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Imogen pulls her denim jacket tighter around her while she walks through town. Jrusar was being unusually chilly, probably some fuckin' Ruidus nonsense again, if she had to bet. While Gelvaan experienced all the seasons intimately, Jrusar was rarely touched by a chill. Adjusting the circlet on her head to a slightly more comfortable position, she pats her pocket, double-checking that the gift she'd just bought for Laudna is still there.
No reason why it wouldn't be, of course, but you never know and it doesn't hurt to check.
She and Laudna had split off a couple of hours ago, each wanting to acquire a little something for the other, but wanting it to be a surprise. They'd agreed to meet back up and spend the evening with the whole group at the Spire by Fire before they'd split off to Zhudanna's and do a little exchange.
As she pushes open the worn wooden door, warm light spilling out from under it, she finds her friends right away. And in the middle of them all, leaning closely to Fearne, who has her arm wrapped around her, is Laudna.
If it weren't for the way that Fearne and Laudna pay each other no attention at that time, each concentrating on different conversations, Imogen might've had a coal of jealousy kick-start in her chest.
Laudna is entranced by whatever story Chetney is telling her, eyes wide, mouth slightly open, the delicate muscles of her neck stretching down, leading Imogen's eyes to a clavicle she knew well.
Orym spots Imogen first, of course he does, and then the group is waving and calling out to her and Imogen feels a light blush colour her cheeks and a comforting warmth in her gut. Belonging somewhere, having folks make a place for you, well, Imogen can't recommend it enough.
She passes by the fire, crackling away in the corner, and as she approaches, Chetney clambers out of the booth's bench, freeing up a spot beside Laudna.
"Thanks, Chet," Imogen says, sliding into the booth until her thigh touches Laudna's.
"Anything for love," Chetney says, hopping back in, to immediate snorts from Ashton and Imogen.
"I'm a changed gnome!" He declares, giving them all the evil eye, but when the rest of the group joins in on the laughter, he gets a little sulky and grumpy, "You lot need to learn to respect your damn elders," he huffs.
Ashton immediately brings up FCG's age, but their discussion falls into the background as Imogen turns to Laudna, slips her hand into hers under the table, and says a gentle, quiet "Hi, darlin'."
Laudna glows, as much as a pale and haunting figure can. She smiles back, immediately leaning into Imogen and away from Fearne, not that Imogen was paying particular attention to that. "Hello, Imogen, dear," Laudna murmurs, voice still melodious even at such a low volume.
Laudna shivers as she leans against Imogen, trying to get closer to Imogen's warmth.
"Oh, honey," Imogen says, realising a couple of things at once. "You must be freezing, here," she says, pulling off her jacket and tucking Laudna into it.
"Oh, well, thank you, but I'll be alright, I don't want you to catch your death of cold - not really a going concern for me," Laudna jokes, but snuggles into the jacket anyway.
Imogen takes in the view, warm enough without the jacket with the fire blazing away. The jacket drowns Laudna, there is too much fabric for her slight frame and the sleeves are too long, despite how long Laudna's arms are. Imogen tugs one wrist toward her and rolls the cuff up before giving it back and doing the same with the other.
They hold hands resting on Imogen's knee, Laudna curled into her side.
Once the party is winding down - no more liquor has been ordered, the food is long gone - Imogen and Laudna leave the rest of the Hells to make their way back to the Windowed Wall.
Laudna tries to give Imogen her jacket back for the walk in the rapidly chilling air, but Imogen feels light and full of warmth from the tavern, and instead buttons it up around Laudna to secure it in place.
"It'll protect you from the breeze, don't worry about me, I'm alright."
They walk quickly, where otherwise they might have lingered together, chatting and soaking up the other's love.
Back inside the warmth and safety of their room, they get ready for bed and then sit together, each holding a little package.
"Who goes first for these things?" Laudna asks, eyes bright.
Imogen laughs. "I don't know, it's not like I've done one of these before."
Laudna laughs, too. "Right, yes, this is new for both of us, I'm sorry, I keep forgetting."
"It's okay, Laud," Imogen reassures her.
Laudna purses her lips. "It's not, you should've had so many partners, so many choices. You're so incredible and desirable, the living truly make no sense to me."
Warmth spreads all the way to the tips of Imogen's toes.
"Tell you what," Imogen says, shifting a little closer to Laudna on the bed. "Since I kissed you first, why don't you open mine first?" She offers the small package in her hand to Laudna.
"Oh, are you sure? You're welcome to open first if you want!" Laudna fidgets with her hands.
Imogen smiles. "Truly, nothing would make me happier than you opening this."
"Alright," Laudna says, putting down her gift for Imogen. "I - Alright," she says again, taking the package from Imogen's fingers carefully.
Imogen debates briefly taking off the circlet, just so she can hear Laudna's unmediated reaction to her gift. But she's trying to be better, to not rely on the home she's made in Laudna's head. Besides, she wants to know how Laudna wants to share it, which words she'll pick.
The brown paper falls to the bed and there in Laudna's hands is something that's not quite a brooch, but not too far from it either. It's a silver depiction of a raven skull in profile - Imogen had felt bad about hounding the seller about it's anatomical accuracy, but this was for Laudna, it needed to be right. There's a small ruby, to match the ring on Laudna's finger, where the eye would be.
"Oh Imogen," Laudna whispers, full of reverence. "It's gorgeous." Imogen notes the watery turn of Laudna's voice and quickly looks up, inspects Laudna's face.
There are tears, just thin black lines, forming in her eyes.
"Lovely, don't cry," Imogen says, reaching forward to wipe them away. "You don't need to cry."
And Laudna fully lets go, the tears stream down her face, black rivulets that soak into her black sleepshirt. "Imogen, darling, it's perfect, and you're amazing and, gods, so capable, even though I know I say that too much, and you're the best girlfriend ever and I love you so much, and -"
Imogen kisses her, she can't help herself. She feels the tears squish between their pressed cheeks as she pulls away. "You deserve it, Laud, you're definitely the better half of this better whole."
"You should've opened mine first," Laudna mumbles, wiping away the ichor and composing herself again. "Yours is so much better."
Imogen waits until Laudna meets her eyes. "I can guarantee I will absolutely love anything you've gotten me and that I would love you all the same even if you didn't get me anything."
Laudna sniffles, clutching the pin in her right hand. With her other, she picks up the package from the bed and offers it to Imogen.
"Happy first anniversary, my love," she says as Imogen takes the gift.
Where Laudna delicately peels back the wrappings, preserving the paper, Imogen tears through the paper quickly. Inside is a delicate golden chain and hanging off of the end of it is a finely-made horseshoe. In the curve of the U, there is a tiny engraving: Flora.
Laudna’s arms are wrapped around Imogen, one hand rubbing her back and the other stroking her hair before Imogen realises she’s crying. She thinks about trying to say something, of how she could possibly put what this means to her into words, but instead she just sinks further into Laudna’s embrace.
“I hope it’s okay,” Laudna says. “I know how much you’ve missed her, how much she means to you. You were so heartbroken when you had to leave her behind, both times.” Her lips brush the side of Imogen’s head. “I know she’s always in your heart, darling, I just thought you might like something a little more tangible, too.”
“It’s exactly what I needed, Laudna,” Imogen says, even though the words are not nearly enough. “Thank you. I love you so much.”
Laudna smiles against Imogen’s scalp. “This has been the best year of all of my lives,” Laudna says softly, seriously, full of wonder.
“Mine, too.” Imogen agrees.
They linger in the embrace before Imogen breaks the silence. “Will you help me put it on, please?”
Laudna proves herself to be very helpful, indeed.