Things that Change [Dare/Mod]

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/felistable2.png);color:#8eaea5;][atrb=width,434][atrb=height,355][atrb=style,border:0 black none,bTable][scrolly:h(245),w(205),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:2px;margin-left:214px;)]Having been forced to stop, Felis looked at Xavier before looking down at two hands on his one. However, when his eyes raised again, Felis blinked a tad startled at the look Xavier was giving him. He didn't understand? He was rather sure he understood the situation Xavier had been in, if that was what he meant.... As Xavier's explanation played out, Felis found his previous thoughts confirmed, and had to fight the urge to frown as badly as he wanted to. It made him hurt a lot more than he was willing to admit. However, at the ending assertion of 'was', Felis blinked staring at that smile and finding himself unsure of it. As the words kept coming, Felis gave up trying to hold his face flat, and it simply crumbled into a frown. It just... bothered him, and he couldn't even give an accurate description as to why anymore. However, that doubt feeling was being mixed with something new and dissolving it away in the process. It hurt him, yet at the same time left him with something in the process. Yet that kiss.... Even if it was on the hand, it had sent a 'thud' sound vibrating in Felis's ears, and he recognized that feeling...So...he hadn't been mistaken that time...He was sure what that feeling had been all along, but....Despite the confused feelings that were rushing over him, Felis found his hand twisting gently in Xavier's before sliding out of the motion and setting itself under Xavier's chin. "Xavier....I......" Felis started but stopped. "You're welcome," he finished before lightly kissing Xavier on the lips before stepping back. "I wish more people were like you," Felis smiled slightly before looking off down the way he had been walking. "The capacity to forgive is rare now a days..." [/scrolly]

[DJ Boomkitty]

X A V I E R



---

He had been so intent on watching Felis' features, ready to explain anything else further should he need to, that the kiss, although light and brief, startled him. As the blonde slipped away, he blinked slowly, pressing his lips gently with an index and middle finger, as if pondering if that had actually happened or not. Snapping back to it, he brought his hand back down to his side and swallowed the blush that wanted to reveal itself, settling for a comfortable grin instead. "I'm sure in time they'll come around as well." He crooned, retaking his hand within his own before leading them down the hall. "Just a matter of stubbornness."

Even here the various enclosures and aquariums looked worse for wear. Xavier peered around curiously, suddenly coming to a halt as his gaze fell to the floor. "Watch your step. Glass." He sighed, looking up towards the shattered window the shards belonged to. "It makes me wonder what happened here, really. I guess the Poke'mon went a bit stir-crazy." He mumbled, kicking a shard to the opposite wall with his boot.

---

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/felistable2.png);color:#8eaea5;][atrb=width,434][atrb=height,355][atrb=style,border:0 black none,bTable][scrolly:h(245),w(205),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:2px;margin-left:214px;)]Felis couldn't help but smile abet softly before finding him being carted off this time. Walking alongside Xavier, Felis closed his eyes breathing in for a moment only to stop when he was warned about watching his step. Stopping for a brief moment, Felis looked down at the glass. "Or possibly hungry..." he murmured more of an after thought to what had been said. He'd heard rumors of what had happened. Apparently Marcella's mother and herself had let the zoo go during the chaos that had ensued over the past few years, and with no one taking care of it... it'd simply gone to pieces. If his jurisdiction extended this far, Felis would have been happy to help out... but.... "It didn't get maintained... and the pokemon probably had to fend for themselves," he sighed dryly. "Sad...really..." Felis sighed emphasizing the words as he said them. Stepping over the glass with ease, Felis looked off farther down the hallway. "I may have to look into trying to get things fixed up... the only problem would be jurisdiction and what not..." Felis sighed mumbling more to himself at this point. [/scrolly]

[DJ Boomkitty]

X A V I E R



---

Xavier had simply hummed in response, pondering over the words. To be so hungry that you have to break free in order to eat... it really was sad. "Nobody should have to suffer like that. Human or Poke'mon." He voiced, glancing over when Felis began moving once again, following suite after him. He couldn't help but look back towards the shattered enclosure once more, before looking onwards.

Although it had been murmurs, Xavier had heard all the same, and hummed thoughtfully. "I think jurisdiction can be overlooked at this point." He stated bluntly, gesturing down the hall, which was also in a less than content state. "I mean... even just walking around seems to dishearten ya. From what you've told me, it was much more... boisterous, in the past. Ya should be able to restore it if ya wanted to." He nodded, smiling over at him. "I'd help, too. Anything to put a smile on that face." He grinned then, chuckling.

---

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/felistable2.png);color:#8eaea5;][atrb=width,434][atrb=height,355][atrb=style,border:0 black none,bTable][scrolly:h(245),w(205),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:2px;margin-left:214px;)]Felis half smiled slightly at Xavier's words but slowly shook his head afterwards. "The problem is that if I did... a few of the lesser nobles in the area would possibly spike in fear that I was taking over... I don't feel compelled to start a noble war,"] he sighed a little at this thought frowning before shaking his head. "We've already got a supposed 'noble hunter' that has been killing those in noble families as of late..." Felis sighed thinking on what had happened to the Ackmen family. He had only heard about it... unable to do anything outside of feel sorry for the children who were believed to have lived yet disappeared.... "Too much fighting and suspicion will kill," he explained looking sideways at Xavier expecting him to understand. However, that still didn't settle the problem.... "I...guess I could do it discretely and over small increments....yes... that might work..." he finished this thought by nodding slowly. [/scrolly]

[DJ Boomkitty]

X A V I E R



---

Xavier snorted, shaking his head in slight disappointment. "You'd think you guys would at least be able to trust one another in such times, no?" He said sadly, looking back over at Felis with a nod of his head, signaling his understanding. His brow had to quirk at the mention of a 'Noble-hunter'... his brain began racking itself for any such mention of a rank within the Rebellion, maybe if he could picture a title with a name, or a face... yet he drew a blank. His lips tightened somewhat in thought. "Is there any description of him, or her?" He asked, eyes growing dark. It may have seemed like an innocent question, yet it was far from it. There was no way in Hell he'd let such a person get near Felis... or his family... little Rosa...

"That's so... stupid." He spat, suddenly irritated. "Who hates nobility that badly? Enough to kill a human being in flesh and blood? Even when I was against it back in the day, I never harbored any feelings of violence against them. We're all human..." He trailed off, folding his arms into his sides, gaze held elsewhere as he mulled this over. It just seemed so... selfish. Was that what he had been, in the Rebellion? Just a petty bigot? It bothered him... "They won't touch you." He claimed suddenly, nodding. "They'd hafta cut my limbs off before that..."

---

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/felistable2.png);color:#8eaea5;][atrb=width,434][atrb=height,355][atrb=style,border:0 black none,bTable][scrolly:h(245),w(205),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:2px;margin-left:214px;)]Felis sighed and shook his head at the question of the description. "For those that have lived through it... there's a multitude of different reports... nothing actually very clear from what I've heard..." he explained quietly. At Xavier's suddenly reaction, Felis blinked and stopped walking for a brief moment only to smile softly after and slowly shake his head. "People....are hopelessly cruel, at times..." he mumbled more to himself than to Xav. The image of Forest Castle on fire would never leave his mind no matter how long time went on. At Xavier's last words, Felis half smiled and shook his head. "I'm not too worried about myself...really...." he answered back. "Not... quite sure why, but... I guess I just figure what comes will come..." he laughed a little but kept more of a serious face. [/scrolly]

[DJ Boomkitty]

X A V I E R



---

At Felis' words on 'what comes will come', Xav paused in his walk, glaring over at Felis briefly before shaking his head. "Oii, don't talk like that. You make it sound like you have no choice in the matter." He chided, folding his arms once again. "If you're not gunna worry about yourself, then I guess I will for yah. Easy enough." He mused, features softening as he considered the blonde again.

He snorted after a moment. "Especially with some loon on the loose hell-bent on killing nobles. That's just so selfish." He sighed again, irritated at just the thought of it. However the moment passed, and he found a smile twisting his lips up. "Looks like you're not leaving my sights, hmm?" He crooned, a little too forward for his tastes, but irresistible.

---

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/felistable2.png);color:#8eaea5;][atrb=width,434][atrb=height,355][atrb=style,border:0 black none,bTable][scrolly:h(245),w(205),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:2px;margin-left:214px;)]Felis blinked a little at Xav's words but laughed a little after. His feelings on this were mixed to say the least of it, yet he could still smile, still laugh, and that was what mattered at that exact moment, anyways. It was nice enough though, to know he had more defense... even if it was unasked. It was odd, but in that moment, Felis realized it was the same for Miguel was it not? He was his knight after all... and Rosa's ... yes Rosa's.... "Maybe," was all he answered back with before taking a rather quick few steps forwards and throwing his arms out making several circular steps as he went. "Don't worry~ It'll all come out right, I'm sure," he chimed even as he continued to move. This 'dance' stopped after a good ten meters, and as he drew on his heels to stop again, Felis looked back and simply grinned. "I'll take care of myself when the time comes," he chimed before taking a rather deep bow. "But it is quite lovely of you to say such a thing." he laughed lightly looking up to where Xavier was even in his 'bow'd' stance. [/scrolly]

[DJ Boomkitty]

X A V I E R



---

At his words and dance of sorts, Xav couldn't help but crack a grin, shaking his head bemusedly as he took steps forth to close the gap said dance had made. Sure, he knew the man could look out for himself... he had done so for so long already. Yet there was a small piece within Xavier that denied this fact, that he needed protection, and the red-head knew this was stemming from that selfish little feeling within his heart that wanted to keep the blonde all for himself. A sensitive feeling harbored beneath his calm exterior that was ever-so-slowly prickling away towards the surface, the other man's actions making it jab even more. Its not like Xav denied this feeling, he just... didn't know how to handle it. Truth be told, he had never felt thus type of affection before, and he knew Felis had... a sort of standard had already been set for Xavier, at least within his mind. It was... troubling.

He sighed somewhat, coming to a stop in front of Felis to tug at his chin in an attempt to make him stand upright. "None of that bowing business. I meant every word, after all." He stated, releasing Felis' chin to step around him, pushing a shoulder against a door to slide it open. "I value things more than the common man, despite being a commoner myself. Little things mean a lot... 'treasure what you have', as my mother would say." He paused here, looking back at Felis thoughtfully. "So its only natural to feel so protective, isn't it?"

---

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/felistable2.png);color:#8eaea5;][atrb=width,434][atrb=height,355][atrb=style,border:0 black none,bTable][scrolly:h(245),w(205),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:2px;margin-left:214px;)] That slight pressure on his chin made Felis frown, yet he stood upwards again. The words that followed left a surprised look on the blond's face that slowly faded into a smile. He understood what Xavier meant, yet habit was habit, after all. Slowly walking out the door that had been pressed open, Felis fought the urge to squint from the change of lighting. However, Xavier's words caught his attention again, and blue eyes slid and settled on brown ones. "Depends on what you mean by 'have' now," he laughed slowly looking away again to asses the area before he actually took a step. The concept wasn't new to him, though. He was protective of Rosa and knew it a bit too well. Then again, for those two years or so, he'd thought she was the last of his immediate family. That had changed. Lance had come home, and Ferdinando as well. However, there was that tentativeness, that need to care and protect, that Felis was aware of. It was only in applying it to himself that Felis found confusion. Someone else could always fill the dukedom, probably someone better suited to the job. No it couldn't have been for that reason, and even as he tried to come up with other reasons, Felis simply found his heart beating in his ears. This feeling was overwhelming again. Caught between impulsiveness and doubt, Felis uttered a near inaudible sound. [/scrolly]

[DJ Boomkitty]

X A V I E R



---

Xav shrugged then, sliding his frame off of the door as Felis passed by, joining him in the light that seemed to peek through the clouds. "I dare say not many people can take the Duke out for a trip to an abandoned Zoo, ne. I have this friendship. So there's something I have." He smiled, a frigid breeze causing him to huddle further into his hoodie. "You'd think the Sun would make it warmer..." He mumbled, glancing over to Felis briefly.

What he saw was an odd unease on the blonde's face. A frown settled itself onto Xavier's face then, leaning forward somewhat to get a more clear view, effectively coming closer. "Oii, you okay? Cold?" He inquired, an impulse coming to him strong then. Gingerly, he slid an arm sideways around Felis' waist, tugging him into his side. Brown eyes flickered upwards, noting the scenery - cloudy, sunlight poking through, cold - and a small chuckle escaped him. "This is awfully familiar, eh?" He mused, looking back over at Felis.

---

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/felistable2.png);color:#8eaea5;][atrb=width,434][atrb=height,355][atrb=style,border:0 black none,bTable][scrolly:h(245),w(205),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:2px;margin-left:214px;)]A-ah yes, friendship... that was, yes. And with that, Felis cooled. Though that might just have been the weather. It was rather chilly out, and Felis mentally groaned as the thought of winter coming couldn't help but play itself in his mind. He'd need to plant winter grass and some of the plants that would actually survive the cold while mving the others to his greenhouse and--- Blinking as he found Xavier had drawn closer, and upon feeling the arm around his waist, Felis had stepped closer. "M...but it's ...comforting, you know," the blond hummed walking very slowly so as not to break any of the residual formation. [/scrolly]

[DJ Boomkitty]

X A V I E R



---

A small hum what was Xavier offered in reply, sliding his gaze about the landscape as they meandered down the battered path, arm wrapped snugly in place around Felis' waist. He noted a pair of Pidove huddling for warmth atop a fence-post, one sparkling somewhat in the light... shiny... his brow furrowed then, thinking back to the troublesome talking Fraxure. His eyes darted to and fro in search of any possible stalker, not finding any- ah! He noticed a figure in the shadows that seemed to duck out of sight as Xavier looked, causing the man to sigh gently. How vexing.

"If you spy anything remotely shiny, let me know, ne." He mused, unconsciously giving the blonde a gentle squeeze. "I still think we can just fly away from that Fraxure, but if we can avoid it..." He trailed off there, his point having been made. But where could they even find anything so... specific, in a run-down place like this? He wasn't so sure...

---

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/felistable2.png);color:#8eaea5;][atrb=width,434][atrb=height,355][atrb=style,border:0 black none,bTable][scrolly:h(245),w(205),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:2px;margin-left:214px;)]Felis blinked, only then remembering that they were actually searching for something to appease the Fraxure. Frowning softly at the thought of what could actually be in the zoo, Felis finally shrugged his shoulders and half smiled again. "Probably....though it would make for horrible delegations now wouldn't it?" he laughed softly slowly looking around still. Catching sight of a few cages yet nothing of interest, Felis looked forwards and found that they were coming to the arctic exhibits. Of course the ice was gone, and the temperatures had long since stabilized to fit that of the rest of the zoo, yet one could tell by the large white walls that was what i was. "You know... I used to think there was no life in the frosty north... that was until I saw a tundra... so gorgeous," Felis smiled slightly losing track of what they were supposed to be doing again. [/scrolly]

[DJ Boomkitty]

X A V I E R



---

Xav snorted, mentally shuddering at the thought of the northern lands. "There isn't really any life, considering most of it is ghosts and..." An odd, heavy frown set on him then, a shiver coursing down his spine. Normally such a shudder could be brushed off as unnoticed, yet being connected to Felis at the time being, his arm stiffened as well. It was so silly, to be afraid of such trivial things, but... he couldn't help it. "But, uhm... yes, it is very pretty." He tacked on lamely, as if to cover his apprehension up.

"I fancied the west here for the longest time... so much water, so many opportunities to fish and just be free..." He sighed gently, relaxing as he envisioned his fishing trips, lounging on the bank of of body of water, just... happy. "But I like the east more nowadays. Its so peaceful, and I was raised there., and... tis where my heart lies." He finished quietly, cheeks coloring a tinge.

---

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/felistable2.png);color:#8eaea5;][atrb=width,434][atrb=height,355][atrb=style,border:0 black none,bTable][scrolly:h(245),w(205),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:2px;margin-left:214px;)]A slight skeptical look came to Felis's face as Xavier spoke about ghost pokemon, though feeling the arm stiffen a little, Felis grew a bit softer. Shaking his head slightly, he had to hold back a laugh that was coming up inside. "There are only a few areas that I know of that have ghost pokemon up there... Places like the area around Mount Everestone are harmonious," he hummed a little thinking of all the Evergreens that were in that area. "I... actually wouldn't mind taking Rosa up there," he hummed more of an after thought. Ever since Rosa had caught sight of Ruka's Jollaby, she'd been asking for one, and he was pretty sure he'd read somewhere that the area's peace actually attracted Kangaskhan and Jollaby. As Xavier continued to speak, Felis looked sideways at him thinking over the west. "The west is rather beautiful filled with beaches at every turn," he hummed softly back. At the second statement, Feliciano beamed a little. "I love the east," he answered back quickly. "Such a radiant lush environment with all types of secrets... there's something beautifully romantic about it " he practically sung. "Sometimes I wished I just lived in a tree house in the Glade or maybe even the Jungle..." he laughed a little at his own words. "Be an elf for a day or a week or a month...heh..." "But then... I do love the castle...." Felis sighed softly. "It's always been home... A place meant to be safe but fun..." [/scrolly]

[DJ Boomkitty]

X A V I E R



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A dark eye glanced sideways at Felis as he spoke, narrowing slightly and bemusedly drumming his fingers against his side. "I must have terrible luck then... I always encounter a few Ghosts up there." He sighed, looking away briefly. "I'd be lying if I said my tolerance of them has gotten better." At mention of Rosa, he looked back and laughed somewhat, grinning. "I admire her courage... I met one of her ghosts before, in the garden that day... Sheryl, I think her name was." He paused then, recollecting the Haunter in his mind with a slight mental shudder. "For some reason, she didn't bother me, but I think Rosa distracted me well enough."

At mention of a treehouse, Xavier hummed. Why hadn't he thought about that, really? "That would be nice... although I'm not too sure I'd choose the Glade. That place holds such a taboo for me, it seems." He laughed then, tilting his head somewhat. "But I did meet you there, so that alone makes up for it!"

---

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/felistable2.png);color:#8eaea5;][atrb=width,434][atrb=height,355][atrb=style,border:0 black none,bTable][scrolly:h(245),w(205),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:2px;margin-left:214px;)]"Rosa has such a strange courage..." Felis smiled softly. "She has all these possibly frightening pokemon, yet she treats them no different from anyone else... I love her heart that way," he laughed slightly. At the mention of the Glade, Felis half smiled. "I used to go between there, Harmon Woods, and Serenity Gardens a lot when I was younger," he admitted. "Have you ever been to Harmony Woods? Everything there is so different from the rest of the world, heh..." It was completely different.. rather than war, there was peace..... [/scrolly]

[DJ Boomkitty]

X A V I E R



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She... had more ghosts? Another slight shudder passed Xavier then, although he shrugged a shoulder soon afterwards in an attempt to cover it up as a mere stretch. "Perhaps she can teach me a thing or two, eh?" He mused, huffing out a quick breath, watching it materialize into vapor before being carried away into the frigid air. It was impossibly cold... and that face alone caused the man to huddle further into Felis, even if it was by subconscious alone.

At mention of Harmony Woods, he smiled broadly. "Oh, definitely. That was my prime place to camp... nothing dangerous to sneak up on me there." He said, glancing down into an enclosure as they passed by. A Pansear this time stared up at him, making an 'I'm watching you' motion, before hopping back into the shadows. Sheesh... "We should go together someday." He stated innocently, a dash of red gracing his face regardless.

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