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rhys alexander greyback
HOGWARTS ALUM WEREWOLF CURSEBREAKER ECHO
1,168 posts
played by vanessa
the air around me still feels like a cage
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last online Apr 28, 2024 23:50:45 GMT -7
WIZARDING ADULT
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May 19, 2021 20:02:37 GMT -7
Post by rhys alexander greyback on May 19, 2021 20:02:37 GMT -7
i never feel like this i'm used to emptiness in my heart She looked away from him, but he didn’t think much of it. She was acting irregularly, and it reminded him of how nervous she had seemed in that cellar or even when he’d surprised her right after Valentine’s day. It seemed that this headstrong and fearless woman still could be afraid, though usually when she was trying to tell him something, it seemed. Maybe on any other day, it might have been cute, but he wasn’t in the mood. Finally, she spoke, though it was hardly specific, and she seemed to struggle through her message in a way that reminded him of himself. Rhys looked at her, and where she stood, her arms were wrapped around her chest, and she didn’t have the same posture as earlier. They had spent enough time together before they had started dating that Rhys could read her specific body language, and right now, it was telling him that he had definitely said something that was affecting her.
Rhys looked up at her, a bit confused. For a moment, he looked away and stared at the coffee table and the bottles that seemed to cover it, thinking. ”Is this a question of how I feel?” He finally asked, a normal tone—not the calmest but not snippy like before. Rhys’ jaw clenched, there was certainly no question of that, and it wasn’t something she needed to worry about unless he had said something that made her doubt him now. The idea of that sat heavily on his chest and felt worse than the weight of his own turbulent thoughts and feelings. One might laugh to think that Rhys was the committed type, or even capable, but the truth was that Rhys was very capable when he wanted to be. Unfortunately, the example of Deva was a very bad one, but months of reflection had only told him that while he’d always care for her deep down inside, he didn’t feel that final spark for her that he needed to feel.
He stood up and walked over to her, still trying to rewind through all the words he remembered saying, but it was still fuzzy again. Still, he was annoyed and frustrated, and now those feelings were growing because now he was assuming her doubt. ”Because I can assure you that hasn’t changed.” Maybe it was his reputation, or maybe her staff had said something. Unfortunately, they had known Rhys from a distance a lot longer than Vasilia had, and that included all the times he showed up at the bar alone but didn’t leave alone. Everything in his being needed to let her know how he felt. If only he could remember exactly what he had said. ”You know I care about you more than anything and I—“ Rhys paused. She was here because she wanted to support him because of how much she cared for him. But, in his mind, she didn’t have to repeat that—he already knew and why?
Well, in that split second, a lot of things clicked at once. Maybe it was the bad mood or the anger that took him out of his thoughts for once. Rhys hadn’t been thinking when he’d stormed off to the kitchen, and when he wasn't lost in his head, he was surprisingly clear. In that moment of anger, he’d found the clarity to describe and summarize what he’d been feeling this entire time: love. ”I—um.” Now that he was thinking about it, his body responded in turn, his heart starting to race. Rhys always found it difficult to differentiate certain happy feelings with fear, and he wasn’t sure which one he was feeling at that moment, but he forced himself to look at the girl in front of him—he needed to stop thinking and just speak. ”Vasilia…I love you.” He couldn’t believe for a moment that he’d just said that—but Rhys felt it, though now he was feeling anxiety. There was no way she felt the same, and he was just moody from the full moon—that explained it, right?
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last online Oct 27, 2023 12:42:38 GMT -7
STUDYING ABROAD
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May 19, 2021 20:49:34 GMT -7
Post by vasilia abigail fortescue on May 19, 2021 20:49:34 GMT -7
Vasilia felt exceptionally awkward as he tried to piece together what she was saying... without actually saying it. She knew it was.. obscure and unhelpful. But she just couldn't say it aloud. Not when she didn't know if that's what he'd said or not. Dammit, why couldn't she just say it? She was a confident person! Why did she feel so goddamn nervous right now? Why did Rhys make her doubt herself, and become so anxious and overthink? Well, actually. A part of her knew why. Because Rhys wasn't just anyone to her. He was the guy that had stolen her heart. Because she desperately, desperately wanted her own feelings for him to be reciprocated. But she was terrified that they wouldn't. Despite knowing he was interested in her. What if he got bored? What if he changed his mind? What if he decided that her complete inexperience was too much trouble? So many doubts floated around in her head, making her question every action she took.
Vas looked back at him as he got up and moved to her, tilted her head back just a little to meet his gaze. It was unusually hard to meet those stormy eyes right now. Her nerves making her want to look away. His speaking helped her stay focused on him, biting her bottom lip just a little as she listened. Had he understood yet? She didn't think so... Because he was sounding like he was trying to reassure her he still liked her. "That's... I know that..." She muttered. She knew his feelings were still there. But it was the strength of those feelings that he was making her doubt. Caring for someone and loving them were two very different things in her mind.
Though, he finally seemed to get it. She could see the realization in his expression and Vasilia fidgeted uncomfortably where she stood, waiting for his reaction. Would he explain it away as just being a slip of the tongue? Something in the heat of the moment that didn't mean what she thought it meant? His false start to speaking didn't help either, and her heart was practically a sledge hammer in her chest. Louder, and louder. Painful. As he started to speak again.
And then her heart stopped beating.
Her eyes went wide as her heart sputtered to restart. No, she'd heard right. Those three words. So innocent separate but world shattering when together. Her mouth opened, to do her own false start of explaining away why he shouldn't love her, much like she had when he admitted he liked her, but at least some common sense had returned to her and she closed her mouth. She blinked, trying, desperately to form thoughts, words, something. Anything! And yet she was completely struck speechless.... Well, mostly. "Say that again." She breathed, her voice barely a whisper. She wasn't hallucinating.. right?
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rhys alexander greyback
HOGWARTS ALUM WEREWOLF CURSEBREAKER ECHO
1,168 posts
played by vanessa
the air around me still feels like a cage
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last online Apr 28, 2024 23:50:45 GMT -7
WIZARDING ADULT
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May 19, 2021 21:18:48 GMT -7
Post by rhys alexander greyback on May 19, 2021 21:18:48 GMT -7
i never feel like this i'm used to emptiness in my heart Rhys’ exhaustion was temporarily gone, but likely just the aftereffect of the slight fight or flight response he was feeling and how hard his heart was beating in his chest. Those three words had just come out of his mouth. Rhys had just said them. But despite his momentary disbelief, he knew he didn’t regret the words. This girl in front of him had made him feel things he hadn’t felt in a long time. That sense of hope, even a sense of carefreeness, and it scared him endlessly, but she calmed him also. Despite everything he had said since she arrived here tonight, when she looked at him, Rhys knew she wasn’t looking at him with any pity or like he was damaged goods and not worth the effort. He didn’t feel the need to hide when she looked at him like that, and there was a lot he hadn’t told her, but she made him feel like he had earned some small right to be a little bit happy.
The room was starting to feel a bit warm. The combination of his naturally higher body heat, lack of sleep, anxiety, and the large amount of whiskey he had just drunk in the short period since he’d woken up made Rhys feel warm. Plus, after a slight delay in response from Vasilia, she didn’t exactly say it back. Instead, she asked him to repeat it, and he paused because he was suddenly feeling on the spot, and words refused to be spoken. ”I—um.” Again, he was having trouble with words. Rhys had never been a man of words, preferring to be a man of action. Rhys swallowed, wishing he could get the glass he’d left on the coffee table, but he couldn’t bring himself to look away. Instead, he stepped closer and put a hand on her face before he leaned down and kissed her. It wasn’t a quick one either. But then he pulled back slightly so that they could breathe, but his forehead was still very close to hers. ”I said, I love you.” Rhys repeated, his voice was low, but he was sure she could hear him.
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last online Oct 27, 2023 12:42:38 GMT -7
STUDYING ABROAD
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May 19, 2021 22:24:35 GMT -7
Post by vasilia abigail fortescue on May 19, 2021 22:24:35 GMT -7
Vasilia was still very much convinced she must be hallucinating or dreaming. He'd said it once before and she was sure she hadn't heard him right. This second time had been much clearer, but she still couldn't believe it. Because could something like that happen in real life? Especially to her? So, she doubted. Despite his clear words before. She doubted and had to be sure.
Rhys didn't immediately oblige her request, and it only made her doubt more. As he moved closer though she unfolded her arms so they wouldn't be a barrier between them. She swallowed hard, unable to look away from those eyes which were impossible to read right now. Until his lips met hers as he bent down to kiss her. Immediately she kissed him back, leaning into him just a little and placing a hand on his arm again. Alas, the sweet kiss didn't last long, but it seemed he wasn't done making her heart flutter sporadically as he spoke. Finally saying those three words again. She still looked thoroughly stunned but she found herself starting to smile again. "And... it's not just the full moon and whiskey that's making you say it right? Because I really want to say it back, but if I do you're not allowed to take it back or deny it later. You have to remember." Of course, it wasn't the most romantic thing to say in this exact moment. But, it was... in Vas' own way.
Vas let her words have a moment to sink in before she kissed him again. It felt different this time. Perhaps because of what he'd just said, and what she knew she was about to say. But it felt more real and deep. Though, when it was time to finally breath she pulled back just enough to stare into his eyes. Just like the eye of a storm. "Rhys, I love you."
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rhys alexander greyback
HOGWARTS ALUM WEREWOLF CURSEBREAKER ECHO
1,168 posts
played by vanessa
the air around me still feels like a cage
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last online Apr 28, 2024 23:50:45 GMT -7
WIZARDING ADULT
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May 19, 2021 23:04:38 GMT -7
Post by rhys alexander greyback on May 19, 2021 23:04:38 GMT -7
i never feel like this i'm used to emptiness in my heart Rhys’ heart beat a little faster being this closer to her and, of course, because she still hadn’t said it back. It only worried him because he didn’t like to feel alone with unrequited feelings and didn’t want her to say it to spare his feelings either. But, she had kissed him back and hadn’t pushed him away, which was always a good sign in his mind. It wasn’t something Rhys ever said often. At all. Not to his friends, now that he thought about it—rarely to his siblings, and he was never in a relationship or fling long enough to warrant it either. He’d told Deva he loved her the previous year, but while that was true, he hadn’t been in love with her since their school days. All this time, he thought there had still been a glimmer of that, but as he felt what he did know for Vasilia, he knew it hadn’t been the case. She followed up with clarifications. Rhys was tempted to roll his eyes. How could someone who made him feel happy also be so frustrating sometimes?
”I mean it.” He assured her. If anything, it was more likely he’d say it when it wasn’t the full moon—but after so many months it had been building up to this, neither of them had realized it just yet. And despite several glasses of whiskey since Vas had arrived, his tolerance wouldn’t even let him feel a buzz which had just added to his earlier annoyance and frustration. But, also, whiskey was known to a man more honest. She wanted to make sure he didn’t wake up, hungover and having forgotten this entire exchange. Much as he had that night in December, but he wouldn’t forget because he didn’t need a memory to tell him what the fluttering in his chest meant. She kissed him, and Rhys pulled her closer to him. He liked having her close to him. But, as always happened with them, they needed to breathe, and she pulled away slightly.
And then she said it—she repeated the words back to him, and Rhys felt this sensation in his chest but a slight weight lifted. Rhys smiled through the exhaustion, and whatever physical ailed him. ”You can’t take it back or deny it later.” Rhys repeated what she had just told him moments ago. But then he pulled her into a hug, bringing her closer against his thinning frame. The full moon and the days before and after were mentally, emotionally and physically draining on a werewolf. Rhys spent most of his time sleeping and drinking to sleep. Even now, he still craved that whiskey he left behind but also he felt a comforting feeling with the hug. It was in contrast to how he’d pulled away so quickly earlier.
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last online Oct 27, 2023 12:42:38 GMT -7
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May 19, 2021 23:32:14 GMT -7
Post by vasilia abigail fortescue on May 19, 2021 23:32:14 GMT -7
Ever since that night in December, Vasilia had known. Known that she didn't just like Rhys. She'd fallen in love with him. It had been a quiet and slow development. She hadn't even realized until those feelings were already there, begging for her to see them and act upon them. It had just been such a natural development. She didn't know why, or how. It just happened. But right here, right now? She didn't regret them. She never bad, but she'd been so worried that her feelings were stronger then his own. That his might have been more of a crush when her's was much deeper. But somehow here they were.
Seeing Rhys smile after the kiss was the best sight. He didn't smile often, but he smiled for her... Except tonight. That was maybe the first time he'd smiled. It always made her heart flutter. As he spoke, repeating what she'd said she immediately shook her head. "Never," she agreed. She didn't regret it, no matter how terrifying it was to admit. God, she loved him. Rhys Greyback. A man with a reputation of being an asshole and bit of an alcoholic. Her brother's school mate and co-worker. A moody werewolf with a bit of a temper. And yet she loved every part of him. It was such a freeing thought to admit it to herself, and know that she didn't have to hide it. She almost felt like she might cry, though thankfully she didn't. But she couldn't get rid of the smile from her face.
His hugging her was a first, but she wasn't one to complain. Rhys usually let her hug him, and returned the gesture. But for once he was initiating the gesture. Immediately she wrapped her arms tightly around his shoulders to pull herself close to him. She could stay like this forever.
[END!! <3]
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