RP:Awkwardness By The Sea

Summary: Callum decides to take a stroll, after his work is finished in Cenril, to the beach to clear his head. He's not quite allowed to tonight, unfortunately, after he runs into Lita. It's about as awkward as the title suggests, as the two never really got to know one another. There's invites made between the two (more on Lita's part than Cal's) and Cal instead leaves with a nice orb of salty water to take home and dwell on things with.

Pebbly Shore, Cenril

Lita has made Cenril a second home as of late. While she's kept out of more recent political-witchy happenings by purposeful choice, she's spent more and more time here over the last few months. The ocean is still a reminder of that island though, ghosts and all. The beach is mostly the same- rocks, sand, waves. It sounds the same. It's easier to push all the noise of Cenril into the background from here. It smells the same- salt and sand and sun. But it's not her's on this side of the inlet. She stands barefoot amongst the sands at the edge of the water, the waves washing in to lap at her ankles. She crouches to pluck a sand dollar from the beach as the water rushes out again and rests her elbows on her knees as she lifts the thing for closer inspection. Chipped, chalky edges, how far from home? She returns it to the sand again as the tides roll in once more to bury it.

Callum || After all the goings-on with witch stuff as of late (you know, the ones of the not-good variety), Cal had taken to not visiting the ocean as much as he did after work was over with in the port town. Much like with how staying at home for long periods of time made him antsy, staying too far from water of any sort only made that anxiety of his worsen. Sure there were the rivers and ponds and such in Sage Forest, where Callum and Meri now made their home, but they didn’t compare to the salty sea breeze and the calm that came over him as he listened to the waves. Booted feet brought him to the pebbly area, the crunch of stone and sand filling the air. He wasn’t so much into his thoughts that he didn’t notice Lita almost immediately as she bent over and picked up that rock. Panic set in almost immediately--it was to the point now, with things as bad as they were, that he could hardly control it. He looked somewhat like a scared rabbit briefly, seconds passing by as he deliberated in his head about whether or not he should turn and leave. He’d have to sacrifice his trip to the sea… and he really didn’t want to do that. Breathing a heavy sigh, he’d put on that mask that he’s had to wear so often lately--the one that says ‘I’m perfectly fine’--and finally let out a greeting to the vampire, “Hi, Lita.”

Lita could hear Callum before he'd made himself known. Boots on the rocks, the frantic heartbeat, the heavy sigh that came just before composure. She knew the process, even if she couldn't quite place who it was behind her. The slight weight of the dagger strapped to her thigh, hidden beneath the hem of her dress, was a sudden comfort and her fingers twitched slightly. But she was still. Her dealings with the botanist had been few and she'd been lying if she said there wasn't a bit of resentment for him having whisked the doll so far away. She reached up with her right hand to tuck raven curls behind her ear and glanced up at him a bit sideways from where she was still crouched. He looked different than she remembered, not that her memories of him were entirely concrete. More color than actual shape, like watercolors. His name escaped her too just then and she hesitated in returning his greeting. What had Meri called him? She remembered a conversation over sushi. It felt like another lifetime ago. She exhaled an apology with a little shrug and splayed her fingers out as she tried to come up with his name and tried. Finally she settled on, "Botanist." Was he still that, even? Larket had seen its fair share of turmoil in the past months too. "What brings you so far outside the city's walls?" She'd meant Larket's stones ones, not Cenril's. But sometimes her tongue forgets to relay what her brain is thinking. She assumes people can just follow along.

Callum -was- different from when he and Lita first (and last) met. Not that he’d tell her about all of that, of course. Not unless he was truly sure about her. Her own demeanor didn’t really put his mind to rest either. The way she remained crouched and stared at him reminded Callum of a feral cat in some ways, the hesitation only adding to it. “Haven’t been in Larket in some time, I’m afraid. Not since they burned a friend of Meri and I.” Was that a shudder? He suppressed it as much as possible. “And it’s Callum. Cal.” There wasn’t a ‘whatever’ at the end of it verbally, but it was certainly implied. It was almost as if -he- didn’t quite know who he was anymore. “Went back to doing my usual deliveries and such again. It pays better--and you don’t have that looming fear of death by fire hanging over your head.” He finally gave a shrug of his own, then turned towards the sea, “I’m surprised you’re over here, honestly. Didn’t think you ever really left Rynvale.”

Lita doesn't always pick up on social queues right away. She's really good at playing a composed part when it doesn't involve being herself. That's when she gets a little lost in what she's supposed to be doing and forgets what she's actually doing. Hence it takes her a minute or two to realized that it might come off as awkward that she's still crouched while they're apparently going to have a conversation so she stands, stretched her legs, listening. She bites her lip when he mentions a friend of his and Meri's having been burned. And Hudson's. She hadn't known the girl personally. She'd met her once, briefly. But she remembered Hudson's face when he'd talked about it. She snaps her fingers when he reminds her of his name. "Callum. Right. The Other Cal." She already had a Cal. The Smoker. The Bastard. Either moniker was applicable, though she preferred the latter most days. She doesn't offer an explanation. He's brought the conversation full circle back to this whole death by fire thing and she has no idea what to say. But he changes the subject. Is it rude that she's grateful? "I'm scarcely in Rynvale usually. Just don't broadcast it. I've spent a lot of time in Cenril lately but I've kept my distance from all the political happenings." She didn't mention she was in Cenril because of Samson. In some respects he was still her secret. "I'll always go back. For everything it is now, it's still as much a home as I've ever known."

Callum didn’t particularly like talking about how close he’d been to a fiery death either--and now an even worse threat loomed overhead, but it was one he wasn’t going to spill willingly. She’d probably find out about it eventually from Hudson, should anyone ever bring up to him that all of his witch friends and acquaintances were being hunted now; things were so much worse than what that Cramer guy at the Gala had made it seem like. “Ah,” he said, feeling his own sort of out-of-place awkwardness. He used to be so good at this, this whole silver-tongue thing, whether he was really lying or not. “We go between here and Kelay-Sage mostly. I’m sure you’ll run into Meri eventually.” A hand raised and slender fingers slid through his raven-colored hair, a slight frown threatening to break through, though he suppressed it to emerge as just a thin line along his lips instead, “She’s not doing the artist thing much anymore. Maybe you can coax her back into it, even if just for stress relief.” It didn’t take much for him to get the hint that maybe Lita didn’t really care for him much--he’d sensed it all those months ago when they first met. “She’s quit drinking too--and no, it’s not because of me. Her sister Khitti did get her to do a bit of painting, but she closed up her studio awhile ago. Guess you don’t have that competition anymore.” It’d been something him and Meri discussed when the two moved to Larket originally, that Lita might be a little salty about that.

Lita felt bad suddenly. It wasn't that she didn't like Callum. She just didn't know him. And she missed her friend. But that's the way those things went sometimes. Not that she'd been around much as of late to keep those lines of communication open. But she definitely wasn't placing blame. She can't help but smile a little when Cal mentions that the change in drinking habits wasn't because of him. Clearly her feelings aren't as veiled as she might have attempted. "No ill will," she manages. "I just miss her." She shrugs a little and furrows her brows at him when he mentions that Meri had closed the shop. "Meri was never my competition." Wait, that didn't come out right. "What I mean is, she's always been a better artist than me. She has that way with people. I've never been so good at it myself and when everyone left the island and then the Cap'n-" she hesitates. "Well, things got worse for a long time. But the shop was never a real shop, not until Meri came along." It had been a front, for Finn in the beginning and for Cal now, still, the tunnels beneath it stretching under Rynvale to hidden beaches and waterways. "She reminded me what it could be. But she always wanted her own place. I'm sorry she's lost that." She meant that. She understood it. She'd only kept the shop operational to appease the illusion and in some part, to pay homage to Leo. But it had never been her dream. "I go to Venturil every couple weeks. There's a shelter out there for orphaned littlies- kids. I take art supplies- paper, paints, charcoals, markers, whatever. Just spend some hours there. It's nice. Kind of reminds you what it means to fall in love with the art again. Maybe you can mention it to Meri. You guys should come sometime." Both of them. She didn't want to dislike Callum and she definitely wanted Meri in her life. If that meant making new friends than the least she could do was make an effort.

Callum || “Meri’s been through a lot of her own bad stuff lately too, and that’s what’s done it, really. Her sister gets her into plenty of questionable situations--a lot of them in Venturil lately too, actually--and I think it all just took a toll on her. I’m sure she’ll be back to her old self in no time… and if not?” Callum shrugged, “The new Meri’s just fine too--when she’s not worrying over my wellbeing, anyway. Where she’s lost things, she’s gained new ones. Took up archery, learning how to be a ranger. She’s got the head for that fighting stuff, so it suits her.” As much of a pacifist as ever, he smirked at the thought of the few times he fought. It’d mostly been out of anger--that fiery Catalian blood ran deep in his veins, even if the water-wielding male didn’t want to accept it. “She’ll be fine, whatever she decides to do. And, I’ll mention it to her, but I’m not sure if it’ll take, with me. Might be better if she got the invitation from you.” The two of them somewhat equally wore the metaphorical pants in the relationship, but most of the time it tipped more in the blonde’s favor. “Just avoid the byrgs if you’re out there again soon, yeah?” That same hand that had streaked through his hair was now held out in front of him, calling a bit of the seawater to his fingertips, the whole of it forming into an orb in his hand. It wasn’t quite the same, but it’d help him for a little while when he was at home. “Maybe we can all get into some questionable situations that aren’t as dangerous eventually too,” he said at last after examining his watery orb. She’d know of what he meant, of course.

Lita was rarely so bold as to invite herself into the realm of someone else's issues. She hadn't let anyone that close since Hanan had left and things with Krice had turned sour. Meri had gotten closest probably, reminded her what those connections meant. But she'd never quite been able to drop those walls completely. But she was glad to hear she was doing well. She grinned at the image in her head of Meri being a ranger- some blonde renegade Robin Hood type no doubt. She'd agree with Callum that it suited her. Lita's fight or flight response on the other hand had always been weighted towards her own survival. It was always a head game with her. She nods at Callum's recommendation that she deliver the invite herself and that she stay away from the byrgs. She blinked a bit as he conjured the seawater to his fingertips. She can't remember having been privy to the knowledge of this particular ability but she tries to not look shocked by it. She's never been so fond of magic. "I usually float between Cenril and Gualon for Cal- Calvin-" remembering to differentiate, "if you ever need a runner." She wondered what Finn might think if he heard her referring to herself with the title. It tasted strange. "Questionable situations aside, rumor has it there may be a poker tournament heading to the island. Might be a change of pace, a little fun even. You and Meri should come out for it if it happens."

Callum would nod in understanding to Lita, regarding Cenril and Gualon, and didn’t seem to pay any mind to her blinking when it came to his magic. It wasn’t something he was going to hide, but it wasn’t the first time he’d gotten looks for it--not -everyone- was magical and he knew that. “Yeah, that sounds good. That’s how I met Meri, funny enough. A poker game with Leo, while Eleanor and Meri watched.” Things seemed… so much simpler back then. He squinted at the memory, even frowned a little at it, then shook his head. “I’d better get home. It’s a bit of a ride to Sage from here and I don’t want to worry the woman too much. Maybe you’ll get invited to the house at some point too--when Meri deems you worthy anyway.” That frown he’d had was quickly masked by a bit of a smirk. He’d meant that ‘worthy’ thing in jest, of course. “It was nice seeing you again, Lita.” He’d await anything else from her, before giving her a bit of a half-assed salute and heading towards where he’d left that horse of his.

Lita should have left Rynvale a long time ago. Before the people she knew as family became little more than ghosts and memories. His mention of Leo and Eleanor was bittersweet but she managed a smile, thinking the poker tournament might be some sort of tribute to those simpler times. She looks away when he mentions she might get an invite if she's worthy. Despite his lightheartedness, part of her is a little worried that day may never come. She combs her fingers through her hair and nods. "Was nice seeing you again too, Callum. Travel safe." She'd listen to him heading off and when he was a few feet away she'd crouch down again, find that sand dollar in the sand. It still seemed so far from home.