#ed1717
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Annasiel
At last, my peace. I found it in her eyes.
369
Aug 13, 2015 22:40:06 GMT
August 2015
annasiel
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Post by Annasiel on Nov 6, 2015 5:38:13 GMT
She should be here, Quinn thought to herself as she peered around the corner of the alleyway, her heart fluttering with anticipation. Her change purse at her hip was considerably lighter, crumpled parchment receipts replacing the gold and halvers that once weighed the sack down. To wear, Quinn favored simple elegance. The latter was a given, of course; Quinn rarely shied away from the flowing and graceful.
Trying to compensate for your utter failure at grace.
This day, an off-green, sleeveless dress hung from her shoulders, and ended mid-calf. To cover her arms, a plain white cardigan. On her feet, two eggshell sandals made of woven silk. A broad-rimmed hat perched on her head, her normally bundled hair now cascaded in silky, chocolate waves.
You look like a whore. Do you seriously think anyone can take you seriously in that costume?
Footsteps alerted her to the presence of her passion, returning home from a typical library visit. To the common crowd, Erin would be glaced over. Everything about her faded into the background. Her silence, her stoney cloak, her non-engaging stance. But to Quinn, Erin was the first thing that stood out, and often the only thing that stood out. An unprecedented feat for the eternal crowd drifter to experience.
The voice yet again silenced.
As Erin approached, Quinn stepped out from her hiding place into plain view. She ran up to the somber girl, eyes frantic and excited. She hadn't been paying attention to the contrary remarks to begin with, but now they no longer distracted her, the socialite could focus fully on her plan.
"Ok, listen to me and listen closely. Whatever you were about to do, forget about it. This is your chance to live in the moment today. If you give this up, you'll regret it," Quinn quickly spouted. She grabbed Erin's hand, and tried pulling her away before the girl even had a chance to react.
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#2007f0
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Apr 22, 2020 19:54:15 GMT
3
Dymion
129
Aug 13, 2015 23:35:49 GMT
August 2015
dymion
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Post by Dymion on Nov 6, 2015 17:48:16 GMT
The key is focus...
The mantra of the tomes on healing resounded in Erin's head like it did any other night, the many pages she flipped through spilling out the phrase in one form or another. She couldn't even begin to cast a spell without the words 'focus' or 'concentrate' flying into her thoughts. She would not complain though. Even the elders had remarked on how quickly and efficiently she healed wounds, the flesh and ribbons of muscle mending at alarming rates, just as she imagined... the other piece of constant advice spewed by the black ink written in innumerable pages.
See the wounds heal with your mind, and they will do so in life...
Even with the constant influx of thought, phrase after phrase repeating in her mind, the woman's gray eyes pierced the night as she made her way back to the Infirmary. It was a path she knew well, when both bathed in the sun's rays or barely lit by beams of moonlight, and as such, she knew all the little hiding places along the path. Since Daniel's murder, it had been hard for paranoia to not claim her sanity. The constant gaze of the illusive killer pierced her shroud of sanctuary, her eyes, though calm, constantly grazing across the shadows. This was her first night not shepherded from the Library to the Infirmary by a guard. The days past had seen a man there, always watching out for her safety in case the stalker came. And yet, nothing happened. The guards had been unsure of stopping the escort. Inside, she had felt the same. But they had better places to be. As she had told them.
Every muscle in her figure tensed when she saw the flicker of motion, her heart leaping up her throat as eyes dilated in the night. Someone... someone had found her, was coming for her, was... it was Quinn. Relief flooded the medic's mind. Of all the days and all the moments, it had been this one. Erin could feel as her muscles relaxed, eyes glancing to either side of Quinn as she approached. When she finally focused on the socialite, the relief had fully settled in. It was now plagued by a fluttering in her chest, head leaning to the side as she noted the woman's appearance. Her hair was down... she looked nice.
When Quinn spoke, the excitement in her voice was obvious. But why it was there was the true mystery, and as Erin tried to process her words, heart still slowing from the initial fright, she felt as the woman grasped her hands and began to pull her along. There was no resistance from the medic. She had no plans, and was simply happy to have a friendly face around... especially Quinn's.
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#ed1717
2
0
1
5
Annasiel
At last, my peace. I found it in her eyes.
369
Aug 13, 2015 22:40:06 GMT
August 2015
annasiel
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Post by Annasiel on Nov 6, 2015 18:09:41 GMT
Through way and street Quinn pulled her lover, past the now-closed stores and dark-windowed houses. She spoke no words of explanation. In fact, the only sound besides their footsteps on the cobble was a lonely chorus of crickets, chirping slowly in the chill of the night. It was unlike the socialite to remain silent, even more so when silence was all there was, but Quinn was able to shut her mouth in fear of spoiling the surprise. Finally, she stopped outside of an abandoned bistro. She sat Erin down at a table on the patio, and lit the candle in the center.
"Wait here. I talked to the owner, and rented this place out for the night, so you don't have to worry about trespassing," Quinn said, prattling at the same frantic pace as before. "At least, I think that was the owner." She looked in the distance for a moment, pondering, but quickly snapped back into gear. "Just... wait here!"
The girl ran into the building, from which the sounds of clanking metal and slamming doors could then be heard. A few carrying whispers, and a small crowd of figures appeared on the balcony above. They each held an instrument in their hands and a look of utter confusion on their faces. A few seconds later, Quinn emerged from the front door, holding a glass of champagne in one hand and two crystal glasses in the other. She placed them on the table with a smile, before running back inside.
Above, the musicians began to play, a slow, soft melody reminiscent of a lullaby. Once or twice, one would falter, and their eyes would fly to Erin in fear. When nothing happened, they would pick up again, and eventually the entire group was playing loudly and confidently.
Quinn came back outside with a corkscrew, and popped the cork on the opaque bottle, simultaneously sitting opposite of Erin. She began to pore glasses for them both.
"So... what do you think?" Quinn said with a smile, completely out of breath.
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#2007f0
3
0
1
Apr 22, 2020 19:54:15 GMT
3
Dymion
129
Aug 13, 2015 23:35:49 GMT
August 2015
dymion
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Post by Dymion on Feb 6, 2016 6:22:31 GMT
Door after door, alley after alley, the pair weaved this way and that, Erin pulled along by the eager and firm grasp Quinn had upon her. With each echoing step, the shadows seemed to pull at the medic's gaze, her eyes searching the dark for anything. Old habits died hard, and even in the company of the person who made her feel safest, she could not help the paranoia that clutched at her heart. But what she did didn't matter this time, the pair making it in near complete silence to a set of chairs and tables outside one of the many buildings of Etirath. With no explanation, Erin quickly found herself guided and seated in one of the chairs, a look of utter confusion flashed at Quinn as the candle was lit.
"Wait here. I talked to the owner, and rented this place out for the night, so you don't have to worry about trespassing. At least, I think that was the owner."
Trespassing? What did she mean? What was going on? All of these questions rushed to Erin's mind, her mouth working to speak but lacking words. It only added to her frazzled state.
"Quinn, wha-"
"Just... wait here!"
Before Erin could voice her confusion, the socialite was gone, vanishing into the apparently unlocked building. Inside, the sounds of metal and slamming did nothing to help Erin, her brows furrowed as she tried to make connections. Letting out a sigh, she looked away from the building, eyes again searching the dark streets before settling on the candle, then looking at her hands, folded in her lap., an back at the little flame. She'd been left mostly alone, with just this small "fire" to light the area. For her to not be fidgety would have been unusual. She wouldn't be like that for long, though.
As the shuffling above caused Erin's head to jerk that direction, she heard the footsteps of Quinn, bringing her attention to the door just as the socialite slipped out. But it was what the woman held in her hands that caught Erin's attention. Inwardly, she groaned. Alcohol had not been her friend in the past, the powerful, pulsing headache she'd had after the dance all too easy to recall. As Quinn set down the champagne and glasses, the medic had the perfect chance to ask questions. However, something else was on her mind now, a flush appearing in her cheeks as Quinn smiled at her. She'd just remembered the conversation she'd had with Elaine that morning after the Rite of Milova. Had it not been for the pounding in her head, Erin could recall she would have covered the giddy girl's mouth. Instead, her hands had been filled by the bag of ice held to her forehead, wide eyes watching as the girl relayed to her what she'd seen Erin do at the dance: the singing, the drinking... the kissing. She'd been so red. The worst part, though, was she couldn't remember any of it. After her first encounter with Quinn, everything was fuzzy.
Erin didn't even realize when the musicians had started playing, eyes staring intently at the bottle after Quinn disappeared yet again. But when she did, everything clicked into place, and all of Erin's question were answered. No one would see her silently word what she was thinking.
Oh...
This was a date. Almost immediately, nerves gripped the woman, her expression becoming shy as, once again, Quinn emerged, a corkscrew in her hands. She felt embarrassed the thought hadn't occurred to her before now. But then, she'd never been on a date. How was she supposed to act? What did she say? She'd already failed at something important, she knew it. But what? Quinn didn't look upset at her; not yet, anyway. Taking a breath, she watched with nervous, gray eyes as the liquor fell gracefully into the glasses. Inside, she was a fit and swirl of emotions. Scared was the first word that came to mind. Already, she could notice the familiar yet indescribable feeling of butterflies in her chest.
"So... what do you think?"
"Hmm?" Looking up from the glasses of champagne, Erin looked like a startled deer. "I- Well, it's- Uhh-" She didn't know what to say, and instead let out a breathy, nervous laugh. Then, closing her eyes and gulping, she steeled her resolve. Not opening the steely gray pools, she spoke with a shy tone.
"Thank you."
She visible winced at her words. Had she really just said thank you? Opening her eyes, she would look almost pleading at Quinn, hoping her- her date would say something to save her. She wouldn't even notice her cheeks were again flushed.
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#ed1717
2
0
1
5
Annasiel
At last, my peace. I found it in her eyes.
369
Aug 13, 2015 22:40:06 GMT
August 2015
annasiel
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Post by Annasiel on Feb 19, 2016 15:58:24 GMT
"You're welcome!"
Quinn's face swept into an innocent smile, her golden-brown eyes squinting sharply in her mirth. It felt like a knot was unwinding in her chest. This entire time, she was thinking Erin was going to freak out, or get angry, or storm off... I mean, the girl was evidently nervous, but she didn't seem upset, and that was a plus in Quinn's book! All the rest could be resolved with some gentle coaxing and vixenous words. Now the biggest hurdle the socialite had to overcome was what exactly 'vixenous words' entailed.
Overhead, the (kidnapped?) musicians began to play a slow, warm melody that matched the tempo with the flickering candles.
"When the last sun sets on the sparkling sea... When the last rain falls on the hearts of the free..."
"From the moment I first saw you, I fell in love," Quinn said, draining her glass in a single massive sip that somehow still seemed dainty. She immediately poured herself another cup, and gestured with the bottle in an attempt to top Erin's own glass. "You're a beautiful person, Erin, inside and out, and I want to give you the best I possibly can."
"When the last wind blows through the wandering trees... Then I think of you as you still think of me."
"I'm... sorry about the short warning with all of this. To be honest, I..." Gulp, another glass down. Another glass poured. A faint pink decorated the socialite's cheeks, but her eyes and her speech still held as lucid as a temple monk. "...I wanted to catch you by surprise. I didn't know if you still wanted to do this... continue with this. You do, don't you?"
"When the rude storm wakes and the tempest bleeds... When the snowstorms howl in the crimson east..."
Quinn searched for Erin's hand, and regardless of if she found it or not, she continued quickly, openly talking. "I... wouldn't mind if you said no. It's happened before. I have a tendency of driving people away... they say I'm 'too intense', whatever that's supposed to mean. But if you want to build a relationship, if you want more of..." she waved her hand at the candlelit scene, "this, then please. It would mean the world to me."
When all is death but our little lee... Still I think of you as you then thought of me."
"Will you be my world, Erin...?" Quinn fell into silence at the last question, waiting eagerly for a response.
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