onebadapple | Deer Country IC Inbox

Rose beams at Snow and is pulled in, going in eagerly. The house is warm and cozy, yes, but nowhere near as much as the girl Rose has come to see. As an example, Snow is even more warm and cozy as Rose nuzzles into her hair gently. And Snow's hands warm Rose's even better and more efficiently than any heater could. Once Snow is finished, Rose takes a good, long look at her girlfriend (!!)! "My goodness! You look more lovely than I could ever imagine!"

And Rose laughed, slowly sliding the biker jacket off. "No need to worry, my dear, I'll be quite warm in a little while, from the company alone. But I couldn't spend a moment longer away from you."

"Do you like it?" Snow gave a little twirl and the dress spun out with a flair. "I've never seen a dress with such a wide skirt!" Snow's time period kept skirts and shifts close to the body. "Look!" she lifted the hem just a bit to show the layers and layers and layers of petticoats and tulle.

"Even with all the layers, it's so light! I was worried the weight would sit on my shoulders but it's spread so evenly among my hips!" she pressed a kiss to Rose's cheek. "You look even lovelier than you usually do."

"I love it," Rose said, quite earnestly. "It looks like something a Southern Belle would wear back home and goodness knows you're sweet enough to be one." She remembers her family wearing similar dresses before the fashion changed to the slim, body-skimming dress she currently wore.

"It's rather amazing, what they can do with clothing here. Isn't it?" And at the kiss, Rose smiled so much that her nose squinched up. "Well, it's a special occasion and I wanted to wear a dress from when I'm from. A thick-knit sweater didn't seem to have the same allure."

"A Southern Belle? I don't know that I've ever heard of such a thing. Still, I quite like their dresses. Dresses were very close to the body where I am from as well."

She continued to pull Rose into the cottage and away from the door, her many animal friends nodding, tweeting, cooing, barking, and various other noises in greeting to Rose, quite used to the redhead by now.

"It's a lovely dress, but you look lovely in everything, Rose. I imagine you would even look lovely in sackcloth!"

"Well, to them I'd be a Yankee--a Northerner. My grandfathers each fought in the Civil War on the Union side. But the dress style was very popular on both sides of the line. And I love you in this and I love you in your usual dresses."

Rose grinned and went willingly, nodding her hellos to Snow's animal friends and calling out gently to the ones she was growing closer to.

"Sackcloth! Well, I'll try to not take that as a challenge, sackcloth would be far too cold this time of year. Do you have winters like this where you're from?"

"Goodness! A civil war? That's awful! I had heard of them in other countries and throughout history but had never been through one myself, thankfully. I'm sorry your family had to go through that, Rose. I hope your grandfathers came home."

She kissed Rose, trying to push away such talk of wars.

"Oh, where I'm from winters are even colder. Night and days look the same and snow can go up to your waist."

"Yes. My grandfathers didn't want to talk about it, so I didn't pry. Perhaps I should have. Both of them were rich enough to hire someone to fill their posts, but they chose not to. And thankfully, both came home, though one was a Confederate prisoner for a while."

She kissed Snow back, thrilling in her gentle touch.

"That's even worse than Philadelphia! Still, we should be trying to keep warm, even given the many technological and magical wonders of Trench. If you like, I can stay with you until the weather breaks, I'd just need to make sure Muffin came with me."

Snow closed her eyes at the kiss and smiled. She opened her eyes and wasn't sure what more to say about the war. She had never been in a war and a war had never occurred in her time.

"Oh yes, there are so many ways to keep warm now! Not just with fires and thick coats, but with heating in the walls! And I would be happy if you stayed with me, Rose. We could cuddle close together! My favorite way to stay warm."

It was all right. Rose knows that the past was fraught with turmoil but that turmoil had no place in the here and now.

"Heating in the walls? That's possible? But how can I possibly resist staying with you and cuddling? Especially since it's my favorite way to stay warm, too. You're perfect for cuddling," and she leaned in so her forehead rested against Snow's.

"Something called 'central heating' isn't that nice? I think some of the more modern homes have it. Although, I can't resist cuddling either. So perhaps we shall save the central heating for when we must be all alone."

She closed her eyes as Rose rested her forehead against hers and let out a happy, soft sigh. "You're the perfect cuddler."

"Really? I don't think my cottage has it. There are wood-burning fireplaces, but I'd like to think I would have found central heating by now." And Rose giggled. "Although cuddling is so nice when we're together."l

And Rose feels her heart swell near to bursting. "I think you mean yourself."

"Nor mine, but some have it, it's very impressive, there's so much modern technology to help with things. I've seen something called a stand mixer so you don't have to mix batter or frosting by hand. I still do, but I think it's wonderful that there is another way to make it."

She smiled as she heard Rose counter her and opened her eyes, shifting to press a kiss to Rose's nose. "I know exactly what I meant to say," she offered. "Your arms are the perfect length to wrap around me. And you always rest your chin just so, your skin is soft and warm, and you always sit just perfectly so that we're both comfortable."

"Yes, it's all rather remarkable. And the progression of rights for women! I was a bit of a suffragette, although mother would have had a nosebleed if she'd known. But, that sounds like quite a device! I'm sure the cook back home would have loved something like that." And Rose's smile softens. "That's because you care. About us, about what you're making. It's all very lovely of you."

The kiss makes Rose grin. "...really? You think so? What if I told you that you're perfect to hold? Soft and kind and sweet-smelling. And it's not simply because of all of the baking you do, it's you. You're always so warm and gentle in my arms."

"Well, I don't know what a suffragette is, but if you were one, then I am sure it's a very good thing!" Snow had endless faith in Rose and the things she chose to do. Besides, she had basically learned that Rose's mother wasn't... all that kind. "Oh, it really is incredible everything they've created."

She blushed deeply at the way she was praised, not having much praise in her life. She had never been called sweet-smelling or warm and gentle.

"Well, I'm very happy to be me, especially since it's led to my being with you, who can say if we'd be together if I weren't me and you weren't you."

"Oh, it is," Rose says with assurance. "It would give women the right to be able to help choose our leaders instead of letting men be the only ones who can." And Rose grinned broadly, though I plan on staying here, it has its quirks and foibles, but I prefer it here. For one thing--here, I have you." And Rose's mother was very unkind. She didn't care at all about what her daughter wanted, only that which would save them from the debt collectors. "It is. I can hardly believe it most of the time."

Well, Snow was all of those things and more. Rose would be happy to help settle the compliments Snow deserved.

"I can't begin to tell you how happy I am that you're you and you're here with me. And that I'm here and I'm me, we fit so well together."

"Well... I don't... my kingdom was beautiful, but I never got to see it, I don't know much of anything that was going on around me. The woods were beautiful once I wasn't terrified and there was just so much beauty. There is beauty here, after all, I'm with you, but... the world is so ill. It's so unfortunate to see, so sad that it was harmed so badly."

The way this world was so bleak sometimes... it could be as dark as nightmares.

"But I rather be here, not just because I am alive here and not only for you, everything... has been endlessly new opportunities I would never have had back home even if I were alive."

"That's because your stepmother was a wretched woman who was only happy making others--especially you--miserable. Anything she said or did should be taken with an entire mountain of salt. You're stronger and more capable than she could ever hope to be, to go through what you did and not emerge bitter." It was an inspiration, honestly. And it is, but there's still some beauty, even if it's only in little pockets here and there. Once spring comes, those pockets will be more plentiful."

But she wasn't counting what the Pthumerians put them through. She'd never count that unless it was as a aberration.

"I know exactly how you feel. There are sciences which had just been born in my times, but they've grown and thrived and there's so very much to learn. And I must say that I enjoy every moment of it."

"To be quite honest... I don't think even making me miserable made her happy. She was only ever content when she was called beautiful and fair. While she was very deceitful, that is true, I don't think she ever knew happiness. Not in marriage, not in her victory over my death, not a once. And I do pity her for that," Snow could only think it was a wretched existence her stepmother lived, never content, never happy, and never able to find joy in anything besides her appearance. She was a pitiful being.

But Snow also desperately wished she knew happiness, if only, then, she might find a way to love Snow in return.

At the mention of being bitter, she looked back to Rose.

"You are not the first surprised that I am not bitter. I think... it never occurred to me that I should be bitter. I learned very young no one cared if you complained of the cold or aches, nothing changed if you voiced bitter thoughts. What people were even allowed around me couldn't even speak to me, and I didn't want to scare them away with bitterness. Besides, being bitter chased away the animals, and sitting and stewing in any anger I felt, didn't make the day's chores go away. So I just... I realized I needed to keep going. So, I did. And that seems quite surprising to many. Besides, being bitter doesn't make me happy. Being happy makes me happy!"

It was, in some ways, repressing her trauma, but it was also just a realistic view of her world, and Snow was sunshine by nature.

"When those pockets come, let's have a picnic, Rose, just you and I. I want to idle away a day. I've never idled a day away without being ill or injured. You are the best person I can think of to spend a whole day with just enjoying some food, some ale or mead, and a beautiful spring day."

"That sounds like an impossible to win scenario, as what others find beautiful can be so subjective. And ugliness of the spirit always shines through in the end and it sounds as though your stepmother had that in spades. And you are so very kind. Kinder than I am. Were your stepmother to arrive, I don't think I wouldn't be able to avoid smacking her," Rose confessed, looking a little shame-faced. She knew her temper would take the better of her when others were threatening those she loved and she loved Snow very dearly.

And smacking would be kind compared to the various skills she could bring to bear now.

Rose wrapped her arms around snow and leaned her head against Snow's shoulder, breathing her in.. Her breath should tickle the other young lady's throat. "So very strong. So very brave. You are...you're an inspiration. You are. You live it every day and you prove it at every turn. I am...I consider myself so very blessed that you return my feelings. It feels like I've been looking for you forever, if that makes any sense? Because I love you, truly love you for everything you are and everything you do."

Perhaps it was repression. Perhaps it was indomitableness of spirit. Rose would bet on the latter.

"I would love that. So much. The idea of spending a day with you, having a picnic, it sounds positively idyllic. Spring will be here soon. Perhaps now when the crocuses bloom, but when the tulips and daffodils. My cottage has both in the back garden. But where shall we go, is there a park nearby?"

"If stepmother were to arrive, I think she'd be deeply unhappy, unhappier here than she ever was back home. For her sake, I hope she doesn't come. And I hope you are never tasked with hurting someone for my sake." She leaned into Rose's arms and just gently caressed her hair and stroked her spine, grateful to be in such a loving and caring embrace. She smiled as she was tickled along her neck, letting Rose have more space to do it by tilting her head.

At being told she loved her. She felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes. They had said it, but to hear it, so easily and freely given.

"I love you, too," she smiled, pressing a kiss to Rose's temple. "Your arms feel like home. If you've been looking for me forever, then I've been waiting to feel settled and rooted."

At the question, she hummed softly. "I know we'd be safe in the forest with my friends. But a park does sound very nice. Perhaps OH! Oh... what if the picnic was in a boat in Willful Machine!"

Yes, because the fellow citizens of Trench would--what was the phrase used?--fall on her like a ton of bricks? But that was likely best not said aloud. "There are some who seem to hate it here, but for every one of them, there's someone else saying that this is freeing. That they're able to be their true, authentic selves here when they can't back home. And I don't want to do it, but I will if I must." Rose reaches her arm up and around Snow so that she's clasping the other girl's shoulder while wrapping her other arm around Snow's waist.

And she sees the tears and says in a worried voice. "Happy tears, I hope?"

"I count myself so blessed that you love me," smiling gently as she leaned gently into the kiss. "And I'm even more so that that's how you feel. I want to be able to be this way, be yours as long as possible. Trench is always brighter when you're around."

And Rose grinned broadly. "I like that idea. It seems very much like a courtship from home, but in a good way. The best way possible."

It was just as well that Snow lived in that ignorant bliss. She would not abide by her stepmother being hurt, even for all that she did. She still loved her stepmother, still wanted to be loved BY her. She could not help wanting the only parental figure she's ever known to love her, and no one has exactly volunteered to fill that void in Snow's life.

But thankfully, while that hole is still there, it becomes smaller as more and more people have entered her life, as she is loved by them and loves them in return.

"The happiest of tears," she smiled as she curled her hands in Rose's hair and breathed her in. The kiss made her heart fill up and it was like the hole from her stepmother wasn't even there. "You will always be my beloved, no matter what happens, you have a place in my heart and I know I have one in yours."

As Rose pulled away she pressed another kiss to Rose's mouth. "Then let's do courtship. I want to experience everything, every part of courtship. I adore you and want to have all these memories to smile at with you."

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CW: Underage drinking

CW: Underage drinking

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