The Talon's Tome

@crows-and-tomes

Finlay : Thera

CONTENT WARNING: Nudity mention

The solstice bonfire had been reduced to little more than ash by this point, the music long since faded to echoes. Most of the festival-goers had already dispersed, and the few stragglers who remained stayed closer to Bheagain Beach. Bonny Bay was empty and quiet, save for the faint crash of waves below.

Aldora was alone.

More for the benefit of the others at the event than for herself. People these days were so... what was the word? Shy? Modest? Prudish, perhaps? About bodies.

It was a shame, really—bodies were works of art in their own right, and she had always been one to appreciate art.

Humming softly to herself, Aldora lifted the dress she had worn that day up and over her head before stepping out of her undergarments. Everything was folded neatly and set aside in a pile near the base of the cliff before she began the short ascent to its edge.

Being a vampire, she hadn't been able to participate in the morning dip. She had made peace with almost all aspects of being a vampire over the millennia—both the good and the bad—but the sun was something she still missed dearly, even after all this time. And though she'd never admit it, she had been deeply disappointed that she couldn't take part in such a charming local ritual. The feeling had gnawed at her steadily throughout the day.

But as sentimental as Aldora was, she had never been one to wallow. Nor was she going to let something as trivial as not owning a swimsuit stop her.

So here she was, bare beneath the light of the moon, standing only a few feet from the cliff's edge.

If she couldn't participate in the ritual, she thought as she backed up a few steps, then she'd simply make her own.

Then she ran.

Aldora sprinted toward the cliff's edge with a laugh she couldn't quite contain, pulling her knees to her chest as she became airborne. The thrill of weightlessness overtook her before she struck the sea below with a tremendous splash.

The water would have been cold enough to steal her breath, if she had any. A shock to her system that was almost painful in its intensity, and yet made her feel alive in a way she hadn't in a very long time. For a lingering moment, she remained beneath the waves, watching the bubbles rise around her as she sank, admiring the way they caught the moonlight in flashes of silver.

But the cold was beginning to make her muscles stiffen, and so it was time to resurface.

She swam toward the shore, a sharp shiver and muttered curse escaping her as the breeze picked up just as she emerged from the water. As she wrung the saltwater from her curls, she heard it—a faltering step and a sharp intake of breath.

It seemed someone had stumbled upon her.

A soft, amused huff escaped her.

"Lovely night for a swim, no?" she asked playfully as she continued working her fingers through her hair, entirely unbothered by the interruption.

After a moment, she turned her head to glance over her shoulder at them, her eyes shining with equal parts confidence and mischief.

"Or are you just enjoying the view?"

As she had started her trek home the distinct scent of bonfire in her hair had driven Thera to take one last dip in the usually rough waters of the familiar bay, her day clothes discarded on the rocky cliff as she again floated in her purple bikini. Today had been a good day, Thera thought to herself.

That was until the unmistakable shift in the water alerted her to another entity having entered her solace. She quicky got her legs underneath her, standing with her arms out. “Who’s there?” She swings her head around. Maybe she had grown to complacent  here in Eden Ros, even though she no longer had her father to worry about, she of all people knew there were people about who meant her harm, both intentionally and not intentionally.

Friday night meant Kevin's choice of movie -- The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring, extended edition -- was playing on one of the tavern televisions, captions on and volume low. Retro beeps and boops intermittently pierced the space, occasionally audible over the grumble and hum of conversation. If you wanted a traditional Scottish pub experience, you would not find it at Rosie's.

Still, Morgan was grateful they'd managed to stay in business for a whole year now, keeping her nights occupied and her family fed and housed. That wasn't insignificant. So to thank the community, and acknowledge the modicum of success she'd found, Morgan was hosting a small anniversary celebration this week at Rosie's. Thankfully, it looked like it was drawing guests new and old (and all at least 18 years of age).

"Hiya," the bartender smiled at the patron approaching the bar. Her recitation of the special deal was a little practiced, she'd already said it several dozen times in the last day or so. "Snacks and mixed cocktails are 15% off, and every order gets a free arcade token for the games. It's a pound if you want five more tokens. Just let me know what I can get for you."

She might not know anyone around this evening but being here was considerably preferable to spending the night couped up in her apartment. She leaned over the counter towards the person who from past browsing she gleaned was the owner, “I’d take a gin and tonic please and I’ll take a couple extra tokens, your selection here has always been so wonderful.” Thera awkwardly reached into her packet to grab a two-pound coin and money for her drink when the pack spotted her. Her whole face lite up with what must have been a gremlinish grin, “Are those Tayto’s Meanies? May I please have a pack of those too?”

Olivia was one of the first ones at the beach at the start of the day and hadn't left since. From sunrise to sundown, she sat there, quiet, people watching. When she heard of the jubilee, just a couple of days after she got to Eden Ros, she knew it was her best opportunity to find her parents — assuming, of course, that they were even there. If they were even alive. And if not, well, she figured it was a good way to meet people.

That was the theory, at least. She thought about walking up and talking to people, but she never knew what to say. Olivia didn't even know anyone there, she didn't know their customs and how they would feel about a stranger starting a random conversation out of nowhere, so she didn't. Yes, it was all in her head, yes, it would probably be fine if she just said hi to someone, but her anxiety got the better of her.

And just like that, morning turned into evening; she didn't see her parents or heard their names, and the excitement she felt about the jubilee was gone and left her deflated. Pathetic.

She took a deep breath and took a look around, watching the entire town enjoying themselves. That was her shot. Her best chance to start over, be someone, have a life. She wasn't even human anymore for crying out loud. She can do this. The moon will help her.

Forcing a smile on her face, she turned to the person closest to her, "the night is beautiful here, huh?" It was cold, for sure, but the warmth from the bonfire helped, and let her appreciate the night sky. "Is it always like this? I'm kinda new here."

Thera sat on a log, face warmed by the nearby fire feeling perfectly content in her solitutde as she let her head tip back, her cheeks stinging slightly in the salty air as she let the warm fizz of her last sip of cider, the taste lingering on her tongue, keep her warm.

It had been a lovely day all in all, more informative than busy, a rarity given how Thera usually ran her schedule.

She opened her eyes and turned a warm smile towards the newcomer to the fire pit. “I’ll say it’s been a particularly nice day as someone who’s not quite as new here, we were lucky the rain held.” She knocked briefly on her wooden seat to protect against that changing in the next five minutes. “We aren’t always so lucky in that. I do hope you are enjoying your stay though. Is this a vacation or more of a long term thing?” Thera looked the girl up and down, she could be a university student arrived early to acclimate to the city or something of the like.