A Bright Sunny Day...

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At his cold reply to going wherever she wanted she sighed softly, looking down to her shoes for a moment, studying the ones so similar to the worn and scuffed ones she had been wearing when she was found by him. "I don't have anywhere to go," Raelynn's words were mumbled with a touch of sadness to them, but she wouldn't let it stay. Not prone to sadness, the small amounts that she ever was affected by it, was whenever she had to remember that she knew nothing about herself at all.

"You are not worthless," Raelynn huffed as she spoke the words, very firmly, very certain that he wasn't. As to why she had said that, she honestly couldn't say why exactly. Raelynn just knew that there was a reason to say it and so she said it, stopping after and blinking. Just mystified. But as usual her life had weird things in it all the time that she couldn't explain and so just shrugged it off as normal.

Shifting, Raelynn would move to sit next to Durion with her back against the wall, crossing her legs. Tilting her ears down a little she would look to him, blinking those dark blues a few times in silence before shaking her head again. "No one has to be alone, and no one wants to truly be alone," Raelynn spoke softly shifting her eyes down to the ground. "I don't really know a lot... well... I don't remember a lot of what I do know..." She hesitated a little as she would continue speaking, correcting herself. "But I do know that it's not a good feeling to be lonely." Rae would tell him, letting her ears droop again as she recalled the times she had felt lonely in the last year... which of course was all that she could remember. Leaning over towards him, Raelyn would gently nuzzle his arm.


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Turning his head to look back at her as she asked him what he was apologizing for, he would be blushing softly, and hearing her thank him for the compliment would make him feel a little relieved. "I know some people really don't like being touched, so I was afraid that I might have offended you," Vimal would tell her softly, letting his dark green eyes go back to her face studying her lovely features.

"Well it's hard not to like your hair," Vimal spoke honestly as he would reach out and took a few strands in his hand, "I like the way the way it shines in the sunlight, and it suits you so well, especially down." He smiled gently and dropped her hair, taking his hand back as he continued to blush slightly.

Durion

Durion didn’t give much of a care to her sudden sadness, or to her comment. It wasn’t his problem that she had nowhere else to go, it wasn’t his business, he never should have even met her. As far as he was concerned nothing about her should concern him, not her moods, not what she did, and not where she was going to go.

His gaze snapped over to her suddenly as she spoke. What did she know of his worth? A little more of that usual anger came back and he let a low growl rumble deep in his throat as his agitation grew. It mounted slowly, like a wave coming towards shore, becoming more and more as she spoke to him. What did she know of true loneliness, of true abandonment? She may have had no home but she could wander in her way to people’s property and be welcomed, she could chose her path. She may have been alone but she was also free, and in that freedom she could associate herself with other… And she could touch them. Touch them like she touched him, like she was right now. She could have that contact, she wasn’t alone.

He stood swiftly, agitation finally cresting high above him, above his thoughts and emotions. It washed over him and left him, for a moment, seeing red. “You’re right” he said, his voice colder, darker, lower, the same tone it held as he was beginning a battle. “You don’t know much. You don’t know anything at all. You don’t know the true pain of loneliness, the true pain of abandonment. You, who can be so quickly and warmly welcomed into a home, you who are so full of naivety, tell me, did your mother leave you in the dark of the night as a babe, leave you to cry and to fear? Did your father beat you, push you, work you till you couldn’t move, and then make you walk home or sleep in the elements?” His hands shook as he spoke but the rest of him was unmoving as he gazed darkly down at her. “Do you know what it’s like, not being able to touch anyone or anything you care for? Do you know that pain? That true loneliness? From the way you took to invading my personal space I doubt it.” He turned his face quickly away when he realized what he had said, revealing this most secret of secrets was not something he’d meant to do.

Now irate he turned toward the door to his room, stepping into the doorway before pausing. “You’d do best to assume nothing about me. I have to be alone, it is my life, my fate, and I accept it… Now, get out of my room, occupy yourself with something else until I call you back. I do not wish to see you till then. And repeat nothing of what you have heard! Go!” he shouted his last commands before stepping fully into his room, slamming the door shut behind him.

Nannette

She smiled at him brightly. “Don’t worry about that, I don’t much mind people touching me, long as they don’t get creepy with it” she laughed. She regarded his blush, thinking it was quite adorable on him, though she didn’t vocalize that though. She’d had an acquaintance who’d told her boys didn’t like to be called anything but hot or handsome. Odd.

She disregarded that though and met his eyes, thinking them quite a lovely shade of green. That she may comment on but, before that she let herself listen to what he was saying. “Is it really that nice?” she asked him, letting her own fingers reach up to brush against the softness. “I’ve never really given much of a though to how it looks” she laughed. “I’ll remember that though, and be sure to wear it down more.”

A little blush graced her cheeks as well and she looked back up to the sky biting her lip softly. “And um… if we’re giving out compliments right now… Just thought I’d let you know I do quite like your eyes. They’re such a beautiful shade of green, they remind me of the forest.”

Raelynn

When Durion stood up suddenly she looked up at him with wide eyes, her ears turning back to show the surprise she felt as he seemed to switch moods so suddenly. Listening to him speaking she would meet his gaze without fear, and without flinching, but her own eyes turned sad. And his own anger of course would affect her... that was one of the downsides of being an empath, especially one that had absolutely no idea that was what she was. Her own anger and sadness filled her, as he seemed to think that his was the only pain out there. Jumping to her own feet her tail lashed back and forth through the air, as she narrowed her eyes.

"I don't know!" Raelynn's voice rose in volume just a little, not enough to be considered shouting, but louder then her usual gentle tones, straining against the whirlwind of emotions that hit against her. "I don't know any of that! I have 1 year of memories!" She held up her hand and one finger in front of her face. "And less then a year of knowing my own name! Do YOU know what it's like to know absolutely nothing? To have no memories of your own parents, siblings, or life? Do you know what it's like to be lost every day? Do you know what it's like to have no one to care for? To have absolutely nothing?" Big crystalline tears started to roll down her face as she shook her head, hating that she was expressing some of the things that bothered her the most but she tried to ignore. She hated thinking about them so much because it only ever made her sad. "Do you know what it's like to have nightmares every night of things that may or may not have actually happened to you? And how can you call my coming here as warm and welcome? I was told I had to stay here, to do a job that I have no idea of how to do, unless I wanted to die! I have to put off looking for anyone, for any single person who might know me, to put up with this! I have no home to walk to and I sleep alone in the elements every single night, no comfy blankets or pillows. Unlike you I have nothing that was given to me, to throw about when throwing a temper tantrum to break like an ungrateful child!" Raelynn's hands would slice through the air to put emphasis on his words before he could dismiss her. Normally she was much too sweet natured and gentle to become as angry as she was now, but all day she had been bombarded by feelings of anger and sadness. She knew she was much like a child in the way of things, but she always smiled, always tried not to take out her own loneliness and darkness on others. But once the floodgate had opened, Rae couldn't stop until she exhausted all she could think of to say.

Once his door had slammed behind him, the tears just wouldn't stop even as she lifted her hands and rubbed furiously at her eyes. Rae was so tired, she'd spent so much energy already fixing things and cleaning things and just trying her best like she always did. But now she was emotionally drained as she sniffled and stared at the door for only a second longer before she would turn, and headed over to the nearest window. Grabbing the window she would yank it up, letting the fresh air from the night outside flow inwards before she would stick her head out the window to check to see what floor they were on. Once she knew she would climb out the window before leaping off the outside ledge. Landing easily on her feet, as was normal for one with feline attributes, she would immediately start running. She had no intentions of fully leaving but she couldn't spend one more moment in that house fully of anger. It was giving her a headache.

Raelynn never did anyone harm, she never hurt anyone, threatened anyone, smiled to everyone and still she was treated poorly by everyone just because she was so lost. And when she got upset, bad things tended to happen, like how the paperweight she had fixed would crack again along the lines of the original break right before it would shatter into pieces as she ran.

Continuing to run until she was too tired to run anymore, Raelynn would eventually slow as she came to a tree... nothing particularly special about it, either then being the one she started to run out of breath by... and scrambled up into it's branches.

((Sorry having probs with Vimal, trying to work on a post for him now, but coming up fairly flat atm x.x))

Durion had been surprised by her outburst, that much was certain, but he'd held himself back for whatever reason. He had kept himself from lashing out, from doing her physical harm. As he stood in his room, back pressed against the door, breathing heavy, body shaking, he tried to convince himself that the only reason he hadn't was his mothers order. He may have been upset with her but that didn't mean he would ignore a direct order from her. His mother could be quite the vicious woman after all.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before crossing the room to his bed. It was a large, lavish thing with black sheets and a deep purple comforter. It was covered in scarlet pillows and had two very finely made blankets resting at its end as well.

When he reached it he fell onto it, heavily and with a tired groan. "Idiot girl" he said softly, closing his eyes. He lay there, for several minutes, until the shaking of his body abated and he was able to get up. When he did he turned to a covered glass container just to the right, on the bedside table.

He pulled the cover away, with practiced gentleness, and lifted the lid slowly off the turtles tank. The little creature inside, previously in its shell, peaked its head out to gaze at him.

"Tandor" he said softly, his tone once again broken. "My dear friend..." he lowered one hand into the tank, palm up and the little fellow crawled into it. "My only friend." he drew it up and out and rested his hand level to his heart, cradling it so very carefully.

He lay back in his bed and rested the turtle on his chest, it stayed put as he closed his eyes and began to speak, retelling his day, his misfortune, his anger, to the little living diary that was his dearest pet.

Meanwhile, outside, a small sprite has found her nighttime nap quite interrupted. "W-Woah!" the tinny creature cries as the branch she was napping on is shaken by a moving person. "Hey!" she shouts up. "What's the big idea!"

Scrambling upright, the six inch wonder springs off her previous perch to let her butterfly wings catch air, carrying her to her assailant. "You know, it's not very nice to just come tumbling into a person's house. Ya could've squished... me... Hey... Y-You okay kid?"

Her speech slowed as she realized just how sad the girl before her looked. The soft pink glow that radiated off her tiny body illuminating the tear streaked face of the tired Neko. "What happened? Ya look awful..." Sprites never were too well known for their etiquette and she didn't seem to think what she'd just said was all too bad. "You from the Wilder place?"

Raelynn would curl up in the tree, tucking her body into a ball as she flattened her ears tightly against her head and her tail around her body as she wept, completely overtaken by the sorrow that had flooded through her and now she was having problems stopping. Although as she heard the voice of the sprite she would lift her head, sniffling as she looked to her, her deep dark blues drowning with emotion.

"I-I-I-I'm so-sorry," Rae would apologize stutteringly as she drew in a shuddering breath, lifting her hands as she rubbed at her face. Blinking her swollen, puffy eyes at the little flying woman. At being asked if she was alright, she would shake her head before nodding to her question about being from the Wilder place She wouldn't answer about what had happened however right away looking down at her hands.

"I got really upset..." Raelynn would tell her sadly, whimpering as big tears continued to well up and drip down her cheeks, falling from her chin to splatter against the tree bark. Even though she was much more talkative normally she just didn't have the urge to speak much for the moment. Her sadness and pain killing her usual cheerfulness.

The sprite shook her head, waving a dismissive hand as she frowned. “No, no forget it, it’s fine. Bout time I got up anyway. Hey…” she flew closer and tried her hand at wiping some of her tears away, the droplet rather large on her small hands. “Don’t do that, it’ll be okay.”

She sighed at her affirmation, she was in fact from the Wilder mansion, of course, no one there was ever happy… well maybe the lady of the house, she was pretty happy sometimes, but the help, no not usually too happy. A shame really, she liked people to be happy. Smiles were quite nice.

She nodded in understanding when the girl said she’d gotten upset. Well of course you’re upset, you’re crying she thought, mildly exasperated. “Come on, buck up, it can’t be that bad. How bout I make you some tea, want aunty Rose to make you some tea? I bet you’d feel better.”

"O-Ok," Raelynn hiccupped slightly as she sniffled and rubbed at her eyes when being told to forget about it, glad that she hadn't truly harmed the small sprite in anyway. She seemed so nice, and she disliked the idea of causing her any problems. Though she would shake her head at the words of things going to be okay. Although she didn't word it, she highly doubted that thing would be okay.

At being told that it couldn't be that bad, Rae would shake her head because it really was that bad. "T-tea would be ni-nice," She spoke quietly tucking her hands together as her ears continued to droop. "But it is that bad," Insisting she would watch the small winged woman, "All I wanted to do was make him smile, even just a little but I made him mad at me... and... and he made me think about everything I can't remember." Muttering the last part she would lift her hands to rub at her stinging eyes again. "I don't know if I can go back into that house again," Raelynn whimpered softly looking back to it with terror. "So much sadness, so much anger... it hurts my head..."

"Right, right, we'll get you some tea then" Rose nodded her head and buzzed about frantically for a moment, having forgotten what exactly she was doing. "I'm sure it's not that- Him... Do you mean that little boy over there? That uh... what was his name" she snapped her fingers as she paused midair, tapping a foot on nothing as she thought. "Durvis, Damion, Daniel, David... Eh, it doesn't matter, you know who I'm talkin about.That kid? He's the one who upset ya? Well dang, times sure have changed. I remember when he was just a sweet little thing, always out here with his mum, guess he has really turned into his pops then."

She shook her head with a sigh and flew over to land on Raelynn's shoulder. "Anyway though, it'll be alright. You might not think so but it will be" she gave another sigh, looking around. "You can do it, you're a tough one, I can tell just lookin at ya!" This wasn't quite true but she really wanted the girl to feel better. "And yeah, that house is full of some pretty messed up emotions coming from some pretty messed up people but I bet you could help fix em. You wanted to make em happy didn't ya? You're tough just for wantin that... Now" she rested one hand on the girls head "let's get ya inside and with a nice cup of tea."

She closed her eyes and a soft but larger pink light engulfed them both as they melded into the tree both were on. If Raelynn were to be watching she would see first dark brown bark, fuzzing and turning slowly a light golden brown, solidifying as they appeared inside a circular room. It was the inside of the tree and it was decorated cheerily with lots of random shiny things and flowers. There were two chairs, a table, a little kitchen, and a couch, they were on the couch and Rose was bigger, still about a foot shorter than Raelynn, but bigger.

She hopped up from the couch quickly, crossing the decorated room to take a little pegged up handkerchief from the wall before passing it to Raelynn. "Wipe your face and stop that nonsence now okay? There's only smiles allowed in here." She said it with a mock discipline, her voice much more motherly and very warm as she tried to get her into a good mood. She'd hate to have the girl start up again.

Tugging her, rather long, red hair into a messily made ponytail she walked over to the tiny kitchen, really only a small fire pit and a large basin of water that seemed to be coming from somewhere beneath them. She grabbed a kettle from a pile of shiny things and filled it with water before dropping in two teabags. She hung it over the fire and rejoined Raelynn on the couch. "Hope you like chamomile" she said. "It's all I have right now... though if you don't I suppose i could always go see Daisy..."

"D-Durion," She would provide for the sprite as she was searching for the name. Hearing her speaking about how he used to be sweet, Rae would let a faint smile touch her lips but it was gone quickly. Her sadness was just lingering too tightly to her for the moment. She didn't get sad very often, but when she did, it could stay for awhile considering the few things that could make her sad were very heavy burdens for anyone to carry. Though at the mention of him turning into his father being brought up again would make her curious.

Sniffling she would shake her head softly, "I'm not tough," She protested, thinking it was nice of the little one to be trying to cheer her up, but Raelynn knew that she turly wasn't all that tough or even strong. She was sure it was only by miracle so far that she still survived in the world.

As the light engulfed them and things became fuzzy as Rose's magic would go to work, Rae's eyes would widen in astonishment and watched the way it worked. Though when the smaller woman passed her the handkerchief, her words would earn a faint smile as she would dab at her eyes before holding the cloth in her hands, idly playing with it as she watched the red haired sprite.

"Chamomile is good," Raelynn would answer with another smile, "The woman who nursed me back to health used to give that to me." She would tell her, a little bit of her normal cheerfulness peeking through again. Her ears would stop their drooping slowly as she considered her.

"Tell me about what Durion used to be like please?" She asked her politely, her tail flickering slightly at it's end, but otherwise that would be the only indication of her intense curiousity to find out what she had meant.

"Ah, right, Durion, Durion was his name." she nodded with a small smile on her face. "Thank ya kid, thanks. I'm no good with names ya know." She laughed and shook her head. She supposed it wasn't particularly her fault that she didn't remember him vividly, she hadn't been up close and personal with him since he was about twelve, that was what, six years ago now? Yep, just around there.

She nodded to herself again, disregarding Raelynn's little protest to her words. What more was there to say there really? Not much she thought.

She smiled when she saw her smile, glad she was cheering at least a bit. "Glad to hear you like it. Chamomile is my favorite personally." She watched the girl perk up considerably, or at least what she thought was a considerable amount, and almost asked about the woman she spoke of. However, her question about Durion cut that off and she thought that perhaps it was for the best. She had no idea what this girl would and wouldn't be comfortable talking in depth about and figured she should keep her questions simple and non too personal.

"What he was like?" she mused, looking up towards the high ceiling that was the top of the tree. "Well, he was quite the sweet little thing when I first met him, that was when he was about two. He could walk and talk by then but he didn't do either very often. His mother was of course the one to bring him out, she used to visit often with us sprites, she wanted to show off her baby. Anyway, he didn't much leave her side, even when I bade him to look around. He strayed perhaps a few steps from her but returned quite quickly, he seemed very fearful which upset me." She gave a soft sigh and passed a hand through her hair, pushing at her bangs and loose strands.

"Apparently the poor thing had rough nights. Children like him may not know their mothers company at night, nor their nurses, even when their need it great... It is apparently the reason he did not cry, even when hurt, he'd come to the realization that crying would gain him no help from his mother and no favor from his father... Any who, he was a grand child if not a bit odd, very disconnected. He got a little more talkative the next visit though, he was about four then, his mother deemed not to bring him for a year because his lessons had started. He's a very smart boy you know, very bright." She smiled thoughtfully.

"He used to love art and botany, those were things his mother taught him, He brought me a lovely arrangement of flowers one visit. She also taught him music, he had quite the talent with the piano back then, I was invited over to see. It was lovely, especially for a four year old. He was especially sweet then, and happened to love sweets... I think he still might. His father made him stop these lessons when he turned six, took away all his little friends, started the rough training, but I don't think he's grown all the way out of his love for sweets... The last time I saw him he was twelve... He'd grown several feet and gotten very strong. It was something that happened when he was nine, a growth spurt really, and could hardly touch anything without breaking it... It seemed to dishearten him greatly... Last I saw his mother this was still a problem, poor thing... Anyway, he used to be quite the sweet heart. I liked his visits even though they were quiet."

Raelynn would watch Rose attentively when she would start to answer her question, the deep blue eyes brightening to hear her talk so affectionately about Durion. Even if he had upset her terribly, Rae didn't blame him entirely. The house was a place of bad feelings lingering there, much like a ghost lingering behind to haunt it. And something told her that if all that lingering anger and sadness went away, it would improve everyone's moods somewhat. Even if not entirely it would still stop weighing them down as much...

Flickering her ears she would slowly start to smile some more as she continued to listen to her. The fondness in her voice and sweet way she talked about the boy was heartening. It also helped that Raelynn loved to here people talk about happy memories. In a way, it sometimes felt like it helped make up for her own lack memories all together. While even bad memories were still an improvement of her entire lack, she really much prefered the happier ones. By the time Rose stopped speaking Rae would be smiling brightly, although thinking about the differences now bogged down her spirit slightly.

"He's very very angry now," Raelynn would tell her with a soft sigh, "And thinks his pain is the only pain in the entire world. He lets it consume him too much." She murmured the words as her ears drooped again a little but no tears seemed near. It was just a good indication of the fact that she found what she was talking about on the depressing side. Though remembering her mention sweets, she perked up again a little.

"Do you remember what kind of sweets were his favorite?" Rae would ask suddenly, her tail beginning to lash through the air with her excitement and the idea that had occurred to her. She didn't know if it was a good idea, but she thought maybe it could be. So she wanted to give it a try.

Rose looked over at Raelynn, taking in her new, happier appearance. She was glad she'd been able to cheer her up with her own reminiscing. It had been nice remembering the days when that delightful little one came by. She used to really look forward to his visits, too bad they didn't happen any more. Thankfully his mother did come by and keep her updated with all the goings on.

Her brow furrowed slightly when she saw her ears droop and she understood why when she spoke. "Yes well, he does have quite a few reasons to be angry... or sad though that's not particularly allowed" this last part she muttered. "And in that house, besides the staff he is the only one in a pain that great... His world has always revolved around him."

She let her frown melt away though when she posed her next question and gave a soft smile. "Hm... as I recall he was a fan of strawberry cheesecake. Yes that was his favorite... He also liked brownies and sugar cookies too though... Are you planning to make him something? If you are I'd be happy to help."

Raelynn would scuff the floor with her foot and looked a little perplexed as she sighed. "I don't understand why he lets that be everything though." She stated, frowning softly as she continued to gaze down at her feet. "I have lots of things to be sad about but I smile more and just try to be happy for the good things and try to make my life a little better at a time." Huffing through her nose she pinned her ears back in a slight show of frustration, her tail thumping the ground for a moment before stilling as the subject turned to sweets.

Her ears perking back up fully she would smile to hear about strawberry shortcake, as Raelynn knew she really liked that. Of course she couldn't remember if it was her favorite or not, but it was really nummy. At the mentions of the others she smiled a little wider. And at Rose's question she would nod her head with a big of a hyperactive manner. "I'd like to! I've made it my goal to see him smile at least once! And I would really really like help." She blushed lightly as she declared liking help, lifting a slender hand to rub the back of her head.

"I don't remember if I know how to cook or not," Raelynn would admit with a sheepish smile.

"Mostly because that's what his pops wants" she shrugged dismissively, making the statement as if it was the simplest thing in the world. "Almost every happiness he's ever had was taken from him, I suppose by now he just suspects that any new joy he finds will be taken in the same way. He's very much alone, that one and I suppose very much lonely."

She smiled when Rae perked back up and laughed cheerily at her words. "You're going to make him smile? Well, from what I've heard of him that'll be quite the challenge. Good luck dear, I'll be happy ta help ya every step of the way if ya want me to." She looked at her inquisitively for a moment, head titled "don't know if you remember... Well, whatever, I'll help you with that too! Let's get started hm?" She popped up from her seat enthusiastically just as the kettle started to whistle.

She looked down, smiling sheepishly "after tea. We'll get started after tea." Nodding this affirmation to herself she scurried over to fetch the pot, moving over to the table to pour into the cups sitting there. "Come sit here for now" she waved Raelynn over, taking a seat herself as she set the kettle down. "Do you like cream and sugar? I know I do." As she said it she poured a rather large amount of cream into her cup, followed by five sugar cubes that she stirred in quickly. "As you can see, I have both right here so help yourself!"

Raelynn would huff slightly when Rose mentioned him being alone, shaking her head lightly, "He's not completely alone at least." She would tell her, blinking at the spritely woman, "Not completely and utterly alone." Gathering her soft blue hair in hands as she spoke she would gently play with it a little, trying to distract herself from the subject matter.

Hearing Rose mentioning making him smile a challenge, she would nod her head, understanding that it would be. Though at the offer of help she would shrug lightly. "I don't know exactly what I'll do that you can help with, but thank you for offering." Rae would say with a gentle smile, bringing her eyes back up to her.

At the idea of starting on making the sweets, she would have been pretty excited, but stopping at the sound of the tea she would nod to her when she mentioned having that first. Sitting down at the table with Rose she would nod again when told that she could help herself and would do so, putting in just enough sugar to make it sweet, and then cream to make it nice and creamy as well. Sipping at it she would smile as the taste filled her mouth.

"Nummy," She declared happily with a lifting of her ears before putting them back down to normal and smiled gently to Rose.

Rose smiled, sipping at her tea. She decided she'd continue no more on the topic of Durion's anger and loneliness. Her smile turned into a mildly mischievous smirk as she regarded Raelynn's statement. "I can help ya in plenty of ways" she told her. "Quite the effective lil spy I am, pretty good at gettin in and out of places. 'Em also friendly with his mother. Easy for me to talk to her."

"Glad ya like it dear" she said, "so nice to know ya like it." She took a large gulp, half her cup draining into her mouth. "Finish quick though and we can get on to makin' him somethin' sweet... Which one ya wanna do? The cheesecake?"

Raelynn would listen with interest to Rose's words about being an effective spy and getting in and out of places. Blinking slightly a slow grin would spread across her lips as she would nod happily to her. "All of that could be handy!" She exclaimed with a giggle before tilting her head slightly. "So you'd probably have ideas on how to use those skills in good ways, right?" Asking curiously she blinked dark blue eyes at her, in awe of what she could do. Though she certainly hoped she had some ideas because Rae normally didn't think about the sort of things she'd mentioned doing.

On the subject of the tea, Raelynn would nod her head happily, sipping at the tea politely until Rose mentioned finishing it quickly. Nodding again as her eyes grew a little wider before she tilted the cup back to empty it's contents into her mouth and she gulped it down, causing her to cough. Coughing she would pat her chest while covering her mouth for only a short moment until the coughing passed.

"The cheesecake! I love cheesecake too!" Raelynn would happily declare once her coughing fit was done with. Her tail flickering back and forth would amazingly enough miss any decorations as she scampered into the kitchen with her eyes bright and wide with wonder. Bouncing on her heels she looked to her with a cheerful smile. "So what do we do? What do you start with? Is it easy to make, or hard? " Rae would rattle off her questions in a chipper manner as she watched Rose anxiously to provide her with the answers she sought.

Rose nodded, a smile on her face. "Of course I have ideas, I'll tell you about them when we need to use them." Her smile melted into a grin as slightly mischievous thoughts ran through her mind. She was quick to stamp them out. Once upon a time she'd been quite the trouble maker, but now, up in years she tried to be more mellow. Eavesdropping used to a be a fun pastime, the gossiper that she is, but she found that now she preferred to be a part of the discussion, not a sneaky intruding party.

She watched Rae chug the remainder of her tea with a cocked head, her eyes widening when the girl started to cough. She almost stood but remained seated as she got herself under control. Good thing she hadn't choked. Rose wasn't too partial to having corpses in her house after all. They could be such a pain to move.

She smiled at Rae's excitement, standing slowly from her seat as the neko rushed into the kitchen. She followed behind humming softly to herself. "It's an easy enough recipe as long as you follow directions. I think i have a cookbook somewhere." She looked around the small shelves and cabinets, humming quietly again. "Ah, here it is and..." she flipped through the chapters "strawberry cheesecake." A smile on her face she began listing off ingredients pointing at her, very small, refrigerator as she gathered up the measuring cups, bowls, pans, and mixers.

Once everything was gathered and set out she draped on an apron, handing one to Rae as well, and started up work. It was always a mildly messy venture cooking with Rose but things went more or less without a hitch as they worked late into the night. When they were done and the cheesecake was left to chill in the fridge Rose offered to let Rae spend the remainder of the night, sending her off with a smile when the sun rolled back around, rising high in the sky.

"Come back anytime" she said cheerily as they morphed out of her home. "Do you need any help back to the castle?"

Raelynn, despite her excitement and hyperactive personality would turn out to be very good at listening to instruction as it turned out. While she did everything with a happy and quick manner, she always made sure not to assume things and if she had no idea on anything would ask. And the process of making the cheesecake would be a lot of fun with Rose for her. It helped her cheer right up as well, the little woman's home being filled with happier emotions that her sadness didn't linger nearly as much as it might have otherwise.

Being invited to spend the rest of the night there, Rae would agree happily and wwould have thanked her a lot. Otherwise, she would have just spent the night out in the trees. After what had happened earlier that night, she knew she wouldn't be able to sleep in that home, a nexus of misery. Although she didn't know exactly why and everything, she just knew through her instincts that it would have been a very bad idea if she was going to want to be able to sleep at all.

So although when she had slept, it wasn't the most restful of sleep considering she hadn't ever had a fully rested night in the year since she could remember due to the voice that called her name. But it was better then the nightmares she would have had in the house.

As she was seen off, Rae would clutch to the cheesecake gently, making sure that it would be protected without squishing it herself, and returned Rose's smile with her own cheerful one. At being told she could come back anytime, she would have giggled and nodded. "Thank you Rose, I really appreciate your help!" Raelynn would've thanked her happily, although would shake her head when asked if she needed help back to the castle.

"Nope, I can find my way!" Raelynn would let her know with another giggle before she set off, practically skipping as she moved with a gentle humming song in her throat. It was a big difference in comparison to the way that she had stumbled upon the tree.

Making her way back to the way she had exited the large manor she would stand on the ground and looked up to the open second story window and let out a huff of air. It was always so much easier going out a window then it was in... But that wouldn't stop her either, considering she was definitely a stubborn girl that wouldn't give up just because something seemed a little difficult. And being feline in nature, climbing wasn't all that hard anyways.

Taking the small bundle that she had tied the cheesecake in to protect it from the elements and the like into her mouth she would bend her knees before leaping up and catching onto some of the places in the building that her slender fingers could catch. The tips of her shoes would find good spots that she was able to brace with as well. Turning her ears back with determination she would begin to scale the wall with minimal difficulty. And as she hooked her fingers onto the open window sill she would hold on with one hand while she used the other to take the cake and placed it down on the sill itself a moment until she hauled herself up enough to then lower it to the floor inside. Once that was done she would crawl in the rest of the way, doing a bit of a somersault as she pulled in her legs, to land on the floor with a soft giggle.

Making sure now that the cake was still fine, she would grin as she saw that in transportation it had barely been harmed in any way and still looked very appetizing. Although just looking at it made her hungry, Rae wouldn't touch it because it was a gift and she wanted to give it to Durion, not eat it herself. So she would go and sit on the couch, placing the cake down as she would wait, wondering with excitement how he would react. Would he be happy? She hoped he would be, that was all she wanted after all.

Durion awoke in pain that morning, the scar along his back throbbing. His eyes closed tight he swore softly and groaned, rolling onto his side only to wince in pain. Today would be a bad day, a very bad day, it seemed he really couldn't catch a break. With a flustered sigh he sat up, growling at the pain that shot through him. "Damn it." He'd have to call off his training today... His father would not be please.

No He cut off thoughts of his father quickly, he didn't need that on top of this pain. And oh god was it a terrible pain, pulsing and aching and burning, like a line of fire had been lit from one side of his back to the other. The fabric of his shirt, when had he put one on anyway, rubbed against it in a very irritating way and he ripped it off, literally. Hands grasping tight to the fabric he pulled and ripped it right down the middle, throwing it into the trash as he stood stiffly.

Clenching his fist he rolled his shoulders and went to his wardrobe, changing into a looser pair of pants that didn't rub at the lower edge of his ailment quite so much. Once he was changed he considered just getting back in bed, staying there all day, or at least until the pain abated. No Again he stopped himself. He could call off training but he couldn't let himself be a lazy layabout. Instead he made for the door, stepping out of his room and into the little sitting room/study, intent on doing so reading before calling up for breakfast. He wasn't quite willing to go down stairs currently, he'd never been a fan of falling his ass.

He looked around the room, frowning slightly when he spotted Raelynn, then moved over toward the bookcase by the couch. His walk was stiff and pained but he stayed stone faced as he began to look through his selection. Once he'd found something he was content with, a war journal, he took a seat beside her, wincing as his back touched the couch and opened it. "When did you return?" he asked quietly, casually. He spared her a glance, eyes landing on the wrapped cake and nodded towards it. "And what's that you brought?"

At her first sight of Durion without his shirt on, she'd be unable to stop herself from gawking slightly, except she would quickly close her mouth and turned her gaze away, with a soft blush crawling over her pale cheeks. She wasn't exactly what one would call, used to seeing half naked men so she'd definitely not be able to dismiss it quite so easily. So for the moment she would keep her eyes off of him. After all, staring at him would probably upset him and she wasn't trying to do that. Especially after their argument. But she would sneak little glances when he was looking over his library of books.

"Morning," Raelynn greeted him sweetly when he sat down beside her. That alone would cause her surprise that he would actually be willing to sit beside her, not that she disliked it. Not that it made her keeping her eyes away from him all that much easier. But she would keep her eyes politely on his face, not one of weak will power. Seeing the pain he was in though, that saddened her and she wished she could do something to ease it. She didn't know what had caused it or why, but she immediately wished she could help.

"Just a few minutes ago," Rae answered his question honestly about when she'd returned, not finding any reason why she should lie anyways. Though she was certainly glad she hadn't had to wait long. Doing nothing for long periods of time really didn't do well for her... However when he would ask what it was that she had brought with her, Raelynn would let a big, bright smile curl over her lips.

"That," She giggled as she would lean forward and picked up the cheesecake before offering it to him, her eyes shining as she watched him, "Is a gift for you! Rose told me you liked strawberry cheesecake and helped me make it." A little bit of pride would seep into her voice as she spoke, unable to help it. She hadn't made a lot of stuff in the last year because she knew how to do so little and getting to make something even with help that looked like it had turned out well she was definitely proud of herself.

"I hope you like it," Raelynn would add on meekly as she peered up through her soft blue bangs.

Durion quirked an eyebrow at the answer to her first question. He hadn't hear the door, so how did she get in. His eyes traveled around the room, landing on the open window and his brows furrowed. He'd have to get that locked if she was going to make a habit out of using it for an entrance and exit. It could be rather problematic if any of his troops saw a girl bounding out of his window early in the morning or late at night.

He sighed but let that train of thought run off as she presented the cheesecake. Rose? Who in the world was- wait... that sprite his mother used to take him to see? How had she found... Never mind it, he was in too much pain to think about things like that right now. "A gift?" he asked with a humorless laugh. "Really now?" He took the item from her and looked it over for quite a while, his face blank as he gazed at it.

Finally, he leaned forward and set it down on the small table before them, wincing as his back protested the movement. He wondered, if he were to look back there, would that long raised scar be throbbing? It felt like it was. He straitened back up, leaning into the couch with a heavy breath, and returned to his book.

He waved dismissively over to a cabinet by his bookshelf. "There should be a knife in there, and plates... Thank you." He did like cheesecake, so he supposed he would eat at least some of it... and it wouldn't hurt to share it with her as well.

Raelynn would nod her head when he would seem to question the fact that he was being given a gift, although she wasn't sure if that was the case or not. Giving him a big bright smile she watched his face eagerly, watching for any sign of happiness, or if he disliked it. Either way, she wanted to know. Because with the new determination of having made a new friend, Raelynn was going to make sure that she was going to try hard to do something to make him smile. Her best lead right now was sweet foods and so she would be using that at least for the moment.

When he had leaned forward however to set it down, her eyes had widened at seeing the vicious scar before softening. Naive she might have been, but far from stupid she would quickly compose her face so that it wouldn't show any of the emotion she felt about his injury. She had a feeling he'd get upset if she were to show any sympathy of any sort about the scar.

Looking over to the cabinet that he had indicated first she'd nod to him next before jumping to her feet with that bright grin still showing as she would practically skip all the way over. Her tail flickering happily as her ears were up and perky she would go into it and promptly dug out the requested items. Noting he had said plates, as in plural, she would hope that he meant to share. Although she wouldn't be upset if he didn't because she had given it to him as a gift afterall, she would be happy if he did. It would seem that they had one thing in common and that was a sweet tooth. And she was very curious to how the cheesecake would taste.

Once she'd gathered what was needed she would move back, slower this time as she was being careful so she didn't break anything, having learn her lesson long ago about being wreckless around breakable items. Setting the plates and cutlery down she would smile to him happily. "Would you want me to cut it? She asked sweetly her ears twitching lightly as she gazed at him curiously.

Durion watched her bound over to the cabinet from behind his book and wondered how any one creature could have so much energy. In hindsight he was probably exaggerating the level of eagerness she displayed because he completely lacked any himself. This painful nuisance on his back made sure of that. Anytime it decided to cause him pain usually one of two things happened, he either got very angry and violent or he got very quiet and submissive. Today it seemed he was somewhere in the middle, he was far from his usual self in his views on violence, namely he didn't feel the want to commit any today, but he wasn't the soft spoken, mild mannered creature he sometimes became when the pain was at its worst.

He simply lacked energy or the will power needed to do anything but sit here, read, and hopefully eat some cheesecake... He really did like cheesecake. This was bizarre.

He watched her come back, barely noticing the slowness in her steps as she carefully carried back everything, and then returned to his book. He caught her smile and blinked at the question asked. "Go ahead" he said dismissively, turning a page. The less moving he had to do the better. He paused in his reading, now that he thought about it he should call down his breakfast order before they all started cleaning up. He knew it was still early but sometimes his parents skipped breakfast, or only ate a bit, and the kitchen staff began their cleaning early. He hatted calling down after they'd started because the food was never as good since they were rushed.

He lowered his book and looked at Raelynn again, surely she was hungry. As far as he knew she hadn't eaten anything besides that apple she'd stolen the other day... or perhaps Rose had fed her. Either way, in his mild mood he felt he should ask her "anything you want for breakfast?" He was just going to have his normal order sent up and he was feeling rather ravenous so it would be best if she got her own food. It was unwise to expect Durion to share meals. Desserts maybe, when he was like this, but meals, never. He was more likely to accidentally bite your hand off than to offer you anything he received.

Raelynn hummed softly to herself when she moved from one end of the room, but stopped as she would place the plates down and had looked to him. Twitching her black ears she would have watched with a soft smile until he would answer her question. Nodding acknowledgement, she would carefully pick up the knife and carefully began to slice into the cheesecake, making fair sized but neat and even pieces. Sliding a piece onto a plate each she would smile as she turned and held it out to him. "I hope you like it," Rae would tell him with a soft smile as she spoke gently, meekly but still eager to know if he would.

At the question of wanting food for breakfast, she blinked and nodded slightly as she acknowledged his question and hummed to herself as she thought. What would be good for breakfast... her tail swayed at a gentle back and forth pace as she tried to think, her ears flickering a little bit before she smiled. "If it wouldn't be a problem, I would enjoy fresh fruit," Raelynn would answer his question with a tilt to her head. She didn't know if it would be a problem or not so was curious because she didn't want to cause any trouble at all.

---------- Post added at 02:56 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:55 AM ----------

((sorry is a bit short, should be safe to say it prolly won't stay that way))

Durion took the plate from her, giving a small nod and another muttered “thank you.” He picked at it for a moment before slicing off the tip with his fork. He was just a little unsure of it. It looked good, but he had to remember that last night he’d made her quite upset and wasn’t sure if she was one in the mind of revenge. He didn’t think so but still… He slid the little bit into his mouth and nodded his approval. It was certainly good, not the best but good. “I like it” he told her softly, eating a bit more.

At her answer to her preferred breakfast he nodded. “No trouble” he told her. “Any particular fruit, or would you just like a fruit salad?” He really was being more civil than usual… it felt odd but not particularly unpleasant. Really, acting like this reminded him of his childhood, the time when his mother would still touch him and he could touch her, the time when he still had friends.

He sighed and leaned back into the couch again, wincing as the scar rubbed against the smooth material. He closed his eyes and waited patiently for Raelynn to give him an answer so he could call down and order. He really just wanted to eat then go soak in the bath for a few hours… maybe sleep afterward. He hated this, he hated this stupid scar.

Hearing him tell her that he liked it would bring a bright smile to her soft face as her ears perked straight up and she giggled. She would have to tell Rose that he liked it, thinking she would like to hear that. And of course it was wonderful to hear that the first thing she had made since she could remember turned out well enough to be liked by the person it was meant for. Now that she had the answer she wanted she would dig into the slice she had been holding, eating neatly and precisely but fairly quickly.

Though at his following questions she would place a finger to her lips as she softly hummed in thought before giving a gentle smile. "A fruit salad would be wonderful," Raelynn would tell him in answer as she decided. It was very nice for her to sit there and be able to just talk with him, even if it wasn't much in the way of an actual conversation, the essence in the room warmed her heart. The calmness of it all... She didn't often get to sit and talk with people since they were always so busy with their lives...

Waiting for a few moments after she had answered him, she would purse her lips gently, looking a bit worried. Lifting her hand she would scratch at her ear nervously, the black appendages flickering slightly. "It really bothers you, doesn't it?" Rae would ask him quietly as she wanted to continue speaking to him but wasn't entirely sure if the subject would be well receieved.

"Um... I was... just wondering," She hesitated, taking a deep breath before exhaling, bringing up her wide eyes to meet his gaze if he had opened his eyes again. "if... if you don't mind... how you got that scar." Raelynn fiddled with her hands in her lap anxiously, her heart racing in her chest as she spoke, falling silent after although she continued to watch him.

Durion nodded to her with her answer and shoved one hand into the couch cushions. He was fairly sure that the phone had fallen in there some time yesterday. Hopefully it would still hold a charge, otherwise he'd have to get up and go to his room to find the other one and he didn't really want to move. "Ah" he made a soft noise as his hand wrapped around the object and he made sure not to squeeze. He drew it out and was rather glad to see that the buttons still glowed a faint red, signaling that they still had power. He pressed the three, speed dial for the kitchen, and placed the order quickly before hanging up and dropping the phone down beside him.

He gave a soft hum and relaxed back into the couch for a moment until she began to speak. His shoulders tensed for a moment as he felt that usual anger bubbling up inside of him. It seemed he had enough energy to get upset and as she finished with her timid question he could feel the words practically booming out of him as he yelled. "It is none of your concern!"

He regretted it a moment later, the muscles of his back taunt he could feel the pain throbbing stronger now and resisted the urge to cry out in pain and discontent. He slumped back against the couch and breathed deeply, eyes squeezed tight for a moment against the ache. It was none of her business, none but... He cracked one eye open and looked over for her, waiting to gauge her reaction. She meant no offense, he could tell in the way she had asked the question, she'd seemed rather nervous about it. Still, he never was one to talk about things like this, short comings of his own. He sighed.

The pain was obviously making his delirious because now he almost, almost felt bad for snapping at her. "Sorry..." he muttered. "Yes... yes it is a bother... it hurts." He growled low in his chest as his mind settled on that pain again and amplified it. He grimaced. "My father..." he couldn't focus on his thoughts any more. The outburst had spent too much of his energy, had caused him too much pain and his head was spinning. He lifted up one hand, the movement agitating his back, and rested it over his eyes with another growl. "It hurts" he said again, though this time it was much quieter, almost a whimper, very pained. "It hurts." He repeated, pressing his hand harder against his eyes.

When Durion yelled at her in answer to her question Rae would flinch backwards from him, her slender fingers clenching tightly to the plate that she held, casting her gaze downwards. She truly hadn't meant to upset him, but the curiousity had been eating at her. And sometimes, knowing the cause of an injury could help to heal it. Not always of course, but sometimes, she thought.

Although he wouldn't cry out in pain it wouldn't be hard to tell that he was in the way that he slumped back against the couch, the energy he had used up apparent. A softness would enter her expression as she would study him from the opposite end of the couch where she had flinched backwards into. And despite being yelled at she did not show fear directly of him, but she still did show concern as she watched him quietly for the moment.

However his apology would come as a surprise to her, causing her dark blue eyes to widen before she blinked them at him. Staying silent though she listened to the rest of what he had to say. The grimace he made telling her of the pain still bothering him greatly. Gently putting down the plate she had been holding she watched as he placed his hand over his eyes. His mention of his father would have her more curious now, but she wouldn't push the subject. Even in her naivete, Raelyn had a sense of what would be pushing too much. However that didn't stop her from wondering, and thinking that it wasn't a wonder there was so much anger.

Shifting cautiously closer over to Durion, Raelyn would worry her lip gently as she considered offering something, but unsure she would hesitate a moment before coming ot the decision to offer anyways.

"I... I don't know if it will help..." Raelyn spoke softly, fidgeting slightly again with her hands, "But, if you like... I can... try and help relieve some of your pain." She offered gently as she moved closer to him.

If he would allow her to, or not stop her from doing so, Rae would gently place her hands upon his shoulders and with a touch almost as light as a butterflies would begin to massage the area. Her slight fingers would seem to find the tense muscles with ease, moving softly to massage out the knots that she could.