Ardbert brightens when she climbs into his lap. He does love carrying her, and it's been quite a while. Era's indulging him, and he loves it.
The book he was reading gets placed in her lap before he situates his arms. Ardbert lifts her up as he stands. Part of the reason he's kept up his strength besides to protect people is to be able to do small feats like this.
"Into the house we go, then." Which is exactly what he does.
Even a year on it's odd, to be picked up and carried like something precious and worth such care. It always brings a swirl of emotions that inevitably settles on some measure of contentment. Era holds the book on her lap, makes note to gather her shed scales from the blanket later on, and rubs her horn fondly against Ardbert's chest.
He smiles down at her, so visibly tender, as she rubs her horn against his chest. Carrying her weight, even if slight, reminds him of how he's real to everyone again. It's a comfort.
Ardbert nods to the door, indicating she should get it.
Had her tail not been so likely to catch on the door she would have opened it with her favourite appendage. Instead she reaches out to open it with a hand.
Once the door is sufficiently opened, Era returns her weight to Ardbert's chest, giving him another fond rub with her horn. She lays her hand over his, curling her fingers around a few of his own. For all that things have been a painful flurry she can hardly keep up with, Ardbert has remained a steadfast support, just like he had during their time together in Norvrandt.
She can't stop thinking he deserves better than her, but that's why she just works harder to be better. He is the bright piece of soul that holds her own together, and she loves him.
All Ardbert can think about right now is how happy he is that she's letting him do this for her. She's bad at self-care. They both need this, because there's so much he can't do for her right now—except this. Give her love.
When the door is closed, he carries her to the bedroom to get them both undressed. If Emet is around, he'll have to deal with a couple of streakers soon.
While fully capable of undressing herself, her self-sufficiency isn't the point. This is about what Ardbert needs, and he is someone who needs to feel useful; needed. Era knows this full well because she is the same way. She presses a kiss to his jaw, shivering faintly as her skin is bared to the ambient temperature.
Ardbert does need this, it's true. He also sincerely hopes (and knows) he's helping her, too. It's mutually beneficial for him to cherish and for her to be cherished as well as her helping him by letting him help her.
He smiles down at her gently after she kisses him, putting aside her sweater and the camisole stuck inside it. Ardbert leans forward to kiss the scales on her nose. Slow hands gently smooth along her sides, across skin and scale, stroking up then down her back.
The motions knock loose a scale, making him snort with amusement.
Era has to fight back the desire to scratch at the itch where the scale came from, knowing that scratching too much is bad for the fresh scale that had pushed the old one free. She sighs irritably, though it's easy enough to tell that her irritation stems from the discomfort rather than anything Ardbert is doing.
He feels her body shift as she keeps herself from scratching before she sighs in annoyance. Ardbert has to stop himself from laughing. It's adorable.
"I'd be driven insane if I had to deal with this like you do," Ardbert kisses a horn and hums ever so quietly against it as his hands work to undo her leggings' tie. "So I won't leave you hanging for long."
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The book he was reading gets placed in her lap before he situates his arms. Ardbert lifts her up as he stands. Part of the reason he's kept up his strength besides to protect people is to be able to do small feats like this.
"Into the house we go, then." Which is exactly what he does.
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Ardbert nods to the door, indicating she should get it.
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He steps through the door and turns so she can reach to close it without stretching. No use ruining a comfortable position.
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She can't stop thinking he deserves better than her, but that's why she just works harder to be better. He is the bright piece of soul that holds her own together, and she loves him.
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When the door is closed, he carries her to the bedroom to get them both undressed. If Emet is around, he'll have to deal with a couple of streakers soon.
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He smiles down at her gently after she kisses him, putting aside her sweater and the camisole stuck inside it. Ardbert leans forward to kiss the scales on her nose. Slow hands gently smooth along her sides, across skin and scale, stroking up then down her back.
The motions knock loose a scale, making him snort with amusement.
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"I'd be driven insane if I had to deal with this like you do," Ardbert kisses a horn and hums ever so quietly against it as his hands work to undo her leggings' tie. "So I won't leave you hanging for long."