Work Text:
Goldmary woke up inside a house in a small Brodian village. The morning sun shone brightly, and its rays fell upon the uncovered window in Goldmary’s room, making the light shine directly on her sleeping eyes. Such abrupt awakenings are not her style, but she nevertheless made the effort to get up. As she does every morning, Goldmary took time to make herself look absolutely perfect. In her own words, ‘perfection isn’t born with, it is earned and must be maintained’. She began her morning routine, making sure that every step is carried out no less than perfectly and makes her look the best she can. From her showering to fixing her messy bedhead, she makes it her duty to look not only presentable, but the most magnificent person in any room she would enter. After this was all done, she exited her quarters and made her way to the kitchen to make breakfast, but saw that someone else had already beaten her to that. A special someone. Her special someone.
In the kitchen stood Goldmary’s beloved. She had a strong upper body, shaped by the battles fought in the war, and by fending off wild bears from her homeland’s farms. These have helped her build noticeably muscular arms and shoulders, and gave her a toned back as well. Her hair is short and of a bright pink color. She was dressed in modest farmer clothing–composed of a red shirt, of similar color to her usual retainer armor, and blue overalls–dirtied by all the work she’s done over the years, reaping and sowing in her village’s infertile lands. She stood in the kitchen preparing breakfast. Goldmary noticed two particular aspects in the area being used for cooking: there was a board with peeled vegetable skin over them, and the room smelled a little like salted water. One would think she was boiling potatoes, and while that would be possible, it was not Goldmary’s first thought; she realized the dish being prepared was one of her favorites: boiled yams. No amount of salt water used to boil them could take away from their delectable sweetness, and ever since she was given her first taste of these yams, Goldmary loved them. She began walking towards the kitchen table, hungry and excited to once again taste the yams only her love knows how to make. As she approached, the woman in the kitchen turned around to greet her.
“Oh, good morning, Goldmary”, Lapis said with a bright smile. “I’m almost done, just wait a little bit.”
“Good morning, Lapis”, Goldmary responds as she sits down at the kitchen table. “Don’t worry, I’m in no rush. Take your time.”
As she patiently waited, Goldmary lovingly stared at Lapis. To her, Lapis was the most beautiful woman to ever exist, and just the mere act of her being concentrated on her cooking was enchanting. This wasn’t an uncommon occurrence either: Goldmary has, multiple times, caught herself staring at Lapis like this when she works the fields. Her focused attitude and expression, how efficiently she carries out her work; there is no thing Lapis could do that did not enamor Goldmary more than she already was.
“Are you doing okay?” Lapis asked.
“Oh, I’m quite alright” Goldmary replied. “I’m just…daydreaming, is all”.
“What about?” Lapis said in a playful, less concerned tone.
“About the future”. Goldmary’s statement was purposefully unspecific. Yes, she was thinking about the future, but that can mean an ocean of things: where to live, where to work, when to do it, how to adapt to a new lifestyle and to a post-war world. Her mind was not on anything like that, though. She was thinking about how her life with Lapis at her side would be. All the things they would do, all the places they’d go, all the meals they’d share. Right now, she could not think of anything other than how she would enjoy life with her love.
“That’s pretty broad. What about the future?”
“Well, the war has finally ended. We don’t have to fight anymore. We can have our own lives. There’s so much we could do. Don’t think I’ve forgotten about my promise to you.”
“You’ve made a few promises to me,” Lapis replied, as she brought plates of boiled yams to the table, and sat down. “Which one?”
“About visiting my family’s inn, silly!” Goldmary chuckled. “I said that when the war ended, me and my family would grant you a stay at our inn. And of course, getting to enjoy the warmth of the hot springs near it! I guarantee you’ll love it.”
“Alright, alright, I’ll take your word for it”, Lapis said as she giggled. After that flow of conversation ended, they began to partake in their boiled yams. Goldmary made sure to enjoy her yams thoroughly, but still kept her refined form while doing so. She took her time eating small bites, savoring every single one. After a short silence, Goldmary noticed Lapis was acting…strange. She was much more reserved while eating; usually, Lapis wolfs down her breakfast in order to start her work day quickly. Right now she was eating slowly, with a worried frown, staring off into the distance.
“Lapis?”
Lapis quickly blinked and looked up, a little embarrassed. “Oh, it’s nothing. Just that…I have a question. About the trip to the inn, I mean.”
“Of course,” Goldmary said. “Ask all you want. I don’t want you to stay at the inn full of doubts regarding it. I swear, it is of the highest quality from top to bottom, from the meals to the bedding. You’ll have a great time.”
“It’s not really that. It’s just…will I stay at the inn alone?”
“What do you mean?”
“As in, will I spend all that time by myself?”
“Would there…be something wrong with that?”
“N-no, it wouldn’t be bad,” Lapis assured. “I mean that…I’d want you to accompany me.” While the petition was clear, Goldmary struggled to make sense of it. Why would she not be with her to travel to her family’s inn? It would be greatly irresponsible to simply give Lapis directions on where to go and leave her on her own. Not to mention that this trip gave Goldmary a chance to visit the family she hasn’t seen in a long time. There is little reason for her to not be with Lapis on this occasion.
“Of course I’ll accompany you. How else will I personally escort you to the inn?”
“I mean if you’ll stay at the inn with me.”
Goldmary grew even more confused than before. “Stay with you? Was that not the plan?”
“Well, I didn’t really…know. I thought it’d be weird, given you’ve probably had many stays there over the years.” Goldmary smiled, as she began to understand the source of Lapis’ concern. She didn’t want to stay at the inn on her own: she wanted them to do that together. Lapis struggling to make a small request like this made Goldmary’s heart warm. It was honest and cute.
“Oh, my dear Lapis,” Goldmary said with a smile. “Of course not; it would not be ‘weird’ to me. I’d love to spend that time with you. I wouldn’t dare leave the most amazing woman in the world by herself on an occasion like this.”
Lapis chuckled. “You’re just saying that.”
“What? About you being the most amazing woman in the world? I meant it, you know.”
“I’m not used to you giving compliments to other people. And
that’s
a title you’ve never given to anyone other than yourself.”
Lapis was clearly joking, smiling playfully as she spoke, but for a moment, Goldmary paused. She did have a point. Normally, it wouldn’t have bothered her: Goldmary knew that she was, all things considered, worthy of being known far and wide as “the most amazing woman in the world.”
But to hear Lapis rebuff her compliment like that…it could only mean that she had not properly expressed her feelings to Lapis. Sure, they were staying at the same house, they spent time together, knew they were far more than friends, but had Goldmary ever told Lapis what she truly thought of her? All that she saw in her? Why she loved her?
…She hadn’t, had she? That was a grave misstep indeed, one unworthy of Goldmary’s graciousness. It needed correction.
“Hmm…you’re right. It is unusual of me. And utterly unacceptable on my behalf.”
“Huh?”
Goldmary pushed aside her meal and stood up. She slowly brought her chair closer to Lapis, and faced towards her. She then gently held her beloved’s face. Lapis blushed, and Goldmary could sense her dearest’s heart racing: after all, it was rare that they got this close to each other. Before Lapis could react, Goldmary planted a soft kiss on her forehead.
“I’ve failed to make clear just what I think of you, Lapis. Just how deeply I love you. And there’s no better place to start than the present.”
Goldmary smiled, and rubbed her thumbs against Lapis’s cheeks, feeling how warm and soft she felt in her hands, beautiful and sweet in countenance and character.
“ Let’s see…well, you’re strong. Very strong. And I don’t just mean your body, though yours is marvelously strong.” She planted a soft kiss on Lapis’ face, making her giggle.
“What are you doing?”, Lapis asked, still laughing.
“Now, now, I’m not finished. You’re determined; not once did I see you or your spirit falter in the middle of the war, and that is to be admired.” She kissed Lapis’ nose. “You are so, so beautiful. You have an adorable face, and I know I’ve already told you so, but I must emphasize that you are very attractive. Not every woman is as toned as you, you know.” Goldmary kissed her once more.
This cycle continued. Goldmary complimenting Lapis, kissing her and hearing her giggle, followed by more compliments, a nonstop outpouring of positivity, honest lovingness, and sincere sensitivity from Goldmary towards her love, all justified and contextualized to all-the-better buttress her feelings for Lapis.
Persevering.
Relentless.
Cute.
Caring.
Humble.
Hardworking.
All these and more, so many more, spoken from Goldmary’s lips, followed by kisses all over Lapis’ face. And Lapis could not help but giggle: expressions of love like this were not something she expected from Goldmary. It felt warm and sweet, unfamiliar, yet all the better for its oddness.
She could only giggle, joyfully overwhelmed by all the love she was receiving. It felt like Goldmary was confessing her true feelings, finally, sincerely, despite having already done so before.
“So, have I made myself clear?” Goldmary asked when she was finally done, a wide smile on her face.
“Okay, okay, I believe you,” Lapis replied, letting out a few smaller giggles. “I didn’t realize you thought of me in all those ways…but thank you. I love you lots, Goldmary.”
“And I love you dearly, Lapis.”
Lapis forestalled any further comments with a kiss. It was her turn to show her affection, and Goldmary happily accepted it. Their lips remained united, soft and sweet and caring against the other, close and comforted, determined to prove the love Lapis and Goldmary felt for one another. When they separated, they looked into each other’s eyes and smiled.
“Well…I guess I should be getting to work.” Lapis said, reluctantly, “I have a long day today.”
“Oh, of course,” Goldmary replied, suddenly realizing that, yes, the world was still moving on beyond her and Lapis, and however much she might wish for this moment to last forever and for everything else to stop just for a little while, daily responsibilities conspired to keep them apart. “I have my own duties as well. I'll head out soon.”
“Okay. See you later, then.” Lapis said, rising, then kissing Goldmary's forehead, one last show of love for the morning.
Goldmary sighed happily as Lapis turned and left, a little skip in her partner’s step that hadn’t been there when she’d sat down for breakfast. Goldmary would depart soon, too, but only after her meal.
Her dish, served with the greatest vegetable in the world, served by the sweetest woman in the world. Goldmary's life may not have always been perfect, but in her eyes, it was now.