Welcome to Gaia! ::

A heavy rain had finally let up. She was not home.

Sheets her only cover, she shifted under them uncomfortably as her cell phone started to ring. Obnoxious. The afterglow was spoilt by this unwanted intrusion.

Propping her body up enough to talk on the phone, she struggled to push her hair out of her face to answer.

"What." It came off more like a hiss than a question. Anyone calling this late meant trouble.

"Ama."

She hated the way that he called her name. It had too much meaning.

"Why the ******** hell are you calling me now." She laced her words with bitterness.

She could tell he didn't want her to hear his exasperation, but couldn't well enough keep quiet. An exasperated breath that was held back, but still heard clearly. Frustration pushed his words forward, regardless of how much his pride held him back.

"... I want to see you." The heartfelt quiet to these words was genuine. If a bit lustful.

"You always do." Regardless of how hard it was for him to say, she wouldn't be swayed.

"I want to see you now." More urging, more pleading.

It only aggravated her more. "Why? Why do you always want to see me?"

A pause was upsetting to her at this point. The change in his voice tried to pull her in once and for all, with words she considered meaningless. To twist the knife a bit more, he lasciviously spoke in Chinese like they had so long ago.

"Do I really need a reason? Really..."

This verbal challenge stung, as she assumed he meant it to. Two injured animals lashing out each other over a simple telephone call. Her anger showed in the change to her breathing.

"Cruel... filthy..."

"And your beloved, no less."

The words had gone from provoking to downright venomous. The things she could not forgive him for... the feelings that would never go away. Centuries of those same uncontrollable feelings, those same endless nights. The sharp exhale was that of pain.

"I don't... I can't... I will never... !"

"I don't care who knows. I don't care what happens to me. I love you."

In her frustration she gripped the phone tightly with a shaking hand. With her face hot and tearing, she threw the phone across the room as hard as she could. It shattered into pieces as it hit the wall.

"I know."

Her partner was awakened, surprised by the loud noise. Blinking in confusion, she wasn't quite awake yet.

"Amarante?"

She hoped that she couldn't be seen in the dark of the night, her face a mess.

"It's nothing," she soothed, pressing her lips to the forehead of her lover. "Go back to sleep."

The night was starless and silent; the air frigid without the slightest hint of wind. Though Rin wasn't bothered by the cold, any sort of distraction would have been welcome as he approached the building and made his way up the stairs. Keying his way in as he always did, the usual hesitance was there but the hallway didn't seem to have that usual sense of foreboding as it usually did upon his arrival.

Perhaps a garbled text message was an odd reason to pursue both a hunch and a feeling, but said feeling was strong enough to push him to investigate the matter. He attempted the doorknob once he had reached the correct room. Locked. This was all adding up to be very strange indeed. After taking a moment to consider the situation once more, he keyed his way in.

While the apartment being dark was nothing out of the ordinary, faint lighting indicated that something was different from the place that Rin knew from experience. The temperature of the room was nothing much for beings such as themselves, but still, it was cold enough for breath to be seen. It was difficult to see her at first within all of the masses of black, he would see her soon enough.

Amarante was covered in the mass of blankets and sheets that was her bed, up to even her face. All that really remained visible was the vivid silky mess that was her hair, the bright red visible even in low lighting. She didn't seem to notice or care that anyone had arrived as she stayed covered but still obviously at least breathing.

It was all so weird! Rin didn't know what to make of it. With a furrowed brow he dragged a hand over his face in thought. The sly creature that lived here should have been aware of his presence long before he even made it inside. Scratching the back of his head in that moment of awkwardness, he decided that he might as well close the door and lock it behind him. Once that was done he sunk his hands into the opposite sleeves of his haori and began to shuffle over to the bed. While he could obviously sense her presence, it was difficult to concentrate on where she actually was before his eyes adjusted to the darkness. The feeling was unnerving, but he had learned to tolerate it in her presence. He took a seat at the corner of the bed as he waited to become accustomed to the darkness once more.

It had taken her a moment for the slightly less dim light filtering in from the hallway to register as someone entering her space. Click, and click. A door shut and a lock was turned. Had she summoned someone? She wasn't sure. Every light step seemed so loud as whoever it was made their way over. She was anticipating it more with every one she heard without really knowing why. She bit her thumb after she heard that last step. At her bed. There was a warm body at her bed. On her bed.

And with inhuman deftness, she was upon him. Her arms, anyway. Approach from the front was unnecessary and too complicated anyway. Wrapping her arms around his chest, she buried her face into his back. Nothing more than that. Enough to keep her content. And more than that...

"Warm."

His entire body tensed as it was enveloped suddenly by cold arms. Though he had gasped out of surprise he immediately began to relax upon seeing the clawed grey hands resting on his chest. Gingerly he held one of the hands within his own, lifting up the arm in order to turn around to face her.

"Amarante... ?"

The warm thing didn't want to stay and be warm. smilies/icon_crying.gif Her "eyes" were quite wide as they stared into his... her eye covering was off, revealing the sleek silvery iris-sized engine that was present on the right side. It could really only be uncovered for the purpose of sleeping as it was very sensitive to light.

And well, this wasn't the only thing unusual about her current appearance. Her body was draped in what appeared to be some sort of red shirt, far too large for her small frame. With her arms held up and back in her confusion to why she was being pushed away, the too-large sleeves drooped off of them adorably. She maintained this confused and almost offended expression, unsure what to do next.

Rin wasn't the type to be easily affected by this sort of situation, but... a pervert was a pervert, after all. He didn't blush but that wasn't to say he hadn't reacted at all. But still, there were (strangely) greater concerns to be handled at the moment. With widened eyes and a quick adjustment of his glasses, it was on to business.

"Amarante..." He was looking to the side a little to avoid direct contact with the fire, so to say. "Generally a random key mashing message wouldn't be a cause for alarm, but..." Was it really that difficult to admit 'I was worried about you'? Probably.

Now that his eyes were coming more into focus, it was easier to see just what she was wearing. His hackles raised just seeing it. "That shirt... why are you wearing it?"

Ah, he wasn't mad. In fact, he seemed pretty much the opposite of mad, if she was sensing his body chemistry correctly. Back to being a wide-eyed kitten!

"I sent you a message?" Genuine bewilderment lead into intoxicated giggles. "I have been drinking a lot~ Shouchuu~ A lot of shouchuu!" She was clearly very amused with herself.

"This shirt?" She looked at it and smelled it with interest. "It still smells like cigarettes, this many years later!" Again, she was very pleased with this fact.

Rin had thought a strange odor was also present in the room. "S-shouchuu... ?" The fact that it was shouchuu was of little concern to him. But the fact that she was even the slightest bit tipsy was alarming, due to her species' high tolerance for alcohol and her training to raise it even higher. So naturally, his expression, while still pleasant, showed his concern. "Just how much did you drink, Amarante?"

Damn shirt. Even if she was looking straight at him, he couldn't help but pout and advert his eyes. "Of course it still smells, that guy was a chimney."

"A lot!" She smiled happily and nodded to confirm. "I remember feelings... sad feelings... after the megane robot brought me here." She covered the lower part of her face with the oversized sleeves as the look in her eyes reflected that sadness.

But, it lifted soon enough. She extended her arms out as she looked over the shirt. "Ah, you don't like this shirt?"

It was all fairly simple for Rin to put together... and sad, really. Had she even taken the time to mourn for that guy? And while twenty years was a great amount of time for most, for her it was a fairly fresh wound. And being forced to take a new partner was pretty much making it official that at least in the records, he was dead. Her reaction was a little bizarre, but not entirely foreign.

Still... in all his niceness, a possessive side to his feelings was easy to cave into when it was just the two of them alone. Even so, he was smiling all the while. "Rin-tan doesn't like it. Amarante shouldn't smell like cheap cigarettes..."

Her reaction to his words was instant. Without a second thought she removed the shirt from her body and disposed of it to the floor. She looked over herself with discerning eyes. "Is this preferable?"

Rin's body was frozen, twitching slightly in shock at what had just happened. Mouth slightly open, hands raised in the air. And for a moment he accepted this, his body thawing into a more relaxed stance as he took it all in with a pleased expression that almost resembled that of a cat.

But... his deeper feelings got the best of him eventually. Taking the haori off of his own back, he offered it to her without really looking her way. "Here. This is much better." He really hoped that she couldn't see any sort of blush on his face in that darkness... he'd never hear the end of it!

Still retaining that puzzled look, she took the silk jacket and put it on. Still too big... but slightly warm, and with a different scent to it. She held the sleeves to her face and inhaled carefully. And that blush? She totally saw it. And she might've just shared it, though she'd never admit to it. Still, she smiled as she drew closer to him. The scent of tobacco and him was unmistakable and seemed to pull her from her drunken state of mind. If only a little.

"Rin."

He hadn't been paying attention. Suddenly she was there! Amarante and anxiety... the reactions to both were written all over his face. "Y-yes?"

She reached a hand out and smoothed it against and under the hem of his kosode, touching the clavicle underneath and leaving her hand there. The rest of her body leaned into his naturally. She locked eyes with him just as naturally, eyes gentle but bright with more than just an underlying message to be had. And only one word was needed to answer him, as her movements had said the rest.

"Warm."

It was almost a shock to be touched, even though it was just the two of them. But the intensity from her mismatched eyes was enough to simultaneously hold him still and draw him in. A silent request had been made, and he was all too happy to oblige. Intoxicated, his nearly numb arms pulled and held her close. He didn't need to say anything. He broke the drawing gaze without a second thought, bringing his lips to hers in a manner that spoke nothing of the countless times he had done it previously.

So very warm.



The morning after.

To say Amarante had a headache would be a disservice to words, to say the least. Still, she soldiered on, packing her necessities and dressing simultaneously. There was no excess of noise, nor did she utter a word to express what she was doing. She merely did it. The dewy morning had not yet shed the fullest of its light into her room, but she did not struggle with her tasks. This time of the day was too beautiful for her to complain if it had interfered, regardless. She admired its silvery wonder with a tired but grateful eye.

While she sat at the edge of the bed as she observed, a misplaced item drew her attention to the floor. A cocoa brown haori, thrown aside carelessly. Without putting much thought into how it had ended up there, she carefully leaned in to grasp it. The weft of it felt more heavy the more that she thought about it. Taking in a deeper breath almost seemingly for protective reasons, she suddenly held it closely to her body as if it were something quite dear to her. Sinking her face into the silk, she noticed that overwhelmingly it carried both the scent of him and kizami. But she could catch the faintest notes of black narcissus that were herself here and there. She was loath to put it down, but relinquished it to the back of a chair in time. Arms propped up on her thighs, face propped up in her hands, there was a genuine concern present as to how to deal with these feelings appropriately.

A small gasp of breath caught her ear. He stirred. Though she thought better of it, her body was quick to surrender to her wandering mind as it relaxed into a position to lie next to him. The expression on her face almost looked to be bewildered as she looked upon his sleeping face. Meekly a hand reached out to brush his hair out of the way, if only just to see better. The same hand rested upon his cheek as she took a hard look at his face. Peaceful sleeping face. Dark eyelashes, lips with a bit of a sheen to them. With a delicate touch her hand grazed its way down to his bare shoulder, where it stayed. Through her mind scrambled a thousand different thoughts as she couldn't avert her eyes, but her body's resolution silenced them all.

The kiss Amarante presented to Rin was nothing more than the lightest touch of lips against lips. Still... it had been against her better judgment, and with the knowledge that he could awaken at any minute. The minutes that the moment held felt like nothing of the sort for her. Eye held tightly closed and body held tightly close. It was difficult to want to break away more or less do it, to the point of holding her breath without consciously doing so. Once she had broken away a sharp inhale of air brought her back to reality, though her gesture seemed to have reflected deeply upon the situation.

Was he... was he smiling in his sleep?

Amarante threw both hands over her mouth as she struggled to turn around without disturbing him further. Her face burned hotly as she seemed to be in shock over what she had done willingly. She was eventually able to collect herself enough to make it to the edge of the bed on uneasy limbs. There could be no more of this trifling... the more she succumbed, the greater the resulting pain would be. Biting her lip to the point of breaking the skin, she forced herself away to gather her things.

Dizzy with an abundance of thoughts, she almost lost her footing more than once. Still, she pushed through it, as she always did.

She made it as far as the door before she was finally drawn to look back. She was rewarded with a stabbing pain in her eye. Holding a hand over it as it throbbed, she still struggled to look through her fingers just to see him.

Finally Amarante was able to turn away. With a suddenly blank mind she exited the room and closed the door behind her. Her face carried the weight of her emotions well enough. It was useless to resist. All this would happen once more, as it did again and again, each time no less painful than the time before. A stubborn smile fought its way on to her face as she walked away.

"I look forward to it, Rin."

Flushed with birthday energy, Neneko was quick to make it up the stairs even in her strappy high heels. The energy to propel her up there was present, though her limbs felt a little like they were going numb.

Gakuko followed her mistress, letting little distance get between the two of them.

Neneko's pulse was racing as she reached for the doorknob. She paused for a moment, turning to face Gakuko.

"Gakuko... stay here. Don't let anyone in." The expression on her face showed that she was deadly serious.

Gakuko didn't feel threatened, but took the seriousness of the situation appropriately.

"Understood."

A servant that listened! This was working out well. Her expression was still heavy, but lightened with ever so little of a smile.

"Thank you." With that, she unlocked the door and made her way inside.

As soon as Neneko was inside, Gakuko leapt in front of the door and fell into a defensive pose. No one entered or exited while she was on guard.

Neneko quietly shut and locked the door behind her. Immediately upon entrance, she sensed that the atmosphere was different here. The shades were all shut, and the curtains all closed. It was simple enough for someone of her blood to see through the darkness, but it was still a strange situation to her.

A darkly beautiful creature was seated at the table, watching Neneko with a clever and knowing eye.

Neneko's limbs felt more and more heavy as she attempted to approach the table. Though hesitant, she made her way over to the corner adjacent to the other being that was there. It was difficult to meet eyes at first, but the girl was eventually drawn to do just that. The usually overly confident Neneko, even with her eyes attempting to convey the inner fierceness that lead her to be successful, couldn't help but feel withdrawn and at a lack of words.

She was adorable. Too cute! Her smile deepened as she locked eyes with this young creature. She admired openly much like an artist admiring their own work. Red hair, that ran in the family. Perhaps that delicate bone structure did as well. The olive skin and brown eyes... could that be from the father?

Breaking from this trance, she was quick to comfort this deer in the headlights. "Nene, sit. Please do." Her voice was a little coarse, but soothing.

Neneko was doing some comparisons of her own. The hair was the same, but she definitely did not get her skin tone or eyes from her mother. Being spoken to nearly made her jump.

"Ah, yes!" A wide-eyed Neneko was quick to take up a chair. A little puzzled at how to address this person, she decided formality was best. "Mother..."

Amarante couldn't help but giggle. "'Mother'... ahahaha!" She traced a pointer finger around her cheek as she looked quite thoughtful. "So strange... but it is true."

With a calming sigh, she took up her daughter's right hand into her own, holding it firmly. "Tell me, Nene... what is it you wish to know? What is it you desire?"

A jolt went through Neneko's body as soon as their skin touched. At first leading to a feeling of panic as her body tensed, then to a feeling of understanding as she relaxed. Still, there was something she wanted to know... and now was the time to ask.

"Mother... who is my father?"

Amarante expected this. The answer was simple enough, though probably not what Neneko wanted.

"A Japanese man."

Well, she had answered. Though nothing as glamorous or specific as she wanted. And... what?

"A Japanese man?" Neneko could have figured this if she had really thought about it, but still. It lead her to thoughts of Japanese business men, which she really couldn't see her mother getting involved with. So, she had to ask.

"Like... an attractive Japanese man?"

Amarante didn't miss a beat. "Ohoho, of course, of course!" Even with the strange reproduction process, she could figure out the origins of such children pretty easily. And she was remembering up that alley (or gutter, as it were) right now. "Business partners, on a global scale. In more ways than one." A knowing smile.

Neneko was unphased hearing such things from her mother; this was the way of their race. Almost a little disturbingly so. She twirled part of her hair with her free hand as she thought out loud.

"So more than one chance at a sample, I take it." That path of thought was quickly sidetracked by another. "Japan... are we talking ancient Japan? What kind of species? Is he still alive?"

Her curiosity was adorable. However...

"Ahaha, nothing that grand I'm afraid. You were released shortly after creation..." Leaning her face into her free hand, her expression was both lazy and amused. "I guess they think I'm getting old..."

Her eye blinked curiously as she thought over it. "Alive? Hmm. I'd assume not. It was a dangerous line of work..."

Neneko was expecting a more interesting story... but it was sufficient. "Not alive... I see."

She assumed that her mother's statement was a bit of forewarning. Her speaking became stilted. "I'll do my best to act in your place, as I am now of age..."

Amarante was surprised... and soon laughing. "Oh, so that is what this stiffness from you is." Once again her voice was soothing. "My dear, you have only just begun your training. One day you may replace me... but that day will not be for thousands of years."

"T-thousands?" Eww. Neneko didn't want to be old.

"It really doesn't feel like that long of a span of time... errm." It was difficult to convince a teenaged girl of this. "But anyway. You will be busy as the heir, surely. But live your life as you must. This is what I desire." A confident smile graced her face.

So firm, yet so gentle. It really took Neneko off guard. "R-right!"

"Now... is there anything else you wish to know?"

Neneko's face was regaining some of its usual confidence. Though still, she looked to the side thoughtfully. "No. I understand now. Thank you, Mother."

"Excellent." Amarante let go of Neneko's hand. "Now, go continue your festivities with your guests." She smiled happily. "We shall meet again."

"Right!" Neneko was quickly to her feet and to the door. "Gakuko, it's me," she said as she unlocked the door.

Gakuko hadn't moved a muscle since Neneko had left. "Understood, Neneko-sama." She resumed a standing pose and cleared from the doorway.

Exiting the apartment, Neneko was quick to shut the door behind her. With both hands on both hips, she bore a cheerful expression as she announced her intentions to Gakuko.

"Let's return." Her steps were much less frantic than before as she descended.

Gakuko noticed that Neneko's attitude had changed a little, but thought nothing of it.

"As you command, Neneko-sama."

Amarante lingered a bit, but would be gone by the time the girls returned. There were other apartments she could lurk in, after all. Though she wouldn't leave before acknowledging one unwelcome visitor.

"Feng."

There was a gleam of light that cut through the darkness as he adjusted his glasses. "Your majesty."

"I could kill you for such impudence... it is fully within my rights." Her tiny fangs were quite visible as she spoke.

Fu knew what he had done, but... well, there was nothing left to lose at this point. Without a second thought he fell to the position of a servant: one knee.

"My life is within your hands, your majesty."

It was very simple for Amarante to read Fu. Completely loyal to her father, this was no act of treachery on his part. No, this was the beginnings of something far less important and well, possibly amusing. With that consideration, she had no desire to kill him. Though she wouldn't be wrong to.

Stretching her arms upward with a bit of a yawn showed her complete control of the situation. "Hmmph. Do as you like. Your stupid plans are no concern of my own. But know this: you may end up with more than you had bargained for."

With that, she disappeared into a lingering black mist.

Fu was taken back, to say the least. How did she... ? She had no way of knowing. Had she? He decided not to worry about it, as she didn't seem to want to be involved.

He was quick to return to the party, once his mind was back in line.

A man’s heart was the strongest element of his being. This is something that Abe truly believed and exercised every glorious day. But at times even a man’s heart could waver, as it was not without flaws or without doubt.



Abe was a man outside of his own reality. Was he of another world or simply born anew in this world? It was hard to say and the individuals who had made that decision had not conferred the reasoning of just why to him. Overall he was of the mind that he could make the most of any situation. But even this sunny perspective could be shaded over by the grim concept of being forcefully ripped from a peaceful death for reasons unknown.



Still, he worked for them and worked for them contentedly. As far as he could tell their ideals matched up with his own so he felt no need for complaint. And nor was now the time for it as one of the order’s most ancient members had passed down a command to collect an international criminal of great wile and danger. A criminal that just happened to be the man’s own daughter.



“So do you think you can do it? Bring her back, I mean.”



Abe didn’t hesitate for even a moment, putting forth his confidence with his mysterious smile. “I will bring her back. That is a man’s promise.”



His fate had been changed, but his resolution had not.

Another night, another preparation full of nerves and pure willpower for a creature adorned with not only spangles he’d picked out personally but also a back that bore quite the unusual feature in the way of insect-like wings. With a hand that was anything but fair he adjusted his oft worn aviator glasses, fluidly following that motion with an instinctual action to pop the collar of his buttonless shirt. It was the routine. The usual of the unusual. But something seemed to linger with an undesirable weight within that musty backstage air.

His story was an atypical one even for someone as curious as himself. The pursuit of musical greatness was an unlikely path for one of the fair folk to follow but he’d done just that with great success and influence. They’d even raised a shopping center bearing his name as if he were some sort of hero. It was the most surreal of the surreal. He’d believe it to be a daydream if he didn’t live with the reality of it every day.

He’d made enough peace with the daily brouhaha he dealt with as the result of his life’s work. But in his heart still lingered feelings as if he’d betrayed even his truest sense of self by choosing the path of war so many years ago. Others’ attempts to bandage that heart with medals and accolades were no better than a mere placebo at best. Even with the best intentions it seemed like deception, even if he could never deceive himself.

But even that hanging doubt couldn’t smother what was important; what was true and dear and what soothed those aches and questioning thoughts. More than what he was before, more than what could have been perceived as what the reality of what happened before even could be, there was love. The love he felt from a crowd that accepted him as a whole despite everything. He told them everything, every detail, without actually spelling things out. So he couldn’t help but return that love, fully and truly.

Maybe the mental scars would never really go away, but they wouldn’t be his downfall either. The roar of the crowd was his medicine. His unadulterated sunshine-scented elixir vitae.

She had to have it. Two unnaturally blue eyes locked on to a delicate bit of white taffeta laced with black silk ribbons with an obsessive fixation that was almost frightening. And the look of bliss within those eyes was reflected through the tiny twitch of joy present upon her finely-pointed ears as well.

“Lilina… ?” Cyril’s attempts to retrieve his leader from wherever the dress had sent her seemed to be for naught. He looked up at her with some concern, as even though this reaction could be considered normal where great treasure was involved it did seem a little odd to be had over an item supplied by a store.

For the most part the elf tuned out her companion as her expression turned from ecstasy to determination in nothing flat. “I will buy this. It is mine.” She clutched it and brought it up to the somewhat stunned salesclerk. Somehow there was a certain amount of pride involved in turning over gold pieces for such a sumptuous item rather than the usual five fingered discount, even though the gold itself was certainly very stolen. Her mind didn’t linger on such matters. Currency had no element of personal attachment to it. It merely was exchanged between different parties with little emotion involved at all. Just what that type of transference that meant was of little significance to her. Any way she could get coin was legitimate in her mind.

The salesclerk seemed to sense she was dealing with something unusual, as she approached the situation with caution. “May I package that up for you?”

“There’s no need.” Her expression was cheerful but she held the dress to her tightly leathered body both away from the sales clerk and with unusual tenacity. From areas unknown on her body she produced a sizable pouch of gold and presented it upon the counter with little fanfare. Still, her tone and expression remained sweet. “This is more than enough, I am sure?”

And it was just that, far more than enough, which the salesclerk attempted to approach with the same caution as before. “Would you like the remainder, or… ?”

“No need, no need~” Lilina’s voice continued to be musical as she was already over said transaction and on her way out. With an almost polite nod to the salesperson Cyril was on his way after her with hurried steps. He was already too late, however… she had slipped out of sight.

She could barely bear the wait of having to get home to enjoy such a fantastic thing, after all. The front door was scarcely shut as she began to unbind herself from her leathers with her usual amount of incredible ease. The cool sensation of the fabric against her skin was enough to leave her satisfied with her purchase but the sight reflected in the looking glass made it all the more worthwhile. Shock wasn’t the word to describe it. Despite her unusual features Lilina was very much aware of her status as quite the attractive elf. With upraised arms she pushed her black hair side to side in the dim light, admiring just how well it suited her as the binding spell sketched across her pale body glowed softly through the sheer fabric and quite visibly on her exposed shoulders and legs. She was neither the tomboy nor the princess type, so both leather armor and delicate dresses suited her just fine.

That was not to say it was a state that others were accustomed to seeing her in, however. Just over her shoulder in the reflection she admired, she finally noticed the addition of her odd-eyed and presently wide-eyed companion. She had probably noticed his entrance but ended up disregarding it as unimportant. But as he was there and clearly stunned she decided that she might as well play the situation out as much as she could. With bright eyes and and pleasant expression, she spun around to greet him.

“What do you think? I think I quite like it, very much so.”

“It’s… that is…” Cyril reflexively made a motion to stroke his beard in the pretense of having lofty thoughts over such a question. Words were not the first thing that came to mind over such a thing as that, but he exercised an admirable level of self restraint. This was all very obvious to the elf however, who grinned a little more with every moment that passed without receiving an answer. “You are… it is…” He wasn’t afraid of saying it, but the level of honesty involved was nerve-wracking. So in an action that was almost like conceding defeat, he spat it out. “Very pretty.”

She wouldn’t be caught off guard by the likes of him, but nevertheless Lilina found it as something that was very good to hear. “You think so?” Well obviously, having said just that, but she couldn’t help but twirl a little more in her delight. “It’s pretty, and I’m pretty, and…” Very good. She couldn’t help but laugh.

Cyril could tell that she wasn’t mocking him but the entire thing was a little too overwhelming for him as he suddenly found both his face hot and his eyes unable to look away. His body however could still make an escape. “I’ll be waiting downstairs… when you’re finished…” He was quick to do just that, before anything could happen to change his mind.

With a soft sound of amusement she allowed him to leave without interference, lest she end up breaking her right hand man for a mere bit of amusement.

He was caught. A handsome rogue of a man, with glossy black hair and golden eyes, in a predicament of his own making. With nervous amusement he couldn’t help but wonder if ‘caught’ was the best word for his delicate situation… he had walked straight in, after all. Face first into her delicate tendrils, her sharp strands, her cutting bindings.

Any slight shift of the body would be enough to slice into both fabric and skin. His captor didn’t always use such fine-cutting wire but the modus operandi involved was very much her. He could feel the slightest tremble along the line as well as uneven breathing… perhaps even choking back a sob. It was enough to make his heart feel heavy despite the fact that he felt that he had done nothing wrong. Seeing her suffer a pain he couldn’t soothe was too difficult for him. What was a few missing memories compared to unending hurt?

He himself was in for a lot of hurt, but to him it was worth every ache and pain. “Come on now… I said I was sorry!” His relaxed body language did him no favors as even just shifting slightly was enough to cut through cloth and nick the skin. He winced and vocalized instinctively though it was an expected pain. She was a clean killer, as he was caught neatly at major joints rather than all over his body. She meant to teach him a lesson; to take her suffering out on him, not maim him. How many times had he seen her do it? One moment nothing amiss. The next, a pile of limbs. To his unceasing life and reconstituting body it didn’t mean much, but it didn’t mean it would hurt any less.

The silence and lack of tremble from before bolstered his confidence past the point of no return. “There, there. Don’t you think this is a little too much? I only wanted to help you. You’re much too important to me to carry this sadness for the rest of your days.” His soothing tone soon turned indignant. “To feel this much over a human… why not just forget? Forget all of it. All you need is me, now…”

The quiet that had just soothed his nerves as he waited in the darkness was suddenly very grating.

Barely was there a moment for him to purse his lips to start to curiously say her name out loud before a sparking flash of silver caused the whole of a man to become three-thirds of a man, his agony only beginning though already the pain burned deeply into his bones.