[PRP] Stop - Muroki/Johari

[Tahja Estes]

She didn't really try to avoid being caught, keeping her pace at the same comfortable speed at first, though she did suddenly leap off of their straight shot path. Splashing to a stop in a play crouch now, she shifted in her stance to face him, smirking impishly.

When was the last time she'd really gotten -this- lost in play? When it had been just she and her siblings, their parents watching nearby? Fond memories, and the foundation for many, many happy new ones.  

[Successful Edit]

Muroki slowed and stopped like Johari, mimicking the stance she'd taken, and circling to the right a little. He had another of his flashes of memory, happily nostalgic. He'd once done this with brother, on the steps leading to the lake from the great hall, and he'd tumbled off the stone edge into the water. Right by that wall-mark of two lions holding up the sun disk in their paws. The spot where he'd proposed to Hisani.

He winced briefly, and tried to banish that thought Back to play.  

[Tahja Estes]

Everything was in good spirited fun, until she caught the flicker of his wince, the shift not at all passing her attention. As much as she loved the male standing before her it seemed to come only naturally that she'd see the various emotions crossing his features as they came and went. She straightened her ears from their position tucked backwards, a sign that she was fully alert again.

"Muroki?" She inquired gently, tilting her head an inch to one side. "What is it...?"  

[Successful Edit]

"Just a memory, dear one."

As they'd grown closer, they'd naturally told each other about their pasts, and Johari had always been curious about the Dawnwalkers since Muroki had first mentioned them. So she knew the story of his last attempt a reviving it and of Hisani, his sweetheart at the time. Muroki hadn't hidden his past flame, his cubhood friend and 'golden girl' from her. Or that they'd been engaged before she vanished. Still...his mind now was racing.

He'd proposed to Hisani long before this point in their relationship. They'd been young and impatient and head over tail for each other, yes, but...why hadn't he asked Johari...?
No more thinking about it now. He shook his head very slightly to clear his thoughts, a habit of his, and offered a smile. I'm fine.

"I believe I was about to catch you?"  

[Tahja Estes]

Johari smiled softly, understanding. There were no secrets between them, that statement was completely true. If he said it was a memory, that was the only answer that Johari needed. She trusted that he'd tell her if something were truly wrong.

At his question she flicked her tail, taking a calm bounding step forward, out of her crouched posture, and leant in to touch her nose to his.

"That you already have."