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 Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2006 7:56 pm
With a content noise, Elle hummed...letting him know she was there. "Would you...like to come lay by the fire?" She didn't reach for him, letting him rest if he decided to stay.
Glancing back over one shoulder, Elle watched the smoke rise into the dark sky. It would be a calm night....cold, but calm. The Villa was close, though, for when they wished to rest. Smiling down at Lonan's tired face, Elle rubbed the drying sand up her calves.
"There's no rush." Finally, her fingers found his wing...brushing as softly as she could manage. The feathers were a bit coarse, stiff from the salt...she reminded herself to help with the preening once he was feeling better.
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Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2006 7:59 pm
"That sounds nice for a time. Though I'll have to wash the salt from my wings soon. And you need to warm."
How he knew he didn't say, merely grabbing up his once pillow and wrapping his wings around Elle. He had decency enough to blush slightly as he pulled her close to let her warm against him. He was fine now, merely a bit sleepy and sluggish.
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Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2006 8:09 pm
The mechanics of getting her dress back on she hadn't quite considered. Smiling more at herself than anything, Elle wrapped one arm around his waist and leaned her head in against him to laugh as they walked. Modesty had always been overrated, but perhaps she was a bit carefree.
Her own skin was a good sight more comfortable than a wet, rumpled, blood stained dress, however. Taking it gently from him, Elle gave it a shake as they neared the fire.
"I'm going to lay it out to dry. Would you...like me to lay yours out as well?" She smiled at the idea, but offered with a light heart. Not everyone was as comfotable as she. Taking him to the soft sand beside the fire, Elle offered a place to settle.
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Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2006 8:15 pm
He concidered what she said for a moment once they were nearer the fire. "Probably best." It was obvious he spoke more to himself. The salt, blood and water didn't help getting the usually loose pants off. The shirt had been neglected that day.
Once off the offending garment was shaken out and laid on a nearby rock. Before the wings closed to retain body heat a peek of palid skin could be seen. He was truey scarred everywhere. Very little had escaped the marks of his revival to the world of the living.
"Are you warm enough?" He walked over to where he'd last heard her, reaching a tentative hand out. Sand echoed differently and he wasn't used to tracking with the new background noise.
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Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2006 8:23 pm
Elle didn't watch, but neither did she turn...sighing at a glimpse of pale silhouette. It was odd, how he moved...surely lost in the darkness, yet reaching so clearly toward her. Taking his hand, Elle stepped forward against his wings.
"I will be, soon." Firelight danced up along the side of her, catching bright reflections upon her skin. "We can lay, if you'd like. I have everything I need."
The words meant more as she pressed closer, one hand drifting again across the black feathers. Surely he still needed to rest.
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Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2006 8:26 pm
"I'd rather not lay down, if that's alright. I'm.. a bit afraid that once I do I'll be down for the night. Just until our clothes dry and then back? Perhaps there's a stream I can splash the salt off my wings in. I don't want to be a burden on you even though I'll have to ask for a place to sleep for the night. I cannot return to the Hollow like this."
He opened one wing, pulling her to his side. The feathers were indeed stiff and dull in the firelight. But they were warm and an arm joined the wing to hold her to his side.
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Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2006 8:34 pm
Nodding, Elle snuggled closer...stretching one foot towards the fire. "It won't be long...just a few more minutes. There is a trickle that runs off the cliffs...or you can take a shower back at the Villa."
Only touching him gently, still kind to the thin scars, Elle covered a yawn with the back of her hand. Just thinking about it was enough! "As far as a place, you don't need to ask. My room is yours...though you're free to take a spare one upstairs if you wish."
He had been kind to offer his own bed. Elle wished to do nothing less.
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Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2006 8:40 pm
"The trickle then. It's been a long time since I was able to use an actual stream. Bath water, though hot, carries things from pipes. Streams feel best for feathers." He'd be chilled afterwards, but feel infinately better.
The teen's face relaxed a bit. "Doesn't the owner of the net decide which cage in which to place the winter wren?" He waited to see what she'd make of the improptu and unusual humor.
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Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2006 8:53 pm
Nodding, Elle reached to the side to flip her dress over...giving the back a chance to dry. At his quiet joke, she couldn't help but smile. "Well, I'd imagine he'd wish to be somewhere warm...."
Sliding under his wing, Elle shivered sidelong against him...glad to be back in his arms. "And who can blame him! It's cold, out there alone."
Sighing, Elle relaxed against Lonan. The walk to the Villa wasn't too bad, and the chill of the stream would wake them both.
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Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2006 8:57 pm
Lonan waited patiently for the fire to dry their clothes. One done he helped to scatter the ashes and drown the flames. "We should wait, lest our clothes dampen again at the stream."
Gathering their clothes he stretched a wing out to wrap around Elle. "You lead and I shall follow."
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Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2006 9:08 pm
Leaving the kelp to dry for the night, Elle slipped her arm through Lonan's and fell into step. A quick stop by the gazebo, to grab his staff, and they were on their way to the Villa.
"It is the same trail we came down, opposite fork. Steep, but fairly even. Are you feeling up to it?" Reaching over to take the clothes, leaving his hand free for his staff, Elle tucked them under her arm.
She didn't want to push him...she was content to rest longer if he was still feeling tired.
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Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2006 9:12 pm
"I'll be fine. Just might have to be a bit slower than usual is all." He did follow as easily as he had before, probably due in part to his memorization of the trail early on. Now it let him walk a bit easier and concentrate more on keeping his stubborn body moving. It wanted to sleep. He was more stubborn. No contest.
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Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2006 9:19 pm
Soon, the trickle could be heard...drumming down upon the same smooth scoop of rock. The hike wasn't bad when measured...she wasn't even winded once they stopped by the water.
Running her hands forward, offering to take what he carried, Elle smiled at the slight touch of mist. "It'll be warm downstairs, and we're over half way there. So, no hurry. Can I...help?"
She knew what a chore it was, even after a normal shower. After the ocean, and smoke of the fire, it would be a necessary rinse.
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Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2006 9:26 pm
Having started to move towards the sound of the water he froze for a moment, looking like a statue frozen in palid light. "If you want to."
Leaving the offer openended let her decide. Help would not be a bad thing.
Finding the small bed of the stream he knelt and let the cold water wash over his thighs. Taking a few handfulls of the clear water to scrub his face he let his wings dip down to the water. Slow undulations in the surface showed he was working the water over his feathers as his hands worked salt and smoke from dark hair.
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Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2006 10:36 am
He was so graceful, despite his trials...Elle found herself watching, rather than helping. Plucking a feather from where it circled upon the surface of the water, Elle twirled it dry between her fingers.
Finally, as Lonan seemed close to finishing, she stood and reclaimed his staff from where she'd set it. "I will help you oil them, once we are warm."
The Villa was only a few minutes up the trail...she would take a proper bath there once Lonan was settled in. Smiling to herself as she watched the water sheet from his pale skin, Elle tucked the clothes under her arm once more.
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