Aara Awakens - Closed

[angha_firebird]

Who: Xanth stillseecracks and Aara angha_firebird
Where: Around the barracks -- Then probably in one of their rooms?
When: After Aara wakes from dying

Comments

[angha_firebird]

Now it's Aara's turn to blush. He was fussing over her, and for some reason her heart gave a little start. She didn't know exactly why, it just felt... different. Like maybe things like this didn't happen to her often. It's only then that she notices Zanth's blush for what it is, and she ducks her head a little, peering up into his face with a small smile.

They were both blushing. A giggle erupts from her chest at that. She brings a hand to her face, feeling the warmth there, before giving a small, shy shrug with one shoulder.

"I am cold... but I do not want to get your blankets all wet. I will wait until I am a little drier. Besides... do you not need to try and sleep, Xanth?" She gives him a knowing look, there. She can't take all his blankets. He needed to be comfortable enough to sleep, after all.

Expression turning solemn once more, Aara gently reaches a hand out to Xanth's bared shoulder, concern in her gaze.

"Xanth..." She doesn't want him to be upset with her, but she wanted to know. Maybe there was something he needed protecting from. "Why were you hurt?"

[stillseecracks]

Xanth does need sleep, but Aara hasn't realized the extent of his predicament. He might try to explain it, but she's focused on something else by now. Xanth's brows furrow in confusion. He's not injured by any physical means; he'd gotten lucky every day before entering quarantine.

"B-But I'm... I-I'm not...?"

And that's when it clicks: she must have seen his scars. His confusion abated, Xanth just sighs.

"I-It's okay," he says, taking Aara's shoulder and attempting to turn her toward the bed. "Th-they're... th-they're all o--old."

[angha_firebird]

Aara turns toward the bed easily enough, with Xanth's prompting. She knew they looked old, but sometimes that didn't mean anything. Somtimes they still hurt, emotionally or physically.

She didn't know how she knew that. Why she thought that.

"They do not hurt you still? I..." She what? What had she been about to offer? She only wished she knew. "No one here has harmed you, right?" Now Aara turns to look back at him. She was well and truly distracted from anything, and would apparently keep asking questions until she felt she had a few answers.

"You would tell me if someone did?"

[stillseecracks]

When she asks if they still hurt, Xanth shakes his head no. Sometimes there was a twinge from skin pulled in a strange way, or an ache in his shoulder where previously there would be none, but never true pain.

And then to her second question, he nods. Here, he's always been lucky: no maiming; no rampages; no true harm has been done.

It's her last question that makes him hesitate. Would he tell her if he'd been injured? He wouldn't want her to fret. However, he's learned that the less you say, the more people worry, and it can be so hard to hide a wound.

And so, again, he nods.

"Y-Yeah. But... n-no one's-- hurt me. N-Not in... a-a long t--time."

[angha_firebird]

The worry gnawing at her belly was hard to push away, but when Xanth finally spoke the ill feeling eased. A wide smile spreads across her lips, and she nods, tensed shoulders relaxing.

"Good." Then, a moment later, "I'm glad."

Shivering harshly for the span of two seconds, Aara turned back around and burrowed into her two towels. Her feet kept moving, however, and Aara wondered where Xanth was directing her.

"I hope no one ever hurts you, Xanth. You are very kind, and giving. Thank you for helping me."

[stillseecracks]

Xanth smiles, lopsided but pleased, and this time it lingers. "Th-- thanks."

He directs her towards the bed, then motions for her to sit. She looks cold, and he wants to get her dried or under blankets as soon as possible. She asked him once if he got cold easily, and it seemed that she did, as well. Not that he blamed her body for her chill; those showers were none too pleasant.

After a moment, he starts again: "B-But you... y-you don't have to th--thank me. I-It's just... w-what... friends do."

[angha_firebird]

She sees Xanth's smile and gives a small one in return. It's nice to show others you care, and appreciate them. Aara honestly didn't know what she'd do if she hadn't stumbled upon Xanth when she did. She would probably be terrified and alone right now.

Her body began to shiver and quiver afresh, gooseflesh rising over every inch of skin. Her trembling remained this time, and Aara curled frozen toes in an effort to keep them warm. When Xanth motions for her to sit, Aara looks at the bed, then back at Xanth in question.

"But... you are the one supposed to be resting..."

Still, Aara sits slowly, watching Xanth all the while. She made a promise to watch over him, and with all he was doing for her she would be certain she kept that promise. Bringing her legs up so she could hug them to her body, Aara huddles in on herself and wraps her towel around them in an attempt to both dry and warm them, though her movements are stiff and shaky until she finally gives up.

When Xanth speaks again, he has Aara's undivided attention. Her cold body is forgotten and warmed by his words, and a hesitant smile finds her lips before suddenly and completely blossoming as she beams up at him.

Friends. She shivers again, and Aara is too happy to wonder if it is caused by the cold. The word filled her, and Aara had to wonder if she had a great many friends or not. All she knew in that moment was that she would do anything to keep this precious gift--this friendship.

"You are a good friend." She said it with all the warmth she was feeling, and she hoped Xanth saw and felt her gratitude. "I hope we are friends forever, Xanth."

[stillseecracks]

"M-Me too," he replies, but he does so without thinking about it; the thinking comes after. Forever was a long time. In all likelihood, one of them would disappear from the Keep as so many had before them.

But that thought is so, so depressing. Xanth pushes it away.

"W-We-- we gotta g-get you dry," he says absentmindedly, then lifts the edges of the towel over Aara's shoulders. Instead of removing it entirely, he just folds it over the top of Aara's head and then scrubs gently to dry her hair.

I HOPE THIS MAKES SENSE /so dead tired

[angha_firebird]

She smiles at that, a feeling of calm and peace settling over her. The only truth in Aara's mind at that moment was that she had at least one good friend she could count on. She wanted Xanth to be able to count on her as well. So long as both of them wished for this friendship, nothing could possibly go wrong.

At least while her memories remain a mystery, Aara is able to hold on to this peaceful and new feeling.

When Xanth moves to dry frigid, wet strands of Aara's dripping hair she pauses for a moment, somewhat surprised by the action. His help coupled with his movements are not a bad feeling overall, so Aara leans her head down slightly, allowing Xanth a better angle. She folds her legs down and to the side, out of the way, huddling into her extra towel and seeking any small bit of added warmth.

After a few moment, a smile finds Aara's hidden face and she giggles. A light and happy feeling overwhelms her, and she doesn't quite realize the wonderment fluttering inside her is because she is unused to people fawning over or caring for her in such a way. The only realization she holds is that her chest feels oddly light and giddy; that the feeling inside of her was so full of wonder she couldn't withhold her laughter--though she did try. A bit.

She lifts a towel-covered hand up to her mouth in an effort to stifle any added laughter, lest Xanth think she was laughing at him.

IT DOES

[stillseecracks]

At first, Xanth just dries Aara's hair as best he can and hopes he's not tangling it; her hair is quite long, after all, and he's lacking a brush or comb. But then he hears the giggles, both clear and muffled, and he cracks another smile.

"Wh-- what're you l-laughing at?" he asks, teasing in tone. Perhaps he's tickling her, or perhaps she's just realized how silly it is to have your hair dried by a half-naked boy standing in front of you.

:D

[angha_firebird]

Biting her lip in sheepish wonder, Aara peeks up at Xanth but can only see halfway up his bared chest with the towel still over her head. She giggles again--he still has yet to stop drying her hair. She has an odd suspicion that the happy and light feeling within her will not be going away any time soon.

"Have you ever felt happy and free before?" For some reason, Aara's own question prompted the thought of wind in her hair, but Aara doesn't puzzle over that for too long. She has this new and blossoming happy feeling within her, after all. Another light giggle. "You are helping me. Taking care of me. You make me feel that, Xanth, and it makes me want to smile. To laugh."

There was humor in her gaze, innocent frankness in her tone. She couldn't keep the smile from her lips, and she wondered if he might laugh with her or think she was silly.

[stillseecracks]

Xanth's smile softens and he finally quits drying (and ruffling) Aara's hair. Instead, he pulls the thoroughly soaked towel away and folds it over his arm.

"I-I'm glad," he says, gaze cast off to the side. He's felt that way before - not for some days, but he knows exactly what it's like. When he and Aara had spoken before, she seemed so shy, so expecting-of-punishment. To hear her so happy and carefree was... very nice.

Xanth takes the shirt on his bed, then holds it by the shoulders and offers it to Aara. "H--Here. I-It might not-- fit, i-in fact it... p-probably won't, b-but it's... y-you know. S-Something."

[angha_firebird]

When Xanth pulls the towel away Aara sees the soft smile and returns it with one of her own. She doesn't move to touch or flatten her ruffled hair. When he offers the shirt to her a second time--now that she's clean--Aara shyly accepts it. She is finally remembering a few blurry thoughts and images, and is becoming a bit more aware of her nakedness with a male, who was also partially undressed. This time she shifts to kneel on the bed and turns her back to Xanth before she allows the towel to fall. A shiver rakes her form as she slips into Xanth's shirt, wrapping her arms around herself in a vain attempt to warm her body that has suddenly become colder still without the towel.

"Thank you..."

Shifting back around, Aara looks down at her bared legs and toes, face slightly more vibrant as she recalls he must have seen her completely unclad for a while now, though she was covered in blood. It was one thing for angha women to to be bared before one another. It was something entirely different for a man and a woman, however. Aara hoped she didn't make Xanth feel uncomfortable with her forwardness. She was too shy to ask.

"Do you... want to try to sleep?"

Finally Aara lifted her gaze to his, her arms still wrapped about herself. She shifts closer to the edge of the bed, so she can rise and let him lay in it.

[stillseecracks]

As Aara changes into Xanth's shirt, he looks away and lifts one hand to shield his eyes; he needn't see any more than he already had. When she speaks again, he looks up, but he doesn't answer just yet. Instead, he takes the now-damp towel and lays it over his arm, just as he did the other one. Then, he offers Aara the pair of pants that had been sitting on the bed with the shirt.

"S-Sorry, I-I just, you'll-- b-be warmer i-if you've got-- m-more clothes." He draws his shoulders inwards and shrugs. It's that, and he'd really rather not be in bed with a half-naked Aara.

Much too awkward.

"I-I'm-- gonna-- g-get a shirt too, o-okay?"

[angha_firebird]

Warmth Aara will gladly accept right now. She accepts the pants with slightly trembling movements, holding the material to her chest at first as if that might further warm her. She grins, another soft chuckle escaping.

"Warmth is good. Nice."

At Xanth's words, Aara nods her head.

"Okay. Are you cold, too?" At least there were plenty of blankets he could wrap up in. Looking down at the pants in hand, Aara slips from the bed and looks at her pale legs now covered in gooseflesh. She looked back at Xanth--the pants covering his own legs from view, then back at her legs. Okay. She could do this.

Awkwardly, Aara slips one foot in and gets it caught part way. A sound gets caught in her throat as her entire form ceases any and all movement as her balance sloooowly shifts off kilter. Her eyes widen as she feels her her body fall, and for some reason she refuses to let go of the pants.

[stillseecracks]

Xanth just nods to her question. It's partly true, anyway, and the longer only one of them was embarrassed, the better.

Without thought to whether Aara would be troubled by her new garments, Xanth takes a step back towards the closet. But then he hears that cut-off sound and looks back, only to see her teetering over.

"W-Woah!" Dropping the towels, Xanth rushes towards Aara and catches her by both shoulders. Very, very carefully, he straightens her back up, though he still supports her weight. For a moment, he just frowns down at her, mouth set in a line.

How does one forget how to put on pants?

With a blink, his expression softens. "Y-You okay?"