The touch was so, so welcome. Even her eyes closed, the smallest breath squeezing through her nose. A silent whimper. He was being so kindā¦
<Maybe youāre right> she smiled, though somewhat sadly. <Maybe Iām looking for an excuse⦠you know how I feel about leaving this place. I keep saying Iām working on it, but have I really?> No, not really. A few paintings sold over the last two years was hardly anything compared to what she still had rotting in her basement. This had gone beyond honoring her mother and the Buvelle family legacy. This was⦠holding on to a corpse for comfort.
<⦠I want to go somewhere> she turned her body to better face him and turned her hand to gently hold his. <Somewhere that can teach me things. Where I can learn about music, about magic, about the Etwahl if at all possible. About myself⦠if at all possible. Or, failing all that, perhaps⦠to just learn something and hopefully not feel as powerless as I have the past few years.>
<I do⦠want to see Ionia again> she tilted her head to one side in consideration, <though itās a long way away. Thereās much to see in-between. But eventually Iād like to return⦠Ask questions a younger me couldnāt ask, look for answers to things.>
Lifting her free hand, Sonaās palm rested against his own cheek with her thumb brushing over the curve of it. <Itāll be difficult for me, but I think thatās what I need. You, however, always seem to get caught in my tailwind of dramatics. ⦠|Iām sorry for that|. Itās not my intention, but Iām so grateful youāre here all the same.>
I love you, she wants to say. But that would ruin it. Surely. The feeling still manages to linger and sparkle in her eyes even so.
<⦠would that be alright?> she asked after blinking back the starlight. <I would have to make arrangements. Iām sure it wouldnāt take longā¦> Plenty of people would love to get their hands on the manse. And itās not as if she could take all her money with her anyway. She could pay for renovations and upkeep while they were gone. And a few other little plans that were forming in the back of her mind alreadyā¦
āI am in the tailwind.ā He laughed. Geniunly, āIn times gone by, I was stupified and indignant. What seems like not too long ago I was shot. There have been plenty of things in between. In a contest of dramatics, I think you would lose to me, yes?ā
And Yi tollerated her touches if only because theyād grown on him over time, not because of the comforts they provided her. He was comfortable, quite so, and he wanted her to know it in his kneeling stance. Or, perhaps his comfort came from the conversation finally veering away from his wants, and his perogatives. Heād have to feel bad about that later.
āYou need not my permission.ā He went on, āIn spite of my personal strictures, I place little of them on travel. I have also found, over time, that things that are hard... are usually the things that need be done. The things that we waylay, or make excuse for, are certainly decisions we have already made. I can make myself available to you as much as possible, though I hold little sway and not much knowedge of the particulars in leaveing this place.ā
He opened himself a little, goading her for an embrace, though if she wouldnāt let him go that was fine too, āI could say many places to go, and things to see, and people to meet, but the journey is long to anywhere friendly. It at least starts here, with a thought that it can be done. I am here to help with this, and with the particulars that come later. How we cross the Noxian warlands is secondary, at least, to the desire right now to go... if that makes sense. I am just... pleased that you consider me good company for a year or so more.ā