It was hard to hide that much grief you were feeling from someone who had been through that. You could wear the mask of bravery, donning the armor of strength and resolve, while inside you were putty and weak and broken. So when Isa said she would return to the Enclave, Vira's brow tensed slightly, raising in concern as she let Isa lead her to the door.
The emptiness in those grassy orbs beckoned to the teen and for a moment she wanted to stop and pull her back to her; but then they were at the door and Isa was saying her goodbyes and her platitudes. And then the other woman embraced her. Vira wrapped her arms around the librarian in return, smiling in understanding and resting her chin on Isa's shoulder comfortingly. The hug was tight and reassuring, both maternal and friendly.
The other was ready to go and released her, except that she didn't completely release her. The hug had ended and her face was suddenly captured in soft hands, hands not accustomed to the labors of lifting and shooting and pulling and cleaning. They were a lovers hands, which Vira's could not compare to her own; her own were rough from much work with stone and hay and meat for growing birds, calloused on the pads from sweeping nesting floors and nests themselves and loading sacks of dust into carts. But Isa's...
All thoughts were halted when the woman leaned in and kissed her. The young womans lips were soft, slightly moist she thought, and something greater was poured into it that Vira could not quite put her finger on. It wasn't quite a 'thank you', or at least not just that. It was more meaningful than that and the supplication of the young woman after she pulled back. Did she sincerely think Vira was going to let her simply walk away with such sorrow in her eyes and heart? It pulled at Vira's own emotions so much that the teen caught Isa's wrist before she tried to leave.
"No, Isa, wait, please." She started, wishing to pull her back before she could flee. "I know you are hurting, and it's all my fault. I can see it in your eyes. I've felt that kind of torture before when all you've wanted was right there only to be yanked away like a hook in the lip of a fish....I wish...I wish there was a better way I could make it up to you, something you deserve. I cannot wait to know you more, as a friend, but..." A turmoil in the Endal's own single eye flared briefly before Vira's hand rose to cradle the dark-haired Chiet's head and neck in her palm.
Her face leaned in then, tilting a little to the right while squeezing reassuringly the wrist which she had tried to catch originally. Her eyes closed half-way and her lips sought that of the gingers, pressing much more firmly this time, as if trying to show and share the love she had for the man they both loved with Isa. It was a much more intimate move and the younger woman prayed to any god there could be that the librarian would not panic completely, would not slap her...that Vira had not gone too far this time. Her social skills were somewhat negligent, though they were improving, and often the ex-Chiet was awkward in the presence of others. Kovac had seen that.
The intimacy of the kiss went so far as to invite with open mouth and brushing tongue the woman, a gift for understanding, even if she didn't accept.
Gods, don't let me ruin this...
The emptiness in those grassy orbs beckoned to the teen and for a moment she wanted to stop and pull her back to her; but then they were at the door and Isa was saying her goodbyes and her platitudes. And then the other woman embraced her. Vira wrapped her arms around the librarian in return, smiling in understanding and resting her chin on Isa's shoulder comfortingly. The hug was tight and reassuring, both maternal and friendly.
The other was ready to go and released her, except that she didn't completely release her. The hug had ended and her face was suddenly captured in soft hands, hands not accustomed to the labors of lifting and shooting and pulling and cleaning. They were a lovers hands, which Vira's could not compare to her own; her own were rough from much work with stone and hay and meat for growing birds, calloused on the pads from sweeping nesting floors and nests themselves and loading sacks of dust into carts. But Isa's...
All thoughts were halted when the woman leaned in and kissed her. The young womans lips were soft, slightly moist she thought, and something greater was poured into it that Vira could not quite put her finger on. It wasn't quite a 'thank you', or at least not just that. It was more meaningful than that and the supplication of the young woman after she pulled back. Did she sincerely think Vira was going to let her simply walk away with such sorrow in her eyes and heart? It pulled at Vira's own emotions so much that the teen caught Isa's wrist before she tried to leave.
"No, Isa, wait, please." She started, wishing to pull her back before she could flee. "I know you are hurting, and it's all my fault. I can see it in your eyes. I've felt that kind of torture before when all you've wanted was right there only to be yanked away like a hook in the lip of a fish....I wish...I wish there was a better way I could make it up to you, something you deserve. I cannot wait to know you more, as a friend, but..." A turmoil in the Endal's own single eye flared briefly before Vira's hand rose to cradle the dark-haired Chiet's head and neck in her palm.
Her face leaned in then, tilting a little to the right while squeezing reassuringly the wrist which she had tried to catch originally. Her eyes closed half-way and her lips sought that of the gingers, pressing much more firmly this time, as if trying to show and share the love she had for the man they both loved with Isa. It was a much more intimate move and the younger woman prayed to any god there could be that the librarian would not panic completely, would not slap her...that Vira had not gone too far this time. Her social skills were somewhat negligent, though they were improving, and often the ex-Chiet was awkward in the presence of others. Kovac had seen that.
The intimacy of the kiss went so far as to invite with open mouth and brushing tongue the woman, a gift for understanding, even if she didn't accept.
Gods, don't let me ruin this...
