Wicked Moon, Wicked Night (M) (Countess!)

[Anonymous]

She was thrilled when he responded. It was as though the kiss had been the catalyst. He'd watched her, nearly unmoving, until her lips pressed to his. The reaction was what she was hoping for. As though that was what he'd been waiting for this whole time, Hysaeda seemed just as interested in kissing her as she was him. Even better though was when his hands moved to caress and roam. Bresthra squirmed a little on him, her hips shifting against his. The corset was nothing more than an annoyance now. Why was she wearing anything? Surely there was a point, but right now she couldn't think of one. Rather, it was just a barrier between his hands and her skin. An utterly unnecessary one. There should be nothing between her and him.

Hysaeda seemed to agree with that thought when he tugged on the ties to her corset. She smiled against his lips when the first attempt or so didn't unlace it. Steadily, though, she felt it loosen when the knot finally gave way. With each loop the lace passed though, more of her was exposed. She could feel it steadily loosen along her sides and chest. Bresthra ended the kiss to explore other parts of him with her mouth just as his hands reached the top of the corset. Her attention shifted to his neck as the corset was pulled off of her and Hysaeda pulled her flush to him. The feel of him against her sans the cloth barrier made her shiver and bite down on his neck. A little harder than she'd initially intended, Bresthra turned the bite into a sucking kiss. Her hands moved then to touch his sides, more to get a better feel of him. Hysaeda was harder than she was, toned from the lifestyle he'd chosen. The tips of her fingers traced along his ribs, moving away from where her body touched his, and around to his back. There wasn't any rush save for the desire to have him. Bresthra's want for his pants to be off meant she'd have to move away. Which was not a wholly appealing notion at the moment. And it wouldn't be until she was too far gone to care about a brief separation. For this moment though, the feel of him against her, her mouth on his neck and his skin bare to her hands, was perfect.

[ woo for double post *giggle* ]

[Lion]

This should have been the moment of absolute surrender, a point where there was no return to that old life of his, but as Hysaeda delved further into their embrace, as lost as he was, there was no way to kill off his instincts that allowed him to live as long as he had.  His kind were long lived as long as they took care of themselves properly but there were plenty of creatures that were willing to tear his head off if it mean for them to live another day.  But still, resisting her was extremely strenuous on his will.  In his lifetime, he'd only ever did what was necessary for survival, never having to focus on more than one thing at any given time.  These matters were undoubtedly beyond him.

Still further and further he sunk into her what he might have construed as a trap if he could think straight.  But her touch, the way she pressed against him, explored him, it—for want of a better phrase—it felt so damn good!  And there wasn't any physical part of him that didn't want her completely; at least none that willingly objected that was.  He twitched a little as her fingers graced the side of him, sliding along his ribcage in an electric touch that zapped wildly at his insides.  A nigh breathless sigh managed to escape him as her mouth moved the sensitive flesh of his neck.  Of any part of his upper body that was perhaps the most sensitive.  Well...second only to his ribs, of course.

His own hands took the time to fully analyze the intricacies of her flesh, to observe what more she had to offer aside from what they sampled beneath the cloth.  They sought out and undermined the ridges of her belly, indicating where hardened muscle resided.  From this he felt it was safe to believe she worked hard with her body or at least had some kind of consistent exercise regiment.  Whatever that was, there wasn't a doubt in his mind that it wasn't doing her any good.

At the moment he was too busy exploring the rest of her form with the sensitive yet callused edges of his hands.   He rode them along her back, softly yet not without purpose.  And as she pressed her lips to his neck, she suddenly sank her teeth hard against his skin.  A throaty grunt of severe displeasure escaped his throat and, after a moment of feeling the warmth of her saliva in place of her teeth, he pulled slightly away.  Apparently the action as enough to snap him back to attention.  Still, he remained rather close, his lips close enough to feel her tantalizing aura of desire practically simmer from her skin.  He brushed his lips enticingly against hers before retreating a mere millimeter.  "You seem like you've done this before," he spoke softly.  "What was that bite for?"

[Anonymous]

Bresthra was very pleased when his hands traveled along her skin. Part of the joy of being with someone never before was the chance to explore. It was a heady want of hers that thrilled and shot a shiver down her spine. Few things in the world were as intimate as touching someone. That was the basis for contact, something as simple as giving in to the instinctual desire. It only made sense that touch would be a part of the moment. But if was different than just holding someone. Willingly exploring their body with touch alone, guiding the fingers along the ribs to the back, down the spine... touching places that usually received nothing... Even better was that his hands were rough against her skin. This made her focus more on where he was touching, drawing her mind to follow the path of that coarse trail. He could feel the fine tremble of her spine beneath his fingers.

There were very few things in the world that could make Bresthra snap out of the wonderful bliss of sensation. Once committed, the drowess was fully, wholly, so. Pain, pleasure, humor... all of it could be tied in to what she was doing and modified to heighten the moment. Nearly any emotion accompanied the sort of commitment that came with her attention. However, the sound Hysaeda made caused a shock to lace through her mind. Warning flags shot up and her mind called a halt to everything she was doing. Like someone had thrown ice water over her, Bresthra's pulse quickened and her eyes widened a degree. She even lost her breath for a moment. She hated doing things people didn't like. Such as bite them. Bresthra almost started apologizing when he pulled away, her addled mind fumbling for the right words to explain how she'd not intended to hurt him... or cause him any sort of displeasure. When his lips brushed against hers though, she felt a fraction better. Obviously he wasn't too upset. Or he had a strange way of being so. Her heart slowed some as her body calmed and she took a deep breath.

Then he spoke.

"You seem like you've done this before. What was that bite for?" She actually felt a fraction of embarrassment, her cheeks heating up. Thankfully she was too dark, and already so very warm, that there wasn't much of a change. Bresthra's fingers lightly traced over his ribs before she answered breathily, "An accident... I... Momentarily overwhelmed." Her smile turned sheepish as she looked away from him, her eyes peering at the rest of his face. She was a little embarrassed to make complete eye contact.

[Lion]

Hysaeda, despite having been accustomed to a fair amount of abuse and harassment as a child, he wasn't quite prepared to have her bite him.  The moment was almost to spontaneous to be anticipated and, quite honestly, he was too preoccupied to really anticipate it even if he could.  The pain did startle him, and make him want to run away (as pain did with most living things).  Unlike her, he did not associate pain as some attempt to create pleasure or excitement.  To him, pain was the epitome of survival.  It served as nothing more than a reminder that you were still alive (even if that was only for about five more seconds).  The base fact was that he wasn't a glutton for pain.  But as far as he knew, while he would avoid it when he could, he would take whatever sort of discomfort came his way if that was his fate.

Hysaeda was raised so that he could associate different feelings with different facts of life.  Pleasure was usually identified with good things like the comfort of family and friends (not that he had many); Humor, with that which deserved the playful honor of laughter, and Pain, with consequence and suffering as a result of a dire miscalculation or fault.  Never at once would he associate any version of the three melded together in any shape or form.  That was, until now.  

He hadn't expected the action and was thusly pulled back to reality by it.  A small grin threatened to pull at the ends of his lips as he listened to her scrambled for an explanation.  It was amusing in the least to listen her spit it out while attempting to avoid direct contact with his eyes.   "An accident... I... Momentarily overwhelmed."  But despite the grin, he didn't laugh, for he had an idea that such an action might be enough cause for embarrassment.  He couldn't tell beyond the pigment of her flesh but could partially from the way she refused to meet his gaze.

As if to encourage her, Hysaeda removed one hand from around her, felt his away from her side, along the outskirts of her breast and up to her face.  From there he cupped her cheek as if in comfort, and gently raised her eyes to his.  He smiled faintly as he said, "If that's what you do when you're overwhelmed, I'd hate to see what you do when you're life is at stake.  If you do anything at all."  For a moment he recalled how she reacted when he shot at her with an arrow.  He knew he'd missed on purpose, but he wondered faintly just what she would have done in the event that they had a confrontation.  In a way, if he had kept his guard up, that would have been the ultimate result.

Like his hands had been doing as of late, they explored the other parts of her that he'd missed before.  And one was her face.  She had an unusual look about her, one that was obviously well put together and whatever arcane creator took time in making her, they very careful about making her exceptionally beautiful.  And that was another question: Did he think her beautiful?  Yes, he did.  But it was in his nature to find all things beautiful, unless he saw reason to think otherwise.  His hand was careful in scrutinizing the fine lines of her face, gently tracing her jaw line, brushing her cheekbones with the back of his fingertips and placing his hands so that he had the whole of the side of her skull in his palm.  He was dedicated to every motion, like an artist at work or a warrior with the soul of a poet.  Each fingertip worked through the softness of her hair, his blood continuously rushed at the feel of it.  And albeit they were still close, his voice was barely above a ghost of a whisper, "You asked me if this is what I wanted and replied, 'Yes.'  Now, I ask you, what do you want?"

[Anonymous]

There were few things that ever gave Bresthra pause. Fewer still was the list of actions that she'd either never experience, or were of such a rarity that they took her breath away and left her feeling light headed. The almost tender touch of his hand, the way it slid up her side to cup her cheek and draw her eyes to his was one of those actions. It was rare for her to be touched with such care, like she might break. More than that, his smile further soothed her panicked heart. He wasn't upset. Or disgusted. That enabled a huge weight to be lifted from her shoulders, making it possible to easily meet his eyes now. Bresthra didn't feel shame, but she did feel bad for things she did against another's will. Seeing as how he didn't seem upset, she wasn't. It was as simple as that. Her head tilted a little into his touch, the warmth of his hand.... was reassuring. One emotion she'd only ever felt once before in this setting. Once. And that had her breath closing off in her throat. To think of that now.... The warmth washed from her, leaving Bresthra to feel... cold. Real. The haze of the moment was lifted, leaving her to look at Hysaeda with something more akin to... confusion.

He spoke, but she didn't hear. The words were lost as she stilled on him like a frightened animal, body tense, her eyes unwavering on his. Why? Because of the –way- he was touching her now. His hand was lightly exploring her face. No one, save one person, had ever taken the time... had ever looked at her and saw something more than someone to sleep with. Hysaeda wasn't looking at a Sharressen committed to the revelry of life, but rather, Bresthra. A drow that had never been in any sort of intimate setting save one that invariably led to sex. This... this was different. So unusual she didn't know how to react. What was the appropriate response? How could she explain the way her blood warmed, but her pulse was so slow? It wasn't excitement, it was... something she didn't have a name for. Something she couldn't explain.

It was all in the care he took in touching her. And not just her, but her face. As though no one had ever thought that was something to be noted, something to take joy in. Only one other had ever touched her like that, and she had no rationalization for that time either... except he cared for her. Not what he could do to her, but for who she was. But –how- could that be possible with Hysaeda? He... he didn't know her. How could she feel this way, with him? What did it mean? This was simply out of her purview as a Priestess. This hit so much closer to home. Closer to Bresthra the drow. Then he spoke, and while the words were soft, she'd all but stopped breathing so she heard him. "You asked me if this is what I wanted and replied, 'Yes.' Now, I ask you, what do you want?" Bresthra stared, feeling trapped... feeling... scared. Afraid of what she could want from him, afraid of the way his touch had redefined the whole moment... Afraid of what it could mean.

She didn't know what to say... what she could say. Bresthra wanted to flee, to lose whatever this reaction was. To understand what was going on.... But she didn't want to move away from his touch. No part of her wanted that contact to end, even if it meant more to her than she could express with words. Her first attempt at speaking failed, leaving her lips partially parted. It took a moment, a pause as she looked away from him. "I don't know," she admitted. What could it mean to her if they continued? Why would it mean more if they did? She just... didn't understand.

[Lion]

Of all the emotions of survival, aside from anger, fear was perhaps the most useful.  Fear was the instigator and agitator that taught one to be aware of their surroundings.  It instructed its students to, with their awareness, listen to that feeling that swelled in their gut that told them danger was near.  It was a mild extension of the "trust your instincts" concept that most creatures abided by.  And one Hysaeda bothered to wholly embrace when necessary.  These were both self-taught lessons as well as an idea that every Umbraeon felt was a necessity in the preservation of their culture.  This idea might explain his kin's habit to kill first and ask questions later.

But what he was feeling now was anything but fear.  At this moment, what could he possibly be afraid of aside from a while animal coming to threaten them?  And if that happened, he was more than sure each would be able to handle themselves adequately.  On the other note, Hysaeda honed his attention on how he fingered her face.  He continued working with his single hand, gently riding along the grooves of her cheekbones which, when pressed, revealed the solidity of teeth and the muscles of her jaw.  It was there that the callused tips of his fingers moved back down along her jaw and thumbed the softness of her chin.

Each motion he executed raised certain questions in his own mind, as if to expound upon the mystery of why he was alone with her in the first place.  It was true that he knew very little about her and that in itself did nothing to explain what he was doing and, just as importantly, why.  But the way he looked at her, with eyebrows furrowed as if in deep concentration and lips pressed together, was as though he intended to say, 'I knew everything I needed to know the moment I saw you.'  And, if she looked carefully, something burned in the fiery amber-red of his eyes that she currently seemed hooked on.

Why did he look at her so knowingly?  The truth was...he didn't know.  No, he didn't love her, for such a task, with the exception of parents who nerve-rackingly await the birth of the child or the warmth one might share with their blood-kin, took time and knowledge.  Could he?  All things were possible.  He was but a humble hunter who had no place to dare question the ruling of fate.  But he focused more on how he saw her now.  The face he graced in his hands was not that he considered being a monster.  But his words of before could not describe the light in which he now associated her.  No monster, to his knowledge, bore soft lips, vulnerable flesh, and welcoming eyes.  He didn't see her as anything ugly or disgusting as was wont of his kind; such things deserved only to be abhorred.  For a time, his eyes lingered on her with an ethereal semblance; he saw her not as an object but as a true being; a beautiful person.  And he couldn't help but thing that just maybe Umbraeon prejudice against her kind was not as true as he'd originally thought.  There was, perhaps, some truth in them but so far Bresthra had failed to fulfill any of them.  All she'd done was be "close" to him, and there wasn't really crime in that.

Beneath his hold, he felt her tense suddenly as if stricken.  His brows came together in even more curiosity as he heard her answer, "I don't know."  It sounded like it she had a hard time saying such a thing.  Still, he tried to keep the tension at the lowest possible level.  He kept his voice the same soft level it was before as he asked, "Is it difficult to make up your mind?  Do you often seek to satisfy others and don't consider your own wants and desires?"  It was an honest question and sought to satisfy his own growing curiosity for the reasons behind her behavior.

[Anonymous]

It didn't matter that he didn't have the softest of hands. The rough tips of his fingers along her face only enhanced the touch. Made it somehow more real. To be the continued source of his scrutiny was making her feel... different. It was one thing for someone to look at her with lust, want... with the desire to own. But Hysaeda's expression didn't match any of those. And while some part of her warmed to that look, most of her didn't understand what it meant... what was she to feel? Even so, there was an insistant stirring in her chest and at the back of her mind. One other had looked at her like that, and that one other meant... more to her than anything. So why was she now feeling this strangeness with Hysaeda? She'd only just met him. There was no explanation for how she felt, no justification. It had to be lust simple because it could be nothing else. At least, that is what she tried to convince herself. This tender exploration of who she was, both physically and... emotionally... was just another sort of desire. One she'd never felt before, one she'd never expected... but that's what it -had- to be.

Even if there was something wholly... safe... about Hysaeda... Not in the same sense as when he'd killed that werewolf... something less tangible... but just as important.

It was Hysaeda's tone that kept her heart rate normal. Otherwise, she would've been panicking. She should be. Her mind told her something was wrong... but the look in Hysaeda's eyes and his soft words kept her still. "Is it difficult to make up your mind? Do you often seek to satisfy others and don't consider your own wants and desires?" She didn't know what to say to that. No one had every asked her... not when she'd actually been confused. Veithean, her teacher, had questioned her at length before... but that had been after the fact of her confusion... after she'd already gone through with what she'd wanted. The answers had been simple then because she'd had time to justify her actions. Bresthra had explained it all away by simply saying that Veithean had been wrong... which had resulted in her teacher sending her here. Why? So she could figure herself out... so she could figure out where she belonged. Bresthra had laughed it off, said he was wrong. But now... now she knew he was right. Something had changed, but she didn't know what. The smile she offered Hysaeda was weak, but it was an attempt. "I'm... usually not so... confused." Her world had been nicely colored in black and white... now suddenly, there was gray... and she didn't know what to do about it.

[Lion]

When one received such attention as Hysaeda now gave Bresthra with his serene and harmless touch, it was a common response that the person receiving such scrutiny would feel a growing sense of importance, as if they now had a place to stand in life.  In a sense, this was true for Hysaeda.  For one, she was not only the first real drow he'd ever met in his life but she completely moved to sweep away the misconceptions he had about her and her kind (the latter more than the former).  Of course, she probably didn't do this knowingly.  But in sense, her presence, the first form of company he had in almost a year, which he now somewhat welcomed, was comforting.  Somehow, he didn't feel so alone right now.  He could recall moments of his past where he was at home in his village and still he felt somewhat abandoned, as if there was really nothing for him there.  That was really why he wandered so much.  Not just because he loved the realm of nature but because, even in his place there, he could wallow in his loneliness.  In reality, he was as aimless as a specter.

For now, he was content to know that he finally understood the meaning of trust.  It was something that, in his family's tradition, extended little beyond his kin, but now seemed to be seeped into his association with Bresthra.  And so quickly?  Such was nigh impossible.  He, in all his capacity to learn, couldn't comprehend it himself.  But he felt...comfortable here with her.  There was no threat now and even as she tensed on him, he found it appealing that she didn't withdraw now that the feeling was gone from them.  Yet he still felt vaguely warm, but not in the sense that he lusted after her.  Maybe he did, but what he currently felt was not the same hot-bloodedness of the moment ago.  It seemed more ungrounded than that.

Hysaeda still stroked her cheek and was content to simply speak to her as she again struggled for an answer.  This was understandable when he considered her body language.  When it came, she said, "I'm... usually not so... confused."  As his eyes surveyed the landscape of her face, he said with no hint of a threat in his voice, "Hm...  And what might be the cause of this confusion?  Do not others treat you like this?"  His eyes had a solemn yet drowsy glaze to them and he softly closed the hairsbreadth distance between them and kissed her lips.  The action was neither ravenous nor soft and innocent, but of the essence of Hysaeda himself.  Sealed within was a piece of the solemnity of his spirit, as if to let her feel a part of him that didn't consist merely of his physical nature.  There was pressure there, a certain soft sincerity that burned his lips a little when he withdrew and awaited her reaction.

[Ugh!  Absolutely horrible.   I must have sat for hours trying to come up with something reasonably written to compare to something that was as beautiful as yours *throws self off cliff*.]

[Anonymous]

The part of her that was lost was trying to withdrawl, to pull away and hide. It was only natural that she should fear what she did not understand. Bresthra's mind was attempting to save her from what difficulty could reside in the answers, if she sought for them. The fear of what all this could mean, of how it could change... anything... everything... nothing... was as real as the fear of death. Not knowing herself was a sensation Bresthra had fought so hard to rid herself off. She'd fought with her Mother, severed ties with the only home she'd ever known, she'd sold her body to survive, she'd gained a religion, she'd gained new friends... all of it in an attempt to redefine who she was. All of the pain, the being caught and chained while being told she would be executed at dawn... She'd considered that part of the transformation. A necessary step to take her to what she'd become... but if it was still all... wrong... what did that mean? That the Temple was a step? That Veithean was a lesson, and not her friend? Not her teacher? That this would all be painful, as everything had leading up to now?

The gravity of the situation caught her breath in her throat, threatening to close it off. This couldn't be. Had she been wrong... again...? And if so, how could she ever be right? She'd thought she was this time, and obviously... that wasn't true. The panic all this created made her vaguely short of breath, her intake short and brief, while her exhale was long and airy. Bresthra's heart threatened to break out of her chest as Hysaeda asked her, "Hm... And what might be the cause of this confusion? Do not others treat you like this?"

No, her mind screamed. And that was the center of her anguish. No one had, why would he? Why...? That why tore her apart, took the calm of his gaze and made it mean something... something she didn't understand. It further made her heart thrum heavily. Millions of thoughts clamored for attention, Bresthra thought she might never get a full breath.

Then the world stopped.

The fire faded away, her heart seemed to have stopped, when he leaned in and kissed her. Whatever it was about the kiss calmed her. Something different, something he'd not had in the previous ones before it. Bresthra leaned into that kiss, desperate for what it was, though she had no name for it. Her hand came up, enhancing that brief connection as it cupped his cheek. But only for the duration of the kiss. When in broke, though she didn't want it to end, Bresthra felt a little less... afraid... She was still very confused, very lost... but that was ok. She could be. It wouldn't be the death of her. She wasn't defined by her past actions so much as what she'd learned from them. There was no static definition of who she was. That could change, and it would be ok. The newfound peace actually made her smile, then laugh a little and kiss him again. Why? Because she wanted to.

Her kiss was brief, but whole heartedly –her-. And when she withdrew, her smile had a warmth to it that had not been there before. And that light in her eyes could've been from the fire. "You are not like anyone else," she breathed, her lips still very close to his. Enough so that they shared a breath.

[Lion]

Change was often something to be feared.  From cultures to individual people, changed was often seen as the equivalent of death since one's world would undoubtedly be different the next moment they took a breath.  And with this association of death was often seen as the need for immortality and the reason why one culture so often became the scapegoat for another.  The need to be preserved, to be able to be content with the here and now as opposed to coping with the thought of devastation would be enough to drive anyone to distraction.  What Bresthra felt, though Hysaeda did not know it, was a common fear and one that even he was feeling.

This moment was nothing he would come across naturally had he never Bresthra.  He would have moved on with his life, lived the same routine as he did the day before: scouring the land, constantly shifting, and staying in one place for no more than three days at the longest.  But here he was in a situation he never would have guessed he would be in.  And he was just as lost as she.  Though he didn't feel the weight of pillars falling around him, he sure as hell fell the shaking of the earth beneath his feet as they fell.  Here was a change he'd never been confronted with, but somehow he didn't want to pull away from it.  He didn't want a scapegoat or the need to feel immortal.  He found this a change to something he actually wanted to embrace.  And this welcomed difference was her.

He hadn't expected her to kiss him back so focused was he on how she would take his kiss.  It had gone better than he expected as she had leaned in against it, even going so far as to grace his cheek with her touch.  It was welcomed and he too braced his other hand to her cheek.  It all went to enhance the moment and it was as if time stopped but the pulse in his body persisted despite the drawback.  When he came back to the present after being lifted by the warmth of her genuine grin and laughter, which was soon followed by the voluntary warmth of her own lips, he too grinned as he listened to her speak.

It pleased him that she wasn't as tense as she was before.  For a moment, he thought it was safe to believe that she was settling down.  And he kept the soft smile on his face if only because it seemed to be the appropriate expression for the moment.  Her breath was splayed across his face as he remained close to her, a hairsbreadth away.  "That so?  I would hope that I'm correct in believing that this is a good thing.  I see a good person when I look at you, Bresthra.  Tell me, what do others see when they look at you?"

[Anonymous]

Bresthra couldn't put her finger on just what had happened. But there was something to be said for how... relaxed she was now. Just as confused as she'd been a moment ago, still as clueless as to how this would change her, and what that all really meant... Nothing had been resolved. But rather than feeling that desperate need for an answer now... she was ok with not having one. It didn't mean she was any less who she was, simply that she didn't know. Without a definition, Bresthra could still –be-. Understanding could come later. If it ever did. That wasn't a reason she should panic... or at least that's how she felt now, sitting on Hysaeda. He was warm though, comforting... And Bresthra like that about him. And she liked his smile. It suited him.

"That so? I would hope that I'm correct in believing that this is a good thing. I see a good person when I look at you, Bresthra. Tell me, what do others see when they look at you?" he asked then... and it made her pause in her study of him.

Bresthra leaned back enough to allow her thumb to trace his bottom lip, watching that movement while she tried to think of an answer. What could she say to that? Bresthra had no idea what anyone saw when they looked at her... or if such considerations mattered to her. But a memory tugged at her mind. Of the time she spent in Rui'th. What had the people seen there? A desperate drow. That much had been obvious, both from the way one had approached her with the intent to buy an evening with her... and the way  she'd been used. Bresthra had been a prostitute before. She knew at the time what everyone, what her family, would think of that. But she'd had no choice.. or at the time, felt like she had none. The shame of that memory played across her expression, chasing away the smile. Bresthra rarely felt bad, and even less so, did she ever feel humiliation.  But that brief part of her life was one she'd tried very hard to forget. It was one thing to take joy in another, to be with them in a very physical way. But that was based off of mutual desire and want, of an agreement of sorts that required no currency exchange. Being paid for it, sleeping with people she'd made no connection to, she had no desire for... felt like a betrayal of who she was.

All of this proved that she just had... no idea of what others saw. " I don't know," she answered softly, refusing to meet his eyes again. There was something so very honest about Hysaeda, and shamed Bresthra for some of the things she'd done. He didn't know any of it, but it was who he was, so... comforting... that made Bresthra feel... less than deserving of his attention. No one had ever made her so reflective... and she'd never felt unworthy of someone... until now.

[Lion]

Hysaeda could never betray himself.  Not in the light of giving up what he believed in.  For in him burned a pride that was common in Umbraeons but seemed to hold a special place in his heart.  Perhaps it had something to do with how he was treated, that despite the neglect, abuse, and general transgressions, Hysaeda knew that he was proud of his blood more than anything else in the world.  He had a pride in his bloodline that surpassed his appreciations for his abilities to hunt, or how he could scour across the land as silent as a serpent before coming down on a opponent; even prouder than his position of Ankuman apprentice.  The thought that he would succeed his father as Xelikuda Ankuman was knowledge enough to spur his pride that there was a charge he could assume without contest.  Ankuman were chosen by the current leader before he decided it was best he be removed from his station.

Aside from that, it was difficult for Hysaeda to perceive the idea of him feeling shame for who he was or for what he did.  Not so much that he was innocent but he felt he had no reason to believe that what he did, how he lived, the spirit of the god he worshipped and honored was wrong in any way.  Maybe that was due to the fact that Hysaeda, in his isolation, never encountered the type of people that Bresthra did.  It was a fact that she was the first person he'd seen in years and one he wouldn't want to leave any time soon.  He killed to survive like most creatures and lived off the land.  An ancient archaic practice that he understood most outsiders would view as barbaric and savage.  They would claim that his kind needed to keep up with the changing times, but these practices were common truths to Umbraeons.  They would feel no shame for something that allowed them to survive for as long as they had.

But that was beyond this moment.  Hysaeda's smile faded a little when she answered.  Though her answer conveyed little, there was so much he understood from what she said and how she said it that he almost didn't need to hear a proper explanation.  There was more behind the shell of the pursuit of sheer sensual pleasure, something that lurked beneath that was enough cause for her to look away from him with heavy shoulders.  Just as he thought.  He had a feeling there was more to her than the desire of the flesh and was hoping to learn some of it.  Maybe that was the real reason behind his inquiries.  But whatever the truth, that didn't stop him from feeling pity for the first time in his life.  However, this form of pity was not the kind that was filled with utter contempt that surged upon peering at a poor retch but the brand that went hand in hand with sympathy with someone who wished to aid another out of sheer goodwill.  He could only hope to comfort her...if she wished it.

Hysaeda braced her face softly, leaning his forehead softly against hers for a time before coaxing her head up to look at him.  He preferred to converse with others when he could see them face to face.  "Bresthra," he started with no more than a gentle tone.  "Let me tell you what I see when I look at you.  I see a beautiful person who's been abused by others who could not see the jewel within you.  They took what they wanted and didn't care about anything else.  They would just as soon leave you high and dry before helping you.  You're not a bad person...just used by a sudden cruel twist of fate.

"And maybe I don't know what I'm talking about.  Maybe I'm as foolish as the rest of them and making assumptions that make me even more stupid than I already am.  But I understand what it means to be mistreated and hurt.  There's never been a moment in my life where I could reach for a sympathetic hand.  I suppose, in a way, that makes us kindred spirits"  His eyes were a little glazed over from the confession but it was a sign that he was fully immersed into the moment.

[Anonymous]

Bresthra wasn't sure what she could say in the silence that followed. The fire seemed too loud, her heart beat thunderous in her ears. Maybe because she was expecting something... bad? Or rather, she simply had no idea what he would do. She usually never bothered with wondering what –may- be, or what –could- happen. But like the shame he'd felt before, Hysaeda seemed capable of provoking some things she'd never felt... and never thought of. Which led her in circles trying to figure out what that meant, if it meant anything, and what she could do to figure out.

What struck such a strong cord within her was how... honest... Hysaeda was. Not in just his words, but his actions, his intentions... all of it seemed to be so... easy... for him. When Bresthra looked at him, she didn't feel compelled to guess what he might really be thinking. There was no look in his eyes that led her to believe that there was more to him, some darker part, which she'd not seen.

She was pulled from her brooding thoughts when he leaned his forehead lightly against hers. They remained posed like that for a breath before Bresthra felt she was able to look, and so did. What he said, and the way it was said, made her lose focus on the rest of the world. The fire, the night sounds, and her heart beat paled in comparison to Hysaeda. No one had ever said anything so... Bresthra didn't even have an explanation for it. There were few in the world that knew what Bresthra had gone through in Ru'ith, and those that knew were not aware of how it plagued her. Hysaeda had seemed to not only realize there was something... wrong... but make a connection to it. The sentiment touched her as surely as his hands did, but in a completely different way.

Bresthra gazed at Hysaeda after he spoke. What could she say to express her... relief... gratitude... appreciation? She smiled a little, feeling more at peace. The shame would always be there, or at least until she could convince herself she shouldn't feel bad for what she'd done... but time was making it a little easier to deal with. And Hysaeda... well, he made her feel... Bresthra couldn't even begin to describe that. There were too many thoughts, too many complications surrounding such a simple thing as a –feeling-. What she did know, and what was the truth was... "This has been one of the most rewarding nights I've had." She tilted her head enough to lightly press her lips to his in a very brief kiss before leaning back... and realizing that she was very much topless. Funny how he'd managed to make her forget that little fact. Bresthra actually felt her face heat up a little. Wasn't too often the drowess happened to –forget- she didn't have a top on.

Now, she could lean to the side and pick up her corset or... she could not. The choices were obvious, what she should do... was not. Bresthra was no where near modest though, so made no effort it either hiding herself from his sight nor turning as though to constrict his view. Neither of them had a shirt on, and moments ago, she'd been eager enough to tug his pants off... After what had just transpired between them though... she wasn't sure what the next step was. She didn't think he'd still be in the –mood- though, not after that.

Bresthra took a deep breath, relaxing some of the tenseness in her shoulders, before she lightly asked, "So should we get some rest...?" Her words trailed off in a question, indicating that if he had another idea, that now would be the time to suggest it.

[Lion]

The moment threatened to seem timeless now.  Never in his life had so little turned into so much so quickly.  It was all almost too surreal to believe.  If Hysaeda's understanding of the world had been anybody else's, there's no doubt that he would have thought the whole thing to be nothing more than a dream.  But he was trained since the age of thirteen to open up his eyes, and to an extent his heart and soul, to the world around him.  To explore as much with his senses as he could with his hands and perhaps it was that that made it so natural for him to pick up on her feelings.  Though he was no empathy, however, and so he couldn't possibly feel everything just by looking at her.  Even if he liked looked at her.

Bresthra stirred something inside him, awakened a mystery, raised a question that he experienced difficulty in answering, let along comprehending.  But unlike his kind's penchant from running away from things they deemed as outlandish (and therefore a danger and must be destroyed or escaped), Hysaeda felt no inclination to flee.  This mystery was a nice differentiation when compared to what he was used to feeling for strangers, which usually extended little beyond annoyance and contemptuous pity (and again with that questionable Umbraeon pride).  And on that note, she didn't seem that much of a stranger anymore.  They still didn't know each other well enough, but there seemed to be a mutual understanding growing between them as opposed to the exasperating tension that dared to fester between them in their first meeting.  He could still be inclined to remain somewhat distant as his character was molded to be, but he found comfort in the fact that he didn't have to be so...defensive.

Hysaeda smiled at her again, this time with a sense of genuine liking.  But he found his brows rose when she spoke. "This has been one of the most rewarding nights I've had."  And with that, she kissed him, his brows still raised in vague surprise.  He lost himself in the brevity of the action and felt his cheeks faintly burn in embarrassment, but nothing more than a simple blush.  Mentally, he questioned her meaning but knew that, for now, it mattered little.  He was content to let her statement be as it was and then he registered it and carefully placed at the back of his mind.

For a time he looked away and it wasn't until his gaze fell on her chest that he realized they both were half-naked.  He didn't blush whatsoever as he surveyed her form, eyes wandering as if across a landscape of ash.  A smile touched his lips when he looked back up at her, eyes smoldering with a scarcely concealed heat.  "So should we get some rest...?"  His brows rose a little in response.  He leaned forward a little bit, kissing her again and though there was a certain want in his voice and eyes, he didn't act upon it.  Instead he said, "Let's do that.  I mean...unless you wanted to finish what we started."  Hysaeda was comfortable enough now with her to consent if she wished it.  And perhaps now, she would be able to decide if this was indeed what she wanted.  A chance to voice her own will, should she be so compelled.

[Anonymous]

Since it seemed to be a moment before he'd answer... that and she needed something to do with her hands, Bresthra did lean enough to grab her pack. There was a bedroll tucked away in the magical bag. And whether they were going to be going to sleep... or... anything... less than sleeping, the padded comfort would be welcomed. To her, at least. Even though she traveled a lot didn't meant she wanted to be laying directly on the dirt. She pulled the bedroll out of the bag, though the bag clearly didn't look big enough to hold it, before tossing both to the side. Spreading it out would require she get off of Hysaeda... and she didn't want to. Bresthra turned back to him just in time to catch his eyes. Then be caught with surprise when –he- leaned forward and kissed –her-.  Was it so silly she was starting to really enjoy such a simple thing like that? Bresthra leaned into the brief kiss, her hands lightly finding his bare sides. The feel of his skin was wondrous, reminding her yet again that Hysaeda was very attractive.

There was some sort of connection she'd formed with him, though she couldn't put her finger on it. He calmed her, or had managed to. He was comforting, warm... There was a small part of her that didn't want leave that. That clung to that feeling. It wasn't expressly new, or rather, she'd had thought she'd felt it before. Bresthra just couldn't recall when... or why, at that time, she'd let it go then either. And while she would never say it aloud, or even think it too strongly, she was afraid to let that small bit of warmth get away.

It was what he said that made Bresthra smile. "Let's do that. I mean...unless you wanted to finish what we started." While she was almost fearfully possessive of the newfound feeling she had with him, there was comfort in the familiar too. Bresthra liked to be wanted. Granted, what woman didn't? Since she'd gotten a little closer to Hysaeda, it seemed especially imperative that he –want- her as well. Not in the sense she needed everyone to find her physically appealing, which was never the case. She was well aware some people had certain preferences she didn't fulfill. This came down to, well, she liked Hysaeda. And it was only natural she wanted him to like her. And the idea of seeing more of him... Her eyes glittered as the traced along his shoulders, sides, and down to his pants. Her hands moved to follow the path her eyes had taken. "Why don't we lay down," she suggested softly, then added as her eyes met his, "And see where it goes from there." She wanted to keep touching him, and wanted to remain close. It might not lead to sex, hells, she'd be content kissing him some more... All Bresthra knew was that, for whatever reason, she wanted to fall asleep next to him. What led up to that was still up in the air.

[Lion]

In all honesty, it would be immaterial to him in whatever decision she chose.  He decided that it would be best for him to be comfortable either way.  On one hand, he would experience something entirely new and while he was cautious before plunging headfirst into anything different, he wasn't one to turn from an opportunity from which he might learn something.  He had ever the curious mind and it was obvious to him that such a lesson couldn't be learned through the exchange of questions and words; only through action.  On the other hand, there was again that ideal comfort he gained from being around her.  He'd be just as pleased to lay next her as he would on top of her...or whatever.

Hysaeda did admire her for both what she was physically (he wouldn't be male if he didn't) in addition to what he sought in her mind.  Perhaps, as he grew to knew her, he would like all of her.  But until then, it was a certainty that he approved of what he knew thus far.  And given time, should she decide to hang around him a little longer, perhaps she'd approve of what she saw in him as well.  And even that made him curious as to what she thought of him, now.  Normally he wouldn't give a damn of others' opinions but somehow, he found hers would be something a little more...important.  Though only hell would know why.

In the midst of the time of his words and her reply, he had to suppress a shiver as her hands trailed along a familiar path.  It was gentle but enough to send electric sparks zipping past the barrier of his flesh.  "Why don't we lay down," she said. "And see where it goes from there."  He nodded slightly, a small smile apparent on his visage.  As his head turned to the side he noticed her bedroll that she'd placed to the side of them.  Without words, he took the initiative to reach for it himself and attempt to spread it out for her.  The task proved to be nigh impossible since she was still sitting on him, but he shifted on his hip slightly, twisting around her as he set the roll down and pushed the rolled end out of the other side.  When all was set, he said, "There.  I hope that's alright."  He waited a moment, a long pause proceeding between them before he looked at her awkwardly and asked, "Did you mean to lay down on me?"

[Anonymous]

Bresthra might have found it strange she was sitting here without a shirt, but he was handling it rather well. And if Hysaeda was comfortable with her lack of dress, then Bresthra felt no need to fret over it. For someone who'd never been in this situation before, he was handling it remarkably well. Or so she thought. He'd responded to her kisses eagerly, and he'd not been afraid to touch her when the mood had struck them. Bresthra liked that. Her hands remained on his sides while she studied him, finding he was more...familiar  now. She drew some comfort from that. How he'd gone from a stranger in the woods to this... it was baffling, boggling, and she was thoroughly... thrilled.

The drowess giggled as she was shifted on his lap while he leaned, spreading the bedroll out for her. He was close enough she lightly kissed along his shoulder, running her fingers around to his back. Only as long as it took him spread it out. She relinquished her touching of him as he looked at her. There was a pause where she quirked a single, slender brow. It was apparent he was going to say something.

"Did you mean to lay down on me?" The words combined with the look he gave her made Bresthra giggle. Now wasn't that such a wonderful idea. Of course, her smile turned sly as she leaned close. Her hands returned to his sides, finding that she was loath to not touch him, before she murmured, "Or you can lay on me." Just close enough the warmth of her words brushed against his lips. It was very exciting in a different way to whisper those words. Teasing and flirting was something Bresthra never tired of, nor was it something she'd pass on given the chance. And if Hysaeda actually decided that was a good idea –which it was- then all the better. The thought of having him like that made her shiver a little. Despite the desire to kiss him, the want that was so very strong, she remained a breath away. It'd break the spell to move in before he answered her.

[Lion]

It was a solid fact that Hysaeda never thought he'd find himself in a situation like this.  But he always thought ever situation to be a learning experience.  And furthermore he understood the fact that the pursuit of knowledge, while a noble one, was often a path filled with inexplicable dangers around every turn no matter what precautions one took.  Every new experience was filled with the chance to learn something new, to gain knowledge that might help one in the long run.  Even the moment he first saw her in the forest was one such moment.  At that time, she was a complete and utter stranger, and a drow no less.  Umbraeon custom pushed for a harsh reckoning with any drow that one came across, which called for nothing less than ruthless murder.  Though Umbraeons had their own, unique code of honor, it was little more than

Hysaeda had every opportunity to correct his aim before the first arrow was fired at Bresthra's head.  If, in that split second of action, chose to aim just a little further left, he would have killed her; not a question about it. And that in itself would have been the first drow he'd have killed in his life and would have taught him to live up to his kind's standards.  If he had slain her without thought, without emotion, and done the duty that was set upon every young Umbraeon, he would have been...in a sense...accepted amongst his kind.  But as much as he would have learned in that one moment of action, how much he would have changed just by one severely calculated aim of an arrow, it wasn't like him at all to kill an innocent.  His definition of innocent would differ by far from other Umbraeons but Hysaeda just didn't hurt people he didn't have anything against, let alone murder them.

Such was a base crime and if the news that he let her go unharmed ever let loose, no doubt would he be punished for his ignorance.  But now, this moment which was very much a prayer, he was ready for something that went beyond mental understanding...and he was sure that if he was caught, he could be punished for it; that contravention was rectified only with death.  But despite such knowledge, here he remained with the drow he spared in the forest.

He watched her with no sense of wary, no sense that danger would come to him, but with the notion to simply be in the moment.  He felt completely vulnerable as she leaned in and said just barely above a whisper, "Or you can lay on me."  His brows perked at her suggestion and he felt his abdomen grow warm at the thought.  Without thinking, he smiled, tingling with electricity at their proximity, and whispered softly, "I think I like that idea very much."

[Anonymous]

She wasn't sure what his answer would be. Thus far, he'd proved to be rather unpredictable. All her perceptions of someone that had no experience in this situation he'd proven did not apply to him. And maybe that was one of the reasons she liked him. It took a certain sort of personality to not shy away from the new. To go with how one felt, and not be held back by the unknown. Bresthra was the same way. New things were glorious because they were just that – new. That's what life was all about. Learning new things, experiencing... living. Bresthra couldn't even think of all the things she could've missed out on... But one of the more important things was this moment right here. If Bresthra wasn't restless, if she didn't want to go exploring... if she didn't take random portals to random worlds... honestly, the odds of this meeting had been so slim. She'd not change that for the world.

Bresthra didn't believe in fate, or destiny. Life was just events, one after another. You took from it what you could, missed out on what you refused to go with... It was sheer chance, even luck, that had brought her here. She wasn't about to squander this chance. Bresthra never was the sort to shy away from any sort of situation anyways.

The drowess remained close as she waited for an answer. Any would work for her. So long as he didn't tell her to go away. Then he smiled, and part of her could guess the answer. "I think I like that idea very much." The words all by themselves made her shiver. As though to reward him, though it was more because she couldn't stand to be so close and not finish the kiss, Bresthra finally leaned in and pressed her lips to his. Her hand slid up his neck and along his jaw as she tilted her head, seeking to turn the kiss into something a little more intimate while slowly leaning back. The corners of her mouth quirked in the hint of a smile as she kissed him and led him toward the bedroll. The shifting was actually easy, since all she had to do was move over to the side then start to lean back. Most of the movement was required in his end.

[Lion]

It was completely unlike him to not look to the future.  But for one moment, one act of spontaneity in his life, he was able to live in the moment like Bresthra.  With her.  And that was all the more reason to seek satisfaction.  Though he didn't agree to this act to seek physical satisfaction (that was really just a bonus) but rather to consummate these new feelings that raged inside of him, to explore them and drift in wonderment at their power.  His lips burned where she pressed her mouth to his, that fierce warmth drifting from his lips down to his cheeks, jaw, trickle down his neck and lower until an inferno burned.  And he would allow himself to succumb to these feelings of want and exploration.  Perhaps, with hope, he what he would learn would change him for the better.

All the while heat rang through him, rampant and unpredictable like a brushfire, Hysaeda tingled and zapped with the sensation of her hands on his neck.  All over, it was as if his body was being tormented and yet he kept returning as did any glutton for punishment.  It was not to say that he was being punished per se, but while all these new sensations were becoming more familiar with every motion of hers, he was still fairly new them and so found them both unusual and gratifying.

He fell into her motions against him, like a willing victim to her desire.  As if he already knew the routine, his head too went in at an angle and he melted into the prodding of her tongue against his, motioning as smoothly as an ocean wave, welcoming the insistence of intimacy.  It was a strange combination for him this idea of unabashed passion and attempting to make an emotional connection; from the first time she showed him to the second, it was one kiss to another; but this combination was one he could easily grow to like.  As she pulled at him, he went down along with her, moving to the side and then down until they reached the cushion of the bedroll.  He shifted his legs to the side and out of the way so that he was atop her now.  Inside him burned now and he was all the more eager as he kissed her with all intent, like he'd done before with solemnity.  His hands slowly drifted down her sides, sliding against her ribs, until they reached her pants wherein they fumbled with the laces until they were loose, from which he then began to gently push them down.