Hope Falls

"Come on then," He went as if to hold his hand out for her, but he stopped himself and he headed out of the shop with her.

“Don’t know why you sound so exhausted, we had a great sleep last night. Or I did anyway, I thought you did too? Best I’ve slept in a long time actually…” Dagmar mused as she closed her own eyes, gently rocking with him. “You can’t keep Dasha-ing your way out of conflict either. It’s not fair that you have a trump card against me that you know works every time - but I suppose that’s a me problem mm, for being so susceptible to it.” She laughed softly

Eve followed him quietly, frowning when he moved his hand away. Putting her own into her pockets as she walked.

---

"You took up all of the room, I swear I fell out of the bed like twice because your feet were against my back." Conan hummed, voice muffled against her skin. "You haven't told me how it went with the Oracle yet."

They started walking towards the forest. "So, I've not seen you all day, what have you been up to?" Elijah asked her.

"Sleeping, eating, slobbing." Eve hummed happily.

He smiled. "Oh so while I have worked my but off you've been living the life of luxury I see?" He asked her playfully, just trying to have some fun.

“Because that’s business and for a few silly minutes I want to act like there is no business.” Dagmar whispered, before laughing softly; “I don’t know what you’ve done to me. If it were anyone else I’d say they skipped something into that coffee yesterday like a witches potion or something. Because I was absolutely functioning fine without you and now it’s like you’re all I can think about is playing house for an hour to grasp whatever we can if the time we have together. You’ve definitely done something. It can’t all change overnight like that…” she mused lightly.

"Oh yes, completely."

---

"You have been obsessed with me ever since the war, you've just been suppressing it. You can't tell me that every wound you helped me heal was in the interest of keeping things 'neutral', you can't pretend like you expected me to walk past you when you were dying on that night in March and didn't think if was some kind of fever dream when I stopped to help you."

He laughed softly and soon they came to a small clearing in the forest, not on their usual route, it had a waterfall and a small lake, and on the grass by the waterfall was a picnic blanket and a basket. "Surprise," He told her. "You have bee in the flat for days, I thought you would like an outside lunch for a change."

“Obsessing is a very strong word considering you didn’t cross my mind for years after that. You were just another muddy soldier with his guts hanging out.” Dagmar rolled her eyes. “I never did find out who stabbed me y’know, I threatened to quit and everything when the Norns refused to answer even though I know they know. Bastards… either way, it still feels like everything’s shifted overnight, doesn’t it? Or am I finally losing it.”

"That is because we are clearly meant to be, darling. I am sure if we were to ask The Fates then they would most certainly agree with us."

---

"Oh wow, this is.. this is very pretty."

“Come and sit.” He told her as he walked to the blanket

“We both know that - that we couldn’t.” Dagmar whispered sadly, shaking her head. “And I’m not the best choice for you politically, whether you like it or not. We have until you need to marry yourself off.” She added lightly, doing her best to conceal how she felt. “If the Fates thought we were meant to be and they knew one of their Valkyries was supposed to be with the heir to the Angels they wouldn’t have the very strict rules in place that disallow it.”

"I would break every rule if it meant that I coul-" He began, dropping his hand from where it had come to rest on her cheek with a deep sigh when he heard the shrill ringtone coming from her mobile. "It sounds like business calls."

---

"What food did you pack?" Eve asked quietly, walking over and sitting herself down on the blanket beside him.

Dagmar just gave him another sad smile, squeezing his hand gently before answering her phone. “Hello?”

“All of your favourites.” He told her. “I even managed to find some pieces of your favourite cake.”

"Uh hi... it - it's me." Florence whispered down the phone. "I was going to go and say goodbye to my sister but I couldn't couldn't myself to it. So - so I am ready when you are."

---

"Oh.. Nice."

He smiled slightly before he took the food out for her and some drinks. “By the way, happy birthday.”

“I’ve just gone away from the part to deal with some, uh, business. I’ll be over there again in ten minutes. I’ll see you soon.” Dagmar assured, tangling her fingers with Conan’s.

"Birthday? No I- I don't do my birthday."

---

"Oh, okay.. I'll see you soon. Sorry for interuptting." Florence grimaced, hanging up the phone and placing it back into her pocket.

"Well, an easy job then?" Conan whispered, phrasing it as a question but no expecting any kind of answer back. "Congratulations, I bet that makes your shoulders feel lighter."

“I know but I thought I’d say it,” he told her. “Don’t worry no gift, just a nice picnic with your housemate.” He told her.

Dagmar shook her head, putting her phone away and leaning up to pull Conan into a gentle kiss, placing her hands on his cheeks.

Eve nodded subtly, reaching into the basket for one of the sandwiches and quietly digging in.

---

Conan closed his eyes, letting out a soft breath before kissing her back sweetly. His hand moving up to rest his palm lightly over her knuckles.

“We’re idiots, for this, for all of it.” Dagmar laughed sadly as she pulled away, gently brushing her nose against his.

He dug in with her. “Have you been able to catch up with your sister yet?”