[Inclement Weather] Tough Hands (Tavaltia)

[Risa Moontide]

Risa let herself be taken up in the moment. His body was strong and firm against hers, grounding her mind in this, losing herself against him. His kisses were exotic and his hands were tough against her skin. She pressed against him even as he pulled her close, not moving or thinking.

Risa began to slip out of the thicker layers of clothes as well, untying her outer corset as she kicked off her sandals. Her hand clutched around his back, feeling his muscled body. Risa tasted his lips, sour and salty, but so nice against her own. She was lost, but she felt herself calling, trying to wake up.

Her mind was moving in a million directions, the fog of the drinks starting clear slightly. Even as close as she felt to Tavaltia she knew she couldn't lay passive. She needed to be true to herself. Risa pushed Tavaltia back with her free hand and stood up. Her heat was pounding and she definitely was excited but she still needed to just breathe for a second. Risa took a step towards the window of the small room, looking out as moonlight silhouetted her frame.

Risa took another deep breath and looked back at Tavaltia, the expression on her face a mix of regret and empathy. "I... I can't. Not now, not with someone I just met. You're a wonderful man, Tavaltia. I'm sorry that I have to do this to you but this isn't who I am." She gathered her loose clothes from the ground and turned towards the door. "I did have a wonderful evening. I..." Her voice broke, there was nothing she could say that felt right. "I'll go."

[Tavaltia]

“No don’t go, I’m perfectly ok, with just sleeping next to you, maybe we can get to know each other better. Let’s just not talk now, We need to stop for a moment, we’ve had a very busy day, and maybe we should just sleep, and besides, it’s too late to find a room anyway.” Tavaltia stands up off the bed, and takes a few of the heavier furs off, and puts them on the ground. “I’ll sleep here, you take the bed. Besides, I want to see you more anyway, get to know you better. You seem like a really nice person, and we just moved a bit too fast.” Putting his hand on her upper arm, “Stay please, I had been wanting to kiss you as well. And when you kissed me, I guess I just got a little to exicited. Your such a new person to me, Just let me get to know you better.”

Tavaltia was desperate, this was a wonderful woman, and he had no idea what these feelings were. He was worried he would lose her. There was no way he was going to let this one slip between his fingers. He had to figure out what he was doing here, she was gorgeous, and sweet, and honest, maybe he would travel with her. Or maybe he could convince her to stay here with him. But he had to do something.

[Risa Moontide]

Risa froze at his touch, looking down at Tavaltia's hand. The fingers showed signs of his leather work, callouses from the scrapping and labor. She looked back into his eyes, his face clearly showing a sense of desperation and fear. He looked... vulnerable standing there. Her head seemed to be spinning, and she stayed in place a second longer.

I want to stay. The thoughts inside her head almost surprised her, but she felt the truth behind them with a sudden ferocity. Risa turned back towards Tavaltia, letting the bunched up clothing slip from her arm and fall. Her hand reached out, softly letting her fingertips touch his chest. She smiled, a small soft light on her face.

Risa grabbed his hand with her own and walked past him, pulling him behind her. She sat down on the bed, sitting him behind. Then pushing him down she just laid with her head against him and his arm wrapped around her. She finally broke the silence, whispering, "Thank you for... for everything. Let's just sleep." She felt the warmth returning, the inner peace he gave her. "Goodnight..."

[Tavaltia]

Something new was happening here, Tavaltia was wrapped around this stranger that he had never met before tonight and he was calm, and relaxed and warm. Not just warm on the outside but warm in a new way, one he didn’t quite know how to describe in Nari, in Common or in any other language. She made him happy. This just wasn’t right somehow, but in the same way it was. Tired he buries his face into Risa’s hair and whispers, “good night Risa.” Slowly fading off to sleep with his body wrapped around hers and His muscles still aching from a long day.

[Risa Moontide]

Night passed quickly and comfortably for Risa. She slept deeper than aboard her own ship, felt safe in the arms around her. All the distractions were gone and for once she had no worries. Even her dreams had the same calm.

When she awoke she didn't move, didn't want to ruin the quiet serenity that claimed her. Risa just took in the moment, thinking. The sun was just below peak, the sky about to display its decadent color, but the world was the somber pale that made thinking clear and rested her spirit. Tavaltia's home smelled nice, both unfamiliar and like home at the same time. The room was warm as was Tavaltia beside her. She turned on the bed slightly, looking into his sleeping face. Risa felt another smile overtake her face, another mark of her happiness around him bursting through.

After a while the sun was about to breach the horizon, perhaps wake Tavaltia up. A small nagging thought entered Risa's mind as did the beginning of a headache. What if he doesn't like the person he's awoken with? The idea pulled at her chest, a small empty pain from inside of her. She rose quietly now, eying Tavaltia to make sure she didn't wake him. Risa quickly picked up her clothes and bag and exited the room.

Right outside the leather door Risa stopped and pushed herself against the stone wall nearby. She closed her eyes a bit her lip, trying to clear her thoughts as they had been just moments ago. You know what? He'll like me just as much as last night. He's a great guy and I'm just being insecure. The thoughts rang true in her head, filling the void she had been making from herself. I'm going to go back in there and wake him up. And I don't have to be on my guard.

Risa walked back into the room, setting her stuff on the ground quietly. Both Tavaltia and his eagle still seemed to be asleep, to her anyway. She climbed back down on the beg, crawling to put her face above Tavaltia's . With one hand on his cheek she kissed his lips again, her hair draping over the two. When she pulled back, a new smile danced on her lips and Risa whispered, "Good morning, handsome."

[Tavaltia]

Tavaltia woke up to Risa kissing his face. She was a sweet girl, and it had been a wonderful night. Standing up he wraps his arms around her, kissing her on the forehead. “Good Morning Risa, how did you sleep?” Saying anymore felt like saying too much, so he just held her close and kept quiet, it may have been the wrong thing to say, but there was nothing that needed to be said. She would leave eventually, and he would probably either not be here when she did, or not be able to leave with her. He will bring her back over to the bed, “We don’t need to get out of bed so soon, I don’t think we finished to well last night.” Kissing her on the lips. “I don’t think we were done curling up together yet now were we?” It was difficult to understand as he never took her lips off of hers and was smiling the whole time.

He will lead her back to the bed and sit down, bringing her onto his lap and running his hand down her side. Still kissing her he say’s “Why are you in such a rush to get away. Am I funnier looking without the alcohol?”

[Risa Moontide]

Staring down at Tav Risa studied his stoic face, the hand on his face gently touching his skin as she looked over his features. Tav's gold eyes were... honest. It made her feel warm inside, just staring into the eyes. They were so different from her own, from any she'd time to look into with detail. She could have stared into his eyes all morning had his words and gentle movements not distracted her.

"I slept," Risa started, trailing off. She bit her lip, glancing up at the stone above as she dug for words. Marvelous! Warm! Comfortable! Nice!sweet!deep!happy!PERFECT!... Each word sounded silly in her head, not something she wanted to burst out and ruin the tranquility of the morning. Instead of answering she just kissed him again, a quick surprise flinging her own arms around him. "... A lot like that. And yeah, I think our morning could last a little longer."

At his next comment Risa giggled, kissing Tavaltia again. "Ha! I'm pretty sure I'm the funny looking one." and lavished in the warmth of his lips against her own. The emotions that flowed through her from each kiss was so strange, so foreign. Risa needed to be near him a bit longer, had to feel his embrace. He captivated her with his scent and actions and didn't make her feel too young and afraid.

She laid down next to him, enjoying his presence as long as she could. Her thoughts were not on her ship or her next destination or the mountain that she knew loomed so high above her. Just now. She wrapped one of his arms around her, snuggling close against his chest.

[Risa Moontide]

The beam of light peaked through the window at the moment, bringing word of the coming sun like a messenger. Well, more a scout whose presence, though subtle, was so careless to reveal itself before returning to bring word to its master. And just like some scout would be, Risa found the beam unwelcome, wanting the night to trail on a while longer. The beam pushed at her head, awakening the headache with more fury. She shut her eyes tighter and groaned.

Risa just listened to Tav's heartbeat for another second, her eyes practically glued shut to keep the light out. But then Risa remembered the date. It was the 25th! She was supposed to go rock climbing with Sairque! Risa opened her eyes wide, much to the displeasure of the shoot of pain that flowed though her head. She rose, more woozy than before, and grabbed her stuff again. "I'm sorry, Tavaltia! I forgot I have an appointment! I'll see you again soon, I promise." Moving as quickly as she could Risa took off into the starting morning mist.

[Phoenix]

Character: Rista Experience: Socializing- 5, Rhetoric- 5, Observation- 5 Lores: Experiencing the intensity of Inclement Weather, Drinking alcohol for the social benefits, not for taste, Being unafraid to ask for help, Having Tavaltia hit on her, Meeting Tavaltia’s falcon Kyiri, Stepping outside her comfort zone and kissing Tavaltia, Staying true to herself and not giving in on the first date, Finding comfort in a man’s arms, Character: Tavaltia Experience: Socializing- 5, Rhetoric- 5 Lores: Having a “usual spot” in Inclement Weather, Wondering about the world outside of Wind Reach, Having trouble breeching the language barrier, Trying to get Rista drunk, Taking Risa back to his home, Pretending to sleep, Surprising Risa with more kisses, The Method, The Fire: You asked for critique, so here it is: Honestly, I think you did a wonderful job, Rista. Your posts are detailed, yet easy to get through. I don't find myself skimming over anything and actually enjoying each post. I wonder if you asked for opinions because you felt like you didn't do as good a job in this thread or not? If that is the case, I think I have an explanation why. With my own personal PCs I write very descriptively, and find it frustratingly hard to post well with someone who isn't giving me enough description back. Tavaltia didn't really provide you with much to go off of on a post-to-post basis, which is alright! He might have been new, or prefers to write in a minimalistic style. However, for what you had to work with I think you did fabulously. You were descriptive and gave the reader an image of what was going on. I only have two suggestions 1) I always like to see writers push the boundaries of what they are comfortable with. Do you struggle with internal dialogue with Risa? Do you find yourself leaving out details because you find them hard to describe? Or maybe you have trouble finding Risa's voice, and therefore end up making her talk less and move around more (or vice versa: Talk more, move less). If all, any or none of those are true, I think you get my point. Try to write things that are hard for you. 2) Try to do more. This is something I struggle with as well. Take charge of the thread! Make your PC's move around and do things. Make them make decisions or boss someone around. Obviously these are just examples, so stay true to who your PC is. Don't wait for whomever you're threading with to come up with the next step, the next action. I noticed that in this thread, Tavalia lead Risa around, basically making all the decisions in the thread. So maybe work on that a little. But those are just small things. Like I said multiple times, I think you're doing a great job! Keep up the good work, hun! Any questions or concerns, please send me a PM and I'll be happy to help!