Welcome to Gaia! ::

Laven rested her elbows on the table and hummed thoughtfully for a moment.

In terms of tangible things, until their home was complete, there wasn’t really much space to store anything in their dorm room right now. Plus, she kind of felt awkward asking for anything tangible that might cost money, especially when they had been saving money and selling things at the pawn shop.

“I’d like to go on another vacation, someplace a bit warmer so we don’t have to worry about a hotel or Air B&B. Or just a day trip somewhere could be fun too.” Not really have anything specific in mind Laven shrugged. “It’s going to start getting nice out soon, I’d like to spend more time glamoured and enjoy the weather while it’s here.”

Good God she missed the sun and how it warmed her skin when she’d lay in the sand.

"A vacation sounds nice. I haven't really enjoy a warm place before. I'd be welcome to it." He said swirling the contents of the bottle idly a s enjoying the sound it made as it sloshed about.

Tina just got a smile. "That can just be done with a promise. We can pinky swear or..." He glanced at Laven. "...could always leave a little mark. But Laven has to make her own decision on how to fufill your wish."

He took another drink from the bottle, enjoying the harsh burn before kicking his lips.

"You two don't hope for other things? Something stupid and selfish just for you?"

Tinaksite frowned slightly as it seemed that both Wolf and Laven seemed to dismiss her wish. If that was going to happen, why had they bothered to ask?

Her arms tightened around herself, and she almost deiced right then and there to just teleport out, to figure out something else to do for the night. Claim that she wasn’t feeling well.

With Laven’s words, the captain looked up, her frown deepening. “…I like helping you, Laven. I will always. You are no drain on my energy. You are my friend.” She was so much more but.

But.

“…Never feel that you are a drain on me ever…please.” She suddenly couldn’t look at the two and walked a few steps away, pretending to be curious about a dusty something on one of the counters. “I have nothing…selfish to wish for, Wolf. Just what I said. Sorry.”

“A bear?” Laven raised a brow at him, an almost bemused smirk tugged one side of her lips as she turned around to lean her back against the raised countertop.

“I’ve seen you fight youma in the Rift, and we each had to deal with those shadow beasts last October.” Hard to imagine that it was already almost half a year ago when that incident happened. God how time flew when you live in a world with a sun to help track the days.

“I feel like a normal bear would be too easy for you.” Her gaze traveled from his pale yellow eyes to his wide toothy grin. “Especially considering your bite is worse than your bark.” His venom was by no means something to turn your nose up at. Especially since the moment you forget about that unique trait of his, you’re ********. “And those claws…” Laven’s eyes trailed down the seam along his sleeve then snapped up to that

“Kind of seems like you’re set up with an unfair advantage,” Laven teased and for a moment reconsidered taking him up on his offer for a drink, or at least taking a good swig of his before the bottle was empty.

It may be dimly lit and dusty in the room they were in but Lavendulan had caught sight of Tinaksite’s deepening frown before the woman turned her back to them. No doubt trying to avoid eye contact by busying herself with odd trinkets and cobwebs, as if she were trying to hide her reaction from them. Disappointment rolled off her in waves and rather than ignore it Laven took the opportunity to walk up behind her friend.

Not much thought or care was given as she slipped her arms around Tina’s waist and leaned her forehead against her back. “Whatever you’re thinking, stop.” Her youma side stirred in mild irritation, causing her pupils to pull into thin slits yet thankfully her face was buried in the brown fabric of Tinaksite’s uniform so neither Captain could see. “You don’t get to ask for us to stay together then act like you want to leave.” Laven poked her in the side with a sharp claw but not so hard as to break the fabric or puncture skin, just enough to get her attention otherwise the alternative would be to n** at her scoldingly but that was more Wolframite’s area of expertise, however, it seemed that sleepy trait was starting to rub off on her a bit.

Her own emotions were all over the place, making her feel dizzy and frustrated because it felt like her moods kept jumping from one extreme to the next. First jealous and distant, then relaxed and content with her current dreams, now she was annoyed and for what?

This emotional whiplash was exhausting but nobody else had said anything yet so why dwell on it now?

“If you run away, he’ll find you.” Laven leaned her head back enough to nod in Wolframite’s direction. “He’s a tracker, and a hunter. Just…” She let go of Tina and took a step back. “You might want to think carefully on his offer to mark you,” A hand came up to move the shoulder strap off to the side so Tina could clearly see the lighter blue crescent shaped scales that had regrown over the scar he had left her. “He is not gentle.”

Wolfy had one hand behind him against the table, leaning back as he continued to knock back the bottle. Things were getting warm and nice, and watching his girlfriend hugging Tina was a nice little treat. It absolved him of reacting and enjoying his own moments.

"A normal bear has a lot more force, power, and intelligence to fight for it's life than a person. It could easily tear me apart." He said casually, as if it was the thought of a exciting cliff climb for the weekend.

The conversation was a bit lost to him as he watched them, lips at the lip of the bottle as he watched but paused from taking a drink. "I'm plenty gentle. Even more when you're scales rip up gums. But I'll be sure to nibble on you instead, Tina." He teased.

"And I would hunt you down if I mark you. You'd be mine after all." He said, toasting to that and taking another sip.

Tina seemed unable to function under this attention, and Wolframite's attention was watching as she seemed now was the time to mention what he had confessed to him before. Considering this place was quiet and closed off with just the two of them, it was a perfect place. He just thought she might have wanted to confess to Laven between the pair of them, but since he already knew, he could just be there to help - which it seemed is what she was needing.

Too bad he was getting drunk.

"Hell if I remember. Kinda happened. Doesn't seem like it happened from saying it. Just - we were already there? I think I ******** it up and caused a fight. A do that a lot." He said, scratching his ear as he thought and shrugged.

"Everything is hard when it's important. Love especially." He sighed out at that and tried not to let his mind easily fall to darker, guiltier thoughts. He took another drink.

"But you're doing way better than me." He said, giving her a smile as he watched. "I didn't outright say it for a while cause I was scared."

“Mn…” Tinaksite hesitated and shook her head, glancing back towards Laven. She hadn’t moved. Hadn’t run away. Hadn’t…sad anything.

Finally she looked back at Wolframite. “I do not know if she understands.” There was pain in her voice, and after a moment she hesitated, turning around and wrapping her arms around Lavendulan. “…I am in love with you. But…I could maybe love Wolf too. If you needed me too…he is my friend. He is a good friend.” After a moment she rested her chin on top of the half youma’s head. “I would not mind being nibbled by wolf. Or being found.”

It would be nice. Nice to know that she couldn’t just disappear. Couldn’t be forgotten.

“…Please do not be angry at me. Please do not leave me.”

She was unsure if the plea was to Laven or Wolframite.

Or both.

She was starting to think it might be both.

“…Perhaps I will drink. If there is more.”

Already swimming in a mix of emotions his breath against her skin and scales sent an electrifying shiver down her back. Wolframite’s sudden nearness only seemed to send her world into a spiraling mess with these affectionate if not teasing nuzzles he was giving her.

On one hand she didn’t want him to stop and instead wanted to lean against him and return the affection. But they weren’t alone and for the most part she had been rather private with the public displays, although… he had been systematically breaking her of that behavior since their time at the pumpkin patch. However, on the other hand she felt agitated by his unhelpfulness by putting her on the spot and had to resist the urge to stomp on his foot or knee him for being a nuisance; both of which would just ruin the evening she was trying to salvage.

Why was Wolframite doing this?

Lavendulan let out a whimper then let her arms go limp as she then turned to glare at him but her expression was more pained than anything and if he wasn’t careful she was about to n** that pointed ear of his for being a pest. Which, given his current flirtatious state and love for biting, would no doubt be a turn on instead.

Ugh…

She felt pressured to respond to Tina but the fact of the matter was that she had never really given it much thought. The feelings she had were different than what she felt towards Wolframite and she wasn’t quite sure if love was the word to describe them. Familial perhaps, but even that didn’t sit quite right.

“I-I’m not angry Tina. I’m just surprised, and not really sure how to respond.” Her gaze was cast downward almost ashamed by her inability to reciprocate the feelings “I like you, I just…” God it felt like she was cheating on Wolframite by admitting that outloud and the fact he was here made her feel just all that more miserable for saying it at all.

Laven stared at the bottle Wolframite had been holding and damn near reached out to snach it from him if only to have something to hold onto if not polish of the last of it but Tina had asked for it first. “I thought you two were starting to have feelings for each other.” What with how often they had started to go out on patrols together it was hard to keep her mind from thinking such things.