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Albite had a scarf; had coerced Cela -- heckin - Lionel? Into making him one. Didn't want to think too hard about where the very-truly-wonderfully soft rabbit fur had come from. Tied his dreads up in shells that clacked and jangled along like winter bells, that *chhchkd* along in the cold, especially well. How he couldn't have stayed home tonight - even if being out in the freezing weather -- was -- well -- Nothing a good long run wouldn't either fix or make worse!!

The sky was the clearest he'd seen it in an age, and meteorological reports noted some 'blah-blah-blah 'COLORS' etc,etc,etc.' Which, really? Colors was all he needed to hear. The idea of finding a high point above the blare of city lights to sit and stare up at ---

And then a familiar Aura cold clocked him upside the head. Nearly sent him skidding off a side-railing along a scaffolding of an unfinished apartment complex. How he just barely caught himself enough to hiss for the feel of half frozen metal and rope burn over cold calloused hands..

'I should go...I need to go...I should ******** u c k...'

Beelined it in the direction of colors that had been bleeding into black the last time he'd seen them. That had been different. Looked so ******** good, despite how much they didn't Belong on the body of his -- *his boy*



B is for Battle

“Hey”

Strained sound as he slid to stillness, kept his distance for a moment and stared. Once over that lingered while he took Amsv in for more than just his aura.

Last time had been, chaos, and every time since? Chaos. How he hadn’t gotten to really take his friend in. The small things — little changes that the moonlight caught and reflected back. Things that made him want to smile, every ducking time he saw him.

Cause Amsv looked happy — healthy? Heartstoppingly so.

The way running into him Made his heart beat rabbit fast, until it stilled into ceasing — the way time slowed as he looked on at Amsv. Stuttered gasp for the soft little greeting — the way Amsv stood like he was waiting for the worst.

To fight or flee.

How little he liked that feeling; thorite whouldnt’ve fled, not from him. Amsv shouldn’t — everything else aside - shouldnt’ve been backed into a corner where he had to choose to fight. Not when he’d known his friend to be nothin but passive niceties, too sweet guy that wouldn’t hurt a fly.

Or would he? Maybe a fly named albite, sure, fine — but…

“I’m ******** wasn’t there to fight — except that was indeed a traitorous statement. One he stood by, one he’d upheld when running into people not worth the punch. Could’ve fought if he needed to, didn’t want that - promises laid out in the heat of the moment aside - he didn’t want that tonight not when the sky was supposed to light up and everything was supposed to just be — pretty. Peaceful and still. Just for a second.

“You look good Amsv…do you…do ya wanna uhm..I mean.. there’s supposed to be stars n s**t out, yeah?”

Wire tension that built and eased as he stood. Waited.

"Didn't say.." or maybe they had? Maybe it'd been plastered all over the news, or night watch, or whatever weather broadcast had blared background noise to his thoughts and he just...hadn't....paid attention, or given a damn, or...

The effort it took to shake the run on drain of looking like some long kicked puppy off. A hell of a thing. He made himself do it though, dragged his gaze away and took a breath enough to speak past that little spikey knot in his throat. It wasn't fair of him -- he knew -- to play tug of war with Amsv like he was some yoyo on a very thin string.

Amsv had picked a side. Drawn clear lines -- it was him who couldn't stop wanting to make a mess of them. Who couldn't decide whether he wanted to punch or play or stare at from a distance; even when he knew he shouldn't.

"Maybe tho...we're still too close? To--ah--yanno.." swept his arm over the whole of the place. City that scrawled out beneath in gridlock lines that swerved off into errant architecture -- children with crayons who'd grown up and bought off pieces of the world in circles n squares, then carved them up to their liking. Filled them up haphazardly with lights and sirens of all the living things below.

"We could get higher up -- should -- ********, do you wanna race?" and it wasn't running away if it was a 'race', was it? Couldn't be. "Hit a high enough point and we can probably see the sky clearly. Heh, n you can show off all the fancy new -- whatisit - squire skills?"

Amsv had grown, they both had, apart and up together in a parallels. Gained rankings even as they'd gained distance by fractured factions. Except he didn't feel like this when he saw Cybelle..or Albiero..or...

"I'll give you a head start even. Unless the cane is just for style points?" wound a tease round a wince and faltered until he found a grin that felt less forced. He could play -- if he wasn't punching s**t -- and he couldn't - not him, not tonight -- tomorrow, maybe?

Just, not tonight...

Albite trip-stall and stumbled over his start. Ready to give the go ahead only to watch Amsv' fold over all feeble like. Like the cane was a need -- like --

"HEY!"

Wide eyed surprise, he choked on it, laughed and sprinted after. Touched stone and sprung while he howled jovial into the wind.

"Cheater!"

He was happy to be the fool, to be a heel-step behind in a chase, because there was something about it. The freedom and strength that came with gaining ground. With having more power under in his hands to play with. That let him ignore how the wind whipped his locks back and tugged at every hanging scarf and sash. Such a childlike, friendly thing. Even in the dead of cold and dark.

Fun.

Hound loosed to track the white hare form of his once friend - how all those pastels shown. And that Cane? Pretty white piece of elegantly carved - stick.

Oak, birch, hardwood? Didn't know, didn't care. Left imprints on awnings and cracked glass when he stumbled and pushed off it with a heavy hand. Felt his magic roil up under his skin; soft whispered scritch of feeling that screamed for more.

A better form of play, harder, faster, as he looped a steel-beam rung and pulled up; just beyond Amsvartnir. Too far to catch -- to touch.

Not for his magic though.

"Binding Retribution" - and the words were barely a thought. Bayed to fetch and tangle around the length of it - if they could make the reach. Like jaws of a snapping dog - like an ink-born lasso with silken teeth. To whip through the air when loosed off it's leash - to strike, pull and tie.

Wanted that silly white stick. Wanted the look on Amsv's face when cast up against a colorful matching sky.

"Maybe I am?" the growl was feigned and died on a laugh. Lungful's of brief, distracting happiness, that bubbled up and stole all his thoughts.

Amsv'd gotten fast, didn't help that he was tall as hell. Here Albite'd figured the cane n cape would slow him down, but oh no! 'Old man with a bad back' skit was all just trickery and tomfoolery.

The guy could ******** move.

It was beautiful.

"The sorest of losers even. What are you gonna do about it, squire-boy?" and if Albite feigned 'menace' and 'looming' while he took on Amsv' weight. Thought him warm and soft where he stood, all tangled up and found that he didn't mind having him close in the slightest. Albite realized he was going to miss him every time he saw him, and worry every time he didn't. That a moment would come, someday, when this? Carefree little seconds in-between all the chaos of the world.

Wasn't an option to be had.

So he'd enjoy it. Would take full advantage of playing hound and fox. While the skies lit up - slowly. Swirled into life, stunning little aurora that began to peak in emulation of Amsvartnir's colors.

It was breathtaking. Amsv was breathtaking.

Albite was so engrossed in the soft moment he had, the warmth, staring up into the sky. His face scrunched briefly, soft little 'huh' followed by a *squeak* of surprise, as the little twine of chaos born ink unraveled and snapped free. Sprawling Albite back, nearly onto his a**, even as he scrabbled to snatch at Amsvartnir, the side of the building, anything.

Such an absolute a**!

But Albite was laughing, growly and bright with it; practically glowing as the skies opened up to pour the multicolored festival of aurora down all around them. In great swathing expanses that shifted colors - like a vibrant, living thing.

"Jerk! I'll show you 'sore'." and he couldn't help but go after that damn cane, fancy stick that'd been denied him. How fun it was to play keep-away with someone as tall as Amsv. Who could manage him -- who radiated 'good times' -- no matter what situation he seemed to find himself in.

“I’ll entendre you - you absolute brat —“ nonsensical, oopsident, because he hadn’t expected to drop Amsv like that once he had the stick in hand! Albite had a moment of sheer panic, because ohgod, what if Amsv actually did need the cane!?

Except he was rolling over — looking up all okay and awestruck and — he was fine. Albite blew out a sigh of relief before registering what Amsv was saying.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” and maybe Albite was talking about the sky?

And maybe he wasn’t? A sea of colors above and below, where Amsv. lay sprawled out across the rooftop.

“Now scoot..you’re hogging prime sky viewing space!” Albite was quick to give the cosmos Knight his cane back, before quickly taking a seat next to him. Leaning far enough back that he could leverage himself up on his elbows and stare quietly into the sky.

It was nice. A peaceful little moment frozen in time. Albite found he didn’t mind the silence for once, not when it was a companionable thing.