Sionnach (closed)

[heartofcourage]

"You stubborn, hot-blooded Scot." Fiona muttered as Sam hid away by pressing his face against her lap. "They did the right thing in stopping you. Maybe you'll come to your senses."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I doubt it," came his muffled reply, unwilling to move from his place.

Eventually Sam fetched food for Fiona and once she'd eaten and was settled, he joined her for much-needed sleep. All grew quiet in Calais even as Soma began making moves to pivot their focus to Edinburgh, and get their forces back to Trondheim to prepare.

 

[heartofcourage]

Riley sat outside in the rain, simply letting the drop soak her to the bone. Her father had stayed clear of her, both relieving her and devastating her at the same time. Andre had done his best to lift her moods, but she was far too like both of her parents than he really understood.

 

[KieranSoares]

After a long while, the cool rain suddenly stopped falling on her, but still fell just beyond. Lost in thought and in the noise of the rain, the approach of a dragon had gone beyond Riley's notice. A blue, scarred leathery wing had settled overhead. Instead of Marth or Invah or Schaller, it was Gia.

"You look like a drowned rat," she commented quietly, curling in around Riley to offer some warmth. The rain was warm for winter, and slowly melting the snow into mud, but it was still far too cold for spring just yet. "Moreso, you look like a depressed drowned rat," Gia muttered. "Being morose is my job, Fox."

From what Andre had told Riley of his relationship with the cold Gia, this was exactly how she offered support. She was extremely defensive, but she took care of her people in her own bristly way. And as she curled in closer around Riley, it became clear she was offering that thorny concern to the young Fox for the first time. Whether it was out of love for Andre, or growing affection for Marth, Gia was finally reaching out, if grumpily.

 

[heartofcourage]

Glancing up as the rain suddenly stopped, Riley found herself staring at a leather wing draped over the top of her head. It tok a moment to realize that it was Gia, the angry dragon that never seemed to want her to get close to Andre.

"You don't have to pretend to care about me, Gia." Riley said as she shook the water off her thick coat.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I do not pretend. You mean the world to the man I love most dearly, and to the dragon I... Care very much for. So you can't be all bad," she huffed, snorting as fire ignited in her chest and warmed the enclosed little area.

 

[heartofcourage]

"You seemed very against the idea of Andre and I getting married only days ago." Riley reminded the dragon as she warmed the area to help dry Riley off. "What changed your mind?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"You make that idiot happy and you protect him... And that's all I could ever ask. I've done a lot of thinking and talking with Marth and Schaller and you seem... Well, you seem worth the risk."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'm not worth it." Riley said with a shake of her head. "Schaller loves me because my mother loves me. I'm a stubborn and infuriating creature and I always have been. I'm not going to change any time soon, I'm afraid."

"You should take him far away from here, Gia. Before he gets hurt." She was scared for Andre, even though she loved him beyond reason. "If not Stila, then following me will get him into trouble."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I could drag him away, but you can bet he'll come back. I don't want to take him away anyway. He'll be hurt anywhere we go, but he'll be more vulnerable without you and your family. And even if he's scared... this is also the most hopeful he's ever been. He has you, your family, his mother... I can't take him away."

 

[heartofcourage]

"He doesn't need to be here in the middle of all this." Riley muttered. "Not when it hurts him. Not when that bitch can hurt him. He's even scared to go to Scotland without the rest of them. She took away everything from him."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Where else could he go? Where could any of us go? Save to hide in the middle of nowhere constantly living in fear of being found? That's not freedom. Andre wants to explore, learn, meet people, and go at his own pace. That's not possible when you're in fear for your life without anyone to rely on and no one to watch your back when you sleep."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I feel sometimes that he's afraid to commit to me." Riley admitted. "We've discussed being married and combining our families. We've made sure that our dragons are compatible with one another. We've just never taken that step. Maybe it's too late for a marriage in the middle of all this turmoil."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You've known each other such a short time in the grand scheme of things, amid difficult times and impossible odds. The fact that you've stuck together through some of the most traumatic things to happen to either of you should tell you about his loyalty. Don't throw that away on your own self-doubt," Gia warned. "Because you'll break his heart and he's had enough. If you think things aren't working, talk to him. Be up front about it. Don't let it stew away in silence til there's no recourse."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I never thought that I would ever find someone like him in my life. He doesn't want to change me, he likes the sense of adventure, but is he with me simply because of that?" Riley asked. "Weird to think that you might understand just what I'm saying."

 

[KieranSoares]

"He was the first decent person I'd ever met that wasn't broken," Gia admitted quietly. "He loves easily. Too easily... the fool. But he isn't fickle. When he decides to care for someone, he's steadfast. Tanya nearly broke that love and trust with him... but Andre is also forgiving and understanding of bad circumstances and feeling trapped. You are the type of person Andre has always loved, so it's no wonder he fell for you. Passionate, loyal to what you love, adventurous... It's the type of person he's always wanted to be, but he's ended up something a bit softer."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I guess I'll just have to be an adult and talk to him then," Riley said with a long sigh as she stood and looked up at Gia. "Thanks..."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I don't know if I was any help, but... I at least wanted to try," Gia murmured. "Not just for Andre's sake. You're a good Fox, even if I'm a territorial grouch. You seem to have a knack for winning the hearts of angry dragons."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I haven't won over anything. You're free to hate me all you like." Riley said as she stepped out into the rain and looked up at Gia. "I promise not to break his heart if I can help it."

 

[KieranSoares]

"That's all I ask. But know that... I'm not good at this, but you can vent or talk or... I'm here if you need someone." Gia let her go at that, embarrassed but genuine, and made her own way off into the rain to find Marth

 

[heartofcourage]

Riley gave the dragon a nod before she returned home to Andre. It was quiet in the ger as she entered, the rain filling the space with sound as something cooked on the fire. She went to Andre's side, sitting down next to him and snuggling up against him for warmth. She didn't care that she was soaking wet. She just wanted to be next to him in that moment.

 

[KieranSoares]

Andre glanced up as she stepped in, remaining quiet as she rested against him. He let his head lay against hers, idly tending the fire and his cooking while his free hand took hers, lacing their fingers together. He also put a kettle on, making tea to help her warm up.

After a long while, he murmured, "Get out of those wet clothes so you dry off properly. We'll eat and then we can take a long nap."

 

[heartofcourage]

Riley sighed and gave him a nod, standing to change into her warmer nightclothes. She shooked the water off her fur as best she could, hanging her wet clothes up next to the first to dry.

""Everything's been turned upside down and I think I'd be lying if I didn't admit that I was having doubts about a lot of things." She said softly, turning to look at Andre. "Your troublesome dragon thought it would be best to talk to you directly about them."

 

[KieranSoares]

Andre's brows furrowed in concern. "Doubts?" He murmured. "... What kind of doubts? About... us?" He set the pot aside off the flames so he could give Riley his full attention.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Are we really prepared to make a life out of this mess?" Riley asked, turning to look at Andre. "We met in impossible circumstances. We have no idea what the future holds beyond what is happening right now. You've only just been freed, Andre. The same for your mother. Do you want to continue on with me because I'm new and exciting and offer you a family or do you truly love me?"