Rings of flowers 'round your eyes and I'll love you, Leilan.

[Jenova]

something about the dark. something about our bodies, and the way we find one another.
something about the place where fear melts in the mouth and gets lost in kisses and under fingernails.
Jenova does not appreciate the color her father has given her or the wings and horn from her mother. Instead, she is envious of all the unique aspects of those around her, especially this golden goddess Nike. A wistful sigh leaves her lips as she imagines a perfect beauty, glimmering in the sun like some unattainable apex of aesthetics. How lucky she thinks Leilan is to mimic some of that gorgeous color. Revere and Cherise would surely scoff to see their daughter so unappreciative of their gifts.

When he fusses with the little knot in her mane, the brief touch is electric on her skin and she shivers despite being quite comfortable nestled against him. His compliments make her cheeks and ears grow hot. Her body urges her to flee from his side while also demanding that she reciprocate his affectionate touches. It confuses her, really, as she has never had the chance to explore her own body or another’s before. Still, she turns her head just enough to sigh against his skin without daring to go any further than this.

Jenova doesn’t understand concepts such as romantic love or attraction as Leilan does. She knows that his skin pressed tightly to hers is thrilling and his touches make her knees weak, but she doesn’t think beyond these things. In fact, she might not ever feel devotion so great as love, but that’s alright with her. A wild thing like Jenova hardly has a need for commitment beyond a day.

“Maybe I’ll have to visit Ischia every now and again,” she mumbles idly against him. She thinks it might be fun to see him later when the summer is too hot and maybe he can use that frost to cool her off. Jenova has always avoided the kingdoms for fear of overstepping their boundaries, but if she’s visiting Leilan then it’s a different story. The idea of exploring a place that had previously been forbidden is wildly exciting for her. She would always return home to the river though. This was the only home she had ever really known within Beqanna and she’s not terribly eager for a permanent change of scenery just yet.

She’d like to ask why someone like her is just what he needs but the topic seems rather dreary and complicated, so she leaves it off the table for now. Jenova is no good for advice or comfort when it comes to tangled up emotions and darker days, as she doesn’t know such emotions herself.

Jenova
something about the sanctity of trust, of midnight confessions,
of held breath let out on a sigh like a smoke signal, a safe harbor.
some kind of magic. the kind that’s only for us.

@[Leilan]