inherit
10
0
Jan 17, 2019 22:10:26 GMT
4
blacknoise
I don't have kik.
273
Aug 14, 2015 15:19:56 GMT
August 2015
blacknoise
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Post by blacknoise on May 7, 2016 4:21:43 GMT
Hours ago, the dark haired faun impatiently tapped his hoofed foot as his sole current employee slowly poured a shot of whiskey into a glass for him. More than just the business had died down at the Horse's Head Pub, with the death of Aleksandria many of the regulars simply disappeared. Eoin always knew she was running some sort of less than legal business in the back of the bar, but he trusted the woman with more than just his life, he trusted her to be doing the right thing. With the abandonment of over half the regulars to the pub, Eoin could only imagine how exceedingly large her organization had been.
But with the death of Alek came the death of her syndicate, and the men and women who put their trust in her had dispersed like the four winds. Eoin confided in no one his emotions after Alek died, he took over the Pub without a second thought and ran business as normal, even keeping up some back door card games that Alek liked to host, despite the lack of regulars. Valiya came to him, momentarily, a few days after Alek's death. The two sat together for hours, Valiya signing and crying and jumbling her fingers together as she described how much Alek meant to her, and how much she regretted never being able to return Alek's feelings. It wasn't your fault, Eoin told her, but he didn't think she heard it.
Valiya disappeared after that, and Eoin once again took another loss in stride, not showing the hurt that his surviving friend from the 'good old days' abandoned him too.
He had decided that he would talk to Loretta, that would help him clear his head, voice his emotions. Perhaps putting finger to his grief would be good, help him move past it. The day he planned on talking to Loretta, he was disappointed to find out she was absent from work that day. The next day possessed the same result, as did the next. Eoin told Ari that he planned to go find out what was up with her, Ari pleaded with him to leave her be, explaining another pain that he was unaware of.
Loretta's little brother had died.
Loretta didn't come in that week, or the next. Reaching for his shot, he had downed it with ease and slammed the glass on the counter, cracking the thick cup. Releasing his unconscious death grip, he apologized to Ari. The kind girl looked at him with understanding and spoke in that thick accent Aleksandria always found endearing,
"Let's close the pub today, ther's someone ye need to go talk to."
Now, Eoin found himself standing outside the Authern Homestead, the sounds of the birds chirping and bees buzzing happily seemed to mock him. The world was losing so much happiness, but life went on without them. Lighting up his pipe, he lost track of the time he stood against the side of the front door, smoking. He couldn't bring himself to even knock, feeling guilty that, although part of him did want to burst in and comfort the family for their loss, another part wanted to curl up in a ball and die.
"This is why I don't get close to people."
He muttered, alone.
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#ea7ca1
5
0
1
Jan 27, 2019 20:04:50 GMT
3
Leb
The loneliest are the kindest. The saddest smile the brightest. The most damaged are the wisest.
223
August 2015
leb
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Post by Leb on May 7, 2016 6:03:27 GMT
The days had merged together and left the Authern household when Elanor brought news of young Harris. At first they couldn't, they didn't want to believe it, but Harris was returned to them wrapped in bloodied cloth that day, and so they mourned. The boy was buried beside the tree closest to their home. A circle of stones marked his grave. The Authern home had fallen quiet. Harold worked away the morning and was rarely seen by his own family except for supper time. Eleanor comforted him and her daughters the best she could all while coping inside. She insists the girls to stay strong, to keep their head high because Harris would want them too. Lia understood what death meant already but it never really stuck with her. She always thought Harris would come back and would ask her mother if he'd come back yet. Elanor had it rough as she saw what had happened. The scene forever imprinted in her mind. She still remembered the day and had nightmarish dreams of it too. Dreams so intense that Loretta shared beds with her in the night to keep her from wailing. And Loretta... no matter how many times they had told her it wasn’t her fault, she still felt the blame. It shouldn't have been Harris. It shouldn't have been him. Loretta was supposed to accompany Elanor, not Harris. If only she hadn't gone after Cassarus into the forests and stayed behind. If only she had given up searching sooner. If only she hadn’t met those strangers. If only she left them at the road. If only-
"It wasn't your fault Lorr.."
Loretta snapped back from the dream-like trance she had been held in for the past hour. The once lively Loretta looked up from her lap and into equally tired eyes of Elanor. An embrace was shared between the two along with half-hearted smiles. At the very least they had each other to lean on.
"I think.. I'll go and see him again." She spoke softly. Her voice had become hoarse after the amount of wails and tears shed that speaking above a whisper pained her raw throat. But it had gotten better over the past few days once she had cried herself dry. Elanor held her close and rubbed her back the gesture itself needed no words, Loretta knew what she meant.
As Loretta stepped out donned in simple garb, she stopped mid-step when she saw something out of place from the corner of her eye. Slowly she turned and to her shock it was Eoin. She had been so disconnected from the world that she nearly forgot the people that shared it too.
"Eoin.." the minute she spoke his name, fresh tears had burst forth and flowed down her reddening cheeks. In the time spent away mourning, she had forgotten about the others, her friends and their loss too. "..I'm sorry, I should have told you sooner I-" her throat began to hurt again and she was reduced to choked sobs and tears.
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inherit
10
0
Jan 17, 2019 22:10:26 GMT
4
blacknoise
I don't have kik.
273
Aug 14, 2015 15:19:56 GMT
August 2015
blacknoise
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Post by blacknoise on May 7, 2016 18:27:59 GMT
Surprised though he was to see Loretta, Eoin did not show it on his face. Watching her devolve into a mess of crying and failed attempts to keep in her emotions, Eoin simply sighed. Tapping his pipe out against the house, emptying its contents on the ground and stamping them out, Eoin freed his hands and put his pipe back into the pocket of his vest. Stepping forward, he placed one hand on the back of Loretta's head and reached the other around her shoulders.
Drawing her close to his fuzzy chest, he embraced her quietly and gently. Caressing her head and petting her hair, he spoke slowly and in low tones. His voice barely rose above a whisper, due to his own fear that if he spoke too loud, the faun might cry as well.
"I've lost everyone, everyone I've ever tried to get close to. I can't take this anymore, I can't lose you too. I'm so selfish, and I'm so sorry. I'm sorry."
The smallest of chokes escaped Eoin as he finished speaking, a single rogue tear escaping his watery eyes. Hugging her tighter for a moment, he released the poor girl before he squeezed the life out of her. Sighing and rubbing his head and eyes, he withdrew his pipe once more and spoke.
"Let's take a walk, there's something I want to show you."
Reaching for Loretta's hand, if she'd let him, he made as to lead her into the forest.
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#ea7ca1
5
0
1
Jan 27, 2019 20:04:50 GMT
3
Leb
The loneliest are the kindest. The saddest smile the brightest. The most damaged are the wisest.
223
August 2015
leb
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Post by Leb on May 7, 2016 19:28:40 GMT
She didn't see him move closer but felt a comfortable warmth wrap around her. Her skin tickled against the fuzz though she didn't mind it. It was soothing in a way. As she was held, Loretta's hands would move from between them and just around Eoin, holding him closer. The action seemed to cause for a tighter embrace.
Her sobbing had stopped, but there was still the occasional shake from a hiccup. She didn't want to let go and Eoin was petting her hair and rubbing her head, it felt nice. Feeling him speak felt nice too, the deep vibrations was soothing but what he was saying wasn't exactly what she thought he would say.
"I've lost everyone, everyone I've ever tried to get close to. I can't take this anymore, I can't lose you too. I'm so selfish, and I'm so sorry. I'm sorry."
Loretta stared up at him with worried eyes, no longer holding him. She reached up for him, her palms against his cheeks, her thumb stroked away the lone tear. For a moment, he must've held her with all his strength and then he let her go. As he sighed and composed himself, Loretta let her hands fall back to her side. He then took out his pipe again and seemed more or less himself.
"Let's take a walk, there's something I want to show you."
At first, she glanced over to her brother's grave but then she felt Eoin's hand in hers. She would visit him on her way back home of course. And so she followed after Eoin, their hands still holding each other and soon fingers entwined. She won't let him go, she promised this to herself.
The two continued their way through the forests, the sun still in the sky let her able to watch her step easily, lest she took a misstep and brought Eoin down with her. The silence shared wasn’t overbearing, in fact it was comfortable. And navigating through the forest made her feel better too. Perhaps it would be okay for her to return to the pub, the people, to Eoin. Maybe she could make it up to him, her brother. Just maybe..
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inherit
10
0
Jan 17, 2019 22:10:26 GMT
4
blacknoise
I don't have kik.
273
Aug 14, 2015 15:19:56 GMT
August 2015
blacknoise
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Post by blacknoise on May 9, 2016 4:30:53 GMT
The sun disappeared behind the great canopy above of sleeping tree branches as Eoin lead Loretta through the forest. For nearly half an hour, the Faun was totally silent. His eyes fixed dead ahead, skillfully leading the gentle woman through the shrubbery and along the natural paths formed by animals. As he walked, hooved feet never tripping nor catching on underlying branched, it would be clear that Eoin had walked this path many times before. He knew every branch, every rock, even old roots long hidden beneath tall grass and the dead fall leaves.
With every step, he was careful, as well, to make sure Loretta never fell down herself. Whether or not she tripped was not something he could predict or fully prevent, but he could make sure she did not fall. It took them quite some time, but they soon arrived at a clearing where a small cave could be seen dug out from the ground. It appeared man made, and all around it draped green vines and blooming willow trees. A breeze caught the air and swept up fallen petals, gently sweeping a few across Loretta and Eoin's feet.
The area was a stark contrast to the sleeping forest the two stood in. Winter was nearing fast, yet this small patch of forest appeared to be gripped in an eternal Spring. Releasing Loretta's hand, Eoin slowly walked over towards the cave's entrance and sat down beside it. He said nothing, he made no motion for Loretta to join him, but he would not make an objection if she chose to move with him. Sighing, he leaned back and prepared to speak.
It seemed like forever, as Eoin held his thought in upon catching a glimpse of a small, mossy stone pillar in the grass not but a few feet away from him. Runes could be clearly seen etched on it, but would be hard to read unless standing close. He tensed his right hand into a fist momentarily, before releasing it and finally speaking. His voice was quiet, as if he wished to not disturb the gentle wind and petals that brushed about their feet.
"This is where my sister died, and this is where I buried my family."
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#ea7ca1
5
0
1
Jan 27, 2019 20:04:50 GMT
3
Leb
The loneliest are the kindest. The saddest smile the brightest. The most damaged are the wisest.
223
August 2015
leb
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Post by Leb on May 9, 2016 7:01:49 GMT
Time had passed when the sun settled beyond the hills and the cool Fall air fell to colder temperatures. The birds’ chatter had quieted, replaced by the chirps of crickets and other harmonic calls of the night. Loretta no longer had the sun to help with her footing and solely relied on Eoin to get through the unseen trail. He had no difficulty getting by and confidently strode through the dark. It was a miracle that Loretta had yet to trip, but whenever she felt like she was about to fall down, her body tensed and her hand would grip Eoin’s enough to reassure herself.
Eventually the two had reached a clearing where a cave of sorts could be seen with green vines and blooming willows- wait. Healthy green colors and blooming willow trees. A warm breeze swept the fallen petals gently about Loretta and Eoin's feet. It was so odd, it seemed to be otherworldly almost. This place was untouched by the outside world forever in its own personal space. An eternal spring.
Eoin had left Loretta’s side and settled down just at the mouth of the cave. For a moment she didn’t necessarily move but she looked to Eoin. She saw him for the first time not like in the sense of actual physical sight, but to truly see him through the front he had lowered then. He looked tired, almost aged even, with eyes that held a hurt deep inside. He sighed as he leaned against the stone, searching for words inside him no doubt. Wordlessly, Loretta sat down beside him and patiently waited for him to speak. There was a pause and he seemed to be staring at something when his hand had balled into a fist momentarily. Loretta placed a hand upon his shoulder in hope to at least provide some comfort before he readied himself.
"This is where my sister died, and this is where I buried my family."
His sister... and his family? The hand she held on his shoulder fell away as her head seemed to lower in apology. She recalled a conversation they had concerning his mother but she didn’t remember any that spoke of a sibling. She also remembered what he told her, about honoring the dead. To honor their memory by living a life they would want for them. A sentiment she had forgotten in her grieving.
“I’m sorry to hear...” she began just as soft as he. “How long has it been?” She was genuinely curious and hadn’t meant anything else by it. And as she waited for his response, she would lean ever so slightly against him. The shared contact was more or less her way to say I’m there for you while taking in comfort that he too was there for her.
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inherit
10
0
Jan 17, 2019 22:10:26 GMT
4
blacknoise
I don't have kik.
273
Aug 14, 2015 15:19:56 GMT
August 2015
blacknoise
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Post by blacknoise on May 9, 2016 19:44:48 GMT
Eoin didn't look deeply depressed, he did not possess the soul crushing appearance of one whose life was so wracked with tragedy that they might fall apart at the slightest touch. Rather, the faun appeared to be simply tired, very tired, and lonely. As Loretta's hand fell from his shoulder and she asked her questions, Eoin simply reached into his vest pocket and withdrew his pipe. For a moment, he was silent as he packed in the pipe and lit it.
As the rough smoke rose, Eoin blew the strangely sweet smelling smoke off to the side as he replied to Loretta.
"A long time, more'n fifty years now. This forest used to be a thriving place, not the vacant lot it is now with nothing more than the rare troll. Then came Sayre and everyone knows that story, only difference is that most people learn'd it from a book, I lived it. I remember it all so clearly, truthfully there's very little I don't remember clearly about my life.
"It still hurts, and I miss them everyday. For the longest time, I couldn't get the nightmares to stop, I thought the only solution was to run and never let anyone get close to me. Humans became like things to me, to be used, enjoyed, then forgotten. Except I don't forget, and I was still crippled with regret with every thing I knew I was doing wrong.
"Unfortunately, it took a couple decades and someone giving me a good thrashing to wake me up from my foolishness. That was Aleksandria. But now she's gone, and all I want to do is run away again. But, that's not going to fix anything. Sayre never faced justice for what he did, he's treated like some sort of fully redeemed god by the history texts. He was a monster, and he never did anything to redeem himself other than saying "I'm sorry."
"Sometimes, the world is unfair, and the people who least deserve getting hurt are the ones who are hurt the most. For their sakes though, we must move on and live in a manner that would make them proud. So once a month or so I come back here to do the stupid druid thing and keep this place looking nice. My sister, she always liked the willow trees when they were in bloom, so I thought it'd be fitting to keep these healthy and blooming forever.
"Silly? In't it?"
Rubbing his eyes, lest he be seen by anyone as possessing real emotions, Eoin tried to cover up the watering beginnings of tears in his eyes. Reaching an arm around Loretta, he added.
"I really am sorry, about your brother. He looked like a good kid, and he didn't deserve that. But maybe he's somewhere, right now, watching you. I hope he knows you'll be alright, and that he'll never be forgotten...
"His name was, Harris, right? I'll remember his name, I don't forget."
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#ea7ca1
5
0
1
Jan 27, 2019 20:04:50 GMT
3
Leb
The loneliest are the kindest. The saddest smile the brightest. The most damaged are the wisest.
223
August 2015
leb
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Post by Leb on May 10, 2016 3:18:00 GMT
More than 50 years he says. Just how old was he? As Eoin continued his tale, Loretta listened with silent amazement. To think that not only did he lived through the horrors of the past but continued on every day for so many years. It pained her at the very thought to live a life in which everyone she was ever close to would pass on before she. It made sense why he wouldn't want to get close to anyone. And yet here he was, beside her and opening up to her. To be trusted this way, it lit a small flame inside her. It gave her something, like a small form of confidence. Was he.. depending on her?
When he told her how he wanted to run away from his problems again just like he had before Alek had straightened him, Loretta grasped his free hand for a moment. She didn't want him to leave. He didn't stop though and proceeded to tell her how he felt of Sayre, how he didn't deserve the revere given to him after the repentance. Loretta knew the tales, the passages written, and then there's Eoin and the hand he was dealt with. She can empathize with his thought. Harris wasn't the only victim on that tragic day. Countless lives of citizens had been killed and even more injured but where did the blame fall? Who had caused the catastrophe and who was to take responsibility of the lost lives?
"Sometimes, the world is unfair, and the people who least deserve getting hurt are the ones who are hurt the most. For their sakes though, we must move on and live in a manner that would make them proud. So once a month or so I come back here to do the stupid druid thing and keep this place looking nice. My sister, she always liked the willow trees when they were in bloom, so I thought it'd be fitting to keep these healthy and blooming forever."
"Silly? In't it?"
"I don't think so. In fact, I think that's a beautiful sentiment." Loretta smiled, she saw the care he had placed here. It was like a living memory that proclaimed that they were here for a moment in time. Eoin rubbed away at his eyes before an arm fell around her, the hint of a blush crept up her cheeks.
"I really am sorry, about your brother. He looked like a good kid, and he didn't deserve that. But maybe he's somewhere, right now, watching you. I hope he knows you'll be alright, and that he'll never be forgotten...
"His name was, Harris, right? I'll remember his name, I don't forget."
Loretta felt a tug at her heart then, she didn't understand why it struck a chord so deeply but the tears began to build up and spilt over without so much as a warning. She wiped away the tears sniffling and looked over to Eoin with a heartfelt smile.
“Thank you, so much, for everything.”
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inherit
10
0
Jan 17, 2019 22:10:26 GMT
4
blacknoise
I don't have kik.
273
Aug 14, 2015 15:19:56 GMT
August 2015
blacknoise
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Post by blacknoise on May 12, 2016 5:34:23 GMT
"Yeah..."
Eoin chiding himself for saying something so stupid, 'just tell her she's welcome,' he yelled internally. But he couldn't bring himself to say so, it was such a little thing he was doing, he couldn't bring her brother back to life, but the least he could manage was what he tried to do. It was nothing worth thanking.
Sighing, Eoin leaned against Loretta softly, his breathe slowing and the natural scowl on his face faded to something more neutral. The faun was not a man of many words, hell he had spoken more in the last few minutes than he was typically known to in a day. He was tired, and felt no need to explain more of his life. However, he would not hold back or hesitate if Loretta asked him something. If there was anything she was curious about, now was the time to ask.
Continuing to smoke his pipe, Eoin reached his free hand, the one opposite Loretta, towards the ground. He brushed up the petals and stirred up the air, creating a small gust and sending the petals towards the trees. A small show of magic is all it appeared to be, but in actuality he was continuing to feed the energy of this place. Drawing from the world's natural well of magic, as much as he oculd without hurting anything, and funneling it here. It was not a difficult thing to do, but it was a complex movement that could not be learned from any book. A family magic taught only by fauns.
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#ea7ca1
5
0
1
Jan 27, 2019 20:04:50 GMT
3
Leb
The loneliest are the kindest. The saddest smile the brightest. The most damaged are the wisest.
223
August 2015
leb
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Post by Leb on May 14, 2016 7:01:48 GMT
The two shared a comfortable silence for some time. Eoin no longer held his typical frown Loretta had grown accustomed to and he continued to smoke without saying another word. He then reached a hand out for something or other, Loretta wasn’t sure until she noticed a small change in the air. The petals that once laid unmoving had all stirred together and swept away by a familiar gust of wind. The fallen petals danced about the air before they all returned to their rightful place among the trees. It was quite a sight to see.
“How are you doing that?” She asked with a hint of child-like wonder. “I’ve never seen anyone who could do that before.” It wasn’t that no one was capable of such magic but more of Loretta never experiencing it firsthand. In fact, her exposure to magic users have been minimal at best. For the most part, the only people who practice magic that she’s ever been near of were all students and teachers at the college. She learned a few things from watching them as well although she never had given herself the time to practice and better her mediocre skills.
“Is it difficult to learn?” She then asked after a small pause in thought. “Do you think I might be able to learn it?” Before she could ramble on with more questions, she stopped herself as she realized that she was bombarding him with her questions. “Ah... Sorry. I didn’t mean to ask so much.” For a moment she seemed to fidget against him as she felt that she was a being a bother to him. In her nervous fidgeting, Loretta had turned enough so her back would be what Eoin leaned against then. It’s not that she was upset or disliked him or anything, but she didn’t want him to see the embarrassment clear on her face. Although there was no hiding the tinged ears that poked out from her hair.
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inherit
10
0
Jan 17, 2019 22:10:26 GMT
4
blacknoise
I don't have kik.
273
Aug 14, 2015 15:19:56 GMT
August 2015
blacknoise
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Post by blacknoise on May 22, 2016 6:08:53 GMT
"How are you doing that?"
How indeed, Eoin wondered to himself. The druid magic came to him as easily as breathing, it was harder to think about how he was accomplishing the feat than it was to actually perform it. Maybe his talent was a part of his race's blessing, maybe it was simply his own personal talent. Whatever it was, he had many lifetimes worth of time to figure it out.
But, as Loretta inquired as to whether or not she would be able to learn the skill, Eoin considered speeding up his timetable. Rubbing the side of her arm almost absentmindedly, Eoin shrugged and responded.
"I'm not actually sure, it's a Faun thing to just be good at druidry. I vaguely remember my parents and others doing much greater things than this, like calling forth storms in the midst of great droughts, but they also did simple things. Beekeeping, for example, I need to do that, I don't remember why but I think it was important."
Chuckling for but a moment, Eoin finished,
"I'm really, really not good at any of this, and I don't think I'd be worth much as a teacher. But, maybe we can learn it together?"
His face drifted towards a gentle smile as he looked at Loretta, a sort of softness overtaking him that was quite unlike the side he showed everyone else.
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#ea7ca1
5
0
1
Jan 27, 2019 20:04:50 GMT
3
Leb
The loneliest are the kindest. The saddest smile the brightest. The most damaged are the wisest.
223
August 2015
leb
|
Post by Leb on May 22, 2016 7:04:24 GMT
The way he rubbed her arm left her skin tingling somewhat. Goosebumps had risen across the stretch of her arm which only made her more sensitive to his rubbing hand. With that being the case, small shivers ran down her spine.
"I'm not actually sure, it's a Faun thing to just be good at druidry. I vaguely remember my parents and others doing much greater things than this, like calling forth storms in the midst of great droughts, but they also did simple things. Beekeeping, for example, I need to do that, I don't remember why but I think it was important."
At first Loretta was disheartened as she thought that she was simply not cut out for it being that she wasn't a faun. However she kept listening as she mentally painted a picture of his family being great masters of the art that manipulated the very sky. When he had mentioned that they also had done some beekeeping, she couldn't help the smile that slid across her face. It amazes her how one could bring a smile to her face almost effortlessly. She turned to face him again as he spoke, the hint of a smile at the edge of her lips.
"I'm really, really not good at any of this, and I don't think I'd be worth much as a teacher. But, maybe we can learn it together?"
His face was not that of his typical stern and frowning face, nor was it the peaceful calm she saw earlier. She swore her heart had melted as a gentle smile graced his features. His smile had stirred strange new feelings she had never felt before. Her cheeks tinged a rosy hue as her thoughts muddled together for a moment. Once she had gained some composure of herself, she looked away to the side and manged to stammer a response of sorts.
"I- err.. Yes?"
Her hands clenched at her skirt as she mentally berated herself for the stutter. Just talk normal for once, she told herself. As she seemed to relax, no longer with clenched fists, she stared Eoin head-on with just a hint of resolve and perhaps a bit of confidence for a moment.
"I mean.. I'd like that."
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