Νεφελίμ

"She walks in beauty, like the night. Of cloudless climbs and stary skies; And all that’s best of dark and bright, Meet in her aspect and her eyes; Thus mellowed to that tender light, Which Heaven to gaudy day denies.”

He stepped forth from the darkness, red rose offered from a white gloved hand towards the angel in his living Hell.

She had been sitting in her chaise with a chalice of wine in her hand. Dim candlelight lit the room, his voice one she knew with strong familiarity. A smile slowly made its way upon pink lips and she takes the rose in her hand. She was quiet, for her expression spoke a thousand words given how she felt.

"Aye, it does." He fell into silence for a moment, as she took his hands. They were so gentle, so warm that for a moment he forgot his train of thought. It did feel like another lifetime, even now peace was really only just returning to the people. “Have you been well? How was your journey?”

   "Aye, I have to be well in order to care for my lady." She smiles, her thumb gently strokes the knuckles of his hand. "I don't wish to speak of my journey, I want to speak of you."

The kiss was returned with equal eagerness, and was quite disappointed to see it end. “I.. am happy to see you.” He whispered softly, hands falling from her neck, to his own lap.

   "As am I." She smiles, her eyes trail to his fallen hands and she brings them back into her own. Holding them as she feels she's been too long without his company. "It almost feels as if it's been forever, no?"

He could not deny the way his heart sped up just slightly at the sight of her, how he found warmth in her mere presence. He took the trinket out of his pocket, and took a seat next to her on the bed, before he brushed her hair aside, and placed it about her neck. “Just as I said I would.”

   When he places her necklace back upon her neck, she smiles. She turns and she kisses him. Lips touching to his and in it evident of how much she had missed him. "Thank you."

{ oxranios }

"I believe I have something that belongs to you."

   She'd still been re-adjusting to being home. A quiet moment, no duties to tend to, she's reading while laying in her bed. A few candles lit to light the room. When she hears that familiar voice, it takes everything in her to not just make a running jump. "And here you return it to it's rightful owner."

The horseman cometh

                                                   I / II / III / IV ( Image credit )

             ❛ ————— just focus on what you have to do.                    no matter what happens; we’ll deal with it. we have to.

"…They won’t singe off like they have been upon Ruin,  yet I doubt you can reach up high enough to get near the top of my head.” 

   "If you were to be seated in a chair I could."

" Ruin has a temper even shorter than mine, he’s a proud beast.  Adorning his mane with flowers isn’t going to make him like you anymore, Divine.” 

   "So is that your way of saying I should adorn your mane with flowers?"

" Your persistence is refreshing, but futile.  You’re just delaying the inevitable with your ongoings.” 

   "At least I'm trying. That's at least got to count for something, right?"

Lysander was very slowly coming to the realization that this might very well be the last time he was to see her — war was unpredictable, and regardless of his skill there was no real telling what could happen. And as such an epiphany came to him,  he placed his fingers under her chin, leaned close and kissed the maiden, tenderly (albeit though a little desperately). He allowed it to linger as long as he could, before he pulled away with a soft sigh. “Aye, we will.”

   His kiss hadn't been unexpected because she knew that she craved it as much as he. She could feel it in his lips. The want, the longing, the desperation to hold onto this moment and pray they not forget it for if they aren't to see each other once more. She wants to commit it to memory. How soft the warrior's lips touch to the maiden's. She wishes it to last a little longer, but is grateful for knowing his kiss at all. She can't say anything, she won't say goodbye.

Soft, hazel eyes watched her as she unclasped the trinket, before those delicate hands were placing it into his own. He was baffled, for a moment — unsure what to say to such an endearing act.  “You… wish for me to keep it?” It was a beautiful thing, and an overwhelming sentiment. He was surprised, but he would do all in his power to keep it from being damaged in the war ahead.

"I will make sure it is safe — and I will keep it here, next to my heart.”

   She kept her hands in his own, teeth grazed her lower lip and she couldn't help but to smile. A hand raised to cup his cheek, thumb brushing over the apple of his cheek as she nodded. "----thank you."  She would say a prayer each and every night from here on out for his safe passage every day in this war. To keep him safe, to keep him alive. "I will see you again."

         ”Xenos. Hmm. I like that, yeah.”

   "I am pleased, you may call me Ileana, good ser."

   ”Why is it, when people look different, all social rules and norms go out the window?”

   "Because people fear what they don't understand; what they aren't familiar to know."