Her Head Turns To Elora. Jade Could Have Sworn She Was Sleeping Like The Others. Her Gaze Moves Over

Her head turns to Elora. Jade could have sworn she was sleeping like the others. Her gaze moves over the rest of their party again to double check. It’s just Elora, though. She allows herself to relax again, having tensed up when she realized she wasn’t alone. Her grip around the sheath of her sword that sits in her lap loosens.

“I’m not sure they’re worth that much,” she replies with a mirthless chuckle. She pauses, glancing back at a sleeping Kit, thinking up a proper answer. How do you explain your concerns after such triumph… and such loss? Her mind returns to the mines of Skellin, to Elora confiding in her about her anxiety attacks. Honesty seemed key. Perhaps it’s the same now. “We thought saving Airk would be the end. We now know it’s not. It will only get worse from here. And this was hard already.”

Elora still hasn't felt as though a single thing that she has been feeling has been able to settle. It's like she's on fire, and with that feeling she's also incredibly uneasy about what is to come. She knows what is needed of her, and she's more CONFIDENT than when they began, but something is wrong...something feels still just beyond her reach, and that terrifies her.

Glancing over at Jade, Elora quietly observes her for just a moment before she began to move. Jade had a time of it too, and there's just so much UNKNOWN that permeates the air around them. It's good that Airk is back, but Graydon's gone now and it feels like part of that is her fault somehow. When they had needed her, perhaps she had succeeded, but she also wished it hadn't come at such a price.

"Hey...penny for your thoughts?"

                        love is an act of faith in another                         person, not an act of surrender.

how kit tanthalos looks at jade claymore (jade version)

PROMPTS FOR TOUCH-STARVED MUSES *  adjust as necessary, send 'reverse' for the reversal of action prompts

DIALOGUE PROMPTS

could you... do that again?

please come back.

hold me again.

i need to feel you close.

we could share the same bed.

could we try holding hands?

right there. just like that.

i want to know how it feels.

i like it when you're nearby.

if you could just... stay here for a while.

lean into me. it's okay.

i like your hugs.

i want you here.

please touch me.

your arms feel so safe.

stay close to me.

the bed feels so cold.

come into my arms.

let me hold you.

cling to me.

you can keep doing that.

you don't have to let go.

i feel safe when you're near me.

that feels so good.

that was... really nice.

i like it when you play with my fingers.

could you come a little closer?

you can play with my hair if you want.

you don't have to sit so far away.

would you sleep here with me?

you feel like home to me.

if you keep doing that, i can't promise i'll behave.

can i lay on you?

would you touch me again?

don't let go of me.

stay like this.

don't go.

ACTION PROMPTS

[ reach ] sender hesitantly reaches for receiver's hand, unsure if the action will be reciprocated

[ instinct ] sender takes receiver's hand on instinct in reaction to a startling sight or event, not even realizing they did it

[ cling ] sender wraps both of their arms around one of receiver's arms and clings

[ rest ] sender sits next to receiver and rests their head on receiver's shoulder

[ doze ] sender falls asleep with their head on receiver's shoulder

[ play ] sender clings to receiver's hand and begins absentmindedly playing with their fingers

[ reassure ] sender reassures receiver by rubbing their arm up and down, hoping to ease their stress

[ heart ] sender guides receiver's hand to their heart

[ quiver ] sender and receiver's hands brush with slight contact, causing receiver to shiver on instinct

[ come back ] receiver took their hand away, so sender reaches for it a second time, taking it back and refusing to let go

[ first hug ] sender pulls receiver into their first hug

[ lasting ] sender and receiver's innocent hug lasts a little longer than they both expected

[ trace ] sender lightly traces the shape of sender's face, exploring every part of their complexion with tender fingertips

[ comb ] sender takes their time brushing receiver's hair

[ refuse ] when receiver insists they break their hug, sender refuses and only tightens their grip around them

[ cuddle ] sender moves closer to receiver as they sleep and snuggles down beside them, finding comfort in their presence

[ pull back ] sender pulls receiver back into bed with them

[ nuzzle ] sender nuzzles into receiver's cheek with their nose

[ cheek ] sender caresses receiver's cheek

[ nose ] sender lightly taps the tip of receiver's nose

[ lips ] sender caresses receiver's lips with their fingertip

[ chest ] sender smooths a hand over receiver's chest

[ legs ] sender starts to drag a hand back and forth over receiver's legs

[ inner thigh ] as sender caresses receiver's thigh, they gently slip their hand between receiver's legs

[ distance ] unable to touch or embrace receiver, sender self-soothes by wrapping their arms around themselves

[ pinky ] sender and receiver hold hands by their pinky fingers

[ smooth ] sender takes their time caressing over every part of receiver's body

[ blanket ] sender wraps a blanket around their body and receiver's body, hudding close together

Jade noticed the change in Polly’s demeanor at the mention of horses. It was subtle, but the young knight had always been observant. Even if she couldn’t always read it, she could acknowledge the change. But this one seemed rather obvious. Polly must have had a thing about horses. Jade doubted that she came in contact with them very often in the middle of the forest.

“They’re not really mine. They belong to the royal family. I just tend to them. Have since I was a child,” Jade explained. The only horse that she probably didn’t know more than their owner was Eclipse. Kit had always been attentive to her horse. In fact, she’d always been very specific as to how Jade should take care of Eclipse. “You don’t seem too fond of horses?”

Jade's smile was beautiful and infectious. She seemed suddenly younger than before, with less of the world's weight on her shoulders, and a part of Polly wanted to keep her from ever having to lose that lightness again. But she knew that their time together would end eventually, and she couldn't keep anyone from their duty. Even if, admittedly, the idea of visiting another land did strike her fancy. Just a little bit.

But her own grin faltered, and Polly grimaced. Horses were bad enough as it was. Skittish horses, with their hooves stomping and their tails swishing... "I-I'm sure your rat-catchers and stable cats were well fed." A nervous giggle escaped before she could stop herself, but she shook her head, trying to set the image aside of such a large, uncontrollable animal. "I think if you love them enough, horses can count. Have you had the same ones for very long? I know some people raise them themselves, soon as they're big enough to train.

It takes a moment, but Jade nods, accepting Polly’s answer. You live in a place like this long enough, you learn how to stave off whatever hunts you. Jade wishes she could apply that to their current lives, but she can’t. She and her friends have spent their lives protected in quite literally a bubble. They have no idea how to hold off the coming darkness of the world. Not the way Polly knows how to protect herself from the darkness of the woods. But they’ll have to figure it out.

“I believe you. I’m just bad at relaxing. Kit can tell you,” Jade says as she nods. She takes another spoonful of stew. “So, what do you do? You know, when it’s just you here.”

She doesn't know what to do with someone looking at her like that. Like she's hiding something, like she something was going to happen. Still, she shrugged, and tried to smile. "I've learned what to look for. Tracks and signs, hidden ropes that ring bells if anything too big gets too close. I check them weekly, at least."

Things have gotten close. She won't say there had never been a tragedy, but she had always managed to get out in time. She had plans in place, ways to escape or avoid trouble before it had a chance to get close. "I've been here all my life. Trust me. You'll all be all right here."