*guilt assailes her as she realizes what he is refering to and
she pulls back while instantly putting a clamp back on her
powers..it might not stop it all, but it stops most.* I'm sorry
*she feels some guilt over the loss of control, but mainly she
feels a guilty pleasure...pleased that he didn't react even
though he was obviously affected..she looks down at her hands as
he struggles for control* I shouldn't have *her head raises as
his hand brushes her hair, her pale green gaze watching him then
slowly she nods* yes *a soft sibilant whisper....he wanted to do
it, and for him, she would let him*
*But Rikky merely smiles, shakes his head, keeps his eyes on her
and is thankful she assists him in fighting this. Had he not been
in her head and she in his, it wouldn't have been so big a deal.
But he had been, and he'd initiated it. This was entirely his
fault, if there was fault at all... which he doesn't think is the
case* No need to be. There is no blame to be placed here. I
invited it, and if it is anyone's 'fault', it is mine. But I
would prefer not to think in such terms, for they do not apply.
We both simply forgot, is all. *She looks up and he meets her
gaze with easy equanimity ...and a very bright, pleased smile as
she agrees to allow him to heal the mark. His hand lifts again,
places itself over that bruise gently, barely touching, soft and
warm. Not necessary to touch, but it helped focus. His eyes
soften, his smile too, as his attention moves inward, touches
places in her mind, speeds healing at a blurring rate, fixes what
was done, encourages new cell growth... and a very short time
later, barely three heartbeats of space... his eyes refocus and
he sighs* Thank you. *its done*
*she sits motionless as he lays his hand to her cheek...her
breath held as she waits.....for what she doesn't know...before
she can even formulate a thought he is done.... a brief look of
shock crosses her face* ...but...*a hand reaches up lightly
touching the one against her cheek....the ache is gone, an ache
she had forgotten about* thank you *her eyes refocus on his
cheek, and the burn clearly visible...it has to hurt* you say
darkness helps? could we not go somewhere where it /is/ night?
*quick, painless... ungarish. Just... a healing, her own body
doing it, of course, it was all natural, simply kicked into warp
speed by Rikky's telepathic abilities. He smiles down at her,
eyes glimmering, blackgold bright* You are welcome. *His
attention is brought back to his pain and disfigurement, a pain
he was trying nobly to ignore. A small pause, and he nods to her,
brows slightly furrowed* I... yes, I think so. It is instinctive,
and while my room is dark which is close to night, it is not
close enough, it seems. *he tips his head and breathes a soft
laugh* Yes, I suppose we could. A very good idea, in fact. You
will come with me? *he stands, eager to be rid of this...
scarring, deep agony. His long scarf he secures, wrapping his
face up again, just in case* You pick where. *he offers her his
hand, to assist her in standing... just a manners thing, really,
a nice thing to do*
*she touches her cheek briefly, a smile both on her lips and in
her eyes as she reaches up to accept the proffered hand*
certainly...*she gently bites her lower lip as she runs the time
zones through her head* uhmmm, its the middle of the night in
Australia right now...or if you prefer we can catch the predawn
in most of Europe...*her azure gaze rakes once more over the
burn* what would be better?
Mistaking times of predawn is what got me in this mess... *he
states it wryly as he assists her upwards, continues holding her
hand even after she's standing, tucking in the long, long scarf
with his free hand* Australia. *small puff of breath* Well. Not
that I am dying to get there or anything, but that would be the
best choice, I believe. Do you have a city you prefer? And you
may wish to take a jacket... its summer here but winter there.
Could be chilly and rainy. *he turns towards the door, musing
aloud* And how to make this sound important to the techie. I do
not wish to get in trouble again for making unauthorized trips...
*small pause* Well, I suppose it does not matter as long as I log
it. If they ask later I will tell the truth, of course. *a bright
glance back to Rika, he almost an entire foot taller than she,
and they're almost equally lovely, but his night-dark to her
sunlight-fair* I do not know that location would make any
difference, however. Just... that it is night.
*she smiles* you wont make that mistake again...*She bites her
lower lip for a few brief seconds* I've never been to Australia
*her shoulders lift in a delicate shrug as she randomly tosses
out a name* How about...Melbourne?..or would you prefer more
rural? *she smiles and winks* Don't worry about that...leave the
Techs to me, there won't be any questions *she moves in closer to
him, then gestures towards the door* Shall we?
I certainly hope not... *he gives a small, wan smile, slightly
pained, then smiles, nodding* Melbourne it is, then. That is
fine. *he gives a large-eyed look at her, some small shock as
they usher out the door* ...But Rika... I have recently been
soundly scolded for doing such... manipulations with the techies'
minds. There are cameras, you know. I would not see you in
trouble for helping me. I am sure we can simply... /go/. *they
stroll down the hallway and into the teleporter room. Rikky
pauses there to see if Rika will take his advice or... go her own
route*
*she smiles sweetly at Rikky* Believe me...noone will even think
to question it...and I don't even have to mess with their minds
*As they step through the door she disengages herself from Rikky,
her powers now activated as she walks towards the two techies on
duty* Hello Mick, Dave *One hand lazily traces over Micks arm as
she seats herself on the corner of the control console..the two
men stop their conversation the second she approaches, their eyes
glazing slightly as she ups the pheromones ...no use wasting time
sweet talking them...*Mick, do you think you could be a dear for
me and send me to Australia? I want to go to Melbourne *the hand
moves up to his jawline, then one finger lays across his lips as
he nods his head and starts making the control adjustments*
\anytin' for ya darlin' anytin'\.... Oh that is sooo sweet...*she
leans forward, brings her finger to her lips and lightly bestows
a kiss upon its tip which she applies to his lips* thank
you....*then she looks at herself, still dressed in the oversize
shirt and shorts given to her by Blackdagger....a smile comes to
her lips as she looks at Dave, her smile instantly on his jacket
as she walks over to him* You always were such a smart dresser,
you just come back from the bar? *he nods* Yess'm that
I....*words trail off as her hand runs down the lapel of his
jacket and she looks at him with soulful eyes* could you do
little ol' me a favour tonight too? *he looks at her, unsure how
to answer..she sees the hesitation and minutely ups her powers
once more*Can I borrow the jacket for a few hours?...please? ..I
would be ever so grateful *the last issued in a deep husky voice
full of meaning..he nods mutely and removes the jacket which she
promptly puts on....the jacket falling to to just below her
hips....almost seeeming to go with the shoes...*she smiles and
leans forward to kiss him* thank you *she then turns back to Mick
and gestures for Rikky as she steps onto the platform*
*Rikky's brows raise and he's quiet through the demonstration.
When Rika is finished, he steps in line with her and onto the
platform. Words drop silently between then, more expressed in
Rikky's eyes and gestures, pulses from his body, then any real
speech* That was not messing with their heads? *a pause in the
flow, then* No, I suppose it was messing with... what they use to
think. *he smiles at her now, warmness in his gaze. The next he
speaks pitched from his slender throat* I guess you had better
give the command, Rika, they seem to like you. *And Rikky has to
wonder how /any/one, male at least, gets around her form of
feminine wiles. He's felt them... they are very difficult to
ignore*
*she chuckles an almost aplogetic lilt to her voice* They can
resist if they really want *she smiles at Mick and nods* thank
you Mick *Mick activates the transporter and they vanish in a
flash of light, only to suddenly reappear in a dark alley..
hopefully in Melbourne* And noone will even think to question me
*...well except for a few of the women..but those she can easily
deal with by applying to their superiors..she turns to him and
reaches up her hand hovering a mere fraction above his burns* now
what?
...Yes I... learned that the hard way. *a soft smile down at her,
then Mick activates the teleporter and they reappear in
darkness... oh, sweet darkness... /night/. Despite that they are
in an alley, the space is clean, there are plastic garbage cans
at the very ends of the entrances, and no one sleeps under
newspaper here. Open, quiet... some distance away, traffic can be
heard, the faint sound of rock music from a club playing '80's
tunes. Rikky looks upwards briefly... full moon. He smiles
prettily, things beginning to change, palpable differences in the
air as darkness shakes itself from slumber, awakens, moves
towards him. Oh, not as it might cater to the Lord Vazdrus, but
Eshva are children of the night in all its splendor, and night
loves them dearly. Rikky's star-pale skin, marred with ugly
burns, his night-black hair... this seems to awaken as well,
answer back silently. Rika's hand is above those burns, hovering
there tentatively, her voice soft and concerned. He adores it,
and its strokes in his eyes, sighs tenderly, unheard. He finally
looks away again, slight breeze stirring his long mane, night
fingers brushing his wounds, soothing them slightly, pained by
his discomfort* I... do not know if it matters, but personally...
I would like to be a little more away from the restless natives.
*a gleam in his eyes, he looks at Rika* Have you ever flown
before?
*slowly her hand lowers...oh how she wished to see that
healed....his perfect skin was not meant to be marred in such a
way...* Whatever you desire *she glances up the alley towards the
sound of music..then back towards him, amused confusion in her
eyes* Of course I have flown...
*Rikky smiles, almost impishly, positioning himself so as to take
her hand in his good, unscarred (and unpained) one. His
ridiculously long scarf obscuring his features in these shadows,
but his eyes shimmer like moonlight on the throat of a lake, and
his voice trickles out from between his lovely lips, bewitching,
enchanting... oh yes, things were changing now... in him, around
him, night draped sweetly and adoringly over both, providing
warmth, silent caress, adoring Rika too, snaking dark fingers in
that gold, hideous hair like sunlight* Good. Just remember to
keep all limbs inside during takeoff... *he jokes it, unfurling
his considerable, cloned telekinesis, from Travesty herself,
which he has yet to block off... far more than enough for..
/this/. The two rise of his willpower, lift into the night sky,
upright through the opening of the alleyway overhead, hover there
above the buildings on either side for a moment while he adjusts
his telepathy, cloaking them from sharp minds or sensitive ones.
Night does the rest, wrapping about them. Even the stars assist,
seeming to glitter over them should anyone look up... that way,
they don't see a moving hole in the fabric of space, but just...
space. Some stars a bit brighter than usual. Then Rikky adjusts
their position, so that their bellies are parallel to the ground
below, and with TK, they are propelled over that dark surface of
earth, at a gentle pace so that Rika might look down in wonder
and enjoy this singular view of the spanning, lit city while
Rikky himself searches for a secluded, leafy place. Up and
over... it takes about 20 minutes before he angles upward again,
for the Dandenongs mountains loom ahead, and shortly he's
hovering again over a sanctuary... filled with life and trees and
growing things. William Rickett's to be exact. Closed to the
public after sunset, and here he alights, softly, into the lush
vegetation. No one is around, no groundskeepers, no one... he
checks. There are sculptures here which Rika might first take as
people in the dark, but on closer inspection, they are lovely,
soulful carvings of the spiritual Aborginals, carved from living
wood. The place is beautiful, especially in the warm night, which
respectfully pulls away slightly once they have landed. It hovers
though, childlike, about them, protectively, as a mantle of
blackest velvet* This will do... *his words, in this silence, are
not words, but silence itself, pulsing from his eyes, his body,
to stop delicately into her ears*
*she smiles as he moves to take her hand, her eyes still full of
amused confusion* wha... *a small shriek leaves her lips as she
suddenly finds herself above the ground and rising, her grip on
his hand hardening as the other grabs onto his upper arm..fear
tinges her thoughts as she clings to him....then gradually it
fades and wonderment takes its place, her grip loosening, but
never releasing as she starts to enjoy the passing scenery...she
looks at him as they alight, her eyes all but glowing with
excitement* that was....*she cuts off the scentence as she grins
and mock punches his arm* You could have warned me!
*Rikky laughs, amused by her response, by the friendly strike to
his arm. He keeps hold of her hand, though he doesn't /need/ to,
and grins down at her, delighted by her reactions* I thought I
did. I asked if you had flown... Do not worry, I will not drop
you. *he squeezes her hand once, eyes holding their own stars,
and he only releases the grasp when they have alighted in the
sanctuary. Once that happens, again things alter themselves...
Rikky stands alone and still, eyes closed, mind reaching
instinctively outwards, gathering, calling... at the same time,
he reaches inward, pulls at his own cells. he doesn't know it,
but he's using sorcery, of the kind found in Under Earth, the
magics of demons (for Eshva are nothing if not immensely adept at
the powers of their kind... seduction, enchantments and
bewitchings among many more), calling up darkness from a place
he's never been nor even heard of... the underground city of the
Vazdru.... Druhim Vanashta. A little piece of it begins to spill
over onto the Upper World, the Round Earth, and it becomes
visible... sudden, little bursts of cold flame, of a deep scarlet
or indigo hue, sprout here and there, sometimes from trees or in
the tree boughs, sometimes hanging in air. Fountains of it which
grow in strength. A sense of strangeness overtakes this little
place of earth, even Rika should be able to sense it... magic,
power, darkness and terrible, gorgeous beauty the likes of which
few, few mortals have ever seen, for only the boldest or dumbest
would seek entrance into the city of the Lord of Darkness.
Encased in this, perhaps the first time it's ever shown itself on
this realm in such a manner, it is almost as if they were
standing on the fringes of Under Earth... things alive here that
would not be normally. Laws of nature lose effectiveness... fish
might fly and perch, silver birds might swin and breathe water.
Some of the trees darken to black leaves, their trunks like
stars, pale and bright. It does not affect the entire sanctuary,
just this little bit, which is perhaps a ten foot radius all
around them, oddly shaped. Night draws over Rika, protects her,
whispers strange things in her ears, curls about her neck like a
gentle lover, hangs from her shoulders alive, perfumed, warm.
Magic... unlight and star-brilliant... encases the clone, lends
him strength and power, nourishment to his body which is flesh
and blood. She might then glimpse, though comprehending is
another story altogether, the exquisite nature of what Rikky
is... Eshva. Handmaids to Vazdru, that darkest of demon. Beauty
and beauty fill this small area, eerie and unnatural, unseen in
many many years... it glows but not with light. Darkness darkens.
The scars on Rikky's flesh begin to shimmer in silvers and blues,
his mind commanding, forcing, the pain leeching out... it isn't
overly quick and it leaves Rikky quite exhausted... working on
inner whispers alone, night guiding, teaching, revealing. Through
it all, Rika is safe, privy to this spectacular display. And what
whispers reach her ears? Hard to make out most of it, but
impressions offer themselves, the bubbling up of secrets lay bare
before her... /Eshva, child of night, all night's glory. Black
poetess, singer, dancer, enchanter, enrapturer... demon, demon,
beware... love. It knows love. Servant of the most dark, most
wicked, most gorgeous. Errand-runner, silver and snakes... gifts
and charm... silence and air.../ Visions dance across her eyes...
Lords of Darkness, ugly Drin, beautiful Eshva, gorgeous Vazdru.
Histories are shown but the language is strange as are the
events. Night tangles in Rika's hair, wraps like velvet about her
fingers, slithers across flesh. And then, after a time unkept,
unknown, sliver of eternity... it is over. All of it winks out,
sucked back in, hides itself. Night is still alive, still warm,
but weaker now, softly sighing, still adoring. Just... an
awareness, gentle and tender. Rikky is on his knees, tired and
all at once strangely charged. He has touched his home and
doesn't even know what that means... his scarf has fallen to the
damp grass, long, shining mane hiding his face, shadows over his
hands. He's not even sure it worked and his mind is in chaos,
also bombarded with images, ideas, scents and senses. Things push
through him, but the pain is gone and a new one welling up in its
place, this one as deep but not of the same nature... something
akin to homesicknesses but moreso. He's quiet, silent, and on one
knee, trembling and weak, he does not move...*
not that type of flying *she steps back as he releases her hand,
giving him room....she stands there enraptured as she watches,
the very air around her seeming to take life as her surroundings
alter....changing yet remaining the same, as if two worlds
collided in this spot at the same time, two worlds
overlapping..flames leap as does she...only to stop and stare in
wonder as the cold flame licks her flesh.... the shadows, now
familiar, enwrap around her, encasing and welcoming..half heard
whispers echo in her ears...secrets perhaps captured by her
subconcious, concious mind simply enjoying the unearthly musical
tones, not seeking for the meanings, merely listening as if an
angels chorus chimed in her ear..Visions dance, some barely seen,
others clear yet unknown...their meanings known to others than
herself..she stands motionless, yet somehow it seems as if she is
the one moving through the worlds, standing on neither yet
both...then it is gone and the world as she knows it falls softly
into place...how time has passed is unknown but for her it seems
as if an eternity, an eternity too short....she looks around, her
gaze instantly falling on Rikky and she rushes to his side,
softly she kneels beside him...uncertain...one hand gently
touching a shoulder* Rikky?
*Rikky shivers at the touch, startled and slowly his head
rises... and he's altered some, but not in any visual way, not
exactly. His hair streams more gloriously, stars caught there,
his eyes are bright and... more open, they speak of things,
emotions shimmer there and push out at her, speak as though with
words, as if she could read them.... /I am lost.../ they tell her
in gentle silence, strange meaning, but the rest backs it up,
explains as his gestures do, in the manner of Eshva, soft airy
un-noise. They reveal his confusion, his loss, the ache inside
him. His skin seems to shine like the moon, unlight she might
recognize, having now seen it, and an aura about him, awakened by
this venture... appealing to mortals, a soft cry in the dark, as
though he could enchant, enrapture, any human and with more than
just his unbright beauty (and by all rights, he /can/). Bewitch
with eyes and movements. He's been removed a notch more from
those who raised him, ethereal and unearthly. Rikky has started
to come into his own, though he doesn't understand it. But this
openess is for Rika alone right now, this stunning sight, and he
reaches up slowly to take her head in his hands, meets her eyes
for a long, silent moment, darkness swimming there, night about
them, soft. Then he pulls her in towards him, presses lips
against her chastely, sweetly for a long moment as emotions and
visions pass behind his closed lids... then he lowers his head,
gently to her small, round shoulder, rests it there, arms about
her in embrace as if for stability, support, comfort. But he does
not weep though he feels like he might like to do so. His scars,
she may notice, are gone*
*she remains motionless as if not to startle him...slowly she
begins to notice things about him, not new, not different....just
enhanced....as if something within had been awakened...envy
briefly mixes with the awe as she regards his newly released,
almost ethereal, beauty....the kiss, she doesn't return ....she
simply accepts it...a gift, somehow holding more within it than
any she had known before.. full of meanings both unknown and
known....then its broken and his head comes to rest agains her
shoulder.....once more she moves slowly, one hand coming to rest
lightly on his head, the other against his back.....words fail at
this point, seeming harsh and unwelcome in this place... at this
moment...once more of this world yet still seeming apart from
it...she gently strokes his ebony mane, offering nothing more
than support and comfort as he had done not long ago for her*
*He remains thus for a while, gathering his energies again, his
strength, his thoughts... cradled in Rika's arms he almost falls
asleep... but to be caught here in daylight simply would not do.
So long before he wants to, he raises his head again, most of the
ethereal beauty hidden now, under control, but there should he
slip up or call it to him. A soft sigh, from his lips, and he
looks on Rika with quiet thanks and full eyes. Finally, he
speaks, purposefully using words and not that glimmer of
non-words which are so much more elegant* I suppose we should...
should go. Back to the complex. *he is silent a moment* Though I
would rather.. not.
*she doesn't even notice the passing of time as she sits
there...her only concern for Rikky...she feels him relax, feels
the steady heart rate beneath her hands, hears his gentle
breathing and is content.....she is almost dissapointed when he
looks up, the otherworldliness gone from his features, but once
more he is the Rikky she knows...and that is enough...she has
seen much tonight, much more than perhaps she was ever intended
to be witness too...whether gift or accident matters not, it is
something she will always cherish the memory of....* We don't
have to.....We could go....*she pauses unsure where they could
go* elsewhere.
*he breathes a laugh, notes the disappointment in her eyes... his
features now muted, but for good cause... and wobbles a bit yet,
even on his knees. Half ruefully, he raises a single slender
brow* We may have to remain here a short time longer anyway... I
lack the ability to take us back to the point of arrival. *he
sighs and looks about... the sanctuary was still beautiful, but
yes, it lacked the splendour of the moments before, the unearthly
magic of Under Earth. His eyes seek out Rika's once more, catch
there, soft adoration held there in that dark sand gaze* Any
suggestions? Or shall we... look around here?
*She smiles as she reaches out to steady him* We don't have to
stay here if you don't want...I can always arrange a ride back
for us *...after all, Mick would still be on duty, she could call
up a new location transport...she looks up at the sky, trying to
judge the time, but failing miserably* We just can't let you be
caught out here when the sun comes up * she lays a gentle hand on
the previously marred cheek* are you going to be okay?
I /really/ do not wish to be caught in the sun again, Rika. I
cannot emphasize this one small point enough. *he holds to her
for balance, but his strength, at least enough to stand, is
coming back. He too, looks up into the sky, eyes narrowed
slightly* Dawn is still sometime off yet, hours... it is about 1
or 2 a.m. here now, i believe, but truthfully, I am quite tired.
I think I would like to simply... go to bed. *he smiles at that
hand on his cheek, beautifully, his lashes lowering to shield his
dark eyes just a little* I will be fine, physically. Thank you,
Rika, for accompanying me here. *he pauses, takes a breath, then
forces himself to his feet, still clinging to Rika for
assistance* If you would kindly commlink to the base, maybe Mick
could calculate our newest coordinates and ...beam us home. I am
quite certain he would gladly do your bidding. *a humored slide
of his gaze down to her*
No *her hand lightly slips off his cheek as she chuckles* I guess
its SPF500 before you get to go to the beach...*she wraps an arm
around his waist, steadying him as he stands...* I think I need
sleep as well * slight pause* Its been a long night *she contacts
the base...a smile on her lips as Mick answers and she cooerces
him into changing their coordinates and 'beaming' them home*
*Rikky chuckles, fine brows raising slightly at the SPF comment*
Yes, at least that. Or I fear I will have a really bad day. *when
they get back to base, rooms so close together, Rikky takes her
hand, raises it upwards, and outside his door, softly, he asks a
daring question* ...Stay with me...? *he means it chastely of
course, but he'd like, at this moment and very much so, to have
her nearby. Why, even he's not certain, perhaps from all they've
shared this day, still early morning at this base, his time of
slumber, it feels like she's his only anchor in his swiftly
changing life right now. His large eyes blink slowly at her... he
expects to be denied, but hopes otherwise*
*She looks at him, a smile on her lips as he takes her hand and
slowly raises it...expecting him to kiss it...a gallant gesture,
very much his style...her eyes widen and she's silent....Pirahna,
the man-eater shocked to silence by three simple words...words
she had heard before, even encouraged, but always she had
answered the same....It was a game for her, to exercise her
power...lead them on, make them want her, then at the last deny
them....and thats all it was, a game...something she could
control.....but this was different, unexpected... and she liked
it.....slowly she brings their joined hands down and places a
kiss on the back of his hand* certainly *...and somehow she knew
that his question didn't have the same intent as the others, his
request was......sweet....almost innocent in the way it was
asked...briefly at the back of her mind concerns for his
reputation come into play...but those she swiftly moves
aside....after all, he'll just be another innocent that she sunk
her teeth into...and she can play it so that nothing of her
reputation tarnishes him..he'll come out smelling like roses*
*Rikky doesn't say anything, he doesn't need to, his eyes say it
all in the manner of his people... they open up and speak
silently... /thank you/. The idea of sleeping with someone (which
he's never done in /any/ capacity) is strangely alluring... and
while Rika may awaken and leave before he is awake, he is, after
all, more efficient at night and very, very tired at this moment,
that she might be beside him, even for a short while, is oddly...
pleasant. He grins when she kisses his hand, leans forward and
places a platonic kiss to her lips, then turns, guiding her
inside his chambers where the ever-night and foliage whisper a
hello, drape about them both warmly, seem to sigh happily to see
him again... and Rika too, as if the shadows in the room wore
smiles and heavy lids of contentment. Warm room with gentle
currents, dark sentinels to watch over them... and Rikky's bed,
which is oval-shaped and built into the floor so the mattress is
flush with the encasing. Elegant room, strangely reminiscent of
the images, perhaps, seen in the sanctuary. They've both had long
days... emotionally wrenching ones, and maybe, just maybe, a tiny
bit of healing might be found in the uncomplicated, simple
embrace of eachother's arms...*