<span style='width:100%;font-weight:bold; font-size:10px'>Out of Character</span> <table class='ooc'><tr><td>Continued from http://shadowlack.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4801Just One, Can't Hurt</a></td></tr></table> <span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'>The night outside was colder than he'd expected, sitting in the warmth of Chyzuak's cozy dormitory. As Nene strolled out across the lawn, feeling grass give way beneath his bare feet, he had to cross his arms over his chest and hug himself to keep warm. He crossed all the way to the center of the courtyard before turning to his companion and pointing at the cold ground. <span style='color:#EE4422'>"This is a good spot,"</span> he told her with a smile, shivering gently. <span style='color:#EE4422'>"We should spread a blanket out right here,"</span> he said as he held out his arms, ready to assist with the task.</span>
Chz followed him across the courtyard. She shivered from the chill of the night. She nodded and set the second blanket, on the ground. She started to spread it out, when a gust of wind blew it over her head. She started to laugh, as she pulled the blanket off of her head.
<span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'>Nene laughed chimingly at the clumsy display, then helped Chz pull the blanket from her head. He took two corners in his hands, placed one in the grass and knelt on it to hold it in position, then spread the other one far out and dropped his entire body on the blanket. <span style='color:#EE4422'>"There we go!"</span> he said with a giggle, rolling onto his back (careful to avoid crushing his gossamer insect wings) and looking up at the thill.</span>
Chz smiled. She picked up the other blanket and moved so that she was sitting next to Nene. She unfolded the other blanket, and offered part of it to him. The blankets were meant for dragons much larger then them but, they had been cheap and they were clean and warm.
<span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'>The little arden took the blanket happily, covering his sprawled body easily with the oversized bed dressing. It was chilly at first, but the two feys' body heat quickly warmed up the material and Nene's shivering had entirely disappeared. He turned his head towards Chz, and frowned in dismay to see her sitting up. <span style='color:#EE4422'>"Lie down,"</span> he advised, <span style='color:#EE4422'>"otherwise you'll hurt your neck, craning it all the time to look up."</span></span>
Chz looked at him for a moment, and then grinned. She layed down, and looked up at the sky. She looked at the stars, and said, <span style='color:purple'>Oh they are pretty.</span>
<span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'>Nene turned his head to smile at Chz, then moved his gaze back towards the sky. Lying on his back, staring straight ahead at the stars, they filled his vision so that he could see nothing but the great expanse of blackness speckled with pinpoints of light. It made him feel lonely and hopeless, but it was a feeling he enjoyed - the fey allowed the emotion to sweep through him and quiet his running thoughts. After a moment, he spoke softly, <span style='color:#EE4422'>"the stars tell stories."</span> He pulled the blanket tighter to his body, glad for the warmth as a cold breeze brushed through his hair. <span style='color:#EE4422'>"Beautiful and sad tales..."</span></span>
Chz listened and gazed up at the sky. She said, in a soft voice, <span style='color:purple'>Everyone has stories, beautiful and sad, just like the stars.</span>
<span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'><span style='color:#EE4422'>"Not everybody,"</span> Nene retorted with a shrug, never taking his eyes off the night sky. <span style='color:#EE4422'>"I don't have any sad stories, or even any beautiful ones. But the stars, they tell the stories of mythology. They're like a book of the gods, and the stories of the universe."</span> The arden smiled inwardly, seeking out some of his favorite constellations from the tangle of stars.</span>
Chz listened. She glanced over at Nene. <span style='color:purple'>Interesting, I have never met anyone who didn't have any sort of stories but, I guess it is just one of those things.</span> She said quietly and looked up at the sky.
<span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'><span style='color:#EE4422'>"I have stories, just no interesting ones,"</span> Nene said. He hadn't really had any life-changing moments, or gone on any adventures, or met anyone wonderful. His existence was really quite mundane, a point which he didn't mind at all. Presently, his arm snaked out from under the blanket and he pointed his index finger at the sky, tracing it along a constellation. <span style='color:#EE4422'>"See those four stars?"</span> he asked. When connected, they formed the zig-zap shape of a lightning bolt's body. <span style='color:#EE4422'>"Those make up the constellation Ied-nehlt. She's the ruling Numegola of lightning. Supposedly she granted me her powers at birth, and watches over me,"</span> the fey said with a happy tone in his voice, <span style='color:#EE4422'>"at least, that's how my clan explains my gift for electrokinesis."</span></span>
Chz looked to where Nene pointed, in the sky. <span style='color:purple'>Ooh, I see. That sounds interesting.</span>
<span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'>Nene frowned and turned his head to look at Chz. Judging by her lack of conversational reciprocation, he could only guess that she didn't find this whole business too entertaining. <span style='color:#EE4422'>"Stargazing doesn't seem to have scored well with you,"</span> he said, a bit disappointed.</span>
Chz looked up at the sky lost in her thoughts. She turned and looked at Nene and smiled. <span style='color:purple'>Sorry, maybe if I read up on it a bit, I will have more of an interest.</span>
<span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'>Nene turned back towards the stars and tried to think of ways to interest Chz, so that this evening wasn't a complete loss. He sighed quietly and parsed his brain for all of the constellations he knew. <span style='color:#EE4422'>"Oh, hey,"</span> he said, suddenly remembering a small cluster of stars off to their right. <span style='color:#EE4422'>"You're a pyrokinetic, correct?"</span></span>
Chz watched Nene, and said, <span style='color:purple'>Yes, I am.</span> She wondered what, he had thought up.
<span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'>Nene traced the outline of another constellation, one that faintly resembled the structure of a man with one arm oustretched, reaching for something. <span style='color:#EE4422'>"That's Reda, the Numegola of fire and pyrokinesis. He watches over you,"</span> he told Chz with a broad smile. Of course, he didn't mention the fact that Reda also represented greed and rage - that was irrelevant, as Chz didn't seem to possess either of those qualities.</span>
Chz looked up at the sky as Nene pointed another constellation. <span style='color:purple'>Reda, and Ruling, hmm. Ok, next time I am in the library. I am gonna get a couple books and read up on this. It sounds interesting but, at this moment. I am a little confused how starts can have constellations.</span> She felt her eyes start to grow heavy. <span style='color:purple'>Nene, I think it is time we called it a night. I am starting to get sleepy. Tonight has been, fun and interesting.</span> She smiled at Nene, hoping that she didn't look as tired as she felt.
<span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'>Nene nodded solemnly. All evenings had to come to an end, and this one was, all in all, a very nice evening. It had certainly lasted longer than his previous meeting with Chz, which had survived only a few pool shots and a glass of apple juice. He dislodged himself from the top blanket and rolled onto the grass, freeing the blanket beneath him as well so that the thill could pick them up. The frozen ground chilled him through his shirt, but he paid the climate no heed. <span style='color:#EE4422'>"I'm going to stay out here a little while longer,"</span> he said, looking towards Chz. <span style='color:#EE4422'>"Good night. I had fun today,"</span> he smiled at her, then folded his arms under his head and looked up towards the sky.</span>
Chz smiled and quickly folded up the blanket she had used to cover them with. <span style='color:purple'>Go ahead and use this blanket, Nene. You can return it later, after all it is cold out here. Goodnight.</span> She turned and started walking back towards the building with the dorms.
