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* Vallel is sitting behind a large wooden table, playing a solitaire card game. * Meghan walks into the school carrying a large pile of books. She gets past the front door and trips and spills the books and herself all over the floor * Vallel puts a card on the table, then looks up. <Vallel> Oh, are you okay? ::gets up and comes over to help her pick up her books:: <Meghan> ::nods:: just clumsy tonight I guess <Vallel> Well, that happens sometimes. What are you reading? Couldn't you get someone to help you carry these? <Meghan> They are books that have information on Empathy. I guess I didn't think I needed any help * Meghan glances at Val trying to see his mood * Vallel flips a few of the books onto the table. "I think I read this one... " * Meghan nods to him <Vallel> ::sitting down at the table again:: So, what's on your mind tonight? ::looks at his cards, then plays a two of diamonds on a three of spades:: * Meghan piles the rest of the books neatly on the table and stands back a bit watching Val <Meghan> Not that much. Why do you ask? <Vallel> No particular reason. I just haven't seen much of anyone unless they had something specific in mind. ::turns a few cards:: <Meghan> Maybe I just wanted to see you. <Vallel> ::grins:: Well, that would be nice. Do you want to see me? * Meghan nods smiling lightly back <Meghan> I do * Vallel holds up a card, with the back facing Meghan. "What card am I holding?" * Meghan shrugs <Meghan> Dunno * Vallel puts down the joker. "I keep leaving it in the deck. Somehow, it seems appropriate." * Meghan looks curiously at Val <Meghan> why do you say that? * Vallel touches the card lightly, the picture on it of a young man, dressed in brightly colored clothing, staring up at the sky, while just beyond the tips of his shoes, there is an impossibly cliff of which the young man seems perfectly unaware. <Vallel> I sort of feel like this, recently. * Meghan steps forward and leans down looking at the card for a moment and then steps back <Meghan> Oh <Meghan> Do you want to tell me about it? <Vallel> Actually, I feel more like I walked off the cliff and I'm falling, wondering what the hell happened... <Meghan> Oh ::frowns slightly:: why do I feel that is my fault <Vallel> ::looking over at her:: I'm sure it isn't. * Meghan steps back and sits on the sofa in the room <Meghan> Well I can't see that I have made you life easy in the past week <Vallel> You know, I went over to see my aunt today. ::picks up the cards and shuffles them rapidly:: <Meghan> Yeah. How is she? <Vallel> ::laughs:: About thirty years younger than she was the last time I saw her. <Vallel> Plus, somewhere in the last few days, she seems to have sprouted horns and a tail <Meghan> Hum I noticed the youth at Hall a few days ago but no horns or tail ::smiles staring at a space on the floor in front of her:: <Vallel> She said that Zoya accidentally caused them, trying to get her through puberty again. I heard she was about ten the other day. Now she's about my sister's age. * Meghan nods <Meghan> I'm sure she will be back to normal soon <Vallel> Let's see... what else? ::taps his chin thoughtfully with one card:: Michelle sent me a note the other day saying she wanted to speak with me. <Meghan> Really ::looks at him with interest:: did she say about what? <Vallel> ::shakes his head:: Only that it was important. I haven't gotten around to talking to her yet. <Meghan> Oh ::looks back at the floor:: <Vallel> And I got my lute back from the shop. ::smiles:: I was practicing earlier. <Meghan> Yeah. ::looks up and smiles at him:: Play for me? <Vallel> Sure... ::reaches under the table and picks up his lute. He looks at her for a while, then strums the lute:: * Meghan pulls her legs up and wraps her arms around them staring into the air and listens <Vallel> All around my hat, I will wear the green willow, * Vallel finishes his song and holds the lute in his lap. * Meghan smiles at him <Meghan> That was beautiful Val <Vallel> Thank you. I used to play while I watched the sheep. Sheep are pretty docile animals, you know. <Vallel> They don't do much... just sort of hang out and eat grass. Pretty boring, watching them. <Meghan> ::nods:: I do know <Meghan> Sounds nice about now. <Vallel> ::smiles:: Yeah, I never thought I'd miss it. But I think I could use a few days of boring. Boring might be nice. * Meghan nods <Meghan> Val why have you not moved back to the cottage? <Vallel> Well, at first it was because it was empty... with no one there and nothing going on, I had too much nothing to listen to, you know? * Meghan nods <Meghan> But your aunt is back now right? <Vallel> Yes. ::shakes his head:: But she's not like she used to be. Or maybe I should say she's just like she used to be, but I didn't know her then. She said something about shape dictating your thinking, and she's too... young, really. Even if she is older than I am. <Meghan> So you're just going to stay here? <Vallel> For the time being. ::looks around:: I kind of like it, actually. <Meghan> Ok. As long as you're happy here. <Vallel> Happy? No, I'm not happy. But I'm comfortable. I don't have to pretend to be someone I'm not, and I know that no one here expects anything from me. * Meghan looks sharply at him and then sighs lightly standing. <Meghan> I understand. ::looks around and then rests her gaze on Val:: Well I guess ::pauses:: I guess I should leave you be then <Vallel> I wish you wouldn't go, actually. I like it when you're around. I think the biggest reason I moved out of my aunt's house is because I kept listening for you to come home, even when I knew you weren't. * Meghan stays standing not moving for a moment then sinks back onto the sofa <Meghan> ::softly:: then why do I feel like I am causing you more pain than anything else * Vallel looks over at her, his eyes, which have been deliberately cool and casual, soften suddenly. "Has anyone told you how beautiful you are? Look at you..." He reaches out and touches her hair. * Meghan shrinks back from his touch and whisper "Val please don't <Vallel> Sorry ::pulls his hand back:: * Vallel looks down at the floor. <Meghan> No ::looks over at him:: It's not you. I'm just ::pauses looking away:: I don't know <Vallel> Yeah. I've been feeling like that for a few days now. * Meghan nods and then looks back at him <Meghan> ::softly:: Val ::pauses:: I'm in love with you <Vallel> You did tell me that... ::tries a smile on, but it doesn't quite seem to fit:: When did you decide that? <Meghan> At the party. The thought that I might lose you. ::shakes her head and looks away:: <Vallel> I thought I was going to lose me, too. ::grins, and it fits a bit better:: * Meghan nods * Meghan glances at Val <Vallel> I'm fine, really. A little scarring, but nothing serious. ::absently rubs the spot on his chest where the arrow penetrated:: <Meghan> Your physical wellness is not what concerns me Vallel <Vallel> Oh? ::raises an eyebrow at her:: <Meghan> Not to mean that I am not concerned that you are physically well, but I know you are. <Meghan> I just ::pauses, looks at him and then away muttering softly to herself:: You know it doesn't really matter. * Vallel looks at her for a long moment. <Vallel> You know, Meghan, I would like to understand at least one thing in my life. Please tell me what's wrong. * Meghan looks up at him <Meghan> I want to know how you feel about what I have told you. I really want to know what I should or should not do about it. * Meghan stands and begins pacing clenching and unclenching her fists <Vallel> Oh. * Vallel tucks his knees up to his chest and wraps his arms around his legs. * Meghan turns and looks at him saying nothing <Vallel> I... you know, before you said anything to me about it, I was afraid you hated me for what I said a few weeks ago. <Vallel> Or didn't say. Or thought about saying. Or whatever it was that I did. Or didn't do. * Meghan shakes her head lightly <Vallel> I thought you wanted nothing more than to be out of my sight and out of my life... <Meghan> I would be incredibly hard for me to hate you. I can't imagine you ever doing anything that would make me feel that * Meghan shakes her head <Meghan> I just didn't want to come between you and Gloss. I knew with the way I feel that me living with you, well it wouldn't work very well for me <Meghan> And you love her ::her face softens:: and that was the hardest of it all <Vallel> ::shrugs:: I don't think that matters much anymore. She doesn't care about me. <Meghan> ::softly:: I find that hard to believe * Vallel waves a hand somewhat dismissively. <Vallel> It's not important. I don't really want to talk about that... * Meghan sits back on the sofa <Meghan> I need to know what to do Val. To keep these feeling I have about you and the possibility of them growing or to somehow get over them. * Meghan looks over at him <Vallel> Meg... I don't know what to do... I know that you've been the best friend I've ever had in my life. And after what happened, when Xarroch rescued you... I couldn't think of anything else but you. Everything about you. The way the sun glints off your hair. The curve of your neck. Your eyes, your voice. And I felt awful about feeling like that... * Meghan nods <Vallel> I still care about Gloss, and I don't know if my thinking about you was... what made her... do you know how she and I ended up together in the first place? <Meghan> ::softly:: no <Vallel> My da' sent me to live with my aunt because I... had an accident with my psionic ability. I was kissing a girl from my village ::blushes:: Well, we'd gotten a bit past just kissing, really. And I set the barn on fire. I didn't mean to. But the barn burned to the ground and both of us ended up without a stitch of clothing out in front of everyone. And I accidentally burned her hair off, too. ::winces at the memory:: * Meghan smiles lightly <Vallel> So, I came up to live with my aunt and go to school. My aunt works at the MeadeHall, so I went there one evening. I met Glossaria, who was reading some ::coughs:: books about love and sex. And she was looking for someone to try her... ::blush:: Anyway, we ended up... ::blushes again:: Well, you know about that, I'm sure. * Meghan nods <Vallel> We had that sort of relationship for a while... and I got to caring about her. About nine months ago or so, I asked her to be my wife. She avoided me for the better part of a month or so after that, and I was really sure she was going to say no. <Vallel> She just didn't want to hurt my feelings, I think. <Meghan> I remember that <Vallel> ::looks up at Meghan:: Do you know she asked Xarroch to... ::makes a gesture::? <Vallel> As part of her research, she says. * Meghan shakes her head <Meghan> oh * Meghan glances at Val <Meghan> How do you feel about her Val? <Vallel> I don't know anymore. She's sort of like a steak with chocolate sauce or something. Two very nice things that don't go together so well. * Meghan nods * Meghan glances at him and smiles softly <Vallel> About a month ago, we had a bit of a fight... she asked me how I felt about you, and I told her the truth. And now she thinks we should see other people. And I wonder... did I cause that? Or was I just part of her big research project after all? <Meghan> I don't think you were. I think that Gloss really does care about you. * Meghan shrugs <Meghan> I don't think my opinion is valid whatever the case <Vallel> Why isn't it? ::looks at her:: * Meghan looks at him and smiles "Because in my perfect world you would care about me like you do Gloss. You would love me and not her" <Meghan> But my perfect world is only perfect for me <Meghan> and I care about you too much to ask that of you when I know you still care about her <Vallel> ::smiles somewhat bitterly:: The biter snake or the golden bowl. <Meghan> ::shakes her head:: I don't understand <Vallel> There's a story that I heard from a bard once about a girl who had a box. Inside the box was either a deadly poisonous snake or a lovely golden bowl. And the question was, did she open the box and get bitten, or not open the box and never have the golden bowl? * Meghan nods * Meghan sits back on the sofa pulling her legs up and wrapping her arms around them <Vallel> On the one hand, I've got Glossaria, who is probably the most intelligent, fascinating woman I've ever met, who may or may not want me back after she goes out and finishes her research. And, in all honesty, can I take her back after she does? And on the other hand, I have you. Who is like my second self, closer than twins, and who is sitting there with her heart in her hands, waiting to see what I decide to do about it. <Meghan> You know what I think <Vallel> No, actually, I don't know what you're thinking. I haven't been looking. Somehow, it didn't seem really right to do that. ::smiles:: I think I've summed up the problem fairly well, don't you? * Meghan nods <Meghan> Let me show you something * Meghan sits up and turns to face him <Meghan> ::holds out her hands:: Take my hands * Vallel reaches out and takes hold of Meghan's hands, rubbing her palm with his thumb. * Meghan closes her fingers around his giving him a quick smile before closing her eyes. After a moments he feels a strong sense of love mixed with security and calmness and a new level of emotional care * Vallel leans back, closing his eyes and sighing. * Meghan opens her eyes and looks at him keeping her hands in his <Meghan> That's how I feel every time I think about you <Vallel> ::looks somewhat shy suddenly:: I wish I felt like I deserved that. <Meghan> Why wouldn't you <Vallel> I'm just not that special, you know. You could do much better with your affections... * Meghan shakes her head and pulls his hands into her lap <Meghan> But you are that special to me Vallel. There is no one that I would rather ::pauses thinking:: there is no one I would rather give those affections to more than you * Vallel leans forward, leaning his forehead against Meghan's neck, his arms stealing around her waist. Breathing against her neck, he shudders. * Meghan wraps her arms around Vallel's waist and hugs him to her resting her cheek against the top of his head * Vallel kisses her neck, just under the jawline, then moves away again, regarding her with eyes that seem decades older than he actually is. * Meghan smiles softly at him <Vallel> I... I don't want to make the same mistake twice... would it... would it be too much to ask... can we be good friends for now? I think I need a friend more than I need a new lover. * Meghan nods <Meghan> I would never be less to you <Vallel> ::smiles ruefully:: I want... ::touches her cheek:: Well, you can imagine, I'm sure, what I want. But I'm not... and it wouldn't be so good for you, right now, I think. <Meghan> More than that Val it's not something I would ever do with you just being your friend. * Vallel clasps one of her hands between his. <Vallel> Thank you. * Meghan nods smiling softly * Vallel gestures to the table with her books scattered all over it. "Let's get some studying done, then, shall we? Because if I stand here looking at you looking like that, I might be tempted." * Meghan laughs lightly <Meghan> Ok * Vallel pulls out a chair, sits down, and picks up one of the books. * Meghan takes another book and sits back on the sofa pulling her feet up under her she begins to read * Vallel opens the book, blinks a few times and then carefully turns it right side up. * Meghan laughs softly <Meghan> I can go if I am distracting ::winks at him:: <Vallel> I'd rather you didn't. I... feel better when you're around. * Meghan shakes her head and continues in her book |
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