Lost in the Gardens

[spirit_touched]

She didn't know what it was, a sharp pulse in the air that took her breath away. Tim, her boss, told her to drop what she was doing and go look, a strange knowing in the shamans eyes. Distrustful of that expression, Ana was reluctant but went anyway, gathering her back and her magically charged coat.

Prepared and protected, the coat like armour to most things, Ana latched on to the residual touch of magic in the air and followed it to it's source, quickly finding herself in the Gardens of her city. Following the main path, and cutting across a neat green lawn to the gathering of figs close to the university, Ana slowed as she felt herself get close. Reaching for her personal wards and readying them, she peered into the shadows. Someone was there. Someone vibrant, their aural signiture like a brilliant band of colour.

 

What were they?

Comments

[torinpike]

'Bris...bane. I've never heard of such a place. It is certainly not near where I was. Your tree's are different. They even sound different.' he wasn't worried about how loud he spoke, though in truth his voice was quite soft, and had an edge of tangible feeling to it, like silk or velvet to brush along her skin and he wasn't even trying. Magic was so much more common in his world, and nymphs more obvious. Most would be used to the hint of it he gives off without helping it.

[spirit_touched]

"And I've never heard of... Myrica." She faltered a bit on the pronunciation and looked up to the fig towering above them.

"Considering you're probably from a wholly different world, it's not that surprising." She was in trouble. His voice was having a powerful effect, tugging at the things she kept bottled away while she was in public. Looking down she drew in a breath to calm herself.

"Ah, would you like some help? I... I can tell you're familiar with magic, but most people here aren't."

[torinpike]

'...I did not think travelling to whole different worlds to be possible.' he frowns then, drawing his lower lip into his moth, biting on it, sucking a little as he tries to think. If there was a way here there was surely a way back, but he hadn't come under his own steam which meant the gods, or the nymphs... or something else entirely. He really didn't know.

'Why would people not know magic?'

[spirit_touched]

"Neither did I, to be honest." She stared for a moment at his mouth and then looks away clearing her throat. Yeah Big trouble. Very big trouble and distantly she feels amusement from Someone n particular.

"Ah, well... Long story. New faith came in, declared all other gods and magic to be evil... Became the dominant faith. People stoped believing in it."

[torinpike]

'Yet you stand here and I feel magic in you, there are nymphs in the trees and I'm sure I'd find them in the water bodies if I knew where they were... faith alone should not abolish belief in something so fundamental to life.' he walks a bit past her, to look around some more, his arm brushing against hers. His magic was like it came from nature itself, from the gods, fresh, bright, warm like his skin. He moved in almost complete silence, smoothly, even smelt like he deserved to be licked from head to toe, like he was made for such a purpose.

[spirit_touched]

"Well... I didn't mean that magic left, just that people stopped taking notice of it..." She trails off at the touch, breathless. THat feeling, wild free and complete, rich with life and the movements of nature the passing of the seasons. It was like touching her God, her Goddess...

It was such a surprise that she swayed a little, her knees weak.

[torinpike]

That, he noticed, and without really thinking about it, scooped her up to keep her from falling without hardly any effort at all.

'Are you alright My lady?'

[spirit_touched]

She yelped when he picked her up, arms drawing close to her chest. He was touching her, her was touching her, dears Goddess and God, he was touching her...

It took a moment before she could answer, fighting back the sensory overload.

"Ah... Yeah, just a bit... You've got a presence, did you know that?"

[torinpike]

'I do? I shouldn't have to much of one, I keep it mostly locked away...' and he really did, there was so much more hidden under this surface magic that he couldn't get rid of even if he tried.

[spirit_touched]

"You do." She said a little breathless, certain her cheeks were very pink by then. She gave a little shrug. "It's a... been a while sice..." Abort! ABORT! Ana coughed and looked away. "Sorry, it was just a surprise to me."

[torinpike]

'I would set you down but you really don't look like you'd stay standing if I tried...' even through his clothes his skin would feel so warm, alive, the magic he's got thrumming under his skin flowing over him.

You are so evil.

[spirit_touched]

She didn't know if touching him was safe or not. If this was the first steps he was taking into her world... Anything out of left field would skew his percepions of mannerly behaviour.

So that meant no kissing those lips.

"I can't tell if you're amused or not. Or what youu're... You know what. Nevermind. I came here to offer help." She looked at the arms holding her.

"believe it or not."

Doesn't even begin to cover it. ;)

[torinpike]

Lips that were so close to her, on a handsome face that was watching her closely, concerned for her welfare.

'Is this place safe? Is there somewhere you'd like me to take you? I take directions well.' it's meant innocently enough, yet.

[spirit_touched]

Anas cheeks burn but she nods. "Ah... yeah. I work not too far from here, but this place is pretty safe. No wild beasties here."

Except for him. And... her.

She figited in his arms. "You can put me down you know."

[torinpike]

'As you like, my Lady.' he sets her down, carefully, though doesn't step away from her, he's only inches, now, in case she will fall, if she does she will only land against him, or in his grasp.

[spirit_touched]

She manages to stand and away from him her head begand to clear and she felt a gentle reprimand for letting herself get so carried away but a simple touch.

Sighing, knowing she will pay for it later, Ana gave Torin a small smile.

"Ah. I have to go work but... my hospitality is yours and my help. If there's anything I can do."

[torinpike]

'Where should I go? In this Bris... bane place?' he really doesn't no where to go, other than stay here, in the trees. 'I suppose I could stay here...'

[spirit_touched]

"You could come with me. Better than being alone in a place you don't know." And there was the matter of Tim.

"And I know someone who could try helping? He's a shaman."

[torinpike]

'Would that be all right? If magic isn't so common, perhaps I ought to stay out of sight.' disappear into the woods if he must.

[spirit_touched]

"You wouldn't be the first stray. So to speak." She stepped away, heading for the path.

"It's a strange world this one. Better with friends."

[torinpike]

'Then lead the way, my lady.' he smiled then, though still faint and concerned it was like sunshine after a shower.

[spirit_touched]

Ana gave a small smile before stepping into the warm sun. trusting him to keep up, Ana started walking for the main gate.

"You might want to glamour away your weapons. People don't carry them upon their person normally. Just asking for trouble."

[torinpike]

He does keep up, easily, though unless she can see him, she probably wouldn't know it for as quiet as he walks. 'People do not?' yet he takes her word in spite of his own confusion, and the weapons are quickly out of sight, though if he merely hid them or put them away somehow, isn't entirely clear.

[spirit_touched]

"No. It's actually frowned upon." Unless you looked like were in costume... Which he did but that was something she'd deal with later when they got to it.

She glanced over her shoulder to check he followed and led him oput of the gates towards the road where the traffic passed with the sounds of engines. It was always a sad thing stepping out of the gardens to return to the city, moving from one territory to another.

She was just glad there was as much green on the streets as there was.

[torinpike]

Only, he all but freezes, still as a statue when he spots the first car and it all sounds so loud. He's never seen, or heard anything like it though it sounds distinctly unnatural and he wants for nothing more right now than to vanish into a forest.