AU - MAGNI & LAKSHMI

[mahalakshmi]

if you'll be my light, i'll be your shelter

i. first meeting | a non existent engagement and a hasty marriage ii. a tempertantrum in a thunderstorm | sticks and stones may break my bone but words will leave me with crippling anxiety (and a headcold) iii. a kindness of intimacies | nsfw, sometimes, love is like falling into an icy lake iv. just like the battle of troy, there is nothing subtle here | when the world conspires to consistently make you insecure about your wife.

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[villieldr]

Her hands stay gently on Lakshmi's shoulders, and she leans down to murmur quietly, just to her. "I didn't trust myself to keep it secret, but I— I am unhappy it hurt you, my Rani. They are all gathered here for love of you, to celebrate you."

Rasping, quiet, and sounding rather sheepish, hands gently taking Lakshmi's own as she steps to stand beside her. Now, to their guests, "I think my Grevinne should be the only one trusted to organising parties. I still have much to learn about this art."

[mahalakshmi]

She's still as stunned as a deer, as the laughter spreads, Magni's hands touch her shoulders. Hardly sure what to do, except that she hasn't felt more embarrassed for years.

Without a single thought for what to do - and at least some mercy that it is their families, for the most part, she turns her head to press against Magni's shoulder with a hapless laugh of her own. "I should learn that you never forget anything." Is the mutter, hardly cruel, compared to the bluster beforehand.

[villieldr]

"Remembering and not thinking is worse, no?"

Remembering and acting in such a way that hurt her wife, with the ignoring, the perceived dismissal? She kisses her temple, chaste in the affection given the public setting, and gently nudges her Rani forward. "Go. Be with your family."

The tone makes it clearer that that is not a dismissal, that she will willingly accompany, but offering the chance to catch up with her family.

[mahalakshmi]

Lakshmi takes Magni's hand, locking their fingers tightly as she squeezes her hand in return of unspoken affection, gratefulness, but loosens it as - because the step towards her family is immediate in their response, and she would never drag Magni too far into the cacophony of so many people after yelling at her so soundly. Where Magni's family was ever quiet, ever reserved and respectful in their displays of affection this way, Lakshmi's immediately wasn't. It's loud, it happens all at once, how they crowd in, chiding her temper, praising to seeing her so well, a surge of her father, her mother, her brother. Her aunts, her uncles, all surging in close to give blessings to her, to hug her tightly after not seeing her in so long. Kisses that get applied to each cheek - as much to Lakshmi as to Magni.

In her mother's hand is a handful of blossom petals, bright yellow in colour, pinched between her fingers and showered over Lakshmi. It catches in her hair, as it falls about her in a tumble of the sweet smell. Respectfully, dutifully, she bows, so her mother could mark the blessing on her brow, the thick red thumbprint. Not so different in colour to the powder Lakshmi applied to the middle of her hairline as a sign of her marriage. After they have all greeted her, hanging flowers around her neck.

It's the next minute her brother whistles, it's to catch the attention of the musicians - dragged apparently the drums with them. For them to start playing, suddenly and cacophonously loud in the hall. Spilling out sound like all her family spills out with them. It is no reserved thing, not for close family like this.

But despite all of it, when Lakshmi looks back, beaming from ear to ear - it is to Magni, whatever happiness is completely forgotten, her heart full and beating behind her smile.

[villieldr]

Music, voices, there are times when these things are— overwhelming. Pull her attention in too many directions when she would sooner just sit and think. This, though, is not one of those times. In this the music is joyous, as all things are joyous when they will bring happiness to her Rani. She stands near, though admittedly a little further back. Friendly, smiling to the family members (all of whom she greeted earlier to welcome them to Talonhold) but letting Lakshmi be their focus, and letting Lakshmi focus on those so dear to her who she sees so rarely. She stands very tall over all of them, but that is generally how Magni is compared to most people, tries to make herself a little smaller and more compact so as to not alarm.

In truth, all of her focus is on Lakshmi, and a warm smile is resting at her lips as she watches her. The brightness, the vibrancy and the charm, it was all unique to Lakshmi and yet was so seamlessly part of her family, as well. She would like to ask her to dance, but that can wait. Even if she is nervous, even if she isn't sure she'll have all the steps right from what she asked to be shown by Lakshmi's ladies in waiting.

When Lakshmi looks to her, her smile brightens, delight all too evident. This is good. The worry and the chastising were all worth it, to see her so happy.

[mahalakshmi]

It's cacophonous, tumbling all over each other. Very soon, it won't just be kept in this room, and the rest of the household will undoubtedly be dragged in by music and wine if nothing else. The floor slowly being covered in flower petals as they're showered, bright yellow and vibrant, swirling around the women as they dance.

But there is fussing, aunties to tug at her dress, their noses scrunching up - dressing like a northerner, now? Ah, ah, she looked good, was she eating enough? Look at her, look at her, still all fierce, scolding her wife, like this, what was she a harpy, she needed to learn one of these days -

There can be no mistaking it, in that moment, Lakshmi is so deliriously happy, surrounded by those she had not seen in months. Smiling so hard it hurt, and she - well, she has making up to do, as she endures it all, with a word that she has something she needs to do.

If it weren't family, it wouldn't be proper, and they were so dreadfully correct in their rolls most of the time. But she doesn't think to care right at this moment, as she makes for Magni and tumbles herself forward with the surety that Magni will catch her as she drags her down the rest of the way. So that she can kiss her, surely and soundly.

[villieldr]

The bright colours, the radiance of it; she wishes there were some way to capture it all, to keep the memory of this day and these traditions in Talonhold every day. Some grand mosaic on the floor, red and yellows, the leaves like the scattering of petals, but oh, she did not know where to even begin, and perhaps it wouldn’t be right or would be an underwhelming homage rather than a joyous reminder, and she’s chewing her lip as she tries to consider another idea.

Her Rani is returning to her, and Magni runs forward a step to catch her. One hand had caught one of Lakshmi’s, the other steadying at her waist, and then she feels herself being drawn downwards. Smiles as their lips meet, a breath of laughter barely able to escape as she leans into the kiss. Not too long, a little cautious of so many people about even with the relaxed mood, and draws back to look at her wife.

“Good surprise?” A little tentative, if only because the delivery of said surprise had gone a little awry.