goshdarnspam | It's Time for The...

[ That tone makes his eyes widen.

How much time has passed? This is the woman who had claimed to love the gods. Who refused to turn her back on them, even when they made demands of her that she could not accept. Who had left the White, but remained a Priestess.

His face is a study in concern. When she leans back, he almost reaches for her, worried that she's weakening. He stops himself. If only it were so easy to keep his heart in check. ]

You are much changed. You no longer love them.

[ He should feel good. He should be happy, he should be celebrating the fact that her eyes have been opened...

But he sees her drained, and sad, and once again, his heart is out of line. ]

I'm sorry. I never wanted that for you. I never wanted this...to see you look so sad.

[ She looks up at him at that. He always just knew her. He did things for her without her even asking. He did things she needed. He knew what she needed without her having to say it. He just... knew her.

And she knew him, she realized.

She sat up now, then leaned over to rest her head on his shoulder. He may not know them like this, but she does. And she wants him to feel better. Hopefully it'll help to cheer him up. ]

I still have so much to learn, Mirar. I used to feel endless when I was a White. Now I just feel young and foolish. Imagining the rest of forever is hard. [ She glances at him. ] At least I know I'll never have to face it alone.

[ Well, this is...interesting.

So is the fact that his heart is doing ridiculous little leaps in his chest, and he wishes it would stop. She's leaning against him and it makes him feel young again. Young. He, who has lived more years than he could count.

But in all that time, she is the first he has ever truly loved. His arms move to hold her, and even though it's been so long, the feel of her is familiar and good. ]

It doesn't feel like forever. Immortality. It never does. It feels like one day after another, one period of time after another, and you stop counting the days. They stop mattering, and it's only when you look back that you realise how many have passed. It's easier than you'd think to live forever.

[ He looks down at her, bemused now. Meeting her eyes. ] Ordinarily I should say it is also lonelier than you'd think. But I have never subscribed to that. I found ways to stave it off, through the Dreamweavers.

Am I welcome in your life, Auraya? If I am, then I will promise that you need never be alone, so long as I am here.

[ That made sense. The oldest of the White was only a century or so old. Mirar and the others had lived much longer. He knew how better to describe eternity than the White had been able to.

It should sound frightening. Time just passing you by like that. one day at a time.

But she thinks about what he says. About loneliness and finding company in the Dreamweavers. She'd have the Siyee. She knew that. They always welcomed her and she'd be their guardian and protector for always. It was the least she could do for what they had suffered through.

Not just the Siyee, though. Mirar looked at her, and Auraya couldn't hide her mischievous smile at the secret she'd been keeping from him. It was too fun, but the after would be fun too.

She leaned up and pressed her lips against his. Quick but far from chaste. So he would get the idea. ]

[ She's kissing him. She's really kissing him, and it happens so quickly that he doesn't even have time to let it startle him.

His hand moves to her cheek, cupping it while he leans into her and his other arm pulls her close. It all feels so natural to him that he doesn't even need to think about it. It sends warmth through his body, and he looks a little dazed when she leans away.

Dazed, but happy. So there is hope, after all. He doesn't have to chastise himself for wanting her. If she's kissing him, then that must mean... ]

...I'm sorry. I didn't quite catch all the detail of that. Could you repeat it again?

[ He's mostly joking. His smile is slightly lopsided, and possibly more of a grin right now. ]

[ His grin is infectious. How could she do anything but grin back at him. Especially as he holds her against him.

She had so much to figure out with her life anymore. So much had happened in such a short period of time that she needed to process. she needed to rethink herself and her view of the world. But she knew that somewhere in that processing was Mirar and all the things she felt for him. It might be awhile until she was fully there, but he was right. There was hope. More than hope. It was there, she just needed to be ready for it.

But right now she could push the rest aside. Just for a moment. She was tired of thinking about it and Mirar's smile was infectious.

She already had that thought didn't she? ]

You're always welcome in my life, Mirar. That would be the details of it.

[ He feels himself nodding.

He is welcome in her life. Somehow, the impossible situation that he is in now will get better, because he will be welcome with her and she will be willing to kiss him.

But then he sobers. Before she would get to that point, she would need to get to this point - which meant she would have to go through so much pain at the Pentadrians' hands, she would almost die. His arms tighten unconsciously around her. His smile becomes more normal, and he touches his cheek to the top of her head. ]

Well. That is good to know, Auraya. However we have found ourselves here, I am glad you are with me.

[ She's not sure what is going through his head right now. One second he's grinning, the next he seems almost angry. Then he's holding her tighter. Not that she minds that feeling. His touch has come to be so reassuring to her in recent days. It just calms her. His smile comes back, though and she rests her head against his shoulder as his cheek rests on her head. ]

As am I. [ She answers it, truly meaning it. Before she had felt scared and unsure. Slightly apprehensive. Now she felt calm and normal. She had since she laid eyes on him. The sight of him did that to her. ]

We can get through this together. I know that we can do anything together.

Can we? [ He sounds bemused, and turns his smile on her again. It’s so strange to hear her talking like this. He doesn’t know how he has managed to ingratiate himself with her. What would the Twins say if they saw them now? Or Emerahl, who had been so sure that Auraya felt nothing for him?

What would Dardel think, if she saw Auraya in his arms? He almost thought she would be pleased. She had thought he should be with the one he loved, at any rate.

No, he is getting ahead of himself. They are not together...though, he has hope of that now. How easily that flame has been rekindled, as if he had never fully stamped it out. Hope is dangerous, and love is a dangerous emotion. Mirar has always known that. It is why he had refused to feel it for so long. Only Auraya had made him capable of it.

At length he leans back, smiling at her. ]

Well, if we can accomplish anything, we ought to be able to throw some lunch together. You said you read the little page that I ignored. Did it give any advice on that?

[ Auraya wouldn't lead him on. That would be too cruel for her to do to him when she knew how he felt. No, when she had kissed him that day on the beach she knew exactly what she was doing.

and she wanted it. Sitting here with his arms wrapped around her, she knew that she wanted this for much longer. Maybe she needed to get her life in order first, but what was a short amount of thinking time compared to the eternity they could have together? They were immortal. They had all the time in the world. ]

I should almost let you go hungry. [ She gives him a look at that, but she reaches into her pocket to take it out now. Then she took out the dog tags she had on her. ] I believe these are somehow supposed to help? I'm still not quite clear. There wasn't much on money and eating and all of that.

I have a pair of those. [ He withdraws the tags from his vest. The chain is wrapped around a small contraption made from a hard, black material which he has not investigated at all. He had kept them only because that strange machine had spat them out at him. Obviously it had done the same to Auraya.

Mirar sets the little pile aside and takes the pamphlet. He frowns as he reads, and after a while lifts the tags again. They seem to be connected to an offer of money, a charitable donation of some kind. Well, charity could be repaid.

He looks down at Auraya, at the way she’s leaning against him. He doesn’t want to disturb that rest. But they cannot stay here indefinitely, and the pamphlet does give an indication as to living arrangements. ]

There is a place that we can go. The necklace is a key to a room...that’s useful. It would be warmer than sitting here. What do you think, Auraya?

[ At least he hadn't thrown those aside since he had the pamphlet. Especially since they proved useful to them. It was still strange to get a necklace that had their names printed on it. But what else could they do?

She lets him read over it now. Catching up with what she knows. Better late than never, really.

But as he speaks she wonders if he's worried about her. So she stands up on her own now, so he doesn't have to make her. She's not helpless. She can get around fine and doesn't expect anyone to wait on her. ]

Do you think we should get food on the way or will there be food?

[ Mirar hides a smile. He wonders if she’d taken offense. It’s likely; she’s stubborn, and he has a talent for offending people.

He glances through the pamphlet again at the question, but this time turns up nothing to help. He shakes his head. ]

I think we’ll need money first. Unless we hunt for ourselves, of course, but I don’t recognise any of the wildlife here. Even the plants aren’t familiar.

[ In fact, he’ll need to investigate that. Already his mind is going to his cures, trying to tally how many he has left and how quickly he’ll need to replenish his stocks. Obviously that’s going to take a bit of investigation.

He stands up, adjusting his pack on his shoulder and turning the pamphlet to the page bearing the map he’d seen. He offers it to her again, and points to a route out of Central Park. ]

I think it’s this way. Here, see for yourself. It wouldn’t do to get lost here, it’s larger than Jarime and Glymma combined. Far richer as well, if those towers are any indication.

[ She leans in to look at the map. She had glanced over it before, but he was right. It was bigger than Jarime and Glymma combined and a lot more confusing. Far more people. Strange machines in the roads. They'd have to be careful just with walking.

Maybe she'd get up enough strength to fly eventually and she could visually map the city for herself instead of relying on this paper to tell her. She liked reading but it had it's limits. ]

We'll start with shelter, then. [ She told him. ] I wonder what a home will be like here...

[ Mirar glances at her. Those words stick in his mind. A home. It has been a very long time since he had a home. Even as Leiard, he had not seen anywhere as a permanent home. Auraya's village had been his longest residence, but he had known even then that he would move on some day.

She is not like that. Even in this place, it's natural to her to search for home. He feels a rush of affection for her, and quickly pushes it down. It's unhelpful that she has this affect on him.

But she had leaned on him, and...

He pushes that thought down, too. This woman has a way of getting under his skin. He moves to walk beside her, determined to keep his thoughts to himself. ]

Homes are the same in most places. They look different, but they meet the same purpose. They mean warmth, safety and belonging. I wouldn't mind the first two. The third is a stretch, but we'll see how flexible I can be.

[ She looks at him as he describes a home. She was missing her bower, honestly, but the way he described a home sounded... so much easier to find. That made her feel better.

Except when he talked about belonging. ]

Well, [ She turns to look back at the sidewalk as they walk. ] So long as we stay together it'll feel close to home.

[ Yes, Mirar, she wants to stay in a place with you. As many problems as she have, they'd only be amplified by being here and alone. She'd rather stay with him. ]

[ He turned a rather surprised look on her. His presence made her feel at home? Suddenly his gaze becomes far softer. The way she looks at him now reminds him most closely of how she had been when he was Leiard, and it is difficult not to be affected by that. ]

I won't stray too far from you, then. You are making me wish I could remember all that you do. The future seems as though it will be a nicer place for me than the present.

[ He offers her a sly little smile. He won't enjoy seeing whatever trauma makes her lose so much weight, but it's good to simply know he will speak to her again. ]

[ She smiles at him. ] You'll know all one day. You have forever, don't be in such a rush.

[ She teased him. Revealing too much probably wasn't wisest. And somethings she couldn't speak about. And even if she could she wouldn't tell them to him. He didn't need to know everything about their future until it happened. He'd just worry. ]

Ah, but I’m in a great rush to see what miraculous feat I manage to get this close to you again. Look at us, we’re almost friends.

[ He can’t help teasing her. It’s far too tempting, especially when she’s lifted his spirits so much.

As they come to the end of the street, he reaches out his hand and changes direction. ]

This way, I think. It should be one of those towers. Very welcoming.

[ Towers make him think of the White. He’s not fond of them; a humble Dreamweaver House, or even an inn, would serve him better. The latter would be less secure than a locked room, however. Even so, he would prefer somewhere less conspicuous. ]

I wonder who’ll be waiting for us, if anyone.

Almost.

[ She's just teasing him too, though. They are friends. Nothing 'almost' about it. And one day, they might even be more than friends. She was sure he'd appreciate that hope. ]

Where ever you lead, fearless leader. [ She told him as he led her down another street. Then she saw it as he said it. Towers. She thought of how the towers had triggered him once already. That had been a specific tower, but it was all the same really. Glass or brick or not.

Even if there was no other personality to take over, he probably wasn't much comforted. She squeezed his hand reassuringly. ]

Perhaps no one. Perhaps the Porter was all the greeting we'll be graced with.

Perhaps.

[ Mirar feels her squeezing his hand. He turns a curious look on her, though the corners of his mouth are turning up in a smile. She's perceptive. His mind is veiled from hers, but she can still tell this disquiets him.
She's reading him like she used to read Leiard. ]

But there must be others here, Auraya. I doubt we are the first. We can connect with them, perhaps.

You might even like it here. With towers as high as these, you'll find others rising as high as you do for once.

It's Time for The...

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