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Post by Jaiden on Jan 29, 2007 14:32:08 GMT -5
Jaiden hadn't meant to come off as snappish. It was just an instance of his rich-boy influences coming out - although he hadn't said anything quite like "it's my money and I can do what I want with it!" since leaving home, he found it remarkably easy to fall back on. He winced. That was something he didn't want to return to, and when Aubrey apologized, he knew he shouldn't have said it.
"Sorry," he muttered, slinging his bag over his shoulder and folding his hands inside his robes. He was hard to read, but it wasn't intentional or anything. Jaiden himself hardly knew how to act in most situations, so he just sort of improvised, which could easily give the impression of mood swings. This probably wouldn't get better anytime soon. For everything that's happened to him since, he'd barely changed at all since those days. He wondered absently if he had any real shot with Aubrey if this was how he behaved all the time. The kid probably wanted someone a little more... safe? He wasn't really sure what to call it, but it depressed him all the same.
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Aubrey
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Post by Aubrey on Jan 29, 2007 22:21:14 GMT -5
Aubrey blinked again, and stared once more as he watched Jaiden. Ah.. Jaiden was definitely not easy to read. The blonde smiled softly, finding this not only interesting, but sort of.. fun? Well, at any rate, at least he knew that Jaiden hadn't meant to sound the way he had. If he had, he wouldn't have apologized, right?
With a smile, he ran a few paces to catch up, tilting his head and looking up at Jaiden with those gorgeous eyes of his. "So.." he began a little shyly, before speaking with something of excitement. What was this?! He wasn't a complete introvert?! GASP! The fact that Jaiden was not the aggressive type made him much more comfortable much faster, and that apology had worked wonders on the boy's demeanor. "I've never met a Diviner before. Can you really see the future and stuff?"
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Post by Jaiden on Jan 29, 2007 22:26:44 GMT -5
Jaiden turned his head to the boy, an expression on his face as if he hadn't heard the question. "Huh? Oh... yeah." That would explain it - it wasn't just any question, it was the question. The one his mind had basically learned to block out by now. While it was inevitable that Aubrey would've asked eventually, he still found himself caught unawares. There was an answer for that, rattling around somewhere in his head. It had started as a pre-scripted response, something he used to read every night before bed, because he knew the next day there'd be at least twenty people posing the very same inquiry that Aubrey had.
It didn't work this time, though. Maybe it was because it was Aubrey looking at him and not some random passerby, but the words failed him, bubbling at his lips several times before completely disappearing beneath the surface of his mind. He blushed. "Um... sure. Of course I can." He laughed nervously and looked away, hoping they could drop the subject. Damn the kid and the funny things he did to him.
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Aubrey
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Post by Aubrey on Jan 29, 2007 22:40:05 GMT -5
It was adorable, how Aubrey didn't seem at all bothered or annoyed or put off by the response. No, he just smiled, thinking that Jaiden really was easy on the eyes, and the blush he wore was cute.. His smile brightened and softened all at once, becoming much more pretty, and yet even much more genuine and tame. Sincere..
"I bet you've been asked that question lots of times, huh?" he asked, smiling still. He felt relieved, as he had many times already today.. It was a good day, and he was happy that Jaiden was so kind..
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Post by Jaiden on Jan 29, 2007 22:52:09 GMT -5
It was almost as if he'd been reading his mind - Aubrey knew to swing the conversation, or maybe luck was on his side. Either way, thank the gods for small miracles. He'd feel terrible to have to explain to the boy, who looked at him so sweetly, that he was little more than a con-man; that he'd had one lucky break and had been taking advantage of it for nearly two years now. He felt no closer in his connection to the future, and the odd glimmer or two he received these days were nearly identical to the weird pattern of dreams he had earlier in his life. Was he actually getting worse? Scary thought, that...
He gave that nervous laugh again, tugging some blond strands behind one ear (he looked very pretty when he wasn't letting his wild hair take center stage to his features) and looking at the ground. "I used to. My parents used to tell all the neighbors and they couldn't wait to see if it was true or not. It got really old, and I kind of let it get to my head for a while, too. I wasn't a very good person back then." He sighed quietly. "You wouldn't have liked me."
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Aubrey
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Post by Aubrey on Jan 29, 2007 23:08:19 GMT -5
Aubrey's brows drew together, and his pretty, innocent face looked concerned and curious for a long moment as he watched Jaiden, before he looked ahead silently. What he saw made him smile, and suddenly take Jaiden's hand. "Hey, come see this!" he said excitedly, crystal eyes alight with merriment before he pulled Jaiden ahead with him.
There was a small hill, but atop it was a somewhat scampy tree, as far as leaves went, but it was tall, and Aubrey had an idea. Upon reaching said tree, with or without Jaiden's help as far as the getting there part went, Aubrey took hold of a lower branch and began to climb up the tree, movements careful because of his back, and how much his body hurt, but determination never letting him stop.
He smiled down at Jaiden from a decent height, sitting atop a thick, sturdy branch. "Come up here, Jaiden!" he said, beaming a smile down to his companion.
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Post by Jaiden on Jan 29, 2007 23:17:00 GMT -5
Swimming he could do, but climbing...? Jaiden glowered from the bottom of the tree, looking rather put off about the whole thing. It was easier to be angry than to admit that he was frightened of heights - even if it was just some skinny old tree on a hilltop, just the idea of grasping the lowest branch with the intention of bringing himself further up made his feet feel like lead. "Oh, come on Aubrey... you're being silly. We need to get to Nemwe some time tonight!"
When he imagined the hurt that the other would most likely feeling at being scolded by him, he couldn't keep up the charade anymore. He sighed softly and apologized to him. "Sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you, it's just... I've never climbed a tree before, and beyond that, I'm really bad with heights."
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Aubrey
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Post by Aubrey on Jan 29, 2007 23:25:44 GMT -5
Aubrey looked more surprised than anything, and then broke into a smile. "Well, I can teach you how to climb a tree," he began. "Or I can tell you how much farther it is.. You can see the edge of the Nemwe from way up here."
He just wanted to be helpful, and despite that, he wanted to cheer Jaiden up. His companion had looked so down-hearted when he spoke about his past.. Aubrey had officially decided to take on the mission of making Jaiden smile and laugh again. Yup, that was his new job. Beyond that, he would improvise.
"It's really cool up here, though," he said, pushing just a little bit for Jaiden to try it. If he really didn't want to, he wouldn't push any farther. However, Jaiden would be learning how to climb a damn tree sometime in the near future, if Aubrey had any say in it whatsoever.
[night time for me ^^]
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Post by Jaiden on Jan 29, 2007 23:39:36 GMT -5
His instruction on the topic of swimming to Aubrey had been so casual; now, standing at the bottom of this tree that seemed to be getting taller by the second, he imagined how he must've felt to have someone take your fear so lightly. He really did want to get up there. Jaiden wanted to see the edge of the bustling centaur capital, wanted to share a sturdy branch with Aubrey. It was kind of romantic, wasn't it? Now he had the dual problem of blushing and feeling terrified...
"It's... fine. I'm going to come up. I think. I'm pretty sure I can do it." He wasn't much for displays of athleticism, but the tree seemed fairly forgiving. Still, his optimism was dashed about halfway up, where he nearly fell and had to cling hopelessly to the branch he was on like a cat who'd climbed into a tree for the first time without realizing that you have to come down at some point. He whimpered and looked up at Aubrey, who wasn't too far away... "Um," he said, in a very small voice. "I think I'm stuck."
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Aubrey
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Post by Aubrey on Jan 30, 2007 16:21:42 GMT -5
Aubrey just smiled down at Jaiden, making his way to the point on the tree his companion was at in what had to be the most comfortable state Aubrey had ever shown. He knew how to climb, and there was a certain grace in it that he had that Jaiden had had with swimming. Once he reached the other, he smiled and put his hand lightly on Jaiden's.
"It's okay," he assured him. "Here, relax a little, and then let your feet rest on the branch right under us.. Just like I am. Can you do that?" This was definitely some form of role-reversal on what had happened at the stream. Aubrey's smile was bright, reassuring, inviting Jaiden to watch him instead of the ground.
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Post by Jaiden on Jan 31, 2007 14:15:19 GMT -5
"Um... maybe?" It was strange to see Aubrey so calm for once. Wasn't he supposed to be the suave hero for the entirety of this little trip? It just had to be heights... he swallowed gently and tried to turn his eyes up, even though they seemed to be firmly rooted in the downward position. Eventually, those lovely green orbs found the other, and his hand gripped Aubrey's as he slowly, but surely, managed to mimic the boy.
"H-How'd you get so good at this, anyway?" He probably shouldn't be making conversation when he could easily fall and break his neck, but it certainly helped his nerves. The youth smiled nervously, trying to keep his eyes focused on Aubrey.
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Aubrey
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Post by Aubrey on Jan 31, 2007 15:31:44 GMT -5
Aubrey smiled back and shrugged. "My mother and I never saw eye to eye," he said. "And the trees were the only place I could go that she couldn't find me at." He changed the subject quickly, detesting his mother and happy he'd no reason to see her ever again. "You're doing good.. Now, reach for this branch here.."
He demonstrated, still holding Jaiden's other hand. "It's not so bad once you've done it a lot," he said, gentle in his nature as always. "All you have to really know is how thick the branches are, and which ones can support you. This is a good tree for climbing."
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Post by Jaiden on Feb 2, 2007 17:25:56 GMT -5
Jaiden disagreed. No tree was good for climbing, unless it was a marshmallow tree that was thoroughly shaken before-hand, and we all know those don't exist. Still, he seemed to be making some progress, and with some difficulty he eventually made it up to Aubrey. Since looking down really didn't help things and looking off into the distance filled him with a strange sort of half-fear, he found himself unable to really do much else than stare directly into the kid's eyes. Naturally, after this went on for a while, he started to blush.
"T-Thanks. I guess that makes us even, then, though I don't think I'll be much willing to try this in the future." He swallowed gently and wished there was something else to focus his eyes on, but there really wasn't. He smiled nervously.
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Aubrey
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Post by Aubrey on Feb 3, 2007 14:40:33 GMT -5
Aubrey just smiled, but a soft flush came to his cheeks when Jaiden just continued to stare into his eyes. "You never know," he said, calm, yet a little shy, as the blush indicated. "There are smaller trees that make for good hiding places during the summer, when there's lots of leaves on them and you need to be hidden." How he knew this was anyone's guess, but only those who guessed that it was because of his mother would be right.
"Okay, now all you have to do is not look down, and keep close to the trunk," he said, moving up just a little bit more to show Jaiden. "Nemwe is really pretty from up high.. You'll like it a lot, I think.."
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Post by Jaiden on Feb 3, 2007 15:27:25 GMT -5
"Not look down... right." Beginning to strongly reconsider the benefits of being up here at the top, Jaiden did just as Aubrey suggested, though he had no intentions of moving away from the trunk. If he couldn't see Nemwe from here, he'd just have the kid describe it to him.
Fortunately, he could see it from here. There was the glimmer of early-evening torch light, and he knew that the smoke would be rising far into the night since the centaurs were notorious smiths. It did look rather spectacular. He sighed softly as he took in the sight, nerves not quite relaxed but probably as good as they were going to get. "Thanks for showing me this," he whispered, offering a honest smile to the boy. "Thanks for helping me get up here."
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