Complete Private Quest Eastern Brisshal [ Reaping Season I ] For Lovers Who Hesitate

[Luthien]

She had always been short and straight to the point, even as a child Ingrid often left no room for others to argue once her mind was set on something. Perhaps it was thanks to this that she’d been able to keep her real feelings for the slightly older elf carefully concealed away throughout the decades… or at least Commington had never given the woman any hint to think he had caught on. Not that she could blame him, after all why would he want to be with someone like her?

”I know something’s on your mind,” That much was obvious, though if she knew due to how long she’d known the man—or because Ingrid herself also had thoughts she often refused to voice out—was anyone’s guess at the time. ”So let’s have it, after all we’re not children anymore Connie.”

”… Once upon a time, I had thought to ask you to travel the world with me.” His words had caught her by surprise, shown by the way her eyes widened even as her eyebrows rose slightly. It had been the last thing Ingrid had expected for the elven man to admit, convinced that he’d been counting the days until he could leave the village—and herself—behind once and for all. ”… I suppose I just wonder what life would've been like had I asked.”

There was a flustered look to her features then, a rare sight for the usually composed woman, before Ingrid’s eyes looked away. A hand rose to tuck a few loose strands of dark hair behind her ear, one of the labels facing upwards in the wine bottles suddenly turning into the most interesting thing she’d ever witnessed in this cellar. ”… you know I couldn’t leave Pierce and Agda, not after everything they’ve done for me.” It was a debt Ingrid felt she’d never be able to fully repay, but one she’d always intended to work on even amidst the protests of the Concertos themselves. Besides with their nest long since empty, and their bodies aging further with each passing year, how could Ingrid have left them to explore the world?

”Besides, I would’ve been a poor traveling companion… I’d given you plenty of earfuls growing up, you would’ve hated them out on the road.”

@Yugam

 

[Yugam]

His eyes fixed on the bottle of wine, reading the dust-covered label again and again, the man missed the surprised look that crossed Ingrid's face as he spoke. Only when he'd finished his quiet confession did a brief movement draw his gaze as Ingrid tucked a strand of her walnut colored hair behind her ear.

"…You know I couldn't leave Pierce and Agda..." she said, to which Conninton nodded.
"I know," he replied solemnly. "One of the many reasons I was certain you would not runaway with me. Your heart has always belonged in Hovelis, and I would not rob you of it, nor it of you."

"Besides," Ingrid went on, "I would've been a poor traveling companion…I'd given you plenty of earfuls growing up, you would've hated them out on the road," perhaps attempting to make a light hearted joke.
"Indeed you had," Connington chuckled, going along with her jest. "But I suppose it would have made for pleasant company on those long and lonely roads." Though the elf loved the whistling of the trees, the songs of the birds, and the company of the sun and moon, the worn dirt roads and endless horizon wore on him at times. He had none to share those things with.

"Ah, what am I saying," the elf chuckled sadly. "I fear I will upset you if I go on. You have my apologies."

@Luthien

 

[Luthien]

”Your heart has always belonged in Hovelis, and I would not rob you of it, nor it of you.”

She couldn’t hide the grimace that showed up on her face at those words. ”Connie, that’s not…” It wasn’t that her heart belonged to Hovelis, no that had never been its true place, just that Ingrid simply felt she had a duty to uphold and keep in the small village.

Still she couldn’t bring herself to say those words out loud, her attention instead turning to another of the many wine bottles housed in the cellar for a distraction. A hand carefully traced the wax seal on the surface of the bottle, feeling the subtle textural difference in the design as her fingertip traced the ridges.

Ingrid had continued to listen to Connington’s musings as the elven man continued to speak, her mind unconsciously having latched to a particular tidbit as he spoke. ”... if the roads are long and lonely then perhaps you should just come back home more often…” It had been meant to be just a thought, something that should’ve just stayed inside her mind, and yet without realizing it the brunette had whispered it out loud.

@Yugam

 

[Yugam]

Ingrid tried to argue against what Connie had said, her words fall short before she could even finish the thought. The elf smiled sadly turning towards the casks near the back of the cellar, lighting the sconces along the way. He ran a hand along the wooden container, tracing the whorls and knots with his fingers. Whether or not he was right didn't really matter. It wasn't as simple as he'd put it, Connington knew that, but the sentiment remained.

"...If the roads are long and lonely then perhaps you should just come back home more often…" The whispered words barely reached Connington's ears, but nonetheless, the words had carried through the quiet, stale cellar air. The man's hand froze in the center of another knot, his breath catching in his throat for just a moment.

The thought had never really occurred to Connington before. Selfishly, he'd always hoped Ingrid would leave Hovelis behind, though he knew that would've never happened. But, what if he stayed. Just for a little while. "I..." the man began, entertaining the thought in his head. "I could stay a bit longer...perhaps," he said with a touch of uncharacteristic nervousness. "W-would you spend that time with me?"

@Luthien

 

[Luthien]

The realization was slow at first, but eventually Ingrid realized her musings had turned to actual spoken words. It caused the brunette to freeze in response, her shoulders tensing ever so slightly as her back remained facing the older elf. She could feel the heat pooling onto her cheeks, the warmth spreading over to the tip of her ears. Instinctually she reached up for them, her hands pushing stray locks of hair behind them before cupping them ever so softly. The last thing she needed was Connie seeing her blushing and deciding to tease her about it, a common occurrence when they had both been children.

"I… I could stay a bit longer...perhaps."
”... eeh?”
"W-would you spend that time with me?"

A look of surprise crossed her features as his response slowly sunk into her mind, not one that she had expected to hear. He’d always seemed so eager to leave the village at the first sign of sunlight once his yearly tournament was completed, and so Ingrid had never even bothered to ask him for additional time… after all, she didn’t want to cage up the little robin unwittingly.

”I… I w-would.”

The response was short but sweet, delivered with a small stuttering… though she remained with her back to him.

@Yugam

 

[Yugam]

Ingrid said nothing for a long while. Long enough that Connington had begun to wonder if she'd heard him at all. Likely not, he reckoned, and he was hesitant to repeat his question. The man's hand left the wooden cask it'd been pressed against as the elf quietly inhaled and exhaled. Some things were never meant to be.

"I… I w-would."

The quiet admittance surprised Connington, his eyes growing wide for a moment as he strained his elven ears to see if he'd heard her correctly. She didn't speak again though, so Connington turned to look at her. Her back was to him. She looked smaller though. Vulnerable, almost.

Connington took a hesitant step towards the woman. And then another. "I-in that case, w-would you perhaps..." The elf stopped mid-sentence. No, a candlelit dinner, that was not right. The man, swift as ever, and perhaps with a bit bounce in his step pulled a bottle from the racks of the wine cellar, dusting off the label, though what it was was inconsequential. "Would you, perhaps, care to share a drink with me?" the man said with a small smile. "It might not be as good as when we were kids but...well, I would hope it to be better now," he chuckled.

@Luthien

 

[Luthien]

She could feel the thrumming inside her chest, the way it felt tighter than before and caused her slight difficulty to breathe. Hands had since left her ears, now held closer to her heart as the woman took a quiet and deep breath. Time had lapsed, and for a moment she wondered if perhaps her voice had just been too low for the elven man to hear, until the sounds of footsteps alerted Ingrid that the archer was moving closer to where she stood.

"I-in that case, w-would you perhaps..." He sounded much closer now, the sound of his voice startling the brunette ever so slightly. She swallowed, trying to gather her nerves, before her head finally turned just enough to peer at Connie’s profile as the elf pulled a random wine bottle. Quietly she noticed the light pep on the man’s step as he dusted the bottle, before the elf turned to look at her with a small smile on his lips. "Would you, perhaps, care to share a drink with me?"

She couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped her lips, a hand raised to cover her lips, before it evolved into a light laughter. ”You do realize Pierce might get angry with us again… right?” The words slipped from her lips with ease, though they lacked the usual concerned tones Ingrid would reserve for warning Connie when he was about to make terrible choices. Instead an impish smile remained on her face, chocolate brown eyes looking up at the elf with interest.

”Well then, pop that bottle open Connie~”

@Yugam

 

[Yugam]

Connington's heart raced, though not with fear that Pierce would find out that the pair were back to their childish antics. His heart beat with childish delight. "Well then, pop that bottle open Connie~" Ingrid said with a mischievous grin.
"Your wish is my command," Connington said with a smile, uncorking the bottle with a satisfying pop.

Ever the gentleman, Connington handed the bottle to Ingrid so that she might have the first sip. He'd wait until the bottle was returned and he had consumed a healthy gulp himself before he spoke. "Come, sit with me." He overturned a couple of empty wine crates and set them side by side, sitting down and patting the other.

The man took another sip of wine, feeling the warm sensation tingle through his body. "I have a confession to make, dear Ingrid," Connington said, feeling emboldened by both the alcohol and the quiet words she'd spoken before. "I know it is rare that I am in Hovelis but...when I am, it's always been for you. It pleases me to see you again after so long. And now...well, there is not a single person I'd rather be trapped in a wine cellar with," he chuckled.

@Luthien

 

[Luthien]

She couldn’t help the light chuckle that escaped her lips, watching as Connington followed through with her request as the wine bottle was uncorked with a satisfying sound. He would hold the bottle out for her to take, allowing the woman to sample the contents within first, and she couldn't help the smile that remained in her face as she took a few sips of the rich wine within.

”Honestly, where does Pierce get these from…?”

The bottle was passed back to Connie then, watching in mild amusement as the man took a rather long gulp himself, before overturning two wine crates to serve as makeshift sitting for the pair. He sat down then, a hand patting the spot beside him, before the elf took another sip of wine while he waited for Ingrid to join his side. It didn’t took long for the brunette to come over, taking the offered space before received the wine bottle from the man.

"I have a confession to make, dear Ingrid."
”And what would that be, dear Connie?”

The words caused her heart to skip a beat, before the woman chose to take a rather long gulp of wine herself. The warmth that tickled her throat, once disliked when she’d been a child, was now welcomed and almost comforting. Liquid courage, that’s what adults often called wines and plenty of other drinks and spirits—it hadn’t made sense back then, but it sure did now.

”Well, there is not a single person I'd rather be trapped in a wine cellar with.” Her eyes had been focusing on the label displayed in the bottle, though the soft laugh that escaped her lips showed Ingrid had been listening to the elven man’s words. ”You do realize I don’t need to be trapped inside a wine cellar to spend time with you, right Connie?”

@Yugam

 

[Yugam]

She'd laughed at his joke, the musical sound coaxing a small smile from his lips. He loved that sound he wondered what it would be like to hear that beautiful chime for the rest of his life. Blissful, probably. "You do realize I don't need to be trapped inside a wine cellar to spend time with you, right Connie?" she said, a wry smile on her face.
"Yes, yes, I know," the elf chuckled in response. "And I apologize. I suppose I've...avoided it, for some time. Spending too much time with you. For fear of..." Connington paused for a moment, trying to figure out the best way to put his thoughts into words. "For fear of allowing old feelings, desires, to resurface," the man's hand asked for the bottle of wine, and the man took another long sip of it's content. "But, I think it's all been for naught. Truth be told, those feelings were never far from the surface."

The man shifted in his seat to look at Ingrid, his eyes locked on hers. He wore a more serious face now than Ingrid would have ever seen. "I do not know that I would be a good partner. I am impulsive, and prone to flight. And my whims might urge me to leave when it might be inopportune. But nonetheless...if you would let me...I'd like to be by your side, Ingrid." His chest felt constricted, throat closing from fear that the feelings he finally bore to the woman would be rejected. "I might leave for a time, but I'll always return. To you. And you'd always know that I would not betray you. So...my dearest Ingrid...will you have me?"

@Luthien

 

[Luthien]

For the longest time, way back to some of her earlier memories, Ingrid had always been fighting to bottle down and suppress the true feelings she felt for the elf. He’d always been charming, alarmingly so, and perhaps that’s the reason why she’d always been so crude and snarky in return. Honestly at times she had wondered just why the elf actually put up with her, and eventually Ingrid had convinced herself that he saw her no different from an annoyingly younger sister.

”Truth be told, those feelings were never far from the surface.”

He’d shifted in his seat then, his green eyes fixating on her own, and the serious look that suddenly crossed his elven features was like nothing Ingrid had ever seen before. ”C-Connie…?” Gone was his usual goofy grin, the playful mirth that usually shone in his eyes replaced by something more… and intensity that Ingrid hadn’t been sure the elven man could ever display.

The surprise on her face was evident to see, after all these were all words the brunette had always longed to hear… but she had been absolutely certain that they would never tumble out of his lips. It made her chest feel heavy and constricted, a mixture of emotions swirling within it, before it all finally clicked into place with that one simple question.

”So...my dearest Ingrid...will you have me?”

Her hands reached over to gingerly cup the sides of his face, a soft smile pulling at her lips, before the brunette finally pulled Connie closer to herself. ”Just shut up and kiss me, Connie.” With those simple words Ingrid finally closed the distance between them, her lips pressing against his as the brunette finally allowed herself to enjoy a moment she had dreamed for most of her life—but had never believed could actually come to be.

@Yugam

 

[Yugam]

Connie's breath was caught in his lungs, unable to escape in the unexpected anticipation that he'd felt. Of all the things he'd done in his life, all the brave, reckless and stupid adventures he'd gone on, this seemed the most terrifying to him. Facing off with a band of orcs suddenly seemed far more preferable than being rejected by the woman who'd had his heart since they were children.

She cupped his face in her hands gently, a kind smile on her face. The answer then should have been obvious, but for some reason, despite the confidence that Connington feigned, he couldn't shake the fear that she was simply trying to let him down easy.

"Just shut up and kiss me, Connie."

Before Connie had a chance to process the words spoken to him, he felt the woman press her lips to his. He blinked in surprise at first, uncertain as to what was happening, before it finally struck him. To say that the man melted in the kiss would have been...entirely accurate. Connington's eyes slowly shut as he let himself enjoy the feeling of Ingrid's soft lips on his, a sensation he'd only been able to imagine till now. A hand rested against on her waist, the other her knee to steady himself until, after several blissful moments, eternities really, they broke apart.

"Hey, you guys okay down there?"

The boy's voice calling down to them made Connington jump for a moment, his hat falling to the ground before he looked up at the silhouette of the young man. "Ah, y-yes!" the elf called back up. "Better than ever!"

@Luthien

 

[Luthien]

How many times had she dreamt of this moment? Too many, but never did the brunette believe it would actually become a reality. For all the human knew it had been meant to stay like that, just a fantasy she indulged in once in a while but that would never come to pass… and yet here they were. She was hesitant at first when the elven man didn’t seem to respond, a small part of Ingrid fearing that perhaps it had all been just a joke from the archer that had simply gotten out of hand before Connie had time to stop it.

Insecurities gave way to worrying thoughts, but just as the brunette had been about to pull back she felt his hands reach for her body. The one on her waist pulled her closer just as the elf melted into their kiss, the other gingerly resting on her knee. Her own hands moved forwards, her arms now wrapped loosely around Connington’s neck, as they both enjoyed this tender and blissful moment in their lives.

"Hey, you guys okay down there?"
"Ah, y-yes! Better than ever!"

They had just broken apart but a few moments before the familiar voice of one of the Starcalled reached them, Ingrid unable to suppress the soft chuckle that escaped her lips when Connington was startled. ”Come on, our little saviors are finally here.” One hand wrapped around his own before the brunette stood, gently tugging at his arm so Connie would follow. Judging by the calmness in the voices of the trio Ingrid could only assume things had gone alright upstairs.

"Hey, there’s a ladder over here!"

A few sounds followed then as the trio above figured out their logistics, before finally the ladder slowly descended down the cellar’s hatch.

@Yugam

 

[Yugam]

With Yu and Unmei on one side, and Luthien at the other, the trio lifted and slowly lowered the ladder into the small cellar hatch, leaning it against one of the edged. Down below, they could briefly hear Ingrid and Connington arguing about who should ascend first, until finally Connington began to climb upwards, apparently having lost the brief argument.

Yu offered a hand to the elf as he neared the top, and helped hoist the man out of the hatch, Unmei then helping Ingrid. "How the hell did you guys get stuck down there? And what happened to the stairs?" Yugam asked as he dusted one of the tall elf's shoulders.

"Ah, yes, well, it appears those old planks simply could not hold us. Years of rot will do that," he chuckled before looking over to make sure Ingrid had made it out alright. "What about you three? Did you find the intruders."
Both Yugam and Unmei cringed at the question, a look of disgust on their faces. "Yeah. Not really intruders but uh...we'll tell you outside."

@Luthien

 

[Luthien]

She barely managed to stifle her laughter as the arguing voices of Connie and Ingrid reached them. Lúthien was careful to keep the ladder steady as both elf and human climbed out of the cellar before being helped by Yugam and Unmei at the very end. ”I didn’t realize they were so old already… I’m just glad it happened to us and not the Concertos.” A soft nod of agreement was given by the ranger as she came closer to Ingrid, plucking out a few strands of cobweb that had managed to cling onto the woman’s dark hair.

”Did you find the intruders?”
”Oh, that’s right! Is everyone safe, were the Concertos upstairs?”
"A-About that… h-hey Yu, why don’t you tell them what we found?"

The blonde too had cringed in a similar fashion to the raven-haired man and Unmei, the look on the archer’s face akin to someone who had just died on the inside even as a shiver ran up her spine. "Y-Yeah, actually going outside sounds like a good idea for this." There was a look of both confusion and concern on Ingrid’s face as she looked between the three younger ones, moving to stand closer to Connie as her hand reached out for his in search of comfort.

”A-Alright, lead the way then…?”

@Yugam

 

[Yugam]

Yu lead the way back to the building entrance, pulling the door open and holding it as the other's went through to the other side. Being the last to exit the home, Yu pulled the door shut behind him before looking at Ingrid and Connington, both of whom we're looking at him expectantly.

Well...this was going to be a fun story to tell...

"So first of all, you should know that Pierce and Agda are both okay. They were called away to urgent business in Stokbon," the man began, deciding that it was best to let the two know that their friends were safe. "They've been having their grandson, David, watch the place for them." Now came the fun part. "As for the howling and grunting and stuff you've been hearing at night, Ingrid...David's uh...well, he's been having a girl over and...look, I don't wanna go into the details, you can put two and two together here, right?"

@Luthien

 

[Luthien]

She had thought the sudden inflection in the elven man’s voice had been odd when Yugam first called out for them as the trio had reached the cellar. She had noticed shortly after the occasional glances stolen between the two, and while they had seemed close before now there seemed to be something more… promptly confirmed as the blonde watched Ingrid reach for Connie’s hand while the small group made their way out of the small manor.

< Had a good time in the cellar~? >

There was a sly smirk on her elven lips as the blonde mindset the older elf, her eyes trained on Connie to gauge his reaction while Ari explained what the trio had uncovered upstairs. ”O-Oh, so David is here… I see.” Valeria had expected more of a surprise from the woman—had that been a hint of disappointment when she’d mentioned the grandson’s name?—as one of the ranger’s eyebrows arched high in the air, watching as the brunette simply game a nod of understanding after a small pause had lapsed.

"I'm glad to hear they're well and safe."

@Yugam

 

[Yugam]

Connie's face lit up with a moment of surprise as he felt Ingrid slip her hand into his, their fingers intertwining with each other as they left the house. The surprised expression was quick to shift to one of contentment though, his lips curling into a small smile.

< Had a good time in the cellar~? >

The elf was startled at first, to hear the Ranger's voice in his head. Although, perhaps he shouldn't have been. As her kinsman, he should've expected her to have the ability which so many others of their kind did. < A gentleman does not kiss and tell, > the man replied, giving the girl a smirk of his own.

"I'm glad to hear they're well and safe."
"Indeed," Connington added graciously, glad that he did not have to witness what it was that the three Travelers had seen. "Though this may have been a meager errand, both Ingrid and I owe you all a debt of gratitude, for putting our minds at ease...in more ways than one. If there is anything which we can do for you, please, do not hesitate to call on us. It appears that," Connington looked over at Ingrid with a smile, giving her hand a soft squeeze, "I will remain in this town for a while longer."

@Luthien

 

[Vesuvyan]

Summary; A Contest won, a package delivered. Young hearts beat beneath the falling trees, seeking their eternal loves. Their better halves, to share with one another. But, there is trouble in Hovelis, as the two soon found out. The merchants continue to bustle about, taking advantage of the surge of activity brought on by the travelers such as Connington, and the surge of economic activity from the Starcalled's return to this world. Yugam told another story of young love with David. Almost as though there was some kind of magic in the air, that brought the warmth of others together, and to share the cold nights.

But passionate love is a choice, one that can be walked back. Brotherly love was stronger, built on a foundation of shared blood and tears. Are either strong enough to save this small village from greed?

Replies: 78. Love that Yugam and Luthien stopped writing Yugam and Luthien at some point to write Ingrid and Connington. Big Heart from me.

Score: 50. A d10 has been rolled and added to this total in post. A 6, making this a 56.

You both earn 1 Vesuvyan Gold as a result of this thread.

Happy Reaping Season.