[Open-ish]

[darkestbefore]

Who: The members of Áine's temple and affected castmates/CR.
When: July 31 and the days following
Where: Cnoc Áine
What: Between Ablution fallout and Memory Regains, there really never is a dull moment around here. Catch-all for various happenings revolving around both.


[ Yona had hoped that perhaps, after the ablution, things might calm down for a little while at her temple, give them all a chance to catch their breaths. Work out the tensions and problems that still lingered between them so they could get back to figuring out how to work as a team, a cohesive unit.

...Unfortunately, someone somewhere seemed to have a different idea... ]

Comments

[darkestbefore]

[ She blinks up at him, although leans into the press of lips, the comfort it offers. He's only remembered for a few short minutes but this already feels much more like the close trust they'd shared from home, the easy affection she'd missed most since his arrival here, when he'd maintained a careful and pronounced distance between them. ]

What thing?

[thethunderbeast]

You have the same look you had when you fetched me on the first day.

[The eyes shining with fought back tears, and whatever else is there. He doesn't know what she's feeling, nor can he imagine it but he recognizes it a lot easier now.]

You're allowed to cry, Princess.

[darkestbefore]

That first day... [ She gives a choked sort of laugh at that, the sound thick with emotion as she ducks her head. ] I had cried. Why do you think I was late? Some days I fear if I let myself start I might not be able to stop again.

[thethunderbeast]

[His hand rests gently on top of her head, fingers caressing her hair in an idle, comforting motion.]

Then start until you no longer can, if you need. I will stay with you as long as you ask me to.

[darkestbefore]

[ Her fingers curl tighter into his robe for a moment.

She wishes to just blurt out what she wants, that to keep him by her side always is all she's wanted for... she's lost track of how long now. She'd grown so accustomed to him being there that it had taken longer to dawn on her until she'd been here without him, and then with him as a shinki. It had been hard to deny how much his solid presence had become a necessity in the face of that. But could she still be so selfish in her desire? He only remembered but a moment of their time together, after all, even as important as that moment had been.

So she bites back the words and lets her forehead come to rest against his chest, her eyes sliding closed as she drinks in the comforting warmth of him. ]

Thank you, Hak.

[ Simple words, but they carry far more weight than most would assume. ]

[thethunderbeast]

[Yona, you stubborn little redhead. Was she always like this, he wonders?]

Hm?

[He wraps his arm around her shoulders and holds her there, not willing to let go just yet. Not until he's had all the answers he needs. He lowers his chin until it rests on her messy head, leaning his lips in to gently brush against the soft strands that are sticking up this way and that from where his hand was.]

For what?

[darkestbefore]

[ The answer is likely yes, sorry, Hak. ]

For everything. For... being you, I guess?

[ She knows that probably doesn't make sense outside her own head, but still. ]

Just having you here, even if it's without the memory of... everything. It means more to me than I can say.

[thethunderbeast]

[It makes sense, and he smiles down at her again. At least he knows now that even without his memories, not much has changed within him. That might explain a lot of things, or not explain anything at all but it at least reassures him of one thing:]

Were I anyone else, I might not be here right now. Shinki or not, maybe I was brought here for a reason.

[He pauses to lift her head up to look at him again, tapping her chin with his finger.]

If there's one thing that memory has reminded me of, it was why I have felt the need to protect you since you came to me. Maybe the Heavens agreed.

[darkestbefore]

[ She reaches up and catches his hand with hers, smiling up at him. While there are still traces of tears, her gaze is much warmer now, something more genuine behind the emotions. ]

Maybe they did. Maybe they knew how much I needed you.

[thethunderbeast]

[Hak shakes his head.]

No, you don't need me to protect you.

[That much she's proven time and time again, whether it be here or in a memory, the last person who needs to be protected by three burly men is Yona. He takes a long pause...]

I'm here to keep you out of trouble.

[darkestbefore]

[ She makes a choked sound at that, one that is half-protest and half-laugh. Fingers curling into a small fist, she punches him in the stomach, even though she already knows it will have zero effect. ]

You are not!

[ A long pause... ]

I think that is expecting too much of even you.

[thethunderbeast]

[How many times is she going to punch him this morning? When he feels that weak fish fist hit his stomach, he makes a flat face back before bopping his fist against the top of her head like this is a game of whack-a-mole.

It's at least good to hear a laugh, as tiny as it is, in light of recent events. Whether it was thanks to him or not doesn't matter.]

Mmm, I guess you're right. But here we are, Princess. [A dramatic roll of his shoulders as he shrugs.] I guess I'm going to need more compensation for all this extra work you're making me do.

[darkestbefore]

Extra work? I don't make you do that much now!

[ Her protest is fondly exasperated as she scowls up at him, amusement still warm in her eyes. You're really lucky Kaya hasn't been by to gossip about you yet. ]

What kind of compensation?

[thethunderbeast]

[Yes, lucky him indeed.

... But wait, what?]

Ah. She didn't tell you.

[darkestbefore]

[ Yona just blinks in confusion. ]

She who? Tell me what?

[thethunderbeast]

[He raises his hands and flails them innocently at her.]

No one. Look, Princess. The horses are getting restless, you should get back to tending to them.

[They happen to be perfectly calm.]

[darkestbefore]

[ She's aware they're prefectly calm, actually, because they let you know when they weren't. Also she knows that look, Hak.

When he starts flailing his hands at her, she reaches out and tightens her grip on the front of his robe, yanking him closer again. ]

Hak. What did you do?

[thethunderbeast]

[Completely deadpan as he's pulled closer, not minding in the least:]

Ah, are you angry with me?

[darkestbefore]

[ She just gives him a Look. ]

That depends on your answer.

[thethunderbeast]

[Ah, well he's messed up, hasn't he? What a troublesome situation he's found himself in. He straightens up, even with Yona's grip on his robes, and rubs at the back of his neck. He isn't bothered by the slip up, but it might have been better for her to learn it from Kaya instead. So, he pats Yona on the head, laughing.]

You should visit Kaya again sometime. She's a good friend of yours, isn't she?

[Ha ha haha ha ha.]

[darkestbefore]

[ Yona just squints at him a moment before heaving a deep sigh when he pats her head and laughs. ]

You did something ridiculous, didn't you? Very well, but I hope it's not something that would upset Zeno, too.

[thethunderbeast]

Upset Zeno?

[He waves a dismissive hand at her, recalling what he knew of the lion-haired boy from his couple of run-ins with him.]

I feel like I would have to really try to upset him. That sounds like a lot of work. What is he going to do if I make him upset, smother me with his hair?

[On second thought...]

[darkestbefore]

Kaya is important to Zeno.

[ While she can't argue that Zeno is the often the most easy-going of her dragons, she knows there can be a will strong as steel behind his sunny smile. And Kaya.... Kaya is special to him. ]

And Zeno is important to me. [ Because she's sure he hasn't missed that connection. Nor with Kija.

So it's really more that Zeno being upset leads to Yona being uspet and she doubts Hak would be happy were anyone else genuinely upsetting her so she figures he'd get the picture here. ]