Autumn-23-515 AV
The morning was cold, and Lynca hated it. Charles insisted when they entered that it would be most pleasant, but she should have known he didn't know what he was talking about. Not in the case of what her preferences were. She would have loved to stay in the bed, Charles wrapped around her as he was right then, for the whole day. Perhaps even the whole week. But only a few minutes after the cold woke her, Charles pulled his face away from where he buried it in her hair.
The Kelvic stretched his legs out with a groan, before saying, “Good morning, Lynca.”
“Cold morning, Chelsa,” she grumbled, turning in his arms so she could nuzzle into his neck. He chuckled, and she felt very satisfied with how it vibrated from his chest right into her. Yes, this was how she wished to spend the day. There was nothing they needed to do that day, not even any shopping. Maybe she could try to convince him, try on a pleading look to make her point.
“It will be warmer today,” he eventually, stroking her side lazily. “And I seem to remember you wished to try out the picnic thing I told you about after your performance the other day.”
Blast. It's true, the concept of a picnic seemed strange to her, so strange that she just had to try it out for herself to see what all the fuss was about. They'd bought the food they'd need for a picnic yesterday, along with a basket to carry it in. Charles assured her it would be enjoyable, relaxing, but she just didn't understand it. How is eating outside without a cushion supposed to be relaxing?
Slowly, with many coaxing kisses from Charles, Lynca was finally convinced to get out of the bed. She dressed – more layers than Charles – before she grabbed the basket of food and turned to her bondmate. Of course, she wasn't expecting him to wrestle with the rug they had left rolled up in a corner.
She laughed, shaking her head, “I thought you said that thing was ridiculous.”
“It still is,” Charles replied, “but for once, it shall be serving a purpose.” He was having trouble keeping it rolled so he could pick it up, and after the third attempt, he let out a deep growl that sent a shiver down Lynca's spine. She never forgot that he was a Kelvic, a man who was also an animal, but she rarely had the chance to see his other self. While they traveled, his other self was tall, but not enough to be seen through the grass besides the shock of black hair against red. And always, once they were done moving for the day, he would change quickly and dress in time to help the others set up camp.
What sort of creature was he when he was not on two legs? Even after Charles finally had the rug on his shoulder and they set out of the inn, Lynca wondered about this other form. Was it a predator of some sort, or was it more gentle? Shouldn't she know this about her bondmate? Wouldn't that bring them together? She moved closer to him, letting her shoulder brush against his arm with every other step.
Charles glanced down to her, hesitating before he said, “You seem quiet. Is the cold bothering you that much? We could always wait until tomorrow for the picnic.”
Lynca shook her head, “No, that's not it. I was... just thinking.” She said no more, and neither did he, until they passed outside the gates and took the road towards the vineyards. Once she knew they were alone, she murmured, “I haven't seen your other self, Chelsa. I realized that back in our room.” She wished she could see it, see him in his other state, still confident in who he was.
She was sure what he would say. Something about the danger, how someone would disapprove, perhaps even imply that he was like a servant and that they would try to take him away from her. She didn't want that, but she still wanted to see him. But she knew he wouldn't risk it.
Which is why she was quite surprised when he said, in horribly accented Shiber, “You want see?” She looked into his eyes, saw the wariness in there, but something inside her told her Charles was eager to please, eager to show even just a part of himself. He wanted to give her everything, but would settle with this.
“Very much,” she replied, almost breathless with the idea that she could have what she wanted, what he was willing to give her.
Charles stared down at her a little longer before he nodded and led them past the vineyards, close to the tall grass but also covered by some trees. Everything he did was in tense silence. He rolled out the rug, gently took the basket from Lynca and set some of the food out. He looked back to her and asked, “What's Shiber for, 'Sit, please'?”
Lynca smiled, repeated the phrase back to him in her native language, and he parroted the phrase right back. It was a terrible attempt, but that was what practicing was for. She took a seat as he glanced around one last time and stripped from his clothes. Soon, his skin was bare and he was taking calming breathes before he shifted. It was strange to watch every time, but now she had perfect view of what he would change into.
And apparently what he changed into looked a lot like a long-legged fox. The streak of black was still there, but now she could see that it was nestled right between his shoulder blades. His tail was bushy, though more of it was white than a fox's would be. His ears were large and twitched every now and then. He was a sight to behold, and Lynca felt like she was falling in love with him all over again.
He approached her cautiously, each step looking delicate, until he was within arm's reach. Lynca slowly brushed her hand over his fur, staring in shock before she commented, “Well. Big ears. Seems some things do carry over.”
Nothing about his look actually changed, but she could somehow tell that he was amused and pleased with her reaction. He pulled away briefly to drag his clothes over to her and then promptly sat on them, hiding them as best he could from any passersby. Lynca sighed softly, feeling herself relax along with Charles, and grabbed at the food. “You're able to eat this, right?” He looked up at her with annoyance. She returned his look with one laced with sarcasm. “Of course, how could I possibly forget? You tell me about the Kelvic life all the time, it's like you never shut up about it.” Charles sighed before he took a bite of the fruit Lynca held in her hand, a signal that he was going to ignore her sassing.
Lynca smiled all the same. This was her life now. She wanted her life to be this way, this relaxing and enjoyable, all the time.
The Kelvic stretched his legs out with a groan, before saying, “Good morning, Lynca.”
“Cold morning, Chelsa,” she grumbled, turning in his arms so she could nuzzle into his neck. He chuckled, and she felt very satisfied with how it vibrated from his chest right into her. Yes, this was how she wished to spend the day. There was nothing they needed to do that day, not even any shopping. Maybe she could try to convince him, try on a pleading look to make her point.
“It will be warmer today,” he eventually, stroking her side lazily. “And I seem to remember you wished to try out the picnic thing I told you about after your performance the other day.”
Blast. It's true, the concept of a picnic seemed strange to her, so strange that she just had to try it out for herself to see what all the fuss was about. They'd bought the food they'd need for a picnic yesterday, along with a basket to carry it in. Charles assured her it would be enjoyable, relaxing, but she just didn't understand it. How is eating outside without a cushion supposed to be relaxing?
Slowly, with many coaxing kisses from Charles, Lynca was finally convinced to get out of the bed. She dressed – more layers than Charles – before she grabbed the basket of food and turned to her bondmate. Of course, she wasn't expecting him to wrestle with the rug they had left rolled up in a corner.
She laughed, shaking her head, “I thought you said that thing was ridiculous.”
“It still is,” Charles replied, “but for once, it shall be serving a purpose.” He was having trouble keeping it rolled so he could pick it up, and after the third attempt, he let out a deep growl that sent a shiver down Lynca's spine. She never forgot that he was a Kelvic, a man who was also an animal, but she rarely had the chance to see his other self. While they traveled, his other self was tall, but not enough to be seen through the grass besides the shock of black hair against red. And always, once they were done moving for the day, he would change quickly and dress in time to help the others set up camp.
What sort of creature was he when he was not on two legs? Even after Charles finally had the rug on his shoulder and they set out of the inn, Lynca wondered about this other form. Was it a predator of some sort, or was it more gentle? Shouldn't she know this about her bondmate? Wouldn't that bring them together? She moved closer to him, letting her shoulder brush against his arm with every other step.
Charles glanced down to her, hesitating before he said, “You seem quiet. Is the cold bothering you that much? We could always wait until tomorrow for the picnic.”
Lynca shook her head, “No, that's not it. I was... just thinking.” She said no more, and neither did he, until they passed outside the gates and took the road towards the vineyards. Once she knew they were alone, she murmured, “I haven't seen your other self, Chelsa. I realized that back in our room.” She wished she could see it, see him in his other state, still confident in who he was.
She was sure what he would say. Something about the danger, how someone would disapprove, perhaps even imply that he was like a servant and that they would try to take him away from her. She didn't want that, but she still wanted to see him. But she knew he wouldn't risk it.
Which is why she was quite surprised when he said, in horribly accented Shiber, “You want see?” She looked into his eyes, saw the wariness in there, but something inside her told her Charles was eager to please, eager to show even just a part of himself. He wanted to give her everything, but would settle with this.
“Very much,” she replied, almost breathless with the idea that she could have what she wanted, what he was willing to give her.
Charles stared down at her a little longer before he nodded and led them past the vineyards, close to the tall grass but also covered by some trees. Everything he did was in tense silence. He rolled out the rug, gently took the basket from Lynca and set some of the food out. He looked back to her and asked, “What's Shiber for, 'Sit, please'?”
Lynca smiled, repeated the phrase back to him in her native language, and he parroted the phrase right back. It was a terrible attempt, but that was what practicing was for. She took a seat as he glanced around one last time and stripped from his clothes. Soon, his skin was bare and he was taking calming breathes before he shifted. It was strange to watch every time, but now she had perfect view of what he would change into.
And apparently what he changed into looked a lot like a long-legged fox. The streak of black was still there, but now she could see that it was nestled right between his shoulder blades. His tail was bushy, though more of it was white than a fox's would be. His ears were large and twitched every now and then. He was a sight to behold, and Lynca felt like she was falling in love with him all over again.
He approached her cautiously, each step looking delicate, until he was within arm's reach. Lynca slowly brushed her hand over his fur, staring in shock before she commented, “Well. Big ears. Seems some things do carry over.”
Nothing about his look actually changed, but she could somehow tell that he was amused and pleased with her reaction. He pulled away briefly to drag his clothes over to her and then promptly sat on them, hiding them as best he could from any passersby. Lynca sighed softly, feeling herself relax along with Charles, and grabbed at the food. “You're able to eat this, right?” He looked up at her with annoyance. She returned his look with one laced with sarcasm. “Of course, how could I possibly forget? You tell me about the Kelvic life all the time, it's like you never shut up about it.” Charles sighed before he took a bite of the fruit Lynca held in her hand, a signal that he was going to ignore her sassing.
Lynca smiled all the same. This was her life now. She wanted her life to be this way, this relaxing and enjoyable, all the time.
