<div style="text-align: center;"><a class="postlink" href="http://i.imgur.com/l9GFYfR.png">[ img ]</a><a class="postlink" href="http://i.imgur.com/moYxz6b.png">[ img ]</a><a class="postlink" href="http://i.imgur.com/gH65fy2.png">[ img ]</a><br/><span style="font-family: palatino linotype;"><span style="font-size: 200%; line-height: 116%;"><span style="color: #FF0040">Fa</span><span style="color: #FF4040">iry T</span><span style="color: #FF8040">ail:</span> <span style="color: #FFBF40">Koi n</span><span style="color: #FFFF40">o Yok</span><span style="color: #FFFF80">an</span></span></span><br/><span style="font-size: 85%; line-height: 116%;"><span style="font-family: century gothic;">a romance RP by TheProtobabe and Leumas<br/><a class="postlink" href="https://25.media.tumblr.com/a63e0a09c8424dd3c833cbbd2b73d9be/tumblr_mjfgichx7P1ragr3ao9_500.gif">[ img ]</a><br/><a class="postlink" href="https://creativefreedomrpg.com/viewtopic.php?f=20&amp;t=47909&amp;p=317085#p317085">[OOC Planning thread]</a></span></span></div><br/><br/><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><div style="text-align: center;"><blockquote class="uncited"><div><span style="font-style: italic">Happy and I will go on a journey while training. We'll be back in about a year or so.<br/><br/>So take care of everybody, alright!!<br/><br/>Seeya, Lucy!!<br/><br/>-Natsu &amp; Happy</span></div></blockquote></div><br/><br/>Lucy's slim fingers grazed the edge of the note as she read it for what had to be the billionth time. The folded creases in it where it had once been stuffed into an envelope were flattened against her pinboard for so long that it didn't fold up again when she held it in her hands. There were several tiny holes across the top and edges of it from being pinned and unpinned from the cork so many times. Despite trying her hardest not to smudge it, Lucy had inevitably left quite a few oily marks where her fingers had touched the paper many, many times. And still, the few words on the page made her hands tremble as she caressed the letter.<br/><br/>She pressed it to her chest for a quick moment, closing her eyes as if praying. And then it was pinned up on the board again as she crossed the room to select her outfit for the day. She swung open the hotel wardrobe, accidentally skinning her bare thigh a bit with the edge, but ignoring the pain to purse her lips as she perused her clothing choices.<br/><br/>Her new job was pretty lax about her wardrobe. Lucy was fairly certain that this was because she was a cute girl, and cute girls were useful in nearly any situation--<span style="font-style: italic">especially </span>in journalism. (She chose to forget that fact that she had been an underwear model and the guys at her job wouldn't complain about skimpy clothing.) Digging up dirt was way easier when she could use her feminine wiles and sex appeal to charm her way into answers. A small smirk quirked her lips at this thought and her hip subconsciously cocked to one side, as if she were practicing her moves already. She tugged out one of her blue-and-white halter tops paired with a flirty pleated skirt and got dressed quickly, securing her belt full of Celestial keys at her hips. <br/><br/>The blonde peered into the mirror as she put her hair up in one of her favorite ribbons, teeth catching her bottom lip as she concentrated on securing any flyaways. No good being super cute and then having frizzy hair.<br/><br/>Lucy grabbed her bag and sucked in a deep breath, eyes fluttering closed a moment. As usual, his face was clear in her mind, as if his image had been imprinted on the back of her eyelids so she was forced to endure that smile every time she took a moment to herself... She ignored this and put on a huge grin, as if convincing herself to get excited.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FFFF40">"Alright! I'm gonna do my best today, too!"</span> Lucy said aloud, and then stepped out of her tiny hotel room.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;"><a class="postlink" href="http://i.imgur.com/3cffQZw.png">[ img ]</a></div><br/><br/>She should have known. This incredible heat, the thirst for a challenge enough to disrupt the Grand Magic Games, the uncanny ability to ruin her favorite clothing, somehow ending up exactly in the place where she'd be... Clutching her tattered halter top to her chest, a face she had seen in her head every minute she stopped trying to avoid it, stared up at her, slanted eyes wide and mouth agape. Of course. Of <span style="font-style: italic">course </span>he would come to Crocus to test his magic. He said he'd be training, right? He was magnificent, ragged cloak fluttering in the wild winds his flames had caused due to extreme temperature change, shaggy hair framing wild eyes and a feral grin.<br/><br/>The year X792 was the year Natsu Dragneel slammed back into Lucy's life. And she wasn't so certain that she was ready for it.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;"><a class="postlink" href="http://i.imgur.com/Kjs9zNC.png">[ img ]</a></div><br/><br/>Lucy had forgotten just what it was to be close friends with Natsu Dragneel. They'd stayed up all hours of the night, chatting and reminiscing as if they hadn't been apart at all. The familiar warmth Natsu provided almost quieted the nagging thoughts in her head that doubted his sincerity. Almost. He, of course, didn't take the news of the guild's breakup all too well, so she really shouldn't have been surprised when a whole army popped by her hotel because of Natsu's sudden inspiration for decorative flame-graffiti across the the face of Crocus castle.<br/><br/>Her heart leapt when he'd faced her with that megawatt grin, all excitement and eagerness and recklessness. Her mind flashed back immediately to that day when he'd wrecked the town before dragging her back to join Fairy Tail with him and Happy the flying cat... <br/><br/>Lucy could only let go and allow Natsu to pull her back into the world of adventure. How could she say no, when all she'd been doing for a year was wishing he would come back and do exactly <span style="font-style: italic">this?</span></span>