@jasperlion
Maybe his gift wouldn't be as overt and his presence not as soothing, yet he does his best to present his wife with something for the day anyway. A meal he's cooked. A wreath of flowers. And hopefully a smile on his face that won't show how torn he feels since the arrival of certain heroes in Askr. It's all he has to show for it, but he hopes it'll be enough as he signs his love for her.
The apparent year they've spent here passes like winds at sea on an idyllic day... yet these past few days close the gap like a tempest they failed to see on the horizon.
They had no plans in store for this foreign holiday, much like the day last came by. Since they hardly separate, it wouldn't be so special, now would it? ...Even avoiding certain heroes, both new and old; with tenure or having just stepped away from the summoning stones, has become part of their routine. This time, though... the sight of some newcomers is a bitter taste in Celica's mouth. She can't imagine how her beloved feels about it— although, really... it's more that she's certain he doesn't want to feel anything about it at all. He gives her a gift, like before, and it's impossible not to smile and be grateful. Unlike then... she can tell by the quality of the offering that it's...... been difficult for him to cope this time around. ... Though, very much like before... she has no gift to offer him in return. That alone makes her heart as heavy as stone, but coupled with everything else... It's honestly so absurd. What good is this day of devotion? What good is spending one day to dote on those she cares for when it feels like every decision she does or doesn't make only torments them?
Alm signs his love for her and the most she can bring herself to do is clasp those hands of his with her own and lean in to press the barest kiss upon his forehead. She hesitates to place even a chaste one upon his lips.
"Thank you, dear," she says, preferring now just to press her forehead against his. She wants to say so much more, to perhaps consider some middle ground or excuse for forgetting. All she can think about, however, as she tries to gauge his gaze... and despite the fact he still wants to be so useful here... is... "We should...... we should go home soon, shouldn't we?"
...It’s not enough. Her presence and his. They suffer enough, don’t they?