This RP is not all that happy but RP is just like Real Life in that, there are good and bad parts, further more, if there wasn't both extremes, you wouldn't be able to appreciate happiness, because having been exposed to misery allows you to really be grateful for the good times when they come. Oh and the meaning behind the title will be made apparent in the second part of this RP... what else what else.. oh, when Darrian refers to Tiph's first love, he is talking about Sephiroth, just so ya know. Notice though that he said that, and not Tiph. Anyways.. start reading. The setting is the Nightshade Manor, the broken parts of which have been rebuilt.

Tiph Nightshade: ::Tiphareth was seated on a bench in the gazebo, outside in the garden. Early fall roses wafted their fragrance on the air, and it gently accosted her nostrils.. closing the glowing twins, she breathed it deeply in, calming in the process. The moon was high in the sky, and it's light filtered down through the thatched roof of the gazebo, lighting up the delicate features of her pale face. Her reason for being here, rather than inside was not too complicated; a sense of dread had filled her, as she walked up the path, approaching the Manor earlier, and it had unnerved her so that she found she could not bring herself to enter, shuddering as she looked upon the outline of the sprawling estate against the twilight sky, remembering all that had transpired when last she had been there. The garden bore with it peace and seclusion; it wasn't a difficult choice to make. She wanted to seek out Darrian, but was too frightened, and simply sat, staring mournfully up at the moon::

DarianNightshade: ::Darrian slid up behind her, and placed a light hand on her shoulder. The hand was cross hashed time and time again with white lines that split the normal rich caramel tone of his skin. He gave her shoulder a loving squeeze and sighed, seeking her out. The training room and their bedroom door had long since been fixed, and he had wanted to find her, but the sense of trepidation at the thought all but froze his icy still heart in his chest. He knew where she was, just not sure what to do to help her, he resigned to allowing her first and chances are anymore, only true love take care of her as he went through the motions of his jobs with only half a heart, and hasn't bothered to regenerate any wounds, instead allowing them to knit together naturally (as naturally as possible) with little or no aid from himself.::

Tiph Nightshade: ::She turned slowly and forced a faint smile, wanting to say so much but not too sure of where to start, or how to pose her myriad of inquiries. She slid her hand to rest on top of his, and lifted it gently to place a tender kiss on it's back. A slight anxiety was visible in her eyes, unsure of what kind of mood he was in, and thoughts of their last encounter still haunted her::

DarianNightshade: ::Darrian smiled faintly, and withdrew his hand as he saw her face, crushed. He turned quietly on his heel, and moved into the manor, leaping up the twenty or so feet, with the aid of using a tree branch as a spring board, into their room.. She seemed to not really want his company by the look in her eyes. However, he wasn't about to cry either, he was tired of crying and feeling bad.. he was now resigned to his fate, and he sat on their bed, the bed they had once shared.. Alone. The feeling was gut wrenching..::

Tiph Nightshade: ::Her mouth fell open and she sat in a moderate disbelief, staring after his retreating figure. She sat in thought for a moment or so, and then followed quickly after him, not exactly sure what was going on, or what he was doing, but one thing was certain in her mind, she was not about to give up on them. They had been through by far too much, and discarding something she had poured her whole soul, and so much time and effort into was not something she was inclined to do. Reaching their bedroom, she paused in the doorway, and took in a breath, eying Damian for a second or two before she opened her mouth to speak, the poison that perpetually spilled from her alien oculars lighting up the area around her face:: I don't really know for sure what to say baby, but I don't think this whole thing is as serious as we're both making it out to be

DarianNightshade: ::He shrugged forlornly, and reached under the bed for his newest aquisitions, a pair of bracers, with extensions to the backs of his hands. The whole was studded at odd intervals with sharp spiky projections.. He ripped the top of his four thousand dollar suit off, the tie and shirt followed the now tattered rags on the floor, and he strapped them on, admiring them.. Equipment related to his job or his activities helped to take his mind off the subjects at hand, which is exactly what he needed now. He had ridden the proverbial emotional roller coaster over the last few days, utter and complete happiness when he survived a job to come home and be greeted by his wife, to the bitter hatred he harbored for PHOE, to the complete void left by his "Brother" Lu's death, and back up to seeing him alive again, only to be crushed back down by the betrayal of an attack on him. Darrian was in no condition to really reason with anyone or anything.:: Whatever you say darling..

Tiph Nightshade: I suppose that what bothers me most, is I remember a time when just knowing that we still had each other used to be enough to pull us through anything unfortunate that had chance to happen, and then Lu.. ::She trailed off for a moment, blinking back some tears:: When I told you, god... I've never seen you act like that. As if your whole world had ended, and Damian and I meant next to nothing... you've never done anything even remotely close to hitting me before.. ::She winced a bit at that, and her hand went instinctively to the spot on the small of her back that had been torn open when he'd flung her aside::

DarianNightshade: Did I hit you? ::His voice was almost surrealy calm, as he turned his head to her quietly, gaze boring into her through the shades. He never recalled striking her before, and didn't strike her then. But one lesson if anything was learned, never place your hands on a raging Darrian Nightshade. Chances are you will not get pleasant results. He looked back to the bracers after gazing intently at her for a few more moments and checked the leather grips that went across the palms of his slender hands, to keep the fist covers in place. His chest was a nest of white scarring as well, some thin lines, and a great many wide lines, even holes that he hadn't bothered to heal almost covered his rich caramel toned skin.::

Tiph Nightshade: Fucking close enough ::She muttered, shaking her head a bit. She sunk to the floor and clung to the door frame, resting her cheek against the wood as thoughts whirled in her head, fighting down the urge to burst into tears.:: I just can't accept having to live in fear, wondering what's going to happen the next time you find out something awful's transpired ::Her tone was melancholy and would be approaching pleading were it not for the icy edge it was taking on... reverting a bit back into her old, comfortable and safe personality of long ago, almost without her conscious knowledge of it happening::

DarianNightshade: ::Darrian almost flinched at both her words, and the tone she was using. He figured the door on that could swing both ways, and spat back bitter words:: I am not one to take the death of one of the people I care about "all in stride". Nor am I one to sit and blubber about them. You knew my tendencies when you fucking married me. So if those are a problem, if you feel the urge to.. find a new husband... Someone with a level head might suit you and Damian better. Hell, go for Sephy, he might even be a good father.. ::Yup.. Darrian was in another phase of his self destruction mode, not caring about a damn thing but the hole still inside of him, and his anger.. God was he in the mood to bust heads.::

Tiph Nightshade: ::Tiphareth had always been around people who had complete control of themselves in any situation, be it good or bad, namely her partner. All she had known for 22 years, could she really be blamed for not knowing how to deal with someone so volatile now? She'd been forced to learn how to deny the pain or drown in it, hence the cold exterior that had so perfectly characterized her when she'd arrived on this plane, and had still been in effect when he'd met her:: I didn't know how bad it could be. And I don't know what to do about it now that I do know. ::Her voice lowered to almost a lowly tone at her next remark:: How can you say that to me? "Go for Sephy"... is that what you want? ::She looked up at him with tear filled eyes, lower lip trembling::

DarianNightshade: More importantly.. is it what you want? ::He gritted his teeth slightly in preparation for the final arrow to the heart that would send his soul back into the black abyss it had fought so hard to return from.. His hands shook, belying his calm voice and demeanor. Most of all he wanted her to be happy, whatever it took.::

Tiph Nightshade: ::She rose with uncanny calmness, walked to him, seated on the bed still, and stood before him for a moment that seemed to stretch itself out and thicken as the intensity rose. Eyes wide and serious, she eased herself down into his lap, and spoke in the sweetest, most sincere tone she could muster, reaching down into the very depths of her soul to summon the overwhelming gentility that took full possession of not merely her tone or features, or the look in her eyes, but her entire being:: Never at any point in my life has that been what I wanted baby. You are my world, my heaven, my redemption, and I love you like I have loved no other, nor will ever throughout all of my days. Sephiroth is not a factor in the slightest, and never has been ::At that point her voice failed her and she flung her arms around him and buried her face in his shoulder as she let her tears freely spill::

DarianNightshade: ::Darrian quietly shed the spiked bracers and laid a gentle hand on her back, rubbing it from side to side as the impact of what he had just said finally hit him. His face blanched slightly as he shook for the slightest moment, then relaxed.. He rested his cheek on her shoulder, burying his face into her neck and sat still contemplating the idiocy of his actions. He didn't make a sound for several seconds, his hot breath pluming over the side of her neck as he almost desperately clutched at her, his hands gentle but frantic as he all but pulled her inside of him. He then pulled away after a long tense breath had been released and looked down at her, his voice still the basic same, calm cool and collected, as she sobbed away on his shoulder and chest:: I.. It's okay sweetheart. I am glad you wish to stay with me. We need to talk.

Tiph Nightshade: I know... ::She blubbered, not pulling her face away from it's nuzzle. She stayed there and cried until the need to had lessened substantially, and pulled her head back to gaze into his face, curious eyes furiously spilling Mako; she could hear the blood pounding in her head. A few shuddery breaths calmed her slightly, and after a time she found herself able to speak again, curling the fingers of her right, tattooed hand slowly around the wedding band on her left:: I know we need to talk, I just don't know where to start

DarianNightshade: Wherever you feel it best to begin. ::He whispered, tenderly stroking her cheek. He kicked distastefully at the pile of his shredded clothes and the bracers on the floor, scooting them under the bed for now. He placed his left hand on her right, softly running his fingertips over the huge bold black tattoo on the back of it. The only thing he could find wrong on the whole of her was that damn tattoo.. Thoughts flitted momentarily back to the wedding, then to the present with a slight shake of the head to clear it::

Tiph Nightshade: ::The tattoo was indeed all of that, bold, gaping, starkly black against the soft white flesh of her delicate hand, and it carried with it a definition if you will, what Tiphareth had been meant to become, and had indeed been, for altogether too long of a period of time. The heartless unfeeling soldier, more machine than human, that she had lived as until she'd been sent here, and met Darrian, who'd managed to shake that self definition to it's very core. She was less and less a soldier now, more and more the loving person he'd helped to bring out of her:: I wish I knew, love. What do you think?

DarianNightshade: I don't.. ::Was all he said, memories of the first bite, her falling under his weight, and him gently lowering her to the ground to partake more deeply of her Mako rich blood.. that first bite was heaven. He slid a pink, and black barbell studded tongue out between pouting lips to wet them slightly as he held her close against the white holed and lined broad and muscular chest of his, sighing lightly as he did so. Random thoughts flicked through his mind, but nothing cohesive.. nothing concrete enough to latch on to begin to sort out his thoughts.::

Tiph Nightshade: Hmm well, ::Curling up into a comfortable position in his lap she sifted through her many thoughts until the one that seemed most fitting came to the front of her consciousness:: What do you think I should do, the next time something horrid happens? I get the impression that maybe I shouldn't have told you about Lu, but I was hurting so bad, and I just thought.. ::she sighed and stopped:: I needed something and I guess it only natural that I seek it from you. That didn't exactly uhm.. work though. ::She swallowed and looked at the ground::

DarianNightshade: I hurt too.. I just don't talk about it honey. The only way for me to fix my own hurts is through action. Striking any inanimate objects as hard as I can makes me feel immensely better.. it is just how I am darlin', and nothing, not time nor I will ever change that fact. ::He resumed the tender caresses of her cheek, gazing quietly into her eyes, having said his piece, he awaited her reply::

Tiph Nightshade: But what should I do? ::Tilting her head slightly into his caress, she closed her eyes and released a long slow breath, taking a much needed comfort from his touch, which she had been without for far too long. She sighed a little:: I hated to have to watch that, I mean, not only were you beating the fuck out of our house, but tearing yourself up in the process. ::She took his other hand in hers and tenderly ran her small delicate fingers over it, remembering how they'd been bloodied and broken, pieces of glass and ceramic and whatever else stuck in them::

DarianNightshade: ::He smiled faintly, and looked at his hands, criss crossed by the white scars that were all over him.:: I know.. Caused a little in damage, no biggy. And I, as always, am fine. ::He grinned mischievously at her like the Naughty Vampire God he is, and gently bit into her neck to have something else to think about, and having missed the intimacy of these moments by far too much.::

Tiph Nightshade: Mmm ::She craned her head back slightly, her hands slipping down his bare back, pausing to murmur:: But what do I do next time? ::Giggling a little:: You can tell me when your mouth's not full.

DarianNightshade: ::He almost laughed, a little blood slipping from the corners of his mouth to strike his solid chest with soft *pat pat* sounds as he tore his teeth slightly down and fed hungrily from his wife::

Tiph Nightshade: ::She wiped the vagrant drops of sapphire shaded glowing blood from his chest with a tender hand and then lowered it to his side, very lightly rubbing over his toned abdomen, wondering what his answer to her now thrice posed question would be::

DarianNightshade: ::He would give it to her when he was finished drinking. He gently played his studded tongue over the rip in her flesh as his cheeks caved in, sucking hard on her neck.::

Tiph Nightshade: ::She blinked:: When's the last time you.. ::Then moaned softly to him, figuring there was little point in asking him questions when there wasn't really any way he could answer her anyways. She brought the other hand to play it's delicate fingers lovingly through his raven hair, a good part of her relieved at the situation, which had been her only thought, worried and obsessed over for more than a week, and was slowly but surely working itself out now, or so she thought, and dared to hope::

DarianNightshade: ::He withdrew however reluctantly, always enjoying the taste of her blood.. among other things.. He flashed a mako stained grin at her and kissed her slowly, softly, hugging her close. As he broke away from the kiss he spoke.:: I don't think there will be a next time, so we won't worry about shit like that. I figure that what has happened in the past is about as bad as it will ever get, and since it does no good to dwell on the past, we should look forward to a bright future.

Tiph Nightshade: ::She nodded slowly, and ran her index finger slowly over his lower lip:: I just want you to tell me how to react when you freak out because obviously what I did didn't much work, and I want so bad to be able to help..::She trailed off and flicked away a tear::

DarianNightshade: ::He kissed her cheek:: Don't worry about it. I need to train.. ::He gently moved her from his lap, and shucked his clothes, moving to his closet nude..::

Tiph Nightshade: ::How could she not worry about it?... She rolled onto her side and gazed at nothing, more tears spilling but she made no motions to remove them. Pulling her arms up to hide her face, she just lied there silently weeping, azure Mako tears staining the bedspread::

DarianNightshade: ::Darrian's naked self turned slightly to look over his shoulder as he tugged on his tight black shorts and then moved to her. Sitting he began to rub her back in soothing circles and whispering sweet and soft nothings to her to try and comfort her.::

At this point the RP was ended untimely cuz John had to go but it is definitely not stopping there so keep checking back for an update.