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* Dawn and Calis sit at the corner table of a nice restaurant only a few blocks from the psionics school. Calis is fidgeting, watching the door eagerly. Dawn, wearing his respectable clothes, is casually toying with a spoon and occasionally responding to Calis' excited chatter. * Andrial has obviously spent some of the monies that have been handed over to her, as her dress is nicer than usual, and she looks as if she's had a few more good meals than the last time Dawn saw her. Still, her face is porcelain-pale and there are deep smudges under her eyes only partially offset by the high color in her cheeks and a dab of inexpertly applied makeup. * Andrial enters the restaurant and looks around, bouncing up on her toes to get a better view. * Calis bounces out of his chair as soon as his cousin comes into view. "Dria!" He sprints across the room, narrowly avoiding a waiter with a full tray, and throws himself into Andrial's arms. * Andrial catches her young cousin, wrapping her arms around him. "Oh, Calis, honey. I've missed you. So much." <Calis> I missed you too, 'Dria. Dawn said you were safer at the school, but after the fire I missed you a *lot*. <Andrial> ::gapes:: What fire? <Calis> ::half-dragging her back toward the table:: The house burned down! Dawn said it was magic fire, but I don't remember it so good 'cause the smoke made me feel all woozy and that old guy had to carry me out. * Dawn stands up as they reach the table, smiling wryly at Calis's disjointed chatter. * Andrial looks even more pale, if such a thing is possible. "Dawn?" There is a wealth of request inside that single question. <Dawn> ::softly:: It's over. He wasn't hurt at all. Everyone's safe, now. ::he kisses her cheek lightly:: I'm glad to see you're safe, too. Looking very well, actually. ::he pulls out a chair for her:: Sit down. I'll explain all I can. <Andrial> ::drops, rather than sits, in the chair:: This looks to be interesting. ::her tone is faintly sarcastic, as if she's trying to be witty:: <Calis> 'Dria! Guess what! Look what I can- ::he stops, for a miracle, and looks at Dawn:: Can I? <Dawn> ::raises his eyebrows, then nods:: Sure. I'll get the waiter to bring us some food. <Calis> ::While Dawn talks to the waiter, Calis takes a deep breath, then cups his hands in front of himself. His brow contorts with concentration, and a faint yellowish light forms in his hands. He is turning faintly red, as if holding his breath. After a moment, the light fades, and Calis blows out his breath with a sigh before looking at Andrial expectantly:: * Andrial smiles and claps her hands. "Very impressive, Calis... You're studying hard, then?" * Calis nods so hard his head seems in danger of rolling off his neck. "I've been practicing and practicing, just so I could show you!" <Dawn> ::smirks at Calis as beverages are placed on the table:: Practice some quiet now, okay? You've been talking nonstop for the last two hours. <Andrial> ::laughs:: Good luck. ::she directs this at Dawn under her breath:: <Dawn> ::grins and responds the same way:: I'm hoping he'll have to at least take a few breaths while he eats... * Andrial takes her drink and leans back slightly in her chair. "So. A fire?" <Dawn> ::sighs:: Aye. ::he pauses, considering how much to tell her, and how to phrase it:: There was a fellow who wanted to be top dog. He started by coming after the people that I... care about. Or am responsible for. ::he gives her a faint, tight smile:: The bastard set my house on fire while I was gone. <Andrial> ::her eyebrow arches, but she says nothing:: <Dawn> ::sighs:: We were lucky. I got back in time to put it out before anyone was seriously hurt. ::he toys with the spoon some more:: That's why I asked you to stay at the school - so I wouldn't have to worry about him ambushing you. I'm sorry if you worried. <Andrial> Was that likely? I mean... ::she traces patterns in the condensation from her glass on the table, trailing off:: * Dawn is saved from answering for a moment as the food arrives. When the waiter has left again, he shrugs. "I don't know how likely it was. He was collecting his information from rumors, so it had some peculiar gaps. But it wouldn't have been hard for him to learn that I kept you and Calis in that inn - and the conclusion that rumor is likely to draw is fairly obvious." He picks up his fork and spears a vegetable. "I didn't want to risk it." <Andrial> Oh. ::she looks down at her food:: All right. ::she takes a tentative forkful:: I was worried. <Dawn> ::nods:: I'm sorry. I promise, Calis was as safe as I could possibly make him. <Andrial> ::talking to her food:: I didn't know if... never mind. <Dawn> ::frowns:: Tell me. <Andrial> ::sighs:: Jewel said... she said you had issues with mindbenders... and I... ::sighs:: I didn't know if you'd bring Calis back at all. <Dawn> ::stares at her, then takes a fairly large swallow from his glass.:: Dammit, Jewel... ::he half-sighs, half-growls:: My problems are mine. I don't torment people for the fun of it. <Andrial> ::her voice barely audible:: I was worried. I didn't really... I *wanted* to trust you. But it wouldn't be the first time that... you could have had the best intentions... to make sure Calis wasn't... ::she sighs:: I was worried and scared. I'm sorry. I won't... doubt you. * Dawn puts his hand under Andrial's chin and turns her face to look at him. "I wasn't trying to keep you from him. I wasn't trying to keep you away from me, either. When the new house is done - you'll be welcome, whenever you like." * Andrial blinks back tears. "All right. Thank you." <Dawn> ::sighs as he releases her:: What else did she tell you? * Andrial wipes her face and turns her attention to her meal. "That you had... 'problems with women.' And that I should be very careful. She rather implied that you'd made a very stupid mistake." <Dawn> ::snorts:: Problems? *I* have problems? Meddling wench. ::he glances at Andrial sidelong:: It might've been for the wrong reasons, but I don't think it was a mistake, beautiful. <Andrial> ::nods:: All right. ::she pokes at her fish, then looks up at him:: I'm sorry. I'm not very good at this. But Calis is obviously doing well, and I'm really very grateful for that. <Dawn> ::raises his eyebrows, half-smiling:: Which 'this' are you not very good at? <Andrial> ::shrugs:: Oh, just about anything with other people in it. ::smiles:: When I was younger, I used to dream that I wasn't even really supposed to be here at all. A changeling child, if you would. And someday, my people would come back and take me where things made sense to me. <Dawn> ::presses his hand to his heart, mock-horrified:: You would *abandon* me? For something as trivial as *sense*? I'm hurt. * Andrial is startled into laughing, a genuine sound of pure amusement. She covers her mouth with one hand, still laughing, and shakes a finger at him with the other. <Dawn> ::grins:: Ah, there... You're even prettier when you laugh. <Andrial> ::colors faintly:: Thank you. ::she takes a few sips of her drink:: So... your... ahem. 'Stray dog,' as it were, isn't a problem anymore? <Dawn> No. He's dead. We're re-organizing things, too, to make it harder for another to take his place. <Andrial> ::shudders delicately:: Does this... sort of thing happen often? <Dawn> ::considers:: Not really. Not on such an extravagant scale. <Andrial> ::dryly:: Having a bad season, then? <Dawn> ::laughs, a little bitterly:: You might say that, aye... * Andrial reaches out tentatively and touches the back of his hand with her fingertips. "Is there... anything I can do?" * Dawn takes her hand and kisses it. "You've already done a lot, beautiful. No matter what Jewel says about my... issues." <Andrial> ::smiles, then looks at him seriously:: Would you tell me, if I asked? * Dawn doesn't answer right away, thinking. Finally, he nods once. "Aye. Some, at least." <Andrial> ::takes another bite of fish, then nibbles at her carrots:: What issues, then, do you have with... with mindbenders? <Dawn> Ah, that's not such a mystery. First time I encountered one, I'd never even heard of it. Fucker reached into my head, pulled out the very ugliest memories he could find - and believe me, there's plenty of ugly to choose from, in there - and made me... relive it, really. It hurt, above and beyond just the memory. <Dawn> It must have... sensitized me, maybe. Next time I met up with a psionic, she was looking for information. I'd've sold it to her right enough, but she... ripped it out. I've never had pain that bad, not even from- ::he flexes his scarred hand:: If it wasn't for my partner, it might've killed me. <Dawn> At least by then, I'd heard of it. ::he pokes at his meal:: Figured they were all like that. When I met Jewel, I... let her 'speak me, because she was so keen to prove to me that it didn't have to hurt. It didn't, but... ::he looks at her:: You're the first one I've met who ever gave me any pleasure from it. <Andrial> ::blinks:: Well... not everyone is the same. What I can do... what I did to Angel... that was the same ability. ::she grimaces:: It can be good, or it can be bad. Sometimes very bad. But... most things have two sides. <Dawn> ::nods:: Most everything worth having, does. But there's knowing something, and believing it, aye? ::brushes his thumb across her cheek:: <Andrial> True enough. ::she smiles at him:: But I think most people are... well, if you allow for their fears and motivations, that is... most people are reasonable. <Dawn> ::chuckles softly:: Those are some big allowances, beautiful. <Andrial> ::looks at her hands:: It helps me, if I can believe that. That there's the potential, in everyone. I'm not a monster... you just have to get past the surface, first. <Calis> ::frowning:: You're not a monster at all, 'Dria! <Andrial> ::smiles gently:: I know. If you were just listening, I even said so. But people are right, to be afraid of me. I can do horrible things. How can someone know that they can trust me? I have to prove it, first. It's only rational. <Dawn> Ah, there you go, trying to be sensible and rational again. ::he tosses his napkin on his plate, then stands and offers Andrial his hand:: Would you like to go for a walk? <Andrial> ::shakes her hair out:: I can only be what I am, Dawn. ::she takes his hand:: I'd love to walk. I'd about gone crazy, cramped up in the dorms for the last few weeks. <Dawn> I'd not want you to be anything else. ::He tosses a few coins onto the table and leads Andrial and Calis outside, strolling aimlessly down the street.:: I *am* sorry about that... Perhaps, if it happens again, we'll invent a better solution. <Andrial> ::bites her lip:: Well, I'm *working* on being able to project further. But right now, I can only touch people that I can see. Almost useless, really. <Dawn> Not remotely. But I'm glad to hear you're working on it. ::he eyes her sidelong:: How's your control? * Andrial blushes furiously. "I got a very... embarrassing lecture. But I'm taking a special sections class twice a month now, specifically to work on it." She blushes even harder. <Dawn> ::raises his eyebrows:: That must be an interesting class. ::grins, unrepentant:: <Andrial> ::mutters:: You have *no* idea. <Dawn> Ah, maybe it was you, and not me, who made the horrible mistake? ::he doesn't really seem to believe this is the case:: <Andrial> ::snorts:: Be nice. <Dawn> ::laughs softly and kisses her, then sobers:: Andrial... Whatever Jewel told you about me, I... ::he shakes his head and sighs:: Thank you. <Andrial> Whatever I did... you're welcome. ::looks at him slyly:: Maybe you can help, with my practicals. <Dawn> ::laughs:: Be my pleasure, beautiful... ::shakes his head:: You and Bienca are going to get along far too well, I can tell. <Andrial> ::smiles:: She's very friendly. And tall! Not that I should tell you that, as I'm sure you noticed already, but... my goodness! <Dawn> ::smiles:: It has certain advantages. Even if she is making me build the new house to fit her, instead of the rest of us. <Andrial> ::snorts:: Well, it's not like you're going to lose your legs, if the ceiling is too tall. <Dawn> True enough. And she deserves something for putting up with me... ::after a short pause:: Is there anything I can do for you? * Andrial stops and stares at him in astonishment. "What else could you do? You've already made things much easier for me, by giving Calis somewhere to live." She smooths a hand over her new gown. "And I have some new things. And... well, word got out, what happened. About the Captain. People think better of me, for standing up to her, and for defending psionics. I don't... it's more than I ever expected." * Dawn looks at her closely, and then nods once. "Good. Though not all of that was me. And after- After my partner died, when I was starting to come back to myself, I wondered if I'd hurt you." <Andrial> ::shakes her head:: No... no, of course not. ::looks at him:: Dawn, I... you would have only hurt me if you'd meant to. I... feel what you felt. You didn't mean me any harm. <Dawn> Ha. No. I meant to harm myself. Which wouldn't have been any kindness to you, if I'd succeeded. <Andrial> ::stops to touch his cheek:: No. You just needed someone... I'm glad I could help. ::swallows:: I don't know what you'd have done otherwise, but I daresay it wasn't looking to be pleasant. <Dawn> No, probably not. ::heedless of the others on the street, he kisses her deeply, pulling her tightly against him:: * Andrial melts against him with a sudden greedy interest. For just an instant, Dawn feels the flutter of her emotions against him, relief, desire, slightly tinged with embarrassment. * Dawn releases her finally with a satisfied sigh. "That's heady stuff, beautiful. A man could find himself drinking just a bit too deep." He puts his arm around her and resumes walking, glancing briefly at Calis, who seems to have become rather suddenly engrossed in a window display. "Did you think I'd lost all interest?" <Andrial> ::shrugs:: I didn't know. ::she smiles thoughtfully:: Don't worry, I won't... let you get drunk. So to speak. <Dawn> ::soberly:: You'll need lots of practice. <Andrial> ::laughs:: I told you, you can help with my practicals. <Dawn> ::grins:: Who knew studying was so much fun? * Andrial colors again. "Sometimes." <Dawn> ::laughs:: You'll have to tell me about these classes of yours, sometime... <Andrial> ::eyes him:: Let's just say one of the instructors is very good with making you *think* something's happening that isn't. <Dawn> ::cocks his head at her:: Mm. Not my cup of ale, I think. I'm much happier keeping my head to myself, most of the time. <Andrial> ::colors:: Well, it's better than having it really happen. And it's one of the few ways I have to practice. <Dawn> Well, we'll see about getting you some practice, then... ::he winks at her:: * Andrial laughs. "Oh, I think I can pencil you in." <Dawn> ::laughs:: Squeeze me in amongst your many admirers, if you can... <Andrial> Oh, surely... how's next week sound? I think I'm free after class, four days from now? |
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