For the People. I play away my heart. (Viper, open)

[Ginchoeri]

Day of the 43rd of Fall 512 AV continued When he did not stop her from getting out of his lap, her heart almost stopped with worry about if he actually wanted her. But it was quickly remedied with his next action. He had stood up with her, kept hold of her hand, and pulled her in just when their arms fully extended outwards. The kiss he gave her was a little longer then before, her body screaming out to her. The wonderful sensation staying in her stomach even after he broke off the kiss. A blush falling upon her face again. At his words, she had to think, how should she react. She put the hand that had been stepped on over his chest, and that's when it happened. She flinched and backed away, hissing in pain, forcing herself not to scream. The pain could not be hidden on her face though, it was there, and prominently so. She had not noticed it that whole time, it was like what had been happening was a pain numbing thing, but the moment she touched him with it, the "numbness" was gone. "We... should get this looked at.." She hissed through her teeth, craddling the hand against her body. If it was looked at closely, it could be seen that there was swelling in the fingers, and it looked bruised if only slightly. She looked up at him and gave him a weak smile, "And, I think we will take things at the pace we will take them, no slower, no faster, our pace." She nodded a little and lead him out of the room and down the hall to the original room, wincing everyonce in a while at the throbbing pain. The lady had been waiting there, and looked at them suspiciously, but did not ask any questions about Gin's break down, she had enough to worry about with Gin's hand and all the other patcients in the pavillion. "Let me see your hand so I can figure out the problem." the lady said. Gin stood there and slowly reached her hand out to the lady. She examined it, did this and that, she winced more than once and finally the lady placed a salve over it and wrapped it. "It's just a mild strain, you should be fine before long, but you'll have to avoid use of your left hand if at all possible for it to heal the fastest." Gin nodded and sighed, "I just got my job as a musician.. what should I do?" She said more to herself than anything. She did not like this, having to have her hand bound made her life a lot more difficult, plus she would not be able to change to her horse form in times of need. She would just have to live without it. At least she had her dominant hand. She looked at Viper and gave a small smile, "I will be alright... I think."

[Viper]

The expression on her face made his heart soar. Oh what a relief to have her confirm again, that she did want him as much as he was now wanting her. The perfectness of the moment would not last however, as that nagging thought in the back of his mind was soon answered with a touch from her hurt hand. Her reeling back in pain, caused his happy expression to vanish as the reality of why they were there in the first place came back to the front of his mind.

"Yes, let's get ya fixed up." He said with a renewed smile and a nod of his head. Her next comment though caused him to let out a small chuckle. "Yes ma'am." He said simply as they walked into the other room with the awaiting healer who gave them such an odd look upon entering. Viper stood by quietly, while the healer did this and that to her hand and then explained how best to take care of it. Gin then looked and him and said she felt she would be fine. "Aye. You'll be just fine!" He gave a little wink and then walked past her toward the healer. Asking her a question in a low voice, he could be seen pulling out a coin and handing it over after a response was given.

Turning back, he laid a hand gently on Gin's shoulder. "Alright Gin. Let's get out of here, shall we?" The heaer then called out from behind them. "Oh and I'd say to make sure she takes care of that hand...but I know you're not very good at following a healers instructions yourself...Viper!" Viper turned around to view the healer with an almost annoyed grin..if such a thing was possible, on her face. His mind went back to the last time he was here. His having ignored her order to stay in bed for at least that night before leaving.

His face turned red for a moment, and he stumbled over his words. "Oh...uh...right...ya, s-sorry about that..." He shrugged his shoulders and then beat a hasty retreat. Just his luck to have had to be back in the healers tent and see the same person so soon after his little escapade. Ah well, he figured. It all was fun, and he got a good story out of it.

As they left the vicinity of the healers pavillion, he turned back to Gin. "So...shall I take you home? Or is there something else you'd like to do? Either way, I think unfortunately, horse riding lessons are out for a while. I wouldn't want to get yelled at again for having you do something to hurt your hand any more now would I?" He laughed lightly and waited to see what she might want to do next.

[Ginchoeri]

Day of the 43rd of Fall 512 AV continued She sighed as she grabbed her harp from the table where she left it when they first came in. She would have to talk to him about paying for her medical bill at some point. She felt it was her's to pay, and though she thought the gesture kind, he still did it without her permission. But when he put his arm on her shoulder, her anger almost dissapated. She nodded at his words and started to walk out with him when the healer called out to them. Viper turned around with her and she chuckled lightly as he stumbled over his words. Such a kid at times. But, it was just a part of him, she wanted to know more. Even if it's little bits, like his quirk of cracking his knuckles and such. When they were outside, they barely were outside of the vicinity of the healer's pavillion when he stopped and looked at her and asked her what she wanted to do. She thought on this for a moment, she wanted to stay with him longer, but she did not know what she could do. She just knew she did not want to go home. "I... do not .. really know... Viper.." She looked at him speaking as if she were trying to get her thoughts together. "I would like to spend more time with you." She was being very blunt, she knew this, but she did not really know what else she could do. She had to tell him something. So that was what she told him.

[Viper]

He struck a thinking pose as he tapped his lips with his pointer finger. "Hmm. Well. I do have an idea..." A palyful grin appeared on his face as he took her good hand in his. "Come with me." Letting out a sharp whistle like the one she had heard as they were making their last "escape" from the healers pavillion, Aeyan quickly came running up to the duo. Viper smiled widely on his arrival, and quickly helped Gin up.

Patting the side of his neck, Viper said. "I think a trip to the lake would do nicely Aeyan. Sound good?" He whinnied happily as Viper jumped up into the saddle behind Gin. This time, he rode at a much slower pace as compared with their first ride together. He didn't want to do anything that could jar her around into trying to use her injured hand. It wasn't long though till the lake which was close to Endrykas came into view.

Coming to a stop, not far from the waters edge, he dismounted and held out a hand to help Gin. "Now I hope you don't mind...but I did take the liberty of bringing a few things. Not knowing how long we were going to be out here and all." After helping her down, he pulled out a blanket from his saddle bags and sprawled it out onto the floor. "Also, I don't know if you'd even be interested, but although I can't teach ya to ride for a while. I could teach you some of the basics in how to use a sword. You only need one hand for what I was going to show you." It wasn't really romatic, he knew, but at least it would give them something to do...plus he sort of felt everyone should know how to defend themselves.

Besides, he still had a couple other things to make up for that...

[Ginchoeri]

Day of the 43rd of Fall 512 AV continued Hearing the whistle once more, she now knew it was a call for his horse. She smiled and waited for Aeyan to come. Tucking her harp under the arm her injured hand was connected to, Viper helped her onto Aeyan's back. She wobbled a bit in the saddle as she used her unharmed hand to keep her steady. He got in the saddle behind her again, and she leaned into him, letting him be her support. She tooks some deep breaths as they rode slowly. This was the kind of time she wanted with him. Relaxed and sweet, though of course she would not be against other things. When she saw the lake she stared in awe at it's beauty. She gave him her good hand to help her down and stood, wobbling a bit, still not used to riding a horse. She leaned against Aeyan, who stood as a sturdy as a pillar for her. She stood and watched as he set up something like a picnic, with out the food. Just a blanket and smiled. He had been thinking about her, what they would do with their time together. This made her happy. When he suggested he teach her how to wield a sword, she thought about that for a moment. She knew she'd have to have some form of protection. The problem being that she did not have the equipment to do so. She nodded, "I would like that, I do need to learn how to protect myself in my human form, as well as in my horse form." Though it was not exactly her idea of romantic, she thought it loving just for the fact that he wanted her to know how to keep safe.

[Viper]

A warm smile splashed on his face as he gave her a nod, happy she was open to learning at least some self defense techniques. Not that he was the best at the sword, still knowing something about how to weild the weapon was better than knowing nothing. Now if he got the change to teach her the bow...there at least he could teach her some real skill.

Turning his back to her as he walked around to the other side of Aeyan, he said over his shoulder, "Now, being the fact that we just got here....I figured, maybe we could just relax a bit." From the other saddle bag, he pulled out a sachel and headed back her direction. "And this time I came prepared." He smirked as he lowered himself down onto the blanket. "I brought a mix of fruits, nuts, berries, and..." He pulls out a bottle of fine wine. "Some wine. If that's alright with you of course?"

To be quite honest he hadn't expected the event to be nearly this romantic...but hey, he certainly wouldn't turn his nose up at his good fortune.

[Ginchoeri]

Day of the 43rd of Fall 512 AV continued She smiled and sad down next to him, "That sounds wonderful, but I must warn you, I am a poor drunk, so I will probably not drink much." She chuckled, grabbing a nut and popping it in her mouth, chewing on it. She was pleasantly surprised by his preparedness and she chuckled a bit. Leaning into him, her head on his shoulder. She looked at her injured hand and pondered for a moment what this really ment for her. She would be without her father's harp for a while, would not be able to play it, which she had set down next to her. She looked at it and forced herself not to sigh. She wrapped her right hand in his left hand. Squeezing gently. She breathed in and smiled lightly. She loved this, it was sweet, cute even. She felt as if he felt more about her than he let on. But she was not the type to push on the subject. He would tell her when he was ready. Just as she would tell him when she was.

[Viper]

Both his eyebrows raised as she mentioned being a poor drunk. Letting out a small laugh, he asks curiously, "So what is a poor drunk? ...I mean...I've heard of happy drunk, or mean drunk, even sleepy drunk...but poor drunk? Do people rob you blind when you've had a bit to much to drink?" He laughed again adn waved off the question. "Meh never mind. Still funny though." A bit of movement in the bushes farther down the shoreline just then caught his eye. His joking expression disappeared as he instantly got serious and sat up a little more to see what it was, all the while trying to do so discretely so as not to alarm Gin.

Much to his relief it was only some fellow Drykas, coming to fill their water jugs. Although he prefered the peace and privacy that came with more secluded locations. At the same point, it was kind of nice not having to worry about being attacked by wild animals this time around. He would just have to get used to that. Spending so much time in the Sea of Grass made one naturally skiddish at every strange sound or disturbance. His attention though, quickly returned toward Gin as she took his hand in hers and layed her head on his shoulder. A pleasant expression began to retake his countenance, and he let out another sigh as he relaxed.

His eyes then fell on her harp as it lay silently next to her. Thoughts and ideas began running through his mind. How sad she must be right now knowing she won't be able to play and hear the sound of her harp for two weeks. His eyes soon widened as he hit on a possible idea. He wasn't sure how she would receive it, but who knows, perhaps it could make up in some small way her not being able to play.

"Hey Gin, I've been thinking. I know how much getting to play your harp means to you. So I can't really even imagine what it's going to be like not getting to play and hear it for two weeks. I'm sure it would be like me being stuck in that healers pavillion for the same time not able to leave..." Wait...this wasn't exactly how he was wanting this to come out. Geez, here he was trying to help and he was probably just making her feel worse. Clearing his throat he started again. "Anyway, I was wondering... if you'd be alright teaching me how to play? I mean at least then you could still hear it being played...though then again played by me, ya might prefer the silence."

He laughed at his own expense, and then rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand. "Actually...maybe this isn't such a good idea...I'd never do the beautiful instrument justice..." He originally thought it was be nice to learn something from her and while getting to spend time together doing something she really enjoyed...but then the thought of how horribly he'd probably play had him second guessing himself. A frown scrunched up his brow as he stared out to the lake regretting he brought it up.

[Ginchoeri]

Day of the 43rd of Fall 512 AV continued A laugh escaped her as she raised her head to look at Viper in the eyes, trying to figure him out. Was he really asking her to teach him how to play the harp? And now he was backing out? Really, where was this coming from, she did not take him as someone interested in learning an instrument. And though she would miss it's pure sounding chords she could still play a few strings if she got the harp to sit right in her lap. She would probably play even if her hand were in worse condition. But she did not tell him that, instead, she actually considered the idea of her teaching him how to play. She smiled as the image formed in her mind. "Hey, if you really would like to, I would not mind, say, it is a kind of payment for your teaching me how to use a sword. Also, when I first started out I sounded absolutely horrible, I still do sometimes, it just depends on the song. I will probably get worse for not practicing for two weeks, but that will just make me practice harder." She carfully used her injured hand to turn his eyes back to her's, as she placed her forehead on his. "I would love to teach you about something I hold near and dear to my heart Viper, you just have to give me the chance to do so. That's all there is to it. Would you be willing to struggle with me, even on something so little as learning how to play the harp?" What she was saying had more meaning than was said. There was more behind her words than just talk of learning the harp. But how he interpreted it was up to him. For she was not going to say out right, not yet at least, what she was really saying. If he decided to touch upon it, ask her about it, or just give a responce to it without asking her, knowing the meaning, then so be it. She put her hand down gently, smiling at him waiting for his answer.

[Viper]

His eyes narrowed ever so slightly as she finished. There was something else there. Some hidden meaning escaping his understanding. He could feel it. He thought on it for just a moment before smiling mischeviously. Stealing a quick kiss, he replied, "Yes ma'am." But in a tone that may just indicate he understood there was more to what she was asking.

Reluctantly he pulled away and looked back down at the harp once more, slightly afraid of even touching it for fear of breaking it. "Alrighty...so...how does one go about--" he plucked one of the strings in a way to cause it to make a less than pleasant ping. He scrunched his face and clinched his teeth till the sound faded away. "--playing this..." He couldn't help but chuckle a bit. "I warned ya this was going to be bad."

Gently picking up the instrument, he did his best to hold it as he recalled Gin holding it. Though his hand placement was still wrong. Ugg, he thought. His hands were trained to hunt and ride...not play fine instruments beautifully like his Gin did. He suddenly paused for a moment as he rewound that last thought through his mind once more. "His" Gin...the very thought made him smile. He didn't really expect to be calling anyone his again in truth...but yet here he was. Sitting with a beautiful woman who wanted to be with him as much as he did with her. He had already had this revelation before...but it just kept catching by surprise.

Shaking his head to refocus, he turned his gaze back to her desperate for a bit of instruction. Not that he minded, he had never meant to learn any instrument. But since he was going to, he would put every effort to do the best he could.