Twilight had begun to blanket the Twelveswood, with hues of orange and red spreading through the trees as the sun straddled the western horizon. Soon night would be upon them, though the farther they moved away from Eugenia's Spire, the darker the grove had become. A dense fog hung about the place that remained quieter than death, with Lox's footfalls as the only sound they could hear being echoed back to them against the eerily still boughs of the thick canopy. With not a soul in sight, I'rinae pulled up the map to check the exact location but froze when her eyes caught a glimpse of what looked to be half of a column jutting from the moistened earth. Weathered stones covered in moss lay cracked and broken, littering the forest floor around them. Climbing down from atop Lox and donning her astroglobe, she used the faint glow radiating from the core to cast what little light it could against the invading dark. The air that hung about was replete with aether, as well as a frigid chill that shook her to the core. An unshakeable sensation of death had gripped this place, painting every ilm in shades of dilapidated gray. Al'kir hopped off from Lox to join her after grabbing his spear, stopping a few ilms behind her while keeping his voice low. "Are we at the right spot?"
"I'm..not sure.." I'rinae responded in a similar hushed tone, motioning for him and Lox to follow as they waded through the gloom.
The duo had wandered into a corner after passing more broken columns and climbing several sets of decaying stone steps. Corpseweed as well as various types of fungi became more frequent, as did the engulfing darkness. Jagged cliffs now surrounded them on one side while the other fenced them in with a crumbling stone wall. Despite the trees clearing from this small opening, Azeyma's grace could not reach this part of the wood at this hour, adding a considerable amount of difficulty to navigation. Stopping in the middle of the lonely hollow, I'rinae gathered her surroundings as she turned to examine their destination. "Well, it should be here, unless Marce and I were both off the mark.." Her voice echoed against the solitary stones and out into the path, getting lost within the snaking tunnels that extended into abyssal darkness until they could no longer hear it. As the wood fell silent once more, a clanking of metal against stone alerted them to the northernmost corner as something large disturbed the fog. Heavy thumps grew louder as the sound began to thunder through the grove, the foundation underneath them starting to quake with every step. After a crash and an audible swish of air, the two searched wildly for the source, turning every which way but naught could be seen.
Al'kir prepared his spear, the dynamic of this situation rousing anxiousness within him. A faint whisper caught his ear, as the sound of a blade piercing air split the silence from above, growing steadily louder as it closed the distance between them. The whistling grew louder and louder, and before he could make the connection, he threw all of his force into pushing I'rinae towards the west wall and splitting back towards the collection of boulders that sat at the east. Moments after he'd cleared the way, a gigantic being plunged into the center where I'rinae had been standing. Earth splashed and splattered as it collided, the blade of the sword and the hulking beast leaving a massive crater in its wake. "Run, Lox!" Al'kir shouted towards the chocobo, hearing a frantic screech in response as the bird turned and darted away, disappearing into the surrounding forest. Grinding metal scraped together as it slowly climbed to its feet, towering over the both of them. The empty helmet turned, the dullahan's attention now falling on I'rinae as the colossal sword swung over its shoulder landing with a heavy metallic thud. Slowly extending the blade towards her, it made its target known, watching as I'rinae jumped to her feet and prepared her astroglobe. Ears flattening and tail locking around her leg, she prepared for the worst as it rounded on her. Bracing before a sprint, it pushed itself towards the miqo'te with all of its might only to get slammed into the dirt once more.
Sparks shot from its back as the dragoon crashed against it hard enough to cause metal chips to flake away. Vaulting off and landing next to her, Al'kir steadied his spear and took this small moment of reprieve to better analyze their foe. Watching the brute pick itself up, he'd noticed every piece of its armor was at least two ilms thick. This made it heavy and slow, but Al'kir knew that even a glancing blow with that much weight behind it could be fatal. "Any suggestions?" Al'kir requested, the both of them backing away until they met with the southernmost wall.
As the armored goliath struggled to get back on its feet, I'rinae had noticed a single glowing core that shone through the fresh cracks in the back of its chestpiece. Though its presence was very dull, there was definitely something there within the depths of the encapsulated darkness. "Well, if the stories are true, it is undead.." Lingering on the thought, this would mean that the armor would have to be broken. Her ears drooped upon this realization, knowing that it would put Al'kir in immediate danger. "If we break the armor, I can purify the core.." Silence fell between them as they watched it gain footing, slamming its fist against the gigantic broadsword in a burning frenzy to signal another round had begun.
"I'll do my best.." he said solemnly, stepping in front of her as if to gather their foe's full attention. The two began to circle the arena with its abyssal gaze now locked on the dragoon. A light rain had started, dotting the earth with a cool shower. Beads of water tapped against the giant echoing through its hollow body, though it remained unphased, its concentration fully invested in its new target. A rumble of thunder in the distance caused them both to stop, weapons pointed with anticipation, sizing up the other in dual suspense. A bright flash lit the tiny thicket, marking the beginning of a frenetic battle as the two lunged for each other. Rolling thunder continued, with each strike of their weapons rivaling the booming roar of the skies. Only one was going to come out victorious, with determination serving as the fated judge.
…
The chaos in the chapel carried on, with much of the items from the gift counter now missing or severely damaged. Half the guests had finally managed to escape, and the mob of vagabonds had thinned significantly. Grinding his teeth together in seething fury, Croix remained ducked behind an overturned altar to hide from the barrage of arrows being fired towards him. Screams and frenzied steps could still be heard as his remaining guests tried to escape with their valuables intact. The occasional cackling of his lalafell captors only fueled his rage further, causing his nostrils to flare with each heated breath. Doubletaking towards the left side of the overturned altar, he'd noticed a bejeweled staff laying idly nearby when the light of the setting sun hit the corner of a large ruby socketed in its crown. Croix took advantage of a momentary lull and lunged for the staff, snatching it from the ground before an arrow soared past his arm. "Now let's see who's laughing.." A quick spell launched the altar with explosive force towards his captors, slamming into the two lalafells and their glowing companion. The once dull ruby now gleamed a brilliant shade of crimson as he climbed to his feet, the searing light growing more intense with each passing tick. A ball of fire began to form above him in the empty rafters of the cathedral, growing in size and intensity until it was almost as large as a small airship. The flowers that adorned the walls and chapel pews began to wilt and wither as the air grew white hot. The ribbons that were closer towards the blazing ball soon curled and burst into flame while it hung suspended near the rafters. He focused his ire towards the miqo'te, pointing the staff towards her. "I grow tired of this farce! Call them off or I will sear us all into Oblivion!"
Risa hesitated, almost daring him to follow through with his threat but ultimately deciding against it when she noticed the lunacy reflecting in his soulless icy eyes. He would do it, there was no doubt in her mind about that. Piercing the chaos with a whistle, Risa tossed a hand out to signal a retreat but then questioned herself. The flare he'd conjured would surely reach for mulms, even if she did buy them time it wouldn't be enough to save the majority. The whistle had caught their attention as they all froze, friend and innocent bystander alike. "Alright now Croix, let's not do anything too rash.." Risa knew he was beyond reasoning, but it wouldn't hurt to try. It was well enough that they would get burned for crashing the party, but his guests weren't in on the joke. A lot of lives were on the line, and if they wanted to remain alive, she needed to play nice just this once.
"Rash? RASH?! Oh we are far past 'rash' my friend! In one fell swoop you've lost me my respect, my treasure, MY PRIZE!" he roared, tossing a concentrated ball of pure flame towards Risa's direction during his small tantrum. As it had formed almost instantly, the suncat had very little time to maneuver around it as it singed her right arm while soaring past and igniting a group of miscellaneous bouquets. The musket she was hiding skated across the marble floor away from her when she fell clutching her smoking arm. "I HIGHLY suggest you put. That. Tome. Down, old-timer. Lest you want your friend to be flambéed beyond recognition.." Croix's pointed nose rounded on Marcelloix before he could get close enough to check on his lalafell friends.
Cradling his injured carbuncle, Marcelloix's rage subsided for the moment as he begrudgingly clapped the tome shut and slotted it to his hip. He could feel the aether in the air fluctuate with such disparity that it concerned him. A great deal of aether was being used to conjure and hold that flare in place, though Croix showed no signs of onset feebleness. When Croix returned his attention towards Risa, Marcelloix used the time gained to tend to Kyros and Susuru who were still pinned behind the fallen altar while making sure to keep an eye on their unhinged subjugator.
Croix kicked some remaining chapel pews across the room before bending down and snatching the miqo'te from the floor by her hair, holding her dangling above the ground with a twisted smile cracking his thin, pale face. A quick spark ignited at the end of his staff as a small ball of flame danced around the tip, lashing hungrily towards Risa. "Tell me where she went." Croix's voice regained its naturally calm demeanor, yet a toxic hiss weaved within his mild tone as he brought the flame closer towards the captive suncat.
Risa hacked a wad of spit towards the elezen's face in defiance, her tail flailing as each hair stood on its end. Fangs bared, she lunged a clawed hand towards his neck before spitting her own venom back at him. "Nice glowstick ye got there. Gonna take me out to a moonfire festival, o're ye actually gonna start bein' a man instead of the whoreson I know ye t'be?"
After lunging back to dodge the claws, Croix ignored the spit seeping from his eye and stared at her blankly for a moment. An uneasy sigh left his lips before he broke into a fit of laughter, filling the entire cathedral with a manic cackle. "Is that so? Then I guess there's no choice but to burn the entirety of the Shroud to cinders.." he said, throwing in another brief fit of laughter before pushing the growing flame closer towards Risa. "Starting with you–"
"WAIT!" Marcelloix pleaded, his gaze falling towards the floor. Skeptical in his sudden lack of willpower, he fought against every fiber within his being as he baited Croix's ire towards him. "I-I know where they are.." He could feel the discomfiture in his voice, but the desperation that surged within him to spare the innocent trumped his pride.
"Don't ye dare, Marce! Don't ye tell that bastard shite!" Risa spit as she dangled from his grasp, the flame now licking the leather of her belted chemisette.
Ignoring Risa's pleas, he sighed with defeat and steadied his resolve. "I'll show you, if you promise to let your hostages free. Keep us as consolation, if you wish, I won't defy you – but please, refrain from this needless carnage!" He could feel Risa's golden eyes burning into him before she hit the floor, fighting to steady herself despite her arm being gravely wounded. Much to his relief, Croix dispelled the gigantic sphere of molten flame with a simple flick of the wrist before making his way past the miqo'te and towards the two decommissioned lalafells.
As Marcelloix rushed to her side to aid her, the miqo'te swung at him wildly while baring her fangs towards him in a fit of rage. His face tensed, understanding that their current circumstances looked incredibly grim, and his sudden episode of treachery didn't exactly paint him in the best light. Despite this, he'd hoped in time it would become clear the reason for his sudden fault of character, though he could only hope it would be sooner rather than later. The best he could muster at the moment was a solemn apology, even if he knew it wasn't going to quell the miqo'te's temper. "I'm sorry – I just couldn't bear it any longer, I know you must harbor immense doubt in my alignment, but I beg you to trust in me for now, please.."
Risa narrowed her golden eyes, though his words found a sliver of reason still hidden within her seething rage. Gathering herself to her feet, she pushed past him while still cradling the charred wound covering her right arm. She couldn't bring herself to look at him, but part of her wanted to believe he knew something she didn't. She didn't think he would sell out his comrades without lifting so much as a finger, as it would ultimately go against everything she knew to be true of the Lominsan scholar.
"You! Pick up the extra baggage and walk in front where we can see you!" Croix barked towards Risa, motioning towards the two lalafells that were still knocked out cold. "And you.." he began, turning back towards Marcelloix. "Tie them together, I'd like to reduce the possible amount of unwanted surprises during our trip. Hurry up!"
Marcelloix shot Risa an apologetic look before moving towards her while searching for something to tie them up with. As Risa bent down to retrieve their unconscious comrades, he waited until Croix was out of earshot and preoccupied with scavenging through the remainder of the pillaged gifts. Heaving a defeated sigh, she finally returned the remorseful gaze and contemplated their situation in silent stoicism. "For their sake Marce, I hope I can trust y'know what yer doin'.."
…
"Move! Now!" The dragoon's cry ran a jolt through her that provided just enough adrenaline to side step the sword that came crashing down between them. Its explosive mass sank into the ground with such force that it shook the earth around it. Droplets of muck flew into the air, splattering against anything nearby. Having dodged the armored goliath, the sun cat fell to the ground with a gasp after losing her footing from the earth-shattering tremor. The dullahan reared, wrenching its sword from the ground and turning its attention to her in preparation for another swing. With her aether running dangerously low, I'rinae scooted through the mud, propelling her arms back with all her might as she scrambled to get away but couldn't make enough distance. Pulling her globe up she braced herself as the sword rose and fell towards her, her ears flattening on her head and teeth clenched waiting for the piercing steel to rend her life.
"NO!" A gust of wind swept past her head as the mighty blade fell just short of her right ear, perking as the beast flailed backward and swung wildly. Atop it was Al'kir, holding his spear firmly along the brute's collar in a form of a choke hold. Each hand clawed at its captor frantically, one of them finally grasping hold and slinging the elezen into the muck. A weak cry escaped him as he slid to a halt a few fulms away. The collision had almost knocked the wind out of him as he lay there for a moment, gathering himself. He had recovered in time to notice the beast charging him with a full speed shoulder tackle, at which point he dug his spear into the slimy mound of earth next to him and aimed the other end towards the metal giant. A resounding clang of metal on metal rang out against the heavy rain, causing the miqo'te to shield her eyes in shock. Peeling her hands away, her eyes widened to see the dragoon bracing against the spear that was beginning to fold under its mass.
"Now, Rin!" he shouted against the torrent of rain, steadying the spear while keeping his gaze locked on its empty helmet. A dull red glow pulsed against the invading darkness, sending faint waves of light from the now gaping hole in its back. Parts of its armor had finally shattered due to the dragoon's constant barrage of strikes, though as the spear began to bend under the weight of the massive colossus, he could already guess that the abuse didn't come without consequence. It clawed for Al'kir as it hung suspended against the ground, its gauntlets clacking together wildly as it fought to reach the target of its ire.
Climbing to her feet, I'rinae focused on the exposed core and began to prepare one of her strongest healing spells. Channeling the remnants of what was left of her aether into her astroglobe, the rings began to oscillate with rapid conviction while the center radiated a blinding white light. As she tried to focus, her eyes caught the beast reaching for its sword that lay next to it, jutting from the ground. Wrenching it from the muck, its empty gaze settled on Al'kir once more as it raised the great blade and aimed it towards the dragoon's neck. Her heart began to race as she fought to remain focused on casting her spell, praying that she would finish the cast in time. As the gears of the astroglobe whirled and twisted, the blade slowly rose like a guillotine set to fall. A brilliant light shot towards the exposed core, striking its mark before the blade came down. Lightning illuminated the scene as the beast fell limp against the spear, though before I'rinae had a chance to tame her wildly beating heart, the sharp snap of metal caused her ears to stand stiff atop her head. To her horror, she watched as the goliath came crashing down atop her dragoon companion in a heap, followed by deafening silence. As fear began to claim her senses, I'rinae used what little energy she had left to try and clear the mess of armor so that she could reach him. Throwing herself at the empty chestplate, her feet continued to slip against the muddy terrain until she finally gained footing. She could feel what little strength she had left being slowly drained away from her as she continued to push, with a wave of relief coursing through her when it had finally rolled to the side. Thunder shook the skies as he lay there lifeless, bruised, and beaten.
"No.." she whispered, falling to her knees with her hands quickly cupping her mouth. "No, no! Please.." A hand reached out to sweep away some mud and loose strands of soaked hair from his rigid face, turning it towards her. "Al..Al wake up!" Growing frantic, she pulled up her astroglobe and attempted to prepare a healing spell only to feel an intense pain shoot through every ilm of her body. Waves of fatigue lashed against her diminishing consciousness, causing the core of the astroglobe to pulsate in faint white bursts before completely falling dim. With one final whurl it closed and collapsed into the mire, sending her tumbling forward against Al'kir's chest as she fumbled to try and catch it. "Please.." she whispered, tears crawling from the corners of her eyes as a heavy dose of despair attempted to claim what little hope she had left. Clutching handfuls of his stained and tattered cotton tunic, she remained bent over him, finding a small moment of reprieve when she could feel his chest falteringly rise. Placing an ear against his chest, his heart was still beating, albeit dangerously slow. He was still alive, if only just. Picking her head up, she peered around the darkness. There was a slim chance anyone would hear her, or wander this far into the wood, especially in this storm. When all hope seemed lost, the sharp sting of cold metal tapped against her fingers that rested on a patch of bare skin.
An ear perked towards the object, flicking wildly as rain fell against the inner chambers. A whistle tied to a hempen string lay strewn across his chest, partially buried under bits of muck. It held the likeness of a chocobo, and the blue dye had been chipped in several places. Cupping her hands to form a bowl, I'rinae held the tiny figure as she collected enough rain water to thoroughly clean it as a precaution. If she was going to alert the rest of the wood, it needed to be loud and clear. Pressing her lips to the tail, a shrill screech pierced the falling rain and crowding trees, echoing through the many caverns and cliffsides that surrounded them. As the echo gently died, disconsolate silence fell on them once more followed by the cracking of thunder. Her heart sank as her ears sloped against her head, feeling the cold bite of helplessness try and claim her. Not wanting to accept this ending, I'rinae clenched her fangs and pulled up the whistle, forcing another shrill cry from its small wooden beak. At the risk of potentially calling more foes to their location, it was better to accept defeat where she would at least have died trying. Booming thumps began to respond at the call of the whistle, with utmost haste and urgency. Expecting the worst, I'rinae quickly snatched the sharpened end of Al'kir's broken spear and pointed it towards the sound that was coming straight for them. Trembling, she climbed to her feet and stood between the entrance of the clearing and her fallen companion, prepared to fight off whatever came their way as best as she could. To her surprise, it was no ill beast that came bounding into the clearing. Dropping the shattered spear head, she breathed a huge sigh of relief when the great blue bird skid into view, eyeing her cautiously. "Lox!"
Upon seeing the state of his master, Lox flew into a frenzy, beating his wings and clopping his massive feet against the mud all while chirping erratically. I'rinae attempted to move closer to him with her arms outstretched, the expression on her face fighting to remain calm so that the chocobo would follow suit. Trembling hands met with the nape of its neck and glided down across damp, coarse feathers. The chocobo steadied its gaze on her, calming its wild tantrum as her arms began to lock around him. "It's okay.." she whispered, pulling away to look directly into the large black orbs that were now staring her down. The fear and concern almost felt as though it were mutual, as he began to bow his head. A soft coo fluttered from his beak, turning its attention down to his master. "I will do everything I can for him, I promise.." Without faltering, their gazes locked for a time before the chocobo voiced its acceptance of her promise with a loud chirp. "But I will need you to carry him for me, okay?" As if it understood every word, Lox settled into the pile of messy earth next to Al'kir's body as close as he could, turning his neck to help I'rinae push the limp dragoon over the saddle. Gathering her astroglobe and grabbing hold on the reins, I'rinae looked back at the pile of broken ancient armor lying in a heap in the middle of the clearing. As the lightning flashed, a sparkle appeared nestled against the cracked chestplate. I'rinae hesitated before returning to investigate, scooping away the pool of muck and water that had collected in it. "A key?" she breathed, eyeing it curiously. Another rumble of thunder alerted her to the more pressing matter, moving back to join Lox to begin their trek back to the Bobbing Cork. Slipping the key into her top, its curiosities quickly faded from her mind as her attention snapped back to Al'kir. Marcelloix's words rang through her head against the helplessness that tried to settle in, until she fell deaf to the heavy rain around them. "I will stay calm, I can do it..I can do this.." As if the words themselves gave life, she could feel aether slowly returning to her. The splitting pain that filled her body soon dulled, and as they breached the top of the hillside she could spot the faint glow of the Inn's windows as well as the silvery burn of the aetheryte crystal nearby. The violent crack of thunder caused her to wince, her ears flattening as it shook her core. Fighting the urge to collapse and give in to their misfortune, I'rinae narrowed her eyes in pure determination and shook the water from her ears before pressing onwards with Lox in tow. "I can heal him – I can do it!" Ignoring the burst of thunder that rivaled her battle cry, she increased her stride with her goals now focused and steady, pushing her through the raging storm.
…
His fitful sleep was disrupted with dreams, or perhaps moments of consciousness; through the haze in his mind he could not tell. They nearly always featured the blurred outline of a figure standing over him, sometimes busying themselves in ways he couldn't make out, sometimes merely watching. Fragmented words appeared in his mind, either by imagination or hearing, but he struggled to comprehend them. Only one thing did he hear clearly, and frequently at that. His own name.
"Al I-"
"-se Al'kir st-"
"-n Al wa-"
It was her, even through the fog in his head he could tell. After an unknowable amount of time had passed, his periods of consciousness lengthened. A gentle breeze caressed the gossamer curtains of an open window towards the dimly-lit southend of the room, moving the air gently enough to stir him from yet another brief slumber. The candle on the bedside table to his right fought back against the creeping breeze, causing the flame to flicker in excitement. A calm unlike anything he'd felt before blanketed the dragoon, almost smothering him in serene peace. Tightening his stomach, Al'kir attempted to sit up until a sharp pain coursed through his entire body. "Ah–" he winced, taking it as a sign that his injuries weren't fully healed yet. Disappointed that the feeling had now faded, he stared up at the empty ceiling for a moment before bringing his arms up to his chest. A relief had spread through him when he noticed he at least retained his limbs, though he was still unsure of the state the rest of his body was in. As his arm drifted back down towards the bed, his fingertips met with warm tender skin. A swift look downward revealed the miqo'te latched around his bandaged midsection, still lost to a much needed sleep. Unable to mitigate the amount of color growing in his cheeks, he left his arm dangling against her back as his hand closed tightly around one of her shoulders in an attempt to embrace her. Albeit not a true embrace, he dared not wake her – not after what they'd just been through. The pounding in his head grew stronger, alerting him to the possibility that he had been decommissioned for quite some time. Despite the soreness, dehydration, and fatigue, he was alive. They were alive. Thinking back on the events prior to being crushed by a suit of magicked armor, he could barely make out a means of how they ended up in a comfy bed. Judging by the ambient sounds of wind rustling through thick canopies and rushing water nearby, he had to guess they were still in the Shroud. Tilting his head back down towards I'rinae, a soft smile soon tugged at his cheek. "You must've almost completely spent the entirety of your aether keeping me alive, Rin.." he whispered softly, pulling his hand up to gently stroke her dark hair. An ear flicked at the touch of his fingertips, though the miqo'te did not wake. Only a faint murmur escaped as her tail curled tighter around her body, the tip now tapping lazily against his leg. "I'm sorry I made you worry so.."
Thoughts he had long buried soon surfaced as his mind drifted to future possibilities. He gazed towards the southern window, losing himself in the calmness of the night while considering different scenarios. A million questions began to barrage this small moment of tranquility that they'd managed to claim for themselves, with one taking precedence over all others. It was the same question that tormented him that night in Ishgard, though due to the course of events leading up to this moment, it had become more of a revelation. As he sat completely lost within his own head, Al'kir hadn't noticed the miqo'te stir from her deep sleep. The reality of it finally caught up to him when their eyes met, while her own fought to stay open for a time.
"Al?" she asked languidly, blinking repeatedly to try and dispel the exhaustion hanging heavy on her eyelids. Once she realized it was no dream, she quickly jumped up and threw her arms around his neck, folding into a tight embrace. "Al! Thank goodness you're alright!"
The dragoon winced as the extra weight pushed against his sore bones, but welcomed the embrace all the same. He gently exhaled, feeling her warmth against him as he wove his arms around her tightly. Euphoria spread through him, so much so that he'd almost forgotten about his current aches and pains – if only for a moment. It felt like a dream being able to hold her so tightly, though the question that tore at his nerves remained ever present during their moment. "Rin.." He paused, unaware of the bright rouge returning to his cheeks as fear and excitement toiled in his stomach. Now seemed like as good a time as any to finally know once and for all how she felt – if it truly was what he believed it to be. "Your letter..do you..is that how you really feel?" As he felt her pull away, the soft glow from the candle's flame managed to cast some light on a wide smile.
Her golden eyes locked onto his, burning brightly with adoration. "I thought that was obvious by now, or did that dullahan break more than just your ribs?" Her tone carried the same playfulness as it did the night before she was taken from them, though there was no hint of sarcasm or deceit.
The love that came from her ran deep; he could tell by her eyes as they stared back, her gaze never faltering. The fact that she could be so aloof about her devotion to him roused both anger and joy from within him, a feeling he was starting to grow used to during their interactions. As they both stayed staring into each other's eyes, he couldn't help but mirror her smile. Moments passed felt like an eternity, and he only wished it were so, until she moved in to press her lips against his. He returned the feverish show of affection, with his hands lowering to rest at her hips. A warm gentle hand rested on his shoulder while the other clung to the back of his neck, rustling through his tawny hair. Becoming so caught up in the moment, he'd almost forgotten to breathe. Pulling away briefly, he took in a few deep breaths and continued while pulling her in closer. A hand moved from her hip and started pulling at the laces that held together her leather bust bodice, feeling it come loose and fall between them. His heart trembled as thoughts came flooding in, triple checking his sanity as these events unfolded. Their lips had stayed locked together for what felt like eons, and as unwilling as he was to pause, he had to be sure. Pulling away once more, his eyes fluttered open just enough to meet hers again. Exasperated and hot, he pressed his forehead against hers as he held himself before continuing – a feat that took a considerable amount of willpower. "R-rin I–" he stammered, feeling his lust peak as he became lost in her eyes. "I-I'm not sure if–"
"Shh.." she cooed, removing the hand from the back of his neck and stretching a delicate finger against his lips. Moving in towards his pointed ear, her own sloped to her head before whispering her surrender. "I'm yours.."
The whisper sent a jolt through him, casting out all the doubts that had been bombarding his mind. Resolved and willing, Al'kir moved a hand towards the one that kept his lips hostage, intertwining their fingers before reinstating their passionate display of affection. Slowly, he began to roll, placing her underneath him. As a hand became distracted with untying the cotton briefs holding back his loins, their hands stayed tied together while he planted light kisses against her collarbone. The feeling of the briefs coming undone and sliding down his legs alerted him to the reality of it all – that he was now completely bare before her, as was she before him. His heart thundered in his chest while he moved back down towards her, catching her other hand and interlacing their fingers. A brief pause held him there, watching as the flickering candlelight illuminated just enough to take in the beauty of her form. Finally, a gentle smile stretched across his face before he moved in to reunite their lips; a gesture that would commence a long night's song of desire and devotion as the local ambience provided the right amount of atmosphere.