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G’raha wraps his scarf tighter around his neck as a vain attempt to protect himself from the icy wind, yet nothing seems to stop the icy burn he feels on his cheeks.
He knew Foundation would be cold, but not this cold. But everyone else, including Panne who’s agreed to bringing him all the way here, barely seem to mind it—walking on thick blankets of snow as if it were a mild spring day.
But despite the regret he feels for not bringing something to warm his ears, he’s ecstatic—finally traveling together with the Warrior of Light and now the universe, hale and whole—which he couldn’t say a several weeks ago when she arrived from Ultima Thule barely breathing.
“That’s the Jeweled Crozier,” Panne states, pointing to the rows of stalls and vendors before them. “You can buy all sorts of things there—oh, but I’ve got an errand to run real quick.“
“What sort of errand?” G’raha asks.
“Oh, I’m just gonna sell some things. You don’t have to come with though.” She smiles at him. “Go take a look around while I take care of the boring stuff.”
Nothing’s ever boring whenever he’s with her, but by her tone, he figures she just wants to take care of the task by herself. Besides, the smell of fresh baked bread is urging him to investigate the market further.
“Alright then, do take care not to get too bored yourself.”
She releases a comical huff, “I’ll try not to!” And then she’s off.
Always on the run, even at rest.
He watches Panne’s fleeting form, her tail swishing idly as she jogs forward, until he sees her stop at a stall at the far end of the market.
He’ll make his way to where he’s smelling that bread then, taking note to bring enough for the both of them to share. Perhaps he should make some sandwiches with them later.
As he passes through the rows of stalls, the glint of a gem catches his eye, and G’raha sees the most exquisite jewelry—all fashioned with stunning gems that shine in all sorts of bright beautiful colors laid out on a velvet display at one of the stands.
Panne had mentioned once that the Jeweled Crozier was known for their jewelry—so perhaps he’ll take a look there.
He greets the merchant at the front and inspects her collection closer, focusing in on the utter beauty of the rings.
He can imagine each and every one of them looking beautiful on Panne’s finger.
He’s not sure when the thoughts of proposing to Panne had started to come to him, but finally seeing her wake up after watching over her desperately for weeks as she recovered from the injuries that should have killed her from Ultima Thule had brought those thoughts more to light—how he can lose anything at any moment.
What would their wedding look like, if she says yes?
He could almost imagine them at the Sanctum of the Twelve, traditional like many gatherings before them—the gods bearing witness to the love that had been hundreds of years in the making.
He could also imagine them at the beach, feeling the warm sand beneath their feet as they listen to the water’s gentle waves after everyone has left the ceremony.
Indulging in his own daydreams even more, he dares to imagine what dress she would wear—though she could wear a sack of popotos, and he would still think he’s the most beautiful person on this star.
But to see her in all white—glittering and pure. A smile so innocent he could forget she’s become the warrior who saved their universe, aimed back at him from the aisle.
Though black has become more her style in recent times, matching back to the eyepatch she always wears now. Blue has become quite the dazzling color on her as well, with the new outfit Tataru had made her before they embarked to Sharlayan…
He greets the shopkeeper at the stall and browses through the rings, admiring each unique one and its details while lost in his daydreams.
As he hand reaches for one, with a gem in the same verdant green as her eye, he’s reminded of why he’s been hesitating for so long. Fear.
He backs away from the rings.
Coward.
“Hey! Did you find something?” Panne’s voice thankfully pulls him away from his thoughts before they can spiral downwards. “I just finished, so we can go look around some more.”
“No, coming!” He calls back.
As he jogs up to her, she silently slips a hand in his own.
“Something up?”
“Ah no, just…saw something interesting—but pay it no mind!”
She smiles at him, “let’s head back there after I finish showing you around Ishgard, ‘kay?”
Mayhap one day, he’ll finally muster up that courage—but until then, he’ll enjoy the time he has with her as they are now.