[Sandbox] Snippets

[Aethyrium]

Character Name: Marlowe “Lolo” Ashe
Date | Time: November 12th | Early Morning
Location: gRAVIty Dormitory
Wearing: Lacy Nightgown and robe
Tagging | Mentioning: Lyra |
Planning for today had begun weeks ago. Almost immediately after their moonlit date on the night of the alignment. The evening had been everything that she had wanted, and it seemed to her that she had made precisely the impression that she wanted on Lyra. It had gone almost as well as it could have. There was the matter of the kiss that had not happened, but Lolo hadn’t allowed that to deter her. She’d earn it yet. That night had been the first experience she had given to Lyra, but it wasn’t going to be the last. So Lolo had called on old friends, and earned a couple new favors in order to secure a birthday experience fitting her partner.

And the preparations for it had begun the night before. Lolo had worn something more conservative than normal to bed. Entirely because when morning came, she wanted to be ready. It was a concession she made for Lyra, an attempt to fluster her just a little less. There would be plenty of opportunities to do that with the surprises that she had worked so hard to organize and had planned. When the morning came, Lolo was up at her normal time. She quickly left the room and got her clothes for the day ready - she knew exactly what outfit she was going to wear for Lyra today. She laid it out, and then gathered the main present for presentation.

Lolo returned to the room and gingerly took a seat on the edge of Lyra’s bed, at the foot. She leaned against the pole and let herself relax. She wanted to be right there when Lyra woke up - the very first thing she saw. Lolo took a deep breath and settled in, waiting for Lyra to stir, idly watching her sleep. Her mind wandered. Despite not being much of a forward thinker, she found herself thinking of her own birthday. And then Lyra’s next. Briefly her gaze turned to the other bunks and she considered theirs. She wanted to make them all special. Her eyes turned to the empty bed where Chee should have been, and she scowled. With a head shake, she was determined not to let anything get in the way of today. Today was all about Lyra.

When the elf finally started to come to, Marlowe wasted no time in flying across the bed and pouncing on her. She beamed brightly and gave the Lyra an affectionate nuzzle and a quick squeeze, “Good morning.” Lolo rarely hesitated to join Lyra in her bed, but instead of trying to linger, Lolo very strangely disengaged all on her own. She slipped away from Lyra, and off the bed entirely. On her knees on the floor, she crawled to the front and sat back on her heels. Folding her arms on the edge of the bed, Lolo leaned in and rest her chin atop them, “It’s your birthday.” She chirped, making the happiest little noise, “Happy birthday, Lyra.” Her eyes opened and laid her head to the side to match Lyra’s, so they were more face to face, “I have a present for you.”

[FyreFoxx]

Character Name: Lyreilynn "Lyra" Xyrven Myalis
Date | Time: November 10 | Early Evening
Location: Hammer Academy > 3rd Floor > Shir's Quarters
Wearing: White dress with keyhole cutout and blue trim, blue and white paneled skirt, blue sash belt
Tagging | Mentioning: Shir | Kiba, Azir, Haimehen

Lyra lowered her hands back to her lap, the stream of tears never ending. In fact, hearing his words and the gentle way in which he spoke, they only came faster, dripping from her chin to land on the backs of her hands. She kept her gaze downcast, sniffling slightly. It was so unbecoming of her to be seen like this, and it only made things worse. Her emotions were in a turmoil and had been for days, and reliving that moment he wanted to talk about was even harder for her. Why did he have to ask her so softly? Why was there so much kindness and concern in his voice? Why did he have to care so much?

“It… it meant everything. And nothing.” Another sniffle as she lifted a hand to drag the back of it across one side of her cheeks, but it did little in the onslaught of tears that came after it. “We, we were arguing. And he was upset. I… I thought he hated me. I just…” She paused, pursing her lips together for a moment, staring at her folded hands. “I wanted to comfort him. I hated seeing him so angry at me. But then he…” Lyra lifted her hands and gestured wildly, not quite sure what to do with them. She still couldn’t bring herself to look at Shir. Not yet. Not until she had some grasp of control over her emotions, lest she fall apart again.

“I did not know what to think when he approached me. He grabbed me and… And…” She hesitated and her voice choked up. That entire day was still a jumbled mess of things in her mind. She had first started reading that silly book series just the day before and her mind had been reeling from the shock of its contents. “He… Kissed me.” She lifted her head and finally looked up at Shir, a few of the tears had turned to tiny ice droplets on her cheeks, but no longer fell from her eyes. “Just a few kisses. That is all it was…”

“But why does it hurt so much?” Lyra wrapped her arms around herself as her gaze fell to the floor, her shoulders shaking. “My first kiss, stolen, just like that…” Shir had said something about trust being broken. Was that why she still felt so bad about it? Had Haimehen broken that trust between teammates? Was that all this pain was? Broken trust? “He… He said it was not just to shut me up. Said I had driven him crazy that day. He apologized, for taking that moment from me. But not… not for kissing me. Should he have? Was it wrong not to?”

She shook her head as her arms tightened their grip further on herself. “When the rest of Gravity… and even Mockery knew, I felt so… ashamed. It was just a kiss!” Lyra had experienced many kisses since then. There had been Kiba, the first to erase the bad memory with a much more pleasant one. And Azir had been her last of many shared since. And there was even almost that one time… But that first one was supposed to have been special. It was supposed to have meaning behind it. “I… Even after everything, I do not… I do not hate him, Shir. I really do not.” Slowly, her arms fell away and her hands landed back into her lap, palms upturned towards the ceiling, looking up at her mentor with a saddened smile. “I just… did not want to be around him anymore. But not like this. Not like how it happened. Is it… Is it still okay for it to hurt?”

[Aethyrium]

Character Name: Shir Dhan
Date | Time: November 10th | Early Evening
Location: Shir’s Quarters
Wearing: As pictured
Tagging | Mentioning: Lyra |
He felt like he understood what she meant when she described it as everything and nothing. There was an experience in his own life that he might have described the same way. Shir was quiet while she explained, and he listened to what she had to say about the event. Meena hadn’t been able to offer details beyond what Artanis had said and had come out around the campfire. His understanding, up until now, was vague at best. This helped clarify some things. Though he didn’t know if it actually made it better. He thought briefly of Haimehen laying in the hospital, wishing that he’d wake up so he could talk to him too. If Lyra was torn up over this, he wondered what it had been doing to Haim. It was wrong, there was no question there, but Shir had the benefit of being on the outside of the situation. He could recognize that it was wrong, he could afford Lyra sympathy for what had happened, but also Haimehen empathy for his own struggles. Even more, he wished he had the other elf’s insight so that he could better help Lyra through this pain that she was feeling.

But then maybe he was selling himself short, and maybe he didn’t need it to help her.

The frozen tears on her cheeks, the winter river, caught his attention as the light glinted off them. He frowned. Just a kiss she said - again. Shir closed his eyes, thinking. He would have commented on that, but what she said next seemed so much more important. “You don’t have to hate him, Lyra.” His eyes opened and peered at her. “Emotions are… Complicated.” A dry, stifled chuckle died in his throat. What an understatement that was. “They’re messy things, and they don’t fit nicely into boxes. And they can be terribly contradictory, and still be true.”

It would have been easy, he imagined, for her to believe that she needed to hate him. That she needed to feel some sort of deep anger at him. The way he understood it, the people around her did - and he didn’t blame them for that. Perhaps worst of all was Marlowe - another one he needed to talk to - and her impact on Lyra couldn’t be understated. It wouldn’t surprise him to know that Lolo’s pressure might’ve been impacting her. He wondered if it would surprise her, and how true it was. “Everyone around you has all these feelings about this, but those are theirs, and they don’t have to be yours. And you can be sad for him, and you can be hurt that he is hurt, and wish that he wasn’t. You can do all of that, and still be hurt by him, and feel pain for what he did.” His smile leveled out, “It’s okay to feel both, even if they feel opposite. They’re not, they’re not exclusive, and they can coexist.”

Shir placed his hands together and laced his fingers. His thumbs extended and tips touched. He stared down to the floor through the hold created by his hands, “I have been stabbed, shot, electrocuted, and gored by Hollow.” He looked up slowly, meeting her gaze and that sad smile on her face. He returned it, “But the most painful thing I’ve ever experienced?” His own eyes wavered, “A kiss that should never have happened.” It wasn’t the same as what she had experienced, not by a mile. But it shared a core theme. And it had damaged him in a way that he had never recovered from.

“I don’t know what he was thinking, or what he wanted. And if you want my opinion, yeah, he should have apologized for more, and it was wrong not to.” He shrugged lightly, “But none of that matters, I don’t think.” His indexes from the formation and extended, pointing at her, “He did it. It happened. What matters now is how you define it. It’s your memory now, and you get to choose how it exists for you. You can be angry, or sad, or hateful, or forgiving, or understanding… Or none of that.” His tongue swiped across his lips and he swallowed hard. He didn’t want her to do what he had done, he wouldn’t wish that on anyone. “It can be just a kiss, if that’s what you want it to be. Or it can be something precious stolen from you. What matters, Lyra, is that you’re honest with yourself. If you need to hurt, let yourself be hurt. If you need to forgive, let yourself forgive.”

[FyreFoxx]

Character Name: Lyreilynn "Lyra" Xyrven Myalis
Date | Time: November 12th | Early Morning
Location: gRAVIty Dormitory
Wearing: Blue sleep robe, dark blue sash (no jacket)
Tagging | Mentioning: Marlowe | Azir

Lyra had gone to bed the previous night a bundle of nerves, equal parts excitement and dread. She had plans for that evening, but was still worried about how they would go. Would he accept her? Despise her? Would she lose everything they had just built on a risky gamble? She had been so stressed out about it that it had taken her forever to fall asleep. While normally a light sleeper, for once, she did not stir as Marlowe slipped from the top bunk, as was her usual morning alarm. It just went to show just how tired and exhausted she was to sleep right through it.
 
When she finally did stir, Lyra let out a small yawn, a hand creeping out from under the blankets to cover her mouth as she did so. Blearily, she blinked a few times until the world came into focus, noticing for the first time there was a weight at the end of her bed. How had she not been woken up by that? The moment her eyes settled on Marlowe, a rosy color blossomed on her cheeks at her state of dress; at least it was more modest than her usual fare. A little ‘oof!’ was uttered as Marlowe all but tackled her into the sheets and Lyra giggled, catching her in the motion. “Well, good morning to you, too, Lolo.”
 
As her partner pulled away, Lyra blinked. Normally Marlowe would continue to be affectionate and touchy, despite Lyra’s never-ending protests. It had almost become a game between them, with Marlowe seeing how far she could push and fluster Lyra before it became too much for the little elf. With Marlowe kneeling on the floor, Lyra settled back down in bed, although she did turn to face her, laying on her side with an arm tucked up under her head. That smile on her face grew wider. “It is,” she confirmed. “You remembered. Thank you, Lolo.” She didn’t expect to be greeted like this first thing in the morning.
 
At the mention of a gift, her eyebrows rose a bit, blinking rapidly. “A-a gift? For me?” It was nice enough just to be wished a happy birthday, but Marlowe had gotten her a present, too? Shifting slightly, Lyra pushed herself up so that she was now sitting in bed, the covers pooling in her lap as she tucked her legs up under her. “You did not have to do that for me, Lolo.” Despite her words, she seemed thrilled all the same, nearly bouncing in anticipation, a wide grin on her face. This was her first birthday she’d be spending with her teammates, and the last one of her teenaged years. In a way, it was special, and already being made even moreso.

[Aethyrium]

Character Name: Marlowe “Lolo” Ashe
Date | Time: November 12th | Early Morning
Location: gRAVIty Dormitory
Wearing: Lacy Nightgown and robe
Tagging | Mentioning: Lyra |
Body language spoke words that Lolo knew Lyra didn’t have. That was fine by her, she loved the things that Lyra’s body said. Lolo shifted as Lyra did, wanting to stay centered up with her. Her nose wrinkled and she shook her head, “Of course I didn’t have to.” She rebuffed, still eagerly smiling, “But I really wanted to.” Lightly she nibbled her lip. “I’m going to give you the best birthday ever.” Of course she didn’t know of the plans that already existed, and in her eagerness to create a great surprise for Lyra, she had gone, perhaps, too far. But it felt important. She was away from home, and Lolo wanted her to again know that she wasn’t alone. This too was a memory she wanted to share with Lyra. She wanted to look back on it one day, and remember how they had been.

“We’re going to have such a good time.” She began, leaning against the bed. Her whole body vibrated with excitement, she was nearly wagging an invisible tail, “I’ve got the whole day planned. First, we’ve got breakfast. I’m going to take you to a cafe where they serve these little… Berry bite… Things.” She laughed, “You’ll like them, I promise! And then I want to take you to Elegance again. Aurora, you remember her right, she’s the owner? She’s friends with a designer from Pearl, and I convinced her to set up a video conference. They’re going to design you a dress just for you.” Lolo continued, never slowing down enough to let Lyra get a word in edgewise, “And then I thought we might have a picnic in Rook’s Down for lunch. We can stop at that cafe you liked and pick up some things.” She nodded as if confirming every word, really having blocked out the whole day for Lyra. “And Jasper said there’s a woman in the western quarter, who set up an ice rink and is teaching people how to skate! So I thought we could head over there after lunch and try it out? I’ve never skated before, but how hard can it be.” Marlowe laughed, “And then I got us reservations for dinner at Shadarong. I didn’t know it, but they have a whole menu with the stuff you like.”

But none of that was the real present. It was part of it. It was the celebration and fun, and the dress was something. But Lolo had something much bigger in mind. “And when we’re done, I got us these…” Humming with energy, Lolo picked up from her side what she had been hiding. A pair of tickets to a concert - well, a play, actually. She held them out, in both hands, and boldly printed on them were the words The Dragon’s Pact - something that Lyra knew full well. An elven play, telling an ancient tale of her people. One of the few still surviving legends from before the Veiled Era. “It’s a small, private event. Only a few people get invited to experience it. I thought you might like to see something from your people, and you could tell me about it.” How had Lolo gotten such exclusive gifts to an elven-only, invite-only event? Well, when she wanted to get Lyra something, she had needed an elf. And fortunately, who better to ask about elves than an old elf, who she just so happened to have access to. When Marlowe had asked Ettinus what she could get an elf who was away from home, he had offered her the tickets and explained what they were. “Happy birthday,” she repeatedly softly gingerly holding them up, hopeful and wide eyed.

[FyreFoxx]

Character Name: Lyreilynn "Lyra" Xyrven Myalis
Date | Time: November 10 | Early Evening
Location: Hammer Academy > 3rd Floor > Shir's Quarters
Wearing: White dress with keyhole cutout and blue trim, blue and white paneled skirt, blue sash belt
Tagging | Mentioning: Shir | Marlowe, Kiba, Azir, Haimehen

Emotions were complicated.

Lyra had come to that decision a long time ago. The first time she truly felt it was after Haimehen had kissed her and left her standing there, alone, with her thoughts and a whirlwind of feelings that were so foreign to her. Were still foreign to her and struggling to comprehend them. The way he spoke about them being contradictory made a lot of sense to her, she came to realize, because before, when she felt elated at the kiss, but angry and confused, it was like a war of feelings inside of her. Was it as simple as a truce instead of one side needing to win the battle?

She dropped her gaze back to her hands in her lap, curling her fingers inward to loosely create a fist. Lyra knew that many in Gravity, and even in Mockery, held a disdain for the male elf after the events during their mission. Marlowe chief among them. Marlowe seemed to hate him with a passion for what he did, but… But Lyra didn’t hate Haimehen. Upset, mad, angry, conflicted, confused, but not hate. Maybe if they had tried talking it out again. If she had tried just a little bit harder to reach out. Or even if she had done more to push him away initially, then none of this would have happened. Lyra clenched her fists enough tighter, the bite of her nails digging into her palms doing nothing to stop the worries in her heart. “Is it… really okay? To feel them both?”

Her head snapped up at Shir’s admittance to his own painful kiss, and there was a sense of comradery in that, however twisted that may be. He knew, he understood, because he had been there. And that little bit of knowledge did help to assuage her feelings a bit. Lyra unclenched her hands and her eyes softened a bit. She wanted to ask him about it, wanted to know how he dealt with the pain and the knowledge of it, but the words were stuck on the tip of her tongue, unwilling to be spoken aloud. She opened her mouth to speak, once, twice, three times, before she gave up and just continued to listen.

“My memory,” she repeated softly. “Mine.” Again, her eyes drifted down to her hands in her lap, at the small red marks her nails had dug into her palms. Again, she curled her fingers inward, fingernails finding their indents, but she did not squeeze them so tightly this time. A kiss. A precious moment. To hurt. To forgive. What did she want to do? What did it mean to her? “Can it be both?” Lyra flexed her fingers, opening and closing her hands over and over, like she was trying to grasp at something. “Can it… Just be both? A precious moment stolen, but also just a kiss?” She would never get that moment back, get her first kiss back, but there would be other kisses. Other first kisses with people she cared about. Kiba had been one such person. Azir was another.

“Is it alright to be hurt, but to also forgive? I do not want to hate him, but I also want to forgive him. I-I think. I am… not sure yet. It was something precious to me that… That I will never get back. I know that. But… but he did not do me harm?” She tilted her head to the side a bit, her brow furrowed. Her voice was shaking, like even she didn’t believe what she was saying. “It… It was confusing. It still is. But he…” Lyra let out a deep sigh, her hands going slack in her lap. “I do not know what he was thinking, and I really wish I could ask him. I felt so used, when I found out I was not the only one. I was… Hurt. Furious, even. Did I matter? Was I just convenient? Did it mean anything? I never got those answers.” A newfound determination flashed across Lyra’s face as she looked up at Shir. “I… I no longer want them. I do not want to keep hurting over this. I want… I want better memories to overwrite this one. I have made better memories.” She gave him a weak smile. “I want to forgive and to forget. Is… Is that possible?”

[Aethyrium]

Character Name: Shir Dhan
Date | Time: November 10th | Early Evening
Location: Shir’s Quarters
Wearing: As pictured
Tagging | Mentioning: Lyra |
She said it, he confirmed it, “Yours.” That was important. It was advice that he wished someone had given him. Figuring it out on his own had taken entirely too long. She seemed to start to get it, and Shir smiled genuinely at her. “Yeah Lyra, it can be both.” She got to define it. He meant the words. And as she continued to work through what she was feeling, Shir was content to listen. All he needed to be was a sounding board, there for her as support, as much of it - or as little of it - as she needed. “You don’t need to have it all figured out right now. And… You may even revisit it later, and change your mind. That’s okay too.” He offered. Nothing had to be absolute forever.

The confusion over Haim’s actions was something that he understood. He wished that he could give her those answers, even as she declared that she no longer wanted them. That was fair, but she had wanted them, and he felt that she deserved them. But he also felt she deserved to move on from this, and not have it be something that ate at the back of her mind for the rest of her life. Shir was a little surprised to hear that she had made new memories, better memories, for herself that compared to this. He wouldn’t have guessed that about her, but he felt glad that she had. He smiled back at her, encouraging her to take joy and pride that she had moved forward and claimed newer, more important things for herself.

Given that he hadn’t seen Marlowe running along the walls in joy, he doubted it was with her. It wasn’t hard to trace it to Azir after that. He never even considered Kiba’s involvement. But his thoughts did move back to Lolo. She’d be alright, he knew. That girl was made of rubber.

“I’m happy for you,” He said softly, “That you’ve found something for yourself. It’s…” Well, Shir wasn’t the best - in fact, possibly the worst - person to give lover advice, so he dipped his head. “Cherish those better memories, Lyra. That’s… What it’s all about. It’s why we fight.”

But that still left her last question just hanging there. “It’s possible.” Shir acknowledged. “Hard, sometimes, but possible. All you have to do is choose.” And while technically true, some people struggled with that, and that was fair. “Sometimes it’ll mean you have to choose very actively. But if you keep making the choice, it’ll get easier. It’ll become normal. You have your whole life, that one moment, all you’ve got to do is let it be that. You’ve already forgotten plenty of single moments in your life. Forgive, and then just let it be one more.”

[FyreFoxx]

Character Name: Lyreilynn "Lyra" Xyrven Myalis
Date | Time: November 12th | Early Morning
Location: gRAVIty Dormitory
Wearing: Blue sleep robe, dark blue sash (no jacket)
Tagging | Mentioning: Marlowe | Azir

Lyra was smiling at Marlowe as she seemed so excited to give her… well, whatever it was she was planning on giving her. But when she expected a physical gift, what she was instead present was a full day itinerary of things to do together. Lyra hadn’t expected anyone to make plans for her, without her consent, and she didn’t really expect to celebrate her birthday with anyone like this, besides when she asked to spend it with Azir. Her birthday had never been a big deal, other than a family meal and annual gift giving. Just like any of her siblings. It wasn’t some grand event, except their coming-of-age ceremonies, and hers had already passed before she came to Hammer.


When she first started on about breakfast plans, Lyra nodded along enthusiastically. A café in the morning sounded nice! That was quite the surprise. Her plans with Azir were meant to be in the evening, so this was just perfect. She opened her mouth to speak, but Marlowe suddenly continued on without letting her get a word in.

Then there was that super elegant store they went to some time ago. A custom dress? That smile faltered slightly, tilting her head to the side while a few silver strands of hair fell over her shoulder. That… sounded really expensive. Was Marlowe paying for all this? Of course, Lyra had the funds to cover a dress like that, even if her mother might raise eyebrows at the purchase, but if it was meant to be a gift, then where did her partner get the money? Hadn’t she spent all her extra cor on the night of the Alignment?

At the mention of Rook’s Down, Lyra’s face lit up, her cheeks turning the same color as Marlowe’s eyes, bringing to mind the memory from a few nights ago with her confession to Azir and what had nearly happened between them there. She curled her fingers inward, gripping the covers above her knees in a tight wad of cloth, trying to will the blush to fade from her face. She was planning another picnic, but all Lyra could think of was being pressed against that tree late at night.

The more Marlowe talked about the day she had planned for them, the more that smile slipped from her face. The excitement she had for the present being offered was slowly ebbing away, suddenly feeling guilty that she hadn’t mentioned already having plans. Every time she opened her mouth to say something and interject, Marlowe continued on to the next big thing on her list of things to do. It was admirable, and Lyra was beyond flattered, but it was just… so much!

“Lolo,” she tried to get her attention as she started slowing down, but her partner wasn’t done yet. Her heart ached at hearing all these carefully laid plans for the two of them and knowing she couldn’t fulfill all of them, despite it being a gift to her. “Lolo,” she tried again, a bit louder this time. The final stab were the tickets she presented, a famous Elven play, one that actually meant a lot to people like her. Her stomach twisted in knots, even as she leaned forward and pressed first one hand and then the other crisscrossed over Marlowe’s mouth to keep her from talking further. “Lolo. Stop, please.”

Her smile was sad as she lowered her hands, letting them rest over Marlowe’s and the pair of tickets she was holding out to her. “This is all… so much. Too much, in fact. I… I did not think you would plan for something like this.” Lyra gave her partner’s hands a gentle squeeze, as her eyes dropped down to their connected hands and the tickets to The Dragon’s Pact – something she actually really wanted to go see. “However, I… I cannot go see that with you. I am amazed you got tickets at all! But I have plans for tonight already, Lolo. With Azir. I am sorry I did not say anything about it. Perhaps… we can do that café you were talking about for breakfast? That sounds lovely and would be more than enough as a birthday gift. I would not want to put all your planning to waste.”

[FyreFoxx]

Character Name: Lyreilynn "Lyra" Xyrven Myalis
Date | Time: November 10 | Early Evening
Location: Hammer Academy > 3rd Floor > Shir's Quarters
Wearing: White dress with keyhole cutout and blue trim, blue and white paneled skirt, blue sash belt
Tagging | Mentioning: Shir | Marlowe, Azir

Lyra was nodding along with his words as he said she didn’t need to figure out everything right now. For some reason, she felt like she had to, but being told that, especially by Shir, who had gone through something similar, meant a lot more to her than she initially realized it would. She needed to hear that, and to accept it. She didn’t have to have it all figured out right now. And she hadn’t even considered that changing her mind was an option. But here he was stating that it was, in fact, something she could do and it was perfectly okay to do so.
 
That weak smile started to gain a bit of strength as she gazed across the space between them to her mentor. Another nod was given to his words. “Yes. I-I will.” She would never have another first kiss, but there were plenty of other firsts to still experience. Other precious moments to have and cherish. To protect. To fight for. She fought for the memory with Azir on that bridge. She struggled with the memory of revealing herself to Marlowe. Both were terrible moments, but still just as precious to her, moments she’d never get back but ones she cherished all the same. It had helped her grow closer to them. And there were others, too. Familiar and those yet unknown. She’d fight for all of them.
 
“Just… Let it be just another moment…” She let out a small laugh, shaking her head. Was it really something as simple as that? To just… let go and let it be another moment forgotten to time? Perhaps it really was just that simple. Gathering the book in her lap into her arms, she clutched it tightly to her chest as she rose from the chair, releasing a hand long enough to brush a few strands of hair back behind a slender ear. “You know, when you were first assigned to us and you were rarely around, I did not think very highly of you. Here were all these other mentors, spending time with their squads, but you were always absent.” Lyra gave him a wryly grin. “After that day in the Wilds, my opinion of you drastically changed. We might not have seen you, but you were there. I am glad that I was wrong about you.” She turned towards the door, letting Shir escort her out.
 
“I am glad you did not return this book yet. Thank you, Shir.” For everything.

- End Scene -

[Aethyrium]

Character Name: Marlowe “Lolo” Ashe
Date | Time: November 12th | Early Morning
Location: gRAVIty Dormitory
Wearing: Lacy Nightgown and robe
Tagging | Mentioning: Lyra | Azir
She had been so excited, and worked so hard to make it all come together. It had never once occurred to her that Lyra wouldn’t want to spend the day with her. Lolo didn’t imagine anyone else was going to go through all the things she did to make it special for the elf. And in all of that excitement, all of that frenetic buzzing to share and give and please, Lolo hadn’t stopped to see that the smile was slipping off of Lyra’s face word by word. It was probably a grace that hadn’t taken notice, because it would have made the entire situation that much worse. She wouldn’t have understood.

When the hand crossed over her mouth, Marlowe was left speechless. Which had been the point, but probably not like that. She blinked in confusion and finally looked at Lyra. Then she blinked and looked again. There was sadness, and it didn’t compute. She didn’t understand how anything she had said could bring sadness. Why was Lyra sad? Her eyes were big, and followed the movement to cover her hands and the tickets. “Too much?” She whispered, like the words had been spoken in elven. How could it be too much? She didn’t think it was too much. If she could have gotten her more, she would have! But that was Lolo, who wanted to make people feel like the world revolved around them.

The words that she couldn’t go hit her like a punch to the face. Her gift was being rejected? Lolo’s big round eyes stared at Lyra’s hands, until she looked up at her, still confused. Plans already? With… Azir. What was that? The tent. Her mind raced a mile a minute, too fast for her to even coherently process and come to any genuine conclusions. And then, just like that, Lyra reduced everything that she had planned for her to a brief trip to  a morning cafe.

Something terrible happened inside of her. Lolo’s heart sank from her chest into the pit of her stomach, and it twisted and ached like she’d never felt it do before. And she didn’t understand why. She felt so foolish, more foolish than she’d ever felt before. There were so many reactions she had expected, but rejection had not been among them. Lolo felt like she ought to be angry, but looking up at Lyra, she wasn’t. It probably looked like any number of other interactions, when someone pumped the brakes on Lolo’s enthusiasm. It took her simple mind a second to process and catch up to what was happening. “Oh,” she murmured quietly. She felt sad on top of it, more sad than she thought she knew how to feel. But that wasn’t for Lyra to deal with, this day was supposed to be for her, and even as she looked up from the floor at her partner, she still felt that to be true.

So she took an awful lesson from Lyra, and painted a smile on her face. It was easy for people to underestimate Lolo because she was dumb, and forget that she had extensive experience mimicking people to fit in. Mirroring them, until whatever she was pretending was as true to her as it was to them. And Lyra’s pretend smile? Well, Marlowe had certainly seen it enough to make it her own.

“I’m sorry.” She said, convincingly, even though she didn’t truly believe it. It was the first time she kept something Lyra, and it dropped something rotting into her gut to do it. “I didn’t think...” She tilted her head and pulled back a hand, gently rapping on her own skull through the mess of hair, “That’s not new, huh?” She could play the carefree idiot, she had lots of practice. And, despite whatever miserable feeling she now had inside her belly, weighing her down like a depressed anchor, gnawing at her like a starved dog with last week's scraps, Lolo still wanted Lyra to be happy. If that was with Azir, not her, then… She deserved that. Lolo’s tongue glided gently across her lips and she sat back, and looked down at the tickets in her hands. “The dinner reservations are just for two…” She trailed off slowly, working it out in her head, “You should take Azir. I-If it doesn’t interfere with your plans.” The presents were for her, Lolo reminded herself. She gently pushed the tickets up into Lyra’s hand, and laughed quietly, closing her eyes, “He’ll probably appreciate more than I can anyway.” Marlowe reached back with her free hand and traced her finger along the rim of her ear, “I don’t have the ears for it.” And just like that, long after Marlowe thought Onyx had taught her all the lessons that it had to teach, the city took her back to school and taught her a new lesson.

Sometimes, it doesn’t matter how hard you try.

[FyreFoxx]

Character Name: Lyreilynn "Lyra" Xyrven Myalis
Date | Time: November 12th | Early Morning
Location: gRAVIty Dormitory
Wearing: Blue sleep robe, dark blue sash (no jacket)
Tagging | Mentioning: Marlowe | Azir

Lyra had seen enough smiles in her life to know when one was faked or genuine, and the one currently on Marlowe’s face was definitely of the former variety. However, she was also polite enough not to point it out, knowing just how sad she must be for all her planning to go to waste, all because the little elf had not informed her partner of her own plans. Her heart was breaking to see her like this. She squeezed her hands again, giving her a soft smile. “Hey, do not be sorry. I am the one to blame. You did not know I already made plans. I should be sorry, Lolo. Not you.”
 
She frowned a bit as Marlowe’s attempt of self-deprecation, withdrawing her hand from the elf’s. Lyra sighed sadly, not sure what she could do to help cheer up her partner. “Lolo…” When both hands were pulled free, Lyra looked down at her now-empty hands, trailing her eyes up to meet Marlowe’s. What else could she say at this point? “It is all right, you know.” She wanted to reach over and hug her, but for some reason, her partner felt awfully distant from her for the very first time. And that little fact bothered her.
 
Lyra looked down at the tickets that were being pressed into her hands, blinking in confusion before she focused back on Marlowe. “Wha-what are you saying? Are you sure about this? But… but you got these for us. I, I could not possibly take these from you like this, Lolo.” That frown deepened a bit more. What Marlowe was saying made a lot of sense, of course, but Lyra just wasn’t that kind of person. She had gone through so much trouble for these plans, those reservations, the tickets, all for the two of them, and now she was taking a step back and handing them over to Lyra to take someone else. In a way, she absolutely adored her partner for that, giving her such a thoughtful gift to share with Azir to make their night that much more memorable, but at the same time, it was at the expense of Marlowe, and that was something she just could not stand. “Could… Could you change them? The reservations? The tickets? We, we could go another day!”
 
When Marlowe declined her attempts at reconciliation and date changing, Lyra’s frown only deepened. She was trying! What more could she do to make it better? It felt like the more she tried, the more upset Marlowe was getting, so she let the matter go. “I will not let all of your planning go to waste, Lolo. I… I really do appreciate the gifts, I do. And that you want me to take Azir. It will not interfere with our plans, no. In fact, you quite possibly made them better.” She gave her a soft smile, leaning forwards and down to pull her into a hug. “Thank you, Lolo, for a wonderful gift.”
 
“But please,” Lyra pulled away a little bit, looking right into her eyes, her hands resting lightly on her shoulders as she gave her partner that familiar warm soft smile. “Can we still go have breakfast together? I am flattered you wanted to be the first person to spend time with me today and I do not want to miss that.” She tilted her head to the side a bit, making her smile go lopsided. “It might not be exactly how you imagined it, but I think it would be the perfect way to start this day to make it special.”

[Aethyrium]

Character Name: Marlowe “Lolo” Ashe
Date | Time: November 12th | Early Morning
Location: gRAVIty Dormitory
Wearing: Lacy Nightgown and robe
Tagging | Mentioning: Lyra | Azir
Lolo managed a small nod of acceptance when she was told it was alright. She knew that, somewhere. It was kind of Lyra to try and take the blame, but Lolo had made the assumption and she knew it. And while Lolo had badly wanted to share it with her, at the end of the day it had been about ensuring that she had a good day. If that was with Azir instead of her, then… Lolo shook her head as Lyra tried to refuse the gift and she pressed them more firmly into Lyra’s hands. “Don’t be silly.” She replied softly, “I did for you, it doesn’t need to be with me.” The reservations might have been able to be changed, she thought, but the play? Well that was a set event, and even Lolo did have the power to have something like that changed. Yet.

Marlowe reached up and pushed into a full kneel so that she could properly hug Lyra. It made it feel a little better. It still would improve her night, and in a way she’d be part of it. It didn’t fix her hurt, but it helped. Lolo squeezed Lyra more firmly than normal, holding the small elf against her. For a moment she was concerned - it had always concerned her - that whatever this plan with Azir was, was going to take her partner away from her. Somehow that felt inevitable, and if she just didn’t let go, that couldn’t happen. But she couldn’t stay like this forever. “I hope you both have a wonderful time.” She murmured, genuinely. Fears aside, Lyra remained important, and her happiness mattered to Lolo.

As they slipped apart, Lolo fell back to her heels and stared up into those soft blue eyes that she was so fond of. “Of course we can, I wouldn’t miss it.”

-End Scene-

[Aethyrium]

S T O R Y T E L L E R
November 12th, Morning (~7am) | Hammer Academy - grAVIty Dormitory
Package | Lyreilynn
When Lyra returned from the breakfast outing with Lolo - who had parted ways with her to go take care of the plans she had made - and made her way back to the dorm, sitting right outside the door was a small box wrapped with a bow. A simple tag dangled from the top that read: Lyra. The ribbon, a familiar gentle blue, that bound the box was easy to pull undone. Inside, a single strip of paper. With two lines of text, one above and one below:

In a place where knowledge grows, find the book that always glows.

In the hall where silence looms so near…

[FyreFoxx]

Character Name: Lyreilynn "Lyra" Xyrven Myalis
Date | Time: November 12th | Morning (~7am)
Location: Hammer Academy - grAVIty Dormitory -> Library (4th Floor)
Wearing: White and aqua blouse with gold accents and matching short skirt, white and gold accented leggings, wedge heels, crown braided ponytail
Tagging | Mentioning: Storyteller | Marlowe

The morning had started off rather unexpectedly. For one, she hadn’t woken the moment Marlowe got up, as was her usual alarm since coming to Hammer. For another, they got off to a rocky start, Lyra having to turn down the plans her partner had so carefully made to surprise her with, only to be met with denials and reluctance because she had already made plans of her own. After some tears and reassurance, they at least were able to spend the morning together at breakfast at a cute little café in town, offering a much better start to her day than she anticipated before.
 
So, when she arrived back at their dorm, alone – Marlowe said something about having to take care of the sadly ruined plans – what she didn’t expect to see was the little box sitting at the foot of the door, a tag with her name attached dangling off to the side. The dainty elf blinked in surprised, tilting her head curiously to the side as she crouched down to retrieve the gift, her fingers brushing over that all too familiar blue ribbon. Why did it remind her of someone? She was certain she had seen that particular shade of blue before. Her heartbeat sped up as she cradled the box to her chest and went inside the room to open her gift.
 
Lyra plopped down in a chair at the closest desk, setting the box down on the desk itself, before pulling the ribbon free. Wrapping it carefully around her palm, she curled her fingers to hold it in place as she peered inside the small package. Even more curiously than a gift left for her without notice or sender’s name was the strip of paper inside with just two lines.
 
In a place where knowledge grows, find the book that always glows.
 
 In the hall where silence looms so near…
 
The first line was complete, but not the second. It was a riddle! She loved those! Lyra’s excitement rose to near tangible levels, nearly vibrating in her seat as she studied the words over and over. “Knowledge grows… Books that… glow? Knowledge. Books. The library? But that hall…” Frowning, she flipped the paper over, seeing if there was a back to it, but it was blank. As were the contents of the rest of the box. It literally only had that single strip of paper inside and nothing more.
 
Well, determined to solve this little riddle presented to her, she figured the rest would probably be lost to her unless she found another piece of the puzzle. So, off she went to find the next source! The box was left behind in her room, but that ribbon was carefully kept wrapped around her hand. For some strange reason, she felt safer and warmer just keeping it near her.
 
It didn’t take her long at all to arrive in the library, lifting the ribbon-less hand to her face as she moved aside a few strands of hair, tucking them behind an ear as she began to browse the shelves for a book. And not just any book. A specific book. A glowing book. Or maybe one that spoke about glowing things? It didn’t give her a title, but she felt as though she’d knew it when she saw it.
 
It was about ten minutes of searching up and down the aisles before something twinkling in the corner of her eye caught her attention. It stood out because that section of books was mostly left alone, obscure titles and old legends and lore. In the shadows of the taller shelves, something was glowing. Actually glowing! While the riddle did say a book that glows, Lyra didn’t expect that to mean literally!
 
With a smile pulling at the corners of her lips, the elf all but bounded over to the row of books, pulling free the one standing out from the rest, the soft subtle glow from a dusting of red arcanite giving it a warm feeling in her hands. But the surprises didn’t quite end there, peering down at the title. Grimoire of Eldoria. She knew this book. She knew it because it had been one of the very first ones she had checked out, pouring over its contents what felt like a hundred times as she compared it to her notes from back home. It was a book on magic, old magic, the kind that had all but disappeared from their world in the modern day.
 
That smile faltered only slightly as she tried to reason with this new bit of information. Was it just a coincidence that it was this specific book? Not many people, if any, had known she had been reading this one. Who had sent her on this little scavenger hunt? And just how much did they know about her?
 
Even with all these unanswered questions, Lyra was abuzz with excitement and wonder, looking forward to the next clue.

[Aethyrium]

S T O R Y T E L L E R
November 12th, Morning (~7am) | Hammer Academy - grAVIty Dormitory
Package | Lyreilynn
Some of Lyra’s questions were answered as she opened the book. Inside, tucked between the cover and the first page, was a page that did not belong. A painting. It wasn’t particularly masterful, but it had the right spirit. It was done in oils. The picture was Lyra, sitting at a desk, reading the very book in her hand. It was during one of the classes. The perspective from behind her, and off to the side. It captured the side of her face. Her hand on the pages as she read to herself. The moment seemed like nothing at the time, but she could remember it - it was during one of Lowed’s early Arcanite classes, one where she felt hopelessly more advanced than her peers, and it offered her little, so her attention had waned to something more interesting. And when she turned the painting around, there were words written on the back.

You weren’t doing anything important, but somehow this simple sight was mesmerizing. There was something about the way you turned the pages. Like you were dancing with the words. You had a glint in your eye, bright and curious. Too smart for the class. Your presence was like a spell, drawing me in, making everything else fade to the background. The soft, thoughtful expressions that played across your face as you read were enchanting.

That’s when I realized you were stunning, not just on the outside, but within. You were someone with profound depth and intelligence.

It was dated November 7th. A full month after it happened. This had been painted from memory alone. And still in the folds of the book, another small piece of paper like the one from the box. It also contained two simple lines of text:

Seek the garden of mystical herbs, where elven hands weave nature’s verbs.

…Find the place that holds your fear…

[FyreFoxx]

Character Name: Lyreilynn "Lyra" Xyrven Myalis
Date | Time: November 12th | Morning (~7am)
Location: Hammer Academy - Library (4th Floor) -> Student Botanical Gardens
Wearing: White and aqua blouse with gold accents and matching short skirt, white and gold accented leggings, wedge heels, crown braided ponytail
Tagging | Mentioning: Storyteller | Meena

Lyra ran her fingers lightly over the cover of the book, that gentle smile of hers lighting up her face. Despite it not giving her the answers she sought, this book did give her a lot of information and fond memories. Maybe she’d check it out again, but later. Not today. Today, she had a riddle to solve. Still, she couldn’t help but flip open to the first few pages out of pure nostalgia.
 
But something that didn’t belong there caught her attention the moment the cover was pulled back and slipped free from its confines, drifting lazily to the floor. A painting done in oils, depicting none other than the elf herself, hunched over a book – this book, presumably – while seated in class. With the book resting in one hand, carefully spread open, the fingers of the other delicately traced over the portrait after retrieving it. A heated flush rose to her cheeks, painting them in color much like the paper before her. Who had drawn this? And when? Most of her classes, she had tried to pay attention, so which one was this? Lyra wracked her brain, trying to recall a far-off memory.
 
Wait, that was it. She remembered now. Professor Lowed’s Arcanite classes. Due to her own research before coming to Hammer, most of what they were going over were things she already knew. Even now, almost two months later, it wasn’t much better. It was, after all, an introduction course, but she was already beyond that. But this moment in time that was captured, it had to be during the first week of classes, when she was still very much disconnected from her team and opted to do things on her own instead of trying to participate. She remembered bringing this book with her everywhere, comparing its contents to her notes whenever she had the chance, hoping to find something more than what she already knew. But this angle…
 
Lyra closed her eyes, her hand flat against the painting, as she tried to imagine her classmates. She turned her head in her mind’s eye, seeking the person that would have been behind her and off to the side, but… she couldn’t recall any particular face. It could have been any number of people sitting in that direction. But a familiar flash of blue painted itself across the backs of her eyelids. Opening her eyes, she glanced down at her hand on the painting, the one with the blue ribbon wrapped around it, and her cheeks suddenly felt even warmer, redder. Was it… him? Didn’t he say he painted?
 
That gentle smile widened just a bit as she flipped it over, hoping to catch the artist’s name on the back. Instead, there was a message addressed to her. November 7^th. Her heart wrenched just a little at that date. That was during the mission to Rishi Valley. A day after the events on the bridge. A day after… Lyra shook her head to rid herself of those memories. Not all of them were pleasant, and right now, she simply wanted to focus on the good.
 
Further inspection revealed no further information – at least from the painting itself. Tucked away between another set of pages was yet another slip of paper with a new riddle scrawled across it.
 
Seek the garden of mystical herbs, where elven hands weave nature’s verbs.
 
 …Find the place that holds your fear…
 
“Now a garden, hm? Mystical herbs… and elven hands?” A curious head tilt was given as she peered at the words again. Elven hands… An elven cultivated herb? And yet again, there was an unfinished line. “Holds my… fear?” Brow furrowed, Lyra wasn’t sure what to make of that one. A hall of silence and a place of fear. Were they connected somehow? Flipping the book shut, she dusted off the remaining red powder from the cover, as not to further damage the book, before putting it carefully back on the shelf. The painting, however, was coming with her, pressed carefully to her chest as she clutched the second riddle in her other hand.
 
Leaving the library behind, Lyra made her way next to the student gardens. This one was a bit trickier than the last. At least in the library, there was literally a glowing book to show her the way, but in here? It was just a lot of green, with splashes of colors from the different plants of varying degrees and vibrancy. It took her nearly twice as long to find what she was looking for.
 
Why hadn’t she noticed it before now? There, nestled within the plants in the section Meena had been tending to, was something all too familiar to her. She had spent a lot of time in here during her early days at Hammer, seeing flora she’d never encountered before and wanting to sketch them all. Back then, not all of them were flowering yet, so there were many now that were new to her, and she hadn’t taken the time to return. But that one particular plant… That was something from her home, from Unovia. Why was it here, in Johtan?
 
Fingers reached out to brush along its vines, tracing them along its support beam. Lunisylvine. An elven herb, with its roots in many legends about the moon, which was best known for alleviating Arcanite sickness. Extremely difficult to grow outside of specific circumstances, she was impressed it was something Meena had been working on. Perhaps… Perhaps later, she’d try and assist Meena with this one, if only to see something from her home grow and flourish again.
 
As her fingers ran along those vines, she spotted another slip of paper. As she pulled it free, she knocked a leaf loose, fluttering slowly to the ground. Capturing it before it hit the floor, she twirled it between her fingers, inspecting it carefully. This… didn’t belong to that plant. Powder blue eyes were drawn back to the Lunisylvine. Whoever was writing these riddles knew her intimately. They paid attention to the little details, even things she didn’t quite notice herself – like knowing that this plant was here.
 
Again, she felt the heat rising to her face, that rosy blush creeping along her cheeks. This was both exciting and flattering. There wasn’t even anyone around and already she felt flustered by the attention being paid to her. This was becoming more than just a little scavenger hunt for some riddles. It was an intimate journey of someone who knew her better than she knew herself. Had he… really been watching her so intently? With that smile on her face once more, she unfolded that newly acquired slip of paper.

[Aethyrium]

S T O R Y T E L L E R
November 12th, Morning (~7am) | Hammer Academy - grAVIty Dormitory
Package | Lyreilynn
The piece of paper tucked behind the vines was folded into even quarters, a small square. As she peeled it open, tucked into the inner fold was yet another piece of paper with clues for what came next:

In the heart of the forest, where whispers fly, find the ancient tree that touches the sky.

…Where echoes of the past reside…

And on the larger folded paper, a poem, written carefully. Not by pen but by brush stroke - not quite calligraphy, it wasn’t that sophisticated, but someone had put effort into it. And the words were written in her own language. A little roughly, this was someone who wasn’t familiar with her language, but had translated their words:

Vos umquam occurrit aliquis cogitas de
omni nocte ac die,
aliquis tam pulcher est stupendo
et verba tantum non satis est dicere

Vos umquam tam specialem aliquem occurrit
vita sine te non potest imaginari,
aliquis vis dicere in aeternum
et omnia discere?

Vos umquam aliquis sicut insanus occurrit
volentem aeque iocum habere;
aliquem saltare noctem
simul et solem orientem spectare?

Vos umquam aliquis occurrit tam mirabile
vis ut tempus non finiat?
Nam quod aliquis est mihi
Haec igitur verba excepi

Poem in Full

Have you ever met someone you think about
every night and every day,
someone so beautiful it's breathtaking
and words just aren't enough to say?

Have you ever met someone so special
you can't imagine life without,
someone you want to talk forever
and learn everything about?

Have you ever met someone just as crazy
who wanted to have just as much fun,
someone you can dance all night with
and together watch the rising sun?

Have you ever met someone so amazing
you wish you could pause the time so it doesn't end?
for me that someone is you,
so these words I have penned.

[FyreFoxx]

Character Name: Lyreilynn "Lyra" Xyrven Myalis
Date | Time: November 12th | Morning (~7am)
Location: Hammer Academy - Student Botanical Gardens -> Onyx - Rook's Down Park
Wearing: White and aqua blouse with gold accents and matching short skirt, white and gold accented leggings, wedge heels, crown braided ponytail
Tagging | Mentioning: Storyteller | Azir, Marlowe

As she expected, there was another riddle awaiting her tucked inside the makeshift envelope. Unfurling the paper, she glanced over the words written, humming gently to herself. This entire morning had been quite fun, from the time with Lolo to this little scavenger hunt. Whoever had done this had really gone out of their way to make this something special! Was it done specifically for her birthday? Not too many people knew when it was. By now, she had an inkling of who it was, but she wasn’t completely certain yet.
 
In the heart of the forest, where whispers fly, find the ancient tree that touches the sky.
 
 …Where echoes of the past reside…
 
“A forest… in Onyx? A tree that touches the sky…” she muttered to herself quietly, still twirling that leaf between her fingers. A glance was given to it, trying to figure out where it came into play, but was coming up with nothing. Tucking it away securely, she focused back on the riddle, tilting her head to the side as she tried to think about it logically. “A forest. Surely, they do not mean outside the walls. That would be too dangerous,” she thought out-loud, nibbling on her bottom lip deep in thought. ‘Echoes of the past…’ That second line was incomplete, like the rest. Did it go with them? Something about… history, perhaps? Or a place she had been to before? That hand now free from the leaf reached up to tuck a few loose tendrils of hair behind an ear, one of her habits whenever she was nervous or deep in thought. Most of her hair was held back in a tight braid along the back of her head, curtesy of Marlowe that morning, with the rest lazily draped over her shoulder in a loose ponytail. It was quite unusual for her to do things with her hair, but that morning, it just felt right to let Marlowe pamper her. It did seem to help boost her otherwise dour mood.
 
“A forest… Forest…” She lowered her hand until it rested against her chin, tapping a finger along her jawline. “The… park?” Rook’s Down Park was a place of greenery in the otherwise increasing urban landscape. At the mere thought of the park, her entire face suddenly heated up as her eye widened in shock, recalling the other night. She’d last been there with Azir, after they returned from Rishi Valley and confronted their feelings for one another. The way he had kissed her came to mind, pressed against the tree, how the bark had scrapped at her back, his hands on her body, the cool night air on her bare skin, hands lifting her skirts…
 
A small squeal filled the otherwise silent garden, burying her face into her hands to banish the memories. It… It wasn’t all Azir she was recalling. The tree had never scrapped her back; her skirts had been parted, but not lifted; the night air only caressed her face. Her memories were mingling together, reality and fantasy replaying over and over in her mind, blurring the line between what was real and what wasn’t, what her heart wanted and what her body craved.
 
Her cheeks still flushed a rosy pink, Lyra slowly removed her hands from her face, lowering them bit by bit as she attempted to regain her composure. And that was when she noticed something written on the inside of the larger piece of paper. Unfolding it completely, she stared at the delicate brushwork that had penned the words across the parchment, her vision becoming blurry as she traced a finger over the first few letters.
 
It was in Elvish… And not just any Elvish, but in her dialect from home.
 
Powder blue eyes began to sting as she read the words written in the poem created for her, unshed tears gathering in her eyes and creating a distorted image. Lyra lifted a hand to her face, sniffling softly as knuckles were gently dragged across her eyes, dashing away the tears as she attempted to keep reading. Any other day, she might have thought this was from Azir, but there was no way his penmanship would have been this rough, not for their native tongue. This was someone wholly unfamiliar with what was being transcribed, and that only made it that much sweeter, almost as sweet as the words themselves.
 
Free hand eventually settled over her mouth, trying not to cry as she read the last stanza over and over again. Beautiful and powerful, she felt drawn to the words, and to the one that penned them. To think he had painstakingly taken the time to translate and write down those words in her native tongue meant a great deal to her. It was another piece of home in a far-off land.
 
With on last sniffle, Lyra carefully folded the poem back up, holding it tightly to her chest, right over her heart, before she let out a deep sigh. It was carefully tucked away with the painting in her small bag. It was time to move on.
 
Arriving at Rook’s Down Park had taken the better part of the early morning, as she had needed to leave the academy grounds in order to get there. The first step past the threshold caused the blood to rush to her face again and she hesitated. Shaking her head, she pushed past the fog of confused memories and cleared the way to find the tree she sought. Thankfully, it wasn’t the same tree, or she might have simply combusted from embarrassment. Those pale silvery eyes traced along its trunk to the tallest reaches of its branches, towering over the rest of its woody neighbors, and then all the way back down to its roots.
 
A patch of earth had been recently disturbed. With a curious tilt of her head, Lyra carefully dropped down to her knees as she lifted the strap of her bag up and over her head to set it aside. Her short skirt settled around her in a fluffed-out circle, leggings being dirtied by grass and earth alike against the white fabric. Fingers clawed at the soft mound; her lips pursed tightly in a slight frown. Digging in the dirt; really? Still, her eagerness at finding the next clue outweighed her displeasure of getting both her hands and outfit dirty, revealing a tiny silver canister after only a few inches of depth.
 
Dusting it off, there were no tell-tale marks to indicate where it came from, turning it this way and that. There was a slight tinkling sound coming from within, something hard that collided with the sides every time it was tilted. Upon opening the canister, she dumped its contents out into a waiting hand. A couple of pieces of hard candy fell out, delicately wrapped in twisted plastic, along with another piece of rolled up paper.
 
Setting aside the paper for the moment, Lyra inspected the candies, bringing her open palm to her face as she sniffed at them. It was sweet. They were dark red in color and familiar to her. Dumping all but one back into the canister that she placed inside her bag, she grabbed the ends of the plastic tie and pulled, watching as the hardened candy twirled and unwrapped itself, stopping before it fell into her lap. With her hands still somewhat dirty from digging, she kept the plastic wrapper between her fingers and the candy as she brought it to her lips, popping it into her mouth with a decidedly happy hum, her eyes widening in surprise. Pomegranate! It was pomegranate! She loved these! It brought to mind that deliciously sweet wine she had shared with Marlowe just the week prior during the Alignment, when they danced and almost… Her cheeks gained another shade of red as she let the memory trail off.
 
Every single piece of this scavenger hunt had been about something special to her, in some big or small way. They weren’t just some silly riddles for fun, dragging her all over in a wild goose chase – which still could have been fun regardless – but each location, each clue, and each item had been carefully selected for her. They were all precious memories to her. All things someone really needed to pay attention for. And then there was that painting and the poem, and that ribbon still wrapped around her hand, free of any dirt or debris.
 
Her heart pounded in her chest, squeezed tight with strange emotions. What was this she was feeling?
 
Happily sucking away on the hard candy melting against her tongue, Lyra reached for the next riddle and unrolled that piece of paper…

[Aethyrium]

S T O R Y T E L L E R
November 12th, Morning (~7am) | Hammer Academy - grAVIty Dormitory
Package | Lyreilynn
Unrolling the paper, a letter awaits her:

You’re almost there now, at the end.

Our time together today was short. Like this last year you had, I was only a brief part of that. But where we’ve been isn’t as important as where we’re going. So this is the last short time we spend together. Like what awaits you from right here, the best of us is yet to come.

I want you to know that it's okay. It's okay that you've chosen someone else. Your happiness is what truly matters, and if Azir brings you joy and fulfillment, then I'm genuinely happy for you. It's bittersweet, of course, but seeing you happy brings a warmth to my heart that I can't quite put into words.

But what we shared was real. I felt it, and deep down, I know you felt it too. That connection, that spark, it's something that doesn't just fade away. And while you have to take this other journey, know that I'll be here for you.

When the night feels too dark, I'll be there.
In moments of doubt, I'll be there.
Should loneliness creep in, I'll be there.
Through the storms that rage within, I'll be there.
When dreams seem out of reach, I'll be there.
In times of joy, I'll be there.
Should fears cloud your mind, I'll be there.
Through the trials that you’ll face, I'll be there.
When the world feels too heavy to bear, I'll be there
In every moment, everywhere, I'll be there.

I’ll continue to be here, hoping and believing that one day, you might see me in a different light. Until then, know that you have a friend who cares deeply for you and is always by your side.

Because I made a choice too.

The bottom of the paper is ripped, part of it is missing. But just above the tear, one more clue awaits her:

With talk of Arcanite, hearts aligned, there our bond began to shine.

[FyreFoxx]

Character Name: Lyreilynn "Lyra" Xyrven Myalis
Date | Time: November 12th | Morning (~7am)
Location: Onyx - Rook's Down Park -> Hammer Academy - Sky Bridge
Wearing: White and aqua blouse with gold accents and matching short skirt, white and gold accented leggings, wedge heels, crown braided ponytail
Tagging | Mentioning: Storyteller | Azir, Kiba

Tears hit the letter in her hands, dampening the paper as she quickly reached up to dash them aside, but they kept coming regardless of her efforts to stop them. Why? Why was he being so nice to her? She knew now, knew in her heart that this was from Kiba. Every location just painted that picture in her head more clearly. The pale blue ribbon that matched the color of his eyes. The portrait he drew from memory of his view of her in class more than a month ago. The Elvish he had painstakingly transcribed despite not knowing the language himself. The hard candies in one of her favorite flavors.
 
Despite everything that had happened between them, he still cared. Lyra hadn’t picked him. Her heart was torn, but her blood yearned for her elven lover. But he was okay with that. He was content to watch from afar. He was telling her it was fine for him to stand on the sidelines, as long as she was happy. But how can she be happy now, knowing that her choice was breaking his heart?
 
The painting. The poem. The letter.
 
Lyra bowed her head as she brought the letter in her hands up to her face and silently cried into in, the heels of her hands pressed against her forehead, so that only the bottom portion of the letter was soaked with her tears. Why was this choice so painful for her? Why did her heart ache so much? She should be happy, right? She chose Azir and he chose her in return. That made her blissfully happy, and she was preparing to show him just how much that meant to her tonight. But… this? With Kiba? That spark he was talking about, she felt it, too, yet she denied those feelings. She had to. It was Azir she had wanted… wasn’t it?
 
It was a couple of minutes before Lyra found her composure again, sniffling lightly as she pulled her hands away from her face. Her eyes were tinted with a pale red, her nose dusted pink, with a similar coloring rising to her cheeks. Her gaze flickered down to the final line on the page, just above the torn edges. Something was missing. The final riddle?
 
With talk of Arcanite, hearts aligned, there our bond began to shine.
 
“The courtyard,” she mused quietly. Now that she was certain this was all Kiba’s doing, it didn’t take her much thought at all to decipher that last one. It had been there, with him and his partner Falkner, that they had their first true conversation. Sure, they met before, but they didn’t really talk too much. It was the conversation about Arcanite that had really began to spark things between them, and ended up with his invite to the gala that night. An evening that ended up with their first kiss, a pleasant memory that overwrote one she hoped to soon forget.
 
Smoothing out the letter in her lap after crinkling it with her impromptu crying session, Lyra then carefully rolled it back up and tucked it away in her bag, along with the other gifts she had gotten along the way. Wiping her hands together, trying to rid her fingers of as much dirt as possible, while avoiding adding any to that ribbon, she stood up at last, dusting more from her knees as she scowled at the stains left behind. Not only did she have dirt under her nails, but her new leggings were tarnished.
 
Fingers danced lightly over the bark of the giant tree before her, tilting her head back as she stared up at its branches towering above her, the leaves, like the one tucked away in her bag, swaying softly in the breeze. While not quite the same one, Lyra’s face flushed once more as she recalled what transpired against one such tree, her memories and dreams muddled together. What had that meant? She still couldn’t figure it out.
 
With a shake of her head, Lyra crouched to retrieve her bag, leaving the park, her tears, and her confused emotions behind her as she made her way back to the academy. Trekking all over the academy, and even down into the city itself, had not been on her agenda that day, but she couldn’t quite say that it hadn’t been kind of fun to explore and solve each riddle.
 
Back at Hammer, finding herself in the Courtyard of Champions, Lyra struggled here for a bit. “Our bond began to shine…” Was it something more specific than just being in the courtyard? Blue eyes took in the full appearance of the courtyard before her, scanning over the fountain, the statue, the trees, bushes, table and chairs… And then landed on one of the benches. Hadn’t that been where she was sitting the day Kiba and Falkner came to her with their discussion? “Where it all began…” she mumbled quietly, her feet bringing her closer to it.
 
Inspecting it, she didn’t see anything out of the ordinary, until she looked underneath, finding a small item tucked away almost out of sight. Retrieving it, Lyra gazed down at the palm-sized black box, but had no way of opening it, secured with a tiny lock. There was a small frown that tugged at the edges of her lips, poking at the lock in mild disappointment. With a sigh, she turned the box over and over in her hands, reading the words written on the paper that bound it.
 
...Face your dread, for the present inside.
 
“So, it is the final piece of the puzzle.” Frown abandoned; her lips quirked up into a coy smile. Sitting down on the bench, she set the small box in her lap as she dug around in her bag and withdrew the other pieces of paper with the broken clues. “In the hall where silence looms so near, find the place that holds your fear. Where echoes of the past reside, face your dread, for the present inside.”
 
A hall of silence. Somewhere not many went? That held her fear. What was she afraid of? There were a few things, in fact. Echoes of the past. Somewhere that held history, or perhaps a place she’d been to before? Face your dread. So, something she was afraid of that she’d have to face head on. The gears in her head started turning, her brows furrowed as she stared long and hard at the black box in her lap, the final prize she’d have access to once this was solved. A hall… her fear… a place of history she’d been to before… a place she could only get to by facing her fear.
 
It was like a lightbulb going off in her head, but the moment she sat there with a grin on her face for finally understanding its meaning, that smile faded into yet another frown, dread gripping her heart. Why there, of all places? “Kiba…”
 
By the time Lyra had made it to the end of her journey, she was standing in that long sky bridge between Hammer and the military academy, where a hidden panel along the wall could be opened up to reveal a hard light bridge to a patio that Azir once took her to. He had shown her how it worked, should she ever want to return, but considering her fear of heights, she never had. So, now that she was staring at the open space, with the first hard light panel lit at her feet, she was starting to second guess her decision to follow through with this. “Kiba!” she called out, knowing the patio wasn’t too far from where she was now. She wasn’t sure if he was waiting there for her, but if he was… “Kiba, this better be worth it! You know I am terrified of heights!” she cried out.
 
Gripping the strap of her bag, Lyra made the first step out onto the bridge, then immediately shut her eyes tight at the sudden gust of wind that blew by. She shivered involuntarily, before retreating to the safety of the bridge hallway. “I… I cannot do this.” Last time, she had clung to Azir the entire time they crossed the bridge, using the safety of his presence to get across. She lifted her gaze back ahead of her, towards the direction of the hidden patio just out of sight. Would he really be there?
 
Her heart was racing as her gaze dropped towards that hard light panel once more, shifting her weight from foot to foot. “Face my dread… Face my dread,” she repeated a few times, taking deep breaths. If she made it across, and Kiba was indeed waiting for her, she was going to smack him. Hard. First one shaky step forward, and then another, lifting her head up as she kept her eyes forward, fingers still tightly around the strap to her bag. “Do not look down, do not look down,” she chanted to herself, taking another trembling step forward and following it up with another, slowly, but surely, making her way across that sky bridge, alone. For Kiba.

[Aethyrium]

Aujus

Character Name: Kiba Lurke
Date | Time: November 12th | Morning (~8:45)
Location: Hidden Skybridge Balcony
Wearing: Sweater, Cargos, and Boots
Tagging | Mentioning: Lyra |
Kiba was perched on the far side railing to the balcony, balancing on it, and reaching down, giving Aujus attention when he heard the distant, familiar voice. The corner of his lips crooked upward into a grin that got wider and wider as Lyra shouted at him. He thought to answer her, but decided against it. Lyra was going to need to take a little walk of faith on his behalf, if she wanted to know what was up. He looked down into those wolf-yellow eyes of his saberdog and scratched behind both of his ears, “You better get into position,” He leaned down and kissed the dog’s snout, “She won’t let us down.” Lyra could walk away right there, if she wanted, but Kiba didn’t believe that she would. He didn’t really believe that she could. If not just because the mystery would nag her, but because Kiba was confident that she was drawn to him like he was to her.

Aujus nudged Kiba’s knee, turned and pawed across the snow-cleared balcony - Kiba had used a bit of arcanite to clean the place up when he’d come in - and hopped up onto the table. Aujus laid down on the smooth surface and crossed his paws and stared just like his other half, waiting to see Lyra come around the corner.

Seeing her, Kiba smiled wide. It would have been nothing for him to go out and get her. But Kiba was making a point. She could do this. And more than that, he wouldn’t even let her be lesser than she really was. Like digging in the dirt, Kiba planned to fill her life with new experiences, and like crossing the bridge, he was always going to push her to take that next step. He didn’t say it, but that was a promise to her. When the far side railing lowered and allowed her to get to solid ground finally, Kiba sat straight up and opened his arms, “You made it.” He appreciated her outfit, though he wouldn’t have ever imagined her in it. “You look good birthday girl.”

Hopping down, Kiba stuffed his hands into his pockets, “You solved all my riddles,” His eyes dropped to the ribbon around her wrist. He smiled. Then to the box in her hands, “Found your present too. Happy birthday, Lyra.” He slowly started to approach. Aujus made a small ‘boof’ at him, “Oh, right, it’s locked. Well, one last challenge for you, champion. The hardest yet.” He took another couple steps toward her, “You’ve got to claim the key from it’s guardian.” He said, softer, as he brushed past her and turned in to step in behind her. With a small nudge, Kiba gestured Lyra toward Aujus.

The enormous saberdog sat pretty for them. And tucked in his mouth? A tiny little key he had lifted from the table while she was crossing the bridge, tucked gently between his lips, half sticking out. His heavy tail wagged slowly, side to side against the stone table. “I’d help,” Kiba admitted, “But Aujus has strict instructions not to let anyone have that key but you.” And to demonstrate, Kiba made a half step toward his companion. Aujus’ ears flattened and a deep, rumbling growl pulsed in his throat. “See, it’s gotta be you.”

As if understanding that, Aujus looked to Lyra. He had deep, soulful eyes. They were bizarrely intelligent. His ears perked back up and Aujust spread his paws out. He lowered himself as flat as his large body could get to the table. A soft wiggle and he pulled himself slowly forward closer to her, his chin gliding across the table, neck stretched forward as far as he could to offer the key. “So what do you say, are we worth it?” He whispered. They were a joint package, Lyra couldn’t have Kiba without Aujus. And to Kiba, that meant showing her that it was alright, that Aujus wasn’t someone to fear. His gaze passed over her shoulder toward Aujus, and he winked, still confident that she wasn’t going to let them down - if she was connected to him, and he believed she was, then she was connected to Aujus. Aujus made a soft, low, whine sound calling for Lyra, as delicately as he could. He wanted her acceptance too.

[FyreFoxx]

Character Name: Lyreilynn "Lyra" Xyrven Myalis
Date | Time: November 12th | Morning (~7am)
Location: Onyx - Rook's Down Park -> Hammer Academy - Sky Bridge
Wearing: White and aqua blouse with gold accents and matching short skirt, white and gold accented leggings, wedge heels, crown braided ponytail
Tagging | Mentioning: Kiba | Marlowe

The moment Lyra’s feet touched solid ground, the absolute second that she stepped foot onto that hidden balcony, the dainty elf heaved a sigh of relief as her legs nearly buckled underneath her, gripping the railing as if her life depended on it. About half way across the bridge, she had nearly given up, but she was more scared of turning around on that sky bridge, without anything to hold onto, than she was of continuing that short trek across the open expanse. Still, she stood there for a few moments, her legs shaking as she clung to the railing, lifting her gaze to find Kiba staring at her with that charming, yet currently infuriating, grin of his, her powder blue eyes narrowed in a mock glare. “That… that was… terrifying!” Her voice was trembling almost as much as her legs were.
 
The sudden unexpected complimented instantly melted that angry look on her face, bringing a rosy flush to her cheeks instead. Lyra averted her gaze, glancing down at her outfit as she became self-conscious about it. The short skirt had been Marlowe’s idea, and she had gotten so wrapped up in trying to solve the riddles that she hadn’t even thought about changing her outfit once she had gotten back to her dorm room. Thus, she stood before him, one leg crossed behind the other, one hand, the one with the blue ribbon wrapped around her palm, pressed down over her skirt, the other one over her rear, as if she were trying to hide herself or make the skirt longer, tugging on the bottom hems, despite the obvious lack of fabric to do so.
 
Oh, why had she let Marlowe talk her into this outfit?! …To make her happy, obviously, she chided herself. And she was still covered, with those ornate leggings, despite them being slightly damp from the snow she had been kneeling in earlier and the dirt that smeared her knees. But standing in front of him like this, she felt more naked than ever. And it didn’t help that seeing him at all brought back a flood of memories, muddled and distorted, fueled by passion and desires, his name on the tip of her tongue, while his traced over her body…
 
Her eyes widened as she realized just what kinds of thoughts were crossing her mind, squirming in place as her core tightened in response, a gentle heat rising to her cheeks again as that spark was lit deep within her chest. Lyra couldn’t bring herself to look at him, rubbing her legs together for an entirely new reason now. No! She couldn’t act like that! It was… was… improper! And completely rude to him, to boot.
 
She heard movement and caught sight of his boots in the edges of her vision, her eyes trailing up his body slowly as she finally met his gaze. Lyra managed a weak smile as she gave him a nod. “Y-yes, I did. T-thank you, Kiba.” Why was she suddenly so nervous around him? It wasn’t the first time they had seen one another since the day he kissed her. …But it was the first time she’d seen him since the other night. She swallowed the lump that threatened to steal her voice, pulling the box from her bag as she presented it to him.
 
Lyra watched as he drew ever closer to her, each step making her face warmer and warmer. She was sure her cheeks were the color of saguaro now, but she willed the rush of blood to go away with all her might. As he stepped in behind her, there was a small flinch, leaning away from his touch at first – she was still hesitant towards people touching her, even those she had grown used to. Her eyes flickered towards Aujus as he nudged her forward, a curious tilt of her head given as she glanced back at Kiba over her shoulder. “Guardian?”
 
Turning her gaze back towards the giant dog, she finally took notice of that tiny key held within his jaws. “Oh, no. No, no, no. Kiba, no.” Lyra whimpered, panic showing in her widened eyes even as he demonstrated that Aujus was refusing even his owner’s approach. The dainty elf turned around to face Kiba, her brows furrowed and her eyes wide in fright. “Please, no. Kiba. Do not make me do this…” Digging in the ground. Then the sky bridge and her fear of heights. And now he wanted her to approach Aujus? Knowing she was both allergic and terrified of dogs?
 
Those powder blue eyes filled up with unshed tears, even as he turned her back around to face the saberdog that was doing his best impression of a furry rug. Her breathing hitched in her throat as he whispered in her ear, sending chills down her spine. She shot him another look over her shoulder. Why did he have to phrase it like that? Kiba meant a lot to her, and she knew that Aujus meant everything to Kiba. Was this his way of telling her she couldn’t have one without the other? Her heart was pounding in her chest and she couldn’t quite explain the feeling of this deep sense of loss if she thought about not having Kiba in her life. If she didn’t take those steps towards Aujus now, would she lose Kiba forever?
 
Slowly, Lyra took a half step towards Aujus, one hand clutching that locked box to her chest, the other hand had her fingers curling inward, caressing that soft blue ribbon wrapped around her hand, almost as if she were drawing comfort from it. “K-Kiba,” she whined again, her lower lip trembling as she looked at him over her shoulder, silently pleading with him to stop this. The bridge was one thing, but this? She wasn’t sure if she could do this. “Y-you know… I am allergic…” Her voice was barely a whisper, looking back towards the giant dog that seemed to stare into her soul. He continued to coax her forward, and she had the sudden urge to slap that charming, infuriating, grin right off his face, yet she didn’t. Another step was taken, then again, before she paused, her legs trembling as she stood there, frozen in fear. Why was he pushing her this far?
 
The way Aujus looked at her, she knew he’d never hurt her. Something in his eyes struck her as… odd? They were almost human-like, or maybe she was just seeing Kiba in him. Lyra took a deep breath, held it for a few heartbeats, then let it out slowly. Aujus wouldn’t hurt her, she reminded herself. He was making himself as small and unimposing as possible just to make her feel more at ease, reaching out towards her as far as he could while still perched on the table, the key dangling at the end of his snout. But what if she had a reaction by touching him? What if, by just getting any closer to him, she started having trouble breathing? Already her breath was coming in shorter bursts, but she couldn’t tell them apart between nerves or allergies.
 
“You are,” she mumbled quietly, more to herself than anything, unaware that Kiba’s keen hearing would be able to pick up on those softly spoken words. Lyra took those last few steps forward, reaching out with a trembling hand to take the key from Aujus as delicately as she could, that blue ribbon like a glove protecting her. The moment her fingers wrapped around the tiny metal object, she withdrew her hand quickly and took a step back, bumping right into Kiba standing behind her with a gentle ‘oof!’ as she collided with his strong chest. Looking up at his face, mere inches from her own, was oddly reminiscent of that night in the cave all those weeks ago.

[Aethyrium]

Aujus

Character Name: Kiba Lurke
Date | Time: November 12th | Morning (~8:45)
Location: Hidden Skybridge Balcony
Wearing: Sweater, Cargos, and Boots
Tagging | Mentioning: Lyra |
The closer that Lyra got to him, the more Aujus tried to make himself seem small and submissive. He was neither of those things, not really, but he could put on a good show when he needed to. Lyra meant something to Kiba. He could feel it. They had talked about it, in the way that they talked. Aujus didn’t have words, so much as thoughts and emotions, but he understood Kiba like they spoke the same language - better, even. Nothing was lost between them. This woman was special, and Aujus needed no more than Kiba’s approval of her to give his own. He really wanted her to like him. So he hunkered lower and lower and strained out to meet her as best he was able, until she snatched the key from his lips. He didn’t even try to fight for it. Actually, he was glad it was gone, because of what it meant.

Kiba hadn’t doubted her, not for a moment. But there was a difference between believing in her, and actually knowing. It was important, perhaps one of the most important things, to him. Aujus was as important to him as anyone could possibly be. They were a joint thing. Someone who couldn’t accept Aujus was someone that Kiba couldn’t accept. Aujus wanted her to accept him. He wanted to know that she could. Kiba needed to know that she could. And, frankly, he believed that Lyra needed to know that she could too. Even if it took time. Kiba didn’t need her to overcome her fear today, he didn’t need them to become best friends, he just needed to know that she could, if she needed to. And she did, just like he always knew she would.

Aujus was more than pleased, even if what Lyra had done was quick, fearful, and hadn’t earned him a head pat. He rumbled at her, happily. Then, unceremoniously, the huge saberdog flopped onto his side on the table and stretched out. His paws were enormous - not much smaller than Lyra’s hands. He wiggled against the delightfully cold stone and watched the two of them with one eye. Interested, but satisfied with his role in this game being complete. Happy that, in the future, they could do more. This was one step forward, and Aujus believed Kiba that they’d be taking more before he knew it. The dog had incredible empathy, and for Lyra, he’d wait and be comfortable doing it.

There was something about the way she smelled. Something was different about her. She had a heat that appealed to some of Kiba’s baser instincts. As Lyra bumped back into his chest, Kiba wasn’t shy about snaking his arms around her waist. His fingers laced and lay across her stomach and he pulled her back in against him. She fit so nicely there, in his arms. But he had meant what his letter said. She’d chosen someone else, and he wasn’t going to push against that. At least, not so directly. This was affectionate, but it was platonic. He wouldn’t move to take anything more from her like that night that had brought them together, lips meeting and forming a memory he wouldn’t soon forget. “I knew you could do it.” He said, staring down into her eyes that peered so softly up at him, “You’re okay. I’ve got you, Lyra.” Kiba softly squeezed her.

Like he’d written, he’d be there.

Crouching down, Kiba gently set his chin on her shoulder and peered over it to the box in one hand and the key in the other, “You know, you did all this work. You really should open your present.” The key fit nicely into the box, it was a smooth, but firm fit. A small half twist and there was the tiniest of little clicks. Opening the hatched lid, inside, a piece of jewelry. A delicate silver chain, carrying a pendant studded with small diamonds that curled around a piece of unusual Arcanite - a blue, but a different, lighter shade of it. Not traditional blue Arcanite, something more rare. Cut and polished into the shape of a long tear.

His hands pulled apart and left her. Slowly they reached up after she had a moment to appreciate the piece. He carefully pulled the chain from the box. “Teal Arcanite, attuned to elemental ice.” For anyone else, that might have seemed a bit redundant, but for Lyra, she knew better. Water, blue Arcanite, conjured water that was then controlled and turned to ice. This piece of Arcanite could skip that step, conjuring pure ice on its own. It was able to skip a step, so to speak, if it were used. But beyond that, it was just pretty. Or so Kiba thought. It was the perfect gift, he hoped, for someone who loved magic, who appreciated Arcanite. Scooping up her hair, Kiba carefully pulled it aside and brought the chain around her neck, dropping the pendant across the bow of her shirt. “I hope you like it.” He clicked the chain into place, letting it sag against the back of her neck.

Leaning forward and tilting his head, Kiba held the outside of her arms and gave her a little squeeze. He kissed her cheek and smiled, “Happy birthday, Lyra.”

[FyreFoxx]

Character Name: Lyreilynn "Lyra" Xyrven Myalis
Date | Time: November 12th | Morning (~7am)
Location: Onyx - Rook's Down Park -> Hammer Academy - Sky Bridge
Wearing: White and aqua blouse with gold accents and matching short skirt, white and gold accented leggings, wedge heels, crown braided ponytail
Tagging | Mentioning: Kiba | Azir, Marlowe

Lyra struggled long and hard about approaching Aujus, a war between her fear and her feelings for Kiba fighting for control over her actions. On one hand, she didn’t want to even entertain the thought that by backing out of this, she might lose Kiba forever, by denying Aujus, who was literally a part of him. On the other, she was downright terrified of dogs, especially since she was allergic to them. It had never ended well for her before. The fact that she’d already encountered Aujus up close and personal that day she tripped over him and nothing bad happened to her back then had never even crossed her mind.
 
But, why was she so scared to lose Kiba? Why was she so intent on pushing through with this? Constantly pushing herself beyond her limits, testing her strength of will, poking at the edge of her patience and what she was capable of. Why was he making her ‘face her dread’ so to speak? And why was she so willing to do so just to hold onto this man? He wasn’t even the one her heart ached for, and yet, there was this seed deep in her heart that refused to allow her to let him go.
 
With her fingers wrapped tightly around the key, Lyra soon found herself wrapped up in his arms again – those strong arms that held her so protectively and lovingly, just like the cave, just like in th— Her face instantly heated up as that dream-like memory shoved its way to the forefront of her mind, causing that ember in her chest to be lit anew. But that lingering fear and the feeling of being terrified washed over it, smothering that flame as those tears sprung to life at the corners of her eyes.
 
She wanted to turn around in his arms, to bury her face in his chest as she cried, her legs trembling as much as her hands, her shoulders shaking with silent sobs, but he held her so firmly, yet so softly, that she simply let him pull her back against his chest, nestled safely in his embrace as she let those tears trail down over her cheeks. Her lower lip trembled and she captured it between her teeth to stop it, biting down to muffle the sobs that threatened to spill forth to accompany those droplets creating rivers over her features. She didn’t want to let him see her cry, ducking her head down as she closed her eyes, hiding her face from him the only way that she could. Aujus terrified her just as much as walking across that bridge alone had, but she had faced both of those fears. For Kiba.
 
Lyra remained that way, letting her quiet sobs stagnate before she responded to him, his chin resting on her shoulder. She could feel the way he had to hunker over her to accommodate her shorter stature, the gap against her back where he was no longer touching. A part of her missed that warmth of him against her, soothing those non-existent scratches from the bark. She gave one last sniffle, then took in a large breath, letting it out in a shuddering sigh. She could do this. She took those feelings of fear, shoved them into a box, and placed it high on a shelf to be dealt with later, trying to ground herself in this moment with him instead.
 
With his prompting, she lifted the key and unlocked the box with little resistance. Lyra didn’t know what she was expecting to find within, but that pendant certainly wasn’t it. There was an audible gasp that slipped past parted lips, her eyes going wide as they settled on the piece of jewelry within. She nearly dropped the box in her surprise, but caught herself before doing so, both hands clutching at the tiny box tightly as not to lose it. “It… it is beautiful, Kiba,” she whispered, nearly breathlessly. Freeing a hand from clutching that box in a death grip, shaky fingers traced over the pendant in awe and admiration. Again, she felt the telltale signs of wetness gathering at the corners of her eyes. Just how many times was this man going to make her cry today?
 
As the warmth of his hands left her body, it already ached to have them returned to her, watching as he reached for the necklace chain, lifting it delicately from the box. “Ice?” She knew of other elemental Arcanite. After all, her family dealt with the supply of it, but beyond the six main elements, it was hard to come by the other forms, considering how rare they were. “Where did you get this? Arcanite like this is so rare.” A flush came to her cheeks as she felt his fingers brush the hair from her neck, the color reaching the tips of her ears. That free hand was lifted to touch the pendant gently laying against her chest as he clasped the chain around her neck, fingers curling around it softly as she held it, almost protectively. “I really do, Kiba. I love it. …Thank you.”
 
She opened her mouth to say something more, in the middle of turning around in his arms, but his gentle squeeze to her upper arms held her in place and the kiss that landed on her cheek froze her in place. Powder blue eyes widened further and the blood rushed to her face once more, deepening that flush that tinted her features that rosy pink. She stepped out of his hands, turning around to fully face him, as that box fell from her hand, clattering against the stones at her feet, gazing up at him in shock.
 
Her backward steps brought her unconsciously closer to Aujus, raising the hand now free of the box to cup her cheek where he kissed her. Those muddled memories were fanned to life once again, lingering at the edge of her mind as that heat within her grew more intensely. Her body burned for him, yet her heart ached for another. Why? Why was she so torn and conflicted? She had been so sure of her choice before today. Before all of this. So why? Why did she feel this constant pull towards him? She wanted Azir. She picked Azir. But Kiba was making her decision so very hard. Why? Just why? “Why?” she vocalized, without even realizing it, voicing her question aloud. Why her? Why the hunt, the gifts, the kiss. Why? Why why why? Why? “The ribbon, the book, the painting, the herb, the poem, the candies, the letter, the necklace…” Her hand tightened around the pendant, while the one with the ribbon wound around her palm was still pressed to her cheek. “Everything was picked specifically for me. The color, my research, my portrait, the plant, the language, the flavor, the Arcanite.” She was having trouble keeping the tears from her eyes, as it was all that she could do to keep them from falling again.
 
It was too much. All too much. Much like how Marlowe had bombarded her with gifts and plans and affection and all these ideas to spend together, it had been too much to take in that morning, and here Kiba was doing the same thing, albeit a bit more spread out, but the culmination was eliciting the same reaction. It was all just… too much for her heart to take. She was beyond overwhelmed. “Why go to such lengths… for me?”

[Aethyrium]

Aujus

Character Name: Kiba Lurke
Date | Time: November 12th | Morning (~8:45)
Location: Hidden Skybridge Balcony
Wearing: Sweater, Cargos, and Boots
Tagging | Mentioning: Lyra |
He was quite comfortable with her in his arms, even crouched the way he was. Though, he too would have preferred to be more pressed to her. More of her kept seeming better to him. But once she started sobbing, trying to hide it, he didn’t want to move. She could have that moment, and he could be there for her. Just holding her. He closed his eyes so he wasn’t looking. Aujus mirrored it. And they all stayed that way until Lyra finally seemed ready. Her reaction was everything that he had hoped it would be. “Yeah, it is.” He didn’t need to explain it to her, of that he was certain. “But I’ve had this for a long time. My grandfather gave me the crystal when I was five, just before he passed away. That’s half of it.”

Kiba dropped his hand down and reached into his pocket pulling out a second piece of jewelry. It matched hers thematically, silver, with two gentle curls securing the remaining chunk of arcanite, which had also been polished but cut into a square. It was sitting in a thin dark metal bracelet. Holding it out in front of her, laying in his palm. “I had the idea, but a mutual friend of ours actually made the design. You’re wearing a genuine Marlowe original. I’m told there aren’t very many out there.” Kiba curled his fingers around the bracelet, “I’m going to hold onto this half though. I’ll have a reason to wear it someday.” Grinning softly, he pulled it back and placed it back in his pocket.

Lyra pulling away from him wasn’t what he expected. And he felt the change in her, the shift in her demeanor. Aujus did too. The saberdog opened an eye and watched, alert, concerned. He shifted as the box hit the floor. Kiba stared at her, confused. For a moment he was panicked, uncertain at what was happening. The tension that built in her hit his primal empathy and made him tense. Sometimes having Aujus’ awareness led to not great feelings. “Why?” Kiba blinked, head tilting. Why what? This was not the reaction he expected. He had not wanted to make her… Whatever she was. She tightened her grip, and for a moment he feared that she might yank it from her neck. But this wasn’t anger. It wasn’t frustration, it was… Confusion. Overwhelmed confusion.

There was a small relaxation in him when that realization came. He didn’t know what to say to her, there was nothing there to interact with. No questions. His instinct was to step forward, embrace her, hold her close and allow her to let it out. But he didn’t. He could read her too easily. Somewhere, he tripped a wire. He’d pushed her hard today. No sense in pushing any harder. It had never been to make her uncomfortable. He was glad he had done it. Glader that she had done it. But enough was enough for one day. It would have left him with little to offer her, except that small question that spilled so gently from her lips.

His smile was soft, his gaze warm and gentle. Slightly, Kiba tilted his head. He lifted a hand, but not for her. Two extended fingers curled in and thumped his chest, slow and light, “Because I felt you.” His hand flattened out and laid on his chest, “And because I think you’re worth it, Lyra.” Just like she had decided he was worth doing all of this for. Look what she had done for him, for them. “I’ll never give you anything less.”