Redeeming Qualities (Andalusia)

[Roka]

Spring 16, 512 AV

Location: Northern Wilds

The light filtered in with warmth that was uncalled for. Roka had exhausted the night mauling over the past few days. Days that had been filled with such mixed emotions. His heart weighed heavy. The most prevalent emotion was that of guilt, maybe seconded only by disgust. Just days earlier he had partaken in the brutal murder of two slavers, he had watched as they bled to death. Their blood was so rich it was black and soaking deep stains into the dirt. He closed his eyes tightly at the thought, trying to filter out images of the glassy accusing eyes that stared at him from the hollows of their skulls. Shortly after he had been in a bar fight, over a women he had not seen since no less, and an instinct took him that would have welcomed strangling the life from his attackers eyes. Then not a week later he had decided to join the Crimson Edge. Was this really his lot in life? He did not want to believe that in the end the only existence he held in the world was that of a disruptive wave.

He lay unclothed in his human form, by a small creak of water. He was soaked to the skin, his hair clinging to his face in webs of black and grey, his eyelashes flecked with crystal pecks of liquid. He shivered as the breeze lapped at his bare body, but made no attempt to move. He just laid there in silent remorse, biting his cheeks as the taste of a man's flesh in his teeth racked his sense till he could think of nothing else.

He stood decisively with a shake of his head wringing the water from his hair. He wiped at his eyes and dressed himself in his nearby apparel. Pulling on each piece of fitted clothes was a discomfort he welcomed, just for the minor chastisement it offered.

A diversion that was what he needed. The sun was still scarcely peeping over the horizon of the first light sky, but it had seemed like much longer. Dark pigments were formed beneath his emblazoned eyes, and looked harsh against his icy skin. He continued in the forest, weeding at the earth here and there as he had become accustomed to. He enjoyed picked at the plants in the forest, and seeing them change and grow centimeter by centimeter. His heart settled after this repetitive act, finding he was doing some worthy deed in the world, hoping that his presence was not just a valueless space. If nothing else the plantation could receive him.

That's when it struck him. The entire forest had accepted him. Even the few who he had met inhabiting it. A lesser smile slid onto his face at one single thought, Andalusia. He wanted now to see her desperately. It had only been days, but her presence had all but vanished from his senses.

The sun emerged from behind a coal-colored cloud and kissed at his face with pleasure. It encouraged him forward, and he set a foot down before the other, one by one, until his feet were crunching along the sticks and debris of the grass with a hasty run. He hoped that they could find something to do together, even Dante would be a welcomed friend on this date.

It was not long before he had touched her camps edges. The faded smell of an extinguished fire still hung in the atmosphere. He propped onto one of the encompassing trees with his arms crossed and his head tilted down, as he looked over the camp with a quiet amusement.

[Andalusia]

Huddled with her lower half inside of her bedroll, Andalusia circled her forefingers around the sturdy leather gloves she'd just recently bought from a day out in the city. She had been fearing of wearing it out in just one outing, but it was too beautiful to resist putting it on today. The leathere wasn't rich or special, but the gloves were sown beautifully, and fit her perfectly when she'd tried it on. They were a rich russet brown, reaching right past her wrist with a loose fold at the end. They would be perfect for hunting.

Dante got up in intervals, pacing around the large tent impatiently. The canine was desperate to get out and go into the forest, maybe get into the spring or chase some rabbits, or even just stroll around the wilderness and get a litle lost. Even the bustling, migraine-inducing city of Sunberth would be great. He was desperate for some action and exercise. Even so, Andalusia remained still, a soft smile on her face as she continued to stroke the leather gloves. "Why don't you just put it on and try it out?" the Luvanor seemed to say as he let out a tiny little yip. The sun had just risen, but she wasn't in the mood to get up. It was a lazy day, one that was best spent in bed. "You know where the food is, Dan, and Howl's already got his..." she murmured with a yawn, but the dog would have none of it. He continued to pace around the tent anxiously, making occasional whines and whimpers. Andalusia was slipping one of the gloves on slowly when Dante stopped mid-pace, his ears perked up and his nose pointed straight at the tent's exit. One of his front paws were up in the air, and he immediately turned to his master after having registered the scent. He let out his tongue and panted, looking at the girl amiably. "Friend," Andalusia mouthed, a quiet conversation between companions as they spoke through stares and gazes. She turned to the tall, faint shadow that casted upon the front of her tent and wondered who it was. "Who's there?" she called out reluctantly, her voice soft and gentle, hoping not to startle the person. She had her hand close to her assassin's dagger, just in case.

RECEIPTMONEY: 15 GM, 3 SM, 78 CM

Leather Gloves - 5 SM
___________________
MONEY LEFT: 14 GM, 8 SM, 78 CM

[Roka]

Roka crouched down, the brim of his boots imprinting the dirt with their mark. He extended a hand, a single unturned palm to Dante, and greeted him with an enthusiastic stoking of his ruffled gray coat. He laughed, peeking over to Andalusia still lying in her wrappings like a freshly opened gift. "Just a fox." he replied his grin widening to exaggerated proportions. She was the only one he could speak that too, for she was the only person in Sunberth, who was not Kelvic that knew what he was. He discovered it to be blissful just to be able to say such a simple phase.

He looked her over again, noticing her absently stoking a pair of leather gloves with care and maybe even affection. His brow rose at the sight "I hope I'm not interrupting anything." he teased and continued to run at Dante's ears affectionately. He was quite found of the canine seeing as upon their first meeting he had decided against fetching his own hide. He was a sweet and talented friend in Roka's eyes.

"I was just nearby." He could not have told her that he missed her, that he had actually avoided seeing her until now for dislike of his own feelings toward her and his desire to avoid such emotions. He definitely could not tell her that he had thought of her and come running. "I wanted to see if you would like to do something." Anything at all would suffice as long as company was provided.

He gazed back at Dante into his dewy brown eyes. 'I wish I could be like you Dante, at least then I would know my place' he thought to himself as if confiding in the hunting dog. He was at a loss as of how to speak to people at times, to voice his needs and wants. She seemed so sure of herself, and he so lost. He wanted to know more about her. He wanted to switch places with Dante for a day.

"Maybe we could do some shopping, or have a drink together." He peered back up at her clearing his throat as if to avoid any awkward glances she may be giving him upon his request. He felt his stomach tingle like feathers were flapping about in his gut, and waiting for a second felt ages.

“Or if you’re busy I’ll come back later.” He quickly added with a nervous chuckle, his fingers fiddling with a loose thread at the hem of his pants, and his teeth clamped upon his the inside of his lower lip, tugging it into a slanted frown.

[Andalusia]

"D-Dan--" she called out as the canine immediately peeked his head out of the tent, but cut herself off as soon as she found that he was wagging his tail happily. It was indeed, a friend. "Just a fox," she heard a familiar, masculine voice call out. A pale, bony hand brushed the tent cloth back, opening it up to reveal Roka. She'd expected it after such an introduction, and she giggled. He commented on her lying on her bedroll, and she let out a little blush: she hadn't gotten out of her bedclothes yet.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything," he joked, but she was too flustered about her current clothing to notice right away what he was referring to. She quickly looked down to her lap, covered in the thick bedroll blankets, forcing herself to brush past the pale cotton nightgown that was a little too revealing on the chest area. He was talking about the gloves. "O-Oh," she chuckled nervously, hoping that her hair was doing a great job at hiding her flushed cheeks, "N-Not at all, No, I-I was just r-really happy. I-I just, I just got these." She slipped both of them on these time, bringing them up towards her face and revelling in them. They were truly quite nice, something you just can't get over with in just an hour or a day. He began to talk about going out and doing something, and her smile quickly faltered. Dante remained oblivious to the conversation, and perhaps even his master's presence, as Roka petted and fawned over him. The Kelvic seemed to be projecting a sense of affection to the canine, but he couldn't process it very well. Communicating with a Kelvic, although of the same species, proved to be different when in human form. Dante didn't know what to say about it or what to tell the fox, and so he continued to focus on the petting.

Andalusia casually took off the gloves and laid them on the side of her bedroll, still blushing. Her eyes immediately scanned the tent for her cape, but found it too far from her reach. Her mind raced, and just like that, she sunk into her bedroll until all that was left were her shoulders, neck, and head. "B-But I don't feel like g-going out," she whined, closing her eyes momentarily. Dante turned towards his master and barked thrice angrily. He knew that no scolding, poking or prodding would get the girl out when she had these lazy days. The canine trotted over to the foot of her bedroll and sat there, his eyes gazing upon her face as she seemed to drift off. Really, these days, they were the worst for Dante, but sometimes also the best. Resting was nice, but when he was in the mood to move, it wasn't.

[Roka]

He had not missed it, her cheeks tenting pink and the break in her words as she explained her charming gloves. Still it was peculiar to reason she was in bed admiring a pair of leather cloth meant to shelter one's fingers and palms. Still it brought a returning beam to his façade.

After his initial inquiry he watched her drop into her cocoon again, an overspread of dark hair trimming the top of the fabric was all that remained visible of her from where he was seated. Dante barked at her with seeming frustration and paced over to her side. Roka’s face looked perplexed, his brows scrunching and then relaxing with a huff of a laugh. He wasn't sure what she was doing. 'She just does not want to get out of bed?’ he thought. Maybe she was ill or maybe she was wounded. Those were things that would make him to want to say wrapped in blankets.

He inched inside the tent without a word only the sound of his feet scrapping across the dirt and the flap of her tent flopping down with a whoosh after grazing his back. "Are you..." He kneeled beside her "sick?" he asked his palm reaching out tentatively from his lap towards her.

"Or hurt?" he added looking about the tent for any signs of wrapping, his hand lingering in the air as he searched. Roka touched her head met only with a layer of hair. He wasn't sure what he was checking for, but he assumed if he found it he would know. He had seen mother's touch at their children's heads when they were considered ill, checking for warmth, but that was the extent of his knowledge. He brushed the hair from her forehead and cheek with the tips of his delicate fingers. Her skin was a corresponding shade to his, maybe even lighter, but free of any mark but the light pink gathering in her face. He swallowed hard gazing upon her delicate features with a now unsteady hand. She seemed to him like if he touched her too roughly, she might break into fine porcelain pieces. He couldn't remember her looking this way before, but he was closer now, and saw things he had missed before.

He went to press his palm to her forehead, but only brushed the skin before retracting his hand. He had faltered just for a moment. He wanted to try again, but decided against it. "You feel ok to me." he said and he looked over her body again. Her figure sheltered in the bundles around her. "So maybe a wound then?" he asked tugging at the edge of her cot. "Come now, show me. Maybe I can help."

[Andalusia]

Conflicting emotions - the only explanation for the storm that grew in mere seconds within in her chest. She choked in her silence as Roka approached her lying form, his hand inspecting her forehead, removing the stray tendrils of raven-black hair that clung to her face. She had no fever, she wasn't sick, and neither was she injured. She was, however, troubled by the unleathy weather that greeted her churning stomach and rapidly beating chest. Her first thought was the fact that more than one man was tugging at her heartstrings, causing her to choose. Her mind ran off and raced towards the belly of the forest, allowing itself to be swallowed inside the gaping, dark maw of the wilderness. Here was Roka, and then there was Stigandr. They both swirled around her head

"N-No!" Andalusia protested, the panicked expression that flooded her face quickly faded as she giggled, fimly gripping the bedroll as Roka proceeded to tug at it. "I-I'm fine, I really am," she chuckled as she spoke, hoping that her voice was convincing enough for the Kelvic. Dante sensed his master's reluctance and anxiety, and immediately made a move for the bedroll. Casually, the canine trotted over to his master and lay on top of the bedroll, his paws facing her flushed face. He toasted up the bedroll even more, but it didn't stop Andalusia. She was definitely not getting out of bed, not today. This was a lazy day. "I-I just..." she trailed off, afraid to admit the reason why she couldn't get up. She buried her face in her palms as she spoke, "It's lazy day." It was quick and muffled, but coherent. With one eye, she peeked out of her fingers to watch the fox's reaction.

[Roka]

A pang of disappointment spliced though Roka and he withdrew his hand, trailing his fingers along the dirt as he did. His head lowered to watch his retreating hand and he caught the sliver of her eye slipped between two small fingers. He exhaled a heavy breath that tossed the hair about his face in wild upward directions. He then turned so that he faced the exit to the tent. He crossed his legs and began to swirl his finger in the ground, tracing tracks in the uprooted soil.

He had expected them to do something, anything really. Not that just sitting idly was a bad thing, but well, it seemed like a dreary thing to do. He knew that he would begin to think, to reflect of the events he had just been in contemplation over, the things he did not want to consider. He wondered if ale may sooth him. The bitter liquid was proven to be a screen door slamming over his conscious already. Still maybe it was not a decent thing to do. His first experienced was extreme to say the least.

After a painful pause he finally answered "Okay." it was simple, he would not argue, but he wanted to stay for just a moment if she would allow him. He tossed his form back onto the dirt and stared at the frame of the tent staring at the supports that held it in place, each piece of twine and every limb. "Then a lazy day..." he repeated. He was pouting his lip protruding in the slightest, his eyes cast to the side, fingers twiddling about with whatever they touched, but it was an odd emotion to have, and his face felt awkward searching for an appropriate expression to suit his needs.

He turned his head to her, his body relaxed with limbs sprawled and slightly parted. "So what does one do on a lazy day?" he inquired. “And when does it end?”

[Andalusia]

She noticed his reluctance and his disappointment, as he slowly retracted his hand away from her face. Although he did not move an inch from his place, she could feel that he was already halfway out of the tent in his discouragement. "Okay," he muttered in a weak, dejected tone, after quite a while. A part of herself wanted to reach out her hand from underneath the bedroll and grab his arm before his spirit could leave the area entirely, but instead resorted to words. "D-Don't worry, I-I'm very sorry, t-trully I am, but i-it isn't that I d-do not want to sp-spend time with y-you..." her cheeks began to flush once more as she spoke, hoping that her words would not impy the wrong message. "I-It's just that, i-it's a lazy day," she added, finding it difficult to explain how these days happened or turned out.

"Then a lazy day..." Roka replied, lowering his gaze away from the raven-haired girl, his lips turned down into a little pout. Dante made a grumbling noise as he lay on top of the bedroll, as if the term offended him. Andalusia giggled, finding herself lifting a hand out of her bedroll to nuzzle the canine's ears, but later on snaking her arm back inside the cozy blankets. She eyed the fox Kelvic's hands as they twiddled with each other, as she wondered what could've been going on inside his head. "A-A lazy day. I-It's one of those, those days when I-I wake up, a-and I feel... I feel lazy! A-And I do nothing but m-mediocre things like, like rest, and th-think, and..." she trailed off, unable to think of more activities. "Just, l-little things th-that aren't tire, tiresome," she added enthusiastically, a yawn escaping her lips afterwards. She giggled when he inquired about when it would end. "At m-midnight, naturally," she said with a chuckle. Dante pawed at her bedroll angrily, yipping at her as she spoke. "Dan," she laughed, poking at the Luvanor from underneath the bedroll. The dog merely rolled in place at the sentiment, lapping his tongue out at her playfully. "Feel free to a-accompany me, o-on this, lazy day," she said casually, as she tickled her dog from the confinement of her bedroll.

[Roka]

Roka wrinkled his nose, perplexed. He was not sure how long he could stay this way, just lying upon the ground. Not a full-fledged day, that was for sure. He did not say much for quite some time, just staring dazed at a far off image that was beyond the confides of the simple abode he was sharing temporarily with this raven-haired beauty. He grew warm, his skin tingling with the rays of light that seeped past the canvas and brushed across him with gentle regard.

He tossed around, his eyes beginning to feel weighty, with eyelashes fluttering with each labored blink. He began to doze with the single lingering noise of a soft pattern of inhales and exhales to signal to his newly adopted lethargic state. His hands collapsed at his side and at last sat motionless.

Flashes, flashes of dreams, flooded into his mind’s eye. They mingled together, with sweet images of a motherly face with a doe-like smile and bright light of transformation, but morphed instead into image of a single black fox running. It couldn't possibly be himself, for he was chasing after it, desperately, running as hard as he could in his human flesh. They reached a ledge and the fox simply jumped, limbs extended in a gesture that could only be described as fly. Roka stopped at the edge, skidding so that his toes hung over the side and watched, but the other was not flying, he quickly began to drop and fall.

Roka jumped up startled, his breathing ragged and labored. He could hear his heart pounding in his temples, and the high pitch as if he had something smashed onto his ears. His hands clasped over his eyes and rubbed, until his senses could calm. He begin to rise with a quiet grumble "I'm going to get us something to eat." the flap to the tent lifted and he exited with no explanation. He stood at the middle of the camp silently, for a moment, his palms hoisted over his head and upon his head. He simply stared, at nothing hoping to finish composing his demeanor and then running off to fetch some meat. He was sure a hunt would be an easy distraction.

[Andalusia]

She stared at the top of her tent idly, her fingers tracing circles around the thin cotton that covered her thighs. She continued to do so as Roka sighed and gave in to her lazy day, shuffling to lay on the tarp-covered floor next to her. Andalusia hummed cheerfully in approval, shifting left and right as she snuggled into her bedroll. Dante raised his head at the fox Kelvic as he was laid on the ground, and immediately moved towards him. He wedged himself into the little space between the two, yipping happily at the warmth their bodies both provided him. Andalusia giggled softly, the weight of silence and Roka's drowsiness affecting the loudness of her voice. She glanced towards the side, her gaze going unnoticed as Roka's eyes began to flutter and close, his chest growing stiller, his hands growing limp. Such fair features for a male, yet still remarkably masculine. "Just as pretty as he is handsome," she mused, a smirk growing on her lips as she turned towards the beige-colored canvas and the shadows of the leaves and branches. Lazy days were beautiful.

And in came a sea of thoughts as her mind wandered into a reverie, ideas and memories soaring past her in an infinite number. The image of her mother, whom she'd never even seen; a portait of her own self, only with hair so red that it appeared to be in flames, tamed and limp as it framed her delicate, porcelain features. The image of her father, whom she could never forget; his sharp, jagged, muscular features were the talk of all the women, though he firmly refused to take any. His heart was with he woman that he first loved. And then came herself, her own image, where she had the raven-black hair of her father, her mother's ivory skin but her father's feisty appearance, and most especially of all, her dear mother's striking green eyes. She was a magnificent mix of the two of them, a remarkable testimony of their love. And then she wondered, if she could ever love that way, and have a child that had her eyes, or her hair, and the rest his or her father's. Would she ever settle down, have a first and last love? Briefly, she glanced over to Roka, who was fast asleep, probably submerged in a dream of his own. "Is he somewhere out there, or somewhere in here?" she pondered silently.

Before she could even register what she had just thought, or even delve upon it, blush because of it, squeak due to it, Roka jolted up from his slumber, panting heavily, looking as if he'd just been freed from a chokehold. "Roka?" Andalusia exclaimed, her head turning towards the side to view the Kelvic. "I'm going to get us something to eat," he quipped, immediately standing up and running out of the tent without another word. "Wait!" Andalusia cried out, rising up to a sitting position, but was left completely ignored. Dante jumped to his feet and ran after the Kelvic, barking happily at the opportunity to move. Without another thought, Andalusia immediately rose up and chased after the pair, forgetting that she was in her sleeping clothes. "Wait," she reiterated, as she was outside and standing barefoot on the chilly, earthy forest floor. Roka stood there, looking exhausted, with Dante standing obliviously underneath him, his tail wagging profusely.