Come What May

T

ime stood still, and Evangeline felt as if she were watching him in slow motion as his face grew closer to hers. She had easily gotten lost in his cerulean eyes, the color reminding her of the ocean waves she’d once loved dearly. Her own orbs widened, shocked but not turning from him as the kiss was bestowed upon her cheek. Evie’s face heated and she quickly looked away once the act was finished, attempting to gather herself and failing. It was so tender; she had not been treated with such gentleness in her lifetime.

Slowly, Evangeline leaned into Valerian. Words would only fail her, but she showed what affection she could in return of resting her head against his own. The woman quietly watched the marketgoers pass, imagining the lives some might have and soaking in the presence of the man beside her as a comfort. It was an innocent enough game for them to play, and it changed the subject from her body pressed to his. “I think that woman must have eight mouths to feed at home for all the food she’s carrying,” she said to him softly, nodding towards a she-wolf struggling with near her weight in foodstuffs.

At some point during their “date”, she had begun to dread the night to come. Evangeline looked up, noting the waning sun, and knew that her time had come. Standing, she parted from Valerian and looked into his lovely eyes once more. “I’m afraid it’s time for me to go, Valerian,” she said solemnly. “I can’t be late tonight.” And she really couldn’t. Not if she wanted to keep herself fed and off the streets. Evangeline stepped to go but hesitated, turning to place the briefest of kisses upon his cheek. “Enjoy your travels. I wish you your health and safety.” After she gave her parting words, she was gone as quickly as she’d come, his gifted flower her memento of a male that was truly, genuinely good.

{Exit Evangeline}

@Valerian

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

W

hen he withdrew, he blinked and his expression changed as he realized he surely had made a grave error. Flustered, he began to open his maw to apologize, but was more than pleasantly surprised when Evangeline leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder. Val swallowed whatever he was going to say back in his throat and resigned to silence as they shared this space.

Valerian's skull was absolutely reeling, his nervousness apparent in the way he shuffled his paws. He could hardly believe it...and he was so caught up trying to wrap his head around this moment that he nearly missed what she'd said. "Hm?" It took him a moment to process and realize that she was commenting on the other festival goers and he blinked, casting his gaze outward. "Ah, yes! My...my...she really...hm, that does look awfully delicious. Lucky crowd, lucky crowd..."

When she broke away from him, his eyes grew round and puppy-like at first, only wishing for her warmth to return to him. He too stood slowly seeing that she was preparing to depart and he solemnly nodded in understanding. "Oh...right, of course." The phrase, 'I can't be late', had quite the effect on him when he put two and two together. The thought of her leaving such a lovely evening with him to wind up being some disgusting noble's play thing made his stomach churn and his insides flare with...what was this emotion exactly?

His ears had flattened slightly, doing his best to hide his emotions when he wanted to protest against it. But...he knew the position she was in and his was currently no better...perhaps, it could be though. Valerian's thoughts were scattered to the wind as she shockingly returned the kiss he'd given her. No matter the brevity, he felt as though he'd suddenly left this plane of existence. Had he not known he was on Earth he might have claimed it to be heaven itself.

By the time he'd come back to reality, she had already bid her adieus and was headed off in the other direction. Valerian was left with the goofiest of grins that he had to shake his head to even slightly get rid of it as he called out to her. "Be well, Evangeline! We'll meet again soon!" She faded into the night and he remained where he was, lifting his eyes to the night sky above in hopes that a shooting star might give him a chance at making a wish that now thrummed so prominently in his heart.

[Exit Valerian]


@Evangeline

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck