Never Trust Appearances

[Kaleb Morrington]

She didn't think so. Kaleb closed his eyes, fighting the pain. Had he not been good enough? Gentle enough? Lov- he stopped there. She was pressed into him and suddenly he wanted to do nothing more than push her away and run. Instead, he clung to her and buried his face in her hair. A thought occurred to him, maybe she was worried about their future? He contemplated that a moment, breathing in her scent.

Proper thing was to marry a man, settle down and have kids, right? The better off the man was, the better. Kaleb had a family business, technically. Vaguely he wondered if his parents would take him in again and froze. Go back to that? To the snobs, the big wigs, the manners, the rules the- he felt her blink, her eyelashes brushing his skin and realized he would. He wouldn't like it, but he would do it. The idea scared him, really.

But would she stay? Kaleb's chest constricted. Would he be good enough? Money wasn't always everything after all. His eyes stung at the thought of losing her. "I'd hoped it was." He voice was wavering, and broke at the end. He cleared his throat, cursing before trying again. "I mean... I didn't push, did I? I-I could make it up to you if I hurt you." Suddenly he felt like a child who was losing someone dear to him. He clung to her. "I-I could talk to my parents, take up the family business, get a proper job and life." He was panicking, and knew it on some level, but not the conscious one.

"Don't leave... please." So weak. Changers he sounded so damn weak. And he really could care, as tears rolled down his face silently.

[Fyra]

Fyra sighed, taking comfort from his physical presence. And then he started speaking. She frowned. Did his voice just crack? And he was stuttering? What is he talking about? She frowned, trying to figure out what was happening. And then he pulled her tighter against him, and she let him, confusion blooming through her until he all but begged her not to leave. The woman froze. He cares! Those words, with that voice...with his panicking, and what he'd said about turning proper, suddenly it made sense. He wanted her to stay. Even if it meant leaving this life to give her one more like she had had before.

Twisting her body, she slid a hand up to his cheek, pulling back and trying to look at him as she felt tears. "Kaleb? Kaleb!" She tugged on a lock of his hair sharply to make sure she had his attention. "I'm not leaving." Her hand caressed his jaw as she distracted herself from her own worries by trying to soothe his. Her eyes still held the echos of turmoil, fear and her body still shook slightly, but at the same time, happiness skittered through her. He wanted her to stay. Like the rest of your old life, you can't change what's done... it's done... last night is done, and... She looked closer at him, her voice taking on a firm edge. "You didn't push me." She remembered how he had sprang from the chair to catch her, and amended the statement. "Well... maybe you did, but I all but threw myself at you, so I hardly think it counts!"

Gently, she wiped his tears from his cheeks, voice softening slightly "Now, stop this. If I'm not allowed to run away, then you're certainly not allowed to cry." Her heart thrummed in her chest as she looked at him trying to think of what to say. She swallowed, and could find nothing. Excitement rushed through her. He wanted her to stay. With him. Somewhere inside guilt and shame warred with her happiness, she tried to ignore it.

Her low self-worth came to the fore, insecurity taking root in her eyes as she watched him. "Why?" She flushed a little, knowing that it hardly explained what she wanted answered. "Why does it matter so much, if I go or stay? M'just some girl you met out on the streets... s'not like I'm anything particularly special..." Part of her grumbled. Why couldn't she just be happy that he wanted her? What did the why matter? Just be happy. At the same time, guilt pestered her. She had given up her innocence, to a man who wanted her, but did his want her? Turmoil began all over again.

[Kaleb Morrington]

She would stay! Childlike glee overcame him and he snuggled her close, confusion sweeping through him when she started to ask why. He pulled back and his eyes narrowed when she began to basically knock herself down. That would not do, no not at all. So, he decided to be honest with the both of them.

"Call it early, but I think it's because I just might love you." Kaleb managed to get out before kissing her solidly. "I said I'd go back to my family for you... that's got to be love if I ever heard of such a thing." He nuzzled her neck. "As for why? Dunno. You tell me why you trusted a dark man who talked to invisible people and eventually tossed aside being proper for him, and I might be able to work up a decent response for you."

He drew back, eyes bright. "Although, I might have an even better idea. Instead of going to my evil parents place, why don't I save up enough money and buy this house and start a business? Or just do one hell of a heist and buy this house and retire..." Kaleb winked at her.

[Fyra]

Love? She stared at him with her eyes doe-wide, her lips moving automatically to kiss him in return. She let his words, now bouncing with glee and his emotions seeming to be the exact opposite of what they had been, wash over her. I like him...but.. love? She couldn't believe he had even broached such a word so soon. She couldn't even begin to think of what to think about what he had said, and so her mind ran from it, letting it settle like silt into the bottom of her thoughts.

She caught the last bit of his words, and snorted. "I don't know if you could turn honest, thief-boy." She scoffed lightly at him, her eyes still whirling slightly. Unable to comprehend everything, she hid from it, curling into his chest and hiding her face as her mind raced. "Though, it would be nice to have a solid roof over our heads, without having to worry about getting kicked out... What heist would work for that?" She tried to put a joking tone in her voice, but mostly she just sounded a bit shocked, as though she couldn't fully grasp a hold on everything he had said.

[Kaleb Morrington]

Whoops... too much too soon, Kaleb guessed as he looked down at her hiding in his chest. Absentmindedly he played with her hair as he thought. "Some jewels maybe... I'd have to find a decent spot to hit." He looked down at her gently. "I could always open a business for you... let you be a seamstress or whatever you want." He was eager now. "Let you live your life... I could be the drunkard husband! Let you spread rumors or something silly if you want." He was grinning now.

"Everyone will admire you for putting up with me! It'd be so... typical... no wait let's not use that story..." Kaleb thought for a moment. "Bah we'll think one up once we get there, aye?" His eyes were all but glowing for her. He wanted to go further, talk about marriage and kids, but even that kinda scared him. He drew her closer.

"We can have whatever you want." He murmured in her ear, meaning every word of it. He would, he realized with a jolt, lay down his life for this woman, in his arms, who he'd known for less than a month. The idea scared him, for a moment, before he just accepted it. Sometimes, things happened. Love happens, and quickly in some cases apparently. Or maybe it was just for him.

[Fyra]

She listened to his voice as he continued speaking, catching bits here and there as her mind raced, trying to keep up with what he spoke of and wanting to run away all at the same time. Her dark eyes stared at his chest, shadowed by her head and hair, her lashes brushing against it briefly every time she blinked. Jewels. Yeah. The amount that he had sold those other jewels for had probably been enough to buy a house. He could- Open a business? She blinked swiftly. A seamstress?Maybe if people wanted clothing with crooked seams. I'm only a half-decent seamstress. Continuing to race along. What had she always wanted to be? A baker? A pastry-cook? I don't know! her mind wailed. I was just going to be somebody's wife! Help them with their work, raise their children, take care of the house! Carve wood in my spare time as a hobby, and maybe make a pittance, just some spare change to buy myself something nice now and then!

Drunken husband. Husband. Her mind locked on that word. Husband meant married and he was eagerly speaking of- What? Married?! Her breathing was slowly accelerating as panic rose in her. He sounded so...eager, as though it was something he truly wanted, that he would just pull off a big heist, and start them off, and then they would make money honestly as though they could just easily turn into completely honest citizens. Well, I could go back to that life. But could he ever go to it? He's never really lived it!

His voice whispered in her ear, and the words, which would normally make any woman, even her, swoon and sigh with the romance of them, only fueled the panic that had built. He was speaking as though he meant to stay with her for the rest of their lives. Her breath quickened even more as her heart sped. The itching over her skin started once more, and with dark eyes wide, she didn't try to contain it this time. It was all too much. In tales it's usually the maiden pledging her heart to the man who was her first... but this is... he's acting as though he really is in... in l-... She couldn't say the word, even in her mind. Feeling faint with the shallow but quick breaths she was taking, fear escalated.

She was trapped. She couldn't breathe. She couldn't run. She didn't have a way to hide from his voice. She didn't want him to continue speaking in the line of thought that he was. The thought of getting married of even just staying with him... it scared her. Her skin itched fiercely, and she felt her size shifting a bit before she just let go of her control over her form. Magic exploded through Fyra, bones collapsing in on themselves and fur sprouting from her skin as her jaw and face extended slightly.

In mere seconds she was a polecat, slim body far smaller than the circle of Kaleb's arms. Fear still shuddered through her, but at least now her body could cope with heart racing and shallow breath. She scampered out of his embrace and just out of reach of his long limbs, trying to catch her breath and clear her mind well enough to think. She shook out her fur, and then sat up, rubbing a paw over her face in a manner that was eerily human. Her body still quivered with fear as she ran her tongue over her teeth, trying to think through the fear that still shot through her.

[Kaleb Morrington]

He was sitting up even as she shifted, reaching even as she scrambled away, but there she was, just out of reach and a polecat. She was scared. But why? Kaleb was hurt and confused. Why was she scared? He shoved his childlike emotions to the side and really thought, really tried to understand. She'd been scared all morning - maybe it was commitment? Commitment to a thief? He winced at the thought before pushing it to the side. She wanted training in it - so she wasn't wholly against it. He looked down at her shivering polecat form.

He moved slowly, letting her judge his movements before sitting back on the floor with her, the towel he found once more around his waist to avoid getting bit there if she was feeling angry. She was within reach, but he didn't pick her up, just waited until he felt she was calmed down.

"I'm sorry if I said something wrong, love." Kaleb murmured, keeping his voice gentle. "Never done anything like this - any experience I have as far as bedding goes is with whores. Never courted anyone as... well I never really needed to. If I've said anything to scare you or upset you, it's okay, we don't have to do anything like that." He managed his trade-mark smile, and it even met his eyes a little. "As much as I like your pole-cat form, I don't want to keep sending you into it when I've said something wrong." He offered a palm, giving her either the option of staying polecat for a little longer and simply resting and calming herself down, or turning human and giving her a hand up... maybe pulling her in for a hug, but he'd have to walk on eggshells again. Damn.

[Fyra]

Small and rounded ears flattened to the side, her eyes unfathomable as she turned to look at him. Her wiry body was tense as she watched him move and listened to him speak. She seemed to relax a little bit as he simply sat, rather than reaching to pick her up, her fur fluffing and then settling flat. Part of her was glad that he had wrapped the towel around him. It took her mind off of the fact that she had slept with him the night before. Now his voice washed over her, smooth tenor running like water through her fur, helping her flatten it, helping her calm.

His apology was sincere enough, but she couldn't fight back the fear that she was feeling. What he had said... it implied that they were together, that they would be staying together for an extended amount of time. Creamy fur fluffed as he extended a hand, and she looked at his hand for a moment. She wasn't ready to shift back into her original form. If she did, he would expect her to talk, and she wasn't sure if she could talk. Black paws moved her closer to him, and as she came close enough, she raised herself up to rub her face against his fingers briefly, then continuing forward.

It took her a few moments, but she made her way onto his lap, stretching her body up until she could rest her paws on one of his shoulders, and nudging his jaw softly. The gesture was the same as whens he had wanted him to continue speaking when she had been stuck in her polecat form. Her stomach fur brushed softly against his chest as she did so, and she carefully made sure that her claws didn't catch on his skin before she settled back on her haunches, still obviously uneasy but calm enough that she wasn't running and she didn't plan on leaving.

[Kaleb Morrington]

She wanted him to talk eh? He reclined back against the bed, a hand on her back to make sure she didn't fall, and began to pet her softly as he began to think, rambling as he did so.

"You know, I was never for the whole marriage thing really. Felt more like a ball and chain thing, tying yourself down to one bloody woman. I mean, you'd THINK that'd get boring unless you meet someone interesting. Like you!" And down he looked at her, looking like a serious 7-year-old.

"I mean, how much more interesting can a proper girl who can shift into a polecat, not be? And you ideas! They catch me off guard every bloody time! One minute you're all "Stealings bad!"." Kaleb mimicked her, his 'feminine' voice very much over exaggerated to the point he was squeaking. "And then the next, you're like "oooo Kaleb! Teach me how to be a naughty thief, just like you!"." Once more he mimicked her, complete with a gay flap of his hand. Really he was aiming for comedic, hoping to make her laugh. "I mean... how's a guy supposed to keep up?" He looked at her, playfully exasperated, before clucking his tongue.

"Maybe your game is to make sure I can't keep up. Which would be very not nice as I'm a tad slow to start with!" He huffed and crossed his arms, pretending to fail to notice he'd caught her in a hug. "I mean, half the time my brilliant ideas come from Amyrea... speaking of her, I wonder where she went." Kaleb looked up and around, pretending to search for the ghost-girl, though he already could sense her down by the- sense? Since when could he sense ghosts? He blinked and began to think, contemplate and explore this new ability before remembering he was likely crushing his poor little polecat.

"Whoops! Didn't see you there love! Hope I didn't love you too hard." And he winked with that, knowing she wouldn't find that overly funny, but it needed to be said.

[Fyra]

Her ears twitched with his voice, and even though it was strange, being pet like she was truly an animal, she didn't really mind. His fingers running through her thick fur wasn't bad;it was even a little pleasurable. Letting herself rest along his skin, she sighed, listening, letting her thoughts respond, thankfully, not able to blurt out her own thoughts. Marriage isn't boring! It's the act of dedicating your life to the family you plan to create, to your partner. And you have to try everything in your power to make it work. It's a promise...

Fyra looked up at him with chocolate eyes even as he looked at her, looking so gloriously serious, and immature. Her sides fluttered with laughter, her breath huffing from her nose. But she returned to seriousness swiftly. I don't think you're ready to make a promise like that... It's not something you do spontaneously like this... She tuned into his words as his voice squeaked. When she realized he was mimicking her, she sat bolt upright, and chittered at him. I do not sound like that!

But he continued onwards, of course, with a sigh and his arms looping around her to pull her against his chest. She sighed a little as his voice dropped off, allowing herself to nestle between his arms and his chest for a moment before the feeling of being trapped began to return again. She was starting to push and slip her way from between his arms when he looked down and winked with his words. Exaggerating the movement to make sure he caught it, she rolled her eyes and pushed away from him a little until she was able to just sit on his lap. Her ears flattened and she concentrated on herself, human legs, hair, human teeth in her mouth, big. Magic flooded through her once more slowly at first, and then rushing, like a dam being broken.

It left her half sprawled over Kaleb's lap, and she reached out a little to steady herself, her hands coming to rest on the man's chest and shoulder. Small chest heaving with heavy breath, she blinked at him as she frowned. Her voice was small. "First off... you do a horrible impression of me. Second... I still believe stealing is wrong, but I've barely survived a year out here, and half of the reason I did was because of charity. I need to up my game." She put a hand to her head, running fingers through her straight hair. "I like being warm at night. I can't be that way if i'm having to sleep out in the streets. theft is just... a means to an end."

[Kaleb Morrington]

Score! She was human again, and in his lap and- shit... she was upset. Smiling wryly Kaleb rubbed her arms, careful to keep his eyes on hers. "I understand a bit better than you think I do love. Perhaps for me, it's become more fun than a necessity because I had to make it that way as a kid, to make myself do it. I was brought up proper, and then forced myself into thievery." He wanted to kiss her. Very badly. But he had a feeling that might prove to be a bad idea. So he settled for reclining and enjoying the feeling of her on his lap.

He risked caressing her calves, though he fought to keep his eyes on hers, trying to keep up his "gentlemanly" image. It wasn't working well, as he was obviously a thief, but he still tried.

"So why get upset and shit when I bring up living an honest life then love?" He was confused, he'd admit, and a little hurt by her turning to run when he said that.

[Fyra]

Fyra couldn't answer him and meet his gaze. It was too penetrating, looking deeper than she could handle. His hands on her arms and calves felt good, but she wasn't sure what to think of the soft touches. It wasn't trapping her, so she pushed it aside. I can move off of him at any time. She took a deep breath as she reassured herself of that, trying to think of the way his gaze flickered around her body despite his efforts to keep them on her ace.

Her hands fidgeted against his skin, her eyes focusing on small fingers rather than on him as she fought to explain herself, finding it difficult to start. "It's... Theogios, Kaleb... I don't even know if you could shift over so easily to living honest! You may have been raised proper, but you ran away before you were even a teenager!" She quivered in his lap, her voice tainted with fear, but now that she had started she couldn't stop, words pouring from her, babbling. "I just... I've only known you for less than two weeks, and you're talking as though... " One hand ran through her hair and tugged on the streak of black on her right side. "As though we'll just... I don't know. It's like you're trying to give me my old life back... but what if I don't want my old life? I mean, I want that stability, but all I was going be then was a housewife! I don't even have skills I could open a shop with. I'm a half-decent cook, a terrible seamstress, I can carve, but nothing besides little hobby-pieces!" She shifted uncomfortable, unable to look at him except for small glances here and there.

'And you just start talking as though... we'll just live a happy life, as a law-abiding co-couple... like we're already t-toge-gether and you say you're falling in l-lo-" She couldn't say the word, so she skipped it, panic rising in her and showing in her voice, her words coming faster. "What 'm'I supposed t'do, Kaleb?! It's like you turned from this guy who was just giving me a bit of support because you'd been where I was before and were helping a fellow street-rat out. But now it's so much different and you've done so much for me and I have no way to repay you and now you are farther in than just friendship and Theogios knows I was past that from the very beginning but now it's confirmed through your own words that there's more and-" Her words were a babbling torrent, a stream's waterfall, unable to stop, but she wasn't totally sure what she was saying anymore either, her eyes wide, her breath shallow, her body quivering. Her size shifted a little, but she used the fear to anchor her to her human shape.

[Kaleb Morrington]

Okay... so what he was gathering was that he was moving waaaay too fast. He got that. She continued to babble. He still got it. She remained babbling and shaking. Kaleb continued to listen, as that was what he was told he was supposed to do by many a female. But when she started to repeat herself, Kaleb lost his patience and promptly shut her up by sealing her mouth shut with a kiss.

Careful not to make it too aggressive - just soothing - Kaleb gently kissed her then pulled back, eyes playful. "All you had to say was I was going too fast. I'll let you take the lead, okay? Changers know I'm not great at this whole relationship thing as you're honestly my first." He smiled easily at her, hands now cupping her face gently.

"Why not draw up some rules or whatever? Let me know what I can and can't do for now until you feel more comfortable. If I'm against it, we'll work out a compromise, aye?" He tilted his head, trying to catch her eyes that seemed to avoid his. "I want to make whatever this is, work Safyra. And I'm willing to make changes. Certainly it'll be a tad tricky, but I'm willing."

[Fyra]

She was shocked at how he was allowing her to just babble on. The torrent of words only grew faster, more confusing. Fyra could barely understand what she was saying anymore, only realizing that it was all of her fear bursting out through her voice. As he leaned forward to press his lips against hers, a startled squeak came from her, but she stopped speaking. Her eyes fluttered closed and then opened as he drew back. She couldn't hide her face, so her eyes hid from his gaze instead. Up, down, anywhere but his eyes, her gaze would go. Panicked still, she forced her breath to slow a little as she listened to Kaleb speak.

Slowly, she tried to gather her courage up and raise her eyes to his, but it wasn't working. She'd catch a glimpse of bright green in her peripheral vision, and instantly her dark eyes would shy away. He's letting me take the lead. Good- Wait... I don't know! I don't know what's okay or not... I... I like his kisses, the way he touches me. I shouldn't, but I do! Frowning, she tried to think but wasn't getting far as she shifted uncomfortably.It was several moments before she was able to nod in agreement to his suggestions.

She finally managed to make herself speak, her voice tentative. "I think that's a good idea it's just..." She leaned into his palm. Her voice had a small, pleading tone to it. "Can't we just continue as we have? I-I just... I don't know anything. It's not like I had many swains..." Her eyes stared at where his neck met his shoulder. "I d-don't even know what's okay and what's not anymore... I-I blew pretty much everything I was comfortable with out of the water l-last n-night... I..." She was babbling again, and her lips snapped shut. One hand came up to touch the back of his, her eyes raising finally, but still unable to meet his eyes.

[Kaleb Morrington]

Now he got it - sort've. He pulled her into him again, this time rocking slightly so she rested against his chest simply held her, his lips in her hair. "Whatever you want, love, you already have." He closed his eyes and mentally drew up rules for him to abide by. No "intimate" zones unless she gives the okay. Kissing and making out = good, but no sex unless she jumps him. He grinned at that. No saying "I love you." He frowned inwardly. He didn't like that rule, but he'd have to follow it for a bit, at least until she was more comfortable. Maybe say it here and there and see what her reaction was?

He breathed in her scent. She wants to learn how to be a thief, and is obviously against it, which is never a good combo... unless I show her why. His eyes opened, hooded, as he slipped deep into his own thoughts, planning, his hand absently stroking her hair.

Which rich bastards did he know that deserved to be robbed? Several. Which would make the most impression? Father. It made him freeze, eyes wide open and his heartbeat pick up. No.But then she'd understand. She'd know why I left, even at a young age.You said you'd never go back there-

"Fighting with yourself again?" Amyrea's voice made Kaleb jump, cursing. "Damn it Amyrea, at least warn me before you pop out of thin air." He looked down apologetically at Fyra before looking up at the entertained ghost. "Yeah, so what if I am?" "You're fighting with yourself, when you have the woman you love, naked in your lap." "Yeah?" The ghost sighed.

"Why not make love to her then think about it when she's asleep?" Kaleb narrowed his eyes. "Because she'd already regretting the first time. She was raised like us." The ghost raised an eyebrow. "I bet she enjoyed it either way?" Why was she asking that as a question?! "I'm not about to ask her." Kaleb scowled. "Bad enough she almost took off on me." The ghost sighed wearily before floating down to rest on Kaleb's arm, looking at the girl enviously.

"If I were her, I'd be begging for your touches." "You've known me longer and have proposed to me more times than I can count." Was Kalebs dry response as he rolled his eyes at Fyra. "Even then, my love, if I were in her position, shy or not, I'd be begging for your touches." "So why isn't she?" "She's really shy." Was the ghosts dry response before she kissed Kaleb, pet Fyra's hair and floated up to the rafters, claiming she was going to watch the neighbors. Kaleb rolled his eyes before looking back down at Fyra, entertained by her look.

"Amyrea was telling me to make love to you and ask you why you're not begging for my touches." Kaleb commented easily, grinning because he knew what her response would be.