Open Camp never a frown with • goldenroar

[REDVEIL]

Redveil ignored the fluttering in his chest as he gave his pelt one final sweep, dragging a pink tongue across the last stubborn speck of dust clinging to his chest fur. That should do it. A twinge of guilt crawled up at cutting his earlier duties short, but this was important. A certain tom had been on his mind all day. He would make it up to them later. Someone who deserved a gestures of softness and care. Not because it meant anything. Of course not. Just an easy gift of thank you.

His coat now carefully pressed, even the ebony tips of his paws looking neatly rounded. Casting a glance to his right, where the small flower rested, protected in the tall grasses. A pale yellow bloom with a white streak, cradled like something precious. I hope he likes flowers. I know I do. The nerves returned, buzzing just under his skin. Rolling his eyes at himself, he exhaled sharply.

This will be to the point and formal. Just give it to him and go.

With delicate care, he lifted the flower between his teeth, mindful not to crush its stem. Their scruffy tail tip trailed low behind him as Redveil slipped back into camp, the hum of late evening life. The sun yielded to twilight, casting long pale lines through the clearing. Cats were gathering for evening meals, swapping stories and settling in.

Oh. There he is. Bright and charming as his name, standing just to the left, chatting easily with a departing warrior. Redveil's breath hitched. For a moment, he felt his legs go soft. Noting the awful publicity of his gift.

I hope he isn't too busy. Maybe I should wait? His heart kicked to life like a frightened rabbit.

Paws moved before his courage could flee, silent but steady. Fortunately, they were just far enough from the background of cats and maybe he could avoid too much attention. Dipping his angular head in greeting, unable to speak for fear of damaging the fragile gift held between pale lips. Scooting forward, he leaned up, stretching to meet Goldenroar's height as he offered the flower directly. Neck strained, legs wobbly, brown eyes flashing silent urgency.

Underneath the quiet sharp wit and pride, the tuxedo tom simply hoped the other would accept his kindness. All that mattered was that Goldenroar saw the flower. Ironically, a bit of dirt still clung to the top of his head, unnoticed in all his frantic grooming. He very much could have set the bloom at Goldenroar's paws, but Redveil's brain went uncharacteristically quiet. Know how or thoughts drowning at the millions of ways he could of done it right.

OOC: Happens a bit after the flower planting thread and trying his best at giving a very 'platonic' flower to @GOLDENROAR ​

 

[GOLDENROAR]

Busy doesn't begin to cut Goldenroar's current life. Hectic, maybe. It had been all but non-stop since he had been given the title. Deciding on patrols, speaking to Dustystar about proceedings going forward, worrying about the other clans, worrying about Windclan's- his?- warriors keeping the peace. Worried about Merrystalk and Harefoot, even if his brother could completely handle himself. Stress was going to make him go gray early, at this point. A sigh left the tom's muzzle, but he still wore that smile as dusk began to carve low across the moorland, finishing commending a warrior before someone he had come to know well approached him.

Aqua eyes briefly widened. Yes, he knew what Redveil looked like, but groomed and clean with that expression on his face meant one thing and one thing only. Goldenroar had been a suitor a long time, a chaser more then anything else for quite a bit now. He left that habit behind when the barn went up in flames, but still- he knew was this meant. Unless it doesn't? Unless it's just a simple gift. Right, that's all it's gotta be. His thoughts jumbled up for a moment. He lets his instincts take over, a tiny chuckle leaving his mouth as Redveil stretches up to meet him.

"Redveil, easy." He teases. Goldenroar's head lowered, taking the flower directly. He sits back on his haunches, holding it betwixt a set of toes as he observed it. Bright in color with a single white streak- matching his pelt, maybe? "Thank you, Redveil. It's pretty. What's this all about, then?" Goldenroar asks, his eyes shifting back towards the dark-pelted tom.

_______________________ I KEEP RUNNIN' BUT ☼ I'M STANDING STILL _______________________

• "speech"
  

• 

• GOLDENROAR he/him, windclan deputy, thirty six moons.
  ☆ a lh golden red marbled tabby with low white and glimmering aqua eyes. often seen with a smirk, confidence oozing from him in heaps, but always the ever-helpful guy.
  ☆ mentored by who / mentoring no one
  ☆ older brother to merry
  ☆ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / underline and tag when attacking
  ☆ penned by dallas ↛ dallasofnines on discord, feel free to dm for plots.
  
  ☆ mini by tasmagoric, ref image by dallas (yours truly!)

 

[REDVEIL]

The tension in the tortie's heart lurched when Goldenroar took the flower, but his expression barely shifted. Only the faintest lift at the corner of his mouth and a flick of his ears betraying the whirlwind beneath ribs. Seeing the deputy so close and haloed in the gloom of a sunset felt breathtaking. In a beat it was all over and they back at their rightful spots. A distance it seemed they both unconsciously set.The taller feline's soft chuckle and low teasing made his muzzle burn, but he sat straighter, as if willing himself to exist with dignity. Fluffed like a bird from the gratitude received.

Of course he would take it in stride. Cool, calm, charming. Yep. That is exactly who Redveil would be.

Holding the bloom so casually like it hadn't taken every drop of the tuxedo's courage to bring it. Exhaling through his nose, voice dry but not unkind. "It was a flower I found, while helping Meadowpaw." A beat of nothingness follows before the Windclanner proceeds. "You're not the only one who gets to be thoughtful around here." Bravely he flashes a smile of mirth as the words come out teasingly.

Pausing again, eyes darting briefly away before snapping back with forced boldness. "You have been busy. I noticed. Figured no one else would say thank you for it." His lashes gave a restless flutter. "Consider it a gift. For all the times I've been insufferable." The tuxedo's whiskers wobble slightly, but something about the way his gaze lingered. Spelling out uncertainty and a hopefulness that undercut their sarcasm.

His voice dipped near the end, with familiar shyness. "I thought you might like it. The petals match your pelt. I-it made me think of you." Then, as if suddenly remembering how public this was, he added hastily. "If anyone asks, you can say it was found on a patrol." He would fizzle away if anyone from earlier had figured out his true intentions.Turning himself a fraction away, pretending to watch the darkening skies. Redveil wasn't ready to walk off just yet but he would surely perish before admitting he was waiting for a reply.

OOC Thread is now open ​