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Post by Ziya on Jan 9, 2019 13:52:21 GMT -5
Even weeping, Rand was aware enough of his surroundings to pay attention to Éirín, something made much easier by her approach. He was surprised when she hugged her, enough so that his urge to return the gesture came only after she had already let go. Steeling himself, he responded to her, though his voice remained slightly unsteady. "They may not be dead then, as you say, but they are lost to me. We were bonded, able to sense the others emotions and locations, and I cannot feel anything but an emptiness where they once were."
That nearly cost him what control he had gained in the past few moments, but the distraction of the book proved to be just enough. A weave of Hardened Air brought the book toward the pair, though it being closer did nothing to alleviate the confusion he felt as to it's importance. "How is this book tied to this Master's life?"
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Post by Conrí on Jan 9, 2019 14:25:57 GMT -5
Éirín kept studying Rand's face, particularly his eyes. She tried to catch herself and look away, especially since there was a tiny shift in his aura that made her bite back a reprimand to herself for letting go when she did. But, the wolf girl soon found herself looking back into those eyes while she waited for him to speak. When Rand managed to, the priestess immediately hung her head and shrank away from him slightly. Her mouth moved, as did her tongue, clearly trying to form the words of regret and comfort she longed to say, but, no sound came out.
So, Éirín simply continued to stare at her hands, which inched closer to Rand despite her willing them to not move. Fight it as she might, the wolf girl found her arms wrapped around Rand's shoulders again. This time, her face buried into his chest, and she just started sobbing. I did this to him. I not only pushed on that wound, I also possibly made it worse, because I didn't understand anything. At all. And, I call myself a goddess in training. The priestess could feel just how wet her tears were making Rand's shirt, but, again, try as she might, they refused to stop. Her body still felt drained from whatever he had done to heal her wounds from before, and, suddenly her full weight was on him and her grip went slack.
The wolf girl heard her stomach growl pitifully, and realised that not only had she not eaten that day, all the activity was likely catching up to her. Éirín felt lightheaded and fought to look up at Rand, but she managed, thankful that he had brought the book over to them. The gravity of her situation started to weigh on her. "Looks like I just keep causing you problems, Rand. Some goddess I am. That book is where Master Lucia and her friend Sky are right now. I wouldn't recommend opening it, and, I don't know how to get them out of it."
The priestess rose to her feet--or, tried to, because she only managed to stand on shaky legs for all of a second or two before slamming into the earth with her knees--and groaned when she counted the Heartless coming after them. "Ach, damn it! It seems like they want the book, too." Again, Éirín attempted to stand and succeeded, if barely, and leaned on her staff for support. "Do you all care for a reading, then?" Her Magician deck tarot cards still floated around her. Her footing felt sure and firm, and she turned her gaze down to Rand and nodded. "Go. Take the book somewhere safe and leave me. I'm not playing the hero, I just simply owe you a favor for hurting you in a way that I can't ever take back, so, go. I command it."
Éirín stood and shook her staff at Rand, hoping he would get the point and do what she said. "Take it out of the Great Maw and into the city. I'll be behind you, so long as they don't rush us." The wolf girl offered the red-haired man a sly smile and a wink before letting out a battle cry. Take the hint, and pray that we don't have to go to Merlin's House for this one, stubborn, overpowered farm boy.
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Post by Ziya on Jan 9, 2019 17:55:44 GMT -5
Éirín's words took a moment to process for Rand, distracted as he was. Once he finally understood that the other two had somehow ended up inside the book he shook his head, his confusion outweighing the remnants of his grief. "The ter'angreal of this world are quite odd then. And no," he looked the girl in the eyes, unsure as to why he was insistent but following his feelings nonetheless, "you are not the source of my problems."
Just then the actual source of those problems approached, numbering in the low hundreds at least. His eyes hardened again, but with a different kind of anger than before, less dark and foreboding. Quietly he stood and stepped forward, and quietly he spoke to his companion. "No. They took my world, and they will not take another thing from me." Embracing the Source again, he wove a gateway behind them leading to just within the city walls. "Go through with the book, or stay behind me. I care not which." He then drank deeper of Saidin, raised his hand palm first toward the Heartless, and wove.
And the creatures began to die.
Splitting his weaves, he created three Waterspouts, three Tornadoes, and a patch of Riven Earth. Spreading the vortices in a rough line he sent them forward at the foes launched from the exploding earth, the waterspouts drilling through them like long serpents as the others tossed and shredded them. It was a far cry to the hundreds of weaves he could achieve before Tarmon Gai'don, yet it would still serve well enough for these foes.
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Post by Conrí on Jan 9, 2019 19:06:11 GMT -5
Éirín faltered in her stance, and turned to face Rand. He had used another weird term when she was having her moment. She tried not to marvel at the man and likely failed in doing so. The farm boy had reassured her--something she wasn't fully expecting--despite her tears and shame. She really wanted to growl at him and just tell Rand that he was going to listen to her, but, as she felt the book weigh down her free hand, the wolf girl watched when her...friend's eyes had hardened again, and he seemed to make sure that she really listened to his next words. For a moment, she was actually hesitating with her plan. We don't even know that anyone in the city would be able to help us, and we might draw more attention than it's worth. The priestess bit her lip as she thought, taking a moment to be astonished at the city limits just seemingly appearing through a hole.
Éirín felt her knees buckle again. She cursed and spat, but elected to stay behind Rand. "If I'm too weak in my current condition, tell me to go through...that thing." The wolf girl's mouth dropped open as easily half of the Heartless advancing just disappeared. She shook her head and knew she needed to know two important things before she sent them to their doom. "Two things. Do you have food? Whatever you did to heal me left me hungry, which is why I'm having trouble moving. And, more to the point, can we make it back to your camp through all of them? It mightn't be a good idea to go to the city carrying this around after all."
The priestess pressed her on her stomach as it started to growl again. She thought about her options and actually tried to take someone else into account and plan with them in mind for once. Her Magician style was probably the best thing to be in, so, she stayed as she was, but, she wondered what spells would actually help Rand out in this situation. "I will do my best, even if that might not be so great right now. My spells are recharged, anyway, so, I can do something, but, moving is my main issue. If you're sure it wouldn't be a bother, if you don't have food, can you carry me to your camp? And, before you just make another one of those holes, the only way I'm stepping foot through one of those is if you're with me. Just because I was willing to put it all on the line for you doesn't mean I relish the idea of you trying to do the same for me." The words came out slightly harder than she meant them, and she could feel the heat on her face again. "Are you going to fight me on this plan, too, or, are you going to move, overpowered farm boy?"
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Post by Ziya on Jan 9, 2019 21:14:55 GMT -5
A grim sense of satisfaction pervaded Rand as he surveyed the battlefield, now half as populated, while his respect for his new friend only grew. "You continue to impress me, vovok'shai. I cannot create another gateway while maintaining the fight, but I can take out the remainder of these beings." He allowed the gateway to shut before focusing on weaving once more.
This time he wove Earth, Air, and Fire into twin Blossoms of Fire, the pillars distinctive whistle a warning the Heartless not only disregarded, but actually flocked to. Once enough had crowded about them he slammed the final weaves into place, incinerating at least a hundred more and sending the rest flying. A small number of stragglers remained, only to be blasted by two Fireballs thrown almost casually into them. A few scattered survivors remained, but they posed little threat at this point.
Satisfied, he turned to Éirín and lifted her into his arms before walking toward his camp. He still held the Source, just in case anything was foolish enough to attack on the way. "You're in luck, Éirín. I was just cooking dinner when you arrived, and there's plenty for you as well."
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Post by Conrí on Jan 9, 2019 21:43:20 GMT -5
When he called her the strange name, Éirín repeated it back to him slowly and hesitant, clearly asking after its meaning without making that known. She hoped she hadn't repeated some kind of term of endearment, and then had to firmly remind herself that now wasn't the time to be concerning herself with the cards. Still, she had done something to impress Rand, and that made her stomach, empty though it was, nearly float up to her throat. The wolf girl watched carefully. After all, the farm boy seemed confident enough. But, the priestess still prepared spells in her mind, even though the other Heartless seemed to be staying back for the moment.
From his aura, Éirín gathered that Rand still held onto whatever gave him his powers, even though she surmised that he just as easily could be concerned about the rest of the battlefield. She blushed brilliantly when the red-haired man scooped her up in his arms. Even holding onto such destruction, he was still kind. And gentle. Again, the wolf girl found herself staring into his eyes. As he mentioned dinner, her stomach rumbled, and she laughed a bit. Her body shuddered and her heart raced when she heard him say her name. "Rand," saying his name, made her voice tremble a bit, "I'm sorry that I misjudged you. Dinner sounds lovely, and I'm sure it will taste good if you're as skilled with a spoon as you are with a blade." The wolf girl winked.
She readied icicles above her head and aimed them at a few Heartless who got just a little too close for her liking. Mostly, they were of the weaker variety, so, they just scampered off. The priestess really hoped that Rand's camp was close and that none of the bigger enemies would be attracted to whatever the book was.
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Post by Ziya on Jan 9, 2019 22:25:47 GMT -5
Rand's attention was split between the girl in his arms and the camp ahead of them, using the tornadoes and waterspouts that still remained to deter and destroy any larger Heartless long before they got close enough to cause issues. His serious face slid into a hint of an honest smile at Éirín's confusion, made more evident by his tone. "It means 'Wolf Woman' in the Old Tongue, a nearly extinct language from my world that I happen to be fluent in thanks to my previous life's memories."
Two hills later they were at his camp once more, to which he breathes a sigh of relief and put up a Mirror of Mists to render it invisible again. A glance told him that the beef stew in his cookpot was finished, quickly removing it from the fire with Hardened Air and setting out a pair of bowls as well. Three more strides brought him to the chairs near the pot, gently placing Éirín into one before another weave brought her a bowl and a spoon. "I'm afraid it's just a basic stew, but without proper equipment it's difficult to make anything beyond basics."
Satisfied that she was settled for the moment, he grabbed his own bowl and utensil before sitting in the other chair nearby.
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Post by Conrí on Jan 10, 2019 7:42:42 GMT -5
Éirín sighed, content enough to be in Rand's arms. Even though they barely knew each other. The cards finally stopped bothering her, and she wondered if that was because things felt right, somehow. She released her command style, since it seemed to be pointless. When the wolf girl did this, her body slumped further into the red-haired man's grasp. A small smile appeared on her face when she saw Rand start to smile when he explained his language. The priestess would have to think of a term from her language for him. "You're language is interesting. I wouldn't mind trying to learn it, if you don't mind teaching me." Her voice was soft and almost whispered. She felt like she was nearly going to fall asleep.
Éirín felt herself snuggle up to Rand's chest unconsciously. Her head started to nod forward, and the sound of the farm boy's heart lulled her more toward sleep. Right as her breathing started to mimic the patterns of sleep, she murmured, "So, if I fall asleep like this, boy I found in a dream, what will happen?" The wolf girl was too tired to blush, and barely comprehended what she said. As her mind started to slip into the black void of sleep, she snapped to attention with a start as the red-haired man's arms left her, and she found herself seated in a chair. The priestess took the floating bowl and spoon, trying not to marvel at the trick, but it was hard. Once Rand had his stew and sat near her, she bowed her head and started shoveling the food in her mouth.
Basic or not, the stew tasted a lot like a dish her mom used to cook. It was smooth, and coated her throat. As she ate, even though it was more like she had inhaled her food, tears formed in her eyes and slid down her cheeks at the memories of the woman who was long gone, but Éirín didn't feel like talking to Rand about it just yet. The wolf girl wiped away her tears and dabbed at her mouth with the sleeve of her shirt. The food definitely brought back her strength and clarity of mind.
"You called me a Dreamer twice now. Well, once in that...other place. Why? You also mentioned something about my...powers, but...if that's too difficult to talk about, I understand." She used a bit of water magic and rinsed out her bowl. A blush crept into her cheeks again. Her stomach still rumbled slightly. A nervous laugh filled the campsite. "Right. Thank you for the food. And...um...for keeping me safe." The blush deepened, and she had to take a minute to hold her forehead. Another flash of cards was coming soon. The priestess groaned and reached for her Empress deck, because it was the one tugging at her right now. She glanced at the book, and figured it was safest here. That should leave them plenty of time to get to know each other and explain things.
"Care for a reading, farm boy?" She showed Rand the deck and noticed how bad her voice shook when she asked the question she said to anyone new she met. She fidgeted in her seat, and winked at Rand hesitantly.
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Post by Ziya on Jan 10, 2019 13:57:56 GMT -5
Rand ate quickly as usual, though he failed to miss Éirín's reaction to his cooking. He assumed that she would speak of what caused it in time, particularly considering her reaction to him carrying her just minutes before, so he chose not to inquire. "I call you a Dreamer because you are a Dreamer, one that has the Talent to walk the dreams of people and to gain insight into the future through dreams."
He heard her stomach protest still, only then realizing that he still held the Power and releasing it. The familiar sense of loss was oddly lessened this time, as if something were replacing the feeling, if only partially. He mulled that thought as he stood and refilled her bowl by hand before handing it back to her. "Healing takes energy from both the user and the patient, so please eat until you're full. There's plenty here."
He then realized that she was offering him something, though until he saw the deck he was confused as to what. "Is that a set of mamai'wusetae, future cards? I haven't seen any of those since the War of Shadow, though Min mentioned attempting to make one. I'll accept your offer gladly, Éirín."
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Post by Conrí on Jan 10, 2019 14:38:47 GMT -5
So, my ability to walk in different realms even extends to dreams, if what he is saying is true, but, what about a portal had triggered it? Éirín sighed lightly, trying to take it all in. Finally, after a few minutes of silence, she laughed and shook her head."Well, I suppose that does make sense, given I can walk in different dimensions. I just never had it happen in a dream where someone knew what was going on, so, I thought they were just visions or really vivid dreams." She tapped a finger on her knee, contemplating asking for more stew, because it felt like she could eat until the sun went down and still not be satisfied, but, she refrained.
"Ow," the wolf girl finally whispered, touching her head again, after listening to Rand's explanation on how his healing worked. Quickly, she glanced at the red-haired man and removed her hand from her head and wagged a finger back and forth at him. "This isn't something you can heal, farm boy." She nodded slightly when the man filled her bowl with more stew. "You really don't miss any of the details, do you?" The stew was gone nearly as quickly as the last bowl, and the question, though she said it as a slight tease, brought a sense of uneasiness over her.
Éirín took a deep breath. Her hands trembled, even though holding a tarot deck usually made her calm. Already, the same three cards had flashed in her head once more, but, there seemed to be more they wanted to show her. And, they wanted Rand to see, too. As she started to shuffle the cards and nodded when Rand asked his question. She was so focused on her cards that she didn't look at him, though she felt a pull toward his eyes. She stumbled over another word of Old Tongue, not sure who to blame for the weird pronunciations, though, she assumed that had she started talking to him in Tir Tairngirian, he'd likely think the same thing she was. The wolf girl licked her lips. He's been really nice to you after the misunderstanding, and is just taking it in stride, so...here goes.
Her fingers nimbly drew the cards. Fourteen. Ten for the reading itself and then three clarifying cards. "The reason why my head has been hurting is because my fairly blunt deck has been talking to me. Showing me things about my future it knows are true. For whatever reason, though, this deck wanted to read us." The wolf girl's entire body was shaking at this point, but she had one more question to ask. "Which way should I flip them over? She used one of the cards from the Priestess deck to show him. "So, horizontal or vertical." Éirín found herself staring into Rand's eyes as she waited. The flashes in her head were only getting worse, and, she was actually nervous about what this deck would say, even though it was the balanced one between blunt and sassy.
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Post by Ziya on Jan 10, 2019 14:54:16 GMT -5
Rand watched with satisfaction as his guest quickly emptied the bowl a second time, followed by interest as she began shuffling the cards. In his world there were two versions of decks, depending on if the user had the Talent for them or not. The non-Talent version was a ter'angreal, though debate had continued right up until the war as to how effective they were, but this was clearly not using the Power, so he had to assume she had the Talent.
Something about this girl drew him in, be it the determination within her or the vulnerability she desperately tried to hide. It made him want to reign in his tongue, even when she attempted, badly, to repeat the Old Tongue he had used. "Horizontal, is you please. And i would be happy to teach you the basics of the Old Tongue, though admittedly I am not the best teacher. It has been over three thousand years since I spoke more than the occasional sentence in it, after all."
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Post by Conrí on Jan 10, 2019 16:01:44 GMT -5
Éirín quickly looked down at the cards and began flipping them as she was asked. She thought she had seen a flickering in his aura that indicated he at least didn't find her boring. It wasn't the same as what love tended to look like in the auric form, but, she sharply reminded herself that the man had three wives, who he'd likely never see again, so, maybe, just this once the deck would be wrong. But then, she remembered, somberly, that when one deck was showing her flashes and another deck wanted to do a reading, it was usually to confirm the flashes she'd seen. "I don't know why, but...I started getting them when I was back in Avalon. The flashes, I mean." It was a half-truth. She'd had them intermittently off and on throughout her childhood as well.
The wolf girl forced herself to continue, even though she'd been struggling to flip the cards because of her hands."Three cards. Over and over again. When it's like that, normally it has something to do with the immediate future. In this case, it's been the Sun, The King of Swords, and Lovers. But, sometimes, I have had only one card show up, and usually, unless it's very specific, that means that there's a topic the deck wants to have known." At the word "lovers" her face turned crimson, and her hands stopped in their tracks, because she had just flipped over the card she'd named. Even if the reading was just about Rand in general, the spread seemed to be eerily similar to, or lining up with her own pattern, or, at least she thought she'd have a similar spread to his.
The priestess forced herself to breathe and turned over the last cards. She felt her gaze dart to his face, then quickly down to the fully revealed reading. She cleared her throat and nearly coughed because it had gone dry again, but, she wanted to get this over with all the same. "Before I read this out, I would very much like to learn, Rand al'Thor. Though, I must ask, you have knowledge of a past life? Usually, only priestesses or lesser deities have such knowledge in this realm." It was partially a stalling tactic to give her a few more seconds to think before she had to read it outright, but, it was also a curiosity, since it was something the man had mentioned twice now.
Shaking her head slightly, Éirín sighed. If she were to be honest with herself, then, there was something about Rand that pulled her toward him, too. But, there's no way you would go for me. After all, why would you? In terms of strength, I'm no where close to you, and, you have an entire life to get back to, if we can find your world. Her thoughts were making her stomach tumble. "Anyway, the past, Emperor. That seems to denote all those titles of yours, but it can also mean stability and basically having everything, more or less. The recent past is the Tower, so, a quick and sudden change. The current challenge is the Hermit. So, likely, you are being too withdrawn..."
At this Éirín winced and cast an uneasy glance at Rand, noticing just how close some of this was touching on the issue that had caused him to erupt before. But, it was too late, the only thing she could do was continue. "The immediate future...Two of Cups, so, an attraction between two people, sometimes a...new romance..." Her voice got quieter toward the end of that, and she wished the heat on her cheeks was because of the stew or the camp fire. I will salt you, deck... The thought was little more than an empty threat.
The wolf girl cleared her throat, but clasped her hands together, after smoothing a piece of her hair behind her ear. "Anyway, um...best outcome...L-Lovers. Uh, that's...um...there's a choice in a relationship or a decision to make. H-Hopes and fears...is...Queen..." A squeak echoed in the tent, and the priestess quickly hid her face behind her hands before trying to continue. Her eyes went wide, though. Heaps of salt! she thought, before clearing her throat and continuing again. "Queen of Cups...reversed...s-so...it could mean you've an over active imagination or...um...you are...finding enjoyment in...perverse things."
Her ears buzzed and she barely heard herself exhale, but, Éirín knew that her face had to be on fire if the campsite felt like it was freezing. "Situations you can control King of Swords, which, I feel this deck is using to represent you. Things outside of your control that affect the outcome...The High Priestess, which is usually representative of...me. Final Outcome...The Sun, so a coming together or harmony. It can also mean...engagement. For clarification, first, we have...The Eight of Wands. A long journey coming to an end. The Four of Swords. Rest, relaxation, that kind of thing. Finally, the Four of Wands. Celebration, harmony, though it can also mean...homecoming."
Once the reading was over, the wolf girl slid away from Rand ever so slightly. In truth, she felt like going outside of the camp and just offering herself to the enemies out there. Her face still hadn't cooled a lick, and even though she felt her stomach still rumbling, if lightly, she refused to go near the cooking pot. Using magic, the cards gathered and reordered themselves before flying into their usual place, where the priestess cast a dark glower. I will toss you into a salt mine if you ever do that again! As if to taunt her further, she caught yet another flash as she quickly and cautiously looked at Rand. The same three cards, except this time, the Sun was nearly blinding her. "The cards were not manipulated by me to say all of that, and, if you want proof, those three cards I mentioned showed up in this reading and once more after...when I.." She twiddled her thumbs and stared at her toes before she mumbled, "When I looked at you...farm boy."
With that out of her, Éirín felt herself shrinking back until she could feel the cloth of the tent against her. She looked from Rand to the Great Maw a few times as though she was already decided on how he was going to respond or what she was going to do whether he responded positively or not.
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Post by Ziya on Jan 10, 2019 16:49:00 GMT -5
Everything Éirín said as she flipped the cards only confirmed Rand's theory about her Talent with them. He carefully considered her question before responding, unsure as to just how much detail to go into. "Those flashes are likely your Dreaming overlapping with your Foretelling, though the latter is a rare variant I've not seen since the Second Age. As for my memories, to explain fully would likely take hours, if not days. I hope it will suffice to say that it was exceptional circumstances that allowed it to happen, and unique to me."
Once the cards were fully flipped Rand paid attention to them, the images utterly foreign to him yet obviously full of meanings. He originally intended to remain silent throughout the reading, but the sight of Éirín's discomfort was not one he could stomach. "It's all right, Éirín. What happened earlier is not typical of who I am now."
As the explanations continued he noted that her face was gradually becoming redder, and as she spoke he was fairly certain his matched. It certainly didn't stop him from laughing at the Queen of Cups though. "These cards seem to know exactly what they want!" He wasn't quite sure why he was so at ease with topics such as these, but around her he didn't seem to mind.
By the end of the reading he was blushing like a fool, though he suspected she'd say the same about herself, and his tone was gentle. "I believe you." Clearly the Pattern of this world was tying them together, though for what purpose he couldn't say.
His musings were interrupted by his realization that she had backed herself all the way to the wall of the tent, clearly nervous. His own uncertainty was pushed aside as he slowly approached her, careful not to startle her too much. Once he reached her he gently knelt down until they were at eye level. Suddenly he had an urge to embrace her, strong enough the his arms were around her before he realized it. "Please don't fear me. I know not where this will lead, but I would like to get to know you better at the very least."
In this odd world, where the Source was distant and Heartless roamed, that was the one certainty he had right then.
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Post by Conrí on Jan 10, 2019 17:41:11 GMT -5
Éirín noticed she was breathing heavily and nearly started rocking back and forth. She had decidedly put her head down to her knees and almost started crying again. "Damn bloody deck. I should just bleedin' throw ya in a salt mine for this. Ya don't go detailing out the future like that and expect it to go well!" She muttered, but not quite under her breath. She nearly forgot she was in the tent, and started to hear voices that sounded very familiar to her. Great, I slipped into the spirit realm again...Fen...what're you doing? The big wolf summon spirit looked at her for a moment and then went back to romping around what could only be her brother's bedroom. The wolf girl also heard what her brother desired from his mate, which made her heart race uneasily. The way those two auras of theirs combined...was it so wrong to actually want something like that, too?
The priestess forced herself to bring her head up, and was afraid when she saw Rand walking toward her, and nearly put her head down again, but, she breathed a sigh when her connection to the spirit realm disconnect. His aura was starting to shift and swirl, something closer to feelings for her, but she also noted how much he was blushing during the reading as well. Suddenly, she wanted to apologise, but, she knew there was no apologising, for the cards had spoken. "You're right, the cards do know...perhaps what...we want, though. Your aura is...shifting and swirling, but not in an uncertain way. It's a red-orange, by the way." The words came from her in an almost halting whisper.
Éirín tried to make herself smaller as he knelt down so that they were eye level, but she forced herself to actually look at him. His face was smooth, and his eyes just caused her to lose herself in them. While she was blushing, she was also smiling at him. The wolf girl instinctively touched his cheek. She took in his scent and found it comforting, but, she quickly moved her hand away. "I'm...sorry. I tried to fight it back, but, it hurts when I fight it. I want to..." Her words stopped, and she froze when Rand said he believed her.
The priestess bit her lip and closed her eyes, but they snapped open when Rand hugged her. He wanted to get to know her better, and, she found herself returning the hug a bit fiercely, relief washing over her. Her nose automatically pressed into his neck, and she shuddered, but didn't necessarily flinch away. Éirín wanted to memorise his scent. She unconsciously pulled him into a tighter hug and whimpered out of contentment. "I suppose getting to know you makes sense. After all, we are literally from different worlds. There's a lot I probably need to explain. But...I...I do find you...attractive, farm boy."
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Post by Ziya on Jan 10, 2019 19:19:07 GMT -5
A peace he hadn't known since the fall of his world took hold of Rand as he felt Éirín tighten the embrace and heard her words. His wives would no doubt have words of their own with him were they close enough to sense his emotions, but for once he didn't care. He had spent the last years of both of his lives planning and scheming and fighting, with only a few years respite at the end of this one. It was time to listen to something other than his mind for once.
And so he put his worries and fears aside, tightening his own embrace, and whispered back. "I have quite a lot to explain as well, I believe. But, I also find you attractive, Éirín. The others would as well, I think." The sincerity in his voice surprised even him, but as he spoke them he knew the words to be true.
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Post by Conrí on Jan 10, 2019 19:57:48 GMT -5
The whimper turned into a slight moan as Rand tightened his hold on her. It certainly wasn't a moan from pain, either, which caused her to laugh nervously a bit. Éirín felt and saw Rand's aura calm considerably. Her heart beat finally slowed down from its racing pace. She listened to his words, and felt elated and calm. It was enough that he had agreed to explain what he needed to with her. The last part of what he said almost made her melt further into his arms, that was, until he had mentioned the others. "Rand, I do understand if you need time. That can't be easy to deal with. None of this is. Not the waking up somewhere else. Not the hoping to find anyone you might have seen in your world. Just once. So," The wolf girl leaned her head to his chest for the second time that day. "you take the time that you need."
She moved her head away from his chest, sighing as his strong heart beat became less audible. She barely realised she had sighed, in truth. The priestess looked up into Rand's eyes. "They are so...entrancing. Like stormy pools that are somehow serene." The words came out, and then she noticed that her fingers were ever so gently tracing his cheeks and his jawline. Éirín could feel herself being pulled in by her feeling, by the feeling she saw in his aura, and, also by the moment. She realised her lips were lightly on his a moment too late, and turned a darker shade of crimson than she thought possible. Slowly, or, as slowly as she could force herself to--fighting off her urge to just jerk away was difficult--she moved her lips away from his. Absentmindedly, the wolf girl rubbed her right cheek with her sleeve, as though she was trying to rub the blushing away.
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Post by Ziya on Jan 10, 2019 20:12:57 GMT -5
Time. It was the one thing he always seemed to far too much or too little of, with nothing in between. He believed himself to be a fairly patient man, though he knew accounts from others varied wildly on that point, but deciding how he felt about someone was never something he preferred to use it on. Certainly not with the sounds and actions of the girl- no, woman in his arms. The fact that she was telling him to take his time only served to drive that point home even more.
She seemed to be barely aware of what she was doing as she stared into his eyes, noticing for the first time the burnished gold of her own. He supposed that was what made him call her "wolf woman" earlier, though that though and all others left him for a moment as she suddenly kissed him. It was light, short enough to prevent him from reacting at all, and obviously something she did without thought given her reaction, and yet...
Fueled by his own desire, he reached for her cheek with his right hand, the branded heron likely rough as he cupped her face before gently guiding it back to face him, staring into her eyes once more with a soft smile. "Yours are no less entrancing, Éirín." Pulling his hand toward him slightly, he kissed her properly.
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Post by Conrí on Jan 10, 2019 20:51:40 GMT -5
Éirín stopped rubbing her cheek. Of course she wondered what all Rand had thought of that, but, she decided to let the cards fall where they would on that matter. She assumed that had she messed something up, he would correct her. The wolf girl noticed the herons on his hands, particularly when he had cupped her cheek with his hand. She leaned into the hand for a moment, not caring about the roughness of the mark. She wanted to ask how he got those marks, but decided against it when Rand had forced her to face him.
Her heart fluttered in her chest and she tried to keep her eyes on his, but the urge to look away kept coming over her. She had just managed to recover her breathing and heart rate when his lips touched hers. This wasn't just a simple peck. It caused desires to rise up in her, and a tingling to spread through her entire body. Her toes nearly curled. He has to be using his aura or something... That gave her an idea.
For once, the priestess decided to follow those desires, and once the kiss was over, and the compliment to her paid, which made her giggle and blush a bit, her lips were on his once more. This time, she pushed out with her aura and managed to feel his resonating with hers. If he could kiss her like that, she was simply going to give him a kiss to remember.
Éirín had managed to keep her tongue out of his mouth. If barely. She gasped for breath a little. A furious blush was on her cheeks, and it was going to stay there, because her deck taunted her with a certain card that was reversed. "I suppose the smarter thing to do would be to actually start getting to know each other in the way we originally meant it, and not so much in the way my deck does, huh, Rand?"
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Post by Ziya on Jan 10, 2019 23:10:56 GMT -5
The kiss was everything he had hoped for, time stretching out until the moment it ended leaving him yearning for more. That yearning was met by another kiss, followed by an indescribable sensation of closeness that nearly took his breath away. The second kiss lasted longer, or so it seemed, and left him both slightly breathless and on the edge of his control.
When Éirín finally spoke again it took everything he had not to laugh as he used his fingernail's grip to pull back that control. As it was he chuckled and answered while idly stroking her cheek. "Aye, that would be the smarter choice, though the less interesting one by far as well. Would you like the first questions? I swear by the Light and my hope of salvation and rebirth to answer as honestly as I can, though some may be quite long."
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Post by Conrí on Jan 11, 2019 9:59:12 GMT -5
Éirín felt Rand's aura still mixing with hers when the kiss ended. She realised that the kiss had nearly taken the man's breath away. She also felt Rand's aura was more than willing to overtake her, and she wanted him to. When she realised what she was thinking, a sheepish smile spread on her face. The wolf girl poked Rand's nose playfully. "Boop." She said softly and stuck her tongue out with a sly look on her face.
The priestess knew that it wasn't entirely fair of her to be toying with him right now when his control was borderline not there, but, he had managed to hold it in check, if just. He had asked her if she wanted to ask him questions, with the warning that some of his answers would take a while. This time, her tongue got twisted into knots for a different reason. She suddenly wanted to ask him everything she could at once, but, language didn't work like that. Éirín still placed her hand on her other cheek, letting Rand's hand lightly dance up and down her cheek. "I definitely wouldn't mind the more interesting way, mo bhuachaill aisling, but, I'm not the type, no matter what those cards confirmed, to just immediately fall into bed with you." Her tone was almost sultry, but, there was a hint of rose on her cheeks.
The wolf girl lowered her eyes slightly. "Besides, you...probably should know that I...haven't..." Rose turned to burgandy, and she found herself moving away from Rand, shuddering when her cheek no longer felt his touch and filled her bowl with yet another helping of stew. This time, she decided to not eat like a half-starved animal and actually took slow bites. "I mean, I have kissed before. A girl. We were practicing. But...I might...but, I don't know if I am." The priestess brought the bowl to her lips and drank a bit, trying to maintain her composure.
"Anyway, you wanted me to ask you questions. How does your magic work? Are you a god, or just a man with the powers of one? What about that bond you mentioned? Is it kind of like an auric link? Those are still kind of rare, but possible. If your wives were here, or could be brought here, do you think they would kill me?" The last question was blurted out so quickly that Éirín wondered if he would even catch it, though her nervous laughter and staring into her stew as she ate probably gave Rand a good enough idea as to what she had asked anyway.
"I suppose it is your turn to ask me questions, now, farm boy." Éirín felt odd, just talking in the Great Maw, waiting on the others to come out of the book, with Heartless all around them, but unable to disrupt their peace.
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