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<Lisl> ::It's about four o'clock in the morning, in the Red Shroud Inn. Lisl's eyes glow faintly in the darkness as she lifts her head and stares towards the window. The reflection vanishes, however, as she shifts back to humanoid form, sitting up and crossing her legs to sit tailor-fashion. She sits darkness a little while, staring at nothing, before speaking in a soft whisper:: Jaret? * Jaret stirs, reaching out to touch a finger to the rapier leaning against the bed. "Lisl? What is it?" <Lisl> I'm sorry, I didn't mean to disturb if you were really asleep. It's just... ::she falls silent for several breaths:: Do you remember your mother? * Jaret sits up in the bed, leaning against the headboard. "Yes. I was 8 when she died. I remember, she had the most wonderful laugh." <Lisl> ::faint rustle of fabric as she shifts one knee to the vertical and rests her chin on it:: What else do you remember? Do you remember how she and your father were, together? <Jaret> Not very much. My father... he resigned his position in the cavalry when I was born, so he could stay at home, but most of what I remember is myself and one of them. I can dimly remember a family outing, the three of us going... somewhere, but it's all indistinct. <Lisl> ::softly, her tone a little distant, like someone reciting a fairy tale:: Mother tells me that she and my father adventured together... they were in the same party for awhile, it's how they met. They quit, when they wed, and built a cottage together in the woods... they both loved the woods. They wanted to start a family... * Jaret rubs his face with an open hand. "My parents met at court. The young dashing cavalryman, one of the lesser ladies-in-waiting." <Lisl> My parents were together for three years... just one, to themselves, before he was cursed, before I was born. I was two when the wolf tried to kill me, and Mother killed him instead. I don't remember him at all. I don't even know if that... ghost... is what he really looked like. <Lisl> When I was younger, I used to wonder... if they'd had a little longer, if he'd trusted her more... perhaps he would have told her, and they could have sought a cure. And maybe I would have gotten a chance to meet him. * Jaret gathers the blanket around his shoulders and comes to sit on the floor near Lisl. <Jaret> And when you got older? * Lisl turns her head to look at him, her eyes reflecting the dim light again, pale yellow against the dark. "When I got older... heh." She looks down at her hands. "When I got older, I felt like I understood why he couldn't tell her. I certainly have enough trouble telling people, and I'm not at war with my beast. I'm not a ravening lunatic by the moon. Heh. Usually." <Jaret> Did you ever talk about it with your mother? <Lisl> ::her tone a little reluctant:: I've... talked to her a little. Mostly about how it is with me. She worried a great deal, when I was growing up, what would happen to me. If the moon would take me away from her... When I first started, we talked about it a great deal... less so as it became... normal. <Lisl> ::a touch wryly:: Mother's the world's leading expert on lycanthropy now, you realize. I... don't think many people know that. ::she sounds faintly amused:: <Jaret> I can't say as I had known. Of course, I've never really sought out opinions on the matter. Still... it's not simply a lycanthrope you're up at nights over. It's your father. <Lisl> Aye... well. ::hands clenching a little, where they grip her knee:: Perhaps... it wasn't the best of ideas, leaving his pelt at home. <Jaret> Why did you leave it behind? I was surprised to see you without it, but didn't think it the time or place to comment. <Lisl> I wanted to leave it for Mother, in case this *was* a trap and I wasn't going to see home again. And I thought... if ever I could be justified in losing my temper and safely let go, it would be down here. <Jaret> ::nodding, thinking:: And yet you're uncomfortable. <Lisl> ::studying her hands again:: I... know that Mother loves me very much. And I her. We're not the most demonstrative family, but... we've faced death and worse for each other. No matter how far I range, I'll always come home to her, and she'll always take me in, because I'm her child. <Lisl> My father... I know he must have loved me very much... the wolf hated me enough to go for the cradle first, unless he was just being canny. <Jaret> It shows, how you and your mother feel about each other. You can see it, when you're together, and when you talk about each other. And as for your father... the deductive reasoning is sound enough, but... it's not what you want. Or what he would have wanted, no doubt. <Lisl> ::nods:: I just... don't have a father. I don't know what I'm supposed to feel. Heh. ::looking up with a wry twist to her mouth:: By some accounts, now, I'd belong down here... I'm a parricide. Because when I attacked him... reason told me it probably wasn't my father. But I was so angry, I really didn't give a fig about reason. I didn't care if it *was* him, or not. He was in our way, and I took him out of it. <Jaret> Lisl, you don't belong down here. That wasn't your father. And if you were angry... well, we are in the Abyss. I wouldn't be surprised if it had a psychological effect on all of us. And there is no way you're 'supposed to feel.' There simply is how you feel. <Lisl> ::shakes her head:: No, I know I don't deserve to be here. And I know it wasn't him... at least, my head does, I'm working on the rest. But... ::shakes her head:: How I feel? ::she shrugs:: I... don't know. <Jaret> There's nothing wrong with that. You've got every reason in the world to feel uncertain about your emotions towards your father. After what happened today, even more so. <Lisl> ::reluctantly:: Aye... but... I feel like I'm... ::laughs shortly, and rumbles something between a growl and a sneeze:: <Lisl> ::glances at Jaret:: Roughly translated: still worrying a bone that's lost all its savor. <Jaret> Yes? My blade lies over yonder, so I don't understand the tong-- ah. <Lisl> Aha! ::grinning a little:: Nightrunner had wondered. <Jaret> Yes, the understanding of animal speech and seeing in pitch darkness both come from the sword. Not very demonstrative qualities, but surprisingly useful. <Jaret> So... if the bone has no more marrow, why continue to try to crack it again? <Lisl> I don't *know.* ::clenching a fist again, bunching fabric in one hand:: Because... it feels like there should be something there for me to work from? I'm just... I'm no good at dealing with this sort of thing. ::glances at Jaret again:: Grillek is looking like a tastier and tastier bone, from this angle. <Jaret> Lisl... I'd never tell you to not wonder about your father. No one should. And I can't say that you shouldn't get frustrated over it. But you're letting it consume you. I'm not saying to put it aside, but only... take a step back, perhaps, and realize that there's no way past the limitations that are rankling you at the moment. <Lisl> ::nods, plopping her chin back down on her knee and seeming to deflate a little:: You're easy to talk to, Jaret, and you give good advice. Well, most of the time, at least. You should hang out a shingle. ::sighs:: Gods, I want to kill something. <Jaret> The advice is, like so many things, worth every penny you've paid for it. And I imagine you'll get your chance, soon enough. I hope, for all our sakes, it's something more cut-and-dried than today's encounter. <Lisl> ::grins, her teeth flashing in the dark as she turns to look at him:: Don't say that... you never know if I've left you something in my will. ::chuckles:: <Jaret> ::laughing quietly:: If you've itemized the clauses in your will, then I imagine I'll end up penalized enough I'll have to leave several sacks in your tomb, and several promissory notes to boot. <Lisl> Heh... now, wouldn't *that* be irony. Adventurers some day grave-robbing *me*.... <Jaret> Well, at the very least, cashing in the notes would prove them no end of trouble. <Lisl> Ha. If I knew a jot about banking, I'm sure I'd find that pretty funny. ::grins:: <Jaret> Oh, I'm sure it's quite the knee-slapper among the usury practitioners. <Lisl> Well then, you shouldn't have a hard time finding an appreciative audience around here somewhere. <Jaret> Hopefully, I have better things to occupy my time with than to play jester to the local infernally damned. <Lisl> You're right. It'd be a waste of your talents. ::grins wider:: <Lisl> ::sobering a little:: So... are you always such a light sleeper, or was something disturbing your rest, as well? <Jaret> These aren't the most relaxing surroundings. I imagine that had something to do with my relatively prompt awakening. ::he grins:: For many reasons, I find I waken reasonably rapidly when my name is spoken, even when it is not shouted. <Lisl> I... think I'm happier dwelling in blissful ignorance, on that one. ::smirks:: <Jaret> If you insist, Lisl. I would never dream of tarnishing such pristine innocence. * Lisl raises an eyebrow. "I feel vaguely insulted, but I'm not certain why. You're good at that, too, damn you." * Jaret gracefully plucks Lisl's hand from her knee and kisses it. "One man, a myriad of talents. And now, displaying another, I will return to restful slumber." * Lisl nods and stretches, looking a little bemused as he kisses her hand. "At the risk of opening myself to even worse, um, tarnishment... might I ask another favor?" <Jaret> ::starting to stand up, then returning to the floor:: Of course, Lisl. Never hesitate. <Lisl> Yes, well... ::glancing away, her voice sounding a little... suffused:: If it's not a bar to your rest, would you mind terribly if I slept on the foot of your bed? * Jaret chuckles. "If you can stand the odor of my unwashed feet. I would have no complaints, and would make no assumptions, if you chose to sleep by my side instead. As you feel most comfortable." <Lisl> Heh. No. Feet are no bother. It's just... Mother's let me sleep there, sometimes. Thank you, Jaret. ::she pauses a moment, eyeing him, and smiles slightly:: Nah. I'll forego the death-threat. <Jaret> :getting back into bed, spreading the blanket out:: Truly, your kindness will be spoken on for all time. <Lisl> Great gods, I hope not... I'd rather stay out of the annals of history, all the same. <Jaret> As you wish. ::he lays back down in the bed, and soon is breathing slowly and regularly:: <Lisl> Goodnight, Jaret. Sleep sweet. ::she shifts form, putting one tentative paw up on the edge of the mattress before shifting her weight into that shoulder and flowing up onto the end of the bed, turning once carefully and settling down lengthwise across Jaret's feet like an extra throw-rug, settling her head down onto her paws and drifting off to sleep:: * Jaret murmurs "G'night...." |
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