Lumiere, darling. (Caleb and Octavia) - Eternal City RP2024-03-28T09:22:40Zhttps://eternalcityrp.com/forum/topics/lumiere-darling-caleb-and-octavia?id=6610746%3ATopic%3A427272&feed=yes&xn_auth=noFor a moment, Caleb didn't q…tag:eternalcityrp.com,2021-12-31:6610746:Comment:4309712021-12-31T21:49:47.207Z✓ Caleb Eli Segal ~Mod~https://eternalcityrp.com/profile/CalebSegal
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<p style="text-align: center;">For a moment, Caleb didn't quite believe what he had heard. He'd spent so much of his life giving to other people and only getting back a semblance of what he felt. In some ways, he'd become good at that. Like underwater breathing, it had become a skill; but being with Octavia was like coming up for air. It was unexpected, but flooded his body with a strange kind of relief. Perhaps, he hadn't really remembered to breathe in…</p>
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<p style="text-align: center;">For a moment, Caleb didn't quite believe what he had heard. He'd spent so much of his life giving to other people and only getting back a semblance of what he felt. In some ways, he'd become good at that. Like underwater breathing, it had become a skill; but being with Octavia was like coming up for air. It was unexpected, but flooded his body with a strange kind of relief. Perhaps, he hadn't really remembered to breathe in quite a while. Every wall that he'd constructed for his own safety, she had managed to build a door inside. At first, they'd sat on opposite sides, with only their voices to guide them through that darkness; but now there was absolutely nothing. Her thumb brushed against the soft stubble that had grown over his face in the last forty-two hours and Caleb pressed his lips there, gently; but after the relief passed, a slow smile spread across his lips that he could not hide. It was like sunshine, spilling out, in every direction. It had been quite a while now that he'd hoped and needed to say what he had and the affirmation made him light up.<a href="https://64.media.tumblr.com/8776257e2f6efe8183604dea99920231/9372726405554520-0c/s540x810/a7eeb6d43765281ad8ede1e481d3c3e66c32f2da.gif" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/8776257e2f6efe8183604dea99920231/9372726405554520-0c/s540x810/a7eeb6d43765281ad8ede1e481d3c3e66c32f2da.gif?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="200" class="align-left"/></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">"You'll have to show me someday." Caleb whispered. Their rendezvous had already taken the long path. Was it so bad to lead it on another detour? "But, first, I have so much I want to show you. Everything. Everyone I love. Will you come with me?" </p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"></p> There was a feeling of warmth…tag:eternalcityrp.com,2021-12-29:6610746:Comment:4309592021-12-29T15:11:08.280Z✓ Octavia Grace Ivakovhttps://eternalcityrp.com/profile/O
<p><a href="https://64.media.tumblr.com/dbb8f6549583ac0d894a7195b355e4e0/tumblr_inline_o1vohsqGRT1tae3h3_250.gifv" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-right" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/dbb8f6549583ac0d894a7195b355e4e0/tumblr_inline_o1vohsqGRT1tae3h3_250.gifv?profile=RESIZE_710x"></img></a> There was a feeling of warmth that surrounded her when he pulled her in like that, not just from his body but from the way it felt inside of her, it felt like a part of her that had been shut away for a while now was finally unlocked again and none of it felt hard. She thought that she would feel conflicted or some sort of complication…</p>
<p><a href="https://64.media.tumblr.com/dbb8f6549583ac0d894a7195b355e4e0/tumblr_inline_o1vohsqGRT1tae3h3_250.gifv" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/dbb8f6549583ac0d894a7195b355e4e0/tumblr_inline_o1vohsqGRT1tae3h3_250.gifv?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-right"/></a>There was a feeling of warmth that surrounded her when he pulled her in like that, not just from his body but from the way it felt inside of her, it felt like a part of her that had been shut away for a while now was finally unlocked again and none of it felt hard. She thought that she would feel conflicted or some sort of complication in her mind as she slowly moved forward from the tragedies of her past but it was much like walking into a warm embrace, one that told her maybe things would be okay.</p>
<p>Seeing the way his lips twitched into a smile she couldn’t help but echo it with her own before their lips touched, softly at first, whispering a sense of intimacy between them that could only be expressed like this but as time passed, the kiss deepened just enough to remind her of the passion they also shared, the connection they had built over so many nights and so much patience. Her eyes searched for him as they parted and she was rewarded with the feeling of his lips against her skin which caused her to sigh contentedly.</p>
<p>What they had was…different, understated perhaps but tangible all the same, it was something she wanted to hold on to, a light in the dark as one might see it. Her eyes opened to meet his as he spoke again and she couldn’t help but giggle when he said she made her feel like he could fly “You know with me you actually could fly” she teased softly but she felt her heart clench when he spoke his next words.</p>
<p>She felt a pang of nervousness in her chest when he spoke her name like that and her eyes fluttered open to hold his, her lips parting in surprise when he spoke those words, her heart leaping in her chest in reaction to it “I love you too” she whispered softly as her hand came to cup his cheek gently, her thumb gently sweeping against his face “I couldn’t picture another day without you in it” she added as a hint of a smile appeared on her lips.</p> A promise was a promise, af…tag:eternalcityrp.com,2021-12-15:6610746:Comment:4311332021-12-15T01:39:14.960Z✓ Caleb Eli Segal ~Mod~https://eternalcityrp.com/profile/CalebSegal
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<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> A promise was a promise, after all. Caleb had done his best to focus and show his partner that he could be and do more than just emotional support. It had been a long time since he'd used most of the skills that they'd needed for the mission, but even after time, they'd become second nature again. He'd forgotten how much he loved adventure and the last few nights under the bright stars and eager…</span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> A promise was a promise, after all. Caleb had done his best to focus and show his partner that he could be and do more than just emotional support. It had been a long time since he'd used most of the skills that they'd needed for the mission, but even after time, they'd become second nature again. He'd forgotten how much he loved adventure and the last few nights under the bright stars and eager sunrises had been oddly refreshing. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span> </span> <span>Caleb wrapped his arms around and tugged her into his embrace. </span><span>He'd felt so alone for such a long time. For most of it, he hadn't even been sure that he wanted to try again; but with Octavia it didn't feel like starting over. It felt like reuniting with old friend that he'd known forever. Forever was a strange concept, knowing she was immortal, but for right now Caleb was content to let his questions go. </span>His gaze dropped to her as she came closer and his breath hitched with anticipation. Ever since the swim across the river, he'd had to put half of his mental energy into being a companion and not a lover; but now he could let that go. Her feather light touch graced his skin and a<span> slow smile danced over his lips. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">They were so close now, but it was Octavia who brought them together. She was soft. Caleb let that sink in for a moment as their lips closed together. He didn't know how someone could be both so strong and so gentle at the same time, but he wanted to know more. Every time. His fingers came to gently rest on her jaw and there was a drive inside him to go further, but he drew back. His lips marked her neck in a trail, until he contented himself with holding her close. Something was different --- that had changed in only the short few days that it had been; but Caleb knew that he had to take his time. <a href="https://64.media.tumblr.com/138cdf8e4a8cf90189ff458a2f287102/8d2ca38c9b2df074-e3/s540x810/1548866f5e918c3c32e61c04fddceb54cb8fea3f.gif" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/138cdf8e4a8cf90189ff458a2f287102/8d2ca38c9b2df074-e3/s540x810/1548866f5e918c3c32e61c04fddceb54cb8fea3f.gif?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="200" class="align-left"/></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">She was worth so much. Every moment seemed to scatter new bright spots into his memory. Like a light; one he treasured. "You make me feel like I could fly." He whispered, somehow, both finding shelter and strength next to her. "Curious." He opened his eyes, pushing her hair away from her eyes. "...happy. Indomitable."</p>
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<p style="text-align: center;">It had been a long time since he'd felt that way. Perhaps, even, the first time. "Octavia?"</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Caleb looked across the short space between them. He'd never been more sure of anything in his life. Somehow, he just knew. His blue eyes glowed especially against pink flush of his cheeks. "I love you." </p> She still felt sleepy and rel…tag:eternalcityrp.com,2021-11-26:6610746:Comment:4302812021-11-26T19:32:15.183Z✓ Octavia Grace Ivakovhttps://eternalcityrp.com/profile/O
<p>She still felt sleepy and reluctant to move despite the sun that was creeping into her vision “I think there might be a few who regretted it” she commented and giggled softly “But empathy is always a good quality and saving others should always come before anything more drastic” there had been times when someone or something just couldn’t be reasoned with or was far too out of control but she found often the right words could change an entire situation. Before long though they were up and…</p>
<p>She still felt sleepy and reluctant to move despite the sun that was creeping into her vision “I think there might be a few who regretted it” she commented and giggled softly “But empathy is always a good quality and saving others should always come before anything more drastic” there had been times when someone or something just couldn’t be reasoned with or was far too out of control but she found often the right words could change an entire situation. Before long though they were up and working on breakfast, her stomach making a soft grumble as it protested her lack of an evening meal yesterday “You haven’t seen anything yet” she teased with a wry smile “I’ll make you dinner you’ll remember sometime” she promised and nodded her head softly.</p>
<p><a href="https://64.media.tumblr.com/0338405e4790387a3d98af77a42363b7/tumblr_inline_o1903bVSXP1rifr4k_500.gif" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/0338405e4790387a3d98af77a42363b7/tumblr_inline_o1903bVSXP1rifr4k_500.gif?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-left"/></a>After she finished cooking the food she divided it between two small containers and ate some of hers, savoring the taste, sometimes a simple meal like that could be more rewarding than any, especially because it was quiet and there wasn’t a whole hoard of hungry guards hovering over her shoulder and hoping for a share.</p>
<p>Eventually, she set down her tin and let out a soft breath, indicating quite how relaxed she was feeling in that moment. When she caught his gaze lingering on her, she smiled softly to herself but waited a few moments before finally turning towards him, leaning into the hand he placed against her cheek “It’s been strangely nice to get away from it all...even if we were on a mission” she commented and bit her lip softly.</p>
<p>She allowed herself to get lost in the moment, just the simplicity of it all made it so different to others times, there was no loud voice in her head screaming at her about all the things she needed to worry about, it was just quiet. “I wasn’t sure I could feel...comfort like this again” she murmured softly, for the longest time she had felt quite inconsolable, like no one could understand the way she was feeling.</p>
<p>What they had been through was similar but also different but in the end, it had left both of them feeling lost and looking for some kind of direction to pick themselves up again. Somehow in that trail they had found one another and now neither wanted to back away from it. She laughed softly, eyes dropping to his lips and then back to his oceanic eyes when he asked for a kiss “A promise is a promise” she whispered softly and leaned in to close the gap between them.</p> Caleb curled his body around…tag:eternalcityrp.com,2021-10-19:6610746:Comment:4294412021-10-19T23:54:05.398Z✓ Caleb Eli Segal ~Mod~https://eternalcityrp.com/profile/CalebSegal
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Caleb curled his body around Octavia, peppering some soft kisses onto her neck. What could he say? He felt extra affectionate this morning. There seemed to be some burden off his shoulders that he'd been carrying for multiple years that was simply gone. He was fully attached to this present moment. "Good morning, gorgeous." He smiled. His overall mood seemed completely saturated in the soft glow of the sun. "No one ever regretted a little gentleness, did…</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Caleb curled his body around Octavia, peppering some soft kisses onto her neck. What could he say? He felt extra affectionate this morning. There seemed to be some burden off his shoulders that he'd been carrying for multiple years that was simply gone. He was fully attached to this present moment. "Good morning, gorgeous." He smiled. His overall mood seemed completely saturated in the soft glow of the sun. "No one ever regretted a little gentleness, did they?" He mused, thinking back on the advent of their adventure so far. It seemed almost like something had changed. Their bond was deeper. He felt less worried, less hesitant. There wasn't anything holding him back now. He knit his fingers through her unused hand as they both preoccupied themselves with the eggs and bacon that had been cooked over the remains of the fire. There was a bit of silence between them. Comfortable silence. The kind that only came when you had complete trust in the person sitting by your side. "You are quite a good cook." The young man chuckled. "Especially considering the materials you've been given to work with today." <a href="https://64.media.tumblr.com/9f5573f6182fd5ac590ab93b32e05151/9372726405554520-58/s540x810/6c6340aa0917ba42972a34f999918e56166f46f4.gif" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/9f5573f6182fd5ac590ab93b32e05151/9372726405554520-58/s540x810/6c6340aa0917ba42972a34f999918e56166f46f4.gif?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-right" style="padding: 3px;"/></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He had a vague recollection of a late night conversation with the moon but such heavy sleep had blurred most of the distinction into one fuzzy feeling. There was so much that he felt for which could t be put into words and simply echoed around his mind in hazy pictures, as he imagined what their future could look like.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He finished up breakfast and sat across from her with his legs crossed. His deep blue eyes traveled across her face, stopping every once in a while to note some small detail, like a freckle, or tiny scar. As she settled down next to him, he inhaled quickly. He wasn't sure how, but somehow she still completely took his breath away. Caleb reached up, softly brushing the side of her face with his fingers, drawing her closer. His eyes never left hers. He couldn't seem to tear himself from those green eyes. They had a hidden brightness, despite that her reserved personality sometimes hid it. His hand came to rest on her cheek, cradling her close. He was drawn towards her like a magnet. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The tall grass and misty air almost hid them. Caleb rested his forehead against hers, breathing slowly, deeply. “You make me feel so...so many things.” </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He squeezed her fingers in his own. “Things I thought were gone forever.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">His blue eyes opened, the expression vulnerable, but lacking much of the deep sorrow that had been there in their previous conversations. “I just want to be near you.” </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Caleb lifted Octavia closer and it seemed their breath was mingling with the morning fog. “I believe you promised me a kiss yesterday. May I collect that now?”</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p> After contacting Mal to let h…tag:eternalcityrp.com,2021-09-18:6610746:Comment:4290522021-09-18T10:17:42.999Z✓ Octavia Grace Ivakovhttps://eternalcityrp.com/profile/O
<p>After contacting Mal to let her know of the new arrival to her greenhouse, Octavia had picked up Caleb’s sleeping frame and carried him to a clearing nearby, they hadn’t brought all of the supplies needed to camp out properly but she managed with a tarp to shield them from the inclement weather and a few branches to prop everything in the right places. She lit a fire not too far from them. The whole time she was watching over Caleb to make sure he was okay, she knew there was little she…</p>
<p>After contacting Mal to let her know of the new arrival to her greenhouse, Octavia had picked up Caleb’s sleeping frame and carried him to a clearing nearby, they hadn’t brought all of the supplies needed to camp out properly but she managed with a tarp to shield them from the inclement weather and a few branches to prop everything in the right places. She lit a fire not too far from them. The whole time she was watching over Caleb to make sure he was okay, she knew there was little she could do to meddle with a magic-induced rest but there is one thing she could do, protect him.</p>
<p>Eventually, all of the work of setting up camp had taken its toll on her and she had sidled up next to him, lifting the soft woolen blanket she had placed over him to join him. Laying her head against his shoulder and allowing the exhaustion to take over for just a while. It had been a long day but a very successful one in the grand scheme of everything and thankfully it seemed the world was kind enough to give her peaceful dreams for once. Usually, whenever Octavia dreamed it was some bizarre mix of confusing visions that made no rational sense when collated but occasionally on the good days she could relive some of her happiest memories.</p>
<p><a href="https://64.media.tumblr.com/dbe988915b3c42998498ce8384f0f3dc/tumblr_inline_o18ztmF7cc1rifr4k_500.gif" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/dbe988915b3c42998498ce8384f0f3dc/tumblr_inline_o18ztmF7cc1rifr4k_500.gif?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-left"/></a>There was a smile on her lips as her mind allowed itself to wander through all of those countless nights out at the gazebo, never really talking about anything which would change the world but never realizing that it was slowly changing her world. She hadn’t been looking to start over again, she certainly hadn’t been looking for a relationship but somehow, those were the two things she had come to find. It wasn’t intended or forced, it had been slow and natural and it had brought her more happiness than she could have ever hoped to have find. Even today he had been willing to risk himself just to see a part of her world and the life she chose and that meant everything to her.</p>
<p>It was almost like she could sense when he returned to bed with her because her body naturally curled itself against his, her arms reaching for him like it had become a natural reaction for her. And when he spoke those soft words, she wasn’t sure whether she was dreaming or awake, but either way, they made her smile.</p>
<p>The fire was mostly smoldered by the time they awoke in the morning, her eyes fluttering open before she crept from where he was sleeping to allow him to rest. She headed out to grab some more logs that had fallen from the trees and placed them on the fire before settling herself down to enjoy the warmth of the morning. A large contrast to the storm that had poured yesterday. She smiled when she heard him coming up behind her and brought her hands to touch gently against his where he held her from behind “Better than I thought I would” she answered with an easygoing smile and turned to face him for a moment “You made quite the first impression on that flower...it’s safe now” she smiled softly, proud of what they had achieved.</p> It was dark by the time that…tag:eternalcityrp.com,2021-09-08:6610746:Comment:4291322021-09-08T19:39:58.648Z✓ Caleb Eli Segal ~Mod~https://eternalcityrp.com/profile/CalebSegal
<p class="p2"><span class="s2"><a href="https://64.media.tumblr.com/27a5bc69136c3d0ba70073671e5c8a35/9372726405554520-50/s540x810/505b684d23b8717f453aa936bdc0f354107d9ac2.gif" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-right" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/27a5bc69136c3d0ba70073671e5c8a35/9372726405554520-50/s540x810/505b684d23b8717f453aa936bdc0f354107d9ac2.gif?profile=RESIZE_710x" style="padding: 3px;"></img></a> It was dark by the time that Caleb awoke. There were crickets chirping softly in the trees and the grass underneath this head was soft. He hadn’t remembered there being grass in the valley before. It had been harsh, red dirt; but after their magical intervention it was plush…</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s2"><a href="https://64.media.tumblr.com/27a5bc69136c3d0ba70073671e5c8a35/9372726405554520-50/s540x810/505b684d23b8717f453aa936bdc0f354107d9ac2.gif" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/27a5bc69136c3d0ba70073671e5c8a35/9372726405554520-50/s540x810/505b684d23b8717f453aa936bdc0f354107d9ac2.gif?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-right" style="padding: 3px;"/></a>It was dark by the time that Caleb awoke. There were crickets chirping softly in the trees and the grass underneath this head was soft. He hadn’t remembered there being grass in the valley before. It had been harsh, red dirt; but after their magical intervention it was plush and vibrant again. He could see that even in the evening light.</span>There was a fire by his feet that was warming his body after the stress of the day. He had passed out after the interaction with magic, just like Octavia had said he would. All that remained now was a slight headache that pulsed in his temples and a vague sense of de ja vu. There was only blankness to draw on when wondering what he was forgetting. Oddly enough, the lapse didn’t bother him. The quiet in his mind was peaceful. He was used to constantly battling the stress and now it was simply silent.There was a blanket wrapped around his shoulders and Caleb snuggled into the soft wool. It wasn’t the only thing hugging him, though. Her body was softly knit around his back, warm and soothing. The fire crackled at their feet giving off ambient light that flickered into the night. He rolled over to face the young woman beside him and admired the gentle features of her face, as she lay with her eyes closed.</p>
<p class="p2">It had been a big day and, truly, their first big adventure together. The sense of warmth inches from his toes until it melted in his chest. Caleb pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead and closed his eyes too.<span class="s2">He didn’t really know the words that would describe how he felt about her. She was kind, yet strong. Quiet, but stubborn.</span> <span class="s2">One of the best things was that he never really had to have words around her, if they weren’t there. It seemed that he could exist naturally as an introvert in her presence, while so many others had tried to force him into talking. </span><span class="s2">Ever since that night they’d spent together, enchanted, hidden away, swept up by everything — he hadn’t been able to rest. Now, in the moonlight around their campsite, he finally could. Caleb wrapped his arm around her shoulders, snuggling close, while he stared up at the night sky. </span>Perhaps, he should have been sleeping, but his mind was all caught up in conversations with the moon. He’d had them often, ever since he was a little boy. The moon was good at keeping secrets. Sometimes beauty and the emotion that came with nature was overwhelming, but tonight, his eyes kept wandering from the sky and back towards her. “Bon notte, la lune.” Caleb whispered. “Have you ever fallen in love?”</p>
<p class="p3">The moon was silent, but the soft glow was comforting. He wondered. With all the stories about moonlight and lovers, perhaps the celestial beings had feelings of their own. He wouldn’t call it impossible. <span class="s2">“</span><span class="s3">Ai</span><span class="s2">.” Caleb rose to his feet, gently replacing himself under her head with his jacket, neatly folded. He was lucky that he’d grown up in the country and had developed cat’s feet. Otherwise, he’d have been afraid of waking her. His words weren’t ones he was sure he knew how to say, not to her. Not yet. Speaking his first language made that easier to conceal, although he knew in time that it would wear off and she’d understand his coded words. His gaze slipped from the stars, backwards. Where it always landed, these days. “I am so confused.”</span></p>
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<p class="p3">He was so happy; but he’d never been so close to opening up so fully again. His emotions had lead him head first, and it was beautiful. Every shared secret. Every touch. Every kiss. Every word. It seemed to wash away the marks of his pain; yet, here he was — awake. The moon, however, did not have an answer for him. It hummed a gentle tranquility that could quell his worry, but not bolster his courage. Caleb settled onto the ground beside her, pulling the blanket over both of their bodies. It was a true relief when she snuggled against him, again. He pressed a soft kiss to her temple, breathing in the scent of her floral shampoo. “Sweet dreams.” He closed his eyes, pulling her tightly against him. If she was awake, he couldn’t have said it yet, but the permission of darkness gave him courage. “Je’taime, Octavia. Je’taime.”</p>
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<p class="p3">His eyelids fluttered closed and rest came for the first time in many days. Only the cheerful flutter of dawn awoke him again. It wasn’t surprising to see her awake before himself. His rest had been so deep that the confessions of the night previous were nearly forgotten. Caleb came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist with a cheerful smile. “Good morning. How’d you sleep, beautiful?”<br/></p>
<p class="p3"></p> The moment the mirror started…tag:eternalcityrp.com,2021-09-03:6610746:Comment:4291292021-09-03T22:08:03.199Z✓ Octavia Grace Ivakovhttps://eternalcityrp.com/profile/O
<p>The moment the mirror started to take effect she felt her whole body coming over with a haze, she was familiar with the effect of magic but it still felt foreign to her to experience it every time. She closed her eyes as she faded into her memories. There was blood everywhere, mixed with her tears which she couldn’t stop from falling as she clutched against Vlad’s chest.</p>
<p>She was struggling to breathe as she cried, her head was pounding and she knew she needed to pull away, to leave…</p>
<p>The moment the mirror started to take effect she felt her whole body coming over with a haze, she was familiar with the effect of magic but it still felt foreign to her to experience it every time. She closed her eyes as she faded into her memories. There was blood everywhere, mixed with her tears which she couldn’t stop from falling as she clutched against Vlad’s chest.</p>
<p>She was struggling to breathe as she cried, her head was pounding and she knew she needed to pull away, to leave him but she couldn’t bring herself to do so. She remained over him protectively, as though she could protect him from what hurt him but it was too late for that. She knew he was gone, she knew because he hadn’t turned to ash like he always did whenever he rebirthed and she kept waiting for it to happen and it didn’t.</p>
<p><a href="https://thumbs.gfycat.com/MintyDisloyalKawala-size_restricted.gif" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://thumbs.gfycat.com/MintyDisloyalKawala-size_restricted.gif?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-left" width="279" height="157"/></a>Her chest felt heavy as she came to the realization that eventually she was going to have to get up from this spot and stand again, it seemed impossible given the pain and sadness that was threatening to eat her alive. All her mind could think about was how all those good memories she had were never going to happen again. She wasn’t sure if the pain from the magic or the memory of the pain she had felt that night was worse.</p>
<p>But as the vision began to fade, she accepted that she was ready to forget that night, she was ready to move on from the feeling of never being happy again and she was going to embrace whatever chances she had at happiness again. She knew Vlad would never want her to be in pain the way she was every time this memory haunted her, he would want her to remember him with a smile.</p>
<p>When she awoke her arms were still wrapped tightly around Caleb’s frame. She stroked his hair gently as she shifted so he was laying against her, she could tell he was overwhelmed by the magic and it would take some time to recover. Her eyes moved over towards the area where the plant was before, where it had been standing before was a bed of poppy flowers in its wake. She smiled softly knowing their mission had been a success and pressed a soft kiss against Caleb’s temple.</p>
<p>She couldn’t remember what memory she had chosen to sacrifice but it had to be worth it to see the forest thriving once more like this.</p> At first, all that Caleb coul…tag:eternalcityrp.com,2021-08-27:6610746:Comment:4292012021-08-27T23:38:57.333Z✓ Caleb Eli Segal ~Mod~https://eternalcityrp.com/profile/CalebSegal
<p>At first, all that Caleb could feel was Octavia’s strong and reassuring grip around his torso. There was a rushing sound as the magical portal opened. If he could imagine standing inside a tornado, it would have been like that. He squeezed his eyes shut, waiting for the kind of pain that Octavia had described, but it didn’t come. Not immediately, not as he expected. Instead, a memory that had become hazy in recent years surged to the front of his mind. …</p>
<p>At first, all that Caleb could feel was Octavia’s strong and reassuring grip around his torso. There was a rushing sound as the magical portal opened. If he could imagine standing inside a tornado, it would have been like that. He squeezed his eyes shut, waiting for the kind of pain that Octavia had described, but it didn’t come. Not immediately, not as he expected. Instead, a memory that had become hazy in recent years surged to the front of his mind. <a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://64.media.tumblr.com/75c6fe4e4756f23e145ad31d637a9596/9372726405554520-55/s540x810/c7460dae7f10d395f504b80c6a9fbfbffa49f343.gif" target="_blank"><img src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/75c6fe4e4756f23e145ad31d637a9596/9372726405554520-55/s540x810/c7460dae7f10d395f504b80c6a9fbfbffa49f343.gif?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-right" style="padding: 3px;"/></a></p>
<p>He could see himself. There were lights flashing. The noise of a siren rushed through his ears. Now, all he could do was freeze as he saw his prior self being loaded into an ambulance with an utterly distressed red head. Everything was very cold, but he hadn’t noticed. All he could focus on was her voice. The way that it cried for him — but all he could do was helplessly hold her hand.</p>
<p>Everything that day had been a whirlwind and now he was standing inside another looking back at something which had haunted him for years. Caleb’s mind looked away for a moment and time moved forwards into a dark room. His left hand was numb from her squeezing. There were doctors whispering around them in white coats. All he noticed was the blur as an oxygen mask was placed over her face and the bed was wheeled into surgery. Without him. Always, without him.</p>
<p>The human had never experienced magic; not really, not like this. It seemed to pulse through each fiber of his mind and body, electric. It was in his head where the pain began. Slow, aching, as he watched the familiar scene become darker and darker.</p>
<p>There was turmoil inside him as he watched two of the people he’d once loved most in the world shatter like glass. He didn’t want to forget. He fought against the ache in his temples, but that only compounded its strength. He watched, helpless, as the final hours of tragedy played back in his head. An empty bassinet. His former fiancée lying catatonic, alone. Signing the smallest death certificate he’d ever seen. The last jolt was the worst pain he could remember. It surged through his head and his legs began to sway. In one last moment, everything seemed to settle with an alarming sense of emptiness. Then, it was all black. Despite Octavia’s strength, the human crumbled like a rag doll onto the rocks, completely drained of energy with a slow haze slipping over his biggest fears.</p> Octavia probably seemed prett…tag:eternalcityrp.com,2021-08-27:6610746:Comment:4288002021-08-27T20:21:31.951Z✓ Octavia Grace Ivakovhttps://eternalcityrp.com/profile/O
<p>Octavia probably seemed pretty calm for a pressing situation but that was just her nature as a guard, she had always been the kind of person who could put the job before other things and honestly you needed to be able to do so in order to do what they did, there were times when what was asked of her was hard or scary but she understood and trusted in those who were running the faction and she was willing to face whatever it was she was up against for the cause.</p>
<p>She could see how out…</p>
<p>Octavia probably seemed pretty calm for a pressing situation but that was just her nature as a guard, she had always been the kind of person who could put the job before other things and honestly you needed to be able to do so in order to do what they did, there were times when what was asked of her was hard or scary but she understood and trusted in those who were running the faction and she was willing to face whatever it was she was up against for the cause.</p>
<p>She could see how out of place this flower was in its environment, with nothing to sustain it, it had to resort to draining the life out of whatever was around it and that would only continue, the larger and stronger it became the more magic if would need to feed and that would cycle around until neither sides could survive. Her gaze softened when he immediately agreed to making the sacrifice, for her it was a given but for him, he never committed to something like this and giving up a memory was hard.</p>
<p><a href="https://64.media.tumblr.com/4e24ca2d74214aac7c4bd08841a43d0a/63cf8cab9beb1ed1-59/s250x400/4166ea436967a08e6a7a1e5731886254c72565dc.gifv" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/4e24ca2d74214aac7c4bd08841a43d0a/63cf8cab9beb1ed1-59/s250x400/4166ea436967a08e6a7a1e5731886254c72565dc.gifv?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-left"/></a>“Mal is not going to be happy about us delivering this gift to her unannounced” she commented thoughtfully, still, it was now in the interest of both their safety and this entire forest for the two of them to safely deliver it to the greenhouse. When he offered out his hands she took them and pulled up on top of the rock, she could see the swirling smoke as it bounced and rolled below, she had to wonder what would happen if it managed to touch either of them but she wasn’t curious enough to take that kind of risk.</p>
<p>She softened her gaze slightly to reassure him “You won’t remember that it ever happened so choose carefully” it took her a few seconds to consider what she should forget and then she pressed her lips together. She only had vague recollection of what happened the night Vlad died, but the things she did remember, they were painful and gruesome. She could never forget that he was lost, there was far too much tied to that, but she was ready to stop agonizing herself over the little details.</p>
<p>She held Caleb close as she nodded “It won’t hurt but it will be intense, stay holding onto me because you may pass out...I’ll protect you” with that she projected her memory of good times in the greenhouse first, allowing its vision to appear on the screen and when the mirror started glowing, she shifted her thoughts to the one she would give up. The moment she did that her body went tense as the magic allowed itself to connect with her mind.</p>