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Dark_Hunter-Angelic_Tears Crew
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 Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2015 11:22 am
Riley Riley couldn't bear the sound of the sorrow in Skye's voice when he apologized, and he once again regretted the absence of his hat which made it so easy to hide from things like this. The key to emotion was the eyes, everyone knew that, and if you couldn't see the eyes of another person you could never know their emotions with full clarity. It was a defensive mechanism, one that he'd come to rely on, but he didn't have it now. All he could do was do his best to keep his emotions subdued, so that his vulnerability wouldn't escape through his traitorous gaze; expressiveness was both his blessing and his curse.
He swallowed his regret and continued to watch her with a quietly unassuming gaze. "You shouldn't apologize," he said simply, shaking his head, "You didn't do anything wrong. If asking questions was a crime we'd all be guilty." It was silly for her to feel upset about his problems when she'd tread on them unwittingly; regrets were only worth having when it came to the larger things in life. He smiled a bit at her offer and kept his thoughts on the matter to himself, knowing that for him at least it was better that he keep his demons to himself. He'd prevailed over them before and he would continue to do so on his own, in a way that kept them from lashing out at those he cared about. "The past is difficult for everyone," he said idly, tail swaying beneath the water, "It's just a matter of keeping it from overwhelming the present." Those words were perhaps the most fundamental to his being of anything he'd ever spoken. Riley's life was a constant balancing act between nurturing his past and present simultaneously, but he knew in the end which one had to take priority. It was why he could forget his pain when it came to someone in need or someone precious to him, because he always managed to recognize that the immediate situation was the one that mattered more. Even when his mind broke many years ago he knew that--it was something deeply rooted in his personality that made him keep functioning even as his heart and mind tore themselves to bits. "I appreciate the offer though. I'll keep it in mind."
He stood beside her in silence after that, sinking into the spring so that the warm water surrounded everything but his head. For a moment he simply existed, allowing the therapeutic properties of the water to sink into his fur and through his skin. Riley imagined himself as a Water Type, with the caress of a pool being all that was needed to refresh and revitalize him. A wave of homesickness rushed over him as he thought of Clive and sunk even lower, almost lying down on the rocks--he hadn't seen the Vaporeon in far too long, where could his friend have gone off to? Fortunately Skye broke the silence before he could fall into trap of worry, and with an unexpected comment at that.
Riley couldn't help but laugh at the unexpected remark, an unbridled warm sound of deep amusement. In part it was prompted by the blessed relief from the tension that hovered between them, in part it was a genuine response to the humor of the unbidden conversational shift. He listened to her hurried, and increasingly determined explanation with a bemused expression on his face, and nodded once she reached a pause. "I agree, they are quite beautiful," he said, rising to his paws again as he recognized his cue. "The aesthetic of this place isn't like any I've seen before." He smiled gently, staring around at the flowers with interested eyes. "I'm sure they have marvelous gardens in Fairy Woods as well," he added, "But flowers do always look exceptionally marvelous when you're given the time to appreciate them." He frowned slightly, turning back to Skye, "Of course, these sorts of flowers are awfully showy, which doesn't quite suit a lady like yourself," Shaking his head, a smile crept onto Riley's face. "No, I would imagine something like this would be far more appropriate." He raised his paw from the water with great care, and a delicate crown of chamomile flowers came with it, dripping slightly from its brief soak, though the blossoms didn't seem to have been harmed at all. Chuckling, Riley stepped forward and placed the ring between Skye's ears. "As I thought," he said as he stepped back, deeply satisfied, "One wouldn't think it possible, but you look even lovelier than before."
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Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2015 5:55 pm
 SkyeSkye smiled at Riley’s laughter, cheered by the lightening in his mood and the sparkle in his eyes. It was difficult to sway another’s emotions and she knew that his sadness was still deeper than she could heal, but at least for the time being she had brought him some amount of joy. She could tell that he too, was a fairly private person when it came to his problems. It was unlikely that he would reach out to her, if the time came that he needed a voice of reassurance. That thought saddened her on some level, but it couldn’t be helped now.
She twisted to look at Riley more fully as he spoke, burning with curiousity as to where he was going with that statement. She’d spoken out of spontaneity and desperation for a lighter topic, but apparently he was quite eager to tell her something in return.
It was certainly a surprise, then, that Riley was comparing the flowers to herself. She wasn’t sure what he intended by noting that they were too showy for her, since she felt that the blossoms were quite beautiful, but she knew it to be a compliment. Perhaps it was more of a compliment to her personality than anything else.
Skye’s eyes widened as he pulled a delicate floral crown from below the surface. It smelled as lovely as it appeared, the sweet scent of chamomile washing over her like an expensive brand of herbal tea. She held still, a little awed by the gesture and flattened her ears as he lightly pressed the crown into place atop her head. It was damp, but certainly very pretty. It had not been long in the hot water, if the feel of the petals were to be judged.
Blushing in earnest now, Skye dipped her head shyly. She was careful not to tip the crown from atop her head as she did so, worried that the airy and simplistic blossoms would fall back into the springs. ”Riley,” she thanked him sincerely, her eyes brightened with happiness. "...Thank you. It's beautiful.” She would treasure it for as long as it might last, though the warming in her heart reminded her of something else.
Her eyes then brightened again, except this time with psychic energy. She twisted to face the gardens, several stocks of delicate white blossoms rising from behind the plants. She drew the lilies of the valley into her paws, the stems twisting together as they met in mid-air and tying into a delicate circlet. Each white blossom hung from the green ring of stems, completing the crown, and held it delicately between her paws.
”It seems only fair that you take one, too,” she told him sincerely, the glow fading from her eyes as she held it out to place atop Riley’s head. ”Although it’s not the orchids you gave me the first time we’d met.” She remembered that day fondly, though she hadn’t been as comfortable in social situations as she was now. Riley had been, as he always was, a gentleman.
{{ In case you were wondering, I found when they first met: Here. He gives her the orchid a few posts later. }}
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Dark_Hunter-Angelic_Tears Crew
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Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2015 8:55 am
Riley Riley was delighted to spot the rosiness that darkened Skye's cheeks beyond even that which the heat had caused before him: It was always a sign of success when you won a blush--that above all else was a symbol of true appreciation. "The pleasure is mine," he said with a bow, peering up at her with a coy grin and a wink, "Anything to bring back that lovely smile of yours." He was back in his element now, and easy grace in his movements and a cheery twinkle in his eyes as he straightened up. There was nothing a little dose of magic couldn't cure, especially not an ailing conversation; the timing was impeccable and the follow-up was better than he'd hoped, meaning the trick had been a success in his eyes. They'd crested the uncomfortable break in the flow of their conversation, and now things were smooth once more. He allowed himself to relax again, returning his thoughts to lighter things and pushing the darkness back to the shadows where it belonged.
Looking back to Skye, Riley flinched with surprise to find her eyes glowing with Psychic and pressed his ears back uncertainly as he felt the excess energy brush against him. He'd never grown comfortable with his ability to sense Psychics and spiritual energy, since it was so detrimental to his credibility as a magician, and being caught of guard by it set him on edge for a moment. It wasn't that he expected anything bad to come from it, more that he was startled to feel the sudden closeness that came when Psychic touched Psychic, however briefly. He regained his composure a moment later as he turned to follow her gaze and found Skye weaving a crown of flowers herself. Her intentions now clear, Riley waited patiently as the female finished her task with careful precision, eyes clear and thoughtful as he observed in quiet interest. Her technique was good and very thorough, leaving her task complete in a matter of minutes and a lovely circlet in her paws, held just above the water so it wouldn't suffer any dampness.
At her words Riley dipped his head again to accept the gift, ears gently lowered to let it fall into place properly before he raised them up once more. "How thoughtful," he said with bemusement, lifting his head up and feeling the peculiarity of the flower crown on his head, "I shall wear it with pride; it's a lovely gift." Though some men might have felt self-conscious about wearing a flower crown in general, Riley didn't mind it for that reason at all; In truth he felt a little peculiar about wearing it because the lightness of Skye's creation was an odd substitute for the weight of the hat he usually wore. It was filled with the warmth of a lovingly-crafted gift however, and it wouldn't do to reject a gift from a lady, so he would wear it until he was reunited with his usual headpiece.
Surprised by her mention of their first meeting, Riley's eyes widened at the reminder of that day. It had been so long ago he'd quite nearly forgotten, but that had certainly been an eventful experience and one where he'd learned a lot about the Espeon (then Eevee) before him. Of course, that had been at a time when he'd been in a different place--when he'd believed the truth to be different than it was and had all but given up hope on that which was most important to him. At that time he'd been surprised by how well they'd connected, and it seemed that connection was still there to a point, though far weaker from time and years and new understandings. Perhaps it could be rekindled--so long as it didn't involve that spark of something else Riley refused to admit it himself. Smiling after a moment, Riley shook his head with amusement. "No but I doubt orchids would look particularly flattering on me, given my complexion. I didn't spot any white ones around here, and--lovely as they are--their common shade isn't exactly my color." While they might complement Skye's fur if they were the proper shade, traditional orchids would clash terribly with his seafoam fur, and Riley was quite particular about his appearance, given that it was as much a part of his persona as his magic. "I'm deeply flattered you remember though," he said truthfully, "That was quite some time ago." He leaned back thoughtfully, noticing the colors that were beginning to tinge the black sky with interest before looking back to his companion. "And that reminds me. With all your Guild work do you still practice your drawing?" She'd been quite skilled from what he recalled, and it would be a shame if she'd given up on that talent.
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Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2015 3:00 pm
SkyeSkye smiled, her heart fluttering in her chest with elation. Riley had always been charming. It was a part of his job to charm and flatter other Pokemon. In her case, though, it had always felt a little more special. There was a personal touch in the way that he spoke, and it made her skin feel tingly right down to her toes.
She could sense his anxiety when her spell was working, but now that her psychic had faded he was quickly returning back to his usual posture. That was interesting, to say the least. An Espeon who was reluctant to make use of his psychic abilities. She’d known he wasn’t easily made aware of aura or emotion, like most psychics were, but she hadn’t realized why. Now it was quite clear- he resented the very nature of psychic power. Perhaps it was related to his skills as a magician? The two could easily work together, but then again, he might not want them to.
Pushing the bubbling curiousity to the back of her mind, she carefully arranged the flower crown between his ears so that he could see properly past the brim of petals. Her eyes sparkled with amusement, her emotions echoing his as he accepted the gift with as much dignity as he would from a small child. At least his didn’t hold near as many blossoms as hers, but she had to admit that it was a fairly feminine gift.
Still, it looked beautiful on him. His teal fur coordinated well with the subtle green of the flower stems, and the delicate white flowers that hunt from each stem formed a small ring above his brow. He was certainly handsome, damp fur and all. ”I suppose not, no,” she agreed, withholding the admiration in her gaze. He was not perceptive in sensing emotions, but outright staring might complicate things a little more. ”As it is, white works rather well with your fur.” Her voice was casual and friendly, amused by how picky he was for the flowers. Lily of the valley had been a good choice, it seemed.
Her ears twitched as he mentioned her drawings, surprised that he’d remembered in turn. ”I do, actually. Not as often as I used to, since I’m captain now, but I certainly haven’t thrown it away. It’s much easier to manipulate a brush and pencil, now that I’ve evolved.” She purred, the flattering words he had spoken returning to her mind. He had loved her artwork then- would he still appreciate them now? She suspected so, although he might not express it in the same way. She’d been fairly young at the time, so it would make sense that he would humor her perhaps a little more than necessary. ”I’ve been practicing painting more recently. Watercolours make for some fairly beautiful pieces, especially for landscapes and scenery.”
She blinked a little, realizing that the sky had brightened ever so slightly. She twisted, catching a glimpse of the sunrise behind her. ”Like sunrises,” she noted quietly, admiring the faint golden glimmer that had touched the horizon.
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Dark_Hunter-Angelic_Tears Crew
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Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2015 8:01 am
Riley "I suppose it would, wouldn't it?" he said, following her observation with amusement. "Perhaps I'll try working with it a bit more some time. Blue, black, and gold are the colors currently--seeing as it's only fitting for my aesthetic to match my Team's--but with our newest member I could justify working in a bit of white..." Riley considered it thoughtfully, recalling Ivilon's color and glancing thoughtfully up at the lilies that adorned his head. There were a few tricks involving paper birds he'd been meaning to present for a while now, and a flair of white was always flattering to an outfit. A bowtie could work, or a rose or feather tucked into the brim of his hat... Realizing that he was getting a bit carried away with his planning, Riley snapped back to the conversation with a chuckle. "Well I'll think on it later, when I don't have more important things right in front of me." The compliment was subtle and thoughtless as usual, though anyone who knew Riley even a bit would understand that to be placed before his magic was a very high position indeed.
He listened quietly as she recounted the change in her practicing, nodding understandingly when she mentioned the limitations her captaincy put on her hobby. "It can be difficult, what with all the work that goes toward the Guild," he said, though in truth he hadn't had much issue himself, given the understanding he and Keiran had worked out between them. His co-captain was able to handle much of the technical and usual work accepted of Guild members, and Riley trusted him to do so to the best of his abilities. Likewise, Keiran knew how important Riley's other work was to him and allowed him to practice it daily, or disappear without much notice for stage shows or street performances; something that the Espeon appreciated more than his partner could possibly know. The Team would certainly fall apart without all the work that his friend did, which was why however often Keiran insisted on calling him the Leader Riley would return by calling him co-captain, because the Riolu was surely just as crucial to the Team as himself, if not more so. A Leader was intended to be charismatic, inspiring, and capable of making decisions for all those under him, but a Leader was nothing without a partner to make certain that everything was working as it should, and all the minor details were attended to at all times. "I'm glad that you're still making art though," he said, tone warm with pleasure, "It's always nice to know that a talent is being tended to. I'll have to stop by so you can show me sometime, and meet your new Team while I'm at it. I'm sure they're great people."
The moment Skye's gaze turned Riley's eyes lit up, an idea forming in his mind. He'd been planning something to this regard all along, but the sun had snuck up on him it seemed--it was what happened when you were spending time with old friends, time seemed to pass everything by. Still, there was enough time that if they hurried...It hadn't made it over the horizon yet. "C'mon, follow me!" The words came without any particular warning, especially given that Skye had her back turned, and were accompanied by a gentle tap of the tails as Riley dashed past her, stirring the hot spring's water as he went. They were in the shallows, so it took only a few steps for him to stand securely on the ground again, and then he spared only the slightest glance over his shoulder to make sure she had listened. There wasn't any time to waste, not if they wanted to get the full effect, and Riley would settle for nothing less.
The wind was still chilly, especially after having rested in the warmth of the springs for so long, but the summer's heat was beginning to sink in now that the sun had dared to crest the horizon. The magician paid no mind to the prickling in his fur that accompanied the changing temperatures, mind fixed on his task and little else. There had been a place--he'd seen it referenced at the entrance--it was just a matter of remembering how to get there. Riley led Skye back up the path to the divide, pausing for just a moment to skim the sign for a clue of some sort. It took just an instant for his eyes to lock on to the location he was looking for and a brilliant smile crossed his face before he began to run again, this time down the path opposite the one they'd taken. They reached the cold springs in short order, but Riley didn't stop there, turning down a path that was hidden by the shrubbery and easily overlooked. It curved back toward the direction that they'd come, but continued back further, becoming easier to see as the sun attempted to slip into view.
When they finally made it, Riley spared no time to appreciate the lovely view that accompanied the sudden clearing, though it was well worth a pause. This place was the union of hot and cold, something that few Pokemon thought to look for or requested, but was created for the aesthetic and the occasional oddity seeker. Before them lay a massive pool, with rocks built into a wall on the opposite side from where they had entered. A waterfall poured over the wall from either side, hot on the right and cold to the left, and the temperature of the water was intense to either side but evened out to a pleasant room temperature in the middle. It wasn't kept away from the guests deliberately, since they took care to advertise it at the front, but it was a place the owners likely cherished as a reminder of their own union, so it was accordingly off the beaten path as most special places are. As lovely as it was however, the magician had alternate motives for coming here: namely, the elevated height of the waterfall wall. He continued to hurry on around the edge of the pool toward the side, spotting the evenly spaced rocks that served as stairs for service maintenance and beginning to scale them without further thought. They would miss it if they waited much longer--already it was far brighter than he would have liked.
After a matter of minutes Riley had reached the top, and he paused, panting, to stare out over the edge behind him: the result was breath-taking. "Just in time," he murmured, clearly pleased with himself. He extended a paw to help Skye up the final step if she needed it, and then sat back, nodding towards the area behind them as he waited for his heart rate to return to normal from the sprint. They were up high enough here that they could see over the rocks, trees, and shrubs that had lined the path they'd taken, and there was a clear view of the horizon line beyond. The sky was bright with color now, and the sun had only just begun to peek out at the world beyond, hailing the new day's beginning.
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Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2015 6:42 pm
SkyeSkye smiled, letting his words sink in. It nice to be reminded that you were important to someone, even if it was someone that you hadn’t seen in a while. It warmed her heart, and she realized that the happiness that seemed to radiate off of him was truly genuine. He had his own life, his own problems to face up to and work through, but she was still important to him through all of that.
She simply nodded in return as he mentioned the idea of visiting with her, though she wondered how well he would get along with her team. Quil would be taken with him, certainly, but Zahra and Vyra? That was difficult to say. Zahra was honest and friendly for the most part, and she thought they’d make agreeable friends. Vyra was just too new to their team to say either way- she didn’t know her well enough. Still, perhaps she could visit Riley in turn. ”I’d like that,” she replied quietly, her eyes still bright with the happiness he’d brought her. ”And some time, I’d like to meet your team, too.”
Suddenly, Riley perked up, and she felt his excitement bursting as he brushed his forked tail against her shoulder on his way out of the springs. Surprised, Skye quickly followed. She did her best not to splash as she bounded gracefully from the pool and hoisted herself from the hot water. Then she was up and onto the stone path and skipping over the wet paw marks left behind from her companion.
The stones were cold on her wet paws, and the chill of the air was definitely noticeable now that she had slipped out of the springs again. Still, she didn’t hesitate to follow him as he hurried back toward the main house. They had reached the fork in the road and abruptly Riley again changed direction. He bounded down the path to the cold springs, prompting her to follow him more out of curiousity and trust than any real desire to join him in the springs. Cold water wasn’t something she really needed, given the light frost on the flowers around the path.
She watched the subtle glimmer of gold on the surface of the pool, realizing how long they had stayed in the hot water of the springs together. Then again, she couldn’t really remember at what time she’d left home, either.
Riley continued on, pressing through the shrubs on the other side of the springs, and Skye hurried to follow. She wasn’t sure where they were headed, but once through the shrubs it was clear that many Pokemon had taken these steps before they had. As she emerged from the secret passage, her eyes widened. Riley was already partway up the side of the waterfall, his wet fur gleaming with hints of gold under the dim light of the sunrise.
She understood now, and though she could already feel the numbness seeping back into her paws, she followed his lead without a second thought. The Espeon stepped carefully, praying that her inherent gracefulness would not betray her partway up the climb, and found herself face to face with the offer of Riley’s helping paw nearest to the top. She accepted, looping her paw around his own and hoisting herself onto the ridge beside him.
Now at the top of the clearing, she could see the whole of the gardens. The springs sparkled and glimmered with touches of golden light, and the faint flicker of candles brightened the varied tones of the blossoms that were planted throughout. The hills beyond were carpeted in tones of green, with silvered stones and cliffs edging the skyline. Most beautiful of all, however, was the brilliant line of white light that touched the horizon. The sky was alight with tones of violets, red, oranges and gold. Faint sparkles of the brightest stars could still be seen in the sky furthest from the sun, and faint wisps of morning clouds swept slowly away on the morning breeze.
Content, she felt Riley at her shoulder and settled to sit beside him. She could feel his damp fur against hers and the subtle flick of his tail as he made room for the two of them to sit together. For the first time that evening, she could feel a sense of peace fall over him. Skye smiled sleepily, leaning into Riley for warmth as she watched the sunlight slowly spilling across the hilltops.
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Dark_Hunter-Angelic_Tears Crew
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Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2015 10:26 am
Riley It really was beautiful. That was all that Riley could think for a long moment, the racing of his heart and mind coming to a restful calm as he looked out toward the rising sun. There were always sunrises to be seen, but few paralleled the ones that didn't come easily: the Legends only knew how many of those he had face throughout the years. This time though it was work of a different kind, an endeavor of pleasure rather than stress, and he felt that the sky reflected that in its lazy beauty. The clouds were hazy with morning mist and the sun didn't shine brightly enough to drown out the stars just yet--the day was taking its time to come, an easygoing, casual summer day. There would be no missions in the dark, no reason to fear for his partner or his friends, just gentleness and sunshine all around. That was what the summer was for: a brief respite from the work that came with all the other seasons where everything felt alive and lush and beautiful. Maybe he'd be able to convince Keiran and Ivilon to go out on a picnic later, or maybe he'd go off and find some clouds to watch for a while--maybe he'd even do both. One thing was certain though, today was going to be a good day; a day that even the events of yesterday wouldn't be able to mar.
Then something peculiar happened.
Skye leaned into him, pressing her head against his side and leaving it to rest there as she stared off at the sunrise. He shot a quick glance down at her, one so swift she wouldn't notice, puzzlement in his eyes. This was strange--there was something strange about this. Everything seemed like it should be close to perfect: the scene was marvelous, the springs had been refreshing and the morning air was crisp and clean and warming every minute, the conversation had surpassed its brief hitch and slipped back into more comfortable subjects... Suddenly it struck him like a slap in the face, and it was only his practiced years of maintaining calm that kept his expression and his Psychic energy calm and collected despite the way that his mind leapt into overdrive: the atmosphere had changed somehow--this felt far too intimate. Everything else had been normal to this point, like any sort of exchange between friends; he'd done his best to make sure she felt no awkwardness from the missing years and it seemed as though he'd succeeded. But what had made something like this happen? It was incredibly strange for someone to nestle this closely unless--no, she couldn't possibly, there had to be some mistake.
Riley felt a prickle of unease run down his spine and stared out across the open air uncertainly. He couldn't move--it would be rude, especially since she seemed to be shivering slightly from the residual chill in the air. If only he'd had his cape... Deciding it would be best to wait it out for the moment, he turned his gaze back to the sunrise and ran through the events of the night as he breathed in the chamomile from her crown, using the scent to keep his head and heart level. Nothing had seemed particularly strange before, and she hadn't been giving any sort of signals like this before that he'd noticed--why this suddenly, out of nowhere? He wouldn't have done anything differently with anyone else, provided they had some sort of background together, so what made this seem acceptable? You're overthinking it, she's just cold and you're the only source of heat here. He latched onto that thought of the many that crossed his mind, finding it to be the easiest and most understandable of the lot. It was warmer together than apart, and the temperature hadn't risen enough to fully fend off the wind just yet, and she seemed terribly tired, even with the muted nature of his Psychic Riley could notice that. There would be no discussing it with her in this state, and besides there was the great potential that he was overthinking things--his tendency towards that was enough to convince him to let the matter go, tucking it away in his mind for a later time.
"Hey now, you're practically asleep on your paws," Riley said with a chuckle after the sun had finally made its way into the sky. With a casual stretch, he rose to his paws and stepped back, staring out at the sunrise once more. "At least you got to see that though. I wouldn't miss that type of sunrise for the world." Carefully nursing his theory, Riley's tone and actions didn't change at all from before, still cheery and eager as ever: it wouldn't do to make Skye feel uncomfortable, not after working so hard against such emotions all evening. Fortunately stage presence went a long way, and Riley wasn't afraid to lean on it when he had to. With a smile, he wandered over to the edge of the falls, glancing down the slope for any slick spots that might give his tired companion trouble. Seeing nothing too threatening, he turned back and gestured with a paw. "Come on. I'll walk you home."
With a friendly flick of the tail he started down the path at a much slower pace than he'd climbed it initially, turning back more frequently to check on his companion and give her a paw if she desired. It had been a long time to go without sleep, and while he had enough on his mind to carry him through the rest of the day she seemed contented and relaxed enough to have fallen asleep on his shoulder back at the top. He would proceed to walk with her the rest of the way back to the Guild, making idle conversation and seeing her to her room as was proper before return home himself. He stepped in just long enough to accomplish a few quick tasks: drying his fur properly, dropping the circlet off in his room, donning his outfit again and jotting a quick note to Keiran and Ivilon about his departure before slipping out the door once more, feeling and looking a little more like himself. It was possible his Teammates were up and would have noticed, but he hoped they didn't--the erratic pulsing of his aura and emotions now that he'd let them slip through his precious veil of calm would surely be enough to prompt questions from the pair that he didn't want to answer. Right now he needed to leave and sort himself out--there was too much on his mind that still went unanswered, and the nervous energy it prompted needed tending to before it slipped out of his control.
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Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2015 11:29 am
SkyeSkye blinked sleepily, feeling Riley shift against her as the sun began to light the morning sky. It had fully risen, now, and with the rising sun she had realized just how weary she’d become over the course of the night. She had been up for nearly 48 hours now, knowing that she’d also slept very little the night before this.
She could feel a flicker of discontentment as Riley pulled away from her, though she didn’t think too hard about it. Mostly she was sad to feel the warmth leave her side and to lose that silent feeling of being safe. She smiled back at him, rising obediently to her paws along with her friend. ”I suppose so,” she agreed warmly, though she could not help the exhaustion in her voice. ”It’s been a while since either of us have had any sleep.”
With a soft smile, she allowed him to take the lead in climbing down from their vantage point above the waterfall. He seemed to know precisely where he was to place his paws and she was still more than awake enough to follow in his footsteps to arrive safely at the bottom. He offered a paw, helping her down the last step, and she gratefully accepted. It was less about the physical difficulty of the climb, as Skye and Riley had certainly both climbed more difficult cliffs, and more about the easy bond that she had felt worming its way into her heart throughout the evening.
Their walk home was slow and patient, the two exchanging light chatter along the way. She could sense the pensive nature of Riley’s thoughts, though she could more easily see now that he had barred off his more intimate emotions for the walk home. It made sense, given the loss of privacy they’d had in leaving the springs. Respectful of his desires, she withdrew her psychic. She wouldn’t intrude upon his emotions when he wasn’t comfortable with it.
Still, she could feel the tide of her own emotions pricking at the back of her mind. The night had been long for both of them and yet Riley remained as much a gentleman as he’d ever been. He’d been a good friend to her, although more private in his emotions than she was used to with Quil. He had been supportive of her, and seemed to deeply appreciate her actions in return. She could easily confirm that she liked him, with his easy-going smile and the brightness in his eyes, but she also felt that perhaps there was potential for more between them. That in itself was surprising for her and it made her stomach twist with a nervous anxiety. She was happy, though. Riley had brought her happiness on a night where she hadn’t expected it at all, and that was enough. It was certainly possible that she could grow to love him as more than a friend, but for now she took comfort in simply walking beside him.
The smile she gave him as they arrived at her team room was sleepy and genuine. She pressed her nose lightly to his shoulder, hugging him goodbye. ”Thank you for walking me home, Riley,” she murmured quietly, unsure how many of her teammates would be awake at such an hour of the morning. ”I really appreciated your company tonight. Hopefully we can meet again soon.”
With their goodbyes said, Skye quietly opened the door and slipped through into the living room. She could feel the warmth of the fireplace wash over her as she stepped forward, resisting the urge to curl up in front of the mantle and fall asleep then and there.
She made her way safely into the bedroom, and found herself tripping slightly as her paws brushed something on the floor. A small, packaged meal had been left for her at the door with a note. Reading it, it simply addressed that it was intended to be her breakfast, whenever she was hungry enough to eat it. Skye smiled at the thoughtfulness, already capturing the glimmer of Quil’s aura around the white silken handkerchief that had been wrapped around her meal.
Already swamped with warm and happy emotions, Skye deposited her breakfast onto the shelf nearby. She would have to get to it later. For now, she thought as she settled onto her bed, she only wanted to sleep. [ / end ]
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