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Post by Leda on Jul 17, 2010 22:08:11 GMT -5
Pulling a deep breath, Rouge gathered her strength and eased herself back toward the pillows piled high at the head of her bed, this time on her side. "I'll put all of my energy into recovering," she assured him as she settled into place.
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Post by Jamie Lee on Jul 17, 2010 22:17:04 GMT -5
"Take all the time you need, dove," Rob said in a half-committed manner. Internally he was kicking himself. Taking a few moments to recompose himself as Rouge settled herself down to rest, he grunted and pushed himself up to a stand. As he did, a small and vaguely glowing stone fell from one of the pouches on his belt and clattered across the floor.
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Post by Leda on Jul 17, 2010 22:18:25 GMT -5
Just as she'd been about to close her eyes, one of the bat's considerable ears twitched. Rouge leaned forward and peered over the edge of her mattress. "...What's that?"
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Post by Jamie Lee on Jul 17, 2010 22:23:23 GMT -5
"Ah! Ruddy he--" he caught himself mid-swear, chasing after the stone's final resting place and snapping it up from the floor. Just as he was about to place it back where it belonged, he heard Rouge's question and cringed. No, no, not now! "Ah... it's a..." Oh boy, no, no, no! He exhaled in defeat. "... It's a stone I found a few days ago in the forest."
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Post by Leda on Jul 17, 2010 22:25:21 GMT -5
Well, that certainly got her attention. "A stone? ..... May I see it..?"
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Post by Jamie Lee on Jul 17, 2010 22:29:14 GMT -5
"I... I--well..." he slumped a bit, staring at the stone in his palm with uncertainty. " ... Alright..." As he approached her and offered it, he couldn't help but feel like kicking himself over and over. This wasn't the right time, the right place...!
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Post by Leda on Jul 17, 2010 22:34:33 GMT -5
Engulfed by her desire to see the rock, Rouge failed to pick up on her companion's demeanor and extended her hands with deep interest. As she looked it over, her features filled with more liveliness than she'd exhibited in several weeks. "How pretty... It's actually glowing."
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Post by Jamie Lee on Jul 17, 2010 22:38:58 GMT -5
"I think it's called a power stone..." Rob fidgeted nervously. "It's... it's what was used to help heal you..."
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Post by Leda on Jul 17, 2010 22:40:33 GMT -5
The bat blinked in shock. "It was?? ...." She then eyed the archer before her. "...If it has no other use, why are you still carrying it?"
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Post by Jamie Lee on Jul 17, 2010 22:42:56 GMT -5
"I, uh, thought... you... might like to have it..." Rob said, that blush prickling across his cheeks again.
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Post by Leda on Jul 17, 2010 22:48:35 GMT -5
Rouge's ears folded backward as she considered what he was saying. She certainly didn't want to read too much into these things, after all... "Of course, I would enjoy it very much." The bat gazed down at the dim glow between her palms. But why would you do that for me?
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Post by Jamie Lee on Jul 17, 2010 22:53:33 GMT -5
"C-consider it yours, then..." Rob said nervously, placing his hands behind his back to keep from fidgeting.
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Post by Leda on Jul 17, 2010 23:06:48 GMT -5
Despite having just been given a gift (and one she was really pleased with), Rouge frowned. "What's the matter?"
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Post by Jamie Lee on Jul 17, 2010 23:09:39 GMT -5
"N-nothing!" the archer blurted. "Do I look like something's wrong? N-nothing's wrong!"
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Post by Leda on Jul 17, 2010 23:14:03 GMT -5
Rob projected such an image that something was indeed wrong, in fact, that Rouge's face filled with disappointment as she looked back at the stone in her hands. "...If you needed this power stone for another purpose, Rob, you don't have to let me have it..."
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Post by Jamie Lee on Jul 17, 2010 23:18:29 GMT -5
"That's not it! I mean--you--" he pulled in a deep breath, attempting to steel himself. "... It... it really is yours," he finally managed to say in a somewhat normal voice. " ... I was just waiting for a better moment to give it to you..."
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Post by Leda on Jul 17, 2010 23:20:28 GMT -5
"A better moment?" the bat echoed. "Right now is fine..."
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Post by Jamie Lee on Jul 17, 2010 23:26:56 GMT -5
By now the archer had buried his face deep into his palm. No, no it really wasn't. He had had the whole scene set up in his head. He would walk her down the boardwalk one of these nights, and there he would present the stone to her under the moon... it was supposed to be romantic. Not... not... this!" I suppose now is as good a time as ever..."
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Post by Leda on Jul 17, 2010 23:37:10 GMT -5
Rob's presence continued to spiral out of control, and Rouge's mood seemed to deteriorate along side of it. The brief flash of mirth from earlier now more than extinguished, the bat leaned into her pillows and gazed out of the window. She'd forgotten to thank him for closing it, she realized. "Time for what?"
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Post by Jamie Lee on Jul 17, 2010 23:55:29 GMT -5
"I... wanted to give that to you when I..." he sighed, shaking his head and rubbing at his arm. "... Rouge... would you... er... be my lady...?"
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Post by Leda on Jul 17, 2010 23:58:15 GMT -5
"... ... ... ... ..." Almost certain she hadn't heard him correctly, Rouge's topmost ear flickered before she sat up and turned to him. "I'm sorry, I don't think I understand," she eventually replied.
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Post by Jamie Lee on Jul 18, 2010 0:04:01 GMT -5
"I-I know you've probably known all along and must think I'm silly... I know everyone else has... I just... wanted to... you know... ask in case you might be interested...?"
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Post by Leda on Jul 18, 2010 0:06:32 GMT -5
Rouge couldn't help but stare for a moment as she registered what he was telling her. Once her cognitive functions finally rebooted, the bat blurted before she could buffer, " But I thought you didn't like me."
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Post by Jamie Lee on Jul 18, 2010 0:08:57 GMT -5
The archer's face went blank with surprise. "... Why would you think that??"
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Post by Leda on Jul 18, 2010 0:13:53 GMT -5
Wings twitching anxiously, Rouge struggled to come up with a response. "Well.... I mean... Anything that ever stood out, there was another explanation... and you've been playing the field chasing ass tender with plenty of women.." The bedridden bat shrugged. "I guess I.. I was just another soldier."
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Post by Jamie Lee on Jul 18, 2010 0:17:26 GMT -5
"That's... you're... you're different though... I consider you more meaningful than that..." Rob looked away, continuing to rub at his arm. " I guess this means no...?"
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Post by Leda on Jul 18, 2010 0:21:14 GMT -5
Suddenly the bat realized that she had, in fact, been asked a question. "...Oh, excuse me! I'm sorry, I was so distracted." Rouge nervously scratched at her elbow. "I... I think I would enjoy, ah, being your lady..." But will you get hurt, too?
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Post by Jamie Lee on Jul 18, 2010 0:23:47 GMT -5
All at one Rob's face brightened. "R-really?"
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Post by Leda on Jul 18, 2010 0:29:00 GMT -5
At last, Rouge graced him with another of her weak smiles. " Of course."
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Post by Jamie Lee on Jul 18, 2010 0:34:43 GMT -5
Finally Rob let out a long exhale, indicating that he'd been holding his breath. "Wow. Thank you..."
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