[Closed] A Night by the Seaside

by **Kirvan Deepseeker** on March 9th, 2013, 12:38 am

As Xiani explained what had happened, the large medic nodded sagely. He did not know the particulars as to what happened and did not need to, the Zith's reaction was most likely innocent and unintentional, but he knew that even the most minuscule slight to the Sea Father would result in Kirvan becoming highly defensive. From what Durk could tell, it wasn't so much that his friend was offended and more that he did not wish to hear of thoughts that may offend the god whom he idolized so dearly. "Judgement is something that people make all the time," Durk replied, "and there is no shame in drawing conclusions from observations. However, Kirvan has just been very touchy about Laviku. He's not too defensive of our culture - he's more outwardly involved than most Svefra we know - but the god of the sea the one thing he is completely unforgiving about."

Hamlac looked lost in the whole conversation, but they were talking about his friend and he knew enough to contribute his own thoughts. The young man spoke, voice uncertain but growing more confident as he talked. "We all follow Laviku devoutly, he is our father and patron and the reason for our being. However, we also know that not everyone sees him in the same light, and many of us have come to terms with that. It seems like Kirvan hasn't though, which is probably where it stems from."

When Xiani asked what had happened, Durk shook his head sadly. "I don't know," was his honest answer. "He hasn't said. One day we received a letter from the priestess that called for help, and Kirvan answered. Mobilizing the whole pod would have taken too long, and so he was sent to offer what aid he could. He spent to whole seasons away from the pod, doing I don't know what for the temple, and when he returned he was a very different man. Not quite as energetic but more enthusiastic and uplifting than ever. Every time after that though, whenever anyone spoke ill of Laviku, he got in their face and demanded them to retract the words. Whenever we ask what happened exactly at the temple, he reacts similarly to the way he just did: he made up an excuse to leave and remained completely silent."

Both Hamlac and Durk looked towards the boat that their friend had moved into, probably thinking different things but both thoughts revolving around how to get Kirvan to loosen up and talk about it. Durk had an idea that was beginning to take shape, but the more he thought about it the less he was willing to propose it out loud. Fortunately, Xiani's next question seemed to fit well with his plan.

"If you would like," Durk replied, his greenish blue eyes of calm hope gazing at her. "I think you should, because someone has to and our own past attempts have only riled him up more. The fact that he only left rather than replying with any scathing comment indicates he's more fond of you than you may think. That and he always was a sucker for women." Durk's amusement caused memories to rise up, but he quashed them quickly to get this out of the way. "I'm worried what will happen to him if he doesn't get this off his chest; he can't keep it bottled up forever. So please, as a friend of his I hope you can coax it out of him."

Over on Kirvan's casinor, the subject of their conversation was having trouble sleeping. He'd cast his sword atop his trunk and made sure his lines were ready, but even as he tried to get some rest he felt too agitated to let the battle-weariness catch up with him. It wasn't just to do with his zealotry to Laviku either, this was something else. He couldn't decide whether he was angry or not at Xiani for her reaction, it seemed so simple yet it meant a lot to him, but she probably didn't mean it. The feeling in his stomach that wouldn't settle persisted and kept him awake, his face staring expressionlessly at the ceiling of his cabin.

by **Xiani** on March 9th, 2013, 2:19 am

Xiani absorbs their words, using them to formulate a plan. Turning to face the casinor towards which Kirvan had left, she statues for a moment, creating a dialogue in her head so that it will not become warped in the heat of conversation. Sighing with the realization that her perfectly crafted words will likely not fit the situation, she nods to the two men, thanking them, before bunching her muscles and leaping into the air.

Before she flies to the casinor, she rockets up as high as she can, ignoring the tightness in her side as her wings push and pull her body. Once she reaches the point where the air is thinner and cooler, she hovers for a moment, taking deeper, colder breaths. This gives her a lighter mindset, one that is less dominated by instinct, allowing her to think more clearly. This is her first true... friend. And now, some silly mistake has caused her to possibly lose him as well. She wasn't going to let it happen. The Zith fire that is a constant glow in the hearth of her chest becomes a flame as this resolution fans it, throwing a log in for it to focus on and consume.

In about, Xiani rockets through the air and lands upon the casinor's deck with a mighty thud despite how she had flared her wings at the last moment. She looks over the alien surface, searching for an entry into its belly where Kirvan likely is. She can smell him all over the wood surface, ingrained there by frequent touch. She can see a spot on the railing worn to softness by constant touch, being leaned upon by the slight lean to it. She is distracted for a moment by the change a creature can make in its home just by living in it. She sees several scuffs in the wooden surface upon which she stands and spends a moment wondering what caused each of them.

Realizing that she has become distracted, Xiani calls out quietly, hoping that Kirvan will at least answer her less she spend the rest of the night seeking entry. That unfamiliar, worried sensation returns to the pit of her stomach as she awaits a reply.

by **Kirvan Deepseeker** on March 9th, 2013, 5:30 am

Meanwhile, Kirvan was stewing in uncertainty and a feeling he didn't recognize. He hadn't felt this way in years, not since he was still a child had he felt such unfamiliar emotions. Ever since he failed the Sea Father those years ago, he had been doing his best to honor the god and making sure everyone else respected him as well. It'd brought him face-to-face with some really unpleasant folk, but it was all he could do to redeem himself until Laviku called on him to make up for his disastrous shortcoming back on the temple.

However, Xiani was the first time he'd been unable to confront the disrespect towards Laviku. Her offense may not have been as open or sacriligious, but Kirvan had never been forgiving of even such small incidents. So why did he back off here? Something about the Zith had drained out all his desire to be confrontational, disarming him entirely. Which was why he was here in his boat rather than out there and arguing for the Sea Father. Even then, what about her was so disarming? In truth, Xiani was a lot like Kirvan himself, defensive of her passion while also curious about the passions and lifestyles and stories of others. It was also a lot like Leisa, whose name had been running through his head off and on since Xiani had introduced herself.

Sighing loudly, he suddenly heard Xiani up on the deck calling his name. Kirvan was trapped. For a moment, he entertained the thought of remaining silent and letting her spend the night up on deck, it would serve her right for disrespecting Laviku, but something stopped him. Annoyingly enough, it was the same part of him that had brought Leisa back into his mind. "Down here," he called in reply. "Come in, may as well." He grumbled a bit, but sat up to face her when she came in.

by **Xiani** on March 9th, 2013, 5:56 am

Xiani's keen ears manage to detect the location of his voice, and leads her around a small ledge on the boat which turns out the be have a doorway through which she enters with a quiet creak. The cabin is made of wood as well and feels warm and cozy, more so than the stone caves to which she is accustomed. Her eyes take in every detail before she manages to focus on the target of her mission: Kirvan.

He is sitting on the edge of his bed, hands on his knees in a stance that is wary, but curious. She looks to his eyes, seeking the true emotions behind but finds instead a look of stone behind which she can see only pain and confusion. The look suddenly makes the cabin lose its warmth and she is back in the dimly lit caves of her colony, a shiver even rolls over her body before she is able to distract herself as she forces her eyes to the floor, to her own feet.

Just as she is about to speak, the use of language fails her. This is not the Kirvan that had befriended her... It is another. One that sees her as an outsider, a blasphemer. She looks to the side and grabs her left elbow with her right hand behind her back, beneath the warmth of her wings. With her left hand she fiddles with the soft, leathery surface of them, finding silent comfort in the motion. ''I came... To apologize..." She sighs and looks up at Kirvan for an instant, hoping to see some glimmer of acceptance in his eyes, like a torch in the depths of a cave. "My reaction was wrong and I had no right to mock your Laviku in such a way. Nor was it my intention... I did not wish to offend you and I do not wish to lose you... friendship." She chokes on the last word, realizing the full power held by such a small word. She is suddenly overwhelmed with the distress of losing her first and only friend. Her heartrate raises as if dealing with an arduous flight and she takes a step towards him, reaching with her left hand before she freezes, withdrawing her hand slowly with the worry that she had offended him again.

by **Kirvan Deepseeker** on March 10th, 2013, 10:15 pm

As Xiani came down the steps, her feet making small creaks on the wood, Kirvan sat up to receive her. His hands rested on his knees and his back was nearly straight, a wary and unwelcoming stance. There was a small part of him that was glad that she had come and was now entering his home, but that part was nearly drowned out by the strong inner voice that belonged to Laviku's will. The blues of his eyes were icy cold, a frosty stare that was devoid of any visual warmth, yet covering a horribly confused mind. His reception remained unforgiving, the young Svefra had no idea what to do or how to handle this.

When she stepped into the cabin with folded wings, her eyes were downcast and her arms were behind her back, a timid posture that seemed to lack confidence. It wasn't the body stance of someone who had come to argue or push, the position was much too diminutive to be that of confrontation. No, she wasn't here to feud. A flood of emotion coursed through him as she spoke, washing away the confusion and replacing it with an overwhelming sense of relief and peace. Melting, Kirvan's eyes and and body nearly folded, all the tension in him just draining out, now steadfastly glad that the Zith had come and filled with a desire to keep her here.

Yet he had no idea what to say. Rarely had he ever received apologies, and thus had no idea how to react. Words failed him, and as he kept trying to express himself each time his mind failed to think of how. There was no doubt remaining, only now his thoughts seemed to stumble over themselves trying to get him to do something. The Svefra saw that Xiani was trying to reach out for him, but her hand froze mid-extension and began to retreat back to her side. Instead of letting that happen, Kirvan stood up quickly and closed the distance between them, reaching out for her hand and taking it in his. For a moment he just stood there, inches away from her, completely at a loss for words. With a sigh, he resolved to say something, and so just spoke what was running through his mind.

"...thank you," was all that came out at first. He didn't think about his words, just let his thoughts come out. "Thank you, I don't want to lose you either. I'm glad you came, that you're here... thank you." Realizing that he'd said it three times, he paused and hoped that she would say something, anything to acknowledge that things were fine now.

by **Xiani** on March 13th, 2013, 3:02 am

Xiani was startled by the sudden taking of her hand. So startled that it caused her wings to flare and the tips to briefly touch the walls before they returned to a more natural position. Even after such a short time with the humans, she knew that this gesture was important, one of true friendship. It placated her unsure side, proving that things were not as bad as she had feared. This surge in hopeful emotion caused her body to regain its former proud stance, shoulders squaring and wings raising slightly. A small smile claims her face as he says that he is glad she came and that he doesn't want to lose her.

Ignoring the differences in their culture for a moment, she sees the similarities between the two of them, the way that they cling to a symbol of hope, of home, despite any adversary. In a movement that hold more symbolism in her culture, she reaches up and presses her hand to his face, thumb resting upon his cheekbone and fingers curled over his forehead. It is a symbol of well-being and vigilance, safety in any hard times to come. Silently, she remains there for a moment, amber-fire meeting cool, cleansing water. Something silent passes between the two of them, something that transcends language.

But beneath it all is something that Xiani does not recognize. The closest that she can relate it to is a longing - whether it is for something that was or that one day could be, she cannot tell. Removing her hand and taking a step back, leaving it to him the decision as to - or not to - release her hand, she clears her throat slightly, returning to the realm of speech. "You need not thank me. I was wrong and I had to admit that. It was not worth the loss of a...friend?" She says the last word with slight hesitance, fearing that he may not value her as she values him.

Retaining her small smile, she looks about the cabin, taking in its once more warm and woody interior. It is cozy, like the inhabited caves in which she had lived, but still warmer and more inviting. Instead of a pile of rags and skins that served as a nest in the driest corner, Kirvan had a bed. Instead of walls bare, save for some paintings or a skin, he had some baubles from his travels, likely. She knew that each one held a story and some significance, and her Zith mind began to wonder about them when a movement of Kirvan's recaptured her attention.

by **Kirvan Deepseeker** on March 13th, 2013, 5:38 am

When she smiled, am immense feeling of happiness filled Kirvan to the brim, to such a degree that he had not felt in years. That same part of him that had brought up Leisa's name was now egging him forward, replacing it easily with Xiani's. The Zith's entire body seemed to grow larger and more sure as he took her hand, her marvelous wings unfolding to a great span before settling at their usually encompassing size and her back straightening slightly. Something about it made him glad, satisfied that such a simple affirmation from him made her so relaxed and at ease. It made him feel important to her.

Those thoughts were almost completely and instantly forgotten as Xiani touched his face, the intimate action bringing a flush up into his head and turning his skin a slightly darker shade. His cheeks were so hot he could swear that her hand was going to burn. An instinctive, almost primal urge began coursing through him. A strong desire the likes he had not felt in a long time. His breathing grew deeper and slightly heavier, and it felt to him like the cosy cabin had become incrementally warmer. The fluster in his reaction was immature, he was aware, but it quickly diminished and was replaced with a conviction building inside of him.

There was a delayed reaction on Kirvan's part when Xiani stepped back and away. A flash of doubt shot through his mind, fears that maybe he was reading her actions wrong, that he was misinterpreting her. These doubts were called to silence by a sudden intense clarification - he did not really care. He wanted this, really wanted this, something he had not wanted for two years. All thoughts of her little mistake had perished in light of this revelation, and the conviction was stronger than ever.

Her words flowed around him and didn't quite register, and before a chime had passed during which Kirvan was looking right at Xiani he gave her hand a gentle but firm yank that kept going until he brought her right next to him. In a movement that he barely noticed doing, he shot his other arm around her shoulder and pulled her in even closer, the warmth of her body pressing into him quite noticeable and welcome. Before even he knew what was happening, he was leaning in and planting his lips on hers, pulling her even closer as he did so, almost as if he were trying to merge their bodies. The kiss drew out for a long time, his body demanding that chimes pass before he pulled away.

As he did the haze began to fade, and Kirvan's eyes looked in shock, unaware that he'd been wanting it that badly.

by **Xiani** on March 14th, 2013, 3:46 am

The yank of her arm startles Xiani, causing her red eyes to widen and dilate slightly, a fight-or-flight reaction over which she had no control. Next thing she knows, Kirvan has his larger, stronger arm in a vice about her shoulders, trapping her. The instinctive reaction heightens and she raises her wings in a fearful warning, not knowing or understanding what is happening. She looks to him in near absolute fear now, not having enough room in the cabin to maneuver her escape, not wanting to injure him. Was I wrong about him? she wonders, thinking that maybe her friendship had been a ruse and now he was going to turn on her in this cramped, unfamiliar space.

This fear is brought to an apex when he begins to lean in, lips parted ever so slightly as if he were about to snarl and tear at her exposed throat. Thinks he can hurt me with those pathetic little fangs? He is mistaken! Adrenaline coursing through her body, she bares her teeth at him, prepared to meet attack with attack. It is then that she is dealt another blow of surprise. He continues leaning towards her face, not her neck, and his eyes have shut slightly. Who attacks with their eyes closed. The shock of it causes Xiani to halt her lip arching, fang exposing snarl, just for an instant. And, in that instant, his lips connect with hers.

The feeling is alien, and electric. What is...? The question is cut off as he forces her body closer to his, pulling her up onto his toes so that their hips meet and he is not stooped so greatly to her level. She runs through the index of her mind quickly, trying in vain to understand the action that is being committed. Obviously it is one of trust and friendship, no other relation save for mates would be so close. Wait... Mates. She had seen human mates engage in a quicker version of this display. Is this... Kirvan asking to mate with her? Xiani's mind is distracted by the pulse that thought sends through her body, stopping and settling just between her hips.

She looks at Kirvan once more as she remains glued to him, his face is relaxed, but some sort of hungering tension tightens the muscles in his jaw and at the outer corners of his eyes. As this... contact... continues, she feels her head tilt automatically, increasing the space covered so that it is more concrete, more thorough, more confusing. To her surprise, and satisfaction, it incites a small, strange sound from Kirvan that registers only to her body, causing the dull throb to intensify, wobbling slightly. Acting purely on instinct now, she mimics Kirvan, closing her eyes - mostly - and leaning into the point of contact so that her nose touches his cheek. This also causes him to react, but on a level she more easily perceived by Xiani - his hips press harder, more insistingly against hers and she feels that their hands have come to rest - intertwined - upon her hip.

Suddenly, it all shatters around Xiani: the fear, the trepidation, even the differences in their culture entirely; reaction on such a primal level was something that they could both understand. All at once her breath comes in more rushed pants as she seeks to increase the contact across their entire bodies, using even her wings to cocoon them together intimately. Her free hand rises to rest upon his chest. It is then that she is aware of the cloth that covers and hides his form, and not hers, separating them. She would have to change that...

by **Kirvan Deepseeker** on March 14th, 2013, 5:07 pm

As Xiani reciprocated the gesture wholeheartedly, Kirvan's brain just shut down. He wasn't thinking anymore, his worries and questions draining from his attention as he tended to the woman in his arms. Leaning in even deeper, his lips forced themselves around hers, his breaths becoming quicker and more rapid. The fur on her skin did nothing to deter him, the sensation not different enough to even register in the Svefra's growing lust. With his arms, he pulled her in ever closer, their hips pushing against each other. Every touch sent a surge through his body, and the constant warmth from the intimate posture was waking a serene storm within him, a burning desire of such peace that he could not find the words to describe it if ever asked.

Her hands began to roam towards his chest, and the action only further kindled his intense desire. Wrapped in her wings, Kirvan let himself be taken in almost by her, all the while pressing his arms around her and closer into himself. His lust manifested in a surorisingly gentle way, avoiding being rough with her even though he knew she was probably just as fierce if not more so than he. This was a strange tender moment for him though, not just the expression of an ache and longing with someone who he'd learnt to trusts and... love in such a short time, but also a release for pressures that had been building for two years. Still locking his lips around hers, Kirvan tightened further his arms around her, until it was if he were trying to get them to occupy the same space. Finally, he'd found what he'd been missing.

~~~

Bells later, the deep night had reached its midpoint, making it the early bells of the following day. Most on the beach were asleep, all except one. Sitting there, Durk watched the casinor that both his best friend and the Zith had disappeared into, his eyes alight. At long last, he let out an amused chuckle, stirring the half-sleeping Hamlac not far from him. The younger Deepseeker looked up a bit, not quite waking himself up for this.

"What?" he asked groggily.

Durk was shaking his head, still chuckling. "She's been in there a while," he commented. "They're bound to be asleep sometime soon, and I don't think she's coming out." A smile larger than Durk usually sported pulled at the thin line of his mouth. Confused by the answer, Hamlac resigned himself back to sleep, and it wouldn't be until he woke up again when the meaning would sink in fully. As for the large hulking medic, he entertained a thought he found quite funny, then shrugged it off and went to sleep himself. There would be plenty to talk about tomorrow.