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[color=808080][color=ffc300][b]#ffc300[/b][/color] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [url=https://postimg.cc/CzQXMchF][color=808080][b]outfit[/b][/color][/url] [color=2e2c2c].....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [color=0a6d6b][b]#0a6d6b[/b][/color] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [color=808080][b] naked/half-dressed[/b][/color] [color=2e2c2c].....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [b]sylas's cabin[/b][/color]
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Having made their way eventually to his bed, she lay next to him. Evelyn kept one bare leg hooked over his, her eyes trained on one of the more visible marks of her passion left on his body. She had gripped onto him harder than she had to, kissed him more fervently, biting Sylas’s flesh at times on his shoulder, by his neck, above the collarbone and chest. Something she could have restrained and helped but didn’t. She closed her eyes trying to swallow the thoughts and allowed herself to nuzzle into the crook of his neck. Despite her seeming to get comfortable and get away with whatever the equivalent of murder was for Sylas, she knew the man had limits. While seeing Sylas squirm in discomfort was an amusing thought, she didn’t want to like this. [color=ffc300]“I can leave if you want,”[/color] she murmured, only inviting the opportunity because she knew they had some draw and forsaken patience for each other. However, she never wanted to overstay her welcome. But she was drifting off. The warmth and weight of the blankets combined with Sylas’s body heat and presence was sending her into a quick lull. As for what she preferred, her body always told him what she couldn’t say out loud.

Sylas didn’t say anything. He wasn’t going to tell her to leave, because he didn’t want her to go, but he had already been vulnerable enough for one night, so he couldn’t admit it out loud either. But similar to how Evelyn’s body language spoke the truth she couldn’t voice, his arm wrapped around her shoulders, holding her close as she rested against him. He stared at the ceiling while his other hand idly stroked the soft skin of her forearm. It wasn’t until he felt her body relax and sink as she drifted off that he let his eyes slowly shut and sleep take him. 

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[color=86a8ad]"Good morning campers."[/color] A foreign voice echoed out from whatever hidden P.A. system Sylas had grown somewhat familiar with in the time that Andy was leading camp. He thought, perhaps, with her no longer running camp he was free from the daily morning announcements but it seemed this [i]River[/i] not only had a similar work ethic, he also liked bothering them even earlier in the morning. [color=86a8ad]"This is your new leader, River, speaking. It is currently 7:30 a.m. on January 1st. Your first training will begin in one hour at 8:30 a.m. in the arena. Please arrive promptly and dress accordingly."[/color]

He groaned at the thought of training early in the morning immediately after new years. It was a sadistic type of leader who expected a group of hungover young adults would be up for anything physical at eight in the morning. It had been months since Pandora's box and he knew training was inevitable, but he had hoped that they’d get maybe one more day of freedom. Luckily, Sylas hadn’t drank that much so he was fine, [i]relatively[/i], but training meant getting out of bed and watching Evelyn slip from his arms… again. His arm that wasn’t pinned beneath her draped across his eyes to try and block out the sun as he yawned. [color=0a6d6b]"Hope you’re not hungover,"[/color] he muttered under his breath, assuming Evelyn had woken up with the announcement, similar to himself. 

The abrupt announcement made her wince and turn into the space between the pillow and Sylas like it would dull the sound. It wasn’t unexpected, however waking up to a P.A system was never the most kind of circumstances. [color=ffc300]“Mmm. I’m okay.”[/color] She stayed for a moment longer than she should have, hand hesitantly coming to rest on his stomach and drawing stray patterns. She narrowly avoided the urge to kiss along his jaw as if it would be a sweet start to an otherwise harsh wake up call and planned, brutal morning. But she stopped herself. Evelyn doubted Sylas was the kind to enjoy being smothered in affection, whether it was as a thank you for letting her stay or trying to make a bad morning slightly better. Perhaps something to consider in the bargain of having him all to herself.

[color=ffc300]“How are you feeling?”[/color] She did mean in terms of readiness for training but the question was a little painfully open ended.

Sylas was a little surprised at the way she lingered, remaining close and touching him rather than pulling away in the light of day. He revelled in the closeness even if his face was unreadable like it always was. But even in his stoicism, his fingers idly ran through her long crimson hair, gently detangling the knots and falling into an effortless, self soothing rhythm. He sighed softly at her question as he stared up at the ceiling. [color=0a6d6b]"Tired,"[/color] he confessed. It was a late night and he would have much rather preferred staying in bed for a few more hours sleeping… or otherwise, compared to training. He knew the moment they set foot out of his cabin it’d be like every other time, where they acted more like strangers than lovers. Evelyn wouldn’t give him an answer that day and he knew clinging to that tenuous limbo would only make things worse for himself. He didn’t say it but he knew… that had to be the last time until she said otherwise. For his sanity and her own. 

A lazy smile graced her lips at his short, simple, honest answer. That they could agree on. And she might’ve seen the hour through lounging in bed with him comfortably if there wasn’t such an overhanging subject waiting to be addressed. She didn’t forget and she knew Sylas wouldn’t either. In part that’s likely why she soaked up a few extra peaceful minutes with him.

[color=0a6d6b]"Training was to be expected,"[/color] he added, answering her intended question more directly. [color=0a6d6b]"Three months of lazing around camp had to bite us in the ass eventually."[/color]

She gave a neutral hum. [color=ffc300]"I wonder how bad it’s going to be. If it's an active punishment for having three easy months or compensating for them or if River’s just the messenger or the one calling the shots."[/color] Evelyn was mostly thinking out loud, letting her mind wander, sure Sylas would either indulge a theory or dismiss it altogether.


She reluctantly shifted to prop herself up on an arm looking him over. [color=ffc300]“You don’t look overly concerned about a new person taking over.”[/color] Handing over leader privileges was no small task. In fact something to be typically earned among the group but with the gods backing River, it was dangerous. And depending on how he ruled… Then again, a lot of people had more reason to be concerned with Sylas and what he had the potential to do.

[color=0a6d6b]"Because I’m not,"[/color] he replied casually as he sat up in bed slightly, resting his back against the headboard. [color=0a6d6b]"The only leaders I care about are ones that become my problem. I don’t think Ajax or Nick even knew who I was. And Andy?... [i]Well,[/i]"[/color] Sylas shrugged his shoulders, letting his gaze drift over to Evelyn, [color=0a6d6b]"She doesn’t like me."[/color] While he allowed himself to share a small glimpse into something like Andy’s disdain for him, he wouldn’t divulge too much information. He would tell her if she asked, but he found himself keeping his cards close to his chest until she opened up equally. [color=0a6d6b]"Until this [i]River[/i] proves to be a pain in my ass, him being leader is of little consequence to me."[/color]

Evelyn looked at him in disbelief, her brows pulling together only slightly for a moment to give away visible confusion. Nick’s leadership lasted days before his untimely demise and it was probably better to be off Ajax’s radar altogether. But for Andy to be the only potentially problematic one for him was a twist. And any leader simply not being cared about sounded naive. [color=ffc300]“Anyone in power should be of consequence to you. They have the camp’s resources, the blessings of the gods…”[/color] She stopped her list short and sighed gently unsure why she was bothering. She could imagine with the powers of Eris everything was small and insignificant to him until proven otherwise. 

[color=ffc300]“It’s just scary for someone to say jump and we’re expected to respond ‘how high’,”[/color] she muttered, casting her gaze away. Not unlike himself. And while she had nothing against River and he seemed decent in their brief encounter, he was a stranger who could currently command what he wished. Though, maybe that really wasn’t so far from the gods themselves ordering their children around.

[color=0a6d6b]"Do you [i]really[/i] think the Gods would give a mortal [i]that[/i] much power?"[/color] Sylas asked, turning his head slowly so that he could look down into her eyes. Out of everyone at camp, Evelyn was the last person he expected to have her feathers ruffled at the prospect of a new leader. From what he had seen, the leader’s only real purpose was training them to become warriors for the Gods. Nothing more. He highly doubted there was much power behind the role. It was likely a farce, some smoke and mirrors to scare them into submission. While he wasn’t going to bow or kiss boots, training wasn’t the worst thing. After all, they were born with special gifts. It’d be a waste not to wield them to their fullest potential. 

[color=0a6d6b]"You know as well as I do that if the Gods want to send a message they’d do it themselves, not send a lap dog to do their bidding."[/color]

He was right. To a degree. Evelyn pushed herself to sit upright, leaning against the headboard too for a moment mulling it over, staring at a space in the wall. [color=ffc300]"You’re not bothered about them using some of us as pawns in the meantime?"[/color] Her eyes shot back to him.

[color=0a6d6b]"[i]That’s[/i]... A complicated question,"[/color] Sylas’s voice dragged out as he tried to find a more solidified answer. He was never someone who allowed himself to be a pawn but there was also the part of him that sought Eris’s favor with a relentless fervor. He didn’t want to be a tool to the Gods, but he wanted to be his mother’s chosen. It was complicated and not easy to put into words. There might have been a part of him, somewhere deep inside, that yearned to share some of those dark thoughts with Evelyn, but no matter how much he warned her about his true nature… He would always be apprehensive about sharing his authentic self with her. She didn’t handle his trial well. He could only imagine how much worse it’d be when other pieces of himself were revealed. Maybe that’s why he needed her to choose him… because maybe [i]then[/i] she could accept all of him?... [i]Doubtful.[/i]

Her brow quirked patiently waiting for Sylas to find his footing around the question. She rarely asked the simple ones. But for a man that wished to be no one’s puppet, Evelyn was surprised he couldn’t provide a more firm answer. Or at least arrogantly disqualify himself from ever being anyone’s pawn. But nothing more came. And that’s where she let it sit. [i]‘That’s a complicated question.’[/i] Something to be pried cautiously later.

There was an unfortunate reality that struck her as she caught the clock in the peripheral vision. She had to find her clothes strewn about in his cabin and do the walk of shame to the opposite side of camp to get appropriate attire for training yet. She shuffled to the edge of the bed, keeping an arm across her chest to maintain some modesty as she rose to her feet retrieving her underwear, dress and heels that she wriggled back into. Thankfully, all of which were in his room because they were too impatient for each other downstairs. She didn’t think herself a jewel but while Sylas had seen it and her all before and he was unapologetic and confident in himself, Evelyn was…well, she had to be more cautious. She didn’t want to carry herself with the arrogance of thinking she could strut around his cabin naked.

Initially Sylas’s gaze drifted over to her with no intention of looking away or hiding his enjoyment in seeing her body, but the way she covered herself like he no longer had a right to look struck a cord in him. He had seen every inch of her body, touched it… tasted it. So why was she bashful? Was he only allowed to enjoy her in the hidden darkness of the night? His jaw tensed as he looked down at his hands resting in his lap. 

She looked at Sylas, half bent over tying the last of her shoe straps. [color=ffc300]"Are you eating before training?"[/color] She offered as something more innocently curious and easy chit chat.

[color=0a6d6b]"Don’t know if I can handle being social with a bunch of new faces first thing in the morning… before training. I’ll probably just make something here,"[/color] Sylas admitted, his voice a bit more quiet and pensive, not thinking much on his temporary lapse into authenticity. 

To hear he couldn’t be bothered to conjure the energy with new people at a certain time was awfully human of him and humorous to Evelyn. She smiled amusedly to herself and kept any comments locked away. After all, it likely worked in the new people’s favor to avoid Sylas when he wasn’t up for it and she couldn’t poke fun at him for being multi beneficial. [color=ffc300]"Sounds wise."[/color] Providing whatever he elected to eat wasn’t too heavy.

Neither of them were particular fans of idle chatter, she knew that. It was likely a method to keep avoiding the elephant a little longer and ease things over but completely ineffective with him. She sighed gently and walked around the bed where he occupied. [color=ffc300]"Later,"[/color] she promised quietly as her hands came to rest on his shoulders. [color=ffc300]"I’ll tell you later what I want."[/color] Despite knowing that she shouldn’t touch him so liberally she also believed that this was as close as she’d get to him for a while. Having thought that, against better judgement, a hand cupped his cheek while she leant in and kissed the other side gently. 

Sylas pulled the blanket off of his lap as he swung his legs over the edge of the bed. He rested his elbows on his bent knees and rubbed the back of his neck with one of his hands. With his gaze fixated on the ground and thoughts focused elsewhere, he didn’t notice Evelyn approach until her hands rested on his shoulders. A soft sigh slipped from his lips as he looked up into her eyes, not concerned with her seeing him naked unlike she had been. The sensation of her fingertips lightly caressing his cheek made his chest tighten. He waited with bated breath for her answer only to be disappointed with more waiting. He swallowed and closed his eyes as she gave him a gentle kiss to the cheek. It felt unfair that she sought more closeness and comfort without giving him the one answer he sought, but he didn’t pull away or stop her. He too was selfish and relished in the lingering touches while they lasted, knowing deep down that she wouldn’t choose him. Why would she? He didn’t say anything, just nodded his head in silent acknowledgement.

Her hand slid to the nape of his neck, playing her fingers through his hair not used to seeing Sylas in this sort of downtrodden state. [color=ffc300]“Sylas.”[/color] She wanted his eyes again, even if she was met with something cold or frightening. It shouldn’t have been her concern, he managed his own reputation and he excelled at managing his own emotions in public but she didn’t want other people seeing him distracted. Nor did she like seeing him this way. [color=ffc300]“You know how addictive I find you.”[/color] Her voice softened. She leaned in again, kissing the corner of his lips. [color=ffc300]“How hard it is to break away when I’m near you.”[/color] Evelyn’s lips glided to his ear and carefully enclosed around his earlobe. Gods if only he knew the self-control it took to break away. That’s partly why she couldn’t fathom why he was acting powerless. He had plenty of power over her. Now it was a matter of whether her reminder triggered his ego, a lash out or other. Hopefully through either course Sylas could figure that’s exactly why she had to make her decision away from him.

When she said his name, every muscle in Sylas’s body tensed as he slowly looked up into her eyes. There was no coldness or anger in his gaze, just exhaustion at being woken up prematurely and confusion at the mixed signals Evelyn was giving him. Whether or not he wanted to be so easily swayed, her words and touch ignited something in him that he couldn’t easily hide sitting naked before her. Instinctually, his right hand raised to caress her bare thigh, the tip of his thumb teasingly along the hem of her dress. There was a fleeting moment where he contemplated pulling her back down onto the bed with him and getting lost beneath the sheets. Every fiber of his being wanted nothing more, but feeding her [i]addiction[/i] wouldn’t get him answers. 

His hand gently guided her back a step as he moved to his feet, letting his chest brush against hers as he stood up. Sylas’s hand trailed up her leg and rested on her waist as he looked down at her. [color=0a6d6b]"And that’s why we must refrain until you know what you want."[/color] The amount of control it took to pry his hand from her side took more willpower than he could recall ever exerting before. He knew what he wanted. It wasn’t his plan to come to camp and get so wrapped up in a single person, but he had tried several times, and failed, to disentangle himself. Sylas had accepted the fucked up predicament it put him in and how latching himself to just Evelyn would make everything more complicated, but he needed clarity. Without knowing where he stood, he felt like he was trapped in a vise between the person he wanted to be and the person he should be. He couldn’t choose a path without knowing what path of destruction to follow and the fallout that would inevitably follow.

Under his prompt, she stepped away watching him rise to full height in all his unabashed glory, making a conscious effort for her eyes to stay trained on his. There were no tells of hostility, confusion or bolstered confidence in his eyes nor words, instead, calculation and level-headedness had returned. That would do. With a breath in and confirming nod, Evelyn let her palms slide down his torso, feeling the contours of his muscles to indulge one last time. In the meantime, dangerous impulsive words threatened to surge to the surface. Perhaps triggered by the proximity. Triggered by leaping at the chance to prove him wrong. She knew what she wanted. She just wasn’t sure she should have it to herself.

She drew away granting him space again, reluctant but conceding and turned her back to him. Evelyn never made decisions lightly, hence it was best to go. She wandered out of his room and downstairs, scooping up his shirt with a finger and setting it on the head of the couch instead. She reached his door before pausing, afraid to say anything else. Much more a favor. But his glass frame showed winter had returned. [color=ffc300]“I hate to ask but…”[/color]

Seeing her head out of his room and presumably for the exit, Sylas stood up and followed behind her, only after detouring past his closet. He opened the door and slipped a knee length wool coat off its hanger. Still naked as he trailed after her, not giving it much of a thought considering she had seen it all before and it was his cabin, he didn’t bother covering himself. He slowly came up behind her and held up the jacket for her to slip her arms through the sleeves. He didn’t say anything as he pulled it up on her shoulders and gently brushed her red hair out from under the collar.

As she slipped into one of his coats, she gave a brief but appreciative smile already feeling the snug embrace of the material. [color=ffc300]“Thank you. You’re welcome to get it back from my cabin whenever you like.”[/color] It wasn’t meant suggestively or like she’d hold onto it until further notice, and before she could get in a fluster, she caught herself and simply had to trust he knew what she meant. Even if he didn’t, some misguided thoughts were fine. People could think she was a tease or forgetful. She didn’t have to be perceived perfectly.

Sylas hummed softly to himself while taking in the sight of her in his clothing. His hands lingered on her shoulders for a moment, then slowly ran down her arms and fell to his sides. He took a step back and nodded his head. [color=0a6d6b]"I’ll see you at training."[/color] Before she slipped outside, he disappeared deeper into his cabin, not desiring to be caught nude by any prying eyes that could be lingering outside. 

That was merely the beginning of her self-talk. As she made her exit narrowly out his door, she gave a last glance over her shoulder into his cabin and conveniently him. She sucked in her bottom lip with a smile then slinked into the unpredictable elements outside. She had to remind herself it didn’t matter what people deduced. Even when it was likely entirely accurate. Hugging her arms to her sides to ensure she trapped what warmth she could, Evelyn began the trek across camp though the cold unrelentingly flitted up her exposed legs and consumed her feet. 

Along in the dark and quiet silence of his cabin, Sylas found some boxers to put on to save [i]some[/i] modesty as he passed any windows. He then wandered to his kitchen and started making himself a simple breakfast.
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