#v; spellbound

[ruinbeholder]

@dawnbeholder

The sigh that left Ria's lips was... Conflicted. It'd been a long time since she'd been lost in throughts of- ...No, could she even call it home, now? After everything she knew now, what had happened and what continued to happen - Could she call a place with so much darkness behind it home, anymore?

Perhaps it was that thought that sent Ria wandering through the house, seeking out the only person who could calm her thoughts. As much as she loved both her husbands and trusted them with every fiber of her entire being, it was solely Phainon who would be able to understand the things racing through her mind, the sight of his snowy-colored hair and sweet smile almost immediately putting her racing heartbeat - how had she managed to ignore that until right then? - to a slower, more normal pace. There was always something about just seeing the two she'd married so long ago, being able to visually confirm they were there, safe, and happy, that seemed to calm her every time...

"Khaslana?"

Phainon. She'd meant to call for Phainon, but it seemed ike her weary heart had other ideas. Or perhaps it was because in the memories she'd been lost in in their quiet home, he'd been called almost exclusively by his true name...? She'd not dwell on it right then, waiting by the doorway for his acknowledgement. "Do you... Have a few moments, my Dawn? It can wait if you're busy."

[transientfrost]

@strifebeholder from HERE <3

"I could, but something tells me scolding 'Mydei the yearling' might just get a door slammed in my face. Since when do you accept headpats, though?"

Despite her teases, Ral had figured as much. Halcynians seemed to be waking at an alarming number, and from what she remembered of Aria herself, the Fenix had always been prone to passing out affection and smiles like to not do so would rob her of her ability to breathe. She had always been the most open and welcoming of the elemental birds, and when it came to family, she refused to hold back - Which meant Mydei's claim of being found first made sense, too much so to be a result of their friendship clouding her sense of reason.

Still, while she'd used work as an excuse to come find him, it was far from her reason for the visit, pushing off the doorway she'd propped herself up on to stand straight before him, keeping one hand on her hip as the other dropped down by her side. Lunaria had wanted answers, wanted him questioned and scolded like a child, yet Ral couldn't find in her to bother. Mydei knew just as well as she what was at stake, so what was the point in giving him the runaround with the moon's annoying 'rules'? She'd not seen him in years; they had more important things at hand!

Starting with the Guardian's laugh at being called on her reasoning, her own shoulders shrugging slightly in reply. "Sounds like Ria and Phainon... I'll catch them later, though. I'm sure you've realized I just used work as an excuse to see you." Point blank, blunt, and honest - All the hallmarks of their relationship in one sentence. "...Even if I can't say you're wrong, either. Had to get away from the Terrible Twosome for a bit - If it's not Lunaria breathing down my neck, it's been my mate's flat, moldy pancake of a... Kind of dragon. The former wants me to do my job with you? I'm here doing it, even if it's not how she wants it done."

She'd pause there, reaching out to catch her friend's hand for a quick squeeze that lasted for all but a second. "You are looking well. I take it meeting with Aria didn't ruffle too much of the lion's fur? Or... Is it something still on your mind?"

Up for some time with an ages-old friend?

[sakurarisen]

@strifebeholder from HERE <3

He was... Blunt, wasn't he? His tone wasn't harsh, but it was most certainly blunt, as if he were talking to a work colleague he'd just met a week prior and not seen since. As far as Sera was concerned, though, that was more than a fair reaction; in the jumbled mess of spotty memories, she could still see him as a young boy, eagerly wandering around after his parents whenever he visited her temple, yet no matter how much she tried, nothing came to mind for anything older than him at the age of maybe ten or so. Either those memories simply hadn't awoken, or...

Did she... Just not have any? Had something happened to put distance between them... Or was it just the fact so much time had passed? She wasn't completely clueless, that world had been so long ago and now here stood a very much grown up Mydei; had she just been gone so long, locked up within herself and distanced from her family, that it had put such a... A strain on the two of them?

The thoughts were sparking up a headache she couldn't shake off with a small, slight nod, smile faltering just for a 'blink and you'll miss it' second. She could discuss this all with Thoma and Zack later - For now, all she wanted was to reconnect with her nephew, offered hands falling back down to her sides. "The best I can be, same as you... But that makes me happy, Mydeimos. That you have people in your life like that... You deserve to be surrounded by people who love and support you."

You haven't been, though.

The guilt struck through her like a quick, sharp kick to the stomach, though to her credit, she'd not let it show, choosing instead to let out a light laugh. "Are you here for a visit, or do you live here now? If it's the later one, would you like to go out for lunch? You're so much taller now - I want to know everything about what you've been up to~!"

[pledgedsouls]

    || @sakurarisen​ cont. from here [X]!

“Of course,” Hermit said with a nod, not that it would help get the point across.

At the very least this was good progress so far. Plenty of people Hermit had spoken to after looking in their direction would understandably experience discomfort and make haste to leave without a word. And while the person in front of them now was also very likely to be experiencing this, the conversation luckily still carried on.

“Her name is Riley. We did not, I rushed onto the one that brought me here as to not be late for an appointment.”

Appointment with well... mysterious directions that just appeared and led to someone Hermit believed they needed to help, anyway. Hopefully it wasn’t a nearly dying human this time--

“The doors closed before I could find her in the crowd again, I do not know if she even saw which train I got on. She knows we were on a time limit, so I believe it is unlikely she would stay in the same place. She at least knew the cardinal direction we were heading, do you think a foreigner would be able to deduce that this was the next closest stop?”

Sure, there were maps in the stations, but they were... tangled.

[archivexhunting-hardy-brothers]

Spellbound // minxchester

@minxchester

(*)

It was one thing, to leave his home and travel for weeks for a place to study his magic. It was another to run into Hunters who decided they weren’t going to be satisfied until they drew his blood.

Running through the dark woods, Frank only used his magic in short bursts, defensive shields and twisting paths to deceive the men coming after him, before he came upon a large stone wall. Not wanting to waste time trying to find a way around it, he found some vines and used them as a way to climb over, hoping that perhaps he could use the cloak of darkness to skirt through whatever territory he had reached and find a way back out.

Unfortunately, he almost twisted his ankle upon landing on the ground, surrounded by large and rather beautiful flowers.  Hearing the noise of the men on the other side of the wall, he hobbled to the nearest building, a barn, and shuffled inside, curling up behind a huge haystack.

He would just have to out wait the Hunters. At least the horses didn’t seem disturbed by his presence. 

[sakurarisen]

@dawnbeholder from Here! <3

"Mm-mm." To his reminder she'd hum her... Was it refusal or denial? Both? Neither? Sera wasn't sure even she could tell right then, hand stilling against the taller's hair. While she could've asked him to lean over for a pat, that eliminated the surprise part of surprise headpats, and she couldn't have that! Not to mention asking such a thing was a bit too much when she simply only knew him as 'Mydei's husband', which meant a chair had worked out perfectly fine.

And with the extra height, she found herself just barely above eye level, curiosity shining in honey-colored eyes; had she... Had she really not introduced herself to him before? Was this really their first... Oh. Oh, she'd slipped up with that, cheeks flushing in mild embarrassment, barely hidden by her quick rush down off her 'perch'. "U-Uh-huh! I'm sorry, I forgot I hadn't..." Aaaaawkward.

Smoothing out an invisible wrinkle in her skirt, the smaller blonde turned a bright, sunny smile up to Phainon, ignoring the warmth still clinging to her cheeks. "'M sorry! I'm Sera, yes - Seraphina Fair. And you're Mydei's... Husband?" He was, she knew. That information had gotten to her through mutual companions and friends, but it still helped to be polite and leave it open for correction if need be! "I promise I don't pet everyone as a hello! But if you know Mymy, then you're good people."

That much was facts, though she'd still offer her hand, watching his expression for any signs of the 'pets' being unwanted. "Also, it's okay! The chair was close by, so I don't mind getting it instead! It's easier~!"

...Was it... Though...?

[transientfrost]

@transientblaze from HERE~

Ah, no fun. She'd hoped for at least a smirk, though to be fair, she'd pulled her 'sneak and hum' 'trick' enough times by then, he'd probably long since grown tired of that over a regular greeting. Especially with how late into the evening it was, Rei didn't doubt he was more than done with the day to start with - And for that, she'd slip into place at his side and offer an apologetic smile.

"Tried. Ren got irritated, I got tired of hearing it, so I snuck back out. It's not like our parents are home, anyway." Her shoulders lifted into a slight, barely there shrug. While she'd admit her twin brother was right to be concerned and fret about things, he often let it run away with him to the point it was completely overbearing - And to the point she couldn't even remember what'd set him off in the first place most of the time. Their earlier bickering was no different, and, unable to sleep as a result, she'd left him a note explaining she'd gone for a walk and slipped away for the sake of clearing her head, wrapped up in only a lightweight sweatshirt to keep herself warm in the chilly late-winter air.

She hadn't expected to find Izayoi out and about, though! He was chaotic and unpredictable, and while she should've expected him to be out somewhere, she'd never thought it'd be so close by; was it the bright, clear skies that'd drawn him out this time? Or his own frustrations? "'Sides, you can't ask me that and then not tell me what you're out for! Aren't you tired?"

[sakurarisen]

@pledgedsouls​ from HERE!

For a moment, Sera couldn’t help but to let her lips curl down into a pout. Riley had a point; there were likely few who would call her out on her ears or her tail, even if they moved on their own, but... But that wasn’t what mattered! How was she supposed to explain them? Or- Or even explain how and why they were there?! How did she tell anyone she’d gotten spooked by the sound of a car horn and it’d caused them to poof into existence again!?

“What... W-What if people a-ask?” The question probably sounded more panicked than it needed to, but in the goddess’s defense, she’d never before thought of showing her ears and tail off to anyone aside from her closest companions. Nobody but her partner had even touched them before - What if nothing went over well? “I’ve never been out w-without my hat like this...”

Never mind she couldn’t hide the tail. That’d slipped her mind completely in her more than pathetic stare Riley’s way!