Work Text:
—-1—-
The atelier common area was at its busiest in the late afternoon. Lessons had settled down in time for lunch, and after the dishes were washed, the girls gathered in front of the couch where Olruggio was napping to pass the time before returning to their studies.
Tetia glanced over at her professor, who was humming to himself quietly as he finished tidying up. Her gaze flickered to the long ribbon attached to his cap before a grin spread across her face. She turned back to the other tree and leaned forward. “Have any of you put some thought into what kind of tassel you’d want for your cap after you graduate?”
Richeh looked up from her spot sprawled across the floor, a general look of disinterest in her eyes. “Not particularly.”
“Something short that won't get in the way, I suppose,” Agott responded without looking up from her book. She spared a glance over at Coco.
The green-haired girl was staring off into space, knees tucked to her chest. She snapped out of her trance when she noticed the room go quiet in anticipation of her answer. “Ah, sorry! What was the question?”
“I was just wondering what everyone had in mind for their cap, that’s all.” Tetia shrugged and giggled. “I already know I want mine to have two points on it! So I suppose that means two tassels? Oooh, maybe some ribbons like master Qifrey! Shorter ones, of course.”
Coco smiled and nodded along. “I never really thought about it too much. I’ve seen all sorts of different caps, but I guess it never really settled in that there could be a day when I’d need to design mine. Honestly, I might just keep a similar one to what I have now.”
Tetia tapped her chin and leaned back against the couch. “What if someone wanted to switch tassels? Would you do it?”
From his spot by the kitchen table, Qifrey froze in place. He didn’t turn his head (that would be too obvious), but he found himself subconsciously drifting towards where the four girls had gathered.
“Switching tassels?” Coco tilted her head.
Tetia nodded vigorously and began gesturing in the air. “I haven’t actually seen anyone doing it, but imagine how cute it would be to trade your tassel with someone you care about! A witch's hat is a large part of their identity, of course, so it would be all the more special.” She put a hand up to her forehead and melted against the cushions. “I don’t know what I’d do if I were in that situation! It’s just so heartfelt…Although I suppose it wouldn’t work for me if I’m going to have two…”
Richeh mumbled and draped her arm over her eyes. “No, thank you.”
“Hm…I guess if it was the right person?” Coco shrugged. She turned to her side to see Agott staring at her, but the other girl quickly whipped her head away.
“Are you girls enjoying your downtime?” Qifrey smiled as he peeked over the couch. Olruggio stirred and grumbled before rolling over.
Tetia perked up and raised her hand, waving it around. “Master Qifrey! How did you end up choosing your ribbon?”
Qifrey paused, a flicker of something flashing past his eyes before disappearing as if it had never occurred. “I can’t say I remember. You’ll have to forgive me; it’s been so many years now.”
Coco and Tetia collectively “aw’d” before resuming their conversation about their future caps.
After another ten-ish minutes, the apprentices gathered themselves up and left for individual study in their respective rooms. Qifrey moved to return to tidying up when a hand reached out and touched his wrist. “Hmm? Ah, Olly, you’re awake.”
“Just barely.” Olruggio yawned behind his free hand as he blinked. “Maybe if these commissions didn’t keep me up so late, I would take fewer naps.”
“You should take whatever rest you need. Your body is asking for it, after all.” Qifrey tried to pull his hand away, but the other man held firm.
“Hang on just a second. You’re in an awful rush.” He sat up and patted the spot beside him on the couch. “Got a question for you.”
Qifrey smiled, though his heart rate spiked ever so slightly. “Of course. What is it?”
Olruggio waited until he had somewhat settled on the couch before rubbing his face and responding. “The girls were talking about their tassels, mm? And you told them you don’t remember where you got your ribbon. That true?”
A sinking feeling pooled in his chest as Qifrey plastered on a smile. “It really was so long ago; I couldn’t possibly tell you the specifics. Though I must admit I’m particularly fond of it. I do hope this isn’t your way of asking for it back?” He did his best to mask his growing fear with humor, praying it would work.
Olruggio sighed and shook his head, a faint pink on his cheeks partially concealed as he turned his head away. “Of course not. I didn't mind then, and I don’t mind now. Just wish I could recall why we’d done it, is all. Seemed so important to you all that time ago.” He rubbed his neck before standing and stretching. “Well, best be back to work then. You know where to find me.”
“Of course. Try not to overwork this time around.” Qifrey teased and waved as the other witch departed. Once he was alone, his expression crumpled completely. His hands instinctively sought out the ribbon as his fingers curled around it.
“Just think of it as telling lies only a friend would make.”
—-2—-
“I appreciate you making the trip on such short notice. I’m certain Olruggio has a good handle on things, but I know you loathe to leave your precious atelier.” Beldaruit smiled as the hooves of his sealchair clacked against the hard floors of the great hall. The dark outlines of sea creatures outside cast shadows across the hall as the two witches ventured further inside.
“It’s no trouble, really.” Qifrey smiled as he tried to ignore the lingering discomfort of being surrounded by so much water. The great hall was abysmal enough without it being located beneath the waves.
Beldaruit raised an eyebrow and chuckled. “Don’t lie to your master, former or not. I should think years of having you as my apprentice are enough to tell me exactly what you think of being within these walls.”
“Yes, well, at least allow me to be polite about it.” Qifrey kept a smile on his face despite his pinched eyebrows. The pair rounded a corner and came to the door leading to Beldaruit's chambers. After selecting the corresponding knob, the door opened to reveal the bedroom Qifrey had grown accustomed to when he was younger.
“There we are. Please, have a seat.”
Qifrey nodded and selected a spot in the corner. His fingers absentmindedly twirled around his ribbon, an old habit he’d picked up when he felt uneasy. Beldaruit took notice and grinned.
“So, how is Olruggio then?”
“Why the sudden change of topic?” Qifrey bristled defensively, his hands falling to his sides.
Beldaruit hid his smile behind his hand. “Come now, I gave you space as a child when I was afraid you’d bite my head off for asking, but don't you suppose it’s time to enlighten me as to how you acquired that ribbon?”
Qifrey narrowed his eyes. “So you weren't just asking after Olruggio after all. If you have hidden intentions, it’s best to be out with them.”
The wise in teachings raised his hands defensively. “I’d hardly refer to my innocent question as a hidden intention. Am I not allowed to ask such things?”
Crossed arms and a cold look told Beldaruit most of what he needed to know. He sighed and shrugged. “Very well, nothing more about the ornament. Can I at the very least inquire about his well-being? Such a hard-working man he’s grown into, I worry for his health. Too much stress can't be good for him.”
Irony was cruel. “I try to remind him to take breaks, but he can be quite stubborn at times. That being said, having him around means a great deal to me.” Qifrey had to still his hands so as not to reach for the ornament once more.
Beldaruit watched his hands twitch before folding his own in his lap. “A secret is a heavy burden to bear alone. Though I’m certain you’ve come to know this better than anyone.” He leaned back in his sealchair and glanced out the window behind Qifrey. “I do hope that this burden won’t come crashing down. I won’t press you on it further, but if I’m half as wise as they claim I am, perhaps I understand a bit more than you’d like me to.”
Qifrey looked down at the floor as his expression hardened. “Understood.”
“Very well, then. Let’s get on with this so you can return home. Do send Olruggio my regards and your apprentices my love.”
“Now every time you see them, you’ll be reminded of your promise to me”
—-3—-
An emergency bad enough for witches to be summoned was never good news. A mudslide in a neighboring town had brought Qifrey away from the atelier once more. Luckily, from what he’d heard, the damage wasn’t too terribly extensive. Only one witch was required for the job.
Upon arriving at the scene, Qifrey lowered himself down by separating his slyph shoes as he surveyed the damage. A woman hurried over to him before he’d gotten the chance to fully orient himself. He was caught so off guard by the sudden tug on his arm that he nearly stumbled. “Thank goodness. Sir witch, please, I can’t find my daughter. She was out playing an hour ago, and I haven’t seen her since.”
Qifrey’s expression fell as he thought back to his four apprentices. A missing child after a disaster was beyond distressing; he knew so firsthand. “Do you know where she was playing? Anywhere she usually frequents?”
“I’m not sure. She usually stays close to home, but sometimes she wanders off…” The woman’s voice trembled and wavered as she clung to his sleeve. Without another word, Qifrey nodded and turned.
“Please wait here where it’s safe; I’ll find her for you.”
A few minutes of hurried searching at the edges of the village proved fruitless, and the gnawing anxiety in his chest made it all the more difficult to concentrate. Just as he was about to turn and check another spot, a corner of fabric caught his attention.
He hurried over to the spot and peeked around a tree to find a frightened child curled up behind the trunk. He softened and crouched down to be at eye level with them. The mudslide hadn’t quite reached them, but it must have been enough to leave them shaken up. “Hello there, are you alright? You must be so scared. Are you hurt anywhere?”
The little girl blinked at him with teary eyes before launching into his arms and clinging on tight. Her small form was trembling in his arms so hard he feared she might break.
“It’s alright, you’re safe now. I’ve got you. I’ll take you back to your mother, okay? She’s quite worried…about…” He looked down to see her little hands had curled around his ribbon.
Despite the pang in his heart, he wasted no time in gently scooping her up and rushing her back to where her mother would be waiting.
The woman he’d encountered earlier burst into tears as he handed her daughter back, cradling her close against her chest. “It’s ok, sweetheart; I’m here. You’re safe.”
Qifrey smiled with relief at the handoff and tried to pull away, only to notice his ribbon was still firmly in the child’s grasp. The same bitter feeling rose in his throat as he tried to swallow it back down.
“I can’t thank you enough. Knowing we have a witch nearby for emergencies such as this brings me some sense of comfort.” The woman smiled at him as she soothed her daughter. She glanced down to see her child's hand full of ribbon. “Just seeing those caps of yours brings me a sense of relief.”
“Happy to be of help. Though I should hope you won't be needing me again anytime soon.” Qifrey offered as he attempted to speak through the choking feeling settling around his neck. “Take good care. I should see if help is needed with cleanup.”
As he finally walked away, the child released his ornament, leaving it to flow behind him in the breeze.
“Just go easy on me, ok?”
—-4—-
Nights like these were the hardest.
Not because there was any danger, not because he was particularly anxious or distressed. It was precisely the lack of the following that was the source of his current dilemma.
The girls were happy and doing well in their studies. He’d watched each of them grow and blossom over time as they sought their own paths. Olruggio had recently finished a large project and had taken more time to be present with him. Cooking meals, helping with the girls, and offering his shoulder whenever he could.
Qifrey winced and curled up further in bed. No.
He tried to think of something, anything that could bring him back down from this. The brimcaps, what had happened to Coco’s mother, the recent events with the knights moralis- anything would help.
A soft, pained sound passed his lips as he felt something shift. It wasn't enough.
That night, after dinner, Olruggio had pulled him aside. Just thinking about the gentle expression on his face and that look in his eyes. Such fondness. Such impossible kindness.
Qifrey’s hand flew up to his eye as he felt a familiar yet sharp pain begin to radiate out from it.
Here in the home he’d built where the people he’d come to call family lived, he was safer than he’d ever felt before. The softness of his bed combined with the lingering awareness that someone just outside truly cared for him, perhaps even loved him-
He choked on his thought as the pain behind his eye morphed into the unsettling sensation of growth. It never hurt for long, not as the roots began to take hold and the branches started to emerge. If anything, it felt almost soothing. Wasn’t this what he had wanted? A safe haven where he could finally just…
His breath hitched once more as he struggled to keep hold of himself. What little remained was screaming at him: Go outside, now. He couldn't bring himself to. If this was happening, it was happening here.
His breathing picked up, then gradually slowed down until it was barely there. He could feel the inevitable shift in his body as his eye began to slip closed. Just before his eyelids could fully shut, he caught a glimpse of his cap on the nightstand. The long black ribbon dangled over the edge until it pooled slightly on the floor.
Of course. How could he possibly forget? The one and only true reason he couldn't let go, at least not yet.
With his lingering strength, he reached out his hand and gripped the ribbon. The sensation in his body gradually returned, as did the pain, but the branches slowly began to retract.
It wasn't time for his roots to grow. Not now. Not yet.
“That kind of pain is better off in your hands.”
—-5—-
Cooking for the girls was a welcome respite from a day’s work. That’s not to say it was easy; catering to each apprentice’s individual preferences as well as his own and Olruggios could prove to be a bit of a challenge at times. Even so, he found himself to be somewhat at ease in the kitchen.
“You four go wash up; we’re almost ready in here,” Olruggio called over his shoulder as he finished chopping vegetables. The two witches were shoulder to shoulder, occasionally brushing against each other as they cooked.
“Thank you again for your help. It certainly goes much faster with four hands instead of two.” Qifrey smiled and drew up a pyreball spell to go under the pot he was cooking with.
Olruggio hummed and nodded. “It’s the least I could do. You’re always insisting on doing the cooking and looking after the girls. A helping hand here and there is nothing in comparison.”
“You say that, and yet I know how hard you work, holed up in your room all day. Those contraptions of yours don’t fashion themselves.” Qifrey nudged him gently with his hip.
“If they did, you’d see me more often.” Olruggio nudged him back.
Tetia finished setting the table with a flourish before taking her usual seat at the far end beside Richeh. Coco and Agott filed in after, talking amongst themselves before taking their seats on the opposite side of the other two apprentices. Olruggio nudged the bowl of vegetables towards Qifrey before turning his attention to getting water for everyone.
Qifrey glanced over his shoulder as the vegetables were added to the soup he was making. The rich aroma of meat and veggies filled the air as it simmered, and he smiled triumphantly as he admired his handiwork.
Coco’s eyes lit up as soon as the dish was served, and she eyed the vibrant meal with a huge grin on her face. “Thank you for the food!”
The other three girls followed suit in their thanks before digging in themselves. Olruggio took a bite before nodding his approval.
Qifrey took his seat at the very edge of the table, watching fondly as the four girls passed around bread and seasonings. The warmth in the air came from far more than any pyreball he had conjured up. Despite his lingering anxieties, he was just about as calm as he could ever possibly allow himself to be.
His hands folded in his lap as his eyes flickered over to the ribbon at the edge of his vision. This was exactly what he was working so hard to protect.
“Your happy ending means nothing if you're not alive to see it come true.”
—-1—-
It was far past dark outside, but Olruggio didn’t dare look up from his work. He knew full well any excuse to distract himself would be taken without a second thought, and he couldn’t afford any further delays. The commission in question was due tomorrow. Deadlines waited for no one.
He groaned quietly and pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling slowly as he struggled to force himself to focus on the task at hand. He’d gotten through worse than this; surely it wasn't so bad.
…
Forget it.
Olruggio rubbed his face with his hand as he leaned back in his chair. What would help right now? Too late for a walk or a bath, and he had been trying to cut back on his late-night snacking. Hopefully, Qifrey and the girls were fast asleep by this hour. No one to talk to and nowhere to go.
A grunt of frustration was about all he could manage while he crossed his arms and glared at the unfinished contraption as if his displeasure would somehow cause it to leap up and complete itself. Would it really be so bad to leave this for the morning?
He thought back to every instance of his putting off his work for just ‘one more night of rest.’ Yeah, no. That wouldn’t end well for him.
His eyes roamed around the room in search of something to help soothe his restlessness, but he found nothing out of the ordinary. His bed looked plenty inviting, but sleep wasn’t exactly an ideal solution. There wasn’t much to see out of his window besides the faint glow of the stars overhead. Pretty, but not what he needed right now.
It wasn’t until his gaze finally landed on his cap that he softened. The familiar shape of his tassel hanging limply from the point was as comforting a sight as ever.
He pushed himself up and shuffled across the room, scooping it up into his arms. He unhooked the clasp with gentle fingers before holding the ornament up to the soft glow of his pyreball. When he was young, it had been so large in his hand. Now it looked and felt so small.
Olruggio sat back down at his desk with his cap tucked against his arm and his hand still clutching the tassel. He ran his thumb over the bundle of fiber and allowed himself to zone out, if only for a moment.
“Qifrey…” He sighed into the darkness. After a hesitant moment, he lifted the ornament to his lips and kissed it softly.
Inspiration dawned on him once more, and he took care to reattach his tassel before setting his cap to the side of his desk before reaching for his pen.
“I remember. This is where my heart is.”