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<Tyl> ::the temple, just outside Waterdeep, is nestled neatly in a very picturesque glade. A few of the monks, dressed in brown or yellow robes, tend to the plants in the gardens in front of the temple:: <Tyl> ::a novice, dressed in a simple white robe, stands near the door:: * Bluestar appears, standing on top of one monk's recently watered tulip sproutings. He addresses the slightly peeved looking monk. "You there. Where can I find Tyl'gainia Quel'shu?" <Monk> Sister Memory is around the back. I believe she is meditating, sir. Perhaps you could wait? * Bluestar shrugs. "Perhaps I could. It's not too likely, though." He walks off towards the monastery, heading for its far side. <Tyl> ::a large grassy field, dotted with the occasional well-pruned fruit tree, stretches out behind the temple. Here and there a few novices in white robes are kneeling, far separated from each other. Tyl, unlike most of the others, is not kneeling. She is, instead, doing some sort of meditative dance:: * Bluestar walks toward Tyl, giving trees and the other students roughly the same amount of attention. <Tyl> ::turning, bringing her arms up, she seems straining to reach something, her white robe shimmering in the afternoon sun:: * Bluestar stands a bit off from Tyl, studying her a bit, one hand on his chin. <Tyl> ::turning again, her eyes are closed, her hair - now black and medium length again, a parting gift from Michelle - swings loose over her shoulders. She stops, opening one eye:: Jalavier. <Bluestar> Tyl'gainia. They said you were meditating. * Tyl collapses into a sitting position, ending with her wrists resting on the sides of her knees, her legs folded under her. "Pull up some grass and have a seat." * Bluestar looks at the grass and sighs. "Back to nature. How charming." He slides downward, kneeling first, then rocking back onto his crossed ankles. <Tyl> ::opening both eyes, she looks at him:: You don't approve. ::it's not exactly a question:: * Bluestar looks around at the field. "Not especially. It's... too bovine, for my tastes." <Tyl> ::glances around:: Very few distractions. ::her eyes rest on a distance clump of trees:: * Bluestar nods. "Quiet field, quiet people. Not very much like the real world, of course, but I suppose that's why some people come here." <Tyl> ::still looking at the patch of trees:: That's the third time this week he's used that spot, you know. ::turns her gaze on Bluestar:: * Bluestar glances over to the trees. "I didn't, actually. Does it matter?" <Tyl> ::takes a deep breath:: No, I suppose not. I told that Glossaria person that I didn't really expect to be left alone. <Bluestar> Well, that's good. It's nice to be expected. However, you haven't been writing, so I thought I'd stop in, and make sure you hadn't wandered off to some other distant locale, leaving only a note behind. <Tyl> ::shrugging, looking slightly abashed:: I started to... several times even. I don't seem to know what to say. "Hi, I'm here," doesn't really seem to mean anything, does it. <Bluestar> I suppose you could have added, "Am dancing in fields." But it would be nice to hear from you, Tyl. <Tyl> ::looking at her hands:: Consider me scolded. I'll try... ::twisting her fingers together in her lap:: <Bluestar> That's better. ::he looks around the field some more:: So, is this what you do most days? <Tyl> When I'm not entertaining myself by leading your students on a chase over Thieves' Highway. Sorry about that last one, I hope he didn't hurt himself too much. He shouldn't have tried to make that jump, though. <Bluestar> ::quietly:: Broken left leg and collarbone. He's young, though. He'll heal up. And they're not here because of me, you know. <Tyl> ::winces:: I'm sorry. If I'd known it was that bad, I'd have gone back for him. ::she looks up at him, her violet eyes dark:: * Bluestar shrugs. "He got back okay. He's sharp. Most of them are." <Tyl> ::something like pride glimmers in her eyes for a moment, and is then gone:: The one boy, Sanriel... I can't shake him. Probably good I'm not actually stealing anything these days. <Bluestar> ::a ghost of a smile flits across Bluestar's face:: He is something special. He volunteered to come here, you know. They all did. <Tyl> ::a slight strain in her voice:: Why... I don't understand... I try and access those memories... the ones Vallel dumped on me like a load of bricks... and I can't sort them out. <Bluestar> Shhh.... ::Bluestar reaches out and gently touches Tyl's forehead:: Don't struggle with it like that. <Tyl> ::closing her eyes:: I try not to... I put up a very nice wall between me and them... but... it doesn't want to stay there. <Bluestar> Of course it's not. You can't build a wall between you and yourself. Not a very good one, at least. <Tyl> ::in a resigned voice:: Tell me one thing... ::glances over at the shadowy grove again, the outline of a boy only just visible:: What did I do... that they'd ::waves a hand absently in the student's direction:: That they'd be so dedicated? * Bluestar shades his eyes, looking squarely at the group of trees. "Well... for starters, that's Jadeeck. One day when he was 15, stag antlers grew out of his forehead, and his feet became cloven hoofs. The people in his little village decided he was possessed by a demon, or half demon, or whatever, and proceeded to throw rocks at him until they thought they'd killed him. <Bluestar> He managed to pick himself up out of the pile of stones after it got dark, and started running. About a year ago, he heard of your school, and made it to Marsember. You took him in, told him what he was, and helped him get his abilities under control. He visited his family for the first time again last fall, and met his baby sister for the first time. <Bluestar> That's why *he's* here. <Tyl> ::shudders all over:: They always... ::she blinks, tears welling up in her eyes:: * Bluestar reaches into a pocket and hands Tyl a silk handkerchief. "It's okay." <Tyl> ::sniffles, wiping her eyes:: You know the worst part of all this? I feel everything, all at once. I don't... when I let them out, I don't have any *distance* from my memories. Everything is like it happened yesterday, or is happening right now. * Bluestar nods. "You've got all your memories, but you don't have the structure that they'd have if you built them up over a lifetime. Like you said, you've got all the bricks, but they're just in a pile." <Tyl> ::nodding:: I... everything is so vivid. I'm a child with my parents, I'm fighting with my brother, I'm stealing some child's ring... I'm drinking in a bar, Merrivale and I are chasing some mage around with a bag of flour, I'm a student, a teacher, a lover, a wife... all at once. <Bluestar> Can you limit it? Try to look at it all one piece at a time, instead of everything all at once. <Tyl> ::looks at him:: I... I try. Perhaps I could, if I have another hundred and fifty years or so, so sift through them. ::she laughs helplessly;: * Bluestar frowns. "I don't imagine you'd like to wait that long. Especially if you're doing that waiting around here." <Tyl> ::laughs:: I like it here. There's nothing familiar here. I don't have to fight with this tidal wave every time I turn a corner. ::her eyes glitter:: I don't have to fight with feelings that I know should have died ten years ago. * Bluestar rubs the bridge of his nose, suddenly looking very tired. "You can't build a life by hiding from everything that might remind you of your past, Tyl'gainia." <Tyl> ::smiling at him:: Of course not, Jalavier... you're here, after all. <Bluestar> You didn't exactly leave me much choice. I trust the students's reports to a certain extent, but you haven't exactly gone out of your way to look into rebuilding things. I can't just let you sit here and dance in the field for the next hundred years or however long. * Tyl rests her head on her knees, her violet eyes filling with tears. "What do you want me to do?" * Bluestar reaches out and rests a hand on Tyl's head. "Don't retire here because it's the easy thing to do. Meet people. People besides these... breathing rocks. Start with the students if you want. Lord knows they'd be happy to talk to you rather than chase you across rooftops and fences." * Tyl takes his hand, pressing her fingertips to his wrist. She studies the lines of his palm for a moment, then presses her lips to the heel of his hand. She drops his hand suddenly, turning away from him, her eyes saying more than she intended. * Bluestar gently puts his hand between Tyl's shoulder blades, his fingertips just below the nape of her neck, not pushing her away, but simply establishing physical contact. "At least consider it, Student. I'll see if I can come back in a few weeks." * Tyl nods wordlessly. She opens her mouth a few times, then finally... "I'm sorry, Jalavier." <Bluestar> For what, Tyl'gainia? Choosing this place? It's not my favorite, but I think I'm going to enjoy trampling over that sheep's tulips every time I visit. <Tyl> ::she laughs suddenly:: Try and get the pink ones... those are his favorites. ::she turns, looking at him:: Go on, go. I need to think. * Bluestar grins. "Don't tax yourself, Most Favored Student. I'll be back." He turns and heads back towards the front of the complex. * Tyl watches him go. biting her lip. A moment later, she turns and heads into the trees, the dark shadow there startled at her approach. |
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