When Things Come Back to Bite Us [Catch All]

[wolfstrike]

Characters: Yuri Lowell and YOU
Date: All of October
Location: Anywhere and Everywhere
Situation: All the Things
Warnings/Rating: None Yet

During October Yuri will be doing much of his same old routine. Working at the Hotel and doing stuff with Brave Vesperia. In face, he's looking for a meeting place other than the Hotel Lobby for guild meetings. His location of choice being a foreigner house in the Sky Sector that he's actually thinking of taking residence in. Sorry Anton, but Yuri's getting a little tired of not having a window in his room. 

[Dove - Shortly After the Chihuelans Leave]
After the Chihuelans make their departure, Yuri's gone off outside the city to unwind a bit. His pent up anger and frustration over the whole situation needing some release in the form of practicing his artes. He does this throughout the day until he finally gets tired and settles himself in a meadow that evening. He's laying there lazily on the grass, arms folded behind his head as he stares up at the sky in quiet pondering. 

The stars are definitely different here. There's no bright beacon that is Brave Vesperia, nor is there a threatening darkness whose tendrils snaked across the sky. The latter he's certainly grateful for, though the threats in this place are just as real, if not as visible. It's times like this that he misses having Repede at his side. His canine friend having always been with him for the past several years until he came here. The two knowing each other so well that they practically knew what the other was thinking and feeling. He missed his friends too. Estelle's naive bumbling little princess self, Karol's enthusiasm, Judy's wit, even Rita's sass and Raven's stupid jokes. He had gotten used to them being around all the time and things felt a little lonely without them. 

Letting out a sigh, Yuri continued to muse silently to himself. 

Comments

[wolfstrike]

Yuri finally smiled and placed a hand on the dog's head. Lambert wasn't Repede, he wasn't truly his dog, but he would be damned if he didn't do everything he could to take care of him here.

He still could hardly believe it. Lambert was supposed to be dead, but Yuri knew how this place worked. The dog was from his past, taken some time before his demise.

Yuri then stood and looked over at Dove, a blink as he suddenly remembered she was there.

"Uh... Dove this is Lambert. Lambert, Dove."

The dog looked over at her and tipped his head slightly in acceptance.

[phoenixstrut]

A small smile lot her face as one finally broke out across Yuri's, and when he addressed her, she rose to her feet, set Wra on the ground next to her, and approached carefully. Animals loved her... Another angel perk. Hopefully Lambert would feel the same.

"Hello, Lambert," she greeted, extending a hand.

[wolfstrike]

Lambert sniffed at the offered hand, and then sat, looking up at the both of them. He knew Yuri, and would definitely stay with him in this strange place. He was also not a stupid dog, and could tell there was a connection between the two humans. Lambert having no concept of Angels, though he could tell she was a bit different somehow. He thus accepted her as well. He was a well trained dog and easy enough to get along with as long as you didn't pose a threat.

"This is Repede's dad. Repede is my dog back home." He couldn't quite remember how much he told her about Repede.

At the mention of his son's name, Repede looked back at Yuri.

"We've taken good care of each other," he assured Lambert, who looked satisfied with that answer.

[phoenixstrut]

With Lambert's acceptance, Dove brushed her palm across the top of his head, scratching just behind his ears for a few seconds before letting him go. He seemed like a very refined dog that may or may not appreciate a lot of affection. "Ah, I see..." she nodded, looking back up at Yuri. "They do look the same..." She remembered from his dream, vividly.

"Will he be staying with us, then?" ... "You, I mean."

Blush.

[wolfstrike]

"Yeah," Yuri said resolutely. "I'm sure Anton won't mind."

Though Yuri couldn't help a small grin at Dove's little mistake there. Or was it a mistake?

[phoenixstrut]

She playfully frowned at him, though her blush deepened at his grin.

She sobered quickly though as she realized why she might have slipped.

"I miss you."

[wolfstrike]

His grin then faded to a knowing smile.

"Yeah... me too. Sorry, I was kinda busy since the Chihuelans came."

[phoenixstrut]

She met his eyes with grace, softening. It was hard not to just let it go, but she knew if she didn't address it now, it would bother her even worse the next time. And she was sure there would be a next time.

"Busy, or just... Distant..?

[wolfstrike]

Yuri paused and then sat himself down again. Lambert settling himself down nearby, sensing that the humans needed their time.

He always did like to skirt things, to act like there was nothing wrong, but she had called him out on it.

"I know how sensitive you are," he explained lamely. "It was better for you not to be around me."

[phoenixstrut]

She stayed quiet a moment, then took a seat near him again, this time leaning off to the side on her hip. His intentions were sweet, in their own way, but the distance had been worse than the conflicting emotions. She shook her head fondly, a fading smile peeking from the corners of her mouth. She hated that her gifts sometimes made her dangerous... Or at least, made others uncomfortable at times.

"I appreciate the idea..." she told him earnestly, "I really do. But I'm a big girl, Yuri... I can handle it." A slight grin. "Even chaotic hearts are better than being apart so long."

Besides... She didn't know how much time they would have together; either of them could be sent home at any moment. The thought of wasting any of what the did have seemed sinful.

[wolfstrike]

Yuri didn't look at her as she spoke. Gazing distantly at nothing in particular while he listened, quietly stoic as he reflected on the past few weeks.

"I was angry, Dove. I wanted to kill her," Yuri then admitted.

"The Justicar," he then clarified.

[phoenixstrut]

She closed her eyes as a chill ran down her spine. Of course... And he meant it. He was just as difficult as she had thought...

"And I would have stopped you," she added for him, shrugging before sitting up and loosely wrapping her arms around herself.

[wolfstrike]

Yuri said nothing in reply. Because there was nothing to say. She had finished the thought for him and he wasn't going to deny it. She knew his past, and thus knew he could have done it if he had decided to. But he hadn't, obviously something had held him back.

Lambert listened keenly nearby, but he was also still and silent.

[phoenixstrut]

"You didn't, though..."

She couldn't help the small tone of hope in her voice.

[wolfstrike]

"It might have made things worse."

If the Justicar had been murdered, it could have ended badly for everyone. Thus Yuri couldn't really justify taking such action, even if he wanted to. There was too much at stake.

"People like that don't change. But this is bigger than just her." He had a feeling a lot of her people were like that.

[phoenixstrut]

She nodded; he was right. It would have made things worse... For all of them.

"It is... But it's gone for now," she reminded him. "there isn't any use in dwelling on it..."

The threat was over, and worrying about it would only waste their time and energy.
And she really, really wanted him back.

[wolfstrike]

"Yeah, you're right," Yuri said while quickly putting on a smile.

It was his usual defense mechanism in hiding his feelings. And while he knew that Dove could feel his emotions, old habits died hard. But he was making an effort to put things aside, even if he was still quietly brooding under the surface. It would take a little time for things to get back to some normalcy.

[phoenixstrut]

"..."

She hit him with a deadpan look, then sighed and shook her head fondly.

"Nice to see that hasn't changed..."

[wolfstrike]

Yuri blinked once at that.

"C'mon, it hasn't even been a month."

Right? It hadn't been that long, but then he hadn't really been keeping track of time very well. Still though, he hadn't been avoiding her -that- long.

[phoenixstrut]

The small grin faded and she looked down absently as she stroked a few blades of grass near her knee. "It's still been too long," she admitted quietly.

[wolfstrike]

Seeing her deflate, he smiled lightly again.

"So... is there any way I can make it up to you?"

[phoenixstrut]

She peeked up at him, thinking about it a moment before she looked over at Lambert. "Why don't you start by telling me something good," she suggested, bending her legs and wrapping her arms around her knees once she was sure her dress was appropriately draped. "Surely something interesting happened while you were gone..."

[wolfstrike]

Yuri paused as he thought about this.

"I found a dog. That's the best thing that's happened to me all month."

This said as he jabbed his thumb in Lambert's direction.

[phoenixstrut]

She blinked.

....

A laugh.

"Well, sounds like we were in the same boat," she sighed fondly. "Except... Well, you found a dog. I just flew around the turtle a thousand times."