xp_logs | Korvus and Rachel: Awkward First Meeting. (Backdated)

Rachel comes across Korvus and has a very powerful reaction. Flashback included.

Korvus was finishing his morning routine with another example of meditation in a slightly odd place. Still in his Kalari Payat wrap and sash, he sat with his legs crossed on the edge of a bench in the front courtyard. His muscles were slightly flexed from having to balance on the relatively thin surface he had given himself but that was likely the point. With his eyes closed and hands in his lap, the young man sat quite still. The only exception was the occasional movement of his stomach due to deep breathing.

It was a familiar sight. Only not. Rachel had stopped short in her tracks, unable to stop the sharp inhale of breath. Korvus Rook’shir. A whole, hale and hearty Korvus. A Korvus like she had never seen before, really. And yet it was unmistakably him. Just not him.

For a long moment she did not move, merely greedily drank in the sight of him and ignoring the way her heart raced in her chest. He really was the last person in this mansion she had wanted to see while on her early morning run. Or, well, the last person she wanted to see, period. The pain of losing her Korvus was simply too fresh, too stark and too sharp. The agony hurt something fierce. Seeing this version of her lover was simply... Not something she should indulge in. Pressing lids firmly shut over verdant orbs, Rachel willed herself to turn and walk away.

"Greetings. I'm Korvus Rook'shir." His voice broke through as she stood with her eyes closed. He had finished at some point and, seeing the new resident, approached with a smile. "There are very few residents who are up and about this early."

Immediately, eyes flew open and Rachel took two reactionary steps back with another audible gasp, barely keeping from lashing out with her powers. Her mouth moved, but her throat seemed unable to work as she tried to say something. Anything. Finally, the redhead shook her head with a frown and settled for looking past his shoulder at the bench he had previously occupied.

“Hi.” Her voice still sounded strangled, like she was holding back tears, but at least she no longer sported the expression of a deer caught in the headlights.

Korvus stepped back as Rachel did to give her room. "My apologies if I startled you. Your orientation suggested you were aware of my presence."

“I was,” she said, clearing her throat when her voice cracked. “I’m sorry. I must’ve interrupted you.”

"You did not." Korvus offered his hand but without moving forward. "It is nice to meet you..." His voice trailed off so she could offer her name.

“Rachel,” she filled in distractedly, eyes dipping to stare at his hand without moving to take it. The formal gesture was completely foreign coming from him and the psion swallowed hard.

Korvus stood for a moment awkwardly before putting his hand back to his side. "I must admit, this is the first time I have not been well received. I do not know how to proceed. Should I leave?"

“No!” Rachel protested immediately, raising her eyes to meet his as she shook her head again. “No. I just. You’re—It’s not your fault,” she finally settled on saying. Lamely. “You just. Look a lot like someone I… knew.” Loved.

“I’m sorry,” she repeated quickly, robbing Korvus of the opportunity to reply. “Please, just. I’m sorry.”

And then she turned and fled.

Like a coward (or heart-broken damsel in distress), Rachel ran. Only when she was far enough from the near mirror-image of her dead boyfriend – on the other end of the mansion’s grounds – did she sink to the grass with her back against a tree, quickly succumbing to both memories and tears.

-----
Debussy’s Arabesque No. 1 played in the background as Rachel meditated, her breaths even and deep, flowing naturally with the air and rhythm of her surroundings. Legs crossed, the redhead was levitating three feet in the air. But the separation of her body from gravity’s pull did not stop her from snapping an arm out and telekinetically throwing all the pillows on her bed at the head an intruder – a dark figure crouched behind her and ready to pounce.

“Nice try, sweetheart.”

"You cheat every time." Korvus observed, stepping out of the shadows after the barrage of pillows. "I know you can feel when I'm around psychically so don't be smug."

"Oh yeah?" She smirked, floating back into gravity's hold and landing right in front of Korvus. Looping her arms around his neck, Rachel reached up and dropped a kiss on his nose. "Hurt your manly pride, huh?"

Korvus laughed softly. "I spend time each morning in meditation so I can progress beyond egotistical reactions such as pride, you know this." He smiled down to her sweetly before leaning in to kiss the left side of her neck. "You're trying to bait me."

"I admit nothing," she snorted in response, fingers threading through the inky strands at the nape of his neck. "Save that I do, indeed, have more manly pride than you do."

"You have much more junk of all types in your mind than do I." Korvus pointed out playfully before looking down to her and raising an eyebrow. "Are you stalling date night?

"Now why would I do that?" The redheaded devil 'n disguise quirked her lips upwards in an innocent smile, fingers idly a random pattern on the back of his neck. "I would never."

"I do not know why but you most certainly would." The large man gave her a tight squeeze before leaning back up straight as she hung from his neck. "Are you tired?"

"Immensely," Rachel admitted with a dramatic sigh. "Everything that could go wrong in the training barracks went wrong today. T'was a complete mess."

In a smooth motion, Korvus scooped Rachel up into his arms, turning to leave the training room. "Then we will move date night indoors. You may pick the movie while I cook dinner for us."

"You are my favourite person, you know that?" She beamed, awarding him with a wet kiss on his cheek.

Korvus laughed softly. "As you are mine." He returned with a smile, carrying her off toward their suite.