004 ♔ [video][BACKDATED TO MARCH 15th]

[beliefdenied]

Ihihihihi - I'm on a horse!

[GOOD MORNING DEMELEIER.

It's that horse from yesterday! But this time, Battler is sitting astride the beast. In fact, he manages to look almost regal up there, with his cloak draping around him. Like a real fairytale sorcerer, perhaps!

And then he grins at the camera, and the effect is largely shattered.]Eh, so, the

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[goldlace]

[ Normally, she would have felt the need to definitely embarrass him further. And normally, she definitely would have felt the need to do something to tease him, ridicule him, but this--

... This promise is what she had been waiting for for a long time, hadn't she? And so, she's left speechless. ]

B... Battler...

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[beliefdenied]

[He beams at her, and slips down from the saddle, taking the reins in hand and leading the very docile beast over to his lady wife. Passing them to her, he leans in closer, hands on hips.]

This is my victory, you seeeee? Ahh, you can live with this one, right?

[He laughs, straightening and tilting his head - he looks a little softer now. A little worried, even.]

It's okay, isn't it?

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[goldlace]

H... Hm....

[ Are those tears in her eyes? It means so much to her--more than she'll ever say. though, she doesn't need to tell him, does she...?

He already knows. ]

I... I suppose that just this once, you did not do bad, Battler.

action;

[beliefdenied]

[The anxiety disperses and he slips an arm around her slender waist, leaning to kiss her hair.]

Has this made you happy, Beato?

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[goldlace]

[ Happiness? Wasn't that something that she sought a long time ago, only to give up on the hope of ever really finding such a thing? It was true that this present was something that she couldn't deny she was incredibly fond of. But...

She goes silent, frowning for a moment. ... Ah. Was this what happiness was? The feeling of her heartbeat accelerating--and yet, she feels incredibly light. How strange. Didn't she used to mock and scorn at this kind of thing before? Wasn't this what she often attempted to put an end to...?

She leans into his touch--that kiss, her own arms moving to do the same, kissing his lips briefly. That should have been answer enough--but she looks uncertain. ]

action;

[beliefdenied]

[And he's beaming all over again. The look on her face is noted, but he doesn't need to wonder at it - everything sort of clicks into place (Beato trained him so well, after all) and he understands, perhaps more than she does, that happiness is something she's been denied. By herself, by others - even him, he thinks, briefly.

But newlyweds have their whole future ahead of them, and so he doesn't allow himself to be downheartened. Instead, he wraps his arms around her waist, suddenly and - lifts her off her feet, laughing conspiratorially.]

We~ell I think it's time we saw you in the saddle, ihihihihi!

action;

[goldlace]

[ Her eyes widen at that. ] W... Wait just a moment, Battler-- [ She's never done this before--

... Well. There's quite a bit that she hasn't done before without magic, really. ]