RP:Researchers

Summery: Irenic is researching stuff for someone with someone else.

The Great Library of Cenril

You enter the library. The air smells musty, but by no means damp. The air tingles with magic, most likely from the enchantments placed upon the books to keep them preserved. The bookshelves are huge; they stretch as far as you can see. Looking up, you see that they also stretch up towards the very high ceiling. The floor is black marble and the walls seem to be constructed from contrasting white marble. The tables, which form an orderly line down the center of the library, appear to be green marble and have gold leaf decorating their legs. The place is deathly silent, probably due to the enchantments placed in the building rather than the compliance of the patrons. How would one find what they were looking for here? You could spend a lifetime in this hall of knowledge and not even read a hundredth of the books here.

A water-damaged door at the far end of the room seems to lead downward.

Irenic found himself in one of the larger library's of Hollow located in Cenril after taking someone he used to know back to her home in Larket. He had a large square table all to himself in the middle of this vast library and a plethora of books strewn across it; even stepping in and out of the restricted section to grab some books to add to the pile. Blank parchment and inked quills a safe distance away from said books so he may litter the blank sheets of paper with his hurried left-handed writing. His large wings are hugged tight to his body as to not disturb any fellow researches or leisure readers as he wasn't even bothering with pulling out a chair for himself just yet. A basket of treats he bought from Mrs Mallards rests on one of the chairs, though, for he might get hungry from all of this researching and it may be apparent he's been here for the better part of this day. This was one place he was happy the thugs didn't travel into, not that he was scared of them, just easily annoyed and frankly he'd just end up punching one of them in the mouth from his near aggravated state; clenched chiseled jaw, steely gaze over narrow spectacle lenses, tensed muscles under a rather fitting black V-neck sweater - the writing is all there. He opens a book on the table and only leans his tall stature over it for a moment, attempting to get a feel for the book's innards before deciding to toss it aside - GENTLY… Gently.

Valrae was returning a few of the books on garden flowers and necromancy she had borrowed. Because she'd never studied the art she found her own personal collection had been sadly lacking. Her hair was subdued in an intricate fishtail style braid in a line of gold down her back, with only a few stubborn waves falling to frame her face. She was wearing a dress the color of ripe strawberries, with intricate embroidery of gold on the helm and low neck line, and still carried her large bag on her shoulder, free of sand. She spotted the avian almost immediately this time and made her way across the large room on sandal clad feet. "Hey there," She said softly.

Irenic blinked a couple times as his long pointed ears pick up the sound of steps nearing closer and closer and once she was close enough his attention came down on her while granting her that famous favorite scent. The tenseness seems to leave his being all together while bicolored eyes focus on all of the little details about her and that smirk wanting to twist up further into a half smile; again curbing his excitement at seeing her. His gruff tone sounding odd, nearly menacing in a whisper - "Valrae… What a pleasant site for sore eye-" He had to cut himself short at just the one 'eye' and not 'eyes' as he can only see out of the silver one in the traditional sense. A gentle hug was offered before he, again, whispers, "What a surprise running into you here." This was sarcasm, of course and he offers a wink before motioning to the basket of treats at the table softly suggesting, "Relax, have a seat with me."

Valrae returned his half smile with one of her own, though she didn't bother to hide any of her own excitement. She was still surprised to have the scents of lavender and herbs engulfing her when they embraced but said nothing of it. She gave his teasing a playful mock pout and said, "Am I that predictable already?" She took the offered seat, placing her own selection of books on the table, smoothing out her skirts, and situating her bag by her feet again. Her dark eyes glanced around the table and sensed a reoccurring theme. "Looking for something in particular?" She asked, her voice still a light whisper.

Irenic thought about her question for a moment and only grinned down at her with a short shaking of his head answering a; 'no'. Once she sat he would place himself in the chair directly next to her even scooting in a bit closer so they may stay private with their conversation, "Well, a friend of mine returned recently… I think I told you about her; the ex-fiance that I don't remember." He said it so nonchalant, like it doesn't even matter and that it's a common thing remaining friends with an ex, but as we should remember that he cannot recall such a time; with anyone, really. His evident excitement fades once he delves into the topic, "I noticed this necklace she had and she mentioned how it stole her magic away… So, I took it; not realizing it would drain her life force once removed… I've come here to help find out about the topaz gem so she can get back to finding her fiance." Once his gaze sets back on Valrae he is half grinning again, "Her new one anyway… Do you want to help me?"

Valrae propped her chin in her hand and turned her face toward the Avian. She was acutely aware of their closeness and was feeling a familiar twinge of unwarranted guilt. It was stronger this time because they'd seen each other again, even though they'd both tried not too, and even though she still wasn't nor ever would be in a real relationship with him, her flirting now seemed somehow dishonest to both men.. Val listened to him and pushed everything else away from her thoughts. This became much easier when he mentioned a magical object. Surprise had her sitting up straighter and dropping her hand. "A topaz? Do you know where it came from? Where she'd gotten it?" The witch had seen a topaz come from a magical shell, only to be stolen by a drow, not too long ago. Could it really be the same gem? She caught herself, instantly looking apologetic for the outburst of questions, and gave him a sheepish smile. "I'd love to help."

Irenic studied her face for a moment as if almost feeling her unease in being so close to him and his emitted a quiet short chuckle while he positioned himself so there was a bit more space between them; sensing something may have changed since their last encounter. All he offered to this, was a sort of non judgmental gaze, something kind and understanding, which is rare for him; he may seem like a creature you do not want to cross, but when it came down to the way people lived their life he is a kindred spirit. He lifts a quill to scribble something down on the parchment, "I'm going to have to ask her next time we chat… Whenever that may be." His tone, although quiet, did not seem as enthusiastic as whenever it was just him and Valrae talking about life. He flips open a book between them on the table and starts carefully flipping through it and skimming over the pages while his left hand jots down and clues he may find about the mysterious gem.

Valrae was surprised to find herself so disappointed at the subtle movement, though she appreciated that he was being so mindful of her feeling. She should have been relieved but somehow she wasn't. The witch was genuinely sorry that her thoughts had appeared so readily to her face. "I ran into a topaz through some pretty unusual means not so long ago," She offered and used looking through the shared book to regain some of the closeness. "I didn't notice anything off about it at the time," She added, "But it was taken away from the person who found it through some pretty serious means." Her face paled at the memory of having to heal the bloody wound that was left in the wake of the drow's efforts to retrieve it. "It's a long shot that they're the same gem but it would be pretty interesting if it was. I poured over my own books for days trying to find something on the thing it had came from without looking for the actual topaz though."

Irenic welcomed the returned closeness without shifting away this time, he wanted her to be as close and far away as she wished. From this he concluded her situation was complicated, he understands it as he harbors conflicting feelings towards someone he has no chances with and he figures he won't even dredge it up; just be there for each other. As they go on, flipping through the large tome, their hands may accidentally brush up against each other and this goes on for sometime; the reading and hushed conversation as he explains he has a hunch that one of the missing mages is Artia's fiance, how whenever he's around Artia he gets one of the worst headaches ever (probably why he was so tense earlier). As they are nearing the end of the book his right hand would grab her's gently so she wouldn't turn the page on him, "Oh… Look here." His eyes scanning the page again as he thought he was reading something about the gem, instead it was a remark about someone with the name 'Topaz'. His eyes focus on her face again, not realizing how close they were leaning over the same book all this time and after an awkward pause he smirks while placing her hand on her own lap, "Apologies…" Was all he offered softly, although he didn’t mean it. He stands up to grab one of the books he procured from the back - The Restricted Section.

Valrae found herself getting lost in the conversation much like when they'd spent the day at the bakery. The closeness, their hands brushing together, all seemed almost natural. Or would have, if not for the looming guilt that hung like a poor guest in the back of her mind. She ignored it as best she could, which became almost effortless with interesting conversation and a book in front of her. She nodded along while helping scan the pages for an mention of a topaz or magic stealing gem. "Missing mages?" She interrupted him to ask, her brows creasing in obvious confusion. "Mages are going missing? Where?" The witch had an aversion to newspapers and never was very caught up in current events. Truthfully, she spent most of her time working and when she wasn't doing that she was either buried in a book, practicing her craft, painting and finding excuses to do all those things on the beach. Val was totally unaware of most things that would be considered common, public knowledge. She found herself watching his face, rather than studying the book, when he took her hand. She watched him scan over the page and returned his smirk with a sheepish one of her own but said nothing. Her dark eyes landed on his next selection and widened. "Where did you get that?"

Irenic never pondered how easy it could be to get settled in just one place as he can gain almost any access to most of the lands in Hollow and for just a moment he imagines what it would be like if he stayed in Cenril; it's warm like he likes it, there is a great bakery in town and an even better library… Plus there are pretty women about. He answers her question after studying her face a moment and setting the restricted book back down to procure a more average book, "I believe over in Frostmaw, after the war, people have come up missing." He's not crystal clear on the details as he just does what his master tells him to do and he was next to Valrae again while setting the average book before them, sure to shed a little light on this Topaz. He shifts himself to face her now so his wings can drape over the side of the chair behind him and his arm rests on the back of her chair behind her, since they have to be close to read from the books anyway… Only pausing for a moment to realize she could just grab her own book to study; "I guess you could get your own book… But I like having three eyes on one book, you might pick up something I miss." He winks at her with his sightless eye, the brown one on the left while placing the book before them on the table and he began to flip through it.

Valrae had nodded and made a mental note to get more in touch with the world around her. Though, it was highly unlikely she would actually remember too. His movement had drawn her eyes back to his magnificent wings. The witch marveled at them all over again and imagined she would never grow tired of seeing them. Eventually, she realized she had been staring at them for a little too long and shifted her gaze back to the Avian's face with an embarrassed smile. "I don't mind sharing." She answered. His wink had her grinning. "I doubt you miss much, regardless." She commented, teasing. Val crossed her legs and smoothed the bright skirt of her dress. "I wish you could tell me more about how she came to the object. That usually leads to more clues to the nature of the thing than you would think." She found herself tucking a stray, waving gold lock of hair behind her ear and propping her chin in her hand again. "Does she have any serious enemies?"

Irenic listened to her intently, not shying away from making eye contact with her and he almost forgot what they were talking about when she looked down. He gently takes her chin between his hand and thumb so she may look back to him, "I don't miss much… And I wouldn't want to start." After a pregnant pause with their faces so close he would release his hand from her chin to start flipping through the pages, "As much as she let me know was… She found it and more than likely in the Frostmaw area… And I am not sure." His gaze set back onto her, "Is it a common thing that witches have enemies?" Something dark glinted in his eye just for a moment and she might notice the feathers on his wings fluff out just tad from guessing Valrae might have enemies due to the way she asked her last question. Just this moment she might guess that Irenic is not a good Avian, but definitely not one to go poking at.

Valrae felt Irenic's hand leading her back to look into his uniquely colored eyes. She held her breath, suspended there, trapped in his gaze. They were so close it was impossible to keep any of her rushing thoughts straight, but the one that echoed more clearly than the others was that she would love nothing more than to try and recreate the exact shade of his bi-colored eyes to put on canvas. Her released her and time started again as a shaking breath passed her lips. Her dark gaze slowly moved away from the man to rest on the book in front of them but her mind wasn't focusing enough to make much sense of the words. Feeling his eyes on her, she re situated herself in her seat before looking back at him. Something about the way he was looking at her, something dark in his eyes, had her frowning. "Well, I suppose not all witches..." She said, giving him a reassuring smile, thinking the reason for this sudden shift in attitude was for her thinking this other woman might have enemies. "I'm sure she doesn't, I'm just a little paranoid about those kinds of things I guess,"

Irenic attempted to ease himself and allows space in their conversation only averting his gaze for a moment at the pages he was carelessly flipping through, "Artia can handle herself against an enemy. That's not who I was asking about." His jawline tensed subtly as his gaze connects once more with Valrae's, "Are you paranoid because you have Enemies, Valrae?" In his quieter yet serious tone it could be now that she realizes his instincts spiked because of her, the thought of his new friend in trouble struck a chord in the Avian. He hadn't realized it, hadn't meant to, but the arm that was resting on the back of her chair had placed a hand on her shoulder in a protective manner. His glance saw it and he blinked a couple times, "... Sorry." His firm grip loosened and he moved that pesky touchy hand back to its place on her chair.

Valrae was taken aback by his tone. Was he concerned for her? A slow, grateful smile tugged at the corner of her lips. This unbelievably handsome and endlessly intriguing man before her being concerned for her was something hard for the witch to accept. "Me? Sure, a girl can't be a witch for hire and not collect a few enemies." She'd reach her hand to rest on the one he had placed on her shoulder to give it a reassuring squeeze. "But you don't have to worry about me. I'm mighty, remember? And I've got a few tricks up my sleeves." She added a wink for good measure and felt his had slip off of her. His apology had her winging her golden brows at him and tilting her head. "What's there to be sorry for?"

Irenic does fall quiet again, but thoughtfully. What was he sorry for? Little did he know that his days before Hollow as the vengeful crooked knight, he always got what he wanted and had nothing to apologize for. He liked being near her and the way she looked at him and how he always masked how it made him feel. "Yeah I remember..." his hand reached up to tuck some of her hair behind her ear while he explains, "You are mighty, but for some reason I feel the attraction to protect you anyway, Valrae." The hand that was caressing hair out of her face traveled lightly along her jawline until her chin was held in his hand once more. His face inches quite close as if he was going in for a peck on the lips, "Does that sound crazy?" Then, as if he remembered something, something his master severed from him and how were things supposed to progress from there. How would he be able to provide anything of substance to this woman... There he was half into this thought and frozen halfway towards what looks like a near kiss.

Valrae wasn't as adept at masking her feelings as the Avian seemed to be. The dark green depths of her eyes were always giving her away. Suspended there with him, their face so close and his intentions unclear, a breathless sense of anticipation settled over her. He had asked her a question and she heard it but it as if her head were underwater. Everything was unclear in contrast to the vivid colors of his eyes, the trail of fire his touch left on her skin, and the scent of lavender she loved so much. "Crazy..." She whispered, still frozen. Before she could stop herself, before common sense leaked back into her crowded thoughts, and if there weren't any sudden movement from the Avian, Val closed the space between them and pressed her lips to his. Only a hear beat would pass before the witch regained her sense. She stood so abruptly that her chair clattered to the floor behind her. Without bothering to pick up her chair, and completely forgetting her bag, Val turned and all but ran out, out of the library.

Irenic felt his heart thump a bit harder when she met him the rest of the way in a fleeting kiss. That heartbeat of a second was something he'd hadn't experienced with his newly reset memory and it was something he came to feel was addictive, he wanted to do this more, have this closeness with her and do this kissing thing, more. His head became clouded in rushing thoughts with his eyelids shutting closed and one hand had made it to the nape of her neck in attempts to deepen their first kiss, but she pulls away from him to be able to enjoy it much further. The chair causing a ruckus and earning disapproving looks from the librarians; in turn causing him to glance about and sulk for a moment in what felt like rejection. Then he stood, just as abruptly, yanking up Valrae's bag and shouting, "Valrae! Wait!" That low gruff voice booms throughout the large building, earning another glare, just as his long legs hurried him out the library in attempts to catch up with her, maybe his sulking made him late, maybe not. The old Edlin/Irenic would have never chased after a storming off woman, but something was different, this was different.

Valrae wasn't storming off, not exactly, it was more like fleeing in a mixture of embarrassment and mortification. With every quick step she took, the witch cursed herself. Why was she kissing this man? Hadn't she just made a promise to someone else that things like this wouldn't happen? But it had... And it felt good, too. The witch mutter a curse out loud and tried to stop herself from turning around when she heard him calling her name. She should just keep walking, go home, have some tea and settle down... But instead she found herself slowing and then stopping all together to turn and face the man pursuing her. Her sun-kissed cheeks were flushed red with embarrassment and the frustration she felt for herself. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that."

Irenic had no issues catching up to her and presented her bag to her, "I apologize if I was being too forward." His hand smooths back his silvering hair and he actually felt bad, which felt weird, but a good and different weird; only this time he couldn’t mask that emotion from his expression until shifting it to a more perplexed version. The hand that had brushed his hair out of his face rested on the back of his head in studying her expression, "You're sorry?" More awkward pausing insert here as his hands slip into his pockets so they couldn't reach out and pull her back to him… Restraint, "Well, Valrae… I don't want to sound nosy and you don’t ever need to answer to me, but if you are sorry and you say you shouldn't have run off… Why did you?" His questioning wasn't accusatory, more like a concerned friend trying to help and for the first time he didn't feel smooth and casual around a woman, which he found thrilling about her.

Valrae had opened her mouth to reassure him, tell him that his apology wasn't necessary, but only closed it again. She took her bag, shouldered it, and looked all the more embarrassed for having left it. She pushed her hair behind her ear again in habit. His next question had her tilting her head, her golden braid swinging, and looking at him with unbridled confusion. "No, no. I'm sorry I.. I kissed you." She said hesitantly, her voice a whisper filled with such seriousness and shame that it was almost comical. "I shouldn't have. It was wrong." Val sounded as if she were trying to convince herself. She wasn't exactly sure how to answer his question though. Why had she run off? Well, the simple because she had panicked. Quiet stretched between them while she mulled her answer before she finally moved her eyes back to his face and answered honestly, "I panicked. I'm sorry."

Irenic took a slow step closer, fully expecting her to back away in kind, "You're sorry?" He found himself asking once more feeling even more confused and his hands hesitate in his pockets. His willpower pushes them further in, "I thought it was," Again hesitation as it was his first real one and he didn't want to make that fact pressure her, "It was great… Welcomed, even." His gaze attempts to catch into her own as he assures her, "It was not wrong for me…" Then something occurred to him that hadn't before as he just assumed she wasn't occupied before from their first encounter and he thought he would feel more guilt from that thought, but he doesn't, "Are you… Taken?" He'd never formally asked before and he guesses now is a good of a time than any. Thinking back on their few encounters it would make sense and he couldn't help the lingering gaze over her, realizing more and more on how a woman that looks like this would indeed be taken… A glint of defeat might be noticed on his expression due to all of these rapid thoughts.

Valrae didn't move back, only tilted her head to look at the much taller man's face. The look she saw there had her frowning. Everything had come out wrong. She'd made it sound like she hated kissing him or something, and that wasn't it at all, the problem was that she hadn't! She'd wanted too. She'd enjoyed it. Valrae frowned and found her hand going out to touch the avian's arm. "Edlin, I didn't mean..." She started, but she had no idea what she was going to say, or what she was even doing. His question was simple but any answer she gave him was either going to be complicated or a lie. Was she taken? Suddenly, Val exhaled. The witch looked defeated and confused. "No, not really." She answered honestly again because the man before her deserved nothing less. "And I really like you... It's just complicated."

Irenic stepped in a bit closer now as she reached for his arm and his opposite hand came free from the pocket prison to stroke some of her locks from her face. He didn't like to see her so out of sorts and his smirk tugged at his scarred lips when she said she wasn't taken, but only confusion when the rest followed, "Not really?" His grin was kind for once in understanding and even widened a bit more when she admitted she liked him, "I like you too, Valrae." His head was bowed down to look at her and some of his own pesky strands of hair flopped into his face, "Do you care if I ask what is so complicated?" A scarred brow quirks down at her as he internally struggles to not kiss her once more.

Valrae's warring emotions were on display in the depths of her green eyes as she searched his face. Suddenly, standing here with him, she didn't want things to be complicated. She just wanted to be a woman, standing in front of an attractive, fascinating, and intelligent man without worrying about promises and secrets and lies. The avian standing in the middle of the library before her hadn't worried about who might be looking or where they were once in the entire time they'd been together. Not here, not on the beach, and not when they had spent the whole day talking in the cafe. She didn't have to worry about being seen with him, being too affectionate, or know he was going to be in the arms of someone else when it was time to say goodbye. How could she tell him that she was still in love with another man, one who was engaged to be married, and expect him to understand? It wasn't fair. "I... I made a promise." She said finally. One that she was regretting now. Val was still holding onto his arm, so she gave it a squeeze. "If you were expecting more, I just can't give it yet and I don't want to stop seeing you, but I understand if you... "

Irenic's confidence doesn’t shift from his grin as his eyes were catching the sunset over the water from the beach and his hand that was caressing down the side of her face went into its own pocket once more. The arm she was holding onto removes itself gently to walk along the beach with her, or attempt to; same as before with the arm draped around Valrae's shoulder and the wing curled about her like a blanket. "A promise you say? Those are supposed to be important… And it would be a shame to break it." The awkward tension seems to smooth over their little rough patch and it was like before, just talking and sharing. "I don't expect anything from you, Valrae. I just like - or, greatly enjoy your company… And I'll be here for you, unless I go dying again or whenever I'm not doing Lady Dragana's bidding." His gaze would shift from down to her and out over the sea periodically, "You seem to have a lot weighing on your mind, care to talk it out? Or share your secret promise with me?"

Valrae relaxed slightly as they started down the beach. It was comfortable in an exciting way to be walking with him. She felt small and safe under his breathtaking wing. Unsure of how to answer his question, or if she should, quiet stretched between them before he spoke again. A great weight lifted from her, and she found herself exhaling with relief. It didn't last long though, because he mentioned dying and she tilted her head to give him a stern look. "I hope you're not making any plans for that," She said. Quiet lapsed around them again. Val was torn between being honest with him or keeping quiet. "I... I'm afraid you'll think worse of me for telling it." She looked away from him again, cast her dark gaze on the sand before them, and continued. "I fell in love with a man engaged to be married." Self hatred and shame colored her voice. It sounded so strange to say it aloud, for the first time, to say it to another person. The witch felt relieved and somehow worse all the same. "At first, I didn't know... But that's no excuse." Because she continued to see him, even when she knew she had feelings for him.

Irenic gave her all of his attention at this point, confident smirk remaining and he says, "My thoughts couldn't lessen on you if you tried." When she admits her fault there will be no judgement cast, only… Laughter. He stopped close to the water while his other hand placed itself on his stomach from how hard he laughed for a moment, "I am sorry, Valrae." He gave himself a half a moment to settle, "But I too have unexplainable feeling for someone I cannot have, ever." He moves himself in front of her now as he lays it all out there for her turn to judge, "I've never told anyone, not even her, but I have these feelings I cannot explain for my master, Lady Dragana. I've certainly doted on her, but she probably writes it off as her slave behaving as such." He shrugs, "But I am not meant to have her as she is to be remarried and I am okay with that because I still respect her as a powerful being and she has done so much for me." He took a deep breath, "That felt good to say out loud and hearing myself say it… It just sounds silly…" His grin was honest in his thoughts on her as his gaze connects once more with hers when he shrinks the distance between them, "So, believe me when I say.. I get it."

Valrae's eyebrows winged up as she looked back at Irenic as if he'd grown three heads. Her expression softened with his explanation and she gave him a small smile but there was a sadness in her eyes. "Some you understand then." How it was to want something you could never have. The only small differences she could see between her and the man before her was that she'd fallen deeply, recklessly in love... And that it hadn't stopped with harmless desire for her. His honesty could be answered with nothing less, so she finished her truth. "But it didn't stop with wanting for me, I fell in love. We... We were in love. I knew," She gave a humorless laugh. "I knew I would never have a future with him, I knew I would only ever be a dirty secret, a mistake... But I loved him anyway." Shame was thick in her voice, shining in her forest green eyes. "I'm not fit for anyone now, after what I've done."

Irenic wrapped her in a hug along with his wings and his warmth. "Valrae, you've done nothing wrong. The heart wants what the heart wants. And sometimes it's temporary, sometimes it's intense, or even all together and forever. Don't ever feel ashamed for your capacity to love because, as I said, life for a human is short." He would lean down and attempt a gentle lingering kiss on her cheek before continuing a bit quieter and close. "All I know is, I'm wildly attracted to you and for long moments I forget most of the world around me and it's problems. Again, I have this desire to protect you and if that means picking you up when you've been shoved down by someone too daft too love you back, then that is what I want to do for you." The words flowing freely and wisely, from what experiences he has no inkling of, but the confidence in his low gruff voice was undeniable matching that steady gaze seeking her own mossy one.

Valrae returned the embrace, clinging to him as if he might disappear from her arms any second, until he spoke again. He was so warm, and saying everything she didn't know she needed to hear, that her heart ached in her chest. Val tilted her face just a hair, automatically leaning in to his kiss a fraction, before she knew what she was doing. His lips were like his hands, leaving a slow burn on her skin in their absence. A tear slipped down her cheek. The world fell away when she was with him, time slowed, and she could forget who she was. A promise she'd made. She had felt many of the same things he was brave enough to voice to her. Giving up the inner war she'd been struggling with from the moment she'd started to leave, the witch leaned in to kiss him.

Irenic felt surprised but didn't hesitate in the return of her kiss and his hands moved up through her hair gently in attempts to deepen the kiss. One of his thumbs gently wipe away the tear that was trickling its way down her cheek while he broke the kiss for a moment. Taking a moment to let his bicolored eyes dance about her facial features, seeing her natural beauty and the magical aura before he makes the move to kiss her once more this time. He took an even broader move as he gently lifted them off into the sunset to have a fly around mid kiss, unless she protests.

Valrae surrendered to the kiss as recklessly and passionately as she did with most things. It was her way. Why fight what seemed to inevitable, so right? Why deny yourself an experience? The avian himself had said her human life was fleeting, she would take what she could get. His touch was like fire. The smell of salt and sand and lavender were all around her. The sound of her pounding heart and the waves drowning out all the rambling thoughts she'd previously entertained. He broke the kiss to wipe away her tear and her heart ached with such bitter-sweetness that she almost couldn't stand it. Luckily, his lips found their way back to her own. There was no way she would stop what was sure to be the single most romantic kiss she would ever have in her life.