Pyxis
27
Increasingly complicated
Ex-soldier
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Post by Aoife Lee Frye on Mar 17, 2021 15:57:48 GMT -5
How many times had Aoife almost confessed to Ciaran that morning? Once the initial shock of finding Myra in his arms had worn off and they had almost been their old selves again- talking as though the last few years had been a dream, as though the events had happened to someone else and were merely things heard along the grapevine rather than things they had both suffered, both endured. Either way, Aoife doubted he would have taken it nearly as Cian’s cousin had… it was partly why she was keeping these cards so close to her chest, why the mystic had taken such great care to stow the letters in the few hiding spots Catriona didn’t know about. If a Lee Frye had told Aoife to do something about this, it would be to end it before she was hurt and the family name was dragged through the mud. Never trust a DeGraff. How many times had she heard that? And for how long had she believed it? At least one hundred times, and for at least two decades… and all it had taken was one DeGraff with a stupid grin and the brightest blues to unravell it all.
”I’m glad it helped…” The mystic told him. The sentiment was a sincere one: Aoife had felt more than a little guilty for the way she had left, for how she had left him, and she was glad that someone had been there for the soldier that day. Her head cocked though, at the amusement in Cian’s tone. She wondered then if perhaps she had been overreacting, perhaps worrying a little too much about what their families would have to say on the matter- but then the logical part of her mind won out: just because they didn’t care, and just because Camille didn’t seem to mind, didn’t mean the older generation would see it their way. She didn’t need to tell Cian that: he knew just as well as she did how seriously their parents and grandparents had taken- and still were taking- this feud between the DeGraffs and Lee Fryes. For two such prominent families, it was remarkable just how well they all managed to avoid each other outside of their day to day duties within the military.
Aoife found herself wondering if she would ever visit this place without him- it was beautiful, and it was peaceful- but the woman doubted any subsequent visit would be able to hold a candle to this first one. The peace she felt wasn’t just from the gentle sound of the waterfall- but from the release of all the tension she had found building following their spar. Though each letter had brought relief, in it’s own way, what they spoke of had seemed intangible- as though it was something that would never actually happen. But now, against all the odds and in spite of all the misunderstandings: they were here and they were together.
Whilst the soldier was thinking of their next meeting, wondering when they’d have another chance to be like this- Aoife was hoping this moment would never pass. The mist from the waterfall was cool, somehow refreshing despite the chill that lingered in the spring air. However the soldier’s body against hers was warm, and the way Cian held her close- as though they had done this a hundred times before- was comforting. Even if having the soldier this close was making her heart race at a mile a minute, even if he breath caught and stilled every time she heard the low hum of his voice against her ear- Aoife still felt a prevailing sense of calm in his arms. The mystic knew this story, even now she could remember Catriona telling the tale over dinner one night. Aoife remembered the smoke in the air, wispy and formless, beginning to take shape at her mother’s command. ”Sounds like quite the adventure-” She mused, turning a little in his embrace- just enough to meet those blue eyes of his. ”-Though, you would be away from Ethion for a little while.” and I just got back. If Cian asked her to go with him, Aoife probably wouldn’t even pause to consider it before saying yes. A few days in the mountains chasing down a legend, away from everything and everyone: it seemed like the ideal way to recuperate from her time at home and the chaos that had characterised it.
She hummed in thought when Cian bounced the conversation back to her. Growing up, the family estate had always been enough. The lake had seemed just as vast as any ocean, Namyca Forest had always had its own magic- drawing the Lee Frye children in with the promise of adventure. It was only when she had left to join the military that Aoife began to understand just how wide the world was. Though seasickness had quickly quashed any desire to see the other kingdoms: Aoife had enjoyed seeing more of Teronna. ”I don’t know-” She conceded at last, having mulled the thought over. ”-more places like this maybe, and I remember Mama telling us stories about volcanoes growing up, places where the ground would split and spit up fire and rocks so hot they had melted.” It sounded like another legend, and even now… Aoife wasn’t 100% convinced that they were real.
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Lunari
28
Complicated
Warden Centurion/Guard Elite
Tier 1 Character
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Post by Cian DeGraff on Mar 18, 2021 8:17:36 GMT -5
Cian wasn't sure if he would have been able to trust anyone else in his family with that knowledge. Maybe Cara would have understood. Not that he thought they would all call him foolish for even thinking about a Lee Frye, but they wouldn't know what to say. And he wouldn't have blamed them. This entire thing had taken Cian by surprise, and if he were being honest, he still was. This was strange, this was wonderful, as though she would disappear if he closed his eyes, or that he might wake up in his bed to realize it was nothing but a dream.
He had been told over and over again to avoid every Lee Frye, and yet, there he was...holding her against him, finding solace during a time he thought it would be impossible to. Right now, there was no rivalry, there was no war on magic, there was nothing getting in the way. It was only them, and these comforting thoughts had his arms subconsciously wrapping around her just a little bit tighter. There was a lookout above the falls that one could admire the view from, but there was something about the here and now that kept him grounded. They were shielded from the rest of the world, away from judgement and prying eyes. It simply felt safe here and he wasn't quite willing to part from her yet, even if just to walk side by side.
'Sounds like quite the adventure-' Aoife was shifting a little, bringing his gaze down to her face. 'Though, you would be away from Ethion for a little while.' His hand had lifted so fingers could toy with a strand of her dark hair while he thought about it. "It would be a few days, huh..." he said lazily. It was obvious he was contemplating something, and perhaps something he shouldn't be. Cian could easily find an excuse to disappear for a couple of days, but what of her? Maybe he should stop wondering about it, yet it was so tempting...
"Volcanoes?" the soldier echoed in curiosity. Cian had heard of such things as well, but never knew where he might find one. Certainly not in Teronna, and his life didn't lend itself to travel easily. In all honesty, he wasn't sure how much he desired to travel outside of this kingdom anyway; the thought never really occured to him. "That doesn't sound like an ideal vacation spot," he mused. Although he grinned, the idea of such fire almost frightened him. That burning house had taken Cara away.
'-more places like this maybe...' He decided to focus on that instead, which was only making him wander back to the very idea he shouldn't. The fingers in her hair shifted their touch; his thumb gently brushing across her cheekbone. His brow furrowed slightly, his mind warring with itself until he gave in. "Find an excuse," he said so quietly before he could stop himself. "Just...a couple of days. We'll go into the mountains, get away..." Only a small part of him wished he could take his request back, just because he wondered if it was insane. He didn't even know if it was possible.
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Pyxis
27
Increasingly complicated
Ex-soldier
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Post by Aoife Lee Frye on Mar 18, 2021 11:14:50 GMT -5
Aoife wasn’t the only one of her siblings who didn’t like people touching her hair, most (if not all of them) had learned at an early age just how to ruffle the curls atop Ciaran’s head in the way he hated it. And after a childhood and adolescence of having her hair, no matter how carefully or thoroughly she had styled it, shocked into static chaos by getting too close to Eoghann: Aoife was very protective of her long, dark hair. Yet, she didn’t seem to mind in the slightest as Cian toyed with it- absentmindedly turning it over in his fingers as a contemplative look crossed over his features. Watching the soldier curiously, she tried not to look too concerned about the prospect of him leaving the capital- even if it was only for a few days.
She had just got back. They had just found this. And the mystic didn’t want to lose it for a moment, let alone the better part of a week. Strange, how quickly this had all seemed to start. It had been months since that day at the docks, since that day at the beach… a lifetime almost. And yet the few short weeks that had passed since their spar: so much more had happened, become clear. Regardless of just how this had come about, or how quickly it had, and even though it had been weeks since they had last seen each other: Aoife was taken aback by the realisation that she really would miss him during those few days. She wasn’t sure when this had happened, or even how, but somehow when her mind wandered these days: it often wandered to thoughts of Cian DeGraff. Wishing she could read his thoughts, Aoife cocked her head ever so slightly as she regarded him- as though daring the soldier to speak, to finish the sentence he hadn’t quite concluded.
But, would she be able to find an excuse? An even half-plausible reason to disappear for a few days… Even if she was able to escape any further questions from her father, Aoife very much doubted she’d be able to slip the wool over her mother’s eyes. Biting on her lower lip, the woman considered her answer to a question that she hadn’t even been asked yet. She could tell the truth… or at least a half truth. Say she was going away with a friend: only, that would bring more questions. Who? How long will you be gone? Why are you going? Why now, it’s still cold? Where are you going? And Aoife wouldn’t have wanted to answer a single one of those. Which left her two other options to consider: to disappear and face the consequences later; or to lie… and honestly? Aoife almost preferred the first option. If only, like Cian, she was still with the military- back then, it had been easy to disappear for a few days, even a few weeks. Now though, it wasn’t so easy.
”Volcanoes.” She confirmed, bobbing her head and allowing herself once again to be pulled away from her thoughts and back into the moment. ”Perhaps not for a vacation.” Conceding, Aoife offered the soldier a lopsided grin. ”But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t sound breath-taking- can you imagine? A lake made of fire?” It seemed so unimaginable, even with her gifts, even with what she had seen her family do, the mystic couldn’t quite picture something like that- no matter how many stories she heard.
Again, on instinct, Aoife leaned her head ever so slightly into his touch. It was barely perceptible, even she didn’t quite notice she was doing it. She watched his brow furrow, whatever thoughts Cian had been considering a moment ago coming to a head, reaching their conclusion. And all the while Aoife didn’t lift those wide grey eyes from his features- part of her had expected the suggestion to remain unsaid. It seemed like such a surreal idea, a plan they would never be able to execute.
”Okay.” Aoife agreed almost instantaneously, not even pausing to consider all the questions that had stormed through her mind a moment ago. Voice dropping even lower, almost to a whisper, ”We’ll do it, I don’t know what I’ll say or- or- what- but I’ll think of something.” A grin was breaking across her lips as she spoke, she would figure it out… somehow.
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Lunari
28
Complicated
Warden Centurion/Guard Elite
Tier 1 Character
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Post by Cian DeGraff on Mar 20, 2021 19:13:17 GMT -5
Cian had told himself for years that he would take that little trip to search for a tree that he was about half certain was a myth. Well, maybe more than half certain. He had just never found the time to, or perhaps it was more because he didn't feel like going alone. He and his siblings were older now, beginning to lead their own separate lives- it was never on the agenda to find time for something so simple.
And yet, there he was, blurting out the idea to a woman he only began to get close to. Would he have left so soon on a whim? Maybe not, but the idea of leaving her- yes, after finding this- seemed too painful. It felt wrong to now, just as it felt kind of strange to feel this attached already. Cian thought he should probably be questioning that, but his mind couldn't seem to bother, especially when his thoughts often strayed right back to her. He felt what he felt, whether he understood it fully or not, and that was all that mattered.
His gaze had dropped to her mouth again as she bit her lip, seeming to contemplate the very same thing that he was. He figured it was foolish, even if they didn't make the trip for a while. It wasn't so much obsession as it was feeling at peace. He felt comfortable around Aoife and it silenced all the worrying thoughts in his head. Cian enjoyed her presence more than he was willing to outright admit, and from the very first day, it almost felt...natural.
'A lake made of fire?' It didn't exactly sound breath-taking to him, but he was also struggling to completely listen. His lips curled into a lopsided smirk as he forced his eyes back up to hers. "It sounds...very interesting, and terrifying," he admitted, laughing quietly at himself. It certainly did sound pretty unimaginable, though, but with what he has seen during this war on magic, the simple but beautiful display of color behind these falls, he supposed anything was possible. Why not these supposed volcanoes?
And just like that, Cian wanted to find one for her. For now, however, he could only give her the Teronnian mountains.
Okay. She said okay. There was a moment there that he wasn't entirely sure if he had actually voiced the question or not, then he was about to revert to panic for even suggesting it. Perhaps it wasn't so crazy a thing? Maybe she needed that getaway, that solace just as he did. And maybe- just maybe- she wasn't so quick to want to leave his side, either.
"Yeah?" He almost looked dumbfounded as his smile widened. Either this wasn't an insane idea, or they were both just crazy...and Cian didn't care which it was anymore. "We can go whenever, doesn't have to be soon," he told her, his own voice dropping as though he were afraid someone might manage to overhear them even behind the rushing waters. If he had to wait, he would. "You know, in case you wish for it to be a little warmer...lady of leisure." Oh, he was slowly beginning to taunt her again. "There won't be lavish meals, or big comfortable beds to sleep in. There will be a lot of traveling, maybe hunting..." Something told him (besides the fact that she had once been a soldier) that none of this would bother her too much. Still, as he teased, he also wasn't going to assume.
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Pyxis
27
Increasingly complicated
Ex-soldier
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Post by Aoife Lee Frye on Mar 21, 2021 9:33:45 GMT -5
As beautiful as the volcanoes sounded, and as much as Aoife would have loved to see one with her own two eyes- the mystic knew it was a distant fantasy. She had vowed to never set foot on one of those infernal ships again, and besides: there was more than enough magic in Teronna for her. But, that didn’t mean she couldn’t dream. Couldn’t imagine. ”Maybe a little terrifying.” Aoife admitted after a slight pause. She wasn’t her brother- the mystic wasn’t immune to the flames as he was, a lake of fire was just as dangerous to her as it would be to the man who currently held her gently beneath these falls. Maybe it was a sight better left to the imagination afterall. ”Still,” A sigh. Followed by a small self-conscious smile. ”It might be nice- it would be warm at least.”
She would have probably left with him that afternoon if Cian had asked- to hell with the consequences and the questions. Logic may have won out in the end. The logic that if she crept away, disappeared into the night without a word, then there was no doubt that someone would come looking for her. Almost any of her brothers would have been capable of tracking them so far, and then if Catriona enlisted the help of her sister: Emilia’s gift would show them all exactly what Aoife had done as soon as she and Cian settled by the campfire. That wouldn’t end well at all, for Cian or for the Lee Frye. No, she would have to think of something- some plausible excuse before they made their escape into the mountains. It would be the only way they’d stand a chance of getting any peace- at least from her family. Though, nothing was springing to mind just yet.
”Yeah.” The mystic confirmed, bobbing her head as though to reiterate her point. Despite her enthusiasm, Aoife kept her voice low- as though there could be anyone nearby to overhear them. The falling of the water seemed almost unnaturally gentle, it cascaded down but wasn’t accompanied by the roar so often associated with waterfalls. It was like Cian had said: peaceful. And though Aoife doubted that anyone, if there really was anyone nearby, would be able to overhear the two of them over the falling water: the woman still kept her voice low and soft. As much as the guard was taunting her, Aoife couldn’t deny that she enjoyed it- he seemed to know exactly which buttons of hers to press to stoke the competitive edge within her. ”I’m sure I can manage,” She told him, quirking a brow upwards as grey eyes found those blues of his once again. ”Question is, will you be able to keep up? How often do Kingsguard find themselves up in the mountains?” v Okay, granted, Cian DeGraff probably had more mountaineering experience than the mystic, Aoife liked her chances better in the forests of Teronna: but that didn’t stop her from mirroring that teasing tone in his voice. ”We don’t have to wait for it to get warmer- we can keep each other warm.” That, and they mystic didn’t want to wait. It might have been foolish, more so because she was letting it happen, but she found peace in the company of Cian DeGraff- and she wanted to keep feeling that. Aoife knew he felt the same, even if the guard hadn’t told her so- she would have suspected it. A few days away, a few days exploring this might just help them both figure out just what it was that was transpiring between them- find out just what it was about them that felt as though this was right, that was natural despite all the evidence to the opposite.
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Lunari
28
Complicated
Warden Centurion/Guard Elite
Tier 1 Character
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Post by Cian DeGraff on Mar 21, 2021 12:40:43 GMT -5
Her curiosity over the volcanoes kept the gentle smile on his face. It really did sound fascinating, despite his silent reservations, and he couldn't help but wonder where one might find an actual volcano. Were it in his power to bring her to one, he probably would. It was slowly but surely becoming evident to him that he wanted nothing but to keep that smile on her own face, whether that was bringing her to some place like this, somehow finding a lake of fire, or making a fool of himself. "Hmm, warm," he murmured more to himself, his arm wrapping around her a little more securely. Winter was certainly drifting away, finally, but there was still a chill in the air, especially when you stood behind cool waters. At least the sun was beginning to warm things up a bit.
The mirth over their whispered conspiracy glinted into those bright eyes. It was silly, honestly, but Cian wasn't about to take the chance...even if there really was no chance of them being overheard. Simply kissing her in the stables had been a risk he didn't think he would ever take, and he had to remind himself that it would be a lot safer if he didn't try to do that again. Of course, all of this was easier said than done. That need to feel her lips again was still there, refusing to go away, and he was very aware that he didn't have to be that cautious of wandering eyes out here.
'I'm sure I can manage.' "Yeah?" His brow rose up in mock surprise. Mouth twisted slowly into a wry grin as she continued talking, easily slipping into their usual, taunting banter. While she questioned his outdoor experience, he was busy turning them ever so slowly, urging her back towards the rocks where she would find herself wedged between the wall and guardsman. His eyes had squinted in amusement, as if he was trying not to blatantly express the humor he found in this.
'We can keep each other warm.' Oh, any man might hone in on that phrase in particular, and it appeared as though he was while his head dipped, lips just an inch from her own. A hand planted against the stone beside her head as heavy-lidded blues studied her face for a moment. "It will be you that grows weary first, my lady, I assure you," he practically whispered. The grin was beginning to crack across his face from the double meaning before the challenge returned. "You'd be surprised what this guard can do. Guarantee I can track even you down from miles away up here in the mountains." That would mean he'd have to be willing to let her out of his sight first, and currently, he wasn't budging.
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Pyxis
27
Increasingly complicated
Ex-soldier
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Post by Aoife Lee Frye on Mar 21, 2021 14:45:26 GMT -5
She felt a little foolish for getting so excited over something she would never see- but her verbal daydreaming had kept a smile on the guard’s face. And wasn’t that what she had promised him? That she would play the fool if it kept that grin upon his lips? Still, it was difficult not to get carried away thinking about something so wonderful, so awe-inspiring. Just like this place. Natural magic. ”Hmm?” She hummed lightly as Cian seemed to speak to himself. Aoife had been prepared for the chill in the air- dressed in that hooded fur coat she had been so fond of lately. Still, she leaned into his embrace as though she needed his warmth.
It wasn’t so long ago that Aoife would have fought tooth and nail to avoid being put in any position such as this- back to the wall, cornered. And here she was: allowing the man to guide her backwards, letting him press her against the wall, permitting him to make her vulnerable. And all the while, the mystic had a smile on her lips. Foolish. Decades of being told to never trust a DeGraff, to never be caught with her back against the wall: undone in the space of a few steps, in the span of a few seconds. All the while, Aoife didn’t allow her eyes to leave the guardsman’s face. Remarking that wry grin, the way his brow lifted in surprise, how his eyes narrowed… she drank it all in and felt her heart skip with every new detail she noticed. ”Yeah.” She echoed in confirmation- feeling the damp cold of the stones at her back even through her coat. The mystic looked at him with fire behind her eyes. Somehow, Cian DeGraff had almost turned a peaceful escape into a challenge: and it was one she was rising to a little too easily.
Even though his voice was hushed, little above a whisper, Aoife could feel the guardsman’s breath against her skin. Here, like this- Aoife felt the adrenaline begin to burn like liquid fire through her veins. It was a thrill, stronger still than the thrill she had felt during that spar in the rain… it was a strange power Cian DeGraff had over her. Even if Aoife had been in control of it, something told her she would have still surrendered it willingly to the soldier. ”Hmm?” Humming again, grey orbs darted upwards, they had lingered perhaps a little too long upon his lips. ”We’ll see about that.” Aoife murmured, leaning forward just a fraction- until their lips were separated by a hair’s breadth at most. ”Though- I think I’d like to see you try.” Not to track her through the mountains- that would mean she was up there alone, without him, even if it was only for a little while until he eventually found her. ”To surprise me, that is.” She clarified, closing that last little bit of distance between their lips- hands finding the fabric of his shirt to pull the guardsman closer.
This time, away from the stables and away from the rest of the world- Aoife was less tentative, lips parting as instinct overwhelmed the very last dregs of rational thought left her.
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Lunari
28
Complicated
Warden Centurion/Guard Elite
Tier 1 Character
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Post by Cian DeGraff on Mar 23, 2021 11:28:32 GMT -5
Dreams, even small or ones considered silly, were good to have. Cian couldn’t remember the last one he had. His life was filled with nothing but goals he was beginning to think were unreachable, too dangerous. He wanted vengeance, he wanted to find the Mystic camp, he wanted to do these unthinkable things that he shouldn’t. When had he allowed this war to completely take over his life?
Yet, it didn’t entirely, did it? As a matter of fact, he was forgetting all of his other foolish ideas and only concentrating on one- the lovely woman before him. He didn’t necessarily think it was a bad idea (well, to an extent, though he was alright with this one), but anyone else he knew would possibly have other things to say about it. All Cian wanted to do was spend as much of the day with her as possible, even if it was walking in silence. She eased his worries, helped him forget what he was supposed to do, what he would risk doing, and just helped make him feel normal. Aoife kept him grounded, and that seemed like such a difficult thing for this DeGraff to accomplish these days.
She allowed him to press her against that stone wall, dropping her guard, letting herself be vulnerable, and it did the same to him in return. Cian wasn’t overthinking anymore, he was just being naturally spontaneous, acting comfortable around her, and reverting back to his normal self. She made him feel vulnerable, even if it appeared as though he was the hunter cornering his prey. Aoife was drawing him in whether she realized it or not, and he didn’t seem to mind. It was this beautiful and strange kind of pull, and he was happily slipping further and further down into it without an end in sight.
Cian froze, his breath caught in his throat when she leaned in even closer; his heart thundering within his chest. The guardsman was suddenly remembering what it was like to struggle with control because she was testing his resolve even more now, and it was difficult not to like it. She was suddenly, somehow, making everything so chaotic and yet so still at the same time- like he was surrounded by a raging storm but stood in the only ray of sunlight that pierced through the clouds.
That was going to get him into trouble. More than he already was.
With her fingers curling into his shirt, Aoife was kissing a grinning mouth while he gently crushed her between him and the stone just a little more. It wasn’t long before even the falling waters behind him became nothing but white noise, and he simply forgot everything else. He heard nothing but his own pounding heart in his ears, desperately seeking her own as whatever timidness he may have had back at the stables completely diminished.
The kiss deepened. It was gentle and yet drugging before the last ounce of common sense was gone. It was just the two of them out here, no judgment but their own, and it made him crave her all the more. He was forgetting all logic, forgetting the problems that might arise from this sudden attachment to a Lee Frye.
'They cannot be trusted.'
Then why was he so easily and willingly handing his trust over to her?
Mouth slanted harder against her own in want, in defiance against everything he was "supposed to know", against everything he shouldn’t do. All he had been told was ignored as his hand cupped the side of her face until fingers filtered into that dark hair, cradling the back of her head like he couldn't be close enough. Even if this moment only lasted a few seconds more, he felt blissfully complete. He couldn’t recall the last time he ever felt this way.
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Pyxis
27
Increasingly complicated
Ex-soldier
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Post by Aoife Lee Frye on Mar 23, 2021 16:43:49 GMT -5
Aoife hadn’t dreamed in months. She had more than her fair share of nightmares. The nights were she laid paralysed in her bed, watching things that had been and that might have been- and all the while being paralysed to intervene, powerless to stop it. Some nights, it was as though she was there- blood on her hands and the taste of smoke in the air. Those were the nights when she forgot she was dreaming, the nights when she would wake up confused and disorientated- wondering how she had found herself in a bed that smelled like lavender and chamomile when moments ago her lungs had been filled with the cloying-sweet stench of death. Sometimes it was so strong that the mystic didn’t know how she didn’t choke on it.
But if Aoife could dream, this would be what she wanted her dreams to be. The gentle sound of the water crashing over them was softened almost into melody by Cian’s closeness. She couldn’t seem to hear anything other than the pounding of her own heart and the gentle rise and fall of the guardsman’s breath. Both were so quiet, and yet Aoife could hear them clear as day- anchoring her to the moment and anchoring her to him. Though the mystic knew she would never tire of looking at Cian DeGraff, never tire of taking in those blue eyes or charming grin: her eyelids fluttered closed as the kiss deepened.
Fingers did not relinquish their hold, remaining curled into the fabric of his shirt- as though she was frightened the soldier would disappear at any moment. Or that he might come to his senses and realise just how thin the ice on which they were walking truly was. The sensible thing to do would be to walk away. Leave this before it was too late. Before they crossed a line and couldn’t hope to go back.
Sensible didn’t mean easy.
Cian’s fingers were snaking into her hair, holding her close just as she held him, and Aoife didn’t want to walk away. Not now, not ever. There had been so few moments in her life like this. Moments where rational thoughts fled and worries with them. The guardsman had a funny way of doing that, of making her forget without even trying. Lips parted, drawing him in deeper, wanting more. Aoife had never known when to walk away.
And slowly, the fear that this wasn’t real, the fear that Cian may disappear faded away. When they did break apart, Aoife didn’t move to put space between them: she was content to stay that way as long as he wanted. She would have been happier still if the last few moments had stretched out for an eternity. Eyes remained closed for a few moments more, lids heavy when they finally did open again. It took even longer for her fingers to uncurl from his shirt- releasing the soldier if he did want to step back. A contented sigh fell from her lips then: yes, this would definitely be the kind of thing she would like to dream about.
Whilst the mystic was often jolted from her nightmares, waking quickly and violently: she came around from this waking dream gently. Gradually, her senses returned to her. Slower still, sensible thought once again returned. It might have been safe, up here and away from it all- but that didn’t mean Lee Fryes and DeGraffs, the war, their lives, weren’t all still waiting for them when they returned to Ethion. Grey eyes opened and closed, as though blinking away the last remnants of sleep. ”We-I-” The mystic began, words failing her once again.
As if something as simple as words could describe how she felt right now.
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Lunari
28
Complicated
Warden Centurion/Guard Elite
Tier 1 Character
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Post by Cian DeGraff on Mar 24, 2021 21:15:55 GMT -5
If Aoife wasn't careful, he may never let her go.
The fact that she had instigated the kiss this time sent fire through his veins. Her very presence made everything else in the world completely dissipate around him. Nothing else mattered as he felt her lips against his, held her close as though he feared she too might disappear if he let up even for a moment. Cian could question how this had come to pass, how he allowed a Lee Frye to break down the barriers of everything he had been taught, but he would simply go around in circles over and over again.
The point was, he didn't care. There was something stirring inside him that he didn't completely understand but was willing to figure out. All he knew was that he didn't want this- whatever this was and could be- to end, especially when they had only gotten a taste of it. He would gladly walk that thin ice if it always brought him back to her.
When their kiss broke, he didn't move. Even as she released her hold and kept her eyes closed, Cian still lingered there as half-opened eyes watched her in silence. His thumb brushed across her cheekbone and he leaned his forehead gently against hers in this moment of quiet contemplation; his mind trying to catch up, his heart still thundering inside his chest. Sensible thoughts would surely begin to claw their way back into his head soon enough, but at the moment, everything that was supposedly not right about any of this only made him happy to be wrong. Cian just wanted to be hers, even if only for a few seconds longer.
That grin crept back onto his face, listening to her attempt to find words. A gentle sigh, he pressed a kiss against her temple as his hand slid down to find hers again. Entwining their fingers, he quietly led them further behind the falls if she was willing, following the rocky path before it eventually opened up on the other side. From there, it was an easy walk up a short path to the top of the waterfall where the sun was bright and warm, and Ethion was right there in the distance. Cian settled against one of the larger, dry boulders, figuring she would let him know when she would have to leave. He had less of a strict time limit at the moment.
"Somehow-" he broke the silence as he looked to the city in the distance. "It's far enough away, yet it still feels looming and suffocating." Back home, there wasn't freedom. Not with family and not in this society, it seemed. He hadn't meant to say that out loud, but thin ice- no, he wouldn't care how thin. "It already makes me wonder when I might see you again." For their secret trip or otherwise. And they hadn't even parted ways yet. His forced smile was at his own slight embarrassment, considering how much of that vulnerability he was already beginning to show.
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Pyxis
27
Increasingly complicated
Ex-soldier
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Post by Aoife Lee Frye on Mar 25, 2021 15:49:56 GMT -5
He was grinning again, and suddenly Aoife didn’t quite feel as though she needed the words she had been grasping for. Cian knew. He knew how she felt. And the gentle kiss he pressed to her temple reassured her more than words ever could, and more than the guardsman would probably ever know. She echoed his sigh. She was content. She was happy. And still her heart was fluttering, the mystic wondered if she would ever quite get used to that. If she would ever be able to look at Cian DeGraff without her heart skipping a beat or two, even then- it was a small price to pay for the happiness he brought so effortlessly to her.
Fingers intertwined, Aoife let him lead her further behind the falls. As breath-taking as the sight was- even now the rainbows had passed and had been replaced with a gentle bluish dapple- the mystic couldn’t draw her eyes from him. She watched the way the light danced across his features, casting his entire face in the same wondrous blue of his eyes. If Cian turned to take her in, to check she was following despite the feel of her hand in his, she would manage to meet his eyes this time: though a somewhat sheepish grin would take hold of her lips.
The walk was short, and it was only a matter of minutes before the two of them had made their way to the space at the top of the waterfall. Whilst the little grove had been cool, the air refreshing after the climb- this was bright and warm, as though it had trapped all the heat of the spring sun and magnified it several times over. The guardsman’s hand left hers as he settled- and suddenly, Aoife didn’t quite know what to do with it. So, somewhat awkwardly, she reached out to touch one of the boulders. Even through the thin calf-skin of her gloves, the mystic could feel the heat radiating from the stone: a stark contrast to the cold rocks a few metres below them. Slowly, she pulled her hand away and turned to take in the sights- Cian’s words directing her gaze to the city which seemed all too far away. Through the smoke she could just about make out the castle and the steeples of the churches of the new religion, but the rest was a blur- lost in the smog of hundreds of hearths.
He was right.
It was suffocating. Light steps brought the mystic back to him without a word, settling next to the soldier- her back once again to the rock, welcoming its warmth. ”I’ll never be far away.” She pointed out, no doubt their paths would cross at some point or other. Taking the guardsman’s hand once again, Aoife idly toyed with his fingers- eyes flitting down to study Cian’s hands, memorising every detail she could. Even if they never would be far apart in Ethion, the mystic didn’t know when they’d be permitted to be this close again. ”It shouldn’t be too long, I’ll think of an excuse, we’ll get away.” Even as she spoke the words, even with the resolve she injected into them, it sounded as though it was a dream or a fantasy rather than something that really was on the cards. ”Besides,” The grin was back, or at least a shadow of one, grey eyes crinkling in amusement. ”it might take me a few days to come up with an excuse to get away for a few days, but I’m sure I can find an excuse to run into you.” They had sparred before without raising any eyebrows, and Aoife’s presence at the barracks was rarely (if ever) questioned. They would find a way. She was sure of it.
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Lunari
28
Complicated
Warden Centurion/Guard Elite
Tier 1 Character
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Post by Cian DeGraff on Mar 25, 2021 18:42:47 GMT -5
He knew. He had known even when he was lost and confused after their spar. It was that feeling deep down, that connection he couldn't ignore that just told him there was something there. It had just been so sudden for him, leaving him speechless, nearly gasping for air under the weight of it. He had been blinded by that ring, and it nearly forced him away out of respect for her, and from the embarrassment. He almost let all of this slip right through his fingers.
Now, however, he was holding tightly to her hand, glancing over to catch a glimpse of her face and the sheepish grin. At that moment, it was very clear to him that writing that letter had been one of the best things he'd ever done. To some people, it might not have seemed like a big deal, but he'd taken the risk on so many levels.
Cian might have voiced that, but even he knew just how sappy the thought even was.
Resting against the stone, feeling its warmth after being in that cool cave for a short while was welcoming. It still didn't beat the feeling of her reaching for his hand again. 'I'll never be far away,' she had said. That seemed to be a comfort he hadn't realized he needed. With everything around them seeming to steadily get worse because of this war, her presence (whether near or far) managed to put him at ease, keeping him grounded and steady.
Leaning his head back against the stone as he lounged there, he turned his gaze to find her as she played with his fingers. Was it wrong to like the secrecy? Was it so terrible to like the idea of catching her eyes across a crowded room, sharing a smile here and there, stealing away for even a moment just to taste her lips? It was both exhilarating and sad, but they'd make the most of it. They already were.
'-but I'm sure I can find an excuse to run into you.' Suddenly, his smile became a little smug, and Aoife might be able to guess the gentle teasing was about to return. "Well, I mean...you do owe me a rematch. And perhaps you could win the next one." Cian paused as if to heavily contemplate this, turning his attention towards the sky. "Maybe."
If only he really was as conceited as was currently sounding. The woman truly had been a worthy opponent that day...it was only towards the end that things had shifted, when he felt himself relenting a little bit in order to make sure she didn't get hurt. Injuries, big and small, came with the territory of being in any part of the military, of course, and it had just been a reflex on his part. He recalled how he tried to lightly urge her back in to the service, but now? Was it wrong of him to want to keep her out of it, no matter how capable he thought she was?
He needed her to remain safe.
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Pyxis
27
Increasingly complicated
Ex-soldier
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Post by Aoife Lee Frye on Mar 26, 2021 8:09:31 GMT -5
Whilst Cian might have been liking the secrecy of all this somewhat- the adrenaline of it all. Aoife couldn’t quite match the feeling if she wanted to. There was that element, the thrill of knowing that they shared something that was and is completely theirs. Something that the mystic didn’t doubt, this connection between them. The way all Cian DeGraff had to do was grin and she just lost control of her own heartbeat. The mystic knew that the moment someone else learned of this- be it another DeGraff or another Lee Frye- their doubt would seep into her mind and she would start to question it. And those questions would taint what they had: taint this bittersweet perfect moment and the others that she hoped would follow. Aoife just didn’t want to risk ruining this. Her brothers would be logical, just had she had been logical with Ciaran. Distance brought perspective, they would be able to see clearly where she could not. Whilst Cian’s cousin had been okay with them, not bothered by the feud or the history between their two families: Aoife very much doubted that her brother would share the sentiment. They would remind her just why this was a terrible idea- of everything that could go wrong.
But it was far too late for that. Logic had left her that day in the rain.
Speaking of that day in the rain… ”I suppose I do.” Aoife said, pretending to think it over. She did owe him a rematch- and this time the mystic hoped he wouldn't hold back. It had been close. There had been more than one moment in which Aoife thought she would come out on top- but no, instead she ended up on her back, in the mud, with the guardsman’s fingers in her hair. And she had panicked. Bolting from him like a startled deer. She wouldn’t make that mistake again. ”Though- no holding back this time? Alright?” Despite the grin on her lips, Aoife was at least attempting to sound stern. He didn’t need to hold back, and what’s more, she didn’t want him to. Now, then, or ever. ”If I go down, not that I will, let me go down.”
Just how she hadn’t told Ciaran about her thoughts, the way rejoining had played upon her mind of late, Aoife didn’t voice them now. It would be an excuse to run into the guardsman more often, even though she would be in a different division. But she hadn’t quite figured it out for herself yet, which meant that the mystic wasn’t quite ready to discuss it with anyone else just yet- in case they would try and talk her out of it.
”Is it bad that a part of me just wishes we could stay up here forever?” Aoife said at last, the words escaping in a low murmur. Even if the city was visible, even if the responsibilities were still weighing down on the two of them: the distance was enough to make it all bearable.
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Lunari
28
Complicated
Warden Centurion/Guard Elite
Tier 1 Character
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Post by Cian DeGraff on Mar 26, 2021 11:55:15 GMT -5
Perhaps it was wrong to find a hint of thrill in this secrecy, but he knew if anyone else found out, things could change. He would be lying if he wasn't worried about what his parents would say, regardless of how vague their answers were in mention to this feud. There was just this deep rooted hatred between the families and he could never really get behind it. And he definitely couldn't now. Despite the brief, confusing setback at the barracks, Aoife Lee Frye had done nothing to warrant any distrust from him, even when she had been brutally honest. Cian had opened up to her, told her things he never expected to. If that wasn't trust- and the very fact he lounged there with her hand in his- he didn't know what was.
This secrecy had to remain, but for how long? When would it become overbearing and too much? That is, if he didn't manage to tire her before then.
'Though- no holding back this time? Alright?'
Bright eyes blinked, her words breaking him from these previous thoughts to drop his attention back down to her. The faint grin on his face was a bit sheepish now. "I didn't hold back even then," he told her, pausing briefly to recall how their spar had ended. His lips twitched in mild amusement. "Okay, at the end- the very end...maybe..." Cian drew to another pause when his gaze dropped to their hands, his thumb running across her gloved knuckles in thought. "To be honest, I don't know why I did that. It was just this...instinct that kicked in." The wrong instinct for a spar, of course. By the way his face lightly cringed, he knew it shouldn't have been much of an excuse. He wouldn't have done that during an actual fight, so why had he done it then?
Perhaps, deep down, a part of him had known of those growing feelings, and it just, for lack of a better explanation, happened. But she was asking him not to again, and so he wouldn't. Or, at the very least, he would try.
'If I go down, not that I will, let me go down.'
Cian's face sobered when those blues rose up to find greys. The guardsman knew she meant during practice, a fight between comrades, but there was a brief second where his mind wandered elsewhere, to something potentially dangerous and worrisome. He didn't voice it and it only lasted a moment before he forced a wry smirk onto his mouth. "If that's how you wish to lose...so be it."
When she spoke of just staying up here, he wished it could be so. Everything was just so quiet and felt simpler here, away from it all. "Well, why couldn't we?" he spoke up quietly. No, he wasn't being completely serious, yet it would be fun to pretend, if anything.
Cian pushed off from the rock, drawing her in front of him if she allowed as he only took a couple steps closer to the waterfall's edge, still staying on dry stone. Curling his fingers around her own, he lifted her arm up to point in a random direction below the falls, towards a flat area of land amid some trees. "Could build some rickety shack right there. I don't know how to build a shelter, so I sure hope you do," the soldier said, amused at the prospect. "We already have fresh running water right here, we could hunt, hide away from the rest of the world..." It wasn't logical or really possible. They'd have to go further into the mountains to be free of anything, and that was still a rather big if. Still, just joking about it at least eased some of the tension he felt, although his tone had gotten a little sad about it towards the end.
He fell silent then, his arm snaking across her waist to hold her close. "I know that this- whatever we're calling it- is strange and uncertain..." Trailing off, he held himself back from sighing; his face dropping to murmur against her shoulder. "But I'm all in if you are." Whatever the risks.
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Pyxis
27
Increasingly complicated
Ex-soldier
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Post by Aoife Lee Frye on Mar 26, 2021 14:11:10 GMT -5
Aoife didn’t know how long they would be able to keep this up. The sneaking around, sneaking away. They were probably already running on borrowed time as it was. All it would take was one misplaced word, one momentary lapse, one servant to see them and talk. At court there were eyes and ears everywhere- it was impossible to keep a secret such as this. Not only that, but blind luck was always a risk as well: Aoife had practically stumbled upon Ciaran’s secret, and if the King of Secrets could be caught out by pure happenstance… so could they. It was all so fragile, so delicate.
But she didn’t want to think on that now, to think on things ending when they had only just begun. With the sun on her skin and their fingers entwined: the mystic was happy, so why couldn’t they stay that way for a little while longer?
’I didn't hold back even then’ Aoife raised a brow at that, her lips parted, as though she was about to speak, to disagree. But the guardsman beat her to it. ’at the end- the very end...maybe…’ She had to laugh at that: if cushioning her fall, taking the weight of it all, protecting her hadn’t been holding back… then the mystic didn’t know what was. ”Hmmm.” Humming, Aoife kept her gaze upon his features as his eyes fell downwards- taking in their entwined fingers once again- ”In a real fight that instinct would have gotten you killed.” Speaking softly, Aoife found her mind wandering down a path on which she wasn’t wanting to stray. His duties were dangerous, even now as a guard Cian wasn’t safe from the Unseelie. They’d both watched, near helpless, as his brother had been injured- it could just as easily have been Cian rather than Dunstan DeGraff in the dirt that day.
The further down that path she went, the higher the walls around her seemed to rise. Aoife didn’t think she would survive letting someone in only to lose them so quickly. It was too late though, Cian had long since found a way past her walls… straying dangerously close to what was left of a once-broken heart.
His eyes rose to meet hers. And for a moment, Aoife wondered if he had read her mind; for she saw the same sober expression she wore reflected back at her upon his features. For a moment at least, before the soldier was forcing a wry smirk upon his lips and she adopted a forged grimace. ”If I lose.” The mystic corrected, gently jabbing a finger into his shoulder with each word. ”I told you, I know your tricks this time around- I won’t lose.” In truth, it would have probably been a coin toss once again as to who would win in their rematch- they were evenly matched enough, and this time there would be no holding back.
Cornered. Led willingly to the edge of a precipice. It seemed as though Aoife Lee Frye really hadn’t internalised the message of ‘never trust a DeGraff’.
They were so close to the edge. One misstep and they would be soaked; two and they would be falling through the sky. And yet, Aoife trusted him so completely that the thought didn’t even cross her mind- instead she found herself wrapped up in this fantasy life he was describing for the two of them. It was a pretty little dream. A life up in the mountains, just the two of them. Away from all the weight and responsibilities. But it was just that, a dream. ”We could climb up here every morning, watch the sun set over the city…” Musing, Aoife leaned back into the embrace- joining the man in this fantasy he was weaving. ”... I could pull some kind of shelter together…” It couldn’t be that different from a blanket fort right? She vaguely remembered Eoghann teaching her how to survive in the woods. ”... you would have to cook though, unless you’re happy with roasted squirrels every night…” The more the mystic spoke, the clearer she could see it. Caelfall wouldn’t be too far away, if they ever needed anything they couldn’t forage or hunt. As much as she could imagine it all, it didn’t make it any less impossible. All it would take was a little of her aunt’s magic, and Aoife would be dragged home by the ear within a day or two. Besides, she would miss her family- as she knew Cian would. She had seen the look on his face at the party, seen the way he fought to get to his brother. That kind of bond was worth far more than a daydream- however pretty.
Idly, she rested her free hand upon his arm- eyes still focused on the little clearing and the imaginary life they had built there. ’But I'm all in if you are.’ Cian would feel her straighten a little in his arms as the weight of his words reached her. All in. They didn’t even know what that would entail. What risks they were running… And yet, she didn’t doubt that this would be worth it. Whatever the risks. ”All in.” The mystic echoed, softening once again in his arms. ”I want this,” Turning to face him without breaking the embrace, Aoife brought her hand to his cheek- guiding the soldier’s gaze to her. ”I want you.”
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