Music: "Maybe I, Maybe You" by Scorpions
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He sat on the bed of his ship’s cabin, watching her closely as she focused her arcane power on the stone she had found within the magical music device. He felt so uncomfortable with so much magic being used near him. He was used to Tia’s natural magic and a healer’s light magic, but arcane just seemed so unnatural. She looked at him and frowned. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
“I know, but magic is just so….” He sighed and cautiously walked toward her. Alaia opened her hand, showing him the crystal, illuminated with newly filled arcane power. It had been regenerated. Cris carefully took it in his hands and placed it back into the little drawer within the device. He began to fumble with the buttons and knobs on the box and laughed as he heard dwarvish music. “It works!”
Alaia sat back on the bed and smiled brightly, holding her knees in her arms. She continued to watch him as he changed the music around. It went from elf music to tribal music and Cris clapped with excitement. “This is great! Thank you!”
She shrugged and continued to smile, a slight blush overcoming her face. Cris turned around and extended his hand out to her. “Shall we dance?” Placing her hand in his without hesitation, she stood before him and the melody changed, playing a human ballad that started softly with a piano. Cris began to sway her from side to side, in a strategic form, holding his frame up as he held her hands. Alaia chuckled softly, allowing him to lead in the dance.
“I’ve never danced with anyone like this before,” she whispered between giggles.
“Told you, I was taught in Stormwind. Father wanted me to have the best education out there for a gentleman.” Cris turned both of them in the limited cabin space, kicking piles of clothes his goblin friend had left behind. “I want to thank you, Alaia.”
“Me? What for?”
“For bring smiles to my face. For keeping me company. For being an amazing and beautiful and kind woman.” His voice surrounded her as they turned again, but she shook her head and smiled.
“It’s nothing out of the ordinary.”
“It really is.” They continued to sway, forming an intricate square on the floor with their feet. “I’m surprised you’re not off with some other man. You continue to spend time with me.”
She sighed softly and looked to the side, “Even if I was with someone else, I would still come meet you. I like spending time with you.”
Cris spun her out at arm’s length and rolled her into his arms. “But why me?”
She gasped and looked up into his blue-green eyes. “Why not?”
They swayed together for a moment. “I’m just a typical pirate.”
“You’re not a “typical” anything…”
He smiled faintly and unwrapped her, extending her out once more and bringing her back into the initial dance formation. The music increased into a crescendo and they waltzed around the room in silence, staring at each other with smiles on their faces. He pulled her into his arms once more and dipped her. “If…If I wasn’t with anyone…you’d be mine.” He seemed to exhale, unsure if it was out of relief for finally saying what he had wanted to say, or because he had been holding his breath for a while.
Alaia gasped softly, a faint smile on her lips as she softly responded, “I would be yours.” He carefully pulled her up into his arms again and nuzzled her face, kissing her cheek tenderly. “Maybe in another life.”
He nodded, whispering, “Maybe.” He hadn’t noticed that they were still swaying together in their dance as the music had ended. “Alaia, I want you to please remember that you are an amazing woman. That no other man has swept you off your feet surprises me. Any man would be lucky to have someone such as you in his life. And like you said before, I too am glad to have you as a friend than nothing as at all.” He kissed her forehead and smiled at her as he pulled away from her embrace, bowing to kiss her hand. “I’ll be around. Don’t worry about that.”
He promised her to bring her back onboard so that she could use the music device, but for the night, he escorted her off his ship and back to her home, both walking in silence as she held on to his arm with a firm grip. Cris walked with his head high but with a blank look in his eyes. He just wasn’t himself that evening. He was unsure if Niela would notice the blank look when he returned to the estate, but his spirit didn't seem to accompany him that night.
Perhaps his spirit was still on the ship, dancing along with the new music device he had acquired.
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| Author's note: Apologies for the crappy color pencil job. It was supposed to be water color but I got lazy! :p |
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