OOM All Skate Skellig Dream Magic Weirdness -Part Nine

[brave_kreyu]

Kreyu has gathered plenty of henna and even woad, a blue dye, for some experiments with designs on Skellig's skin.

"The blue would look lovely on you, I think," she remarks. "Your fairer skin would show it off quite well. Though I am far more experienced in applying henna."

She's gathered bits and pieces of designs to look at for inspiration. Celtic style knots, viking style abstract patterns and stylized beasts, the mandala and floral type designs he's admired on her, and more.

Comments

[27_53]

"I look forward to such adventures," Skellig says honestly. "And wherever you would guide us to in our travels."

And he knows that cold weather, leaves changing, snow falling from the sky - those are all the more reasons to have her cuddled close to him, curled up at his side - things he will never turn down the opportunity for!

"Do you expect it will take long, the matter of settling the debts?" He can sense her heartbeat rising as she 'daydreams' of the adventures they may find themselves in once their task has been completed. "I know we will have to pack for that, then our journey past it."

[brave_kreyu]

"I do not think it will take long," she says after a little thought. "Especially if I pull out a draconic shape." She chuckles, the sound slightly wicked.

"Due to politics, I will have to look different than I usually do when we visit Xenophon's homeland. I had thought of using a shape I have not taken in a long time -a serpentine like dragon, like Elihu, but covered in feathers of all the colors of the rainbow. What do you think?"

[27_53]

"I think it sounds a lovely shape," he says, shifting their bodies so that they can better curl up together in the bed, his wings tucked carefully at his back and a bit out of the way - that way they can settle face to face easier. "You are already more radiant than the brightest rainbow that may grace the sky, so it would be fitting to see you as such."

He reaches out and strokes a bit of her hair back away from her face, tucking an unruly strand behind her ear.

"The cat was smart," he adds. "You did not wound your beak and hands, this time, in getting to me."

[brave_kreyu]

She flushes when he says she is more radiant than any rainbow, but she's pleased too. She leans into his touch when he strokes her hair back out of her face.

She's a bit embarrassed about how she damaged herself last time. "It helped that I couldn't, couldn't smell your blood, feel that you were dying."

"And I CAN learn from my mistakes, no matter what Revenin sometimes mutters," she huffs under her breath.

[27_53]

"Your desire to get to me, rescue your mate...that was no mistake," Skellig says with a faint shrug. "If I were to feel the same from you, I might act in a similar fashion. And if we are being honest, it is my hope that you will never have to feel that way again, feel and sense those feelings through our bond, smell my blood in the way that you did."

Skellig has no intention of going anywhere, thank you very much!

"Your shifting...are you only able to call upon shapes that you can used before, or can you adapt them to your needs?"

[brave_kreyu]

She nods. "That is my hope too. Never again would still be entirely too soon."

She smiles, proud. "I can take the shape of any living creature that I please, alter them to suit my needs. It is more expensive, in terms of energy, than taking one of the shapes of my soul."

"My shape changing is my greatest skill, as Revenin's is fire and Elihu's is storm."

[27_53]

Nodding, he makes note of those details - Revenin fire, Elihu storm, Kreyu shape - and tucks those thoughts away into his brain to save details of later.

"Should I take a different form, while I am present? I would not wish to cause a scene upon our arrival in Mycenae," he says. "You will likely have to rework another piece of jewelry, but I am sure there are more to find."

[brave_kreyu]

"You should be able to change how you appear by picturing a new shape in your mind when you put on the amulet," Kreyu replies. "It may take some practice for you to get the new form set in your mind, but we will have time for that."

She smiles. "Not that I would object to finding new jewelry to decorate you with."

[27_53]

"I will work to practice it," he says. "But it may be easier if you are the one who finds other pieces for me to wear in the meantime."

All of that, however, can come later. Right now he is sprawled out and curled up in the bed with her, slowly relaxing in their space.

[brave_kreyu]

"Will definitely need to have clothing made when we start to get North enough that it gets cold," she muses out loud as they relax.

"Might need to bundle up in some blankets by the fire with my husband, wait out a storm or two."

[27_53]

Stretching slightly, the contact of his body and hands against hers is still strictly nonchalant, relaxed - he is in no mood or effort to take her and truly bed her in this space tonight, he is just too tired.

But that thought is one that pleases him.

"I am certain that we will find a place to do that," he says. "I would gladly curl up with you, share warmth and whatever our bodies might desire to aid us in keeping comfortable." A smirk. "Even though it will take longer to undress, we will likely manage."

[brave_kreyu]

She's tired too, although the idea of undressing all those layers off of Skellig at some future date is a pleasant one.

"Or we might see what we can do with minimal undressing," she suggests as she snuggles closer.

She yawns lightly, runs her fingers through his hair.

[27_53]

A slightly wicked smirk pulls at one corner of his mouth as he thinks of just what that might entail, but he doesn't act any further on the thought as they snuggle in together.

"I am no cat, and I cannot purr," he says softly. "But I do quite enjoy your fingers in my hair."

(Which she already knows very well, but it is always worth reminding her of the fact!)

[brave_kreyu]

"You just don't purr out loud," she murmurs sleepily. "Your heart is purring for you, can feel it."

[27_53]

Skellig leans in and presses his lips to her forehead. "You continue to amaze me, my love," he whispers softly. "I am grateful for it. Now we should sleep. It has been a very long day."

He settles in a little closer, draws her body against his, appreciating the contact skin to skin - even though they are not going to be intimate together, this is a different form of closeness, one he needs, one they both need tonight.

[brave_kreyu]

A different kind of intimacy than sex, but a necessary and enjoyable one! She murmurs a noise that seems like agreement, settles herself against him.

They will both sleep deeply, letting bodies, minds, and hearts recover.

He will wake before her this time, in the quiet of the Lair.

[27_53]

The Lair is quiet and still, the hearth-fire a faint glow across the room, her body resting comfortably curled up against him. It takes several moments for his awareness to grow to the point where he actually understands what is happening, but the close contact with her body aids in reaffirming his grasp on 'reality'.

They are here together in the Lair.
They are safe, on solid ground - not on board a ship.
They are themselves, not a forest goddess and her virgin lover.

He slightly shifts against her, but then settles in again for another hour of sleep - this sleep is lighter, more of a 'doze' than anything, but it is still welcome. He takes note of her breathing patterns, the way her chest rises and falls, the quiet noises she makes as she shifts in her sleep and cuddles closer to him. All of those are uniquely her and he loves it greatly.

[brave_kreyu]

She begins to rise to awareness, going into a shallower level of sleep. She shifts her position, wraps herself around him as though he were a body pillow.

A little while after that, she wakes, blinks sleep from her eyes. "Hello, love." She nuzzles against his neck.

[27_53]

Now that she is awake, he shifts his hand up to start stroking his fingers through her hair - it is a bit of a wild mess at the moment, but he is careful to avoid any snags.

Echoing her softly, he replies the same. "Hello, love." Shifting his head, he presses his lips to her hair. "That was a much finer sleep than last night upon that ship."

[brave_kreyu]

"Much finer," she agrees. She sighs in contentment at his fingers in her hair.

"I should get up and get us something to eat, but you are so very comfortable to lounge upon." Such a dilemma!

[27_53]

"Your weight on my body is quite soothing," he stretches slightly but does not move all that much, enjoying the feel of her sprawled across and wrapped around him. "Food can wait awhile longer."

Her presence, the strength of these lines running through the Lair, all of it is familiar and he is grateful to be grounded in such a way.

"We will need to pack wisely," he says with a yawn. "I assume we will stop back here on our return trek to the Village, as there are things we wish to take with us that perhaps would not be smart to travel North with?"

Namely, copious amounts of supplies and goods - he is a light traveler by nature himself, and that will leave more room for treasures to be gathered along the way...

[brave_kreyu]

"We will definitely be stopping by on the way back to the village," she assures him. "I was planning on bringing a fair amount of wealth with us, both to pay debts and to buy whatever we might need along the way other than the basics."

Means of making fire, storing water, bedding for sleeping, those they will take with them.

"I have a few chitons that will fit you, those should do until we reach colder climes."

[27_53]

"I trust your judgement," Skellig says. "You have not led me astray yet, as far as choosing how I should dress."

Granted, the idea of the kilt was a bit difficult to swallow at first, but now he is quite comfortable with it, and gotten accustomed to the style. He will adapt to whatever is needed for blending in and functionality just fine.

"I know we will be able to hunt along the way, but it would be wise to take some basic foodstuffs as well, just in case." He allows his fingers to wander from her hair to her bare shoulder, tracing softly. "Not that I doubt your abilities to provide for us."

[brave_kreyu]

"We will definitely take some basics with us," she agrees. "Though we will need to pick up more as we travel, most likely."

His fingers tracing her shoulder feel nice, and she makes a pleased sound. "Should be able to use up what won't keep for today's meals, take any cooked leftovers with us for our first meals on the way to Xenophon's homeland."

She chuckles as a thought strikes her. "If you want me to dance again for you in that dress, it will have to be today or you will need to wait a bit." It weighs forty pounds, they are NOT taking it with them!

[27_53]

"I could lighten it," he counters teasingly, before he shakes his head. "But I think it would be best if it remains here, for safekeeping." Plus, it is likely easily identifiable as belonging to her, and with the secrecy that they have used so far over the last few days...he would not risk it.

He sighs and tips his head back, resting it against the pillow - he is very comfortable and has zero desire to move, even as they discuss all that it is they need to do.

"I assume that your comment to him earlier about heights was in regards to having him fly beside me, as we would travel much faster in your dragon form?"