#elysur

Aeluin Azora, Bo Rei-Kenn, Ava Belpheobe, Malric Parsle, Sean Runn, Finn Emrys, Duncan, Joemar Haggard, Jonothan Fer, Dwynwyn Fer, Ruthellian Ithid, Red Fernsby, Davin Fernsby, Erellise Feros, Karen Feros-Phelluere, Melanie Locke-Feros-Allris-Sjuhi-Raiyez-Vel-Ru'Kir-Ellwith-Garen-Sje'ir-Rakhar-Ir-Illiden-Neferi-Wilson-Melleiyi-Smith-Turner-Rune-Gaben-Rancoure-Syrene-Keurein-Rin-Pheleure, Royal Feros, Robissimer Denalaren, Revys Geult, Doug Elidyr, Olea Elidyr, Jade Smith, Elle Noire, Rey Jaret, Heaven Smith, Mera (?), Tina Noire, Sam (?), Aljena Cole, Eri Sallow, Orion Sallow, Synaelia Runn, Ves Thassix, Jamson Sterling, Jude Sterling, Marie Thassix, Myre Sterling, Neil Sterling, Valentina Ruby, Matthew Haset, Chess Haset, Zacharias Brent, Zoe Brent, Lila Voz, Ki Voz, Feather Jones, Allison Brent, Jameson Elidyr, Alixandra Brent, William Brent, Dravik Rencoure, Maria Brent, Jorden Grange, Leonidus Grange, Dana Grange, Bilaris Syrene, Anna Syrene, Melia Syrene, Jackson Feros, Nara Syrene-Feros, Viniri Syrene-Rin, Thane Avalor, Kyle Mallory, Laurelei Mallory, Enric Feros, Catherine Feros, Kirian Feros, Elouise Feros, Naven Feros, Naomi Feros, Jemyn Feros, Liam Smith, Era Featherwye, Sage Rune, Neve Ria, Rasha Tuldahn, Gillian Emrys, Daniel Emrys, Merin Emrys, Nellie Emrys, Vanessa Emrys, Malcolm Emrys, Benoni Mort, Dev Turyn, Nierelli Aominn, Nara Stone, June Stone, Bethany Gorman, Tanra Domiticus, Aelia Domiticus, Raelin Sallow, Ash Ferthen, Erin Aominn, Derrek Velhues, Derek Jones, Unona Coul-Vriggs, Veran Coul, Kavarie June, Vesa Velhues, Seils Tunef, Feryn Rumer Demm, Vista Demm, Corvina Silva, Rij Seraq, Ilkinz Seraq, Mara Seraq, Angel (?), Mera Qerq, Isja Seraq, Corvid Qerq, Aegis Blackstone, Cliff (?), Laris (?), Lode (?), Steel (?), Ferrent Stone, Lawrence Nighy, Arson Lawrence, Geryon Amnes, Syl Irileth, Barrow, Carie Lowell, Veyduta Tal-Mewt, Timita Tal-Mewt, Azure Veil, Cara (?), Amber Veil, Strom, Alimen Voz, Sairena "Lucky" Locke, Vera Riss, Allura Prode, Juno Antoinette, Solace Myr, Peraq Benval'n, Qoric Ovenn, Quric Devoted, Rannes Adjourned, Ericke Miste, Leila Winged/Wingless, Vivia Smith, Ri Aominn, Kee Seln, Cyril Ja, Rho Evek, Whiss Bren, Ciel Reishi, Missy Vessith, Elena Wyren, Naven Voltyren, Morose Rheubdae, Chadwick, Senvh Qerq, Quinn Cole, Aster Danica, Layla (?), Sampson (?), Reese (?), Mejta Qerq, Mari (?), Viras Kel, Winnifred Wilson, Eris Wilson, Spark Wilson, Glen Ava, Kris Daniels, Sydney Dale, Kat Dale, Delila Harken, Gizmo Boom, Rei Kirian, Jean Kirien, Jules Denver, Aveth Tunis, Timothy Hare, Tyret Mallory, Keldan Seraq, Beck, Roman Jack, Moss, Lux Sallow, Shay Hex, Valre Qerq, Maelstrom Derecho, Kaelyn Fisher, Veduta Tal-Mewt, Timita Tal-mewt, Felicity Thren, Lauv Hex, Aether Glen, Mikail Barne, Kellin Syras, Dune Davis, Soot (?), Liar Rune, Ichorous, Wynric Ace Savant

When miss Rei-Kenn came in to get a dagger enchanted, it gave her a restlessness she’d not felt in years. And something about the way the woman carried herself, or the familiar way she smiled, or…

…something made Ava wonder if, maybe, she could have turned out like that. All tanned skin and scars and calloused hands and knowing winks and the air of someone who’s got stories to share.

When she left, Ava couldn’t help but feel a little… less, somehow. Not like she was any less than before, but… like she’d given up on something.

Fortunately, the feeling didn’t linger.

Miss Belpheobe finds enough adventure in her own life, after all. In diving into books lent to her for a new spell, or following a cat halfway out of town just to see where it goes, or sitting on her neighbor’s counter as he goes on about some customer or another. She’s happy.

She doesn’t know what compels her, then, when miss Rei-Kenn returns, to take her by the hand. To ask her to bring Ava with her, on… just one adventure. Just one would be more than enough for her, she knows it.

But she never gets to ask.

For an instant, as their hands meet, she feels… so much. Everything. Anything. The hum of the universe is like an orchestra, in chorus with itself a dozen times over. It’s overwhelming, and it’s beautiful, and…

…and she’s something else, after it.]

He can feel his pulse in the arm under his head and where his jaw meets his throat, and he finds himself counting his breaths, although he’s not sure what for.

The pendant of his pact hangs awkwardly, like this, resting on the inside of his shirt nearly at his arm, and the warmth of it is some level of comfort.

He knows that the Shadowed One is out of reach, but… there’s something comforting, in knowing that he’s being looked after, despite it.

And he remembers when he couldn’t reach that connection.

And he remembers being hunted.

He forces his eyes shut, but he can still imagine the feeling of unsteady rocks in his hands, and the shake in his arms as he climbed, and the sounds of shouting overhead, and the heart-stopping instant when whatever his foot rested on gave way and he had to thank every force in the universe that he didn’t cry out.

He curls into himself a little more and holds the cord around his neck, tugging lightly to remind himself that it’s still there.

The rug beneath him is soft and his blanket is warm, and soon enough, he’s waking to the smell of coffee and the sound of Strom gently humming.

When he opens his eyes, he can see her in one of the mismatched armchairs, two mugs in hand and eyes closed, like this moment will last forever.

And he doesn’t get up, just yet, although she may or may not know that he’s awake… because if she can breathe easy, it makes it a little easier for him to do the same.]

And gods, she’s pretty.

They miss what she says entirely the first time, and she laughs, and they might do just about anything to get to see her laugh again.

She repeats herself, inviting them to dance, and offers a hand out. And who would they be to tell her no?

When they tell her that they don’t know what they’re doing, she leans in like she’s sharing a secret, despite having to raise her voice over the speakers, and says that she doesn’t either.

She says that they can not know together.

And they dance.

And Lux is sure they look a little silly, but it’s okay.

And at some point, she leans over to them.

And she asks if she can kiss them.

And they don’t know how to answer but to nod.

And her hands are warm on their cheeks.

And they can taste sugar on her lips.

And they can feel her smile before she pulls back, and they’re not entirely caught up with themselves enough to process what she says.

And she hugs them.

And she waves.

And she leaves.

And they wave back, and they’re not sure if she sees.

And she almost skips in her walk, and the colored lights catch in her hair and make her look like a painting before they loose sight of her.

And they just stand there for a while after that.

And when they do make their way back to their seat, they’re a little too flustered to pay attention to their surroundings again.

They can still taste her on their lips.]

Coming home is... bittersweet. It always is, of course, but... it’s even more bitter when she’s on her own.

She only slips once on her way up the wall, and when she sits, she rests her chin on top of her knees.

She has to squint against the sun’s reflection on the waves, but... the sunset is beautiful. It always is, of course, but that doesn’t make it any less breathtaking than the last time she got to enjoy it.

Years ago, she’d have dreamt of stealing away on some boat or another, like Beck did, and insisting that they take her in. Or just seeing how far she can make it before she’s noticed. But... she’s been so much further than she’d even thought to imagine. Not on her own, of course, but... Azure feels safer than a ship of strangers probably would anyway.

She wishes she could have brought him here with her again. He always did love the sunsets.

For now, she closes her eyes and feels the warmth on her face. She’ll just have to enjoy it for the both of them, for now.

-

-

She feels it, more than she hears it, when the air opens up for a portal, and he announces himself with a hand on her shoulder as he sits beside her. When he hums, it sounds like ringing, like running two forks together, and she leans into his side.

“I was starting to think you were going to miss it.”

He presses a kiss to her forehead, nosing past some of her hair, and she can feel him smile.

“I’d not miss a twilight with you for the world.”

-