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Post by Vanitypirate on Dec 31, 2017 19:51:43 GMT -8
The heat of the moon felt so harsh on her bare skin, exposed to its white face. It burned pink along her cheeks and across her nose, with little more than the salt in the air to soothe it-- it only served to prickle like thorns at her eyes, her nose, both of which had begun to run. Epiphora and rhinitis; both were symptoms of irritation and inflammation of the membranes.
Pain in the chest: pleurodynia. It would indicate an allergic reaction. Perhaps not to the ocean air, but maybe the wine?
"I-I... only want for you to live."
Shakiness of breath: her diaphragm was out of rhythm. She blinked hard sucked in a breath; it hurt badly.
"I do not know how to make you o-or anyone... happy. I can only make you well."
Her shoulders were trembling, and she pawed at the excessive moisture on her face, at her eyes. She pushed Lekalis's and away from her cheek.
It felt much like a pot that had boiled over and spilled out from under its lid.
She was not in control.
"I have spent too much time..."
In a quick movement, Florence stepped away from Lekalis and pushed the mask roughly back onto her face, already making to fast it atop her head again, take refuge against the cool air.
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Post by Bloodtrailkiller on Dec 31, 2017 20:16:49 GMT -8
/Lekalis/
Watching her features morph was like watching stone corrode; he watched her with keen interest, his head quirking to one side as his features relaxed in a dawning realization.
He watched her scamper away, himself pushed away like a cat from its prey. Feebly, his hand at her waist tried to hold her, but she slipped free from his covetous hand.
"Florence..." He called out, though his voice was humbled and quiet. His feet moved in pursuit so he faced her again.
He felt his gut churning like fish in a pond, a slight shiver in his finger tips; impulsively, he set his hand on Florence's shoulder; under her bent arm to stop at least one hand from advancing,
"... You've brought me happiness that I'd thought never possible...", his voice slipped to a whisper, a wind in a valley.
The crystal of wine moved and set itself on Florence's lower lip.
"... Focus on the wine." He implored, as he loosened his grip on her shoulder, and implied a small rise in the glass.
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Post by Vanitypirate on Dec 31, 2017 20:37:29 GMT -8
Florence paused, pushing her wrist into the corner of her eyes, making a vain attempt at a steadying breath that quivered instead.
Gently, with two fingers, she pushed the wineglass down and instead pressed the mask back onto her face.
"Stop."
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Post by Bloodtrailkiller on Dec 31, 2017 20:47:01 GMT -8
/Lekalis/
The wineglass slipped away though he still kept it steady, his eyes looked into the lens' he'd made. Though, he shook his head; his free hand raised and pulled the cuff of his sleeve over his thumb, then wiped away some dust and residue over the crack in her lens.
"... I'm sorry." His apology came out of a tensed throat, he cleared it for only a brief reprieve as he maintained a small, warm smile.
"I can show you how you may make me happy..." He offered, hopeful, as the beak of Florence's mask bumped up against his own; enough to warrant a small amused twitch in his smile as he moved his free hand back behind her mask and caressed the back of her head and ear.
Though, he already presumed to start slowly pulling his hand back; still set about her head though, for now.
"... I Love you, Florence."
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Post by Vanitypirate on Dec 31, 2017 21:19:05 GMT -8
"I also love you." Echoed Florence in response in the acoustics of her own mask, set about her face like a blanket, growing warmer with every trembling breath she took. She could already feel how herself reigning herself in.
"But I cannot make you happy. It is not my... role. I may never be able to..." She shook her head, trailing off. "However, you may experience joy as an indirect result of my actions to ensure that you are in good health."
She let her hands down at her sides. The vial was still cradled between her fingers.
"You... love Tilly, as well. You are producing an offspring with her." She leveled her eyes on his from behind the lenses, and she rubbed a finger alongside the rim of one of them. "These may serve to bring you greater happiness."
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Post by Bloodtrailkiller on Dec 31, 2017 21:38:37 GMT -8
/Lekalis/
He could only nod in amicable understanding as he cast his eyes down, a slight flush to his cheeks as he nodded and chewed on his lower lip.
"... You can make me happy, Florence. You need but accept a role beyond the one you've now." He assured, though his tone harbored no argument.
He levelled a kindly, though cheeky look at Florence as he gave her some space, looking down at the wine then to Florence again;
"There are a lot of variables in those words, Crowgazer... I'd like to explore all of them with you, someday." His smile flickered with sadness as his brows furrowed; the unspoken knowledge of her infinitely mortal Life ever sodding his whimsical claims.
A silence grew as the last of her words fell true; he only nodded in kind, looking off to the tawney stained clouds,
"I'd never thought myself to be in such a position that... That I would love someone as I love you. Tilly is a dream come true, but you... You're a Life I'd never even thought of." He did his best to articulate, raising the glass of wine emphatically as he squinted and nodded at her,
"Neither of us have the time, right now... Sometime soon, however; we'll talk more." He assured.
Lekalis relaxed, sighing as he felt himself unwind as the more professional attire of Florence fell on his eyes more truly. Though, his heart still felt light, seeing the glimmer of her eyes behind cracked lens.
Once again, he raised the glass of wine higher; between them both.
"... Before we part... May we share the Gift of Festival again?" He looked about with tired, theatric worry,
"I believe I'm far enough away from any Germans this time."
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Post by Vanitypirate on Dec 31, 2017 21:50:14 GMT -8
"I believe Golo has been absent long enough to not warrant any concern." Florence shrugged, blandly, though she was loathe to leave the modicum of restraint that the mask offered, return to the sea-air...
But she did anyway.
"You must be swift." She instructed, stiffly as ever, as she pushed the mask back up onto her forehead again.
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Post by Bloodtrailkiller on Dec 31, 2017 22:01:15 GMT -8
/Lekalis/
Smiling had long since failed to describe the blissful happiness spread over Lekalis face as his brows raised; for a moment, he seemed like to question it, before he subdued some, as though to mimick the blank, neutral look of Florence's mask.
"Understood." He punctually replied as he tapped the tip of Florence's nose with catlike agility;
"Cheers." He declared, sporting a quick wink as he downed the partly-full glass of wine.
Saving a fair portion in his cheek, he shrugged and swept his arm around Florence's waist with no pomp spared as he pulled himself close and pressed his lips unto hers in a deep kiss, letting the wine spill out between their mouths in a prolonged and slovenly nostalgic embrace. It was a fire and spark he'd never forget, nor let rest for any longer than he could; this passion he held for the woman in his arms.
As bizzare as she was, a certain allure had him pursue her time and time again.
Curiously, he found himself short of breath; whether it was from this frightful Love he held, or because he'd held the kiss for much too long, he broke away with a giddy grin and the smallest of chuckles as he idly caressed the small of Florence's back. The dawn's light casting a divine glow along Florence's cheeks and lips, such was the temptation that he cleared his throat and pulled away after he found himself pressing into Florence a touch too zealously.
"I love you... Please don't die." He tried to busy his tongue, though it moved with a drunken afterglow as he straightened and his eyes fell to the ground abashedly...
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Post by Vanitypirate on Dec 31, 2017 22:17:47 GMT -8
Florence tasted the wine in her mouth, but as she parted from Lekalis and made to swallow the liquor, her eyes widened.
The liquid found its way down the wrong hatch, and the good Crowgazer was left coughing and sputtering-- thankfully, however, she managed not to spill any of her mouthful of wine.
"I... s-said..." She coughed, cleared her throat, regaining her composure after her momentary drowning, "...that I also love you. And I also told you I intend to not die."
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Post by Bloodtrailkiller on Dec 31, 2017 22:30:35 GMT -8
/Lekalis/
"Huh... My hearing must be going out." He mused whimsically, though there was hardly a lick of seriousness behind them as he curled his lips inwards, relishing the sensation and dying bliss with shut eyes before sighing and shrugging at last.
"Thank you, Florence..." He started sincerely, nodding as his smile subsided and he reached out to cup her cheek one last time, before slipping the crystal away and seeing to setting her mask back about her face.
"... I'm sorry to put you through all of this. I yearn for the day we may... sit and drink wine, and eat meat in moonlight almost as much as a yearn for you alone." He apologized, and flirted with a scandalous smile.
With her mask fitted quite snugly, he pulled his hands back to cradle the beak of Florence's nose with the pads of his fingers;
"... Are the straps too tight?" He inquired with a focused squint; gauging the symmetry of his make, doubly for any possible damages. He waggled the nose and seemed to do a hundred menial things to ensure the mask was in as fine a quality as it may be.
"I've prepared an extract, from porridge, honey, and wine... It's still bonding, I believe; but it should help seal the crack when it's ready. You'll know it's ready when it's viscous and sticky. Make sure to not expose it to dry air until you're ready to apply it." He tacked on with a utilitarian authority behind his words, though they still rolled with the innate grace of Lekalis.
The words spared, he now slipped a hand into his satchel and procured a tin; a shade darker than Florence's "L.V." and smelling of the tavern, along with a bit fanciful ribbing on either end of the flat cylinder.
Doubly, a mimicked, "H.G." was carved into the lid.
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Post by Vanitypirate on Dec 31, 2017 22:45:28 GMT -8
"When I return from the Warrens, we shall have time for celebrations, as my research is almost concluded. I may be able to assess your hearing loss, but until then, avoid excessively loud noises." Florence advised, though with far much less grace than Lekalis had advised her with.
"--also, these straps fasten the mask well, and are not too tight."
She took the tin, and held out the vial in exchange.
"I thank you."
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Post by Bloodtrailkiller on Dec 31, 2017 22:50:36 GMT -8
/Lekalis/ With a content nod, he accepted the vial and looked it over; before offering it to Florence. Albeit, offering while starting to walk away, towards the Courtyard of town. "... Might want to save some for yourself... Good wine can be awfully bad for perception." He informed with a nod and smirk as he paused, and gave a quick two finger salute to Florence; "You are welcome." He replied, with a miming rigidity... \Lekalis and Florence Depart from Misc. Buildings. Lekalis departing to Tavern.\ |
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Post by Vanitypirate on Jan 1, 2018 0:10:37 GMT -8
/Lekalis/ "We can fetch some supplies on our way to or from the party, take your pick..." He chuckled as he ran an unabashed hand through his inkish locks, as he found her admirous gaze. He likewise, mimicked her yawn; if but to stretch and comb his fingers briefly and quietly through her hair. Minding to slip his digits free if he ran into a knot. He cleared his throat, at the door as he began step through, "Ah, there was another breach in one Raymond's domain; in his cellar... The Dark must've swept him and Hans up in one fell swoop." He mused; not particularly appalled but most certainly not pleased. More an unfortunate event, should his tone imply anything at all. "We arrived too late, it would seem... Blood on the floor, or wine. Er; the substance, mind." He chuckled as he flinched at the dawning air, feeling a more real yawn come to the fore; he did his best to stifle it, though his eyes wattered all the same... \Lekalis and Tilly Depart to Misc. Buildings\ --- "Ah... 'course. Explains them being kidnapped... you told the guards, too, I imagine?" Tilly rubbed her jaw as the pair left the tavern behind them, though she felt rather sly about deftly worming her fingers between her Only's once they were out of the public view of the tavern... and into the only semi-public, dawn-cast view of the Hamlet's streets. "...I sent Florence to go down into the Warrens with that fellow I met this afternoon." She looked up to the sky and shrugged, correcting, "--yesterday afternoon. S'a bit late for a party, don't you think?" |
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Post by Bloodtrailkiller on Jan 1, 2018 0:17:39 GMT -8
/Lekalis/
"Aye, told the guards..." He assured, drawing nearer to the harbour. He made sure to swing by a familiar alley to swipe up the cask of wine; the smell of distant beer and revels somehow overpowering the scent of sea salt, even at this hour as he rounded the corner to spy the home of the Schwarz'
"... I can only hope they try maybe steel or iron bars next time." He sighed, scratching at his jaw before shaking his head; the redundancy was obvious in that the worms would just dig around.
He'd have to remember to have a secure upper floor as much as a secure cellar in his forthcoming housing venture.
However, he motioned to the house in question with some jubilancy;
"There it is, the... Party." He declared, pausing as he failed to come up with anything truly fanciful as he shook his head and sighed. Hefting the cask again as he began to approach the party.
"Late or not... I think some social time might be quaint." He assured, though, his gaze drifted to the harbor's sickly grey waves.
"Though, I wouldn't blame you if you'd rather stay untempted by beer and wine." He smirked, raising a brow and motioning forthwith to the predescribed harbor bay...
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Post by Vanitypirate on Jan 1, 2018 2:32:02 GMT -8
"Hmmm... can't say there's ever been much fun in being the lone, sober person of the bunch, no." Tilly near-mumbled as she looked upon the house in some quiet mixture of awe and horror. So much noise from just a small shanty...
But then she observed as Lekalis heft up the cask.
"I think I could go for a bit of a good cat-nap, catch a bit of sun on the beach?" She proposed, nudging him with her elbow, amused. "You're already well-prepared for this party, seems like. And a touch of social-time would do you a spot of good, I'd say. Plus you'd be able to keep Courcy out of trouble."
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