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<Catreenia> ::smiling as she exits her room, hair freshly braided back into its neat, long chestnut plait, light blue woolen dress belted with a scarf over the hip to accent her figure:: Did you sleep well, Lord Bastian? <Catreenia> ::pulls her braid over her shoulder and twirls the end around her finger, wondering if she should knock, or leave the older man to his sleep:: <Bastian> ::in a muffled voice:: Come in, my lady. <Catreenia> ::blinks in surprise, putting her hand to the knob and quietly opening the door to poke her head in:: <Catreenia> ::softly:: I didn't mean to wake you, milord... * Bastian is on the floor in his room, doing push ups. He is wearing black trousers and a pair of black leather boots, his chest bare. He glances up at her a moment, then tucks his left hand behind his back, continuing to do push ups. "You're not disturbing me, my lady..." <Catreenia> ::her eyes rake up and down quickly, and widen. She chews on her lower lip a little as she turns half-away and mutters something to herself. After a moment, she catches her breath, and shoots a glance back at him again:: You do this... every morning, m'lord? <Bastian> ::nodding, he grunts as he switches hands:: Most of the time, yes... ::his back gleams with sweat, the criss-cross of old scars catching the light. At one place it looks as though someone might have stuck a pole through him, the dip of flesh not filling in properly:: <Catreenia> ::swallows, staring at his back, the play of light across it as it moves up and down, before turning her eyes away again and studying the furniture with absorbed interest. When she speaks again, her voice is faintly amused:: And to think I had concern that you might have overexerted yourself yesterevening. <Bastian> ::putting both hands on the floor, he groans, then slowly gets to his feet. He picks up a small towel, wiping his face:: I apologize for receiving you in such a... state. * Catreenia shakes her head, murmuring a somewhat faint-voiced "No, it's perfectly alright milord, the fault is mine for disturbing you..." <Catreenia> ::clearing her throat:: And... your hand? It's all right? <Bastian> ::grins at her, showing his hand, the small cut scabbed over:: Much better, my lady. Pardon me, one moment, if you please. I need to finish my stretches. ::with that he sinks into a split, stretching forward to touch his left toes:: * Catreenia makes a tiny, inarticulate noise, frankly gaping for a moment before turning her face away again to inspect the carvings around the fireplace of his room with great absorption and red cheeks. * Bastian continues his stretches, watching her from the corner of his eye. "And you, my lady, did you sleep well?" <Catreenia> ::distractedly, as she runs her fingers over the carved shape of a fleeing deer:: Yes, the room is quite comfortable, thank you... <Bastian> I am glad you found it so. I plan to breakfast soon after I wash up. Would you care to join me? <Catreenia> ::startled into turning around:: What did you say? <Bastian> ::raising his eyebrow slightly as he leans forward, dropping his chin nearly to the floor:: Breakfast, my lady? Are you hungry? <Catreenia> Oh... mm... yes, thank you. ::turning her attention to a study of the wall behind him and retreating to polite phrases:: I would be delighted to join you at breakfast, m'lord. <Bastian> ::completes his stretches with a pained sounding groan as he leans backwards, several joints popping loudly:: * Catreenia yanks her eyes down, startled, and watches his back-stretch. <Catreenia> ::wetting her lips:: Then... I should... meet you downstairs, m'lord? <Bastian> ::glancing at her as he wipes the sweat from his face:: I'll be down momentarily, my lady. <Catreenia> Um... certainly. Then I'll just... I'll be... downstairs. ::backs to the door as she speaks, turning and practically fleeing through it when the wood touches her back:: * Catreenia flees down the hall to her room, closing her door behind her and leaning against it, hands pressed to her flaming cheeks. "Then I'll just, I'll be, downstairs? Cat, you idiot..." * Bastian shakes his head, then washes up. He changes clothes and is smartly attired in an olive-green surcoat and brown breeches when he enters the common room. * Catreenia takes a deep breath, pausing only to splash rather cold water on her cheeks and pat her face dry before heading downstairs to the common room. <Bastian> ::taking her hand:: Are you quite sure you're all right, my lady? ::sits down, issuing orders to the innkeep for breakfast:: <Catreenia> ::nods, smiling brightly:: I'm quite alright, thank you for your concern. So... ::smoothing her skirts as she takes a seat herself:: what would you like to do today? <Bastian> ::returning her smile with his customary quirk:: I took the liberty of having some words with an acquaintance in the town hall yesterday evening. He should be bringing me the pertinent records sometime today or tomorrow, as regarding your quest. <Catreenia> ::raising her eyebrows:: Ah? Very good. ::shaking her head a little:: So fast... I do wonder, why I never thought to do this before... thank you, milord. <Bastian> ::tracing a pattern across the back of her hand with his index finger:: Perhaps, my lady, it is because you did not wish to know? <Catreenia> ::watching his finger, her hand lying still on the table:: Perhaps... but... in a way, my whole life has been connected with hers, bound up with her... ::looking up at him:: As a child, my parents... protected me, or tried, from her influence, but there was always that... hole, of what they carefully *didn't* do, *didn't* say.... <Catreenia> ::shaking her head again:: If I'm going to be making grown-up mistakes, I should face her as an adult... she deserves that much more of me, before... before... ::she trails off, looking away:: <Bastian> Well, I can only imagine they wished to protect you... parents can be quite unreasonable that way... ::he winks at her, then inhales deeply as breakfast arrives:: <Catreenia> ::leans back to give the innkeeper room to set the plates down, smiling fondly:: Yes... although... I wish I knew, at least, what I was being protected *from*... * Bastian eats hungrily, but neatly, cutting his sausages into small bites, chasing each with a quick sip of juice. <Catreenia> ::looking at him again:: No one can flee destiny forever... you can only make it worse for yourself, when it finds you... ::slowly buttering a piece of toast, and taking a small bite:: <Bastian> ::thoughtfully:: Not necessarily, my lady. Tis possible, however unlikely as it may seem, that it has nothing whatsoever to do with destiny. I'm a great believer in making your own future. <Catreenia> ::smiling a little wryly and nodding:: That's exactly what I hope to find out, from this trip. Although... :;taking another bite:: I'm not surprised you should feel that way, m'lord... after all, you're destiny's own hand... ::smiling a little:: <Bastian> ::snorts:: Not bloody likely, my lady. I am only an instrument. <Catreenia> ::studying him over her juice glass:: An instrument doesn't pick who it defends, against whom it's turned... you do. * Bastian watches her carefully, his dark eyes drinking in her face. "I say again, my lady, you impress me with your courage." <Catreenia> ::blinks, surprised:: I do? <Bastian> ::nodding:: You do. You know exactly who I am, and yet you sit here and have breakfast with me as if it were perfectly the norm. I do appreciate it. ::he tilts his head as he takes a last bite of sausage:: <Catreenia> ::a small smile curling her lip as she neatly decapitates her egg, eyes on her plate:: Well... I wouldn't say I know exactly who you *are*... you're quite a mystery, Lord Bastian Hooke, if I may say so. I merely know what it is you do. ::cocking her head:: And why should that revolt me, when it's the very thing that allows me to be here, to do this? ::gesturing to the inn and lowering her voice:: You've spared my life three times already, by my count, milord, and don't think I'm not fully aware of that mercy. <Bastian> ::taking her hand, he gazes at her:: I've known many men who deserve death more and fear it less than you, who would still be strained in my presence, regardless of what I had demonstrated. Whatever brought you to these circumstances, you do not do yourself justice. You are a rare, and fine woman, my lady. <Catreenia> ::looking away:: Rare and fine women do not betray their friends. <Bastian> ::leaning back, he observes her over his steepled fingers:: Convince me, my lady. <Catreenia> ::putting down her fork:: Mira... trusted me. She allowed me into her head, once... ::shaking her head:: Roni was her first love, and that, I know, is such a precious, beautiful thing... and I *knew* she worried that I might take him away. <Catreenia> ::looking up reluctantly:: I *saw* it in her, I read it on the surface of her thoughts. And... I did it anyway. <Bastian> ::twirling his fork absently, the light glinting off the tines:: And yet, from your words with him, I would - pardon me for paining you - I would say you care for the young man, yourself. Do you not? <Catreenia> ::swallowing:: Roni... my good friend Roni, who's had pain enough in thirty years of life... Roni, whom I... love... ::forcing laughter:: Who ever would have thought it of me? And... perhaps that's what kept me from putting myself forward... but whatever it was, it was Mira he fell in love with, Mira whom he loves... and I told him, *promised* him, I could just be a friend... that I don't... poach. <Bastian> ::raising his eyebrow at her:: And you set out to steal him? Planned your approach, put on your most appealing gowns? <Catreenia> ::shakes her head:: Not... planned so long. It was late, and we were... teasing each other, and I of *all* people should have known better... and then... I decided, I didn't want just a piece of him anymore. I knew I could take him, and I did. ::closing her eyes, a tear squeezing out and rolling down her cheek:: That I could hurt him so easily, so badly... it will tear him in two, to tell her, it will ruin what they had... but he'll do it, I know him... <Catreenia> And Mira, I didn't even *think* of her... until after, when I tried to persuade him to hide it, to lie, to keep me as his mistress... <Bastian> ::raises his eyebrow:: So, he won't lie for you, I take it? <Catreenia> ::shaking her head slowly:: He can't lie to her, and stay... stay *himself*. Just as I couldn't do this and stay myself. I... I'm not sure who I am anymore, and... he doesn't even love me. ::shakes her head again:: Irony... <Bastian> ::cups his hand under her chin, catching one tear as it falls:: I think, my lady, were you as heartless as you claim, you would have either attempted to keep him, or would not now be so distraught. Forgive me for causing you pain, it was most unconsciously done, and I hope shall be of short duration. <Catreenia> ::bitter smile:: I *did* try to keep him... but... he was never mine to begin with. <Bastian> ::eyeing her:: My lady, be honest with yourself, even if you cannot help but berate yourself. I heard you, my lady. You did not argue with his decision, once it was made. <Catreenia> No... ::turning her eyes away:: When he first had second thoughts, before he... ran, I did. But by then... I can never fool myself for very long. I knew what I did, and I knew it was wrong... I couldn't have argued when I *knew* he was right. <Bastian> I will not ask you what you would have done, had you convinced him then. Might bees don't fly in spring, as my mother once said. <Catreenia> And as for forcing him... ::resting her chin in her hand:: It wouldn't have been the same. It would have been wrong on wrong. And *I* would have known it was fake... not to mention the risk, if Master Bluestar found me out. <Bastian> ::stretches, crossing his long legs at the ankles:: My lady, in an attempt to prove to me your worthlessness, you have only managed to reaffirm my conviction of your humanity. Perhaps in ways you didn't intend. ::touches the side of his nose:: You can affect people, emotionally, can you not? You all but admitted it. <Catreenia> ::nods reluctantly:: Attraction. But I don't like... ::pauses, starting again:: There was a girl at my school who had a like... talent. And... she abused it *horribly*. ::shaking her head slowly:: None of us who had the talent, after, had much... appetite to use it, or even admit to it. ::making a small face:: And many girls would complain I've an unfair advantage *already*... <Bastian> ::raising an eyebrow:: But you *could*. And you chose not to. My lady, you honestly do not give yourself enough credit. <Catreenia> ::shaking her head, frowning in the effort to explain:: It... it wouldn't be *real*, and I'd know it. I mean, yes, the desire would be real enough, but... it wouldn't be *him*, it would all be... what I was doing. ::shuddering:: You can't imagine how much the thought of that horrifies me... taking someone's choice away from them like that... <Bastian> ::gives her a half-smile:: Isn't that what morality is about? There is nothing worthy about not stealing, if you are incapable of moving silently, if you could not open the lock when you arrived. But to be able to do so, and to chose not to, that is where you show what a person is made of. <Bastian> ::seriously:: As I see it, you have fallen one step. You could take the young man, not by force or... your mental persuasion, but by the weakness of all men, that of a pretty face and a willing woman. However, I think you have merely stumbled and not rolled all the way to the abyss, as you seem to think. <Catreenia> Hm. Perhaps... if what I wanted of him was only his body, that would be a true analogy... but... I wanted his heart, which I never had a claim on, and no way to force.... :sighs:: But... if it's a "only" a step... it's a step I can never take back. <Catreenia> ::smiling at him a little:: Are you reconsidering your offer to work for free, milord? Is that why you try to convince me? <Bastian> My lady, I have never broken a contract. My oath, for what it's worth, and I know it is worth no great deal, upon it. Should this be what you desire, I will do it. In the meanwhile, you will understand, I hope, it I attempt to probe the depths of your sincerity? <Catreenia> ::nods reluctantly, picking up her spoon and toying with her nearly-cold egg:: <Bastian> If you wish it, my lady, I will be silent on this subject. You need but say the word, and I'll not mention it again. * Catreenia opens her mouth as if to speak, and closes it again, shaking her head. "I... I won't run from your questions, if they're what's needed." <Bastian> ::looking at her:: My lady, what is it that you desire? Right now, at this very moment? <Catreenia> ::softly:: To die? ::looking him musingly in the eye for several slow heartbeats, before sighing and dropping her eyes again:: I don't *want* to die. But... I think it would be best, for all concerned, if I did. <Bastian> ::taking her hand, he grips it almost painfully, before standing and bowing to her:: We shall speak of this again, my lady. However, in the meanwhile, my friend has come and he has your records. Shall we go look at them? <Catreenia> ::biting her lip, and taking a deep breath before looking around with a nod:: Yes, thank you, m'lord. * Bastian leads her up the stairs again, where a wispy young man who looks as though he seldom goes outdoors, is waiting. * Catreenia folds her napkin neatly and lays it beside her nearly-untouched plate, following Bastian up the stairs. |
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