The Mandate of Heaven (Closed; PM for invite if interested)

[Armphid]

The sun was above the horizon but the day was yet young. It shone down on boys and girls of all ages as they moved about the grounds of the school. The cluster of buildings were in the traditional style; wood and paper with peaked stale roofs. There were two raised platforms of stone and a large cleared area of dirt packed by many feet over many years of sparring and drilling.

The doors of one of the larger buildings were open, showing a large room decorated with a few vases and statues but largely dominated by tall hanging scrolls emblazoned with maxims and wisdom from the school's master, Soaring Crane. The master himself knelt on a cushion at the front of the room. In front of him, his best two students knelt.

Soaring Crane was old but hale, his hair and beard white and well groomed, his face lined with many years and cares. His hair was gathered and held in a loose topknot by a simple lacquered stick. "This school has been here for forty years and yet we are still considered upstarts. We are only not beginning to become accepted, though word of our prowess has spread across the Empire."

Off to the side stood a mountain of a man, both tall and broad, though he had gone to seed and his belly was as vast as his stature. "Your prowess, Master. It is your reputation that has given us all."

The old man shook his head. "You are too kind, Smiling Ox. You underestimate the efforts and skill of our students." Particularly the two before him now. "But the point remains that we have less face than our skill may merit. That shall change."

He reached into his robe and drew out two long, thin boxes and set them in front of the two young people in the room. "We have recieved not one, but two invitations to one of the most prestigious tournaments in all of the Empire, held only every five years. The Strongest Under the Heavens. I have decided that the two of you will go and represent the school." He regarded the girl first and longest, a faint smile on his lips. His prodigy; her natural talent amazing. Then the boy; the hardest working student he had ever taught. "You will do well. Fight with your hearts and show the greatness we all have seen in you to blossom."

Smiling Fox stepped forward with a pair of duffel bags, partly packed, "Provisions, money, and a map have been given. You are to pack some clothes and start for the tournament site within the day. You must arrive the opening day or you will be disqualified and our school will lose a great amount of face."

"We will not disappoint you, Master," the boy answered and inclined his head.

"I know you will not." The old man nodded and lifted his steaming tea cup, the dismissal clear.

The two students retreated from the room and went out onto the porch that went around the entire building. The boy looked at the girl, his eyes following the lines of her form and the grace of her movements. "We should set out soon. Meet at the gate in an hour."

The Strongest Under the Heavens! His heart sang at the mere thought of the battles ahead. But the idea of the road made him...uneasy. He'd have to be with her, alone, on a journey of more than a week. He felt...her manner could be so...and yet she was also so...and there was no doubt that her skills were great and she was powerful. "Just remember, there won't be any maids or junior students for you to do your tasks for you on the road."

 

[Tymeless]

Sakura knelt on her knees staring at the master. The old well groomed man was one of the few beings that impressed her enough that she actually looked up to him. He reminded her of her own grandfather and as a result she was nervous to be called into the chambers with him and only one other student.

She listened carefully as he complimented them on their prowless and how the school was becoming known throughout the empire. She felt pride as she realized some of that renown was do to her own skills and disdainfully realized that the reason the other student was in the room was because he was becoming highly touted as well.

She wasn't happy to see him sitting in the room with her as the master revealed that he was sending them to a tournament and alone. This bothered her for many reasons, once they had been childhood friends back at home before they were sent away, but once they had been sent here their friendship had quickly become a rivalry. Everything came easy to her and she was allowed more free time than the rest. She was also treated differently because of her families status. He on the other hand spent his time buried in the books and diligently studying and was almost capable of keeping up with her. This didn't bother her at first but he always seemed to hold her success against her and it soon became a competition between them. He had never once bested her but he was getting closer everytime they sparred. This bothered her and she began to become condenscending towards him in many ways causing a bigger rift between them.

"Master I will not let you down. I swear on my family name." She said as she bowed and excused herself from the master's chambers.

She looked at her companion and forced a smile, "Yes one hour should be enough. Though you should know by now it takes us girls longer to get ready. You will wait for me if I do run behind won't you?" She then ran her fingers through his hair in a teasing manner before turning gracefully and it almost appeared as she was floating as she walked towards her own personal chambers. She had no idea how she was going to be able to pass a week on the road with a bookworm like him it would just be so boring.

 

[Armphid]

Jiang Fei watched Sakura as she walked away. He could still feel that teasing, tender touch as her delicate fingers had gone through his hair. Gods, what he would give to have that be more than a sneering tease. "If you run late, you'll run to catch up," was what he said though.

Fei turned the opposite way and headed to his own quarters. Along the way he thought about the girl who'd been part of his life for so long. Sakura. He'd known her for most of his life. Did she realize how central she'd been to his entire existence? Her family was a noble clan, royalty even, cousins of the main Imperial line. His family had become noble three generations ago, the result of his great grandfather's heroism in unveiling a plot by another noble family to destroy the Empire. They'd been given the traitor's rank and lands.

His family and Sakura's had become close when Fei's grandfather and hers served together to fight against the most recent Horde invasion, her grandfather a General, his a Commander. Their fathers had grown up as friends and worked together as well; in the military and then in the civil bureaucracy. Her family's star was ascending due in large part to the work of his. He and Sakura had been friends as children, playing together whenever their families visited. Which was often. Back then, he'd been too young to care that Sakura was always the one praised and acknowledged, even when he'd done as well as her. He'd been happy his friend was happy.

He wasn't sure when that had changed. But it had. On both their sides. Once her sharing things with him was simply joyful but it had become almost spiteful, teasing and used to remind him that he was lower that her. She was a prodigy. In fighting, in music, in all she did, it all came so easy to her. And she lorded it over him like she was an Imperial Princess and he a scullery boy. She was lucky, everyone said. Born lucky and Fate favored her.

Fate never favored him. He had to work, to struggle for everything. He'd had to fight to succeed, all his life. And she scorned him for it. And it never seemed good enough. Even when it was, no one noticed. He knew there were techniques he could perform and use better than her, because he'd had to practice them so much, but all anyone talked about was how quickly she'd mastered them.

Sakura. He paused in his packing, looking down at a shirt in his hands. She was so brilliant, so skilled, so beautiful. His feelings for her were...complicated. As much as he envied her and even resented her, as much as he wanted to best her, he still cared for her. That caring had even...changed. But he couldn't...he wasn't worthy of even considering that. Not until he'd made her acknowledge him. And the only way that would happen...was if he was better than her.

He'd prove it. At this tournament. They were going there together, for the school's honor. But his goal wasn't to celebrate the school. He would win. He would defeat every other competitor, including her. And then...

He closed his eyes and shoved the last garment in the sack. "That'll be an interesting day."

Fei was at the gate ten minutes earlier than the time he'd set, by his reckoning. He set his traveling bag down and looked back at the school. No sign of Sakura yet. He looked away, down the road that led from the school's gate, through the village beyond, and then...out there.

He waited. Behind him in the school grounds, he heard the bell being rung. Sakura had not arrived. Fei stayed where he was for perhaps a minute. Then he picked up his bag and slung it over one shoulder. Without looking back, he stepped into the road and took the first step of his journey.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

Name: Jiang Fei
Age: 19
Sex: Male
Height: 5' 10"
Weight: 180 lbs.
Hair: Dark brown, straight and falling to his jawline but usually pulled back into a tight knot.
Eyes: Wine Red

Appearance: Fei is on the taller side of average, his body heavier than his gymnast's build would suggest, all hard, whipcord muscle. His eyes are the color or red wine and very expressive. He tends to try and keep his hair tightly bound and controlled, an outward expression of himself, but it looks best when allowed to fall free. His clothes are well made and of good cloth but simple and with almost no decoration. His face is handsome, strong and noble but usually set in a serious and even glum expression.

Favorite Style: Glorious Sun Style
Favorite Weapon: Staff
Special Techniques: Thunderclap Rush Attack, Heaven Thunder Hammer, Sunfire

 

[Tymeless]

Sakura entered her room which was definitely more extravagant than the other students and probably even more so than the masters. She sighed as she looked around the room. How was she supposed to decide what to take with her and leave behind. Why did she have to constantly inconvienced like this.

This would be as bad as the trip from her family's estate to here even worse probably now that her and Jiang were no longer friends. They had been back when she was sent here. She couldn't figure out why he had changed and had to make everything a competition with her. Really she didn't like to compete in such manners. She just wanted to relax and enjoy things in her life. She wanted to enjoy her clothing, her friends, and her family again. She knew everyone thought she was a spoiled princess but she wasn't ready to open herself up to getting to close to someone just to be sent away again.

She grabbed some of her nicer clothes, thinking just because she was traveling didn't mean she couldn't be stylish. She then grabbed the neccessities a girl would need for travels and other travel essentials and then set out the door to head towards the gate. Just as she was out the door she heard the bell ring and knew that she was late. She burst into a Jog hoping to make the 5 minute trek to the gate before Jiang left.

When she arrived it was clear he wasn't there. "Son of a street urchin." She cried out as started heading down the path at a speed even the most physically fit of warriors wouldn't be able to maintain for long. She made it about a mile down the path before she caught up to her old friend. "If I didn't know better Jiang I would think you would of done that on purpose. Just to prove how much better a student you are than me."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Name: Sakura Tsu

Age: 18

Sex: Female

Height: 5' 1"

weight: 107 lbs

Hair: Jet Black appearing something like this http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b379/TymelessEQ/modernshag.jpg

Eyes: lavender

Appearance: Sakura is small and graceful. Her complexion is fair and flawless. She has large lavender doe eyes, that she often uses to get what she wants from people just by a glance. She has soft pouty lips, her curves are generous but proportional for someone of her stature. She tends to wear the most decorated and expensive of clothes even to the admonishment from some of the worse off students.

favorite style: Fertile Earth Style (don't know if it's a real style or not but sounds cool)
favorite weapon: Katana, Halbred
Special Techs: Regrowth, Regenerate, Haste, Rockskin, ball of lightning.

 

[Armphid]

Fei didn't even look over at her. He just kept walking. "It wasn't about that. It was just about me being a more punctual student than you." He finally looked over at her with his rich maroon eyes. "Just because you're everyone's favorite doesn't mean I'm going to wait for you when we agreed on a time. Besides...I waited about a minute."

He adjusted the bag over his right shoulder. "...When did I become "Jiang" to you, anyway?" Why was she calling him by his family name? They had been friends for so long. It was true things had become strained. "You can still call me Fei." After a long pause, he looked down at the path, a faint blush on his cheeks, "I'd like that."

Fei coughed and cleared his throat, "So. Do you want to camp tonight or see if we can make it to the inn in the next village?"

 

[Tymeless]

Sakura looked at Fei and forced a smile she wasn't going to give in to his goading not right now. If he wanted to be like that he could. "Well since you feel so inferior to me that you constantly have to try to prove yourself I thought I would remind you of your status." It really hurt her that the only person she truly considered a friend had become so distant from her that their attitudes were so standoffish.

She moved to keep up with him. While his pace was fast and she had to struggle to keep up her grace was still evident. She felt a pang of guilt for her last comment as he admited that he wanted her to still call him by his name. That he may still want to be friends. She felt a tear forming in her eye but prayed he didn't see it. She bit her lip and looked on to him. "Well, I guess everyone would expect someone of my status to prefer the comforts of an Inn, but why don't we see how far we make it and if we have to camp it won't be the end of the world Fei." She said his name with meaning behind it that she hadn't said in a very long time.

 

[Armphid]

Her initial comment made his eyes narrow; his temper flaring. "I'm not inferior to you! And you remind everyone of their status according to you at every opportunity," he growled.

Anger made him quicken his pace. They couldn't have one conversation without her talking down to him like that. Not even one?

But then she spoke again. Her words were fairly plain, ordinary. She even threw in another dig about her status. But she said his name. And there was something in the way she said it. It was...warm. Close. Friendly and even with a hint of something more...or was that just wishful thinking on his part? "Sakura..."

He smiled and his eyes were wistful, even longing. "I remember you used to like it when we went camping, back then." If they could be that way. If only. He cleared his throat. It would be good to recall what their relationship was like now, not what it had been, or what he wanted it to be. "That sounds good to me. I'd like to get there as soon as we can so we have a few days to scope out the competition and rest up."

They walked along for a minute or so before he spoke again. "I'm glad. That we're traveling together," he said softly. He looked down, feeling very...vulnerable saying something like that. There was a faint blush on his cheeks. "I mean, uh, for safety and all."

 

[Tymeless]

Sakura smiled and blushed herself as she noticed the way he was taking her words. She wasn't sure what to do. She wanted nothing more than to get close to someone again but it was made clear to her from right before she was sent here that she was above everyone here other than her master and that she was to carry herself in a manner to not disappoint the family name.

She looked at him and smiled a wicked grin as she looked at him before she remembered her place. "Yeah I mean it wouldn't be safe for someone like you to travel alone." She then winced as she realized what she had just said. She really did need to work on not keeping that barrier up all the time. If she could let anyone in it would be her childhood friend and his family was only one level below hers in the heiarchy of things.

 

[Armphid]

His face hardened. Why had he said anything? As soon as he'd tried to...of course, she'd react like that. That was who she'd become. The status conscious, cruel princess.

He quickened his pace, striding ahead of her so she wouldn't see the pained expression on his face, or the faint stain of hurt blush on his cheeks. "Anything that tries to get in my way would regret it. You should remember that for the tournament."

"Let's pick up the pace," he snapped before she could reply. And without waiting for her to answer, he broke into a steady jog. With their training, they could keep up a pace like this for hours and cover a lot more ground. It would also make talking harder. This way...he wouldn't be tempted into thinking she was his friend again and give her a chance to lash him with her words.

 

[Tymeless]

Sakura knew she had screwed up and she was unsure if she would ever be able to repair the damage she had just caused to their friendship. She almost felt like yelling out to him and making him stop that someone below her wouldn't be telling her what to do. She then thought better of it she would let him have his way at least this once.

She then started at a pace to keep up with him but not to pass him up. She even trailed slightly behind him just to keep the tension low instead of trying to outdo him she would just. No that wouldn't make him any happier she decided and figured she would push him to his limits today and then worry about the consequences tonight. If he was going to be her friend he needed to be an equal not someone lower than her. With that she zoomed on up ahead of him following the path she had memorized on the map earlier while wasting time in her room before ending up late.

 

[Armphid]

They'd been jogging along for a few minutes when suddenly Sakura shot past him. He blinked. What the hell was she doing? His eyes narrowed. Trying to show him up again? After she just threw her status in his face?

"Damn you," he growled. Then he focused inward and tapped into his chi, a moment later running alongside her. His eyes were hard as he looked over at her. What was wrong with her? Couldn't there ever be anything that wasn't some competition or damn struggle between them?

"You can't leave me behind that easily."

 

[Tymeless]

Sakura was impressed that he had recovered so quickly and was even keeping up with her. She was using some of her chi to maintain speed and as they were running along she noticed how strong his muscles were as they would flex and relax. She felt a moment of blushing and it distracted her enough to start to fall back slightly.

"Fei, would you really want to me to stop pushing you to be the best you can be. You know as well as I do that my family will not accept anyone being around me that hasn't proven they are more than capable of handling the pressure. If you want to take the easy way out we can stop this now or we can push ourselves. I leave it up to you."

 

[Armphid]

Fei stopped dead in his tracks. His face was incredulous. "You...you dare? YOU DARE?"

He was ahead of her in a blur of motion; so fast that someone without training similar to theirs wouldn't even have been able to see his running leap. He landed a foot from her; his face furious. "Don't you EVER pretend you're cruel to me, or to anyone, for OUR own good! Ever!"

"That's what you just said, isn't it? You're pushing me to be my best. I am pushing me to be my best! Don't you have enough? Status, money, power, beauty, skill, do you need to try and steal MY drive and hard work and claim that as yours too?" His eyes were raging and wild. "Are you that self centered? Am I that shallow and low to you that you'd treat me so...and after I..."

He mastered himself with visible difficulty. Fei looked away. The fury was still burning in his chest. His honor and his pride screamed out to him to attack her. But he wouldn't. Not in anger. He would not stain his honor that way. "Your reasons for acting the way you do are yours, not mine. You don't do it for me. Don't lie to me or to yourself that way. Neither of us deserves it."

Fei turned around. "I'm done traveling with you." He pointed to the west. "I'm going that way, about half a mile, but I'll follow the same path. I'll be parallel. If you need help, not that you will, being perfect, you'll know where to find me."

She'd have the road. The way he was going was cross country, it would be rougher going, making the journey much harder. That was fine. It should be hard. Right now, he wanted something hard to struggle against, to fight. It was better that it be the environment than her.

He walked to the western edge of the road and stopped. He should just keep going. But instead he looked back at her. "...Anything to say? Or will I just see you at the tournament?"

 

[Tymeless]

Sakura didn't know what to do. She really had no idea how to repair her friendship with Fei. She didn't want to travel on this journey alone nor did she want to be alone anymore. She was tired of the distance she was keeping from other's and having no true friends. Everyone wanted to be around her because of one reason her status. The thing is she had long forgot how to interact with people as equals, or friends for that matter.

She slowed to a stop as she watched Fei head off into the woods. She remained quiet and headed down the path at a near walk now. She wasn't about to let him see the tears or hear her as she fought back the sadness she was feeling right now knowing she was causing her friend so much pain.

 

[Armphid]

Her silence was difficult to take. He wanted her to say something. Anything. But she was just silent. "So be it then." And he walked off of the road and into the woods beyond.

The going in the trees and scrub was much harder. There was no path that lasted more than a few yards parallel to the road before slipping off deeper into the wood. There were fallen trees and logs in the path and thick growths of brambles and small flowering bushes and trees. It was work to travel this way and would make the journey twice as trying at least.

That was fine. In his heart, Fei felt a brief stab of frustration. Why were things always hard for him? Couldn't something, anything, just for once, be easy? He sighed and lowered his head. Perhaps if he'd kept his head, he'd still be on the road with Sakura. But after what she'd said...did she really think that he was so petty? That he couldn't improve himself without her always pushing him?

He sighed and darted forward at a run. The extra work of traveling through the forest would be good for him. It would clear his mind and make him stronger. All of his extra work, all the hardships he endured, all of it made him stronger. Stronger than her. She had no idea what it was like to work or struggle for anything.

He growled as he vaulted a fallen tree. Damn it! Why couldn't he stop thinking about her?

~~~~~~~~~​

He traveled on for hours, occasionally climbing to the top of a tree to check on Sakura's progress on the road. Thus, he knew when she'd decided to stop for the night.

Fei knew he should stay away. But he couldn't. She drove him mad and at times, at times he thought he hated her. But he couldn't stay away. Not entirely. Under all his resentment and hurt over her cruelty...he just couldn't bear to be away.

So it was that he crept through the woods to their very edge. He could see Sakura and the little camp she'd set up. He longed to go and sit there with her. To talk and laugh and...just be near.

Fei sat down in the brush and leaned back against a tree trunk. There was no point wanting impossible things. Even if he went out there...it wouldn't be like that. She'd slash at him with her words again, snub him. So he would stay here and watch her and wish that things between them were different.

 

[Tymeless]

Sakura had set up camp that night, as much as she hated the idea of doing something so lowly as setting up a camp, she actually felt proud of doing it and even found herself kinda liking what she had just done. With that task at hand and the fact that she was no longer on the road she became more alert to her surroundings as well as a feeling of loneliness. What was worse was her mind continually drifted back to the way she had talked to the only person she could ever consider a friend in her life and it panged her heart. She knew she was wrong but her father had made it clear to her to never apologize for anything. The desires of her father, her own pride, and then her longing for her friend again all pulled at her.

It was because of those competing emotions that she didn't even realize she had stood up and moved out into the woods. Where she was going she had no idea until she had arrived to a shadowy figure leaning against a tree. She knew that whoever it was had to know she was coming near because she hadn't made any attempts at concealing herself with her mind roaming. She sensed a familiarity and an anger in the darkness. She knew she probably should of left but instead she pushed aside some sticks on the ground and leaned herself against a tree saying nothing.

 

[Armphid]

Fei sensed her approach. Even if he hadn't been watching, it would have been impossible not to. She moved without any attempt to hide her presence; almost as if she wasn't even aware of what she was doing.

She drew near; heading right for the tree he was leaning against. He felt a sudden urge to jump up and melt off into the shadows of the forest...but no. No, he wouldn't hide. Not from her. Not from anyone!

He looked down at his clothes. They had been clean and fresh when he'd set out but after hours of traveling and toiling in the woods they were dirty and even torn in places from thorns and brambles.

As if he could ever look any other way in her eyes. Even if he was dressed in finest silk, he'd still look like a rough peasant to her.

He closed his eyes against that thought and the pain it bore. She would never consider a peasant for...well. No point in even thinking it.

She sat down on the opposite side of the tree from him, her back against it. They sat together in silence for uncounted minutes, neither moving or speaking, just sitting and being.

Fei didn't know what to do or to say. After a few more minutes of silence, his voice spoke, as if with a mind of it's own, "You set up a decent camp. I was surprised." His voice was soft, and there some hesitation in it, as if he was ready to withdraw into the woods at any moment. Which he was.

He was silent for another few seconds. Then he spoke again, "Do you remember when our families used to go to that retreat in the north? We'd stay in the house, of course, but for a few days, our fathers would take us camping." He smiled with sad longing. "We were so close then. ...Uh, all of us, I mean."

 

[Tymeless]

She continued sitting in silence for some time not willing to break the silence not wanting to screw things up even more by her uncalculated words. She knew she was wrong and it was nearly impossible for her to admit something like that to herself let alone outward where others could know about it. Her pride was preventing her from finding the closeness with someone she so much desired.

As Fei spoke up she blushed slightly at what she knew was an attempt to tease her but hidden in it was a compliment. "You know as well as I do that was the first time I've ever done such a thing. Father would hear nothing of his precious little daughter doing something so mundane." She giggled lightly as she reminesced with Fei.

"Yes we were close then and I know it's all my fault that we aren't anymore but I am not sure I should talk anymore. I'm liable to just stick my foot in my mouth again and I truly don't want that." She knew it wouldn't be the last time she would push him away with an unthought out response because that was her nature but she really didn't want to hurt him anymore or be without his companionship anytime soon.

"Can we go back to camp now it's a little cold out here."

 

[Armphid]

For several moments, Fei just stared ahead into the woods. Had she really just said that? She just almost admitted she was wrong. He'd couldn't remember the last time she'd done that. If she ever had.

After a few moments of stunned silence, he stood up with a faint sound and stepped around the tree to look down at her. "Yes," he said and offered her his hand to stand up.

It was something of a bold move. But it was a good one, he felt. A gesture of openness, of affection even. And if she would...then he'd feel her touch. Her hand. And that would be wonderful.

 

[Tymeless]

She knew she shouldn't take his hand showing him a sign of weakness but Sakura decided that it was easier no it was better to show some faith and trust in this man before her. After all her previous behaviors had done nothing but push him away as well as everyone else she could of ever considered calling a friend. She quickly decided to take his hand and allowed him to lift her from the ground. She just hoped he hadn't noticed her indecision on what to do.

"Your hands are soft yet your grip is strong Fei." She then moved closer to him as they began to walk back to the camp she had set up earlier.

 

[Armphid]

"Not as soft as yours," he answered. Or as smooth. Or as warm. He'd been surprised when she'd accepted his hand, but delighted. And the feel of her touch...oh. It was heavenly. His mind immediately wondered if the rest of her was so...he shook his head. An unworthy thought.

He released her hand with reluctance as they walked back to her camp. Fei crouched by the fire and fed it a few more pieces of her gathered firewood. "Thank you for inviting me. A cold night in the woods would not be pleasant."

Fei set his pack down beside hers and opened it, pulling out a wrapped block of cheese, some dried meat, and a pair of apples. "We should eat, I think." He sat down across from her after handing some of the food to her. He watched her in the firelight, allowing himself just to appreciate her beauty.

"So..." He didn't know what to say. "It's a...lovely night." How tactless! He was an idiot.

 

[Tymeless]

***OOC Sorry for the delay. Life is going to interfere from time to time.***

Sakura could tell his eyes were upon her and she wanted to return her gaze but at that thought she began to blush. That wouldn't be proper of a young lady of any social status. She was so tired of trying to live up to the impossibly high standards of her status as noble. She has never known the touch of a man nor a kiss. She has never been able to have a conversation with someone as an equal since being sent away to her schooling.

Her own eyes betrayed her as she stared across the fire not being able to resist looking against her own judgement. "Yes Fei it is a beautiful night if not a bit chilly even so near this fire."

 

[Armphid]

Fei felt his heart beat pick up as she returned his gaze. Not with the haughty and proud mien he was accustomed to, nor the downward glance her station would demand of her. It was an even, friendly, even warm gaze that met his own. In her eyes and the words that followed there seemed to be...an invitation? Perhaps more of a friendly overture.

He hesitated. Was this real or was it wishful thinking on his part? If he'd read this wrong, she'd rake him for it. And he'd richly deserve it. But if he was right...maybe they could be close, or pretend to be, for this one night.

"It is chill, indeed." Fei licked his lips and then stood up. "Perhaps if I joined you there, a bit off to the right? It would keep the wind off of you." And put him next to her.

He was already moving as he spoke, walking around the fire. He took a deep breath in preparation and then sank down next to her. So close. Not much more and they'd touch. How sweet and impossible that would be. "Is this better?"

 

[Tymeless]

"No Fei it would be silly of you to sit off to the right of me when you could sit right next to me. I'm not going to be afraid of you being my equal anymore. I may slip from time to time but I'm going to try my best." She then patted next to her for him to come over. She wanted him to take a bit more charge of the situation and justify her trusting him at the same time. She would just have to wait and see how this revival of a friendship would play out with Fei.