@warriorsoftwiggenstein
Many monsters has he faced these past few years. Beasts and man alike, all ferocious in strength. And yet... here he stands, in front of a house he’s never been to before, with an old friend beside him, feeling more cowed than any moment in the past. Even before the Ascian in the Prince of Garlemald’s body, did his knees not quake so.
“I can smell your nerves.” Hottataru drawls beside him, his tail flicking about like a snake and an amused smirk curling over dangerous, pointed fangs that shouldn’t belong to a man.
“That... Saying such things does not help soothe them in any way. But I suspect you didn’t say that to soothe me in the slightest, now did you?” Hien sighs, his hands tucked into the sleeves of his robes.
He was so thankful that Hottataru had forced him to purchase one of the robes from the Steppes before they departed for Ishgard, because without it he would already be feeling the stinging bite of the cold here. He’d heard tales of the climate, but to experience it put everything he’s heard to shame. It truly was... terrible.
“I just don’t think you really have reason to be so nervous, honestly, Hien. Like I said- this will turn out exactly how you want it to.” Waving off Hien’s nerves, Hottataru pushes inside and calls out a quick greeting. It seemed, though, that there was no one there...
Which is both a boon and a curse, in its own right. The tension he felt brewing in his belly from the thought of opening the door and seeing Twiggen after so, so long of her being absent... It bleeds out, only to be replaced with the dreadful feeling of having to anticipate her return.
Waiting does nothing for one’s courage in the face of adversity.
“Ven will probably be back soon. He’s never out for long. Twigg, too... usually.” Hottataru starts upstairs, his tail twitching upon mention of his lover’s name, “So in the meantime, I guess I’ll make you a meal. That’s courteous right? I think. Everyone feels less nervous when food is involved. You and Twigg can have a dinner date or something.”
Date. It wasn’t a date, not until he... Well, if things go well, then perhaps it may become as such. But for now? It is as much a potential execution for the fragile mess that’s his heart as it is a date.
“Though I’m not truly feeling hungry at the moment, with all the butterflies in my stomach, I... suppose such a thing would be calming on my rather frayed nerves.” Hien huffs out a soft laugh, giving Hottataru an appreciative look before he takes a seat at the kitchen’s bar, “Your vote of confidence does much for me, but at the same time I cannot help but dwell on how it may all go... awry, I suppose.”
“You reclaimed Doma with more risks than you have against you right now, Hien. Come on.” Hottataru rolls his eyes and quickly starts to dig out ingredients for what looks like a stew in the making. Something to warm up Hien’s bones after being out in the cold, no doubt, “And don’t say it’s simply because you had the scion’s and our help, because you lead the charge there. You know without you it wouldn’t have happened.”
Hien closes his mouth, the words he’d been about to interject thoroughly silenced as he smiles to himself. Chuckling faintly, he leans forward on the table- bracing himself on his arms.
“Aye. You’re right to say it. Thank you, my friend.” He closes his eyes, taking a deep breath to steady his nerves and letting it out, “I must simply... act with confidence.” He looks up at Hottataru’s low, low laugh.
“That’s the spirit, Hien. Now, do you like spice in your food? We have a lot of Thavnairian spices from our trips there, so...”
Nerves slowly melt away as the two chat casually, and for a moment, Hien lets his future worries fall to the wayside- not forgotten, no. But he refuses to just sit there in quiet anxiety while he waits, so this is a far more fun alternative.