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Yasha woke with a start, wide eyed in the panic that’d usually come from a bad dream - even as the contents of the nightmare were already fading from her memory as she lay back in bed, hitched breathing steadying as she got her bearings.
Laying in the double bed, basked in the still warm setting sunlight of the late Duscar afternoon that filtered into the room, Yasha returned back to the present.
Two weeks had passed since Yasha accepted the truth of the situation; the feathers of her wings were falling out -but purely just to make room for newer, fresh, and clean feathers. And in that morning following on from the nightmare that broke her silence wide open, the pair laid it all bare so that when the opportunity arose for Yasha to release her wings once again, Beau was with her to inspect them, brush away the couple new loose feathers and assure the Aasimar that they weren’t going anywhere; her, or the radiant wings.
That knowledge though still couldn’t quite stop those doubtful nightmares entirely though, as she sat up, wracking her brain to recall what she could about her afternoon naps dream. [Feathers falling -yep, necrotic shroud bone wings -think so, ‘choice-scape’…] she focused, straining her mind to recall -but nothing came to mind. Yasha sighed in relief at the results. So far, the ‘choice-scape’ -the dream space where she’d ultimately became her new self- had shown up a total of twice in her life, with the one from two weeks ago decided as a false copy manifested by her mind.
The nightmares were lessening at least, both in frequency and intensity, as she continued to reshape herself to the new lifestyle. The retired barbarian sighed, regarding the bedroom and settling on the great sword above the room’s hearth, before drifting lower to the well-crafted wooden lockbox on the table beside it that now held inside it quite the stuffing of white magical feathers.
They still hadn’t decided on what to do with those, both parties originally planning gifts with their secret stashes before events brought both into the light. Now they all were stored in the open, in the plain view of any curious souls -like those secrets themselves.
She needed to do something with them, she decided from within the bed, a distraction of some sort that could maybe help whittle the occasional nightmares down some more.
But what…
Scanning around the room for inspiration, her mismatched eyes settled upon two items: a familiar shawl of furs from a time marred in bittersweet nostalgia, and a deep red cloak from the end of the Nein’s adventures together -their first, great adventures together; there would always be time for more.
The sound of the front door closing below signalled the likely return of Beau from the Cobalt Soul - likely she’d be up here soon enough once she didn’t receive a welcome back from her girlfriend. She found a grin forming on her face as she climbed out of the bed and walked to the two items, running gentle fingers through the red fabric.
Yasha had an idea.
The house was quiet when Beau entered, the Monk picking up immediately the lack of noise or movement from around the houses ground floor; either Yasha wasn’t home, or she was in bed again she concluded -her girlfriend always liked to greet her return.
“Hey, babe. You awake in here?” She called out to upstairs.
There was strum upstairs from their bedroom, dampened by the distance but unmistakably belonging to Yasha’s harp, in response to her call. Beau grinned, unceremoniously dropping her travel pack, and darting to the stairs and up.
Opening the door, Yasha was standing by the door awaiting her, arms outstretched, the harp propped back in its place by the bed.
“Hey babe,” and in that instant, the Aasimar bamfed out her wings, matching their span to her waiting arms. “come here.”
She didn’t need any further motivation, moving to embrace her, the soft feathers and big arms of her girlfriend wrapping around her back “hm, this is nice, Yash. What’s the occasion?”
Yasha chuckled gently, giving a loving squeeze of the Human before breaking the embrace, a couple of remaining worn feathers falling out from the wings as she folded them back in. Yasha, seemingly unfazed by her wings looked over to the bed “nightmare again; wanted to put these to some use.”
Beau reached over to grab the few fallen feathers, but Yasha intercepted her, snatching them up with a wink at the monk; for once beating out her dexterity, and moving to deposit them in the lockbox. “-And I’ve got an idea finally for these; when are you next off again?” Yasha inquired waving them before storing them away.
“After tomorrow actually; I’ll have a few days off while Dairon works some loose ends in my case.” Beau answered, now curious to what Yasha had in mind. “Do I get to know what you have in mind with feathers then?”
“You’ll find out tomorrow.” Yasha deflected with a proud smile - while trying her best to not glance away to the hung-up cloaks by the bed -gods, she loved this woman. She gave her a knowing smile in return but said nothing to her plan, she could wait for her to tell her tomorrow.
“Alright then. Can’t wait, babe. Let’s get things ready for dinner, then ‘schnuggles’?” Beau asked, hopeful.
Yasha beamed, the wings fading out behind her as she moved back over to the doorway. “Let’s get going then, I’ve got some other ideas I'd be happy to share after…”
An afternoon of a simple dinner of bug infused dishes passed by perfectly, the two trading what stories they could conjure - Yasha swearing she’d seen a wolf or two up by the shrine around noon. And before long, the day had bid its farewell and the sentinels were snuggled up for the night, Yasha grateful for an uninterrupted, dreamless night.
Morning sunlight met the waking pair, and it was time for Yasha to put the plan into action. Walking with Beau in the cold morning, shawl draped over herself as they travelled the path that led over to the main city road towards the western gate of Rexxentrum; Beau diverting to the Soul while Yasha would head to the markets for an early food shopping trip -and some certainly discreet materials for the project.
She was pretty sure at this point that Beau had figured out what she had in mind and just wasn’t wanting to spoil her surprise. Regardless, she'd let her know when she returned today but until then, it was time to find some suitably warm furs to later sew into the top shawl.
The market streets were busy today, the Aasimar pulled the shawl a little tighter for some close comfort as she weaved her way around the various stalls and shops -the occasional person taking second glances back to the tall pale-skinned anomaly that meandered around them, even a number of months into the domestic life she was still getting used to the big-city life, having mostly lived a life not entirely dissimilar to Caduceus’ secluded life until the circus and the Nein.
Eventually though, she found what she was looking for at a pop-up cart stall ran by several hunter-looking folk who stiffened at the sight of her, unperturbed by their reactions after at least thirty somewhat similar reactions, she waved it off and gave them what she hoped to be a reassuring smile, inspecting the treated furs they carried and suitably ignoring her head as it tried to place the men.
With two dark pelts and four gold pieces lighter, it was time to find the rest.
The sound of a rapidly packing cart behind her drew her attention back to the figures and briefly, she wondered if she knew them from that potions guy from back just before the date before she made the connection at last.
“P-please. We don’t want any trouble. We’re just going to leave, and you can pretend you didn’t see us -y-you don’t need to tell your friends.” The leader stammered out between hastily tying the now bundled furs as her saw the recognition on Yasha’s face.
Not sure exactly how to respond, she simply waved in greeting, the pelts jostling on her shoulder. “Hello -Good to see you all, I’ll tell Jester you’re all doing well – don’t be too worried if you hear her in your head in a weeks’ time.” Yasha called out, sure Jester would likely contact one of the two before a week from now, but she could give the guys a bit longer before informing Jester.
She carried on, hearing the panicked voices of the -former bandits- behind her as they hastened their packing to the bemusement of nearby onlookers. Next, she needed some robust equipment, having not quite gotten around to getting sewing supplies for the house after reading up on the methods in the early days of living here. It was not all too different to how they used to make clothes back in the tribe, just a little bit more refined in the methods and processes.
Making her way down towards the Vigil Circle -where the tailors that had done the adjustments to her Coat for the trip to Eiselcross resided. She hadn’t revisited the place since then, but she hoped her generosity back then will help her out. stepping inside the quainter of the neighbouring shops the clerk looking to greet her. “Ah good after- oh, why hello again. Long time, how did you enjoy our fine work to your garment?” The clerk exclaimed, recognising her.
Yasha visibly beamed in response, glad to have someone today seemingly regard her positively. “Oh, well it still looks wonderful, even after travel through freezing waters, me sticking my foot in a Lava flow in the arctic, fighting through the ruins of a fallen civilisation and killing a city of living flesh. So, really, great work; I really loved the embroidery you had done.” Yasha told them excitedly, silently lamenting that should really have brought it with her to show off the resilient work.
She watched the clerks face fall in horror quickly as soon as she said lava before just as quickly contorting at the mention of a flesh city -seemingly not quite expecting to hear those being associated with a winter-modified coat, the Aasimar considered, shifting the pelts on her shoulder to free her hand.
To their credit, they quickly recovered, smiling once more. “well, I’m... Glad our work could be of service to you. is there something I can help you with today?”
“Yes, I’m looking more for some supplies to make something similar to this,” she turned to show the shawl. “I made this with someone… Special to me some years ago and I’m looking to make one similar but with some better tools.” She explained, staggering on her words as she said aloud for the first time the significance of what she was doing. While they’d had to be discreet in their reasons before when Zuala made it with her, here she was, doing for Beau what she’d done for her.
The clerk nodded in understanding, face contemplative as she gestured for Yasha to approach, stepping from their stool. “I understand, come, lets see what we have for your project then.”
For the next ten minutes, Yasha searched for the supplies she needed; from sewing needles to belts and buckles, leather tools; cutting blades, fabrics, and waterproofing materials. There was just one more thing she needed to see about.
“Do you have some black or grey dyes maybe; I was looking to try and dye some feathers for the cloak.” Yasha asked, setting her stuffed pack to the counter side, curious to see what could happen to the feathers.
“Alright. That is certainly something we can provide for you to purchase, or we can do it here for a lower cost. Do you have some of the feathers with you -we can test a few before you make a decision.” The clerk offered, retrieving a mostly flat tray with a tall rectangle inserted to the side from behind the counter.
Yasha looked at the device, it seemed just like a simple bath tray to dip and rest something on. “Oh, well they’re my own feathers -most are a bit worn that were shed, but still in good enough condition.” She said, grinning at the confused look the clerk now gave at her answer, their eyes narrowing intently. [Sorry Beau.]
“Y-your feathers? I’m sorry but you don’t have any- “
*Pwoosh*
The clerk yelped in surprise, chair falling out from beneath them as a pair of Radiant white wings burst from Yasha’s back, the Aasimar letting out a hearty laugh at the shocked reaction.
In her peripherals, she saw a few feathers tumble from the wings. Quickly snatching them up, thankful for their appearance -not wanting to pluck any for use, She walked over, wings folded up now, to the recovering clerk.
“Angel-folk feathers I take it then. Certainly, you are much rarer than devil-folk,” they surmised, looking over the Aasimar before them in mild awe, Yasha smiled sheepishly -still not quite use to being called by such titles “Can’t say I’ve ever tried to change a magical feather like those before, this will be curious.” They reached a handout to take the feathers she held.
"Lets give it a try."
The dyes, Yasha was disappointed to learn, didn’t manage to change or effect the feathers at all – that was alright, she supposed, as she stored away the feathers to the clerk’s disappointment, it would be just as nice to have the natural colour contrast the dark shawl. Paying the clerk handsomely once again for the supplies and surprises, she made her way out the store, closing her shawl around herself once more for warmth as she went about collecting the menial items for the week as the afternoon progressed; it’d soon be time to reveal the idea to Beau.
Yasha was caught between preparing dinner and setting up the supplies for the next day when Beau returned home, the Monk a bundle of excited energy as she near charged through the front door, travel pack unceremoniously thumping onto the floor. The Aasimar glanced back from the kitchen -her perpetual smile for the last hour or so growing at her return- to see the women beelining for her before stopping at the dining table, where the supplies were carefully laid out.
“I’d figured you had already known what I had planned, so no fancy reveal, babe.” Yasha explained, stirring the hearty stew she was making a final time before leaving it to cook, walking over to embrace Beau from behind.
The Human pulled Yasha’s arms from around her to quickly entangling her own with Yasha’s in the reverse hug. “You could have still surprised me though. Fuck, sometimes being so observant is a curse.” She grumbled to herself.
“Hush. None of that.” Yasha gently chided, planting a kiss to her head. She moved their tangled hands to the display. “Anyway, I was thinking tomorrow we could make a shawl and cloak out of my feathers. The reds a bit gaudy on the Mountebank and so I thought maybe you’d like the option of having something a little more monochrome.”
Beneath her, Beau shifted around to look up at the Aasimar, surprise in her eyes, “You want to make this for me? Yasha, I--.” she could see the early beginnings of tears in her eyes as she trailed off.
Yasha's heart twinged at the display; Beau still not quite used to the idea of a gift for herself, Yasha pulled her back into a tight hug. “I know we both use the cloak on occasion, but I wanted to do this in particular with you -for you. back in the tribe, Zuala had made mine with me; we’d all in the tribe often help each other in making clothes and tools, so it was a perfect way for us two to spend some time together in plain sight.”
Beau pulled back from the hug, looking back at Yasha again, eyes still moist but sympathetic in understanding. The Aasimar pressed on before the Human could comment. “I wanted us to make one for you now, as we’d once done for me.”
“You’re just trying to stop me hogging yours when it’s cold.” Beau countered, her expression shifting now with Yasha’s assurance.
“Yes. Well, there is that too, maybe a little payback there.” She admitted, kissing the Monks cheek before fully separating.
“So, here’s the plan...”
The next morning, they would start the project, Yasha explained after they’d both eaten in a cleared space on the table. Yasha brought down the red cloak that would be the size template, the completed shawl would be attached over the cloak but still be completely removable if desired. They would attach the feather into the cloak fabric before securing them with stitching and a protective strip over top.
“I couldn’t get the feathers to take any dyes; I think what has kept them clean is, well, keeping them clean.” Yasha lamented, carrying down the box which held what would become the cloaks backing. “Should make cleaning it easier though.”
“Let me guess, black or grey?” Beau teased, the sheepish look confirming her inquiry. “Don’t worry, I’ll happily take the white feathers; I only get them for a minute half the time after all.”
“We’ll see if you feel the same way about these guys once were half a day into fitting them,” Yasha warned, taking one of them out the box to straighten the edges. “This will be an endurance race.”
Beau smirked, she knew all about endurance races and by the roll of the eyes Yasha gave in response, she knew what she was boasting and maybe she’d let her prove it.
This was not an endurance race; It was a torturous patience trial worse even than the early days of her life at the Soul -or being around Caleb -or being around Caleb at the Soul.
-------
The next morning had started early for the pair, excited to begin a project together again after months since the restoration work on the house, the two set up at the table with the supplies and an assortment of dried snacks -foraged bugs mostly, and set to work.
The first few hours went by timelessly as Beau followed along with Yasha’s instructions, the retired barbarian -having intimate experience with the crafting of a shawl, animatedly guided Beau through the picking and trimming of the purchased furs for the best cuts for sewing on. Telling the Human about the interaction she’d had with the sellers and the promise to wait until the next again sending from Jester to tell her, Beau watched in silent admiration as the Aasimar deftly sewed together the furs. Her own attempts had been… well, attempts at least as she stared daggers at the offending needles that’d turned her fingers into pin cushions -they were fine, but for the sake of making progress, Yasha had taken over.
If there were any doubts Yasha had about sharing this with Beau, she’d showed none of it, and the meaning of this all from Yasha; that love told from sharing this with her, Beau was lost deeply in the sea of it.
So much so that she didn’t hear the Aasimar when she spoke for the first time in an hour; focused on the task.
“Beau. Wildemount to ‘my Expositor.’” She called again, not taking her eyes of the needle as she finished the last inch to join the shawl to the fabric that would later join it to the cloak.
“Huh, sorry got too into watching there.”
“So I saw,” Yasha chuckled fondly, setting her work down to look at the monk. “I was saying that it’s been a while since I asked about the case against ‘Them’, how are we doing?”
“Oh, well it’s been slower going than either of us would have liked, but with Caleb being busy settling himself in as well, we’ve not gotten much headway.” Beau explained, slightly taken aback by the inquiry but happy to share with her - the house well protected from scrys so it could be a secondary site if required, as well as to stop Jester’s house peaking in the early days.
“There’s a chance we’ve got something against one of the lesser members maybe, but the rest have been silently entrenching themselves during the time before Astrid took Trent’s place.”
“You know I’m here for you when the time comes -if you need me to be. I know I’m not very useful for most of what you two are working on, but if you need some muscle alongside the abs.” Yasha commented, pausing from her work to strike a pose, flexing her biceps.
Beau eyes may have watched the display, but her mind zeroed in on her words. “Babe, don’t say you’re not smart, remember how much you helped in the early days of figuring out the Eyes of Nine? You both helped greatly there.” She assured, earning a blush from Yasha, who said nothing in retort.
“You’d be willing to return to the fighting again?” Beau asked after a moment, she already knew the answer ever since they talked about the nightmares, but she wanted to hear it from the retired barbarian.
“If it means keeping you and Caleb safe, our new life safe, then yes. The Stormlord has been silent to me for almost half a year and while I know that it’s not a bad sign, I Can’t help but feel like I need to protect again -in the simplest fashion.” She explained, eyes drifting to Skingorger hanging on the downstairs' fireplaces mantle.
“I may be doing some fieldwork again at some point soon, now that I’ve finally done some of the desk work, I’m required to do,” she rolled her eyes, Dairon hadn’t told her about that stuff back then -probably for this very reason. “Do you want to come with me on the job, Yudala won’t mind if I ask them. Probably.”
Yasha perked up -she hadn’t even realised she’d started to slouch during the conversation. But helping Beau out with the Soul; protecting her while also being able to do more for the soul, her unspoken repentance for what had happened back then.
“I would love to if they wouldn’t mind, maybe we can ask Caduceus if he’d be willing to house sit and tend to the gardens.”
“Plus, it will be an excellent opportunity to properly field test this guy.” Beau added, pointing to the near completed fur shawl.
“Which speaking of,” Yasha stood up, motioning for the human to her to do the same. “Come here and let me see how this will fit around your shoulders.”
------
Fuck, this was taking forever, Beau lamented, twirling the fabric knife idly as she stared at the fabric and the offending feathers that didn’t want to stay secured between it. Eight hours now into the project and the shawl was done, the black fur and cloth item draped over the chair between the two as they now began on the cloak and the tedious work Yasha had warned her about. The chatter had died down again after lunch to a steady focus.
“It’ll be all worth it in the end, trust me.” Yasha had assured her as they finished securing the first layer of feathers between the treated cloths.
But even Yasha was tensing here on the third layer with so many more to go. “This honestly was why we didn’t use feather back in the tribe -that and we didn’t have a lot of roaming creatures we could get enough of them from. Yasha commented, fiddling with her own feathers, trying to secure it inside the small cut in the fabric.
“Did anyone ever try and use some from a Roc?” She asked curious, thinking back to the encounter with the one in Xhorhas and how massive its wings were -even the baby’s, with some feathers the size of Veth.
Yasha chuckled, “No. Never for anything like that, we’d have maybe used some for something for the Skyspear, but we only ever encountered adult Roc’s and on the few times we fought one, they were much too big to use.”
She began stitching the layer together, securing the inserted feathers with the thread. “Besides, feathers that size would have been a pain to try and preserve for use, I much prefer these ones; they don’t wilt.”
They were about a third of the way done by the time they called it for the first day. Settling in for the evening sprawled over their couch, Yasha soothing the callouses and small pricks on the Monk's fingers from behind her, warning her that tomorrow would probably be worse on her fingers.
She was sorely tempted to quip something about her or Yasha’s fingers, but she didn’t really want to make a reason for the Aasimar to stop her work, a soft moan escaping her lips as Yasha poured her healing energy into both appendages.
Maybe it was all worth it for this.
Nope. This was still a tedious pain regardless, Beau mentally reaffirmed, as an hour into the next day’s efforts found the Monk once again fiddling with her cutting blade, just beginning her next layer.
The fire burned away intensely in the lounge beside them, the flames fighting today’s battle against a wind chill that would likely sweep Rexxentrum into a snowscape if given the resources. Yasha, for her part, had went outside to collect more wood from their store for its efforts - she herself should probably go and make some tea for her, Beau decided, opting to give some objective to her current procrastination.
Two Caduceus supplied teas were steadily steeping when Yasha staggered through the door, arms full of bundles logs. “Beau.” She called to her, the closing of the door punctuating her voice.
The Monks head appeared from the kitchen, the rest of her body following soon after holding up the cups. Yasha smiled. “There you are, thought you could run away from the hard work.” She teased.
Beau pulled her best betrayed expression, “Me? No, I just thought we could use some tea before we continue the long process.”
“Alright then, you can resume first then while I stick these away then.” Yasha decided with a smirk, moving towards the fireplace. Beau cursed under her breath but didn’t counter, setting down the cups and working back on her segment, procrastinating over for now.
------
“I wanted to ask you something personal, Beau.” Yasha spoke, setting down her section to look at the monk, a hint of apprehension in her eyes met Beau’s. “It’s about us.”
Beau froze, as that cynical part of her brain she'd been steadily shunting away since the hut made its own horrid connection to those words. The blade slipped out of her hand landing on her other resting on the table -thankfully just the handle, but it was enough to bring her back.
“I’m okay, babe,” she quickly assured, raising the hand for Yasha to see. “So... What about us?” she tried to sound nonchalant.
“It’s nothing bad. I- I just want to talk about what comes next with us?”
Oh. Well that was a topic and a half, Beau considered as her mind happily booted away that part of itself again. “I know you’re not referring to the stuff we talked about yesterday with the Assembly and Soul.” Beau prompted grabbing the blade again to pick up where she’d left off, intent to talk and work.
“Always the astute one, baby.” She praised, her tone fond before it quickly shifted back to serious, “It’s actually somewhat involved with the Soul though. You know your Father is going to be released soon -do you think we should talk to your mother and TJ again about their option- fuck, Beau!”
She was halfway through the beginning of a cut when Yasha mentioned her family, flinching involuntarily at the reminder of his imprisonment. Her hand this time was not so lucky as the blade jerked from the fabric and into her hand.
Yasha was off her chair and at her side instantly, with a speed that’d of put the Monk to shame if she didn’t just stab herself accidentally, she quickly pulled it back, the thin blade thankfully not going very deep.
“I’m sorry Beau, I should have waited to bring that up, let me- “Yasha was at her hand, her own glowing softly as her limited healing magic rapidly healed the small wound. “Are you alright -hang on, I’ll get a cloth.” She rushed away before a response from the partially stunned Monk.
One blood dappled rag later -thrown back into the kitchen sink, and Yasha was back to her side, Beau's head finally rebooting fully. “I’m fine, babe. Thanks. Just caught me off guard there; I’ve been putting that off I guess.” She finally says, rubbing the once-wound and finding no pain. Content with her answer, Yasha sat back down again, but the etchings of concern were still there on her brow.
“Fuck. Well, I guess at some point soon we need to go back over there again, TJ’ll be glad to see us at least.”
They’d visited not too long after the return from Xhorhas, the pair wanting to check-in after the trail concluded. Beau at least wanting to make sure that TJ was going to be alright with their father 'away for a while' as Clara had put it to him, her mother… was still to be decided in her eyes but, to her credit at least, she’d apologised to Beau for the part she'd played; renouncing her father for his part in her enrolment with the Soul upon learning the truth. It was a start.
“I know we hadn’t gotten any roots down at that point -and she wasn’t sure if she was going to stay with him. But maybe before he's released, they move and stay here, or Nicodranas or Zadash instead.” Yasha proposed, eyes drifting between Beau and her section of cloak.
Beau couldn't stop the snickering snort that escaped her at the idea of sticking yet another family at the chateau for a spell, “Well, we don’t even have a spare room babe - less we want them to sleep in the lounge or study, I think Zadash or Nicodranas are the best options.”
Yasha considers it for a moment, pausing her work to stare at the ceiling in the direction of their study across from the bedroom. “Maybe we should look at expanding the place someday soon then. Make some space for our family...”
There was something in way she said it that caught her attention, “you meaning our family -or our Family, Yash?” She enquired, catching the blush form on the Aasimar’s cheeks at the question.
“It’s been in the back of my mind since the feathers. It’s a new life we lead that I never could have imagined myself having three years ago, I haven’t really thought about it truly since Zuala.” Yasha catches her gaze. “Starting a family.”
“When?”
Beau’s not quite sure on when her response had shifted from ‘what, I’m not "family person", got enough issues right here,’ to a serious contemplation of having a family of her own -it was definitely Yasha though that’d caused it, that much she was certain.
Yasha’s gaze breaks off back to the project, her hands fidgeting, “Not yet, a few years I think so I can settle into this life, and so we can still see the world some more if we all want too again.”
“How many?” It the next question Beau wants- needs to know?
“I don’t know, more than one at least. But when I think of them, I think of Kiri and a part of me kinda wants to go to Hupperdook and just… but that would be uprooting her life again and I think she’s been really happy there.”
“Don’t tell Jester that, she would probably help -I guess I would too; I liked that kid.” She reminisced, before she was struck with an idea.
“You know, Fjords been tempted recently to visit his old orphanage, that Driftwood Asylum place. Jester told me recently,” Beau added at Yasha’s curious look, “could be something for the Soul and maybe us -the Nein, to look into. Maybe as well, we could do a little early scouting; adopt someone maybe in a few years’ time?” She offered.
Yasha’s face light up in an instant, the smile spreading quickly to Beau as well as the Aasimar nodded enthusiastically, “I like that idea, give us time to build up the house some more first -and maybe some pets?”
There's a glint of desire in those heterochromia eyes -fuck, was this what it was like to be wrapped around someone’s finger.
-She was fine with it if so.
“I guess some early practice looking after something before the plunge. Fuck, we- I’d be a parent…” she felt a little breathless as the words left her but seconds later a large hand had covered her own, Beau looking up to see the reassuring smile of her girlfriend.
“You’ll be brilliant.” Yasha reassured, fingers drifting along the monks, lingering a little longer on her ring finger. They hadn’t discussed getting married yet, but that was fine – learning to love again took time, and being ready to marry again...
Well, like the family Beau never really knew she’d like to have, Beau could be patient for more, whenever Yasha was ready.
Maybe it was the monotony getting to her, but another two hours in she was actually starting to enjoy it; the monotony section, she’d take any opportunity to do something with Yasha. Drifting back into small talk as Yasha estimated completion sometime after dinner.
[Cut the hole in the primary fabric, cut another into the front of the overlapping strip - fold the overlap so that both parts’ holes lined up, then, temporarily secure them together - insert the feather through both holes, careful to keep it flat and it’s best side out - then rinse and repeat along the layer until it was then time to sew all through the layer, securing the feather and two fabrics together] she could get use to this, she thought triumphantly, before the needle slipped again and jabbed her finger - Fucker.
“What about a balcony overlooking the lounge.” Yasha asked suddenly, still focused intently on her own section above Beau’s but pulling the monks attention from cursing out the needle again.
“Second floor?” Beau considered, her mind’s eye setting the space for Yasha to set the scene with.
The women nodded in affirmation before responding, “yeah, a couple rooms for the future, a spare for guest room, then the space between it all a space overlooking down there.” She vaguely gestured to the roaring fire, freshly reloaded on fuel. “Maybe connect another fire to this one for there.”
Her mind took the layout, not a bad look, the current stairs could bring them to the overhang and then another set back to the current second floor. “Sounds dope. Take it we would have the same section -just as the third floor now.”
A questioned thought crossed her mind, a little slower than usual with the diadem off for her time off. “How are we going to do this, shifting the current second to being a third.” Yasha paused, looking up for the first time in this conversation, mismatched eyes drifting about as mental calculations took place.
“Could ask Caleb to move our floor, he’s pretty strong -magically strong I mean.” She quickly corrected, “-and maybe Essek could help, Astrid too?”
Well, now her mind’s eye was picturing something completely different.
“Three former Volstruckers and a war criminal raise a house? We might need to check the strength of Pearlbow lumber beforehand.” Beau half joked. Maybe they could get jester to help in lifting too with some bird polymorphs on her and Fjord.
“Hm. We’ll workshop it; we’ve got some time before it becomes important -though maybe that’d be enough time to get Veth trained enough to help too.” Yasha conceded.
“Hey, we’re almost done, babe. Just a couple layers to go before it would then connect to the shawl!” Yasha announced happily and maybe a bit relived to be almost done with the feathers. Getting up to stretch and put another log in the hearth, stopping briefly to kiss the monk.
Beau sighed in relief, pausing briefly to stretch out the building cramp in her hands as well, “thank the gods. I love you babe, but maybe we don’t use feathers next -oh. what are we going to do with the next batch?” Beau wondered aloud, Yasha pausing mid toss
“Quills for the Archives?” Yasha suggested with a shrug, resuming her hearth-work, “it’ll be a while before this many come out again anyway -especially if they only get used for ‘schnuggles’ in that time."
Oooh, that would be a lot of evening wing snuggles, she was looking forward to that.
Two partially distracted hours later, In amongst a rather convincing argument by Yasha for them getting some ‘wiener dogs’, the final layer of the feathered cloak section was finally secured. Beau whooped loudly, embracing an equally pleased Yasha, who just prior was regarding the remaining dozen or so spare feathers. They could probably do the quill idea still for each of the Nein to have or just store them away for the next load to join.
Regardless, it was decidedly time to rest their hands for a spell before combining the two pieces and finishing the project.
Making an earlier than planned dinner together, the two returned after, hands rested, and stomachs sated, to combine the two parts and make it whole: first fitting the small remaining space at the top of the cloak within the curled fabric of the shawl before then sewing the two tightly together.
Half an hour later and it was done, Yasha holding it up high to inspect the connection. Seemingly satisfied, Beau watched her deftly sweep the cloak around herself, the shawl framing her shoulders a little smaller than hers but that was fine; it wasn’t made specifically for her.
“Alright Beau, you put on the cloak, and I’ll drape this over top and set to work.” The Aasimar instructed, removing the new cloak from herself to temporarily fold it over her arm as Beau did as she was asked, wrapping securely the Mountebank cloak, and turning ways from Yasha.
“Do I not get to try it on beforehand?” Beau pouted, hearing Yasha’s gentle chuckle in response as a new weight rested upon her shoulders and neck, soft fur tickling the jade tattoo and its all-seeing eye, still blessedly free of the red that’d tainted it.
“It’s best we just get it sorted as one piece first. Alone, it should be basically the same as it is now -just slightly lighter on your back.” She assured, returning to the table of scattered supplies to collect what she needed to fold the two cloaks into one.
Returning back to Beau with a measured section of fabric and some small metal clips, Yasha carefully attached in one side of the fabric to the feathered cloak, then did the same to the other side, sandwiching the mountebank.
“You should sit down; this could take a while to do.” She suggested, reaching over for the sewing needle and thread.
Working again in focused silence with Beau sitting as still as her monk’s discipline could manage, Yasha sewed together the side opposite Beau’s dominant hand, weaving the thread around the nestled feathers and taking care to avoid the red cloak within. Once done she grabbed special adhesive like patches that she could then attach to the other side, securing them and allowing the rapid unsealing of the cloak within if the person -Beau, needed to quickly shuck the shawl-cloak for mobilities sake.
But finally, it was done. Yasha sighed content with the finished product, “you can stand up now, babe. It’s finished - for now.”
The Monk sprang from the chair, cloak billowing over the chair to rest back against her back as she gave a few experimental swishes. “For now? It’s already feeling pretty fucking sweet, babe.” Beau praised, turning to look at the Aasimar with pride in her eyes.
Yasha beamed proudly at the praise as she too inspected how it flowed on the Humans back. “Well, it can always be improved on, but until then. Beau, there’s one final gift I want to share with you - I found it out somewhat recently.”
Standing back from the now intrigued Monk, Yasha summoned forth her wings for the day, quickly looking to see if her hopeful suspicions were correct.
Beau’s head tilted unconsciously, curious to what the Aasimar was going to share with her as her face broke into a growing grin, she was about to ask what it was before her eyes clocked two things: one, Yasha’s eyes weren’t on her, but behind her -and two, there was a faint glow behind her that didn’t match the rooms lantern or fire light.
Turning quickly to see what’d appeared behind her, the glow moved too. Yasha giggled as Beau spun again -and again, like a dog chasing after the ever out of reach tail until her mind clocked the source of the glow and she stopped, grabbing for the cloak behind her and pulling it over, mentally making sure not to activate the red cloak contained within.
For a second, Beau stopped breathing at the sight, the world around her gone as she saw the gently glowing forms of dozens and dozens of shed Aasimar feathers, Yasha’s feathers. She spun once more to face the women, who looked back at her, smile illuminated in the radiant light behind her.
“Really the main reason I wanted to do this for you, with you -just like we shared my first flight, I wanted to be able to capture that moment for us both -no matter where, if we're not together at the time.” Yasha revealed, joyful tears forming in her eyes as the sight before her caught up finally with her emotions - a glow like Yasha’s framing Beau as well, somewhat dimmer than her own, but still very much noticeable. "Now we both have our own wings of light."
“Yasha-.” Beau started, her voice hitching with her breath as her eyes watered.
They quickly moved in unison, two people with backs aglow, crashing together in a radiant embrace as the cold night drew in.
“I love it.”