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

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?"

XDDDDD Aara had never worn pants in her LIFE. This is HILARIOUS.

[angha_firebird]

Feeling balance restored and a careful pressure on both shoulders, Aara realizes she closed her eyes as she braced for impact and slowly peeks one eye open, followed by the other. Her heart is in her throat, and she takes a deep breath to calm herself as an embarrassed blush finds her.

"I...yes. I'm okay." She was unhurt. That was something, wasn't it? Then it hits her--what Xanth had done. Her eyes widen as the pieces fall into place. She stares with perhaps a bit more awe than she should. "You helped me..."

PANTS AREN'T THAT HARD, AARA

[stillseecracks]

"Umm, y-yeah?" And he says it like it's the simplest thing in the world - because, to him, it is. "Y-You were gonna f--fall over, i-if I didn't..."

How one could forget how to catch oneself while they fall escaped him, too. But that thought was silly - she must have just frozen in the moment. He lets out a tiny sigh, relieved that he could catch her in time. The last thing they needed was for her to smash her head on the floor...

"S-So, uh-- just-- I-I'll keep you up, a-and you-- you can p-put those on?"

LOL! Really, now? >///> /has so tripped and CRASHED doing this before. ^^;;; /is inept

[angha_firebird]

Suddenly Aara is laughing. Not lightly laughing and trying to suppress her giggles, but full-out-laughing until her eyes are swimming with tears. Xanth's frankness coupled with her awkwardness was just too much. Biting her lip finally, ducking her head after a while in sheepish humor, Aara bobds her head in a nod and shifts to slide her leg through all the way this time, quickly followed by the other. By the time she's done she's completely red in the face, and quiet laughter still shakes her form.

"I am done now. Thank you Xanth."

Aara slants her gaze away, her expression clearly amused still, before she chances a peek at him.

"I promise I will not fall."

She beams up at him at that.

LOL i know that feeling :|a /has also done it

[stillseecracks]

Aara's laughter would be infectious, if Xanth wasn't too tired to laugh. It does, however, bring a grin to his face - the broadest one he's worn in days.

"O-Okay," he says, and then he releases his shoulders. "H--Hold on a sec, th-then." And with that, he backs up a step, then turns and head to his closet. He finds the most comfortable shirt possible, an off-white tunic, and slips it over his head. At the same time, he kicks off his shoes.

A true multitasker is he.

That done, he moves back to the bed and sits on the edge. The grin has faded from his face, but on it remains a hint of a smile.

"A-Are you gonna... s-sleep too?"

XDDDDD <3333333

[angha_firebird]

Aara is a bit taken aback by the question, looking to Xanth curiously before glancing down at the bed.

"But...how will I protect you if I am asleep?"

She gives a small, gentle smile, placing her hand lightly on Xanth's shoulder and applying preasure so he would lay down.

"You need your rest more than I do."

:3 <3

[stillseecracks]

Xanth wants to argue with her; he wants to tell her that she needs rest, too. No matter the manner of Aara's death, Xanth is sure it will haunt her for some time; she is so gentle. She should sleep before she remembers.

But he doesn't want to upset her, and so he just lets her push him down.

"O-Okay." He pulls a blanket over himself, and with it come sliding a couple more. Usually he'd just let them be, but instead, he takes one and drapes it over Aara's shoulder, turning on his side as he does.

"Th-- Thanks," he says, still wearing that ghost of a smile, and then he closes his eyes. Even if he can't sleep, he can try to rest.

/is not flailing at cute NOPE

[angha_firebird]

When Xanth doesn't fight her, Aara breathes a soft sigh of relief. She can tell how exhausted he is, and she is very determined to watch over him and keep her promise. When he drapes the blanket over her shoulder, however, Aara smiles and turns her face into the material, readjusting the fabric so it surrounds and warms her.

"You are welcome..."

Really, it was the least she could do.

Shifting carefully, so as not to jostle him, Aara looks down at Xanth as he tries to rest. An uncontrollable urge rises within her, and she slips an arm out of her cocoon, gently smoothing Xanth's hair away from his eyes with the more careful of touches--as if by a soothing warm breeze. She doesn't stop to think whether or not something that would give her comfort might in fact not comfort Xanth. Her wish is only to help ease him into a sleep--whether she was successful or not.

[stillseecracks]

The smile fades as Xanth tries to relax. It's not as easy as he'd hoped; having Aara sitting right there distracts him from his thoughts, yes, but it distracts him from his rest, too. But he does well enough - that is, until she brushes his hair away.

He blinks his eyes open. Her wish might be to lull him to sleep, but the unexpected touch makes him think something entirely different.

"You... y-you need s--something?"