While she felt dramatic for thinking it; Aurora Willows felt like her world was falling apart.
Normally, that would be a very teenage thing to feel and she was only seventeen but Rory didn't think that she was the type of girl who blew things out of proportion. There were several people who had it worse than her. She had a boyfriend who loved her (they were still together...she's pretty sure anyway), a father who did his best to provide for her, a job and she had a roof over her head.
She'd never had to worry about whether or not she would be able to eat the next day and yeah, money had been tight for most of her life but they managed,
Yet, things felt like they were crumbling around her after her talk with Bob and then, more startling and more panic inducing, her meet up with Bazzite. Who was leaving. She hadn't even seen or heard from Pasi in months (which was largely her fault, since she'd graduated and gotten caught up with boyfriend things) and Axton was too busy with the new school semester starting and her dad was working overtime so she never saw him.
She probably needed to break up with Akio too, because she wasn't ready for the whole love thing and with everything else crashing around her what was the point in clinging to him if she was convinced she was just going to burn him?
With all of that weighing too heavily on her mind, Rory powered up to Super Sailor Hydra and set off to meet the man who literally walked out of her dreams knowing that this conversation was likely going to be one of the hardest she'd ever had. But she was going to do it because keep Seal's Eye safe was more important than her desire to selfishly keep him so prominently in her life.
Bob had been right, their relationship was a liability likely to get one or both of them killed.
So, she went to the park and waited by the fountain for him to meet her.
ghouliboo
Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2017 9:12 am
He'd messed things up royally.
Aurora was scarcely responding to his texts - or at least, the very few he'd managed to press send to. Every word was second guessed and most of the messages had been deleted before there'd been a chance to send them. She needed space. She needed time.
He needed to stop screwing things up.
With the school year starting soon, he needed to focus on things other than his strained relationship. His mother had told him not to worry, that if things were meant to work out then they would work out. If she were truly a friend and if he truly loved her, he should simply and gently remind Aurora that he was there for her, regardless - but how could he, when she was avoiding him?
The stress in the back of his mind was almost to the point where he'd debated not showing up for the weekly meeting - it wouldn't be fair to Hydra to have him sullen and mopey. But, then again... who knew a woman's thoughts better than another woman? Perhaps his trusted companion could even share some light on how he could fix things between himself and Aurora...
It couldn't hurt to ask, right?
So there he was, waiting with hands folded in his lap as he perched himself on the side of the fountain in the park. Eyes counted the growing number of coins that lay beneath the rippling water as the minutes ticked by and the sun began to set over the horizon beyond the sea of trees surrounding him.
Nuxaz
Ghouliboo
Feral Cat
Offline
Nuxaz
Offline
Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2017 9:27 am
When she spotted him she felt her heart twist.
All she wanted to do was to run up to him and to beg him to hold her until everything stopped falling apart but...wasn't that the exact reason that she knew she needed to end things? Her breath shook when she exhaled and she tried to stand strong and tall only to fail when her eyes met his.
"Hi," she said meekly, keeping more space than she would normally allow between them. She could already feel the urge to cry threatening to wash over her but she was determined to stay strong and her eyes stayed dried. "We...we need to talk." Not wincing at how awkward and horrible proved to be too difficult and she sighed, reaching up to toy with a long strand of hair that'd fallen over her shoulder.
"I need to talk and I need you to listen." Hydra was proud when her voice didn't waver. Green eyes closed so that she could focus on her breathing. She could do this, she could.
Hydra certainly didn't want to, but it was for the best. It was safer.
"I can't see you any more."
ghouliboo
Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2017 9:52 am
He sensed her before he noticed the familiar turquoise hair on the other side of the fountain. Blue eyes lifted from the umpteenth penny he'd lost track of, the color of his gaze as bright as the smile on his face upon noticing her.
The worry he'd allowed to fester within his heart was melting away - here was something safe, something wonderful that he could confide in when the rest of his world was in turmoil. His best friend, his Lady. Hydra always had a way to find the silver lining to things; she was always there for him with her sweet and positive thoughts while he was always there to protect her dreams. It was how they worked - a partnership, of sorts.
As she neared the fountain and made her way towards him, he couldn't help but notice the distressed look she bore. Something was clearly bothering her as well, but the beautiful dream maiden was having difficulty hiding her thoughts from the rest of the world. Black boots stopped yards away and he rose from the fountain to face her, bowing in greeting.
"Lady Hydr--"
His greeting was cut off as she interrupted him with the demand to speak. It was cold and unfamiliar, unlike her usual greetings. There was no curtsy, there was no hug, no cheek kiss. Fingers had moved up to play with her hair - a nervous habit, he'd noted quickly enough from their conversations over the past year.
She wanted to talk. Alright. Perhaps her problem would reveal itself sooner and they could conquer it together, like when-
"I can't see you any more."
The smile faded from his face, a broken expression replacing it as eyebrows furrowed in confusion. No, wait. This wasn't... what was she saying? She was leaving him too?
But what had he done now?
"I... I don't understand, my Lady."
His voice was unsteady as one gloved hand reached up to rest on his chest. The other stretched out to her in offering, silently pleading for her to come closer.
The longer he stared at her, the quicker his confidence disappeared. Despite being fearful of the answer to come, he asked quietly, "Have I done something wrong?"
Nuxaz
Ghouliboo
Feral Cat
Offline
Nuxaz
Offline
Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2017 10:21 am
Watching his face go from that bright, beautiful smile to falling with weight of her words twisting his handsome features into confusion and sorrow felt like a knife thrust into her heart and twisted. Looking at him hurt but she refused to look away because she knew what she was doing. If she was going to hurt him, then she was going to make sure she suffered with him.
Not crying was getting more and more difficult the longer she looked at his broken expression.
What was she doing? Why did she keep hurting the people who cared about her so recklessly.
Do you realize what a General would have done if he'd seen you frolicking with some...some Knight? Bob's harsh questioning echoed in her thoughts as she took a hesitant step forward. Getting closer was a bad idea, but all she wanted was for him to hold her.
That hand of his was too tempting and she put her hand in his even though she knew it was a terrible idea.
"No, Sealie, please. You didn't do anything wrong." How could he when all he'd done was let her love him. It was her loving him that would be the end of it all. "I'm only going to hurt you. Or...get you hurt. I can't see you anymore. I'm sorry. It-- It's for the best."
ghouliboo
Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2017 6:03 am
As her fingers slid within his palm, his hand enclosed around hers and squeezed. The gesture was the reassurance he needed that she hadn't entirely written him off - something had happened in her world. Something had scared her and as a result, she was pushing him away. The protective nature of the Guardian wanted nothing more than to pull her close and soothe her worries but she was far too ready to be a flight risk at the moment for him to approach her as he wished.
Her response to his question was vague but she wasn't blaming him for whatever it was, proving to be a good sign. An excellent sign, even. There was still a chance - he had a chance.
"My sweet Lady. I am not afraid." His voice was light as his mouth did its best to return to the smile that he knew she adored. It was hard to appear cheerful when the risk was there that she would disappear - possibly forever - "Whatever it is that has you fretting, I'm sure that we can work through it."
His free hand moved out and the palm of his glove cupped her cheek as he dared to take another step forward. "Is it not my decision as well, my Lady, as to whether or not I am willing to share in the risk that we take in being companions?"
Nuxaz
Ghouliboo
Feral Cat
Offline
Nuxaz
Offline
Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2017 8:19 am
He wasn't listening or worse, he wasn't understanding the gravity of the danger he was in simply knowing her and spending time with her like this.
"I am," she countered. Sealie didn't know what he would be up against if they found out, but she did. She trained under Obsidian and had seen what he was capable of. She had been part of the game that Angelite and Obsidian had set up, even if her general wasn't crazy the captain at his side was dangerous. Hydra knew what her mother-like figure was capable of.
"No." Hydra was firm in her decision that they couldn't see each other. Seal's Eye was being as princely as he always was with her and she wanted to beg for him to stop but if she broke now then everything would be moot. "I am not putting you at risk any more." She had been selfish enough.
Besides, she needed to think about how she felt for Seal and how the only way she would properly get over him and maybe, maybe properly return Akio's love was to separate from him.
But his hand was on her cheek and her breath hitched, catching in the base of the throat. Her lashes fluttered and she became increasingly aware of how much closer he was getting to her. "Sealie, please." The senshi was pleading now, finding herself leaning into the palm on her cheek. "Please don't make this any harder for me. I'm already breaking my own heart."
ghouliboo
Posted: Sat Aug 26, 2017 6:49 am
The creeping, uneasy panic began to swell in his chest once more as Hydra continued with her argument. Rather, it wasn't an argument at all - she wasn't letting him have an opinion. A decision. A choice.
She was severing her ties with him and Seal's Eye hadn't been prepared for the sudden notion of complete abandonment. Now, not only had his girlfriend decided his advances were far too strong for the newness of their relationship but his best friend had determined that the risks were too high to continue things as they were.
Cosmos, why was his world suddenly turning upside down?
It pained him to see how hurt she looked. Breaking her own heart, she said. The absolute last thing that he wanted to do was cause her any pain... and he was making it worse? But...
Slowly, his hand released its hold of her face and fell to his side. Blue eyes looked upon her with all the affection in the world but the sadness in his expression was unmistakable.
If this is what she wished for, who was he to deny any request from his fair Lady?
Quietly, he withdrew himself, holding both hands back behind his back in the efforts to keep himself in line. How tempting it was, to reach out and try to hold his suffering companion - no, he would be obedient.
It was what she wished.
Head lowered, he closed his eyes as he worked to accept the fact that she was ending the chapter to a story that he'd imagined would never end. Then again, not every character was meant to have a happily ever after.
"And what of your dreams?"
His voice was quiet as his eyes remained sealed.
Was he still allowed in those?
Nuxaz
Ghouliboo
Feral Cat
Offline
Nuxaz
Offline
Posted: Sun Aug 27, 2017 6:19 pm
He stopped touching her, doing the respectful thing like she could have expected but it hurt her all the same. Hydra didn't know what she had expected from Seal's Eye but some part of he knew that it hadn't been this. Jade eyes squeezed shut and she had to fight back the tears starting to gather.
"I--" She attempted to start, her voice breaking when she clenched her hands into fists to keep them at her sides. She felt like her heart had slowed, each beat a painful reminder of what she was giving up. "I would like to still dream of you," Hydra admitted with a shaky voice. "Y-you," the girl's voice hiccuped and she had to pause to steady herself, "probably think I'm being unfair."
Of course she was, she had made a decision like with Akio and she was forcing him to accept it. This was one of the instances in which she wished that her apathy would kick in. Things were so much easier when she thought she felt nothing then maybe this talk wouldn't be so hard. "But I can't risk the person I love dying because of me." It was then that she opened her eyes.
"Forgive me, Sealie."
ghouliboo
Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2017 7:22 am
Her eyes closed and he took another step back. His chin lifted and he did his best to try to understand where she was coming from, although it fell short every time. Why was there suddenly a noticeable risk? Hadn't there always been one, when it came to meeting in the real world and not the safety and security of dreams? So what was the point in making effort to distance herself now, all of a sudden?
And why was she making the assumption that he was incapable of standing up for himself? Just because he was a gentleman didn't mean he couldn't fend for himself. There was a reason, after all, that he'd been gifted the title of Guardian. It was... it was almost insulting, in a way.
"You are."
There was a lack of warmth in his voice, unusual for the tall man. He amended his comment. "Being unfair, that is. But it's hardly possible for one side to continue when the other side wishes to end things."
Blue eyes watched as she stumbled over her words, making a noble effort not to cry. It broke his heart to watch her, but she was doing this to herself. She was doing this to them - what could he do but suffer under her wish?
She wanted him in dreams, so there was that. The fact she implied she loved him, though, had his expression softening and the Dream Guardian stepped forward. It was nearly impossible for him to remain firm and cold to the wonderful woman who'd always cared for him, always voiced her concern of him and now, wanted to hide him away from the world to protect him - despite his opinion that he didn't need protecting. She had made the mistake of falling in love with a man who could not do the same for her - his heart had already been swept away by another, even though she refused to return the affections.
Ironic, in its tragedy. How much easier could it have been if he had simply fell in love with his best friend, instead?
Hands released their hold of themselves and he took hold of her chin with one hand, lifting it up to meet with his gaze. He opened his mouth to say something, to explain to her that love wasn't hiding away what you hold most precious, but fighting for it - but what was the point, at the end of the day?
There wasn't. She had clearly made up her mind.
"Goodbye then, Hydra," he finally said, leaning down as his lips brushed against her temple. "I hope you find solace in your decision."
Nuxxxaz
Ghouliboo
Feral Cat
Offline
Nuxaz
Offline
Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2017 8:02 am
There it was; the cold affirmation that she was being unfair and that he was unhappy with her for it.
Yet, he wasn't arguing with her over her decision and instead chose to point out that she wasn't giving him a choice. She couldn't even retort because he was right. Hydra had made a decision and she had done her best to be nothing but completely firm and resolute. And yet...she knew that she was close to crumbling especially against the cold front he was putting up against her.
That wasn't her Sealie and maybe that's what hurt the most.
Hydra managed to look at him as he tipped her chin up. For one brief and wonderful moment she thought he might kiss her and assure her that everything would be alright but his lips brushed her temple instead, chaste as he ever was. Despite herself, she could not keep from grasping at the front of his tunic and leaning in, all while mumbling, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry."
ghouliboo
Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2017 9:13 am
As small hands grabbed at him and the tsunami senshi pressed tightly against him, Seal's Eye realized that he was utterly, utterly doomed.
He couldn't do it.
He couldn't listen, he couldn't obey her request.
If he was a smart man, he would disappear and leave her as he'd found her and she would be better off for it. Staying at her side only encouraged her affection for him, affection that he couldn’t return in the same light as desperately as he wished he could.
But Seal's Eye, for all the gentleman that he was, was a very inherently selfish man.
His arm stretched out and around the crying girl pressed against his chest. His capelet followed, covering her and the top of her soft turquoise hair. The fabric muffled the pitiful begging for his apology and the tall man bent down to gently press his lips against the top of her head.
When he pulled back the cape, the sound of ocean filled both of their ears, the soft breeze drifting the smell of salt along with its caress. Her hair was picked up and he was quick to brush it behind her ear, out of habit.
Shifting, the same hand moved towards her cheek, his gloved thumb wiping away a wayward tear as he offered an apologetic smile of his own.
“Perhaps...if you wish to keep me a secret, we should have simply sought out a more secluded place to meet?”
”Nuxaz”
Ghouliboo
Feral Cat
Offline
Nuxaz
Offline
Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2017 9:33 am
The worst part of it all was that she didn't want any of this. Hydra didn't want to be separated from Seal's Eye at all, if she had her way then she would stay by his side for the rest of her life but she wasn't naive enough to think that was a possibility. She loved him, that was undeniable and a realization she was having difficulties swallowing. She loved him and she understood that he loved her, but not in the way she loved him.
That hurt, a dull ache that she carried between her ribs but one she didn't think she minded because it meant that she was still living and breathing and feeling. (And then she wondered if that was how Akio felt, knowing she didn't know if she was in love with him or if she ever would be.)
She wanted him to walk away from her as much as she didn't because the teen was quickly realizing that she didn't have the strength to leave him even if she demanded that they no longer saw each other. If he left, then she could say she made the right choice. If she did then she would likely spend too much time wishing she hadn't.
Seal's caplet draped across her and she pressed her face against his chest, unable to keep her tears at bay any longer. Shame filled her at the notion that she did not have the strength to stay resolute in her choice because as long as he held her, she wouldn't let go. It was the sound of water crashing against sand that had her drawing back, sniffling.
"Sealie..." she said quietly, looking up at him in disbelief. "But...I--" Hydra had no idea what she was trying to say. Without thinking she stretched to brush her lips chastely against his cheek while she clung to him. "I don't want to lose you but I don't think being together is going to do anything but put you in harms way."
ghouliboo
Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2017 8:01 am
Her kiss was soft, her words harsh.
"Ever the stubborn little thing aren't you, darling?" He murmured quietly as his hand continued to stroke the backside of her hair, running his fingers through the soft strands. The firm line across his face had lifted into a sad smile. "Why don't you let me worry about that, instead of trying to take the whole burden on by yourself?"
Pulling her forward, he tugged her closer to the shore in front of them, where the water lapped away at the sand and pulled back, wetting and dragging the golden grains of sand along with its foam. Hand still linked with hers, the Guardian of Dreams lowered himself to sitting on the edge of the dry sand, taking the senshi down with him.
Sandals were kicked off, forgotten as an afterthought as bare feet proceeded to bury themselves in the wet sand just as the wake of the ocean washed over tanned skin.
It was hard to remain at peace, even inside of Elysion when waves of turmoil continued to toss and turn his life. Hydra saw it time to move on and it was only a matter of time for Aurora to feel the same. Yet, as the cold water brushed against his skin, he couldn't help but wonder if this was simply how things were supposed to be.
Perhaps he was a passing chapter in both of their lives?
Squeezing the fingers that were laced between his, he brought the hand up to his lips and pressed a kiss against the back of her glove.
"If this is to be our last meeting, we should probably make it a good one, hm?"
Blue eyes flickered up in her direction, the quiet smile still offered.
Nuxaz
[x] So give me all your pain And love will set you free Give me all your shame Put all your weight on me And I'll be the stone that you need me to be
Ghouliboo
Feral Cat
Offline
Nuxaz
Offline
Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2017 8:21 am
He was right, she was horribly stubborn and often got her way when it came to the men in her life. (The only except had been Obsidian, really.) Yet, Hydra couldn't stop the way she wished that Seal's Eye wouldn't cave despite all of her instance that this was for the best.
"Because I'm scared," she admitted, voice dropping until it was nearly inaudible. A passing murmur more than a true admission because shame threatened to get the better of her and she followed him, heels sinking into the sand despite her attempts to walk on the balls of her feet instead. Settling down beside him was easy. After all, how many times had they sat together, one pulling the other down, and leaned into each other for comfort.
Most often it had been in her wild dreams or by the fountain, but something about Elysion's shores were both calming and upsetting for the senshi. Her free hand moved to tug her boots off so she could join him with wriggling her toes in the sand and Hydra scooted closer to him before she hesitated. In a selfish moment of bravery, she climbed into his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck so that she had something to hold onto when she buried her face into his neck.
Her head kept telling her let him go while her heart pleaded don't leave me, please, please don't leave me.
Against his skin, where she thought he might not properly hear her she whispered, "I love you."
