It's not work if you love your job. @youknowitsleafman - Tumblr Blog

coming home

↢

He found her hand and tucked his inside hers, and he buried his face against her pillows. It smelled like her, and for the first time in several days, he relaxed. It didn’t take long for him to fall asleep, especially since he felt safe.

“Love you,” he mumbled before succumbing entirely.

sylvansoldier-a

“Love you, too,” she whispered, running her thumb over his knuckles and watching his chest rise and fall. Without meaning to, her breathing began to fall into pace with his, and the quiet murmur of his heart ushered her into a dream.

youknowitsleafman

He managed to sleep through the night, occasionally moving around. Shortly before dawn, he woke up with a pressing need to use the privy, and he grumbled at the sharp nip to the air before crawling back in bed. He fully intended to sleep for as long as he possibly could.

coming home

↢

“Oh Goddess.” He snuggled into the blankets. “Shaydon does like you. Have I met Mavin yet?” he wondered. “Isn’t meeting each others’ COs the military equivalent of meeting the parents?” He pulled at the blankets so that she wouldn’t have to fight with them to get in. “We should probably do something about that.”

sylvansoldier-a

“We can plan it in the morning,” Tess replied, setting half a log on the fire and blowing out the handful of candles she’d left burning. “We’ll have plenty of time.”

She tried her best not to run back to the bed, but it was a hard fight. He was home safe and sound and utterly exhausted. She crawled in beside him and smiled as she curled around him. “For now… no plans.” She brushed a kiss across his temple, resting her nose against his hair.

youknowitsleafman

He found her hand and tucked his inside hers, and he buried his face against her pillows. It smelled like her, and for the first time in several days, he relaxed. It didn’t take long for him to fall asleep, especially since he felt safe.

“Love you,” he mumbled before succumbing entirely.

coming home

↢

“You can have that conversation. I’d like to be several miles away.” He swallowed and let her haul him up. His legs trembled but then firmed, and he could stand up. They made their way to the bed, and he looked longingly at the mattress. Tree branches were not comfortable. “Unless I get to talk to your commander the next time your rotation goes longer than it should.”

sylvansoldier-a

“You will recall Mavin’s called ‘The Badger’—it’s not an affectionate nickname.” Though her words were a bit of a warning, she couldn’t help but grin, imagining Mavin, who was somewhere in the range of five feet tall, snarling at Nod. There wasn’t a doubt in her mind who would win that confrontation. “I think it had something to do with her handling of a few Boggan commanders in a pit beneath a tree with only that axe of hers…”

“At least Shaydon kind of likes me.” She helped ease him down, taking on more of his weight so he wouldn’t just drop and hurt himself. “Legs up and under the blankets. I’m going to just make sure the fire has enough kindling.”

youknowitsleafman

“Oh Goddess.” He snuggled into the blankets. “Shaydon does like you. Have I met Mavin yet?” he wondered. “Isn’t meeting each others’ COs the military equivalent of meeting the parents?” He pulled at the blankets so that she wouldn’t have to fight with them to get in. “We should probably do something about that.”

coming home

↢

“Thanks,” he mumbled, yawning again. He did as instructed, his neck starting to complain loudly at him. Everything hurt. “I’m sorry for all this.” He watched her through eyelids at half-mast. “I don’t think I’ve ever been this tired. I’ve been awake for four days straight.”

sylvansoldier-a

“I’ll just have to have a word with that commander of yours,” Tess sighed, imitating the voice of an especially prim teacher she’d had as a child. “Keeping you out until all hours… Tsk.”

Armor shed, she took the hem of his shirt and pulled it over his head in one fluid motion, peeling his sleeves off last. Flipping the shirt rightside out again, she folded it and left it on the table. “Final stretch, flyboy,” she told him, voice storybook gentle as she pulled his arm over her shoulders. “Up we go.”

youknowitsleafman

“You can have that conversation. I’d like to be several miles away.” He swallowed and let her haul him up. His legs trembled but then firmed, and he could stand up. They made their way to the bed, and he looked longingly at the mattress. Tree branches were not comfortable. “Unless I get to talk to your commander the next time your rotation goes longer than it should.”

coming home

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He immediately dropped his hands to his waist, fumbling at first until he managed to get the catch. The belt went on the table and he toed off his boots. He pushed his chair back after squeezing her wrist to warn her, and then he bent over to work on his greaves. He had to keep blinking; his exhaustion made them want to close and not open again.

sylvansoldier-a

She knelt, waiting. Once the greaves came off, she stacked them and placed them on the table, as well. “Arms,” she directed, tapping the underside of his right vambrace. “Hold ‘em out and I’ll get your shirt, too.”

youknowitsleafman

“Thanks,” he mumbled, yawning again. He did as instructed, his neck starting to complain loudly at him. Everything hurt. “I’m sorry for all this.” He watched her through eyelids at half-mast. “I don’t think I’ve ever been this tired. I’ve been awake for four days straight.”

coming home

↢

“I guess,” he wasn’t able to stifle the latest yawn. “They were all new recruits, no bad habits to unlearn.” He smiled at the thought. “That sounds good, but I think I need to head to bed before I fall asleep at the table.” He looked down at his armor. “Could you…help me take it off?” He shuffled slightly in embarrassment. “My fingers feel too thick tonight.”

sylvansoldier-a

She rose from her chair, only relinquishing his hand when she dropped into a crouch at his side and began to undo the small buckles holding his spaulders on. She stacked them on the table with care before working on the larger buckles holding his breastplate on. She lifted it off his collarbone and over his head, settling it on the back of her chair rather than laying it flat.

“Can you get the belt?” she asked, taking hold of his boot and shimmying it off his calf.

youknowitsleafman

He immediately dropped his hands to his waist, fumbling at first until he managed to get the catch. The belt went on the table and he toed off his boots. He pushed his chair back after squeezing her wrist to warn her, and then he bent over to work on his greaves. He had to keep blinking; his exhaustion made them want to close and not open again.

coming home

↢

He squeezed her hand carefully. “I like that plan.” He finished his bread and reached for his tea. “It sounds nice and relaxing. And quiet. You’d think that with autumn starting to set in that the forest would quiet down and your own comrades would echo, since, you know, training from hell. In reality?” He scowled playfully. “I’ve never heard more complaints.

sylvansoldier-a

“Give ‘em time. They’re probably coming from wildly different circumstances. You had your head on straight going into it. Settling in can take more time depending on what they’re used to.” She finished off a square of toast and licked a blob of honey off her thumb.

“I for one need a long soak in the tub tomorrow,” she announced, arching her back and stretching until something along her spine shifted to her liking. “And I have a few books that’ll be due back to the library soon. But tonight, I think I’ll sleep in. No jogging.” His side of the bed had been conspicuously cold; just the thought of having him in her arms caused a smile to creep onto her face.

youknowitsleafman

“I guess,” he wasn’t able to stifle the latest yawn. “They were all new recruits, no bad habits to unlearn.” He smiled at the thought. “That sounds good, but I think I need to head to bed before I fall asleep at the table.” He looked down at his armor. “Could you...help me take it off?” He shuffled slightly in embarrassment. “My fingers feel too thick tonight.”

coming home

↢

He took the piece of bread she’d buttered. “Thanks. I think they understand where he’s coming now that they’re on the other end of the training from hell, but,” he made a face before he bit into the bread. “If they continue,” he swallowed, “we’ll make sure to set them straight. Shaydon’s the best commanding officer I’ve ever had. He’s stern and firm, but he’s fair.”

He reached out to take her hand. “I’m glad to be home. No more traveling for a while, I think. I just want to be here.” With you.

sylvansoldier-a

“Atta boy. I doubt he’ll ever be forced to go before he chooses to with loyal men like you at his back,” she murmured, smiling at him over her mug. When she felt his hand rest on hers, she laced her fingers through his, checking for new scars or calluses as she went.

“Right here sounds perfect.” Her voice was soft and her eyes were a bit glassier than she would have found acceptable. “Nothing to do for a week, for me, either. So, I propose we do as little as possible.”

youknowitsleafman

He squeezed her hand carefully. “I like that plan.” He finished his bread and reached for his tea. “It sounds nice and relaxing. And quiet. You’d think that with autumn starting to set in that the forest would quiet down and your own comrades would echo, since, you know, training from hell. In reality?” He scowled playfully. “I’ve never heard more complaints.

coming home

↢

“He’s not just desperate to increase the ranks. He needs people he can trust, that the queen can trust. We all present ourselves well enough to him, but he needs to see us in trying circumstances to be sure.” He scrubbed at his eyes. “He didn’t need to put me through those kind of things for the obvious, but since we’ve had more delegates to the palace because of the queen’s marriage, Shaydon’s expanding his intelligence operation through the palace. He needs to be in his office more and out in the field less. He needs to know we can work. Some of the new guys were talking about instituting a vote change to get rid of him, but we shut them down immediately. Shaydon’s a good captain, and though training was grueling, we needed it.” He looked at her. “Toast? Please?”

sylvansoldier-a

“Good Mother, getting—Eat.” She held out the piece she’d buttered. “Getting rid of Shaydon would be downright self-destructive, especially with winter around the corner. I wonder how long his new critics will last.” She pushed his mug across the table until it was under his chin.

Snarling lightly through her nose, Tess took a long sip of her tea. “Perhaps this is better left ‘til morning. Get something in your stomach, and we can both turn in.” She bit into her toast with slightly more violence than was necessary, but her expression softened the longer she looked at him.

“Busy as it’s going to be, I’m glad you’ll be here.”

youknowitsleafman

He took the piece of bread she’d buttered. “Thanks. I think they understand where he’s coming now that they’re on the other end of the training from hell, but,” he made a face before he bit into the bread. “If they continue,” he swallowed, “we’ll make sure to set them straight. Shaydon’s the best commanding officer I’ve ever had. He’s stern and firm, but he’s fair.”

He reached out to take her hand. “I’m glad to be home. No more traveling for a while, I think. I just want to be here.” With you.

coming home

↢

“Sounds good.” He slumped over further and watched her through half-lidded eyes. “Berige’s with my mom permanently now, but the Captain said I could train a new chickadee this winter once the queen beds down. As for training…” He shrugged. “Shaydon had recruited three new people, but the training to integrate them into our unit is just…brutal. One person, yeah, okay, put ‘em into training drills, they’ll be fine, but three new people?

“It took a lot more.”

sylvansoldier-a

Tess’ sympathy came out in a hiss. “Is he that desperate to increase the ranks?” she asked, smearing honey onto a piece of toast and removing the basket of tea leaves from her mug.

She took a bite, thinking as she chewed. “Is he worried about something? Aside from the obvious?”

youknowitsleafman

“He’s not just desperate to increase the ranks. He needs people he can trust, that the queen can trust. We all present ourselves well enough to him, but he needs to see us in trying circumstances to be sure.” He scrubbed at his eyes. “He didn’t need to put me through those kind of things for the obvious, but since we’ve had more delegates to the palace because of the queen’s marriage, Shaydon’s expanding his intelligence operation through the palace. He needs to be in his office more and out in the field less. He needs to know we can work. Some of the new guys were talking about instituting a vote change to get rid of him, but we shut them down immediately. Shaydon’s a good captain, and though training was grueling, we needed it.” He looked at her. “Toast? Please?”

coming home

↢

“Just…a little,” he yawned. “Shaydon made us eat before we left.” He leaned his chin on his hand. “Oh Goddess. Caravan duty. M’not sad to be missing that one. And good. Your dad should be,” he yawned again, “good. I think.” He smiled blearily at her. “You look good.”

sylvansoldier-a

“Toast with honey and tea, then bed,” Tess stated, fighting her own yawn. “I was going to turn in once I was done, anyway.” She set a few slices of bread on the grill over her fire and lifted the kettle with a glove once it began to chirp.

“If I look good, it’s only because you’re home.” She set up two mugs of tea to steep and brought them to the table. “The birds left for the south a few days ago. Not sure when, exactly, but I miss them already.” Her mouth twitched.

The bread browned quickly, and she had it piled on a plate in no time. Sitting, she placed a crock of honey butter before him. “How’s the boss? What went so bad?”

youknowitsleafman

“Sounds good.” He slumped over further and watched her through half-lidded eyes. “Berige’s with my mom permanently now, but the Captain said I could train a new chickadee this winter once the queen beds down. As for training...” He shrugged. “Shaydon had recruited three new people, but the training to integrate them into our unit is just...brutal. One person, yeah, okay, put ‘em into training drills, they’ll be fine, but three new people?

“It took a lot more.”

coming home

↢

“Of course,” he mumbled, burying her face in her shoulder. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to be gone for so long. Training went…” He held her just a little tighter. “Awfully.”

He didn’t want to let go of her, but he needed to sit down. His legs were trembling. He found something to sit on and almost fell down. “How’s it been here? Your dad?”

sylvansoldier-a

“Spill,” she told him, trying to ease him down into a seat. She winced at how unsteady he appeared, but stowed it for later. “Are you hungry? I only got home two days ago, so I filled the larder. There’s fresh bread and honey.”

“Dad’s good. I saw him… just before my last shift, so about a week ago. Nine days? He’s helping the officials check on all their cellars before the harvests come in. And that means caravan escort duty,” she added with a sigh, filling the kettle and setting it over the fire. “I’ll be busy for sure.”

youknowitsleafman

“Just...a little,” he yawned. “Shaydon made us eat before we left.” He leaned his chin on his hand. “Oh Goddess. Caravan duty. M’not sad to be missing that one. And good. Your dad should be,” he yawned again, “good. I think.” He smiled blearily at her. “You look good.”

#leafmantess

youknowitsleafman

coming home

Nod barely managed to stifle a yawn as he fumbled with the key to Tess’s place. Shaydon had kept them for an ‘extended training mission’ that was supposed to last for five days. It had been several weeks. That’s what you got when you were doing training in hostile territory, he supposed. The queen had been in seclusion, allowing for the training, and it had been necessary, but…

He just wanted to fall into bed and sleep for several days. He finally got the door open and he poked his head in. “Tess? You home?”

sylvansoldier-a

Tess’ hand jerked at the sound of a familiar voice calling her name, nearly slicing her hand open. Setting aside the oiled cloth she’d been using, she sheathed her sword and stood, turning to face him with a brilliant smile.

She only paused long enough to lay her katana on the kitchen table before striding across the room and drawing him into a hug. Familiarity buzzed through her senses—the smell and feel of him, his warmth—and left her a little giddy.

“It would only figure that the week you were gone is the week the weather would finally turn.”

youknowitsleafman

“Of course,” he mumbled, burying her face in her shoulder. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to be gone for so long. Training went...” He held her just a little tighter. “Awfully.”

He didn’t want to let go of her, but he needed to sit down. His legs were trembling. He found something to sit on and almost fell down. “How’s it been here? Your dad?”

#leafmantess

coming home

Nod barely managed to stifle a yawn as he fumbled with the key to Tess’s place. Shaydon had kept them for an ‘extended training mission’ that was supposed to last for five days. It had been several weeks. That’s what you got when you were doing training in hostile territory, he supposed. The queen had been in seclusion, allowing for the training, and it had been necessary, but...

He just wanted to fall into bed and sleep for several days. He finally got the door open and he poked his head in. “Tess? You home?”

#leafmantess

sylvansoldier-a

>v> Tess and Nod~

Send me a pair of names, and I’ll tell you what I think it would be like if they had a child.

Name: Gwen Rhea

Gender: Girl

General Appearance: Her hair is a shade darker than Nod’s, and she wears it down to her shoulders, fluffy and curly with the top pulled back. She’s got her mother’s eyes and skintone and her father’s freckles and devious smile.

Personality: Shockingly, for the kid of two Leafmen, Gwen is quite tame. She gets into her share of playground tussles, but she most enjoys watching her grandmother weave.

Special Talents: Writing, weaving, and flying. She’s better with a bo staff than her mother, and knows her way around a knife.

Who they like better: She doesn’t play favorites… unless someone’s bribing her with a flight lesson.

Who they take after more: Her father’s mother.

Personal Headcanon: She aspires to work as a scribe for the Queen or any of her managers around the citadel.

Face Claim: None, at the moment.

#(omg i didn't see this)#leafmantess

roleplayaskmemes

Send me “that’s dirty” and I will generate a number for what my muse will say to yours.

Sexual Sunday NSFW special, they’re all suggestive, but don’t have to be responded to in a NSFW manner.

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