, but he didn't care because the way Niles was looking at him made his heart twist and ache, his insides flutter.]

I would happily speak with Prince Leo.

[And his asshole destroying trees. It was fine. Ryoma would do many things for love...

Including bend his thusfar unwavering commitment to Duty. It was very, very rare that Ryoma indulged himself, played selfish, took something for his own happiness without considering the greater good... and while he'd never really considered concubines, if that was the price he'd have to pay, then so be it.]

... as long as you understand what may have to come to pass and don't look unkindly on me for it.

[He loved Niles. He loved Hoshido. He'd spent so many nights trying to reconcile the two, and now... it was in his fingertips, just waiting for him to cup his hands together and draw it close.]

I'll marry you if you'll have me, Niles.

too late

[deniles]

[Niles made Leo agree not to use trees on his wannabe spouse. He did agree suspiciously, and asked 'why'. Niles, of course, gave no reason, but he wondered if Leo would figure it out.]

I have done far worse in my life. It's not my place to judge.

[And he never would. Not Ryoma. Never Ryoma. He looked at him for a moment... and smiled softly, his eyelid closing as he moved to press against Ryoma.]

I will have you until death does us part.

damn it not again

[lightninglobster]

[Hopefully prince Leo was a man of his word. Nevertheless, Ryoma would stay resilient... even as he was face to face with a man who wore a headband and usually had at least part of his clothing inside out.]

Your past does nothing to deter me from wanting you as my own.

[He squeezed Niles' hands, drawing close and wrapping his arms around him as he tried not to well over with... wonder. Happiness. He was really, truly saying yes to this, and Niles was whispering all of his fondest hopes and dreams as if they were mundane, everyday things that Ryoma could so easily take for granted.]

Not for many happy years, I hope.

[deniles]

...Then there will be nothing stopping us.

[Leo is awake right now, but Niles has already scheduled something in the morning for them to take care of. They'll get it all out.

And then that'll be that.

Niles looked at Ryoma for a moment and let out a heavy sigh, pressing his forehead against Ryoma's shoulder.]

Not for many years... I want nothing more.

[lightninglobster]

[He's really doing this. He's really, truly doing this--part of Ryoma worries, because part of Ryoma always worries. He's always thinking, always calculating and comparing his actions and weighing the costs and the outcomes...

... and then the rest of Ryoma's head comes flooding in, silencing all those ugly doubts as Niles presses against him, soft and in love and everything Ryoma never dared to hope for. He's never been a selfish man, but... there's nothing he wants more than this. He's allowed to have something for himself--and he'll do whatever he has to for it to work, so he swears to the gods.]

I wish I had something to--give you. Something more tangible than my word.

[Even though Ryoma's word is better than gold in many cases, there's still something real about a thing that you can hold in your hands... and then it hits him. He stands once more, pressing a quick kiss to Niles' forehead as he goes to the dresser with his clothing and effects, searching for a small wooden box.]

Wait a moment.

[deniles]

Your word is more than enough, Ryoma.

[He would take Ryoma's word on pretty much anything. There's no doubt in his mind that he won't try to run away from him in the middle of the night. Even without something to hold onto while he waited to be with Ryoma forever.

But when he went to his dresser, it made him curious. Blinking at him.]

...What is it?

[lightninglobster]

Still. There's a tradition for something like this, now isn't there...

[He gave a hum of triumph when he found the box he was searching for, setting it on the top of the dresser and carefully removing the beautifully inscribed top so that he could pick through the few pieces contained within. Ryoma wasn't a man who wore much in the way of jewelry, so there wasn't much to sort through--and he quickly found the piece he desired.

He turned and made his way to Niles, moving to sit next to him and reaching for Niles' hand.]

A manifestation of my promise.

[The signet ring may not have been the most glamorous or the shiniest piece of jewelry, but it was beautiful lacquered and inscribed with the symbol of Hoshido's kings, and it was on its way to Niles' finger.]

[deniles]

I'm not very familiar with tradition. It's not something I dealt with.

[He hasn't told Ryoma all about his past. He'd much rather not tell him anything about it at all, but he knows that Niles has had a troubled past. So he decides not to say anything more on it.

Holding out his fingers for Ryoma, he looks at the ring that was placed on his finger. He blinked for a moment, looking down at it. And then looking back up at Ryoma.

And back down again.]

R... Ryoma...? It's... incredible...

[lightninglobster]

[Ryoma hopes, then, that he can... endear some of Hoshido's traditions to Niles in small, careful increments. The man has always been stubborn in ways--but Ryoma is equally bull-headed, if not moreso. Ryoma also has the power of raw, romantic sentiment and surprise on his side.

He looks very pleased with himself as Niles keeps looking back and forth, as if he doesn't quite trust his own eye.]

Until I can get you something a little more tailored and substantial for you, this will serve as a promise of my devotion. I'm going to marry you, Niles.

[deniles]

...Ryoma, I would be fine with anything you gave me at this point.

[He keeps turning red. He keeps being unable to focus on anything. Ryoma has gone all in already, in a way he never would have expected. But perhaps, he should have.

This is something that is so ultimately Ryoma.]

...Please say it again.

[lightninglobster]

I'm glad. I have so much more to give you in our coming years together, I promise.

[Red is a good color on Niles. He rests his forehead against Niles', bringing a hand up to cup his cheek and slowly, soothingly stroke idle patterns against his skin.

Ryoma has never been a man to half-take an action or sort-of commit to an idea. He weighs his options and then goes for his course with a single-minded intensity that's going to get him into trouble someday... but for right now, his samurai heart seems to be working just fine.]

... I. I love you, and I'm going to marry you, Niles.

[Might as well throw open the barn doors and let the pegasus out--it was already on the roof anyway and it was doing Ryoma's heart no favors to talk around it.]

[deniles]

...I want nothing more than for you to give me all of your love. Your heart. Your soul.

[Niles never wanted or needed a single material thing in his life. If Ryoma stopped being a lord and wanted to be a farmer for the rest of his days, Niles would follow in a heartbeat.

All he wanted was to be loved.]

...Say it again. Once more.

[He's so red. But he's so in love. And just hearing it a few times is not enough.]

[lightninglobster]

All you had to do was ask--and so it's yours.

[He traces his thumb along the jut of Niles' cheekbone, leaning in to press another kiss to his lips with a smile on his face. It's so--freeing, to finally say he loves Niles, even though he's been dancing around the concept for months into their affair. It'd gone from physical commiseration to so, so much more... and if it was selfish and short-sighted of Ryoma to follow his heart, so be it.

He would have this one thing for himself for the rest of his days. He would have love.]

I love you. I'm going to marry you. Even if Leo kills me, I'm going to marry you.

[deniles]

Would you believe I can't always be honest with my feelings? It took a lot of courage to ask you.

[He shivers, feeling Ryoma's finger in a romantic way. Before, this would lead to something far less sweet and far more rough. Tonight, Niles doesn't want that. He only wants Ryoma to look at him and hold him and tell him his true feelings.

All day. And all night.]

I'd marry you tonight if it wouldn't be an issue. We could escape and become wed... but I know everyone would wish to attend your wedding.

[He pauses for a moment.]

...Saizo. Please forgive me for stealing your lord away for life.

[lightninglobster]

I... understand how you feel. I only hope that it's easy to admit your true feelings in our days to come, even if it's only to me.

[He pulls Niles close, arms wrapping around him as he runs his hands up his lover's back, forehead against his as he gazes into that steely grey eye, the stain of red on his cheeks. Niles looking so open, so honest... it warms Ryoma's heart and makes him want to gather around him, to protect him from whoever would cause him to be so distant and cold.

The thought of eloping is a funny one--Ryoma smiles, kissing Niles' forehead.]

I'd be happy to marry you tonight--but I also want to present you as my spouse before everyone. Also, my sisters might kill him if I pulled a stunt like on them.

[Saizo grunted from the other room. Something like 'you aren't stealing him, you're adding to my burden' grumbled through the door.]

[deniles]

Someday. If you continue to be patient, I will be open.

[He smiles softly, looking into the kind gentle eyes that Ryoma is showing him right now. They're beautiful eyes. And he's a beautiful man. Every moment he looks at him, his face turns more and more red.]

Ha... Leo certainly would too.

[He ignored Saizo's grunt, and moved to grab onto Ryoma's hand, pulling him towards the bed.]

[lightninglobster]

I'm known for being patient. Perhaps too patient. But I will wait by you and support you.

[Ryoma strokes a thumb up Niles' cheekbone once more, smiling as softly and sweetly as he ever had--but there's something sweeter about it, with the sense of love in the air and the open, flushed glow to Niles' face. He allows himself to be drawn up and tugged towards the bed, following with no protest of his own. Saizo can do plenty of grumbling for both of them.]

See? So it's best I declare my love to the world, so you don't end up a widower before you're truly wed.

[deniles]

I could ask for very little more than that.

[He smiles softly as he climbs backwards up onto the bed, his hands moving backwards now as he climbs up. Chuckling nervously.]

I'd like not to be alone again.

[He pulls him up with a kiss.]

For tonight... let us share a bed together. I could use the rest.

[lightninglobster]

As long as you'll have it, my heart is yours.

[He'd say it a hundred times if Niles needed to hear it. He follows him into the bed--this strange, raised Nohrian platform that's just this side of uncomfortable--and kisses Niles, playing with his hair for a moment as a glimmer of mischief hits his eyes.]

Just rest, then?

[Niles' usual tendencies are infectious... but Ryoma would be perfectly happy just sleeping next to the man he loved.]

[deniles]

Then I'll keep it forever.

[Niles loves to hear it. Every time he hears it, he feels more at ease. Letting out a heavy breath as they sat together on the bed. He placed his hand on Ryoma's shoulders.]

Just rest. I want to have everything in place before we do more.

[Once the marriage to be was approved... then they could enjoy each other's company.]

[lightninglobster]

[He seems pleased as Niles accepts his devotion... and though a wry smile twitches onto his lips in the next moment, it softens out into something sweet and kind. It was a big late to try and shut the barn door on that particular pegasus, but if Niles wanted rest, he could do rest. He was just happy to have his love close at hand.]

Rest, then. Come, love, and sleep.

[He moved to get comfortable under the covers on the bed, turning on his side so that he could hold Niles close once the man had followed suit.]

[deniles]

[Niles smiled towards him as he joined him in bed. Resting his head against Ryoma's body, the man so much larger than he was, and he was trying his best to hold onto him.]

I look forward to a good night's rest with my fiance.

[Yawning, he starts to drift off peacefully.]

[lightninglobster]

Good night, my dear.

[It takes Ryoma a little longer to sleep--Nohrian beds are strange, but it's a blessing. It means he gets to enjoy the sight of Niles sleeping for a little while, tracing the lines of his face in the low candlelight.

He can't remember the last time he'd been this happy for himself.]

[deniles]

[The wedding preparations began almost the next day. They had to talk to Leo, which nearly ended in an international incident. But after it was all talked out, Niles and Leo said their farewells.

For now, at least.

Ryoma would head back to Hoshido almost immediately to take care of some things. And a few weeks later, after his small bag, and the one bed he wanted to have, were packed, he headed there himself by carriage.

When he stepped out, he had to shield his eye as he looked around.]

...Ryoma?

[Well. Now he's actually out of his element.]