nothinglikea | IC Inbox for Deer Country

[Snow put on one of her nicest dresses and had gotten a bouquet filled with violets, pansies of all the colors she could manage to find, and rosemary in her arm. She gently pats her hair, and runs a hand down her skirt. Faramund and the other animals are lingering a bit back, allowing Snow her space.

She takes a deep breath and then knocks on Rose's door.

It was time to ask Rose to enter a courtship. She kept gently shifting the bouquet from arm to arm, trying to hide her nervousness. She had never done something like this before, even the usually unflappable Snow White was nervous.]

[Rose is glad that it's getting closer to fall. it's not that she doesn't like summer, far from it, but she always loved watching the leaves change and is looking forward to seeing it here.

the best part was going back to thick sweaters and jeans. right now, she's in a green tank top and jean shorts and can't help feeling like she's in her underwear. but, when in Trench, she supposed...

the knock on the door was a surprise. the person she saw when she opened it was a very pleasant surprise]

...Snow? This is for me? You'd--meant me?

[She smiled as she held out the bouquet to Rose.] I did say that a bouquet that you designed is the perfect bouquet for me to give. [She giggled as she blushed, pressing a hand to her cheek as she tried to calm herself down, bowing her head. She hoped this would go well. She took a deep breath and looked up at Rose from hooded eyes before lifting her head.]

Rose, will you enter- [Her voice started out strong and then became incredibly soft, suddenly deeply scared of rejection but she's already started, she has to see it through.] a-a courtship with me?

[She swallows, her throat feeling quite tight all of a sudden; as if she had bitten into the apple again, her breath stills in her chest as she waits.]

[Rose took the bouquet and holds it to her nose, breathing it in] Really? [and Rose blushes as well, wishing her hand was on Snow's cheek. and Snow has the most beautiful eyes she's ever seen.

and Snow's question makes Rose's heart feel full to bursting] I would--would love to. It's impossible to say how happy I would be, how happy I am now!

[with the hand not holding the bouquet, she reaches for one of Snow's hand to hold it. entirely chastely, but a hold nonetheless]

[Snow lets out the breath she was holding, and her hand is trembling when Rose grabs it but she immediately holds onto it tightly and moves to clasp Rose's hand with both of her own.]

Oh! Oh, you will! Rose! I'm so glad! You make me so happy, and seeing you happy makes me more so. So I can't help but be absolutely giddy right now. [She pressed a kiss to Rose's knuckles.]

I have never been so happy here as in this moment.

[it's all she can do to not sweep Snow into her arms but she figures that the other young lady wouldn't be ready for that yet. but Snow's hands on hers, the kiss on her knuckles felt good. right]

Absolutely certain that I will! I must admit that I've been nursing a crush on you for some time. And I want to make you happy. I'd give anything to make you happy. You've suffered enough, now is the time for kindness. And [a girlish laugh] so am I!

[tenderly] Neither have I. Please, come in! I don't have as many animal friends, but there's Melody, my Omen. And Muffin, my batcat, but he's very well trained.

Have you? Well, then that is rather mutual. [She blushed.] I'm so glad we've cleared this up, though. That's why asking about proper courtship is so important! [It was not at all uncommon to confess how deeply you cared and loved your friends. So this distinction was important.]

Well, if my time of happiness is with you, here in this new world, then I cannot imagine a grander feeling of happiness.

And I would love to meet all your animal friends and omen!

And I'm so very glad it is. I was afraid that I was going to make a fool of myself eventually, had you not felt the same way as I do. [and she takes Snow's hand and draws her into her cottage] So am I! And I think your courtship will be incredible. Just like you.

Neither can I. I...fell for you without realizing what happened until I could deny it to myself no longer.

They should be along shortly. Aren't you, Melody? [she raises her other hand, her index finger extended. a pretty yellow canary flies in and perches on her finger. she holds up the finger as Melody begins to sing] This is Melody, my omen. [and then Muffin flies in, a little bundle of fluffy orange cat with black wings] And that little mischief is Muffin. Now, Muffin, you must play nicely! [Muffin seems to understand, then swoops down to sit on an arm of the couch]

You? A fool? Well, I suppose love can make fools of all of us, or so Grumpy has said. But you would still be a lovely fool all the same. I certainly know I feel foolish for not having said something sooner.

[Snow follows Rose into the cottage, her animals now coming to peek through the windows and stand guard at the door.]

Oh, she's simply lovely. Hello there, Melody. I'm so happy I finally get to meet you! Oh! And what a cutie! [Snow gathers up Muffin into her arms.]

Who is just an adorable little bat cat? [She scratched under Muffin's chin, the cat purring loudly and leaning into the touch.]

I'll have to introduce you to all of my friends.

Grumpy sounds like he's wise, despite the grump. And I should have said something to you ages ago, I was too caught up in my past and what people of my time would think and I very nearly made a mess of everything.

[awwww, best bodyguard squad ever.

Melody trills with song, her dark eyes wide and accepting. if a canary could smile, she'd be smiling. and Muffin is just. loving. every bit. of attention! his purrs are so loud, she's amazed Muffin isn't vibrating with them] Muffin is a little darling, he is. And he likes you! I knew he would!

I'm looking forward to that.

Oh, he most certainly is, yes. I hope someday you can meet my family, the dwarfs, just as I met your Jack. I don't think they would be happy here, not with so few mines and away from each other. They're always together, all seven.

[At the mention of being too caught up, she reached out and held Rose's cheeks.] Well, you've said something now, and I heard it. We can make up for lost time, after all, we've all the time in the world here.

[She smiles as she presses kiss after kiss on both the batcat and the omen. She can't help but love every animal she meets.]

We'll make a formal announcement, of course, can't have anyone else trying to court you anymore.

I would love to meet them. I only hope that I'd meet with their approval? People can be awfully picky about who is courting someone dear to them. For I wish to woo you. Nothing...untoward. But enough to make you clearly mine.

[Rose leans into the touch] We do. We're here, we'll keep each other safe. As safe as Trench allows. Which had better be pretty safe, if a Pthumerian messed with you, I'd have to punch them. [yes, she's willing to punch out Chthulu for Snow's sake.

and the batcat and the omen are eating. it. up. they clearly find Snow pleasing and a worthy match for Rose]

I'd tell them to stop, even without the announcement. That my heart already belonged to you.

Well, all but Grumpy would approve, but he doesn't approve of anyone outside of the family and even then, he barely approves of them. But he's really very sweet and kind deep down. He'll be your fiercest protector in the end.

I wish to be wooed, and they would only wish to see me happy, so they would not stand in the way of such a thing. They would like you, you've a very good head on your shoulders, and you make me happy.

Trench is much safer than home so long as stepmother never arrives. And I don't think a Pthumerian would have any reason to trouble me or I them.

I shall cherish your heart with my entire being.

I would appreciate that. My...family is a bit of a sore spot with me. Father died and it turned out that he'd gambled our entire fortune away and owed money to various...unsavory persons. So, mother responded the only way she could: try to net a wealthy match for me. She succeeded, but Cal was...unworthy. But [a slightly tremulous smile] I already know Jack approves.

And you make me happy, too. You're easily the best person I've ever known and I swear to you that I'll do all that I can to make you happy and keep you safe.

Let's hope you're right. Argonaut is a sweetheart, he's my patron Pthumerian but his month is long gone.

And I, you. [she leans in and gives Snow a kiss on the cheek, entirely chaste but meaningful]

Oh, I'm so sorry that that happened to you, Rose. You shouldn't have been married away to try and solve the problem... [As royalty, that could have been Snow's fate too, be married off to form an alliance, to combine two kingdoms, to provide funds to her kingdom from a richer one. But then, she supposes that her stepmother would have to allow her to LIVE to even let that happen.] But I'm glad to have met Jack, and I'm gladder still that he approves... I know how much you loved him, and I thank you for making room in your heart for me.

You already make me happy and safe, so I think you're doing a wonderful job as it is.

Oh! Argonaut is my patron as well!

[And then Snow realizes.] We can spend our blessed days together! And our birthdays too! I've not had anyone to celebrate mine in years! I died before the dwarfs could celebrate it with me!

It was a common enough situation for girls in my position. Honestly, it was common enough for girls who weren't, sold into marriage to much older men for power or prestige or wealth. For people other than the girl. She was to bear children and keep silent and obedient even as her husband didn't even try to conceal his mistresses. [she has a lot of Feels about the lot of women in her time period, is it that obvious?] I think...love is not a finite resource. It can't be. For the more we love, the more we get in return.

I'm so very glad. [and she reaches over to gently cup Snow's cheek for a moment]

Yes! I'd love to do that with you! All of it! And your birthday will be an event for all of Trench to remember fondly next year!

Yes... that... I'm afraid that was the case for me as well back home. If my stepmother had let me live, I think, even if my father was still alive, I would have been married off for political gains and to unite kingdoms. Princesses are to be the one to provide legitimate heirs to their kingdoms, to make an heir and a spare and more than enough should plague or disease visit a kingdom's doors. It seems... even several hundreds of years later, not much has changed... which is really quite sad to hear.

But it seems different now. [She squeezes Rose's hand in return and then moves in for a hug, resting her head on Rose's shoulder.]

Oh, I will remember it as I'll have someone to celebrate it with for the first time in... oh goodness, I don't actually remember the last time I got to celebrate my birthday with someone.

[Rose reaches out to cup Snow's cheek in her hand] It was that way for each of us. It was wrong and unfair and it put our happiness at serious risk. But, talking to young women who are from about a hundred years in the future from me, it seems as though things have finally changed for the better, at least in many places.

It is. For you and me, it is. [and she hugs Snow back, one hand reaching to gently stroke her hair]

Then we'll have to go all-out! The birthday party of your dreams. With all of your friends here and your animal friends as well. And cake! What's your favorite kind of cake?

[She leans into Rose's touch and lets out a breath. She doesn't get touched by people very often. Animals? Certainly. She moves a hand over Rose's and closes her eyes. It feels warm.

And she might very well cry.]

I suppose... I'm very partial to the kind with sprinkles in it that's vanilla-flavored, so bright and festive! It wouldn't be hard for me to make. [Snow... has no idea she's not supposed to make her own cake.]

[Snow's reaction to being touched, even so gently and chastely makes Rose want to cry as well.

she knows how it feels. to shrink away from touches by people she didn't want touching her. to relax into the touch of someone she wanted touching her. it's a thrill unlike anything else]

Then I'll make one for you. [a pause] Well, I'll have to have someone help me make one. I'm still having trouble with baking. [noooo, Snow's birthday is a day meant for Rose and Snow's friends to pamper her, not another day for Snow to work!]

You- you would bake a cake for me? No one's ever made me a birthday cake before!

Even with help I know you'll have tried your hardest for me. Oh, Rose, that sounds delightful!

Absolutely! Especially if it's never been done for you before. You'll have a plethora of cakes waiting, since we'll need to fit all of your birthdays into one big celebration.

I will certainly be doing that! How many cakes do you need? One for each year.

Oh goodness! I don't know that I can eat 9 cakes! Not unless my seven dwarfs came all of a sudden! [She giggles but there is a hitch in her voice at the thought of her found family coming to Trench and how that would just make her whole world complete.]

One cake for my 16th is more than enough for me.

You have a great deal of friends, I'm sure they'd love to help you eat nine cakes. Even without them. [she says gently]

But your sixteenth birthday will be one to remember. In a good way. I'll make sure of that, at least.

Even if my birthday is just the two of us with a tiny cake, I would be happy.

I need to know your birthday, my darling, then I can make sure it is celebrated too!

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