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Squee
The Keeper
2,286 posts
95 likes
I am Deception, and I defy your holiest moralities.
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last online Oct 24, 2016 0:33:56 GMT -5
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Dec 23, 2010 17:32:24 GMT -5
Post by Squee on Dec 23, 2010 17:32:24 GMT -5
There was no hesitation in Sali when Rook slid his arm around her. She didn’t think – just blindly accepted. His hand on her face. The comfort of his chest. His arms were warm and his chin on her head completed the secure box that held her. That core that a moment ago had been aching for comfort found itself brimming. There wasn’t a chance that Sali was going to pull away from Rook. However, she did not move at first. Her hand remained folded across her eyes even when her fingertips were pressed to the edge of his that cupped the side of her face. Her arm stayed pinned to her stomach as if by some unnatural force. Rook had pulled her to him, yes, but she was curved somewhat awkwardly against him.
When his breath stirred across the top of her head and he uttered the first words, Sali stirred. The arm closest to him curled around his side, her hand hooking his shoulder from behind. She shifted closer to him, adjusting herself out of the odd, awkward body curve by sitting up. Her face turned and pressed firmly against him. Her other arm rested on top of his upper arm. She continued to cry, despite Rook’s words, simply feeling the overwhelming urge to let the tears fall.
How much time has passed? she finally asked herself, when her sobs eased into some sniffles. He was still holding her. I shouldn’t have started crying like that. Not in front of him. Not... I was tired. Yes. I was tired. Sali drew in a shuddering breath, sounding like a series of tiny gasps, but released it easily. Her hand inched a little further up his arm, resting higher on the muscle of his shoulder. Does he mind? Brown eyes flicked upward as if to check his face. Obviously not. What means are there for my justification? Her eyes leveled and she closed them. A smile barely tickled her lips. None.
“Rook…” What was that? It could hardly be called a whisper. “Rook?” Pause. Then softly, “Tell me there isn’t a sun.”
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Meira
She don't mess around
2,830 posts
583 likes
Half awake in our fake empire
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last online May 11, 2023 23:01:34 GMT -5
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Dec 27, 2010 18:17:31 GMT -5
Post by Meira on Dec 27, 2010 18:17:31 GMT -5
At first, Rook wondered if he'd made yet another mistake. When he put his arms around her, she remained awkwardly still. She did not respond at al. But then, when he'd spoken, he felt her arms move, one around his back and the other resting on his arm. He relaxed then, as she settled herself more comfortably against him. But she cried. Her shoulders shook with the sobs and he could feel her tears soaking into his shirt.
His eyes darted back and forth, as if the right words to say might be hidden in the foutain, or in the gravel, or across Fantasia's back as she darted through the bushes. But there was nothing there to help him know what to say. And so, he said nothing. He held her, leaning his forehead against her hair. He pulled her tighter, hoping his arms could give her the comfort his words had not. There was no telling how long they sat there. In spite of the occasional sob, Sali seemed to be calming, and Rook couldn't help but lose his thoughts to how good it felt to hold her.
Why does it always have to be like this? He asked himself. Their meetings had always suffered some strange or unfortunate turn. Coruscant, when they met, her ship crashed and they nearly died in the undercity. And they'd only just met. Then, on Corellia, he'd stepped too far, fool that he was, and then sent her away because of a bruised ego. Now this, Sali hadn't even asked him to come, and then she'd suffered Farrell's proposal and all that her rejection of it might mean.
But he held her in his arms now, there was no arguing that. Though he'd been a child back home, she forgave him. And now she held him too. Then again, she was distressed. Would she have held on to a guard like this, if there'd been one present? No. Sali knew he could understand, at least... to an extent. No matter his stupidity, they had a connection. He had to believe that.
"Rook..." He felt her move against his chest. But had she spoken? "Rook?" She had. “Tell me there isn’t a sun.”
There's no... what? What did she mean by that? She didn't want to face the day? No. Sali might have fears, and Rook might not have known her long, but she was no coward. Then why...? Her hand had moved up to his shoulder. She wasn't crying any more, but she still held tight to him. The idea came so suddenly and easily to his mind he wanted to dismiss it outright. But still... Could she?
Sali, I- Gently, he leaned back, his hands on her shoulders to create the distance he needed to look into her eyes. He paused for a moment, the muscles that controlled his jaw flexed and relaxed a couple of times before he spoke again.
The sun is just as star. He pulled her back into his arms and set his chin on her head again. I might have mucked up that sunset on the Golden Coast... But it was worth seeing the light in your hair. Don't ask me to tell you that I can't see that again. I don't want to have to refuse you.
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Squee
The Keeper
2,286 posts
95 likes
I am Deception, and I defy your holiest moralities.
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last online Oct 24, 2016 0:33:56 GMT -5
Master
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Dec 27, 2010 19:37:49 GMT -5
Post by Squee on Dec 27, 2010 19:37:49 GMT -5
How did this man’s brain work? How was it that he answered “What?” to a literal question? He placed his hands on her shoulders. Ah nuts… whatever he’s thinking, it’s not exactly a favorite thought of his. Her arms released his as he pushed her back. Immediately she lifted her face toward his, hoping she wasn’t meeting the gaze of a diplomat. If anything, he actually looked somewhat distressed, which ironically provided some relief for Sali.
The sun is just a star.
“Well, ye—mmph…” He’d pulled her back to him. Strong embrace, chin atop her head. One of her arms was trapped between him and her body. The other, however, looped around his back. I might have mucked up that sunset on the Golden Coast... But it was worth seeing the light in your hair. Don't ask me to tell you that I can't see that again. I don't want to have to refuse you. Oh, Rook…Again, how did this man think? What jumps had he leapt and how many holes did his brain fall into to arrive to this? She sighed against him, her hand smoothing his back.
“Rook… You are so weird.” She pulled on his shoulder as she slowly sat up. Her hand lifted up to his cheek, where her thumb roamed back and forth across his cheekbone. Sali turned her head briefly to the direction the sun would rise, and then flicked her eyes back to Rook with a small smile perching on her lips. “It was a literal question.” She leaned closer to him, her voice cutting her half volume. “Because I promised my guards I’d return to the palace by sunrise. Now, wait.” From his cheek to his mouth, her fingers pressed against his lips. “Don’t apologize. If you apologize one more time, I’ll…” she paused, mind drawing a blank. “I’ll… I’ll slap you. And I’d rather not do that. What you do need to do, though, is kiss me back.”
Her fingers wrapped around the back of his head, gently pulling him within reach to touch her lips to his.
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Meira
She don't mess around
2,830 posts
583 likes
Half awake in our fake empire
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last online May 11, 2023 23:01:34 GMT -5
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Dec 29, 2010 12:57:47 GMT -5
Post by Meira on Dec 29, 2010 12:57:47 GMT -5
“Rook… You are so weird.”
Rook had never been much of a romantic. He'd never really allowed himself the opportunity to be. He could do charming well enough, many knew that. But romantic wasn't something that came to him easily. What he'd said to her, about her hair and all that... That had felt romantic. And he'd meant it. She really had looked so beautiful that evening. So in the moments of silence after he had spoken, Rook had quietly congratulated himself on what had surely been a home run. He didn't really expect her to call him weird.
As she sat herself up, she would find that confusion that only she seemed to be able to bring out in his eyes. He blinked, mouth open as if to speak but he had nothing to say. When she put her hand on his cheek, his mouth closed and his whole body became very still. She turned her head, his eyes stayed locked on her.
“It was a literal question.”
I... knew that. He managed meakly.
“Because I promised my guards I’d return to the palace by sunrise."
Ah, well I-
"Now, wait.” Her finger covered his lips and his eyes grew wide as he complied. “Don’t apologize. If you apologize one more time, I’ll…I’ll… I’ll slap you. And I’d rather not do that."
Rook shook his head. He would rather she didn't do that either. I wasn't going to apologize... Oh yes he was.
"What you do need to do, though, is kiss me back.”
When her lips touched his, Rook again froze for a moment, eyes wide with surprise. His arms, which had been loosely wrapped around her lifted an inch or so from her frame in a moment of panic. But that moment lasted little more than a blink of an eye. Her lips were soft and made him forget how to do anything else but pull her closer.
His arms embraced her again, one hand burried in the hair at the back of her head, the other tight around her back. He returned the kiss with more eagerness than he might have intended, but his senses were full of her and he didn't want to let that feeling go.
He had to, of course. Breathing was still somewhat important to him. And he couldn't stop that part of his mind that nagged at him saying: Too much, you fool! Calm down! So he released her lips, but kept her close so he could feel the warmth of her skin.
Color was bleeding back into the world around them. It was slow, almost unnoticeable, but the night was slipping. There was a sun. He should have told her there wasn't. Not that it would have changed anything. She had to return to her duties, and he had new pressing matters at home. He tried to banish the thoughts from his mind. He didn't want to be a king, not now, not if it meant leaving. Maybe he could stop the sun, if only for just a little longer. He put his lips to hers again. It was the only thing he could think to do.
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Squee
The Keeper
2,286 posts
95 likes
I am Deception, and I defy your holiest moralities.
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last online Oct 24, 2016 0:33:56 GMT -5
Master
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Jan 1, 2011 22:34:33 GMT -5
Post by Squee on Jan 1, 2011 22:34:33 GMT -5
For a second, Sali wondered if she’d acted too quickly. Maybe she shouldn’t have kissed them. And like it had been on the Golden Coast, she felt the unwelcoming line of thoughts regarding how she and Rook couldn’t be together. It’s impossible, one voice told her, one of the many nasty strings trying to tug her arm away around his shoulders. Why do you bear such hope? Another way trying to pry her petting hand from the back of his head.
But he makes me feel different. So she returned Rook’s eagerness with a desire of her own. He understands. Or beginning to. His lips parted from hers and Sali felt a startle of whimsical fear that made her eyes fly open. Was that it? Was he now going to tell her she should return?
But he didn’t drop his arms and Sali breathed him in deeply. She ran her fingers across his hair as she studied his face through half closed eyes. His skin was beginning to take a different hue than that of the ghost moon light. Not now. It can’t be now. Why had she taken so long to do this? If she’d been sooner, perhaps she could be wrapped up in his arms sooner. Rather, if she’d never upset him on the Coast…
He tilted his head back down, pressing his lips into hers, and Sali couldn’t have been happier to surrender. While she willed it not, this was more than likely their last kiss for the night… day. Unless she wanted the guards to catch them, and the thought was definitely being toyed on the fringes of her mind. She wished she could forbid the sun. No guards would come seeking her out. She wouldn’t have a day that was going to completely and utterly drain her of what little energy she had stored. Rook would not be required to leave Onderon to allow her to face those monsters otherwise called advisors.
As the second kiss ended, Sali drew her hand down his face and smiled. “They’ll come looking for me,” she said, her voice just above a whisper. She clasped both arms around his neck in a hug. “Thank you, Rook,” she murmured near his ear, “for accepting my… ahem, advisors’ invitation.” She sat back with still a smile, then gently pulled herself away from him, standing. Dipping her hand into the fountain, she scooped up the white flower she’d picked in the night.
“Personal and important, symbolic pendants are clichéd, no?” Sali twirled the flower between her fingers. Then she held it out for him to take. “I’ll… miss you.” She turned away while taking her clip out of her hair to smooth any disturbances made by Rook’s hand. “By the way,” she began, facing Rook one last time, “I do try to keep my hair pretty. Thank you for noticing.” With a grin, she turned once more and began to hurry as she heard the first guard calling out.
The bushes rustled and from underneath flew Fantasia, batting at Sali’s gown.
"Tell me your troubles and doubts Giving me everything inside and out and Love's strange, so real in the dark Think of the tender things that we were working on Slow change may pull us apart When the light gets into your heart, baby
Don't you forget about me Don't, don't, don't, don't Don't you forget about me"
~ Simple Minds
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Meira
She don't mess around
2,830 posts
583 likes
Half awake in our fake empire
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last online May 11, 2023 23:01:34 GMT -5
Administrator
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Jan 3, 2011 18:08:42 GMT -5
Post by Meira on Jan 3, 2011 18:08:42 GMT -5
It didn't work. But it was definitely worth the try. The sun still pressed on, bit by bit. But he'd gotten that kiss. That second kiss, the one that proved the first hadn't been some mistake caused by a tired mind. Sali's responses told Rook all he needed to know. To say he was elated would have been an understatement.
Just as the first, the second also had to end. This one ended slower. Rook made sure of it. He had a feeling he wouldn't be able to manage another. And he was right.
“They’ll come looking for me."She whispered to him.
Send them away. He replied. But even as he spoke the words, he knew it wasn't an option. Was this what they were fated to? Stealing moments and kisses in the dark?
“Thank you, Rook, for accepting my… ahem, advisors’ invitation.”
He chuckled, squeezing his arms around her one last time before she sepparated from him to stand. His arms fell, defeated, to his sides as his eyes followed her movement. The growing light behind her caused some of her features to dim as he watched her scoop her hand through the water of the fountain. He could not clearly see the details of her face, yet her eyes seemed to hold their own light. So mystified was he that, when she spoke, he did not quite catch all the words.
Personal... huh? He took the flower as he let the confusion fall away. He looked down at the white petals, then back up to her.
“I’ll… miss you.”
She was turning away, and he was still sitting there like a fool. Scrambling to his feet, his mind panicked for something to say, but she was unclipping her hair and he was caught again just staring at her. How did she do that.
“By the way,” she turned back again, “I do try to keep my hair pretty. Thank you for noticing.”
She smiled, and he moved to take her in his arms again, but a voice called out somewhere in the gardens. Rook's head turned toward the noise on instinct, and when he turned back to Sali, all he saw was a fleeting glimps of the hem of her nightgown as she turned a corner and was gone.
Rook was left standing alone, with only the noise of the fountain and the first birds beginning their morning songs. He watched that spot where Sali had disappeared for a few moments, as if he could will her back. When that didn't work, he settled on studying the flower as he allowed his feet to take him back to his room. Upon arrival, he found his things already packed and being taken away. He barely noticed the man standing in the room until he cleared his throat.
Ahem.
Rook's eyes lept up from the flower. The man was at that stage in life where the gray in his hair spoke for wisdom, but his eyes and demeanor belied the cockiness of youth.
Yes?
Her Majesty regrets that she cannot bid farewell to you herself, but she sends her thanks and best regards for both yourself and Corellia.
It was all he could do to keep from laughing. It was absurd, but Rook felt that if he didn't laugh, he might rage. Maybe it was all they could hope for; stolen moments in a garden... on a beach. He sighed. Was it worth it? His eyes glanced back down at the flower. Smiling, he brought it up, breathed in the scent, and was reminded of her hair. His eyes remained on the snow white petals as he replied.
Her Majesty has been more than gracious. You will of course convey my own thanks.
Of course.
He breathed in the flower again as the man took his leave, and allowed his own people to usher him to his ship. The sun was brilliant on the horizon as the engines warmed and lifted him from Onderon, But Rook saw none of it. Cliché perhaps... but worth it.
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