"Regardless, it belongs to me now."[break][break]

The unspoken meaning is not lost on him. It’s not your business, basically. [break][break]

One thing he liked most about Skyler was that constantly ravenous, headstrong spirit of hers. The one that saw her throw herself into choppy waters and come out the other side with wild eyes. [break][break]

How alive she was. How alive she made him feel.[break][break]

Angelo wouldn’t dare dream of trying to restrain that, even when his fear for her sinks heavy like a stone cast into the deep; not when he’s long been acquainted with the sensation of ties encircling around his neck, grounding him when he’d rather be swept up into the skies. [break][break]

(Not like she’d listen, anyway.) [break][break]

But despite that fondness Angelo holds dear for her, or perhaps even because of it, he can't bring himself to be happy about the places the ocean’s jewel might take her. [break][break]

He knows he'll have to learn to live with it, if he wants to continue whatever… whatever this is between them, but it doesn't mean he has to like it.[break][break]

Angelo unflinchingly holds onto a resolute silver gaze for a few lingering heartbeats, glint of blue in his eyes about as firm as the hold on her hand – on his internal promise – before slowly, letting his fingertips slide away. But the vow silently remains. [break][break]

“Thought that would've be the first thing you’d have done with it,” his lips curl in dry humour, a calloused thumb smoothing back and forth over the dewy sphere absentmindedly. “Maybe we can finally go cliff diving. I’ll let you go first and if Kyogre doesn’t show up, I’ll know its safe to jump.” A small spark returns into his expression, ever so slightly strained at the corners but near invisible, as a Minior casts a well-timed shadow over his face. [break][break]

Angelo pauses and although his chest tightens, his words come out as steady as an Alto Marian canal – flowing but composed. “So, that’s it, then? Just going to carry it around with you and wait to see what happens?” Because his adventurous spirit is intrigued, despite the foreboding song it sings, about the thrumming shard that he can still feel lingering on his skin…[break][break]

“You said it was an orb once, right? There could be more pieces out there.”


[break][break]

+ skyler dross // planting carrots ( 2/3 ) [break][break]

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“It’d only be awkward if one of us doesn’t get out,” he hums on a faint chuckle, eyes crinkling slightly at the corners as he catches sight of something lighter in moonglow silver. “I’m not giving up my spot and the fish needs water. Guess that means you’ll have to go.” [break][break]

Despite the smile that curls softly onto Angelo’s lips, his heart remains too full with turbulence to let the subtle change in the mood soothe him completely. [break][break]

Talking and sharing with Skyler had certainly eased the weight he’d been carrying. Even if the captain had just listened it had felt (strangely) relieving to entrust his secret, to theorise over the identity of the mysterious sphere, with her. [break][break]

But the questions of what it wanted from him still lingered in Angelo’s mind, with no progress made. He had some ideas, if it even was a Soul Dew but the courier wasn’t sure he wanted to share in those speculations. Not when all he could come up with led him back to Alto Mare.[break][break]

And now his uncertainties didn’t just stop at himself… [break][break]

“What? And you’d let that stop you?” A brow is raised in a slight dare, as Skyler mentions that the other pieces of the oceanic orb might have found itself into rival hands. [break][break]

Angleo’s mouth parts, ready to continue with the teasing, when suddenly her warm breath is tickling against his earlobe; pinching teeth tugging his attention away, as a content exhale unwillingly escapes. [break][break]

Then Skyler’s cold fingertips sends a foul shudder right up his spine, urging him to flinch as he’s ripped from a brief second of reverie. Fingers unconsciously squeezing the orb until his knuckles pale. [break][break]

“Fu… Fuck! Get your cold-ass, hag claws off me.” He quietly snarls against Skyler’s cheek, hot breath fanning against her skin as his free hand latches onto her assaulting wrist, warning her to stop with fingertips squeezing tight – and coming across wholly unthreatening. [break][break]

Only Angelo makes no attempt to shove her off. Instead, he leans forward until his forehead rests on her shoulder, body tipping subtly into hers with eyes slipping shut. Momentarily casting his world into darkness, where only sea salt and warmth permeated. Tricking himself into imagining that the whispers caressing up his arm and into his mind, was an ocean’s calm morning lullaby, instead. [break][break]

If, for those few brief heartbeats, it comes across as the courier seeking comfort from her as inner turmoil continues to swirl, then he purposefully hides it from them both with a brush of his lips against his lover’s neck.  [break][break]

Deliberately pressing an icy nose into her throat.[break][break]

“Can’t stand the damn cold.” He tells the captain without sounding all too rushed; a sliver of tongue peeking out from between a devilish smile, to swipe against her neck. [break][break]

“What do you think? Plant these seeds and get the hell out of here?” [break][break]



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+ skyler dross // planting carrots ( 2/3 ) [break][break]

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A soft chuckle is caressed against Skyler’s neck; husky, albeit not from the cold. “Think it’s too late to start worrying about that now, babe…” He mumbles, his voice about as unapologetic as the teeth and lips he drags teasingly against her pulse. “Why? Haven't suddenly grown a conscience, have you?”[break][break]

Could she really be considered a bad influence when the thoughts were already in his head? An enabler, perhaps… [break][break]

Regardless, there’s nothing here – life choices or otherwise – for him to regret. Especially not when he has Captain Dross uttering trembling sighs underneath his tongue. [break][break]

Skyler’s calloused fingertips no longer sink a chill down to his bones; cold quickly subsiding as they dig and scratch into his sides with intent, promising a world where only heat and warmth prevailed. One which offered an escape from dark contemplations, cocooned in each other's company. [break][break]

A distraction like that is exactly what he needs. [break][break]

Fingertips that had once latched around Skyler’s wrist brush stray, golden curls away from her neck; clearing a path as he trails lazy kisses up towards her jaw. Only stopping when blue eyes catch sight of a familiar, hungry curl tugging at the corner of her lips. Angelo takes a second to appreciate it, heat coiling through him from the unspoken proposition, before he steals her smile with a kiss. [break][break]

This time, Angelo doesn’t mistake the fluttering feeling in his chest as the orb’s whispers. Not when he can hear his heart distinctly shivering in her name.[break][break]

Angelo remains crouching for a few moments longer, finally registering the cold with a grim expression as he securely tucks the orb back into the confines of his backpack. It utters something strangely soothing to him one last time, dewdrops or starlight swirling within, before he drags his fingertips away. [break][break]

Replacing its presence in his palm with a small, worse for wear trowel he’d brought from the garden, utterly dull in comparison. [break][break]

“Just this,” he exhales a cloud of steam as he pushes himself up to stand, shrugging his backpack over his shoulders and tossing the little spade to Skyler. “It's my only one, so try not to break it, Sunshine.” [break][break]

Blue Minior light dances across his features, highlighting the residue of turbulence in the depths of an ocean gaze, before Angelo turns away. “Or I'll have to demand repayment.” He purposefully lets a hint of a dare hang in the air between them, before walking off towards a rocky corner of the cave; hiding a sharp curl of his lips. “C'mon, let's try over here.”[break][break]

He was eager to get out of Shoal Cave, for too many reasons to count…

[break][break]

+ skyler dross // planting carrots ( 2/3 ) [break][break]

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