regency au } { of cloud watching and wedding proposals

[impetere]

Cora: [It has been a few days since they left home to keep Amelia safe from Kali and Ennis, and she can't help but worry about the safety of her siblings in the process. As a result, she's been spending a lot of her time with her niece, but this particular afternoon, Peter has claimed some Amelia time for himself so she is wandering the grounds of the castle, trying to keep her mind off things]

Stiles: [and of course, Peter had made it known to Stiles that Cora would be without the baby this day, and so he has moved away from his work with the knights to dress a bit more than his training leathers and he is making his way through the castle to find her]

Cora: [and he will find her sitting on a bench near the water, just taking in the fresh air as she tries to get her head to stop spinning]

Stiles: [and he will move to stand beside her, smiling] Good day, m'lady.

Cora: [glances up and smiles in return] Good day, Stiles.

Stiles: I barely recognized you without Amelia attached to your hip.

Cora: [there's a shy smile as she glances down] She's missed her mother. I suppose I am the next best thing for the time being. [and also she doesn't want to let her out of her sight for long. she's taking this responsibility seriously]

Stiles: Well, hopefully she will not be separated from her for too long. May I join you? [motions to the bench that is made for two]

Cora: [glances over and nods] Of course.

Stiles: [moves to sit next to her] This is a beautiful castle. I can see why Lord Peter did not want to part with it.

Cora: [she smiles] It's his favorite place. My mother left it to him specifically when she died.

Stiles: They were close?

Cora: Very. Like Laura and Derek are close.

Stiles: And like you are with your brother as well?

Cora: It's ... a different kind of close. We are a close family, but the bond between an alpha and their second is ... more than that. It's like they are two halves of the same whole. A head and a heart.

Stiles: ... Derek's the head isn't he?

Cora: [she smiles] Yes. And Laura is the heart.

Stiles: It's fascinating how that happens for your family.

Cora: [tips her head to the side] How do you mean?

Stiles: I mean, if that is true for the first two children of an alpha, how God would grant each sibling that trait before they even begin to develop them.

Cora: [she shrugs] In some ways, it is a matter of circumstance. The alpha to be is trained by the previous alpha, while the same is true of the seconds. It is just as much chance as it is choice. There have been some alphas that have been great diplomats, but less nurturing, while their seconds are the gentler hand.

Stiles: But has there been both the alpha and second being the same?

Cora: [pauses before shaking her head] Not that I know of. But I do not have much access to the archives.

Stiles: As I said then, fascinating how it works that way.

Cora: [she shrugs] I suppose it depends on the situation - and the alpha.

Stiles: And you just got to be who you wanted to be.

Cora: I don't know about that. But I am content with who I am, at least.

Stiles: Well, I am very happy with who you are.

Cora: [smiles] Good. I am glad.

Stiles: So, if you are free today, would you care to give me a proper tour? I would love to see the castle through your eyes.

Cora: [smiles slightly at that before nodding] I would love to.

Stiles: Wonderful. [he stands, and then offers her his hand]

Cora: [which she takes and will start to lead the way back into the castle] What have you seen so far?

Stiles: Well, the dining hall, the large great room, and the knights’ quarters.

Cora: [considers for a moment, before keeping hold of his hand and pulling her after him] This way.

Stiles: [and he will smile and follow easily, always willing to follow]

Cora: [and she will lead them through the corridors to one of the side towers, and up a ... very large staircase, sorry Stiles]

Stiles: [looking up the staircase] How far up are we going?

Cora: All the way to the top.

Stiles: Will you carry me if I get short of breath?

Cora: [glances back, amused] We can stop if you need to.

Stiles: Oh, we probably will. [smiles back] Lead away, m'lady.

Cora: [And up the stairs they go. She's just going to keep pushing onwards unless he tells her they need to stop, but it's about five stories high, so.]

Stiles: [yeah, halfway up he will have to stop her] Just for a moment so I am not too winded when we get to the top.

Cora: Very well. [and she will pause on the landing to let him catch his breath]

Stiles: So where are we going?

Cora: It's a surprise.

Stiles: Oh. No hints though?

Cora: [shakes her head] Where's the fun in that?

Stiles: [laughs] Very well. [takes a deep breath] Okay, I think I can continue.

Cora: [nods and back up the stairs they go again, until they reach a heavy wooden door. Before opening it she turns to face him] This is my favorite place in the entire castle. If you can't find me, it means I'm probably here.

Stiles: The fact it's all the way up here leads me to believe not many disturb you here.

Cora: [she shakes her head] But that isn't why I like it.

Stiles: Well, show me then. [he bets it's books]

Cora: [partially, yes! The door she opens is to a room that mostly looks like a comfortable sitting room, complete with wooden chests, that when the doors are open are full of books - mostly Cora's reading preferences since she spent a great deal of time here during the summer she spent away from court. But the most striking feature of the entire room is how much light was in it, as the roof seemed to be made completely of glass]

Stiles: [does the whole walking into the middle of the room and spinning slowly bit] Wow, this is amazing.

Cora: [she nods] It's even better at night. My father liked to study the stars, and he used to bring me here to tell me the stories of the different constellations. [after he died, she spent most of her time here, curled up on one of the lounges that still had his scent and watching the stars until she fell asleep]

Stiles: I heard that about your father. It's why Derek is in the observatory wing too, if I recall.

Cora: [she nods] He loved the stories more than the stars, I think. [she goes to sit on the lounge in question and glancing around, almost as though she's making sure that everything is still in order] Heroes and gods and monsters.

Stiles: I was taught to use them to find directions.

Cora: [she nods] I haven't traveled much. But I do know how to find the North Star.

Stiles: That is good. It's step one.

Cora: [smirks as she gestures for him to come sit with her] And what would be step two?

Stiles: [he moves to do just that] You need to learn a few of the other constellations around it to be able to get yourself pointed north.

Cora: So their orientation in relation to the start determines direction?

Stiles: Especially during the time of year and time of night. The earth is on a rotation. That is why you don't always see the same stars in the same places.

Cora: But the North Star never changes?

Stiles: No, it doesn't. Neither does the big ladle.

Cora: Mmmm. [and after a moment she shifts back on the lounge, staring up through the glass to the clouds] During the day, however, you can watch the clouds move.

Stiles: Do you try and find shapes in them?

Cora: Sometimes.

Stiles: I used to do that when I was little. I always found the bunnies.

Cora: [smiles as she kicks her feet up and stretches back] I always saw faces.

Stiles: [and he will lean back with her] Oh?

Cora: [she nods] They always struck me as large fluffy people. [smirks]

Stiles: The kind you just want to snuggle against?

Cora: Sometimes. [she makes a face] Some others, not so much.

Stiles: What would make them not want to be snuggled?

Cora: [inches closer so that she's leaning against his shoulder, before pointing to one cloud that was on it's way to becoming a storm cloud, looking dark and gray around the edges] Does that seem like the face of one who wishes to be cuddled to you?

Stiles: [chuckles] I see your point.

Cora: [shifts back against the lounge again and sighs] This is also the room where I answered most of your letters.

Stiles: [he smiles at that] Is that so?

Cora: [she nods, before shifting and pointing towards the desk in the corner] Right there. I knew I would have more privacy here than in my room. Malia gets bored before she gets this high in the tower and Liam mostly followed her.

Stiles: Well, then I am glad you brought me here to see this room. I think it is now my favorite room in the castle as well.

Cora: [smiles as she settles back against the lounge again] Good. I'm glad.

Stiles: So are all the books I sent you also here?

Cora: Most of them. Some of them are in my room.

Stiles: When we go to visit my family, I will show you my uncle's library. Perhaps you will find a few there you will wish to bring back to this castle to read.

Cora: I would like that.

Stiles: I did not think you would have many complaints.

Cora: I tend to be a woman of simple pleasures.

Stiles: It does make it easy for me to make you happy.

Cora: You make me happy. Just you.

Stiles: [and he smiles at that] As do you.

Cora: [smiles] Good.

Stiles: [and as they watch the clouds, his hand will slide down to just gently taking hers, holding her hand as they silently observe the sky]

Cora: [her fingers curl around his when he does, not pulling away and staying close.]

Stiles: [he kept watching, and then pointed up] Bunny.

Cora: [she smiles a bit] That one I see.

Stiles: You can find the faces. I will always find the rabbits.

Cora: Deal.

Stiles: [he sat there a moment, thinking before looking over at her] What are you thinking about right now?

Cora: [glancing over, brow furrowing lightly in confusion] Right now?

Stiles: Yes, of course.

Cora: Uh ... the clouds? [she's not sure how to play this game, Stiles]

Stiles: Nothing else?

Cora: I ... don't know. [you know how she is about feelings] Is there something I should be thinking about?

Stiles: Well, I'm thinking about how nice it is just being here with you. Just us, sharing this moment together.

Cora: Oh. [a beat] Well, ... yes, but I always enjoy your company.

Stiles: I also, well I will admit that I am thinking about how nice it would be to kiss you again.

Cora: [her cheeks flush and her head ducks] I ... can't say I would mind that either.

Stiles: Then may I?

Cora: [looks up at him and nods]

Stiles: [and he will sit up a bit, leaning over her and then down to kiss her gently, his hand brushing along her cheek]

Cora: [one hand comes up to rest over his hand as she kisses him back, sinking gently into his touch]

Stiles: [and soon he will deepen the kiss, just enjoying their kissing session for as long as she will let him]

Cora: [she's starting to get more comfortable with the physical affection, relaxing into him and melting under him. her free hand moves to his shoulder and squeezes gently as she does]

Stiles: [he smiles against her lips, feeling her getting a bit more comfortable each time they did this. He didn't want to go too long - best not to make her think he was trying to get fresh - and instead he pulled back a hair to look at her]

Cora: [she opens her eyes when he pulls back, looking slightly confused as though she may have done something wrong]

Stiles: I just need to breathe. [he gave her lips a quick kiss, catching his breath]

Cora: Oh. [she looks down again] My apologies.

Stiles: Hey. [he tilted her head back up] You don't have to be sorry for stealing my breath away. I gladly give it to you. [and he will lean forward to kiss her again]

Cora: [she should probably say something, but she's found the kissing to be easier, and simply sinks into that again, enjoying the kiss while it lasts]

Stiles: [and there will be more kissing, as long as his breath holds out]

Cora: [And she will just relax comfortably adjusting to the kiss as she learns. Whenever he kisses her, she is always left feeling flushed and uncomfortable, but she's told that's normal]

Stiles: [when he needs to breathe again he pulls back, pressing his forehead to hers and smiling, his eyes closed] I love you, Cora Hale.

Cora: [her breath catches at that, the words making her heart race even more, He can probably feel it with how close he is, but she doesn't know how she should respond or even the words to use] I ...

Stiles: [his fingers trace along her hair line, and he smiled softly. He can feel her heartbeat against his chest, and he isn't sure how to take it, but he wanted to finish the thought in his head] Cora, I love you very much. And I would like to ask you a question, one I have been wanting to ask you for quite some time.

Cora: [swallows hard before nodding, giving him leeway to ask. she has a feeling she knows what it is, but she needs him to say it]

Stiles: [he sits up, helping her to sit next to him as he takes both her hands] Cora... I want to think our paths crossed that day for many reasons, and I have never been so grateful to have met you as I am today. And I know that years from now, that gratefulness... the love I feel now will only be more abundant and richer. I cannot see my life without you in it, and I would like to ask you for the honor to be your husband. We can have as long of an engagement as you wish, but you are the one I love and want to marry.

Cora: [watches him for a moment, turning over the information in her head. She knows this isn't supposed to be a logical consideration but Cora needs to approach it that way. She isn't sure if she loves him, because she doesn't know how that's supposed to feel. But being married to him wouldn't be the worst thing. She cares for Stiles a great deal, and she likes the way he makes her feel, a way that Jackson never bothered to. If she had to trust one person with that kind of partnership, it would be Stiles. She just hopes that that is enough to base the decision on. She watches him for a moment, before taking a breath and nodding]

Stiles: [and his face just lights up, his grin bright and happy] Yes? You will?

Cora: [that smile is infectious and she can't help but join him with one of her own, before she nods again] Yes. I will marry you.

Stiles: [and he will jump up, pulling her into his arms and twirling her around the room in joy a moment before pulling her into his arms and kissing her deeply with pure love and joy]

Cora: [she laughs a bit as she's spun before sinking into the kiss, her hands moving to his shoulder for balance]

Stiles: [and he will be breathless before long, pulling back to that hair length distance] Thank you. I promise I will do my best to make sure you are always happy.

Cora: I have no doubt you will succeed. [that much she knows is true]

Stiles: [he smiled, brushing her cheek with her thumb] Though we will need our own wing just for our combined book collections.

Cora: [she laughs] I'm sure we have some volumes in common.

Stiles: Oh, I am sure. [he was about to lean in to kiss her when the faint sound of the lunch bell was rung]

Cora: [sighs softly as she pulls back before placing one hand against his chest gently] Can we ... keep this between us until you speak with Laura? [it feels wrong having congratulations when they're here to hide from Kali and Ennis]

Stiles: Yes, yes. We can wait until both she and your Lord Uncle are in the same location to speak with them both and get their blessing.

Cora: [she nods] Thank you.

Stiles: I should let you change for lunch. I will see you downstairs?

Cora: [she nods] I will see you at lunch.

Stiles: [one last kiss, and he will be off. Those five flights of stairs are nothing going down. And there was no way he was going to stop smiling today]

Cora: [and she will return to her room and get ready for lunch, and probably take charge of her niece again for the rest of the afternoon, because she will probably blush every time Stiles looks at her]