Once Upon A December [[CLOSED]]

[DaeSiggil]

He looked at her, before shaking his head hurriedly, "not important?" He echoed, almost not believing what he heard out of her mouth. He blinked a few more times afterward, trying to decide if he had heard correctly."You are." He stated quickly afterward, actually almost sounding fierce like the words on his plumage had promised, "you're a friend.. my friend." He continued, falling into a short silence again. He could understand her reasoning though, she wasn't an important high-placed Card or something. It didn't mean that she should see herself lowly like that! Angavar refused to let that happen!

"I.." Here he went again, falling over his own words. He felt heat rush to his cheeks again and stumbled to an awkward stop. He tried to regain the words that slipped him back and swallowed a few times "You're maybe not a Queen in one of the Courts." He continued in a low voice "It.." He again had to clear his throat and his whole body being shifted awkwardly "You're still important, yes?" He let a silence carry and then his cheeks went even redder as he realized what he just had said. He lowered his head and coughed softly.

[Lucca]

She couldn't take the words back, now that they were out of her mouth, even if Eldy kind of wished she could as poor Angavar stumbled all over himself trying to comfort her. The situation might be described as funny, or even cute, but somehow neither of these words seemed to stick to it that well, in Eldy's mind. She didn't even feel the need to tease him about playing Captain Obvious some more (they'd already established that the two of them were friends!)

And yet, as the Hawk continued to speak, Eldy felt a sudden, strong warmth that had nothing to do with the fire, or the soup. Somehow, despite barely having met her, Angavar knew just the right words to say to make her feel marginally better about herself. He had no way of knowing she'd grown up in the Hearts Court, nor that her own sister was the Queen there, while she had been shoved off to the side and looked over for her low birth Rank. But yet, he'd said exactly the things that should be said to someone with those burdens.

Eldy's paws were moving, almost without her permission, and she found herself suddenly close to Angavar. She blushed slightly, though it would hopefully not be visible beneath her dark fur, because the one thing more awkward than initiating a conversation was initiating physical contact with non family members. But she felt the sudden need to be close to the Hawk, and she shyly butted her head against him in a very Feline gesture of showing affection. "Well...it's good to know someone thinks I'm important," she said quietly, looking at her paws rather than chance meeting his gaze. "Thank you, Angavar."

[DaeSiggil]

He would have felt startled, if he heard that he had said the right words, that was. He would have flailed completely if she had said that he was cute, he just couldn't see himself as cute or anything closely related to that. He could understand that it could be found funny, he would have said the same thing if he was a smooth-talking Card who knew what to say in any situation. He wasn't however and he, deep down, was graceful that she hadn't said any of those things against him.

He also blushed badly when he suddenly noticed that she was closer to him than before, one moment she was there and the next she had pressed close and he was left stuttering slightly, if he had talked now that was. He didn't move away though, it was.. nice, somehow. Slightly awkward for he never had someone close to him than his parents and siblings and then most of the time only when it was necessary. He closed his eye to protect it against the fur as she butted her head against his and he almost laughed yet again. He gathered his wits and smiled softly down to her, "you're most welcome." He said, still as low.

"And of course I would think that.." He finally continued "You should think that as well." His tone was mock-serious, trying to keep the conversation somewhat light as he moved his wing slightly as if he wanted to hit her playfully, but he restrained himself at the last moment. He closed his eyes, enjoying the warmth she emitted for a while longer. He didn't notice that she didn't quite wanted to meet his gaze and he wouldn't have blamed her if he did notice.

[Lucca]

The gesture of affection was over as soon as she'd began it, but Eldy didn't move away from the Hawk...didn't want to. So she just sort of stood there awkwardly, close enough to easily touch him, close enough that he might feel her whiskers tickling him, but not quite close enough to actually be touching. Why should this feel so...awkward? It wasn't like she'd never hugged, or been held by anyone...it wasn't even like she'd never...gone beyond that, in certain circumstances. But this...this was different. She couldn't explain it, exactly. She wasn't...attracted to Angavar or anything like that. But she felt the desire to let him know how much his kindness meant to her, a lost soul in the snowy mountains.

She laughed, quietly, as the blush on her face refused to go away. Finally, she shyly met his eyes again. "I...I guess I do. On a good day. Sometimes I just feel like...like I'm not sure of my own place in the world." Eldy shook her head and laughed a little louder then, at her own words. Now she was turning into a philosopher!

[DaeSiggil]

He still felt her close to him and he tried not to react too much, like said. It was actually nice to have something close enough to almost touch, or fully touch. He wouldn't be quick to break this moment, although it would be more awkward if this went on for much longer against the call of nature or something. Not that he felt it on this moment or anything, but it could happen that he had to release his bladder. Oh, far too awkward! His cheeks flared more as he tried stop thinking of that, trying to concentrate on the simple moment they had.

He didn't think of it more than simple showing friendship, she hadn't to worry about that too much, if at all. He looked back as her eyes met his, quite startled as he hadn't expected her to do so, a faint laugh escaping him almost as if in response to hers "I understand." He finally spoke, also cutting the rope and wrapped one wing around her in some kind of hug and with the other ruffled the top of her head briefly. A grin flashing across his features "I'm here to help, being Captain Obvious and all," he gave her a wink and released her.

[Lucca]

Eldy's tail twitched, and it was good thing she hadn't been privy to Angavar's awkward thoughts, or...actually, she probably would have found it hilarious. But she was just...glad of this moment, strange as it was, glad that she felt comfortable enough around this Card to show this side of her, even though they'd just met less than a day before. There were some Cards she counted as friends (and the list was growing as she traveled, if slowly and belatedly) that she still wouldn't have let herself be quite this vulnerable around. Was it because she was never sure if she'd see him again? Hopefully not, because that was a sad thought. Maybe she'd want to visit this place again, sometime when it wasn't winter and the flowers bloomed on the bare cliffs and music rose up and echoed in the canyon.

At the hug, she stiffened in surprise at first, but then leaned into it, purring very softly. It made her feel...warm again, in that strange way that had nothing to do with physical temperature. Eldy laughed at his words. "Oh, well, good. I'm glad that's included in your job description." She grinned at him, and the darker thoughts were pushed back again as she kept up the low, steady purr.

[DaeSiggil]

He kept laughing, the sound was getting more natural in his ears and he nodded "Well, I've heard it so much that I can't but to believe it." He commented idly, flashing another small grin. It was strange to notice that she hadn't seemed to object to the hug so much. He felt the tensing of muscles at first, of course, but was rather surprised that they relaxed quickly. His family never relaxed in each other's touches, he should stop thinking about them. It only caused him to sink into a depression again and if not that, in a fit of anger.

He would love her to come more often, he would be able to show her more of the outside then. It was far too cold for such small trips now, actually a shame. It was a beautiful sight around here in spring, summer or even autumn when all colors faded to reds and yellows. He almost could imagine it already and eyes slowly closed again in thought.

The purr that escaped her also didn't really help matters. He would love to hear it more, although not in the house. It seemed like it was caught then, bouncing against the walls like a caught butterfly. He wasn't turning poetic now was he? He hoped not, although it would fit with his Realm. He wasn't much for the romantic aspect of things, he could enjoy it if it was someone else's creation. He just couldn't do it himself. He would rather be driven mad completely first, before doing something like that. He punched himself mentally now, ordering his brain not to keep thinking about it.

[Lucca]

Eldy laughed as well, and the sound mingled oddly with the purr still vibrating in the back of her throat. It was sometimes strange to be a Feline. She moved slightly, stretching up and leaning towards him, half wishing that he would repeat the hug. The place where she'd once had an ear before it was bitten off brushed against his feathers, and she shivered at the odd sensation and ducked back down.

She opened her mouth to make another joke to try and prevent the situation from becoming awkward, but yawned instead. Purple eyes blinked once, twice, and looked down at her paws. And it was only in that moment that Eldy realized just how tired she was. She'd had a long day of walking in the cold, and a nice and warm but rather difficult past few hours of conversation and making a new friend.

"Angavar...I...I believe it may be time to retire for the evening," she said, pulling herself into an oddly formal sitting position, back straight and paws together. "I can sleep wherever there is space, really...if you maybe just had a blanket I could borrow." In fact, she planned to just sleep on the floor near the fire, if the Hawk would let her.

[DaeSiggil]

Angavar felt surprised when she laughed, blinking softly although the smile remained. It was an odd effect indeed, but he didn't find himself disliking it. He felt her lean against him again and that empty place brush against him How did that happen? He found himself thinking. He was already trying to find a way to word the question so that it didn't sound too rude. She ducked back down quickly nonetheless and he was left staring at her for a while longer, still trying to gather his thoughts. He found himself very confused, not used to contact and here he was doing things he had told himself he loathed.

He once more wanted to speak, but she yawned and his beak shut with a small click. He quickly nodded as she started to speak "O-of course!"[/b][/color] He answered, already moving. He half noticed the position she had seated herself in, it was oddly adorable. Her paws together like that. He felt his cheeks heat up once more underneath his feathers and shook himself out of it yet again. He shouldn't have this thoughts, especially with someone he barely knew. They had talked, he had shared his shelter and food with her. It didn't mean they were suddenly the best of buddies however, although maybe it would change soon.

"I only have a bed though or the floor, Eldryia." He realized with a shock it was the first time he had used her name in this conversation. He quickly covered the half-surprise and smiled faintly "You can take the bed, I don't mind the floor." He quickly offered, mentioning to the small room where the piece of furniture was located. He walked to the cupboard and dragged one of the spare blankets out, before turning to gaze at her once more.

[Lucca]

Eldy's ear went back, her mouth turned in a frown. Had she...interrupted something he'd been about to say? She realized, belatedly, that the Hawk had opened his beak right before she'd opened -her- big mouth, and felt a flash of regret. Who knew what things would be like between them tomorrow, when the snow wasn't falling and the fire wasn't casting such strange shadows and the lateness of the hour wasn't making philosophers and fools out of them both? Perhaps it would be no different, but some bitter, cynical part of her felt that it would, and that she'd ruined something sacred with her wish to slumber.

But she couldn't take it back now, and so she pressed on. "Angavar, that's not necessary...I've slept in plenty of place far less comfortable than your floor before on my travels." It was true, too...she'd had to sleep on the cold hard ground with only her by now quite threadbare blanket on more than one occasion, though she'd also been very lucky in the hospitality various Cards had shown her along the way. "Besides..." She smiled and approached, nodding at the blanket he held, in hopes he'd give it to her. "I'm a Feline. And we can sleep most anywhere."