[ADoC] Splinter: Sunray and Dusk

[Kender Bard]

Sunray kept stealing sideways glances at Dusk now and then as he meandered about with her, smiling to himself in a peculiar manner. Gradually he steered them towards a large window and had her stand in front of it as he took a step back. Outside, snow had fallen recently and though it was just a powdered coating, it gave the outside world a shimmering light of whiteness.

"You look very lovely in Khelek's scenery," he declared.

[Darastrix]

Dusk smiled at Sunray and ruffled her feathers a bit. "You say the sweetest things, Sunny." Well, when he wasn't trying too hard, anyway. "I think it's a good thing I didn't wear my white gown; I'd very nearly blend in with the landscape."

It was true, too. Her blue-grey wings matched the colour of storm clouds--rainstorm or snowstorm--quite well. And white and snow, well, that was obvious. The dress Dusk has chosen for the occasion, though, was a pale pink trimmed with gold. The gold threads shimmered in the light, causing an effect resembling the sky at at sunrise or sunset.

[Kender Bard]

"I speak the truth," he replied kindly and took her hands again gently. "While the cold doesn't exactly agree with me, I think there is a poignant beauty to the land." He reached over and stroked one of her feathers lightly and quickly. "Would you like to have a drink?"

[Darastrix]

"A drink would be lovely," Dusk replied, rising on her toes to kiss Sunray's cheek. "And I agree with you on the cold. The mountains in winter are quite enough for me. I think I may see about getting some furs while we're here."

[Kender Bard]

Sunray flashed her his almost lopsided, somewhat goofy grin when she kissed his cheek as he usually did and led her to where some drinks were laid out to take. He selected a flute of champagne and offered it to her. "Anything that catches your fancy, and I will be happy to purchase it for you," he murmured. "Be it fur, jewelry or..." He slipped his fingers into a pocket and pulled out a small vial of liquid, offering it to her. "Perfume."

[Darastrix]

Dusk squealed softly at the proffered gift and set down her glass to take it. "Oh, Sunny, you didn't have to do that," she told him, even as she worked the stopper from the vial to smell the perfume.

[Kender Bard]

A light scent wafted forth; a strange combination of various blossoms, a hint of sugar (or was it vanilla?), and something earthy to ground it all.

"I wanted to," he said, watching with delight at her reaction. "Honestly. Do you like it?"

[Darastrix]

"I love it," Dusk declared, dabbing a bit on then and there. She hadn't brought any of her own perfume with her, so there was nothing that it would clash with already on her skin. She carefully stoppered the vial, then threw her arms around Sunray's neck. "Thank you!"

[Kender Bard]

Sunray blushed as he took Dusk in his arms, returning the embrace. He was a bit stiff, as though nervous about something.

Abruptly he turned his head and kissed her on the lips with surprising passion; it was brief, though, and he turned his head away again, blushing madly.

[Darastrix]

Dusk made a soft, surprised sound as Sunray kissed her; he never did things like that. "Sunny!" she exclaimed quietly, curling a wing around to shield them from view.

[Kender Bard]

"I'm sorry," he murmured quietly, shifting his weight slightly. "I couldn't help it. Forces, Dusk, I've been wanting to do that for the past month at least."

Thankful for her wing as a barrier from everyone else, he brought up a hand and rubbed it down his face.

[Darastrix]

"Oh, Sunny...," Dusk murmured, reaching to stroke his hair. Had she done something to make Sunray think she felt more for him than she actually did? She knew she flirted with him; she flirted with people in general, but she never thought....

No, she did have some idea, she thought as she recalled Sunray's words to her before he and Eros had left to visit Maelstrom. "Sunny, I love you; I do, but like I love Midnight."

[Kender Bard]

"I know," he whispered, still struggling to keep his voice low. It wavered with heartbreak. "I know, I know. And I know I can never have you, but I can't help that I've fallen for you. When I go home I'll have to smile and pretend to have a life that I dearly want now but it's just.."

He took a deep breath and quit talking for a moment. "I'm sorry," he whispered.

[Darastrix]

Dusk looked at Sunray sadly, suddenly wishing Snowflake or Midnight had come with them. She didn't know what to do. "I'm sorry, too," she said softly.

If only Twilight would allow it...but even then, she didn't know if she would ever fall IN love with Sunray. She loved him, to be sure, and it pained her to feel like the cause of anyone's unhappiness, but she couldn't help what she didn't feel any more than Sunray could help what he did.

[Kender Bard]

He reached out a hand and softly caressed her cheek before letting his hand fall away again. "I guess, I just had to let it out," he murmured. He took another deep breath and closed his eyes. When he opened them again, there was no trace of the pain he carried in his heart. Just the calm, placid exterior of a king. He stepped back, away from the shelter of her wing and forced a smile for everyone else in the room; let them think he had been doing something in a fit of passion. It wouldn't be far from the truth.