He shook his head, nudging the coins toward her "I keep my oaths and I pay my debts." he said simply. It was a creed of sorts. Loyalty of a sort had been hammered into him from a very young age. If you swear something to someone, you do it or you're worth less than nothing. He'd never willingly broken a promise, and the ones that had been broken due to circumstance always ate at him.
"And I'll say you've been busy...all shacked up and everything...You've grown." He finally moved his eyes to her and sighed "And I missed it. I'm not used to missing things." He smiled a little at the pun.
Ely [M:164:1653:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=394&page=1#14814][b]A soul on fire...[/b][0:Snuffed][1:Flame On!]
"No. I suppose it is a new one for you. Missing things."
Ely turned back to the table for a few minutes looking at him. She felt pale and drawn against his tanned appearance. He had been busy for the last few years, and she felt as if she had done nothing but stand still. It was an odd feeling.
Ely dropped her head and brushed hair back from her face before lifting it again. The gentle sway of her tail had come to a halt, the tip was curled around the outer edge of her thighs. And, anyone that knew her; which he certainly did, could see that she was nervous.
Catgirl Extraordinaire
“Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.”
Perry looked down at his hands for a moment, flexing his fingers slightly. He seemed to want to speak, but the words wouldn't come for a little while until he was finally able to bring his voice out.
"When we parted ways, when you wanted to come here and I didn't follow, I kinda knew I'd lost you. I didn't want to cause you any trouble coming here. And you've...well...moved on." He sighed.
"That guy at the show today. He's the one isn't he? Before we met." He tried very very hard not to feel bad. Who was he to stake any kind of claim on anything but good friendship, no matter what had gone before. He let that chance go when he'd said goodbye and left her to return to Wistvale alone.
Ely [M:164:1653:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=394&page=1#14814][b]A soul on fire...[/b][0:Snuffed][1:Flame On!]
Ely flushed, the tips of her ears went red, and her tail slid higher up on her thigh. But, her voice when she said Kiga's name softened noticeably.
"We ran into each other here several years ago. I... had to leave Wistvale without telling him. I always wanted to come back and say I was sorry..."
Ely's twisted to one side with her back foot. She was not looking at Perry. In fact, she was trying her best to look anywhere but him. Finally though, she just couldn't hold the words in any longer. She had spent so many hours curled up beside Perry talking. Her eyes came back to his face.
"Yes. He is the one. Silly, right? To be so enamored of someone you only knew for a few weeks? And just ran back into a couple of days ago?"
Her head had fallen again and she was drawing looping designs in the dust on the floor with her foot.
Catgirl Extraordinaire
“Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.”
He nearly vomited. He nearly wept. He nearly lashed out at her. Instead he just smiled sadly. He took a deep breath, blowing it out in a long exhalation. "He's lucky..." he murmured, eyes downcast still for a moment before looking up. "...damn lucky..." He reached out and patted the back of her hand before rising from the chair.
"Tomorrow morning, first light, we'll go down to the field. Dom should meet us there. We can work out our next show." He nodded toward the rest of the building "Where should I stow my gear?" His voice had gone somewhat flat, and he felt suddenly very tired.
Ely [M:164:1653:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=394&page=1#14814][b]A soul on fire...[/b][0:Snuffed][1:Flame On!]
Ely ran a hand over the side of her face and then across her left ear. Had she not been so busy trying to keep her facial features under control she would have noticed Perry doing the same thing. She could, more often than not, spot body language cues with the best of them.
But, she was a bit preoccupied.
However, the tone in Perry's voice when asking where to stow his gear brought her eyes back to his face. That wasn't his normal voice. It carried none of Perry's charm and joy at all.
"Sure Perry, tomorrow morning. Come on, I can show you where you can sleep."
There were bedrooms in the place; three or four of them, though like the larger area downstairs the walls were covered in books. Ely lead Perry up a winding iron staircase to the second floor and pushed open the door just opposite it.
"Here. Stay as long as you like."
Catgirl Extraordinaire
“Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.”
Perry trudged toward the room with her. Part of him was regretting following her here. Part of him just revelled in seeing her. Part of him still had oddly warmed to the town at large. Maybe he could find more steady work here. All the thoughts buzzed through his head as he halted at the door.
Suddenly his arms were around her, his face buried against the side of her neck. His arms were tensed, body seeming to coil up like a spring. He inhaled deeply, face against her flesh, then exhaled as he let her go. He smiled then, small but warm and genuine.
"Thanks Sparky." he drawled, making his way into the room.
(Take us to the morning Ely?)
Ely [M:164:1653:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=394&page=1#14814][b]A soul on fire...[/b][0:Snuffed][1:Flame On!]
Ely gave a soft sigh when Perry's arms came around her. She felt better immediately and wrapped her hands about his hips. His voice when he used her nickname no longer carried any discordant tone; either, only one familiar and loved.
"Sleep well, Perry."
Ely slipped away and left him to unpack and get comfortable.
She spent the next several hours reading herself. She curled up beside the huge stone fireplace with a soft blanket. Ely did not have a normal routine. Oh, she slept, but that was only when she felt the need. She was often much more active during the early morning or late night hours. It was those times when she felt like her body and mind calmed enough to work together instead of flying off in different directions during any other part of the day.
The next morning, just as the sun was filling his room full of light, Perry heard a repetitive thudding noise. It was obviously coming from downstairs.
He'd not known exactly how tired he'd been. The exertion of the show or the emotional upset or whatever it was had drained him thoroughly and he'd slept like a log on heavy medication. Perry awoke groggily, swinging his feet off the bed and pulling on his clothing in swift, practiced motions. Getting dressed and combat ready on reflex was something he'd been taught as a child. If you were the last one ready at the drill you got the lash.
The thumping noise intrigued and he ambled back down the stairs. "Hey Sparky! What're you doing? Is that Dom? Is he drumming?" He yawned, running a hand thorugh sleep tousled hair and rubbing crusts from his eyes.
Ely [M:164:1653:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=394&page=1#14814][b]A soul on fire...[/b][0:Snuffed][1:Flame On!]
Perry got no response to his shout, though the thudding noise continued without abatement.
Ely was rather busy. Too busy it seemed to let him know what was going on, or if she was even in the house. In fact, the more he sat there the sound seemed to gain volume.
Catgirl Extraordinaire
“Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.”
He found the abandoned supper from the previous night, the cheese had softened slightly and the bread was stale, but a real man can eat anything as long as it's between two slices of bread. He hacked off a couple of chunks and slapped some cheese and slightly overripe berries betwen them, wolfing the concoction down heartily.
With his mouth full, Perry called out again "Heyymph! Whacha dooin'?" crumbs puffing from his mouth. He had to investigate the thumping, and he needed a drink, so he went to find if there was a wellspring in here somewhere. He rubbed his cheek. Stubble, guh, that meant shaving. Well, the crowds wouldn't pay to see a hobo shoot. He called again, less muffled by food "Where are you Ely?"
Ely [M:164:1653:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=394&page=1#14814][b]A soul on fire...[/b][0:Snuffed][1:Flame On!]
The thudding was coming from the huge open area in the main floor. Ely was at the far end of the library. Why hadn't she answered? Well, she likely had not heard him. She was currently standing directly opposite an empty stone fireplace. There was a small table beside her and a stubby little candle sitting upon it.
As Perry walked closer he saw her arm shoot out and a tiny blaze from the candle follow it. But, it did not remain tiny for long. At the moment it entered the confines of the hearth the fireball grew to ten times its size, smacked the stone wall, made the distinctive thud and disappeared.
Ely was practicing.
Catgirl Extraordinaire
“Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.”
Perry watched for a long moment, smiling a little, waiting for her to let one loose before disturbing her. He'd gotten singed a couple of times by breaking her concentration while she was working.
"You know, if you wanted me awake you could have just come shaken me. And isn't it a bit risky chucking fire about when almost everything in here is made of decidedly flammable paper?" He leaned against the wall, all cocksure and grinning once again, wiping the last few crumbs from his mouth with the tip of hsi thumb.
Ely [M:164:1653:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=394&page=1#14814][b]A soul on fire...[/b][0:Snuffed][1:Flame On!]
Ely turned to face him flexing her fingers. She snuffed the candle with a wave of her hand, the smoke drifting upward through the broken masonry of the ceiling.
"Hm? No, not really. I mean if the fire got out of hand... maybe. I can snuff it out faster these days."
Which was obviously true, if the recent activity was any sort of marker. The larger fireball had lasted less than a minute. Ely halted for a moment staring past Perry to the expansive bookcases lining the walls. If a fire did get out of hand here... no. She had spent too much time on this place.
"Anyway, with tonight, I figure I should do a little practice."
Catgirl Extraordinaire
“Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.”
Perry regarded her for a moment, wondering if she ever looked ahead. She spent so much time looking behind, reading and running it seemed to him. But maybe things had changed. Scratch that, of course things had changed. He flipped his hand over in a 'of course' gesture.
"Well, we all should. And we should go find that bard and see if he's willing to put on a bit more of a show. Together we'll wow 'em all!" He grinned, going to grab his gear and shoulder his bow. He strode toward the door. "I'll get him and meet you at the field, okay? You don't have to exert yourself in the daylight, save the juice until the show. Just shout 'Bang!' whenever you'll set one off." And with that he strode out, smiling.