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* Sabrina walks into the hall and brushes back her hood. She heads to the stairs and up to Fosst's room, knocking lightly once she arrives at his door. She lightly twists her ring on her finger as she waits for him to answer the door. * Fosst opens the door after a pause and the sound of movement inside, and smiles to see Sabrina there. He's holding a small open book in one hand. "Aah! Miss Sabrina. Good afternoon." * Sabrina grins. "Good Afternoon. I stopped by to take you for a walk." * Fosst nods, and thinks. He closes his book. "I think I need it--I haven't stopped reading in some time. I'll be ready in a moment." * Sabrina laughs softly. "I am not surprised." She waits by the door for Fosst. * Fosst disappears back into the room. He's gone for only a moment, returning to the doorway wearing a cloak and boots. He steps out of the room and closes the door. Turning to Sabrina, he smiles, and asks, "Where shall we go today, then?" <Sabrina> I have a favorite place I think you will like. ::she turns and leads him out into the afternoon, leaving her hood back and breathing deep of the air:: I am glad the sun decided to come out. * Fosst nods, following. "The weather is good for a walk today. It's a good thing you stopped by." He smiles. "How are things at the Music Box?" * Sabrina returns his smile. "I had a feeling you would be caught up in a book. The shop is doing well. It's my day off so I have only been in there for my lesson, now that Kevil is back." She leads him though the city, walking slowly, obviously enjoying the afternoon <Fosst> Where was he at, recently? I do not want to intrude, but he interests me. * Sabrina grins. "He went with Loria to her home, to meet her parents. They are getting married you know." * Fosst raises his eyebrows. "Really? I didn't know they were to be wed." He thinks. "They did look quite close." He chuckles. "Where does Loria live, then?" <Sabrina> In Khymrych. It is southwest of here I believe. I hear it's nice. ::she laughs softly:: Kevil was rather not looking forward to meeting Loria's father. But he seems to have come out of it in one piece. ::she laughs again:: * Fosst nods. "He is a brave fellow, then." He grins. "Kimrick? I must see it, someday." He looks at the sky as he walks along with Sabrina, and looks pensive. * Sabrina nods and glances sidelong at Fosst. "Everything ok?" * Fosst nods. "I'm... wondering, when I will travel. Seeing Kimrick, and other places." He hmms. "Just thinking, really." He smiles again at Sabrina. "Where is this spot you have picked out, then?" * Sabrina nods looking thoughtfully distracted. "Umm it's," she blinks and shakes her head a bit. "It's a store I thought you'd like." * Fosst raises an eyebrow, but nods. "Well, the day and the company are quite good enough." His face splits into a grin, and takes a deep breath of the air. * Sabrina smiles a bit. "Will you come back and visit Marsember, once you continue on your travels?" * Fosst says, "I do hope so. Marsember is very welcoming, and I want to say for quite some time. But later, once I continue to travel, I will certainly return." * Sabrina nods and looks away, paying attention to the buildings that they pass. * Fosst peers at Sabrina, and returns to watching the clouds pass above. <Sabrina> ::After a while the nature of the area the are walking through will change. There are more taverns and brothels. Sabrina twists her way through the streets, looking as if she knows very well where she is going:: * Fosst looks from one side to the other as they walk, and hmms. A man steps out from between the buildings and nearly stumbles into Sabrina and Fosst. He looks half drunk and is holding onto a dark bottle. His clothes look like they are a few days worn and he smells of alcohol. * Sabrina sidesteps the man, hardly noticing him. * Fosst moves aside, looking at the man with a little disdain. He glances at him before returning to following Sabrina. The man looks up and raises his hand to point at Sabrina. "Hey! I know you woman." * Sabrina blinks and turns to look at the man. She shakes her head some. "I do not believe so." she replies firmly. * Fosst glances at the man, and then at Sabrina. {Perhaps we should continue. He doesn't look like he needs anything to do at the moment.} The man steps closer to them. His words are only a bit slurred. "Yeah, I remember you." He grins "I would never forget such a pretty face." * Sabrina nods to Fosst and turns, walking away from the man, her step quicker than it was a moment ago. * Fosst mutters, "Perhaps you should try to, for your own good--" and continues, following Sabrina. <Fosst> {This is a strange place for a bookstore, Sabrina..} ::keeps pace with her:: The man takes a few running strides to catch up to them and grabs Sabrina's arm, elbowing Fosst away. "Hey now. We had such a good time together. Yes I remember now." He leers at her. "You were much prettier with no clothes though." * Sabrina yanks her arm from the man and her dagger is in her hand in a blink. "I suggest you forget," she growls at him. * Fosst raises an eyebrow, and quickly moves. He tries to keep Sabrina and the drunkard at further than arms distance, moving in between them. He says, with an edge in his voice, "Sir, I recommend you leave--with all haste." The man blinks and stumbles back, holding both hands up. "Ok ok." he shakes his head a bit and mutters "Sheesh, the good ones never last long," as he walks off. * Sabrina replaces her dagger in her boot and brushes her hand across her face. She glances to Fosst {I'm sorry about that.} * Fosst relaxes, and gives Sabrina a hard look. {It's alright--but I'd like to talk to you about it later. Now does not seem the right time, nor here the place.} He offers a small smile. {Shall we... continue?} * Sabrina nods and her expression is a bit grim. "We're almost there." She continues on, at the same quick pace. Another turn around a corner and she reaches for a door on a plain looking building. There is a dirty sign that has a book on it. She slips inside the building, holding the door for Fosst. * Fosst enters, casting a wary glance to the bustling street outside the shop before entering. He looks around. * Thom looks up as the two enter. His grim expression brightens considerably upon seeing Sabrina. "Sabrina!" He comes from around the counter and reaches to shake her hand. The store is floor to ceiling bookshelves. There is a counter across from the door and a ladder leading up behind the counter. There are boxes around, full of books. There seems to be no apparent order to anything and the dust is thick in many places. * Sabrina grins and walks over to Thom, shaking his hand. "Glad to see you are still here old man." * Thom nods and glances to Fosst, offering him a brief nod before looking back to Sabrina. "Of course I am still here little girl," He grins again. * Sabrina turns "Thom this is Fosst, a new friend." She looks to Fosst "This is Thom" she grins "An old friend" * Fosst nods to Thom, and smiles. "I'm pleased to meet you, Sir Thom." He looks up and down at the many dusty bookshelves. * Sabrina turns back to Thom. "The loft?" * Thom grins and nods "Aye. It's just the way you left it. I have even dusted every so often." * Sabrina smiles and turns to Fosst. "Come on." She goes behind the counter and up the ladder, disappearing above the ceiling. * Fosst looks mildly confused, but shrugs, and removes his cloak. "Pardon me--" He folds the cloak over his arm and goes over to the ladder. He looks up, and then climbs. <Sabrina> ::The space in the loft is filled with boxes to the left. There is a window on the right wall and the space around the window is filled with pillows and blankets. Sabrina goes and sits, smiling softly as her hands trace an overturned book near the window. She looks up as Fosst come up the ladder and motions for him to sit:: * Fosst reaches the top of the ladder, and leaves his cloak next to it. He scratches his head as he looks around, and nods to Sabrina. He sits down beside her. "Well--I admit, this isn't what I imagined when you said, 'bookstore.'" He grins. * Sabrina smiles "I'm sure. I wanted to surprise you, I guess." She looks out the window and her smile fades. After a moment she looks back to Fosst. "I guess I should explain......everything." * Fosst replies hesitantly, "I would like some form of explanation, but--I would not want you to speak things you wouldn't want to. I can sympathize with a desire to bury the past." * Sabrina nods and looks down at the ring on her finger. She begins to twist it nervously. "I'll start at the beginning then." She takes a breath and looks up at Fosst, her hands trembling only slightly. "When I was six my parents sold me. They could not afford to keep me, so they brought me to the town near where we lived and sold me to the local brothel there. For the first few years I learned how to cook and clean...." <Sabrina> I also ran errands for the man who owned the place. When I was ten I was taught to become one of the prostitutes. ::she looks away:: I was there until I was eighteen. It was how I understood the world to be. I never liked it, but I never knew life was different. My only happiness was that I had been taught to read, and had access to books, and that I could sing. * Fosst looks away, and rubs his eyes a little. "I see..." <Sabrina> When I was eighteen I got pregnant. One of the women who came while I was there helped me to deliver my baby girl, and then took her, promising to find her a home where she would be loved, and know a life different than I did. She also helped me to get away from that place. I found an old woman that needed a companion. So I lived with her for a few years. * Fosst nods, listening. <Sabrina> Then one day our house was attacked by raiders. And that's when I met Ardem, although I didn't know it was him at the time. He came and made a portal and pushed me through, in an attempt to save me from them. And I ended up here. I was not sure what to do so I ended up in this part of town, working at a brothel. ::She looks back to Fosst, her eyes insistent:: I didn't want to be here, but I didn't think I would survive.... <Sabrina> unless I was. I found this bookstore and Thom shortly after I arrived. It became my haven. I could come here and be someone else, someone happier. * Fosst nods, watching her with a soft expression. * Sabrina stops twisting her ring and brushes a tear from the top of her cheek. "Then I found the hall. Michelle and Meghan took me in and it was uphill from there." she looks out the window. "I'm a better person now. Maybe not deserving of the kind of life Tarri and Loria have...." she shrugs trailing off. * Fosst puts a hand lightly on her shoulder. "Now, now..." He pauses. "I can't say I've ever been in a situation like that, but--it is all over now, correct? Marsember's a new place." * Sabrina shrugs his hand away and nods. "It is. And I am making a better life for myself here. But still the past, lingers. Like out there, that man." * Fosst scratches his head, and shifts away slightly. "I can indeed see why that bothers you." He looks down, and bites his lip. * Fosst looks at Sabrina squarely. "I would feel quite wrong to hear this about you and to continue to... lie, to you, about how I am. Do you want to know what I have to say?" * Sabrina blinks and looks to Fosst. She looks down at his hand. "I wish it didn't. I..." she flushes a bit and shakes her head, looking away again. "It doesn't matter really." She looks back to him. "You can tell me whatever you want me to know. I don't want you to be uncomfortable though." * Fosst pauses, and looks at one of the boxes of books, almost fixated on it. He rests in silence for a moment, and then says, "As you wish. --Perhaps speaking of the past would bring it up again, which I am loathe to do." He looks back to her, and smiles a little. "What kind of books do you have up here?" * Sabrina nods and then looks past him at the boxes. "Not sure really. Thom is not the most organized person. Feel free to dig though. I have found the most unusual books here." * Fosst looks back at the books and sighs. "I don't really want to, but thank you." He looks back to her. "Are you sure you are comfortable here? ... Could Ardem help you find your homeland, or anything?" * Sabrina watches him. "I don't really want to go back. There is nothing there for me. Are you ok? I'm sorry if I upset you." * Fosst shakes his head. "No, it's alright." He thinks, and closes his eyes. "You said... how the past can linger. It worries me." He opens his eyes, and looks to Sabrina. "Perhaps it would be best if you knew something of my past. It may be dangerous for--well, many, if it is not known." He smiles weakly. "And I still trust you most, Sabrina." * Sabrina nods "Sometimes talking about the past, although seeming painful, can help you to feel better." she smiles encouragingly at him. * Fosst relaxes, and sits back a little. "Alright, then..." He shakes his head, and continues in Uthgardt. {My full name is Fosst Tiro Sunuvosst--it means Son of Fosst, the Third. It is also my father's name.} * Sabrina pulls her knees up and rests her chin on them, watching and listening. * Fosst continues, {My father is a nobleman, and had three sons, meaning then that I have two brothers. I am the third son... in the unusual court of my homeland, this has a special significance, as noblemen generally have very few children.} <Fosst> {The first son follows his father, and becomes the head of the family when the father passes on. The second son is given a life of freedom, leisure, learning... his place is not to think of politics or intrigue, as he has no power nor responsibility, nor shall he ever as long as the first brother lives.} * Sabrina nods a bit, her interest evident on her face. <Fosst> {The third son, however... bears no power, but much responsibility. I was raised in a world apart from either of my brothers. As yet, I... I don't think I ever met them. I may have seen my eldest brother once.} ::pauses, and thinks:: {I can't even remember his name.} * Sabrina looks surprised and nods. <Fosst> {My duty was clandestine. I was trained in many kinds of discipline, many secret activities. A kind of footsoldier... My father, whom I do respect and admire, knew it was my place only to further the demands of his political agenda. It was all I knew, and so I did.} ::looks at Sabrina with a tired expression:: {I have slain many, more than I can recall, Sabrina. I've engineered heinous things, and devised plans in secret, both good and ill in consequence.} * Sabrina nods, looking only slightly surprised, and moreso understanding. <Fosst> {Regardless, for some reason, I acquired the ghost-favor. Once my father knew of it, he wouldn't have it. There are many dire consequences in my homeland to allowing one who knows the art-of-ghosts to live. And so...} ::holds up his hand:: {He gave me the ring. Nearly welded it to my hand.} * Sabrina nods. <Fosst> ::lowers his hand, smiling at it:: {But you see, it's gone now. He was showing me a great mercy by letting me leave Uthgardt, despite our broken relationship. So long as I never return, and no one from those lands ever learn, neither he nor I need worry.} * Sabrina frowns. "But that means you might never see your father again?" <Fosst> "Not quite. It means that I will definitely never see my father again. --Or if I do, it is for the worst, for us both." ::sighs:: "That is how it must be, though." * Sabrina reaches out and lightly places her hand on his arm. Her voice is soft "I'm sorry Fosst." * Fosst looks at her. "Please, do not be. It is the past--I came to find a new place to live. Perhaps I could write my father a letter someday--I've been thinking about it--but other than that, I gladly leave Uthgardt behind. All I have to witness it are the scars. Not even the ring is left." * Sabrina nods and withdraws her hand. "For us the past is a book best left on the shelf." * Fosst brightens some. "Indeed... there are better things to do." He looks around at the room, as if for the first time. * Sabrina grins and crawls past him. "I think there is a box I have not been through up here." * Fosst leans forward to look at where she's going. "Really? Let's have it, then." |
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