_{[ Arista ]:}

Lylla..?

It was a name, rolling off his tongue with more than a little–something–before he shook her off and returned to whatever project he’d been working on earlier. But it didn’t take a genius to see that there was more to it, there was something in that name that held a story. Much like the locket around her neck, and if he didn’t want to talk about it she wouldn’t press him–at least not too hard–but what kind of friend would she have been if she didn’t at least try?

sitting down beside him, she faced the opposite direction, watching the others sleep as they sat there.

“So who’s Lylla…?”

_{—— 🚀}

                    _{Her question drew his paw to a still in its work. Keeping his back to her, Rocket’s nose wrinkled as he struggled not to sigh; not to get angry. It wasn’t Arista’s fault, but her callus way of approaching sensitive topics left much to be desired. && Rocket wasn’t exactly the sensitive type to begin with..}

     _{“ Don’t. ” When he answered her at last, the raccoon’s voice was quiet. Sombre in a way that said he wouldn’t talk about it even more than his reply had. Whatever Lylla was, whatever they’d been, it was long ago && far away && a sore spot he needn’t have nosey colleagues prodding.}

(Source: halfwcrld)

_{continued from here for @mephitism​.}

               ❝ Lylla. . ? ❞

     It came out before he could help himself; before the wakefulness had settled in and he realized just where he was. && who he was with. When he did, though, the raccoon squinted at her in the dark, staring in a grumbling mix of embarrassment and general annoyance.

❝ Yeah, yeah.  ‘M fine. ❞ he muttered, rolling his shoulders and sucking in a shallow sigh as he shrugged her away. Both paws found his face and he ran them down the length of his cheeks to scrub away any lingering unease before he reached for whatever project he’d been tinkering with before drifting off.