So soft!

Softness sometimes means things hurt more, but pain she's used to; if they're carefulish it's no impediment at all.

It is very nice that she doesn't mind a little pain.

Just as long as he fixes her up when he's done. It's more than anyone else ever did.

Every time. It's important to keep his Anaseverina in good condition.

He's good at that.

For his fifteenth birthday she finds a bracelet with a songbird on it in a little mosaic of gemstones the same blue-grey as her eyes.

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!

He hugs her. "You're my favourite."

"Out of what competition?"

"All the people I know. I never said being my favourite was a very impressive achievement." He ruffles her hair and hugs her again.

Hugs. "That's okay. Being good at presents is enough of an achievement for me."

Smile. Pet pet. "You're very good at presents."

"Good." Hug.

What a good lovely huggable Anaseverina he has.

Yes. Yes he does.

A few weeks later she comes back with another book of poetry.

She's so good at finding things!

Years of practice. Before she was his it was the safest place to be.

Yeah.

Although she never brought anything back before she started courting his protection; there wouldn't have been any point.

How about hugs instead of thinking about the shitshow that is their lives.

Yes that's much better. They can snuggle and read poetry, how about.

That sounds really nice.

It is really nice.

It is good poetry. And good snuggles.

Both those things!

Yeah.

Unfortunately, a reputation is a hungry thing, and a faded one is as likely to make one a target as to defend one. And with some of the...rumors...floating around...

One evening Sairu goes out after dinner to see if he can catch an owl to add to his skeletal menagerie, and he doesn't come back until almost midnight.