Main Site |
* Bai stands in the middle of a clearing in the woods, a quiver slung over his shoulder and an arrow knocked on his bow. He stands calmly apparently waiting for something. Weapons and the remains of practice dummies and a few trees lie scattered about the clearing. Only Bai's staff and katana seem to have been carefully set aside. * Lisl races through the woods, three of the wolf pack at her heels, Claws sparkling in the green light of the trees. As she approaches the clearing, the wolves split off and slow, panting from the run. She continues more stealthily, slipping foward through the underbrush to peer out into the clearing. <Bai> ::A leaf begins falling from a tree behind Bai and to his left. Bai whirls around pulling his bow and releasing the arrow.:: <Bai> ::the arrow pins the leaf to the trunk of a tree:: * Bai pulls another arrow from his quiver and knocks it, waiting once more. * Lisl shakes her head, making a hand-gesture low to the ground. The wolves turn and trot back the way she came, and she rises from cover, weight on the balls of her feet. <Bai> ::Another leaf falls and once more Bai pins it to a tree with an arrow:: <Lisl> ::sighs, and steps foward through the brush, approaching carefully:: * Bai whirls at Lisl's approach, the bow drawn before recognizing her and relaxing, dropping his aim. "Hello Lisl." <Lisl> Hello, Bai. ::looking around at the splinters of what were once thirty-year maples, spruces... she bends, and gently picks up the shattered remains of a bird's nest:: Is there a reason you're destroying a forest I'm sworn to guard? * Bai sighs and collapses to the ground, "Because I needed to get the anger out of my system and I'm not allowed to take it out on people who had nothing to do with it, however deserving they may be. Otherwise I'd have taken a page from Drach's book." <Lisl> ::raising an eyebrow:: Vacationing in the Hells? Your goddess has an awfully narrow definition of justice, if she doesn't let you dispense it where needed. <Lisl> ::more softly:: What's happened, Bai? * Bai shrugs, starting to toss his bow aside before remembering himself and setting it gently on the ground, "They've left town. Apparently without telling anyone." <Lisl> Left town? ::frowning, puzzled:: Who? <Bai> Jaret and Lini'leah. <Lisl> ::frowning deeper:: Lini's *left*? I've not even *seen* her since she got out of jail. ::muttering:: If I didn't know better, I'd have said she was avoiding me deliberately... * Bai attempts to shrug, but doesn't seem to have the energy, "I don't know what she's thinking...I don't think I ever really did." <Lisl> But-- why? And when? * Bai shrugs, "I have no idea. A moon or more now." <Lisl> ::sighs, and leans back against a mostly-intact tree trunk:: Gods... ::shakes her head, running her fingers through her hair and looking at Bai:: But-- is that what's caused... this? ::gesturing to the clearing:: * Bai sighs, "Before we left for the Underdark Lini'leah came to me and told me that she'd slept with Jaret. I thought she was looking for forgiveness but I think what she really wanted was for me to break the engagement. She said she needed time. It was understood that she meant time with Jaret. I offered to leave town for a while. She made me promise not to leave..." <Bai> ...You know the rest. We got back, she moved in with him and the two have been inseparable ever since. I feel like a teenager trying to sneak a girl out of her father's house every time I visit her, and when I told her she just brushed me off and said that it was her home. Before she slept with Jaret we had talked of buying a house when we returned from the Underdark... <Lisl> But-- ::frowning:: Bai, she's been *living* with him. She chose one mate-- you-- and, pardon me, threw you over for another. That's much of why I've been so... short with her, of late. But-- *that* didn't break the engagement?? <Bai> ...When she was telling me about Jaret she accused me of wanting to chain her to the house, of expecting her to be a docile, mindless woman. When Jaret left town on a job she spent all her time in the house cleaning. Didn't even pursue her own career in his absense. * Bai sighs, "Do you know about the bond that sometimes forms between elvish loves Lisl? I'd never heard of it. Aldis seemed shocked that one had formed between Lini'leah and I. It let me know that she really did love me...And Jaret...And then Jaret got her to put that damnable torc on. <Lisl> ::sighs again, shaking her head:: Bai, Lini does as she wishes. Before all else, *that* is most important to her, I think. The choice must be hers. ::grinds her teeth:: What *I* don't understand is that the choice *was* hers, and she... ::sighs:: Old argument. <Bai> But she told me that she loved me...And Jaret...Now though...Now she's barely civil to me. <Lisl> ::blinks:: She-- you-- *bonded*?? But-- older couples, married centuries, rarely bond... and you're *human*! * Bai looks at Lisl, "I'm not asking you to criticize or defend her Lisl. I'm just telling you how I got to be in this state." * Bai nods, "As I said, Aldis was terribly surprised when she heard." * Lisl nods slowly. * Bai shrugs and gestures to the clearing, "So now I'm trying to get over the fact that I let her cuckold me for so long. Trying to get over the fact that I trusted her and believed in her. Trying to get over the fact that she tossed me aside for a man who was so busy bed hopping while she was gone that he couldn't be bothered to remember her name." * Lisl winces. * Bai sighs, "I'm sorry for damaging the woods Lisl. I'll go find a mountain or a desert or something." <Lisl> ::shakes her head:: It's... it served a purpose. But... what now? You can't keep on destroying the landscape... well, I'm sure you could, but I'm not certain how much good it will do. * Bai sighs, "That's what I'm trying to figure out...The traditional approach is of course to challenge Jaret to a duel, but there's really no point to doing so..." <Lisl> ::makes a face:: Nor could he truly be said to have stolen anyone from anyone, when she-- as I said-- made her own choices. <Lisl> ::snorts:: Have you thought of duelling Lini? Not that I'd like to see the color of *either* of your bloods.... * Bai shrugs, "What would be the point? I can't die at the moment, and nothing short of killing Lini'leah is going to make her change her mind. And if I did kill her then I'd have to duel Jaret." <Lisl> ::sighs:: I wasn't thinking so much that you'd change her mind, as work out your frustrations... but well enough. * Bai sighs, "Maybe...But it still leaves the question...What am I going to do?" <Lisl> ::spreads her hands:: I can't answer that for you, Bai. Why can't you simply break it off with her? * Bai sighs, "Pride and Honor...If I actually have either of those qualities left." <Lisl> ::frowns:: Bai, no one can take your pride, if you've not given it to them outright. ::sighs:: Right. We're talking about Lini. * Bai tilts his head and looks at Lisl half quizzically, "What do you mean?" <Lisl> ::straightening, touching her fingers lightly to touch his chest:: Your pride is here, Bai. In yourself. Honor... yes, honor can be tarnished, sullied. But pride begins and ends here. * Bai sighs and looks at the ground, "I can't remember the last time I did something I could take pride in...I thought my engagement to Lini'leah was..." <Lisl> ::fiercely:: You did nothing wrong, there. * Bai looks at Lisl, his face haggard, "I should take pride in letting her toy with my emotions, letting her embarass me again and again while remaining true to her?" <Lisl> ::her eyes glinting golden, her face hard:: You should take pride in having pursued a mate faithfully, staying true to her despite all obstacles, and remaining honorable despite her. ::looking sad at this last:: * Bai close his eyes and takes a shuddering breath, "In the world of men such an individual is called a fool or worse." * Bai opens his eyes and looks at Lisl, "I've angered every god in my world for Lini'leah...Now, if I survive Yb's godhood I'll have to accept the punishment everyone of them lays down on me." <Lisl> You were... ::sighing, deflating somewhat:: ...perhaps poor in your choice. Looking at the two of you... you've changed, both of you, but in... different directions. But you were true in your actions. ::gritting her teeth:: And if the very god of *justice* chooses to play politics with lives... ::snarls:: * Bai shudders, "why?" <Lisl> Why what, Bai? Why did she choose the way she did? Why is a good man cursed with Yb and my cousin? * Bai sags, "yes..." <Lisl> ::sighs, putting an arm across his shoulders:: Blame it on the gods, Bai. I suspect in this case it's more than half their fault anyway. <Lisl> Bai, if you need it, feel free to beat up on me. ::grins:: I won't stand still for you, but I'll stand up a lot better than these poor trees. And in the meantime... if you need, I'll help where I can. Just remember... she's my blood. No matter how pissed I am at her or how frustrated, that doesn't change. * Bai nods, "I know Lisl..." <Lisl> ::looking at him sternly:: Just make sure you heard *both* halves of that. * Bai sighs, "I think I just needed to be able to talk to someone...I didn't want to go and speak poorly of your cousin to you...Which basically left me with Yb as a confidant." <Lisl> ::snorts:: Don't get me started on Yb. The week before last was hell. * Bai looks at Lisl half curious. <Lisl> ::looking as though she tasted something bad:: She *blessed* me. Even with Nach's counter-blessing, I had squeaky feet and showers of flowers and slippery banana peels for a *week*. <Lisl> *Looks* damn funny, I'm sure, but try *living* with it. * Bai shakes his head, "You got off lucky Lisl. I can't even begin to describe to you how bad that could have gotten. I'd have to take you to Limbo in order to show you." <Lisl> ::shudders:: I don't think I want to know. * Bai nods, "Good answer." <Lisl> ::looking at him, concerned:: Will you be alright? * Bai sighs and scrubs at his face, "I don't know Lisl, I just don't know...I lost my family and my homeland to a woman whom I loved who tossed me aside for power. It took my wife sacrificing herself to protect me from her lover to shake me out of that one...I just don't know..." <Lisl> ::takes a deep breath:: If you need a friend, Bai, I'm here. <Lisl> Just... don't give up. You understand me? You're too good a person for that. * Bai looks up at Lisl, "Give up on what?" <Lisl> Yourself. * Bai sighs and nods, "Even if I wanted to, I can't lay down my burdens until I've saved Yb." <Lisl> ::smiles sympathetically:: Better you than me. I'd likely have strangled her myself, by now. * Bai grins for a moment before he frowns once more, "I was actually going to let Lini'leah run Yb through when the time comes." <Lisl> ::cryptically:: Well, that would please her. If you need a stand-in... ::grins:: * Bai shakes his head, "I needed her sword...I have a back up plan...It'll be harder to prepare but actually offers a better chance of success..." <Lisl> ::nods grimly:: If it comes to that... I'm family, too. He'd accept my hand. * Bai looks at Lisl, the first glimmer of relief appearing in his eyes since Lisl arrived, "Thank you Lisl...but Yb and I are the only family we have left...When the time comes I'll want you as back up, but...I need to do this..." * Bai rises to his feet with a groan, "This was so much easier when I was young." <Lisl> ::grins:: For us all. * Bai smiles wryly at Lisl, "True enough." * Bai closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, then looks seriously at Lisl, everything about him seeming to adopt an air of formality, "Lisl, I need you to do me a favor." <Lisl> :;studies him carefully for a moment:: What is it, Bai? <Bai> Tell Aldis of our conversation today. LiNeerlay Dearmon N'a'shezbaernon, my fiancee, is dead. I will bring the news to Aldis myself once I have buried Lini'leah. I hope your family can put the grief behind you quickly so that you can welcome Lord and Lady Malkier into the family. <Lisl> ::face draining of color:: What? <Bai> ::Bai's formality breaks and his self-control seems on the verge of following:: Lisl...the only way...the only way I can regain what I lost is if Lini'leah is dead to me...I know I'll walk this path alone...but please... <Lisl> ::closing golden eyes, holding herself very still for a long moment before nodding once:: I... understand, Bai. I will tell her. ::she opens her eyes again, her expression bleak:: This will be hard... and I can't say I envy you when Lady Malkier finds out. * Bai nods once, sadly, "I know and yet, what could be worse than the loss of the one I loved enough to defy a pantheon over?" <Lisl> ::nods slowly:: I... ::putting a hand on his shoulder:: I'm sorry for your loss. * Bai nods, looking into Lisl's eyes, "Thank you Lisl...I'm sorry we won't be cousins after all...I would have considered it a great honor." <Lisl> ::half-grins:: Well... at least you got *one* positive thing out of this mess. * Bai blinks at Lisl, "What?" <Lisl> ::grins wider:: you *won't* be my cousin. * Bai shakes his head, "Another loss Lisl. I can think of few people I would entrust with my family before you." <Lisl> ::smiles:: Bai... blood is family, but family is more than blood. You already *are* my family, Bai. * Bai closes his eyes and bows his head, his shoulders shuddering for a moment before his voice comes out in a whisper, "thank you lisl..." <Lisl> ::looking at him sadly:: And now you understand why it hurts so much... it always does, when siblings fight. * Bai pulls himself together, "I don't know if you're speaking in riddles or if I'm just too distraught to think clear." <Lisl> ::chuckles and shakes her head:: Don't mind me. ::slapping him on the back:: Come on, let's go get you drunk. It'll be a novel experience. * Bai shakes his head, "Maybe later. First I have duties that I must perform...Then maybe I'll attempt to drink Mule Kick again..." * Bai pulls a bulb headed arrow from his quiver and knocks it. * Bai pulls the bow and aims into the sky before releasing the arrow which whistles shrilly as it streaks off into the woods. * Bai walks off into the woods, following the sound of the air. Lisl watches him for a moment then turns and heads back to the pack. |
|
|