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<Glossaria> You said you had something you wanted to talk to me about, Vallel? ::wrinkling her brows:: Are you... do you want to break off the engagement? Is that what this is about? * Vallel looks completely surprised. <Vallel> Why would I want to do that? <Glossaria> Well... because... ::twisting her ring anxiously around her finger:: Because you were falling in love with someone else? <Glossaria> ::more quietly:: Or because I was more trouble than you bargained for.... <Vallel> ::looks flustered:: Do you think that? <Vallel> ::tucks her chin:: And you are definitely worth every bit of trouble you've been ::grins, in an attempt to lighten the conversation:: <Glossaria> I... I'm not sure. Sometimes, I do. And then I tell myself I'm being silly, but then... oh, Vallel... I wanted to know what it was like to be in love. I didn't count on jealousy. * Glossaria is far too worried to be cheered. <Vallel> ::nods:: There are a lot of things I didn't count on, either. ::sighs:: And I reckon I ought to tell you about one of them. <Glossaria> ::sitting down quickly, as if her knees had collapsed from under her:: Oh, Erdian... I was right.... <Vallel> ::frowns:: Look, it might be asking a bit much here, but do you think we could have one crises at a time? Try panicking a little less... it's not that tragic... <Glossaria> ::sighing:: As if crises ever wait patiently in line. I'll try. <Vallel> ::takes her hand:: Look, we all know that I've been getting into a lot of sword fights recently... and... I wanted to explain. Actually, ::sighs:: Xarroch threatened to tell you himself if I didn't. <Glossaria> Xarroch? ::frowning:: What does he have to do with this? <Vallel> The noble sons... they're not after me. They don't care about me. They... they want to kill you. <Glossaria> Me? They want to... *kill* me? But why? What have I done? <Vallel> ::shakes his head:: it's stupid really. <Vallel> They... they think you're evil... that there's something wrong with me for caring about you... <Glossaria> Evil? But-- do they think my mistress is evil? Do they-- ::pausing and frowning deeper:: you said... you said you haven't been duelling because they were after you... so... how long have you known about this, Vallel? <Vallel> ::sighs:: A while. A few weeks. <Glossaria> There have been total strangers bent on taking my life for a few WEEKS and you didn't tell me? ::making a noise of frustration and turning away:: <Vallel> No, I didn't tell you! ::turns her back to face him:: For one thing, I didn't want to frighten you. For the second thing, I'm taking care of it. For the third thing, I didn't want you to hurt anyone. <Glossaria> Me? Hurt anyone? ::laughing, a trifle hysterically:: Vallel, you're going around poking holes in people, and you don't want *me* to hurt anyone? Vallel, I'm a librarian, not a fighter! The only time I've even used offensive magic was when the person stalking me was powerful enough to frighten my mistress! <Glossaria> And if you didn't want to frighten me, why have you been going around throwing your life around on the point of your sword against opponents with years more experience? <Vallel> ::snorts:: Holes, as I've well proved, heal. You can... could... use magic against someone. <Glossaria> And you could use psionics against them! What does that prove? Certainly, even since I was kidnapped I carry defensive wards... someone who attacked me might get knocked unconscious or immobilized. But I would never *kill* anyone without due cause! <Vallel> ::makes a hrmph noise:: And you, among others, haven't been telling me for weeks now that I ought to just toast one of these duelists and be done with it? ::looks disgusted:: <Glossaria> *YOU* said they were just picking duels with you to pick on you! And I agreed that it would be risky to use psionics to influence a duel. <Vallel> ::takes a deep breath:: Can we not shout, please? ::sighs:: Look, I... I was worried for them. <Glossaria> Ah-- ::throwing up her hands, and putting them to her face:: Let me understand this... these... people want to kill me because they think I'm evil. You know this for three weeks, and tell no one-- not even the person they're trying to kill-- because-- you were worried for THEM? <Vallel> Um... well, that's not exactly how I meant it, really... <Glossaria> How *did* you mean it, Vallel? Because I'm finding it very difficult to comprehend how the man I... thought... loved me could do such a thing. <Vallel> Look... I was, and still am, worried... I don't see it as being too far-fetched that when this gets around, several of these people are going to end up dead... which is not going to solve anything. And I don't think it's very fair of you to say that this must mean I don't love you... that is not true, nor fair. <Glossaria> Vallel... ::closing her eyes and opening them again after a moment:: I trust-- I *trusted* you to tell me the truth. And not only have you lied to me, you lied about a matter of life and death. And *still* ::biting her lip, holding back tears:: you're more worried for the lives of these would-be murderers than you are about mine! And you talk to me about fair? ::turning away again, covering her face with her hands:: <Vallel> Yes, I'm worried about them! How does them getting hurt prove that you're not evil? <Vallel> And do you *really* think... honestly... that if Zoya, or Lisl, or Michelle or Yohko or Jaret found out someone was thinking about trying to kill you, that they wouldn't immediately bolt out the door, sword in hand? Please... <Glossaria> You're asking me? ::gesticulating impatiently:: You're the one putting holes in them, not I! The *only* one here who's been hurting them here is YOU, Vallel! That's exactly what you did! <Vallel> ::suddenly looks still and almost expressionless:: Yes. Of course. I see your point. <Glossaria> I think the first thing Mistress Zoya would do would be to place me in safety, and try to find out *why* these men wanted me dead. <Glossaria> Mistress Lisl and Yohko... ::looking rueful:: If the men weren't a danger, I doubt they'd actually kill them, but they *would* want to scare them. And Lord Jaret... ::smiling a little:: Lord Jaret would no doubt have a few words with his friends at court, and that would be the last we heard of the matter. <Vallel> ::completely flat-voiced:: They want you dead because they are afraid. You're not human. You have strange, incomprehensible powers. They are afraid. That's all. Scaring them more is only likely to make things worse, don't you see? <Glossaria> But... ::flopping down into a chair again, near tears at Vallel's wooden tone:: I've never done anything to hurt them... I *help* people here, I... ::softly:; I'm just a librarian, and I'm just a child, and they would rather kill me than get to know me... why am I so horrible to them? ::tears spilling from her eyes and trickling slowly down her cheeks:: <Vallel> ::wipes her cheek gently with his thumb:: Dearest, frightened people don't make lots of sense... Look, I'm sorry I lied to you... I didn't... I didn't want things to get out of hand, you know? I wanted... I thought that facing them on their own ground, sword to sword, they could be less afraid... <Glossaria> But it's *wrong*... people don't just go around ::hiccuppy sob:: killling people because they're afraid of them. It's just not right... <Vallel> ::laughs:: Since when did right have much of anything to do with anything? <Glossaria> ::frowning at him:: That's not funny, Vallel. Why is there a government, why is there law if right doesn't matter? You shouldn't have to duel yourself to death to defend me, that's not solving anything either. <Glossaria> ::slumping in her seat:: Somehow, someone has to show them that what they want is *wrong*, and they can't do it! The Dragons! Why didn't you go to the Purple Dragons when you found out? Mistress Zoya has friends there! <Vallel> Wrong is so much a point of view, love... They think it's wrong for you to be walking around as if you deserved to be human... Of course, we disagree with that... I was... trying to settle things quietly... you know? <Glossaria> ::thinking for a long moment, and sighing:: I understand, love. But... I didn't ask to be humanoid. And it's not like humans even hold a majority on this world! Humans represent less than half of the humanoid population of Toril. <Vallel> Well, personally, most of the time, I'm glad you are humanoid... ::sighs and gives her a long look:: Do you really think I didn't tell you about this because I don't care about you? <Glossaria> I... ::matching his sigh:: To be honest with you, I wasn't... sure anymore. <Vallel> Why? <Glossaria> ::looking highly uncomfortable:: Well... you kept trying to get yourself killed. And... you *said* it was because of me, but... oh, Vallel, I don't want you getting killed for me! That would be even worse, to know that I caused it! <Vallel> You didn't cause this... and I'm certainly not *trying* to get myself killed. If I was trying, I think I could have managed it... <Glossaria> And... we've been spending less and less time together, but you've been... ::chewing on her lower lip:: You've been spending more and more time with Meghan, and now she's psionic, too, and you live together and go to classes together and ran off to save her and.... ::turning away and visibly drooping:: I like Meghan... she helped me buy a dress... but... I think I'm jealous of her, and I don't *want* to be! <Vallel> ::looks a bit uncomfortable:: I don't guess telling you Meghan and I are just friends is going to help you any, is it? <Glossaria> ::shaking her head, looking miserable:: People who cheat always lie about it, too. It happens in all the literature. :;sniffing:: And then I'd find you in bed with her and call you a slimy two-timing bastard. <Vallel> Yeah... and you'd probably scream and pull your hair out and have a nice impressive display of hysterics... ::grins:: <Glossaria> ::smiling a little ruefully through her tears:: I don't think I could manage hysterics. They require too much... spontaneousness and irrationality. And I have little enough hair to be pulling it out at this juncture. ::rubbing her hand over her ragged stubbly furze:: But I might rend my clothing in anguish. <Vallel> Um... would it be rude to point out that you *are* being irrational? ::hands her his handkerchief:: Come on, dear... everything is fine... blow your nose, you'll feel better... <Glossaria> ::wiping her face and blowing her nose loudly with his handkerchief, folding it up neatly before handing it back to him:: Am I? ::cocking her head to one side, giving him an unnervingly analytical look:: You do live with Meghan. Your behavior together has indicated an increasing degree of comfort and closeness. And although I have asked you directly about the status of your relationship with her on three occasions to date, you have yet to respond directly. <Vallel> All right. <Glossaria> ::earnestly:: Vallel, you can read minds, but *I can't.* I've told you that I'm worried, and possibly jealous. But you've said nothing! <Vallel> Let's deal with this, then... <Vallel> Yes, Meghan lives in my aunt's house, as do I. At first, it was because she couldn't stay anywhere else, because of her magical allergies... <Vallel> Now... ::shrugs:: She's comfortable, my aunt doesn't mind... and I don't think it would be good for her to live alone. <Glossaria> ::nods:: Especially not after being kidnapped and... ::shuddering:: <Vallel> ::nods:: <Vallel> Now... to other things. <Vallel> Yes, we are close. Yes, we are comfortable together. I'm also very comfortable with Mistress Tyl... it's hard not to be... psionic contact... it's like... it's very... hard to explain. <Glossaria> ::miserably:: I know. <Vallel> Do I care about her? Yes, I do. Very much. Do I think she's attractive? Yes. Do I wonder what things would be like with her? Yes, sometimes I do. ::looks at her:: I'm not telling you these things to hurt you. I'm telling them to you because they are true. <Vallel> And so is this... I do care about her. And I want and chose, to be with you. ::touches her mouth with his finger:: <Glossaria> ::turning her head a trifle to rub her cheek against his hand:: Vallel... I... I... :: biting her lip for a moment, before standing up in a rush, throwing her arms around his shoulders, and kissing him:: * Vallel kisses her back. <Vallel> ::after a while:: Now that we've finished having what the argument was *really* about, can we finish what the argument *wasn't* about? Since you don't agree with my assessment, what do you want to do about these idiot would-be assassins? <Glossaria> ::sighing and resting her head against his chest while she thinks:: What proofs do you have of their plot to kill me? And who exactly are they-- I mean, how many are involved, and what positions do they hold? <Vallel> ::blushes:: I know because I cheat. I've been using my psionics to gain an advantage in fighting. I can pick out of their heads what they're planning to do next, and sometimes, I can counter it. <Glossaria> ::eyes widening as she looks up at him:: So *that's* how you've been managing to stay alive through all this! ::raising an eyebrow:: What ever happened to meeting them on their own turf, Mr. More-honorable-than-thou? <Vallel> ::spreads his hands, but looks very embarrassed:: They don't know I'm doing it, so it doesn't frighten them as much... <Glossaria> ::eyebrow still raised:: They're being thrashed by-- pardon me-- a boy fresh from the sticks with *no* known experience, and you think it doesn't frighten them? I think it would frighten them less if you toasted their buns a little for them! ::making a little waggling motion with her index finger:: <Vallel> OKay, okay, we've already agreed that you think I'm an idiot... let's move on, shall we? <Glossaria> ::smiling a little and snuggling:: Well, if it's... all in their heads, as it were, we don't have any proof that there's an actual plot. ::frowning in thought:: <Glossaria> There's only one possible solution that I can see. <Vallel> Astonish me... <Glossaria> ::firmly:: We'll have to let them try to kill me. <Vallel> ::mutters to the wall:: And she thinks *I'm* an idiot... <Glossaria> No, no, wait! I didn't say *let* them kill me-- although, ::cocking her head to the side again:: there's an 86% chance that I would revivify as normal... ::shaking her head quickly:: But, I told you, I use wards. Forewarned is forearmed. None of them are mages, are they? <Vallel> Nope... mostly the younger sons of merchants and nobles... there are about five or six of them who are serious about it, and another few who just like to hang out and drink with them. <Glossaria> Hmmm... do you know how they're planning to do it? ::dryly:: I am, after all, an evil, inhuman creature with strange, incomprehensible powers. <Vallel> I think they're just sort of planning on stabbing you in the back... sometimes that works <Glossaria> Only if the mage isn't expecting it. And I've had that particular attack covered for quite some time. I *did* have professional ninjas hunting me, after all. <Vallel> All right. So they take a stab at you... then what? <Glossaria> Well, then they've just committed attempted murder, in front of witnesses. And then it's a matter for the Dragons. <Vallel> ::frowns:: How much influence does the nobility have with the Dragons? <Glossaria> I think it depends on which barracks. But the local captain used to be a Hall Patron, and the city commandant is reputed to be a very fair-minded man... and a self-made one. <Vallel> All right. We'll try it your way for a while... <Glossaria> ::nodding and taking a deep breath:: <Glossaria> Thank you. And Vallel... ::going on tiptoe to kiss him on the forehead:: Thank you for telling me. <Vallel> Okay. you get some sleep. We'll talk about this more later... |
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