Posted by n a c h t on November 26, 2008, 1:54 am, in reply to "you're just a game i play; Nacht Steigan (only)"
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He always did know how to get under her skin, to wedge himself in like a splinter until she couldn't, no matter how hard she tried, get him out. And of course, without fail - by the time she realized she couldn't get him out, she also came to the conclusion that she didn't want him out. Bastard. He probably planned it that way. Nacht left the Mountains because they were too confining, reminded her too much of Home and of her sister and him; she knows she'll go back because they have a good King there, one who placed faith in her skill - or lackthereof - and she even thinks that perhaps, one day, the Wolves will be her family and the Mountains her home. But tonight, she wants to feel the wind on her face, to see the stars, and to try very hard not to feel. She hadn't given much thought to her lover in some time, so it's only natural that he should pull himself out of the woodwork and smack her in the face. Granted, she hadn't been thinking much at all. But that's another story entirely. Her lover had been one who, while not necessarily the most affectionate of creatures, had always understood her and her wild moods. She had no idea what her ex-commander had told her friends and Him when she botched her mission, because she'd fled. As far as Nacht was concerned, Steigan, the Rise part of her, died months ago. She's relaxing in a quiet spot off to the left of the mainlands, where it's quiet and she has a nice view of the sky. She resembles little more than a black shadow among the rest, one who shifts restlessly now and again and reveals herself with the occasional glint of star-fire off her eyes, but otherwise, she's completely still. It's cold, but she doesn't seem to notice. With good reason - her coat is thick and wooly, like a mammoth's more than a horse, and feathers adorn her slim legs; somewhere in her bloodstream obviously lies hints of draft ancestors, though you'd never know it by looking at her. Footsteps rouse her from a half-slumber, when the sky is greying and the world still lies in shadow, a silvery ghost approaches her; it makes her throw her head up from its half-lowered position, one hoof cocked as she tunes out the world - a dangerous thing for an ex-warrior, but she has little to live for and less inclination to defend herself. Her first thought is that this horse, massive and cream-colored like someone else she once knew, hasn't noticed her among the shadows. She tenses, preparing to move out of the way if it doesn't see her soon - and then the wind shifts, and she knows this is no mistake. In an instant she crosses the remaining space between them, her eyes wary but she has to touch him, just once, to make sure he's real; she skims her muzzle across his neck and the memory of it merges with reality and the euphoric rush - this is real - makes her dizzy. Under different circumstances, she would have nipped at him irritably for pressuring her, but for now, she's too happy to see him to care. "Mo leannan," she says, because she knows him like the inside of her skin as she lifts her head to look up at him (that hadn't changed, at least), and she knows that it'll annoy him as much as his calling her Steigan annoyed her. "I thought I was," she answers; "you're a sight for sore eyes, love. What'd they tell you when I left, then?" It all comes back to her, the accent (what we would call Irish, but what she called a part of the Battilon where she grew up), the peculiar smell of blood, and all the memories of her and him and him and her. She knows what it is to be glued to him until she comes away smelling like he does. It was a feeling she had missed. Quite a lot. n a c h t Personal affection is a luxury you can have only after all your enemies are eliminated. Until then, everyone you love is a hostage, sapping your courage and corrupting your judgment. - Orson Scott Card, EMPIRE 4 Message Thread: you're just a game i play; Nacht Steigan (only) - the ALBINO November 25, 2008, 1:35 am but i'm more than just a little curious how you're planning to make your amends to the dead - n a c h t November 26, 2008, 1:54 am « Back to thread Post a Response Hosted for FREE by Boardhost. Create your own free message board!