03-19-2021, 01:26 PM
<link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.gstatic.com"><link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Gruppo&family=Source+Sans+Pro:wght@200&display=swap" rel="stylesheet"><style>#babyreave{width:650px;}#babyreaveimg{position:relative;z-index:0;}#babyreavewrapper{width:650px;position:relative;z-index:1;border:10px solid #aa9c90;background-color:#dccec2;}#babyreavetext{width:546px;margin:0px;border:2px solid #9a2b12;padding:50px;color:#4f463e;font-size:14px;font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', sans-serif;}#babyreavename{color:#9a2b12;font-size:50px;font-family: 'Gruppo', cursive;letter-spacing:70px;margin-top:20px;margin-bottom:-10px;margin-right:0px}</style><center><div id="babyreave"><div id="babyreaveimg"><img src="https://i.postimg.cc/1XLp7h1X/Reave-Baby.png" width="650px"/></div><div id="babyreavewrapper"><div id="babyreavetext"><p style="margin:0px;" align="justify">As they each make their choices, Reave is left standing amongst a small group, gaze straying briefly to where his mother now lingers alongside Cheri and Memorie. He swallows hard, hoping they would succeed where he is certain he could not.
His attention is swiftly returned to the weary visage of the fairy before them when it begins to speak, outlining the task ahead. His eyes shift, scanning the air behind the fairy, as though he could pick out the frayed edges of the veil she spoke of. It is impossible, of course, but still he tries. In the end however, it seems he would simply have to trust in their plan.
When the time comes, Reave does not hesitate. Squaring his shoulders as he sets his thoughts to the task at hand, he moves forward. Will and determination are two things he has never been in short supply of, so it is with relative ease he passes through the thinning veil of the afterlife.
As his feet settle on earth not unlike their own (yet somehow entirely different), Reave releases a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. His blue gaze roves hungrily around them, taking in the nearly ephemeral view as he attempts to reconcile his imagination with reality. But as the path begins to glow and the fairy explains the journey they must make, Reave’s attention focuses, honed by the resolve to do as he had promised.
His feet quickly find the glowing path, settling into an easy, ground-eating jog.
He is startled at first when he notices they are not alone. But the dead do not bother him. He swiftly contains his surprise and continues forward without a word, now bent on ignoring them too. But it is not long before one appears to notice him. It is a stranger, but his face holds fear, eyes wide and wild.
<i>“Run,”</i> he hisses, moving closer. <i>“They are everywhere.”</i>
Reave swallows his alarm, shying away to avoid the touch of the stranger. But, conscious of their need for stealth, he doesn’t speak, instead shaking his head in clear refusal. <i>“Run!”</i> the ghost hisses again, so close now they could nearly touch. Reave sidles around him, skin prickling as he moves further down the path. Fortunately for the red and white boy, the prognosticator does not try to follow, instead crossing the path to continue his aimless wandering and senseless ramblings.
Breathing a soft sigh of relief, Reave picks up his pace, refusing to allow himself to be shaken by such a strange encounter. Newly resolved to ignore anyone else he sees, he gazes steadfastly forward, mouth set in a determined line. Though he takes note of those that appear - mostly in the distance - he makes no indication he has noticed them. That is, until one face strikes him as familiar.
Doing a sudden double-take, he blinks at her as his feet slow unconsciously.
<i>“Reave.”</i> His name on her lips brings him to a halt, and as he stares at her in dawning recognition, her name escapes his own throat. <b>“Milia.”</b>
There is sorrow in her gaze as she peers at him, as though she knows something he does not.
<b>“What are you doing here?”</b> he continues, his voice hushed despite his sudden excitement. She had been among his first friends, the only one who seemed to understand his guilt and rage over his mother’s death. The only one who had also experienced such a loss (one even greater than his own). <b>“Did you follow the…”</b> he trails off as he realizes she had not been there. She had not been called here by the fairies. In the end, he can only manage her name, voice cracking as he belatedly realizes how she must have gotten here. <b>“Milia.”</b>
<i>“I’m okay, Reave.”</i> She steps closer to brush a comforting stroke along his cheek before retreating, a reserved smile blooming across her features. <i>“I found my father you know.”</i>
Reave is forced to swallow several times as a knot grows in his throat before he is able to reply. <b>“I found my mother too.”</b> He pauses, throat working. <b>“You could come with me,”</b> he suggests almost desperately when he is finally able to continue. <b>“You and your dad. You don’t have to stay here.”</b>
Milia is shaking her head before the words have even fully left his mouth, her smile now sad despite the resolution in her features. <i>“Please don’t worry about me, I am content here.”</i>
Reave, unable to help himself, tries to press further, <b>“Are you..”</b> <i>“I am sure,”</i> she interrupts, her gaze steady as she holds his own. As she assures him, both with and without words, that she would be okay.
As the lump grows, Reave can only nod. He reaches forward to press his nose against hers, a silent goodbye, before turning back to the path to keep her from seeing the tears he is trying so hard to hide.
<i>“Reave.”</i> Her voice stills him, head turning so he can peer at her even as his eyes blink rapidly in an attempt to clear them. <i>“If I… can I just ask you to do one thing?”</i> Reave nods faintly before managing to choke out, <b>“Of course.”</b> His voice sounds strange despite his best attempts at normalcy. <i>“Can you… keep an eye on Roque? He is alone now.”</i>
For a moment he can only stare at her, new grief heavy on his heart. But what else could he do but agree to her final request? Even after he has agreed, he finds himself staring at her, wondering how this had all gone so wrong. Until she breaks the silence. <i>“Goodbye Reave.”</i> Her voice is soft as she bids him farewell, the sorrow in her gaze muted only by the peace she seems to feel in this place.
<b>“Goodbye Milia.”</b> he finally whispers before turning abruptly back to the path and breaking into a swift lope. As though he could escape his own heavy heart.
His thoughts are so tangled that it is only when he reaches the fork in the path that he finally recalls himself to why he is here. To the duty he must still see to. Rather than causing a distraction as he had been meant to do, he had been the one distracted. Though it is not easy to set aside his tumultuous emotions, in the end he forces them into a distant corner of his mind, resolution blockading them there until he can complete his task.
As he breathes out a steadying exhale, he eyes the two paths, one leading down to a river with dark and turbulent water, the other leading up towards edges of the stony cliffs overlooking it all. After only a moment of consideration, he moves up, taking the path to the cliffs. From that high perch, he could easily see and be seen - could find stones to pitch noisily down the sides. Certainly that sort of clatter would be enough to draw them to him and away from the rescuers.</p><p id="babyreavename" align="right">reave</p></div></div></div></center>
His attention is swiftly returned to the weary visage of the fairy before them when it begins to speak, outlining the task ahead. His eyes shift, scanning the air behind the fairy, as though he could pick out the frayed edges of the veil she spoke of. It is impossible, of course, but still he tries. In the end however, it seems he would simply have to trust in their plan.
When the time comes, Reave does not hesitate. Squaring his shoulders as he sets his thoughts to the task at hand, he moves forward. Will and determination are two things he has never been in short supply of, so it is with relative ease he passes through the thinning veil of the afterlife.
As his feet settle on earth not unlike their own (yet somehow entirely different), Reave releases a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. His blue gaze roves hungrily around them, taking in the nearly ephemeral view as he attempts to reconcile his imagination with reality. But as the path begins to glow and the fairy explains the journey they must make, Reave’s attention focuses, honed by the resolve to do as he had promised.
His feet quickly find the glowing path, settling into an easy, ground-eating jog.
He is startled at first when he notices they are not alone. But the dead do not bother him. He swiftly contains his surprise and continues forward without a word, now bent on ignoring them too. But it is not long before one appears to notice him. It is a stranger, but his face holds fear, eyes wide and wild.
<i>“Run,”</i> he hisses, moving closer. <i>“They are everywhere.”</i>
Reave swallows his alarm, shying away to avoid the touch of the stranger. But, conscious of their need for stealth, he doesn’t speak, instead shaking his head in clear refusal. <i>“Run!”</i> the ghost hisses again, so close now they could nearly touch. Reave sidles around him, skin prickling as he moves further down the path. Fortunately for the red and white boy, the prognosticator does not try to follow, instead crossing the path to continue his aimless wandering and senseless ramblings.
Breathing a soft sigh of relief, Reave picks up his pace, refusing to allow himself to be shaken by such a strange encounter. Newly resolved to ignore anyone else he sees, he gazes steadfastly forward, mouth set in a determined line. Though he takes note of those that appear - mostly in the distance - he makes no indication he has noticed them. That is, until one face strikes him as familiar.
Doing a sudden double-take, he blinks at her as his feet slow unconsciously.
<i>“Reave.”</i> His name on her lips brings him to a halt, and as he stares at her in dawning recognition, her name escapes his own throat. <b>“Milia.”</b>
There is sorrow in her gaze as she peers at him, as though she knows something he does not.
<b>“What are you doing here?”</b> he continues, his voice hushed despite his sudden excitement. She had been among his first friends, the only one who seemed to understand his guilt and rage over his mother’s death. The only one who had also experienced such a loss (one even greater than his own). <b>“Did you follow the…”</b> he trails off as he realizes she had not been there. She had not been called here by the fairies. In the end, he can only manage her name, voice cracking as he belatedly realizes how she must have gotten here. <b>“Milia.”</b>
<i>“I’m okay, Reave.”</i> She steps closer to brush a comforting stroke along his cheek before retreating, a reserved smile blooming across her features. <i>“I found my father you know.”</i>
Reave is forced to swallow several times as a knot grows in his throat before he is able to reply. <b>“I found my mother too.”</b> He pauses, throat working. <b>“You could come with me,”</b> he suggests almost desperately when he is finally able to continue. <b>“You and your dad. You don’t have to stay here.”</b>
Milia is shaking her head before the words have even fully left his mouth, her smile now sad despite the resolution in her features. <i>“Please don’t worry about me, I am content here.”</i>
Reave, unable to help himself, tries to press further, <b>“Are you..”</b> <i>“I am sure,”</i> she interrupts, her gaze steady as she holds his own. As she assures him, both with and without words, that she would be okay.
As the lump grows, Reave can only nod. He reaches forward to press his nose against hers, a silent goodbye, before turning back to the path to keep her from seeing the tears he is trying so hard to hide.
<i>“Reave.”</i> Her voice stills him, head turning so he can peer at her even as his eyes blink rapidly in an attempt to clear them. <i>“If I… can I just ask you to do one thing?”</i> Reave nods faintly before managing to choke out, <b>“Of course.”</b> His voice sounds strange despite his best attempts at normalcy. <i>“Can you… keep an eye on Roque? He is alone now.”</i>
For a moment he can only stare at her, new grief heavy on his heart. But what else could he do but agree to her final request? Even after he has agreed, he finds himself staring at her, wondering how this had all gone so wrong. Until she breaks the silence. <i>“Goodbye Reave.”</i> Her voice is soft as she bids him farewell, the sorrow in her gaze muted only by the peace she seems to feel in this place.
<b>“Goodbye Milia.”</b> he finally whispers before turning abruptly back to the path and breaking into a swift lope. As though he could escape his own heavy heart.
His thoughts are so tangled that it is only when he reaches the fork in the path that he finally recalls himself to why he is here. To the duty he must still see to. Rather than causing a distraction as he had been meant to do, he had been the one distracted. Though it is not easy to set aside his tumultuous emotions, in the end he forces them into a distant corner of his mind, resolution blockading them there until he can complete his task.
As he breathes out a steadying exhale, he eyes the two paths, one leading down to a river with dark and turbulent water, the other leading up towards edges of the stony cliffs overlooking it all. After only a moment of consideration, he moves up, taking the path to the cliffs. From that high perch, he could easily see and be seen - could find stones to pitch noisily down the sides. Certainly that sort of clatter would be enough to draw them to him and away from the rescuers.</p><p id="babyreavename" align="right">reave</p></div></div></div></center>