Soft Velvet

“Despite our history, I never hated mankind.” [sidebar credit]

[solumtaguel]

"And man-spawn talk about rabbits multiplying..."

[sacrosanctified]

Berceuse

[sacrosanctified]

Momentarily, her gaze shifts from the taguel to her daughter, then back again. There’s something about Panne’s demeanor that appeals for reassurance, but above all else, honesty. With a soft sigh, Anthea responds, choosing her words carefully. 

"It’s bewildering sometimes. Well, for me, anyway. Chrom’s a natural at being a father. I’d be lying if I said I had never felt inadequate or afraid. Being responsible for a new life — especially one so tiny and fragile, it can be daunting at times. I often wonder if Lucina will be able to think of me as a good mother… all I know for certain is that I will always love her dearly."

[solumtaguel]

The taguel's features soften. she can say nothing of the future, but in the present at least, the baby seems quite happy just to have this attention. Babies are honest--they haven't yet learned the adult business of lying.

"Love is as much as a small human can ask for," she says thoughtfully, eyes remaining on little Lucina. The child looks so much like her father, but only time will tell who she ultimately resembles and takes after. "You are a fine human. Have I told you this? Your honesty would please any taguel."

Her fingers curl and relax. "We will say...it is difficult, being the last of your kind. Matters of parenthood are always looming."

[solumtaguel]

new maribelle rp blog

whoops I kind of

[territitaguel]

                    “You never—uh, that’s why my hair’s so messy…” Nervously, he runs both hands through his messy mane before bowing his head to the elder taguel. “Go ahead.”

[solumtaguel]

She must have an endless forest of tangles ahead of her, but this is no match for a taguel mother. Gently, she brushes through a small section with her fingers, then smiles.

"You have your father's hair," she notes, more to herself than to him.

Her tent is nearby. She takes Yarne by the hand and leads him, where they can sit together on her bed while she brushes. She wants to ask so many things about his future, but doesn't know where to start or what to avoid. As she starts brushing, she hums thoughtfully. "When is your birthday?" Yes, that seems like an appropriate starting point.

[territitaguel]

solumtaguel started following you

[territitaguel]

                    “WWAAGGHH—O-OH! It’s just you, mother! Haha…”

                    “Please stop sneaking up on me like that…”

[solumtaguel]

"I was not sneaking, but I am sorry for startling you. I was looking for you... I wondered if I'd never taught you to groom yourself in the future? I will brush you, if you would like."

[tannimm]

                    “Of course. May I ask for your name?”

[solumtaguel]

"Panne."

[solumtaguel]

whenever I see pictures of small brown buns I'm like "(points) yarne's baby pics"

[fatedexalt-blog]

              An uneasy laugh was heard from the king as Panne addressed him with a look that seemed to size him up with a fair warning, causing Chrom to subconsciously back up further in his seat. He purposefully averted her gaze.

                   ”N-no! Gods, no. I was only curious myself —— I had no intentions in betraying your, er, trust in me.” The word trust was used hesitantly. He knew the taguel favored his tactician for her actions over Chrom, and frankly, he wasn’t really sure as to how Panne felt about him alone. “I apologize. That was rather nosy of me —— I suppose this whole father business has softened me in the sense that I’ve been a bit too much in other’s private matters, especially with members of the Shepherds.”

[solumtaguel]

Panne closed her eyes and sighed, then made a conscious effort to look just a little less...whatever she looked like now that made him so uneasy. It wasn't as though she didn't think highly of him.

"My accusation was...less than fair," she admitted, picking her words carefully. "For a human, you've proven an impressive leader. This is why I came to you for information. If anything, the problem is with me... There is no precedent for taguel taking humans for mates. My uncertainty may have slipped into our conversation."

[candy-thief-at-large-blog]

"Well.. I won’t disagree with you there. You see even more bitter than usual, Whiskers, not get anything sweet today?"

[solumtaguel]

"Aside from talk of rabbit-shaped chocolate, nothing today has been any different from other days. Perhaps you are just an unpleasant personality."

[mirmidonets]

                    “You… you have nothing… to apologize for. I understand.” Then he took a step forward once more. He was going to get used to these strange Taguel customs, no matter how hard it might be! So daringly, his own tongue came out to swipe over the tip of her nose.

[solumtaguel]

Some humans are full of surprises. She almost feels ready to chuckle. Hands resting carefully on his waist, she leans in to nuzzle his neck the way he had with hers before she startled him.

"It's funny to me." She speaks quietly, words just for him. "I dislike the scent of humans, but yours now does not bother me."

[fatedexalt-blog]

solumtaguel replied to your post:Human, I need your knowledge. How and when do your kind groom each other? Under what circumstances would you lick each other?

She commits this new information to memory. No licking. “I know what hair brushing is. I only ask because I…may or may not have startled someone by licking him.”

               "You… actually licked someone? A human?" By gods, was the world ending, or did he just hear right? Panne had shown direct interest in a human? He leaned back in his chair with a thoughtful hum. “Well, it’s not everyday humans catch a taguel’s interest,” Chrom smiled, “Much less get licked by one. I’m sure this individual understood once you explained it was naught but taguel traditions, right?”                       Still, even if he was taught to not stick his nose into business that did not concern him, his curiosity overpowered the exalt’s etiquette. “Say, is this someone I know?”

[solumtaguel]

Chrom earns himself a stare. It's the sort he should be familiar with now, as big a nugget as he is. On some level, she knows he wouldn't, but part of her wonders if he's mocking her. Of course a human would have to catch her interest--it isn't as though any taguel men are left.

"...He will be fine, yes," she says stiffly. "Of course it is someone you know. Are you looking for something to gossip about?"

[mirmidonets]

                    The feeling of her tongue against his ear makes a chill run up his spine. Immediately, he tears away, beet red in the face and eyes wide. He supposes if he’s going to be with Panne, he’d have to get used to her mannerisms, but that came out of the blue!

                    “I didn’t know you did that,” he mumbles behind his hand, looking away in embarrassment.

[solumtaguel]

"Should I...not?" Her eyebrows rise. Panne blinks, then looks down and points out to herself, "Taguel groom to show affection. Humans do not. I apologize."

[mirmidonets]

                    In that moment, he feels much like a child being comforted by his mother. It brings about the thought that perhaps, just perhaps, Panne would be a good mother after all. It is himself he was worried about when it came to children. Maybe he is too scary, too stern, too cold to be a father.

                    “Panne,” he mumbles, pressing ever closer, feeling much braver than before. Though his heart still pounds against his ribcage, he nestles his face against the soft fur of her neck. Whatever he had been going to say, he doesn’t say it.

[solumtaguel]

It's been a long time since she was so close to anyone. She's not sure what to do now, if anything needs to be done. What do humans do? ...What do taguel even do? Oh dear. She decides to follow instinct and licks his ear.

[candy-thief-at-large-blog]

"I wouldn’t know, Whiskers, but aren’t gingerbread cookies supposed to be shaped like men? I don’t feel any sort of ‘kinship’ of the sort."

[solumtaguel]

"Man-spawn like yourself still exist in overabundance."

[candy-thief-at-large-blog]

solumtaguel

"I don’t see why not.. they’re just chocolate, not actual rabbits. It’s not as if eating a bird shaped one means I’m eating a bird."

[solumtaguel]

"...How far one must fall, to find kinship with rabbit-shaped foods..."

[mirmidonets]

                    “If we are lucky, another war will not happen in our lifetime,” he responded, “and we will have long and fruitful lives.” Lon’qu takes a step closer. They are just about the same height, though he noticed that Panne seems just a bit taller, only by a little.

                    He had never let go of her hand, but he couldn’t stop fidgeting. Eventually, he says, “Let me… attempt to…” Lon’qu doesn’t even finish his sentence—he just goes in for the kiss instead, but only captures her top lip in both of his by accident.

                    Lon’qu shrinks away in embarrassment. The hand that held Panne’s is growing sweaty, and she can probably feel it. “M-my apologies.”

[solumtaguel]

She's never been one for blind optimism, but if they repeat it enough, maybe it will come true.

Without knowing what he means to do, she has no way of compensating, and his lips miss their target. Hopefully he won't take offense at the giggle that follows.

"You may try again, but I can hear your heartbeat. You're giving it quite a workout. There is no need to rush." His hand is sweaty. She squeezes it anyway. "Long and fruitful lives."

[mirmidonets]

                    He just about chokes on his spit at that, having no considered in beforehand. Yes, if they were to be together, it would have to be a concern of his. First, he had to get used to touching her at all.

                    “I suppose so,” he mumbled quietly, reaching out to brush the backs of his fingers over her side. His eyes moved along the curve of her hip, then tore away out of embarrassment to look her in the eye.

[solumtaguel]

"It's not an urgent issue," she reassures him. "I only thought you should be aware of it... We have long lives ahead of us, don't we?"

He's come a long way in one meeting, from having to throw her the bag to kissing her hand. She wonders how long it will take to think seriously about repopulation.