#dawnzeniths

She send the text as her fifth alarm went off on her phone. Getting up before 10 a.m. should be considered a sin if someone asked her. It didn't matter when or where you read this. Being a night owl, it was nothing new for her to stay up late at night. Sometimes reading, sometimes watching some sappy drama (not that she would tell ANYONE about this) or just scrolling through her phone. The night was her time of the day and not even a tight schedule of classes and activities could change that.

Of course, Diana would have to deal with the consequences of her decisions when her reflection on the mirror could be compared to a racoon and she'd have to make some damage control before facing the outer world. She took a look at her watch. Her companion should be arriving soon.

Her daily routine was simple but efficient, like everything Diana did. Meticulous and tidy. Some beauty care, a light make up to cover the dark bags under her eyes, not a single hair out of place. Her choice of clothes was simple and quick too. Skinny black jeans, a lavender blouse and her favorite piece: her leather jacket. It was starting to get cold outside but she didn't mind that the sun wasn't as blinding as in summer. Anyway, she still used her trusted sunglasses as the finishing touch. Just in time to meet with Leona.

Even in a crowded place, finding her was easy. She would never admit just HOW easy it was for her to spot Leona so instead, she acted nonchalant and grumpy (the last part was a reality though).

" YOU… " her index finger pointed at her "…are my saviour." with a satisfied hum, she acknowledged the offering. Before taking the first sip of her miracle drink, she pulled a disinfectant wipe from her purse and cleaned the glass's recyclable lid.

Sometimes the presence of the one who she can relate to the closest concept of a home can be oppressive. Everything that she was towards her: warmth, gentleness, caring, light. Those golden eyes staring through her soul. It overwhelmed Diana until her throat constricted and the air became just her sweet perfume, making it hard to breath. She had to untangle herself, to pull away in hopes of calming the anxious feeling rising in the pit of her stomach.

" I wish I could, Leo... " But. There's always a but. She wasn't particularly fond of lying to her sun, the only one she'd undoubtedly pray to. Nor she was going to in the intimate moment shared. "But the elders will probably send me to do some ridiculous chore... You know they don't like me. " Surrounding the bed with lazy steps, she got closer to the side where her companion laid. After a moment of hesitation, her hand found auburn locks in the soft touch of slim fingers.

" They will hide me away, fearing I'll make an scene. They never let me partake in important events... Imagine the scandal if their chosen one appears together with the rebellious outsider..." She tried to humour her bitter words but her face always betrayed her. The sadness in her eyes, the stillness of her body.

CARING FOR THE SICK PROMPTS. [ HAIR ]: sender smooths back the receiver's hair in a soothing gesture to try and help them go back to sleep.

@dawnzenithsawn

Her fever was merciless the past days. Every muscle of her body ached, the burning sensation dulled by the chilling sensation of high temperture. It wasn't even a cold night but her current state made her lethargic and her usually graceful movements looked clumsy. Her sweaty skin and blushed cheeks weren't product of the current fight against her worst (best?) enemy but she was in no condition to go around explaining it. And even if she always welcomed the darkness with open arms, it was not when her vision began to close and her already labored breathing came out in violent gasps. The world went black after a rather violent exchange of blade against hard metal, sending her stumbling back and never getting up from the blow until a few hours later.

The soft caressing against her scalp wasn't of help to wake her up completely. She hadn't slept so well in a long time and the surface she was currently laying on was extremely comfortable. How weird… where was she again?

"What do you think you are doing?" Diana tried to sound as menacing as possible but her voice sounded raspy and weak, her vision still clouded by her sickness. It was unmistakable who her caregiver was. So blindingly bright with her golden armor and warm smile and those stupid pretty freckles decorating her face. It made her stomach churn and not because of some kind of illness.

There is an inclination to deny , deny , run & hide from the way her heart swells at the word itself . Love . She had not feared it . The call others seemed to hear was no more than static , a frequency she could not tune to no matter how she may try . Her eyes may have wandered , body craved attention , but none had managed to meet her in harmony .

But heart had been increasing its beat as of late . A flutter here and there , its own excitement causing it to lose tempo . Caitlyn had hesitated to evoke the word , believing such would only break her .

Oil & water . Love was not meant to be .

And yet , the moment Leona voices a truth Caitlyn had turned a blind eye to , she finds a small comfort . The warmth of acceptance , settling comfortably within her ribcage .

' I ... ' Do , she fails to say , brows tightening features as logical mind struggles to understand Leona's perceptiveness . Despite heart's relief , mind combats the emotions it cannot grasp .

On a scale of bad to worse on the ' things that can go horribly wrong on Mt. Targon ', to meet the very Aspect you intend to steal from is the highest, worst. The worstest. Ezreal knows that there's only about 100 meters more until reaching the summit, with the alleged Iron Solari Conclave and those fanatical enough to live upon such high altitudes not very far. Closer to their faith, closer to the Sun itself. It must be why she's made her way down, shown herself to him in human form as a means of divine intervention. She has to be protecting stock.

Travel partners have come and go by this point. It makes him wonder if she's been watching his ascent, sees his presence and being as a threat. Does she know what he really seeks? Does she know of the assassin-turned-his-buddy that had killed her believers? Is this the only time she'll manifest on the mountain today as some sort of test of faith?

If nothing else, he's flattered!

The explorer's breath hits the cold air, he watches as it condenses and mists in front of his eyes, the cool breeze blowing it westwards. As the Aspect moves herself to the side and lets the sun's rays meet his body, he expected it to be more pleasant than it was - instead, the heat is oppressive. The waves of light and heat trap underneath his thick fleeces and leather jacket, makes his sweat pool within the fabric.

The gauntlet crackles with energy, senses the nerves and displays them despite his best attempts to stifle it. There's an ace in his sleeve, an ' if all else fails ' of about one hundred feet, then more, if he can simply keep running. His fingers twitch within - he's considered it various times through this interaction. If he can attempt just once more, as her blade hasn't reached open air and she still focuses on defense - he'll try. No need to create unnecessary unrest in a place crawling with gods, after all.

The next offer comes hastily, to pause the hilt's rise out of its sheath.

why cannot she not see, that there can be more than this? desperation melts inside of her chest, frustration and disappointment breeding an inevitable sense of heaviness inside. why does she allow herself to be so limited? imbued only in what she knew, scared to step out and see what else there was? leona basked in the sunlight, stared into its glorious light, and it blinded her. yet diana cannot help but extend a hand, again and again, even if she knows the inevitable fate between them. she would continue to chase the sun, round and round again, to beg for its recognition, for it to acknowledge her as an equal. there was no other way. this was the roles they were doomed to face. no longer could they just be two girls, sneaking between lessons in a simpler time.

🐝  *  ―  𝑫𝑰𝑭𝑭𝑬𝑹𝑬𝑵𝑻 𝑾𝑨𝒀𝑺 𝑻𝑶 𝑲𝑰𝑺𝑺 𝑺𝑶𝑴𝑬𝑶𝑵𝑬.

"And then that elder…-which was his name? anyway, that elder kept telling me how I should never hold a shield this or that way… and the other initiates started snickering in my face… But when the test came I was the one who actually could- "

The kiss caught her off guard and stopped her rambling mid-sentence. A soft blush started spreading from her pale neck to the tips of her ears. Even in the dim light of the candles, she was sure Leona could see it and proceeded to puff her cheeks outraged.