any other time, vex crying worried him more than anything, but these are happy tears, he knows. so vax just holds her close, pressing a kiss into her hair more out of instinct than anything. this is his sister, his other half, the other side of his soul, and she is going to be okay. she had a home, a purpose, and a future to look forward to here in whitestone, all things he wanted for her in her life, she now had. they both had it, even if it was in different places, for the first time in their lives.
climbing onto the bed, he was reminded of so many times as children, as they would tell each other the good things that had happened during the hours they were apart. the way they had comforted each other during the bad days in syngorn. now, they were adults, and had partners to lean on, but this was still something for the two of them. vax pulled off his glove finally, revealing the simple band on his left hand. “ yeah, i know she would’ve. dunno if percival would’ve been approved of though, he’s kind of an asshole. “ but there’s a smile as he says it, even as he notes that he was going to have words with the other man later. “ show me your bling first, what did freddie decide to charm you with? “
THE RELIEF SHE FEELS TAKING OVER her body whole is overwhelming ⸻ years upon years of stress and panic falling off her shoulder all at once, and for a moment, she doesn’t know what to do without the weight of it all. it’s staggering, almost enough to bow her over, but her brother is there to steady her as always. she catches his hand, running her fingers over the ring reverently, then presses a kiss into his palm.
❝ he’d have to work for it, huh ?? ❞ the grin is still a little wet, as is her laugh, but she takes a deep breath, allows herself to think of a gentler world, one where their mother would greet them with smiles. it’s no use, she knows, but the sentimentality of it all is getting to her. her own ring, on its silver chain around her neck, is delicate and decidedly shinier than the one on vax’s finger, but vex’ahlia cradles it into her hand with care. ❝ i can’t wear it around the castle, obviously, cassandra has freakishly keen eyes, but. he made it, so do be gentle with him please, brother. ❞