Ninth Snowfall: [text]

[towerlocked]

It should be a good thing, should it not? For someone to return to the world in which they belong. They are going back to friends and family... We should be glad of that. Yet it is still painful to lose that person, because they are your dear friend.

I am glad for the friendships I have made here, however temporary they may be.

Comments

[towerlocked]

Thank you. It... hurts more than I expected.

[charmedson]

Need a distraction?

[towerlocked]

I think I do.

[charmedson]

Are you afraid of heights at all?

[towerlocked]

[a soft laugh] Hardly.

[charmedson]

Okay. Why don't I pick you up? I can get there pretty quickly, so if you need some time to get ready I'll wait a bit.

[towerlocked]

I will be looking forward to seeing you.

[charmedson]

[He orbs to where she is but not in the same room. At least he is polite enough to knock at the front door.]

[towerlocked]

[she opens the door and curtseys to him. In honor of Ino, she is in "modern" clothes. Though she still wears her old boots from home]

Chris, it's always a pleasure.

[charmedson]

[The clothes look good and he smiles at her though it isn't completely happy. He's worried, and in need of a distraction himself.]

Ready to go?

[towerlocked]

[oh Snow does notice that but doesn't ask him about it]

Yes, I am.

[charmedson]

I'm going to orb us. That means I have to touch you. [He moves close and puts his hands on her shoulders] Is this okay?

[towerlocked]

Of course. [she looks steadily at him, looking more excited than nervous or afraid]

[charmedson]

[He presses a little closer and then focuses on orbing. For a moment, they are surrounded by light. It's warm and bright and the faint musical chime of the magic working sounds around them. When he takes her out and up it's a little like flying, though it's happening too fast and it's too bright for her to take in where they are going.

When they come back to solid form they are in the highest possible place that Chris could get them to, overlooking the rest of the Port. It's a place he goes on his own when he needs to think. It reminds him of being on top of the Golden Gate Bridge with his dad.

They get a nice few of the city and the water. It's during the day, so despite the signs of Darkness proofing, it looks like a semi-normal city. At least for the time. Nothing in this place must seem 'normal' to her. It's a little cold because of the time of year, but he brought a coat he can offer to her if she seems too chilly.]

[towerlocked]

[Snow never experienced anything like it. It was nothing like the magic of Ravenna: it was beautiful, full of white light. She has to blink several times in order to see clearly again.

She doesn't even register where they are right away, because the orbing is so overwhelming. But once she does her mouth opens in awe. She grew up looking out from a great height. This view is obviously different but it still gives her the same feeling.

She isn't the least bit afraid of being so high]

I never thought I would see something like this. It's so... free.

[charmedson]

Whitelighters like being high. It makes it easier to hear everything.

[Though right now he's watching her rather than worrying about hearing Them. He can't hear them at the Port anyway and even back home he doesn't have any interest in what They say. It's still instinctual for him to find someplace high when he needs to clear his head.]

[towerlocked]

Whitelighters. [of course she never heard of it before meeting Chris, but she likes the way it sounds]

I grew up in a tower, but this is the first time I enjoyed being high. You're the reason for that.

[charmedson]

[He smiled a bit. Talking about her imprisonment was a little too much like dealing with issues, so instead he thinks of something else to talk about.]

Have I told you what Whitelighters do?

[towerlocked]

[that is a good subject choice, because Snow is very curious]

No, but I would love to hear about it.

[charmedson]

They're guardians. Like angels.

They take care of and protect people who are destined to do great good.

[A pause, as he lets that settle in] I think that's one of the reasons I feel drawn to you and want to make sure you're taken care of. I know that you're designed to do something important.

[towerlocked]

And you will be my guardian to help me until I fulfill that destiny? [she would be totally okay with that]

[charmedson]

While we're both here, I'll do whatever I can to protect you. As long as we're here, no one else is going to lock you up. If they try I'll come and get you and orb you away.

You can accomplish great things here too. We might as well see what we can do while we're stuck here.

[towerlocked]

[she places a hand on her heart. It's almost too much to hear him say things like that]

Thank you, Chris. I swear to you I will strive toward the greatness you see in me.

[charmedson]

[He smiles and looks down, a little embarrassed by how honest he's being. She inspires that in him though. He doesn't want to keep up the walls around her. A bit of his hair falls in his face for a moment before he looks back up at her.]

Hey, you don't have to worry so much. I just want you to know that there's a least someone here who looks at you and knows that you're strong. You'll survive. Even when it's something as sad as losing a friend.

[towerlocked]

[now she's blushing, which with her pale complexion is painfully obvious]

You're right. She wouldn't want me to despair forever. The best way I can honor her memory is to move forward.