Force-claiming is not allowed here. This is a peaceful, neutral area meant for socialising.
When Ailill talked about Taika, Vesna could have sworn she saw a light in him that she hadn't noticed before. At least, a different kind of light. She could not help but grin at what he said, his comments having reminded her of her own mother, or a different version of herself. Once, she might have been seen as wild, free, a heart let loose on the world but... Well, she hadn't felt like those words had been fitting for her for some time. Those parts of herself had started to feel like a small bird trapped in a thicket, just loud enough to be heard if one listened close enough but otherwise locked out of sight, out of mind.
Vesna had been caught off guard by her comfortable she had started to feel. Rather, she had at least stopped feeling uncomfortable, despite her tendency to feel a little awkward at the best of times. Perhaps, unknown even to her, she had felt a shift in Ailill's own energy; his excitement and curiosity fueled hers.
She took the first step towards him, then. In a way, it felt empowering to herself to be the one to do so. It felt strange, yet freeing in a sense, to cast away her suspicions if only for the time being. Ailill had given her his word and though words weren't tangible, she found confidence in knowing she could handle herself if things became dangerous. They were alone, yes, but that meant he had no backup either, and no way of calling for it either. She couldn't help but grin to herself, amused by the thought: sometimes, the safest place to be was trapped in a cave in the middle of a storm. Who would have thought of that?
The wind howled like a demon, she thought, or like some grand pack of wolves rushing at them. Yet, the icey plane that spread across the cave's mouth stood strong; Vesna could feel the wind trying to find its way through, cold tendrils at her legs from time to time. Yet, in front of them, the ice seemed to dance. She stood in awe, huddled up neatly next to Ailill, and her breath was like smoke.