[ The moment she jerks away, his eyes flash open, and the Light fades around him as for a moment he wonders if perhaps he was the cause for that little hiss of pain.
But no. She's clutching at herself as if it's simply touched upon an already present hurt. Odd. It shouldn't have hurt her in that way, and his brow furrows slightly as his hands lower. ]
[ Realization flickers behind his eyes before they lower to where their hands had been joined, moments before. ]
If you would like me to heal it, I can. But I...I understand if you do not.
[ He bears his own mark, after all. One he could heal, but doesn't. Why goes beyond reason and sense, and so if she has her reasons he won't be the one to press for them. ]
[ She feels that flush creep up as she takes his meaning. Clearing her throat. As delicate as she could she shakes her head. ]
No it... Well I have been trying to soothe it some but...
[ There probably wasn't ought but to show him. So she goes to undo her coat, plucking at the buttons and shrug it off. Underneath is her fine dresses, as always, delicately dressed.
Which only framed it clearly. It was no delicate or polite love bite, because as it peels off - there too are the one's Anduin had left on her pale skin. A faded purple of fervant kisses on her skin.
No, it was a dog bite, sunk clean into her curve of neck and shoulders, both sides. No mistaking why she had winced, any time she went to move them, it pulled on the front puncture marks that had dug in. She had cleaned them, tried to make sure to dress them.
[ It's far worse than his own. Far, far worse, but he'd at least had the opportunity to seal the wound and numb the pain. It doesn't look as if Gilia's had much of a chance to do either.
Luckily he has a strong stomach for wounds. With a questioning lift of his hands before he lays them to her skin -- may I? -- he tests the area around the bite marks gingerly. ]
I see. Something similar happened to me, as well. It seemed to affect a number of people around the city...
[ He hesitates, gaze lifting, as he parses out the correct phrasing here. Careful not to overstep any boundaries. ]
If you'd like, I can ease the pain, but leave the mark. Or I can leave it be, if you would rather.
[ Well then. No need to delve into that particular topic.
Instead he closes his eyes again, and that glow returns, stronger than before. This time with the intent to mend, to gently pull skin together like the weaving of fabric, smoothing over the indentations in her fair skin.
The concentration requires him to be silent. Luckily enough. ]
[ She hisses softly, as it begins to heal. Shutting her eyes and knitting her brow as she makes sure to keep as still as is possible while he worked. That nervous little almost whimper she made at it, that she does her best to bite her lip and smother.
Honestly, she was a grown woman, she ought not to be bothered by these things. ]
[ When it's done, the mark is still there, but well on its way to healing and fading with time. Anduin lowers his hands, eyes opening to see her attempting to stifle a noise and...
Impulse takes him, and he reaches him to smooth her hair back and out of the way. ]
It should start to feel a little better, now. Physically, anyway. If there's anything else I can see to, you only have but to ask.
[ His brow furrows slightly. ]
And before you say so, no. It's not a bother or a trouble to me. This is what I do, and I'm happy to do so.
[ She does not stop him, not in the slightest, simply her eyes close and she sighs. Tilting her head up into his touch with gladness for it. It was soothing, distracting from the feeling of healing that way. Not bad just - strange. Different to the way that the saltwater stung-healed.
Still when he speaks again, they flutter open again with a sheepish smile. ]
I know what it is to want to be seen as capable, when many do not. My offer is not predicated on your need for my help, but my desire to. I hope you never feel any differently.
[ Her eyes. Light, but he could get lost in them. No influence of the city required. ]
I feel as if we know each other well, having only known each other as long as we have. As if we'd already known each other a lifetime now. Strange, isn't it?
[ He lets out a small laugh, his hands falling away. ]
I had meant to ask how you're getting on with your new Dominant. I feel living in the Up must be much more comfortable for you.
If it is strange, then I shall be the strangest, I am glad every day for it, and for you.
[ But at his question, she can't help but beam at him. ]
Oh, yes, yes it is. My Dominant - Chieftan Halloween Jack - he is most gracious to me. He gave me much more freedom than I had thought would be allowed in a contract, I come and go where I please, am allowed to keep my own means and company when and as I want with his only concern being to my safety. We are quite similar in understanding some ways, for all our differences.
[ And there is an almost happy, dreamy daze to her gaze for it. ] It is perhaps only for the short while, but he let's me keep his apartment as if it were my own household. I even have run of the kitchen.
[ And even if there's a part of him that wishes he'd spoken up sooner, the way she lights up says everything in the world. She's happy, well and truly happy with the person she's contracted with, and isn't that what they both discussed wanting?
It doesn't matter that he's not the one bringing that smile to her face, so long as she has the cause to smile at all. She deserves it. More than, after all the hardship she's faced.
So his smile is genuine, even if tempered slightly by his own melancholy. ]
That's wonderful to hear. Did Marina and Eloy make it over as well?
Our land is always so. The wind comes from the west, and it is bitterly cold, and it blows all year long. We have no half so much snow as other places further north, but yet it is twice as hard to see, as it never settles on the ground. Some days you cannot see for how it churns.
The snows could become fierce in Stormwind, but most often they were mild. Everything would be covered in a dusting of snow, and the local children would make snowmen and clothe them to resemble different people in the city.
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But no. She's clutching at herself as if it's simply touched upon an already present hurt. Odd. It shouldn't have hurt her in that way, and his brow furrows slightly as his hands lower. ]
What is it?
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I had a run in with someone very dear to me but he was not.. himself. I am sure it will heal soon.
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If you would like me to heal it, I can. But I...I understand if you do not.
[ He bears his own mark, after all. One he could heal, but doesn't. Why goes beyond reason and sense, and so if she has her reasons he won't be the one to press for them. ]
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No it... Well I have been trying to soothe it some but...
[ There probably wasn't ought but to show him. So she goes to undo her coat, plucking at the buttons and shrug it off. Underneath is her fine dresses, as always, delicately dressed.
Which only framed it clearly. It was no delicate or polite love bite, because as it peels off - there too are the one's Anduin had left on her pale skin. A faded purple of fervant kisses on her skin.
No, it was a dog bite, sunk clean into her curve of neck and shoulders, both sides. No mistaking why she had winced, any time she went to move them, it pulled on the front puncture marks that had dug in. She had cleaned them, tried to make sure to dress them.
But it was an ugly thing. ]
His... His shadow got the better of him.
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Luckily he has a strong stomach for wounds. With a questioning lift of his hands before he lays them to her skin -- may I? -- he tests the area around the bite marks gingerly. ]
I see. Something similar happened to me, as well. It seemed to affect a number of people around the city...
[ He hesitates, gaze lifting, as he parses out the correct phrasing here. Careful not to overstep any boundaries. ]
If you'd like, I can ease the pain, but leave the mark. Or I can leave it be, if you would rather.
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She just stares at him confused, well and truly. ]
... Why would anyone want to keep such things...?
[ So that's a shake of her head, to that. ]
I think so... That they did... I do wonder why it did not affect me...
[ It had of course, just that she would never turn away a spirit and she had been lost in dancing for it to take her over to begin with. Then...
... Well her desires had been a different kind of demanding. ]
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[ Well then. No need to delve into that particular topic.
Instead he closes his eyes again, and that glow returns, stronger than before. This time with the intent to mend, to gently pull skin together like the weaving of fabric, smoothing over the indentations in her fair skin.
The concentration requires him to be silent. Luckily enough. ]
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Honestly, she was a grown woman, she ought not to be bothered by these things. ]
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Impulse takes him, and he reaches him to smooth her hair back and out of the way. ]
It should start to feel a little better, now. Physically, anyway. If there's anything else I can see to, you only have but to ask.
[ His brow furrows slightly. ]
And before you say so, no. It's not a bother or a trouble to me. This is what I do, and I'm happy to do so.
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Still when he speaks again, they flutter open again with a sheepish smile. ]
You know me too well, Anduin.
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[ Her eyes. Light, but he could get lost in them. No influence of the city required. ]
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How could I ever, with one such as you? To be felt and heard so clearly, when it seems I barely am to utter a word.
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[ He lets out a small laugh, his hands falling away. ]
I had meant to ask how you're getting on with your new Dominant. I feel living in the Up must be much more comfortable for you.
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[ But at his question, she can't help but beam at him. ]
Oh, yes, yes it is. My Dominant - Chieftan Halloween Jack - he is most gracious to me. He gave me much more freedom than I had thought would be allowed in a contract, I come and go where I please, am allowed to keep my own means and company when and as I want with his only concern being to my safety. We are quite similar in understanding some ways, for all our differences.
[ And there is an almost happy, dreamy daze to her gaze for it. ] It is perhaps only for the short while, but he let's me keep his apartment as if it were my own household. I even have run of the kitchen.
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It doesn't matter that he's not the one bringing that smile to her face, so long as she has the cause to smile at all. She deserves it. More than, after all the hardship she's faced.
So his smile is genuine, even if tempered slightly by his own melancholy. ]
That's wonderful to hear. Did Marina and Eloy make it over as well?
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They have indeed, they are well cared for and awaiting you eagerly to see them. They are doing very well. But I do not doubt they miss you terribly.
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[ Perhaps he might even see to a few of his own. Something to add life to the otherwise severe lack of personal touch to his own suite. ]
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[ And it will be wonderful to send him sprigs of them, to see how well they grow. ]
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[ She'd mentioned the rains and the storms. To add to that the bitterness of winter's chill, truly it must be a thing to weather year after year.
One would expect the folk to be as she's described, stoic and sturdy. But Gilia remains everbright, even in her moments of doubt and distress. ]
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The snows could become fierce in Stormwind, but most often they were mild. Everything would be covered in a dusting of snow, and the local children would make snowmen and clothe them to resemble different people in the city.
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Oh, it sounds wonderful. How sweet. We cannot leave the house for very long, during winter. But that I would dearly love to see.
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[ If only they were free to do so. Instead of trapped here, playing these games the city continues to throw at them.
They'll find a way to get free, he knows that in his heart, but there are times when the homesickness strikes particularly hard. ]
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[ A fanciful notion, but one she is happy to entertain for awhile. ]