The Second Time (Vanessa Lawson)

by **Aventis** on February 13th, 2015, 2:02 am

He couldn’t believe it. He absolutely could not believe it. He was at a loss for words, let alone actions. His mind - his thoughts, his plans, his actions, everything he had thought he was sure of - was blanked, gone completely. His upper hands hung uselessly, frozen, at his sides. His mouth hung agape, his whole body rattled and shook, begging, pleading for him to drop down unconscious. The pain of initial contact was shadowed by the pain of Vanessa’s disapproval, which was far more painful than the Eypharian could have possibly expected. He knew he would have attained the girl’s indignation eventually and had prepared himself thusly, but something so abrupt, so unexpected… It pained him. He wasn’t ready for it. For her.

In his feverdream-like state, he seemed to have missed speech. His ears were ringing from both the pain from the blow, which was substantially stronger than was expected, and from the screams that he threw at himself within his head. It hurt in so many more ways than he could imagine.

The squire stood, stunned, afraid to move, afraid to react. He couldn’t think at all, let alone speak.

He watched silently as his goal was achieved and Vanessa turned to walk away, much as Aventis had moments before, and in that moment he understood everything Vanessa must have felt, everything she experienced.

He hated it. And himself.

That is when he regained consciousness. That is when he woke up. Just in time to see Vanessa trip on her cloak.

Aventis wasn’t aware of it - of anything, for that matter. Not of the sound of laughter behind him, the fire in his cheek, not of instinct. His hands were hanging uselessly at his side, but Vanessa was no longer falling. He could feel her form against his palms, the cloth of her dress on his fingertips, and he could feel a breeze through his now open cloak.

“I…”

by **Vanessa Lawson** on February 14th, 2015, 7:40 pm

Vanessa didn't know what to say. One moment she was about to fall into the snow, and the next she was being held up. She didn't dare turn around to see the who had caught her because she knew. There was only the two of them there, Aventis and herself. She finally mustered her courage and turned around, but was shocked to see Aventis' arms at his sides. Then how was he holding her? With another set of arms. She let out a small gasp, and looked at his face.

She found nothing save for his uncertain tone. She corrected herself by covering her mouth and stood, hesitantly pushing out of his grasp. She was confused, upset, and shocked all at the same time. She wasn't even sure what to feel anymore. She wanted to run and hide for throwing a tantrum like a child, to yell and ask questions like the confused person she was. However, she did none of these. Instead she searched his face for an answer. One that only he could give her.

How did he have multiple limbs? Was it a genetic trait, a defect? She didn't know. He seemed to have been hiding it for a while, because he didn't seem comfortable with her looking at him. She averted her gaze, her anger forgoten to ask a single question. "How?"

by **Aventis** on February 15th, 2015, 7:54 pm

Aventis stood frozen in place, waiting for himself to decide upon a reaction. It seemed to be bells upon bells that he stood there, holding in his hands something he had so desperately wanted to hold, feeling the fabric against his soft, uncalloused hands. It was alien, obtuse, and the only thing that gave him comfort in the scenario. Otherwise, he was putting off the inevitable. He could feel blood pounding against his veins, he was aware of every movement, involuntary or not, in his body. He felt his eyes strain to see, his skin strain to keep itself in the cold, his heart strain to keep him upright, his legs waiting for the opportunity, twitching, aching to leave, not out of the selfish need to save himself but so that Vanessa wouldn’t have to see what came after the shock, the hurt.

So she wouldn’t see him fall.

He, very gently, let himself release her from his grasp. He stood her upright and gazed at her gently, unable to stop himself from heaving every solitary breath that found itself forced out from his lips or thrown into his dry and aching throat. As quickly as he could, he wrapped his arms back into the flaps of his cloak and the cloak around his body, his upper hands stressfully balling portions of the cloth in their fists at his sides. He did his best to contain his screams, which were ready and begging to be released in the loudest outburst that Aventis could possibly manage.

“How?” She asked. The poor girl… She seemed even more conflicted than he was. Aventis gazed softly at her gentle features, gingerly inspecting her petite jawline, her shapely lips, her golden complexion, her bright eyes bathed in shadow, her raven black hair. Through everything he was begging himself not to do, despite everything he held back, he felt it incredibly easy to just gaze endlessly at the girl, perfectly content in himself.

When at last he managed to rip his eyes away from her own and had them greeted by the path ahead, he felt it swelling up. He felt his throat, his heartbeat, everything, want to stop, to release everything they could in a primal explosion. He treated himself to one more glance at the girl before settling his gaze on the road once more. Wordlessly, and as gingerly as possible, the squire passed Vanessa and walked along the road.

There were rounds to do.

by **Vanessa Lawson** on February 15th, 2015, 10:51 pm

Vanessa just.. Looked. She watched as he wrapped his cloak around himself again, concealing the extra limbs. He looked ethereal, beautiful even. So why did he hide them? Then again, she wasn't really focused on that. She wanted an answer. Aventis looked at her for a bit, as if he had something he wanted to say, but instead turned to leave her there. Vanessa held at her hand to protest, but stopped herself.

He probably didn't want to see her. It hurt to think that, but she knew it was true. She just felt so.. broken. In all of her days she'd not once felt the way she did about someone like she did the other, but ti was pointless to dwell on it. Especially since the man had made himself clear that he had no intention of being around her. Vanessa looked sadly at the ground, but willed herself to hold back tears.

She turned and headed back for the stallion. She'd probably drink until she passed out, but she didn't much care for the consequences at the time. She pulled herself together and looked at her hand. She could still feel the sting of the contact, but she opted to ignore it like the bad memory it was. She clenched her hand into a fist and began to run away, just as the child she felt like.

by **Archailist** on March 13th, 2015, 7:05 pm

Aventis :

Vanessa :

Notes :

Was I a little too nuts in my grading?
If you've got concerns, just call me.

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