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Post by Aeryn on Jul 7, 2007 16:00:05 GMT -5
"Don't worry about it. Any decent person would've done the same thing." He felt a tinge of shame from his words; he wasn't exactly doing this out of the kindness of his heart, was he? "I'm really sorry that happened. Seems like a pretty harsh way to have to deal with the death of a loved one... but at least you got him back." His gaze became vacant for a moment and he sighed, turning back to his mug and taking a longer sip of it.
He wasn't really sure what to say. He could ask her questions about her profession, but he already knew what she was, and it didn't make for the best conversation. He pondered his choices for a moment before raising his head. "Are you going back home, then? Now that you've taken care of things here?"
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Kirithis
Novice
Shinma Hukumetsu
Posts: 62
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Post by Kirithis on Jul 7, 2007 16:23:14 GMT -5
Kirithis shrugged, having not really thought about that yet. "I'm not sure. I suppose I should, but I might take time to mourn," she said. "In my family, crying is considered weakness. I'm not strong enough to keep from breaking down, and I'd rather breakdown before going home, if I can help it."
Another sip of tea, and a relaxed sigh escaped her lips. She tilted her head gently, fiddled with her braid some more, and then looked over to Aeryn again. "Thank you for offering me a bed for the night."
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Post by Aeryn on Jul 7, 2007 16:32:42 GMT -5
"No problem. Do you want to see the room?" He nodded towards the staircase, smiling a bit. There was a possibility of that seeming like a cheap pick-up line, but Aeryn felt like he'd done a pretty decent job of appearing trust-worthy and not terribly lustful. That didn't change the fact that he did find her gorgeous, but the less she knew about that, the better.
It was true when he said that he didn't use the bed all that often, but he hardly ever slept on the couch either. In fact, he had to work pretty hard to make sure the house looked used, otherwise the place would be insanely dusty from all the time he spent away from home.
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Kirithis
Novice
Shinma Hukumetsu
Posts: 62
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Post by Kirithis on Jul 7, 2007 16:43:09 GMT -5
Indeed, Kirithis found Aeryn as trust-worthy, and while she had not instilled all of her trust, she trusted him enough to relax in front of him. She didn't see his question as a pick-up line at all, and was actually quite pleased with the idea as she nodded.
"Yes, if it's not too much trouble" she answered, smiling gently yet again. Gracefully, she stood, unfolding her legs from under her, and took another drink of her tea, patiently waiting to be led.
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Post by Aeryn on Jul 7, 2007 16:59:10 GMT -5
He returned her smile, took one of the nearby candles, and started to head up the staircase, which was rather narrow as well as steep due to the compact design of the house. Alicia followed at his heels, darting through the space between his feet once he arrived at the top so that she could get to the bed first. It looked hardly used at all, except for the obvious spots where the cat had been laying. The dressings weren't exactly cheap, and it had an inviting look to it. On the wall just above the headboard was a large window with moonlight streaming in.
"As you can probably tell, I don't sleep in here all that often. It's really comfortable, but I like to sleep in pretty late, and it gets way too bright in the morning. Even with the curtains drawn." There was also a small yet packed bookcase in here, along with a small dresser where one could only assume he kept his clothes. He lit the candle that perched on top of it and set the one in his hand down. "Still nice, though. We're up off the street so you can keep the window open to get some fresh air and you won't really be bothered by all the noise. Alicia will probably insist on sleeping in here, though."
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Kirithis
Novice
Shinma Hukumetsu
Posts: 62
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Post by Kirithis on Jul 7, 2007 17:24:33 GMT -5
Crimson eyes washed over the room, taking in every detail, before Kirithis approached the bookcase, looking over the titles that were visible with a sort of appraising appreciation. She read a lot when she had the time to, but work and training had been tedious recently, and she hadn't had time to really read recently. "You weren't kidding when you said you read a lot," she commented.
And then she smiled at Aeryn. "I don't mind at all if Alicia sleeps up here with me," she said. "I like animals, and she's a sweetheart."
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Post by Aeryn on Jul 7, 2007 17:35:38 GMT -5
He blushed, as if reading a lot was something to be ashamed of. Maybe it was, if he was giving her the impression that he was some kind of shut-in. Then again, he got more than enough excitement being who he really was, so he didn't need much more than a good book and some tea when he was home. "Yeah, well... it's nice to read about exciting and far-away places." There were a couple more candles in the room, but he wasn't sure if he should bother lighting them. "Told you she was friendly. Are you going to bed now? You've probably had a long day."
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Kirithis
Novice
Shinma Hukumetsu
Posts: 62
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Post by Kirithis on Jul 7, 2007 18:01:32 GMT -5
"I was considering it," Kirithis answered with a nod and another smile. Aeryn was cute when he blushed. It was a shame she'd have to leave in the morning. "You didn't have any other plans for the evening, did you?" Because if he did, she would stay up and accompany him if he wanted her to. After all, she was a gracious guest. Or at least, she tried to be. It was better to be a relatively good person instead of just a ruthless killer.
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Post by Aeryn on Jul 7, 2007 18:05:43 GMT -5
"No, not really. Pretty tired myself. Just let me grab something real quick." He knelt by the short bookcase and picked a book seemingly by random, smirking as he tucked it under his arm. "Helps me get to sleep, especially since Alicia will be up here with you. I'd ask if you needed extra blankets or something, but there's already tons of them on the bed. Chances are good that you'll have to throw a few of them off." The youth walked to the top of the staircase, glancing back at her. "Anything else I can do for you before we call it a night?"
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Kirithis
Novice
Shinma Hukumetsu
Posts: 62
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Post by Kirithis on Jul 7, 2007 22:52:08 GMT -5
"No, but thank you," Kirithis said, offering a grateful smile. "I'll be fine from here out. Sleep well, Aeryn. Happy readings." Her smile brightened, one of those rare, truly genuine smiles that was completely in the moment and not faked.
It was then that she moved stand beside the bed, already beginning to strip down. She started, of course, with the items that wouldn't expose everything immediately, removing her armor and leggings, the tunic she wore beneath it all long enough to cover everything important, though beneath her leggings had been white capri-length leggings. She pulled the tunic over her head, exposing bandages that covered her breasts and shoulderblades.
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Post by Aeryn on Jul 8, 2007 2:21:06 GMT -5
Of course, being the gentleman that he was, Aeryn was long downstairs before he could see Kiri in such an indecent state. He actual savored the idea of some night-stand reading before he put out the candles, but he'd already begun to worry that she'd probably be gone in the morning before he woke. He had full confidence in her abilities to escape from the house without making a sound, unless he took the time to trap things. There were really only two outcomes for that, both bad. Either she'd surprise him by sleeping in and then wonder just why there were bells and tripwires by the window, or she'd set one off and he'd have to take her on half-asleep. Or he could stay up all night and pretty much achieve the same thing. All the options were bad.
He nestled down into the corner of the couch, cracking the book open in his lap but not paying any real attention to it at the moment. How far away could she get before he woke up? The chances of him tracking her down again weren't exactly good. Why couldn't he just not care, like he'd done most of the night? That was a lot easier. Maybe she really will sleep in... then I won't have to worry about. The thought was like a gentle haze in his mind, luring him to sleep, already half-dozing in a sitting position.
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Kirithis
Novice
Shinma Hukumetsu
Posts: 62
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Post by Kirithis on Jul 8, 2007 15:04:19 GMT -5
Kirithis had no trouble falling asleep, though she chose to sleep atop the blankets after a few moments of trying to sleep under the topmost one and finding it uncomfortable. She was used to the cool night air, and the air in the house was comfortable enough that she needed no blankets. Her hand rested on Alicia's back, the woman having fallen asleep petting the feline, and her other rested on her exposed stomach.
The bandages just barely covered most of her tattoo, but she lay on her back, so it could not be seen. The bandages did do a sufficient job of covering her breasts, though, and the white capri-length leggings were sufficient in covering everything from her hips to just below her knees, loose on her form without being too suggestive. It was fairly conservative sleepwear, really, even for being so liberal.
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Post by Aeryn on Jul 8, 2007 15:20:45 GMT -5
Aeryn fell into an easy sleep, but it wasn't to last. It could be any number of factors, or all of them together: he didn't have Alicia, he didn't actually sleep on the couch all that often, and he was still worried that she would get away before the morning came. He dreamt about that very thing, and maybe that's what really woke him up, body stiff and joints complaining about the unusual position that he'd drifted off in. The candles had run themselves out... what time was it? Could be any of the small hours before the sun started to creep over the horizon.
He got to his feet, stretching, trying to get his bearings in the dark room, and remembering just what he dreamt about. Did Kiri get away from him already? It was cetainly possible. He felt like he'd been asleep for at least a few hours. He brushed his hair behind his ears, not all too worried about exposing his eye when no one was watching, and started up the staircase as quietly as possible. Even though he'd already adjusted rather well to the darkness by the time he reached the top, there was plenty of moonlight in the bedroom, his heart racing due to the possibility that his financial security might've already flown into the night.
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Kirithis
Novice
Shinma Hukumetsu
Posts: 62
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Post by Kirithis on Jul 8, 2007 15:26:22 GMT -5
Luckily for Aeryn, that was not the case. Kirithis was still asleep in the bed, the moonlight spilling over her sleeping form almost artistically. It was truly a sight to behold, really. A sleeping Scorpion, the moonlight.. She'd even let her hair down from the braid it had been in, the lucious red locks forming a halo around her head, though somehow still covering her ears. Some philosophers have said that there is beauty in the naked form, and if this was true, then the only thing that could have made this scene any more breathtaking would have been her nudity. She didn't quite agree, but she was as naked as she was going to get while sleeping, and that was just enough, with what she wore being white, there was almost even a sense of purity about her.. Like a sleeping, killer angel in the moonlight..
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Post by Aeryn on Jul 8, 2007 15:45:40 GMT -5
His lips parted in a silent sigh of relief, taking in the scene before him. Aeryn was actually blushing... apparently he was still "in character" before, because he'd seen plenty of women in various states of undress ever since he started working on the underside of the law. Still, there was something divine about her like this, and he wondered just what kind of killer she was. Did she only do it for duty, or family? Did he look so innocent when he slept? He somehow doubt it. Alicia was resting peacefully as well, and he should probably just go back downstairs and try to get back to sleep, but he felt compelled to lean against the wall and just watch for now.
After a minute or so of this he realized what he was really looking at - her hair. It was only now that he figured out that she was always hiding her ears, and somehow managed to do it while she was sleeping as well. Kind of strange. There was also the vague response she'd given him about living in Moonhaven, and he became rather curious all of the sudden. Could she really be elven? That would be interesting, wouldn't it? He gently moved forward, more worried about waking Alicia than Kiri, eager to see what he could discover by carefully moving a few strands of hair.
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