Aara Awakens - Closed
Who: Xanth stillseecracks and Aara angha_firebird
Where: Around the barracks -- Then probably in one of their rooms?
When: After Aara wakes from dying( Read more... )
Where: Around the barracks -- Then probably in one of their rooms?
When: After Aara wakes from dying( Read more... )
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 ( ... )
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"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..."
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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?"
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"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.
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"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?"
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"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."
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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.
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"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.
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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?"
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"Ah...no. I... apologize."
She presses her lips together awkwardly, afraid to say more, and moves down the length of the bed to place more distance between them so he can sleep. Then she wonders. Maybe, if she was to protect him, she shouldn't be sitting anyway?
"Is...is the door locked?"
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Perhaps she'd come from a place like Xanth did. That would explain things...
At her question, Xanth squeezes his eyes closed, face scrunched in through. "Um..." Truly, he didn't remember whether he'd locked it or not; he'd been caught up in making sure Aara got inside. It was a habit to lock it, of course, but did he even get a moment to?
"I-I don't-- I don't know," he admits, and then he reaches down into his pants pocket. After a moment, he produces the key to his room and offers it to Aara. "H-Here. If-- i-if you-- if you want to l-lock it."
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"I'll check. You just try to clear your mind so you can sleep."
She moves to the door, forgetting there was still a blanket around her shoulders and quickly grasping both ends before it fell to the floor. She was still pretty cold, after all. She makes her way quietly to the door, inserting the key and making sure the door was indeed locked. Then she turns and glances around the room, wondering how best to protect Xanth while enabling him to get as much sleep as he needed. She moves to the chair and Xanth's desk and sits, wrapping the blanket securely around herself, smiling gently as she burrows into the warmth.
She will watch over Xanth from here. She would have preferred staying by the door, but Xanth may not have liked that.
"Sleep well, Xanth."
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"Th-thanks," he nearly whispers back, smiling. Then, closing his eyes, he rolls onto his side once more and burrows down into his covers.
Sleep won't come for a long time yet, but for the first time in days, Xanth relaxes.
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