Towa shivered on the bench, a light breeze flowing from outside the shaking cable car. While the orbal heater had started up, wind still blew through the open window onto its occupants.
Her jitters weren't caused by a simple chill though. It was moreso what lay at the top of their cable ride. Or rather, three whats.
A warm hand touched her shoulder, causing her to shift her gaze from the metal floor towards the boy sitting next to her. "You feeling cold?" Rean asked, fushcia eyes tinged with a little worry.
The brunette shook her head, her bangs shaking with the movement. "I'm just... a bit nervous, you know?"
(She may not have been ENTIRELY truthful in that, as she silently pulled her jacket tighter against her small frame. Still, comparatively small issue.)
His hand squeezed her shoulder, his worry slightly fading. He gave her a small smile. "You know they'll love you. Though I still can't believe you couldn't visit Ymir during the civil war with the rest of us."
"Well, duty calls! And has it happens, duty calls a lot when you're acting captain in the middle of a civil war." She giggled little, spirits raised a little. Truthfully, she was more then a little envious hearing the girls of Class VII gushed about trips to the foot bath or hot springs.
The laughter soon drifted away, followed by by a small sigh. "Still... that just means they know nothing about me. I mean, obviously anyone who raised you will be kind and welcoming" (The growing blush on Rean's cheeks did not go unnoticed) "but it's normal to be worried about meeting your date's parents, right?"
"That's fair." He admitted. After all, every time he thinks about meeting Towa's aunt and uncle, a nervous chill runs up his spine. The worries just come naturally. "But even then, theres no need to worry. They'll love you." He smiled, moving his hand to her arm to pull her against his side.
Towa's already red cheeks cheeks flushed brighter, and not from the cold. Her lips grew into a small smile. She nestled closer to her boyfriend, leaning into his side.
"Alright. I'll try not to be so nervous." She said as faint image of buildings started appearing above them through the misty advance.
Easier said then done.* She thought as she stood in front of a set of large wooden doors. The doors to the Schwarzer estate, blocking the light snow and chilling winds from entering the warm abode.
As she watched Rean manipulate the lock, the same worries she felt on the cable car started to resurface. The door quickly opened with a click.
The swordsman pulled it open, gesturing for Towa to enter first. She obliged with a small smile, before he walked in himself.
"Mom! Dad! We're here!" He yelled into the building. Towa took to time to look around the interior of her beau's childhood home.
For noble estate, it was pretty homely. Compared to the towering halls of Bareahard, this place felt almost like a resort cabin.
(*You know, it kind of *is* a resort cabin. Like, the king of all winter cabins... the baron of all resorts?*)
Her musing was interrupted by two sets of footsteps, one light and one heavier. Two figures soon step into view.
"Hey there, Rean!" The man, likely Baron Schwarzer, opens with. Rean held his hand in front for a handshake... but was quickly pulled into a hug by the older man. His surprise only lasted an instance before he returned it. Towa couldn't help but smile at the sight.
"So you must be that 'guest' he was talking about!" Her view of father-son bonding was interrupted by his Mothers voice. The woman gave her a warm smile. "I'm Lucia! I'm pleased you cam join us here!"
"T-thank you, Ma'am!" Towa responded, bowing her head a little too quickly to be normal.
"You don't have to be so formal!" Lucia giggled. "You're my son's girlfriend! Treat me like you would your aunt!"
Both teens blushed at that quip, though neither denied it. Teo raised an eyebrow at his son, combined with a grin that practically shouted, *I expected a denial*
(Towa's blush ran a bit deeper, given the *intrusive* thoughts that were brought back into the forefront of her mind.)
The older man cleared his throat. "Anyway, I'm Baron Teo Schawzer. But please, call me Teo." His smile was smaller, but no less friendly. "Why do you two hang up your coats and come on in? Elise is preparing the table for lunch."
Towa hadn't talked much with Elise during the civil war. The only time they really had together was the few hours between her rescue at the Imperial Villa and the aftermath of what happened at the Infernal Castle.
Given their *considerable* stress at the time, they never got a chance to just chat. Even if they did, she doubted she would even know *how* to talk with her, given she had started dating her brother not even 12 hours earlier.
Still, she thought she knew what to expect coming into this. While she only really knew about Rean's parents from Rean himself, she heard a decent amount about his sister from other members of Class VII, not to mention Alfin and Olivert. She knew she was polite, friendly, and pretty refined. Not quite the noble scion Jusis was, but certainly closer to him then she was to Angie.
While Elise certainly *was* that kind of girl, Towa did not expect such a barrage of questions about their love life.
"Were you two together during his field visit?"
"How often do you two call?"
"Have you kissed kiss?!"
She at least had the sense to be somewhat ashamed at blurting that last one out, especially after seeing how red their cheeks were.
"Is she always like this?" She couldn't help but ask Rean, leaning over to whisper between dishes.
"No, not usually. Only sometimes." He half-soghed, half laughed. "I'm not sure what I expected from my younger sister, to be fair. And she IS friends with the princess..."
"...ah. right." She slinked back, her cheeks regaining most of their usual color. She felt something wrap around her hand. She soon recognized it as Rean's familiar hand sliding under the table onto hers. She glanced back up towards him, her eyes shining a little. His own fuchsia orbs gazed right back at her for a few seconds.
Two giggles and a cleared throat brought them back to earth. Their hands snapped apart as that everpresent blush came back in force.
This was gonna be a loooooong night.
Thankfully, dinner talk eventually returned to less embarrassing topics. Things like how her NGO time was going, how her student council experience helped, or her yet again lamenting that Rean didn't succeed her as class president.
The atmosphere was impossibly warm. Not on terms of heat (though the fireplace did make for a cozy warmth throughout the dining hall) but in terms of additude. These four really felt like any old family. No talk about their noble heritage, or anything, just questions about her family or about hunting trips between the men of the family.
It made her prior worries from the cable care just seem silly. Of course the people who raised Rean would be just as gregarious and kind as him. Noblility or not, they wouldn't think any ill of her just because she was a commoner. They wouldn't say she can't stand by his side just because of her blood. They'd treat her the same they'd treat anyone.
She couldn't help but envy her boyfriend. Just a little.
"So where do you see yourself and Rean in five years?"
Towa nearly dropped the plate she was cleaning, barely catching the towel. She had volunteered to help with cleanup after dinner. She was almost done with her set of dishes when Lucia suddenly spoke.
"W-well..." Towa set the dish down, moving her hands to rest on the countertop.
Lucia set her own plates down, turning to the brunette. "Don't worry, this isn't me reading you the riot act." The elder Lady Schwarzer. "I'm just wondering if you see hope to stay with my son long-term." Her lips turned upwards to a small smile.
"I mean..." Towa gazed down at the slightly wet plate in her hand, letting out a nervous breath. "I-if he wants me, I certainly would appreciate it, but I haven't really...
"...thought about it much?" Lucia finished, raising an eyebrow. "I'm surprised. You seem like the type of person to constantly think ahead.
The younger woman nodded. "well, between my NGO work, his deployments, and our relationship still being fairly new... I've never sat down to really think about it." She admitted.
"I see " she simply replied. She set her last dish down on a pile, moving to pick up the set. "Don't worry too much about it, dear. I don't want to hound you about it. Just a mother's stray thought.
Towa managed to put the thought to rest as the two finished the rest of the dishes. Still, the brunette couldn't help but think.
What... IS our future? Is it... Even together?*
"Just a few more minutes." Rean assured, his gloves hand enveloping Towa's as he leads her across the darkening town. The snowfall had lessened by then, letting evening lights from the buildings shine out across the empty town.
The conversation from earlier still rattled around in her brain. *Are you sure he WANTS a future with me?* Though the warmth of his hand managed to force that thought to the back of her mind.
"Few minutes to what?" She asked. She heard soft goggles from behind them. "You'll see." Elise cryptically replied, holding a box like object in her hands. An orbal camera.
Whatever this would be, it would probably be pretty, at least.
In the end, she was right. Very right
On the way to the cliff face, Rean had idly mentioned that it was Count Rogner's birthday today. While interesting, it didn't seem exactly relevant at the time.
She should've remembered how much nobles love their extravagant celebrations.
Even from Ymir, the fireworks shone through the night sky. The snow had cleared up just enough to give a soft ambience to the multicolored light show.
Towa's eyes widened, her mouth hanging open on awe. "This..." was all she could mutter.
She managed to tear her gaze away from the show to glance up at her boyfriend. What she saw froze her almost as much as the fireworks.
A smile. A simple, wide, utterly mirthful smile. It shouldn't really be so... Alluring. But after months of separation due to their respective work, and especially his "work" being far less voluntary, just seeing such a carefree, liberating smile was... Indescribable.
I wish... I could see that smile every time I see him. And that I can give him that smile. Every day, every night...*
As a smiling Elise took a picture of their joyous gazes, Towa's mental cabinet sorted out her thoughts, slotting the answer to Lucia's question neatly near the top.
(Alongside what she would have to bribe Elise with to get copies of the photos. Maybe some embarrassing Rean speeches?)