Giving Rings [backdated: December 25th]

[god_of_the_arena]

Gannicus knew the holiday was important to a lot of people in Darrow. It fell about the same time of year as the Roman Saturnalia and it was not far from the solstice his people had celebrated. He knew, now, that people often exchanged gifts this time of year, and he'd thought for quite some time about what he might give Krem and Hild.

His mind kept turning back toward the same thought, despite the weight it might bring. He would just have to be clear about his intentions, especially since he imagined Hild and Krem would both be familiar with what he wanted to give.

For Hild he had a lighter torc, the ends crafted into ash leaves; he also had a bracelet for her. Krem's torc had loose spirals on the ends.

He only hoped the reception went well and took a breath before he knocked on the door.

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[god_of_the_arena]

"Happily given," he answered, smiling after the kiss. That was when the nerves threatened to creep back, so he picked up the bag he'd brought and took something wrapped up in tissue paper out of it.

"I brought something for you," he said, managing to keep the hesitance out of his voice. Giving the gift to Hild had been less smooth than he'd hoped, but he had also expected that it might be more fraught. He didn't know how Krem would take this, if there were similar things or customs where he came from. Gannicus could only hope his explanation would clear any doubt or ease any fear.

Inside the tissue paper was a torc, designed with elegant spirals at the ends.

[krempuff]

Krem set the present aside into a pile of progressively growing presents. There were only a few he didn't have yet, and he needed to get those squared away quickly. He knew he was late to this gift giving, but he was doing the best that he could.

When Gannicus handed him the present, Krem blinked for a moment. He let the weight fill his hands. He hadn't gotten maybe presents in the time he'd been in Darrow: a bottle of liquor here, some practical item there. This, though; he could feel the shapes of it, the curious curls under his fingers.

It had a soft glint to it. Krem stared. He'd seen pieces like it, particularly in Fereldan. There was a weight in his stomach as he held it.

[god_of_the_arena]

"I know it may suggest burden," he said quickly, voice soft. "I want to assure you that I give it without obligation, Krem. It was all I could think of that felt... significant enough."

He understood, now, that many people seemed to exchange rings with loved ones, but these were the rings he knew. The ones that meant something to him, and apparently to Krem and Hild.

"I offer it as a symbol of my devotion, cariad. I ask nothing in return."

[krempuff]

The symbol of it was part of Krem's struggle. Courting, marriage, were such weighty things in Tevinter. They were weighty things everywhere. And no matter that this was a symbol of devotion and not of possession, it was still a symbol.

Krem felt like he'd missed a step going up a flight of stairs. Of course this was something, a meaningful gesture, a promise. Hadn't he given Hild a ring to mark his care for her? Hadn't he put ink in his flesh for what Hild and Gannicus meant to him?

He set it down on his knees and reached for Gannicus's hand. "Tell me what it means," he murmured. "Is there any...any specific meaning to how it's made? The shape, the function, it... Symbols are made of symbols. Tell me what I'm looking at?"

[god_of_the_arena]

The gentle demand had him thinking for a moment. The trouble was it could mean any number of things, just among his people. "The metal is twisted together, it's stronger that way." And it looked better, but that wasn't as important.

He traced the twisting pattern down to the spirals.

"I think everything my people touched had marks like these on it. In particular triple spirals... of which you and Hild make up two parts." At least to him. Being so vulnerable was momentarily distressing, but he had already confessed his love to Krem, months ago. He could endeavor to explain this, to make his meaning clear.

"It is a part of me, something important to my people, that I can give to you."

[krempuff]

It was a satisfactory explanation. Krem ran his fingers over the twists of metal, a slow track of them. His fingers bumped up against Gannicus's, and he let them, lingering in the soft touch.

There were marks on the insides of his arm, symbols important to Gannicus, and to Hild, for the relation to their peoples. He could appreciate that. His body had slowly become a canvas of these things, of these remarkable people that shaped his life. How quickly he became so tangled up. So twisted. Stronger that way.

He set it down on his knee, and then laced his fingers with Gannicus. "I--thank you." The words seemed disingenuous. "I might wait for an occasion to wear it?"

[god_of_the_arena]

Gannicus leaned close, gently bumping his brow against Krem's before finding him in a kiss. "It is not a thing I would expect to see often," he said quietly. "You should wear it as little or as much as it pleases you to."

He gave Krem a smile and kissed him again. "Gratitude," he murmured against Krem's mouth. "For accepting it."

[krempuff]

A thought struck Krem, and he looked at Gannicus between kisses. He lifted his hand and cupped his cheek, thumb brushing his cheekbone. "Did you think I wouldn't? It's a heavy thing, but not--. I would have accepted it, carrissime."

[god_of_the_arena]

"I didn't know," he admitted. "It might have struck memory I do not yet know, or it could mean something different where you come from. That is why it comes with lengthy explanation," he said with a soft laugh. He touched their foreheads together.

"But no... I don't think I would have gone through the effort if I didn't have some hope that you would accept it."

[krempuff]

Krem shifted his hand, cupping the back of Gannicus's neck. He squeezed gently. The gesture meant more than the gift itself, and Krem could appreciate that. After a moment, he leaned back and looked at it again.

"There are similar things, in Fereldan. I don't know if they mean the same. But I've seen things like it before." Krem smiled softly and leaned in, kissing Gannicus again. "Thank you. For sharing something this meaningful with me."

[god_of_the_arena]

He met the kiss, smiling against Krem's mouth. "I am glad to," he said softly. "I care very much for you - I love you, cariad." He held Krem's face, stroking his thumb across his cheek. He kissed him again, lingering. That Krem had accepted the gift warmed something in him.

"You're a good man, Krem. I'm honored that someone like you would love me." Hild had not said the words but he felt it from her, too.