#transientfrost

[yoroiis]

Not one Ral swooping in to peck a quick, supportive, loving kiss to her mate's cheek before he has to leave for a multi-day job- <3

"Good luck, Kin - I'll be right behind you the whole way. Promise."

" Ral, it's just a few days hunting pesky Saurians. You know I don't really need a send off for something like. We'll be right back after. " Especially when he knew Ral wouldn't let herself get left behind anyway, so the sudden show of support seemed a little...out of place to him.

Still, Kinich wasn't ungrateful for it. In fact, he appreciated Ral being so quick to throw her trust behind him like that and he wouldn't seem put off just because she'd wanted to give him a little extra luck. Even more so when-

" And you know you don't have to go on jobs like this with me, but...thanks. " A pause to weigh his words again. " Just remember to keep up, too. "

[strifebeholder]

With an overly wide, sweet, almost scheming smile, Ral came to a stop before her friend... If only to turn her focus up to Mydei with a glint in her eye that almost hinted at a good time, if he wanted it. It wasn't often she came to him like she did now, but he wasn't one to hold her plans against her, and that was exactly why she'd chosen to go through with it!

"Mydeimos~! I'm so glad to see you here-" She'd... Invited him out for the day, but... A little bit of acting would go a long way, especially when paired with her gesture to her companion: A familiar, clearly irritated 'dragon' forced to make the trip to see him with her. The less Ajaw picked up on her plans, the better! "I wanted to ask, have you met Ajaw here? He's a big, strong dragon - Weren't you wanting to meat one of those at one point?"

A challenge. She'd introduced Ajaw as a challenge, something she knew Mydei couldn't pass up, careful to keep the 'sweet' smile in place, lest the dragon figure out just what she'd hinted to the demigod in the letter she'd sent in invitation. "You know, he's actually a Dragonlord... That's what he says, anyway. I don't know how true that is, though."

Piss off Ajaw in the process, though? She's down for that~!

" ...That's a 'big, strong dragon'? "

Mydei wasn't convinced -- and that much was evident just from his uninterested tone. This 'dragon' looked more like a children's digital play thing. Not something that the Kremnoan prince would've taken for a worthy opponent; let alone something with a status noble enough to claim a title such as 'lord'. Maybe it's attitude was fierce, but Mydei doubted a creature such as this could pose any real threat-

And so he'd half huff a laugh in Ajaw's direction.

" Hmph! I'm not sure if this is your idea of a joke or not, Ralphina, but you know I've felled lions with fangs bigger than this lizard. He may call himself a 'Dragonlord', but even I can tell he's only a 'lord' in imagination alone. "

Mydei would quietly take another moment to size Ajaw up, who'd gone red with an annoyingly loud rant as his counter protest to Ral's grip and the prince's own assessment. Hmm, but wait-

" ...Isn't this the thing that mate of yours ventures around with? Why would you want it near you? "

[yoroiis]

Slow arms curled around Kinich's middle, Ral's familiar form pressing against his back not even a second later. They'd barely been awake for more than ten, maybe twenty minutes, still rubbing the sleep out of their eyes, and yet she couldn't help herself - Everything in her wanted to be close to her mate right then, dipping and tilting her head just enough to nudge his hair out of her way wih her nose for a nuzzle of the marking on his neck.

Their mating marks... It was hard to believe it'd been an entire year since they'd gotten them, now! They'd not been intending on them when they'd stumbled home that night, not been thinking when they'd made them happen, but they'd both wanted them, or they wouldn't be there - And there was something so calming about nuzzling his and being so close to him that the chimera couldn't stop herself from letting out a soft, content sigh, breath warm against his skin. An entire year since they'd been, for all intents and purpouses by human standards, married...

"Happy anniversary, Kin," she'd breathe out a moment later, eyes drifting closed to let her lose herself in her partner. She had a gift for him. Plans lined up. There was an entire day ahread of them, just waiting to be explored... But right then, Ral was content to simply relax into the man who'd helped break her chains and shown her the brilliance of Natlan's each and every dawn - The man who owned every bit of her heart, for the rest of time.

"I love you."

" ... "

Normally, he would've quietly protested the closeness. Kinich was the type who liked his space first thing in the morning, if only so he could gather himself before he started letting the day's events happen. Ajaw was usually the first intrusion that typically greeted him and that much needed emotional steeling to endure-

But today's first interaction was a soft one; something so feather light and reassuring that Kinich didn't have to complain about 'needing a minute'. Instead, he'd let a hand of his drift toward the wrist of the one embracing him to lightly thumb over the matching mark painted against her own skin.

It'd been four complete seasons since he'd been the one to place that mark there. Something he would've never even imagined a couple years prior.

" ...Hm. On point. Leave it to you to remember something like that first thing in the morning. " The comment should've been harsh, but Kinich's tone was devoid of any kind of edge. He was simply stating facts -- and impressed.

" Happy anniversary to you too, " he'd say with a slight stretch. " But if you're already reminding me about that this early, then I'm guessing you already plans? Besides just lay here for awhile, that is? "

[yoroiis]

"You know... You'd be a pretty good father someday," Eris quipped, watching Kinich tend to the wounded paw of a Yumkasaurus. His job had involved hunting this one saurian, from what she'd gathered, but hadn't the interest in asking; his business was his business, and the Astral wasn't quite fond of shoving her nose into it when she knew he was still processing their 'trip to the past' not all that long beforehand. The last thing she needed to do was push more of his limits-

But even so, nothing had stopped her from the quip she'd let out anyway, lips quirked up into a soft and sweet smile that hopefully hid her intentions behind it. "I only mean that you're quite the tender-hearted man - And one with a tender touch. As deep as that injury was, this saurian doesn't seem to mind you touching it.. I'm not sure how smart they are, but it's as if it knows you're not going to hurt it." Like a child, Eris wanted to note, but bit her tongue. Ororon was the one who blurted things out without thinking, not her, and she wanted it to stay that way!

But for the time being, she'd just sit and watch him work, giving both hunter and Saurian space, lest her presence upset either. "A whole new side to you, Kinich. I can see what Ral fell in love with."

" ...It's nothing, really. "

And to Kinich -- it wasn't much. Being a native of the Scions of the Canopy and being around the Saurian kind in question a lot, treating a young Yumkasaur's injured paw wasn't worth fussing over. A few extra bandages and a home made remedy he'd learned to make that'd treat pain and the little creature would be good as new! Especially when-

" This Yumkasaur only got hurt because of someone else's actions. It'd be really unfair of me to lump him in with what I came out here to do in the first place, especially when he had no business in it. Besides... " Kinich would cut the comment off just long enough to test the tie on the Yumkasaur's bandages before he'd raise himself back up to his feet glance at Eris.

" I might be a Saurian Hunter, but not everything I do means hurting others. " In fact, he did so only when he had to out of necessity. " If you weigh out the actions in situations like these and treat things like they deserve to be treated, then even the most fierce of Saurians can usually tell you're only trying to help. "

Though...that also meant Kinich was equally skilled at ignoring the first part of Eris' comment, too; one that he chose not to comment on on purpose.

[yoroiis]

Though there wasn't a soul in sight by the time Gaming had come out for his training, there was a visitor - A small plush lion sitting on one of the lower wooden poles, peering at him from underneath a mess of soft, fluffy yarn that had been brushed out to make the toy's fur. The small card bearing his name and a delicately written Happy Birthday, Lion-Gaming! in unrecognizable handwriting marked it as there for him, for sure, but the gifter would never reappear, keeping their distance with one lingering thought:

May your birthday be the best one you've ever had~

" -hm? What's this? I know I didn't forget to clean up last time I had practice here 'cause that would've been careless of me. Wonder if... "

Approaching the small lion plush and it's adorable handwritten note, Gaming would quickly realize the toy wasn't something left over from an unfinished Wushou practice, but instead -- a present. Honestly, he'd been so caught up in everything else today that expecting surprises like this one had been something that's completely slipped his mind! But the tiny plush would still get a quiet, appreciative smile from the teen as he'd glance over the note.

The sender's handwriting wasn't someone's he recognized and there wasn't anyone around in the courtyard that he could've thanked for the gift either. So, with a subtly confused scratch at the back of his head, Gaming would quietly stuff the lion plush under an arm for safe keeping before speaking up to the assumed empty space around him-

" I'm not sure if anyone's here to listen, but if you are, then...thanks! It's just too bad I can't treat you to a bite for this 'cause a gift this adorable deserves some nibbles in return. But I really do appreciate it! "

[yoroiis]

Slow, gentle arms wrapped around Kinich's shoulders, Ral settling before her mate with a smile pulling at her lips to match. For someone like her, a birthday didn't mean much anymore; having been through so many millions of her own, the vast majority of them alone, they'd long since lost the meaning they once held. What was there to celebrate about growing another year older when you were alone and still had countless millions of them probably ahead of you?

But they meant things still to most humans, and Ral would never deny them that... Nor would she deny that she'd never seen Kinich actually celebrate his. Sure, he'd taken it easy on the day! If there wasn't any work to tend to, he'd stay home, throw Ajaw somewhere, and keep a quiet day to himself, maybe go isolate himself in a tree or up on a high perch out in the Natlanese wilderness... But never had he actually celebrated that she could remember, avoiding any parties thrown by friends if he could, and only staying as long as he had to if he couldn't.

Birthdays meant things to humans, yet Kinich had always 'celebrated' the same way that she'd taken to. And while she understood - Trauma was a bitch, after all - she wasn't about to let this year be another repeat of the same old, same old! Not when it was his first birthday since they'd become mates!

And that meant drawing her mate into a slow dance, nothing more than a small sway of her hips, and a soft and sweet kiss, eyes sparkling in delight. "Happy birthday, handsome," she'd whisper a moment later, nudging his nose with her own. She didn't have to ask; She knew he had the day off an intended on relaxing, and with Ajaw out of the house for the day, that left him open for the 'stealing' - And 'steal' she would~!

Or rather, she'd turn their subtle 'dance' towards the front door, a basket waiting for their arrival at its side with a thin blanket laid out over its top. "Do you mind if I steal you away for a date, perhaps? Neither of us celebrate our own birthdays... So let me celebrate you, instead. Celebrate the man who makes the sun shine a little brighter every day I'm with him, and makes waking up in the morning worthwhile - I love you, Kinich. Always and forever." And if he wouldn't... She'd just have to spoil him with all the love in the world for his birthday, regardless of his answer~! Happy Birthday, Kinich~! <3

" I don't mind, but- "

Kinich honestly wasn't sure what to say for himself. He'd let Ral take him up in her 'dance' without any protest; let her shower him with all the sudden nuzzles and affection she'd wanted without a single retort or pull back. All of this because Kinich was well aware of what today was and Ral had every right to make it special if she'd wanted. He wouldn't call her out for that much.

But even though today was technically his birthday, the hunter hadn't made much of an attempt to bring attention to that fact either. In fact, Kinich would've been perfectly fine if Ral wouldn't have done anything about it. He was well used to the fact his birthday was just another day and letting it pass without any 'special celebration' was just as good as throwing a party for it.

The main point was that he'd survived another year, party or not. Kinich's realistic views on 'survival' had long since given up the need for pomp and circumstance just for turning another year older.

" I guess I'm just surprised, really. I usually don't make a big deal out of my birthday, so I usually don't expect anyone to remember. The fact that you did- "

Was...sweet. Enough that Kinich couldn't help but glance away from Ral in almost embarrassment from all her praise and affection before he'd finally turn his attention toward the basket she'd made them. If she was really set on taking him out for a picnic hike for his special day, then Kinich wouldn't complain. In fact, taking a relaxing trip out into the wilds for a lunch of tatacos and freshly made juice was exactly what he could go for right then!

" Thank you. I'll be sure to make this up to you whenever you want. "

[strifebeholder]

She'd never get enough of moments like this. Soft, quiet moments in the dead of the night, laying wrapped up in his arms... The cool chill of the air had nothing on the warmth radiating off him, like a warm, comforting blanket she couldn't quite burrow deep enough into, no matter how close sne snuggled into his hold. Phainon had been kept out late, leaving them to slide into bed without him per his request to 'not wait up' after a long day, and she'd admit, not having him on her other side felt odd, but...

it was hard to say the cool air bothered her any with Mydei's arms around her, a soft hum rumbling free from the Astral. Slowly, she'd tilt her head with it, too - All to brush her lips across any part of him she could reach, soft and tender kisses spanning his cheek, the side of his neck, shoulder, bicep... If it was exposed skin and she could reach it, it was getting kissed, pausing only long enough for a lazy lick to trace one of his tattoos. Such a thing usually ended up with her back pressed to the bed and a hungry lion readying himself to devour, but when had that ever stopped her from all but worshiping her husband?

"I love you," came the soft whisper between kisses, followed by a soft string of praise to match. Remidning him how wonderful he was, how handsome, how sweet and powerful, how big and golden his heart was... All peppered with declarations of pure, unfiltered love between, her nose brushing up against another of the red designs marking his body. "Always. Forever."

" -hm. "

Maybe his hum in agreement might've been lackluster and rude to most. After all, Ria was showering him in a type of loving affection that others could've only hoped to obtain, yet Mydei knew his silent reply wouldn't be taken the wrong way. He was a man of few words on the norm when it came to intimacy and couldn't hold a flame to Phainon's flirty poetry when it came to verbal devotion and love.

But Mydei had long since realized he didn't need flowery language to convey how much someone meant to him.

So his hum would melt into the arm wrapped around Ria pulling her closer and in a little tighter; his head leaning over to press against the top of hers in a protective, yet quiet hug that still spoke volumes. The hand of his still left free would silently reach over his own middle to massage and carefully caress the delicate skin of his princess that rested against his side so he could take a deep, relaxed breath.

She smelled of soft flowers, clean fabrics, and soothing bath salts -- enough to lure Mydei into a quiet trance of his own. And he'd let out another sigh; this one peaceful and full of love itself before his thoughts eventually mumbled back a genuine-

" As do I you. "

[strifebeholder]

Ral's expression was one of amused exhaustion, one hand propped up on her hip while the other arm pressed against the doorway up near her head. She'd nearly forgotten how tall her old friend was, having to tilt her head back just slightly to meet his gaze, but that was fine - The fact he was there and alive and whole was more than enough for her, lips curling into a slow-forming smile. "So I heard you made a friend with a certain ice bird."

Her job as Guardian required approaching him over his earlier interaction, but the way she'd spoken, light and teasing, said she wasn't there to work. As far as she was concerned, Lunaria could shove her own head up her ass; she'd only taken the 'job' for an excuse to see him! Who cared, really, if he'd gotten a chance to reconnect with his aunt? There was a bunch of shit going down behind the scenes, he deserved the chance to see people he cared about, in her opinion!

Hence why her smile morphed into an even slower to form grin a moment later, green eyes all but sparkling along with her tease. "Contrary to what the moon's bright ass thinks of things going on lately... If you had a good lunch, I'm not bothered. You're looking good, though - How're things?" How are you? I missed you. Despite being mated and learning how to open up better with Kinich's help, it was still a little difficult to get the right words out, evebn to someone she'd known through multiple versions of the world. If she knew him like she did, though, he'd be able to read through it fine, and for that, she'd not try to correct herself any.

"Did you and the spouses settle into Bunkyo okay?"

" Are you sure that's not why you're here? To scold me like some yearling who ended up talking to the wrong people? Because if you are, then you'll know that it wasn't me who found her first. She came to me wanting to pass out head pats. "

Mydei didn't sense any hints of hostility in Ral or her tone though, so he doubted she was here to 'collect on work' like she normally would've done with anyone else. Confronting him over speaking with Aria was probably the least of her concerns as it sounded, so Mydei would simply tease at the fact before moving on, completely unbothered.

" Well enough, I guess. Ria and the Dawnbringer are still out enjoying what they can of the city, and unlike me, they actually seem to appreciate all the clamor this place has to offer. If you're looking for either of them though, then you're asking the wrong person. " Mydei would quietly shrug at that; a sign that he wasn't playing keeper right now.

" Or are you just out and about to try and escape someone yourself? "