Isolate and Medicate

the Rift

[PRIVATE] Isolate and Medicate

Torleik the Bloodskald Posts: 354

Outcast atk: 4.5 | def: 8.0 | dam: 7.5

Stallion :: Unicorn :: 16.3 :: 11 HP: 66.5 | Buff: SWIFT

Irelyn :: Plain Griffin :: Molten Dagger RedGod

#11

12-23-2014, 06:54 PM

Torleik

Still alive; sill awake; still believe in our escape

He wasn't privy to her inner workings or even her outward signs of discomfort while he was paying attention to Irelyn on the ground, groveling as he should for her forgiveness. His people took bloody vengeance for less pain than he'd dealt out here today. Ophelia, by all rights, could have challenged him to battle for his cowardly abandonment of her during her ascension to her newly minted political station. He had fallen so short in such a blink of time, failed the two most important women in his life so fully...he could only hope both would forgive him in time.

His companion seemed willing to do so without much second thought - and why would she act otherwise? She was still a child, still unaware of the lingering pain of others' mistakes and mishaps, the scars that remained after someone else's barbed words or pointed actions. Irelyn would learn that on a day that would arrive far too soon, but it was not this day; and it was not at his hooves she would know the pain of her heart, soul and mind being trampled by another. For this, the viking was grateful.

So with his repenting at Irelyn's altar complete, he turned to subtle supplication for forgiveness at Ophelia's, his begging marked by a simple apology and promise to be better. The disbelief he saw on her face slung an arrow at his soul not for himself, but for the realization that so few in her life had been strong enough to tell her they were wrong, hadn't they? If this was so new to her, so foreign and befuddling. Torleik's resolve to be a better man found a solid foundation here, bolstered by the knowledge that he could be better for her, not just because he should be.

Perhaps that was a fault, that being good just for the satisfaction of goodness was not impetus enough for him. Not now; maybe in the future, he could be that noble man for no other reason than because he should. But it was not of concern to him, for if he could not be good for those around him, being good for himself meant nothing and would only reflect a self-absorption the Bloodskald refused to ever reflect off the mirror of his soul. This pale princess thanked him, offering a smile so fleeting he almost though he'd missed it.

Rune-carved horns shifted, catching the light as he shifted his head to the side, curious. That smile illumined her face more than he'd seen it glow in ages. What would be required of him to coax out the anomaly once again? With a gentle nod to his side, Torleik began to walk towards the hot springs nearby, finding this pool to be, unlike Ophelia's joy, a common panacea for his ills and aches. The day she smiled regularly would be a victory.

"She does look better, doesn't she?" he murmured, giving his companion a glance as they moved, smiling softly at the hybrid animal. "Her state reflects my own; I really must improve on controlling my emotions, for her sake." Irelyn, not paying much attention to her bonded's conversation, took a running leap into the hot springs, using her owl wings to help propel her around on the surface. It amused him to no end that she enjoyed water, as he would not have expected either a bird or a feline to have such a proclivity, let alone a fusion of the two.

Her little body made a splash that flicked water up onto his forelegs and the sight of her antics made him chuckle - and gave him an idea. With a smirk that was half-affected and half-true (what was that about faking something until it was real?), Torleik turned and let his tail dip into the warm water. Mischievous expression directed towards Ophelia now, the Bloodskald paused, rumbling, "You look radiant when you smile," before whipping up his tail and flinging warm water droplets her way, aiming for her shoulder or side and avoiding her face just in case.

The miserable failure of his aim was apparent as he saw the water heading straight for her head, and he instinctively ducked his own crown as if doing so would aid her in avoiding the liquid somehow.

Gods, he hoped she wouldn't be angry with him for trying to do something stupid for a smile. When was the last time they'd laughed? Felt at ease? With each other? Her smile was so beautiful; he just wanted to see it again. If he could make her angry, he could make her happy.

...right?

"talk talk talk"

@[Ophelia]

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Why are they so adorable. ;-;

Credits: Image by Schwartze @ DA