milliways_bar | (no subject)

(no subject)

Marsh hasn't been around lately. There have been far too many things to do in far too many places and time is a cruel mistress. He has spent time with Rider, but as much of it has been in his own world with her as the invisible and silent presence keeping him company during the long days of working toward the rebellion's goals.

The tattoos that spread out from his eyes are still new and painful. Marsh doesn't react to the pain. He's been stone-faced through worse.

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She had slipped out of her invisible state and manifested as soon as he'd walked in, and the first thing she did was take his hand.

“Water? Sake? Or perhaps share some tea with me?”

"Tea sounds wonderful, Rider." Marsh says as he wraps his fingers around her hand. "Thank you. For everything."

She simply looks at him, as she feels he needs to say no thank yous to her but anything she'd say on the subject would offend him. So she just smiles.

"Of course," she says. "Do you have a preference?"

He touches her face gently with his free thumb. In that secret language that all couples develop eventually it means I suppose we'll just have to agree to disagree on this one, my dear.

"Something light. A green, perhaps."

A spark in her eyes answers I figured as much before she turns her face to brush against his thumb again.

I guess I'll just have to love you even if you're silly.

"Green," she agrees before moving towards the bar.

"And something sweet?"

"Something sweet." He agrees, "Surprise me. Your world has far more variety than mine."

He still isn't used to the robes of a novice, but he's adapting quickly. It's adapt or die at this level of danger and Marsh has no intent on dying.

"Green and nutty," she says with a nod before asking the bar for kuchika green tea.

The bar provides two cups of tea, the water a faint green and slightly sweet with just a hint of chestnut-like flavor.

He closes his eyes gingerly to smell the drink better and then raises it for a sip, "Lovely, Rider. Your taste is, as always, impeccable."

There's a faint smile on her face as she sips.

As if to say I know: look who I'm sharing tea with.

His own says a very lucky man indeed and he reaches for her free hand again.

She takes his hand.

"How much longer? Your plan.

"I'm not impatient. I would just like to know."

"Not long." Marsh informs her quietly, "Not long at all. Within the next month or so, if things continue apace."

"Good. I only wish I could assist more."

Being nothing but a spirit is very irritating when you'd like to slip in and gut someone so all this espionage is completely unnecessary.

"I know." he agrees "And to be honest I wish the same. It can't be helped, and at least I do get your company."

"You would have that regardless."

She smiles. This wouldn't be possible for just about anyone else, but Marsh's magic can burn so steadily, so well. Her energy source is sustainable. She will not leave him.

Bronze is cheap. Even in the Final Empire, bronze is a cheap metal. He has no problem at all keeping it on a slow and steady burn so that she has as much magic as she needs.

His is a passive magic, after all. If he has to burn more it doesn't change anything. It won't endanger him to have any less. "I am a blessed man."

"I am no goddess to give blessings," she says with a faint smile.

But if she was, he would get all of them.

"But having you in my life is certainly a blessing." Marsh says as he cups her face gently.

She leans into his touch.

"I could say the same."

"Doubly blessed, then." Marsh says, "And both the better for it."

She nods and settles beside him, sipping at her tea. There's nothing in particular that should tell him that she's happy, just happy to be with him, physical again and able to feel his hands on her as she'd never dreamed to be glad of before Marsh. A man's hands on her.

But it's obvious enough, almost like a glow.

He's an observant man, this Skaa. He doesn't have to be able to put words to it in order to be pleased by her pleasure.

He also doesn't need to draw attention to it. It's enough to know.

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