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It is the color of Royalty for my people. I--" >
Cut off by his slight change of attire, Raven sucked in a small gasp of surprise, caught off guard by the magic. She had become so used to something entirely different that it was sometimes difficult to remember that the Pendragons were steeped in the mystic more so than she was. Raven was a born Elementalist, but being stripped of most of her blood, she had adapted with Equip magic, concentrated with contact with zodiac signs for their elemental power.
Raven stood there, the space between them seemed to stretch with the years they had been absent from one another. This man had accepted her for all the atrocities she had committed. He knew of her story, down to the most gruesome detail. He had chosen to fight along side with her for Lucas against ORDER. Her lips tightened at the memory of her death--and she had died. Roan's blood had been her only saving grace for returning. Raven could remember seeing her own face leering back at her, the psychokinetic force restraining her to the wall, feeling the smother of water to her face as her clones were forcing her to drown. Raven could remember being fatally stabbed, of seeing the sphere of water that choked and smothered her face turning red as she choked on her own blood. She had seen him then, standing there after just arriving. She had seized and choked and thrashed, desperate for him not to be there. And then she had gone still and darkness took over.
Raven had not realized she had gotten so caught up in the memory. Her fists were clenching and relaxing, her shoulders square. OXY had kidnapped her from the Guild, tearing her away from her new family. She had not even had a chance to say good bye to Orphen before it had happened. They had exchanged one last kiss and before she knew it, years had gone by. When he spoke of leaving again, her heart hammered restlessly in her chest, disliking the very idea. He was trusting her, reassuring her once more and her shoulders went slack.
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When...I was kidnapped. I didn't think I would see you again and if I did, it was because I was to be reconditioned to kill you. I-I didn't...I didn't want to kill you. I didn't want to fight for my will to save you. Light, Lucas...he needed my help. When I was free, I went to aid him and I was terrified OXY would come after me. I knew where we were going, they could not follow. Then I Ascended and my body was lost in this world for 5,000 years..." >
Overwhelmed with emotion, Raven could not help but ramble. She felt as if she owed this man an explanation for why she never came back directly when their feelings had become so evident. The shocker was that Raven was technically from the very distant future. A series of very complicated events had led to even receiving Hartia's invitation. It was even more complicated to traverse paradigms and bypass space-time just to be present. The Fallen Engineer had not let her down and seeing Orphen--hand outstretched to her--Raven whole-heartedly believed it was worth it.
Reaching out, she accepted his hand with her own. It was such a dainty hand against his larger one. Slivers of light refracting off the marbled skin, showing off the scars against his darker complexion. Raven could feel the wash of his happiness, his peace like a soothing tide. Slender digits squeezed his hand reassuringly. Her remorse gave way to strength as she nodded slowly to him.
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...I'm here now. Things are complicated where I am from but I want this night with you, Orphen." >