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<Temire> ::The coach stops at one end of a cliff-side clearing overlooking the Dragonsmere:: * Ilarion steps out of the coach, assisting his daughter out easily, then offering a hand to Temire. * Temire takes Roni's hand and steps out of the coach, reaching back inside and pulling out a picnic basket. * Temire smiles brightly, "I used to come here when I was a little girl." <Ilya> ::runs around, trying to look at everything at once:: <Ilarion> Pumpkin, just say away from the edge, would you, dear? * Temire takes Roni's arm, "Come on. We can set things up while she works up an appetite." * Ilarion follows Temire, keeping one eye on his daughter. * Temire picks a spot with a good view that's also a safe distance from the edge opens up the basket, laying a blanket out on the ground. * Ilarion helps her set up, finding several good sized rocks to place on the corners of the blanket to keep it from blowing away. * Temire smiles at Roni as they finish and she turns to see what Ilya's gotten into, "Hungry Ilya or do you want to play some more first?" <Ilya> Frog! ::she tears off after a small, fleeing amphibian:: * Ilarion smiles, watching his daughter. "She's not even listening to you, right now..." * Temire starts laughing. * Temire sits down next to Roni, still laughing softly and watching Ilya. <Ilarion> ::taking her hand:: I'm glad we could get out. * Temire finishes laughing and rests her head on Roni's shoulder, "So am I." * Ilarion puts his arm around Temire's shoulders, looking out at the water. * Temire sighs contentedly, "What are you thinking about Roni?" <Ilarion> ::kissing her hair softly:: Just glad to be here, with you. * Temire grins impishly, "How do you know I didn't bring you here so I could shove you off?" <Ilarion> ::looking slightly pained:: I'd have hoped you wouldn't bring Ilya along for something like that... * Temire hugs Roni, "I'm sorry. That was in poor taste. And yes, if I was considering it, which I'm not, I wouldn't let Ilya anywhere near it." <Ilarion> ::watching Ilya, who is still chasing the frog:: Well, I didn't think you were serious... ::grins at her:: * Temire sighs, "Good. I don't know what I'd do if you started fearing me the way everyone else seems to." <Ilarion> ::blinks at her:: What are you talking about, love? * Temire fidgets, "Some things Val said to me the other day." <Ilarion> ::turns to look at her:: What did he say? * Temire sighs, "He said that all the boys at school found me attractive but that they were too scared of me to ever approach me." <Ilarion> ::shrugs:: I don't know about all of them, my dear... but you can be a little intimidating from time to time... ::remembering something:: And when you're not, your friend Lisl is. * Temire chuckles but wipes at her eyes, "Roni...am I pretty?" <Ilarion> ::looks at her very closely, almost thoughtfully:: No, not really. Pretty is like... you know, small dogs with ribbons, or dollies. You're beautiful... like the mountains are beautiful, or like a thunderstorm can be beautiful. Pretty is sort of... you know, like an over-rich dessert with too much cream and sugar. ::kissing her forehead:: * Temire frowns, "If I'm beautiful what does that make Cat?" <Ilarion> ::shaking his head:: There's no comparison, Mira. * Temire frowns deeper, "Is she really that beautiful?" <Ilarion> ::sighs:: Why do you ask me questions that you don't want the answers to? Yes, she's very beautiful... but I'd still rather be with you. * Temire rests her head on Roni's shoulder, watching Ilya play, tears slowly rolling down her cheeks, "I don't know...I just feel like I have to know...I want to know you're telling the truth...But I don't want to know how much better she is than I am..." <Ilarion> ::taking out his handkerchief and wiping Temire's cheeks:: It's not a matter of better, love. She is beautiful. Hell, a brick wall would be beautiful if it looked like that. But that doesn't have anything to do with you. You can still be beautiful on your own rights. * Temire sighs, "But her hair and skin are so much smoother than mine, and she has bigger breasts and she smells nice, and has such pretty clothes..." <Ilarion> ::looking at her seriously:: So, then you think Lord Jaret is more appealing than I am? And you're only here with me because he already had someone? Mira, honestly... * Temire blinks at Roni, the gears obviously turning in her head, "What?" <Ilarion> ::nodding to himself:: I mean, obviously he's a much better swordsman than I am, it doesn't take any real perception to see that. And he's got very nice blonde hair, while mine is sort of fuzzy and off-red. And his wardrobe is really quite impressive. So, that makes it logical, by your commentary, that you should be much more in love with him then me, right? <Temire> ::tears start rolling down Mira's cheeks, her lip trembling:: Do you... <Ilarion> ::sharply:: Is that how you feel? Are you using me for a substitute for him? * Temire starts crying in earnest looking at Roni with an expression even more hurt and sad than when she found out about Cat, her voice coming out as a strangled whisper:: roni... <Ilarion> ::taking her arms:: Then why can't you believe that I love you because of *who* you are? * Temire bites her lip, spending several moments visibly trying to pull herself together, "Why do you love me?" <Ilarion> There's no why in love, Mira... I love you because I do... and I do because I love you. Because you being in my life makes me happy. * Temire hugs Roni, burying her face in his chest, "Roni..." <Ilarion> Shhhhhh... ::rocking her slowly:: * Temire pulls herself together after several moments, leans against Roni, pulling out a handkerchief and wiping her face. "I'm sorry Roni...I just...I've been questioning everything...Like I don't know what I can trust anymore..." <Ilarion> ::tapping her on the nose playfully:: Just because I was stupid doesn't make you anything less than you were. * Temire sighs, "I know it's just...It's like I'm wondering who I really am..." <Ilarion> ::seriously:: You're Temire of Marsember. A student at the psionic's school, a swordswoman, adventuress, and apprentice mage. You know many important and powerful people, and they know who you are. You also happen to be loved by Ilarion Quilisian and his daughter Ilya. That's a lot of people to try and be all at once. * Temire blinks at Roni, "Does Ilya really love me?" <Ilarion> Of course she does... ::smiling over at his daughter, who is talking seriously to a frog who is obviously wishing to be somewhere else:: * Temire hugs Roni and smiles as she watches Ilya, "It's just so hard to tell...And the last time I had a real heart to heart with her she started begging me not to steal her daddy." <Ilarion> ::sighing:: She hasn't had many positive experiences with women, you know... her mother ::rolls his eyes:: * Temire nods, "I know. I'm trying to do my best for her..." Mira trails off in thought. <Ilarion> ::pats Temire on the shoulder:: Try not to worry so much, honey... it's not good for you. * Temire smiles at Roni, "And what is good for me?" <Ilarion> ::peering into the picnic basket:: Chicken sandwiches? * Temire grins, "If my wise advisor says so." <Ilarion> ::sticks his tongue out at her:: <Ilarion> ::raising his voice a bit:: Ilya, honey? Put the frog down and come have some lunch? <Ilya> ::setting the frog down on the ground, she shakes her finger at it several times before running back to the blanket:: * Temire giggles softly, "Seeing her with the frog reminds me of when I was looking after Nachan. She had a frog and a miniature giant space hamster." <Ilarion> Kids are kids, I guess... even god-kids... ::falls backwards as Ilya flings herself into him, wrapping her arms around his neck and giggling:: * Temire grins and suddenly starts tickling Ilya from behind. <Ilya> No! No tickling! ::dissolves into giggles, kicking and squealing:: * Temire tickles Ilya for about a minute then stops, sitting back and watching Ilya recover, "Are you having fun Ilya?" * Ilarion rescues the picnic basket, moving it out of kicking range. <Ilya> ::nodding:: Uh-huh! * Temire smiles, "I'm glad. I used to enjoy coming here when I was your age. Are you hungry?" <Ilya> ::sticking her finger in her mouth:: Uh-huh! ::leans over to look at the basket:: * Temire smiles at Roni behind Ilya, "I believe someone said something about chicken sandwiches?" <Ilya> ::waiting until Mira's attention is off her, she sticks her wet finger into Temire's ear:: Ha! * Temire squirms and giggles, "I'll get you for that." Grabs Ilya and starts tickling her again. * Ilarion smiles, watching them, his eyes almost content. * Temire stops tickling after a few moments and smiles at Ilya, "Truce?" <Ilya> ::panting for breath:: Sure... I'm thirsty. * Ilarion reaches into the basket and pulls out a bottle of lemonade, pouring Ilya a mug. "Here, pumpkin." * Temire looks at Roni worriedly for a moment before forcing a cheerful expression back onto her face, "Could you give me a sandwich Roni. Tickling always makes me hungry." <Ilarion> ::raising an eyebrow:: Sure thing... ::starts passing out sandwiches and small packages of sliced apples and cheese:: * Temire smiles and starts eating watching Ilya and Roni. <Ilya> ::taking her sandwich, she plops down in Roni's lap to eat, talking a mile a minute about nothing in particular:: * Temire smiles and shakes her head, continuing to eat and watching Ilya, not daring to interrupt her. * Ilarion finishes his sandwich, then absently rebraids Ilya's hair, which has come undone in her escapades. * Temire finishes eating and sits back contentedly. <Ilarion> ::after a while, Ilya finishes eating and sits in Roni's lap, yawning:: <Ilarion> I think you should take a nap, pumpkin. You stay here and get some rest, Mira and I will walk around so we don't wake you, all right? <Ilya> ::nodding:: All right, Papa... ::she snuggles up on the blanket, which Roni tucks half over her:: * Temire smiles and shakes a finger at Ilya, "And no wandering off. We'd both be terribly worried about you." <Ilarion> ::kissing his daughter on the forehead:: We won't be far, if you need anything, pumpkin... * Ilarion follows after Temire, watching her move with a slight smile on his face. * Temire looks back over her shoulder at Roni, "Something on your mind Roni?" <Ilarion> ::blinking up at her:: Hmmm? No, not really... <Temire> Oh, just smiling for no reason? * Ilarion pulls her into his arms, giving her a quick hug. "I'm not allowed to smile anymore?" He fastens his mouth on her neck, zerberting the skin on her throat. * Temire giggles and pushes out of Roni's arms, "Hey!" <Ilarion> ::catching her arm:: Hey is for horses... * Temire giggles, "Well at least I know where Ilya gets her playfulness from." <Ilarion> ::eyeing her hungrily:: Nah, insanity is inherited from your children... * Temire blinks at Roni her tone half serious and half playful, "Oh. Then I suppose I'll just have to wait until I have some of my own." <Ilarion> ::shrugging:: I probably had a good dose of it to start with, though. ::pulls her into his arms:: So, what's on your mind, dear? * Temire sighs, wrapping her arms around Roni, "Wondering what you were thinking while you watched Ilya and I. Wondering when I'll feel completely relaxed around you again. Worrying that I won't." <Ilarion> ::nodding sadly:: I know... I know. I keep wanting to try and cheer you up, and not being sure if it'll just make things worse. * Temire smiles with a touch of mischief, "I'll tell you this. No one, not even you, ever said I was pretty or beautiful until I was having hysterics over Cat." <Ilarion> ::glowers at her:: That's not true. * Temire looks taken aback, "When?" <Ilarion> I'm almost positive that I said you were lovely when we went dancing a few weeks back... * Temire blushes and looks at the ground, "You probably did..." <Ilarion> ::kissing her hand:: And I'm sure I would have said it when I first approached you at Vallel's reception. When you were wearing that little blue dress, remember? * Temire blushes more, squirming slightly, "I can't believe I wore that..." <Ilarion> ::raises his eyebrows:: I thought it was very... *nice*. * Temire squirms, "I'm surprised I didn't get propositioned as a street walker." <Ilarion> ::grins at her:: You have *very* nice legs... <Temire> ::in a small voice:: You think so? <Ilarion> ::leering at her:: Oh, definitely. * Temire takes a deep breath and places a hand on Roni's chest, looking to his eyes, "I'm sorry Roni...I shouldn't have gone fishing for compliments." <Ilarion> ::kissing her forehead:: I'm happy to give them to you... I am worried you won't believe me, that you think I'm just saying it to be saying it. I'm really not. * Temire shakes her head, "I just...Every woman I know except Zoya is prettier than me...Everyone always told me not to worry about it, that I'd be beautiful when I grew up...but well...How much more growing up am I going to do..." <Temire> I want to believe you...I think I even do believe you...I just...I want you to prove it to me but I can't get her out of my head. <Ilarion> ::shaking his head:: I'm afraid I can't help you there, my dear... * Temire nods and steps close to Roni resting her head on his shoulder. <Ilarion> ::holding her tightly:: As long as it takes, Mira... I'll be right here. ::his voice cracks:: * Temire looks up worriedly, brushing Roni's cheek, "Love?" <Ilarion> ::kissing her palm:: Yes, Mira? <Temire> Is there something I can do so you won't hurt so much? <Ilarion> ::burying his face in her hair:: Just tell me you love me... * Temire takes Roni's chin and looks into his eyes, "I love you Ilarion Quilisian and I'm not going to give up on the two of us." <Ilarion> ::cupping his hand along her jaw:: Can I... Mira, may I please kiss you? * Temire kisses Roni tenderly. * Ilarion wraps his arms around her, pulling her to him. |
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