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Stuck in a Storm

Solo or RP Format
Counts as 5 RP growth Points
Solo word minimum is 750, RP post minimum is 7

Spring storms can often appear with out little notice and last for days. They are filled with strong winds and heavy rain, which means one must halt their travel if they are able to even get outside during the downpour. Your character has found themself stuck away from home in an area with others seeking to avoid the storm. Who do they meet? What do they talk about? How do they feel about the storm?

[ A storm has resulted in your character finding themself stuck in a location with others. Who do they encounter? What conversation do they have? And how do they feel about the strong storm rolling through? ]

(1/10)

Although a part of Morain would have been content to stay and play uncle for the foreseeable future, Morain was his fathers' son and the itch to continue traveling soon had him saying farewell to his family. It was bittersweet, but with Kani by his side it was less painful to part ways; and being in a strange land, he quickly was distracted with their attempts to navigate in unknown terrain.

Pale'iko was a beautiful place, idyllic and peaceful, but similar in many ways to Matori, where he'd spent a good bit of his childhood. Even so, he didn't recognize the portents of an incoming storm, and when the rain started he was just as startled, gathering up what spare pieces of his cloak and skirts he could to keep out of the growing puddles, while also holding them up to try and shield Kani a bit from the rain.

"It's better than sticking out here!" He agreed, hurrying along. He paused only long enough to give a harried rap of his knuckles before trying to door - which slid open without resistance. "Pardon the intrusion!" Morain called, blinking water from his eyes as he ushered Kani inside then stooped in after her.

(2/7)

Morain was thankful, at least, that this rain wasn't freezing; instead, it was a humid, sticky sort that was unpleasant, but at least not dangerous. A lamp cast the room in a soft, gentle glow to reveal a large, open main room with woven chairs. Other than the woman, there was a youngling sitting in the center of the room, watching them curiously. The room smelled good, so Morain assumed the pair had just had lunch when the weather started.

"What a generous host!" He effused warmly, dialing up the charm as he beamed at the older woman. "I was worried we might be swimming to the next village, if that kept up!"

The youngling giggled, shifting so they could sit up on their knees to watch the two strangers over the back of their seat.

Morain winked at the child, then turned to Kani, pulling his bag towards his front so he could open it up. "Here, lovely, let me get you something dry to change into!"

It wasn't too difficult to give Kani room to change; with the bulk of his form, and the thick pack, she was blocked from view as she changed, valiantly fighting the urge to peek back at her when she spoke. In the end, to resist that baser instinct, he closed his eyes and hummed in quiet agreement, angling his face away as she dug through the bag for clothes.

Once she was done, he opened his eyes, dipping in quickly to press a kiss to her cheek, forgetting that his nose was still wet and a bit cold from the rain and probably would make her shiver.

Still, they changed places - stripping out of his clothes was a little difficult, since he wore so much jewelry and layers that were soaked and stuck to his skin - but once free of them he shimmied into a clean, simple tunic and trousers normally reserved for days when he didn't want to mess up his prettier outfits with sweat or road dust. "Done! Now lets get you by a fire before you catch a cold."

(4/7)

Honestly, Morain did feel strangely underdressed like this, but there was no helping it. He took his place by Kani's side, fighting down the surge of warmth in his chest at remembering that truly was his place now - he could shimmy close to her and slip his arm around her middle without guilt, and so he did! She was still a little chilled next to him, so he shuffled just a little closer so they were hip to hip.

It made it hard to deny the other woman's coy questions - not that he'd want to! "Not now, but maybe someday!" He said, brightly, tilting his head so he could peek at Kani. Then he returned his attention to their hostess. "We were visiting family - my brother's newest children!"

At the mention of other children, the youngling peeked curiously over their mother's (grandmother's? Morain wasn't sure) shoulder. "Babies?" The child asked, bright-eyed. Morain grinned and nodded, motioning with his hand to give an approximate height. "Yes, little babies!

(5/7)

Well, Kani didn't shove at him or seem displeased by his impulsive answer, so Morain would take that as a victory. If anything, the weight of her against his side was a comfort and made his heart surge with warmth. Still, as much as he could see himself marrying Kani in the future, the last thing he wanted was to hurry their new relationship on too quickly.

Kani was searching for something in her travels, and so was Morain in a way. He didn't want to tie her down if it meant she never got to find it.

They talked with their host for a little longer, until the youngling's eyes began to droop and she excused herself to tuck them in.

Left alone, Morain twisted in his seat to face Kani, shifting his arm from her waist to instead rub up and down her back in an attempt to warm her. He dropped a kiss to her temple, "Hungry?" He asked, not even bothering to pull his face from hers, so that his lips moved just a bit against her skin.

(6/7)

Morain chuckled when, instead of answering at first, Kani hummed then clambered into his lap. He wobbled, briefly, but immediately wound his arms around her. Even now, a small part of him marveled at the comfortable intimacy, how there wasn't the rush of heat or interest that had always been a per-requisite in the past for touching a partner. This was something altogether different, inherently innocent but infinitely more intense somehow. He buried his nose in her soft hair, damp though it was from the rain outside.

For a time he thought the conversation from before had ended without comment from her - it had been long enough that any complaints probably would've come out the moment their hostess left them alone. Instead, he idly turned to peer around, noting that his bag with the few travel snacks and foods they had was out of arms reach - they truly were doomed to starve to death wound in each others' arms!

But Kani spoke again, and Morain turned his attention back to her, blinking. As always whenever Kani made such references to her past, he wanted to pry for more information; because why would someone as lovely and sweet as Kani not expect to be a bride someday? Had never never wanted it for herself, and that was why? Or did she believe no one would seek her hand, for some reason he couldn't understand or fathom?

In answer, he carefully brushed some of her curls behind one finned ear so he could properly meet her eye. "Soooo... that means you're considering it now?" He asked with a trace of song in his voice, arcing a brow at her in innocent question.

(7/7)

Morain, meanwhile, felt like the perzi that had got the cream. She wasn't refusing outright, and he greedily took it as permission to continue harboring such fantasies of a future like that with her. She'd not given him any reason to doubt her affections, but just because they got along and enjoyed one another didn't necessarily mean she'd want him like that. Having even a bit of a 'maybe' was exciting!

Of course - then she shifted into sweet, but self-deprecating talk that he was quickly growing familiar with. She delivered it with a sweet kiss and reassurances, but then suggested he could see her as an anchor, or a burden to be 'stuck' with. His expression shifted in confusion, mouth opening to pry - to ask, or correct her, or anything - but then their hostess returned, a finger held to her lips to indicate the youngling was sleeping, and he let the topic drop.

That night, when they were curled up under blankets offered by their host, Morain tucked his face into the back of Kani's neck and tried not to think about how she'd almost looked resigned, embarrassed.