I do, still

RONIN

the darkstar

Take a path through the Wildwood to the Crimson Cataract. I have asked the trees to be nice.

Remi will find the note on crisp, clean parchment, neatly in place where he's most likely to see it (on his pillow, of course). Oh, and there's a postscript, too:

You should wear this.

This, as the Lullaby will find out, is a perfectly crafted wooden bowtie. It isn't the same one Remi wore on their wedding night - it can't be - but from Ronin's memory, it's a good approximation.

And since the Huntsman does not have special memory magic, everything Remi finds upon stepping outside the houseboat will be crafted with Ronin's own two hands, and nothing more.

The night is barely upon them, setting the dense foliage alight in shades of amber and gold with the dying of the day, and should the alchemist begin to walk the suggested path, he will find the way (hopefully) suitably signposted.

Ribbons stream in crimson and gold, tied in abundance from the tree branches, creating a canopy of light for Remi to stroll through. Hopefully he is on time, because Ronin has timed the walk (and begged and bribed and blackmailed said trees) for his husband to arrive at the Cataract just as the sun finally fades for good.

From there, candles, fireflies and will-o-wisps take over.

The former dot a trail right up to the edge of the water, where the Cataract roars through the tranquil evening. Remi won't need any partial shifting to make it out, though - Ronin has taken care of that. Having used his dazzle just so on as many of the rocks and lichen behind the waterfall as he can, the Crimson Cataract has been set aglow, casting a ruddy light over the proceedings.

As for the Huntsman himself--

Ronin stands on his nimbus right where the candles peter out, wearing the sort of rustic bullshit suit that he's pretty sure his husband would have swooned over back in the day.

It doesn't matter, though. None of it matters, as long as his husband shows up. And if it's in just the bowtie and nothing else?

Well, Ronin wasn't specific, so that's on him.

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

the lullaby

And you should know,
I left but never lost my place

Like knowing you were going to be proposed to ahead of time, when the moment arrives, you're often no less speechless for it. Indeed, it's with trembling fingers and eyes already shiny with tears that Remi reads - and re-reads - the instructions left for him by his husband. Wanting to rush but also savour the moment, the Lullaby sits heavily down on their bed, holding the wooden bowtie in his hands and smiling stupidly to himself in the empty houseboat before breathing in a shaky breath and getting ready.

The trees are mostly on their best behaviour, and though the Lullaby is trying to remind himself to take in all the subtle details that have gone into planning this moment, gods if he doesn't want to simply fly down the path and into his husband's (presumably) waiting arms. Able to detect the telltale glow of Ronin's dazzle ahead apart from the golden fingers of the setting sun, Remi's chest expands as an unfathomably deep, and pure, and true sense of love begins to stretch and yawn inside of him. It makes him want to laugh, and cry, and collapse to his knees; instead, he walks the glowing path laid out for him with his breath held.

Dressed almost precisely as he had more than six years prior, this time Remi's jacket was unbuttoned and instead of a flower pinned to his lapel, there was a spriggan instead perched in his pocket. Against his throat was the wooden bowtie, and though it was slightly lopsided, the alchemist was no less handsome for it.

As the trees part and the rush of the Cataract comes into view, Remi comes to an immediate halt upon seeing Ronin. The corners of his lips twitch as if he was going to smile before his expression crumples entirely into one which might be mistaken for pain were it not for the tears of joy beading on his lower lashes.

and these nights I miss you most
my heart is yours to break

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!