Happy birthday to me {Miria, open to anyone}

by **Ronan Dugal** on April 6th, 2013, 7:06 am

Ronan smiled at Miria as she lead him on with her words. Not the same smile as he normally had, not the fake nor the real smile, a different smile. A sharp smile, neither pleasant nor fake, combined with an aggressive twinkle in his eyes, a predators twinkle. It remained there for a moment before Ronan was able to snap out of it. His eyes focused and settled back into their normal boyish, childish twinkle. "Well, since you're offering. I wouldn't mind at all." Whether she was being serious or not didn't matter to Ronan at this point. If she wasn't serious, he could just brush his reactions of as a joke, as playing along. He got pushed back somewhat by the shove.

"Not all women, no. Just the beautiful ones." He blurted out in retort before he realized that was just as bad as what she thought of him. "No wait. That didn't come out right..." Ronan shook his head, temporarily confused by himself. He followed after Miria like a little puppy, partly because he didn't know the way and partly because he didn't mind following after her. Her backside was just as nice to look at as the front. "I'm not looking at you like you're eye candy... Just like something very pleasing to the eyes, that's all." Ronan followed in silence. The voice of the Avanthalian woman seemed to change as she spoke again after a while. He listened. He was sweet, according to her. That's always nice. And he made her laugh. Ronan puffed his chest up somewhat. His ego swelled up some more and then exploded in a sudden burst. The real him. Ronan remained quiet for a while after she had finished talking. The real Ronan. That was a question even Ronan had trouble answering. "We're not on this date because you're secretly in love with my southern charm?" Ronan made it sound like his feelings had been bruised, broken and stepped. At the same time he managed to form a smile to the woman, his typical fake trader smile. Who was the real Ronan really?

The depressing vibe seemed to make way for a different topic as Miria told him that the Aurora was too romantic to be shared between them. They were just friends, right? "Hmm... Are you saying that because that is the case or because you're too embarrassed to be seen together with me?" Ronan smirked at Miria as they entered the market and Miria quickly selected an outfit. She was surprisingly quick compared to other women he had known in the past. While she selected her items, Ronan bought himself a simple set of clothes. A shirt, pants and undergarments. Nothing fancy, just useful. He approached the clothes merchant. "Excuse me, sir." He leaned in all secretly like towards the man and started whispering, although rather loudly so Miria could hear if she focused on it. "You have to help me, sir. I'm on my first date with my girlfriend over there..." He turned towards Miria and waved with an idiot smile on his face like nothing was going on. "...and we're going to the hot springs. Could you help me out here? I don't have a lot of money but I really want to spoil her. Can you do anything for me, sir?" Ronan didn't even have to attempt to lie for that one as it was the truth... mostly. Everything apart from the girlfriend and and being poor parts. The man grumbled back at him and tried to haggle but Ronan quickly interjected again. "Thank you so much, sir. Thank you so much." Quickly reaching into his purse he pulled out two gold Mizas and pressed them into the merchant's hands as he started shaking them vigorously before turning around and walking away, leaving the man dazed by Ronan's aggressive negotiations. Normally aggressive negotiations required some form of weaponry but here in Avanthal were people seemed to enjoy sharing more than in Syliras it could be done without them.

"Enjoy your gift." He nodded towards the clothes Miria had put in her backpack. Ronan followed her through the snow, putting away his makeshift swimming outfit. He listened to her advice and quickly went over anything loose he might be having around. Besides the stamp that represented his one man trading company there was nothing considered loose in Ronan's possession. "You thi-..." His idea was quickly shot down. "I'll ask her anyway. She might enjoy my southern charm as well and tell me." Ronan's smug smile was quickly wiped of his face as Miria moved closer to him, almost pressing herself against him as she took hold of his arm. Dearest? Where had that come from. He breathed in deeply through his nose, enjoying Miria's scent. She smelled like pine, wood and snow. the scent promised Ronan something he couldn't quite place, a good place to be, a safe place, perhaps. "Sure thing. No problem." He smiled at her as he walked next to her, his arm making no movements at all that could get it out of her grasp. He enjoyed the sudden closeness and didn't complain at all. After some more walking, Miria leaned in closer to him. Ronan swallowed and listened to her voice. And he swallowed again as he blinked a few times. "Here? In the middle of the street?"

The entire idea was... pretty good, considering that his ice dipping idea was physically made impossible by mother nature. But the stripping part did bother him a little. "Can I change into my newly acquired swimming outfit first before you attempt to freeze me?" He questioned, unsure. He wasn't about to go and sit naked in the snow now was he. His voice trailed off a little as he turned to Miria while voicing his question, trying to determine if she was serious. She was so close. Her face was right in front of is, almost filling his entire sight. The background seemed to blur out and turn a dark gray, ceasing to exist. The cold breeze blew some loose strands of her hair past his eyes. Her lips looked so soft and he could see the little crinkles in them. He saw them move as she spoke, as she explained her plan. How her skin moved with the words she formed, how the corners of her lips curled up as she spoke. The words reached his ear and simply passed by his brain only to leave out the other ear. What would they taste like? Would it they be different from Syliran lips? Perhaps colder? His eyes focused entirely on her lips as he leaned his head in slightly, slowly, unaware that he was doing it.

OOCNo problem. What about mailing it to yourself?

by **Miria** on April 8th, 2013, 2:10 am

"When we get there." Lazy shiftless eyes accompanied Miria's sudden displeasure for explaining the obvious. Though she had to be kind and reassuring for him to agree. Shifting back to her usual playful tone of voice Miria batted her eyes and giggled noncommittally at Ronan quietly mocking him. If just any floozy would do for any trader ordinare that what Miria will be. Biting her lip slightly Miria let her eyes wander before doing her best to look bashful at the thought. "Not like that Ronan! Noooo of course you'd be wearing your bathing suit! That way you can join me right after!"Pouting slightly she quickly brightened her expression speaking of the possible scene, though internally she was having a slight fit. This simple act was starting to grate on the archer's nerves as she sent a little extra weight to go along with her 'playful' jab on the merchant's shoulder. "Silly boy! Stupid idiot! ...I mean tee hee?"

Though slightly boiling internally Miria's expression was completely genuine in the completely shocked expression she had when Ronan suddenly leaned in to far. Ronan's lips touching hers for a tic it took Miria another to react accordingly. Adopting a look of complete astonishment similar to her Honey Bunny. Miria took a careful step back from the trader blinking once, then twice in bewilderment. "Wha... Where did that come from?" Touching her lips with her hands Miria looked away feeling slightly violated by Ronan's sudden impulse. What exactly did she say to make him think that the time?

We accept the love we think we deserve. With that earlier acting what did that make me to Ronan? Hearing thoughts from a source once familiar before answering in kind, Miria took another step back releasing the trader's arm before spacing herself away. Bowing her head slightly hiding her face with her hair, Miria quietly mused at the spectrum of emotions that were coming out of her eyes. At first a crimson red, then a verdant hue before finally settling on a challenging orange for the moment. "Pig, stupid." Not able to find other words to call the trader besides the ones she already used Miria was much to distraught to think about much else besides their relationship. "Why do you always do that? When I think it fine to give you space you... you. You always go overboard with your antics! I don't know how to act!"

Obviously what hurt the most was that he chose now of all times to do this, when she was just lightly teasing him. When she put on that little facade all of a sudden Ronan acted like she wasn't Miria anymore. Just another one of his Syliran girls he made a fool of. That's how it looked to the Coolwater at least. Bringing up a hand to her face Miria wiped at the tear that came unbidden before clumping down on the snow sobbing slightly. Ronan made her feel dirty, tainted somehow. Was this the real Ronan after all? Had she been entirely wrong on giving this man a chance like everyone else? What did this mean? What did he think of her? "Why. Why. Why did you do that now?"

Bringing up her face Miria was devoid of any earlier joy that she might have shared with Ronan Dugal. "I'm not like your Syliran girls Ronan. I'm an Avanthalian girlfriend. You had to wait awhile and see like I said. I'm not a wallflower to be plucked noncommittally." Her voice quivering as she spoke Miria brought her legs up to her chest before hiding herself away in the snow. "Why didn't you do things the old fashioned way? Talk with me softly? A bit of romancing? Wait until I was ready to see the midnight sky with you? I could have truly fell head over heels in love with you if you had given me time."

oocI'd just post it from the laptop if I had internet on it.

by **Ronan Dugal** on April 8th, 2013, 3:44 am

Well, her lips didn't taste like anything exotic. Just normal lips, slightly cold to the touch, from the wind and snow, probably. But all in all nothing new about it, no Mizahar-shaking difference about it. For the split second it took Miria to react to Ronan's uncouth behavior the young man realized what had happened. He looked just as surprised as Miria but wasn't shocked by the events. As Miria stepped back, Ronan blinked as well. Rather than touching his lips, the tip of his tongue darted out slightly, tasting. "I don't know. It just... happened. I'm sorry. I didn't mean anything by it."

Yeah, sorry will quickly resolve this situation, Ronan. Great choice of words there. Well, things got from a very short moment of nice to very bad really quick like. He couldn't see the expression on her face as it was covered by her ebony hair as she hung her head. He couldn't decide if he should move closer and hug her or move back and prepare to get shot or something. So Ronan was just standing there, inner turmoil clearly visible on his face. Pig and stupid. Not the worst things he had been called in his life. Although they somehow felt like the worst things. When some faceless customer calls you a cheat and a liar and a whole other spectrum of vile words, it doesn't do much to you. But if someone you consider as a friend calls you with even the slightest of insults it sticks with you for so much longer and hurts so much more. Miria raged on, which was entirely justified, considering what had just happened. Sometimes life shapes you a certain way. And when something happens, you react like you've been shaped. In Ronan's case, he reacted by trying to take more than what was presented to him, tried to haggle for more, acted in order to gain more. Only he had acted at the wrong time and the wrong place. And with the wrong action towards the wrong person. He stood there, quiet, accepting Miria's tirade towards him.

The kiss had been strange to Ronan. Up until now, it had always been a chore, a trick, an action used to get something more out of it. Kissing a nice and rich woman and than later on selling her five pieces of jewelry she would never wear. Yet now it had felt like a kiss for... well, the kiss. Not because he wanted to sell something to Miria, not because he wanted something from her, just a kiss for the kiss. "I don't know. It... just happened. I don't know what came over me. I'm sorry." The usually so talkative Syliran was now at a loss for words. Why did she think he thought of her as a Syliran girl? Did she saw him as some sort of... womanizer? Like he had no problem skipping from one woman to ano-... Actually, he kind of was, but he wasn't going to admit that to her now, was he. Her questions kept coming and his lack of answers kept increasing. And then, suddenly, he found words. Welling up from deep down inside of him they kept coming out, like an endless jug of beer. And with it a spectrum of emotions Ronan had kept under lock and key for so long. "I don't think you're a wallflower. If anything, you'd be a thorny tree or something. Strong, willful and dangerous. And I don't even know what the old fashioned way is. I did not have anyone to explain it to me. Unlike you, who grew up protected by a whole hold of family, in a nice city with nice people and Queen goddess to protect you, having food on your plate every day, given to you by some nice cook while having nothing better to do than to roll around in the snow. Everything was just handed to you whenever you wanted something. I had to fight every day of my life just to not die. If it wasn't the knights or some other street kid it was my father beating me up every day because he felt like it." Ronan's voice turned a dangerous steel as the memories welled up inside of him. He stepped closer towards Miria, towering over her. "You think normal people grew up out of a family that on one side beats them up every day and on the other side attempts to ignore the beatings by keeping themselves drunk enough to not hear anything? You think parents like that teach you how to talk to girls softly and how to do a bit of romancing? I'm sorry to disappoint you, miss Nice Life, okay?! I'm sorry I'm not like your sheltered and pampered Avanthalian boys!"

Why was he standing so close to her? He hadn't even noticed that he had crossed the distance between them during his not so little outburst. His hands were formed tightly into fists at his side, shaking from the withheld anger inside of him. It was only then that he realized people were staring at him, were pointing and whispering. Some of the men had even grabbed hold of their weapons, ready to defend a fellow Avanthalian from this aggressive and loud stranger. His chest was moving with his breathing, heavily going up and down. What was he doing? Why was he standing so close to Miria and why did he feel so much anger towards her? For a moment, Ronan just stood there before he stepped back, staggered back, his hands quickly relaxing from the fists they had formed. Now he had done it. Great job, Ronan. He gave himself a few mental punches, since slaps wouldn't cover it this time. Suddenly scared, afraid of the possibility of... whatever. He didn't know. Not seeing Miria anymore? Losing her as a friend? He couldn't say.

Shocked, Ronan found himself turning away from Miria, ashamed for his outburst, angry at himself for not keeping it in check. Perhaps he wasn't so different from his father after all. Maybe he was just a child beating aggressor as well. The thought shook him to the very core of his being. Even after all these years, Ronan could not escape from his father. The hood of his outfit was quickly pulled over his head as he disappeared in the crowd of people around them. His feet dragged him away from the scene as he ignored the whispers around him, ignored the people taunting him and tried to ignore Miria's presence the most.

by **Miria** on April 8th, 2013, 5:00 am

Who was this man? Her eyes looking up apprehensively Miria was at a lost seeing this strange man before her. Ronan was critical about how she grew up obviously alluding something horrible about his childhood? Did he not see he was far from that terrible place he knew growing up? The first thing few things Miria tried to instill was to give Avanthal time, this was a safe place. The memory of forced labor at a young age clutched at him still, perhaps something even worse has yet to show itself.

Covering her face with her hands Miria did not repress the sob that came. Seeing any dear friend of hers be so angry at her would do this to her and Ronan was not an exception. "Your here now. Your safe from that awful place. You had me to lean on. Why did you rush such a good thing? You just had to ask and I would have helped."

Part of her still wanted to comfort this new side of Ronan but for the most part Miria was scared. Scared that Ronan might hurt her like she seemed to do with other woman and scared that he would not truly change. Was it her blissful ignorance that made her to look past that? No it was something more. Something that wanted this fast talking man to be a part of her life. Feelings that Miria always gave too much of.

It all backfired though. Ronan might have created the rift between them but it was Miria who let it happen. The archer should have given Ronan time to change himself. If not for himself, for me. It was selfish of her to think that it would go the way she wanted but was it wrong to wish for it all the same?

Her body shook but the chill that encompassed her was not from the cold. Realization hit and Miria looked up to find Ronan leaving her. They had plans to do... something. It did not matter now. Anything so that they could sit and simply talk would do. Finding herself leaning forward trying to find strength in her still Miria quivered as her voice barely went higher then a whisper. "Don't go." Her sight getting blurrier now Miria was besides wish anguish trying to will her friend to come back. "Why are you leaving?"

ooc>:3 You meanies! Wanna end this thread here?

by **Ronan Dugal** on April 8th, 2013, 5:30 am

It didn't matter why he had lashed out at her like that. It had been as much of a surprise to him as it had been to everyone else. He didn't like it at all, this clump of emotions that he didn't need suddenly surfacing like that, over a simple kiss. A misunderstanding of a kiss even. Just outside the ring of people looking and staring Ronan stopped for a moment. Why was he leaving? Why didn't she try to stop him from leaving? He had already turned back halfway before he stopped himself. He had messed up. Pushed away his only friend in Avanthal. Pushed away a very good business idea. Why did that come up suddenly? He shook his head and continued his path, away from the crowd and the woman, the little warmth he had found in Avanthal.

She wouldn't understand, right? How could she. It was not like they had led similar lives. Not like she had known pain and suffering, right? No help from her would help him, right? The fact that he was constantly questioning his points of view should have told him something clearly but he pushed it away, hid it so it wouldn't make him realize how stupid he had really been. He wondered if she would be able to start that idea they had had. It didn't matter. Ronan's feet took him through the city, wandering, cooling down. When he finally realized he was lost he found himself near the docks. With nothing better to do, Ronan slipped into one of the seedier bars in Avanthal, which was a surprise to Ronan. How could a beautiful place like Avanthal have a place like this. The place honored its name. It smelled like old clothes, old food and stale beer in the Rancid Reindeer.

Dumping himself on one of the chairs in a corner of the room, Ronan kept himself hidden in his cloak, his hood over his face to keep it in the shadows. Ronan knew how to handle a place like this, he had had lots of practice after all. Ironically, it felt a little like home, the place he was trying to avoid at all costs, and it made him feel a little better. Ordering a beer from the waitress, who was considered ugly in Ronan's eyes but seemed to get a lot of butt pinching and slaps from the other customers. With a flick of his wrist, Ronan whipped out a small disk like object from a hidden spot near his wrist. The sharp ends of the disk went to his nails and Ronan started picking at them to keep himself busy while he waited for his beer. "Happy birthday to me." He muttered under his hood as he picked the beer out of the waitress' hands and put it to his lips.

Later that day, as the light was beginning to falter in the sky and the stars were beginning to show through, Ronan found himself walking outside again. The beer he had consumed had been closer to water than anything else. The disk had been replaced with a single golden Miza, kept between his pink and ring finger. Somehow, coins always seemed to calm him and cool him down. They had a sort of self created soothing effect on him. As he walked, he focused on that, moving his pink up, pushing the coin up. The middle finger moved as well to catch it again, trapping the coin between the ring and middle finger this time. As walking and trying to do tricks with your hands at the same time didn't mix well together, Ronan decided to stop for a while and wander around before finding a seat near this large tower construct. Unknown to the young trader, he had located himself at the foot of the Kaliara Observation deck, near the Skyglow hold. There were quite a few Avanthalians gathered here, most of them in pairs, preparing themselves for some romantic sky gazing from the deck. Ronan found himself a seat, using his cloak to make sure he didn't freeze stuck to it. His fingers continued with their little trick as he moved the coin from between two fingers to the next to. The concentration needed kept Ronan from thinking about the stupid things he had done in his life, the most recent and biggest, well, one of the bigger ones at least, today.

by **Noblesse** on April 18th, 2013, 1:27 pm

Ronan Dugal :

Miria Coolwater :

True nobility lies in being superior to your former self

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your grade, please send me a PM and we can figure it out. Heehee.

Open Happy birthday to me {Miria, open to anyone}