[friern]

"Please.....   allow   me   another   six   hours   of   sleep....."   she   is   sprawled   out   on   the   ground   pathetically.

[flowering-fern]

❝No. We're leaving now, Mistress Frieren. The bakery isn't going to be open forever. If we get there early, we'll get the freshest treats.❞ Queue the dragging of her Mistress into an upright position in their lodging; her hands on both Frieren's shoulders, meaning serious business.

❝ᴵ ʷᵃⁿᵗ ᵗᵒ ᵍᵒ ʷⁱᵗʰ ʸᵒᵘˑ❞

[friern]

"   Intimate?   ...   I'm   afraid   I'm   rather   clueless   when   it   comes   to   the   meaning   of   jewelry."   The   elven   mage   had   a   one   track   mind.   Anything   that   wasn't   of   magical   nature   was   of   no   use   to   her.

Or   -   that's   how   it   used   to   be,   now   however   ....   Frieren   seemed   a   tad   more   intrigued.

"We   certainly   become   close   on   our   journey   -   ...the   four   of   us   -   but   I   never   got   the   impression   that   Himmel   saw   me   as   anything   other   than   a   comrade."   a   soft   hum   left   pale   lips,   head   tilting   ever   slightly.

".....Do   you   have   feelings   other   than   companionship   when   to   comes   to   Stark?"

As   Dense   as   she   was,   even   she   could   tell   there   was   something   ...   special   between   them,   though   she   couldn't   exactly   pinpoint   on   what   it   was.

[flowering-fern]

Companionship...? That was one of the only words Mistress Frieren would choose to describe any relationship. She knows this; it doesn't faze her. However, she didn't actually feel like putting how she felt for Stark into words. It's not about that right now. Not really...

❝The mirrored lotus means eternal love. Mister Stark didn't know the meaning behind it," she'd curtly reply, ❝...but it's still mine.❞

❝And I know your idea of a date is questionable, but if Mister Himmel knew the meaning, then maybe he had other feelings as well.❞ Maybe there was no point in dwelling on it... but it was a little fun to.

[flowering-fern]

If I ever write a baby Fern, I'm definitely using Tomoyo Daidouji as a faceclaim...

[flowering-fern]

@gardenbuds

❝Mistress Frieren.❞ Her tone took on the same scolding lilt as usual.

❝About what happened with Mister Stark today...❞

[friern]

Frieren   enjoyed   these   quiet   moments,   where   they   could   just...   relax.   It   gave   her   time   to   observe   Fern,   as   they   continued   on   with   their   journey   she   had   witnessed   the   girl   change   in   slight   ways.   For   example,   though   she   had   always   taken   excellent   care   of   her   belongings,   it   seemed   to   her   that   there   was   extra   tenderness   when   it   came   to   the   bracelet   Stark   had   gifted   her.   Despite   them   occasionally   bumping   heads,   it   was   all   too   clear   that   they   were   growing   closer.

"......???????"   foresty   eyes   widened,   thoughts   interrupted   by   her   dear   apprentice's   abrupt   question.

"What   would   make   you   think   that?   ....   Himmel   and   I   were   merely   travelling   companions   ...   nothing   more"   though   that   was   the   honest   to   goodness   truth,   the   elven   mage's   heart....   ached   a   little....   why   was   that?

[flowering-fern]

She enjoyed this time too, with Frieren, with nature. Nature had a way of making her feel at home. She'd lower her wrist, a slow blink at the bangle before turning to Frieren, her hand sliding very carefully on the smooth rock she was seated on.

❝... Is it that far of a stretch? A bracelet is one thing, but a ring...❞ Even if it weren't a mirrored lotus, isn't a ring a very intimate gift? If she had been handed a ring......

❝I'm sorry if it seems this was out of nowhere. I was just... thinking. Ten years is actually a really long time to spend with someone. I guess I don't just mean romantic love. I know that Master Heiter loved you by the way he spoke of you. Though I didn't know him, I imagine Mister Himmel could have felt a little differently.❞

[flowering-fern]

@friern

The mirrored lotus bracelet twinkled on her wrist, and she inspected it thoroughly in the sunlight. Every chance she got, she would clean it in the rivers (along with the hairpin Mistress Frieren gave her); it never stayed dulled for long. Yet, it sparkled incessantly today, while she washed her belongings, after a dip in the river.

Apparently, in the language of flowers it means 'Eternal Love.' Honestly, at the end of the day, what flower doesn't represent love? But to think that this was the exact one he had given to her... though, it was well established that he didn't know the meaning when he picked it out. Well, she certainly never forgot the meaning, even when her heart went back and forth on the matter, as it is now. Just because one man didn't know the meaning, that didn't mean that other men didn't do their due diligence to research. Himmel the Hero gave a matching ring to Mistress Frieren, too. If he had known the meaning, well... She'd whisper softly, deep in her thoughts, ❝Do you ever think that maybe Mister Himmel was in love with you?❞

[flowering-fern]

[flowering-fern]

❝ That isn't to say Mistress Frieren cannot be relied upon! She has been my sole source of strength for so long... I appreciate both of them. I need both of them. We make a great team.❞

...

...

❝And clearly, they both need me.❞

[flowering-fern]

❝ Mr. Stark is... our fastest warrior. He can be relied on...ˢᵒᵐᵉᵗⁱᵐᵉˢ❞

[flowering-fern]

❝ Mistress Frieren is always the slowest to rise and the quickest to fall.❞