Vanta

She trembled softly in his arms. This feeling was indescribable. Hirru, for lack of better words, had stolen her breath. It was more than she could have ever dreamed. The way he held her, the way he kissed her tenderly, she was enraptured. He pulled back, "Vanta." The way he said her name... there was something sweet about it, a feeling that ran a chill up her spine. He drew her back in for another taste, she willingly obliged. Her hands moved around his neck, fingers gently grazing through his hair, trapping him in place. One hand began trailing down slowly down, wrapping around his bac

Hirru was so close she could see the faint flicker in his eyes where the light caught, see the hesitation that mirrored her own. Her breath ghosted against her lips, her body betraying her- leaning, wanting, unsure. Her breath felt shallow, her body struggling to handle the proximity. She didn't understand what was happening, There was no logic to it, no clean reason. Did she need to? No, but the uncertainty left her wanting, yearning for clarity. It was warmth, it was fear, it was need. Not a need for possession, no, but one for connection- to know what this strange current meant that ran th

He wrote, the quill scratching against paper, as he noted what she had said. She nodded as she listened to his reply, turning her gaze to look out the window once more. "The more days that pass, the more I fear we won't live to see the end of the game." Her eyes snapped to him, he sighed. The way he said that, it left a gut-wrenching feeling in her stomach. She walked over to his desk, slamming a hand down; a little harder than she had intended. "Don't do that, don't you dare even think about giving up Wulfrin." Her face contorted in slight pain, she retracted her hand, letting it fall to her

She listened carefully, every word lacing into her ears as though it was her lifeline. She didn't care if he thought it was silly or even if he sidetracked and went down a rabbit hole, he was captivating. His eyes, his scent, the way he held her, the way he spoke, the way his eyes never left her own. Everything was simply so precious in this moment that nothing else seemed to matter. She could see the small moments of thought peeking in his mind as he spoke, he told stories well, but he also had a ocean of thoughts behind those eyes. What were those thoughts? What did he see in her? She g

"Vanta. I'm glad to have a name to match the face." She nodded, giving another soft smile. She searched him as she moved her hand painfully slow, the slight shift within him gave her the answer. She brought her hand back up, pushing a few strands of hair out of his face. "I wouldn't mind continuing to be that unexpected experience. Her touch was gentle and deliberate, fingers gliding down caressing his cheek more firmly than before and finally resting at the back of his neck. She hoped that it assured him, if only a little. She did not want to do anything that caused him to think he was a

She nodded, listening intently. Bringing the real world to Aincrad was something she had never thought of. Most people, like her, had just adapted to the life they had within the game. The clothes they wore, the food they ate, the activities they could participate in, all of it was made by design. Why hadn't she thought of it? To defy the games natural flow of life was to defy Kayaba. A movement she would gladly get behind. "If there's anything I can do to help someday, let me know." She pondered what he said. "Sounds good to me. You know more than I do about crafting." She took a moment

Flabbergasted, a perfect word for the emotions that rose within her. She had been humbled in less than a minute. It was at this very moment that she realized how callous she had actually been, not just towards these two men, but towards herself and the world. His voice rang in her ears: "This game demands more then just ourselves, and it proves far more troublesome to go it alone." Sure, there were things that defined why she was this way, but it certainly didn't excuse her behavior. She gulped back her pride, "I-," she twitched, the words weren't difficult, she knew them well, but f

He didn't seem to hate her touch, how odd a notion it was. Childhood for Vanta had been nothing short of one word, suffocating. Yet this man that stood before her gave a breath of fresh, crisp air. When she pulled away there was a slight moment where she thought she had maybe upset him, had he wanted her touch.. had he needed it? What would he have done had she not pulled away? The questions remained unanswered, but there had come a brief moment of realization. They had a mutual agreement. Neither one of them wished to part from the other. At this moment, they happily shared their time.

He led her carefully through the room. One hand held hers as the other guided their path by pressing gently to the small of her back. He moved smoothly through the crowd, stopping perfectly when needed; just enough to avoid collision, but not enough to draw attention. The way he seemed to protect Vanta from the crowd as he led her away rose another strange feeling within her. He touched her, and she found that despite all odds, she didn't hate it. The thoughts began to pound in her mind, 'fight or flight' threatening to activate within the moments of her comfort. Was she allowed to feel t

The hesitation and shake of his head only made her more persistent. She was relieved when he finally took the glass. There was something distant in the mans eyes, a longing. For what? She didn't know, but it wasn't a simple thing, it was more necessity than want. All she could gather in the current moment was that the kind man that now held her was in pain and she somehow found herself wanting to help him in any way she could. Whether it meant that she was used as a distraction, someone who he could vent to, or anything else really. The decision came through easily. She would stay with him, if

She leaned into the strangers help as she loosened the fabric caught around her heel. Finally, it came undone and the fabric fell back into place draping to the ground elegantly. He steadied her with a firm arm. Her eyes widening for a moment in surprise before returning to normal. If she were ever to run into someone back in the dojo, she would have been beaten. Yet, this man had helped her kindly and asked her if she was okay. It was strange to her, almost an alienating feeling. Upon meeting the strangers eyes it became apparent to her that something; though she wasn't exactly sure what, had

The sun had begun setting, a beautiful sight to behold. The alert came. Vanta summoned her menu with a small wave of her hand. The message peered back at her. Sharkbait training you say? she shrugged. Why not. She hit 'reply.' Three simple words. Message: See you then. She took off; meeting at the gathering point. Wulfrin sat waiting, his signature Sharkuterie Board laid out on a nearby table. She grinned entering the tavern. You know I'll never turn down your snacks ever again. They're always so delicious. Let your wife know it's appreciated. she offered. She

The festivities continued; people danced the evening away unapologetically, some filled their stomachs, some quenched their thirst, some congregated and laughed the night away during distant conversation. Others, like herself, had found a quiet, dark corner to observe the course of the evening. The ballroom was extravagant, the lights glittered as they moved about. The music echoed through the building comfortably. Eventually it became clear to her that she had neglected to eat. Her stomach rumbled furiously. Unfortunately, this was a common occurrence. She got distracted in current events and

She watched from the rooftop as they fluttered down in thousands. Black papers falling, casting a brief shadow over town. She reached a hand into the air, catching one, intercepting it's decent. The invitation was jet black with gold lining, the writing intricate and blood red. Fascinating. She stood, and jumped down from the roof, gracefully landing on the stone road beneath her. Seems as though I have a ball to attend. She didn't waste any time. Though she was proven to be rather antisocial, an intriguing event could only try to keep Vanta away. The thought of interacting with ot

True kit? she listened intently as he gave off options. She crossed her arms bringing a hand to her chin in thought. Took her a moment, but eventually Vanta perched her hand on his desk in reply. DPS is ideal. I don't think I'd assume any other position. Maybe a scout, but not now at least. she offered. She retreated from the desk, putting her back to the wall, relaxing against it. She'd noticed the gesture towards the chair, it wasn't that she wanted to be rude, she just wasnt one who sat well. Instead, her eyes wandered the office from her current spot. It was nice, certainly dis