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* Temire walks up to the Tower in her usual breeches and shirt, a pack slung over her shoulder. * Glossaria sits in the sunny window seat of the library, feet up on an ottoman, nose in book. Realia is curled up on her feet, sleeping. * Temire knocks on the Tower door. <Glossaria> ::the sound of twittering birds echoes from the ceiling of the Library. Gloss reads on, absorbed:: * Temire waits a few minutes then knocks on the door again. * Glossaria looks up, startled, as the sound of a dragon's roar fills the room. "No need to shout!" She pauses. "Oh, you did? I never heard it..." She sighs, puts a marker in her book, and lifts Realia gently off her legs, setting her down on the seat while Gloss goes to the door. * Glossaria opens the door, peering out. "Oh! Temire. Please, come in." She opens the door wider. <Glossaria> Mistress Zoya is in a rather delicate stage of her research at the moment, so I'm afraid she can't be disturbed, but I'd happily take a message for you. * Temire smiles and steps in, "No. I was just stopping by to return those books I borrowed from you months ago." <Glossaria> Ah. ::eyes Temire's pack alertly:: The romances, yes. Did you enjoy them? Would you like more? <Temire> ::Mira's face falls:: I don't think I'm much interested in them anymore. <Glossaria> ::smiles knowingly:: No comparison to the real thing? * Temire looks even more miserable, "Something like that." <Glossaria> ::frowns, studying her face:: You're obviously distraught... why? ::holds up a hand:: No, wait... Come, let me send these to the Library and we'll have tea in the solar. * Temire shakes her head but follows Gloss. * Glossaria makes an odd tilting gesture with her hand, and one of the blue flames of the Tower Staff winks into existence, a silver disk floating in front of it. Gloss places the books on the tray. "To the returns cart, please." She shakes a finger. "Absolutely no reshelving!" * Temire blinks at Gloss. * Glossaria turns to smile at Temire as the flame-- and the books-- wink out again. "The Solar's this way, today." She leads the way up the stairs, and lowers her voice. "And... if some of the cookies taste of onion, *please* don't say anything. The Kitchen has had a bit of an upset, of late." * Temire shakes her head, "I don't know how you do it." <Glossaria> ::blinks:: Do what? <Temire> Live here without going insane. * Glossaria leads Temire down a hall made of dazzling-white stone lined with arabesqued windows looking out onto a sunny orange grove. "What do you mean? This is my home. I've always lived here, after all." * Temire smiles faintly, "You're a stronger woman than I." Suddenly frowns. <Glossaria> ::holds up a finger:: No girl talk until tea. ::smiles and opens a blue-painted door. A whiff of oranges and warm oceanfront air-- completely out of keeping with the local climate-- blows past them quickly, setting their hair dancing. The solar lies beyond the door. Its closed windows, overlooking the Dragonsmere, let in pale but warm winter light. A small table is set with pale purple linen and tea for two:: * Temire smiles faintly at the scene but says nothing, taking a seat at the table and staring blankly out the window. <Glossaria> ::smiling and pulling out a chair to sit:: I like to think of it as Lord Erdian's way of helping me adventure without having to leave what I love. ::smiles wider:: Although of course, I like to get out, too. <Temire> ::Mira's smile brightens a little:: I hadn't thought of it that way. <Glossaria> And besides... it *is* my home, as it is Mistress Zoya's. We *never* get lost. ::smiling:: And Val's getting much better at it, too. * Temire chuckles faintly, "But the Kitchen's upset." <Glossaria> ::waves a hand:: Oh, that has nothing to do with it... a... misunderstanding with one of the gnomes. ::picks up the teapot and pours out a cup of black currant tea, berry-fragrant and steaming:: Milk? Sugar? Lemon? * Temire shakes her head, "No thank you." <Glossaria> ::nods and hands Temire the cup, pouring out another for herself and adding sugar, sniffing a cookie covertly before putting it on her plate:: So, then... what's wrong? * Temire sips her tea and leans back in her chair, closing her eyes, "Roni screwed that bitch Catreenia." <Glossaria> ::blinks and cocks her head curiously:: He fastened her? Had sex with her? Swindled her? And is Catreenia human or canine? ::frowning deeper:: From his books, I never figured Ilarion would be fond of bestiality... <Temire> ::Tears begin sliding down Mira's cheeks:: <Glossaria> Oh... oh, please don't cry, Temire! ::picks up a cloth napkin and rushes around the table to offer it to Temire and pat her shoulder somewhat timidly:: * Temire starts shaking, some tea sloshing out of her cup, "I finally get brave enough...and then two weeks later..." * Glossaria takes the cup from Temire, setting it carefully in the saucer and pushing it away. "Shhh, shhh... be calm. And please, start at the beginning..." * Temire hugs Glossaria, crying harder. * Glossaria looks a little distressed, but curls an arm around Temire protectively, stroking her hair softly with her other hand. "Shhh, shhh... be calm, I'm right here..." * Temire slowly calms down after a few minutes. * Glossaria sets her cup aside and pours a little of the tea out into her saucer as she's waiting, dropping her napkin into it to soak. As Temire calms, Gloss hands her the tea-dampened napkin. "Here, wipe your eyes with this. It will soothe them." * Temire takes the napkin and starts wiping her face, before bursting into half-hysterical giggles, "It's tea, Glossaria." <Glossaria> ::her voice steady and soothing:: Shh, calm down, take deep breaths... of course it's tea. Black currant and tea are demulcent and mildly astringent, they'll help ease the puffiness. * Temire continues giggling, but wipes her face with the napkin. * Glossaria watches Temire, concerned. "Are you all right? Do you want to talk about it?" * Temire giggles, still with a hysterical edge, "I haven't cried this much since I was disowned." <Glossaria> ::sternly:: No giggling, or I'll make you lie down. What happened to make you so hysterical, Temire? * Temire looks at Gloss and giggles more, "Roni said he loved me...And then...He slept with Cat..." continues giggling. <Glossaria> Cat... this Catreenia? ::frowning at Temire:: Is this a hysterical reaction, or do you truly find this humorous? * Temire bites her lip managing be hold her breath and be silent for several moments before hugging Gloss again and crying fiercely. <Glossaria> ::looks dismayed, and goes back to hugging Temire and stroking her hair:: * Temire calms down again after a few minutes. <Glossaria> ::peers at her:: All cried out? * Temire giggles, wiping her face, "For a few minutes." <Glossaria> ::sitting down again cautiously:: Ilarion... left you for this other woman? * Temire shakes her head, still wiping her face, "No. He spent five days getting totally drunk and then came back and said he was 'sorry'." <Glossaria> So... ::frowning as she works it out:: He told you he loved you. He slept with another woman. He spent five days getting drunk. He returned home, and apologized. ::cocking her head:: How did you find out? Did you walk in on them? * Temire sighs, "We slept together, then he slept with that slut, then he got drunk, then he came home and told me." <Glossaria> He... slept with her *after* he slept with you. Oh! He slept with you! Congratulations! Oh, um... ::thinks:: But... he told you? That's how you discovered them? * Temire nods. <Glossaria> ::blinks:: Then... why did he tell you? * Temire sighs and slumps in her chair, staring back out the window, "Because he was sorry for hurting me." <Glossaria> But... telling you obviously hurt you. ::gesturing to Temire's tear-stained face:: That's paradoxical. * Temire nods. <Glossaria> ::sighs, and slumps in her chair a little:: It's days like this I despair of understanding humanity.... * Temire nods, continuing to stare out the window. <Glossaria> ::blinks, surprised:: You, too? <Temire> If he loved me, how could he sleep with her? And if he slept with her because she's pretty, how can he sleep with someone as hideous as me? <Glossaria> ::considers Temire:: Well, to take the last first, I don't believe you'd be considered hideous, by regional standards. And beauty often counts for little, anyway, in love. And even in lust... ::looks thoughtful:: After all, ::her voice softening:: Vallel fell in love with *me*. He married *me*. ::sounding a little incredulous, and yet faintly smug:: <Glossaria> As for the other... ::looks at her sidelong:: I suppose this would be a bad time to go into a lecture on the ways of love as practiced in Alanis.... * Temire gives Glossaria a look. "Val walked into the Hall, you turned to him and said, "Do you want to have sex?" Of course he said yes. As for the rest, you got very lucky that Val's as nice a guy as he is." <Temire> And I don't want to hear a word about those perverted customs Kevil follows. <Glossaria> ::frowning:: They're not perverted, they're just not what you're used to. But... ::sighing:: I suppose what I mean to point out is that there is a long step from lust to love, and often enough the two have nothing to do with one another. After all, do men fall in love with the prostitutes they frequent? <Temire> So you're saying I should just ignore this? It was a business transaction and nothing for me to be concerned about? ::Mira half rises out of her chair:: <Glossaria> ::shrugging a shoulder:: I don't know. I know very little about the situation, I barely know Master Ilarion, and I don't believe I've ever met this Catreenia. I'm hardly qualified to render an opinion in this instance. <Glossaria> But-- did he offer a reason *why* he had sex with Catreenia? ::sounding confused, and murmuring to herself:: I wouldn't have thought him to have the stamina... * Glossaria blushes faintly. * Temire blinks at Gloss, "No he didn't, and what does stamina have to do with it?" <Glossaria> ::shakes her head, still blushing faintly:: No matter. Well... perhaps you should ask him? Or-- I could ask him, if you wish? * Temire sits back in a huff, "I did ask him. He just kept saying that it was a mistake." <Glossaria> ::cocks her head:: Well, men *do* make them, from time to time. Do you believe him? * Temire puts her head in her hands and starts crying, "I just want to believe him when he says it won't happen again." <Glossaria> Well... then... but... ::stroking Temire's hair away from her face:: He told *you* he loved you, didn't he? And he came back to *you*. Do... do you love him? * Temire sobs, "Yes..." <Glossaria> Well... what do *you* want to do? <Temire> I want to trust him... <Glossaria> Well... that might be a bit premature, it seems. But one instance is not a pattern. ::hesitantly:: Perhaps... just... forgiving him, might be a start. * Temire stomps her feet and beats herself and the chair with her fists, "Everyone's prettier than I am and I can't even let him touch me any more without wondering if he touched her the same way or what she did that was so much better than me." <Glossaria> ::draws back a little from Temire's anger, and considers and discards several responses as imprudent, thinking furiously:: If... you dislike the way you look so much... perhaps a makeover? But... I don't think you're ugly, Temire, not at all! ::studying her a bit more:: Perhaps... it's not the outside of yourself you should concern yourself so much with, Temire, but the inside... you appear to lack self-esteem. * Temire falls forward out of the chair, beating the floor with her fist, still crying, "WHY?!?" <Glossaria> ::frowning:: Temire? * Temire continues crying, having run out of the energy to beat the floor. <Glossaria> ::sharply:: Temire! * Temire slowly runs out of tears, but doesn't move out of her bent over position. <Glossaria> ::opens her mouth several times as if to say something, and at one point takes a step forward as if to help her up. Finally, she sighs and crosses her arms:: Temire... how is it you expect love and constancy from another, when you don't even love or act truly towards yourself? * Temire rolls onto her side, hugging her knees, her tears slowing, "Nobody loves me..." <Glossaria> ::pressing her lips together:: Temire, I have sympathy for your situation, and I would like to help you work through it. But I warn you, I have little patience for excessive displays and none at all for people who lie to themselves. * Temire slowly stands up, "I'm sorry for bothering you, Glossaria." * Glossaria narrows her eyes, and behind her, the door slams closed loudly. * Temire glances at the door, and then at Gloss, her own eyes narrowing. * Vallel looks up from his homework. "Gloss? Are you all right?" He gets up and heads towards the noise. * Temire waits for several moments, eyeing Gloss warily, then charges the window, throwing herself at the glass (and hopefully through it). <Glossaria> ::shakes her head as the glass stretches and bounces back, unbroken, pushing Temire back into the room:: <Vallel> ::enters the room:: What the hell? <Glossaria> Temire, I think of you as a friend. I believe you think of *me* as a friend, or you would not have come here. And I refuse to allow you to deny yourself and run away *again.* * Temire turns at Val's entrance, racing for the open door. <Glossaria> Temire, please-- <Vallel> Whoa... ::gingerly reaches out for Temire's shoulder:: What's wrong? * Temire blows past Val and out the door, charging through the Tower hallways at random. <Glossaria> Temire-- OOOOOOH... ::Gloss makes the hand-gesture that calls the Tower Staff, and speaks to the blue flame that appears:: Please don't let her hurt herself, but please don't let her out. <Vallel> ::looking puzzled:: What is going on here? Damn, she's going to hurt herself if she's not... ::setting his jaw, he raises a hand:: <Vallel> ::with a quick lifting motion, Vallel moves his hand, sweat beading his forehead as he levitates Temire off her feet, about seven inches:: Could you hold up a minute, Temire? * Temire starts thrashing and cursing, trying desperately to get free and move again, her voice raising until it sounds as if a half dozen women are screaming and cursing. <Glossaria> She's-- ::tugs at her hair in dismay:: I'm so atrocious with emotions... I'm afraid I either misunderstood her state of mind entirely, or said exactly the wrong thing... *again*.... <Glossaria> ::winces:: I'm glad Mistress Zoya's laboratory is sound-proofed... <Vallel> ::sighs:: Temire... ::firmly:: Calm down... ::moves over to her, careful to stay out of hitting range:: * Temire spends several moments thrashing around before finally collapsing into a fetal ball, crying hysterically. <Vallel> ::letting her down to the floor gently:: What's wrong? ::kneels down near her:: <Glossaria> ::puts her face in her hands:: Oh... I've made a mess of things... * Temire continues crying, the voices joining her. <Vallel> ::looks at Temire:: Interesting... I see you've discovered your talent. <Glossaria> ::blinks:: Talent? <Vallel> ::gestures to the air:: Listen to her... <Glossaria> ::puts a hand to a nearby wall:: Oh... it's not a Tower echo! <Glossaria> But-- what *is* it? ::wincing a little:: Besides loud. <Vallel> ::points to Temire:: She's doing it, I can feel her putting the energy out. <Glossaria> I don't recognize this from my studies... unless... spirit-contact? <Vallel> ::shaking his head:: She's... moving the sounds... it's hard to tell exactly, I've never seen it before... ::dismissing it:: Temire... would you like to tell me what's wrong? * Temire slowly runs out of tears, "nobody loves me..." Her voiced sounds like a little girl. <Vallel> ::blinks, glancing up at Gloss:: Did I miss a meeting? <Glossaria> ::spreads her hands, shrugging helplessly:: It appears that, after confessing his love and sleeping with Temire, Ilarion slept with another woman-- Catreenia? ::shrugs a shoulder to show she doesn't know her:: --and then, after spending five days drinking, returned to Temire to confess and apologize. <Glossaria> You know as much as I, now. ::sighs:: What did I say *wrong*? <Vallel> ::wincing:: Ow... damn, that's not good. ::trying to prop Temire up a little:: Is that right, Temire? <Glossaria> I *thought* matters were progressing positively, but then Temire declared that she was ugly and no one loved her, and well... ::shrugs helplessly again:: You *know* I don't deal will with illogic, love.... ::looking embarrassed:: * Temire nods her head listlessly, gently rocking herself, the voices having gone silent when she did. <Glossaria> ::watching Temire worriedly:: It's like she's... regressed. <Vallel> ::quietly:: Temire? What did he say? * Temire continues rocking, her eyes not focusing on anything, "He said he slept with Cat." <Vallel> ::thoughtfully:: He told you. ::nodding, pressing his mouth together:: Why do you suppose he did that? * Temire shakes her head, "I don't know." <Vallel> ::snapping his fingers in front of her face a few times:: Come on, Temire, think... why would he tell you about it? * Glossaria looks from one to the other, worry-lines evident in her face. <Temire> ::sounding dejected:: Because she dumped him and he wanted the stupid little girl to keep his bed warm till he found someone else. * Glossaria opens her mouth and closes it again without speaking. <Vallel> ::leaning against the wall:: No, I don't think so. ::glancing at Gloss:: Forgive me for saying so, but *I* wouldn't tell someone, if that was my motive. How would you have ever known, if he'd lied to you? * Glossaria gives Vallel a grateful look, and nods. * Temire whispers, "why?" <Vallel> ::shrugging:: That's obvious, Temire. You're pretty angry, obviously. If what he wanted from you was to be a bedwarmer, he wouldn't risk upsetting you like this. * Temire continues rocking herself, "why?" <Glossaria> ::quietly:: He claimed he didn't want to hurt her. <Vallel> ::snorting:: A little late for that, don't you think? ::pulls Temire into a one-armed embrace:: <Glossaria> ::muttering:: That's what I thought, but I've long since given up on this making sense.... * Temire hugs Val, burying her face in his chest and whimpering softly. <Glossaria> ::suddenly:: Vallel... you're a man. What do you think of Temire's looks? <Vallel> ::looking down at Temire:: She's rather cute... ::looking up at his wife, he winks:: A little boyish, sometimes, but there's nothing wrong with that. Why? * Temire starts crying again. <Vallel> ::looking down at Temire again:: What? <Temire> I'm not pretty... <Glossaria> Would you find her sexually attractive, do you think? <Vallel> ::fervently:: Gods, *yes*... ::snorts:: Half the guys at the school think so, but they don't dare say it. <Glossaria> ::cocks her head curiously:: Why not? <Vallel> ::shrugging:: No one wants to get cold-cocked. * Temire starts crying harder. <Glossaria> Cold-- ::blinks:: Oh. Punched. ::smiles a little:: <Glossaria> ::sighs:: She cried when she believed herself to be unattractive... and now, with evidence to the contrary, she cries. ::shakes her head:: Temire, I'm sorry, but I don't understand. <Vallel> ::looks flabbergasted:: Well, don't expect *me* to understand... sounds like a girl-thing to me. <Glossaria> ::wringing her hands:: Well... but... you've at least *known* girls longer than I've *been* one, love! <Vallel> ::laughs:: Tarri used to get mad at me if I said she looked pretty *today* or *in that dress*. "What?" she'd say. "I wasn't pretty yesterday?" * Temire starts laughing hysterically, "Oh of course. We all want some man to beat us into submission and lock us in pretty little houses. Of course it's just a girl thing." <Vallel> ::blinks at Temire:: Are you possessed? Where in the hell did you get *that* out of anything I just said? <Glossaria> ::blinks and shakes her head, mystified:: * Temire continues laughing, "I wish I was...then I'd be able to keep Roni from wandering..." <Glossaria> ::shakes her head doubtfully:: She's hysterical... <Vallel> ::shaking his head:: Remember, I'm just a stupid man here... tell me where you get that I think you want to be beaten into submission, all right? Try using small words, as I'm obviously incapable of grasping larger concepts. <Glossaria> ::hiding a smile behind her hand:: Was that meant to be sarcasm, love? * Temire continues laughing, "You thought I'd be happy...Knowing I don't have any friends...Because everyone's scared of me...You thought...That would make me pretty..." <Glossaria> ::looking alarmed, Glossaria moves forward:: Temire! Breathe! ::she hauls back her hand to slap Temire smartly across the cheek:: <Vallel> ::shaking his finger at her:: You assume too much, Temire. I don't mean to criticize when you're obviously upset, but maybe you should listen to me for a minute. You're so quick to take the worst possible view of things, everyone treats you like a mug of kick. You're... we've got the hedgehog's dilemma here. * Temire stops laughing at the slap and blinks stupidly at Val and Gloss. <Glossaria> ::a little more softly, she repeats:: Temire, breathe. Please, calm down and *think.* * Temire shoves Val away, "Thanks a lot Val, I always wanted to hear that I was like a drink so toxic that only demons and children's nightmares drink the stuff. You have any other pearls to make me feel better about myself?" <Vallel> ::sighs:: Temire... you're only proving my point here. You're so frightened of being hurt that you're pushing everyone away as fast as you can. * Temire starts getting angry, "Why should I trust anyone? I trusted Roni and look what he did to me." <Vallel> ::shrugging:: No reason. You can be alone for the rest of your life if you want. Personally, I think you're being selfish. He *told* you, Temire. He wouldn't have done that if he didn't care about you. Or even if he cared about you a little less. He thought you deserved to know the truth, no matter what it might cost him. So... go roll up in your little prickle ball if it makes you feel better. But I think you're making a mistake. <Vallel> ::putting his hands on his hips:: Life is about hurting, Temire. Loving is about forgiving people for the mistakes they make and moving on. ::takes Gloss's hand:: <Glossaria> ::bites her lip, twining her fingers into Val's and holding on tight:: <Vallel> ::takes a step towards Temire, his eyes compassionate:: I don't think you want to be alone for the rest of your life. And you may need that forgiveness yourself, someday. * Temire collapses to the flooring sobbing, "So I'm just supposed to let him use me even though I can't stop thinking about what they did and let him sleep with any pretty woman who bats her eyes at him?" <Glossaria> ::looking at Vallel:: IF you love him, Temire, you'll do what you can to heal the breach, and be with him... and trust him to do the same. And if that doesn't work, and you... fall out of love... ::she shrugs:: You leave. But you leave, knowing you did what you could. That you didn't give up on him on the first try. ::lifts Val's hand to her lips, and kisses it. She looks at Temire:: And that you didn't give up on *yourself*, and your own chance for happiness. <Vallel> No one's saying you have to be a doormat, Temire... but one mistake... it doesn't have to be the end of the world. * Temire sobs, "Fine. Just let me go. Just let me go." * Glossaria sighs, exchanging a troubled look with Vallel as she tilts her hand to call the Staff. One of the bobbing blue lights appears, and Gloss instructs it to show their guest to the door. "I'm sorry, Temire." |
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