04-25-2018, 04:17 PM
★ WHEN MY HEART IS MADE FROM GOLD AND FORGIVENESS SEEMS TOO BOLD
Hazel peered out the corner of her eye, watching with odd curiosity as the grumpy boy made an interesting attempt at relaxing. His stance became less aggressive, muscles rolling back and hostility shifting into something that wasn’t quite politeness. There was still an air of guard about him, though; visible in the flicker of a pause at her remark - and her heart just about slammed out of her chest at the notion - and the awkward slide of irritation to something along the lines of...what was that, him being friendly? Whatever it was, Hazel found herself wondering about the bunch of his shoulders and the flex of his claws. She wondered about the near tangible anger he’d shown up with, and what had caused it. What an interesting character, She thought idly.
At his remark, Hazel raised her head, ears lifting. “Can’t say that I would,” She supplied, cautious. “Not...with mythology, at least.” A good-natured grin graced the corners of her lips, like she found what he said somewhat bemusing. Like she found a lick of confidence at calling him out on something he obviously thought he had the upper hand on. Maybe...she could learn to tolerate him.
Unless he kept eyeing her the way he was, with his chilly gaze sweeping up and down. The itch of discomfort returned, crawling through her scars and under her pelt. An inward chant of stop had started up, even though she knew he couldn’t see any physical ailments. She forced her eyes away from him, lip caught again between her teeth, and instead focused on Luna, who had just shown up.
“Um, yes ma’am, he is.” Stars, did Arion have to run into - over - every being that occupied this territory? Surely, he had some sort of moral compass that included sparing the lives of the locals. Arion might be reckless and young and way too fast for his own four legs, but he was also capable of great care and caution. He had helped keep Hazel, who was much, much smaller than him, alive for a good month and a half. “I apologize if he startled you, or stepped on you.” She swallowed, hoping Luna had a forgiving heart and mind.
When the angry boy spoke again, Hazel’s gaze snapped to him, once again finding those oddly chilling eyes on hers. She visibly relaxed at his reassurance, her spine loosening and shoulders dropping in just the slightest as a huff of breath was drawn from her lungs in her relief. She was about to say thank you, but stalled as he kept talking. Her head tilted, noticing the change in voice from sarcastic drawl to something unsure. To Hazel, he seemed like someone who wasn’t caught in the unknown very often. Curious.
“Observatory?” She echoed, the word rolling off her tongue in a foreign fashion. Before she could ask what the hell an observatory was, he was offering to build a stall for Arion and telling her she could stay. A sort of grateful warmth bloomed in Hazel’s chest - this grumpy boy was offering to use time and resources to aid in building something for someone he just met. That sort of effort would never have been wasted on Hazel in her previous home. The slow smile that danced across her lips and lit up her expression was a giddy sort of sincerity, happy and excited and radiant. “That’d be amazing - thank you.” She purred. “And it would be really nice if someone could show me around…? Nobody has to, I’d just - nobody has to. I can explore on my own if it’s too much trouble.” Hazel cut herself off, smile flickering back into something uncertain for a brief moment.
Then Hotelsuites’ voice was dragging her attention away before she could ask the name of the boy, having realized she never heard it. Sheepish, she shook her head at the female. “It’s okay. He’s a handful. I’m sorry he surprised you. Hopefully it won’t happen again in the near future - he’s pretty easy to hear coming, so his sneak attacks are awful.” Hazel explained, an amused expression rising on her features. True to Hotelsuites’ word, these people seemed to mellow out the further she got to know them, thankfully. Maybe she would like it here, if she was lucky.
Letting the warmth of gratitude seep through her guard, Hazel’s smile grew as she caught on to Hotelsuite’s last sentence and where it was directed. Head dipping, she flicked her eyes to the boy and back, childish mischievousness a creamy glint in them. “Yes - most.” She mused, a purr on the back of her tongue.
At his remark, Hazel raised her head, ears lifting. “Can’t say that I would,” She supplied, cautious. “Not...with mythology, at least.” A good-natured grin graced the corners of her lips, like she found what he said somewhat bemusing. Like she found a lick of confidence at calling him out on something he obviously thought he had the upper hand on. Maybe...she could learn to tolerate him.
Unless he kept eyeing her the way he was, with his chilly gaze sweeping up and down. The itch of discomfort returned, crawling through her scars and under her pelt. An inward chant of stop had started up, even though she knew he couldn’t see any physical ailments. She forced her eyes away from him, lip caught again between her teeth, and instead focused on Luna, who had just shown up.
“Um, yes ma’am, he is.” Stars, did Arion have to run into - over - every being that occupied this territory? Surely, he had some sort of moral compass that included sparing the lives of the locals. Arion might be reckless and young and way too fast for his own four legs, but he was also capable of great care and caution. He had helped keep Hazel, who was much, much smaller than him, alive for a good month and a half. “I apologize if he startled you, or stepped on you.” She swallowed, hoping Luna had a forgiving heart and mind.
When the angry boy spoke again, Hazel’s gaze snapped to him, once again finding those oddly chilling eyes on hers. She visibly relaxed at his reassurance, her spine loosening and shoulders dropping in just the slightest as a huff of breath was drawn from her lungs in her relief. She was about to say thank you, but stalled as he kept talking. Her head tilted, noticing the change in voice from sarcastic drawl to something unsure. To Hazel, he seemed like someone who wasn’t caught in the unknown very often. Curious.
“Observatory?” She echoed, the word rolling off her tongue in a foreign fashion. Before she could ask what the hell an observatory was, he was offering to build a stall for Arion and telling her she could stay. A sort of grateful warmth bloomed in Hazel’s chest - this grumpy boy was offering to use time and resources to aid in building something for someone he just met. That sort of effort would never have been wasted on Hazel in her previous home. The slow smile that danced across her lips and lit up her expression was a giddy sort of sincerity, happy and excited and radiant. “That’d be amazing - thank you.” She purred. “And it would be really nice if someone could show me around…? Nobody has to, I’d just - nobody has to. I can explore on my own if it’s too much trouble.” Hazel cut herself off, smile flickering back into something uncertain for a brief moment.
Then Hotelsuites’ voice was dragging her attention away before she could ask the name of the boy, having realized she never heard it. Sheepish, she shook her head at the female. “It’s okay. He’s a handful. I’m sorry he surprised you. Hopefully it won’t happen again in the near future - he’s pretty easy to hear coming, so his sneak attacks are awful.” Hazel explained, an amused expression rising on her features. True to Hotelsuites’ word, these people seemed to mellow out the further she got to know them, thankfully. Maybe she would like it here, if she was lucky.
Letting the warmth of gratitude seep through her guard, Hazel’s smile grew as she caught on to Hotelsuite’s last sentence and where it was directed. Head dipping, she flicked her eyes to the boy and back, childish mischievousness a creamy glint in them. “Yes - most.” She mused, a purr on the back of her tongue.
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WITH EVERY HEARTBEAT I HAVE LEFT
i will defend your every breath; i'll do better