You and I were Fireworks// July Catch-All ~ [Open]

[phoenixstrut]

Characters: Dove and YOU (Open)
Date: All of July!
Location: Anyplace!
Situation: Anything!
Warnings/Rating: In headers


A. Pretty much anywhere/BEFORE the turtle terror vision, 5th of July
She was having a good day. She was having a very, very good day. Nevermind the distant look on her face-- she was softly smiling more often than not. She definitely looked distracted--maybe more than distracted-- but there was a certain glow around her as she alighted in each sector throughout the day. Anyone passing by might also notice that she's absently playing with the soul gem around her neck more often than not...

B. Midnight Hotel/CLOSED/July 6-9
((During these days, Dove will be entirely indisposed, in her room, away from everyone...unless they come find her.))
Unable to block the surge of terrible emotion washing over the turtle from wracking her mind and cursed with the inability to stop the vision from constantly plaguing her, Dove was more than crippled. The thought of leaving her room didn't even pass through her head as she laid where she was, having crumpled to her knees the moment the vision had started.

Five children... children...

Helpless children.

Never mind that they were turtles.... they were young souls, just like the ones she had guarded all her life. That, coupled with the overwhelming horror of the darkness and the intensity of the vision direct into her mind...

For the second time in her life, the angel was cold, and the storms outside did nothing to help.

C. HEALERS GUILD/After the Toddler Turtle Terror/July 10 onward
She had to return to her job, regardless of the consequences. If they no longer wanted to pay her... so be it. She'd volunteer her help. Anything to help, after... after that.

Those at the Healing Guild would notice a definite difference in the angel, even if they had only ever seen her once. The smiles she offered were tired and weak, despite her valiant attempt to stay light. She was slowly regaining her footing, but she was quiet... much quieter than the happy-go-lucky, bright and bubbly healer she had been over the past few weeks. Kind, yes, and diligent in her work... but quiet.

D. Large Grassy Area outside the city/Slightly happier times
She liked being inside the hustle and bustle of the city most days, but could rarely resist the pull of nature, especially when she was so very overwhelmed.

She wouldn't be alone this time though. As she flew out of the city, a radiant bird the size of a large eagle flew with her, his red and golden plumes shining in the sunlight as they soared.

E. Anything else! :)

Comments

[wolfstrike]

He caught the not exactly, but went with the flow as the subject changed.

"Huh, yeah, weird."

Once the pieces were picked up and thrown away, Yuri dusted off his hands.

"I think I'm gonna call it a night."

[phoenixstrut]

"That's... Probably not a bad idea..." she admitted, though inwardly, she was a little disappointed. "I was headed that way before I came in here, myself."

[wolfstrike]

"Yeah? I can walk you to your room."

Call it a hunch, but he had a feeling she didn't want to part ways just yet. So he'll be a gentleman for once. Besides, he did owe her for her help and kindness.

[phoenixstrut]

His offer honestly surprised her, and she smiled before she realized it. "How chivalrous of you," she praised.

[wolfstrike]

"What, you think an orphan from the lower quarter doesn't know what manners are?" He smirked and then playfully offered his arm to her.

He knew what manners were, he just chose not to use them a lot of the time.

[phoenixstrut]

She smirked back, her cheeks turning the slightest bit pink. "Oh, I can think of many situations in which I might question your manners," she teased back, taking his arm with practiced grace and playfully setting her head against his shoulder. "Your being an orphan from the lower quarter, however, has nothing to do with it."

[wolfstrike]

She put her head on his shoulder. It surprised him a little but not enough for him to miss a beat. He didn't mind. In fact he just started walking, taking them out of the kitchen and into the halls.

"Oh yeah? Name one."

He knew he was asking for trouble with that, but maybe he wanted a little bit of trouble.

[phoenixstrut]

She blinked, and her face slowly turned a deeper red as they walked. Quickly regaining her composure, she narrowed her eyes up at him playfully. "Well, you did throw an entire squid back into the face of one of the precious crests during landfall," she reminded him. "And you did refuse to carry me properly when my leg was gashed open...though I do suppose you helped quite a lot that day, so..."

[wolfstrike]

"Hey, he was asking for it," Yuri said with a huff, clearly having no regrets for throwing squids in the face of entitled Erol'a brats.

At the second part though, he might have to concede a little cause she did have a point. Didn't stop him from being a smartass though. "It was easier to carry you that way," he retorted.

[phoenixstrut]

She laughed, easily conceding. "That's true. They all deserved it."

At his quip, she elbowed his side, surprised at how thin he seemed to be under that tunic. For a second, she just looked at him, her gaze a challenge, then shifted her hold and delicately kicked her heels up as she jumped up into his arms. "See? How hard is this?"

1/2

[wolfstrike]

And suddenly she was throwing herself at him. Quite literally.

Fortunately, Yuri had fast swordsman reflexes and easily caught her. ... In the very style that she had wanted him to hold her in.

2/2

[wolfstrike]

Yuri then heaved a dramatic sigh as he held her.

"Alright, alright, you got me there."

Dove you have done a bad thing

[phoenixstrut]

She giggled as he scrambled to catch her, but stilled quickly, her face turning even more pink as she settled into his hold.

One of his hands was splayed across her back, and it was beyond impossible to ignore the touch. The skin in place of her hidden wings was sensitive, the very reason she refused shirts with backs. It was a point of weakness for all angels... And she had forgotten how his hold would affect her in her playfulness.

Though she fought back the shudder relatively well, the heat in her cheeks refused to fade as she continued their banter. "Quick reflexes

[wolfstrike]

Yuri grinned as he now apparently had the upper hand, seeing that blush creep across her cheeks.

"You have no idea," he teased, before shifting her in his arms and starting to walk down the hall again.

"So this is how it's done, huh?"

[phoenixstrut]

She lifted a brow, suppressing the tingling on her back as best she could. It proved very hard to do as he shifted her, especially coupled with his sudden surge of confidence. He had the upper hand for sure, now-- and it seems to be plastered to the most sensitive part of her back.

"I believe so," she agreed, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I've only ever been carried like this once, but I will admit, this time is much more...pleasant."

At the time, she wouldn't have thought anything could be better... Looking back, it had been a nightmare slowly unfolding.

She hoped that wasn't where this was heading.

[wolfstrike]

Yuri was fortunately or unfortunately, very ignorant about the back thing. He had absolutely no idea.

"So then what's the big deal?" he asked with a blink. After all, since she'd made such a big deal about it he'd figured she would have been more... experienced? And the one time wasn't so great apparently? That was weird.

[phoenixstrut]

Well, she would just continue to subtly arch her back to alleviate the pressure, though she was warming to the touch.

"It's just a little more dignified, don't you agree?" she smiled, slowly letting her expression fade to a smirk. "And wildly more romantic in some situations." She had to fight hard not to giggle. "Not that you would know anything about that, Mr. 'I'm no knight'..."

All in good fun, yet again.

[wolfstrike]

"Sure, I guess. If carrying someone can be dignified."

At the wildly romantic part he rolled his eyes a bit.

"Hey, you don't have to be a knight to be romantic you know."

Pfft.

[phoenixstrut]

She blinked at him as they neared her door, unable to stifle her giggles. "You sound offended. Are you telling me you think you could be romantic?" she teased, her eyes alight with play.

[wolfstrike]

"Yeah why not? I could give it a try. You don't think I can, right? Shouldn't I be offended?"

He wasn't being serious of course, but hey. Once they did get to her door he paused. ... Uh. Yeah he can't really open with her in his arms, and he doesn't have the key anyway. So he'll be putting her down now.

[phoenixstrut]

She laughed openly now, tensing a little as he shifted her to set her down-- at least that much was a relief. She narrowed her eyes playfully at him over her shoulder as she pulled out her key. "I call it as I see it," she grinned, shaking her head and pushing open the door. "I am an expert after all."

She let her eyes travel over him, playfully appraising him. "...at least you look like you've got potential...rogue loner and all that..."

[wolfstrike]

Yuri reached out to take the knob of the door before she could push it open all the way, which included her hand. This time he was the one to lean in close with a sly smirk.

"Don't rely only on what you see in front of you, an expert should know that."

[phoenixstrut]

Her eyes widened hugely, but she stayed still, a small bird cornered by a wolf.

Multiple questions shot through her head as her heart rate picked up. Was he serious? Had she taken her flirting too far? ...why did she suddenly realize she wanted to push it more? ...what was more? Did she want that here? What even was this.

Life was too short for so many questions, though she'd remain inwardly cautious, she decided.

After a moment of stunned silence, she softened the smallest bit, though her gaze still held challenge. "I'd be interested to see you prove me wrong, Mr. Lowell," she told him softly, her voice across between professional and purr. "But rest assured you're not the only one with surprises to offer, and I rarely take anything at face value."

[wolfstrike]

"That sounds like a challenge," he said back. "I think I'm up for it."

With that he let go of her hand and moved back again to stand behind her with that hand on his hip instead.

Though in the back of his mind he was wondering what in the world he was getting himself into.

[phoenixstrut]

Whoa. That had been easy. She began to wonder silently if the small curious flutter in the back of his mind was due to the same thing making the butterflies in her stomach restless. They were just friends playing--she had done more with men on the dance floors of the clubs in New York than this, and in all innocence.

Why was this so different, then?

Regardless of her weighing, she stepped inside, leaving the door open for him. "So what's your first move, Romeo?" she taunted, grinning back at him. "Or was holding my hand a and not letting me into my apartment supposed to make me swoon?"