set right after this thread. for Eidola

Static pulled at her skin as the male's presence dissipated. She could feel the way his body lingered against her skin, imprinting with a tenderness that ached. But all Tiberii could feel was the agitation of her shock, her body fully ignited in fight mode — perhaps too rashly, but it was unfortunately her singular defense mechanism. She acted without thinking, shoving him away and watching as he muttered some sort of apology before seeing himself away.

And Tiberii would remain ... bristling. Bristling against the cold and bristling against her own shock.

She'd almost forgotten Eidola was there until her gaze turned toward the cowering teen. The smaller girl was muttering apologies, her own embarrassment painted as clear as day on a strained face. Tiberii would swallow, shaking her head after a moment as she turned her larger frame toward Eidola and tried to soften her stature.

No, no, it's ... don't be sorry. The fur along her nape was still on end, slowly steadying back into position as her neurons slowed in their rapid-fire. Never been more surprised by a hug in my entire fuckin' life, the bull would mumble, forcing out a laugh as she shook her head again.

She thought then of Shiloh.
And she clenched her teeth, feeling herself bristle all over again.

Are ya okay? She tried to soften the notorious booming of her voice, flicking her ears forward. Where'd ya find that guy, anyway? She didn't realize it but she was frowning again as she added ... He didn't try ta do that ta ya, did he? The bull squinched her eyes, her frown visibly intensifying.

It was obvious she wouldn't hesitate to follow him and give him a thorough ass-whooping.

---

She startled when Tiberii's full attention finally settled onto her. She had been standing impossibly still, as if movement might make things worse. Her dark ears had been pinned, shoulders drawn inward and heart still racing anxiously as the embarrassment clung to her like burrs, sharp and persistent — she hated how visible it must be.

"No, no, it's ... don't be sorry." ❝ I — ❞ she began, stopping herself and swallowing hard before nodding quickly. "Never been more surprised by a hug in my entire fuckin' life," she tried to force a smile, but she couldn't find any lightness in the ordeal, her violet eyes cast downward.

"Are ya okay?" she nodded again, biting her lip. "Where'd ya find that guy, anyway?" her ears flicked back again at this, a new embarrassment flooding her cheeks. ❝ By the river ❞ she answered quietly, ❝ He was...tired and cold. We just talked for a while, ❞

"He didn't try ta do that ta ya, did he?" she froze, something cold washing down her spine. Her eyes would widen and she shook her head at once, more force in the gesture than she would normally use. ❝ No, no — never ❞ she stammered out the words. ❝ He didn't touch me; not at all ❞ a pause, then she added ❝ I promise ❞ her gaze met Tiberii's but only for a second.

Eidola wrapped her tail tighter around her legs before daring another glance as tension lingered in her body.

—
❝ speech ❞

Eidola was soft, her nervous energy radiating from the very pores of her skin. And Tiberii, in all her hulking glory, would try to temper the heat of her flame as she talked to the fae-child (but Tiberii was a tough flame to dim, even on the worst of days).

There was something inherently honest in Eidola, amidst the fear and confusion and anxiety. Something that needed to be protected. Something that, somewhere deep down, reminded Tiberii of a simpler time in her life. The way those colors flowed, dancing across her form. The brown ... edged with black. The way those eyes searched with a knowing beyond their years.

This was certainly Fable and Archon's child.

S'alright, Eidola, the bull would offer, flicking her ears forward as she tried to soften the edges of her smile. Sorry if I ... overreacted. Who? Tiberii? Never. But Tiberii would be remiss if she made Eidola lose faith in strangers for her own lack of that same faith. That ... well, that wouldn't be fair, would it?

Tiberii had been stripped of that faith at a young age.

Her gaze softened as she offered a smile. Long as ya felt safe, tha's all I meant. That lilac gaze would lift, meeting with Tiberii's simmering gold for only a second. An ache would pulse deep in Tiberii's chest as a wave of guilt washed over her. I can leave ya alone, if ya'd like. Tiberii's presence was, at best, suffocating. It was something she understood about herself.

---