Azjah had met Xeric accidentally just outside of Tea?s N Tomes, and in their brief encounter, they had agreed to meet at Twilight Isle. Xeric wanted to talk, and she hadn?t seen the Russian in some time. So at the agreed upon time, she walked through the portal and onto the warm sand of Twilight Isle. She found him already there, seated upon a stone bench, looking out across the bay.
?Good evening Azjah, I?m glad you came.? He didn?t look at her immediately, but finally he did turn his head as the wind shipped his shoulder length curls. He patted the bench beside him, ?Don?t be shy, there is a beautiful view from here.?
Azjah made her way across the sand, the breeze causing her silk skirt to curl around her legs. ?The Isle has many beautiful vistas,? she told him as she settled onto the stone bench. Several goblins moved between the sparse palm trees, and Xeric turned cold blue eyes back to watch the waves crash against the beach. ?I?ve started coming here to think,? Xeric told her as she got comfortable.
?What do you think about in such a beautiful setting?? Azjah glanced at the waves as well.
His lips twisted into a small grin, ?I just sit and contemplate my navel.? He gave a slight chuckle, ?I think of could have beens, and what yet might come to pass.? Clearly something was eating at him.
Azjah lifted a pale brow at him, ?Is your navel worth contemplation?? She struggled to maintain a straight face, but he would talk about whatever was troubling him when he was ready and not before. She grew more serious, ?Regrets Xeric.?
His gaze dropped from the waves to the sand in front of his feet. ?Everyone has regrets Azjah, and everyone has possibilities.?
?Very true,? Azjah said, ?though usually when one gives such serious contemplation to ?could have been?s? there is something preying on their minds.?
Xeric?s eyes slowly climbed until they met Azjah?s. ?Enough of my worries, how are you and Wil doing??
Azjah sent a goblin off for her scotch, ?We are well enough for the moment Xeric.?
They talked briefly about the events that happened on Rigel and at length he gave her a smile, ?I?m sure things will work themselves out, but if there is anything I can do?.? He let it trail off.
Azjah shook her head, ?We will have to let events take their course, but I appreciate the offer.?
Xeric turned away and waved one of the goblins over, ?I?m a little hungry, would you like anything??
Azjah laughed, ?Nachos! I haven?t had those in years.?
He ordered an extra rare sirloin and Azjah?s nachos, passing the goblin a silver crown and then turning back to watch the sea. With a slight chuckle he told her that he couldn?t eat junk food for another week. ?Seems like I?ve kept myself in a challenge these last few months.?
Azjah leaned back against the bench with one hand propping her up as the breeze sends tendrils of hair curling around her throat, ?Now, why is that??
He turned to face her, ?They might taste good, but they are absolute garbage to your body. I need to consume large amounts of protein to keep my muscles strong. I don?t want to repeat my last challenge.? His cold blue eyes softened slightly, ?I?ll be in the ring with a lion after all.?
She flashed him a smile, ?I won?t tell you how wonderful they are then.? She then realized what he was talking about on a challenge, ?Ah yes, the liontaur! Rakeesh is formidable.?
Xeric?s eyes turned back toward the waves once more, ?It?s so simple, so consistent.?
Azjah followed where he was looking, ?Yes, I think that?s why it?s so soothing. Something primal about the ebb and flow of the surf.? She was not prepared for his next words. Someone important to him was with child, and he did not sound very happy about it. She turned to look at him rather than the gentle roll of incoming waves.
They spent the remainder of that evening talking about the impending child. Xeric seemed torn, the blade he carried, Ivan, was given to him by his father, and Xeric intended to pass it on to his son one day. That he did not know if this child was his or another?s was at the root of his current mood.
?Good evening Azjah, I?m glad you came.? He didn?t look at her immediately, but finally he did turn his head as the wind shipped his shoulder length curls. He patted the bench beside him, ?Don?t be shy, there is a beautiful view from here.?
Azjah made her way across the sand, the breeze causing her silk skirt to curl around her legs. ?The Isle has many beautiful vistas,? she told him as she settled onto the stone bench. Several goblins moved between the sparse palm trees, and Xeric turned cold blue eyes back to watch the waves crash against the beach. ?I?ve started coming here to think,? Xeric told her as she got comfortable.
?What do you think about in such a beautiful setting?? Azjah glanced at the waves as well.
His lips twisted into a small grin, ?I just sit and contemplate my navel.? He gave a slight chuckle, ?I think of could have beens, and what yet might come to pass.? Clearly something was eating at him.
Azjah lifted a pale brow at him, ?Is your navel worth contemplation?? She struggled to maintain a straight face, but he would talk about whatever was troubling him when he was ready and not before. She grew more serious, ?Regrets Xeric.?
His gaze dropped from the waves to the sand in front of his feet. ?Everyone has regrets Azjah, and everyone has possibilities.?
?Very true,? Azjah said, ?though usually when one gives such serious contemplation to ?could have been?s? there is something preying on their minds.?
Xeric?s eyes slowly climbed until they met Azjah?s. ?Enough of my worries, how are you and Wil doing??
Azjah sent a goblin off for her scotch, ?We are well enough for the moment Xeric.?
They talked briefly about the events that happened on Rigel and at length he gave her a smile, ?I?m sure things will work themselves out, but if there is anything I can do?.? He let it trail off.
Azjah shook her head, ?We will have to let events take their course, but I appreciate the offer.?
Xeric turned away and waved one of the goblins over, ?I?m a little hungry, would you like anything??
Azjah laughed, ?Nachos! I haven?t had those in years.?
He ordered an extra rare sirloin and Azjah?s nachos, passing the goblin a silver crown and then turning back to watch the sea. With a slight chuckle he told her that he couldn?t eat junk food for another week. ?Seems like I?ve kept myself in a challenge these last few months.?
Azjah leaned back against the bench with one hand propping her up as the breeze sends tendrils of hair curling around her throat, ?Now, why is that??
He turned to face her, ?They might taste good, but they are absolute garbage to your body. I need to consume large amounts of protein to keep my muscles strong. I don?t want to repeat my last challenge.? His cold blue eyes softened slightly, ?I?ll be in the ring with a lion after all.?
She flashed him a smile, ?I won?t tell you how wonderful they are then.? She then realized what he was talking about on a challenge, ?Ah yes, the liontaur! Rakeesh is formidable.?
Xeric?s eyes turned back toward the waves once more, ?It?s so simple, so consistent.?
Azjah followed where he was looking, ?Yes, I think that?s why it?s so soothing. Something primal about the ebb and flow of the surf.? She was not prepared for his next words. Someone important to him was with child, and he did not sound very happy about it. She turned to look at him rather than the gentle roll of incoming waves.
They spent the remainder of that evening talking about the impending child. Xeric seemed torn, the blade he carried, Ivan, was given to him by his father, and Xeric intended to pass it on to his son one day. That he did not know if this child was his or another?s was at the root of his current mood.