A/N: I know, I know. Today will be catch up. A rough catch up, but catch up nonetheless...

5th of Day of Rayllum: Golden Things

Chapter Summary: Isha needs romance advice. Reluctantly, she goes to her father for advice, and he apparently has five things to tell her? What the heck is a love language?

Word Count: 3,671

Golden Things

Isha knocked on her father's study with a hesitant beat. "Come in!" came the instant reply. She poked her head through and found her father at his easel placing a blank canvas. He turned around, grabbing his brushes, and he met her face. "Ah, Isha—my little Mage Apprentice, do you need help with your recent lessons?"

She stepped as she closed the door behind her. "Err, no Da. I'm good."

He raised a brow at her as he sat down at his stool, thumbing over his brush's bristles. "You sure? I understand that after learning the Water Arcanum, spell casting was an entirely new breed of difficulty for me." He laughed to himself. "I remember, your mother was so mad I ruined our date because I soaked her in lake water! Ever since we've had a rule: no Water Magic during dates."

Isha snickered at that. Her mother was a representative of the Dragonguard and a highly skilled warrior, and she had just begun to double down on her younger brother, Lian, and his combat training. While she thought fighting was cool and all, she knew—much to her mother's disappointment—being a Mage was her path. And despite the tough exterior she tries to hold out, her mother was a softie through and through. She was an understanding lady who had a high tolerance for shenanigans.

"How many times did ya mess with her with Water Magic?"

Her father's infamous mischievous grin grew. "Oh far too often. Enough to land me on the couch sometimes!" He shook his head as he fondly chuckled. "But, of course," he leaned over as he cupped a hand over his hand, "your old man knows how to cheer your mother up!"

Isha smiled. "So… would ya say ya're an expert on romance?"

He snorted. "I try, but your mother would definitely love to argue…" his smile dropped as he stared at his daughter with a curious look, "otherwise…" His face was replaced with a familiar smugness she had come to get used to growing up. "Issy, are you here for… love advice?" his brows waggled at the inquiry.

She groaned. She was going to regret this.

"I am so honoured you decided to come to your father for such wisdom!" He laughed. "Oh, I may be the Archmage, but I know as much about romance as I do the Sky Arcanum!"

"Da," she spoke up, "don't make this more difficult than it needs to be?" He shut his mouth and grinned. "Okay so… as ya may know, I have a lil' crush on Farha—"

"Little?" Callum snorted. "Oh Issy, even Ellis is aware of your crush on her daughter."

"I'm fourteen Da," she said, stone faced, "I've outgrown 'Issy' and I am well aware that Farha's mum knows. She keeps teasin' me whenever I come over her house."

Callum smiled. "Isha, my little mage, you'll never outgrow being my daughter," he said with a soft pitch, "and I mean never."

And just like that, her frustration and annoyance melted instantly. It was stuff like that that made Rayla believe she was on the right track going to her father for advice. Her mother did sweet things too of course, but more times than not she flopped on the flirty, confident front. Her father on the other hand? "How do ya do that?"

He blinked. "Pardon?"

"It's just… don't tell Mum this but, ya're so good at this romance thing, better than she is sometimes!" He laughed at that, but Isha recognized it not to be his usual proudful laughter, but the kind of you-don't-know-the-half-of-it sort. Weird. "I-I mean… I came to ya because… I wanna know… how did ya and Mum know?"

"'Know'?" he echoed.

"Aye. How did ya know when… to just ask?"

His face lit up at that. "You're going to ask out Farha?"

"Da."

"I'm kidding, I'm just teasing Issy, you know me," he sighed, "I hate to tell you this but… it just sort of happened." Her dissatisfaction must've been expressive because he sheepishly shrugged at her. "Well, she kissed me first but it was a misunderstanding and then I kissed her because I really did like and she just, I felt like it was the right moment? But that wasn't even the crazy thing, we said how love each other pretty soon too, like a sorta 'life is short' moment but also it just felt right? It's hard to really say…" he settled with a half smile and nervous eyes.

"That… was severely unhelpful." Isha palmed at her face and sighed. "So ya're telling me ya two are just so meant to be ya just… clicked?" she looked at him with a tired face. "That's the best advice ever!"

Her father's face shifted into his affectionate teacher mode as he grabbed the empty stool nearby and dragged it beside him. As he patted it, he said, "Let's chat?"

She wordlessly walked over and sat down. Her father hugged her close to his chest as he rubbed her shoulder comfortingly. There was a time when she was younger where she actually preferred him touching her hair, but an incident with braids resulted in her mother banning him from ever touching her hair again. But… this was nice too.

"So what's really the issue? I get coming to me for advice but, there's something specific buggin you huh?"

She took a deep breath. "I wanna ask out Farha but… it's not that I'm not ready or anything. I have a plan too! I wanna go to the park where we met and tell her how I feel it's just… it's…" she released a frustrated sigh as she crossed her arms.

Her father shook her as he whispered, "It's okay, it's okay." He continued, "You're not sure if she feels the same way?"

Isha nodded. "I just… I don't know if how she's acted around me is actually because she's flirting, like because she likes me likes me. Or if it's her being platonically nice? I-I-I know Ellis living up in the mountains and all by herself and that she and Farha don't have many people to be around, so like… what if she just doesn't know the difference between romantic and platonic?" She felt terrible for evening voicing out such a thought, as if bad mouthing her best friend was a sin. "I… am I reading things right?"

A silence stirred for a moment, her father comforting her as she voiced her frustrations. He knew how to do that. To let her ramble and rant and get it all out. She had seen him do it with her younger brother, to their mother, to even Uncle Ezran whenever he came over. He was good at that. He waited, listened, and then spoke.

"Isha, are you aware of love languages?"

She blinked, confused with where this was going but wise enough to be patient. She quietly shook her head.

"Well… it's not a proven fact, not yet, your mother's taken to reading about romance books like them in her free time. But, the basic idea is that we all have a certain love language we respond to—five, that is—," he explained, "and how we respond to the people we like and how they respond to us? It's essentially just the way we all interact. Now to me? I find that everyone has a mixture of everything but… sometimes, there's just instances where the person you like does something that clicks with your love language and… it's often because they know it does."

She shot her head up and stared at her father. "Da, what're ya gettin' at?"

He chuckled. "Well, similar to how you are worrying about misinterpreting Farha's messages, you think she might be as well?" Her shock must've been obvious as her father continued, "And since we all joke about how obvious you are—you think she's also debating whether you're being romantic or not?"

That blew her mind. Could it really be true? But that still didn't confirm any of her own worries. "I… how can I know? That doesn't really confirm anythin'!"

"Isha," came her father's affectionate tone, "that's the idea." He quickly explained, "I'm saying sometimes we often do things for the people we care about that not even we are aware of it! But we still do them because we care."

It… sounded like it made sense. Like he was onto something. But still… "How?"

He smiled. "Well, take one of the languages perhaps? Words of Affirmation…" She nodded, expressing her attention, "Like, small acts of encouragement, actively voicing out one's genuine appreciation for affection for their partner…"

::::

"Da, I thought ya and Mum were headin' out today?"

"Oh we are! But a change in plans has me going to the castle to just do some quick busywork and your mother has to head to the market herself," he explained as he laid out her and Lian's breakfast. Some porridge, her favourite! "So your mom will be heading out earlier than me."

She nodded as she sat down and began eating.

"What's this 'bout me?" her mother's voice leaked in as she filled the dining room with her presence.

Her father beamed. "Nothing dear, just me explaining to Issy our plans for the day."

She smiled in response, "Ahh, well I thought I'd say thanks for lovely note on the shoppin' list." She shook said paper as her smile somehow grew.

Her father feigned ignorance. "What note?"

Her mother, however, decided to play along. "Ah, I guess nevermind! I guess I'll have to find the author of such a poetic profession of love!" she dramatically sighed, "Where will I ever find such a clever man?"

"Oh I'm sure you keen eyes and intellectual inquisitiveness will guide you well."

Isha, on the other four-fingered-hand, darted back and forth between the two's banter. A short moment passed and her mother released a tender sigh.

"Thanks, love."

"Anytime, my dear."

She hung off the door frame before entirely stepping out. "Good luck at the castle! I know it's nothing but I know ya'll stomp it out quick!"

He smiled at that. "And I'll try to hurry so I can make it in time to help you at that market, but, knowing you, you'll be done long before I even get to the castle!"

Another exchange of fond looks, and she shot him a wink before departing. "Love ya, and love ya too Issy!"

"Love you most!"

"And love ya always!" was her mother's final response before the door closing shut behind her.

Isha stared at her father in disgust and curiosity as he started to eat his porridge. "Why are you two always saying that?"

Her father shrugged. "Because it's true?

::::

Isha smiled at the memory, realising the importance of how much they reminded each other. It was true, what was the harm in proclaiming it? Encouragement, verbal profession, the littlest things… Like her and Farha. "Isha, you're the best Mage I've ever seen!" "I honestly think your hair is Godly levels of beautiful." "You are amazing, Is."

A faint blush danced across her cheeks as she realized all the small instances her famed crush spoke like her parents did to each other. Not the exact words of course, but the inflection, the fondness in looks, the casual reminders—she did it so often.

"—of course, physical touch as well," her father continued, "that one is more clear sometimes, but there are other subtleties as well!"

Her attention raised at that. "How so?"

"Well, sometimes physical affection isn't just kisses, but casual, more intimate things too…"

::::

Isha walked into the room to ask her parents about dinner, but she instead found the two sitting at the couch together. Her father had his sketchpad out, drawing away on his lap while her mother was leaning up against him, head rested on his shoulder as she flipped away at her novel. The two sat there, completely quiet, save for her father's brushing pen and mother's casual turn of a page. Isha was mesmerized by the sight.

Suddenly, her father turned his mouth mid-sketch and pecked her mother's forehead, eliciting a giggle from her. She responded by freeing her page turning hand and patting her father's cheek, like she would do for their pet Sky dragon Zeusia. He beamed at that and the two returned to their tasks.

"What're ya doin'?" Isha asked, surprisingly not startling either of them.

Her mother moved her head from her comfort spot, much to her father's disappointment, and bookmarked her page as she gave Isha her full attention. "Oh, just lounging around," her mother simply said. "Do ya need something?"

She blinked. A better explanation than that. But she settled for, "Um, when's dinner?"

Her father's face finally shot up from his sketch as he announced, "Right! I'll get on it!"

But as he moved himself from the couch, her mother stopped him with her hand, interlacing her fingers with his seamlessly. "Wait, don't ya wanna finish your sketch?" He chuckled as he put down his pad and used his free hand to pat her hold. It seemed like an affectionate pat? Her mother responded by taking his hand up and kissing it. The two shared an interlocked gaze, and then her mother released him. "Fine, go, go."

Her father laughed as he walked toward the kitchen, patting Isha on the shoulder with a comforting squeeze as he passed her.

::::

Casual, subtle, intimate—but physical. It was all there. It reminded her of how she often walked with Farha. Slight brushes of hands and fingertips as they walked side by side. Shoulder touches, from assuring squeezes to gentle, playful bumps. Hugs? Before now Isha had been convinced she was smitten with them, but looking at it again it was always Farha who embraced her, as if she was squeezing the life out of her with each one. It was always her who started it… Isha just followed suit.

"—receiving gifts is a big thing too. It's obvious as well, but piled up with so many instances you never realize how much someone gives you!" Her father laughed. "Honestly, things like…"

::::

"Oh family!" her father's voice echoed throughout the house.

Isha looked up from her book, A Human Archmage's Guide to Magic, and let out a breath of relief. An excuse from her studying? Finally. As she stepped up from her seat on the couch, her mother entered the room at the kitchen at the same time her father arrived in the room.

"I come bearing tonight's dinner!" he announced as he hefted up a bag. "An entire turkey! Courtesy of the staff at the council meeting today!"

Isha didn't really have anything to comment on that: turkey was nice, and that was good fortune for her dad. She turned and watched her mother look at him with a mixture of warmth and annoyance.

"Cal, I thought I say I was cookin' tonight?"

He rolled his eyes as he made his way over. "We both know you hate cooking. I'll take care of it!"

"Fine, but I'm still making ya your favourite pie."

Her father pouted. "Aw, did I ruin a surprise?"

"By being sweet? Oh no my dear," she walked over and pecked his cheek, pulling the bag from his hands as she departed, "I could never fault ya for that."

He smiled at her as she walked away. "By the way there's some Moonberry juice in there too! I got it on my way home!"

She popped her head back into the room, grinning ear to ear. "Thanks. And I got Isha to start on her studying." She blew a kiss and ducked away.

Isha sighed at the sudden attention as her father looked pleased. "That's great Ray, thank you!" He walked over to Isha, revealing a jelly tart from his hand. Her favourite treat! "And thank you for studying."

::::

Farha did that. She did that so often! Cute little bracelets she would make because it "reminded it of her," or baking her jelly tarts because she knew she liked them so much, or making her scrunchies that could double as braids because "they looked good on her regardless if she wore it as a braid or bracelet." Small reasons that were essentially… "Just cause."

Maybe she was just not seeing things before…

"You know, I think it also pairs well with Quality Time," her father rambled on, "just small instances of one-on-one time that's just you guys. It's private, it's personal, it's attentive, it's…"

::::

"Lian, where's Da and Mum?" Isha shouted as she barged into his room.

Her younger brother absentmindedly hummed a tune as he sharpened his dagger. "They went out!" he simply said, minding his own business.

She blinked at that. "Out? But Da said he'd start teaching me Ocean Magic today?"

Her brother shrugged. "They wanted to go out on a walk. Said it'd only be like ten minutes."

Isha pouted. She really wanted to train with her father today. Thankfully, the sound of the door alerted her ears and she rushed over immediately.

She found her parents walking in, smiling and giggling like those teenagers she occasionally saw at the market. "—be later," came her mother's whisper. Her attention shifted over and met Isha's eyes. "Oh, hi Issy! Ya're father and I just went out for a stroll."

Her father beamed proudly. "And a little bit of sunset watching!"

Isha gaped. "Sun's almost down? But Da, ya promised to teach me Ocean Magic today!"

Her father seemed unphased as he shook his head. "Relax my Mage Apprentice, it's crucial we work at night today!" He nodded confidently. "Water has temperature, tonight we'll be playing with the lakeside freezing water!" Her mother elbowed his stomach, "Argh—I mean learning. Not playing. Of course." He winked at her as he turned and pecked her mother.

Isha felt a surge of relief and joy. "That's great Da. Thanks!" She left the room to prep her things, but not before hearing:

"So? Sketch you later? After the lesson and dinner?"

"Can't wait!"

It wasn't until the two were wrapping up their lesson, Isha decided to ask, "Da, why're ya spending so much time with Mum? Ya're married, haven't ya done it enough?"

He chuckled, shaking his head with an adoring smile. "It's like you said Issy," he winked at her smugly as he walked back to their cottage, "It's because we're married."

::::

It's because they love each other. It's because they just wanted to do things together because they liked each other that much. Like reading/sketching together—or studying together, like her and Farha. Like going on long walks and watching sunsets—or strolls into forests, looking for adventures. And even just sitting together face to face, talking about anything and everything—exactly like her and Farha.

"Da, tell me the last one!" she eagerly said.

He blinked in alarm. "Ah, what?"

"C'mon! C'mon! Tell me!"

He chuckled as he replied, "Alright, alright!" Clearing his throat, he continued, "Acts of service is, I think, the definition of romance. But also what you mean to another…"

::::

Isha walked into her father's study and was surprised to find her mother there instead. She caught her in the act of cleaning up her father's supplies; putting his brushes away in their proper holders, adjusting his easel's size to his preferred starting height, and throwing his dirty brushes and mixing paints into one bin. She stopped mid clean as she noticed her daughter's presence.

"Oh, hey Is. Need somethin'?"

She stared, confused. "Uhhh, yeah… from Da… where—why are ya cleanin' his study?"

Her mother laughed. "Oh, ya're father went to go run out and buy Zeusia some treats for me, and he left in a hurry so," she shrugged like it was a normal thing to do and went about with her task, "Should be back soon I believe!"

Isha decided she could wait for her father's return. Evidently that resulted in her passing out in her bedroom before she could ask him about her Mage homework. A light rap on her door startled her from her slumber. She turned to her door to find the culprit and found her mother, smiling at her.

"Mum?"

"Ya're father's home. But I thought I'd wait until ya got some good sleep in before I woke ya," she spoke with a fondness laced in her voice.

Isha rubbed the sleep out of her eyes as she groaned. "Uhh, how long was I out?"

"Not long, just an hour or so," her mother replied. "Hope that's okay."

Isha glanced at the window and noticed it pretty dark out. "Oh. Yeah it's fine." She hopped out of bed and followed her mother out the room. She led her into the dining room where, of course, her father was setting the table with a brewing pot over the stove.

"Oh!" Rayla walked over and hugged her husband. "Thanks for starting but I just had to use the bathroom!"

He returned the embrace with ease. "It's never a problem," he easily replied, "Just figured I'd do it just 'cause."

::::

"Oh my Azymondias," Isha gasped, "She likes me."

Callum stared at her, waiting for her to elaborate.

"She likes me! O-Or, at least, there's a chance she likes me! It-It might not seem that big a deal but before I was convinced I had no chance but—" she released an excited squeal. "I-I-I gotta go!" she announced as shot up from her seat.

Her father stared at with a proud smile. "And? Do what?"

She stopped before his doorframe and smiled back. "Tell the girl I like I wanna date her!"

"Yeah you will!"

She rushed out of the room.

"Oh but, be back before sundown!" she heard him shout.

Isha smiled confidently as she gathered her things and rushed out of the room, bidding a quick goodbye to Lian before she left the house. Surprisingly, her father was good at romance advice.

But he was also a good husband.

And a good dad.

A/N: Would Chapman's research exist in an age like TDP's? Probably not! Do I care? This fic's existence is the answer! I know Love Languages aren't about meshing or how you act with others, it's how you RESPOND to others affection. It's why the focus is on Isha realizing how Farha acts WITH her is similar to her parents' interactions with each other (i.e. her receiving this affection in all different forms). Also I know receiving gifts isn't about GIVING gifts, it's RECEIVING.

Review Responses:

mdauben: Uhhh yeah maybe a BIT too much reading into things XD. her running in and out was just meant to carry out the prompt of four: four stalling words (her quote), four times they meet, etc. But good analysis!

dinochickrox: Not much a tattoo guy myself but I do like the aesthetic! Geek tattoos are indeed the best.

C. : Thanks! Glad you liked it

Until next time,

- Bleh