Tag: IC x 6

(Originally an RP Prompt reply on Tumblr)

My eyes open to the morning light and there she is.

Not literally, of course. But she’s there, somewhere; using my face, speaking with my voice, recalling my memories.  I blink and feel my chest tighten. Waking up has become waking up to her. She is often the last thoughts in long nights, and the first thoughts in the mornings now. Those quiet moments, lying still and coming to grips with the day seem to be heavy with the idea of coming to grips with her.

Why? How? I don’t have any answers. I’m conscious of my breath. Keeping it even. I don’t want to worry him. His hand on is on my hip, and I’m grateful for the weight of it and shift carefully back toward him, not wanting to disturb him. He’s not up yet, but I’m...

The motion of the single scrap drew Khaeris’s eye downward with its erratic movements. The paper fluttered innocently, even as the rest of the mail flopped lazily onto the wagon’s floorboards. The alchemist ignored the rest of the mail, letting her dark fingers pluck up the paper only when it had come to rest quietly of its own accord.

There was no telling how long the note had been lodged in the mail slot. Had it arrived today? Yesterday? A week ago? A month? She had the impression it had been dislodged from a long stay unnoticed.

I have the Animal... though you would endure her as Paijwen... she is no more... come and save her. I implore you.

There was no envelop, but the few Thalassian words that took her breath...

Highmountain was beautiful, but the scenic mountains had not soothed Khaeris like they had previously. Her mind was so caught up on itself, even the slightly musty smell of straw from the nearby village stables couldn’t catch her attention; the breeze had tousled her hair, but it didn’t lighten her heart. The sounds of the birds gossiping in the dawn did not pull her in to their song.

It had been a night like so many others, spent laying next to Andaeros in the small tent he kept in the mercenary camp. Small touches, quiet voices, and soft kisses before sleep claimed her lover. But something had nagged at her and kept her from resting. There was a stone made of her unease sitting leaden in her stomach. Even her movements felt heavy...

The evening was quiet, and Khaeris couldn’t remember ever being this content. Twilight had passed, and her wagon was lit by soft magelights turned to a sleepy glow. Andaeros was at the fold-out table behind her. Sunny was curled up next to the man, snoring in that tiny panda way of his. Dinner was finished and the scene was something out of a dream. Even washing up was nice, and Khaeris took a conscious moment to enjoy the warmth of the soapy water over her skin.

“I love you.” Andaeros’s voice was warm with simple statement, unburdened and unconcerned. Familiar. As if the words came easily and often to him.

They had never come to Khaeris’s ears, though, and she stiffened slightly as a shock ran up her spine. The moment...

She didn’t know what they were called, but Khaeris ran a finger over the spiraling, sharp line of a long, thin machine screw. She pressed the pad of her finger against it for a few seconds, just  enough to be painful, before she carefully set it back down in the funny little magpie pile she’d made on the floor of his room. A few of the very precise screws, a piece of cork (what was that for?), and one of his sketches he’d made for Pyraelia’s prosthetic designs. She’d been sitting there awhile now, in the early hours of the morning, not bothering to look for the restless sleep she’d abandoned an hour ago.

They made her think of him. The strong lines of his ink sketch were his confidence in his work. The hard metal screws...