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Goldilocks and the Little Red Bird ~
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Name Rowan Adelaide
Age He's not exactly sure, to be honest.
Appearance
❋ Rowan is extremely detached from the outside world; he hunts his food (sorta. . . you have to be there to understand what I mean by this), wears the clothing his grandmother made him before she passed, and holds a rather cozy him in the midst of the forest and has never actually wandered much further than the surburb areas of the city. His home is surrounded by a permanent spell his Nana cast many years before his birth in order to keep the turf unknown to any eyes. The illusion consists of mirroring nearby trees as to give the effect that nothing is in front of them and subtly diverting the passerby into a different direction subconsciously.
❋ His cloak is a powerful emblem amongst the magic users, more specifically the witches and warlocks. Red isn't quite sure what it's capable of because his grandmother passed on to the afterworld before being able to tell him the meaning of it; he knows that he must wear it all time and that it gives him strange powers when he least expects it, but not much else. The books laying around his small home are written in a tongue he speaks very little of, but he knows they hold the secret,
❋ With ignorance comes arrogance, meaning that Red tends to make rash decisions based on first what he sees. He's got it in his head that whatever he sees is the truth, and bases his thoughts and opinions on these observations. Being a young warlock whose powers are developping at crazy speeds for so little years under his belt, he'd be lying if he didn't let them get the best of him sometimes. He thinks with his emotions, not his mind.
❋ Rowan, despite himself, has met a certain someone, and this certain someone, whom goes by the name of Erin, has become the one thing that's got him leaving his home, away from the foreign books and lonely silence, and into the real world just so he can capture a few more precious moments Eradin. As far as he's concerned, loving another man is more than normal and if Rowan had any friends other than the birds and squirrels, he'd be telling them all about his lover; he can only imagine Erin's doing the same.
Mod
Question though - it just occurred to me ^^ - what time era is it? :p
Mod
The powdered white snow brushed over his shoes, breaking through the last tangle of branches a heavenly sight appeared before his eyes. His little red bird. With a flutter of his heart, heat rose in his chest, and a smile made itself quietly onto his rugged features. Living as a warrior in the village granted him little bliss – he has seen many raids between cities, many deaths. All of that seemed to disperse and turn to relief upon seeing the young man. Though he could’ve been older than him for all either of them know he was shorter and always known to Eradin as ‘young’ or ‘little’. His steps quiet in the snow Eradin locked eyes with Rowan and came forward. Sliding his hands softly to caress the small boys cheek, head ducking. It only took a moment before their lips touched …
Eradin’s eyes opened then. Painfully aware of the clanging of pots and pans below him. Laying there half covered in blankets of fur his blonde hair clouded a majority of his vision. Though upon pushing it back from his face he became aware that the only view he had was one of the wall. At the edge of the cot settled on the ground of the upper level, Eradin slowly pushed himself up onto his palm. Chest bare and dewey with sweat he climbed off the mattress of pelts he looked over the ledge down at the small expanse of their little home. His mother was stewing something over the fire and his father was sitting at the round table for four. Shink . . . Shink. The sound reviled that he was sharpening his weapon, perhaps they would be going on a hunt today. With any luck Eradin would be happily invited along. That meant one thing and one thing only – he may have a chance to see Rowan today.
Climbing down the ladder with tired ease he rolled his shoulders, muscles soar from another night of restless sleep. Despite his dreams Eradin would consider is another night lost, as Rowan and he hadn’t seen each other for days. These were simple memories; Eradin would gladly reenact them if it meant he got to spend his free time with Red again. Two pairs of eyes looked in his direction. Eradin had his father’s eyes and strong features, but his mothers blonde hair. “Good morning,” his mother piped, her voice smiling for her. He glanced in her direction and gave a soft smile of the eyes back, nodding. He did not ask about a hunt.
Twenty minutes later and he was out in the cool air and being smothered by his fiancée. The first thing she managed to do upon seeing him was take his hand. It was unnerving how quickly she was getting used to them being together. Eradin disliked it. His hand slipped away from hers and trying not to look begrudging Eradin’s eyes searched the square as quickly as they could- searching for a reason for taking such action. He did not find one and the look on her face caused him to let her take his hand a second time.
It was not the day he was hoping for upon waking up this morning.
Rowan didn't do this often. He loathed stepping out of the forest he'd grown to call his own, but the nerves were eating him from the inside and if there was one thing the boy wasn't it was patient. He didn't like waiting for things to happen, he made them happen. His impatience mixed in with his inborn nature of dependance were the reasons why his snow-steps were trekking further and further away from his home and closer to the village he knew was nearby. His hood was tucked neatly over his head as to avoid recognition by distance. Well, if you weren't aware of the warlock living in the forest, that is. Quite honestly, he seemed like the average traveller, which was a good thing because it meant he could slip in and out of relatively any cities he pleased and not worry about being followed, but it still was no motivation for him to do it on a regular basis.
Familiar establishments came into view as he stepped out of the forest, and a little bit of guilt settled into his chilled bones. Red hoped that Erin wouldn't think that he didn't trust him, because it wasn't the deal at all. He was simply worried that something had happened, and he would much rather know the truth than be stuck with his crazy theories that more often than not ended up with Erin dead – and that was an end Red wouldn't allow. The first pair of eyes he laid on was of an old woman eyeing him suspiciously. Rowan realized that the way his hood was placed cloaked a generous portion of his face and he quickly made note to slide it off of his head, offering a gentle smile in direction of the old lady. In return, she smiled, nodded her head and her tense shoulders seemed to relax with relief. Good.
He continued his way, eyes peeled for a certain blonde he knew he wouldn't miss if he did find him. Despite himself, the string keeping his cloak tied to him was fumbled around his fingers in a nervous attempt to seem calm. He tried focusing on the sound of his feet crunching the snow beneath him, or picking out every blonde head in sight. But with every person he spotted, he knew the tint wasn't right. There was only one Erin with the golden locks, and everyone else simply had dull-looking hair to Rowan's eyes.
Rounding a corner to one of the stands, he slipped in between two people and stopped dead in his tracks at the sudden sight. His heart jumped in his throat and relief flooded through him in waves. Giddiness momentarily dizzied his mind, but he regained composure rather quickly.“Erin-” He had barely been able to think of anything other than seeing Eradin in flesh and bone that he hadn't bothered to actually look at him. But he saw, which was why he hadn't been able to finish his sentence. It all made sense now. The lack of punctuality for their meetings, the avoidance (something Rowan might have invented due to his tendency to let his imagination feed him ideas), and everything else. His face contorted into something similar to shock, perhaps a bit of horror. His eyes were glued to the twined hands he thought had only been meant for him to hold. And those lips. . .
Red couldn't be here anymore, he couldn't breathe, he was suffocating just standing here. It felt as if the world around him was crumbling, everyone had disappeared and all that was left was the tainting image of Erin and that horrid girl holding his hand as it it were hers. The moment he felt a stinging pressure form behind his lids, Rowan turned on his heel and took off, his cloak fluttering behind him. In his haste to flee back home with a blurred vision, he didn't see the body as he turned a sharp corner and crashed into them. He stumbled and brought his hands forward in order to avoid falling in the snow. Too distraught to apologize to the stranger, Red took off in a run as fast as his legs could carry him, but they were weak. His whole body wanted to do nothing but crumble into the snow and disappear for the rest of eternity. Disappear from this shame and humiliation of having believed that maybe, just maybe, he wouldn't be doomed to live his life alone. No matter how much he wanted to feel the hurt, Rowan was numb all over.
Was this what if felt like when a heart broke?
((Eeeh, sorry. . . I sort of had two hours to kill and spent some of it writing this down, aha. >.<))
Mod
((Gah *flailing* That post was so beautiful I had to read it twice before I could actually respond. Don't be sorry! The only thing that anyone should be sorry for is that my post will not live up to the beautifulness that has just been bestowed upon this thread . . . And that I tend to be really over dramatic when I talk, sorry about that xD))
The feel of her hand wrapped around his made him want to shake it off again. It was warm and delicate, it was putting him on edge. The only hand he was willing to hold that was smaller than his own was Rowan's. But slim fingers pushed between his and he almost gagged, thinking if how similar the feeling felt to bugs crawling across his skin. Despite her pretty face and sweet smile he resented her in that moment more than any moment prior. Not being able to see Red for a week was all her fault, like a cage had dropped down over him and the only one holding the key to get in and out was her. And what did his parents do? They stood and watched, his mother was probably clapping. Hating himself for not being able to defy his mothers wishes and father stern eyes Eradin was stuck with this one. Every time he passed by the church he thought of marriage to her ... And more precisely, how he was going to get out of it. The fact that he couldn't even hold her hand without flinching should've been big red flag number one, if he couldn't do that he would not one; be able to kiss her, and two; 'consummate the marriage'.
Eradin's skin crawled, it took him a full minute to realize that his fiancée was speaking to him. Looking down at the expectant look on his face Eradin blinked, looking side to side. Shit she was talking to him, not anyone else, him. It occurred to him that it may have been important, what she had to say, but wasn't sure if he wanted to ask for her to repeat it again. In the cold her cheeks were red and when she bit her lip it was obvious that she knew he hadn't been listening. Big red flag number two. "Sorry." He mumbled half heartily, hand limp in her own. She shook her head a little bit, speaking up again about something she saw across the market that could be good for them in the future.
In that moment a ruckus from the other side of the market shot every head within the square in that direction. Even for a brief second, and in the end Eradin was the only one actually looking. A flash of red overwhelmed his vision and every meeting prior to his forced engagement invaded his thoughts and vision. "Red!" he yelled. Every moment spent with his fiancée was a bore, he hardly showed any sort of emotion, much less smiled at her, but this ... This was different. Suddenly his heart was in overdrive, he was sure that every ear in the square could head the rip of panic in his voice but none of that mattered. Ripping his hand away from hers Eradin did not say he was sorry; he wasn't.
Rushing through people he shoved shoulders and tried to avoid says many old woman and rowdy children as he possibly could, but adults were fair game. Pushing through the scattered crowd of people the blonde stumbled over his own shoes. He nearly tipped over the cabbage stand, the man screaming like his life was being threatened, as he jumped over what he hadn't knocked to the ground. Wiping around the corner he screeched to a stop in front of the person Red had tipped over. Despite the urgency of the situation Eradin took the man by the arm and hauled him to his feet, "Sorry." He said vaguely, his voice lost in the rush of air for the second time today. He was running again, asking in which way the boy with the red coat had gone.
In the end he realized where he had entered the village and from there knew exactly what trail to take. "Red!" He yelled into the open air, his voice panicked. He hadn't thought that his little bird would be in the village at all. Had he been looking for him? Or was he in trouble or in need of something or ...? No, no, he had to have been looking for him. Where early Eradin had resented his fiancée now he loathed what she had done. If his parents had stuck him with her and she hadn't been all over him this past week then this wouldn't have happened. His feet wouldn't have gone numb running so quickly through the cold depths of snow, and his hands would not be sweating, one feeling slimy with the slick of her accompanied touch. "Red!!" He yelled again cupping his hand over his mouth, slowing in the very slightest to expand his lungs in the frigid air.
((I'm glad you liked it a lot! I'm really enjoying this roleplay and we're barely three posts in. xD Haha, and your beautiful post puts mine to shame, seriously! Dx Ugh, these two, I tell ya. We definitely have to roleplay a few flashbacks of their meetings so we can have some sweetness in this. T.T< Drama is good for the soul, so don't be sorry about that! :P))
The further Red ran, the less his destination was clear. But he kept on running, nevertheless. He ran and ran until his laboured breathing turned into raspy gasps and eventually tripped once more, this time incapable of stopping himself. He crashed into the snow and all at once, his body simply gave up on him. He brought his frozen fingers up to cover his face as the hot tears pooled over. And here, Rowan let himself crumble down as the numbness thawed into unbearable pain and overwhelming sadness. The quiet sobs he emitted were nearly muffled due to both his hands and the snow which partially covered him; the red hood being the only evident sign that he was laying in a heap of freshly dawned snow.
And to think that Erin had been injured had been the worst of his thoughts, never had this crossed his mind. Eradin had never come off as the sort of guy to say one thing and do another. No. Rowan had perceived him as the most honest and caring man he'd ever laid eyes on. He'd thought him to be loyal and a passionate man, but all of these beliefs were disintegrating with ever tear he shed. Leaving Erin to be nothing but a lying and cheating scum. Speaking of the devil, Red could hear the sound of his name being called numerous times, and he wished that perhaps he wouldn't be found, but he knew the cloak was a rather obvious giveaway and that rotting in this very spot wouldn't be occurring.
He didn't want to talk to Erin, didn't want to see his cheating face. How many other lips had he kissed? How many other hands had he held? He heard his name being called from a closer distance and for some reason, it made him angry. Eradin did not have the right to come running after him. No. Not after what he'd seen. He shouldn't have the audacity to think he deserved to let himself explained. No. Rowan didn't want to hear any of it; what he had seen couldn't justify itself even with a thousand words.
Such thoughts had him reluctantly rising from the mound of snow he would have been more than glad to call his grave moments earlier, but some obstacles just had to be faced head on, and the faster it was dealt with, the quick it'd be gone. Calmly, despite his shaking fingers, he brushed himself off and soon caught sight of him catching up. He waited a few moments, simply standing where he'd stood up until he was within hearing distance.
“I don't want to hear any of it.” His voice, unfortunately, wasn't as strong as he would have liked it to be. Instead, it was filled with the hurt he thought he could get away from in this bitter cold.
Mod
((That's how you know that the roleplay is going to be goooood!! :D And dude we totally need to do that, with all this drama I'm going to need to see there cuteness just to reassure myself xD))
Eradin's skin felt like it was freezing over, the winter wind in his hair left him shivering, goosebumps exploding up and down his arms, prickling his neck as well. He could've froze over for all her cared as long as he got to Rowan and explained himself first. Nothing mattered in that moment more than his small boy. So ignoring the winter chill wrapping its cold fingers around his body Erin trudged through the snow. Calling out Rowan's name into the breeze, more than once his voice lost in the push and rustle of trees.
Shivering Erin continued his journey through the forest, now no longer able to decide where he was headed. Red could be going in any direction, perhaps he's not even heading for him. Fearing that particular event Eradin hurried his pace despite his blue fingers. It couldn't have been this cold out moments before? Perhaps if was just his mind overdramatizing everything, but could he really help it? This was the one thing that he didn't want to happen. As said earlier Eradin really didn't believe his boyfriend would be coming into the village anytime soon, and despite what Red was thinking now ... Erin adored him. To no end he would do anything for him, and that included keeping his distance in order to keep him safe.
His family would not take keenly to the warlock in the forte story, much less that it was true and that their son just so happened to be directly tied to that warlock. Erin prayed every night to whatever being was up there in he he sky that one day he would be able to tell his family and friends freely about Red. If he got nothing else in his life he wanted that.
"Red!" His voice cracked in the chilly air. Eradin stopped, a quiet voice carrying over to his ears. Eyes snapping in that direction, his shoulder blades bunched together tensely. "Red," he breathed, starting towards him, feet sinking in the snow, hair blowing around. "Red please listen to me. You don't understand! Just let me explain..." Eradin plead, pressing his palms together like the begging man he was. Yes he was begging, he needed Rowan to listen right now, he needed just that and everything would be straightened out again. They would be able to figure this out together! Maybe Eradin and him could just run away, be secluded and not have anything to do with the village. It was a long plea but Erin couldn't bare the thoughts that might be whirling in Rowan's mind. That wretched girl joined everything!! The pain in Red's voice made his knees go weak and his posture slumped down slightly.
((Yes ma'am!! :D Aaah, well I demand a cute moment just after Red casts a spell on Erin to turn him into a werewolf -- a little something to tide us over. xD))
Rowan couldn't get a firm grasp on the storm brewing inside of him. There were so many mixed emotions clashing with one another it rendered him confused and hurt. He watched as Erin spotted him, and a sudden gust of wind had his cloak flickering off to the left, threatening to fly off of Red if it weren't for the strings keeping it tightly on his back. He watched him come closer and he felt the lump in his throat grow bigger, but he fought to keep himself composed; he didn't want Erin thinking that he was weak. No. He wasn't weak.
“I said I don't want to hear it!” He insisted loudly, his fingers curling into tight fists as he stood, shoulder-width apart. His head was ducked slightly because it was growing undeniably hard not to let himself burst into tears again. “Don't tell me I don't understand because I do. I do understand.” His voice pitched an octave higher and his voice broke as the feelings seeped into his voice.
“I just want to know why,” He asked, unable to contain himself anymore, his shoulders shaking slightly from the tears. “You could have. . . “ He shook his head, looked off to the side, inhaling deeply. “Why couldn't you have just told me?” His racing heart triggered a sudden feeling of anger at the thought of having been so carelessly taken advantage of.
“I've been waiting a week for you. One week. You never showed up, not once.” He emphasized on some of the words, trying to get his point across in as few little words as he could because expressing himself had never really been his forte due to his lack of human socialization. “I thought something had happened to you, I thought you were hurt, s-so I went off looking for you. A-and,” He cut himself off, his breaths shaking as the image momentarily blurred his vision. “And to think that all this time you were with her! You should have said something!”
Mod
((Your demand will happily be met after this (incredibly sad) curse scene ^^))
"Red." Erin breathed, hot tears itching at the back of his eyes. Erin rarely ever cried, once when he was a kid he had cut his leg falling off the ladder and had only called for his mama. He remember vaguely crying when he had first been out on a hunt with his da, but that memory was a blurred event in his mind. A void to his future. Much like his eyes were blurred over now. The green of his irises shining with sorrow. "Please, please Red listen to me. You've got this all wrong." He plead his case, panicked at how quickly his boy with slipping through his fingers.
It might have been endearing, Red thinking he was hurt, Red being worried, but everything was so twisted and messed up that Eradin was having a hard time with his words. "No! No, no no, no!" He yelled in the breeze that had swept in, his voice loud against the chilly wind. It was smooth and unnerving, like the calm before the storm. "Red, she doesn't mean anything to me. She's just a girl, a stupid girl." He tried to explain himself. Why wouldn't the words just come out? Why was he getting all mixed up? Was it the panic knotting his vocal cords together, cutting off his air? Was he actually breathing right now?
Eradin couldn't be sure of anything except that Red was slipping away from him. The look on his face said it all, it stopped the words cold in his throat. Oh no, oh shit no no no no. He couldn't lose Rowan, not after finally finding him, not after getting it into his head that he was going to stay with him forever. That his love was enough to overcome any obstacle, that this boy was worth anything he might risk. Oh shit no no no no. No he couldn't lose him. "ROWAN NO! I have been doing nothing but thinking of you." But the wind blew in again and those words were lose in the whoosh colliding from the left and the right, fighting to go in one direction.
Of course. The calm before the storm, and here was the weather acting up. Eradin wanted to yell up at the gods to keep to themselves and turn off the weather, but it seemed unlikely that they would go listening to one puny human. Sometimes he doubted the gods even liked them - why worship someone that didn't care? Eradin trudged forward in the snow as the wind settled in its original direction, hair pulling sideways with it. Whipping over his eyes he made to reach out for Rowan and his angry self, determined to make everything alright again. To settle this with the truth. Red could give him the cold shoulder or the silent treatment all he wanted but he had to know the truth.
Erin's denial was only angering Red. Was he taking him for a fool? He had seen them holding each other’s hand; he had seen the girl smiling as if she had the world right in the palm of her hand. He was no fool! Eradin's denials and attempts to tell him otherwise was an extreme insult to himself and who he was, a warlock. Warlocks were no fools, they didn’t let themselves be tricked into things so easily, and Red had poured his heart and trust into what himself and Erin had. He’d . . . he’d been so sure. But now everything was clear, and as far as ideas came, maybe all of this was one big scam in order to lure him into the village so they could be rid of him.
Only half of Erin’s words were being heard on Red’s behalf, mostly because he wasn’t trying to hear them. He was too far inside of his head and the idea that Eradin and this girl were in love and that he’d been nothing but a stupid distraction all along, or that all of this had been a hoax in order to kill the warlock of the village. There were multiple reasons why Red barely ventured out, and avoiding human eyes was one of them; he despised their judging looks and it always rendered him irritated, much like right now.
Red had been close to allowing Erin to touch him when he reached out, suddenly feeling extremely vulnerable. But instead, he took a few steps back, shaking his head. “No,” He said, his voice low. He frowned and wiped the last of his tears away, another lesson learned. He slipped the bright red hood over his head, the black strands disappearing beneath the shadow of the cloak, as did his eyes. “Mark my words, Eradin Elrik,” Rowan began, his voice seeming to cut right through the wind, a dangerous undertone to it. “You are going to pay for this. You are going to regret ever having fooled me.”
He turned on his heel, murmuring a few words in a forgotten tongue beneath his breath as he began walking away. Soon, the cloak began disintegrating into petals, rising up and up into the gust of wind as Rowan, too, disappeared, leaving not a single trace but the dispersed remains of determined vengeance.
((Sooo short. On my phone, sorry.))
Mod
((Your post was beautiful as always. Besides mine is sort of short anyway, since he doesn’t have anyone to yell at xp))
Unable to suck in enough air Erin was sure he was suffocating. His brain was like a train that went off the rails, rolling around and around down the Cliffside, the wheels trying to dig in whenever it came to be right side up again. But they never stuck, they didn’t have anything to stick onto. And all the people on that train were screaming. His ears were ringing and his head was shaking. No. No, Rowan please, you can’t do this, don’t do this, listen to me … listen to me Rowan … please, I’m begging you. Eradin did hear nor feel himself speaking and feared the worst case.
He wasn’t speaking at all, his lips were just attempting to form the words.
In the midst of this panic he was still trudging forward in the sweeping snow. The white powder stuck to his pants and what had been lifted with the breeze chilled his upper body muscles. He didn’t doubt his ears turning blue, nor his nose turning red. “Rowan,” he finally got out. From there he knew he had a handle on his voice. Shaking his head Erin reached out. Then he stopped, Rowan was backtracking, moving away from him. “Rowan she and I aren’t … we’re … I don’t even like her, Row.” He tried again.
But Eradin knew Rowan wasn’t listening and before he knew what was happening and yell escaped his lips – and Red was gone. Leaving him alone in snowy woods, trees scoffing at his failure. For a long time as the wind blew through his hair Eradin stood there, his jaw set, eyes unseeing, watching the invisible outline of his little red bird. The little red bird who had lifted his red wings and left him.
When he finally went back to the village one of his friends grabbed him by the arm and dragged him back home. Home was where his parents and fiancée were worrying themselves. His father’s eyes were gruff and hooded, and instead of his mother hanging on him his fiancée came and did the job for her. Erin looked down at her with dark eyes and pulled from her grasp. “Erin …”he voiced trailed, sounding hurt. He didn’t care, finding his daggers and sticking them into his belt, Erin tugged on another layer of clothing. “I wish to be left alone.”
--You're are going to pay for this--
And so he was.
Late. Red was so incredibly late. It seemed as if his feet couldn’t carry his weight as fast as he wanted it to. He hoped -- prayed that Erin was still there. If only he hadn’t decided to take his own morning stroll, if only he hadn’t found a tree to sit back against, if only he hadn’t allowed his eyes to rest for what Red promised himself would only be a few minutes. He had only wanted to enjoy the sounds of spring rejuvenating the thawed earth. But apparently he’d dozed off and now he was late. So, so late.
His soft pants grew considerably more labored as he approached their designated location. Was his goldilocks (view spoiler) still there? He couldn’t catch sight of him. No. No, no, no, no. His dark eyes darted back and forth, until they froze on a sight to his right. Immediately, he dug his heels into the moist soil, and wound up slipping but he caught himself just in time to redirect his path. There he was! He’d waited! “Erin!” His voice carried out through the tree’s buds, breathless relief loud and clear as he pushed himself to run as fast as he could, as if Erin would disappear if he didn’t reach him fast enough.
“Erin!” He called out once more, his hand rising in the air in a clumsy wave, even though his bright attire was rather obvious amongst the forest hues. However, despite knowing he’d been spotted, Red made no move to slow down until it was much, much too late. His chest connected with Erin’s with such force, it obliged the two of them to stumble backwards, well, forward for Rowan. His arms were bound tightly around the other boy’s chest, and despite his heavy breathing, he buried his face in the fabric he loved from the very beginning.
“I-I. . .” He was cut off by the urgent need to catch his breath, his fingers clutching the back Erin’s clothing tightly. “Forgive me for my delay. I am so terribly sorry.” Truth be told, he was just happy that he wasn’t gone, and that he’d actually waited however long he’d been late. Thank the heavens he’d woken up!
Mod
(view spoiler)
Erin had arrived on pin-point to their meeting area. At least he guessed he was on time, seeing as hours were judged by the position the sun was angled in up there in the blue sky. It was that time of the year when berries were gathered and flowers were picked, his job still remained, but the hunts were far easier. Far more laid back. And with the relaxed nature of it all Eradin felt at peace. He had no where to be and nothing to worry about. All he had planned was once again seeing his lover.
Red wasn't usually late; but for whatever reason Eradin knew he wasn't in any danger. Perhaps it was the sugary warmth of the breeze that told him, perhaps it was just the state of the sky. Whatever it was he didn't plan on removing himself from the clearing until his red bird appeared. Settling down against a tree in the soft grass Erin tilted his head back and rested himself with open eyes.
It may have been hours, Eradin wasn't particularly sure when Rowan arrived, but he sure made himself known. Quickly getting to his feet to go and help the boy up from his clumsy slip of the foot Red seemed to have no problem helping himself. The look on the young mans face made Eradin smile. That smile that he only ever gave Rowan; one genuine and affectionate. His mother had not seen that smile before. "Slow down, you're going too--"
"Oof!" An airy laugh whistled out of his lungs, chest thrumming with the impact. He took Red into his arms all while steadying himself, his heels digging into the spring time soil. Recovering in stride Eradin's grip tightened around his little red bird and he ducked his lips down to the crown of the small boys head. Leaving an affectionate kiss there to accompany his smile.
"You will always be forgiven." He laughed quietly into Rowan's dark hair, his own - lighter - locks tilting down across his forehead. He meant it as well. "Besides," he mumbled, pulling his lips from the boys head and peered down at him from his taller vantage point. "I have hours of free time in the spring," his lips pulled back into a knowing smile. "Which means," he drawled ... Eradin's hands slid around from his back to caress the soft pale cheeks of the red hooded boy before him. "I get to spend that time with you." He lowered his lips down to capture Red's.
(view spoiler)An intense explosion of happiness burst inside of his empty stomach as strong arms affirmed that he hadn’t arrived too late. He joined in the quiet laughs as his grin grew wider when lips were felt on his head. Red closed his eyes, the relief still swooshing in his system. Never would he grow tired of this, of him. For a few moments, Rowan simply kept his tight hold on Erin, not willing to pull away just yet. Somehow, he felt as if separating himself from Erin would mean that they’d have to part ways soon after, something the hooded boy wasn’t too keen allowing.
When he looked up, Red was met with breathtaking green eyes, ones he was never sure which one he should be looking in particularly simply because he didn’t want to let a single detail fly below his radar. His chin had come to rest against Eradin’s chest, his head craned upwards, a small smile still playing on his face. Much too preoccupied with his thoughts, riding hood barely registered the words that were being spoken to him, but a smile appeared on his face regardless. Granted he did manage to comprehend that their visits would be growing more frequent now that spring had arrived, which was exquisite news.
Though Rowan wished he could have replied to spending more time together, he accepted the pre-interruption happily, pushing the heels of his shoes off the ground slightly in order to meet Erin halfway. The kiss was sweet, tender and everything that had been worth waiting five extensive days. Red’s left hand slipped from Erin’s back and went to touch one of the hands that were holding his cheek and for no apparent reason he couldn’t help but smile into the kiss. Slowly breaking their lip-locking, the hand on Eradin’s gently slid his palm inside the others, stepping back a little. “I’m counting on it,” He replied finally, a happy smile plastered dumbly over his face which was tilted to the side slightly.
Tugging his hand forward, Red gestured for Erin to follow him, because he wanted to walk a little ways. “How have you been?” He inquired innocently, threading their fingers together casually, as if they were meant to be placed like so. “You are looking particularly striking today, you know.” His cheeks flushed a dainty pink at the words, but he meant them. There was something about Erin right now that made Red that much more happy that he’d waited so very patiently despite his grave tardiness.
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Eradin smiled into the kiss, a calm washing over his body in the soft spring air here with his little red riding hood. He felt Rowan settle back down onto his feet and had the very cliche urge to tangle his fingers into Rowan's shirt and tug him back to him. But he didn't, instead he let his hand slid comfortably into the smaller boys. Hesitance was nonexistent in that moment, it seemed to vanish every time he was with Rowan. He didn't have to worry about things within the village.
Erin coyly towards Red from the corner of his green eyes; A quiet smile edging over his sturdy features, softening his eyes. "Much obliged." Reaching up with their intertwined hands and brushed his thumb over his lovers cheek. Dropping their hands back between them Erin quieted as he put together his answer. Now over the high feeling of seeing Rowan for the first time this afternoon his head was settling back into its thoughts. Heart pumping regularly against his chest and yet his thoughts were much the same as the other boys.
He would never get tried of this.
"It's been alright, I suppose. Father always grows unsettled after the winter." Lifting one shoulder blandly Erin scuffed his eyes over the ground as they walked. Scattering between soil and grass and flower buds, some mushrooms growing at the base of trees, as far as he could tell no berries were in sight. The spring is when the woman went out collecting herbs and berries and such, it would have preciously set him on edge to think they may be short of food this year but other things had occupied his mind.
Eradin took his hand away and settled it over Red's shoulders. The bright fabric of his hood contrasting the dull brown color of his shirt. What could he say? Color was definitely a luxury. He only had green shirt and even then the color was jaded, very in-the-crowd. Though it was most definitely not his job to stand out, not in the village. "Have you been alright?" He returned in inquiry. He worried. Rowan was all alone out here, and he had grown up learning the importance of family and friendship. To trust one another in a village withheld many lives.
There was something about the Spring that kept Red upbeat and content. Or perchance it was the way the spring flickered emerald in Erin’s eyes, brought out the beauty that only seemed to show upon the arrival of this earthy seasons. Regardless, Eradin was Rowan’s spring. He wasn’t able to resist giving the other man’s hand another squeeze, meeting his eyes when he spoke. “Unsettled?” Red questioned quietly, his brow knitting slightly. He glanced down at the forest ground before looking up at Erin once more. “Why is that?” He never grew unsettled after winter, he was the kind to grow unsettled when winter came along for he was always cold in his bed despite the spells he’d cast in order to keep the heat in.
Winter was a lonely season for Red.
The weight of Erin’s arm over his shoulders was highly welcomed. He leaned his head on his side and sighed contently. “Aye, I’m rejoiced winter is over,” He admitted, his eyes focused on their feet walking in unison, and he wondered if their hearts were dancing to the same beat as well. “I’ve been doing well, though I think I may be beginning to fall ill.” It was true, just two moons he’d come down with a raging fever and had managed to concoct one of his grandmother’s ancient remedies a just in time to pass out in his bed. There was another thing as well, but he didn’t want to alarm his lover in case it was false.
Red was beginning to feel watched at the most unexpected moments. There were times where he’d sworn having felt a pair of eyes burning his back, almost as if they wanted to be noticed. But Rowan never looked back; he was a coward more often than he’d like to admit. But perhaps Erin would know something of this? He could reassure him that there were but hunters looking to feed his village.
“Has anyone been hunting in the Eastern side of the forest?” Casually, Red wrapped a loose arm around Erin's waist, relishing just how perfect they seemed to fit against one another despite him being smaller.
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Eradin took a moment, and then shrugged a bit. "It's far more challenging to hunt in the winter. It's a highlighted season of need for the village." He explained thoughtfully. "As any other man Da relishes in the ability to do his duty during the barren months." It was a bit confusing, he knew, to his younger lover, but it was what it was nonetheless. He wished to spend as much time as he possibly could with his good lad during all seasons no matter the day or hour, but that was an impossible case. At least until he felt that his people were willing to hear him out. Erin had never seen a couple like he and Red, though felt no embarrassment or remorse. He was simply taking precautions in their relationship. Not only were they both men but Rowan was a sorcerer, and anyone could take the situations incorrectly and misjudge.
Eradin was not willing to lose his red riding hood over some misunderstanding.
Where his father welcomed winter with open arms Eradin enjoyed any season but. Spring was a time Of rebirth, moons of fertility and seedlings. Summer was warm and lengthy, often leaving him with extra hours to occupy his time elsewhere. Finally Autumn was a season of change, symbolizing the coming of age for many a man. For he, Eradin often embarked on the memory of his first hunt as a young man and not a child any longer. Of course most things that had preciously occupied his important life events were overshadowed by the meeting of his little red bird.
Eradin frowned down at him in the slightest. His brows creased inward and he slowed their steps. Finally he came to a full stop, standing in front of Red with concern coloring his eyes. He took the boys face between his hands. As much as Erin hated the idea that the young man was failing ill what worried him more was the question that trailed after the declaration. He searched his face quietly for a few silent moments, the wind breezing around them. "The eastern forest?" He asked, knowing well that that is where his lover resided. "Not that I know of." The eastern forest was a place that not many dare go. The story of the witch in the forest - aka Red - kept the children away, but the lack of large, meaty animals during hunting season caused grown men to veer to the west. "Rowan," he asked with edgy calmness, eyes flickering around. "Did you see someone hunting near you? Do you feel endangered?" If that answer was yes Erin would be on his guard in moments, whatever he had to do to stay with Red for a few days and keep him safe and sound he would do. In fact he would go regardless of his parents wishes and his tracks would be nonexistent.
(view spoiler)Walking through the growing forest, Red came to remember a time, a time when Erin and himself had been newly lovers, where he'd spent days wondering if he'd accidentally put the taller boy under a spell. After all, what were the odds that anyone would want to spend time with the so-called legendary wicked witch of the woods? It had been normal for the boy to wonder just what he'd done to make a remarkably handsome gentleman want to hold his hand, and even more, kiss his lips! But here in the present, all doubt was gone and Rowan felt nothing but warmth and gratitude that they'd become what they were.
That being said, when a look of worry suddenly overcame his lover's face at his mention of possible roamers lurking around his home, Red immediately regretted having asked. It's not like he wasn't able to take care of himself, and he was fairly sure that if someone had been watching him, they wouldn't be from the village. Otherwise Eradin would've surely heard something about it, right? Red was more concerned of it being a hostile being, another magic-user wandering around. And even then, it wasn't himself he was worried about, but the village. Red wasn't a threat to Erin's home, despite the rumours meant to keep the children in their homes once the sun fell, but anyone else could be.
Deciding that worrying his beloved wasn't something he wished to do, Red offered a gentle, reassuring smile. “I saw no hunters, Erin,” He said, his smile inching wider. “Forgive me, I don't mean to worry you. It's nothing.” Gently, he pulled one of the hands holding his face down and threaded his fingers through Erin's fingers. “It must be the lack of sleep,” He chuckled softly. In an attempt to move away from the subject, he reached up and pulled the other man in a sweet kiss.
But even now, standing here, he felt eyes burning the back of his head. More specifically, his red cape.
Nicknames: Erin
Age: 20
DOB: January 21, 1994
Height: 5’11”
Hair Color: Blonde
Eye Color: Green
- Eradin rarely goes by his nicknames but accepts people as they call him, he isn’t a person that likes to start any unnecessary conflict. Though he most definitely isn’t a shy one. Eradin puts who and what he loves first and lets them know his affections in any way possible. He enjoys the minor details in making someone feel special, but only if his hearts in it can he go to such extent. He is a boy that comes from a middle level family with enough money for himself and each parent. Their customs are like the rest of the village, and so them springing this engagement on him shouldn’t have been any surprise. However Eradin is not in love with this girl. She is pretty and kind, but he will never be attracted to her as a person as he is with Red. Red is who he wishes to spend all his time with. It’s beyond frustrating to be put into this situation, especially knowing that his boy doesn’t even know what’s going on. Eradin hasn’t had time to make his way out of the village to inform him much less hold and kiss him as they usually did when meeting one another. Eradin’s dislike of the girl is muted and his parents don’t bring up with lack of enthusiasm because one; they don’t except him to be gay, much less in relationship, and with a warlock! And two; they like this girl and already accept her as part of the family, him arguing would be pointless and result in angry words and, in the end, a marriage anyway. Whatever shall he do? To protect Red he must stay away, but Eradin is finding no way around this engagement. Having to always be in the village as a protection method for Red … what can he do?