Lunari
28
Complicated
Warden Centurion/Guard Elite
Tier 1 Character
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Post by Cian DeGraff on May 26, 2020 20:36:52 GMT -5
"Ooooh..." He was trying to talk and not laugh at the same time. He mostly failed. "Is that how it is now?" Well, someone was coming out of her shell a little bit more, and it was certainly helping him forget what had been ailing him just minutes ago. At least mostly, anyway. "Alright, alright...wait until we find something I'm good at." Cian paused, eyes squinting in concentration. "Can't think of anything right now, but..." Smooth. "Just you wait, though." Right, it was impossible to appear serious now or act offended in any way with that slight grin he still wore.
And apparently, he was "still behind". The soldier slowly turned to look at her again, his brow up in surprise. "Aren't you cheeky..." he mused, entertained by this all. But now, the problem was, Cian tended to take challenges to the extreme. Knowing it was suddenly one now, he refused to look like an idiot. Well...more than he already did, that is.
No, nothing was going to help him now.
Pretending to act like a sudden pro, he tossed a stone up into the air before catching it in his hand. Then, as if he was so smooth and knew exactly what he was doing, he sent the rock flying towards the water...where it skipped once and then was gone. Cian tilted his head back with a heaving sigh of exasperation. It would seem that he wouldn't be winning any stone skipping competitions today. Or ever.
"Nice?" he repeated, letting his head kind of loll to the side to look at her. "Well...nice is good. I know that big families can be...a lot sometimes." And most noble families of Teronna were fairly large- his definitely was. "I'm glad, though. You've been pleasant company, Lady Lee Frye...since I've supposedly made a habit of running into you and all." Cue that grin again as he blindly tossed another stone...which happened to skip four times during this attempt but he was too busy to see it.
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Pyxis
27
Increasingly complicated
Ex-soldier
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Post by Aoife Lee Frye on May 27, 2020 12:41:33 GMT -5
”By all means,” Aoife teased, tossing him a pebble. ”Prove me wrong.” She didn’t know what it was about Cian that brought down her guard so quickly, so easily, he managed to do it without even trying it seemed. And Aoife wasn’t sure if she liked that about him or if it scared her a little. Probably both, should she stop to think it through, but right now she was just enjoying the moment. She was enjoying the friendly competition, the gentle teasing, and the thrill of the challenge. ”Well, when you do think of something.” Shrugging, she turned to him with a smile. ”I would be happy to prove you wrong, or at least try to.” Did she mean it? The woman wasn’t sure if she had just been caught up in the moment or if she just wanted an excuse to see him again… to share another afternoon like this one. Cheeky. That was a new one, and Aoife scrunched her nose up in indignation as she tried to work out if she liked being called such. But, she liked that look of surprise on his face… and if it took being ‘cheeky’ to bring that look back to his features, then that’s what she would do. Even if she did feel a little foolish doing so.
For a second, her heart dropped as she watched the soldier make another attempt at skipping the stone, this time with confidence. It skipped once. The look of triumph was quick to return to her expression, a wide smile stretching her lips as she beamed up at him. ”You were saying something about conceding?” Aoife asked, not even trying to supress the confidence in her tone.
”Nice.” Aoife confirmed, though she didn’t exactly sound confident. It had been nice being away from home, but being in the capital had brought back painful memories along with the change of scenery. It had been nice to feel a little more like herself again. But, with that came the drive to find out what had truly happened to Alasdair… Aoife wasn’t herself without a cause to throw herself behind, and now she had one. ”They can be, though I suppose any family can be.. that’s what families are for.” To be a lot, to be there for you and yet drive you insane at the same time. ”As have you, Cian.” She said, unable to bring herself to use the formality he did. Though Aoife didn’t see his stone skip, she was too focused on Cian and that grin of his, she did hear it however. ”Four, almost but not quite.”
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Lunari
28
Complicated
Warden Centurion/Guard Elite
Tier 1 Character
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Post by Cian DeGraff on May 27, 2020 18:38:49 GMT -5
Funny how such a simple thing as throwing rocks could be so entertaining. Maybe it wasn't the stones or the calming sounds of the tumultuous waves. Maybe it was just her. She was easy to talk to, even when she teased him, because he wasn't having to pretend he was something he wasn't. He could just be himself. Not a soldier, not a Warden, not a man hellbent on revenge against an enemy he couldn't even find.
Just Cian. And it was nice for a change.
Her jabs didn't seem to end, and it was difficult not to remain amused and somehow impressed by it. She was mocking him, and he was letting her for whatever reason. He was fumbling for comebacks. Pressing his lips together to suppress a smile, his eyes playfully narrowed while they turned to her. "You can't possibly be good at everything." He shook a pointed finger at her while he thought. "We'll see..." That was more of a promise to himself, but he didn't sound very convinced.
This felt like DeGraff family competition all over again, where he was always stuck in the middle, where he often didn't win. Surprisingly enough, it never made him salty. Cian was never a sore loser in that respect; it only made him work harder later on, pushing himself to his limits. It was why he joined the Wardens, it was why he was trying so bloody hard. "Oh yes," he agreed with her about family. "Always in your business, always wanting you to try harder..." A pause, he shrugged lightly. "But always there for you." If one was so lucky, yes.
'As have you, Cian.' That was what distracted him. That was what had him looking at her as he had thrown another stone and missed the result. He was grinning stupidly again, pleased to hear it...until she pointed out he'd managed to make the damned rock skip more than once. "Wait...what?" Blinking that dumbfounded look off his face, it registered when he looked back out at the sea. "Seriously? When I'm not even looking..." Cian glanced back over to her. "You're lying. You're just saying that because you feel bad." Yes, the words were ridiculous and he knew it, and there was no hiding the humor from his face as he said them.
Cian took a couple steps towards the waves and crouched again as if searching for another stone. Instead, however, he scooped some water up into his palm as it receded away and tossed it in her direction. By the time it reached her, if it even did, it'd feel more like a spray from the sea than anything.
What was he, five?
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Pyxis
27
Increasingly complicated
Ex-soldier
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Post by Aoife Lee Frye on May 28, 2020 10:08:54 GMT -5
It was freeing, Aoife did not know if she was being herself with him or being who she wanted to be. Cian never looked at her with pity or offered her empty condolences. He looked at her with a stupid grin on his face and offered her nothing but easy conversation. Had she known he was a warden, known just what had been troubling him so much earlier: that easiness she felt around him would shatter. That relentless drive would take over, and the last safe space she had outside of herself would be gone in an instant.
"I don't need to be good at everything.". Aoife shrugged, a playful spark in her eyes as she felt herself rising even more to the challenge. "I just need to be better than you." It was as easy as that, flicking the switch and engaging competitive mode. Aoife had grown up in a family of seven sons and one daughter, each with their own magical gift, each had an edge. Growing up, not a day had passed without Aoife feeling the need to prove herself. To show she could not only keep up with the boys, but that she could beat them (or at least come close to). It had been the same in the military. And now, it seemed it was the same with Cian.
It seemed as though the DeGraff’s and Lee Frye’s had a similar family dynamic, always wanting you to try harder. They just wanted what was best for them, and for the family as a whole. It was easy to feel as though family came first, that the needs of the family should be put before the individual. But, it was never pushed, Aoife had stepped back from the military and kept away from court, and though a daughter was a valuable pawn in the latter… especially an unattached one… her father had coaxed and pleaded but he had never pushed. ”Always there for you.” She agreed, not wanting to open up the discussion any further, she loved her family, truly she did… but what they spoke of behind closed doors often didn’t sit right with her, war was not something to be taken lightly.
”I don’t lie.” Aoife said, something of a scowl forming across her features. It lasted merely a moment however, when she realised the soldier wasn’t being completely serious. ”I don’t feel bad either.” She concluded, voice much lighter than it had been a second ago… the scowl completely gone from her tone. Aoife did not join him to scoop up another stone, she was pretty confident Cian wouldn’t top six or seven skips but she was happy to watch him try.
An eyebrow quirked upwards in silent questioning as the soldier decided to splash water at her. Luckily for him, the distance meant it was little more than a spray by the time it reached her. Common sense told her not to retaliate, after all… she hadn’t actually gotten wet. Pride however, pride was a different matter.
As usual, pride won out.
Though she didn’t react straight away. Instead Aoife allowed her features to relax, and she waited for the receding wave to return. Waited until the water washed a little too close to Cian’s boots before joining him by the water and stooping down in one fluid motion. With the distance closed, the water she threw at him would be more of a splash than sea spray should the soldier not duck out of the way or stop her.
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Lunari
28
Complicated
Warden Centurion/Guard Elite
Tier 1 Character
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Post by Cian DeGraff on May 28, 2020 11:07:47 GMT -5
A lot would happen should either of them find out what the other was. That was the scary, delicate balance of Teronna. This war on magic made trust difficult for some, caused others to consistently point fingers where they shouldn't. It made his job that much harder. Granted, he knew what his real mission was, and that was to hunt down any Mystic he found...however, he seemed to have his own agenda. He just wanted the particular ones who had killed Cara. The entire family did, but it was more personal for Cian.
Now, what would happen if he ever fulfilled that revenge, he didn't know. One day at a time. Yet, every day he failed, the more he feared he was losing himself. So it was times like these, even as silly as they were, that reminded him of who he was. Not the Warden or the weapon, just human. And one that was apparently losing at everything today. But this kind of loss he would gladly take.
Cian noted the scowl but didn't say anything about it when her tone had softened. Yes, he had been joking, even if he wouldn't have been offended regardless if it was all true. He visibly cringed though when the water barely fazed her, and she was possibly looking at him as though he were an idiot. Well, she wouldn't be wrong about that either.
Maybe his idiocy knew no bounds.
Perhaps Cian should have known better than to think she'd simply let it go- he wouldn't have. He would have retaliated to such a stupid thing. Still, he wasn't expecting it from her while he sought for another stone, if only to keep himself busy before the cold water was splashing right at his face. And it was still cold even though Spring was nearly upon them.
Swiftly rising up to his feet, Cian backed up a couple steps, shaking the salted sea from his hair; the droplets clinging to unruly curls. Alright, well...he asked for that. He struggled not to smile, but he was childishly amused even still. "I'll throw your arse straight into that water," he threatened...although, grinning like a fool and laughing didn't make it sound like a serious threat. It wasn't, but he hadn't wanted her to know that.
Instead, he rushed back to the water as the waves returned and kicked sideways, sending a small splash into her direction. His boots would be wet now, but he didn't seem to care. Whether or not the water reached her this time or not, Cian got the sudden urge to run. She had been in the military before, after all, maybe he shouldn't test her.
Perhaps this was ridiculous, but acting like a fool always did help him forget the troubles. And if he wasn't joking around, he was training. But the training grounds didn't have Aoife Lee Frye.
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Pyxis
27
Increasingly complicated
Ex-soldier
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Post by Aoife Lee Frye on May 28, 2020 14:01:24 GMT -5
This was perfect, Cian had dropped his guard enough that Aoife had managed to catch him right in the face with the saltwater. It took all she had to suppress a whoop of victory. Yes, they were flinging water at each other like children, but she still had to maintain some dignity. Still, even if she didn’t audibly exclaim her excitement, it was evident in the grin that spread across her lips. A grin that bubbled over into a small peal of laughter as the soldier rose back to his feet.
Running a hand through her hair, Aoife made a conscious effort to seem relaxed and carefree. But as grey eyes found him, the woman was sizing Cian up and calculating her chances should he have retaliated. She was probably faster, at least over a short distance.
’I'll throw your arse straight into that water,’
The threat, whether it was genuine or not, stopped Aoife’s mental calculations in their tracks. She was ninety percent sure it was an empty threat, that Cian wouldn’t toss her into the waves even if he had the chance to. It was winter still, and the water was cold. Granted, it wouldn’t kill either of them… but the ride back to the capital would be uncomfortable, explaining what had happened to her father even more so. Hands found her hips, and she looked at the soldier with obvious defiance.
Once again, common sense had fought and lost against her pride.
Again, she was sizing him up, calculating her odds. Only this time, Aoife didn’t attempt to hide the fact. ”I don’t think you will…” She grinned, raising her brows in challenge. Grey eyes not leaving him for a moment, guard up, muscles tense, ready to run or to dodge. Even after knowing the man for such a short period, Aoife didn’t think for a moment he wouldn’t retaliate to getting a face-full of seawater. There was that same competitiveness there, and Aoife couldn’t imagine him just letting this little battle between them drop… especially after such a threat. ”… besides, you would hav-“ His kick caught her by surprise, stopped the words in her mouth and brought an expression of surprise to her features.
She stiffened at the shock of cold water splashing against her side, even though the air was getting warmer day by day as spring crept closer… the sea remained freezing. Looking down, Aoife saw where the water had hit her, making her riding breeches stick to her skin and leech the warmth from her skin. When she looked back up, Cian was running.
It was on.
Aoife had left her boots with her horse, so she sprinted after him barefoot. The cold water numbing her feet as she did. She wasn’t sure exactly what she planned to do if she caught up to him… stopping to kick water would just waste time, Cian would be several feet away by the time the water landed where he had been.
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Lunari
28
Complicated
Warden Centurion/Guard Elite
Tier 1 Character
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Post by Cian DeGraff on May 29, 2020 16:46:55 GMT -5
Cian didn't appear to be doing very good today, now was he? Though, all of this at the shoreline wasn't necessary a failure. Sure, he was making a fool of himself, but one might argue that he was winning something with how much she was laughing and smiling. Even if it was at his expense- he certainly didn't mind, because he kept doing it. The amusement on her face kept it on his and helped him forget the job he would have to do tomorrow.
And then he managed to splash her and was now probably going to die. Die laughing with a face full of sand, but even still. In truth, the soldier didn't think he would have been able to pull it off.
Aoife was most assuredly faster short distance. He was an equal balance of speed and strength in battle, but running wasn't something he really excelled at, especially in sodden boots and she being barefoot in the sand. This was probably about to get even more ridiculous, but he had turned and hightailed it down the beach; splashing up water and kicking up sand as he went.
Daring a look over his shoulder, he saw that she was actually en route to probably pummel him into the sand. "Ah ha! I believe that makes us nearly-" he began calling back, having to pause to leap over a sizable rock before he could trip over it. He staggered a bit upon landing but managed to keep going. "...even!" Not quite, but whatever. Close enough.
Now that he was running, he really didn't know what he expected to do. He would tire before her- he already was, his pace beginning to slow. At this realization, he laughed and struggled to breathe, "How about a truce?"
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Pyxis
27
Increasingly complicated
Ex-soldier
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Post by Aoife Lee Frye on May 29, 2020 18:21:00 GMT -5
In hand to hand combat, Aoife probably would have struggled to hold her own against the soldier. He was bigger, stronger, and trained daily whereas she was lighter and out of practice. However, they weren’t sparring: they were racing through the surf like children without a care in the world. And she was gaining on him with every step.
Hair streaming behind her, Aoife was sprinting at full pelt with a smile on her lips. The shock of the iced water had long since passed, forgotten almost in that primal thrill of the chase. She couldn’t imagine how ridiculous the two of them looked, running half-sodden across the beach in winter… Cian leaping over a rock, nearly falling, the laugher escaping from her as he staggered. If anyone had been watching the two of them, they would probably think they were mad. Not that Aoife particularily cared (or even spared a thought as to) how this might look to a casual bystander. Aoife was actually having fun.
She had almost forgotten what it felt like.
So, when Cian offered a truce, Aoife was almost disappointed it could be over so quickly. But, she dropped her pace a little, ”A truce?” Echoing his words, something akin to confusion took hold of her features. ”Nearly even?” Speaking between deep breathes, Aoife slowed further, the short sprint had taken more out of her than she expected… and the woman made a mental note to start training more regularly, lest she lose even more of her edge. ”I-“ Finally, Aoife slowed to a walk, still looking at the solider with incredulity, ”I’m half soaked, you only got your hair a little wet!” Still panting a little, grey eyes narrowed as she looked at him. ”How, Cian DeGraff, is that close to even?” Granted, he hadn’t splashed her that much, only her left leg really… but still, Aoife did not consider them even remotely even in this little skirmish.
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Lunari
28
Complicated
Warden Centurion/Guard Elite
Tier 1 Character
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Post by Cian DeGraff on May 29, 2020 19:47:16 GMT -5
He knew she was gaining on him. Every step he took, he could feel the struggle of breath, the pain in his lungs from the cold air. That probably wasn't helping but also, again, he wasn't the best sprinter...or runner, period. One might begin to wonder if he was as trained of a soldier as he claimed to be.
It didn't matter, though. Cian forced himself to keep going until he knew she would relent, until he noticed her begin to slow down even if she was questioning him. And probably in disappointment. His own pace had slowed (a lot faster than hers) until he was hunched over attempting to find his breath...all the while laughing at himself.
"Yes," he struggled to say, lifting his head up to look at her. "A truce." So you don't kill me, he almost said. But Cian burst into laughter when she made it blatantly clear that they weren't even. At all. "Well, honestly-" Standing up straight, only barely having found his breath again, he slowly approached her with his hands up in surrender.
Mock surrender.
End this so soon? Never. Relentless was his middle name. Sometimes. "I just needed you to stop...so I could try this again." Just as his words were coming to an end, the fool was kicking at the water once more in a second attempt to splash her. Then he was trying to run, this time past her and the way they had just sprinted from.
Let people think what they wanted. It just meant they were too absorbed in the boring aspects of their life. Sometimes, you just had to live a little, enjoy what you could when everything else seemed so dark. Cian might have been a grown man acting like a child, but it was barely a steep price to pay to forget his woes and keep her laughing.
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Pyxis
27
Increasingly complicated
Ex-soldier
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Post by Aoife Lee Frye on May 30, 2020 4:16:14 GMT -5
As he slowed to a halt, so did Aoife. Hands planted on her hips as she stood a few feet back, not quite trusting the soldier and his proposed truce. With Cian being hunched over, she couldn’t quite see his face but Aoife could hear the laughter coming from him as he stood there. Shoulders rose and fell as she caught her own breath, mind moving a mile a minute as Aoife tried to make sense of what had just happened… of how and why they had managed to end up chasing each other along the surf like school children.
With every step the soldier took towards her, hands raised in what seemed to be surrender, the woman took a half step or so back. Eyes narrowing in obvious suspicion. Aoife may have been many things, but trusting was not one of them. Even though she was certain Cian would not harm her, that this was all in jest, she remembered his earlier threat along the lines of ‘throwing her arse straight into that water’. So, there was little chance Aoife was planning on letting him close enough to make good on that particular promise.
Aoife had been tense, ready for him to turn at continue running at any second and ready to sprint after him. What she hadn’t expected was another splash of water. Though she tried to leap back in time, the woman still ended up on the receiving end of most of it: the iced seawater causing her to jump further in shock. He was dead. Grey eyes snapped up to meet Cian running towards her.
She didn’t think, didn’t pause to consider if this was a good idea, didn’t have the time to pause: only to react. If Aoife had spared a second to think, she would have probably realised the decision to try and grab the soldier as he ran by was a dumb one.
But, Aoife hadn’t thought.
As Cian moved to pass her, to continue running down the beach in the direction they had come from: Aoife leapt towards him, arms outstretched. Hoping to wrap around the soldier’s midriff, though the plan ended with that. Maybe she would succeed, slowing him down or stopping him completely. Maybe Aoife would knock him off balance, or to the ground. Or, maybe she would miss completely and lose her own footing. She hadn’t considered the outcome, merely reacted to the situation.
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Lunari
28
Complicated
Warden Centurion/Guard Elite
Tier 1 Character
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Post by Cian DeGraff on May 30, 2020 10:02:04 GMT -5
Why he thought to backpedal was beyond his own comprehension. It was possible that he thought it would fool her, but Aoife wasn't a naive woman. He knew and understood this from the moment they met. And having been in the military, she certainly knew how to handle herself. Cian simply should have known better.
He was the dumb one. Or maybe he didn't care. It was quite possible that it was a little bit of both.
If given the chance, would he have thrown her into the water? Probably not. The sea was far too cold still for that and he wasn't that cruel. Were the sun blazing hot and the weather far warmer, then well, it would have been a toss up. However, he might have pretended in the very least right now, even if she was quite obviously suspicious of his intentions. Smart woman.
Just as he rushed by, he saw those grey eyes glaring and he knew he was dead. That was all there was to it. He'd done it and now he had to accept his fate. So, then, why was he still laughing like an idiot? This was silly and possibly one of the first times in awhile where he wasn't worrying about anything. Well, besides Aoife slamming his face down into the sand, but that was a good problem to have.
It was true, though. In a time of so much tension and unsureness, when did people take a moment to just live? To forget about the problems and just act as people? Even if it meant being childish adults. There was absolutely nothing wrong it, and he couldn't be that hardened soldier all of the time.
Perhaps it was partially the reason why he let his guard down even further, or maybe it was the very fact that he didn't think she would actually leap at him. Clearly taken by surprise, he actually yelled out as even her small weight threw him completely off balance, sending the soldier crashing straight into the sand.
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Pyxis
27
Increasingly complicated
Ex-soldier
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Post by Aoife Lee Frye on May 30, 2020 10:42:35 GMT -5
She was glaring at him, and Cian was laughing. There had been a time not too long ago when her glare had been withering, capable of making even the most hardened of soldiers pale beneath it... Then again, she had had never been Aoife the soldier with Cian. She had never even been Lady Lee Frye, it had always been just Aoife. And though she would never admit it aloud, even to herself, Aoife was beginning to like it that way. She was enjoying just being human, just being herself, without the need for formalities or to have her guard up. Just Aoife.
Plus, even she doubted she looked even remotely imposing... Half sodden from the seawater and unable to keep a smile from her lips even as her eyes narrowed in a vain attempt at a piercing glare. No, she was almost glad her glare hadn't put a stop to the laughter escaping the solider. Glad they were still acting like children, away from the lives that were waiting for them once they returned... Once they left this carefree, if ridiculous, moment behind them. If Aoife couldn't feel the wet fabric of her trousers leeching the heat from her, she wouldn't have been surprised to wake at any moment and resign the experience to nothing more than a dream.
But no, they were both here, they were both alive, and very much awake. If the chill of the salt water against her skin wasn't enough to convince Aoife she wasn't dreaming... A mouthful of sand as she succeeded in knocking the solider (and herself) to the ground certainly was. Judging by the yelp that escaped her, their sudden tumble had taken Aoife by surprise just as much as it had Cian.
She certainly hadn't expected to knock him clear off his feet and send them both sprawling into the sand... Maybe cause the soldier to stumble a step or two at most. Perhaps she had yet to lose her strength after all.
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Lunari
28
Complicated
Warden Centurion/Guard Elite
Tier 1 Character
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Post by Cian DeGraff on May 30, 2020 18:32:40 GMT -5
Freedom. That's what this was. It was the time in between all the burdens, away from the bustling city, from the training grounds and whatever else ailed either of them. It was nice, and he wondered if she frequented the beaches often when she was in town.
The thought, amid all the fun chaos, had him wondering when she would be leaving again. If she would be leaving again. Aoife had mentioned she was visiting family while her father was on business...and now he was wondering why he even thinking about this. Perhaps because she was one of the first to just let him be him, be an idiot. Allowed him to be normal. His family let him be all of this, of course, but it wasn't the same.
Also, Rowan wasn't as pretty to look at, no matter how long his brother grew out his hair.
She wasn't remotely imposing? Think again. Just because she was a lithe thing compared to him, didn't mean those eyes couldn't sear through a person were this an entirely different scenario or situation. They'd manage to already stop him on a few accounts- silently, but even still.
Then here she was, tackling him into the sand because he was either dumb enough to let it happen, or she was a lot faster and smarter than he had anticipated. Never underestimate your opponent! Wasn't that the first rule to any military training? But Cian went down and tumbled, only pausing in his laughter for a brief moment when he stopped on his back. Now, he was cracking up despite the cold, wet sand. He'd luckily just missed the receding water but it was bound to come crawling back and making this worse if he didn't get up.
He didn't move right away, though. Lifting his head, he regarded her. And as though he hadn't tried to bring on her wrath, he was asking, "You alright, lass?" He was still struggling to breathe. The winter air always made it worse.
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Pyxis
27
Increasingly complicated
Ex-soldier
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Post by Aoife Lee Frye on May 30, 2020 19:23:50 GMT -5
She hadn’t thought much as to staying, living for Aoife was still very much done on a day to day basis. There was no plan, no thought past today, and for the moment it was keeping her afloat. This though, even if there had been a plan, there was little chance the woman could have planned for chasing a relative stranger up and down a beach under any circumstance… let alone over something as silly as splashing water at each other. Aoife wouldn’t have minded more moments like this, she would have welcomed them, more moments to forget everything and to just live.
Granted, she would prefer more of these moments where she did not end up wet and cold and sprawled out in the sand… even if the last part had been mostly her fault. This wasn’t a battlefield, it was a beachfront; and though Cian was a soldier, he wasn’t trying to kill her… both of these factors should have made Aoife pause to consider her actions rather than act on instinct. But it was a little late for those thoughts now.
As soon as she hit the ground, Aoife had rolled away from the soldier: primarily out of instinct, but partly out of awkwardness too. Slowly, it dawned on her that she had liked being that close to him, and that the cold of the water had been overwhelmed by a strange warmth. As she pulled herself into a sitting position, Aoife rolled her shoulders and shook her arms. It would have looked as though she was checking everything was fine and that she hadn’t done any damage in the fall… but she was trying to shake some semblance of reason back into herself. But she couldn’t quite shake off the jitters that had settled in her stomach or the flush she knew had risen in her cheeks.
”I’m fine.” She said, probably a little too quickly then. ”Are you? I didn-“ But the woman stopped then, not sure what she was going to say. I didn’t mean to knock you over? I didn’t mean to hurt you? I didn’t mean to what? She hadn’t thought it through at all… The ridiculousness of it all dawned on her then, and whatever she had been about to say was drowned out by a fit of laughter. ”Sorry.” Aoife said at last, finally able to look over at Cian properly for the first time since they hit the sand. ”I did not realise you would go down that easily.”
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Lunari
28
Complicated
Warden Centurion/Guard Elite
Tier 1 Character
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Post by Cian DeGraff on May 31, 2020 0:31:09 GMT -5
Cian had not expected this from her. And although he was currently laughing, a little more than usual, she had surprised him. He'd been so caught up in whatever the moment was that he completely abandoned that soldier-mind of his that would have realized how foolish it was to backtrack, to get too close, to even stop to begin with. It was interesting how easily, and willingly, he had abandoned this.
Still trying to find his breath and attempting to calm his laughter, he was watching her sit up and stammer out a reply. He just let his head fall back onto the sand, knowing it was going to be quite the task to get the annoying little grains out of his clothing and hair later. A price he was more than happy to pay right now when her own laughter consumed her, ringing in his ears. Cian was waving a dismissive hand her way; she didn't need to apologize because he was quite obviously fine.
"Luck," he said quickly. "That was luck. Plus...I was already tired." That was a pathetic excuse, but he was sticking to it. His lips parted as though he was about to say something else, but he was quick to realize that the waves were crashing down and swiftly coming their way. And he really didn't want to get more soaked.
"Oh, fu-" His curse was cut short in that moment of panic before Cian was scrambling up to his feet while the waterline grew closer and closer. "Get up, get up!" Despite his laughter again, they only had a few seconds. He was reaching for Aoife's hand to draw her up to her feet to begin to flee further across the sand, lest she be caught by the cold water as it rushed towards them like it was a volley of arrows on the battlefield.
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