Favorite color: okay not going to lie i may be the oddball out with this one but its hands down yellow!
Last Book: Do YouTube videos count? I don't really read books much lol. if I had to go back to the last one I remember reading it would probably be a For Dummies book. lol
Last Show: Mickey 17. just seen i today actually. not spoiling for anyone want my opinion on it send me a DM.
Sweet/Spicy/Savoury: SO!! .... have I ever told the story about my ghost pepper wings?
Last Thing I Googled: that would be Xkit Rewritten about 30 minutes ago to make sure I had it installed .........
Current Obsession: a music artist I just found out about named Coleman Lane! great singing voice and awesome music !
Looking Forward To: JOHN WICK 5!!! (don't judge me ...)
Dove was so absorbed in the story, how absorbed he was in the story, that it took a moment to sink in. Her brow furrowed briefly; at first she wasn’t sure what he meant.
And then he said he saw her body on the ground below.
Her eyes widened and mouth opened– it connected. She’d jumped. She’d died. Allowing one’s death… well, she’d grown up with that expectation. She very nearly lived up to it. But initiating it…
No wonder he felt so much guilt for not being able to save her.
“I can only imagine… Seeing that… Being there…” But as horrible as the scene sounded, as torn up as he must have been, she couldn’t see him as a monster. Nor a failure. “You tried to save her. That’s… more than most people would do.”
" More than most .... less than what should have been " his anger is evident. angry at himself for allowing it. " That was completely my own fault! if I had not interfered when I That have, she might still be alive " his anger threatens to consume him the black essence seeping into his veins.
he takes a deep breath putting his anger in check, making sure he doesn't lose control of his demon, the demon on the threshold of his mind struggling for control. after a few moments it subsides the essence slowly disappearing as he regains control " I hated myself with a passion after that, so much that ...... " his voice trail off old memories flooding back that he had had sealed off even from his own conscience.
" i ... " he can't find the words to explain what came next, how was he supposed to describe what he did .... or rather tried to do following those events .
It sounded too familiar. She tried not to get lost in the images; she hadn’t seen what he witnessed, but her memory supplied what her own demon had done, the blood and sadism and screams, and she had to swallow against a rise of sick unease and fight to focus on him. But her lips were drawn tight, and for a moment she only nodded.
Dulling the embers of the anger left her… hurting. Not in any physical pain, not in any way except that the energies burned, riled by her emotion but locked under her skin where she forbid it any release until her arms itched and tingled like they’d been stung by her suppression.
But it was worse, so much worse, to know he’d been forced to endure such horrors. Witnessing crimes committed using your own body, your own power… Under the disgust, with the anger doused, even with his reassurance that he was grateful for her, she was hurting for him.
Then she closed her eyes, and let out a shaky breath. Dove would have sworn she could feel her own scars aching in sympathy. And finally, she found her voice. “I do understand. Maybe… more than I know how to explain… Mine are no better. Not really… So…” Her voice softened there, and she shook her head. “No, I– I don’t blame you.”
" Thank you ...... you don't know how much that means to me " he takes moment to collect himself, calming his mind and putting his emotions in check, as he was worried about pushing her senses too far.
' I've seen it before .... the scar on your back. you know exactly what I'm talking about. " He tries to look at her, but he can't seem to be able to " .... you have seen my demon; I just pray you never have to see what it is capable of ...... when I'm like that I'm nothing but a monster. I can endure the pain, the suffering, the torture. Thats what I signed up for..... I'm sorry if I upset you. i guess i just needed to get that off my chest.
his mind is a mix of emotions, but one odd one seeming to be a giant among the storm was, fear. Fear of her ever seeing that side of him unleashed to its fullest capability. of seeing him out of control.
Dove turned to him the moment he spoke. For a split second she admired how handsome he was, dressed in the suit and moonlight. But what he said stole away all thoughts of his appearance.
Maybe he didn't have a lot of fancy words for her, but those words were all she needed. And for a moment, his words robbed her of any response. Nothing else existed.
He loved her?
He loved her?!
She smiled-- she giggled, shock and delight and an unfamiliar bashfulness blooming through her. Was this a dream? Static snapped at her fingers and lightning in her mind clarified just how focused he really was on her, her powers responding to the emotions that rose before she noticed, and she floundered to take a deep breath and keep it contained. Rein in the energies. But she couldn't rein in the giddy euphoria entirely.
It was perhaps the most shocked she'd ever been when her telepathic reception picked up on all the frantic activity in his mind, and yet it was all true. Why would he lie to her, after all? All the gifts he'd given her, the jewelry and the rose, his companionship, his trust... The strawberries. First love. It all fit into place.
Somehow, this was really happening.
She didn't know what to say. What do you say in moments like this? She didn't know. But she knew one thing, looking at him in this moment, the truth in her own heart fluttered like an excited bird.
"I-I..." Her voice trembled; she dropped her eyes, but still smiling, until she gathered her courage, took another deep breath to steady herself, and reached out to accept the flowers. It gave her something to do with her hands, holding them close.
"Caleb, I..."
She looked up into his eyes then, because in that moment all the stars and flowers in the world couldn't hold a candle to the sincerity she felt there.
he attempt to seem confident but he is very nervous as he looked at her her expression hard to read t first and her speechless expression only making him more nervous . he doesn't draw an easy breath till he see her smiling .
hearing her giggling draws a smile to his face and he begins to relax a little . his heart feeling light for the first time in a long time as he realizes this secret he carried around was out now . she has his full attention as she begins to speak .
he gives her time to gather herself and find the words she was looking for , he prepares himself for her answer no matter what it is ready accept it either way . his heart secretly hoping she felt the same way .
he is still smiling as she accepts the flowers . but he isn't sure what to say or if he should say something , a very unusual feeling for the fearless warrior . he feels his heart beating as he waits for her response .
she is the only thing he sees as she looks into his eyes , as if the entire world disappeared in that moment . just the two of them and nothing else in that moment . he looks into her eyes as well . he hears the words he had hoped for and he repeats them in his mind several times as the nervousness slowly dissipates .
he has the biggest smile anyone had ever seen on his face as he realizes that she really feels the same way . he tries to speak at first his mouth only moving without the words as he tried to figure out what to say " really ? " he is almost in a state of shock " if i am dreaming please don't wake me up "
Alerina, of course, was happy to accept his gracious hospitality.
Dove watched him as he left, concerned that his mind felt closed to her... but she knew he wasn't lying, from both trust and her senses, and as she thought about it, everything that had happened today, seeing his father and alpha team, with Trigon and with Azar, she decided there was probably a lot on his mind.
With mother and daughter left alone: Alerina asked where she had been brought to, and Dove answered in both words and demonstration.
Dove showed her to the places she'd been, and as they conversed through the impromptu tour, it was as much with Dove's telepathy as it was aloud. Alerina was delighted to find that their mental connection not only survived the travel through time and space, as alive on Earth as it ever was on Azarath, but also remained strong despite her current form. If anything, the telepathy was better, Dove's voice in her head stronger and clearer than ever! She hadn't known it was possible.
Dove told her of the training she'd undertaken, honing her abilities, learning what she could do with them, what she shouldn't do with them, and how to use them to help people.
They conversed the whole time as Dove showed her the garden, with moonlight reflecting off the glimmering pond, the silver koi that swam by in a flash of his scales, and the white gravel around them seemed to glow.
She showed her the library, and Dove eagerly shared its history, though she only briefly mentioned the hidden alcove, and confessed she was shown in confidence.
She even showed her to the place where they'd had their feast and beheld the swords dance, and they marveled together at the quietude in this place; how like Azarath it was! Dove especially appreciated it after having spent so long in a busy city. Alerina hadn't known there could be such beauty on Earth.
After an hour, they embraced each other one more time, and Dove suggested they find Caleb's father and ask where Alerina can sleep? But Alerina choose to stay in the garden. She didn't feel tired; her spirit was well-sustained, after all, and she supposed a spirit wouldn't need sleep.
Dove, on the other hand, did need sleep, and pretty desperately after the day's turmoil. So much had happened. So much was coming. But this day held one more surprise for her.
She left to find the familiar room. But she didn't find it the way she expected.
She turned into it, and for a moment she paused. Froze. There were... flower petals on the ground?
She straightened, slowly, eyes wide, and stepped into the room. The petals pressed under her feet released their scent, but Dove was distracted by wondering why and hardly noticed. Flowers held a lot of meaning here. Flower petals especially... and to be walking down a trail of them?
That's what it was. It was romantic.
She blushed, but her mind was occupied with wonder, and curiosity, and... trepidation. She suddenly felt shy, even though she was alone. And she didn't know why.
The trail led her to the balcony, and the little bowl of white strawberries caught her attention. They looked lovely in the moon's glow. She couldn't help herself; she plucked one right off the top and sampled it again. They didn't sell strawberries like this in Jump City!
That was when she noticed the note.
She picked it up, the strawberry itself still in one hand, and read the words: Hatsukoi no Kaori Ichigo. She wouldn't have known how to pronounce that if Caleb hadn't told her their name earlier.
Still curious, she flipped it over to read the back.
Fragrance of first love.
That was so sweet, she thought. Thinking back to the dinner, she remembered, Caleb had also said that they were his addition...
Wait. She blinked, and swallowed, and read the note again. First love? Did that mean--?
No, no. It couldn't. She was jumping to conclusions.
But what if...
What if it did mean something? Something about her? And Caleb?
An unfamiliar warmth blossomed in her core, warming her cheeks, warming her heart. The strawberry in her other hand was completely forgotten, and Dove kept reading those words, both shocked and nervous, afraid to be right, afraid to be wrong, intently focused on the note as if those last two words had become her whole world: First love, first love, first love...
Right after he leaves he goes to his father's room and talks to him for a bit a person he feels safe confiding in this too . telling him about what he has planned and how he feels about Dove .
they talk for some time he father offers his support and advice as much as possible , expressing his best wishes for the two .
he retreats to his room quickly knowing it wouldn't be long before she seen it . he wants to make sure everything is perfect , and look his best as well . he gets pulls out a suit , a simple blue suit but much nicer than his normal attire . and with little magic and makes it a perfect fit .
the hour feels like a year to him and he anxiously paces back and forth practicing what he might say , going through about six different lines never satisfied with anything he could come up with .
he could feel his anxiety and fear rising , what if he made a mistake ?what if she didn't feel the same way ? what if ...
he tries to put his fears to the side and puts the suit on and fixes his appearance .
thoughts race through his head as he waits patiently , it isn't much longer he hears her footsteps leading out to the balcony . he picks up a bouquet of flowers and walks out but stops short of the entrance staying just out of till she reads the note and give it some time to sink in .
he takes one deep breath and slowly walk around the corner . he stops momentarily to look at her , and slowly approaches her .
he does his best not to looks nervous as he walks up " i , have never been good with words ... not like this at least . i've wanted to say it for awhile now but i never could find the words " he say while walking and standing with her .
the stars light up the balcony where they stand as he presents the flowers for her " the fact of the matter is .... its true , i love you "
he watched and listened as they played their word game . he could feel the bond they shared , strong and inseparable , like beauty and love . the moment almost made him emotional and he watched them .
he snapped himself back to reality before he thoughts could wander off , remembering that there was something he needed to do . " if you two will excuses me i need to take care of a few things real quick , umm ... Alerina , you will be able to stay in this world as long as you like . your form feeds off my magic and it takes very little energy from me . so please feel free to stay if you like . " { his mind shows he is telling the truth , but he is also keeping Dove out of his mind on purpose hiding something , but nothing bad to set off any alarms for her } } he says to dispel any worry from either of them , as he politely excuses himself .
in the meantime as he leaves them he spend the next hour setting up something , a bit extravagant for him . but for this special moment he had planned , it would be absolutely perfect . whenever Dove the room everyone else would be asleep , and there would be a trail of flower petals leading to the outside balcony where they was before . a small bowl of the white strawberries sitting on the railing . and a two sided note the first side with the name of the strawberries and the meaning written on the back .
" yup that's it . on the edge you can see where the moon is slowly starting to pass in front of it " he says excitedly . unclear if it was the event itself that caused the change in his usual stoic like demeanor or if it was the fact he was enjoying it with her . but him smiling ear to ear and the peace of his mind would tell the truth .
" if you watch carefully you can see it moving " he say pointing to it briefly forgetting she probably couldn't see his arm with the glasses on .
