Gwin’s breath halted as icy fingers and nails touched her. When they lingered, she released air and sucked in more at irregular intervals, stopping in fear, taking hasty gulps with the taste of fear on her tongue. Yet a certain sweetness lay in the way cold lips almost touched her and the other’s breath never caressed her. It felt like a promise, broken yet never given.
Did she know…? Turquoise eyes, clear like fresh water, flitted to the side and down in silent negation. And how could she know? A mere Akvatari had never seen the darkest depths and never sailed before the swiftest winds yet. She knew nothing, but her imagination knew no bounds.
Another tremor ran through her wings as the vaguely female creature cast a burning look at them. “I never know…” she whispered eventually. “I only hear and emulate. If there is something I know, it is that I’m good at listening.” A low hum escaped her lips after that, perhaps thoughtful, perhaps a tool to express that maelstrom of conflicting emotions the other one planted into her. Those were things Gwin had never considered, ideas that other musicians probably considered heresy.
As her chin was cupped, she raised it instinctively in an attempt to escape. When the creature patted her cheek, a painfully condescending gesture, Gwin briefly closed her eyes and jumped just a little. The fingers neared her violin and her own grip tightened. Only then did the words hit her, infinitely more devastating than ice on her cheek.
Then the creature rose, looking down as mistress and lady protector. Gwin carefully stroked the fragile strings of her violin, but didn’t dare to pluck them at the wrong time. It was important to know when to pause. She couldn’t deny that fascination… forbidden, but so delicious.
And before she knew, she had spoken. “I will.”
A subtly trembling hand grew out and upwards to meet the immortal’s. Gwin didn’t understand what was happening, but as a musician she sensed it as a fresh opportunity for her trade, something nobody had ever touched upon before. There had been hints in that last remark. “Vengeance… What do you plan to do? Forgive me, you don’t seem like the kind who brings pain without reason.” Pain always evaded reason, the Akvatari thought, but didn’t speak aloud. For the sake of her unholy vow, she’d slip into unfamiliar skins.
And why not? It meant to learn, not to hold poison with her own hands… simply to learn about limits and transcendence.
Did she know…? Turquoise eyes, clear like fresh water, flitted to the side and down in silent negation. And how could she know? A mere Akvatari had never seen the darkest depths and never sailed before the swiftest winds yet. She knew nothing, but her imagination knew no bounds.
Another tremor ran through her wings as the vaguely female creature cast a burning look at them. “I never know…” she whispered eventually. “I only hear and emulate. If there is something I know, it is that I’m good at listening.” A low hum escaped her lips after that, perhaps thoughtful, perhaps a tool to express that maelstrom of conflicting emotions the other one planted into her. Those were things Gwin had never considered, ideas that other musicians probably considered heresy.
As her chin was cupped, she raised it instinctively in an attempt to escape. When the creature patted her cheek, a painfully condescending gesture, Gwin briefly closed her eyes and jumped just a little. The fingers neared her violin and her own grip tightened. Only then did the words hit her, infinitely more devastating than ice on her cheek.
Then the creature rose, looking down as mistress and lady protector. Gwin carefully stroked the fragile strings of her violin, but didn’t dare to pluck them at the wrong time. It was important to know when to pause. She couldn’t deny that fascination… forbidden, but so delicious.
And before she knew, she had spoken. “I will.”
A subtly trembling hand grew out and upwards to meet the immortal’s. Gwin didn’t understand what was happening, but as a musician she sensed it as a fresh opportunity for her trade, something nobody had ever touched upon before. There had been hints in that last remark. “Vengeance… What do you plan to do? Forgive me, you don’t seem like the kind who brings pain without reason.” Pain always evaded reason, the Akvatari thought, but didn’t speak aloud. For the sake of her unholy vow, she’d slip into unfamiliar skins.
And why not? It meant to learn, not to hold poison with her own hands… simply to learn about limits and transcendence.
