|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2018 10:56 pm
”No! It’s okay...” Ida said as she pressed her hand to her cheek, trying to calm her fluttering stomach. “You just... surprised me.”
Her thoughts turned to Laney, oft waiting at home for her. Whisler was different and she wasn’t sure what to think of him, or what was really between them. If he was like this with everyone... did his flirtation really mean anything for her? Sometimes, she thought maybe... but then she had to wonder what she would do if he really did mean it...
And it was just easier, in the end, to set it aside with his apology and focus on the convenient topic of the hot spring.
Ida rose when he offered his hand, glad that the suggestion offered by his stripping down panned out to nothing more inappropriate than perfectly normal swim trunks. She put her hand in his with a small, self-deprecating smile and let her henshin drop, so she was just a young woman in a long lavender sweater, leggings leading to boots.
“Just lend me a shirt and I think I’ll be okay.” She said as she pulled her long necklace over her head.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2018 2:33 pm
Grinning, Nick walked over to a large suitcase that sat at the foot of the bed and pulled out an oversized shirt and another pair of swimming trunks. “Here, I figured you might want these too? You’re under no obligation to wear them, but, at least your clothes will stay dry, right?”
She was pretty.
Glowing or not glowing, Ida was a beautiful woman, and Nick was excited to spend the rest of the evening with her. He wasn’t completely sure where the night would lead…and he knew he had promised Arias…but…
…Surely Arias wouldn’t be too angry about this one…besides she was most likely taken and…
And leaving well enough alone seemed like the best idea but…
But he couldn’t stop the slight fluttering of his heart as he moved to the slightly steamy water and sank into it, sighing in contentment. He closed his eyes and rested his head back against the rocky ledge. She was right…he wouldn’t be able to leave this place. Abandon it to crumble once again…he loved it. It was as much a part of him as his skin.
“…Maybe I’ll stop looking for a way to make the glow stop. Maybe I’ll just…start taking one day at a time. I love my wonder…and I wouldn’t want to lose it. It’s home.” The words were soft but…he hoped she heard them. “…Thanks, Ida. You…you’re a great listener.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2018 4:09 pm
He handed her a shirt and she accepted it, glad to see it was decently large enough it would cover past her hips. The trunks were accepted to, but seemed a little over kill. She wasn't really all that conservative with her dress, but at least he made the offer, and that more than anything warmed her. Orah was coming around slowly to the idea that Whisler's... Nick's interest was real, even if it was hard to accept. He liked her, even if a lot of his actions seemed frivolous and shallow, but he never pushed her when she gave the least sign of discomfort. It said a lot, to her.
She left him to climb into the pool as she pulled her sweater up over her head, using the opportunity of his back turned to slip his shirt on in place of it. It enveloped her from neck to thighs and gave her the room she needed to wiggle out of her leggings and kick off her boots. She left her underthings on, which seemed the right amount of clothing with the shirt. She maybe could have even done without the shirt, but the thought of him seeing the lacey little purple bra she had on was blush and stammer inducing.
No, she'd leave that to Laney for now. When she finally approached, he was already settled and his eyes were closed, giving her a moment to study his face as she sank down on the ledge and then carefully extended her bare legs down into the water. It felt deliciously warm and he look... relaxed, finally. At home. He belonged here, and she hoped he realized that. Whatever temptations the Negaverse offered, and she was sure despite everything there were tempting things, he would see that it was a shallow reward. This was lasting, and real.
The water slid up her hips as her feet found the tile and she held the shirt down between her thighs with a hand as she sank down to side beside him, one hand gripping the outside ledge for balance. Her hair dragged in the water when she sank to her chest, but there was nothing on her to tie it back with. Orah couldn't helping letting out a soft breath herself, enveloped by the warmth of the spring.
"You're welcome, Nick." She said softly as she leaned back, both hands tucked into her lap now. "I do care about you. And I just want to help."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2018 4:38 pm
When he felt her enter the water, felt her next to him, Whisler opened his eyes and reached for her hand, though, when it was no longer on the ledge he chuckled softly and scooted closer, resting his head on her shoulder instead. “Your support means the world to me, I want you to know that…and you being here is more beneficial to me than I thought it would be. I mean, I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t think you could help, but…”
He shrugged, moving his free hand through the water slowly, enjoying the slight resistance it caused. “Would you be okay if I called you again? If we made this a monthly thing or something? So we could just…I don’t know. Touch base. I don’t want a babysitter…but…that’s not what I’m trying to ask for, I don’t know. I just want you to know I’m okay. And I want to be able to talk to you if things are…starting to go bad or something.”
That sounded stupid, and she had better things to do than to watch out for one stupid knight…but…
It wasn’t all for that. He wanted the chance to see her again and be close to her like this…she was different from most of the people that he liked…and he wanted to get to know her better..and maybe he’d be able to help her with any issues that she might be having…it would only be fair.
“If you’re not interested, please let me know, okay? I won’t be offended at all.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2018 3:11 pm
She felt the motion of displaced water before the weight of something came down on her shoulder, taking her back for a moment with surprise before the feeling mellowed and warmed and she settled under it. There was a closeness to the pose, to having someone lean on you like that. Orah soaked up the intimacy like thirsty earth and forgave him everything he had done that had made her uncomfortable. He looked so... vulnerable, when she snuck a look down at him.
She watched as he played with the water, and at his question she nodded, resisting the urge to shrug with his head heavy on her shoulder.
"I... think that would be nice. I don't have a lot of like... planned meet ups with friends like that, but I think it would be nice to have a plan like that, and know ahead of time I'm going somewhere with someone." She nearly shrugged again, struggling with the words to express herself. Instead, she reached out and touched his leg lightly where it lay next to hers, giving in to the temptation to just... lay her cheek against the top of his hair for a moment and return the affection.
"I know you don't need a caretaker... but its good to know you have someone to count on, I guess? And somewhere to go if you need it. If we plan it, you won't have to worry if you'll be able to reach me, or if I'll be busy." She smiled, feeling her cheek smoosh against his hair. "Maybe some times I could take you to Ida too."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2018 5:07 pm
When the hand touched his leg, his slid to cover it, squeezing gently, and when he felt a warm cheek on the top of his head, he couldn’t stop the smile that grew over his face. This was nice. Relaxing. Safe.
“Well…now you do. I would love to visit you on Ida, and I would love for you to come up here, there’s so much I haven’t explored yet…and so much space in this place…I normally only stay here and the room that’s off the hall…I’m pretty sure it’s a kitchen, but it has this great big fire that I lit? And it stays lit? I think it must be some volcanic gas or something but…” He was growing more and more excited the more he talked about the Wonder, he was passionate about it…and he wanted to share what he had found out…especially since Ida seemed so excited about it too.
After a moment though, Nick paused and pulled away slightly. “…So…you don’t know how to swim, that’s what you told me, right?” He slid off the bench and pushed himself towards the middle of the spring, treading water about five feet from Orah.
“I can teach you, when you come back…or we could start now, at the very least I can get you comfortable enough that you’d know what to do if some a*****e ever tries to throw you into a pool or something…you never know what the Negaverse will do, if they find a weakness they’ll exploit it without warning, right?”
It seemed like a good idea on all counts…plus…it would give her a reason to return…and it would give him something to accomplish while she was here. Something tangible, a real goal to work for.
“What do you say, my Ida? Will you trust me with these lessons, as I trust you with all of my secrets?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2018 3:07 pm
It was good, listening to him talk about his Wonder. Animation and passion entered his voice when he did it, and the games he liked to play sort of fell away. He was honest, when he talked like that, and she liked what she saw in him then. He felt younger, less weighed down. Less confused. He had said he felt trapped by his transcendence, but from what she saw, his wonder was his drive, his support... something she felt they all shared. Maybe he was just someone not used to, or comfortable with, being tethered. Not everyone was. Maybe it was the concept of being tied, and not the tie itself, that scared him. It was something to consider, if she kept helping him with this. He had to see it as less shackles and more a safety line. Hopefully she could help with that.
Whisler pulled away and Ida found herself coloring as he changed the subject, her hands tucking against the seat she sat on as she drew her knees closer. He looked so comfortable floating there... not touching anything, just bobbing along. But he knew how to float, and she didn't, and he knew how to move, when she panicked not having a hand on something solid... She very nearly missed him calling her 'my Ida', but that only added to the butterflies suddenly kicking up a storm in her stomach.
Orah eyed him with misgiving, her teeth nibbling at her lower lip. Xander had wanted to teach her too, but they'd never gotten around to it. The thought of going where the water reached her chest, let alone where she couldn't touch bottom at all... it made her heart pound. But... he looked so hopeful. He wanted to help, and he'd been so disappointed the last time she had pulled away from him... her nerves fought with the desire not to disappoint again.
"Only... if you don't let go of me. Until I'm ready. Okay?" She said as she reached out a hand to him, still clinging to her bench that suddenly felt like the only safe place in this entire pool. She did need to learn... she just hadn't been prepared to start so soon.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2018 3:19 pm
He watched her and there was uncertainty and a little fear in her expression…but she was thinking about it, at least. That had to count for something.
“I wouldn’t let go of you for anything, Ida.” Whisler moved closer and reached out, taking her hands in his own. He placed a kiss on the tops of each of them and glanced back up into her face. “Nothing could force me to let go of you. We’ve got this. Together we’ll get you as at home in the water as you are on the land. And…perhaps after we could go out and build a snowman or something. I have everything here, honestly. It’s such a versatile place, my Wonder.”
He was tugging her hands slightly, gently. Trying to get her off the bench without her really realizing what was going on.
“You’ll be like a fish when we’re finished with our lessons. Even if we do nothing more than get you off that bench today. We have forever…I mean…so long as I have this noble purpose…I can’t see myself…I can’t see myself wanting to give this up until I know that you can swim, so…clearly I can’t give in to the Chaos right?” Whisler gave a grin and tugged her hands again. “Trust me, Ida. Let's get you off that bench. You can still touch the bottom right here, I promise."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2018 5:36 pm
Orah offered him a nervous smile as he took her hands, her face warming as he kissed her knuckles. It was a rather... romantic gesture, and despite her attempt to quash them, she still felt flutters over it.
Not much, and not for long though. The promise of the water, and lack of solid ground, weighed heavily. As he pulled her forward, she clung to his grip, breathing deeply as though anticipating sinking... at least until he spoke and she huffed, blowing out a breath between her lips.
"Teaching me to swim..." She murmured, taking her eyes off the water to watch his face with a thoughtful frown. "Should not be the only reason. What would you do when I can do it? Would I have to find something else for you to do?"
There was the barest note of teasing in the last, something she rarely did. It relaxed her a little though, distracting her from what they were doing. Her barefeet still felt stone beneath them, even as the water line rose to soak the shift she wore. This wasn't... so bad. She could touch, and with him holding her hands, she was fairly confident she wouldn't go under if she fell. She could do this, at least.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu May 24, 2018 6:47 pm
Nick chuckled softly, shrugging and giving a little grin, moving backwards a few more steps. “I mean, I don’t know. What if that’s my only purpose? Once I’ve taught the most beautiful flower in the cosmos how to swim…I’ll have nothing left…”
It came out almost as a jest, but for a moment, he had a very real pang of confusion and concern.
“Maybe that’s my big issue. Maybe I just…feel like I have no purpose. And…if we’ve already come to that realization…do forgive me. Sometimes it takes a while for my mind to catch up to my mouth. Thinking before speaking has never…been my strong suit…”
His arms moved closer and wrapped around Ida’s chest, drawing her into a very damp hug, resting his chin on her shoulder.
“This isn’t so bad though, is it? The water, I mean. It won’t hurt you, Ida. Nothing will hurt you here. My wonder is a safe place for you, for me…for anyone who wants to visit…I…”
He wasn’t making any sense. “…I must be tired. Please forgive me. I’ve started to ramble…I’m s**t when it comes to serious conversations but…”
Nick pulled away slightly to look at her and gave a little grin, tugging her deeper into the pool. “I won’t let you drown. And I won’t let you down. See? I’m the best.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2018 6:04 pm
He seemed to feel the need to talk and he rambled as she concentrated on the water that rose up around her. It was an uncomfortable sensation, even if she liked how the water felt slipping over her skin.
Orah was quiet, her teeth gently pinching her lip, both because she worried about the water, and because she wasn't entirely sure what to say to him about his musings. It certainly was a problem to not feel like you had any purpose, but finding purpose couldn't really come from outside of yourself. She couldn't give it to him, much as she wanted to do what she could to lift his spirits and help him see how much of a mistake it was to let Chaos whisper too sweetly to him.
"Purpose is something you sort of have to figure out for yourself." She said as he wrapped her in a hug, suddenly feeling awkward and shy about how close he held her. "That's not to say you can't have help, but... you're the only one who can really decide what you want to do, you know?"
Her feet still touched, but he was drawing her deeper, his arms around her and a smile on his face. She hesitated, and then stopped, settling both feet on the base of the pool and reaching out to gently cup Nick's face in her hands, pulling him to a stop too. Her expression was gentle for him, but she shook her head.
"Sometimes I think you have to make your own purpose, and stop relying on the world to just... hand you one, because it won't, not really. Decide what you can do that no one else is doing, or go find people doing what you want to do, and help them. There are some things only you can do, but you have to decide to stand up and walk forward and grab it." She stroked his cheeks gently with her thumbs, deciding something then that filled her chest with an expanding feeling, and a sense of peace.
Nick needed to figure himself out, and she would help as much as she could, but he needed to take those steps for himself, or he'd never be able to stand on his own. She had some ideas now of what she wanted, for herself, and while he wasn't certain, she knew this path, at least, wasn't one she wanted to take.
"I think its probably time I get back. I'm sorry it was a short lesson. I need some time to get used to it, I think. Small steps. And I think its probably late enough I should be heading home. Hver will wonder where I am." Orah said as she leaned in and kissed his nose, her hands still around his face.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
