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Post by clouds just clouds on Apr 7, 2014 9:30:46 GMT -8
(Nooo never say sorry for a post xD)
His blush receded and sorrow pressed his brows. Gently, he followed her down. He wondered what would help her the most. Should he turn into a tiger? Or did she need human comfort? Hesitantly, he reached up to gently wipe away her tears but gave up. Instead, he held her hands, tightly, to led her know he was there. Her hands felt so small in his own. Fragile. Even if he had the frame of a scholar, his own hands were rough from his early work as a blacksmith. His hands still remembered the hot metal, and the heat, and how exactly to hold the tools and how to use them.
And his knees still remembered the punishments of kneeling on rice. His body remembered the unkind hits. Remembering it, he managed to keep himself calm and concerned so he wouldn't bombard Mimi with his own mix of emotions. Listening to her, he felt the pricks of anger and the cool wash of sorrow. He kept silent, and his teal eyes were saddened.
He was. Zachariah instantly felt protectiveness build up in the pit of his stomach. But he didn't dare to move, in case he frightened her. "Mimi..." He reached forward, but stopped himself. Perhaps human comfort wasn't the best. Ignoring the pain, his body trembled and expanded. In moments, a young adult white tiger sat in front of her. He pushed his face into her shoulder and used his large paw to wrap around her and pull her close. Like a large, needy cat, he rubbed his head against hers and then pulled away to see if the kitty love was alright.
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Post by Moon on Apr 7, 2014 14:58:36 GMT -8
Mimi was glad Zachariah was the listening type. She didn't know if she could work up the courage to answer questions while she told the story. Despite her reluctance to stop, she had to for sanity's sake. She had to stop and collect herself before she continued. She focused on her breathing, first in then out. Instinctively, Mimi felt herself become smaller in his arms. Her legs curled up underneath her and she leaned heavily on him. The feeling of protectiveness welled up inside of Zachariah and she was comforted by it. She was even more at ease when she felt the soft fur of his tiger form brush against her cheek. She glanced up at him, mouthing a silent thanks, before scooting closer and wrapping her arms around him.
Mimi stared at the surface of the lake, urging herself to keep going. Between Damos and Zach, she felt strength enough to continue her tale. "On the night of our...er wedding I was supposed to wait for him in his room." She felt shame wash over her as she tried to find her words. The customs of her tribe were not something an outsider would necessarily condone. "It is custom, you see, for the newly wed husband and wife to...uh..mate in order to make their bond official. If the couple does not, well couple, then the woman is said to be cursed with infertility. At least, that's what we're told." She felt her cheeks redden and she made it a point to not look at Zach while she explained.
"However, that night he came back with some of his buddies and they reeked of alcohol. I tried my best to keep out of their way but...one moment I was fetching a glass of water for him and the next he had me cornered in the kitchen." She swallowed, feeling her body stiffen. "He hit me, hard, when I didn't answer him. I-I was scared so tried to run. That only ended up infuriating him and he lunged at me in his wolf form." Mimi shivered involuntarily and reached up to touch the scarred over teeth marks on the back of her neck. "He took me, forcefully, then he and his friends chased me out into the night. If Damos hadn't been there waiting, I-I'm not sure I would have made it out without other scars." With stiff movements she turned to look at Zachariah. "Th-That's why I can't stand to be alone. Every time I do, I can feel his breath on my neck and-" She turned away, feeling fresh tears stream down her face. Her breath hitched in her throat as she felt an immense weight lift off her shoulders. "I don't want to feel that way anymore! I want to know what it actually feels like to have love, because I know now that what happened that night was not it."
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Post by clouds just clouds on Apr 7, 2014 19:44:38 GMT -8
Dread and anger filled Zachariah. Instinct made him want to track down this man and tear him apart, but humanity kept him where he was. In truth, he was lost. He didn't know what he should do. Should he turn back into a human and hold her? Or should he stay as he was? He didn't know. Sorrow and sympathy sloshed around in the pit of his stomach. He wanted to be able to heal her.
If they took her to a ketsuki, they could erase the memory.
That thought hit him, but he always disliked it. Memories made people who they were, and only if they weren't strong enough should the memory be erased. Mimi was strong enough. Once again, he shifted into a human. Shifting so much caused him to feel dizzy, but he ignored and held her close.
"Mimi," Zachariah breathed, tears pinching his eyes. "I'm so sorry." He couldn't say those words with more emotion. A strong part of him wanted to erase every single mark that man left on her, but he didn't want to make her uncomfortable. Instead, still feeling a bit catty, he rubbed his cheek against hers but pulled her close. "You're not alone anymore, okay? I promise. As long as you want me around, I'll be right here, alright?" He ran his fingers through her hair for a moment, making sure every single one of his touches were soft, gentle and feathery.
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Post by Moon on Apr 7, 2014 21:29:23 GMT -8
Those three words broke the rest of her resolve and Mimi buried her face in Zachariah's shirt. The words meant that he knew. He knew her story, her horrid past, and she wasn't alone anymore. She felt herself open up even more and a mixture of joy and sorrow flowed from her. She was overjoyed that someone, especially Zachariah, knew about her deepest secret. However, she also felt sorrow because she had once again experienced the very same emotions she felt that night. She felt Damos place himself at their feet.
The whole time he had listened, remaining silent. Unlike Zachariah, Damos could actually see the images that were conjured up as she repeated her horrible experience. Every image made him disgusted and angry. He was angry for not being there when she needed him. Sure he was there in the end, but by that time it was already too late. Damost glanced up at his partner, ashamed he had allowed this to happen. As he stood to make his way over to the pair he calmed the other emotions. He focused on one emotion alone, the emotion of perseverance.
Between the two, Mimi felt protected. She eagerly accepted the feeling from Damos and felt her tears begin to ebb. Soon only small hiccups rocked her body as she gripped Zachariah's shirt. She shivered and glanced up at him with a sniffle. "Please, just...don't leave." As the emotions slowly waned Mimi felt her body ache and a haze covered her brain. Before she succumbed to fatigue Mimi stretched up and kissed Zachariah just under his chin. "I..." She cleared her throat. "I love you."
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Post by clouds just clouds on Apr 8, 2014 4:56:59 GMT -8
Shock exploded into his system and froze the blood in his veins. It was one thing to want someone to stay, to kiss them, and to tease them about adult-actions, but love. Are you sure? He almost asked, feeling a bit leery. The only other person he loved was Jeremiah. The love was rocky at best, which was to be expected. And then there was that girl who so long ago seemed like a stupid, far off crush. He understood that what he felt that wasn't love. In front of him, he had seen and began to grip the soft meaning of love. Those that he use to travel with showed him what love was.
The only other person he loved.
Zachariah could feel his heart jumping in his throat. He reached up to cup her chin. "Are you sure?" The words came out like the way a child would ask a parent after a black-out and thunder. 'Everything is alright, you can come out now.' 'Are you sure?' Zachariah looked into her eyes, and a big part of him just wanted to break into tears. He wanted to escape the emotions and possible hurt. It all seemed to step on him and try to squash him. "C-Cause," the words clung to the back of his throat, reluctant to bounce off his tongue.
"I love you, too." Zachariah knew she would have felt all his previous emotions, so he had to show her. He had to. But how? His lips already were gently tracing invisible lines of kisses on her collar bones, neck, cheeks, eyebrows, and then finally on her mouth. All his kisses caused him to smile slightly. He had enough sense to glance over at Damos and remember that he existed. "You too. Not love entirely, but close to it, because I barely know you, but you're a part of her. And I don't... I never want to leave you." He turned his gaze back to Mini. "You. Never leave you. Mimi, love is a big word and it scares me because I... my brother, he's the only other person I love." He was trying to explain his previous feelings. Words always failed him, so he rested his head in the crook between her shoulder and neck.
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Post by Moon on Apr 8, 2014 11:00:47 GMT -8
A tired smile traced her lips and she placed her over his own. "Of course I'm sure, Zach. I've never been more sure than I am now." She flattened out her hand that was still against his chest and let her own emotion flow towards him. She wanted him to know just how serious she was. All the pain from being apart, couldn't have been fake. If anything it was more evidence for her that she truly did love him. And to finally say it out loud was a feeling words could scarcely describe. "Do you feel that? The warmth and comfort of knowing another human being could mean so much to you. That is what I feel for you."
His response was pure elation. To know her feelings were reciprocated and that he felt the same as she was absolute rapture. She reached up and ran her fingers through his hair, pressing her lips against the side of his face. "I understand, you don't have to explain yourself. Trust me, I know how confusing it is." She giggled as she listened to him explain his feelings for Damos. It felt weird to sound so mature when she talked about love. In a way it was a foreign concept and yet, she knew enough about twisted love to grasp what it meant to actually love.
She closed her eyes and settled as close to Zachariah as possible. "Don't be scared. I'll be right here with you." She nuzzled her cheek against his. She glanced down when she felt Damos lick her hand. She smiled and stroked his fur as he padded around to face Zachariah.
Damos sat down in front of Zachariah and stared at him. A wolfish grin broke his usual stoic mask and he bumped his head against Zach's in a gesture of acceptance. He could feel Mimi's love for him and he knew that he was a good man. So long as he kept his word and was respectable, then he could live with that. Mimi's happiness was his own happiness.
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Post by clouds just clouds on Apr 8, 2014 11:47:37 GMT -8
Being scared wounded his pride, but he bit down all the words of arguement that irritably itched his tongue. Instead, he turned to Damos, feeling that he was either going to lose his throat or something important was about to happen. And then his head was bumped. A smile brightened his lips, even if he was confused and surprised at the gesture. "Thanks, Damos." He glanced up at Mimi and let out a breath. All this emotional overload made Zachariah feel like he just ran a marathon.
Zachariah felt tired because of the confessions, and another part of him hummed with anxiety and excitement. Overall, he felt awkward and conflicted. Emotions and admitting them was new to him. Hesitantly, he pushed his forehead against Damos. He didn't want to make Damos uncomfortable, but that was his tiger-way of affection.
Zachariah pulled away and then decided to give Mimi affection. It had been a while since he cuddled with his brother, but he always loved it when he did. It seemed almost natural when he wrapped his arms around Mimi and pulled her closer to him. He shifted so he could stretch his legs on either side of her and buried his face into the crook of her neck again. "Does this mean," he said quietly, "we're... in a relationship?"
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Post by Moon on Apr 8, 2014 18:18:17 GMT -8
Mimi giggled and shifted to make herself comfortable. "If by relationship you mean we're dating, then yes." She offered him a smile and kissed him again. She settled into the silence, letting it comfort her thoughts. Slowly her eyes began to droop. Interestingly enough Mimi had no trouble adjusting to such an intimate relationship. She was surprised it did not take long for her to accept Zachariah as her partner. Though there was something that nagged at the back of her mind. As trivial as it seemed, she was concerned about how should could possibly bring herself to have kids.
She opened her eyes and stared across the lake. A life with Zachariah was like a dream come true, but eventually she knew kids would become a hot topic. She wasn't so sure she could bring herself to even have kids. That kind of physical intimacy was something she was not completely comfortable with and she wasn't so sure she'd even be comfortable with it. She sighed not wanting to dwell on it, or at least she didn't want to dwell on it so soon.
All the emotions that had swirled about them earlier had been tiring to experience. Mimi felt absolutely spent and she was sure she needed to rest soon. However, her stomach had other plans. She laughed aloud at the simplicity. "I suppose confessions and secrets can make a person hungry." She glanced up at Zachariah. "Would you like to go on that hunt you mentioned earlier?"
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Post by clouds just clouds on Apr 9, 2014 16:49:29 GMT -8
Dating. His stomach flipped in his chest, but he managed not to make a complete fool of himself. He mostly was glad that Mimi seemed to look and feel better. Zachariah continued to nuzzle her, eyes closed. When he heard the grumble, a smirk flicked his lips. "Hunting? Sure. Transforming so quickly is going to make me puke!" A laugh left him, but he slowly detached himself from her.
With the grass tickling his fingers, he crouched. Turning his head to look at her, he offered a small smile, "Love you." And then succumbed to the pain of transforming. As soon as his claws dug into the soil, he shot off. Racing his own shown, he turned sharply to circle Mimi, but slowed down when he came to both her and Damos. The run energized him, and warmed him. Almost as soon as he ran, he flopped down with a grunt to save himself from a dizzy spell.
The end of his tail twitched playfully, and excitement shown in his teal eyes. Zachariah couldn't help it, he loved running in his tiger form. It was one of the best feelings.
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Post by Moon on Apr 10, 2014 7:42:27 GMT -8
Mimi giggled, watching him move with such feline grace. She walked over to him and bent down to stroke his fur, a soft smile warming her lips. "I love you too." As she moved toward the tent she continued to run her fingers through his fur. Once inside her fingers fumbled about for her hunting gear. She slipped a small vial from her knife holster at her side and grabbed her untouched shawl. Her fingers worked in the masking scent concoction as she exited the tent. She offered some to Zachariah as she passed. "Here, it helps mask your scent while you hunt." She rubbed some into Damos' fur before making her way back over to Zach. "I suppose I have to help you run this in don't I?" With a mischievous smile she began to massage the stuff into his fur.
"I don't know how good you are at tracking, but I can take point if you need. Which ever you like." Mimi scratched behind his ears and stood up. How are you feeling old man? You okay to ride or should I walk? Damos snorted and nosed her leg, feeling the spark of their tiny group warm his own spirit. Slowly Mimi mounted Damos, being careful in her movements. Seriously Damos, don't strain yourself again. Once she leaned forward, the pair were off and running.
The hunt was how they bonded. They never needed to use any sort of communication, they just knew the other's movements. One of the perks of being partners was that they easily melded together in times like this. One mind, but two bodies.
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