RP:To Our Silver Lining

Synopsis: After Tiber surprises Lanara with the idea of staying at a lodge, the couple treks the Xalious Mountains together. After the long moments of stalling to get the perfect evening setting and the perfect view, Tiberius Lowell proposes to the one, and only, Lanara Banks. A long lasting proposal after three years of the on and off couple.

Part of the Lunar Tides and Silver Linings Arc

From Kelay to the Xalious Mountains

Tiber (1 of 2):: When the letter arrived from Meri about the hunt, Tiber knew that “the plan” had changed entirely. Lanara went off on her anxious spews which tangled Tiberius up in a headspin, and the man had a hard time thinking clearly since his control of events when unhinged. Not to mention some Amber Lunation members kept butting-in on the couple’s new home with house-warming gifts galore. It was madness, and the madness needed to come to an end. Now. Tiberius may have been a little cranky and a little flustered when bringing furniture in with Greyson who decided to help him load in the heavy furniture load since Lanara could not. The mood was set with a ‘get-in, get-out, let’s go’ atmosphere which sort of set Greyson over the edge. The two mates actually may have gotten into a small quarrel before Tiberius felt defeated when Greyson blatantly was calling the man an ‘a with some double snakes’. “Dude, what the -hell- is your problem?” The Beta was not one to take any crap, and Tiberius knew this. Hands slowly inch their way through blonde, wavy locks before sighing heavily. “Lanara. There’s too many people right now that want to see Lanara. And this dang house and you guys are -so- needy,” Tiber begins to go off on a spiral before Greyson grips the Catalian’s shoulder. “Dude, chill.” Pause. “Also, screw you for calling us needy,” Greyson shakes his head, “Besides the point, do you remember that your girlfriend almost -died- and all her loved ones knew that? Give her a break, man.” Greyson released his hand and Tiber rolled his eyes. “It’s not that. It’s just…” Tiber rubs his face in frustration, for he really did not want anyone to know what his thought process was. “I had a plan. A plan to,” Tiber shifts his eyes around because Lanara could have ears like a hawk, so instead of verbally expressing what was on his mind, he grabs Greyson’s ring finger in a quick motion and begins to bend it. “What the hell are you doing?!” Greyson shouts. “Look at the finger!” Tiber expresses tightly. Greyson pulls his hand back before looking at the finger. It takes the ‘bro’ a minute or so. “Oh, shi--!” The message clicked. “You want to-- -you-? And… things keep getting in the way. Got it.” Greyson was a smart cookie. Sentimental. A bro, but understanding when it comes to feelings. The silence falls between the two men before Greyson lowers his voice. Looking around to see if any lingering ears were around. Hopefully Corrine was distracting Lanara somewhere. “I got an idea…”

Tiber (2 of 2):: It was a new day, a day before the couple had to head out towards Frostmaw. Tiberius had been up early. As the sky cascaded into very dim, foggy light. The sun was still trying to peak over the treelines. The man lingered over the balcony already dressed for the day. Someone could not sleep, but Lanara did not need to know that. He had tossed and turned naturally the past few months, so for Lanara it would be no question. The man wore a knit sweater--a greyish-cream with leather elbow pads on the sleeves. He wore denim with the cuffs of the bottom rolled up with a pair of boots. Sleek and mountain-esc. The man blows a breath before sipping the coffee in his hands and blowing on a cigarette. There was an edge on him, but as pressed the cigarette into a nearby ashtray, he turned and mellowed once he wandered back inside the home only to find Lanara sleeping soundly. The man got on his knees near the bedside and brushed a few strands from the woman’s face. Lips lingered down and kissed the woman’s temple to wake her up. Softly he would speak, “I know it’s early, but I had an idea of maybe getting on the road and stopping at a lodge in the mountains before Frostmaw. I figured it would give us some time to have a fancy lodge room and rest before the hunt tomorrow with Meri.”

Lanara (Post 1 of 2) Lanara had a busy week, which worked in Tiber’s favor, as she hadn’t noticed his bad mood as much as the others. She had spent most of her time choosing items from the catalog that the realtor had given them upon purchasing the home, and decorating is something the witch holds sacred. Every color, fabric, position, and theme, had to be -perfect- as it’s their first home, and so she is often found breezing from room to room with a smile on her face. However, her mood had shifted upon receiving the missive from Meri, asking them to join her in hunting wyverns up in Frostmaw. The empathy in the woman had her declining, but Tiber seemed so eager to get her outdoors, and so she found herself giving in to his gentle demands. She isn't brave enough to face the animals at the sanctuary yet, and although she yearns to bring Ranger and Aspen into their new home, she cannot prepare herself for the possibility of rejection. Hunting is the -last- thing on her mind, however, Tiberius Lowell, is forever at the forefront. Her feelings seem to grow more and more each day, encompassing her every heartbeat, every breath, every thought, and there isn’t a doubt in her mind that it’s love that had saved her life. Hopefully, the magnitude of their bonded emotions isn’t pushing the male to end things, as she knows how he tends to avoid things of that nature. Lanara had fallen asleep after packing her luggage, a bag of things for the upcoming hunt, along with a bag that she would bring to Talyara’s house.

Lanara (Post 2 of 2) The sensation of lips pressing against her temple pulls the woman from her slumber, and she smiles as she inhales his scent, the only scent that she knows by heart. “Good morning…” Eyes open and sparkle as the sun shines through the window, and she takes in the sight of the handsome Catalian, kneeling by the side of the bed. “You smell like coffee and cigarettes. Are you going somewhere?” He often wakes up before she does, but he’s already dressed and done with his morning routine. Teasingly, Lana leans in and nips him on the ear, “I can’t persuade you to come back to bed?” She only relents upon hearing that he has a plan, just for the two of them, before the dreaded wyvern slaughter. “Really? I would love to, but… Well, we still have a lot to do around the house, Babe.” Several piles of clothes and shoes are on the right side of their spacious bedroom, and she had planned to finish organizing, but the idea of an impromptu date has her grinning. “Are you sure?” If Tiber has truly thought this through and is ready to go, Lana will pull herself from the bed and dart into the restroom so that she can quickly get dressed!

Tiber is cautious with the pacing of his words to not seem overly eager. He seems collected on the outside when she mentions the organization of clothes on the ground, but internally, he is, most likely, screaming. Gently he slides a hand to her own. “I think clothes can wait. Especially when all we ever do is take them off,” he grins mischievously, but the grin fades to a softer side. “I just want you to be able to relax before Frostmaw. Treat you. You deserve a little lodge, hot-tub, nice dinner,” he trails in a silken sweet tone. Almost like a faint, masculine purr. Once she gets up, a wave crashes over him. One of relief and anxiety which makes him itch for another cigarette while she is off to get ready for the day. Once she is out, he would make sure the cigarette is out-of-sight, so she would not get too curious why he was smoking two cigarettes back-to-back. The man was busy fastening their tent on a packing backpack. “Almost ready? It’s a long trek. We should get to the lodge before night falls. Those mountains are a doozy. Want to stop to eat somewhere before we head? Or do you want me to make you breakfast?”

Lanara quickly bathes and dresses herself appropriately for the day; a pair of brown leggings tucked into soft leather knee-high boots, and a tan tank top. She snags a brown sweater from a hanger and ties it around her waist, for when they reach the cooler atmosphere. She has warmer articles of clothing in her luggage, for when they reach the snowy lands, but for now she’s all about dressing in earth tones and looking cute and comfortable. Tiber didn’t have to do all that much convincing, the witch was sold when he mentioned a hot tub, dinner, and some alone time. Despite the fact that they had chosen each other as life mates and had purchased a new home a week prior, they hadn’t been attached at the hip. Lana is sick of receiving letters and gifts, from friends and from the wolf pack. She yearns to have the Alpha to herself, even if it’s only for a single day, before they take innocent animals out on a frozen battlefield. As she exits the bathroom and runs a comb through her lustrous locks, she holds Tiber’s gaze, “Let’s grab something on the way, if that works? I figure it will save us some time, so we can reach the lodge before nightfall.” Lana is mildly suspicious, not because he had offered to make her breakfast, but because this all seems to be a little more planned than Tiber is letting on. Is he being so nice because he wants to break up? Is he having buyers remorse about the house? Lana grabs a few final essentials for their trip, and she’s ready to go!

Tiber nods with her response before throwing the mountain pack over his shoulder. “Let’s stop in Kelay then. Maybe there will be some rando food vendor or something.” Kelay was not Cenril by any means, Tiber, but there had to be -something-. The two head out and, of course, talk among their usual selves about how annoying Corrine has been, and how they need to set up Bjorn on a date at some point. Tiber does mention the hippie healer again, but he was -sure- that was most likely a no-go. Through the branches, mud, leaves, and flapping critters, the two make it on the busy-way of Kelay. The travel-through town. A one-way strip despite the forest. “I’m -really- not wanting tavern food,” but the man reminds himself that there is a bakery towards the direction they are headed. “Up for a pastry?” Because he sure is, and he will not take ‘no’ for an answer. The Mallard Family Bakery. “When Mrs. Mallard was still around, she made a -mean- danish. I’m sure the family does just the same.” Tiberius takes the lead on entering the bakery and the fresh smell of bread and powdered sugar fill his nostrils. “Oh, come to daddy,” okay, Tiber, calm down over a sugary treat, dear lord. The man makes his way to the counter of the bakery and orders a danish before peering at his other sweet-thing. “What do you want?”

Lanara enjoys the walk through the forest, because it reminds her of her homeland, and she inhales the scent of nature. The feel of her soles touching the soil, the breeze caressing her cheek, and the sound of birds chirping early in the morning, it’s like music to the woman's soul. A fawn appears ahead and it stops, that familiar deer in the headlights expression on its adorable face, before it senses an aura emanating from the witch. It’s tail twitches and those big eyes seem to brighten in recognition for a moment, as it cannot discern whether the female is a friend or foe. Lana stops walking and seems to have a strange staring contest with the fawn, before both break their concentration and go their separate ways. All in all, it had gone far better than she anticipated, and so she eagerly quickened her steps to match Tiber’s, “I -love- baked goods. You are speaking my language!” Taking his hand, she excitedly points out a few cookies that she wants from behind the counter, more than she has eaten in a long time. They pay for their breakfast, and Lana gorges on her chocolate-dipped with extra sprinkles cookies, only pausing to take tentative sips of her coffee. “So, how is everything going with the Pack? I know I have been meaning to help out more, but I’ve been busy with letting everyone know that I’m alive and trying to straighten stuff out remotely with the sanctuary.” She pauses, “Corrine asked me if I was pregnant the other day, because I suddenly look ‘healthy’ and I’m ‘significantly’ heavier than she recalls….” She angrily bites into her cookie, as if she’s defying the wench by binging on carbs. “I loathe her… I think we need to ship her somewhere, or set her up with someone so she stops staring at -my- mate!” Asha stirs momentarily, in complete agreement, as she refuses to share Luca with anyone! “Bjorn is -NOT- going to date my sweetest of friends, Nel, because she needs someone with more brain power…” She still has her heart set on Whamsey and the Hippy being a thing! “Also…” They continue to walk through the main strip of Kelay, but she’s letting Tiber take the lead, “I could have sworn I heard you and Greyson getting into it, but my attention was tugged by the bane of my existence, as we got into a fight over which color crib I should order.”

Tiber delves into the raspberry-filled danish with a hefty bite before he is thrown a question. A lump of baked goods is in his cheek as he speaks. “The pack is… fine. Got some blueprints for the housing situation which I can’t wait for because they have been completely obnoxious.” Thankfully that sets Lanara off on her ‘looking pregnant rant’. Amber eyes squint at her. Clearly Lanara has filled a little, but in a healthy way. Not a pregnancy way, right? He stuffs his mouth with the rest of the danish as he leads the way. The quiet between them is almost too long as he swarms at the thought of pregnancy. Tiberius a -father-? Ha. Ha. Ahh. No. Nope. “You’re beautiful, baby. You look amazing,” was that smoothe? Do ladies like hearing that? Yeah, yeah. “We need to set her up with someone that will make her less rude, I’ll say that. Then again, I don’t imagine her finding -anyone- who will put up with her.” Then again, here he was as Alpha. “Bjorn is funny. Nel needs someone fun.” That would be a mistake. Bjorn was a player for days. All is well in the world of Tiber because, look at his watch, they are timely! “Greyson and I just--” The two were just getting out into the outskirts when Lanara mentions a ‘crib’. A stop in the road and Tiber turns around to look at her. “Crib…? Uh, you just said you weren’t pregnant, so… err, we haven’t had the conversation of kids, Lanara. I thought you didn’t want them? Aren’t we supposed to have a conversation before those decisions?” He looked pale at that moment. Was Lanara trying to get pregnant with him? Was she? Was Corrine right even if Lanara was saying ‘no’? Did that conversation give Lanara baby fever?

Lanara purrs a little as Tiber reassures her that she’s beautiful, because in truth, she had only returned to her weight prior to the curse that had taken away all of her nutrients. Truth be told, she’s still on the skinny side, but then Tiber goes and stops in the middle of the road and wears a grief stricken expression and she scowls. “Do I -look- pregnant?! Ugh! This isn’t my fault, you know! I was always thin and then you turned me and now I’m no longer the witch with the -legendary- ass I’m just a -fat- ass, now?!” Clearly, she has the mood swings of an expecting woman, and this little tirade isn’t helping her situation! “I’m -not- pregnant, I never wanted children, I cannot get pregnant, and we already had this conversation… You just forgot.” It stings that he had forgotten that fight, nearly two years ago, where she had claimed she wasn’t worthy of his love because she couldn’t grant him an heir. Little does Lana know that she -can- get pregnant due to the lycanthropy healing all of her non-working female organs, but that isn’t even though about, as she’s convinced that Tiber no longer finds her attractive! “The only child I bore turned out to be an abomination, so I promise, I’m not sleeping with you in hopes of creating life.” She tries to take the obvious venom from her tone, but she fails, so she focuses all of her attention on the cookies. “Good girl, Lana, eat your emotions and gain a few more pounds, next they’ll think you are carrying twins!” Asha taunts and Lana growls, muttering a reply with a mouthful of cookies, “Not now, Asha. I’m not in the mood for your quips.” The witch resumes walking and veers right, towards the Xalious Mountain Path that will bring them closer to Frostmaw, and she peers at Tiber over her shoulder. Her expression softens and she extends a hand, “I’m sorry I snapped… It’s just a sensitive subject for me. I’ve always felt less of a woman because of -that- and… Can we just stop talking about it?” Is she going to cry? “The crib is for Aspen… He is afraid of thunderstorms and often sleeps with me, but I doubt you want a bear cub between us, so I wanted to get him a crib. He should feel safe inside! I wanted to get him gray because it will match the room, but Corrine was convinced it should be blue.”

Tiber has a gaped mouth as she goes off on being ‘fat’. His expression looks twisted, defensive, and confused. What do you do when a girl goes on a spiral of self-image? Lanara had always been confident with her body. ‘I cannot get pregnant, and we already had this conversation… You just forgot’--oh boy. The ban blinks out of his confused gaze and, in that moment, looks extremely apologetic. That had been so long ago. How did he forget that conversation? The bottle. That was how. “Babe--” she cuts him off as she talks about Natianara and that stings him for her. Great, the day was going south very quickly. “You’re not fat, babe,” maybe just pregnant. Wait no, that was not an option. “You look like you did before you were sick. Babe, you were sick,” he is firm on turning the day around. “I’m an idiot. Please, let’s not do this--” and she is off devouring cookies like a cookie monster. A very sexy cookie monster, might he add. Fierce. Stubborn. As she looks over her shoulder at him, he reaches for her hand. Thankfully her hand was extended as a peace-offering which he gently grabs. “I’m sorry I forgot. I was stupid to forget. You’re not any less of a woman--” and now he is cut off and she wants to drop the conversation. He runs a hand through his hair and looks up the mountain path. It would be a while until their viewpoint. He wanted to set it right for when the sky began to turn to evening, and he knew that he would make it near the time he chose because their viewpoint was a while away. A while of conversation to kill after a small, heated bicker. Eyes look down at his watch… Tiberius continues to walk up the mountain-side and he slowly saunters behind Lanara. “Aspen?” His brow is quirked. “Err.. the bear needs a room?” He thought that room would be -outside-. Better not test her anymore. “Grey. I like grey.” His eyes slowly look over the backside of her dramatically. “The derriere is still there. Never left.” He grins before he catches up to her side. “I get why you like to climb mountains.” He was trying to make the atmosphere lighter, for they did have a while to go until the sky turned orange.

Lanara regrets letting Tiber see this side of her, the one with poor self-esteem, as she had been greatly lacking in confidence as of late. Every area of her life had been caught in a whirlwind and deposited in broken remnants all over the world, and she feels that she’s so behind in regaining the pieces of herself that were lost in the gap between her death as an elf and life as a lycan. She’s sure that she’s disappointing her beloved boyfriend, the Pack, friends, family, co-workers, just about anyone she can conjure up in her hectic mind. Lana had given up on herself and it had taken Tiber to make her even consider this new lifestyle, and now that she has it, she’s treading on thin ice. Uncertainty about each movement clouds her thoughts, and when she’s not breaking her own heart, she’s stinging the emotions of the one she cares most for. “No… It’s alright. I know we were off and on for a few years now, so, it’s okay that you forgot some things about me.” Men didn’t have a memory log of every minute detail like women, right? Plus, Lanara Banks is complicated! Asha is angry at her because she had hurt Luca’s feelings, and the more that Tiber apologizes, the worse the witch feels. “Shush. I love you.” Not wanting the day to continue on a bad note, she rushes into Tiber’s arms after he comments on her rear, and she kisses him passionately on the lips. “Looks like you’re climbing another mountain for me, so I have to let you off the hook, huh?” She smiles and trails her finger along the length of his jaw as she presses her lips to his again, only stopping once they draw a group of onlookers, one of which whistles at their public display of affection. “We have an audience…” A faint blush is in her cheeks as she waves to the group, hoping they won’t try to join them in their walk up the path. She wants Tiber all to herself today, but since she was already incredibly rude this morning, she will leave any declining to the planner of this date! “Ready, Babe?” Gray is the perfect color for the crib, and she carries on in conversation about how Aspen will love having an area of the room, and how Ranger also needs a bed. The discussion of furniture and colors is enough to erase the mishap about Lana’s weight gain!

Tiber (1 of 2):: A sense of relief comes creeping through his shoulders as she forgives him. “I was a mess back then,” he was. “I didn’t know what I wanted,” he says slowly, but he does not press forth with his thought process, and he grins when she shushes him. Their kiss brings forth an emotion deep inside him. An emotion so raw that he wanted the feeling of the breath she took away from him to last forever. Internally he had been becoming a sap over her. The finger that trails along his jaw is seductive, playful, and reeling him in for more. The crowd becomes a faint blur in the background because all he saw was her. All he needed was her. These passerbyers were simply observing something they wished they had, and for that, he won. The trek was long, but it was easier to make the time go by with the forgiveness of the witch. Could Tiber still make ‘the plan’ happen after the mix-up the two had about pregnancy? The Catalian had been determined to try, at least, and if today was not the day, the man would know that it was not the right moment because Lanara deserved the -right- moment. In the meantime, however, the man does his best to stop and gaze at creatures that go by. More fawns, birds, and squirrels. He makes the observations for her, and intentionally points them out to her for her to be distracted by her empathic ways. At one point, he purposefully steps on his laces to untie a boot rogue-ishly in order for him to stop and lace his boot back up slowly. He grins up at her dopily and stands up to give her a chaste kiss before walking her forward. The two trek for miles on end in incline. They stop to rest on a few rocks, drink water, and look down at the steep slope they had climbed to begin with. Anything for her. Throughout the hike, the man makes passing glances at the girl he adores. The one who had him wrapped around her finger. Despite the lack of children, Tiber found the woman whole. Everything he wanted. Needed. The woman who was matched for him. Ever since he met her that first day in his annoyance, he let her open a door he had never let others do. Why? Perhaps she was silently captivating. Someone that annoyed him that he wanted to keep the fight with her. Someone to keep him on his toes. Tiberius was always curious what this woman had to say next even if he was a man who lacked words. The lycan lacked words so stupidly that he was an idiot to let her waltz into another man’s arms a time ago. The moment he met her again with Elioyhazer and she was engaged. The anger and guilt he felt. The… jealousy. All that time, he realized it was… jealousy. The way she passed by. He never wanted to let go, so he did not when she came back. She was love. She was the moon.

Tiber (2 of 2):: With the incline came a short view-stop. A sharp right through a narrow dirt path that was clouded with tense shrubbery. “I have to show you something,” he says calmly before sliding his hand into her own and leading her to the viewpoint that is over the land (minus the bloodstains--just forget them). The view over the cliff-side is large and shows different points of the abundance of forest below of Sage, and the city of Larket, and the city of Cenril. The distance of the sea is evident in this panorama. In each crevice of the view had been a piece of their story. From where they met and lived in Cenril to Lanara’s sanctuary near Larket and Sage to their newly found home in Southern Sage. This was their life. Their new beginning. The whole scenery was cascaded in a hue of the sky of smoky orange and purple as the sun was making its way down over the sealine in the distance. The two that came through the arch of trees and shrubs were not alone in this view, for there was a single elderly man who sat dangling from the cliff-side with a sketchbook in his hands as he danced across the pages with charcoal of the view before him. Around this man had been a swarm of non-lit cream candles, for the man had been in the middle of the cliff-side view. As he heard the couple, he looked over his shoulder twice before smiling, nodding, and shuffling himself to the side. “Sorry, I just love the view,” the elderly man says with a nod, but his eyes seem to linger towards Tiber more than Lanara before the man casually leans back to sketch over his parchment. In the midst of the scenery, Tiber looks out at the view, her hand in his. “Look at it, babe. It’s like… watching time. Our life. Everything you see, we’ve made a memory. Well--for the most part,” he smirks sheepishly.

Lanara hadn’t expected the trek to be this long and it’s the farthest she’s walked since being turned, but she finds her body wanting to keep moving, and she’s pleased that she’s regained her health. As Tiber points out the cute little critters that grace their path, she is delighted, and she coos and applauds at each of his discoveries. It’s easy to be with Tiber, because it’s impossible not to fall in love with -every- last detail of the man. Even when he’s getting on her nerves or saying all the wrong things, he still makes her feel like she’s the most important girl in all the realm. He -sees- her and even though he’s the most reckless man she’s ever dated, she feels safest in his arms. All of the feelings that she bore for others in the past are -nothing- compared to the depths of her adoration for Tiberius Lowell. She had fallen head over heels, undeniably, in love with him, as a simple elf from Kelvar, before they had imprinted as wolves. Never before had she been drunk on a smile, lost in sparkling eyes, entranced by the pull of an aura; whenever famished she simply feeds on his zest for life, his boyish grin, and the unpredictable personality that matched her many mood swings. It’s strange that their thoughts are so similar in this moment, as they steal surreptitious glances, their hands touching every few moments as they bump against each other. But, it’s not so strange, is it? After all, they are twin flames and they fuel the fire with their love, so they continue on the path. Lanara is content, she has her health, a new home, and Tiber chose her as his mate for life. It’s not marriage, but in the lycan world, it’s the same thing, and she’s fine, as long as he remains her man forever. As Tiber pauses to tie his laces, she runs her fingers through her long hair, wanting to look her very best at all times for him. At long last, they arrive at their destination and she takes in the view, her chocolate eyes trailing over the expanse of scenery before them. “Wow. This view is incredible!” She glances at the elderly man for a moment and gives him a small smile, before she finds her gaze drawn to the world below, the setting of the sun in the distance. Softly, she admits, “That’s what I fell in love with first, Ty. Your amber eyes remind me of the sunset, and this is my favorite time of the day… I know I’m supposed to be all about the moon, being that I’m a witch and a wolf, and maybe I am a child of the moon. But, since day one, you’ve been my sun.” Lanara is so caught up in the moment, at the breathtaking view, that she hasn’t noticed the unlit candles or the sketchpad in the stranger's hand. All she cares about is that she had gotten here with Tiber. Here. To a point where they could freely enjoy each other, admit their feelings, and embrace their love. “You’re right… We have so many beautiful memories!” She points to Cenril, mentioning the story of how they met, a few other places and memories along the way, and lastly, she points to Sage and she speaks of their first home. Lana chuckles and lifts her hands to rub her cheeks, “I’m smiling so much that my face hurts!”

Tiber looks beyond the horizon before glimpsing at the Kelvarian. The sun. She was the moon, and he was the sun. Such different moods from each other, but somehow… one. She points out different areas of memories between them. The good and the bad. There is a tranquility that washes over the openness of the area. The Catalian sighed, but not in defeat, nor disappointment, but content. There was a fidget for a moment. A pulse on the other hand opposite of the one that was holding her as she mentioned her happiness. All he wanted for her to be happy. “You are…” he exhales, “Everything…” Pause. The man looks out again. “Mountains are kind of a theme of you and I… aren’t they? Climbing them, moving them. Mountains are eternal; infinite. Steady. They stay still.” His amber gaze squints over the golden hour before them and he waits a beat or so. “Over the past year, I learned so much about life and love,” his voice was very slow. Steady. Like a mountain. “And even if I could take all the negative moments between us back, I wouldn’t because it shaped me to be who I am. To learn what I wanted. To learn to be someone I never thought I could be. Someone to love you. Someone to hold you. Someone who refuses to live without you by my side. You challenge me.” At that moment, he turns to her and looks down at her. A very serious expression, a thin, stern line with soft undertone. “I know that life has been… hard. Inconsistent at times. Hard on the both of us. But… between the dark twists of endless tides that felt like we were drowning, I found this… this silver lining.” There is a long pause, and if she would try to talk, he would hold up a hand to stop her, for this was the most he probably said at one time out of their entire relationship. Words so clear that birds had halted in their evening chirps, that the scratch of the charcoal had come to a halt by the elderly man. “You’re my line of hope. Beauty. Love. Fight. God, like I told you before I wish I would have caught up sooner. To realize it was you because I want to continue to have you by me for the rest of our lives, Lanara. You are so whole. The most amazing, challenging woman I have ever met. I want to keep moving mountains with you. Hell,” he smirks, “climbing mountains -for- you.” Slowly, he reaches down in his pocket and pulls out a small black velvet box. The Catalian leans down on one knee at the woman before him. While he leaned down, the cream candles ignited, for the elderly man, with the thick grey beard to the side, was the keeper behind the flame and the etching of the two love-birds. Thank you, Greyson. Golden eyes stared into chocolate ones as his heart was about to palpitate. Finally, Tiberius Lowell found someone. To make her his family, for he had found someone perfect. The box opens and there in the crevice sits a rose gold, thin vine banded ring with tiny chocolate diamonds, and a large tear-drop chocolate diamond, for the diamonds represent practicality and dependability. They could always rely on one another. “I want you to marry me…” He shakes his head. “I’m not hesitant. I’m not trying to please you. I just want… you. I want all of you. Everyday.” The calmness in his shoulders is evident. The expression of stability is clear. “Lanara Banks, will you marry me?”

Lanara senses the shift in Tiber’s tone, but she recognizes it as one of raw emotion and doesn’t detect anything untoward, and so she smiles at the quip about mountains. Somehow, the poor man has turned into a mountaineer during their time together and normally she would be poking fun at him, but his next few lines capture her complete attention. Their love moves mountains, it’s true, and she nods her head, unable to form words. A small piece of her warped psyche thinks perhaps he’s about to spring something on her, that although he loves her, he must leave as she’s too much. She’s always been ‘too much’ for anyone that she’s gotten close to in the past, but she knows better, because the Catalian has taught her not only to love, but how to live. She lives for him. He will never throw her love away. There is a brief pause, the artist pauses in his sketching, and the nature all around them seems to focus on this one moment that is frozen in time. Lanara lifts her gaze to see the intensity in those sunset eyes and her expression grows serious, as well, for her intuition kicks in that something -big- is about to happen. The speech about how she’s his silver lining has a single tear trickling down her right cheek, as it’s the sweetest compliment she’s ever received, and she knows that Tiber is speaking his heart. The man always shows her his love, but rarely does he voice it, and he seems to be on a roll with his feelings today. She’s eating it up, basking in the warmth of his voice, the raw feelings that pour from his heart and into her tapered ears. She closes her eyes and simply listens to the beating of her heart as his words come to a close, but when she opens them, she finds that Tiberius Lowell, has dropped to one knee. Shock registers on Lana’s face, and she’s speechless, a million what if’s floating through her mind, but they are silenced as she sees the certainty in Tiber’s face, the words that cease any worries that may have surfaced. He had thought about this, planned the candles and the artist, chosen the location for this proposal, and he says he’s doing this because -he- wants to marry her, not just to give her the dream wedding she’s always wanted. The witch looks a little dizzy as she sways slightly, but it could also be dehydration as she ate a bunch of sugar cookies and then ran a few miles up a mountain in the middle of summer. Her gaze drops to the dazzling ring, with diamonds that are are dark and sparkly as her own chocolate gaze, and the vine band that reminds her of her homeland. Tiberius Lowell, the reckless lycan from Catal, the man that thought himself incapable of love, had truly learned to love. They hadn’t only grown as individuals, they had also grown as a couple, and every sentiment he sends her way is wholly returned, as she nervously extends her left hand. It’s shaking and will take her a moment to calm down enough for Tiber to slide the ring onto her finger, as she stares at the band that is a perfect fit through eyes that are glistening with tears. “Yes… Absolutely! Of course, I will marry you, Tiber! Oh my gosh… I had no idea! I’m so happy right now!” She doesn’t ask if he’s ‘sure’ because she knows they are both on the same page when it comes to forever. “I love you so much! This ring is gorgeous!” Lana tugs Tiber’s hand to pull him up from the ground, so she can seal her promise with a tender kiss, “We are getting married!!!”

Tiber halts as he is about to put on the ring on her finger. It was the perfect fit… he knew. Okay, he may or may not have sized her finger low-key with other jewelry. ‘Yes… Absolutely’ the exaggeration is there and in an instant, that stability is lighting up with a childish beam before slipping the rest of the ring on. Mind one that the ring also has an engraving that says… ‘to my tiny dancer’, but Lanara would find that out later as she ogles it! Lanara always danced through life and with him, so why not the engraving to top off the fanciness? Anyway, once he slips the ring on, he lifts himself and through her glee, he sweeps her off her feet as they lock lips. The charcoal etches across parchment in the background as the Catalian swirls his Kelvarian through waving flames. “We are getting married!” He exclaims before sealing his lips against hers again over and over. The elderly man is still sliding charcoal across the grid. “I love you so much.” Tiber pauses. “I didn’t lie about the lodge by the way, a couple miles and the lodge is ours. I have an amazing suite planned. One that has some hot springs outside the room. We can rest, have a nice dinner, and…” his hand runs up the side of her curves. “Well, the rest is up to us.” He grins. Before the couple could leave, the bearded man stands up within the candles before holding up the sketchpad. The charcoal outlines a man who is on one knee with a woman intently looking at the proposing man. “For you two, for memories. Lowell, you found yourself a solid,” the elderly winks before tearing off the page for the two for memory. The candles then vanish, and the two are left to move onward towards their suite.

The Lodge

(Post 1 of 2) Lanara gives in to all the blushing, giggling, and kissing that she can handle, as this is hands down the happiest moment of her entire life. It’s also the most cheerful that she’s been in the past year, and she cannot recall when she last felt this carefree. She is going to be the future Mrs. Lowell!!! Lanara Lowell has a great ring to it! Tiber lowers her to the ground and she returns his words, her eyes full of sheer admiration, “I love you...More!” She chuckles, and then their attention is turned towards the elderly man, who procures a sketch of the exact moment of their proposal. Lana’s eyes grow wide as she takes in the extreme closeness to them in the flesh to that on the parchment, and it’s uncanny how impeccable the artist had descripted them. “It’s beautiful! We will have this framed and hung above our bed! I love it!” She gently nudges her fiance, hoping that he’s on the same page! “You must keep in touch, Sir! I would love for you to draw for our wedding, and perhaps hire you to do some work around the animal sanctuary!” The next hour passes by in a blur, as they head northward and have to tolerate harsh terrain and a steep decline in temperature. Lana doesn’t even notice though, as during their journey to the lodge she has spent every single second admiring the huge rock on her ring finger. The chocolate diamond bounces fragments of light with every movement, and she’s mesmerized so much that she cannot help but stare. It’s obvious that Tiber had dropped a ton of gold on the ring, and something tells her that he specifically chose this for her, and spent his hard earned money on this proposal. Lana knows he didn’t hock this off of a stall or off of a fresh kill, as a part of her wonders if he had it designed by the finest jeweler in all of Lithrydel!

(Post 2 of 2) Eventually, they arrive at the lodge and Lana is forced to tear her eyes from the engagement ring, as they are escorted to their suite and are expected to rest their belongings before heading to dinner. She glances around, blatantly gaping at the massive king size bed, because although she’s starving for food, she’s also starving for a little something else! A suggestive glance is given to Tiber, before she sighs and unzips her luggage, “Shall I dress formal or casual? I was too busy eyeing my new ring to really take in the decor of the lodge.” She smirks, as a silken red dress is pulled free of the bag, “You’re only going to take it off me as soon as we get back here…” The distance between them is closed as she drapes the dress over her left arm, and pulls Tiber by his shirt with her free hand, “Hey… Thank you for making me the -happiest- girl in the entire world… And for marking me as yours in the animal kingdom and in our people forms. I honestly was worried there for a minute and thought you may have been throwing in the towel and breaking up with me, but again, you surprise me at every turn.” This time, she kisses him long and slow, as though he had just returned from war and she’s breathing her last bit of life into him. It’s a kiss of true love, a promise to always put their relationship above all else, and when she eventually pulls back he will see a film of moisture coating her big brown eyes. “Shall we?”

(1 of 2):: Tiber instantly nods at Lanara’s nudging about the portrait being hung above their bed. “Yeah, yeah, I figured we could do something special with it. I didn’t hire Silas for nothing--plus I owe him a room,” at the lodge, of course. Tiber smirked at the bearded elder. The old man nods. “I would be honored to sketch or paint your wedding. And animal sanctuary?” It is clear that the elder is weary, but also emotional at such an offer of new opportunity. Silas was Greyson’s friend. Greyson was homeless. Silas, as well. Art got him by. “Why, I’d be honored to work with critters too, but either way, I’ll let you lovebirds get to where you’re going, and obviously I won’t be too far behind.” The elder then waves to collect his own gatherings while the newly engaged couple wanders away up the rest of the mountain.

(2 of 2):: The log built lodge was huge and bustling with patrons of white, thickened fur vests and boots and hats. As the two enter the suite with the massive bed, there are other factors to the room as well, a bucket with ice and champagne. A tray with crackers, different cheeses, meat, and grapes. In the room is a fluffy loveseat with a large crackling fire while different furs lace the ground while different paintings hang on the logged walls. Perhaps this was not Lanara’s forte with furs draped around, but the suite -was- nice, although not animal friendly. “Didn’t know about the carpets,” he frowned. “Otherwise I would’ve said no. At least they are used for keeping feet warm…?” He was trying to look on a brighter side. She was opening a door to a new light on animals for him. She was rubbing off on him. “Sorry… dress formal.” In the suite, there is also a huge glass door that opens a way to magical hot springs. Her hand wraps around his shirt, and the man is pulled out of his trance as his forehead lingers on her own. He smiles a very cool and easy smile before he frowns at her thought of him breaking it off with her. “You thought I was going to break up with you? By bringing you to a lodge?” He quirks a brow at her odd thinking, but he shakes his head before her lips linger on his own. He breathes in deep with her lingering lips and he could feel the heat. “Can we skip dinner? We can play dress up all night long, you dress up and I drape you down,” but then she is pulling back with glossy eyes. He would blink at her at first before sheepishly smirking as he ran a hand through his hair. “Let’s get dressed and let’s go eat.” The man would part before grabbing his own grey slacks, a white button-up, and a tie to match. Once they are ready, they would make their way down to the dining area where a hostess dressed in a black dress would greet them. She tosses her blonde hair over her shoulder. “Welcome, reservation for?” The woman would blink her big brown eyes at Tiber in her flirty antics. “Lowell,” he would flatly stare at her. “And future Mrs. Lowell,” he would make that clear as day before the hostess would fumble with a nod before seating them at a table for two. A candle chandelier would hang over them in the middle of the crowded, fancy restaurant. Music plays in the background. A violin, a cello, and a piano. Gentle, classical music. This. Was. Fancy.

Lanara laughs at Tiber’s commentary regarding all of the animal pelts that have been used to decorate the fancy suite and she shakes her head, “I don’t mind, so long as the animal was hunted fairly, and that it’s for a good purpose.” She stands behind the partition and sheds her clothes, before slipping the slinky dress over her head, “I know all about population control, and I know that people need to eat, so it makes sense to use the furs for clothing and decorations. My big thing is that I dislike those that kill solely for sport and just let the animal go to waste, all for a prized set of antlers or tusks.” Tiber can hear the fabric sliding down Lana’s figure, and he can likely feel the heat from her blush, despite the fact that they are a decent distance apart, “We can play dress up -after- we eat. I am famished!” And so, it’s about twenty minutes later that they enter the dining area and the witch takes in the beauty of the lodge. “Wow… Babe, this had to cost you a fortune!” It’s hands down the fanciest place she’s ever been, and she’s been to some ritzy places in her nearly two hundred years! They take their seats and study the wine menu, before the ditzy hostess begins to blatantly flirts with Tiber, much to Lanara’s chagrin. As if on cue, she flashes her left hand to show off the ring, while in the midst of crossing her legs. A firm kick is delivered to the woman’s shin, but of course the witch tries to mask the ‘accident’ by batting her own long lashes, “Oops! Sorry about that! Would you mind fetching the future Mrs. Lowell a glass of your house rose wine?” The hostess is taken aback by the fierceness of the brunette, and she mutters that she will pass the message on to their waitress, before she limps back to her stand at the entrance. Smirking, Lana latches her gaze onto Tiber, the two equally possessive of each other, “I love that you shut her down so quickly, Mr. Lowell. I just may have to reward you for that later… Perhaps we can take dessert back to our room?” She drops her gaze to the dinner menu, and once she decides on a salmon dish, she broaches another topic, “So… I know that my finances are a little bit of a concern right now, so I’m thinking that instead of having a huge engagement party, that we can keep things intimate and just have our close friends and the pack over? We can have a housewarming party and announce our engagement, but until then, let's keep it a secret! I think it will be great fun to see the shock on everyone’s faces all at once!”

Tiber watches the whole dispute between Lanara and the hostess. The man has his face lowered on the wine menu, but a small smile plays on his lips as he watches his fiance amusingly. The man did not mind the woman’s temper. If anything, it made him eager to skip their meal even more. There was thick chemistry between the table tonight with the newly engaged couple. “I’ll take your finest merlot,” he looks up at the hostess with a pleased grin. Eyes linger back to the witch before him knowingly before looking at the dinner menu. A steak is ordered with a side salad and baked potato. The menu is snapped shut before he ogles his bride-to-be. “I’d love dessert in our room,” his eyes slide over her top figure playfully before they talk seriously about an engagement party. An engagement party? “We can’t just tell our friends in passing and skip the party?” Clearly, Tiberius Lowell knows nothing about traditional marriage. He shakes his head. “Will, uh, do the housewarming shindig. Since someone wants to keep me a secret from one of her best friends and sister these next couple of days. Also, I won’t bother you when you visit your sister. I’ll probably stay back at the Frostmaw tavern and meet up with some guys from the Titan of Winter tournament. A couple of those guys did not pay me for that one, so why not surprise them?” He smirks before shaking his head.

Lanara smiles as the waitress delivers their drinks and a platter of fine cheeses and various types of bread, but her smile falters slightly at Tiber’s words, “We can’t just tell them in passing! It’s a -huge- deal for me, and you know how much I used to love planning parties and socializing. This won’t be as epic, of course, it’s a much smaller scale as it’s just people that we hold dear. And… I thought you would be happy that I’m combining the new house and the engagement, that way it’s one party, and it’s financially beneficial, too!” Their food arrives and the witch spritzes her fish with lemon, eyeing the mashed potatoes that had been formed into a flower, and she’s torn because it’s almost too pretty to eat. Wanting to spare the dinner plate for a few more moments, she focuses on her kale salad, and nearly chokes on Tiber’s next sentence, “What’s wrong with wanting to keep you all to myself?” She smirks between mouthfuls, “I’m not keeping -us- a secret for any reason, other than the fact that I want everyone in the same room at the same time! Of course, I plan on asking my friends that I want in our bridal party, in private. Talyara is obviously going to be my Maid of Honor, and I think that Aspen will be the CUTEST ring bear-er! Don’t you think?” The sweetest of smiles is offered to her fiance, as she knows he’s not overly fond of animals, but as of late he’s been caring quite a bit more! Plus, the bear cub is well behaved and will look adorable in a tux! “Corrine should be my bitch-erm, I mean, my bridal attendant. Basically, it’s her job to carry all of my belongings, set up appointments, and keep me happy during all of the endless planning.” Lana pauses, and it seems that she just realized now that Tiber may not want a big wedding. Does she even want a huge wedding? “Of course we can discuss all of this in detail later… I’m just so excited and brainstorming. I’m fine with a small wedding or a big party, and I’m alright with whatever theme and location. I only care about marrying -you- and that is my main focus.” She lowers her voice, “I also can’t stop thinking about our wedding -night- but I think we should have a little preview of that since it’s our engagement night...” Lana’s sultry stare is accompanied by a nip on her lower lip as chocolate eyes bleed into amber, the chemistry between them undeniable, as though she wished to sate her hunger in ways that didn’t involve the food set before them. “Want a taste?” The words linger in the air, before she dips her fork into the salmon, and slides it onto her fork. Resting her hand beneath the utensil, she attempts to feed her fiance, “Who do you want as your best man?” The back and forth of cheerful planning mixed with seductive one liners is driving the witch crazy, in the best of ways, and she gives a throaty laugh at her attempts to keep this meal appropriate for all that are gathered.

Tiber frowns at her choice of wording. A huge deal for her. Just her, supposedly. He squints before he truly takes it to heart, for she is a woman. Women. “New house, engagement, do what you need to,” Tiber was not really the social type--Lanara knew that. The man begins to saw at his steak, eyeing the medium rare cooking to make sure it was on point like he asked before taking a bite. Amber eyes look at her with a small smile. “I mean, you could keep me to yourself, if you wanted, but yes, everyone at the same time works for me,” clearly Tiber was not as invested in the group gathering as the girl across the table. He was Tiber. Quiet and one-on-one situations worked better for him. Plus that meant tours and too many ‘thank yous’, and not to mention, too much ‘awes’. Cheesy ‘awes’. Lanara goes on a spiral of planning already, and Tiber sits there with that smirk and shakes his head. He asked for this, truly. Now, she would never stop talking. “Yes, Aspen the ring… bear...er? I thought Ranger would’ve looked better prancing down the aisle, but what can I say? You thought it was punny.” He shrugs before stuffing his mouth with baked potato. Tiber is cool right now. Clearly this was Lana’s job to plan. He would just show up. He could do that, right? As Lanara slips that Corrine will be her ‘bitch’, he chokes on the potato before snorting in a fit of laughter. “She’s in for a treat. You think she could do my dry cleaning?” He grins at the witch teasingly before looking back down as she goes on. Then, his shoulders relax as she mentions that she only cares about marrying him. That makes him feel better. Lanara was not going to be a bridezilla, was she? He then sighs and reaches across the table to brush her hand with a thumb. “It better be for me. Don’t be one of those girls who just wants the wedding for the wedding, please. Not that I think you would, but who knows,” his eyes turn playful and teasing, “Maybe you fooled me all along,” he wiggles his brows before playfully tapping her wrist. Then the seduction sets in, and a very sultry, sly gaze is given to her. A wicked one. A mysterious one. “Our engagement night… Hm, I wonder what I have planned,” he stares at her for a long beat before he slowly eats on the fork offered to her. He does not break eye-contact as he slides his mouth back to chew before he casually moves back to his own food. The man had been playing a small game. “Oh, Greyson for sure. No second doubt. Dude helped me plan this whole trip.” The two had an instant connection. An actual bromance? Yes. The two continue to talk about the wedding. "We at least get to choose colors together because I'm not wearing pink." That was clear as day. "Unless it's soft. Elegance is all I ask," a man of class. As the man eventually finishes his plate, he leans back and stares at her. “I think I’m ready for dessert now,” he looks over at the woman across the table as if he was imagining… well, she would find out. “I can send for room service.”

Lanara pauses in their incessant flirting, so that she can enjoy her own meal, and although she takes dainty bites she manages to clear nearly her entire plate. As Tiber laughs at Corrine being her wedding ‘slave’ and advises that she also handle their dry cleaning, Lana cannot help but chuckle, “You see? We are always on the same page. This is one of the many reasons why I agreed to marry you!” She manages to polish off her glass of wine and the waitress returns to top off their glasses, as Lana considers Tiber’s wording. Most of the planning will fall on her lap, as it’s mainly the woman that designs the wedding, but it seems that Tiber has some mild input. “No pink for the men, got it… I can live with that.” Smiling, she thinks of Aspen as the ring bearer and quirks a brow, “What if Ranger runs down the aisle with a basket of rose petals? He can be our flower fluff!” It’s nice to hear that Tiber and Greyson have bonded and Lana hopes that she can form even a semblance of friendship with the others in the Amber Lunation. As of now, the only member that seems to like her is Tybalt, but he’s a child and easy to win over. Bjorn thinks she’s beautiful, but he’s literally Lithrydel’s biggest player, so he doesn’t count! “Hm. I think Greyson is a wonderful choice as Best Man. I have to think about how many and who I want as bridesmaids, and depending on the season, it will decide the color choices of gowns.” Her next question comes just before Tiber eyes her suggestively and hints that they should call in room service for dessert, and although they are both eager to celebrate in a much more intimate manner, she needs to know, “Um… So, did you have a date in mind? Are we going to have a long engagement, or do you prefer something in the Fall? Winter?” She’s thinking about the end of autumn, when the leaves are changing color and the air is brisk, but of course Lana loves anything relating to autumn as it reminds her of Kelvar. The witch accepts whatever answer he gives, because all that matters is that they are devoted to each other, and are planning a wedding! Heck, she would marry Tiber tonight if there was an officiant present! After Tiber replies and pays their tab, she finishes her wine and slides her hand into his, once more finding her gaze drawn to the ring, “Want to check out those hot springs? I know we shouldn’t swim so soon after eating… And I don’t believe I packed a swimsuit, but that doesn’t really matter, does it?” She blushes as she catches his wicked grin, matching it with one of her own, before they make their way back to their suite. Upon reaching the door, Lana stops short and looks expectantly at Tiber, “Aren’t you supposed to carry me over the threshold?” She has somehow confused their wedding night, over entering their home the first time after their vows, with tonight. Does she want him to hoist her over -every- threshold until after they marry? Knowing the witch, she probably will grow accustomed to this new tradition and expect the Catalian to carry out her wish until death do them part! “Ahem.” Peering up at him from beneath her impossibly long lashes, she gives Tiber a nudge to his side, wondering what the hold up is.

Tiber grins as she mentions they were on the same page. “That is why I asked you to marry me,” he chuckles a little bit. As the woman contemplates across the table, she comes up with an idea to meet him half-way. “Ranger the flower pup? I dig it.” He nods, and he watches her as she talks about her bridesmaids. He has a crooked intentful smile on his face as she keeps contemplating, and then the question rings in his ears. When should they be married? “I want to marry you when you’re ready. Whether ‘ready’ means you want time to be an engaged couple, or… well, I’m leaving that up to you because… I know I have you. If I had a preference, Fall would be the perfect season. It matches your ring and you.” He smirks. That chocolate color. Fall colors always flattered the Kelvarian--afterall she explained Kelvar in much detail to him, and she was not allowed back. None of the Kelvarians were able to return to their beautiful homeland. Tiber pays for their evening before the light reaches his eyes as she mentions the hot springs. “You bet,” he looks over her frame and the thought of her without a swimsuit makes him grin. “Did you ever hear that the forbidden swimming after eating is a myth? Crazy, huh,” or perhaps that was just a persuasive tactic. The man slides out of seat before they make their way up to their suite. He fumbles with the key and hears the woman’s request about lifting her and walking her in the room. He squinted kind of confused himself for a moment. Tiber does not understand marriage, really, so that ‘ahem’ has him squirm to get the door open. “Come on,” was this the cue that he could undress her once inside? The man slips a hand underneath her knees while his other hand supports the small of her back to sweep her up easily in his lean frame. “The future Mrs. Lowell,” he grins down at her face before planting a kiss down on her lips slowly before slipping her through the door and kicking the door closed with his foot.

Lanara is elated that Tiber is eager to marry her whenever she is ready, and the fact that he suggests Fall has her growing all starry eyed. They truly are a match made in Heaven! “It’s settled then! This fall we will be wed, and Ranger and Aspen will be our flower pup and ring bear!” Of course, she hopes to have resurrected Cinder by then, but it’s still a sore spot for the witch. She also doesn’t even mention her other unsavory deer friend, because the -last- place Rude-Off should be is a wedding! “We will have to plan our honeymoon, too.” As her fiance fumbles with the lock to their room, Lana smirks, wondering if it could be all of her shameless flirting that has the lycan out of sorts. He’s always so suave! The next thing she knows, her demands of being carried into their suite are fulfilled and she’s in Tiber’s arms, where she trails kisses along the tattoo that closely mirrors her own. Meri had to knock him out to get it, but still, they are truly marked in every which way, in both the lycan and human kingdom, to show the world that they belong to each other! She purrs as she’s lowered to the floor, only to turn away from Tiber so that he can unzip her dress, “If I have to go without a swimsuit, so do you.” She winks over her shoulder and gives him a seductive smile, before she offers to help him shed his clothes, tantalizingly trailing her fingers over his exposed flesh. It’s not long before the two are enjoying the pool outside their room and splashing each other with water, their temperatures rising from both the steam of the hot springs and the steam of their bodies pressing tightly against each other. Thankfully, their lover's tryst isn't witnessed by anyone else, as there is thick fencing to assure their privacy. Lana and Tiber -may- however drum up some noise complaints, but considering the cost of the room, it’s doubtful that management will bother the couple with any petty grievances. After spending a good hour or so celebrating with their bodies, the witch pulls her lycan from the pool and they continue to party indoors. Eventually, both of them are spent, and Lana curls up against Tiber’s side, her gaze trailing towards the ice bucket and bottle of champagne. “I think we need to make a toast! What do you think?” She presses a tender kiss to Tiber’s lips, as her hands ruffle his damp locks, “You make me so happy, and I am so utterly obsessed with you… Mr. Lowell, I love you, most ardently.”

After their ravishing games in the spring, the two lay among the bed. Tiber stares up at the ceiling trying to keep his breathing even after her tantalizing trance that she casted over him. The witch had always been captivating and Tiber would sink back into those waters again to replay the fun at any given moment if he had the chance. A finger traces her shoulder as he carefully hums quietly in his own swarm of bliss. Amber eyes cast over towards chocolate eyes that inherit the same amount of happiness he feels. This was what completion felt like. A content life. Tiberius Lowell had a content, luck-filled life. A brow quirks at her suggestion as he peers over at the ice bucket with the champagne. “I forgot about that,” and her hand brushes through his hair as he leans into her kiss finding his own hand reaching through her own cascade of hair. He pulls back before giving one of those… easy, cool smiles and a searching, content stare. “I’m in love with you,” his voice is caught on a title, for… she was not Lanara Lowell yet, but he smiles through his struggle. “I’ll get the bottle.” He would slide from the side of the bed before slipping on a white robe that he had untied after their time in the springs, for the party was in the bedroom after that and more layers were torn away after drying. Tiber moves to the bucket and slips out the champagne bottle. Sly eyes turn over his shoulder before he turns around with the bottle. “Celebrate!” He sings in a tenor-like tone in playfulness before popping the bottle open. Spritz flies in front of them before he is able to pour the champagne into two flutes that are on the same table. He hands out the bubbly to his bride-to-be, “Future Mrs. Lowell,” and then he sits on the bed with her. “To -our- silver linings. To our past. To our present. To our future. Cheers to finding love even if it had taken a road less travelled. Cheers to finding each other in this life again. I am so thankful that you are the woman I am going to marry. Want to marry, even. I love you, body and soul, Lanara Banks.” The glasses would be lifted with a small clink before the two lovers with the sparkles in their eyes downed the golden liquid in their newly engaged celebration.