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Post by Myth Celebrantè (D) on Apr 16, 2008 9:21:15 GMT -5
I was fairly quiet on the walk, not knowing what to say to make him feel better. Thankfully the walk wasn't a long one from where the playhouse was, and within a few moments we arrived at the gates. My hand still in his, I squeezed it softly in encouragement, looking up at him with a smile. "Are you ready?" I asked, the lamps from the temple illuminating his face in the darkening twilight.
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Joras Timbule (I)
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Post by Joras Timbule (I) on Apr 16, 2008 16:16:35 GMT -5
I had walked in silence, following her, even though I knew where the Temple was. I felt my hand squeezed, and looked down at her face. I let out a soft gasp, and nodded. I would change here, though just how was not known to me yet.
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Post by Myth Celebrantè (D) on Apr 16, 2008 21:46:44 GMT -5
Not for the first time, I wondered what he was thinking and feeling, and found myself straying closer to his side as we walked up to the Temple. A priestess met us as I removed my shoes, bidding a quiet welcome before kissing both of us on our temples. Joras had insinuated that he'd been to Eluas temples before in our previous conversation, and it was because of that that I gave his hand another squeeze before letting go, ready to walk just behind him into the temple, to give him some sense of privacy if he wanted it.
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Post by Joras Timbule (I) on Apr 17, 2008 6:21:58 GMT -5
I smiled weakly at her as she squeezed my hand. I was not sure what I would do here, though. It had been so long, and I was far too overcome with emotion to remember clearly. I stepped in after removing my shoes, and turned around. I saw Myth standing, waiting for me. She looked worried, and it broke my heart to know that I was burdening her with my own past.
I extended my hand to her, saying, "Please, come with me. Guide me." There was more than just one meaning behind that, but I implied the physical one. I just wanted her to understand how much grief I felt, that I could not control the events that led to such a gruesome end.
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Post by Myth Celebrantè (D) on Apr 18, 2008 15:34:11 GMT -5
I looked up at him as he turned, and in his eyes I could see the regret, the pain. My hand slipped into his again before I thought otherwise, and I moved close to his side. "It's amazing, what can be forgiven," I said softly as we walked, heading towards a large statue of Elua with lit candles laying around his feet. "Sometimes, even things we never thought we'd be able to forgive ourselves for." My hand squeezed his again, and I looked around us, the ever-present feeling of peace this place brought me sinking into my heart again.
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Joras Timbule (I)
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Post by Joras Timbule (I) on Apr 20, 2008 19:38:15 GMT -5
I nodded, understanding her premises. Unfortunately, I still could not forgive myself for murder. I had taken the lives of a person who might have grown into a friend, and had caused endless grief to many others. Sometimes I wondered what they thought of me, the family. I certainly left a large enough trail behind me for them to figure out who it was that killed their beloved son.
I turned to Myth as we stood in front of the statue, and said softly, "As there are things that can be undone, there are things that cannot. The same holds true for forgiveness. If all things held no permanence, nothing would hold its own worth. It would not have been special, meeting you. I much prefer this world of a finite eternity, as opposed to a world that can be manipulated. If one does not experience the sadnesses of life, one will not enjoy the happinesses. It is for this reason that I do not dwell on my heinous act in the past, but trudge on, never forgetting, yet never allowing it to hinder my progression."
I knelt, looking upwards towards Elua's bright face carved from stone while I clasped my hands in prayer. Somehow, I felt like his hands were extended to me alone, and I heard his voice say "Do not fear your past. It is what sculpts your future and present. Your blessings come from your past, so do not spite it.".
I closed my eyes in retrospect and self-examination. I would change myself here, and my goal was to make it for the better. There was, aside from that once, not much that I had to regret in my life. In comparison to others, I had led a mostly happy life. If I had never ran away, I would not have come to Terre d'Ange, and would therefore never have met the wonderful people there. The root of it was this one thing. In a sense, I owed him everything in my life. Yet I would not trade it for the world. I opened my eyes, and spoke only "Lord Elua, I thank you for your love".
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Post by Myth Celebrantè (D) on Apr 22, 2008 22:56:41 GMT -5
I listened to him with as gentle a face as I could hold, trying not to judge him. Before he turned away I gave him an encouraging smile, then stood silently behind and to the side of him, far enough to give him space, but close if he wanted me.
What happened as he knelt I didn't know. I looked up at the statue of Elua, thinking over my life, all the blessings and lack thereof that I had. I had very little money, was repeatedly ignored by the Ladies of the City as I stood as a live model for them, or sewed for them... but I had my family, my parents and siblings, and a small handful of friends who held through no matter what happened. It was enough, even when I went home alone to my holey little apartment. It was enough.
The mumbled words of the kneeling man before me caught my attention and I looked back at him again, remaining silent, giving him as much time as he needed to find peace. If he couldn't find it here... Elua help him.
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Post by Joras Timbule (I) on Apr 23, 2008 6:58:53 GMT -5
I stood slowly, my limbs cold from the stone floor. A new understanding had occurred to me, and though I never would forgive myself, I was able to come to terms with what I had wrought for myself. Maybe it was Elua who helped me overcome myself, maybe it was Myth, maybe it was some inner part of myself that I had not realized was there. Whatever it was, I felt better now, relieved partially of my burden.
I turned to my right, facing the windows. Light danced over the stained glass, painting a brilliant picture of amber hues. This, too, is beautiful, I thought to myself. I turned again, this time towards Myth. I bowed to her in the Chn'se fashion, straight forward and humbly. I owed her something at the very least, for coming with me and supporting me, a total stranger. I allowed a smile to surface, and began to speak.
"There are two sides to every coin, as you might have already heard. Oftentimes, one is shined to perfection, and the other is imperfect. It is only when we see the brilliantly polished side that we can overcome our dislike of the imperfect side. Yet without the impurities of the one side, the other would not seem as bright." I said thoughtfully, building to a point, "I wish to thank you for being my shiny coin. Though it is nothing compared to my gratitude, please take this," I proffered a gold piece that I kept for good luck.
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Post by Myth Celebrantè (D) on Apr 23, 2008 15:24:38 GMT -5
His words touched me deeply, as deeply as witnessing the sudden acceptance that was in his eyes. Before it was pain, and it lingered there now, too, but...
Before I could finish the thought, I was shaking my head and curling my fingers of his, closing his fist around his coin. "I could never take something for doing nothing. And if I have been able to help you in some fashion, consider it a gift of my own."
My words were whisper-soft, and I held gently onto his hand as I waited for his response, my other hand coming up to carefully close around the other side of his hand.
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Post by Joras Timbule (I) on Apr 24, 2008 8:23:51 GMT -5
The feel of her hands closed around mine was supportive, sweet, and I could think of nothing else that could make me as happy as this. A smile arose on my face almost on its own, and I felt myself blush a little. "I... I would like to meet you again, if that's alright with you." I was kind of embarrassed, so my words rushed out of my mouth. I felt even more redness spread to my face, and I bowed my head to try to hide the fact.
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Post by Myth Celebrantè (D) on Apr 25, 2008 17:32:21 GMT -5
Before he was knowledgable, lost in whatever turmoil lurked in him and finding peace. Now he was almost bashful, smiling and gaining color in his face that complimented his skin nicely. I blushed in turn and dropped my gaze for a moment, trying to collect my thoughts.
"It's alright with me, Joras," I said quietly as I looked back up at him, a smile creeping its way across my lips.
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Post by Joras Timbule (I) on Apr 28, 2008 20:43:11 GMT -5
Her blush transformed her features, making her seem no longer shy, but cute and happy instead. I much preferred this new Myth than the other one, though both were amazing. She had accepted my request to meet again, as well! This made me very pleased indeed.
I was probably, at this point, blinding everyone within miles with my joy. It was no matter to me, because I was elated and could not care less if I blinded people because of it. Also, among my happiness, another feeling swirled. I could not tell whether it was thankfulness, or relief, or even love, because my sheer delight nigh drowned it out with its brilliance. what I do know is that it felt wonderful. So wonderful, in fact, that before I could think of my actions, my arms wrapped around Myth in a friendly embrace. I grinned a pure smile, one that screamed comfort and friendship. It felt particularly strange for having just confessed and coming to a new understanding with my past, but nonetheless, I enjoyed it while I could.
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Post by Myth Celebrantè (D) on Apr 29, 2008 12:31:57 GMT -5
His face positively lit up, and the smile he gave me was so genuine and heartfelt that there was no way in Eluas sacred name that I could possibly believe it was fake. He didn't say anything else, but put his arms around me instead, and I felt my body warming even as my mind did towards him. My hand came up and softly caressed his cheek, brushing at the short stubble that had grown and silently marvelling it. D'Angeline men lacked in the way of facial hair.
"Would you like to walk, Joras?" I asked quietly, though with a brighter smile than I had worn yet during our time together.
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Post by Joras Timbule (I) on Apr 29, 2008 14:16:16 GMT -5
My eyes followed her hand as it slid across my cheek, around my stubble of a beard. Her hand slid over it, and she seemed awed at it, though to me it was more of a nuisance than a blessing. Then again, she probably had not seen facial hair too often, given that D'Angeline men did not grow facial hair. I let her feel it though, not complaining in any way.
Would I like to walk? she inquired. I chuckled at her, saying "Only if you're not too pre-occupied with my marvelous face, my lady." I laughed again, teasingly.
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Post by Myth Celebrantè (D) on Apr 30, 2008 15:59:55 GMT -5
"Oh," I blushed, snatching my hand down away from his face near instantly. "I'm sorry, Joras." Mortified by my own actions, I looked at his chest, his upper arms, anywhere but his face. He held me still and I didn't try pulling away, but I desperately wanted to rid my cheeks of this color.
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Post by Joras Timbule (I) on May 1, 2008 14:52:07 GMT -5
I chuckled at her reaction, she had played it out just as I had expected. I reached out to brush some stray hair that had fallen into her face, and turned her cheek towards me in the same movement. "It's charming, really." I said, a wide smile creeping to my face. "Most D'Angelines disdain me for it." My arms retreated to my sides, and I gestured towards the entrance. "Now, was there anywhere in particular you wished to walk to?" I inquired of her, beginning to move towards the large carved wooden doors slowly.
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Post by Myth Celebrantè (D) on May 1, 2008 23:03:33 GMT -5
The touch was so fluid that I found myself looking back up at him again before I realized it, the touch of his fingers bringing a tingle where he brushed them. For a moment, I wondered if he was going to kiss me, but he turned away with that big smile instead, leading us towards the door.
"No where in particular no," I said, finding my smiles coming easier than I would have considering my mortification a moment before. "I... wasn't quite ready to leave your company yet." Elua, if I could get rid of the color in my face, I'd be a proud and happy woman. I walked easily next to him, my strides lengthening naturally to match his.
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Post by Joras Timbule (I) on May 2, 2008 6:10:20 GMT -5
I laughed when she said she wasn't ready to leave me yet. I returned with another of my philosophical statements, "Ah, but we all must depart from each other, and everything else, sometimes." We reached the doors, and I opened them out of habit, holding them open with a flourish for Myth. I tried to impress an over-zealous chivalric attitude, half-jokingly, half flirting.
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Post by Myth Celebrantè (D) on May 2, 2008 14:59:55 GMT -5
"That doesn't mean it has to be soon," I quipped back at him in a rare display of quick jesting. It wasn't that I didn't partake in it, but not usually with someone whom I'd just met. I grinned at him and strode through the doors as if he were my man, striking a confident pose and manner as I'd seen the ladies hold that I worked for.
"Why thank you," I said, dropping the act as I turned around again, smiling brighter at him than I had when we first arrived.
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Post by Joras Timbule (I) on May 3, 2008 7:57:15 GMT -5
I could have cried at how funny Myth and I must be, the flamboyant pair of us. Even though we were not causing a scene, any onlookers must think us madly in love. That... was probably my doing. I closed the doors as I returned to her side, a grin lighting my face. I offered my arm to her, and said in the most extravagant way possible, "My pleasure, Lady Myth."
I am not sure whether the show I was putting on was for my benefit or Myth's, but it did well to cheer both of our hearts as far as I could tell. Her smiles cheered on my act, and my act cheered on her smiles, and I hoped we could remain this way forever.
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Post by Myth Celebrantè (D) on May 3, 2008 12:07:50 GMT -5
I grinned at him as I accepted his arm, my chin parallel to the ground. "Thank you, my Lord Timbule," I responded, drawing closer to him as we began to walk forth.
"Is there anywhere in mind you would like to go?" I asked with a more natural smile down the path a little way, looking up at him in the relative darkness. The streetlamps down the way some illuminated his hair and made it glow warmly, and I resisted the temptation to brush my fingers across it.
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Post by Joras Timbule (I) on May 4, 2008 7:32:42 GMT -5
She played the act of a princess very well; perhaps it was taken from her acting experience. I had no idea where I wanted to go to, but I wouldn't let her know that. Instead, I put on another ear-to-ear smile, without saying a word on the matter. It was funny, the way she spoke while she pretended to be a princess was very realistic, I wondered if she knew any royalty to be so precise on their manners.
My strides carried me onwards through the cobweb of streets that was the City. I remembered that a park lay nearby, so I maneuvered towards it. After all the walking we had done to the temple, my legs had begun to tire.
To keep the walk from being silent, I tried to strike up a new conversation. Searching for topics, my mind backtracked, and a question popped into my head. "Hey, Myth," I said to get her attention, "Have you met nobility before, that you are able to mimic their demeanor so well?"
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Post by Myth Celebrantè (D) on May 4, 2008 12:54:38 GMT -5
The way he reacted to my question was almost like he had a secret, one he didn't mind letting me know he had, but also one he wasn't willing to share. I wrinkled my nose a little at him and gave him a grin, the act of nobility dropped fully at that moment.
I followed him without question, knowing the streets of Mont Nuit like the back of my hand; I'd never lived elsewhere, not even in the better parts of the City. This, admittably, was nicer than where I lived, but I wouldn't let him know that. Not yet... I didn't feel secure enough quiet yet, though I suppose I should have considering what I had witnessed of him in the Temple.
When he spoke I looked up, my eyes on him and a smile coming to my mouth. "Oh yes," I answered. "I work as a seamstress and a model for the Ladies of the court at times; they have me try on dresses to show them, and I'll stand in for measurements and fittings for them as well."
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Post by Joras Timbule (I) on May 4, 2008 16:59:24 GMT -5
Her face was very cute when she wrinkled her nose at me, it almost made me laugh. We behaved together like a pair of old lovers, each teasing the other in loving jest, and that made me chuckle.
After I stifled myself, I listened to her speak. She said she was a model. I heard an excuse to see her more often. "Do you find it a coincidence or an odd twist of fate that I am a tailor for the nobility?"
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Post by Myth Celebrantè (D) on May 4, 2008 23:03:33 GMT -5
He was so relaxed and seemed so happy that I drew a little closer, smiling at him. "You're a tailor?" I asked incredulously. "Imagine the odds of it! I think it's rather spectacular that we've met like we have, then."
My smile grew a little more, and I looked back infront of us to gain my bearings before glancing back at him again.
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Post by Joras Timbule (I) on May 5, 2008 6:09:50 GMT -5
"I know," I replied, "Elua must be watching out for me today!" I was not primarily a tailor, but simply by merit of making clothing one could call me as much. I had made the clothing for several nobles over the course of my 'secondary' profession, so I had no qualms about my stretching of the truth.
"I have an opening for a beautiful assistant..." I ventured to say, hoping she would take the bait I laid.
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Post by Myth Celebrantè (D) on May 5, 2008 11:58:29 GMT -5
My grin broadened a little more, and I looked up at him curiously as we walked. "Are you hinting at something, Joras?" I asked a little teasingly, my voice holding too a touch of warmth. I was growing an affection for him, and the idea that he would want me around more to work for him was very appealing.
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Post by Joras Timbule (I) on May 6, 2008 6:07:02 GMT -5
"Only that you would fit the role of a beautiful assistant quite well if you were interested, Myth." I smirked.
I heard the fountain ahead, a sure sign I was going the right direction. As we rounded the next corner, there it lay ahead of us. The statue depicted Namaah watching over a sleeping Elua and was carved from a wonderful marble. Near the statue, there was a bench, also marble. I headed for it with Myth.
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Post by Myth Celebrantè (D) on May 6, 2008 11:22:28 GMT -5
My smile grew even through his smirk, finding pleasure in the simple compliment he issued me. "Thank you, Joras," I said softly, slightly shy, but more happy than anything else. "I'd be very happy to work with you."
I looked as we walked, my gaze going over the fountian and recognizing it. "I used to come here when I was little," I commented as we neared the bench. "My mother would bring my siblings and I here, and we'd have the most fun splashing each other with the water."
My cheeks warmed with memories and I smiled more, recalling happy days.
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Joras Timbule (I)
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Post by Joras Timbule (I) on May 8, 2008 16:39:50 GMT -5
Her acceptance of my request brought joy to me. It not only meant that she trusted me, but that I could see her regularly. Seeing the look she gave me, she knew as much as well. I smiled. I had gotten more from this evening alone than I had ever had in my entire life. All the riches in the world could not buy this newfound feeling from me.
I listened to her speak of her memories here with care to remember as much of it as I could. If I planned on becoming acquainted with her it would help to know as much as I could about her. I held a smile on my face to encourage her to say whatever she wanted to say.
Arriving finally at the bench, I took a seat, letting Myth sit next to me. I sighed, not really having much to say. I was content to simply be in the company of Myth and be in a peaceful place such as this.
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