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 Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2009 8:57 pm
The call had come as dusk began to settle the night previous; from the charm that belonged to the flower girl, the teenage Scent had called Qadir and asked him to keep her mother company while she attended and offered support for the festivities that Olivia was hosting. Kaoru had even promised food for each day, and was true to her word; the dining room table was decorated with crepes and fresh fruit, sparkling cider in fluted glasses catching the soft firelight and casting amber glow upon the painting-laden walls. Cuts of cheese and deli meats weren't quite as fetching in color, but were also put out, yet untouched by the only person within those walls.
And there, nestled into the corner of the couch (that still had blood stains visible upon it from years past if one looked close enough), sat the flower girl herself. It was almost unfair to say she was sitting, as she was more in a half-lounging position, leaning her fragile weight against the arm of the furniture closest to the fire, wrapped snuggly in a purple-patched quilt that her mother had made for her. The orange licks of flame lit her porcelain features with the most life she'd had in the better part of a year, easing away the shadows of pain and sadness that tried to etch dark circles beneath her nearly-grey eyes. She'd taken the time to fix up her raven-wing hair into the thick curls that he had enjoyed, although they were heavier and reached her back, long as her tresses had grown. With her petite face framed, the smile on her lips and the blanket warm around her, it was easy to forget the plague that was slowly eating away at time.
Crystal hadn't had company - his company - in what felt like a lifetime. Even if she was on her death bed, she would be vibrant with the joy of knowing his company would soon be hers. She waited patiently, silently watching the embers in the stone hearth glitter and warm the modest room. While she had been surprised to find what her daughter had done, she was now immensely grateful. She found, as time went on, that she didn't want to be alone anymore.
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Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2009 9:41 pm
Qadir had had every intention of not bothering to leave the house for the umpteenth time in the last few years. Orpheus had become thoroughly displeased with the father figure and threatened to go to the festivities without him. But how could Qadir be bothered with pretending to be happy with a bunch of people, when the only person he wanted to spend time with was in no condition to be indulging the big baby in him. Perhaps it was because of his completely narrowed focus that had put such a strain on him (who are we kidding, it's totally because of his obsessive nature), but even Orpheus' threat did little to budge him from his seat. His son was old enough now to take care of himself, what use was the vampire in that respect either.
It was possible that that was part of the problem, watching the people around him move on with their lives. Of course Qadir had spent his whole life passing him by, but he'd never had a son of his own, or let a woman get so close to him, and now he was watching both of them move on in all respects. It had been shock enough when Orpehus had woken up one night quite older than he'd been when he'd gone to sleep, and of course Crystal's illness had been weighing on him so heavily these days.
Now though, there was the slightest glimpse of light through the clouds. Kaoru had asked him to take care of Crystal, and of course there was nothing he wished to do more. No doubt he could stop by at any time to see her, but he felt like such a bother, such a worthless burden upon his beloved. Being invited brought a whole new happiness into his eyes, and after Orpheus left for the festivities Qadir threw on his warm cloak and took off towards Crystal's home.
Once at the house, assuming Kaoru had already left and not wishing to disturb Crystal to come answer the door for him, he'd knock before letting himself in with a call of her name to make sure she wasn't startled by his sudden appearance. For a moment he waited in the doorway, waiting for her welcoming voice, and when he heard it he'd close the door behind him and do his best not to run into the room where she was waiting. "Crystal," the man breathed, sitting beside her and taking one of her hands as if it were made of glass. It was all he could do without choking on the grief and happiness welling in his chest.
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Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2009 9:59 pm
The first thrill of excitement made her stomach warm with butterflies at the sound of his voice, peeking over the top of the couch and calling for him to come in. When he did, Crystal could feel the tears spring to her eyes, although she wouldn't let them fall beyond her lashes, not yet!
She shifted away from the warm fire as a different warmth flooded her, almost leaning against Qadir in the process. The cool hand in his slid up the length of his arm to cup his dark cheek, her other hand joining on the opposite side of his face, smiling up at him with the same happiness she could see in his liquid amber eyes. A little shimmy, a bit of height lended by her knees upon the cushions, and she lifted herself up to him, head tilting back as her lips found his. Crystal kissed her beloved vampire without fear or acknowledgement of station between them, fingers gliding beyond and brushing through his hair before settling on his shoulders. Only then did she pull back a ways, fit to burst with sheer joy, giving a small, tinkling laugh.
"I missed you," she breathed in a quiet but affectionate voice, barely above a whisper as if that fear of social difference still weighed in her mind despite her heart being free from it. "I've missed you so much, my sweet, sweet Qadir. Please tell me you've been busy and well! You look tired, my love." Immediately, Crystal was doing what she did best, and that was fret over her foreign love as though he had simply been away on business for a time. She did not pull her gentle weight away from him, nor did she apologize for her rather forward actions. The flower girl gave him a most charmed and serene smile, eyes flitting over his face and breathing in his closeness.
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Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2009 10:20 pm
Qadir would have cried had he had the energy to do so, his amber eyes so dim in comparison to their usual joy and now swimming with happy tears. Her kiss was so sweet and soft and it was all he could do not to die of joy right there in her arms. Ah, perhaps they were too pathetically gooshy and sweet to each other, but he could find no better way to spend every second than to be in her reach and know she was ok. Of course he kissed her back, wrapping his arms about her and pulling him in close, nuzzling into her and refusing to let her pull away though she tried.
The man buried his face into her shoulder, closing his eyes and just reminding himself that she was real and there and everything was going to be ok. Without her in his arms it was so easy to let his mind run rampant with terrible ideas and the possibility that any moment Kaoru would send him a message that he'd never see the woman in his arms again, and that he would be too late to save her, or even say good bye.
"I missed you too Crystal, I missed you so much..." his breath caught in his throat and he felt that any moment he'd begin stuttering once more, making a fool out of himself. He had to remind himself to take it slow, not to hurt her or upset her in any way. "I've been busy," Qadir replied half heartedly, not wanting to lie to her, but knowing she could tell he'd been unwell these past few months whether he tried to deny it or not. "I've not been sleeping well...the, the nightmares..." He faltered. His nightmares had changed slowly, and he no longer dreamed of his old life, but of losing her.
"But how have you been? I've been so worried about you my dear..."
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Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2009 10:36 pm
One arm draped over the vampire's shoulders, the other lifting to slip her fingers back into that soft hair, simply holding Qadir against her. The weight of him nestled against her and his warm breath against her neck were oh-so-welcome, his voice a wonderful sound in the quiet of the house. Crystal closed her eyes, leaning her cheek against the side of his head as he rested against her, listening to his gentle and halting words.
If she hadn't known something was wrong before, his trailing and faltered sentences would have alerted her. She knew better than to ask. The flower girl had accepted her illness and the fate that loomed for her; to pretend it could be any other way would have been an insult to both of them. Crystal turned her head in the slightest to press her lips into his dark hair, fingers continuing their delicate motion, "I am doing well today." It was an honest answer. She waged her time by the days, and today was a good one, if not solely for the man in her arms. Her heart felt aflutter like it did the first night he swept her off her feet to dance beneath the stars; he always made her feel alive.
"It does me wonders of good to see you, sleepless as you may be," she continued, the hair stirred by her words tickling her nose, "and I am most sorry for your nightmares..." Not that the flower girl had any idea that they were about her. She assumed they were the same from the night she'd spent with him - which brought her to her next statement. "Would it do you any good to stay with me, Qadir? Stay with me while this festival takes place?" Even if social station held no sway over the song of her heart, the proposition still made her cheeks redden, innocent as it was. "I may not be able to ease your troubled dreams, but I can still hold you, still be here for you when you wake up." She didn't actually think he'd accept, but she was completely sincere in her offer; even one night at his side would do her wonders.
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Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2009 9:16 pm
The vampire nuzzled into the woman like a cat into a warm blanket; it was a wonder he hadn't started purring yet he was so clearly content and comfortable. Fingers danced and trailed along her back, twirling absently for a few moments at the tips of those curls before exploring once more, a playful little way to keep her trapped against him, though he was sure she wasn't minding in the least. Being with her now, all those excuses that had kept them apart for so long seemed truly silly, and he felt quite terrible at his less than gentlemanly avoidance of her. Avoidance wasn't quite the word actually, since there would never be a time he didn't wish to see his elegant flower girl, but it was more fitting than the other thoughts that were flitting in and out of his mind.
Any replies Qadir might have been summoning up, any hint that he thought she would give him a hard time for not sleeping or clearly not telling all of his story, they were nothing but air on his tongue when she proposed her little plan. "Stay here. With you?" Qadir's face showed a bit of confusion before breaking into a wide grin, looking much more the flamboyant silver tongued rogue he was so well known to be. "I would love nothing more than to stay these few nights with you Crystal," he murmurred, his voice trailing off for there was nothing more he wished than to spend forever with her. A few nights would certainly feel close to the immortal.
"And it looks like Kaoru has prepared us such a lovely dinner to start off a lovely night," Qadir said, waving his hand towards the table of food he'd caught the slightest glimpse of. Immediately his hands slipped under her legs and around her shoulders, pepared to carry her if she so desired. He dared not lift her without permission from her though; weak though she may be, he did not want her to feel weaker in the possibility she would think his actions meant he thought her so incapable of daily activities.
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Posted: Sat Dec 26, 2009 2:53 am
She certainly did not mind. In fact, she allowed a soft, pleased sigh to escape at the feel of his fingers pressing against her slender back, taking enjoyment in the simple contact that she had craved and missed over the time that had separated them. Crystal was exactly where she wanted to be, until the end of her days.
The flower girl withdrew a little to look at the vampire, a good-humored smile touching her lips. "Yes, me," she laughed softly, unable to stop the light pink blush that rounded her cheeks and gave her skin color at his grin. She was utterly smitten with that smile, feeling rather weak in its presence in all the best ways. His response, however, made her face glow with a joy born of surprise and pure, unfettered happiness, prompting her to wrap her arms affectionately around his shoulders. "I'm glad," she murmured lightly, pressing her nose and lips against his dark cheek.
His hands brushed beneath her legs, and in response, she let the blanket fall from her hands onto the couch in a warm heap, resting her delicate weight against him trustingly. Once upon a time, she would have given a small squeal of enjoyment and perhaps protested with a small kick of her legs, but she no longer desired to be so independent. Crystal longed for the time spent in Qadir's arms, and if he wanted to carry her, then she would be all too happy to hold onto him for the precious time between couch and dining table. "She is a good daughter," she commented, resting her cheek against his shoulder as she relaxed against him, "and she adores you truly. It is as much an effort to make me eat as it is for you to stay."
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Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2010 3:52 am
"Ah, what it must be like to have a good child," Qadir teased with a lopsided grin, thinking of how he couldn't help but to care for Orpheus but certainly found him anything but a good son. There were times when he got close at least, but the older vampire had never felt the boy was a shining example of filial piety. Thinking of Orpheus darkened the man's smile however and the lines around his eyes showed he was trying hard not to outright frown. "Especially lately...he has been so distant, so strange ever since this woman came to our home." The dark-haired man shook his head as if to dislodge the thoughts from his mind. Here he was, stealing some of Crystal's precious time and he was letting himself go on a tangent thought travel. Gold eyes cleared as he turned his full attention back to the woman in his arms.
As if they were dancing, Qadir gave her a twirl and a dip, his strong arms never daring to pretend they couldn't keep her safe within them. "Perhaps Kaoru thought to make food which would keep for a while nicely without being eaten," he murmured amongst her curls into her ear as he gently let her legs fall and feet rest against the top of his. Encircling her, Qadir allowed her the option of dancing on her own two feet or saving her strength and just let him carry her around the room in a slow waltz.
One arm tucked under hers, fingers resting upon the small of her back with small circling motions while the other arm entangled its hand within the forest of dark locks to hold her head against his chest. With the softest of tunes, Qadir hummed gently to her as he moved her every so gently about the room. Every now and then he'd pause his song and take a breath as if he were about to say something just on the tip of his tongue but instead he would press a tender kiss upon her forehead and pick up the tune where he'd left off.
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Posted: Tue Aug 31, 2010 5:24 am
The soft chuckle that escaped her was feather-light, but amused. "Orpheus? Acting distant because of a woman? You don't say." Crystal's tone was light and chiding, almost poking fun at the notion. While the younger vampire had been distant to herself and her daughter, he was truly very thoughtful and accepting of them in his own flippant manner. There was a crease of concern for the independent Lily, but her thoughts were easily whisked off in time with their sudden dip and twirl.
The flower girl gasped then, the breath taken from her in a sweet manner as Qadir set his feet in a familiar sway across the room, her own lightly resting against his. Crystal was weak, even on such a good day as this, but she did her best to carry her own weight. Lithe arms tucked over his shoulders, fingers laced against his neck and the tips of the hair she so adored, her light steps off his own were crisp, but slow. She didn't have the strength to move quickly, and just the same, she didn't want the moment to end. It took her back in time, beneath the moonlit sky after an impromptu dinner with a mysterious stranger, one who made her crave the night to return him to her.
Pale eyes closed as his lips touched her brow, and for a long moment, she said nothing. Crystal listened to his song and felt his strong, supportive presence for all she could, hoping as she always had that it wouldn't be the last time she would be in his presence. The rise of his chest as he breathed as though to say something wasn't missed - it was near impossible to miss, really, given how close she was - but she did not pry, instead assuming he was just taking breath to continue his song for her. It was a nice thought.
Filling her lungs with his soothing closeness, she opened her slightly teared eyes and tilted her head to smile up at Qadir. There was more joy than sadness in her thick-lashed gaze, but there was still that poignant feeling beneath. "Seems like another life time ago when a handsome man came by our shop with the night," she murmured in a soft tone, sharing her thoughts. It seemed important, somehow, that she impart her feelings for the man no matter her misgivings about station and title. Those things were not as important anymore. "You've made me so...so happy, Qadir." For a moment, the shine in her eyes could be attested only to the blossom of warmth in her chest and the way her smile eased the signs of pain from her delicate features. If she had the power to stop time - or two choose a time to hold as her days dwindled - this would have been that moment.
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