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Post by Nephele on Apr 24, 2023 21:28:25 GMT -5
Nephele didn't quite know what that enchanting little glimmer was that twinkled in C'Leena's eyes, but considering that the reaction seemed overwhelmingly positive she couldn't complain. She'd gotten a kiss and a smile back, so that's all she cared about. Another shooting star.
Nephele never considered herself, well, enough of an individual to be allowed to love. She was from an entirely different world, and while she didn't quite understand it when she was younger, Nephele felt the full force of complete and utter loneliness plaguing her every waking moment (and evidently, even in her sleep). Being shown that she was a bad omen by getting angry stares, passive aggressive comments, or most frequent, simply being completely turned away from places became hard to live with.
In all honestly, Nephele couldn't remember happiness. She simply did what her instinct told her to do, to walk as much as she could until she forgot how to sleep. Nephele still liked to travel, but as the years passed she began to wonder who she was doing it for. To travel from place to place just to be unwelcomed...it was natural for her to think that she simply belonged nowhere. Sometimes she would meet "nice" people, but it was mostly out of obligation or fear that not housing her would create issues for them.
It was, in short, exhausting.
When she met C'Leena, Nephele couldn't predict anything that came with her. From her sharing her name and another poem from her home country, to reminiscing on her sister and how much she meant to her. Everything was so new, different. Absolutely wonderful. And to make things even better, C'Leena treated her with so much respect it was mind numbing. It was like everything she had ever thought about herself was simply wrong, no way around it.
As if on an entirely new instinct of her own, Nephele pressed her thumbs to C'Leena's cheeks, as if wiping the ghosts of the tears. It was such a sweet expression, almost scarily vulnerable for a woman that seemed so strong. Nephele liked it though, adored it even more so.
"I'd listen to you sing every day if I could." Nephele gushed honestly, still grinning. "The light of your soul shone through so vibrantly, I'd love to hear you tell me so many more stories. Whether singing, speaking, or simply standing in front of me and looking at me just like this. I could 'listen' to you forever."
Nephele then gestured with her head in the direction of King's Valley in the distance. "Shall I listen to you some more on our way?"
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Post by C'Leena Thomas on Apr 25, 2023 0:17:34 GMT -5
Yeah, C'Leena found her, alright. Nephele wiping away non-existent tears confirmed it even more for her. C'Leena has no idea if she's easy to read, of if Nephele has already figured out how to tell when she really wants to cry, but Nephele can tell. "You've managed to tear each and every retort I ever had out." She pauses, gathering her thoughts. "If you wish to listen, you need only ask." As much as she would love to remain stood there with her, they are actively trying to travel, so she begins moving with her. C'Leenas hand finds its way into Nepheles own, interlacing their fingers. She's holding on just a bit tighter, but still a gentle grip."My ideal person is like a candle," she starts, after a few minutes of silence. "They're still there in the darkness when I need them. They don't scare away the shadows, but rather exist beside it with me." She gives a quick squeeze of the hand shes holding, and she starts singing again.Like before, her accent vanishes, but her nervousness isn't there to accost her. Her anxiety isn't there to cause trouble. The tempo and attitude of the song match her voice a bit better than with the faster song from before. She remains walking as she continues, lightly swinging their hands between them.Once she finishes, shes unsure what to expect from Nephele. It's clear that music has a large impact on her, though the reasons why escape her. Despite her not knowing why, shes more than happy to oblige if it makes her happy."Now, is this going to be a one-sided performance or are you going to sing, too?" She teases. C'Leena quietly does hope she does sing. She's curious, after all. That and it would also take the spotlight off her for a precious few moments.
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Post by Nephele on Apr 25, 2023 1:02:30 GMT -5
Nephele visibly brightened when C'Leena began to sing again, listening with an almost permanent smile on her face. She could almost cry, but she was holding it in. The last thing she needed was to break a beautiful moment like this because she couldn't control her happiness.
But when C'Leena requested her to join, Nephele audibly gasped as her face dropped into a look of surprise. After a moment of suspended surprise, Nephele began to hum, recalling the melody that Cee had started. She did this for a few seconds, before her face morphed as into a look of seriousness and she began to sing. It was as if she had never stopped, with her voice betraying the utter lack of confidence she felt.
Nephele's voice wasn't too unlike her speaking voice, a delicate quality to it. Like C'Leena, her accent seemed to thin away. Her voice felt like what touching clouds was like, floaty and almost like she was trying to sing to the celestials above. The lyrics were improvised, but due to whatever divine intervention out there she managed to make them work.
"I don't need the moon
To scare the dark away
I love the way she casts
The shadows on my face
Gentle in the twilight
I'm just trying to be
In the moment, become whole
With what is left of me."
Keeping the tempo in her own footsteps, Nephele took a few steps forward, ahead of her partner, her eyes softening as soon as she made eye contact. The nymph kept hold of her hand, walking backwards with her moving toward her. Then, Nephele stood on tip toe, lifting their arms and twirling C'Leena slowly, continuing to sing, her voice dipping into a lower register. Yes, they were virtually standing maybe a mile out on the pathway to Thunderhoof Village, virtually in the middle of nowhere. Still, Nephele couldn't help it. She continued dancing, moving with all the grace of a being that's one true passion was to simply do this. With eyes where the stars literally hung in them, Nephele seemed genuinely happy.
Her eyes said one thing, and it was exceedingly obvious: Join me.
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Post by C'Leena Thomas on Apr 25, 2023 1:36:12 GMT -5
C'Leena was enamored. The lyrics were improvised but they worked. She takes a second to wait for Nephele to move to the next verse before C'Leena starts singing with her again. Being a music student, C'Leena learnt to harmonize with almost anything. This was no different, and she believes she did a good enough job of it.
During a break, the look in Nephele's eyes cannot be mistaken. C'Leena was never a dancer, however her school was strange, in the fact that, every once in a while, they'd have a dance class. Those lessons stuck with her, and she doubted a better time to use those lessons would come. After being spun, to Nephele, she mouthed Follow my lead and moved closer to her.
She moved Nephele's free hand to C'Leenas left shoulder, brought their intertwined hands up to their side and rested C'Leena's own free hand on Nephele's side. Looking down, she slowly began to Waltz.
"Mirror me. Right foot back, Left foot side, turn.." She continued to walk her through it, until it became automatic. C'Leena stopped verbally telling her what to do rather quickly, going slow enough for Nephele to mirror what she was doing. Soon enough, C'Leena began singing again, pacing the waltz to match the tempo.
For someone who has no idea what she's doing, C'Leena feels comfortable moving out of her comfort zone with Nephele. Doing things like this would normally be a big nono, but somehow, Nephele's smile and voice combined just made all concerns vanish.
C'Leenas movements are fluid and graceful, as if she'd done this a million times before. The prosthetics make it slightly more difficult, and C'Leena believes she could do better, but fixing it now wouldn't be productive. She continued to sing with Nephele, looking into the starry night trapped within her eyes. Her mind was on nothing else. This was the only moment. There will not ever be a 'First Dance' again, and she wanted to make the most of it.
They continue to waltz, the stars above slowly making their way from horizon to horizon. Sunrise was not due for a good number of hours, but that was okay. Nothing else mattered to C'Leena. Just the lyrics, each step taking them further down the worn road as they slowly spun around one another.
She quietly wondered when the next shooting star would fly past.
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Post by Nephele on Apr 25, 2023 2:16:56 GMT -5
Joining the waltz at first was a little confusing for Nephele, leading all of her movements with her toes and rolling through like someone trained in strictly contemporary music. She seemed to catch on over time, never quite clumsy but simply stepping a little too far in certain directions and amending her mistakes without much hesitation. It was almost as if she was too busy staring at C'Leena to properly commit to the steps, until finally she fell into the proper pattern.
Nephele harmonized with C'Leena as she sang, humming and ad-libbing quietly. She was so close that only C'Leena could hear them, continuing to sing with her partner with pure glee in her voice. It was beautiful, this moment. Nephele had to admit that she often found herself pretending to dance with someone in the dark, humming herself to some lonely prose. She taught herself to dance, and had only seen whispers of waltzes in the windows of ballrooms. Sometimes the spirits of the forests she visited would watch her twirl, but none ever joined.
The song seemed unending, as they continued to repeat and twist the lyrics together and intertwine them into new meanings. It was like their own enchanting fairy circle, and for once Nephele didn't mind that she wasn't joined. As the song slowly began to etch to an end, Nephele began to whistle the tune, a pleasant song to get stuck in one's head in the night. It was almost funny how easily she got lost in the rhythm, listening to Cee's voice and singing back.
Soon, Nephele slowed their dance into a natural sway, catching glimpse of a nearby clearing less than three miles out over C'Leena's shoulder. She almost said nothing, too engrossed in the moment to want it to end. Then again, who said good things had to end? They simply become better.
Nephele stayed silent for a few extra seconds, still holding onto C'Leena like they were still dancing. A silly thought occurred to her, and as though the night had allowed them enough solace she finally had the strength to ask:
"Do I still have to give you my answer? Or was this enough for you?"
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Post by C'Leena Thomas on Apr 25, 2023 3:33:35 GMT -5
"You have a beautiful voice, my dear," She responded, following it with a quick kiss. C'Leena smiles a kind smile.
"Lets continue walking, otherwise we'll be here until tomorrow night, despite how much I'd enjoy that," she says as she begins walking, still holding onto Nepheles hand, never once having let go.
"Years ago, after I had come out to my parents about liking men and women - don't make me explain that one, I don't even know why it's something I felt like I needed to tell them about - my dad was ecstatic, since it allowed him to do what any father would want to do, and give their kid dating advice," She starts. She has a fond smile on as she talks. C'Leena isn't entirely sure where this is coming from, but she's allowing the words to simply flow from her mouth.
"He always told me 3 things. The third thing is questionable, but solid. First was to always buy clothes that fit you, be that casual or a suit. I love my suits, so I took that very much to heart. I look fucking great in a suit, and I will broker no argument.
"Second, was to learn to dance. Even if it was just a Waltz like we just did, it would do wonders for you. My school had these dance classes every now and again, and I paid attention, cause I dunno about you, but I was keen on finding myself a woman. Men are far too complicated to deal with." She chuckles softly.
"Third thing was to always present yourself as who you really are. Don't hide yourself behind pretty talk and masks. If people don't like who you really are, then they don't deserve your company. If people like you for who you are, flaws and all, then keep them close." She turns her head and looks at Nephele. "He was wiser than I gave him credit for. I hope he's handling everything okay."
C'Leena furrows her brow, lost in thought for a moment before shaking her head and looking back at Neph. "I'm sure he'd love you."
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Post by Nephele on Apr 25, 2023 4:19:29 GMT -5
Nephele seems to have a permanent skip in her step now as she listens to C'Leena talk about her father, listening intently. The concepts that C'Leena discussed were all painfully foreign, her eyebrow lifting in confusion at almost every concept she described. The concept of coming out was something Nephele never had to worry about, as when she was a little girl she was strongly encouraged to avoid everyone. Sure she found everyone amazing, but she never felt attraction since, well, C'Leena. Still, Nephele doubted that her mother would care what C'Leena identified as; her disdain would be passive aggressively the same.
Hearing her talk about the three principles that she was given made Nephele smile though, wondering what made him give her that advice. The hardest part, whether she recognized it or not, was that everything that C'Leena described were things that she taught herself after her mother's passing. Sure she could dance before, she could dress herself even. But all sense of her individuality didn't quite kick in until she was, in a sense, free. Now, Nephele didn't see it that way, and perhaps she would never see it that way. But that was a story for her to interpret.
For now though, Nephele was curious.
"He seems...interesting. I don't quite think I can relate, but I think I would like meeting him." Nephele laughed half-heartedly, scratching her cheek as she contemplated. "I know nothing about that sadly, so I'm sorry if I can't contribute too much. But what is he like? A wise man, I'm sure if he raised you as he did."
Nephele was fighting everything in her to not grow sad. Why would she, after all? Surely she didn't miss too much, having a mother...Yeah, right. You wouldn't be asking if you felt sound. Nephele just wanted to smother that little voice in her head, annoyed that it was choosing to intrude on such a beautiful night.
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Post by C'Leena Thomas on Apr 25, 2023 5:26:49 GMT -5
C'Leena practically leaped at the chance to talk about her father. A smile broke across her face as she thought of where to start. She did keep in mind that Nephele grew up without one, so she tried to word her sentences to avoid rubbing it in her face. That would just make her feel like shit, and thats not the mood for tonight.
"The wisest man I know, seeing as he, in a sense, got me you," She smiles and gives Nepheles hand a squeeze. "Nah, but really, he was a unique bloke. He was always aloof and.. floaty, I guess you could say? As if he was constantly stoned, but I don't think he was a pothead," She chuckles, remembering fond moments.
"He would always build engines and whatnot, and I'd help him out when I could. Believe it or not, my hands were calloused to all hell when I still had my own. That and my eyes used to be a smoky grey. But yeah, him and I were pretty close. Loved the man to death, but whoo boy, he could get scary when he was pissed. I think I learnt that from him."
C'Leena wasn't sure what to say further, so she didn't say anything. Thoughts trailed from the fact that she could probably rebuild an engine from the ground up passed by, morphing into the upsetting fact that this place probably didn't have engines. That thought then segued into that she could probably fully make an engine if she put probably years of work into it, when then somehow segued into the fact she would probably have to learn how to blacksmith in order to continue making prosthetics for people. She's not entirely against that. Might be a costly investment, though.
Especially after her encounter with Shaa Rhuun, the bigass Minotaur that she was approached by, then proceeded to get accosted by what she now knows are Kobolds. Apparently, Shaa tends to.. aggressively remove limbs from people. Him and C'Leena caused a bit of havoc then, running from the kobolds who wanted her to make their mate a new hand. Bastards were rude, though. Surprisingly enough, that was the same morning after meeting Nephele. She hopes she doesn't find out about that, cause that will be a pain to explain away.
Now she truly knows that she might be a bit of an adrenaline junkie. Just a bit. As long as you ignore her borderline manic laughter and near-Serial Killer grin. Okay yeah, maybe a bit more than a little.
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Post by Nephele on Apr 25, 2023 13:03:21 GMT -5
Nephele nodded her head along, humming as she learned about what C'Leena's father was like. She bumped her hip against hers in response to the squeeze, just enough to make her sway but that's about it. She had vaguely recalled terms like "stoned" and "pothead" before when she was younger, though what it meant she wasn't 100% sure on.
Nephele was also curious on the part of C'Leena getting her temper from her father. She was astronomically patient with her, though they had only known each other for a little under a day, and appeared fiercely understanding. She supposed if they were regular strangers, she would probably see that more.
"He sounds very sweet. I'm happy he was ever so present in your life." Nephele inhaled through her nose, the cool air of the night around them barely deterring her. She was a little more used to the elements than she gave credit for, finding the icy air soothing on her skin. Nephele wondered if there were any rivers or ponds nearby, preferably ones without other creatures staking their claim. She was, in every extreme sense of the word, a winter person. Swimming in freezing water was a dream to her. Perhaps she'd take Cee with her next time? (Hopefully she didn't suffer too harshly from hypothermia, whatever that is.)
A million and one nightmares had plagued Nephele's existence since she was left alone. Being granted such solace in another person who exuded so much comfort was incredibly fairy tale-esque, even for her. C'Leena was a life she never could have predicted, and it took everything in her to not completely breakdown into tears. They walked back toward the clearing, the stars not letting up for a second in their beautiful trek across the sky. She could swear she could spot something in the sky whisk by, a dash of light streaking in a pretty arc across to the other horizon. It kept her attention for a while, staring up and almost stumbling over her own two feet.
Nephele laughed softly. If C'Leena looked even a little closer, she would see the shooting star continue its journey through her own eyes as it stretched to the next horizon.
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