Private Falling With You

[Zaiya Ceti]

Nakbe
Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x | Weapons: x x x
Interacting with: Aris Noble

-

There it was, the ghost of a smile that indicated that Aris took what she said to heart. It might not completely make him feel better, but it was a start.

Zaiya gave a firm nod in confirmation that they would discuss what they would do if or when they found anything, only for her to give an amused snort and glance over at Aris as if he was being silly. Iridescent light blue and cyan color tones would paint her face. She shot him another brief flash of her tongue at him.

"No, I do not have a bangle for that." Although... contemplative thoughts came to her about what she could make, burnished amber replacing the blue hues. Aris wouldn't be too off the mark on Zaiya trying to come up with something like that; the slight flush in embarrassment returned. He knew her well.

Anyways...

"No, I'll just use the Force. That works just fine. Besides, I have limited space on my arms. I'm actually considering if there are ways to enhance a few bangles that could help me with the Force." She began to explain, kneeling down towards the edge of a rocky overlook towards the dark pool of water. Closing her eyes, she sat in a seiza position, legs tucked underneath her bottom, and brought her hands in front of her, right over left.

Diving herself into the Force, Zaiya let herself be immersed within it. Stretching out her senses, the Lovalla attempted to see if she could locate any sign of life. So far, nothing. However, the water ran deep. Potentially several dozen meters deep.

Opening her eyes, she gave a frown. "I... didn't sense anything down there... but it is very, very deep. If there are any kind of guardians down there... well, they aren't the living kind." Zaiya relayed, turning her multicolored head over to Aris, opal blue eyes watching him process that.

"We can't jump this length soo... swim?"

 

[Aris Noble]

She was going to make one. Aris snickered softly, but he wasn't going to linger on it. Yes, he certainly knew her well enough to know what she'd end up doing. Though she was right. Eventually she'd run out of room. "Maybe make them multiuse. Combine what you can to save room?" He shrugged. It wasn't a bad idea, in his mind anyway. But the logistics of it was more on her than him.

"Oh. You can infuse things with the Force. Metals and the like. You'd probably be able to infuse some of your bangles to help with that." It wasn't something he could do, but he knew of several weapons that could. Master Jonyna Si had several at that. Maybe he could ask her later, to see if she'd be willing to help Zaiya make her own.

Such thoughts were put to the wayside as she mentioned the water being deep, though. If this was where the guardian was, this was dangerous. He could hold his breath for a while, but bot indefinitely. Next time he'd remember the rebreather.

"We can give it a shot." They'd have to go forward regardless. Overthinking it now wasn't going to help. He stepped towards the water, wading in up to his waist before glancing to Zaiya. It was cold. Freezing, even, but he was fine as ever.

Would she be, though?

"We'll swim fast. Can you stay warm?"

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Nakbe
Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x | Weapons: x x x
Interacting with: Aris Noble

-

"Oh, there are?" Wait, of course, there are. That is how Seszil was made, right? Zaiya gave herself a mental bonk.

"Like Seszil?" Zaiya asked, slowly pushing herself off her seiza position and back onto her feet. It had taken a bit to get used to the position during meditation and training. Her legs would numb, and she'd have to rub them to regain circulation. However, with practice, she could perform the position for progressively longer.

"That would be neat. I'll have to look to see where I can learn more about how to do that." something to consider, although Zaiya hadn't realized Aris was already thinking ahead on that.

The decision to swim was made, and Zaiya watched as Aris wadded in. She was sure it would be freezing, and odds were, they would be soaked after they arrived at the other side, and it would be even colder.

"I should be fine...Dresh are able to handle the most brutal of winters...in theory." She could handle the cold, but she hadn't been in a particularly freezing environment for an extended period.

Wading up behind him, she gave a slightly pinched expression as the frigid water began to soak up her boots and robe fabric and chill her muscles underneath.

"I'm more concerned about how to dry off after..." she added, grimacing and sinking to shoulder level. Her hair was saturated, and the water would lap at her neck.

"Okay... let's get this over with," she said, wadding forward with a sweep of her arms. In the dark water, the iridescent shimmer and soft kaleidoscopic glow of her skin as it rippled over her patterns made her appear as some sort of bioluminescent fish.

As they swam several dozen meters below, a singular blue orb along the rock crevices of the underwater ravine began to glow.

 

[Aris Noble]

"Less violently made, but yes. Like Seszil."

Seszil was the result of a horrid experiment, but they were a good example of what Aris had meant. And currently sleeping back on the ship. As time went on, Seszil's reconstruction from the Dark they'd been seeped in has left them exhausted, was the only term Aris could think of. The less he had to use the blade, the better for Seszil's health.

"Oh. Right. Yeah we'll have to dry off."

He hadn't thought about that. Then again, wet clothing wouldn't bother him in the long run. They'd dry eventually as he kept himself heated, but what about Zaiya? He frowned as he looked at her. Well, whatever the case, they'd figure it out once they got across. Aris stayed close to her as they started to swim across, using her light to help guide him given he couldn't actually see in the dark.

Though, turned out she wasn't the only light. Half way across the lake he could see the glow below. It had him squint, frown, before he glanced to Zaiya. "Swim faste-"

Aris couldn't get the words out before the water churned. All at once he felt the sudden pull of displacement. It was as if there'd been a whirlpool, though the reality was quick to reveal itself. Now deep under the water he found himself face to face with that which lurked below. A pair of blue eyes, where one alone utterly dwarfed his size, stared at him in it's glow.

A pale serpent, far too large to seem to be able to fit in this pool, at least until he'd realize that the reason nothing was sensed was because it was there, all there, this whole time. Buried in the rock, part of the wall, now free and staring.

It spoke in a language Aris did not fully recognize. Ancient Epicanthic, but it's voice was too deep, too loud, too muffled. He could feel it's voice vibrate throughout his body, hurting his ears, his head. He couldn't speak under water, only grimace before he spun. Zaiya. Even in the face of this unfathomably large serpent, he needed to find her first. They needed to surface, to breath.

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Nakbe
Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x | Weapons: x x x
Interacting with: Aris Noble

-

There was no sense of danger from the Force, so Zaiya was equally caught off guard.

The churning water swirled violently, and in an instant, the Lovalla teen felt herself being sucked into the surging whirlpool below. Barely catching a breath, she was pulled by a powerful current, tumbling uncontrollably until she managed to right herself. Deep underwater, she became a glowing, silvery beacon, alarm blanching her skin into a molten silver glow, her bioluminescence radiating a shimmering, ethereal light.

Aris?! ARIS! she called out mentally, but the swirling water swallowed her voice. It was hard to see, even with her body's glow, until she spotted the massive twin cerulean orbs of an enormous pale serpent in front of Aris. She jerked in alarm, a ripple of pale yellow flashing against the silver of her skin. She swam towards him, only to stop as a rumbling vibration shook her. It took her a moment to realize that the serpent wasn't attacking Aris; it was speaking to him.

What the...

Understanding that the vibrations and sound might be overwhelming for Aris's sensitive ears, Zaiya did her best to reach out for him, noticing he had already turned away from the serpent and started swimming up.

Still, no danger seemed to cry out in the Force, so Zaiya could only assume this was another strange occurrence related to Aris. Unsure if he would be okay, she swam towards him, a chain of bubbles trailing behind her. Reaching out, she grabbed his hand and gave a firm tug, pulling him upward, ensuring they both could reach the surface together.

 

[Aris Noble]

They were deep. The displacement of the water from the serpent's rise had pulled them below. Aris met Zaiya's gaze and gave a single nod. She was safe and swimming. Good, those lessons early on were paying off. He started to swim up with her, trying not to be frantic as he did. They needed to reach the surface, needed to reach air. Whatever this creature was was only watching them, but that could change any moment.

He really didn't want to see how much it could change.

Not that it cared on what Aris might want. There was a sudden rush of pressure as the two were propelled up through the water. Raised up, more specifically, as part of the serpent lifted them right to the surface. Aris didn't have time to think about it as they broke free of the water, sprawled out against pale scales as he took a couple breaths of actual air.

Sure enough, though, the serpent was waiting. Now outside the water it's eyes weren't as glowing, but they were focused on the two resting on it's scales. Aris wasn't sure what to make of.. Any of this, and instead reached down towards Zaiya to help her to her feet.

"You alright?"

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Nakbe
Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x | Weapons: x x x
Interacting with: Aris Noble

-

Blessed air came into her lungs as they broke the surface, although it wasn’t in the manner Zaiya expected. Iridescent blue eyes went wide, framed by spiky wet lashes as the Lovalla teen lay sprawled on her side, attempting to grasp at anything to keep her balance on top of the silvery, thick serpent’s body as it rolled and lifted the two teens up.

It was huge.

The sound of water rippling down its body as it crashed back into the water within the enclosed cavern was near deafening, enhanced by the natural acoustics of its shape.

“Oh wow,” Zaiya barely managed to utter, briefly feeling Aris’s strong hands reach out to pull her to her feet. Unconsciously, she curled her hand around his, not letting go even after he helped her, barely moving to stand just in front of him, her other hand poised to summon a shield to protect him if needed. Emotional resonance surged, and her desire to keep him safe bled out.

“Uhh, yeah… maybe. Depends if we are about to become big snake food…you okay?” it was a faint attempt at a joke, those massive blue eyes staring down at them; no, at Aris.

Water plastered tendrils of hair along Zaiya’s checks and neck, her skin still a molten silver hue in wariness as concern, alarm, curiosity and confusion painted a rippling and pulsing medley of colors over her skin. Saturated, their drenched robes were no different, clinging to each of their bodies in a form fitting crumple, each dripping water as the chill of the cold intensified. Goosebumps rose along Zaiya’s bare skin, but she didn’t let go of Aris’s hand.

“Umm…” while Zaiya’s eyes didn’t turn away from the pale serpent, she still could not sense a deadly intent. “I don’t think it means to harm us.. well, you. It’s like it had been trying to tell you something underwater, but I didn’t understand it.”

It was then that it spoke again.

 

[Aris Noble]

She was safe.

Aris let out a sigh as he squeezed her hand in turn, possibly too tightly. None of this made any sense, but they were at the mercy of this massive snake. He wasn't sure if he could even cut the scales they were now standing on. But there was comfort here. Zaiya wanted to keep him safe just as much as he wanted to keep her safe. He smiled faintly, encouragingly. If they were in danger, they'd already have been delt with. Not saved

"I don't think we'll be eaten."

Humor was good. They needed something more to focus on than impending doom. He looked up to the serpent, who'd just been quietly watching the two. "I wouldn't let it eat you, at least." That was another worry that Zaiya seemed to have, by how she was talking anyway. To think it was actually talking to him, though? He frowned in thought, just before the creature spoke again.

Aris's jaw clenched. The voice reverberated through him as it had underwater, but this time he could hear it. Whatever was being said, though, he didn't seem to like. His expression tightened, eyes narrowed. He let out a sigh, though, as the snake finished what it was saying and turned their gaze to the far bank of the lake. He steadied himself as he seemed to know that they were moving.

"He wants us to get to the Forge. Says it's my destiny to. He knows ancient Epicanthic."

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Nakbe
Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x | Weapons: x x x
Interacting with: Aris Noble

-

"He wants us to get to the Forge. Says it's my destiny to. He knows ancient Epicanthic."

The twitch in Aris's jaw was telling. More and more, it seemed that this map was leading them towards something that clearly had to do with Aris and his family's legacy. But was it due to his father, or him specifically, Zaiya wasn't sure, but the more the markers indicated something big, that is destined, the more Zaiya knew this would feel like a burden to Aris, especially if it really did mean it was another reason for the Epicanthix to consider his family to be the kingmakers of their people.

A damp hand took hold of Aris's hand again, and she gave him another comforting squeeze.

It's okay, she seemed to relay. I am here.

"Okay....Is there any way to ask him if there will be any other surprises or anything else that we need to reach the forge?" Zaiya was trying to think on a practical level, the less injuries they could sustain the better. Once they could figure that out, then perhaps they could consider what to do to dry off their clothes. Otherwise it would be an uncomfortable and cold trek to wherever they were going.

 

[Aris Noble]

The body of the snake moved then, carrying the pair towards the far bank as if it understood exactly what Zaiya had asked. And seemed to ignore. Whatever laid ahead, it was only going to point them in the proper direction and the proper direction alone. Aris's expression in turn remained rather neutral in response, though the comfort from Zaiya was very readily and wholly accepted.

Once they reached the far shore he hopped off, looking up towards the serpent again as it spoke it's rumbly tone. Then it was gone. It moved, diving into the water in such a way that the small lake practically erupted further with another wave, which thankfully wasn't sent towards the pair of teenagers. "He just wished us luck. And that he won't be here when we return. I guess the pits of that lake head out to a much larger body of water, or so I hope anyway."

Either that, or the serpent was going to dig it's own way through. That was a possibility, certainly.

Aris looked back to Zaiya once he was certain the pale snake was gone, blinked, then cleared his throat as he looked right away and shuffled over somewhere to crouch and start busying his hands with making a fire of some kind.

"We should uh, dry off, I think, before we go any further. I'll make a fire."

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Nakbe
Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x | Weapons: x x x
Interacting with: Aris Noble

-

"He just wished us luck. And that he won't be here when we return. I guess the pits of that lake head out to a much larger body of water, or so I hope anyway."

Interesting, Zaiya thought to herself, letting go of Aris's hand for balance as she jumped from the serpent's back onto the ledge it had ushered them to. Lips thinned, opal blue eyes searching beyond the massive maw of the entrance that would direct them further, and as her senses outstretched, she could sense that the temperature only seemed to continue to drop. If she was sensing it correctly, perhaps even to the point of freezing.

"It must be a vast network of underground tunnels and caverns that are all interconnected together," Zaiya replied, mind racing at such possibilities. What if the entire planet held some form of underground network? "Could perhaps the ancient Epicanthix have utilized serpets like these to create them and build underground cities for their protection?" Who knew what the 400 year darkness would have forced the culture cut off from space flight and other worlds would have done to survive.

Water would dribble off her hair, body, and robes, and she stood in a small puddle. A shudder swept over her with the cold, leaving goosebumps over her luminous skin in their wake.

"Yeah, we should do something to dry off. Get warm....I get a sense that it will only get colder from here. The last thing we need is to turn into icicles," It was Zaiya's attempt at a joke, returning her attention over to Aris, who had turned his head away and seemed to be entirely focused on building a fire of some sort. A frown drew over her brows, and confusion would lighten her mottled spots into light grey. The Lovalla teen assumed he was still bothered about what the serpent said, oblivious about the flustered state that ensued.

"Do we have anything that could serve as kindling? I know you can turn into a human torch, haha, but I don't think that will help matters much," looking at him made Zaiya's eyes linger over his crouched form, water trickling off his cheeks and robes. His hair was a spikey, silver mess, sticking in all directions, completely different from the perfectly styled hair he liked to maintain it. Fingers itched to reach out to touch, but Zaiya force herself not to.

"Umm..." what did she have? Looking at her belt, she searched for what could be useful. "Oh! Right. I should have some firescubes here. They are made of a special type of resin, but we need something more to keep it going..." glancing around she attempted to search to see what she could find. There was thick moss growing along the cavern walls, some were even dry. Perhaps that would work?

 

[Aris Noble]

"The last thing we need is for you to turn to icicles, yeah." He wouldn't at least. And it was clear he was teasing her in turn, even if he kept his back to her to idly set about making the flame. No, he didn't have kindling, and at most he was currently lighting up his hands to a blistering degree to try and quickly dry himself off as much as he could. A good, dry heat would do it, he knew. He didn't need an actual flame. Already his hair was drying off, as if he was under a hair dryer.

".. Well, I don't think there's anything that's going to properly burn down here. I could heat up enough to help dry you off, I guess? Like a portable heater. We certainly need to make sure you're not going to get too cold here. I-" Logically this was simple. But it didn't help him at all. He reached up, hiding his face behind a hand a she tried to practically will the blush on his face away.

"We'll dry your clothing, then we'll press on, yeah?"

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Nakbe
Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x | Weapons: x x x
Interacting with: Aris Noble

-

"What? You don't want to carry an icicle me around?" Zaiya teased, trying to keep the conversation light. "I'm not that heavy, Aris." She rolled her eyes, trying to be silly. Banter was good. Banter was safe. It also allowed Aris to ease some of his tension, hopefully, or at least that was Zaiya's intent. Unknowing that wasn’t the case. Being a Lovalla meant that other humanoids' typical physical awareness across particular instances went over Zaiya's head.

Deciding Aris was right and the time was best spent on using what they could now, Zaiya gave up on the resin firecubes and moss collecting idea. He was, after all, a walking torch -- a giggle erupted -- a portable heater. Okay, why did that make her feel all giddy?

"Does that make you my portable heater then if I am your personal knight?" she quipped, her melodic voice drawing closer as she moved behind him with light squishing steps. Okay, boots would have to come off to dry.

"Okay, let's try that. Not everyone can be a walking torch like you," came her amused joke, a shimmer of light blue light coming from behind Aris, where the teenager stood.

"Just give me a second, I need to take a few layers off to make this work faster." Oblivious to the ramifications of how that would paint a teenage boy's imagination. If she just removed the outer robe and her boots and wrung them the water from them, she could sit close enough behind Aris and take advantage of the dry heat. She still had her tunic and pants and should hopefully dry faster. They could just chat in the meantime.

 

[Aris Noble]

"I'd prefer to carry you unfrozen." Was the quip. Which. Only made all of this worse for Aris. His expression, while hidden, was one of pure flustered embarrassment. All of this was throwing him for an absolute loop of emotions he wasn't used to feeling at all. Why was he so flustered now? A frown took over as he tried to sort it out.

It didn't help, though. What came next didn't help at all. His ears would twitch if they could before he just started humming. Loudly. He learned early on that humming could help drown out other sounds so he didn't have to hear everything going on. It didn't help fully, or at all in this case. Did he want to know? Did he want to listen? Inwardly he was screaming at himself over this.

"Take your time. I guess. Or don't. Actually don't. Gotta- heat you up, yeah."

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Nakbe
Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x | Weapons: x x x
Interacting with: Aris Noble

-

"I prefer to be unfrozen as well, although supposedly, my kind is okay with the cold. I'd rather not test out the limits, though," Zaiya said in passing. She focused wringing as much water as she could off the fabric of her outer robe, the droplets of water trickling onto the floor.

"Although if you are my portable heater, I guess it wouldn't be so bad if you are there to keep it warm." the potential twist of her words would sail over her head, Zaiya intending it to be a joke on how Aris was now radiating off heat. She swore there was even a spike in the temperature. He was really good at this.

It was just at that moment she heard Aris start to hum. Confusion would twist her features, her head turning to cast a look over her shoulder at him in avid curiosity, a medley of colors radiating off her luminescent skin. "Why are you humming?" she asked, amused.

She flicked her wrists and unfurled the robe, turning to wave it in front of Aris's back to see if she could get that dry first. The faint draft of her motions brushed against him.

"We can just talk, you know. You don't need to hum," she told him, thinking that he wanted to keep himself busy and not think about what happened with the serpent or what that would entail regarding how it was his destiny to continue to the forge. Her mind went racing across subjects. Oh, right!

"You know... have you thought about using your ability to superheat your hands for other uses? You have a tendency to make glass with sand, but have you thought of perhaps making figurines or glass beads with it too? I think that would be pretty neat."

 

[Aris Noble]

"Yeah, that wouldn't be too bad would it?" Provided he didn't actually burn her or anything. He paused his humming as she spoke. As she asked about it. His blush only worsened as he frowned, but again, he was keeping his expression from her. He shifted, tried to get comfortable sitting on the stone. "It helps me drown out sounds usually." Was the only explanation he was going to give with how embarrassed he really felt.

Though.. He was the only one feeling that way, wasn't he? There was a quiet moment, enough for his hearing to linger without the hum. She wasn't embarrassed. Wasn't flustered. That was- right. A part of him felt foolish for even feeling flustered to begin with. There's no chance she'd be the same, right? Whatever this was, anyway. His flustered expression shifted to a more somber smile.

Why was that disappointing?

"I could, yeah. What sort of figures do you think I should make?"

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Nakbe
Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x | Weapons: x x x
Interacting with: Aris Noble

-

Drown out sounds? What sounds were out there? Oh! Was he hearing things that I can't pick up with my hearing? Zaiya's mind raced with confusion, and in an attempt to figure out what sounds Aris might be drowning out. She fanned and adjusted the fabric, still puzzled. She dropped her arms, looking over the fabric of her robe down at his crouching form. She could only see the back of his silver head and the soft glow that radiated off his skin; that happened every time he used the Force on his body to heat himself up. At least this time, there weren't any flames around him, so the chances of getting burnt were low.

Concern rose, but before she could ask what was wrong, he followed up with a question about her glass-making suggestion. Oh, right.

"Umm, well, different materials make up the different colors in the glass, right? Maybe your favorite animal... or a figurine of Fuzzy. Vera might like that." Zaiya suggested, thinking of what might work. Aris was thoughtful in that manner.

"... Or I can make you something with any beads you make?" Zaiya added tentatively, a bit uncertain and feeling flustered about it. He wore the aural dampeners and the connected auto-forming helm, but would he be okay with something silly made out of beads? Could she make something functional but pretty with them that he'd like? She'd done a version of it with her bangles... What would work for him?

"Umm...something useful. Is there something you need or want?" unaware of how the question would be taken in light of Aris's own confused, disappointed thoughts. She felt a blush rise over her face, darkening her mottled spots. She nervously rocked on her heels as she shifted her weight. The squishy feeling of her wet boots reminded her she had to take them off. Right.

Aris would hear Zaiya sit down behind him, rustling her robe and draping it over her lap while she started untying her boots to take them off. Something to keep her mind busy from feeling silly about getting flustered, her heart skipping as the nervousness rose again.

 

[Aris Noble]

"I could probably make Fuzzy, yeah." That wasn't a bad idea a tall. It'd give him a chance to properly work on how he could shape things, and well, maybe giving Vera Noble a gift might get her to come out and hang with more people. Or at least with him. He smiled softly at the thought before glancing up to the far wall. Zaiya would make something from the beads he could make?

"Something I want or need..? .. I don't know. There's no ta whole lot I feel I need. And not much I want." Asides from not feeling this fluttery, awkward feeling that Zaiya certainly didn't feel herself. Not that he was going to say that aloud. Instead, he focused on his heat, to ensure he wasn't going to burn her by accident while letting her have something to dry her off.

Except now she was. He could hear her heart beating, which only made him that much more confused.

".. What about you? What would you like? I can make you something."

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Nakbe
Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x | Weapons: x x x
Interacting with: Aris Noble

-

"Something I want or need..? .. I don't know. There's not a whole lot I feel I need. And not much I want."

"Oh. Okay." Zaiya replied, her voice a bit muted and her head ducked as she slipped off one boot and then the next. A bit of water splashed out as she shook them upside down, then did her best to wring out any additional water out of the leather. The motions were allowing her to try her best to keep her mind busy at the disappointment at hearing that, the vibrancy of her patterns muting to a duller hue. Not a whole lot that Aris feels he needs or that he wanted.

Why did that make her feel frustrated? It was a silly thing to feel frustrated for. In the back of her mind, perhaps it was because she had hoped he'd say something different. What exactly, well.. Her heart skipped a beat and Zaiya bit her lower lip. No she couldn't say that.

Without realizing the teenager gave a sigh. Only to freeze and pause when Aris asked her the same question.

What would I like? Is there anything I'd want for Aris to make me? Zaiya set down her boots beside her, just close enough to hopefully get enough of the dry heat radiating off of the Epicanthix to start drying them off.

"Umm...." Hands came up to nervously run through her wet locks of hair, grabbing the thick length to twist and curl the multicolored strands of cobalt, magenta, and teal over her right shoulder. A few thoughts came to mind on the question for what she'd like. Some had nothing to do with Aris' making glass figurines and mainly with having the ability to hold him freely again without being worried that she was going to do or say something stupid. It had been different when they first met. It wasn't an issue to hold his hand or give him a hug. He was her best friend, that was normal. Now, things... were different. She felt a different sense of longing that wanted the hugs and hand holding to linger.

"I guess, something that you think is special I guess?" that was the closest she'll admit to what she was thinking. " Or that you think I'll need... You know me, "She played with her hair and then did her best to also wring some of the extra water out of it.

"I like anything that is pretty or colorful."

 

[Aris Noble]

Aris half shifted where he sat as he continued to stare at the far wall. He was radiating controlled heat now, just enough to help properly dry. His own clothing was dry by now, his hair the same. It really helped that he'd learned how to properly control this level of heat. And yet, he couldn't help but hear the changes in how Zaiya spoke. Dissapointment? It didn't help that even not looking at her he could see her colors shimmering off the cavern walls.

"That's not all you want though, is it? I do know yu. What is it you want, really? You can tell me, Zaiya."

Zaiya Ceti