Welcome to Gaia! ::

The cold had settled around them, yet it wasn't entirely unpleasant. With as many layers as he had on, he found himself feeling fine. Not to mention sitting next to Ofie was a sort of warmth that had nothing to do with actual weather conditions and more that feeling in his chest that went down to his tows then back up to his face.
If he'd been asked if he'd have ever allowed himself the chance, the opportunity to be with someone to the extent they were with each other he'd have dismissed the idea. Yet here he was. A year after a casual meeting. A meeting of chance after he'd chased the light from her as a man with wings and a magic colder than his heart.

"He's only upset because one of us has to go. I think he might have invited Sana as his date though, so, I mean-" The woman was good for Marlo. She kept him on his toes and busy in ways that were not just emotional confrontations but social. Plus Elzo figured it would be fun reading any tabloids tomorrow.

"Besides this is... kind of our anniversary isn't it? I get sassed and I can say it was a personal day for us. Most of lady folk married to those old geezers eat it up and will help soften the words. We all might be men in that board room for now, but slowly, we're going to see that change. Until then I play the guys by their wives. It's just company politics."
He didn't want to talk work though. Not tonight. Tonight was for them.
"So Ofie, what do you want to do to celebrate? Aside from see how fast we can get cold feet- literally."

Elzo snorted at the idea of Marlo enjoying himself at the stuffy party- at least until he realized with Sana there- well. maybe this year he'd enjoy himself for entirely different reasons than his usual sadistic way of dangling contracts and business deals out before men who wanted a part of their ever growing enterprises. Sana was the type to make sure, Elzo would bet on it.

Just the same way that Ofie seemed to be suggesting on how to warm up. It certainly sent a warm flush through him, followed by a low hum of agreement to that idea. Them, under warm blankets, kissing bare skin and- Well. No point in thinking about it and working himself up. The new year hadn't even started yet. "You do more than make a man feel warm Ofie." He leaned in, teeth grazing neck before pulling away, teasing her before he finished off his own drink standing and picking up her own empty cup. A short few steps to toss them away, it was long enough for him to become aware how warm she was next to him and without her it was cold.

Going back next to, he wrapped himself around her, shoving cold fingertips under her coat.
"Alright- we've still time before those fireworks so tell me- what is your new year's resolution?" He was genuinely curious. "Tell me yours I'll tell you mine."

He laughed softly under his breath. She was so much brighter now. Open and smiling and laughing and- She was better. A year having past and she was better. Happier. Part of Elzo wanted to think it was all just luck and fate but- He was with her. He'd become a part of her life and she made him happier too. Maybe it was fate, maybe chance. But still, they both were happier than they'd been and... they had been there for each other.

He'd stayed with her, even after Castor was forced away. That had to count for something right?

"That's a good resolution. I know a few folks who I can see you hanging out with, having fun with. I don't know if your father would have approved of me though." He leaned in blowing air against her neck, a fart sound for only the more romantic of gestures.
"I'm quite the terrible boyfriend."
He was red as he said it, admitting that was indeed, what they were, had become. More than lovers, a couple of sorts.
"My resolution is to learn to cook." He looked up, whistful.
"Marlo has always cooked for me, us, and... I want to cook for him, you- I want to show people I love them with food. My grandmother is old... and to pass her recipes on would be nice." She'd not give them to Marlo but-
He was selfish in small ways.

He was lucky is what he was. He'd ruined his first chance at love, at happiness. Yet now he often wondered if he'd been given a second chance. A glimmer of something beyond waiting for another life, another promise unkempt. He was a legacy of broken promises he often felt like, and sometimes as if he'd done some wrong and was just not worthy of his own luck and fate.
You only had so many chances before the world seemed ready to deny you after all.

"A terrible man for a woman who slowly blooms when given the chance. Helping you, being with you-" he held his breath for a moment. Helping her had helped him. It kept him from lazing, from drinking, from some of his more self destructive habits.
"You have made me the better man that I had been." He could never thank her, repay her for her love, so pure and kind."
She deserved better than Elzo.
Than Castor.

As the countdown began Elzo held her tighter, eye closing as he pictured the ball in times square dropping. They'd miss the video feed but this was better. Calmer and not as bright and loud- it was perfect for them. As the final number rang out along with the cry, he looked at her, smiling. This was their day- their anniversary.
"You made my wishes come true tonight." Lips came down on her, and he closed his sense off aside from her.
When he opened his eyes, the flash of another woman echoed in his mind's eye. The sight of her super imposed over the one in front of him. In his haze of new years affection the name slipped out unbidden, a whisper.
"....Saga."

He said a name that wasn't her own. Worse, that had no relation to her so why? Why had he seen Saga of all people over her face? A woman from lifetimes ago in the eyes of the woman in his arms. He didn't-

Then he felt her tense, push away. No. No, she was just scared he's said another woman's name. It had to be. Ofelia was Ofelia. His mind was damaged and altered from his time as Castor. Hell, he knew that. It was a mistake.
Just a simple mistake, he could fix this. He could cover it up.
"No, Saga-" He breathed, "-I was just thinking how I was ready to start this saga of our lives. Together like this you know?"

He'd made her distraught. s**t ******** hell- he had hurt her. Calling her the name of another woman.
"I don't know a Sarah. Saga is... it was just a though half formed is all."
He did his best smile, his best false bravado.
"You're Ofelia. And I love you." He reached up to cup her face, to try and soothe her.

"Saga was just a slip of the tongue. Me thinking of our lives together."

His throat felt dry, his hands cold, and a seed of doubt grew ever faster in his gut and the back of his mind.

Her was joy and sadness. He hoped to start the new year with hope and hapiness. Now? Lips parting, there was doubt a fear flicking behind the soft blue eyes of the man who called himself the mortal Elzo Xanis.

"I did not lie Ofelia." Fingers laced into her own, he still held her close.

"I'll be here for you." He would not abandon her. Not over doubt. Not until he knew without pause that the woman who's found herself at the center of his stars was the one who's left her prince to become a king.

"I promise."

And there it was.

The cold reality and reminder that no matter his place, his was a fate destined to seek that which it could not have. To be denied such a simple want and desire. A second chance, a second hope fallen once again as he knew where such a road would take him. Take them.
There was no place for order and chaos to be without conflict. Such was the way of the cosmos. Such was the fate of his heart.

There could be no mistakes. No room for error. He was suspect now and while she might not know the truth, the depths of it, the reality that he was walking the razor's edge of slipping two beings back into one.
"The same was he knows of you-" It was vague, and he fought that truth to come out with sincerity, "-chance and fate. I'm sorry Ofie, I did not wish for our night to end this way. " He truly did not. He would have preferred it to have been the start of dreams and hopes.

"He did not send me to you, I found you on my own." He stood, letting go of her hand, of that warmth.
"Let's go home. We can discuss this, us, in the morning." Of the secrets that he kept, and why he kept them.