Mortal Longings ((Full))

[Dreaming_Drifter]

Iona

Iona dressed herself in the strange new clothes woodenly, only knowing how to put on a couple of the items because she had seen similar clothes on Mari the night before. She slowly processed Apollo's words, along with her own feelings. Most of her thoughts were focused on Mari.

She'd regretted the words as soon as she'd seen Mari's wounded expression. Iona had unintentionally alienated her best and only friend, because of a hug gone awry. And she definitely hadn't meant to make her cry. But she'd been afraid that Mari was trying to push her toward a more physical relationship... Something Iona wasn't sure she was ready for. Not only that, she still worried about Tyrinus's comments from when they'd first met... Just how many girls had Mari seduced before they met?

But Apollo was right. Iona had been cruel and ungrateful to Mari, just like her father had been to Apollo. Suddenly it was all she could do not to just set off running after Mari. She finished dressing and exited the small changing room, hesitating a moment before letting her old dress and cloak fall into the nearest trash receptacle. They had no place here. She looked up at Apollo. "Can we go to Mari now?"

 

[Dreaming_Drifter]

Apollo

Apollo smiled and nodded, pressing a backpack into Iona's arms. "Here. A few gifts. Consider them belated birthday presents." He draped an arm around his younger cousin's shoulders and led her out of the city, back into the forest, only stopping once to pick a flower for Tyrinus. A white rose. He followed the path of the three beings, letting go of Iona when he saw Tyrinus slamming his head against the tree. "Oh, my... Better stop him before he causes some permanent damage... Good luck, Iona." Apollo ran over to Tyrinus and grabbed him by the shoulders, turning him around and pinning him to the tree he'd been using to try and kill himself with a second time. "Hey, now... Whatever's got you upset, cutie, it's not worth bashing your brain out over."

 

[Dreaming_Drifter]

Iona

Iona thanked Apollo quietly and walked beside him, wondering if this was what it felt like to have an older brother watching out for you. She ran to Mari as soon as she saw her, falling to her knees in front of her and throwing her arms around the girl tightly. "I'm sorry, Mari, I'm sorry... I didn't mean it, I'm sorry I said those things..."

 

[Dreaming_Drifter]

Apollo

Apollo sighed and wrapped his arms around Tyrinus's waist. "I know, sweetie... It's unsettling to have our paradigms shattered. But that doesn't mean you deserve punishment." He smiled slightly and rested his chin lightly on Tyrinus's shoulder, not speaking again, but just enjoying the feeling of being close to someone he liked. It had been a long time since he dared to love, but he felt Tyrinus might just change that for him.

 

[Dreaming_Drifter]

Iona

Iona felt like she'd been hit when she realized just how wrong she'd been about Mari. She began to cry herself and hugged Mari again, apologizing over and over. "I'm so sorry... I should never have... I didn't mean... I'm just so sorry, Mari... Please forgive me, I'm so sorry... You're... You're my only friend... I didn't mean to hurt you... I was just sc-scared..."

 

[Dreaming_Drifter]

Iona

Iona sniffled and clung to Mari stubbornly, as if afraid that if she let go of the girl, she would disappear. She felt strange, pressed this close to Mari, but ignored the feeling. It was what had driven her to hurt Mari in the first place, so it was obviously meant to be ignored. "So... We're okay?" she whispered shakily, not wanting to let go of Mari until she was sure she wasn't going to leave.

 

[Dreaming_Drifter]

Apollo

A soft moan slipped past Apollo's lips at the unexpected reciprocation, and he smiled so sincerely that he actually glowed for a moment. His mischievous grin returned and he slid his hands slowly lower on Tyrinus's body, placing a single kiss on the male's neck. "Mm, and here I was thinking you were so sweet and innocent..." He blushed and his eyes widened when his hands reached their intended destination, sure there must be a mistake of some kind. "Gods above," he swore, his expression somewhere between shock and pleasure as he touched Tyrinus again to make sure he wasn't imagining it. "You are very well-endowed, Tyrinus," he murmured, still surprised.

 

[Dreaming_Drifter]

Apollo

Apollo blushed, laughed, and stepped back, slipping his hand through Tyrinus's and leading him toward the cave where the little group had spent the night before. "You and I have some very important things to discuss, Tyrinus... Iona, dear! When you and Mari are done talking, head back into the city and find a place to stay. We'll catch up with you when we're finished!" he called back to his cousin, almost running in his eagerness for Tyrinus and himself to be alone so he could further explore what he had accidentally stumbled across.