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Entry tags:
fic: 14th
Title: 14th
Series: Ace Attorney
Character/pairing: Edgeworth, Nahyuta/Ema
Rating: PG-13
Word count: 1941
Summary: Nahyuta arrives late, but still remembers Valentine's day.
Author's note: Follows I'll Be Home for Christmas and I'll Be Cleaning Up Bottles With You On New Year's Day. The series is now called Holidaze. Thanks to my lovely gf for betaing.
A blanket of snow covered the gardens. He pulled his gloves tight, the fur lining tickling his fingertips. The yak fur inside his coat kept the wind at bay as he brushed aside the layers of snow that had covered the edge of the window. Flowers like this couldn't be kept inside, for they would wilt from the heat. Little hardy green leaves peeked out from the layers of white. He smiled then. No matter how cold it got, these Khura'inese flowers persisted, much like the people of Khura'in.
With one last glance at the little pots, he headed inside.
*
He found her, unsurprisingly, in the lunch hall. The room had gone dim from the coming dark. Even the torches and the lit hearth did little to help. He couldn't even see the details of the sacred butterfly insignia carved into the stone or printed on the tablecloth of the long wooden table. Her cup of hot cocoa― brought back from their trip, with a hint of mint ―was almost gone. Save for the guards at the door, she sat alone. She wore a green sweater over her white blouse that clung to her curves and matched her eyes. The cold had finally made her change out her capris for some warmer and longer dark pants. Her hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail. Still, even with such a sweet drink, she had an expression like she'd been sucking on lemons, and it only grew worse as she saw him.
"Ah, there you are," Nahyuta said.
"Like I'd be anywhere else? I'm not exactly jet-setting to L.A. for a vacation or headed to a restaurant," Ema said sharply.
He ignored her tone. "Please pull your coat on and follow me. I have something to show you," he said.
"Is there a case thing? I thought we were snowed out and everything was suspended for the day," Ema said.
"Not quite," he said.
She puffed out her cheeks as she grabbed for the coat hung over her chair. "Sure, don't tell me what's up. I'm only your fiancee and best detective, it's not like I need to know anything."
He smiled. "For once, that is not a problem."
"Well, you could've fooled me," Ema said huffly.
He leaned in for a kiss and caught her flushed cheek. Half from cold, half from her sudden mood. "You'll see. It won't take long. I did not forget. I've been preparing all this time. But you need to follow me to see."
This made her perk up from her sour mood, though Nahyuta said nothing more as he stepped into the thick snow. Ema soon followed after, with the nylon faux-fur coat she'd brought over that was mixed with shades of green and pink. Her hands were shoved into her pockets, as she hadn't even taken the time to put on gloves. Not even the servants had made a path yet, and the day was already almost dark. Night came so quickly during the winter hours, and the pink of a coming sunset could already be seen in the gray skies.
He led her through the snowy gardens with snow crunching beneath their feet. A large clump of snow fell from the slanted roof and crashed down towards the ground. Lacy frost coated the hanging vines, which had turned brown. They'd be back by spring, more lush than ever.
Bouquets, while lovely, were ephemeral.
When he finally spoke, his words were punctuated by his breath making clouds in the winter air.
"I wanted a gift that would last. Though they are but a few small leaves right now, by spring when the ground thaws, they will bloom most gloriously. And there will be a garden for you to enjoy for many years to come."
"There's a story, that during a truly long and unfathomably cold winter, Khura'in was suffering. People and livestock were freezing to death, and little could be done. No aid could come through the mountains, nor the valleys, as the roads were all impassible. As the people began to lose hope that the winter would ever end, the Holy Mother set to the mountains temple. Though she meditated for days, no spark of inspiration came to her. Pushed to her limits, she began to cry, and as her tears fell to the ground, they turned into flowers. Now these flowers come to us to remind that warmer times will come."
He went on to list the names in Khura'inese of the flowers. He supported those little leaves with his gloved hands as gently as he could.
She tilted her head as he repeated the Khura'inese name.
"Does that translate to Snowflower, or Snow Drops? I don't get the second one you elaborated on. It sounded vaguely religious-y?" Ema said.
"The second name is 'Holy Mother's Winter Tears.' As for the first... Both could suffice as a translation. But, do not let their diminutive structure fool you, they like the cold. They are the first to bloom, right through the snow. They have such delicate, small flowers and such a memorable scent. Sweet, and sad all in one."
She smiled, and as he looked on, for once, he didn't hold back.
"...in truth, that wasn't all. I picked these because they reminded me of you. When I truly had no hope, there you were, reminding me that the world still had warmth and beauty and goodness. You made me believe winter could end."
"That's sweeter than any store-bought bouquet could've ever been, and..."
Ema cleared her throat. Her cheeks and nose were flushed from cold, and he thought more. "I didn't even think you'd realize what day it was. I've been trying to not be angry, because that would be immature and petulant. I didn't quite succeed, though. I'm sorry for being a little grumpy. It's just― we're all working so hard, and I wanted to spend the day with you. Even if you didn't do something so sweet like this, I just wanted to be with you, okay?"
He took her hand then, and squeezed it between his own. "My apologies. I had some things to take care of this morning. It took a bit longer to finish them than I thought it would," Nahyuta said softly.
Ema sighed. "I know… and I know it's only going to be a couple years. But it's hard sometimes."
"What I do not understand is if it bothered you, why did you not simply tell me?"
Ema scrunched up her nose. "You can't just tell somebody you want something when they're supposed to know you want something. That'd be rude."
The strange, passive-aggressive rules of etiquette within American culture was strange. There was an indirect, even passive-aggressive aspect of never speaking up or asking, and instead waiting for someone to realize that when refusing an invite meant persisting and saying yes, please do come. But not too much, for then it would be presumptuous.
Even Khura'in with all its intricacies couldn't match the enigmatic nature of American politeness. And even more so, it varied by state. What was polite in one state would not be so in another. There was still much to learn.
"It never stopped you before," Nahyuta said.
"Yeah, that's the point. I'm a bit rude and not so great at minding my tongue. But that's just how it is," she said.
"I rather like your bluntness. It helps me take the best course of action."
She smiled. "Good, because you'll be seeing a whole lot more of it if you're going to be stuck with me."
"Then I shall be blessed my whole life with forthrightness and truth," he said.
"That's one way to put it," Ema said.
"I have a card as well, but I am afraid it's in my inner coat pocket."
"Well, now's a good time to go in anyways. My nose is going to freeze off at this rate, and I think some more hot chocolate is in order," Ema said.
He bent down and kissed the bridge of her nose. "Perhaps I should've gotten you a scarf instead."
"I've got a scarf. I just didn't get time to put it on because you wanted me to come see this."
"Then I'll warm you up. It is only fair," he said.
"I rather like the sound of that," Ema said, mimicking his voice playfully as she headed back towards the castle.
*
Instead of heading back to the dining hall, they'd both holed up inside one of the meeting lobbies inside the law wing. A place where there was no responsibilities, no bothersome calls to answer, and no disturbances.
The hearth crackled, and the firelight swayed and left dancing shadows across the side of the room. Ema snuggled up near him a bit closer under the thick blanket, covered with yak fur and yak wool. His coat was near, laid aside a table for once. More like Ema than his own neatness, but if the fire went out, he'd need to reach for his coat to beat out the cold.
The heating system hadn't been installed yet. Though he was trying to modernize, there was much to still do― and to learn.
"Could you please explain how did a festival based on someone being executed turn into a festival of love?" Nahyuta asked.
"History's just funny like that. Most holidays have death hidden somewhere in them. I think people just want something to look forward to in winter. That's why you get the showiest holidays then. Also Capitalism will totally turn anything into a profit margin," Ema said.
"Ah, Capitalism. That reminds me."
He reached out to his coat, and pulled out the card from its inner pocket.
Ema smiled as she unwrapped it, and again as she read out the message. "Aww, it has little donuts. That's cute. When did you get this? Did you use Amazon or something? They won't even ship here, I tried."
"I purchased it before we left the United States of America," he said.
"Really, all the way back then?"
He nodded. "I told you. I have been preparing for some time."
"Ha… and I thought you didn't even know about it. I should've known; you're already prepared about… everything, really. I'm looking forward to seeing the Snow Drops bloom."
He leaned in to kiss her forehead. She nestled in closer at his touch. "So that is the translation you chose?"
"We have some like those as well. And Crocuses. I think this flower is in the same family, but possibly different. Maybe, Khura'inese Snow Drop would be a better name for it," Ema said.
"I like that translation. It holds the history well."
"Well, I never planned to be an official translator. You probably better give that title to somebody who won't make silly titles when they get grumpy. Oh, and I have a gift for you, but you have to wait until later. It's not the type of gift you give in public. Unless you're kinky. Though I suppose we could just lock the door...but then I'd have to get up from the covers and go get it from my room... So it'll just have to come later."
"Ah, just what I wanted," Nahyuta said.
Series: Ace Attorney
Character/pairing: Edgeworth, Nahyuta/Ema
Rating: PG-13
Word count: 1941
Summary: Nahyuta arrives late, but still remembers Valentine's day.
Author's note: Follows I'll Be Home for Christmas and I'll Be Cleaning Up Bottles With You On New Year's Day. The series is now called Holidaze. Thanks to my lovely gf for betaing.
A blanket of snow covered the gardens. He pulled his gloves tight, the fur lining tickling his fingertips. The yak fur inside his coat kept the wind at bay as he brushed aside the layers of snow that had covered the edge of the window. Flowers like this couldn't be kept inside, for they would wilt from the heat. Little hardy green leaves peeked out from the layers of white. He smiled then. No matter how cold it got, these Khura'inese flowers persisted, much like the people of Khura'in.
With one last glance at the little pots, he headed inside.
*
He found her, unsurprisingly, in the lunch hall. The room had gone dim from the coming dark. Even the torches and the lit hearth did little to help. He couldn't even see the details of the sacred butterfly insignia carved into the stone or printed on the tablecloth of the long wooden table. Her cup of hot cocoa― brought back from their trip, with a hint of mint ―was almost gone. Save for the guards at the door, she sat alone. She wore a green sweater over her white blouse that clung to her curves and matched her eyes. The cold had finally made her change out her capris for some warmer and longer dark pants. Her hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail. Still, even with such a sweet drink, she had an expression like she'd been sucking on lemons, and it only grew worse as she saw him.
"Ah, there you are," Nahyuta said.
"Like I'd be anywhere else? I'm not exactly jet-setting to L.A. for a vacation or headed to a restaurant," Ema said sharply.
He ignored her tone. "Please pull your coat on and follow me. I have something to show you," he said.
"Is there a case thing? I thought we were snowed out and everything was suspended for the day," Ema said.
"Not quite," he said.
She puffed out her cheeks as she grabbed for the coat hung over her chair. "Sure, don't tell me what's up. I'm only your fiancee and best detective, it's not like I need to know anything."
He smiled. "For once, that is not a problem."
"Well, you could've fooled me," Ema said huffly.
He leaned in for a kiss and caught her flushed cheek. Half from cold, half from her sudden mood. "You'll see. It won't take long. I did not forget. I've been preparing all this time. But you need to follow me to see."
This made her perk up from her sour mood, though Nahyuta said nothing more as he stepped into the thick snow. Ema soon followed after, with the nylon faux-fur coat she'd brought over that was mixed with shades of green and pink. Her hands were shoved into her pockets, as she hadn't even taken the time to put on gloves. Not even the servants had made a path yet, and the day was already almost dark. Night came so quickly during the winter hours, and the pink of a coming sunset could already be seen in the gray skies.
He led her through the snowy gardens with snow crunching beneath their feet. A large clump of snow fell from the slanted roof and crashed down towards the ground. Lacy frost coated the hanging vines, which had turned brown. They'd be back by spring, more lush than ever.
Bouquets, while lovely, were ephemeral.
When he finally spoke, his words were punctuated by his breath making clouds in the winter air.
"I wanted a gift that would last. Though they are but a few small leaves right now, by spring when the ground thaws, they will bloom most gloriously. And there will be a garden for you to enjoy for many years to come."
"There's a story, that during a truly long and unfathomably cold winter, Khura'in was suffering. People and livestock were freezing to death, and little could be done. No aid could come through the mountains, nor the valleys, as the roads were all impassible. As the people began to lose hope that the winter would ever end, the Holy Mother set to the mountains temple. Though she meditated for days, no spark of inspiration came to her. Pushed to her limits, she began to cry, and as her tears fell to the ground, they turned into flowers. Now these flowers come to us to remind that warmer times will come."
He went on to list the names in Khura'inese of the flowers. He supported those little leaves with his gloved hands as gently as he could.
She tilted her head as he repeated the Khura'inese name.
"Does that translate to Snowflower, or Snow Drops? I don't get the second one you elaborated on. It sounded vaguely religious-y?" Ema said.
"The second name is 'Holy Mother's Winter Tears.' As for the first... Both could suffice as a translation. But, do not let their diminutive structure fool you, they like the cold. They are the first to bloom, right through the snow. They have such delicate, small flowers and such a memorable scent. Sweet, and sad all in one."
She smiled, and as he looked on, for once, he didn't hold back.
"...in truth, that wasn't all. I picked these because they reminded me of you. When I truly had no hope, there you were, reminding me that the world still had warmth and beauty and goodness. You made me believe winter could end."
"That's sweeter than any store-bought bouquet could've ever been, and..."
Ema cleared her throat. Her cheeks and nose were flushed from cold, and he thought more. "I didn't even think you'd realize what day it was. I've been trying to not be angry, because that would be immature and petulant. I didn't quite succeed, though. I'm sorry for being a little grumpy. It's just― we're all working so hard, and I wanted to spend the day with you. Even if you didn't do something so sweet like this, I just wanted to be with you, okay?"
He took her hand then, and squeezed it between his own. "My apologies. I had some things to take care of this morning. It took a bit longer to finish them than I thought it would," Nahyuta said softly.
Ema sighed. "I know… and I know it's only going to be a couple years. But it's hard sometimes."
"What I do not understand is if it bothered you, why did you not simply tell me?"
Ema scrunched up her nose. "You can't just tell somebody you want something when they're supposed to know you want something. That'd be rude."
The strange, passive-aggressive rules of etiquette within American culture was strange. There was an indirect, even passive-aggressive aspect of never speaking up or asking, and instead waiting for someone to realize that when refusing an invite meant persisting and saying yes, please do come. But not too much, for then it would be presumptuous.
Even Khura'in with all its intricacies couldn't match the enigmatic nature of American politeness. And even more so, it varied by state. What was polite in one state would not be so in another. There was still much to learn.
"It never stopped you before," Nahyuta said.
"Yeah, that's the point. I'm a bit rude and not so great at minding my tongue. But that's just how it is," she said.
"I rather like your bluntness. It helps me take the best course of action."
She smiled. "Good, because you'll be seeing a whole lot more of it if you're going to be stuck with me."
"Then I shall be blessed my whole life with forthrightness and truth," he said.
"That's one way to put it," Ema said.
"I have a card as well, but I am afraid it's in my inner coat pocket."
"Well, now's a good time to go in anyways. My nose is going to freeze off at this rate, and I think some more hot chocolate is in order," Ema said.
He bent down and kissed the bridge of her nose. "Perhaps I should've gotten you a scarf instead."
"I've got a scarf. I just didn't get time to put it on because you wanted me to come see this."
"Then I'll warm you up. It is only fair," he said.
"I rather like the sound of that," Ema said, mimicking his voice playfully as she headed back towards the castle.
*
Instead of heading back to the dining hall, they'd both holed up inside one of the meeting lobbies inside the law wing. A place where there was no responsibilities, no bothersome calls to answer, and no disturbances.
The hearth crackled, and the firelight swayed and left dancing shadows across the side of the room. Ema snuggled up near him a bit closer under the thick blanket, covered with yak fur and yak wool. His coat was near, laid aside a table for once. More like Ema than his own neatness, but if the fire went out, he'd need to reach for his coat to beat out the cold.
The heating system hadn't been installed yet. Though he was trying to modernize, there was much to still do― and to learn.
"Could you please explain how did a festival based on someone being executed turn into a festival of love?" Nahyuta asked.
"History's just funny like that. Most holidays have death hidden somewhere in them. I think people just want something to look forward to in winter. That's why you get the showiest holidays then. Also Capitalism will totally turn anything into a profit margin," Ema said.
"Ah, Capitalism. That reminds me."
He reached out to his coat, and pulled out the card from its inner pocket.
Ema smiled as she unwrapped it, and again as she read out the message. "Aww, it has little donuts. That's cute. When did you get this? Did you use Amazon or something? They won't even ship here, I tried."
"I purchased it before we left the United States of America," he said.
"Really, all the way back then?"
He nodded. "I told you. I have been preparing for some time."
"Ha… and I thought you didn't even know about it. I should've known; you're already prepared about… everything, really. I'm looking forward to seeing the Snow Drops bloom."
He leaned in to kiss her forehead. She nestled in closer at his touch. "So that is the translation you chose?"
"We have some like those as well. And Crocuses. I think this flower is in the same family, but possibly different. Maybe, Khura'inese Snow Drop would be a better name for it," Ema said.
"I like that translation. It holds the history well."
"Well, I never planned to be an official translator. You probably better give that title to somebody who won't make silly titles when they get grumpy. Oh, and I have a gift for you, but you have to wait until later. It's not the type of gift you give in public. Unless you're kinky. Though I suppose we could just lock the door...but then I'd have to get up from the covers and go get it from my room... So it'll just have to come later."
"Ah, just what I wanted," Nahyuta said.