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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2017 1:10:19 GMT
She was tired. It had been a long day. Her time in Ethea had taught her that "her kind" was not welcome here. She did not care. She had to find Arithelia.
However, she did not completely understand just what to expect in Felici. Once she had arrived, she knew instantly that the goddess would not be here. It was too loud, too bright; too unnatural. She tried to avoid sight by hopping between rooftops. She felt silly, but experience taught her it was a necessity. The city was massive, and even the parks were too crowded for her to find the sort of comfort she sought.
The sun would be setting by the time she made her way to the beach. The sky was a mixture of pinks, fuchsias, and oranges. The way the setting sun's light reflected off the water's surface made it shimmer as if the very ocean were made of gold. The sight was breathtaking, and she was almost caught up in the majesty of it.
Then she saw something she'd never witnessed before. Her fiery hair was the most brilliant red she'd ever seen. Her leg would begin to tremble as every instinct inside her urged her to pounce on her and grab at her hair - gently - like the most precious treasure in the world.
Instead, knowing the lady was, in fact, a lady, she... he went with his standard approach. He'd allow one of the shoulders of his robe to fall over his shoulder, the glass and crystal ringing discordantly as it rattles against each other, alerting anyone nearby of his presence. A portion of his chest would be bare, as was common amongst male monks in the summer. He trembled slightly at the cold, and remembered how it made the projection within the dark circle on his chest project more noticeably. Still, rather than worrying about that, he gave his best smile as the distance closed, and he went with his smoothest voice, "Miss, if you don't mind me saying," he'd gesture at the evening sky, "up there are some of the most beautiful colors I've ever seen. They fill my heart to the brim with joy, and the way the sun reflects off the darkening ocean is as if it's marbled with gold, yet" he'd look directly in to her... "Whoa."
- and all the charm was gone. "Wow. Not only do you have the most beautiful hair I've ever seen, but your eyes are like emeralds! Sweet Arithelia! It's like you were sculpted by Nevyne herself to lure me away to the dream realm where I'll spend the rest of my days as her plaything. Miss, if that's the reality of the situation, I'll spend an eternity within this dream, so that I never have to wake and weep that such brilliance will only be a passing fantasy to torment me for all time."
"I beg of you, Miss, what is your name? Surely I cannot stand the agony of such a nondescript title any longer. I must know the name for which I must scribe in to the eternities, so that all might know of it, and the beauty it represents..."
Then he remembered, "Second to our Goddess, Nevyne herself, of course." There'd be a giggle in his voice of a playful nature. He'd grown up his whole life making sure never to slight Nevyne. To him, remembering to keep her appeased was almost a game, and one he enjoyed playing. His smile was wide and sincere, full of laughter, and his eyes squinted slightly as they smiled with the rest of his face.
The light of the sun brought out the blue of his eyes in a way that was beautiful in its own right, if second to her own in his perception. His brunette hair complimented his tanned skin, and the light was still enough to show his figure lacked any excess weight that others might find undesirable. There was a sincerity and earnestness to him that was not there when he initially started speaking, as if her eyes had shattered all pretense, and forced him to speak bluntly from the heart.
He purred softly, without even realizing it.
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PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY West
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Post by Alexandra Caim on Feb 13, 2017 2:53:42 GMT
She was tired. It had been a long day.
School had been going fine, but it was certainly hard work. Not that Alex didn't apply herself or anything. Any of her culinary courses gained every ounce of enthusiasm and dedication that the redhead could give. Likewise, she was fascinated by rune work and the careful precise nature needed to use it. Truthfully she could easily fall into a trance while practicing. Eventually it would likely become second nature and soothing to her. Nonetheless though, it was still hard work for either aspect of her academics. Effort was entirely necessary, and Alex wanted to give her all.
Everyone need a break now and then though.
Which was why Alex came out here to the beach; after telling Daniel about it of course. Her father opted not to go with her this time, so she'd strongly advised him to get some shut-eye before heading out. Whether or not the big wolf had listened to her was an entirely different story, but Alex had at least put the effort in to put the thought in his head for today. She came to the beach dressed in more comfortable clothes than particularly fashionable ones. Not only was it still a little chilly for any water activities, but it was also pretty close to dinner time for most people. So Alex practically had the entire beach to herself.
She absolutely loved it.
Minutes flew by as Alex watched the sun set. It really was spectacular, and an excellent view to help her relax from the day. A small easy smile rested on her features as she buried her bare feet in the sand. She'd been at peace in the relative silence only broken by the waves and distant sounds of the boardwalk.
That is until she heard someone else speak up.
If Alex were being completely honest, she didn't hear the first part of the man's rant. So far into her lulled trance had she been, that the redhead had been completely unaware anyone else was near by her. Much less addressing her directly. The realization only came when the voice got louder and closer. Then Alex had blinked and turned her head towards the stranger curiously. "I'm sorry, were y-" However Alex's apology was cut short when Bjarga became captivated by the color of her eyes. the whole experience was so foreign and so out-of-the-blue, that Alex had little clue on how she should react. His words were certainly sweet, if assuredly dramatized. Alex being sculpted by Nevyne herself as a lure?
Alex would never boast something like that! Or even entertain it!
Still, his words managed to draw both a light blush and a cheerful laugh from the girl. He was charming in a very eccentric way, and the redhead didn't get the feeling he was being lecherous in any particular fashion. He was only paying her compliments she found far too extravagant, but nonetheless sweet. "Thank you very much! Though I can hardly claim to be 'sculpted by Nevyne' herself, as you put it. I think I'm much too plain for something on that magnitude." After all, being personally crafted by any of the gods would mean someone had to be absolutely stunning. That's what Alex figured at any rate, and she highly doubted she met those parameters. "As for a name; you can call me Alex. What's yours?" She asked in a friendly tone.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2017 3:12:54 GMT
Bjarga's face would contort slightly in visible frustration as she dismissed his observations. However, he'd already learned people tend towards modesty, and didn't press the issue. Still, he'd been sincere, and was captivated by the woman standing before him. He watched the way her lips, her tongue within her mouth, moved as she spoke. He watched her face. He studied her intently.
Bjarga was a very visual creature, and studying her was captivating. He'd kneel down to observe her more closely as she spoke. His purr grew louder, and he'd reach around and pull his large tail before him, hugging it tightly, like a child might a stuffed animal, as he watched her wide-eyed. He felt no lust, but instead a child-like wonder as he saw her. In his eyes, she was truly just as he'd said, and he just wanted to keep watching her.
Then he heard her name.
"Alex!" He'd exclaim far louder than he'd intended. He'd cover his mouth in embarrassment, blushing slightly at the volume of his voice. "I'm sorry." He'd lose all sense of confidence, and begin to pull up his sleeve. The feelings within him changed, but the mesmerizing quality of his acquaintance remained the same. By the time the sleeve was returned to it's proper place, and she was properly concealed, she'd shrank from 5'8 to 5'4.
Her hips had widened and bust had filled out to give her a very cute figure. She wasn't necessarily going to steal the crowd's attention, but she was definitely worth a glance. She shared the pigmentation she'd had as a man, which gave her a slightly exotic flair for these parts. Her eyes were still a vibrant blue that looked at her, while her face bore an expression that read somewhere between meek and coy. She wanted to be playful, but she didn't want to be turned away by her in the way so many other humans had. Her purr was a much higher sound than it'd been. His had been a low rumbling that almost seemed to come from his chest, while hers sounded as if it came from much higher in the throat.
Her smile would widen and her blush would deepen as she thought to speak. She'd look up and say, "I'm Bjarga, and I really would like to play with your hair."
She was still ignorant of outside cultures, oblivious as to how creepy that might sound.
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PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY West
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Post by Alexandra Caim on Feb 13, 2017 3:38:08 GMT
Alex did indeed notice the passing of frustration across Bjarga's face, but she couldn't place his reasoning. That and as fast as it was there it vanished, replaced instead by an intense curiosity that Alex was somehow on the recieiving end of. It was a little startling, and just a hint unnerving to be focused on so much. Then again she'd never been one to like being the center of attention anyways. Although, was he...purring?
And was that a tail?
As quickly as she had made this observation, she was once more startled when Bjarga all but shouted her name. Jolting just a tad from surprise, she let out an easy breath when she read the embarrassment flashing across his face. Obviously he'd been very enthusiastic to learn her name! More than Alex had expected certainly. She smiled though, hoping to assuage his concern for the outburst. "No need to be sorry, really-" She started to say before trailing off as the man before her...
...Became a woman.
Alex blinked a few times, her brain working quickly to register and evaluate what had just happened. Talk of Magi that could change gender had crossed her ears a few times in the past. Yet to actually see such a thing happen right before her eyes was a whole different experience! Rest assured, it wasn't something she foretold seeing when she stepped out to the beach today. Now that this man was indeed a woman, Alex took a second to take her in. She almost appeared...shy? No, that wasn't the right word, but after she'd changed, she didn't appear quite as boisterous and flamboyantly confident as she had before. Maybe it was the deepening blush that gave her that impression.
Bjarga still managed to take Alex by surprise in this form too though.
It was such an odd thing to ask for coming from a stranger; could she play with Alex's hair? She could vaguely remember that being spoken about only a minute or so ago, but she'd been in too far of a trance to register those opening words well. Taking a second to consider the magi (for Alex now indeed knew it was a magi), the redhead figured that the request wasn't necessarily too bad. After all, she still wasn't picking up any lecherous or ill-intent coming off the strange girl. The request seemed purely harmless and genuine.
So after a few seconds of debating, Alex gave her a warm smile and a little shrug. "I...Guess it wouldn't hurt, if you really want to. My only rule is that you don't pull it out." Alex stated with a laugh.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2017 5:31:37 GMT
"Yay!" She'd exclaim with glee and almost went to hug her, but then stopped part way, arms outstretched. Her joy dimmed for a moment, as if a memory were passing before her eyes, but it passed as swift as the moment it happened, and an entirely different facial expression took over.
She'd close her eyes, take a deep breath, and place herself behind Alex, lying upon her shins as she sat with her legs folded beneath her. Her purring was soft now, just barely on the edge of hearing. Her tail sat behind her, running up the back of her spine to where it curled behind her neck. She'd take another deep breath, and she'd begin to exude a feeling of tranquility. She'd allow her fingers to run through Alex's hair.
Those fingers would tremble slightly, despite her actions to calm herself, and she'd lean in close until she could pick out individual hairs with her eyes. It was long, and soft, and occasionally it tried to snag as she pulled her fingers through it, but she was slow, and careful, and gentle. Her eyes remained transfixed, and she'd give a breathy whisper,
"Perfect."
She'd lean back, and then around to look at Alex's face from the side without touching her anywhere save her hair. Her hands continued running through her hair. She'd give a beaming grin, and say, with that same strange calm that seemed so odd given her facial expression, "I've seen a lot of things since I began traveling, but only you could surpass a rainbow."
With that, she'd remove her hands from her hair, stand, take a few steps to where she was just out of reach of Alex, and sit. She'd focus now on the sound of the ocean crashing against itself and the shore. She'd smell the salt in the air. She could almost taste it. She'd close her eyes, and her breathing would continue to slow. However, just as she seemed to be lost to her meditation, she spoke,
"Thank you, Alex." She'd pause for a moment, listening to the world around her, letting the appreciation be received, before continuing, "I've come from far away searching for something." She'd take another deep breath, "- and while I did not find it tonight, you took a terrible day of failure and doubt, and made it something beautiful." She would not move, nor would her eyes open. She'd simply breathe then continue, "I don't have any friends. I lost them all when I left, and the world is full of cruelty." She said this calmly and matter-of-factly. There was no emotion in her tone, nor any reaction upon her face. In her current state, this was a calm fact: a fundamental truth of existence. "However, you are truly beautiful. You did not make me feel terrible for being who, and what, I am, but instead made me feel hope."
Hope. In that word, her voice cracked for a split second, as if the word broke through her tranquility. She'd take several more moments to breathe, regaining her desired state of being before continuing.
"I bet, if I could look in to your soul, it would be even more beautiful than the red of your hair, redder than the lover's rose, or your eyes that sparkle like emeralds in the setting sun." She would take another deep breath, and then she would listen.
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PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY West
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Post by Alexandra Caim on Feb 13, 2017 6:23:26 GMT
There was something disturbing about the way Bjarga very suddenly stopped herself mid hug. Though the hug, like most of this encounter, would have shocked Alex a little, she likely wouldn't have minded it too much. The fact Bjarga's excitement and glee plunged for that brief hesitation set off warning bells in Alex's head.
What had happened to the girl to warrant that kind of response?
Alex was given some time to let her brain explore the darker topic while Bjarga got herself situated behind. Admittedly there was a slight...tension to Alex when that first initial contact was made. Yet it was so subtle and gone so swiftly hardly either girl would likely have noticed it. Besides that, Alex quickly relaxed with a soft sigh when Bjarga actually did start playing with her hair. It was still up in it's typical ponytail, mainly so it's long length wouldn't brush the sand or billow too much in the wind (though today that wasn't such a problem thankfully). Even so it felt nice and Alex soon found herself getting lulled back into a trance-like state as she stared out over the waters.
She was aware enough to catch Bjarga's comment and laugh a little at it. All Bjarga's praises so far had been so very...poetic. It was unlike anything Alex had heard of previously, she couldn't help but be fascinated by the girl's manner of speak. When Bjarga pulled away, Alex was only a little sadden by the loss. It was nice to have someone play with her hair, though she likely would want to know the person a little better any other time before extending that offer again. This all felt so surreal; Alex wasn't entirely certain she wasn't dreaming right now. If she was, she definitely didn't give her imagination enough credit.
Especially considering the little speech Bjarga gave her.
Again, Alex couldn't help but be a little floored by what this stranger was saying. Thanking her? Making someone feel hope for who they were? It was all being piled on a little thick, but Alex nonetheless did feel a little color rise to her cheeks at the sheer amount of praise being aimed at her. Green eyes turned from the monk the gaze off for a second in that breif moment of silence, reach up a hand to move a few strands from her face. Then of course Bjarga just had to add that last bit that only made the pink in Alex's cheeks grow a little darker.
How was she supposed to reply to that?
Alex opened her mouth for a moment, but no words came out. She shut it and sat pensively for a few moments, contemplating the sea and her response to this friendly stranger. Eventually she did find her voice, and decided on a very simple answer. "....T-Thank you. I...Don't think I really...well, deserve that sort of praise but...Thank you all the same." Because truthfully she didn't think she deserved this level of compliments. She'd hardly met the other or done anything that spectacular to earn anything like this. But the sentiment was nice at least. "You're very sweet, Bjarga." Alex turned her head back towards the other woman, her cheeks having calmed down. A soft smile was on her features, and it grew as she continued. "You're very well spoken." Artistic, at the very least.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2017 23:14:12 GMT
When she suggested she didn't deserve the compliments, the tranquility of her face was interrupted with a another contortion at her frustration. It was a fleeting expression, however, and her face would quickly return to it's previous, tranquil state.
"Alex, since I left the monastery, I've encountered a great deal of people, and most of them have been outright foul." Emotions she was trying not to feel penetrated her voice. Her purring stopped. She'd exhale louder than she had prior as she attempted to gain control over her emotions as she continued, "I've been grabbed, harassed, and even attacked for being what I am." Her attempts at maintaining her composure were failing. "I'd been warned, but I was not prepared for what I experienced." She shivered, though whether from twilight's chill as the sun continued to set, or from her own memories, it was hard to say.
"Then I made it to this horrible city, where even the trees and grass are not one with nature, and the creatures that live within them act as scavengers, rather than the proud and proper animals they'd be in the wild." Bitterness tinged her voice, "Everything is loud, and cold, and horrible, and this was the only place I could find that felt right."
She'd take another deep breath, and where before it looked like she was barely restraining her upset, now peace began to return to her features. "That's when I saw you." She'd open her eyes and look at Alex now, "The monks taught me all life is sacred, even though it can be hard to remember sometimes, especially in places like this." She'd take another deep breath, frustrated by her own inability to remain positive as she moved back to happier topics, "They also taught me the secret to happiness is in finding joy in the present. Your hair makes me happier than the evening sky. Your eyes remind me of precious things. Your kindness, the way you didn't attack me just because I'm not one of your kind, and the way you let me play with your hair: it gives me hope that maybe the world can be fixed."
Then, just as it seemed she'd finished, she'd say, "I used to enjoy reading poetry." - as if that explained why she was well spoken. Her eyes would remain upon Alex, expecting a reply.
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PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY West
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Post by Alexandra Caim on Feb 14, 2017 1:14:20 GMT
Again, there was that flicker of frustration. It had to be something Alex was saying, but she wasn't sure what. She didn't think she had said anything particularly insulting or offensive. Then what was it? However before Alex could properly try and discover what exactly kept annoying Bjarga, the emotion was gone and Bjarga started talking again.
So not only was Alex talking to a magi that could change gender at will, but one from a monastery? That would have demanded all of Alex's attention if that had been all Bjarga said. However the girl kept going on and Alex kept picking up signs of distress speaking through the brunette's body language. Years of reading her father's to deduct how he was feeling had made Alex more than adapt to see the tell-tale signs of less-than-pleasant emotions. A bitterness was tainting the once cheerful voice now. Barely effective restraint reeled back the negativity after a few seconds. All this resulted in concern spreading up Alex's features and pooling in her eyes. Truly, what had happened to make Bjarga see so much kindness in the simple act of being allowed to play with someone's hair?
This time the compliments didn't have as much of a stunning effect on Alex as they had. The other bits of Bjarga's speech held more weight in Alex's mind. "Thank you. I'm happy to help, however I can." Even if she technically didn't do anything. "But I am sorry your first impression of Felici was so...poor, for lack of a better word." She genuinely meant it too. From what Bjarga was describing and implying, she'd found nothing but cruelty since she came out here. That certainly did not sit well with Alex at all.
"Used to?" Alex asked curiously, shifting as to wrap her arms around her knees but keep her feet buried in the sand. "What kind of poetry did you read, if I may ask?"
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Post by Deleted on Feb 14, 2017 3:45:56 GMT
Her face grew distant, as if she could see her far-off home just outside of Leiche Town, "Well, in the monastery, we had poetry dedicated to the living pantheon. Arithelia's fate was uncertain when I was young, so I was still able to read some of it dedicated to her. When the signs made it clear she had fallen, they took her books to the underground library to be locked away with the works of other fallen deities, only to be restored to the living library if she ever returned to the living pantheon."
"There was a time where poetry was a common art form, so all the gods have books of poetry to read. Some of it may be harder to understand, like those dedicated to the Mad God, but recent study has lead some of the monks argue that the poems may have been prophetic. Then again, others argue that the writers were mad, and if we start scouring every madman's musings for prophecy we'll be sure to find it as we go mad ourselves."
She'd give a wistful sigh, laying her head down on her knees as her tail lie atop her head. "I never really got along with the monks. There was so much they did that just seemed wrong." Her eyes began to water, "I never thought I'd miss them this much."
However, rather than crying, she'd give a throaty growl, and allow herself to be angry instead. She's glower at the ocean until it swallowed her feelings in its vastness.
She'd yawn, and allow herself to fall upon her side across the sand. She'd pull her tail across her as a blanket as she curled underneath it. She'd hug it for comfort even as it provided warmth.
"The sky is almost dark. Do you intend to stay here much longer?" Bjarga would ask.
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PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY West
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Post by Alexandra Caim on Feb 14, 2017 4:29:13 GMT
Rather than speak, Alex just turned her head towards Bjarga and rested her cheek on her knee. She listened. It was intriguing to hear about the monastery, but it was also interesting to hear about the Magi goddess. Or any of them really. And to hear of Arithelia falling from the pantheon and these monks sealing away her books? Alex's mind drifted off towards the Magi goddess' temple in the city. She'd seen it a few times; the crumbling, vandalized ruin of what likely had been a beautiful structure. Quite frankly it saddened the redhead to see something once sacred be so desecrated like that. Alex may not worship the goddess and could understand the citizens' hostility towards the patron of the magi, but that kind of cruelty and destruction just seemed so...unnecessary.
Though her thoughts were drifting, Alex still gave Bjarga the majority of her attention. Which is how she caught the way blue eyes watered. Lifting her head from her knees, questioning sympathy came to Alex's face as she shifted a little. She was fully ready to move closer to Bjarga. But instead of cry, her face hardened and Alex paused. Then she simply stayed where she was, observing Bjarga with sympathy for a moment before also looking out at the sea. The girl clearly needed a moment or two to calm down.
As the silence extended between them, Alex didn't actually feel any kind of discomfort. the gentle sound of the ways and the still beautiful sight before her was enough to stave off any awkwardness their current situation might have evoked. It was Bjarga who broke the silence first, bringing green eyes to look back at her for a moment. Alex smiled and looked up towards the sky. Color was fading fast from the sky, turning into the darker blue of night. It was getting late, but not too late. She'd stayed up much later before. besides, Daniel knew where to find her if he truly got worried.
"I think I'm going to stay for just a bit longer." Alex decided, looking back at Bjarga with a warm smile. Yet as the words and nearly tearful expression moments before flit to the forefront of Alex's thoughts, the expression softened back into a sympathetic one. "And...It's understandable, if you miss those monks." She voiced gently. "You're in a whole new city that's so different from your home. And unfortunately from what you told me no one's shown you any decent courtesy." A fact that genuinely upset Alex. "So it makes sense to long after something familiar, even if it's not the best. At least then you'd be used to it."
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Post by Deleted on Feb 14, 2017 22:58:09 GMT
Bjarga would begin to purr softly upon hearing Alex would be staying a little bit longer. "Good." She'd whisper. She'd nod softly as she heard Alex'es words, pondering upon them for a moment.
Her eyes would grow heavy as the scene grew ever more peaceful, so she'd turn to look up at Alex from under her tail, just studying her for a while. With the heaviness of fatigue on her, the darkness under her eyes would be more apparent. She'd washed her clothes in rivers and in the ocean as she traveled, and the salt and dust still lingered in them. The hair upon her feet and tail was unkempt. On the whole, she'd remind anyone who cared for animals of a poorly cared for stray.
Her face would slowly shift between expressions, as if it couldn't keep from betraying hints to her thoughts. Smiles, frowns, pondering looks, rolled eyes, and a wealth of other expressions as if she was listening to a conversation only she could hear.
"Alex," she'd finally find the courage to ask, "Will you be my friend?"
She wasn't sure she could trust the human. Humans had proven themselves to be progressively crueler the longer she traveled. However, she did not want her life to be a mirror of their hatred. She wanted to be a being of peace, love, and light. She wanted to show genuine appreciation for the good in this world, and to share those positive feelings within her so as to spread them, until the whole world was smiles. To do that, she had to let go of her fear; of her prejudice.
It wasn't easy, yet she had not yet acted in a manner worthy of regret.
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PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY West
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Post by Alexandra Caim on Feb 15, 2017 0:00:44 GMT
After that there was more gentle silence.
Eventually Alex turned her head from her companion to once again look out to sea. It really was beautiful in the fading sunlight. The rays from the waning sun were just as red as her hair. Even when that started to disappear and the sky and water turn darker, it was still pretty in it's own right. Soon enough the redhead had been lulled back into her peaceful, trance-like state. The gentle sound of the waves calmed her thoughts and let her observe each individually without hurry.
Of course her first thoughts drifted towards the magi beside her. The whole encounter still left a fair amount of Alex baffled. First she'd been approached by a man. Than said man turned into a woman right in front of her. Then they'd asked to play with her hair. All the while Alex had been thrown flirtatious praise that sounded straight out of a romance novel. All of that was definitely enough to leave her confused. Then there were the snippets of information she could gather from what Bjarga had said. She was a monk, that much Alex could gather. One who missed home but at the same time did not. One who'd been treated unkindly as well since she'd left her monastery (which still sat poorly with the redhead). All in all it was a very curious meeting.
Before Alex's mind could stray farther, she heard Bjarga speak up. Once again she turned her head back to the girl. Again the question shocked her a bit.
"Will you be my friend?"
It was strange to actually be asked that question rather than for it to just, well, happen. The fact it was actually being asked said a lot of things. That and the fact Bjarga seemed so nervous. Feel sympathetic once more, Alex offered her a kind smile. "I don't see why not." She answered. "I'll be your friend, if you really want."
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Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2017 0:18:45 GMT
Bjarga would give a soft coo, her purring would grow louder, and a smile would cross her face as wide as any she'd had that day. Her eyes would close, she'd snuggle her tail, and hum softly as she began to drift off.
The song she hummed was an ancient love song to a goddess who had since fallen. Even though the name and memory were no longer recorded, the song was so moving that it was still played in the monastery. The song, no matter how bad things got, always seemed to make things better, and in good times it added an extra sweetness to her experiences.
The sound of the crashing of waves was familiar to her now, as was the smell of salt in the air. The cooling air was something she'd endured many times. This night was no different than those she'd endured so many times before, save one thing: she now had a friend. That made everything warmer, everything safer; everything better. With the hope and joy her new friend brought, the despair that had been creeping in to her would begin to fade, and she grew confident she'd find the goddess, and that peace and love would be restored once more. A single tear of joy would roll down her smiling face. She made no effort to wipe it away.
Her song would cease for a moment as she whispered, "Thank you." Her purrs grew increasingly silent, and only the faint breathing of sleep remained.
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