Here Because of You (For Isidor)

[westfallcorndog]

It's only been a few days since returning to the Nexus from Tamriel, but Harrowheart can't stop worrying about Isidor. She came out alive from everything they saw, but it's what they saw that worries him. He remembers what it's like, of course he does. How utterly unsettling it is to be a living person faced with monstrosities like that. The fear of it has faded with time, but he still remembers how sickening it all was the first time he saw the Scourge.

He pulls his phone from his pocket and his first thought is, 'Fuck me.' He still doesn't have Isidor's number. This is getting to be bullshit. Viatorus is going to start getting wise to how often he asks to spend time with his sister, and then the whole thing is going to come tumbling down. At least this time he has the excuse of an 'adventure' to cover for him.

V my man how are you doing? Are people being nice to you? Do I need to beat Peenia or Sajean up for you? Anyone at all? And when are we hanging out next?

Good, good cover. And honest, too. The last time they did anything interesting was when they went fishing, and after everything on Tamriel that feels like a lifetime ago. A little casual time with Viatorus would be great right about now.

How is your sister? I need to talk to her about things that happened. Do you think you can get her in touch with me? If she can meet me tell her to come to the clearing where we worked on magic training.

He expects Viatorus will pull through for him. Of course he will. That's why he's already in the clearing lying on top of the picnic bench, his runeblade resting on the ground beneath it. Nothing here has changed since the last time she arrived, apart from the turn of the seasons... And the little area of ground that she flattened for a fighting ring. It seems Harrowheart expanded on her work, turning a circle of flat pounded ground into a large square of hard-packed dirt.

Comments

[westfallcorndog]

Isidor enters her bedroom and Harrowheart very much does not. He's not about to be obliterated by the strength of 20 wards. Or was it 100? Fortunately she's out and powerwalking through the apartment in record time, and he can take up his baby duck routine once more.

Under normal circumstances he might stop and appreciate the decor of the study, but right now he's trying his hardest to figure out what a 'branch manager' is. Security solutions makes enough sense, fortunately. She's off on her hurrying way and he mutters, "Course not," as she passes. Then he calls after her, "You ever cheat and use magic wards for security?"

He remains in the office after she's gone, because he's come to accept that he can't keep up with her. Instead he considers the relics in the glass cabinet. "Hey, this ain't a dragon skull, is it? It's some kinda baby crocolisk, right?"

[heirtothedragonsfire]

She waits until she's back in the room to answer him. Normally calling to each other would be a good way to save some time, but this time she's thankful for what quiet she can get.

"No. No magic if there's no magic," she tells him as she flicks through a couple of files. "Cleanup operations are the worst. Nobody wants to have to make sure magic hasn't gotten out into the general populace..."

She looks up when he talks about a crocodile (she assumes). Her eyes flick to the skull and she smiles. "A dragon of a sort. It's a Komodo dragon. There's nothing mythical about it, but..." She shrugs. "I kind of like that it doesn't have to be magical to be deadly, to be feared." Moving a few papers again she adds, "It's a bit like we've both earned the right to be called dragons."

[westfallcorndog]

Komodo dragon. Not something he's ever heard of. He listens as she explains, but in the end he's not sure he's any more enlightened about the lizard. About Isidor, though, maybe. She takes her reputation and self-image so seriously. He stares at the skull a while before her movements catch his attention and take him away from his thoughts. He smiles at her sentiment.

"I like that you like bein' feared. And one of these days you're gonna like bein' deadly, too. You'll get used to it, anyway. Shoot, maybe next time you've gotta be deadly you'll bring that big ol' dagger along." He taps the glass where the strange knife rests in the cabinet.

[heirtothedragonsfire]

Her eyes roll at him and she shakes her head, stuffing the last of the papers into her bag. "I don't like being feared, Harrowheart. I like being respected, and not needing to be deadly."

Now that that's all packed up, she turns on the spot, scanning around for anything else. It looks like everything she needs is in her bag. "Right. I think that's everything." She grabs her bag and brings it through to the living room, she disappears into her room for a moment but soon returns, slipping on a pair of low heels while she holds her jacket. "I need to go. I've got a meeting at half nine and I need to brief a couple of the managers before then, so I can't stay."

Once her jacket is on she heads to the door and gives the apartment one final glance before she turns her attention to Harrowheart. "You can stay as long as you want. Just don't break anything, or scare anyone, and don't you dare go into my room." She nods as if reassuring herself that's all her notes, and then turns to the door. "I'll talk to you later."

With that Isidor hurries out of her apartment and head off, hoping her head will stop aching once she gets into the office.

[westfallcorndog]

She doesn't like being feared? Sure, Isidor. Without thinking he rolls his eyes and smiles, then tries to hide it by crossing his arms behind his back and quickly looking away.

Suddenly she's leaving, gathering her things, organizing her schedule out loud and giving him instructions as if he were an employee of hers. Harrow finds himself nodding at her orders. Don't break things, don't scare anyone... He's nearly certain he can get through a day without doing either of those things.

But then she's leaving in such a rush. He nearly misses his chance to say goodbye to her as she bolts for the door. Despite his long strides she makes it there before him, passing his runeblades resting there as she goes. She's in the hallway when he reaches out and pulls her back.

"Isidor!" he whisper-hisses, hoping no one saw or heard him. He keeps her in the doorway with his hands on her upper arms and looks her in the face. His eyebrows twitch as he watches her. Something has him looking worried, almost fearful.

"You forgot somethin'..." he says quietly. He bites his bottom lip and his eyes dart across her features. What he needs to say or do can't wait forever. She must be waiting for him to speak, but silence passes between them nonetheless...

Then he stands straight, breathes in through his nose, and finds the courage to lean to her level. He doesn't close his brightly-glowing eyes when he brings his face so close to hers. He doesn't blink until the tip of his nose touches her cheek and his cold lips press against hers. With his hands gripping her arms he stays like this a moment, if she'll allow him.

Eventually, though, he pulls away. He stands straight and lets his hands slip away. He opens his mouth to speak, but can't overcome his own nerves. Better to stay quiet than to tremblingly wish her a good day.

[heirtothedragonsfire]

Her mind is already halfway to the office when he calls her back. If he hadn't pulled her back she might not have stopped at all. She turns back to him with a head full of figures, dates, costs and calculations and it takes her another minute to come back to her apartment door. Here where he's just... looking at her. Is she missing something? What did she forget?

But then he's leaning in close and all she can think about is the scent of last night's drinks clinging to him, the glow of his eyes, the chill of his skin... For once in her life Isidor Durant doesn't resist. When their lips touch she lets go of the breath she'd been holding in a little sigh. Her eyes close and her hand rises to rest on his chest to steady herself. Then just as quickly as he pulled her close, he's moving away again. She opens her eyes again but she still looks dazed. Somewhere in the back of her mind she worries about how fast her heart is heating and how warm her cheeks are burning, but all she can do is stare at him as she tries to get over this wave of different emotions, of new sensations.

Finally she comes back to her senses with a breathless laugh of surprise and a small smile. "That's not fair," she says quietly. "Making me want to stay like that."

[westfallcorndog]

She sighs against his lips and he feels her breath, if not its warmth. What a delicate, intimate gift to be given. Her fingers touch his chest that rises to meet her palm and he leans into that affirming pressure.

How can he be surprised to see her expression, then, when they finally part? Her smile set in flushed cheeks turns his doubt into a soft, bright acceptance. His fingers graze her hand there on his chest. After a hushed laugh at her words he ducks his head to hide the twist of his lips and the darkening of his own cheeks.

"I'd keep you here, if I could," he shyly admits. "But today's kiss is for goodbyes and good luck."

With a peaceful smile he nods down the hall, and he begins to slip back into the room. Go on now, Isidor. Go back to the world of the living, to the world without magic... But take your knight's kiss with you.