Living in the moment. -Open.-

[realize.real.lies]

The sun was slowly falling in the sky as the large snowflakes glided their way down to the already snow covered ground. The day had been long and filled with drinks and many people filtering in and out. The winter wind whipped viciously at my cheeks, the crisp air lapping away at the rosy flesh. A small hiccup parted my luscious ruby red lips as I wrapped my white pea-coat tighter around my body as if the flimsy fabric would shield me from the harsh cold. Though, once I bought the damn thing I knew it was to enhance my curvy frame, and not as much for the miniscule amounts of warmth it might afford me. A shiver ran down my spine causing my body to tense up slightly. My green-golden orbs squinted slightly as the glare off the white snow that covered everything caused my eyes to water slightly.A few tears escaped, but I wiped them away with my gloves. I had been spending more time at the Promenade than most seeming as how I knew no one and had no where to go.

The wind whistled causing the snow flakes to whirl around as if on a rollercoaster before sweeping to the ground, blending in with the others. My long brown mane that usually fell into cascading corkscrewed curls billowed in the gale tossing strands over my shoulder and in my face, this way and that way. I could slightly see that my long sweeping eye lashes were starting to collect snowflakes at the tip of them.

"Good Lord, why on heavens am I out in this cold again? Oh yeah because I was suffocating in there and needed air.."

My tone was dripping with sarcasm as I walked a bit father away from the establishment, my brown leather boots with the heels fell silent on the ground. Instead of the faint click, click one would hear from the heel meeting the ground all you heard was my faint mumbles and curses of my stupidity of walking out into the cold. I knew I probably looked like a lunatic trudging about in the snow, but it was better. I pulled my hood, yet another over-sized piece of fabric meant as a fashion statement with no real protection from the elements, over my head.The only thing it helped was stopping my hair from whipping me in the face which was nice, but just as I finished pulling the hood on the vicious wind died out.

"Mother nature is about as bipolar as a woman on her monthly.."

I joked with myself allowing a soft giggle to ring out, though being distracted I hadn't noticed the ice in front of me. As soon as the heel of my boot connected with the ice my foot slipped out from under me. My body was tossed up in the air and as if in slow motion I could feel my limbs flailing, knowing that my dark washed out denim skinny jeans were going to hold no cushion for my fall. My body landed with a thud as the air rushed out of my lungs. I laid there dazed for a moment before I could get my bearings. Abrupt laughter rang out, as I for some reason found my bruised tailbone and ego funny as all get out. Maybe it was the one too many shots that a had in the tavern that made the embarrassing situation easier to find funny The laughter only halted when someone cleared their throats. If my cheeks weren't already rosy from the cold, the embarrassment surely flooded them with even more crimson color. The was a brief moment of silence until a hiccup escaped my lips causing my giggles to ring out like a beautiful melody.

"Whoops..."

[Shinsou Vaan Osiris]

The Silver Cup Tavern was located at the edge of the promenade, far away from the winding labyrinth of filthy alleyways and grotty passages that comprised the inner workings of the city. It was a crooked but quaint sort of building, propped up by its smooth, whitewashed limestone walls and protected from the elements by a brittle slate roof that looked as if it was barely holding together. Almost any time someone shut the heavy front door, fragments of splintered shale tile would rain down over the pavement and pepper the road below.

Despite its dilapidated state, the tavern always boasted a healthy turn out and even more so as travellers looked to take refuge from the bitter winter air. Through the frosted glass windows, coated with a thin layer of ice, it was clear to see a handful of oil lanterns burning brightly and the shadows of their patrons jigging merrily about. A chorus of drunken cheers leapt from the crevices of the doors, sending a shiver down the spines of those passing by.

Shinsou Vaan Osiris had decided to take a day off from worrying about the affairs of Telgradia and Althanas. He had heard about a specially brewed dark Radasanthian ale that was served in the Silver Cup from his friend Bane, and had decided to sample it for himself. The rule was that if it was good enough for Bane, it was likely to kill a few brain cells, and that was just fine by Shinsou. Recent events with the Council of Five’s impending arrival weighed heavily on his mind, and the Telgradian needed time to unwind.

“This…” Shinsou started, peering inside his pewter tankard at the murky brown liquid within, “…looks strong. It smells strong too…”

Bane Stark grinned, coolly watching his friend analyse his drink before attending to his own cup from the comfort of the bar. The former emperor of Telgradia, with golden eyes locked firmly onto his drink, held the cold edge of his tankard steadily against his lips and swallowed deeply.

“Fuck…me…”

Bane roared with laughter as he watched Shinsou’s soft eyes water up, patting him heavily on the back with his anvil-like hands.

“You crack me up, boy! See that you finish that drink. You need a bit of meat on you anyway.”

Shinsou, swigging another two inches of his beer, frowned.

“This tastes like shit, but it hits you like a maul.”

A bystander, who was drinking the same as Shinsou and Bane, decided to clear up any misunderstanding about the reputation of the beer they were drinking.

“It’s strong stuff. Radasanthian Dream, they call it. It will put pubes on your pubes, that’s for sure!”

The former emperor’s legs folded underneath him as he sunk his second glass in one sitting, a trickle of beer forking down his chin.

Bane almost fell off his chair with laughter.

“C’mon lad!” The former Coronian ranger bellowed in Shinsou’s dazed face. “One more!”

-

Everything was fuzzy around the edges. The drink had gone right to his head and hadn’t done him much good, but Shinsou had somehow held his own in there. Now, he was actually laughing, telling jokes with his now rubbery friend Bane as they supported each other’s shoulders and staggered around the pavement with the stranger from the bar they had now befriended.

I haven’t laughed like this for a long time.

The night’s air was bitterly cold for this time of year. Even wrapped in the thick of his trademark white greatcoat and a smattering of thick clothing underneath, the wind chill seemed to cut through Shinsou like an icy, serrated knife as he stood with Bane on the cracked alleyway pavement some minutes away from the chaotic scene they had left behind in the Silver Cup.

The Telgradian turned to face Bane, who was smirking to himself.

“What?” Shinsou enquired, staggering a little to his left.

“You, boy,” Bane chortled to himself, pressing an wobbly yet accusatory finger into Shinsou’s chest “are quite the handful after a drink. I’ve known you for months and I’ve barely seen you crack a smile. Get you on the ale, and all bets are off! Haha!”

Shinsou’s response was drowned out by a throng of loud giggles that rang heavily in their ears, and echoed through the winter chill with a granulated ambience. The man once known in Telgradia as the Golden King brushed aside a bang of brown hair and stiffened his arms, straightening his back as he did, and looked drearily to his left. Bane sighed, resting his hands on his hips and shaking his head.

”Women, eh? Can’t take their drink.”

Without responding, Shinsou started edging towards the direction of the giggles opposite the main road. Two robin shaped blurs bolted past him and disappeared ahead, chattering as they danced in the icy breeze, but the Telgradian paid them no mind. His eyes were swerving over the figure lying on her back on the snow, fits of seemingly drunken giggles overcoming her.

Shinsou looked around cautiously. No-one seemed to be on hand to help her up. Either that or no-one wanted to get involved with a drunk on a cold night.

Fuck it.

“You ok?”

As he got closer, the features of the woman lay prostrate ahead of him started to materialise. She had a full head of thick, brown hair. Scarlet red lips stood out amongst the white scenery surrounding them. Her skin was milky and smooth, and from beneath a light dusting of snow her golden-green eyes suddenly fluttered open.

No way…

Was it a co-incidence? Was he hallucinating from the beer?

It simply couldn’t be.

She looked exactly like Rhovani.

[realize.real.lies]

You ok?

What a funny thing to ask a madam that lay on her back that isn't accompanied by a man.

My drunken thoughts swirled around like a windmill on a breezy day. Wait, who had said that? My lashes fluttered open to be meet by the site of a male standing over me. The look on his face as if he had seen a ghost of his past or something. Another giggle slipped past my lips without a second thought.

"I am fine thanks for asking, thought I would just lay here and oh I don't know look at the stars."

Smooth real smooth there Karina..

Pushing myself up into the sitting position my poor limbs groaned with protest. Ignoring the pains of my joints I finally was sitting up all the way, a silly drunk smile danced across my lips. Shaking my head slightly, I pushed back my hood allowing my long dark brown locks to be free. The snow fall had lightened slightly as I tilted my head at the curious fellow that seemed to be in a daze still. Letting the tip of my tongue trace my plush lips nervously.

"Um, are you okay?"

I felt a bit uneasy as his gold orbs bore into my face. Searching for something that maybe was or wasn't there of recognition. I was slightly apprehensive on what to do next. Pushing myself into the standing position my legs wobbled like a new born baby deer. Another giggle parted my full lips. As if it would stop the laughter I slapped a hand over my mouth but it only muffled the sound. Turning back towards the male that had checked on me he still stood there. Dusting off my long legs, round bum and coat that clung to my very feminine frame. After I was done I shook out my curled locks before holding my hand out.

"I am Karina but please, please call me Kara."

A kind smile danced on my lips but was interrupted by a hiccup. The sounds of laughter blossomed from my mouth. Tossing my head back I couldn't stop the laughter. It just kept coming until finally tears pooled into my eyes from the lack of oxygen. My gut begged me to stop using my diaphragm muscle. Taking a shaky breath I wiped away the unshed tears before offering him my hand again.

"Sorry, um again nice to meet you.."

[Shinsou Vaan Osiris]

Back in Garah, on Shinsou’s homeworld Telgradia, there was an encyclopaedia that described alcohol quite clearly. It said that alcohol was a colourless volatile liquid formed by the fermentation of sugars. It said that it often had an intoxicating effect on carbon-based life forms. What it did not say, in any of the books he had read then or since, was that drinking the Radasanthian Dream was like having your brains smashed out by a slice of lemon wrapped around a large gold brick. None of these books also mentioned how much you could expect to pay for one of these drinks, or what voluntary organisations existed to help your rehabilitation afterwards.

Shinsou stood there, breathing in heavily. He turned and smiled wanely at Bane, just in case he had heard what was going on inside his head. The ranger looked at him, groggy eyed, and shrugged.

“Kara…”

Bane laughed, and then broke into a coughing fit. “Come on boy, put yer eyes back into their sockets and let’s get out of here. She’s pissed.”

Shinsou’s mouth opened and closed a couple of times whilst his mind was, for a moment, filled with inexplicable but terribly attractive visions of Bane being consumed with fire and the ranger himself running screaming from the flames, with at least three hefty spears protruding from his back. Shinsou was often bothered with visions like these when Bane was making himself unwelcome, and it made him feel very nervous. He stuttered for a moment, and then pulled himself together as the ranger shook his head and decided to go away for a while.

“Sorry.” He started apologetically, turning back to face Karina. “My friend here doesn’t do manners. He’s a bit rough around the edges…I’m Shinsou…Shinsou Vaan Osiris.”

The Telgradian took her hand, and shook it. It was a dainty little thing but the girl had a grip, probably because she was too drunk to realise her own strength. As he looked at her again, the images of Rhovani flooded back. She was striking, conspicuously tall, and beautiful. Those high cheekbones, those deep, telling eyes were uncannily like hers.

It was funny, though, that she had caught him in this moment, at his must vulnerable. Most of the friends he had made since arriving on Althanas had some part in changing him from the cold, ruthless killer he was unfairly known for being into an eccentric – if not a harmless one. Now, in this moment, his persona was one of that of an unruly boozer with some oddish habits. For example, he had often gatecrashed parties in the inner city taverns, getting badly drunk and making fun of any rangers he could find until he was thrown out. Sometimes he would get seized with oddly distracted moods and stare into the sky, wondering in secret how Telgradia fared in his absence.

Now, though, he was for the first time himself, and not for the first time reminded of that beautiful woman he had left behind in the Kratas Outlands, that god forsaken place. As those images washed away, melting into the snow, he found himself gazing at the woman in front of him. Evenings like this usually ended badly. Shinsou would get out of his skull on whisky, huddle into a corner with some woman and explain to her in slurred phrases that, honestly, the past didn’t matter that much really.

“Sorry, I’m completely useless. I can’t believe everyone else just walked past you!” Shinsou started again, swaying very slightly. “Are you on your way home? We were just on our way to the next pub…err, Bane, where was that again?”

“The Drum and Monkey,” came the reply from across the street.

“Right!” Shinsou shouted far too loudly. “The Drum and Monkey! If you need an escort we can walk you as far as there? It would, after all, be remiss of me to leave a girl like you in the street on your own…”

[realize.real.lies]

Kara...

He all but sighed my name like to was some type of pressure off his shoulders to know such a name. As he stepped closer I could see his deep brown orbs were blessed with the twinkle of a hidden past/ agenda. Tilting my head slightly with curiousness dancing across my face as a small coy smile slipping onto my ruby red lips. I love hidden past or plan that was in motion. As he spoke about is brute of a friend I leaned around to see a gruff looking man, a giggled slipped past my already smiling lips. "Eh, maybe he is just a diamond in the rough. Just needs a bit of pressure and polishing." With that I send the guy a wink before looking back at Shinsou.. Shit how am I suppose to remember a name like that... My mind all but scrambled like eggs in a frying pan just trying to remember how he had pronounced it.

"That's one hell of a name there soldier... Lovely to meet you, Shinsou Vaan."

Testing the way his name rolled off my tongue, it was slightly rough a bit; not flowing as fluently as intended. Another innocent school girl giggle escaped as I sighed softly eyeing his built form up and down. As his hand in gulfed my own I into some air slightly so it was almost a soft gasping sound. Have you ever had the feeling of when you know you are standing and you feel as if you are starting to fall. Almost as if either the surface underneath you is going to give way or your leg will no long support the weight of your body. Well as his flesh touched mine I gripped tightly, not meaning to but a simple stiff reaction to not having human physical contact in so long. His eyes seemed to have glaze over as if he was reliving a memory or something. My thumb absent-mindedly stroked his rough working hands in comfort. It was weird but I felt as if I should help him, Oh Goddess the alcohol has turned me into a mush!Noticing they had been holding hands for long than normally people do while shaking them, I slipped my hand from his grasp as he day dreamed away.

Rocking back and forth from the tips of my toes to the heels of my feet, swaying slightly. The distant sound of the tavern life made me giggle once more before scrunching my face up. "I don't have a home." He looked surprised either that I was not bothered by what I said or that I had said it. Waving off his offer to walk me to my nonexistent and the stammering he was starting to do. "I mean if you don't mind me tagging along to the Drum and Monkey I promise not to be too much trouble." Peaking over at his friend to see if he would protest but instead he simply shrugged like he didn't care whether she came or left. "So what do you say big boys, will you let a lady come get even more drunk at a different pub with an escort there?"

Tilting my head slightly I offered him the most innocent smile I could muster up without combusting into a giggle fit. I could start to see the wheels turn in his head which I knew not if it was a good or bad thing. I simply smiled sweetly and batted my eyelashes to give more of an angelic effect to my already appealing plea. "I mean if you refuse to escort me I could always just go on my own. Than the unknowing would start to eat at you. Did she get mugged? Why isn't she here? Was she maybe raped? I could have stopped this..."

[Shinsou Vaan Osiris]

One of the major difficulties Bane had experienced in his relationship with Shinsou was learning to distinguish between him pretending to be naïve just to get women off their guard, pretending to be naïve because he couldn’t be bothered to think, pretending to be outrageously naïve because he didn’t actually understand what was going on and really being genuinely naïve. The Telgradian was renowned for being amazingly clever, and quite clearly was so, but not all the time. This obviously worried him. Shinsou preferred women to be puzzled by him rather than contemptuous. It was sort of a safety net.

On this occasion, though, something was different. Bane knew the story about Rhovani, or part of it, and Shinsou had always struck him as a man without any sort of idea of sexuality or experience beyond that of his woeful past. Yet here the burly ranger witnessed a man crawling out from underneath his shell. As the cold air swirled and dived around them, he carefully observed his counterpart. A smile on the corner of his lips, a devilish glint in his eyes, and a swagger and pomp that he had never seen in the lad all bled through that boyish exterior.

This just wasn’t the Shinsou Vaan Osiris he knew. Or, maybe it was, and he just didn’t realise it.

Well, stone me down. I wish this Council of Five were here to see this. If they need proof he ain’t the same guy who led the rebellion, this is about as stone-wall as it gets.

Shinsou himself had felt her touch and already a feeling of warmth permeated through his body. A strange nervous tickle crept in his stomach, reaching up into his throat, and the blood ran to his cheeks. Parts of his mind screamed at other parts of his mind.

“Bloody hell, it’s cold,” He said, very calmly, as he swayed a little to one side. “I wouldn’t want to be held responsible for you being diddled to death by alleyway Jack after a bout of hypothermia before we hit the next bar. I mean, officially we’re now your bodyguards for the night. Right Bane?”

“Whatever.” The ranger said impatiently.

“Exactly.” Shinsou either misheard or ignored his associate. “We’re behind schedule, so let’s go. Now, I need to know if you can keep up, Kara. When we hit the tavern, we hit it hard and we don’t look back.”

He realised as soon as he said it.

Christ...what is wrong with you?

-
The Drum and Monkey Inn
-

Shinsou had gone looking for trouble. It was a second Radasanthian Dream for him, and one each for his associates Bane and Kara who coolly watched events unfold from the comfort of the bar. The former emperor of Telgradia, with golden eyes locked firmly on his prey, held the cold edge of the cup against his lips. His eyes flitted back towards Kara, who met his blurred gaze. She smiled warmly, and it hit him like an arrow in the chest.

“Gotta do it now, Shinsou. Let’s see what you’re made of!” Bane roared, interrupting the moment and grinning as he necked half of his nuclear strength ale and wiped a cuff across his beard, scouring foam from the hairs.

“Here goes!”

[realize.real.lies]

Catching my bottom lip in between my teeth I giggled as his question rang out that he may have been sexually frustrated. "I think I can keep up, maybe out do ya'." With a playful wink I wrapped my arms around my curvy frame to try and keep warm from the fierce Winter wind. Jumping on his back he stumbled not so gracefully as I wrapped my legs around his waist. He was slightly boney with muscles that could send a girl to her knees, he looked taken back and his companion snorted at the sight. "Oh word my noble steed!" Tossing my head back as my brown curl locks fell in a cascading waterfall of dark rich chocolate. "Just kidding, we should go though to make up time." Giggling again I hopped off his back swaying slightly for the not so lady like dismount. A strong hand clutched her elbow steading me. Glancing through my lashes to see who had done it only to be surprised that it was Bane. "Well thank you there diamond in the rough." Instead of a proper you're welcome I got a grunt and an eye roll.

---

We had arrived after trudging through the snow for a bit and right away started to drink, the cold outside had simply sobered me up pretty much. At first it was a simple glass of some concoction that had the word Dream in it. I love the fruity yet bitter taste to it, giggling slightly I look up to catch Shin glancing at me. His lovely eyes are baptized with the color of the soil mixed with an almost shiny gold. The gold being the more dominant color, just as before though a smile danced across my lips. I wasn't sure if he was playing a coy game of cat and mouse or if he just liked looking at me. With each glance the butterflies in my stomach fluttered to life but simply died down as he looked away.

Bane's voice rang out clearly as I crossed my legs over one another before sipping on my drink some more. Shaking my head as I watched the two play in their boyish games. I gasped slightly as someone touched my shoulders lightly, turning to see a male that was very handsome in the face offer me a shot. Eyeing him I glanced back at the two men I had come with, them being too engrossed with their drinking challenge. Looking back at the stranger I offer him a kind smile, "thanks?"

"Names Thurin, you looked like you needed some company so I brought a peace offering." Taking the shot I toss it back, the liquid burns the entire way down causing me to shiver. Letting the tip of my tongue trace the outline of my plush lips before I can form a coherent sentence. "First off, I am Kara. Second oh my Goddess I don't even wanna know what that was.." The man chuckled as the warm sensation started to spread to my entire body causing me to strip off my coat. The bar keep took it and stashed it some where safe, my form fitting shirt allowing my cleavage to peak out the top of the shirt. My small midsection curved into my lovely hips and long legs, I could see Shin glancing over once more as he eyed the man next to me. "So Thurin you wanna dance?" The man had lovely forest green eyes which now sparkled with a hint of lust as he nodded glancing at my breast.

Walking over I asked the band to play something that I could move my hips too. Walking back to Thurin I hadn't noticed how tall and muscular he was. Man was built like a wall, grinning the music started and on cue my hips started to sway to the rhythm. Tossing my head back as I let my body roll with the music, My top half of my body rolled from right to left as the bottom half rolled left to right. Strong hands gripped my waist as I opened my eyes that had been closed due to me loosing myself in the music. A small gasp parted my lips slightly as I breathlessly looked to see something I didn't think I would. "Hey," I breathed breathlessly my chest rising and falling rapidly.

[Shinsou Vaan Osiris]

Bane looked on, over Shinsou's unsteady shoulder, as Kara first took a shot of something clear and then her leave to the dance floor with this Thurin chap. His keen eyes followed their forms as they began to dance and sway to the new tune of merriment that the band on the stage were churning out with their various woodwind and stringed instruments. The Drum and Monkey was much more of a social pub these days, keen to keep the punters in between the sticks for as long as possible, and they had spared no expense to do so. New furniture at the bar, a bandstand, shiny new brass oil lanterns, some actual entertainment and new ales all formed part of the package a drinker in the promenade could expect to sign up to when they strode in from the cold, unlike the budget package of sticky floors and shit but strong ale on offer at the Silver Cup.

One thing that hadn’t changed here, though, was the grade of clientele. A young, handsome man this Thurin was, but Bane had seen his ilk before. He was quite clearly here to get fucked out of his skull on booze and then, quite literally, fucked out of his skull upstairs. He also wasn’t afraid to do what he needed to do to accomplish that goal. Much to Bane’s surprise, Shinsou either hadn’t noticed or hadn’t cared about what had just happened. The ranger sipped the ale from his cup, nodding his head in time with the happy jig being played around him in a false sense of responsibility to the atmosphere of the tavern, and boggled intelligently at Shinsou. Shrewd questions came to his cracked, weather beaten lips.

“Why,” he asked, “have you let that Thurin guy run off with her?”

“Do I look like her dad?” asked Shinsou, struggling to his feet and, he hoped, though not very optimistically, to his senses.

“No, you look like a fucking idiot.” Bane mumbled. “You can’t take your eyes off her, and yet here you are slumping around like some sort of fucking mopey zoo lion whilst another guy digs his claws in. Shinsou, go and talk to her.”

“Talk to her?” muttered Shinsou, before frowning in bemusement as he watched Thurin and Kara lazily bobbing and wafting away on the section that seemed to be intended as a dance floor. As she span, their eyes met once again. Instinctively, Shinsou shied away, pretending to be vastly more interested in a nearby ashtray.

What am I doing?

Bane slapped his forehead.

“You know what? If I was a lion, and you were in a different food chain to me entirely, I would still purposely go out of my way to hunt and kill you."

“Look,” Shinsou protested, pretending not to notice Thurin’s hands all over Kara’s backside as they swung by. “Any day now Telgradia’s finest will be trying to punch my teeth down my throat and send me back for what is likely to be a death sentence. Yes, I’m a little drunk.”

Bane stared at him, raising an eyebrow. Shinsou buckled instantly.

“Okay! I’m steaming. But I can’t drag another woman into this. The last time I did that…”

Bane clicked his tongue and snapped his fingers.

“That’s it. You’re scared. This is about Rhovani again isn’t it? Finally we’re getting somewhere!”

They stood there, alone at the bar, and stared each other resolutely in the face.

“I can’t help it Bane. You never knew her, Rhovani, but she was everything to me. Don’t take the piss out of me, but what happened broke me, and it set me on a path that changed everything. My life, the lives of millions of Telgradians, even the Jal Shey and because of what happened I will always be known as ‘Shinsou the Destroyer’ or ‘Shinsou the Emperor’. Look at that girl, Kara.”

Bane looked over to see Thurin gyrating all over the beautiful woman Shinsou was pining over. He raised an eyebrow, and looked back to Shinsou.

“All I see is a girl getting a good going over by another guy while you’re stood here giving me a million excuses as to why you can’t go and make a fucking change in your life. Oh, and by the way, his hands are halfway up her skirt, so you’re soon to be on sloppy seconds.”

Shinsou sighed. “The point I was trying to make was that you see a girl after a good time. I see a disaster waiting to happen.”

Bane’s eyes didn’t waver for a single moment. He put his beer down firmly on the bar, and placed two anvil sized hands onto Shinsou’s shoulders.

“I’ve known you a long time, and it’s rare I ever raise a hand to a friend. But when I do, I leave evidence of it, so listen to me before I smack you upside your head. You’re under immense pressure. We’ve been through a lot together already, and we are living every day like it’s our last at the moment. Maybe it’s time you enjoyed yourself, yeah? Tomorrow we could both be dead. Now…”

Bane raised a half empty tankard of Radasanthian Dream, and clinked glasses in a show of brotherhood with his friend.

“…do your thing. I’ll get another round in.”

After a sort of pondering look that crept slowly over his face like a mountaineer negotiating a tricky outcrop, Shinsou took a swig of his ale, composed himself, and turned to face the gathering of people swaying in time on the dance-floor. Once again, he caught Kara’s beautiful gaze, but this time instead of pretending to take some sort of vague interest in the fixtures and fittings of the pub he maintained the eye contact, smiling. Suddenly, as he paced towards her, she seemed to be distracted by something. Her legs were wrapped around Thurin, and his hand had disappeared and it looked as if…

“Not cool.” Shinsou hissed under his breath.

He didn’t need a second guess about what Thurin was trying to do with his left hand, and whatever it was that was happening was not pleasing its intended recipient. Shinsou decided it was time for a change of pace in this merry tavern dance. He slowly placed his right hand underneath his white coat, wrapping his fingers around the hilt of Enpera. It was concealed well enough, and the Telgradian knew that he didn’t have to unsheathe it here to achieve what he wanted to achieve. Just a simple incantation would do the trick.

“Senkai: Enpera Suigetsu”.

With a whoop of utterly unexpected fright, Thurin began flailing around like an epileptic, his hands now forced from their wandering ways and thrashing about. As everything stopped dead around this chaotic scene, the man knocked over drinks and all manner of things before he dashing out of the pub as fast as his legs could carry him. Bane nearly choked on his ale as he realised what Shinsou had done, and as he doubled over in mirth and tears rolled down his cheeks, the ranger silently applauded his ‘social protégé’ for his ingenuity.

Shinsou, you naughty little fucker! Illusory self-combustion is your masterpiece!

“Oh, would you look at that?” Shinsou quipped to Kara as everyone returned to what they were doing, shrugging innocently. “For some reason he seemed to think he was on fire.”

[realize.real.lies]

The music all but spoke to me as each time I would loose myself I would feel Thurin's creeping hands roam my body. A few times I had swatted at his hands to warn him he was getting a little too friendly. Each time he would place them back on my waist only for them to creep up my shirt. His bravery was noted but if he pressed any further he was going to loose a hand or two. A surprising gasp part my red lips as I felt his hand creeping in between my thighs.

What in the actual fuck?!

Shin's intense gaze met mine but had been torn away since handies over here was trying to cop a feel! I hadn't realized he had done something until I turned to see why I had been pulled back. His strong hand wrapped easily around my curvy waist, the warm sensation was not a full blaze. My head melted like puddy as his love golden eyes latched on to mine. An amused look on his handsome face, I was about to ask why he was smiling but the screams of Thurin told he had done something.

I knew that Thurin had gotten a little too friendly and had Shinsou not put him in his place I would have. Licking my lips nervously I only stared at the man that had come to my rescue. The wailing fool behind me seemed to fade away as I bite down on my lower lip. He saved me? Protected my honor? Am I just reading into it to much or are the little stolen glances- the- the coming to my aid. Does he like me? My thoughts swirled around like a crazy tropical storm, destroying anything that made a lick of sense. My hand shook slightly as I brushed a piece of his hair way from his lovely eyes. A small smile crept up on my face as I enjoyed the feeling on his hand on my waist in almost a possessive manor. I placed my hand over his as my hips started to sway to the music that had started again.

"Dance with me."

It was suppose to be a question but it had come out more as a demand. Humming gently along with the notes as I saw my dance partner was a bit stiff. Standing on the tips of my toes I kissed his cheek. My lips grazing his skin set a fire in my belly as I whispered, my breath fanning against his ears. "It's okay dear I promise not to bite. Well maybe only a little." A small giggle came from me as I lowered myself, his eyes shined with either mischief or lust maybe both. Something in him must of changed because he stepped closer, closing the gape between the two bodies. My breathing sped up slightly as I let my hips rock towards his lower section, my eyes seemed to never leave his. The scenery seemed to fade away as the music wrapped itself around me and I only paid attention to two things. One being the music and too the gorgeous man that stood there dancing with me.

"Shin.."

I breathed his name in like it was some delicacy, turning around my back side was against his groin. Rolling my midsection against him I lean against him. It was as if we were made to dance with one another, our bodies moved in sync. It was so lovely I didn't want it to stop but sadly I know it eventually would. Living in this moment is honestly shire bliss. Sighing contently I let my head sway back and forth to the music with my body as I let my hands slip behind my into his soft locks. Letting them slip through my fingers like grains of sand still continuing to dance against him.

[Shinsou Vaan Osiris]

The first thing Shinsou noticed as he entered into the thick of the dancing, apart from the music, the sheer volume of people, and the wild profusion of colours that now protruded through the tavern thanks to some bespoke lighting arrangement, was that Kara hadn’t taken her eyes off him at all from the moment he had sent whatever-his-name-was packing. He couldn’t help but gaze into those eyes, those big, green-gold shimmering objects, and in some trance like state the automation of human instinct overtook him.

Shinsou walked up to her, placing his hands around her waist in so confident a manner it would have appeared to the rank outsider that the man was less of an all-conquering emperor and more of a dance instructor from Radasanth. As she kissed him, the brown haired Telgradian’s heart skipped a beat. There was a moment of not knowing what to do next before the natural rhythm of the music helped to oil the Telgradian along, and although at first he demonstrated the flexibility and style of a four foot steel girder, Shinsou began to pick up the pace and soon synchronised well with the beautiful Karina. Eventually, she span round, her chocolate brown hair cascading over her shoulders in a way that only most models could have achieved, rubbing her buttocks against his groin in a provocative manner that would have made a working girl blush. It was subtle enough that no-one else saw it, but it sent a clear message to Shinsou about the success of his “rescue” of Kara’s honour.

“You’re beautiful.”

Shinsou whispered it softly into her ear without even thinking, and wrapped his arm tighter around her waist, pulling her closer to him to reassure her that her message was received loud and clear. As he did, his stomach began to do somersaults, and the hairs on his arms stood erect. It was at that moment that the music, the people, Bane, the furniture and everything else in the Drum and Monkey blurred around him into a watercolour smudge. It had begun to snow outside and each flake of snow sparkled dimly as it twisted and turned in the slight breeze, but, for that moment, Shinsou and Karina stood in the middle of this bizarre entity in his mind surrounded only with each other.

For the first time in his life, there was nothing else on his mind. Telgradia, the civil war, the Jal Shey, the Council of Five and not even Rhovani.

Just Kara.

Shinsou tried to hold her hand to steady and reassure her. Then, something remarkable happened. As the two hands interlocked, the Telgradian felt a stirring in his loins, a feeling deep down he hadn’t even conceived was still possible to feel at all. Part of him wanted to shout and shake with rage that the Universe kept doing these insanely bewildering things to him, putting him through so many changes all at once and making him feel like he didn’t know where he stood on anything anymore, but then that feeling subsided. It was replaced only by a warm, tender glow inside his chest.

It was then he truly saw Karina’s beauty. As she continued her motions in real time, continuing the close quarter grinding, the world slowed to a fraction for the Telgradian. Her supple body, her perfect buttocks, and her high cheekboned slim face all suddenly came to life, like a burst of light in the darkness. Shinsou leaned his head in over her left shoulder, carefully brushing back a lock of her shimmering hair before softly pressing his lips against the side of her neck, his arm still tight around her waste. She was one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen, but he was entirely perplexed by these new feelings. They were wonderful, they were exquisite, and for the first time in years they filled Shinsou with a sense of amazement and excitement. Whatever these emotions were, he wanted this moment to last.