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HumanPermalink Reply by ✓ Caleb Eli Segal ~Mod~ on October 7, 2020 at 20:42

It happened one moment too fast for him to see or prevent. His enthusiasm guided him out of the previously spinning piece of dishware in a fairly graceful leap, but he didn't realize that perhaps his childhood experiences of riding on machines that spun him in circles had prepared him to easily dismount this one without an insane amount of vertigo. As Octavia stumbled out of the teacup, Caleb's excitement dampened slightly. He'd always prided himself on being a gentleman and gentlemen didn't leave ladies behind in unfamiliar territory. As he reached for the teddy bear, his companion stumbled over the stairs. He felt a quick tug on his jacket, before his own feet betrayed him. Thankfully, the bear took most of his fall. However, there was only a brief second where he could be thankful for that before she fell on top of him. 

"Ow..." She appeared rather small, but the impact was still a shock for the human, who was not the most hardy of them all.  "That's gonna bruise."

His breath had been forcibly shoved from his lungs, as they crashed so it took him time to get his bearings. When he did, he became distinctly aware of how close she was -- nearly atop him. It was enough that his eyes shot open in the half-darkness and he could feel a red heat building up his neck.  

It wasn't as though he'd never touched her. He was starting to quite like holding her hand.

It also wasn't as if he hadn't -- you know, since Ava had died. It just was - this seemed different. 

He actually liked her. Quite a lot. 

A chagrined smile took a place on his lips, as he looked up at her even features and then away. "Who's laughing?"

He wasn't laughing. 

Caleb felt flustered, but when he looked back up, he swore there was something. 

A cautious, but undivided attention. 

The playful grin he was getting back let him know she wasn't hurt and that their evening was going better than he had originally hoped.

If a band of school age children hadn't trampled past them and into the ride that they'd just exited, he almost...well, if he had the courage, he would have kissed her. 

Instead, Caleb stood up, brushed himself off, and reached for her hand.

Hands. That seemed easier. "Come on...I, uh -" His voice seemed a little stuck in his throat. "Would you like to see the house of mirrors?" 

Ailward GuardPermalink Reply by ✓ Octavia Grace Ivakov on October 13, 2020 at 14:52

So if she was trying to impress someone then falling completely head over heels off of a children’s ride probably wasn’t the way to go about it, especially because when she fell she somehow managed to drag Caleb down with her. The world was still spinning as she opened her eyes, hearing his reaction to the fall, her cheeks naturally flushing in embarrassment because of the way she had lost control of her body “Sorry” she spoke softly.

Though as their two gazes met she noticed she wasn’t the only one with color in her cheeks. She stared, probably for longer than she should have. From here she could see how deep his oceanic hues were, still glimmering in the whimsical bright lights around them. His features were sharp but the look he was giving her in that moment was soft, the kind of soft look which made her heartbeat speed up a little.

“Me” she responded when he asked who was laughing, though her smile was warm as she looked up at him. For a moment she wondered whether he was going to lean in, their eyes hadn’t left one another the whole time they were there. But in a second the moment was over and she was biting her lip as she reached to take his hand. Today had turned out to be something she never expected and strangely, she was okay with that.

His hand felt warm in hers, she felt comfortable. Today hadn’t started out as a date but right now it kinda felt like one. She hadn’t been on a date date in years, it was strangely exciting, though a little sad given that the last one she had was with Vlad “Sure…nothing’s going to jump out at me though is it?” she widened her eyes, she wasn’t so much worried about being scared as ending up attacking some poor actor just doing their job.

HumanPermalink Reply by ✓ Caleb Eli Segal ~Mod~ on October 13, 2020 at 15:20

The walk towards the other side of the field was slower. The crickets were chirping and Caleb became aware that many of the large families were leaving as the sun set and it got darker. To the left was a corn maze and the right, a large barn with the dozens of mirrors he'd been speaking of, but for right now he was content with the quiet pace and matching footsteps. The dirt path reminded him of home. He hadn't been in Annecy in years and in some ways that made his heart ache. Although Caleb would never have admitted it, he missed France. The culture in America was different and often much louder than he was used to dealing with. This night walking in the countryside reminded him of growing up. It reminded him of happy times and sad times which seemed to be colliding lately. The air was almost wistful. Caleb bit his lip, matching her quick but tentative gaze. "If something happens, I am right here. I wouldn't let someone hurt you." 

Despite knowing that she was likely the more talented fighter of the two of them, he did mean it. There was something building inside him. He never wanted to let go of her hand. Instead, he gently ran his thumb down her fingers. 

As the crowd got further away, they were all alone in the field of tall grass. Some lanterns lit the way, but other than that, it was just them and the stars. Caleb reached for Octavia's other hand, pausing, where they were. He looked down at her, his blue eyes carefully tracing her features. Gosh, if he didn't get the courage now, he might never.

He leaned in, pulling her closer with his arms and letting his left hand come up to cradle her face. It was just a whisper, but he was ever the gentleman. "May I?" 

Ailward GuardPermalink Reply by ✓ Octavia Grace Ivakov on October 17, 2020 at 14:39

She was very aware of the fact it was getting later, the crowds were thinning, there were less young children running away and screaming excitedly. She saw a few groups of teenagers around them, enjoying spending time with their friends and laughing over some inside joke. She was looking around as they walked, getting a feel for the environment and enjoying the moments of quiet. They were rare in her life nowadays and honestly she wished she could have more happy days like this. Ones where her only worry was what ride she was going to challenge herself to get on next or what she was going to name her new giant teddy bear. She glanced over at him with a soft gaze when he said he wouldn’t let someone hurt her “Thanks” she spoke softly “Though I’d be more worried about what I might do if I’m surprised” she responded and blushed softly, she was a warrior and a guard after all, he knew that.

She got a sense of his protectiveness though and it made her feel warm. They had known each other for a long time now and they had grown closer, gotten to know one another’s quirks, shared their pain and also shared some happy moments. She felt comfortable being close with him, though her heart was beating a little faster because of the little near miss earlier.

Perhaps she was a little insecure in the fact she hadn’t really dated anyone in a long time, she never really intended to ever have to find someone new. But there was a sense of knowing in her chest, telling her it was okay to be happy, knowing that she deserved that after everything she had been through. When they stopped she turned to face him, green eyes lifting to meet his, her chin tilting a little because he was so much taller. She felt a connection with him that made her chest swell a little as she felt herself being pulled in close.

The blonde naturally pushed herself up onto her toes, leaning into his touch while her hands slowly lifted to wrap around the back of his neck. His whisper made her smile gently before responding a soft “Yes” she closing the gap between them, her lips brushing gently against his.

HumanPermalink Reply by ✓ Caleb Eli Segal ~Mod~ on October 17, 2020 at 19:47

It had been a year and a half since Caleb had first stumbled upon Octavia in the gazebo that had long nursed his nightmares with quiet, but over that year he'd found that sometimes he sought her out because he wanted to be with someone who understood everything that he'd been through. In that plane crash, he hadn't just lost his family, but plenty of hopes and dreams that he'd built up. Coming to Evermore away from the memories was slowly allowing him to separate his past from his future. The sparks with Octavia were not planned. He'd wondered for a long time if he'd spend the rest of his years without the intimate connection of someone whom he wanted to share everything with, but then she'd been so gentle. She never once asked him to stop loving the old; if anything, the foundations of what they shared were based on a mutual understanding of loss. Yet, he could see himself being more than just a widower when she was around. Octavia was curious and kind, modest, and easily amused. He liked her smile, especially now.

This hadn't been a date. This hadn't been planned or prepared, but the entire night from the first moment of finding her in a crowd, to the way her arms were sliding up his neck, felt natural.  His blue eyes drifted past hers as the word was said and Caleb's eyes closed as they melded together. Her lips met his and he almost forgot to breathe. 

Caleb tilted his head and let all of his thoughts slip away as the moment carried into another. His hands rested on her lower back and gave her a gentle boost upwards. He was surprised by how small she was, despite noticing it before. When they were so close, he the petite curves of her body fit next to him like a puzzle piece. Despite the plenty of seconds that had gone by without air, he was content with this exploration. It wasn't overly passionate, or heated. It was soft, curious. It was saying hello after too many goodbyes. The fairgrounds disappeared. She tasted like cotton candy, but it wasn't that which sent warmth parading down his body. It was holding on to another person and letting the loneliness slip from his shoulders. It may have been the most cliched moment and he felt like he was sneaking out past his curfew, but that didn't matter. 

Their eyes fluttered open briefly and Caleb felt like he was drowning, but he didn't want to be rescued. This moment was something he'd been waiting for, but hadn't known he'd needed. Gravity brought him back to her again, speechless, but starry eyed. His fingers gently curled into her blonde hair, exploring the texture. His mouth slowly slid across hers, mellow, at first, but slowly giving into the pleasure. If this wasn't a date, Caleb wasn't sure what he was doing, but luckily thinking didn't seem to matter very much right now. 

Only touching, whispers, and the two of them alone, but together. After what felt like an hour, but had really been more like a few minutes, the moment slipped into the dusk. Even after they drifted apart, his arms found a steady position around her torso. He didn't want to let go. The human glanced down, taking in the woman who was slowly, but steadily opening his heart. "You never told me you were so good at that. You took my breath away."

A tiny smirk was visible on his lips. "I'd like it back." 

Ailward GuardPermalink Reply by ✓ Octavia Grace Ivakov on October 18, 2020 at 19:19

She had never planned on this, it wasn’t something she had even thought about doing before tonight, perhaps she hadn’t even noticed how close she had let herself become with him. She couldn’t regret it though, he was warm and funny, he didn’t say much but when he spoke, everything he said was meaningful and thoughtful. He was artistic in a way which was hard to describe but that only added to his charm, most people probably didn’t take the time to understand him but she was starting to feel like if she let herself get closer, she could.

It was a little complicated, given that they both had sad pasts they were trying to find a way to move on from, but in that moment she didn’t feel like she needed to be sad. It was new but somehow comforting to be close to him. He smelled masculine, his lips were soft against hers as they both allowed their curiosity to get the better of them. And as she pulled away, she had this warm feeling, she liked being close with him, he liked that he made her feel like there was hope again.

When her eyes opened, there was a soft, grateful smile on her lips, though they widened a little when he leaned back in for another, this time a little more heated, speaking volumes of the passion the two of them shared for one another. It felt like a part inside of her was unlocked as he returned it, grip tightening a little against his neck in an attempt to pull him as close as she could. The moment ended way too quickly and when they parted it seemed like both of them were reluctant to be the first one to pull away.

She couldn’t help but laugh gently when he said he’d like his breath back “I’m sorry but I don’t think is a return kind of deal” she commented with a soft, vulnerable expression, there was no going back now, not after a kiss like that, which made her heartbeat triple in her chest “And honestly I don’t want to” she confessed as she lowered her hand to take his and tug gently towards the house of mirrors “C’mon, let’s go act like teenagers who don’t care for the rest of tonight” she was happy, it was evident in her tone and her smile.

HumanPermalink Reply by ✓ Caleb Eli Segal ~Mod~ on October 21, 2020 at 22:46

In the light of the lantern, he could barely see her, but the moon's bright glow was starting to make up for the darkness.The barn looked like it was made of oak, something he only knew after building his own house when he moved to Evermore. Oak wood, like the tree, tended to be sturdy and last many years. He wondered how long this barn had been here and how many people had found it on a dusky evening. It was fair to say that he got distracted at times and things like light and old buildings really did the trick, but the slight pull on his hand was enough that Caleb didn't lose himself down a train of thought that would interrupt the fact that he'd just kissed Octavia. He was pretty sure that the stupid grin on his face said most of what he needed to in that moment. He was happy, quite happy. It had been difficult over the last six weeks to hold up a barrier between himself and the sweet blonde who had accompanied him on many a dark night over the last year. It wasn't like she'd suddenly become attractive, that was a factor that had stayed the same, but perhaps he was finally ready to let down his guard. It had been three and a half years now since Ava had died. Every single day had been different, but for right now...finally, he didn't want to think about it. He wanted to take a night off from being sad and just be around someone who made him feel happy. 

It was very quiet. The only noise was the crickets chirping through the open door. A general, nighttime ambiance, was starting to envelope the small pocket of world that they'd settled into. Going with the moment had been contagious and for once, he felt no regrets following her. There was a familiar sense of uncertainty, but the excitement was much more prominent. The darkness of the night crept through the building, but the bright moon reflected through the wooden slats and onto the mirrors, giving the room a soft glow. His gaze floated around the room, watching their reflections bounce, until he settled on her. Caleb hoped that she would not notice that his hands were slightly sweaty. The curiosity he felt just now did not mean that he was not nervous. However, he liked her idea. Perhaps, if they were going to embrace the idea of being like teenagers; it meant it was okay if he was not perfect at something. It had been quite a while since he'd felt...butterflies over another person. In the past, most of the women he'd dated were bold and adventurous. He'd always felt slightly out of place, but had never had to be the one to come up with a plan or idea. So much more was on the table now. 

The tips of their fingers were the only things touching, but that little bit of expectancy charged straight to his heart. Caleb ducked his head, trying to keep his grin a bit under-wraps as he squeezed her fingers. "I, uh, I would like that. Very much." He said quietly. He hadn't felt like this in a long time, but he didn't want to jinx it. For some reason, despite the confusion, he felt safe. In this bright light, her hair seemed almost like a halo, but what he really noticed was how green her eyes were and how deep. They almost reminded him of the rolling hills in France. They seemed like home, but there were so many secrets there. He didn't know where to start.
Caleb took a deep breath and threaded his fingers through hers, wrapping his arms firmly around her waist, and pulling her into him. She smelled a little bit like flowers.

He was certain that Octavia could feel the rush of his beating heart as they leaned against the barn door, but for right now, it was okay. They’d spent the whole day bonding around the lights and he had laughed for the first time in what felt like years. She never forced him to talk, or do anything, but he could if she wanted. It was nice to be around someone who understood both pain and smiles. Despite the many thoughts that paraded through his mind, in the moment all he could focus on was being there. Words were not really necessary, for which he was thankful; as the majority on his mind were both hard to grasp and French. He wasn't sure what to do next. What was meant to happen on a night that seemed both out of the blue and perfectly planned? Luckily, he didn't have to decide. A gentle pitter patter of rain began against the wooden slats of the roof and as he looked up, there was giant crash of thunder. 

Caleb did not like thunderstorms. Not at all. A brief expression of displeasure flashed across his eyes, before he stuffed it far away. "It looks like the rain votes for us to stay a while." That he didn't mind. At all. He ran his thumb down her cheek and pointed her towards some hay bales in the back of the barn, where they would be safe from the storm. "Tell me about yourself, Octavia. Your favorite season. What makes you laugh. Your least favorite food on earth. Anything."

He climbed aboard the hay bales and offered her a hand up. Caleb hadn't been caught in a storm since he entered the city. This one wasn't exactly bringing pleasant flashbacks. Talking would be a good distraction. Snuggling on the hay bales was just a bonus.

Ailward GuardPermalink Reply by ✓ Octavia Grace Ivakov on October 25, 2020 at 11:57

It had been a long time since Octavia had truly allowed herself to give into the small things in the world, but Caleb..he seemed to center his world around those things. He had this artistic mind which was hard to understand at first, as someone who was always surrounded by people she was used to expressing herself through communication with others but he was quiet, everything he did say tended to be important and so she always wanted to remember all of it. She was sure she had talked his ear off most of those nights in the garden, she would talk about her thoughts on some random topic on her mind, sometimes she would look at his paintings and explain what she thought they symbolized. Despite her own lack of creative expression, she did see a lot of beauty in the things he created.

She hadn’t really expected for things to move deeper than that but then she couldn’t really be surprised either, they had spent a long time together, just sharing their thoughts and time, it was a comfort in a crazy world they both experienced. They both understood the worst kind of losses and yet managed to find some quiet strength in knowing they weren’t alone. At least that was how she saw it anyway, she respected and was even in awe of the way he channeled his grief into good things and it made her want to do the same. Before long they were heading towards the barn, filled with mirrors, she could see reflections of them in every direction, each of them distorting in some way designed to be entertaining, she actually found the view quite beautiful.

Her hand was still secured tightly in his and she didn’t want to be the first one to pull away, his hand was comforting and warm, it reminded her that he wasn’t going anywhere and for a while, she could let her guard and her fears down. She hadn’t felt like she’d been able to truly do that in a long time. She was still looking around at the mirrors, amused by the way they looked when she heard the sound of the rain outside and peered out of the door, what started as a few drops quickly started to pour down and the flash of lightning in the distance told her that it seemed like the evening was going to be rained out. She couldn’t help the slight pout of disappointment that appeared on her lips when she realized that meant the place would likely close up soon.

Caleb seemed to have other ideas though and before long he was tugging her to an area behind the mirrors, probably off-limits, but a nice enough area to hide out from the storm “Pretty sure we aren’t supposed to be back here” she chided but the smile on her lips said she was okay with it. She settled herself down against the saw and then raised her brows when he asked her to tell him something about herself. Well there was a lot of things to tell but all of them of course disappeared from her head the moment he asked for them. She laughed softly as she thought about his suggestions “Fall...definitely” she responded and smiled “I like watching the trees change and I’m a sucker for pie and the holidays” she nodded slightly, she always looked forward to that time of year where summer faded away and there was that hint of chill in the air.

“As for what makes me laugh…I definitely like those little clips of animals doing silly things...and spinning until I’m completely dizzy in a tiny teacup” she smiled giving him a pointed look because that one had made them both laugh. She wrinkled her nose “Mushrooms...I’ve tried to like them so many times but I can’t bring myself to stomach them” she laughed and tilted her head, laying down on her side so that she could face him, not caring that her blonde locks were going to get hay in them “If you could have a superpower, what would you choose and why?” she raised her brows curiously.

HumanPermalink Reply by ✓ Caleb Eli Segal ~Mod~ on October 29, 2020 at 3:15

 It had been a bit impulsive to hide among away from the storm, but the hay bales were cozy and so was the way they'd curled up, hands together, facing one another. The rain slipped against the metal roof in a gentle tap, letting the thunder slip away into the background. Normally, nights when it stormed were when he had his worst nightmares. He'd disliked them even as a child and had often climbed into his mother's bed and curled up until he was ten years old. Not long after, she'd met her time and those were the first nights that he began spending awake. On a typical rainy night, the artist would surrender himself to being awake, brew a pot of tea, and curl up with his dog. Chasse had been a great comfort to him over the last few years, but he wasn't quite human, and he didn't like storms either. Tonight was different, though. Despite that it was storming, Caleb didn't feel tense, like he usually did. It was just the two of them, a lot of moonlight, and some fresh chances. The tension that was instinctive melded away when he looked at her. She was quite something to look at, too. It was a feeling that he could only equate to looking at a full moon, or the masterpieces in the Louvre. If he gazed for too long, a sheepish blush would color his face. He couldn't draw on past experience, either, because falling in love before hadn't been like this. If this was love - ai, Caleb didn't know. The sheepish look rolled over his handsome face again, and he buried it in her shoulder. It was her hair that smelled like flowers. 

He liked flowers. They were a part of home. 

He liked to listen, which was a good reason why sometimes he was more quiet. Sometimes it didn't always seem he had good answers, initially, when people asked him questions. He was well-renowned for losing his train of thought or worse, getting lost in it; but, Octavia made him curious about things and that meant that he had a lot of questions and things he wanted to know. He wanted to be able to say everything, but sometimes nothing came. Usually, this sense of wordlessness was when he used a paintbrush, but tonight there was none. If there had been, he would have liked to capture the way the moonlight flitted between her big eyes and blonde hair, before settling on her smile. For now, he'd save it - in his memory, and art would come later.

"People always tease me because I eat the top of mushrooms and leave the stems in the container." He laughed. "Roommates have found it annoying in the past. It's good to know you won't mind." 

Animal videos, the holidays. Classically lovable things. "I like dogs," Caleb said slowly. "I never had one growing up, but I adopted Chasse from a shelter about six months into my stay here. Before I met you, he was the one who got me through the long nights alone." 

His first inclination, to answer, Caleb knew was not a healthy one, but he didn't want to hide that. She'd never judged him for being honest before. "I...would stop people I care about from dying." Before a frown settled on his lips. he shook off the heavy feeling, focusing on her warm fingers wrapped around his. "It it is hard. Family means a lot to me. I know I am human. That means facing mortality, but it seems a bit like instead of hurting me, it takes others. Have you ever wished you could sacrifice yourself it it meant others...those you loved, would never be hurt again?"

He did. He just wanted people he loved to be safe. Whatever this burgeoning feeling dancing in his chest as he looked at her was, Caleb suddenly knew that he couldn't bear if something happened to her. Not something he could prevent. Their foreheads were touching and even as the rain began pounding, he could still hear his own voice as it got quieter. "A superpower of healing, I suppose."

He opened his eyes, running a finger down her nose. Soft, teasing. "Are you ticklish?" 

Ailward GuardPermalink Reply by ✓ Octavia Grace Ivakov on October 29, 2020 at 21:31

Despite the fact they were in the middle of a place neither of them would consider familiar, she found herself strangely comfortable. The blonde was curled on her side and watching the male with a soft, curious expression. This whole thing was new to her but that’s what made it exciting, it felt like she was at the start line of something and there was so much to learn once she stepped over the threshold. They’d known one another for a while now and even had a few deep conversations from time to time but she was looking forward to getting to know him. Learning what made him tick, what he was afraid of, what his hopes and dreams were. She wanted to let him slip past the defenses she tended to keep up for others, in fear of what might happen if she lost that person.

It was complicated, there were still parts inside of her heart that felt torn and broken inside and she wasn’t looking for someone to try and fix that. She didn’t even know where she wanted this to go or what it all meant. The one thing she knew without a doubt was that right now, she didn’t want to let go of his hand. She didn’t want to make it more complicated than that, she wasn’t sure she was ready to process that side of it all, but for now, she could indulge in getting closer with someone who made her feel happy.

She raised a brow when he mentioned how he ate part of mushrooms and left the rest which made he laugh, what an interesting little quirk he had “I just prefer them as far away from my food as possible, stalk or no stalk” she commented with a grin “Do you have a favorite food or is it too hard to choose?” she smiled, she would struggle to choose just one.

She perked up a little he mentioned how he liked dogs and then explained how he had one “I never knew you had a dog” she spoke softly and smiled gently “I always wanted one but it didn’t seem...practical...with the work I do and rarely being home” she did love the company of animals a lot though and definitely saw herself as an animal person “There’s something special about their silent love...always unwavering” she nodded slightly, she was sure he experienced that first hand.

Her gaze softened when he candidly answered what he would want to do if he could have any ability, she could understand that want better than anyone, given all the people she had lost “Of course I have...I joined the guard because I wanted to make a difference and I needed...grounding...after I lost my parents” being a dragonkin hunter wasn’t an easy life “I wanted to be able to protect people so that I would never have to go through the pain of losing someone again” and it had worked for a long time, but she had learned that she couldn’t save everyone. His answer was unorthodox but so was he, it made sense to her.

She scrunched her nose playfully at the gesture he made down her nose, evidently showing her own reaction to it but regardless she shook her head “No” she answered in a guilty voice that was evidently a lie and she scooted away a little playfully “You wouldn’t dare” she scolded with a look she tried and failed to keep serious.

HumanPermalink Reply by ✓ Caleb Eli Segal ~Mod~ on October 31, 2020 at 0:40

"I solemnly swear to protect your food from mushrooms from today onwards," Caleb smirked, and raised her fingers to his lips. "no mushrooms will make it past me." He liked to cook and it was nice to know what she didn't like, so that creating something she did would be easier. He had to think over her question for a moment, "I am not picky now, but my mother once only was able to get me to eat my veggies with ketchup. I was completely horrified when I learned that ketchup was also a vegetable. She had to get very creative for the next six months and bake spinach into my pancakes. I don't mind those now, but I do prefer them with blueberries."

He chuckled. "Blueberry pancakes. That is my favorite."

"I never planned on getting a dog." Caleb admitted. "It was impulsive. Ery found me one morning in a local graveyard, about six months after I came here...a complete mess, had not slept for a week, could barely stand. He offered me something to drink and I said yes. It was the last time I got drunk. And, also, managed to come home with a dog. Who I impulsively released from the pound." 

Caleb had never discussed his history with Octavia, not in the depth that it required to discuss how he'd won the battle over drinking. He already knew that she'd be encouraging and kind, supportive, but he couldn't help but feel embarrassed. Despite that it hadn't even been ten years, it felt like a lifetime ago that he'd nearly thrown his life down the drain in pursuit of being angry at the way his life had turned out. Regret flashed across his features and the young man pursed his lips. He wanted to tell her. "Everyone has things, you know? I was so angry about everything I lost when I was younger that I didn't feel like living was worth it. I didn't mind being alive, but thriving became uninteresting. It just seemed so trivial to be happy when I'd lost both my parents. I felt unable of getting past my anger, you know? That life or fate...or god, had done me over so wrongly. I treated some people very badly. I wasn't the person I am today and part of the reason I am is because of..." 

"People."

Octavia was people. 

Caleb tilted his head. "Let's play a game. Truth or dare, but for tonight...only happy. I promise, after tonight, you can ask me anything deep or sad you want, but tonight."

He smiled, unclasping her hand for the briefest moment. "Let's be teenagers." Like lightening, he managed to drum his fingers, up and down her arms as she inched away, causing them to tumble down the hay bales, rolling like the laughter that pealed from his lungs. 

It would have continued, but this time when they landed tangled together, despite that it still made his heart race, Caleb followed his instincts, wrapped his arms around her neck and kissed her -- slowly, warmly, deeply, breathing in their closeness and the damp air. 

Octavia was people. Maybe, just maybe...people he could love.

Ailward GuardPermalink Reply by ✓ Octavia Grace Ivakov on November 1, 2020 at 13:35

She giggled letting a playful smile cross her lips when he promised to protect her food from mushrooms “That is quite the promise to make...what if they’re secretly in a dish ordered at a restaurant” that happened more commonly than you would think because they were a common vegetable to throw into many dishes, casseroles, pasta, you name it. She laughed softly at the way he expressed his previous hate for vegetables if they weren’t covered in ketchup “The horror” she responded with a smile “Though ketchup does make things taste better so who could really blame little you” she smiled imagining what a younger of him might have looked like...cute for sure.

She smiled when he said blueberry pancakes were his favorite “For breakfast or dessert?” she asked with a wry smile, it was an important differentiation to make “Or maybe both?” she had a soft expression on his face, she was so happy that he was opening up to her a little.

“Impulsive decisions can be bad...but they can also be the best decisions we ever made” sometimes you just needed to make a change or do something crazy to make the world around you make sense “I imagine that was quite the shock for sober you the next morning…” she laughed and scrunched her nose cutely “But you didn’t take him back so...he must have won your heart” perhaps it was a crazy decision but if it brought something good to his life then it could never be a mistake.

She nodded in an understanding manner, she could respect and relate to the idea of completely losing yourself for a while, she felt like for the best part of the year after Vlad died she had been completely a shell of herself. It was only recently that she was finding herself again and even then, it hurt to do so. She pressed a hand gently against his cheek in a soothing manner, her thumb gently brushing against his skin “No one is perfect, we all make mistakes...we all do things we regret...we all shout why into the voice” she offered a small smile “But it takes someone really strong to find themselves again...regardless of how they get there” she didn’t see shame in leaning on others, if it was then she would have to be ashamed of herself too.

“Happy...I can do happy” she agreed, nodding her head slightly before squealing loudly when he started tickling her arms, her trying to get away ended up with the both of them rolling over each other and falling down among the piles of hay in the barn. She was laughing and retuning the favor after discovering he was just as ticklish as she was, if not more “You’re heavy” she teased in a soft voice as she was looking up at him.

Their eyes met for a brief moment and she felt the same pull she was sure he did as she leaned up to meet his lips with her own, this time it wasn’t as gentle or chaste, it was slow, but passionate as they spoke the words neither of them knew how to say just yet. She smiled against his lips before giving him a devilish smile and then she used her Nephilim strength to switch their positions, pinning him down against the hay below her, blonde hair falling all around her head as she looked down into his eyes “I never thought I’d really laugh again” she confessed with a small smile before pressing another kiss down against his plush lips.

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