taken by the view

It had been a busy season, and Alys and Tal had traveled extensively until the past few days, when a small break between deliveries had given them a vacation of sorts. Instead of going back home - spending precious time on travel - they'd decided to enjoy themselves in Torchline, taking advantage of the region's warm sun and sandy beaches. Alys hadn't spent much time here in the past, and so it was that the pair had spent time sightseeing, with Tal as the seer's guide. On this particular morning, though, Alys had offered some readings in Haulani, arriving back at the Peregrine around noon. She and Tal had agreed to meet there before heading to the markets for lunch and some shopping.

For whatever reason, she found herself in an odd mood, and she leaned against the Peregrine's railing as she waited for Tal, brooding. Her eyes were on the distant horizon - and the island that lay there like a dark promise. Sascha sat at her feet, leaning against her bonded's legs, offering support the only way she knew how. Every now and then, the ursur would nudge at Alys's thigh, attempting to draw the seer's attention. Each time, Alys would drop a hand absently to Sascha's head for a pat before retreating once more into her mind.

Part of it was that she was trying to get a handle on how she was feeling before her partner arrived. Whatever her problem was, it would be unfair to derail their plans simply because she was in a mood. She bit her lip as she stared out over the choppy waves. Anxious, she decided. That was her problem. She was worried, and no amount of the happiness that she'd found in traveling once more with Tal could completely snuff it out.

Alys

Tal had been spending a lot of time in Torchline lately. Maybe too much. But having the Void barriers up around the whole region except you, Starfall made it one of the few places that he felt he could relax. There were always plenty of deliveries to be made there, either from people in other regions or just between the port and the city proper, so at least he wasn't lacking for work, either. He'd headed out especially early today so that he could get all of his deliveries made by noon because he had plans to take the afternoon off.

And he was looking forward to a date day with his partner.

As usual, it was Boreal who made it back to the Peregrine first. The dragon circled overhead and then came down for a comparatively sedate landing on the sand, chortling happily as she wove around Alys and Sascha, greeting them as if she hadn't just seen them a few hours earlier.

Tal was a few minutes behind his companion, but all lingering thoughts of work and asshole customers faded away as he saw his three favorites in the world gathered together on the beach: his companion, his partner (and her companion), and his skyboat. His scowl lifted into a grin, the soft and bright one that only Alys and Boreal ever saw, and he lengthened his stride to reach them more quickly. "Hey," he called out quietly, giving her fair warning before he slipped his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder, looking out over the waves with her. "Hope I didn't keep y'waitin' too long?"

Boreal's appearance in the sky heralded the courier's arrival, but Alys was so absorbed in her thoughts that she only noticed when the dragon landed nearby, weaving around the seer and the ursur in greeting. Alys looked down, a faint smile on her lips, and scratched the dragon's horns just the way she liked. The woman's smile widened, her heart already feeling lighter, as her partner came into view. It seemed that no matter her worries and anxieties, his presence could at least provide some modicum of calm.

Tal's arms wrapped around her waist, and she greeted him by leaning back into his chest and resting her hands atop his. "Hey," she repeated back to him. "No, it's only been a few minutes." A few minutes of grumpiness and brooding that had felt all the longer for her foul mood. At her feet, Sascha greeted Tal by snufffling at his legs, leaning affectionately against his knees before returning her attention to her bonded.

The seer forced her gaze from Starfall. "Are you ready for lunch?" she asked, her voice soft and sweet in a way that was just for Tal. But there was something muted about her today, something that made it clear that something weighed heavily on her mind.

Alys

Boreal chortled at the attention, leaning into the scratches before her human showed up to steal the show. She was resigned to it by now, however, and made no audible protest aside from a heavy sigh.

Tal stuck his tongue out at her briefly before his partner was back in his arms, leaning against him and fitting into place like a missing piece of his puzzle. He hummed a brief, relieved acknowledgment that she hadn't been waiting too long, the sound breaking off as he grinned at the feel of Sascha's nose and her weight against his legs. "Hey, little bear," he murmured affectionately down at her before pressing a kiss to Alys's ear.

As she turned her head to look away, it was perhaps an accident of timing or just coincidence that he turned his to follow her gaze... pale eyes alighting on the violet island with its promise of nightmares and misery. His own buoyant mood fell a little, smile fading as he tightened his hold a little, seeking comfort and offering silent protection at the same time. "Um. Lunch? Yeah..." He bit his lip, then pulled slightly away, finally sensing something amiss in spite of the way the seer's voice made his heart melt.

He pulled back just far enough that he could see her face if he leaned a little to the side, hands still beneath hers on her waist and concern in his warm gaze. "Somethin' wrong?"

Tal had always been attentive to Alys's moods, and today was no exception. Of course, she'd never been particularly good at hiding her emotions, so it was no surprise when he pulled away far enough to look at her and asked if something was wrong. Tearing her eyes away from the island out at sea, she tilted her head up to meet his gaze and made a face. "My readings today were..." She didn't have a word for it, exactly, except perhaps unpleasant. "Everyone wants to know what the future holds, but they're not asking about love or money or any of the usual things these days. They want to know about the Void."

And she didn't have the answers. Not for that, anyway. Love and money and fame and fortune - those things, at least, were partially controlled by a person's actions. Her messages could focus more on the internal than the external, coaxing out hidden or forgotten pieces of a person's psyche that could support their efforts to gain what they wanted. The Void, though... that was completely out of anyone's control. Her readings had been mysterious at best, and she knew that some people had departed feeling somewhat less than satisfied.

Aside from the fact that her reputation was at stake, she hated not knowing as much as her customers. "It just... I'm worried, Tal. I know that the Void can be beaten - I know you've fought against it and won. But... what if..." She swallowed down the rising fear, but she couldn't hide the worry from her eyes. Twisting to face him without removing herself from his arms, she lifted a hand to touch his cheek. "What if something happens to you? I don't... I don't know what I'd do."

Alys

He bit his lip at the revelation that her readings had been so rough lately. Especially when the Void was mentioned and he couldn't stop himself from lifting his gaze from her face to glare at the purple island in the distance. He shook his frustration off quickly, though, returning his full attention to her and flexing his hands on her waist gently to try and offer what comfort he could. Living with Alys as long as he had, he could already guess some of the problems inherent in people asking her about the Void. It was like asking about the weather a month away, or asking if they were going to get hit by a meteor someday.

Her readings just didn't work like that.

But that wasn't the only thing worrying his partner and closest companion yes, aside from you, Boreal. The courier's brows had been pulling together worriedly as Alys continued, but as her hand brushed his cheek some of the tension in his face eased and he tilted his head into the contact. The question didn't hit hard, but it went deep and he swallowed hard, exhaling slowly as he tried to find an answer to a question that...

Well, it didn't have one. Not one that he could give, at least.

"I mean... Caido's not exactly safe, even without th'Void," he said with a grimace, knowing it was far from reassuring. "... Hail, sorry. I'm bad at this. But... I'm gonna do my best not t'leave you alone," he promised, leaning down to rest his forehead against hers, their noses brushing. "Just... promise me th'same? I love you, Alys Glasse. An' I don't want t'go back t'livin' without you."

Sure, perhaps Tal was less than reassuring, and perhaps Alys's heart sank a little bit at the reminder that Caido wasn't exactly a safe kind of place, even before - but she wouldn't have wanted him to condescend to her, or to lie, or to promise something that she knew full well would be an impossible vow. After all, she could get hit by a meteor tomorrow, and there would be nothing she could do about it. So, too, could something terrible happen to those she loved.

So she wrinkled her nose at him in silent acknowledgement that yes, things were dangerous and no, he couldn't promise her forever. But a smile appeared on her face and the tightness in her chest lessened as he offered his best. "That's all I could ask," she agreed. "And I love you, too. And I'll do my best to make sure you don't ever have to live without me."

Her eyes were warm as she enjoyed the feel of his forehead against hers, the comfort of his closeness reassuring. At least when he was here, when he was with her, she could let go of some of the worry that hung over her like a cloud, some days. And because she loved him so deeply that she couldn't find words to describe the enormity of the emotion, and because he was so close and warm and safe, she stood briefly on tiptoe so that she could kiss him on the cheek opposite where her hand still cradled his face.

Alys

Her smile eased the anxiety in his chest, putting to rest the worry that he'd put his foot in his mouth again. Well, he had, but at least it wasn't too badly. "Thank you," he murmured as they leaned together, enjoying the simple pleasure of being with each other. When he was with her like this he could breathe without the weight of his business or the threats of a world sliding towards war crushing the air from his lungs. He could let down the prickly walls of his emotional defenses and let himself feel safe and loved, and able to love in return without fear of rejection or mockery.

Her lips brushed his cheek and his smile widened, helplessly soft and filled with a delight he didn't know how to hide. Unable to speak at first, the only thing he could do was wrap his arms back around his partner's waist, pulling her closer. At a loss for words he just hugged her tight, wishing with all his heart that the moment would last forever.

It couldn't unfortunately. A wave washed higher up on the shore than the rest, startling Boreal as it raced over her toes. She huffed and heaved herself up to chase after it, biting happily at the surf and then spitting it out again when it turned out to be salty. Tal tried to stifle a laugh against Alys's hair, burying his face into the crook of her neck as he snickered at his companion's silly antics. "I think she's tryin' t'tell me she wants lunch," he admitted with a grin. "Feel up to a date?"

As a wave crested nearby, racing over Boreal's toes (and Sascha's paws, much to the ursur's chagrin), Alys wished fervently that they could just stay like this, that the world would stop turning around them and simply stop. And for a few heartbeats, at least, it did.

Boreal ran after the surf, nipping at the water in a way that was not unlike a dog, drawing a laugh from Alys as she twisted her head to watch. If it had been anything else the dragon was chasing - a butterfly, perhaps, or a leaf on the wind - then Sascha might have joined her. Unfortunately, the little bear didn't particularly like getting wet, and she trundled away from the water with a grumble, attempting to shake the water from her paws as she went. Alys hid her smile in Tal's chest.

At Tal's invitation, Alys grinned, feeling far lighter than she had mere moments before. "Always," she agreed, and released all of Tal but one hand. Intertwining her fingers with his, she set off for the city, glad to enjoy a walk on the beach on their way to whatever food sounded appealing. "Did you have any specific place in mind?"

Alys

Boreal was perfectly happy to stomp around in the waves once she remembered that they weren't good to bite, leaving poor Sascha to retreat from her splashes to avoid a dousing. Tal cradled his arms around Alys, resting his cheek on her hair as he watched the dragon shamelessly acting like a young pup, and resolutely turned his thoughts away from Starfall and anything pertaining to the Void.

Since they were in Torchline it was a lot easier than just about anywhere else. There were no violet-tinged plants or animals to defend against, and as long as he didn't look to the purple-streaked horizon he could ignore everything that wasn't his partner.

Which didn't make him eager to let her go. He loosened his embrace with a sigh, parting from Alys until only their clasped hands connected them. Their fingers were firmly twined together, however, and he squeezed her hand gently as he started heading into the nearby Port. "Not really." he admitted, a touch sheepish. "I wanted t'see what you were feelin' like first. A proper meal, like fish tacos or rhampire wings, or somethin' lighter, like tea an' scones, or goin' straight for dessert?"

Torchline was pristine, particularly when compared with some of the other places they'd traveled of late, places that were tinged vaguely purple by all the Void flora and fauna that lurked nearby. It was nice to be able to enjoy a carefree outing. Even if there was still a tinge of anxiety and worry in the back of Alys's mind, she felt calmer after admitting her concerns to Tal. Besides, who wasn't a little worried and a little anxious, these days?

"A proper meal would be nice," she admitted as the strolled down the beach, Boreal chasing waves and Sascha trundling along in their wake. As if in support, her stomach growled. She couldn't remember if she'd eaten breakfast before setting out to offer readings to her Torchline-based clientele. "But definitely dessert, after."

The seer took a moment to appreciate the feel of the sand between her toes, the coolness of the sea lapping at her feet. "I think we deserve a vacation," she announced, grinning playfully as she bumped Tal's arm with her shoulder. "A few days to stay in bed and eat delicious food and do absolutely nothing." It was a dream, of course - they were busy, and the world was crazy, and it wasn't really the time for such things. But it was a nice dream all the same. "If you could go anywhere in Caido, where would you go?" If there was no Void to worry about, was the silent addition.

Alys

Tal grinned down at his partner as her stomach joined the conversation. "I'm gettin' a little tired o' fish," he admitted. He'd been in Torchline a lot lately, after all. "How about th' rhampire wings?" Not that rhampires had wings, but it was a popular local name for big chicken wings, breaded and fried and served with a variety of sauces. Not necessarily a romantic date spot, but a potentially fun one if Alys didn't mind the potential mess! "Then we can track down some ice cream after?" The perfect dessert for cooling down on a hot summer day, especially for a pair of ex-pat Halovians.

He happily walked beside Alys as they talked, brushing his shoulder against hers with every other step just for the joy of it. Every once in a while he stole a glance at her profile, a soft smile threatening to linger on his lips as they stepped up onto the boardwalk leading into the port proper.

"A vacation?" He pretended confusion, furrowing his brow until Alys explained just what a vacation was. "Ooooh, you mean like bein' sick?" he teased, swaying from the shoulder bump with an exaggerated reaction. At her question, though, his grin faded a little as he screwed up his face in thought. "Um. Anywhere...? I... dunno. Maybe... the Draig?" he said hesitantly. "It's th'only place I haven't been before an'... hail, I'm curious," he admitted ruefully. "But if y'mean my favorite place? ...Probably our home in King's End." He smiled down at her, then ducked his head, ears turning pink. "I mean. As long as you're there, too."

"Rhampire wings and ice cream, it is," Alys agreed, smiling up at her partner. In truth, it didn't really matter to her where they went - just that they went together. Although rhampire wings weren't particularly romantic, she knew that eating them with Tal would be. And ice cream was, of course, always a welcome addition to any meal.

They stepped up on the boardwalk, and Alys paused to slip her feet into the sandals she'd been carrying in one hand as they walked along the sand, never letting go of Tal's hand with the other. As they resumed walking and talking, Sascha kept a little closer, not being inclined to wander as they approached the hustle and bustle of the port proper.

"I suppose being sick would force you to take a break," Alys said thoughtfully, wrinkling her nose playfully at her partner's teasing. Then she listened as he thought aloud, nodding along as he suggested the Draig. Personally, Alys had no particular interest in testing her ability to survive against the dragons that lived there, but that was neither here nor there. She supposed that if it wasn't for that, she might be more intrigued by the place, given that so few ventured there and returned.

But then Tal turned sweet, and Alys blushed as she smiled shyly at him. She bumped her shoulder into him affectionately. "Well, I hope you wouldn't take a vacation without me," she teased, squeezing his hand. "Of course I'd be there."

She remembered, suddenly, some of the plans they'd made a few seasons prior. It might not be much of a vacation, but it might lead them home for a few days, and she thought that might be rather nice. "Hey, maybe we can take a look around for seeds for the garden, after we've eaten? We never did get around to doing that last season. We might still have time for some seasonal flowers, if we make a trip home soon to plant them."

Alys

Tal paused with Alys, waiting until she had her footwear back on before squeezing her hand and continuing to amble beside her into the bustling port. Boreal forged ahead, joining some of the other local winged companions in hopping from rooftop to rooftop above and taking great glee in annoying the hels perched up there. The birds were just waiting for a dropped tidbit to call down a flock of the feathery pests, but they had to keep half of their attention on mischievous dragons and gryphons, too.

Tal resisted the urge to boop the wrinkle in Alys's nose - but only barely. He had to settle for a big grin and speaking from the heart; as much as he was curious about the Draig he also wasn't in any hurry to challenge the dragons there. No, if he could be anywhere for a week with no duties and no responsibilities to his customers, he would pick the home they'd built together every time. Just as long as the person he'd built it with was there, too! "Wouldn't dream of it," he assured her fervently, leaning into her shoulder-bump with shy affection of his own.

Her suggestion perked the courier up, catching his attention as he nodded enthusiastic agreement. "That's a great idea! There're some flower shops in Haulani that should have some stuff. Ah - here's the restaurant." It was barely more than a glorified stall; an awning protected a bar that separated the small kitchen inside from the eating area outside. Three out of the six seats at the bar were currently taken, and one out of the two tables still had people eating and chatting, but the other was empty and Tal reluctantly released Alys's hand so they could divide and conquer. He put in their order and moved to join his partner with a grin, resting his hand halfway across the tabletop in easy reach. "Got any color preferences? If we put 'em up beside th'house in th'back, it should protect 'em from the wind..."