|
|
|
last online Apr 27, 2024 17:19:56 GMT -7
|
|
|
Feb 23, 2021 20:26:27 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2021 20:26:27 GMT -7
January 1, 2026 @cashel
Renfri let out a shaky, though still frantic, breath. She kept her eyes covered by her arm, and wishing the memories of the nightmare to fade. She hated the memory. Hated remembering the day her life had felt like it ended. After a few more controlled breaths, she moved her arm, and this time slowly sat up, making sure to shift her weight to her right arm so that she could sit up properly. Then, finally in a sitting position, she brought her knees up just a bit to rest of right elbow on her knee, hand in her hair.
That was when she felt movement beside her. Shit. In the panic she'd forgotten she wasn't alone in her bed tonight. Ri's voice, groggy, was soothing, asking if everything was alright. she lowered her hand from her hair and turned her head to look down at him. She gave him a shaky smile. She looked away after a moment though, as she didn't like how... scared her expression probably was in that moment. She hated how faster her heart was beating, giving away the terror she'd felt. "Sorry, didn't mean to wake you. You should go back to sleep." She intentionally didn't answer his question as... she didn't feel like she could lie at that moment and pretend everything was alright.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
last online Apr 27, 2024 17:19:56 GMT -7
|
|
|
Feb 23, 2021 20:34:43 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2021 20:34:43 GMT -7
This hadn't been the first time Ri had been woken up by someone else, but normally something bad was happening on the ship. This was different. Without the instant adrenalin rush, it took a little longer for him to become fully alert. Their eyes met, but she didn't say anything. He could see in the way she looked, it must have been a nightmare. She seemed to still be affected by it. He knew how that was. When he first got banished, she had had plenty of restless nights.
After she looked away, he sat himself up, wrapping his arms around her, bringing her into him. He didn't know what else he could do. " I'm not going anywhere." He said, holding her tight. If she wanted to push away, he would let her, but if not, he was there, he would hold her for as long as she needed.
@renfri
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
last online Apr 27, 2024 17:19:56 GMT -7
|
|
|
Feb 23, 2021 21:01:09 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2021 21:01:09 GMT -7
January 1, 2026 @cashel
Ri didn't go back to sleep. Nor did he demand answers to what had happened. Instead, he just sat up and pulled her into his arms, holding her close to his chest. Renfri closed her eyes, letting out a few more shaky breaths before she finally relaxed in his arms, leaning into him and letting her head rest on his shoulder. She didn't hold him back, though that was okay. In their current position it wouldn't have been easy to turn and put her arm around him. But it was nice, being held. Then he spoke. Telling her softly that he wasn't going anywhere. Not that she had expected him to. But those words seemed to speak more then simply not going anywhere tonight. It almost sounded as if he was telling her he wouldn't judge her for what had happened, and that he'd be there to help her through it.
She just leaned into him, forcing herself to relax. No doubt he could feel how hard her heart was racing, though it was starting the steady as he held her, as was her panicked breathing. ".. Fiendfyre," she finally whispered. She didn't pull away, nor did she turn her head to look at him. Just kept her head on his shoulder, face turned away. "In April. That's how I-" she swallowed hard, unable to say the words but he'd be able to fill in the blanks. How she'd lost use of her arm. "Sometimes when I close my eyes, I'm back there. In that crypt, and all I see is green flames." She hadn't told Ri about the accident yet. Though he'd likely pieced together it had been bad and obviously had to do with magical fire. But there were different kinds of magical fire. Fiendfyre was the most dangerous, and extremely dark magic. It was an all consuming flame, that would destroy everything in it's path. Without intensely strong counter curses, it wouldn't stop until it ran out of things to burn. It was a miracle she was alive, let alone that she'd only lost the use of one arm. Her telling him this would explain a great many things to him, but it would also tell him just how fresh the injury was. Not quite a year. It was no surprise she was still haunted by the memories.
Renfri swallowed hard, trying to swallow the emotions. "It was another curse breaker's fault. He made a mistake. And I'm the one that paid for it..." Of course, he'd been forced to retired too. He'd been injured. But he'd ruined her career. Her life. He'd taken her down with him. You could hear the bitterness in her voice.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
last online Apr 27, 2024 17:19:56 GMT -7
|
|
|
Feb 24, 2021 15:58:42 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2021 15:58:42 GMT -7
Ri sat up, knowing that the woman needed him. Though he was sure that there was little he could do, he held her in his arms. He could feel her heart pounding, and her breath shaking, but he held on. Finally, her body seemed to relax more, and he watched her as she rested her head on his shoulder, still looking away, but none of that mattered. What mattered, was that he wasn't going to let her be alone right now. As she leaned into him, he supported her, not needing words. She didn't have to talk about it if she didn't want to. In time, she spoke. Fiendfyre? It took him seconds to connect that with the burns on her arm. His arms grew tighter on her, And as she continued to speak, it had happened recently. There was no wonder she was waking up with night terrors. He softly rested his head on hers, closing his eyes. He was there for her, no matter what she needed. The druid remained quiet. He listened to her words, filling in the pieces. It was honestly a miracle that she had survived at all. Losing the use of a limb was a small price to pay. But still, it couldn't have been easy. He knew much about magical fire, and knew that Fiendfyre was the worst.
He remained quiet. Realizing that they had more in common than he thought. They had both suffered and been burned because of the actions of others. There was a long silent pause, as he comforted the woman. He took a deep breath, speaking softly. "I know how it feels, I had nightmares for months after....." There was another pause. He was sure that she could pull information from that, but he felt it was time. But, in his mind, this would either build what they had into a stronger connection, or utterly destroy what they had. There was no way to tell.
Finally, he took a keep breath, moving his head from hers, not being able to look at her as he spoke. "I killed my brother....Watched the life drain from his eyes." And that was the reason he was banished. Murder was frowned upon in the Druid culture, no matter what the reason was. Still holding Renfri, his arms loosened slightly, preparing for her to move away from him. That was what he expected. Closing his eyes, he couldn't watch, but he prepared to leave. That was what always happened. Even those on the ship knew little about why he was banished, Renfri was one of the first people he had told, afraid that outside of Hy-Brasil, he would be given the same treatment. But then where would he go?
@renfri
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
last online Apr 27, 2024 17:19:56 GMT -7
|
|
|
Feb 24, 2021 18:29:55 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2021 18:29:55 GMT -7
January 1, 2026 @cashel
Renfri wasn't the "vulnerable" type. Didn't open up to other people in a way that would make her appear weak. If you spoke with her friends or other curse breakers they'd never put the word vulnerable in the same sentence as Renfri. She took everything in stride. Fearless. But she wasn't. Not after the accident. Not since her life was destroyed from the mistakes of one idiot. Even those that knew about her accident didn't know how... traumatized she was by it. She tried to play off the pain as being over it. That she could handle what happened. But maybe... Maybe all she'd needed all along was someone to hold her when she was feeling most vulnerable and not judge her or expect her to be better. His warm embrace, holding her tightly as she said those words, sharing what haunted her.
And then, to her surprise, he spoke, saying he knew how it felt. He didn't finished the comment, but it.. surprised her. It took a moment for to piece together he must mean being banished. She knew he was a banished druid. Also knew that druid banishments were... rough. Total banishment from their way of life and people. She shifted, so that her arm could wrap around his waist, still leaning into him, as she felt that deep breath before he explained.
Killed. His brother. And then he left it at that. As if there was nothing more to say. That the details of why, or how, didn't matter. She felt his arms loosen around her. In response she tightened her own arm at his waist. She didn't turn her head t o look at him yet, jsut kept it against his shoulder. "Is that why..?" She started to ask, but didn't finish. Didn't say the word banished. But he'd know what she meant.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
last online Apr 27, 2024 17:19:56 GMT -7
|
|
|
Feb 24, 2021 18:42:38 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2021 18:42:38 GMT -7
Ri had always been classified as stoic. Keeping things in, not expressing many emotions. He had been told that he could be hard to read because of that. Opening up wasn't easy, but it felt right here, in this moment. He dared not look at her when he spoke. As he said he knew what it felt like to have nightmares, she moved to embrace him too.
But then he took a deep breath, and let it out. The thing that he dared not tell most people. The deed he had done. The one that changed everything. The fact was, he had killed his brother. The older mans face burned into his memory even still. As he told her, the images came back. Not everything, just the haunting look of the life leaving his brothers eyes, the same eyes that Ri had. Instead of leaving, like he expected, She held him tighter. Only asking him... Ri nodded "Yea. That is why I was banished." Murder was frowned upon in their culture. The reasons didn't matter. He had killed. And then he was banished.
@renfri
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
last online Apr 27, 2024 17:19:56 GMT -7
|
|
|
Feb 24, 2021 19:01:37 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2021 19:01:37 GMT -7
January 1, 2026 @cashel
Renfri didn't know this stranger well. There were still many mysteries to the man that was Ri. But his character wasn't one of them. She was also of the mindset that there was a different in killing someone and murdering them. WHile many were capable of killing, few were capable of murder. So while he'd said he'd murdered his brother, she felt in her heart that he was severely misrepresenting the situation.
She still didn't pull away, because his explanation didn't change what she thought of him. If anything she almost seemed to understand their connection just a little better. Both of their worlds had been changed by a single, horrible, event.
Finally Renfri pulled back just enough to look at him. He was looking away. "What happened?" She wasn't one to pry normally, but she, again, felt like context was being left out. Though it was definitely a deeply personal question, she felt it was appropriate to ask in the situation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
last online Apr 27, 2024 17:19:56 GMT -7
|
|
|
Feb 24, 2021 19:12:15 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2021 19:12:15 GMT -7
Renfri continued her embrace, feeling her weight on him was reassuring, but Ri still dared not look. He thought to his parents faces when they found out. It had destroyed him. He dared not look. Then she pulled away, but only just. But finally she spoke. At her words, Ri's eyes widened.
"What happened?" The two words that no one on Hy-Brasil seemed to care about. Ri turned to face her, his eyes meeting hers. Before responding, he pressed his lips against hers. After a short but tender kiss he pulled back. "I found my brother in a set of ruins, practicing dark magic." There were more details, but little things seemed trivial at this moment. "We fought, it finally ended with me plunging a knife into his chest." Many of those details were known to those who were involved. But no one else knew that the older Nightwalker boy had been practicing dark magic. Something that was strictly forbidden on their island.
@renfri
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
last online Apr 27, 2024 17:19:56 GMT -7
|
|
|
Feb 24, 2021 19:32:49 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2021 19:32:49 GMT -7
January 1, 2026 @cashel
Ri, after a painstakingly long moment, moved and met her gaze. She could see the pain in those wide eyes. Eyes that she'd been enthralled by since they met. She hated seeing the pain there. Instead of speaking though, he kissed her, and she kissed him back, though it wasn't like any of the frantic, desperate kissing of a few hours ago. When he broke the kiss he started to explain. From what she knew about druids, the dark arts were taboo. As in, one of the greatest taboos. So just that detail was enough to understand much of the situation. But Ri continued to explain, that a fought followed, and ended with him killing his brother. That didn't sound like cold blooded murder to her.
Renfri pondered what to say after that. Telling he was sorry? No. The more she thought about it though... the more angry she felt. Because killing someone in a fight, when they were breaking clear laws... That shouldn't be banish worthy! It was justified. Ask any Auror and they would agree. If that was the only option left. "Those assholes," she blurted out, unable to stop the insult aimed towards the druid people that had banished him. Though, after saying it, she knew she immediately needed to explain. "Ri, that's not murder. You did what you had to to stop him." Though, not being druid it was a little difficult for her to wrap her head about dark arts being bad, but different cultures had different beliefs. If that's what they believed, then who was she to judge? In their mind, it would be justified for that reason.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
last online Apr 27, 2024 17:19:56 GMT -7
|
|
|
Feb 24, 2021 19:44:46 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2021 19:44:46 GMT -7
Well, he had told her. It wasn't something that was brought up often, and it wasn't something that Ri particularly liked to talk about. Even Bjorn, who he had known longest on the crew, didn't know as many details as he had just told Renfri. The seconds that passed seemed to drag into minutes, maybe longer. He let her ponder his tale, wondering what she thought. Finally she spoke, and it.....well it wasn't what he had been expecting. She then moved to explain that he hadn't "murdered" his brother. Though, that was the entire reason that he was banished.
Ri had always felt as though his banishment had been unjust. But there was no further proof to his story, and no one cared to learn about it. He had blood on his hands, and that was enough for the entire island of family, friends, council, and loved ones. With that, he was banished from everything he knew. Not talking about it was one of the ways he coped with it. But perhaps he should have talked about it previously. Renfri's reaction was so much different than that of anyone else. He could feel his lips curling up as he went in for another kiss. A quick break, letting his lips linger near hers, he spoke. "Thank you. No one cared to here." He then pressed his lips again onto hers, holding her in a tight embrace.
@renfri
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
last online Apr 27, 2024 17:19:56 GMT -7
|
|
|
Feb 24, 2021 20:02:58 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2021 20:02:58 GMT -7
January 1, 2026 @cashel
Renfri didn't understand. How could he be banished for that? Again, clearly there was a cultural disconnect, but in her mind? That was justified. He'd had a valid reason for his actions, and he'd been punished for it. Punished for doing what he'd felt was right. Cut off from his family, friends, culture, home. It only made her more angry at those that had caused him that sort of unnecessary pain.
Instead of responding she saw the shadow of that smile before he leaned in. Immediately she kissed him back, leaning into his arms as they kissed for a long, perfect, moment. He only broke the kiss to thank her and she gave him a look, as if not understanding why he was thanking her for that, but she didn't get a chance to respond as his lips were on hers again. Renfri moved in his arms. She shifted, turning towards him and leaning harder into him and pushing harder into his lips. She pulled back suddenly, to stare in those pale eyes of his and catch her breath. "Their loss. F*ck them." Then, she kissed him again.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
last online Apr 27, 2024 17:19:56 GMT -7
|
|
|
Feb 24, 2021 20:12:11 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2021 20:12:11 GMT -7
Their kisses grew harder, they were learning more about each other, but the physical passion remained. If Ri still believed in fate, he would say that everything had happened to them to lead them to each other. But he was not. Fate had been cruel to him. While the thought did cross his mind, it just as quickly left. Renfri mentioned that his banishment had been their loss, and then kissed him, she was pushing harder now. He pushed back. The past was just that. And in that moment, it seemed to wash away. Ri wrapped his arms around the girl, spinning her down onto her back as they continued to kiss.
--Skip--
The rest of the night went swiftly by. With Renfri cradled in his arms, things just felt right. As the sun rose on the small Hogsmeade village, the cold winter morning had started, all was quiet in the small flat above one of the shops.
@renfri
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
last online Apr 27, 2024 17:19:56 GMT -7
|
|
|
Feb 24, 2021 20:26:16 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2021 20:26:16 GMT -7
January 2, 2026 @cashel
Snow fell that night, covering the sleepy wizarding village in a thick white blanket. The small second story studio flat was quiet and cold, chilled by the fresh snow but neither of slumbering bodies seemed to notice or mind. Sharing their body heat under the thick blankets. It seemed like sharing those experiences the night before had helped the restless pair sleep sounder. Safe and secure in each other's arms. Unlike the morning before there was no rude awakening of an owl on the glass, nor any other disturbance.
Renfri wasn't one to sleep in, but for once, she did. From the physical exhaustion of their... fun, to the emotional exhaustion of the past few days, to simply being comfortable. She didn't stir until well after the sun had risen. Eventually though, she started to stir, rousing from her deep slumber as a few sounds of the village outside the window carrying up to the small apartment, announcing the start of a new day.
Though, she'd thought too soon when it came to the owl. As then there was a tap on the window, that same owl as the morning before. Renfri let out a breath, eyes fluttering open and turning towards the window to see the owl. She mumbled and shifted, pulling the blankets up around her face. "You're being summoned." She muttered into the blankets, not knowing if Ri was awake yet.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
last online Apr 27, 2024 17:19:56 GMT -7
|
|
|
Feb 24, 2021 20:40:32 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2021 20:40:32 GMT -7
Ri was usually one of the first ones up on the ship, after the sun had come up, he could scout, often being one of his first duties when traveling. Having that job for a number of years, he was usually a very early riser. But there, in Renfri's arms, he slept. Perhaps it was walking up in the middle of the night, the emotional exchange, followed by a physical one. But it mostly boiled down to comfort. It was warm under the covers, their shared body heat perfectly matched and through their entanglement, they fit perfectly together as they slept. As the morning went on, Renfri began to stir, as if to protest the act of waking up, Ri curled deeper into her, holding her tighter. The morning meant that he would have to leave. He was a sailor, and the ship would have to leave to make it to the cursed island and back before night.
Hearing the familiar tapping, and feeling the blanket shifting, Ri opened his eyes, taking a deep breath he pulled himself away from the warm body, into the cold apartment. He wasn't shy, so he simply walked over, opening the window. He took the letter, and the Owl flew away. Opening it up, he expected, as she had said, a summons. Instead it was a snarky letter. He didn't mind it though. Ri moved back to the bed and resumed his position, wrapping his arms around Renfri. "Seems as though I have been forsaken by my captain." He said, moving in to kiss her neck. Not sad about the turn of events in the least. The bed was warm, and he closed his eyes once again.
@renfri
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
last online Apr 27, 2024 17:19:56 GMT -7
|
|
|
Feb 24, 2021 23:37:30 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2021 23:37:30 GMT -7
January 2, 2026 @cashel
There was a sudden child at Renfri's bare back as Ri got up to answer the owl at the window. Immediately Renfri shifted, yanking the blankets that he'd discarded back up around her so that all the heat from the bed wouldn't escape. Though, it was still colder without his body so close to her own. She uncovered her eyes just a little as he went to the window, purely for her own selfish "oogling". He had a very nice body, one she was becoming very familiar with. She took the moment he opened the letter and read it to admire his figure, before closing her eyes. No doubt he was being told to come back to the ship by his boss. It wasn't like they hadn't known this would happen. Of course he had his job to do. He couldn't just spend all day with her. A sailor's life was not stationary like a teacher's.
Though, to her surprise the bed shifted, She opened her eyes, turning her head just a little to eye him out of the corner of her eye as he curled up beside her, his arms snaking around her again. "Forsaken? That sounds ominous." She answered a little confused. She rolled over so she could face him, her legs entangling with his own again as he closed. He looked like he was settling back in to sleep again, as if.... as if he didn't have anywhere to go. Dare she hope?
|
|
|
|