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 Posted: Sun May 15, 2011 10:19 pm
Who: Shepard Ryan, Delia
Where: Gambino beach
When: Early afternoon
Weather: Sunshine, salty wind, blue skies
Warm, finally warm.
Shepard Ryan sometimes believed his lifeline was attached to a shore, like his heart was made of silt, ever generated by the movement of the waves. Even when the air was cold and the sea turned black, he was incapable of staying away, always visiting what he felt to be a friend, slumbering less than peacefully in the uncaring hands of winter weather.
But now the grey of winter skies had passed -- the air was warm and the sea was awake and friendly, rolling jaw-splitting yawns onto the golden-bodied beach. Shepard clung to a sharp and craggy cliffside, rejoicing in the music of the waves, shirtless and fingers white with chalk. His hair was unkempt, mussed by wind, and he moved across the rock face with a careless sort of grace, hand over hand. The sun made bronze his shoulders and his hair full copper, and the sea spray kept him cool as he climbed.
So focused was he on the physical motions of climbing, that Shepard really barely noticed the music for what it was, notes mingling with the crashing of water on rock. Slowly, though, as he neared the top of the cliffside, the sounds became louder and more distinct -- a violin, that's what it was, the sounds of someone practicing their craft against the ocean's conduction.
As he reached the top of the rock side, he debated momentarily, hanging heavily from his holds -- he had taken rather the long way up climbing the face; the other side of the cliff was quite easily walkable for anyone who wished to do so. A couple, for instance, trying to get both privacy and the best view of the ocean might have decided to picnic and serenade one another there. In that case, well, he'd be a damned awkward intruder, wouldn't he?
Moving his feet carefully to new holds, Shepard decided to take a quick peek -- any ultra-intimate setting, and he'd quickly traverse back across the cliffside and drop off safely into the ocean.
A crop of tousled, wind-spiked hair poked up from the cliffside, followed closely by a pair of faded, yet sharply curious green eyes.
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Posted: Sat May 21, 2011 9:29 pm
By choice or by circumstance, Cordelia felt she'd been cut off from most of the world these past several months. A lot had happened she supposed with body switching and the freezing of the Lab, yet here she ushered herself away from any and all prying eyes to give love to a friend whom never forgot nor abandoned her during all this. Not that she actually thought people had abandoned her, but she did feel forgotten somewhat. Though some of it was her own fault for wanting to keep close to her guardian should anything happen and Ebby was not one for going out much as of late.
And though Delia felt she should be with her woman as much as possible, there was only so much of that damnable house she could stand before it started feeling like the walls were closing in on her. It was something she couldn't help as the weather outside reached high into the nineties and even the hundreds, it made the serpentine Raevan restless to not be basking in all this incredible warmth. The sand of the beach was something that was much desired, but the other half of her being, the smoke, it made being relaxed near water impossible. There was always the constant fear of a stray wave crashing or something to that effect coming in contact with her and Cordelia would rather avoid pain than bare it if at all possible.
The cliff overlooking the ocean seemed a prime spot to bask in the day's rays without fear of such things and Delia even felt a bit inspired to try her hand at some original composition. It wasn't the same inspired she'd felt back when she'd first met Pasha and gotten her beloved, but it was closer than she'd felt in a long time.
Her sleek black hair was down for once, flowing effortlessly in the slight breeze that graced the tops of the sun warmed rocks. The waves crashing down far below provided a perfect tempo at which to pace her strumming while the nearby trees, though scarce this close to the edge, proved a most welcomed conductor as well as audience. Delia was in the midst of her masterpiece and as the waves picked up speed so did she, her slender digits flying across the stings with heated excitement, gearing up for a most triumphant finish. And then her grey eyes happened across a disembodied face peering from under the cliffside. For a brief moment her mind hadn't registered what it was she was seeing, but when it finally had the Frei jumped in surprise. Losing her focus, Cordelia's fingers slipped and a long, loud screech was issued by her violin.
Fear and concern colored her face as she quickly looked her instrument over. Oh man, if she'd snapped another string Ebby was going to kill her! When all seemed to still be intact, Delia's face pulled into clear anger. "Hey! Hey you! On the cliff! Don't pretend you can't hear me! What exactly do you think you're doing spying on me like that?!"
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Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2011 10:01 pm
It was -- it was a Raevan! And one that he knew,... well, insofar as chance meetings at a shoe store could make anyone an acquaintance.
As the notes began to reach their final crescendo, Shepard could only stare in surprise, unsure of how to correctly greet what he remembered to be a bizarrely mature and self-aware Frei. But as he waited for the final, triumphal note to sound, a wild sort of squawk interjected itself instead from the violin -- and afterwards came Delia's angry accusation.
"Oi," was the first thing that exited Shepard's mouth, as if in attempt to stem the Raevan's annoyance. He slowly pulled himself up from the cliffside, stopping after he'd revealed a neck and a set of broad shoulders. He looked almost akin to a Frei himself in that proportion, and he leaned over on his arms, unwilling to completely pull himself to his feet if his society proved to be particularly irksome to the basilisk.
Did she look different, somehow? Or was it the play of the sun and the whip of the wind on her hair that made her -- was it -- what was it? Shepard's eyes were keen in that moment, and he studied her unabashedly, like one who admires something truly unique.
"Apologies," the Aussie continued, his expression faintly sheepish around the edges. "Didn't mean to scare yeh. Was... beckoned by the sound of someone playing." He lifted a chalk-dusted finger from the ground, gesturing faintly toward the violin. "You're good."
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Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2011 6:03 pm
Cordelia didn't know whether it was the way the breeze played on his extravagantly messy hair or how the sun shone upon his bare chested skin and set his emerald eyes a glow or maybe it was just the way the Aussie so casually hung half over the cliff side to address her musical prowess, but the snake Raevan suddenly felt her cheeks flare with more warmth than was normal, the outer portion of her fair face lightly dusted with soft shades of pink.
"Uh...well..." Thoroughly befuddled, the girl turned quickly away from him, pushing back a loose strand of onyx hair over an ear. This was so embarrassing! No one aside from her guardian had ever really heard her play until now. It made her feel even more uncomfortable that it was a stranger who happened upon her then. She was positive that no one would have stumbled upon her all the way up here, and yet...here he was.
Clearing her throat quick, the basilisk spun back around and held her matching black violin close to her chest. "Y-you didn't scare me. I was just...surprised was all. And thank you." Delia added that last part very faintly, a possibility of her smokey gratitude having been lost in the sound of the wind and waves.
There was an awkward moment that passed between the two before Cordelia forgot her uneasiness and quirked a brow. "Ummm...I know you...right?" His face did seem vaguely familiar.
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Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2011 5:49 pm
That she had been surprised, Shepard was sure of. But the Frei he'd met before -- at least, the one his memory supplied him with -- didn't seem the sort to let any surprises, or compliments, under her skin so much. There was something new, a youthful vulnerability, that showed in the basilisk's momentarily bashful motions, set off by that rather becoming blush over her cheeks. He thought to comment about it, maybe to tease her just barely for it, seeing as it must be a new addition...
... but then, she didn't remember him.
It had, Shepard supposed, been a short meeting, and meeting a Frei (so rare!) was certainly more to him than meeting just another human must be to her. So, while he wished he could have registered more surprise or chagrin, Shepard merely took it for a compliment that she even remembered him a tiny bit and left it at that.
"Met once at a shoe store down on Gambino Walks. M'friend Vivi and yer Guardian were looking for shoes," he supplied, still looking up at the Frei with that earnest, direct gaze. "My name's Shepard Ryan -- you're Cordelia, if I remember correctly, right? It's a pleasure."
Here he offered a hand, although he still remained fixed on the cliffside, hanging, waiting for invitation into what he saw to be her space.
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Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 9:18 pm
"Oh...right..." Cordelia replied, once more averting his gaze, yet this time to look down to her legless bottom half. Though she was utterly relieved to be in her own body again, she did miss the feelings of having a lower half. Legs and feet were so much fun. Especially with all the different kinds of accessories they had for them. Never before did she feel more glad and happy to be born female than she had that day. Cordelia sighed, one day she'd have her own two legs to walk on finally and be able to buy all kinds of clothes and shoes. She couldn't wait.
At the sound of her full name, the basilisk's smokey eyes returned to the man's face, but with a slightly exasperated expression. It wasn't that she didn't like her name, quite the contrary, she absolutely adored her name, but well...she always fond it far too formal in casual settings like this. Besides, this wasn't a first time meeting either, they technically already knew one another so such formality wasn't necessary.
"Delia. Please, call me Delia. And you know, Shepard, you could always sit up here." the Frei gestured to the ground above the cliff in front of her. "You must be tired after all that climbing. Take a load off." The snake girl smiled sweetly then.
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Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2011 2:53 pm
"Delia, then. Thanks f' the offer." With a faint grin, Shepard pushed himself up and over the cliff's edge, hooking a heel over and then pulling himself up to sit on the flat ground. There had been vague disappointment in the girl's tone, but it had changed as she offered to let him stay -- so Shepard had to assume that the Frei had just been mildly embarrassed at having forgotten someone who hadn't forgotten her.
"How long've you been playing th' violin, Delia?" He said, taking a moment to roll one of his shoulders, pressing rough fingertips into the junction of his neck and collar. His chalked fingertips left white streaks behind. Shepard nodded at the violin, and his voice was matey and warm and curious. "Y' always practice for the sea?"
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Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2011 3:33 am
Watching the man as he carefully got himself situated on solid ground again, Cordelia couldn't help but chuckle at the white marks he'd left on his skin. She was just about to point them out to him when he instead asked her a couple of questions. For whatever reasons the simple inquiry had the dulled blush return to the dark haired girl's cheeks.
Fiddling a bit with the strings and pegs on said instrument, "Not long..." Mentally the girl did the math and then even more embarrassed quietly added, "Well...perhaps a year or so. Give or take." Delia gave a light chuckle at having not realized how much time had passed since she'd gained her beloved. In such a span of time the basilisk surely had to have improved yes?
Pushing back a loose strand of onyx colored hair behind an ear, "And no, I don't often play here. I just had to get out of the house today." Her fingers strummed the violin's strings lightly then. "What about you Shepard? No shopping with Vivi today?" She mused over the last time she'd seen the petite French woman and smiled fondly. "How is she? I've missed her."
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Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 7:56 pm
"Well, y'sound great," said Shepard with a little dip of his head. His eyes snaked around just briefly -- there was no sheet music that he could see, so he assumed Delia must have been practicing out of her head. Although he himself didn't play any instrument, it seemed like a difficult thing to do; definitely not something a novice would go for. "Glad y'came out and gave the world a chance to hear. Always better than stayin' in."
At her next comment, though, Shepard gave a faint, amused snort. "Heaven guard me from havin' to shop often with Vivi. Thing's a marathon sport. But I'll tell 'er y'said that. I'm sure she misses you, too. She'll be thrilled to know I found yeh up here practicing. Fair warning, though. She'll want a concert."
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Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2011 5:50 pm
Again the Raevan blushed, his compliments about her playing making her somewhat uncomfortable. It wasn't in a bad way mind you, it was just the girl was rather private about her music because she was very self conscious about it still. Though Cordelia had been practicing almost 2-3 hours everyday for the better part of a year or so, she still felt she wasn't that good. Yes today she was without sheet music, relying only on her emotions as a guide, but that was harder than she'd made it look. It was rare she was able to create anything really amazing on her own, true inspiration usually just on the outskirts of her creativity. Perhaps she'd just not experienced that one thing that would finally allow her untapped talent to flow freely. Maybe in time.
Delia laughed, imagining Vivi running from store to store with bags full of clothes and such, dodging and rolling around other customers as well as shop displays. Surely it wasn't anything like that, but Vivi must like to shop often if Shepard had a hard time keeping up with the ex-acrobat.
She sighed, "She's not the only one. Anytime anyone finds out about my violin they want to hear it. It's not that I don't want to, just..." Once more the basilisk adjusted the pegs and such on her instrument while trying to think of the best way to explain her feelings on the subject. "I don't think I'm really ready for it. I think I'd get too nervous. What if I'm no good? What if they don't like it? You and Ebby say I'm fine, but others might not. I...I don't want them to hate something I really enjoy just because I'm no good."
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Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2011 8:24 pm
"Huh." Shepard considered the Frei's words for a moment, his eyes trailing down to the violin in her hands. It made sense to him. How much did he want someone in the wood shop when he did his craft? Not much. It was that thing, that same thing something he didn't understand about Vivi: the desire to perform. He lacked it entirely. But, then again...
"I don't think you being 'no good' is in the equation. Heard you just now." He nodded, gesturing vaguely toward the cliffside he'd just ascended. "Besides, your performin' for people who like you -- 's not completely about the music, y'know? It's more about givin' the people who like you a chance to show how proud they are of yeh."
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Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2011 8:56 pm
The smoke Raevan stopped her fiddling and thought deeply on what the Aussie had said. So it wasn't so much about her being bad or good, but rather sharing something she loved with the people she loved and who loved her in return? Though inspiring, this made Cordelia feel a bit guilty. She was being selfish for keeping her music all to herself. Still, it wasn't easy to just change suddenly. Just thinking about playing for anyone else (not accidentally of course) was somewhat daunting to her.
"I think...I think I understand what you're saying. Maybe I'll try playing for someone else soon then." And just like that it seemed they'd run out of things to say. It was odd for Delia not having anything to think of to say to someone, but then again it wasn't often she was alone with a human, a male human at that. Although the serpent thought Shepard was nice enough, she just didn't feel any kind of kinship towards the man just then. "So umm...you uh, climb here often?" Ugh, that sounded so cheesy and dumb. Cordelia wanted to crawl under a rock now.
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Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2011 9:16 pm
And that, Shepard thought, was going to make his quota for advice-giving that month. Judging by Delia's expression, it seemed like his words had done more bad than good for the meanwhile. Whoops.
But at the next moment, Shepard couldn't help but give a breathless laugh. Come here often? That's a line he heard more in cheesy rundown bars than out -- well -- anywhere else, really.
"I do now, babe," he joked back, winking grandly at the Frei and offering her an alarmingly charming smile.
"No, no." Shepard lifted both his hands and dropped the facade in the next moment, although the mirth still played around the corners of his mouth. "I climb all 'round here when I've a moment -- which isn't much. But -- just realized, it probably isn't something that'd be very fun for yeh, would it? Climbing, I mean. Anything versus gravity if you can already float wouldn't be all that much of a thriller, now, would it?"
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Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2011 5:23 am
Once more, for the cheap seats no doubt, Cordelia blushed when the other answered in a most flirtatious manner. He was of course only joking around, but still the basilisk wasn't use to such behavior directed towards herself.
Averting her silver gaze elsewhere while trying to cover up her embarrassment, the smoke Frei responded, "Oh, umm...no I guess not. But once gravity kicks in, er, ah, that is once I get my legs I'll be sure to try it out sometime." She gave Shepard a meek smile then.
The smile turned frown almost immediately at the sound of a chiming coming from her violin case. Frowning she quickly excused herself before answering her cell phone. A bit of a booming squawk could be heard from the other end. Someone was clearly angry or upset, perhaps both. Cordelia tried calmly at first to explain herself, yet soon the snake gave in to her own impatience and annoyance before shouting back something of the likes that she'd be home soon before smartly snapping the phone shut.
She sighed heavily before turning back to her fan club, "I'm sorry, that was Ebby. She's not particularly pleased with me running off like this, so I have to head back home now." Quickly the girl put everything away and floated up to what could be considered a "standing" height. Giving a slight bow as best she could, "Again, I'm really sorry about just leaving like this. But it was nice seeing you again Shepard. Please give Vivi my best!"
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