ding dong, the bells are gonna chime

[priorcommitment]

Ishiah waits until there's finally a day on Semele's schedule that shows Robin doesn't plan on stopping by before he takes on the task of asking his colleagues for feedback. He has most of the official proposal planned out already — plenty of flowers, plenty of drink and song, and the birds he wants to borrow are his own personal touch. Even the outfit is easy enough to plan knowing what Robin generally prefers to see Ishiah wear, greens that draw out the blue of his eyes and give it a little more depth. Most of these are things that they've spoken about any number of times, even if not in this context, and the space is familiar for Ishiah to work with.

All but one: he still has no idea how to choose Robin's wedding ring.

Jewelry, on the whole, is not something that Ishiah cares much for. Its value is purely material, meant to symbolize a lasting love with lasting materials that have been so far removed from the earth. But there's enough value in both the happiness that Robin would get from the gesture and the clear declaration of love that would be ever present on their hands that Ishiah decides to take a chance.

He just won't be going alone.

"Lucy," he says that day as they're cleaning up, ready to end their shifts. "May I have a moment? I have a rather personal favor to ask."

Comments

[priorcommitment]

"Sometimes I'm of the opinion that loss is something better learned sooner as opposed to later, if one indeed has to learn it at all, which most people do," reasons Ishiah, gaze growing distant as he thinks about all of the losses that get reported day by day, most often suffered by humans than any other species. Humans, who were so great in number, and used that to get by rather than a strong individual defense. "It makes one stronger, and it leaves more of one's life for living in full. When you recognize that so much can slip away in a moment, it makes one bolder. I consider you very strong, Lucy. I can understand why Robin extended an offer of work to you."

[radicalize]

Head ducking, Lucy's smile grows a little sheepish at that, though it's clear that it's something she likes hearing. It hasn't exactly been an easy few years, even before she was pulled away from home, even if the time that's followed has only intensified how true that's been. "Yeah, well... I've kind of had to be," she says, not so self-deprecating that she'll disagree with him just for the sake of it. She might have had her moments of weakness, but she likes to think that she's come out better for it, having gone through more than most people should have. "You're right, though. I mean, if it's going to have to happen, and it always does, then you might as well start getting used to it earlier. Might not soften the blow, but at least you know how to deal with it."