Author: Naota, Posted: Thu Dec 31, 2015 4:12 PM, Post Subject: Coincidence? [P][R]

It was such a torturous dilemma: on the one hand he was eased in knowing that she wasn't angry with him. But, on the other hand he hated the alternative to that: sadness, disappointment. Hopefully she'd remember what he had told her before: this was all because of him, and that she had done nothing wrong. Why couldn't he shake off this feeling? Why had his training taken to him so well?


All he could do was watch her as she spoke, guilt pulling at him more and more with each word that she said. He didn't like the image of him pushing her as she tried so hard to get to him. It wasn't wrong, it didn't feel wrong, it just felt so different and he wasn't ready for it. But he so wanted to be. He was nineteen: already well into being a man, this should have been simple.


Before he realized what she was doing she was at the window, and by the time he'd flickered away from his bed to go to her she was gone, leaving him to look down at empty grass. Where had she gone? His heart raced in his chest and he didn't care if anyone heard him when he called out for her. It was in vain: she was gone, but he hadn't been able to hold back the instinct.


Where had she gone?! He wanted to be angry but he couldn't be, after all he'd done the exact same thing to her after their first day of knowing each other. Is this what she had felt like? It was such an empty feeling and all he could do was slowly close and relock his window. The protective seal on it strengthened once more as he did so but his eyebrows furrowed. Something was off.


He ran his fingers along the otherwise invisible ward, invisible to those it warded off at least, and it seemed…fizzled. How was that possible? He looked over his shoulder and closed his eyes, sensing out the aura in his room. But there was no one there. Absolutely nothing. Had he been anywhere else he might have thought that this was an error but these seals had been put in place by the Uharu family, his family, and they didn't make mistakes when it came to this.


Perhaps he'd be speaking to his parents before he left after all. But before that he went over to his desk, opening it and pulling out the map within. He knew what he could do to find her, there had to be at least one strand of hair here that he could weave into it. But not yet. As much as he wanted to find her immediately, he wouldn't let himself. She needed time for herself, that's what she had said, and…maybe, for now, it was the smartest thing to do. If nothing else he was eased in knowing that there would at least be a way to find her again.


One day.

Author: Holly, Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2015 10:20 AM, Post Subject: Coincidence? [P][R]

It was brief the moment they kissed again but Holly could feel himself fighting something. There was no way she could even be angry with him. She gave him a sad smile as he told her that he couldn't and she moved down softly to kiss his forehead. "I know. I was going to stop us last night but you took control so I thought everything was okay." She brushed his hair with her finger tips.

The Rosenite gave him a look of dissatisfaction for a moment before taking a pillow and smacking him with it. "Stop that, I am not angry with you. Look into my eyes and tell me if you see anger?" She took his face gently and made him look at her. "That's not anger Naota." She had a hard time explaining to him what it really was because she herself wasn't totally sure what it was.

"When the time is right I know you'll tell me what's been eating at you." She stroked his face softly before sliding off of him and jumping down to the floor. "I need some time for myself to. It's not that this is difficult for me. It's that I don't know if someone like me can hold back and give you the space you deserve. You push and I pull. It feels wrong to pull when I know what your heart says." She got dressed and looked up at him. Giving him a weak smile she jumped from the window and disappeared.

It escaped her mind to tell him where she was going but her mind was clouded with everything they had done. Everything he had told her and how he had rejected her at the end. Even if she said she was alright with it a part of her wasn't.

Author: Naota, Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2015 6:30 PM, Post Subject: Coincidence? [P][R]

His eyes fluttered closed with a slight sound when her lips were on his again.  The feel of them along with her on his hips wasn’t helping, and as much as his body wanted to give into it all over again, he wouldn’t allow himself.  His fingers gripped at her hips and for a brief moment he allowed his lips to press back against hers.  But that was all.  The thoughts were coming again, remembering who he was and what he harbored inside of him wouldn’t let him enjoy it.  Being as gentle as he could be, he pulled his lips back and pulled her back by her hips, turning his head to the side.
 
What could he say?  What could he do?  How was he going to help her understand this huge contrast in his behavior?  For once, he was angry that he even had to.  It was unfair, but he wouldn’t be a child about it: all his life he’d kept that control, now shouldn’t be any different.  Others had it far worse than he did… “I can’t, I’m sorry…”
 
He shook his head quickly as his eyes closed tighter, “It isn’t because of you either, this is my fault, I let myself lose control.  I gave in.”   His eyes opened and moved up to her, “But it’s nothing because of you…”
 
One day he would be able to do these things.  One day he’d have this monster out of him, but until that day he had to make sure to always tread softly.  There was no way he was going to risk her or anyone else getting harmed merely because of his own hormonal urges…no matter how enjoyable they were.  At least that night would have a lot of pleasant memories for him.  Though at the same time it would make it so much more difficult.  Not just for him: he knew this had to be stressful, at the very least it had to be annoying for her to deal with.
 
“If you’re angry with me I understand…You’d have every right to be.”   The feel of her skin so close though, despite his words, was already becoming too tempting.  Why had no one told him how difficult it would be to go against this level of temptation?  Now that he’d had it, he knew it would be that much more of a struggle every time he’d have to tell himself no.  But he didn’t want to tell her no…Not her, not anyone else.
 
“There are just things about me you don’t know, things I don’t want to discuss but I just need you to take my word on them…”   She was strong, so unbelievably strong, but he wasn’t going to risk it.  The one comfort he had was knowing that if he ever ended up endangering her or harming her, her mother would be on him swiftly and soundly.  He just didn’t want it to have to come to that.  More than anything he never wanted her to see his daemon come out; take control. 
 

“I need to get dressed, and I need to find that man who stole from you.”   He was trying to get his head on other things, get back on track.  It’s what he always did…

Author: Holly, Posted: Fri Dec 25, 2015 4:01 PM, Post Subject: Coincidence? [P][R]

Things were way too comfortable as she kissed his neck. His hands slightly gripped at her and in the forefront of her mind she thought it was because he liked it. They had gone almost all night and barely slept but she did not regret that decision. Reaching up she tugged at his ear with her teeth gently.

"Thank you for last night," she chuckled into his ear and kissed it gently before pulling herself up onto his hips. She held his hands steadily around her waist still and gave him a smile. He looked distant and it bothered her. He was more like a deer who had just spotted the hunter. "What's wrong?" She had seen that look before when they had been in Feeorin Forest.

Here they were naked after they had such an enjoyable night and he was acting just like his usual self again. Her eyes got sad for a moment but then she remembered he had pursued her sure after she had kissed him but he had been the one to flip her over. She leaned down and kissed him hard on the lips hoping that she could get him to remember that things were alright.

Author: Naota, Posted: Fri Dec 25, 2015 11:06 AM, Post Subject: Coincidence? [P][R]

He couldn't remember the last time he had slept so well, not even with a disturbance from Minasé. All of the stiffness and tension he usually felt when resting was gone, and while he knew some of it was due to being in his own bed at the home he grew up in, a much greater part was because of who he still had wrapped in his arms. The touch of her lips on his ear as she woke only had everything from the previous day come flooding back. His eyes opened, just a little at first but then slowly widened up on the ceiling. How could he have done that…? How could he have allowed himself to be so easily distracted? Never had he given into hormonal urges and knowing that someone could have that affect on him…He wasn't sure how comfortable he was. Not with her, with himself.


Without meaning to his fingers lightly gripped her more and he was left without words. What did he say? What was the right thing to say after doing something like that…? She seemed perfectly comfortable, which he was grateful for, but he hated that he wasn't able to be so at ease with it like she was. No they hadn't given themselves, but they'd gone dangerously close to that.
 

This wasn't how he was supposed to be: he was supposed to have control. What if the worst had happened and his vulnerability had been taken advantage of by his daemon? The bed sheets very well could have ended up bloodsoaked, and not necessarily with only hers…


But even with all of that he didn't regret what had happened, and he wouldn't have taken it back…he just knew that he couldn't allow it to happen again. Not so soon, and most certainly not so easily. It was a miracle that they had still gone undiscovered because there were many words and phrases bouncing around his head that would have been thrown their way. And none of them were exactly pleasant.
 

All he could think about were the types of people that would get physical pleasure from someone and immediately leave with no respect for them. He didn't want to seem like that, he wasn't like that, but he couldn't help the near desperate feeling he had to run. Each moment in his life had been almost perfectly calculated, planned, risks were only taken when there was no other choice…he wasn't used to going on whims or running purely with emotion. What could he do though…? Leaving her wasn't an option: he didn't want her thinking he was like those men she'd told him about that bedded women and left them heartbroken. He could decapitate and ruthlessly slaughter his targets, but he couldn't lay peacefully in bed with a young woman he was growing strong feelings for. And no matter how badly he wanted to speak with her, the words never came.

Author: Holly, Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2015 8:15 AM, Post Subject: Coincidence? [P][R]

Holly was so comfortable against his burning flesh. It was almost too perfect for her as she fought back sleep. He gripped at her like he had for the majority of the night Holly liked that most about him. Her skin perked up at his touch and it sent a shiver down her spine. It was a good shiver as she kissed his neck in return. 

"Whoever decided that should be smacked with a book." She chuckled softly as they snuggled close. She wanted him to make the sun disappear again. She felt her body react to his fingers going through her hair and another shiver went down her. It felt good to have all the goose bumps he was giving her.

"I would have it no other way…" She kissed his neck again before finally finding herself asleep. 

She sleep for a long time and most of it was probably needed after the energy she let out. Her eyes fluttered open as she buried her head into his neck more. Her hands ran his sides. "Good morning? Or is it good evening?" She whispered into his ear before kissing it. She still did not want to get up as she pulled the blankets around them again.

Author: Naota, Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2015 9:18 PM, Post Subject: Coincidence? [P][R]

His arms were circled around her waist, his hands gently gripping her to keep her against his chest as he steadied out his breathing.  Though his skin was heated from the amount of energy that had built and surged through him, he had managed to keep it from being a dangerous temperature.  At the very most he felt as if he were running a very high fever.  The smell of her skin and hair was amplified by the shared heat, noticeable all the more as he turned his head and kissed into her hair.  Mere hours ago the idea of being completely naked with a lady, much less a stranger, would have had him running away.  Quite literally.  But now there wasn’t anything he could imagine that would feel more natural than this.
 
The soft curves of her body pressed so perfectly against the hard angles of his own: a perfect contrast.  One of his hands travelled up the middle of her spine and between her shoulder blades to hold her there as she snuggled in closer to him.  The sky outside of his windows was already starting to lighten from the approach of dawn and he welcomed the wrapped blankets.  A gentle smile formed on his lips as she kisses his cheek and he tipped his head enough to kiss her temple, “Unfortunately that is a skill I will most likely never possess…”
 
His arms wrapped more, drawing her closer as his hand moved the rest of the way up her back into her hair; gently stroking his fingers through the long soft tresses.  Her skin was still heated from their actions as well, and he took a different type of pleasure from knowing that he had caused it, “Sleep here with me…”   Already he was feeling the heaviness of sleep start in his eyelids all over again.

Author: Holly, Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2015 6:58 PM, Post Subject: Coincidence? [P][R]

It was almost too natural for them to be doing what they were. Two kids all alone with their hormones running wild? Yeah something was bound to happen but that was alright.  She helped him pulled her shirt off and dropped it by the bed as not to get tangled in whatever mess they were up to.

Holly could see that he was trying hard to hold back. For a brief moment she was about to stop him but before she could he pinned her hips down and kissed her. Moving her arms she pulled his head down hard towards her. She felt the ton of emotions come to her and was in a similar place to Naota.
They laid there kissing for the longest time. Finally getting each other naked the two of them were strong enough not to give in to what was possibly their ultimate fantasy. Even Holly held back and never pressured anything past what they were doing. It seemed the rules were simple: Everything was on the table but sex and that was fine. 

They fooled around for a long time that night before finally calling it a night. Holly snuggled into his chest laying on top of him. Her arms gently gripping his shoulders as he held her waist. She kissed his neck softly trying not to start their games all over again. They were exhausted but they had held back a good deal as well. 

Lazily as the first lights of morning poured in she lazily moved her hand and patted around for the edge of the blankets before pulling them up on both Naota and herself. "Too early." she whined as she kissed his cheek and pulled herself up a bit more. She laid her head by his but still her body laid on him. "Make the morning stop." She snuggled more. "I don't want to get up."

Author: Naota, Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2015 6:26 PM, Post Subject: Coincidence? [P][R]

As if it were perfectly natural his hands moved under her shirt as she lifted the edge, sliding his fingers along her sides and around to her lower back.  She was warm, so warm, and his own body was heating to the point that the wrapped blankets were completely useless by this point.  Her lips went to his bottom one and his fingers gripped to keep from travelling anywhere else.  Too much.  It was too much too fast and he pulled his head back.  Despite his tries though, his hands moved back up and gripped the edge of her shirt, pulling it to try and urge it off of her.
 
Though he wanted to remove the blankets he resisted the urge to do so, otherwise she would have been almost completely exposed and he had at least enough sense through his head to remember that.  Even with that it was still a dangerous move moving her upper layer off: he could feel her against his chest, causing his heart to quickly spike.  In an effort to keep a semblance of self-control he tipped his head back, but his hands moved along her skin: one down the curve of her spine to her lower back, the other up between her shoulder blades until he was gripping into her hair at the base of her skull.
 
Before he could stop himself he was turning them, moving her so that she was laying back against the bed with him over her.  His eyes closed tighter, trying to keep them from having a chance to drift down her body.  He’d seen her today in clothes that showed so much skin and that bit left to the imagination was too much and he wouldn’t let himself give in.  He leaned in, gently pressing his lips to her and instantly parting hers with his own as his hands moved down her sides to her hips, gripping them enough to keep them pinned down.
 

Stop, stop stop stop…!  No matter how much he told himself ‘no’ he couldn’t stop his hands, his lips, or the race of his heart.

Author: Holly, Posted: Sat Dec 12, 2015 11:41 PM, Post Subject: Coincidence? [P][R]

 No words could describe the moment they were having. There was no panic. There was no heavy need. They were just kissing and it was more soft then forced unlike the last time. Time seemed slow around her and it was just as intoxicating as everything else. Though Holly almost forgot to breath as she chuckled and kissed him once more pulling him in closer to her. 

She felt his heated fingertips and fluffed the shirt over his hands so he could touch her skin. They were really just two teenagers and it was normal. Once his hands were against her skin she pulled him back this time it was a little more forced as separated for a moment to playfully nip at his lower lip.

The girl found herself in a state of utter bliss as she kissed his lips once becoming more playful and less worried about him vanishing on her since they had taken this step. It was more like a drug for her and the more it continued the more she needed from him. It was an odd feeling since he was the only one she had ever had interest in like this.

Author: Naota, Posted: Sat Dec 12, 2015 11:19 PM, Post Subject: Coincidence? [P][R]

A small smile formed on his lips though his yes stayed closed when she spoke about how he’d found her.  Even he couldn’t deny how fateful it had been.  This world wasn’t one that felt insurmountable in size but it was in no way small, yet they’d crossed paths so soon after parting.  Maybe they were meant to be friends, to keep finding each other and get closer.  Whether he liked it or not he’d eventually have to bond with someone else other than family, so why not her?  She was kind, she was funny, playful, strong, and there was an innocence about her that he couldn’t ignore.  Any person would be more than lucky to call her their friend.
 
Her fingers touched against his face and he just barely opened his eyes in time for her lips to touch against his.  His lips just barely parted against hers as his eyes closed again.  At any other time he would have jerked back, possibly teleported to the other side of the room to put distance between them, but right now he couldn’t…he was too comfortable, felt too calm and safe in his home: the safest place he could think of even without the risk of falling into slumber.  So instead of pulling away from her his arms wrapped more, his hands gently sliding around her sides to gently grip and keep her close as his lips pressed back to hers.
 

All the while there was no commentary in his head, not so much as a breath of a word.  Under any other circumstance he would have pondered the silence, grown suspicious of it for any time Minasé had absolutely nothing to say was never a good one.  His fingertips grew warmer, enough to feel through the clothing he had given her to wear, yet it wasn’t a threatening temperature.  Despite his sleepy state his heart picked up faster, each nerve of his body felt more heightened from even this simple touch of her lips against his.  It was intoxicating.

Author: Holly, Posted: Sat Dec 12, 2015 11:01 PM, Post Subject: Coincidence? [P][R]

Holly was so warm as he wrapped his arm around her. It was very nice in a way she had never had before, not that she had ever been in a situation like this. Since the first time she had met Naota she had that feeling she had to go after him even when he vanished yet there he was again when she got to Ayaito. It was a weird feeling but it was nice.

She listened to the beating of his heart and nodded softly. "That would be nice. I could show you my room there." She was quiet with him as well. Nodding softly to words she just smiled. "I know. You found me even if you didn't mean to." That was what her bard heart was telling her.

Her hands gripped the edges of his sleeves as he inhaled her scent. She felt his heart beat and she wanted to sleep as well. She felt safe there like she was. Holly did not want to say anything as she snuggled her body as close as she could. His arm pulled her closer and it was a huge comfort to her. Moving her head she brought up her hand and pulled his face to hers kissing him gently. Her fingertips ran through his hair before cupping his face.

Author: Naota, Posted: Sat Dec 12, 2015 10:45 PM, Post Subject: Coincidence? [P][R]

There was a young woman in his bed.  More than that, he was in his bed with a young woman.  Not that they were doing anything inappropriate, but this was something he had never done before outside of family.  Now with the cotton pants gone he could feel her legs easier, even though he still had on his own.  At least she seemed to be comfortable, her face and body was pressed so close to him that it was hard to think of anything else.  The warmth was too much of a reminder of how close they were and his arms hesitantly went around her, though his eyes stayed transfixed on the ceiling.
 
This was innocent, completely innocent, but he had to keep reminding himself of that and it made the entire situation feel anything but innocent.  At least if someone were to come in he’d be able to flicker them somewhere else with ease.  He swallowed down, silently nodding to her comment.  Maybe over time it would get easier, with any luck he might even stop thinking about the position they’d been put in. 
 
Being in his own bed with so much warmth and the nostalgic scents of home made his eyelids droop, but despite that his heart was beating hard and steady.  “After things have been set right here, maybe we could go to your home…”   His voice was soft, quiet from his body trying to relax into light slumber.  Even if it was a bit nerve wracking to be bundled up with a practically half naked girl, he couldn’t deny the comfort of warmth and the lulling rhythm of breathing and her heart beat. 
 
Finally his muscles eased enough for him to wrap his arms around her more with a gentle grip, “I’ll try and find the man who stole your belongings…”   His eyes closed and he slowly breathed out through his nose, releasing the last of any tension pent up in his muscles.  “I could hunt him down, it’s easy…it’s what I do…”  
 

Tired, he was growing tired.  No matter how tempted he might have been to let himself doze off he knew that he couldn’t let that happen; he just couldn’t risk someone finding out he had brought a newcomer here, especially without warning to the heads of the household.  Even though he knew without a shadow of a doubt that she wasn’t an enemy.  His head turned to the side and he rested his cheek against her hair, gently breathing in her scent with each inhale without meaning to.

Author: Holly, Posted: Sat Dec 12, 2015 10:57 AM, Post Subject: Coincidence? [P][R]

Holly felt silly standing there in front of him but the look on his face told her something more. "What's wrong?" She went to go to him and she found the pants falling and she tripped almost going right onto her face if not for Naota catching her. Making a whimper she pulled herself up probably with his help. There was a look in her eye determined to make things work. 

She struggled again to walk before she finally made sure her bottom was covered and completely pulled the pants off. She kicked the pants across the room and patted the shirt down like a dress. "I can't do it! So I will wear this like a dress!" She was more or less in defeat of the pants as she went over to Naota and whimpered at him. "Mean things anyways." Now she was just trying to be adorable.

Looking up at the loft then back at Naota, she found herself taking his hand and pulling him. "Come on, lets go snuggle under the blankets. Just snuggle nothing else." She wanted to reassure him cause she knew it scared him. More so he was scared of what he could do to her. She took his hands and gave him that warm look that was comforting.

Pulling him along they got to the loft and she laid down with him. Pulling the blankets over them she snuggled her head onto his shoulder and neck. Eventually she had herself wrapped around him and was finally comfortable. "This is nice and warm."

Author: Naota, Posted: Sat Dec 12, 2015 9:53 AM, Post Subject: Coincidence? [P][R]

His eyes softened as he nodded, moving his arms from around her so that he could walk over to his wardrobe. It had been so long since he'd used it that there was a light layer of dust in the creases of the handles. Seeing that dust made him guilty, guilty for how long he had stayed away from home. Either way though, he'd outgrown everything in here so likely it wouldn't have been used anyways.
 

He pulled the doors opened, looking in at the contents, old straps and bindings from training, boots at the base that were scuffed beyond use yet for some reason he had held onto them. No, what he needed was something soft, something light that wouldn't constrict or grow uncomfortable. He pulled open one of the drawers within and took out a set of cotton pants used for sleeping in, along with a warm long sleeved shirt. They were cool from not being used for so long, and he gently sent warmth through their fibers. Yes, they would do.


When he moved back over towards her he outstretched his arms in offering, nodding almost quickly at her suggestion for him to leave. As he reached the door he looked over his shoulder, "Knock twice if you need me." And then he was out. The corridors of this floor were empty, not even staff was there. It made sense since most of these rooms were no longer inhabited: each of them had their own part of the floor to call their own and since nearly all of them were out of the house on their own now, they hardly got much use anymore.


It was strange being home, but it was even stranger being back to a quiet home. He leaned back against the door, arms lightly crossing over his chest as he waited for her to finish. There was still a part of him that was worried someone would discover she was here, not that she'd be in danger, but he really didn't want to have that conversation.


The door started to open behind him and he stepped forward, turning to go through back into his room and closing and locking the door behind him. Any time they could get from someone trying to get in, the better. No lock kept anyone in this family back for too long though. Despite himself, his lips parted and his eyes widened when he saw her. It was strange seeing someone else in his clothing but there was something also…pleasant about it, when it was her at least. Aside from family or small children he'd yet to see a lady wear anything of his, and seeing it be too big on her: the sleeves too long, pants barely staying up around her middle - was drawing.


Why? He swallowed down and looked away, shaking his head as his cheeks filled with warmth, "No, you most certainly do not look silly…" It was all he could do to keep his eyes politely averted.

Author: Holly, Posted: Sat Dec 12, 2015 8:08 AM, Post Subject: Coincidence? [P][R]

Holly smiled at him as he ran his fingers through her hair. It felt so nice to have someone do that for her. "My mother drives us nuts." She chuckled more and was happy that he understood her. "Though I do suppose we should stop being so stubborn and stop in once in a while."

She watched him smile and she blushed a little. It was the lightest shade of pink across her sun-kissed skin. "Thank you Naota. I wouldn't have anyone else take me there." That was true and she knew it was even if it sounded silly to her.

The blush deepened as he kissed her hairline. She snuggled closer into his chest for a moment as she nodded. "I'll try not to I promise." He was so warm. Finally she brought her head back out so she could see him. "That would be amazing.." Her eyes followed Naota as he fetched her some clothing.

Looking at the pajamas she knew they were most likely very over-sized on her. She held them to her chest and blushed once more. "Can you.. um leave me here for a little bit? So I can change. I'll tell you when you can come back in." She watched him leave her and she changed quickly. She struggled with the pants and finally gave up because they were overly large. She would just to be uncomfortable. 

The shirt was more like a long sleeved dress on her. The sleeves even went past her hands. She flailed a bit as she got her hands out of the sleeves long enough to braid her hair. Finally she let Naota back in. "I look.. silly?" She looked down at her small frame and blushed up at him.

Author: Naota, Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2015 9:42 PM, Post Subject: Coincidence? [P][R]

Her arms circled around his waist and despite the fading cold he felt as if his blood had gone icy.  This wasn’t normal, not for him, to be so close and pressed to a woman, but he tried to push such thoughts away.  After all, she was upset, there was nothing wrong or dangerous about this, and Minasé hadn’t said a word.  Most likely he was bored with so much calm, or waiting for his moment…hopefully it was the former.  Though he expected at any moment to hear an amused chuckle in the recesses of his mind from how flustered he was.
 
The warmth in his skin increased, trying instead to focus only on that as he moved his arms around her to keep her close, resting his cheek atop her head and only moving it when she looked up at him to speak.  A sister so much older, there was such a gap between them that it was hard to try and put himself in the same position mentally as she was in.  He smiled, thinking about spending time with her at her home and for once being able to find ease at meeting her mother instead of only intimidation.  Ah yes, her belongings, he still needed to hunt the man down and find them, even if he did replace what had been stolen. 
 
Trusting himself as much as he could, he moved a hand up and gently moved his fingers through her hair on the back of her head, tracing down from root to tip and spreading more warmth as he did so, “Having so many children can’t be easy for the mind when it comes to cutting the ties of home.  My own mother looks as if she’s ready to tether us to a post each time we come to visit.  If it wasn’t for our father I’m sure she’d get her way in that someday, even if it was only temporary.”
 
Even speaking about his parents like that in their home had him lowering his voice to a whisper, as if they could hear every word he said, though none of this was out of fear, “I’d actually love to see your home with you.” A corner of his lips upturned in a light side smile, “Someone has to make sure you can get back out easily after all.”
 
He hesitated, only for a brief second before leaning in and kissing her hairline, “Don’t think of such sad things.”   This was dangerous, he wasn’t one to make close bonds to friends, not with what was living inside of him, but aside from how protective he was he knew that not only could she watch over herself, but that a deity’s fury would come down on any being that tried to harm her.  It was comforting to know and just thinking about it quieted anything his daemon might have been about to voice.
 

“Do you want me to fetch you a change of clothing…?  I know for certain I still have some of my clothes from when I was younger here, they’d probably still be too big for you, but they’d be comfortable and warm…”

Author: Holly, Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2015 1:07 AM, Post Subject: Coincidence? [P][R]

"I'm aware of that Naota…" Her words were soft and almost like a whisper. She felt his warm hands on her skin and it sent a shiver down her. She did not realize just how cold she had made herself. "It isn't her fault." She gave him a small smile in return and shook her head. "Because she is The Mother and while all mothers want their children to spread wings most desire their children to remain with them and not go off on long adventures."

She leaned into him and moved her arms around his waist closing her eyes. Slowly the cold dissipated out of the room. "It is like an unspoken vow of my siblings to leave home after a while. We are trying to make our mother worry about herself because she is The Mother." She moved her head and looked up at him. "She worries about everyone and everything. We should be out and about making something of ourselves and trying to help people love her. She worries most about us. She is stubborn and is still trying to convince my oldest sister to come home. She is a hundred and fifteen my sister and still she comes home once in a while to appease mother."

The soft smile disappeared as she closed her eyes. She felt his warmth all over him and let out a sigh of relief. "I'll take you there someday if you want… We can go through the gardens and I will show you everything. I'll probably have to go there to get another set of clothes now that my purse is missing." She groaned a bit and then chuckled. "She'll be happy to have visitors. Of course, that's only if you want to go."

Author: Naota, Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2015 2:30 PM, Post Subject: Coincidence? [P][R]

His eyes shifted.  He tried to think about what it would feel like to have a fight bad enough that he’d keep from coming back home.  There were plenty of times that he had had disagreements with his parents, his brothers too when he was younger, but never so bad that he’d stay away from them.  Even now the only reason he kept distance was for protection, following the lesson they’d always instilled in all of them.  What kind of fight could she have possibly gotten into with her mother…?  It was sad to think about and even harder to look at her eyes as they dimmed.
 
Those eyes were the only reason he didn’t immediately straighten and stiffen when her arms went out on either side of him, leaving a gap between him yet making him feel pinned all the same.  Trying to picture her hopping from tavern to tavern when there was a perfectly comfortable place for her back at home was strange and cruel. 
 
She had so much life experience but she was still young, at this age she should be able to go around her mother and be happy.  Her mother was the ultimate Mother, she had to be able to understand…something just had to be able to get worked out between them.  It wasn’t his place, but his own bonds to family were so strong that it was hard for him to not want to get involved.
 
The cold first became noticeable when she backed away from him, even before he saw her arms wrap around herself.  It wasn’t his doing, and none of the windows were opened…was it her?  Being The Mother’s child it wouldn’t be unreasonable to think so.  That hadn’t happened before…it had to be caused by her mood, either way he doubted she was doing it on purpose.  His fingers curled in against the wood of the window’s lip, gripping there to get himself more prepared for what he was going to do. 
 
It wasn’t the time or place to be thinking it, but she was dressed in a way that showed a lot of her skin, and he wanted to give her some form of comforting touch.  He just wanted to make sure that he didn’t feel completely out of place and inappropriate while doing so.  Warmth spread to his hands, wanting to be able to help her ease as he pushed away from his seated spot, “Your mother isn’t just any mother, she’s The Mother.”
 
His hands gently rested on her shoulders and slowly moved down her arms, trying to help warm her as much as he could while keeping his eyes on her face.  “Mothers make up with their children before they’ve even realized they’ve done it…”   He smiled a little, his voice softening, “Why did she want you to stay home…?”  
 

She was young and strong, she was her mother’s child, but he doubted that parents ever stopped worrying about their children.  Then again there was probably more to this situation, much more.  With so many children he wouldn’t have been surprised if life was a constant intricate weave: so many charges to manage, so many people to love.  It could drive a person insane with worry.  But he couldn’t help but feel a bit inappropriate for asking these types of personal questions.  She was a person just like anyone else, but her affairs were at a much higher level than he could ever reach, and while he wanted to be able to be around her like he would any other person, he knew that he still had to remember his respectful place.

Author: Holly, Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2015 1:56 PM, Post Subject: Coincidence? [P][R]

She felt his muscles tense and she resisted the urge to flow her hands down and feel them out. She was so much like her mother it scared her. "Relax Naota. I won't try anything. You have to trust me." She kissed his ear and continued this dance they started. They were describing in detail their homes. They were so vastly different from one another.

Listening to him talk to her she just laughed. "Sularia isn't for everyone. We exist where others can hardly find us because we feel safe there. We can go about our lives and not worry too much about war but we are ready."  She chuckled more and came close to him. "I could show you sometime. We could go together."

Holly laughed and and stepped back from him his hands still in hers. "Even if I wasn't the child of a goddess my mother is a noble." She watched him move away from her and sit on the sill before  answering him. She walked close to him and put her arms on either side of him. "A very long time." She sad as she looked up at him. "Had a fight with mother. So I don't like to stay with her too much. She tried to get me to stay home with her turned nasty."

There was sadness in her voice as she looked into his eyes. "I stay in taverns when I go back to Sularia. I make money there and then maybe I visit with my mother but I don't stay at home." She backed off of him and felt a deep cold not a cold that could be taken away by a warm jacket. She hugged herself and sulked off to the bookshelves. There was a silence that made the coldness in the room deepen.

Author: Naota, Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2015 12:20 PM, Post Subject: Coincidence? [P][R]

Her homes seemed so different, vastly, unlike anything he could ever imagine for a place to live.  With so many people around, no…no he couldn’t imagine it.  Maybe if he had been raised with it like she had been, but even then it was hard to try and picture himself in a place such as that.  It wasn’t that he disliked people, he just wasn’t used to being constantly surrounded.  His breathing cut out behind his lips when her hands went up over his eyes, describing her home in more detail.  This was close, very close, and even though he knew she wasn’t an enemy his muscles still went rigid with the urge to reach for a blade. 
 
Having seen her move about his room was even stranger than this though, if you could believe it.  Aside from family, she was the first female to ever be inside of it.  His room was the one sanctuary he had all through his childhood and into adulthood.  It was the only place where others wouldn’t force their way in and would allow him his peace.  Though when he was a child the door was always left opened for someone to come in, an action that his brothers usually took advantage of, sometimes it felt like a shared room with how much time they all spent with each other.  Their rooms held the same feeling.
 
But her body was so close to his, her lips against his ear, and for once he wished a sibling would unceremoniously come in as if it were nothing.  He needed a distraction, and while the images she was describing to him were stimulating to the mind, he couldn’t block off the fact that a young woman was much closer to him than he was immediately comfortable with.
 
He tried to imagine the heat of the dessert, the scrape of sand and relief of finding the oasis that their home seemed to be.  Her hands moved from his eyes and he blinked hard to try and rid any awkward feelings away; vision slightly blurred when they opened again to watch her.  She seemed to be perfectly at home here, but her nature was so light and carefree that he didn’t doubt she could be like this anywhere she went.  Knowing her, even as little as he did, he wouldn’t have been surprised if she were able to make any place she went to feel like home.
 
His fingers gently gripped hers when she took his, and all he could do was watch as she moved about, telling him about her home and the many goings on that happened there.  A light smile crossed his features, brief, but there all the same when she moved him to turn and he gently shook his head.  Again it was brought up, talk of…sexual encounters.  She had mentioned them upon their first meeting and that was most definitely a subject that he tried to keep far away from himself for as long as possible.  Yet she was able to converse about it as if it was nothing.  How could that be? 
 
In his household it was often described as something dangerous: an act that fogged your mind and slashed away at your judgment entirely.  Not something bad, not exactly, just something to be wary of and careful with.  That didn’t stop his eldest brother from encountering it at a younger age than Naota was even now, but still, he couldn’t get those warning words out of his head.
 
“I think it’s fair to say that your home sounds entirely different than anything I’ve ever encountered.  Outside of the world seems to be the only place where it could thrive…”   It wasn’t a jab, it was softly spoken.  That type of lifestyle would be intolerable over time in this world.  Too many people that didn’t understand and embrace freedom.  He was glad that she was able to have that…Was still able to go back there.  Luckily there weren’t too many people that ventured out into the deserts, so at least with that domain they were safe. 
 
Her mother was powerful, there was no doubt about that, but words and whispers can break away at a person more than blades and magick ever could.  Words stay.  “It’s so different from here, around everyone else, I can’t begin to understand how you keep yourself so comfortable.”
 
He smiled, a small one, “Then again, I don’t have a drop of deity in me, surely your endurance and comprehension is higher than mine could ever be for many years yet.”   One day, he hoped, the world would be able to keep a beautiful mindset such as hers.  She was gentle, pure, but in no way ignorant to the workings of the world.  At her age that was a level of wisdom that most adults had yet to take in. 
 

“When was the last time you were at one of your homes…?”   His fingers uncurled from around hers as he moved slowly through his room, walking over to one of the tall windows and sitting up on the sill.  The cold from outside had chilled the glass and he leaned back against it, eyes halving from the comforting coolness.

Author: Holly, Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2015 10:48 PM, Post Subject: Coincidence? [P][R]

There was a small smile on her face when he came close to her. "I think you are having more trouble with it than I am." She was teasing him but she remembered him leaving her and the smile was gone. She didn't want that happening again. Soon he was around her and it had been one of the most gentle touches she had ever had. 

She snuggled into him as he closed his eyes and felt the warmth around them. It was a nice feeling almost like the magic her mother weaved. When they appeared in the room she looked around. It reminded her a lot of the Purple Court when she went to visit her cousins. The smells made her remember the Arriese library.

Though the warmth of Naota left her as she looked back to him a tender smile appeared. Letting the jacket slip from her barely covered body she slinked around him and looked around the room. "The temple? It's in a realm outside this world. Imagine a large farmstead leading up to a dark tunnel." She danced her way back over to him.

She put her hands up and over his eyes pressing her body to his. "Like this dark. The nature is so close to you." She pressed her lips to his ear as she whispered. "And a voice sings like this." She sang a little into his ear but it was very soft and quiet. It was a lullaby. "It comes out to one of the largest bridges you've ever seen lighted by fireflies." She released him from herself and came in front of him.

"There a tree that rivals the fabled World Tree sits at the end of the bridge. It has a giant manor growing out of it. There are so many rooms on the inside since its a magical space. There is a library that is above a cove. The bookshelves and tables float above the water. There are personal groves there. Almost anything you can think of exists in that temple."

She blushed a bit. "But back in Sularia. We live in a manor. It is a lot like this. It has our family crest hanging about. Paintings of our family. A large dining hall for all of my siblings to share. It is more like a vacation home. Mother goes there to visit her sisters and our family. Sularia is in a desert which is why I travel up that way in the winter. It is a party all year round there." She took his hand and spun herself.

"Men come from all over to try and bed the pretty women." She got close to him. "And then they leave the women broken hearted." She pulled herself away. "We are a strong and proud race. We are a strong and proud family." She twirled him around. "We don't fear the unknown and we risk ourselves for what we love." She put empathize on the word love.

"We love music, dancing, and good company."

Author: Naota, Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2015 10:33 PM, Post Subject: Coincidence? [P][R]

Her home.  He couldn’t even imagine what it would be like going to where she lived.  Was it outside?  In the trees?  If there were two did that mean they would be the same or different?  There wasn’t too much he knew about the deities other than to be respectful should you ever be around one, so imagining something so normal about them was hard to do.  As much as the idea of her mother coming down on him in fury kept him well aware of his actions while around her, usually he forgot entirely about her heritage.  She was so…normal.  Not ordinary, just very approachable.
 
He laughed, unable to resist doing so at the growing amount of coincidences between them upon this second meeting, “I’ll be sure to keep a spare amount of gold aside just for you and your instruments since for some reason I’ve seemed to have become a curse on them.”   But now came the part he was dreading most.  While he was taking her from the man he hadn’t thought about the closeness, all that was on his mind was getting her to safety.  But now he’d have to take the steps on his own. 
 
“The fastest way would be to drift us both there…Or, should I say, to teleport us there.”   He often had to remind himself that some of the terms he’d been trained with and raised around were different than others’, “It would be quick, a blink.”   At this point he wasn’t sure who he was trying to help be more comfortable with this scenario.  Minasé was laughing already, and for a rare moment it actually comforted him to know that he wasn’t alone with this.
 
“You know, if you’d stop talking and just did it it’d be even faster…”   His jaw locked, ignoring him as best as he could.  To be honest, him being this compliant made him a bit uneasy, but there was no safer place to be than at home should he have an attack…And he didn’t even feel one coming.  Instead, he shook his head and walked towards her, “S-Sorry.  It’ll be fast.”  
 
With as much gentleness that you’d think he was handling a newborn babe, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer to himself and closing his eyes.  His hands warmed on her sides and his eyes gently closed as the warmth grew until both of them blinked out of view.  When they reappeared it was in the room he’d grown up in since he was only five years of age.  Ceiling high windows bordered the room, the curtain’s drawn to let sunlight pour in and warm the dark carpeting. 
 
Lining all of the walls were shelves and shelves of books that went from floor to ceiling, accompanied by an attached rolling ladder to help those that didn’t have the ability to get books from the highest shelves on their own.  A loft in the corner rose up fifteen feet into the air where his bed rested, tucked in and lined to keep one from falling off of it and rolling over and off onto the floor.  It looked more like a study than a bedroom, large enough to fit three bedrooms at least, with a high arched ceiling.  A veranda balcony circled the entirety of the room, making it easier to peruse the higher books without having to constantly move the ladder.  It smelled of time and sifted through pages and so many things that crept nostalgia through his veins.  He so loved home, but he couldn’t get himself to remain stationary…
 
His arms quickly unwrapped from her and he took two steps back, trying to suppress the awkward smile that was trying to form.  “This is my home-well…where I grew up, I don’t live here anymore, not really.  I figured coming straight here would help in avoiding anyone for as long as possible…”
 

Had he not been a member of this family there would have been no way for him to get inside so easily, but no wards or protections barred family or those very rare few that were granted constant access.  “Your homes, what are they like…?”

Author: Holly, Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2015 10:02 PM, Post Subject: Coincidence? [P][R]

Watching him she blushed and laughed for a bit longer. "I would like that. I don't mind people since I live in a temple. Though this means I'll have to take you to my home next. Though I technically have two homes." 

It made her feel safe being with him even though she knew she was strong enough to fend off most people. She hadn't been prepared to fight against that man and had actually put her tambourine down. It had been bad timing and she wasn't at all okay with doing magic in front of her customers. 

"It will give us more time to take definitely." She gave him a smile and laughed. "We can go whenever but I'll have to get a new instrument again. We have to stop meeting like that. I lose an instrument every time we meet." She teased him as she pulled the coat closer to her. "To tell you the truth I am not use to the winter months. Normally I head into the desert regions this time of the year but something is Parvpora sang to me."

She blushed a bit and looked at him for a long moment. "It is sort of funny that I would run into you twice." Looking up at the sky she began to hum a little before laughing. "We can go now. I am cold thanks to being in my dancing outfit. I should really invest in something more warm for these months. I hadn't even thought about it when I crossed over."

Author: Naota, Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2015 9:36 PM, Post Subject: Coincidence? [P][R]

He hadn’t known her long at all, but already he knew she was speaking the truth about her level of stubbornness.  It wasn’t a bad thing, but it certainly would make things more complicated when it came to trying to keep her at a safe distance as he did everyone else.  Part of him didn’t want to though.  It was a constant intricate dance to try and maintain friendships while not allowing himself to get too close to anyone other than family.  Hell, even with family he was starting to drift more than he wanted to admit…He needed to figure out a way to fix this problem.
 
Everything she said though, that was something he had no experience with and it pulled at his heart to think of her own insecurities with friendship or any relationship.  People could be so cruel and he knew that, using people had to be one of the harshest things someone could do to another person.  Being led on in any way.  Honestly if it had ever happened to him he was unsure of whether he’d ever trust other people again.  That kind of thing tended to stick with you whether you wanted it to or not.
 
When she wrapped herself in his jacket he tried not to get distracted by the intimacy, intimacy without him even having to touch her.  She was so very friendly and easy with expressing herself that he hardly knew what to do or say and merely averted his eyes and smiled.  But the thought of them sharing a room was out of the question.  Visit with her there perhaps, but not stay there for the night.  The thought of her being there alone when she came from such a big family, and…had just been robbed, would bother him for the rest of the night though.  That much he knew.
 
He chewed on his bottom lip, hesitating for only a moment before speaking, making sure to get the words out before he could stop himself, “You could always come with me.  I’m actually from this corner of the world, my family’s estate isn’t too far from here…I could even drift us there.”   So long as he knew the place, could envision it, he could teleport himself or anyone with him there. 
 
“It’s warm, there’s plenty of room…There’s people there though, if you wouldn’t mind it.”   Her family was so vast that he doubted it would bother her, but he still couldn’t help but warn her.  After all: these would be strangers.  When he was honest with himself, they barely even knew each other so he wouldn’t have been offended should she decline.  He at least wanted the offer to be out there for her, should she want to take it.
 

“Most of the time I can manage to be given peace while I’m there, no one would bother you…” That he’d make sure of for certain.  At this time of year he doubted that any of his brothers were back for a visit, and even if they were he could usually get them to understand when a moment was serious and when it was all right to joke about.  Their mother would be more than enough without them added in.  Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to suggest there.  Minasé’s silence didn’t make him feel any more confident about his decision being a good one.

Author: Holly, Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2015 9:02 PM, Post Subject: Coincidence? [P][R]

It was almost like they had a staring contest going as they studied each other. "I'm sure you do but I am much more stubborn than you will ever know and I will find out about you." She gave him a humph and then a gentle smile.

Listening to him she thought about it. "Not really danger but." She blushed a bit and looked up at him. "I didn't ever want someone to love me because of who my mother was. To try to gain her good graces through me. It might be a sort of danger at least to myself." She looked at him and then smiled. "I'm not scared though. You can try to hurt me but you won't."

She watched his jacket and smiled at him once more. "You are very sweet." She took the jacket and found it warm as she snuggled into it. "You smell nice." She chuckled a bit as she turned her nose to the collar and smelled it. She looked back up into his eyes and giggled. "Will you stay with me while I'm in Ataiyo? I may have a place we can go.. Not the best but clinics are known by my mother and usually have a free  bedroom for travelling clerics.. will you stay with me?"

She knew with how jumpy he was that it was a bit of a guess on if he would stay with her or not. "We can talk more there and out of the wind." She had no idea he was from here and this was her best idea for a place to stay since her earnings were stolen.

Author: Naota, Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2015 8:49 PM, Post Subject: Coincidence? [P][R]

The corners of his lips tugged into a small smile when she poked him, but it was so small and brief that even he barely noticed it.  In getting her out of the man’s grasp he had completely forgotten about her money purse and his shoulders went down.  He wasn’t sure how much she had saved in it, but he’d try his best to replace as much of it as he could…and hopefully find that man.  But that was a much less pressing matter right now: money first, man later. 
 
His eyes studied hers for a moment and then moved away, contemplating starting a conversation he really didn’t want to have.  “I have reason to be jumpy, and while I’m glad that you have more understanding than most would, the knowledge that you’ve seen so many horrible things makes me even more wary.”
 
One day he knew she’d find out more about him, whether he liked it or not.  But that day wasn’t today and he didn’t want to talk about it if he could push it away for a later date.  “Have you ever been afraid of bringing others in danger before?  Not danger from some outside source, but danger that came solely from you?”   Even if he couldn’t explain everything to her, maybe he could help her understand more of his own fear.  It wasn’t much, but it was a start.
 
As he spoke he moved his hooded jacket from himself, rolling his shoulders back to get it off completely and held it out to her.  He was tempted to move it around her shoulders but didn’t trust himself too close to her just yet, “Here…Until we can get all of your earnings back.”   His eyes softened as he slowly routed energy down his arm, through his fingertips, and into the fabric of the jacket he was holding out to her.  It was something small he would do sometimes when desperation took hold: add warmth to his clothing that would stay.  This would hopefully keep her from shivering too much and keep her warm…
 

His thoughts drifted to home, how warm and large it was: plenty of room, plenty of security due to its inhabitants.  If not for the sternness of his mother and father he’d have no hesitation in bringing her there, but right now he didn’t want to have to worry about the flurry of questions he’d get later from bringing a young woman there with him.  All of them would get the wrong idea.  Maybe the guests’ corridors…Well, if it came to it.  

Author: Holly, Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2015 8:17 PM, Post Subject: Coincidence? [P][R]

Holly stared at him and huffed a bit. "You won't let me know you and you have no idea if I would understand or if I would help you." She stared into his eyes as he stop and found herself liking his personality. He was humble that much was for sure but she knew that back at Vila.

Crossing her arms the Rosenite calmed down and sighed. "And now I don't have any money."  This time of the year made her shiver a  bit as she moved to hug herself and break the little breeze that was about. "Thank you for saving me but don't leave again." She moved her hand to poke him in the chest.

"Nothing you can do will scare me away. I've seen enough bad in this world to be afraid." That was why she was so stubborn and kind. "You see a lot being the daughter of a healer. From the wounds to who causes them. Demons. Humans. All of them act alike. My mother isn't just a goddess who does good from a hiding place. She is a healer and a herbalist. She goes about and delivers babies. She helps those who need it."

Staring at Naota she gave him a smile. "Just like you need it. You are so jumpy all the time."

Author: Naota, Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2015 10:47 PM, Post Subject: Coincidence? [P][R]

A harsh slap hit his cheek, summarily snapping him out of it promptly as his head went to the side.  He slowly raised a hand up to his face and felt the heat left there by her hand as he looked back at her: eyes back to their natural green, albeit wide from light shock.  Now there was a new heat filling up his face, some from embarrassment, some from guilt, and again he was looking away from her as his hand fell from his face.  “I didn’t mean to leave you.” He paused, choosing his next words carefully, “I meant to since I left, but it wasn’t planned…it wasn’t my intention from the beginning.”
 
His eyes closed, but only for a heartbeat, “You don’t know me, you don’t know things about me or you’d understand why I did what I did.” He found it in himself to look back at her again, “As for helping you, I know of your strength.  Upon our first meeting I watched you pull a tree up from its rooted spot.  It isn’t about having to rescue you: it’s about doing what’s right when you see a wrong…”
 

This was too much, there were too many things that the two of them didn’t know about each other.  Perhaps this was why his mother had told him to stay away from women…Not that it mattered, men could cause the same reaction, but he hadn’t been barred from them so he was more comfortable around them.  More easy and calm.

Author: Holly, Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2015 10:00 PM, Post Subject: Coincidence? [P][R]

The brunette was beating the brute's back and screaming at him as she tried to reach up and smack his head. She was a fighter. "Just wait until I get down from here I'll make sure you regret the day you picked me up you giant asshole." She yelled and beat him more and all he dig was readjust her and keep going.

However, in a few moments she seen Naota there next to her. He slipped his arms around her and she clung to him. She was happy but also at the same time still hurt by him. She clung to him for a long time after he set her down. Finally she stepped back from him and sent her hand across his face.

"You just left me there in the lake like a damn fool!" She yelled at him as her face turned red. "Then I get kidnapped and you just happen to show up." She didn't like coincidences but she stared at him and took another step back from him. She didn't want him to leave. "You didn't have to save me. You made it clear how you felt when you left me." She was hurt as she crossed her arms and looked away from him.

Author: Naota, Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2015 9:51 PM, Post Subject: Coincidence? [P][R]

His eyes averted from hers when she shook her tambourine at him.  She wasn’t too pleased, he couldn’t really blame her when he was honest with himself.  After all: he had just abandoned her there with no word or warning.  But…she’d gotten too close, too intimate, he couldn’t stand it, not that quickly.  That guilty pit only grew deeper as her song shifted.  Her family was so lovey, so touchy and at ease to do so, it had to be a strange contrast when put up against him.  Maybe people like them weren’t meant to mix and mingle.
 
Her voice caught his attention and he looked back up in time to see her mid argument with a man that had her purse of earnings.  Already he was urgently though still politely weaving through the last two rows of people to get to her, to pull them away from each other, but before he could she was flung over his shoulder.  Instant rage.  His heart spiked to a dangerous pace and his eyes bled into crimson from their soft emerald.  To say he grew protective of people quickly was an understatement.  But as much as he wanted to give the man a good strike to the back of the head, he knew that it would only make him just as much of a brute.
 
Or worse, Minasé would see his chance and take it.  He’d be lying if he were to say that he didn’t use their combined speed and strength to his advantage at times.  Moving fast enough to be a blur, he caught up with them with such haste that, to him, everything else moved in slow motion…though really that was his senses picking up on every detail.  The fabric of the man’s clothing, how her hair fell in shaky streams with his strides, his eyes as they slowly moved to meet his.  He could hit him.  He wanted to, but he didn’t.  Instead, he slide his arms around her and teleported them away to the dirt road he’d walked on to bring him here. 
 

His jaw was still locked and his blazing eyes kept a constant glare in the direction of the city as he set her down on her feet.  “If not her, some other girlie you know.  We should go back, feel the inside of his skull.”   It was tempting.  Too tempting.

Author: Holly, Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2015 9:32 PM, Post Subject: Coincidence? [P][R]

Holly had been in shock as the boy teleported away from her. She figured she had pushed too much and made her way back to the surface. Dried and dressed she took her possessions and made her way towards Ataiyo. She had always had a good crowd there. She could get room and board and not have to think about a silly boy and how much he was afraid of her.

Her brown hair trickled down her back and sides as she opened a gate. She went through it and finished the long walk to Ataiyo. It was one of her favorite walks and the route there was as busy as ever. She took her tambourine he bought her and played it. A melody left her lips and travelers tipped her coin as she went.

Finally once she got to the city she changed to an outfit much like that of a dancer. Making her way down to the streets she took that tambourine and she played. The song played loudly as she danced and she sang. Her eyes were ever enchanting as they met each and every person who dared stop to see her. They threw coin in her pouch that she left open near her. She sang of Arri, she sang of her mother, she sang of love.

The song was coming to an end as she slowed the beat of the tambourine. Her eyes connected with Naota and she humphed as she shook the tambourine at him and began to dance again. Her song this time was a somber one as she slowed and waved her body delicately to the sound of the music.

It wasn't long before someone interrupted her and took her pouch of money. She set the tambourine down and started to get into an argument with him. "That is my money. I need that coin!" The man threw it at her only to pick her up and start to walk away.

"You would fetch more then I would get out of that petty little sack little girl." He was much stronger then her as he took off.

Author: Naota, Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2015 9:20 PM, Post Subject: Coincidence? [P][R]

It had been a year since he’d come back to Ataiyo and he slowly breathed in the scent of home.  How strange it was to be here alone without the fear of a surprise attack from one of his brothers or a fellow pupil of the Shadoka School.  All of them had been sent there at a young age to be sized up, see if they would be of any use to them.  Each of them had been and he knew his mother would have a few curses for him if he didn’t pay some sort of visit.  No one ever truly stops being a student, not when you have a lifetime to continue learning. 
 
The familiar smell of frying oil and freshly grilled meats and vegetable filled his nostrils comfortably and already his mouth was watering just imagining having a taste of food from home.  On the go it was hard to have a nice home cooked meal, or even anything authentic to his upbringing, and his stomach was homesick.  Sometimes he thought about coming back and settling in here, but he knew it could never be.  His life was one that would constantly be shifting.  To be honest he was surprised that his parents stayed in one place for so long.
 
Vampire hunters gained many enemies from covens and drew danger to their loved ones like magnets.  Some saw his family’s stationary lifestyle as arrogant, but he saw it more as confidence.  But he was still young and didn’t want to test that boundary.  Aside from that, any place he stayed included Minasé and he’d never plague a place with him.  If not for his parents knowing as much as they did about holy magick there would have been a lot more misfortune in his childhood than there already had been.
 
A young girl in her apprenticeship to become a tayuu walked past them: her beginner robes flapping behind her as she made her way through the streets.   “I’m sure she’d taste sweet!”   His eyes halved, ignoring Minasé and shaking his head as he walked towards the market.  It was the middle of the day, every place he went was crowded with bodies trying to get this or that and the close proximity was a bit too much for him so soon; being far too used to keeping people at arms’ length, both physically and mentally.
 
Music drifted to his ears and he followed the strumming sound as if it were leading him away from the crowd and into safety.  A semicircle of people had gathered, their bodies blocking him from seeing the performer and he politely waited in the back until a person would move.  It took him a few minutes of patience but finally he made it close enough to look over peoples’ heads, lips parting at who he saw.  The girl from the lake, Holly, it was her and the lute he had bought to replace the one he’d broken. 
 

It was strange, seeing her, knowing where she was while she stayed unbeknownst to the fact.  In some ways it felt wrong and his cheeks burned at the memory of their last encounter.  She had grabbed him, pressed her lips against his, and in fear he’d instantly teleported away from her to safety.  Safety for her.  What were the odds that she would be here on the same day that he decided to come back…?