The Beat of a Dancing Heart

[featheredhugs]

Date: June 12th, sunset
Location: On the front steps of the Manor
Status: Kirby, Raphael

Raphael had his wings stretched out sunning themselves. He always seemed to grow tired around this time and he knew better than to believe it had nothing to do with the blade. Normally he kept it at the small of his back, but for now he had it resting by his side, the jewel reflecting in the final rays of sunlight.

He was slightly hunched over his journal, a little bit oblivious to his surroundings, humming slightly as he trapped his thoughts and confined them to the lined pages.

((*))

Comments

[beachbunnykirby]

On her way back to her room, Kirby saw a man sitting by the steps leading up to the manor. The red curls gave him away long before anything else. She grinned broadly as she approached.

"Heya, Coppercurls!" she greeted him joyfully. "How's life?"

Her eyes dopped to the blade he had with him.

"How beautiful! Is that yours?"

[featheredhugs]

Raphael would have greeted her, but his corporation was being bothersome again. He felt his cheeks burn... Fever again? "Uhm..."

[beachbunnykirby]

Not remotely as oblivious to the man's reaction as she pretended to be, Kirby stooped to reach for the blade, at the same time giving him a good view of some more female parts of her body.

"May I have a look? I love weapons! Especially beautiful ones like this!"

[featheredhugs]

He didn't trust his voice, so he just nodded. He brushed back the strands of hair falling in front of his face, feeling something in his stomach, maybe nerves. Well, he had to hand it to Father, He really did create masterpieces.

[beachbunnykirby]

Kirby picked up the blade and lovingly stroked her fingers over the fine steel as she admired the design and the stone in it.

"Is this a family heirloom? It's wonderful!" She placed it across a finger to test its balance.

[featheredhugs]

"You're wonderful-er," he said suddenly, realizing that he didn't want her to think a piece of metal was prettier than one of Father's creations. He was still blushing, though. "No, not an heirloom." Oh good, his voice was back. Sort of.

...and since when is wonderful-er a word?!

[beachbunnykirby]

"Oh, thank you!" Kirby said. She wasn't sure how many women would have appreciated a comparison to a dagger, but given her profession, she certainly valued it.

"This must have been made by a true master. Do you know if he made any more like this?"

[featheredhugs]

"I got it at the pawn shop, but I-" He stopped. She didn't need to know Lucifer cursed it for him. "I'm sure there are others and uhm. Other places."

It was a fever. Definitely a fever.

[beachbunnykirby]

"Oh," Kirby said. "You don't know who the maker was? Too bad."

She flipped the dagger into the air and caught it deftly by the hilt.

"If you ever consider selling it, come to me. I'd be interested in buying."

She offered it back to him, politely with the hilt first.

[featheredhugs]

"Uhm, thank you," he said, cheeks burning as he took the blade. He was pretty sure their fingers brushed.

[beachbunnykirby]

"Hey," Kirby said, pretending to be oblivious to his reaction. "There's a pond over there - it's a bit cool, but I've taken a swim in there before. Care to come?"

[featheredhugs]

He closed his journal. "Sure! I love to swim. Mind if I bring my puppy? She loves a good swim, sometimes we play fetch in the water."

[beachbunnykirby]

"Not at all!" Kirby said. She glanced around. "Do you need to get her?"

[featheredhugs]

"she's over there... Come on, Pancake!"

The pup looked up from where it was curled under the tree and scampered over. Raphael picked it up. "This is Pancake."

The animal wagged it's pom-pom tail as it looked at Kirby.

[beachbunnykirby]

Kirby bent over to scratch the little thing's ears. "She's adorable," she said. "You're sure she can swim without danger?"

To her, the dog looked just about the right size to be fish food if the fish was large enough.

[featheredhugs]

"Oh yes! She is an excellent swimmer. Would you like to play fetch with her? We can take turn throwing her frisbee."

[beachbunnykirby]

"If you're sure there's nothing that'll think her just the right size for dinner, sure!" Kirby grinned at him. "Let's go! Come on, Pancake!"

She stopped after a few steps and turned to Raphael again: "You got something to throw around?"

[featheredhugs]

He realized he had been staring as she started away from him. "Uhm. Yes." He held up a neon pink frisbee.

[beachbunnykirby]

"Good!" She said. "We'll all enjoy a dive into that pool I'm certain."

She jogged ahead to their destination, relying on angel and dog to follow her.

[featheredhugs]

Raphael snapped out of his stare, but was having a hard time keeping his gaze from drifting to her as he ran to catch up. She was a good runner, artistic, even, the way her hair flowed behind her and her muscles flexed and her-

Oof! He found himself falling back and looking up at a very large tree. When did that get there??

[beachbunnykirby]

Kirby was used to keeping an eye and ear on her surroundings, even when she wasn't seeming to. She did notice Raphael's little mishap, even though she gave no indication of it. She merely chuckled silently to herself.

"Last one there has to pay for drinks at the bar tonight!" she called out.

[featheredhugs]

He picked himself up. His pup was already bounding after her, wagging its tail. The angel's cheeks colored, wondering what right did that tree have to just step right there in the middle of the - oh. Must be a side effect of the fever. He apologized silently to the tree for trespassing and got back onto the road, racing to catch up to her.

...though maybe he had slowed down just a little. She did look lovely from behind.

[beachbunnykirby]

Kirby skidded to a halt just by the edge of the pool. "I win!" She announced. "Drinks are on you!"

[featheredhugs]

He could feel that his face was red. "Okay," he said with a chuckle.

[beachbunnykirby]

"That's for later, though," she said. "Now, the pool is nice and cool after that run, I bet. You look a little flushed, you know..."

She wondered if she should just start to wear a bikini under her clothes, considering how often she'd recently gone swimming in her underwear.

Well, whatever.

She took off all the clothes that would hinder swimming and dove right into the water, head first.